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* American Association
of Museums
* American Association
for State and Local
* Dun & Bradstreet
* BuyforCharity.com
* Canal Zone Study
* Council of American
Maritime Museums
* Florida Association of
* Guidestar.com
* Isthmian Collectors
* Leave a Legacy
* Panama Canal
Society, Inc.
* Panama National
Institute for Culture
* St. Petersburg
Chamber of
* Seminole Chamber of
* Sociedad de Amigos
del Museo Afro
Antilleano de
* World Ocean
Grants and Sponsorships Help Fulfill the Museum's Mission
Over the past year the museum has been the recipient of three grant awards
totaling $27,069 from the Pinellas County Cultural Arts Department. As a result,
we have been able to expand our educational outreach programming to schools and
community organizations. Under the leadership of our Education Curator, Kalika
Novoa, we have been able to reach thousands of young people and seniors in our
community through special PowerPoint programs developed by museum staff and
offered by our trained lecturers.
These grants, along with generous sponsorships from museum members, have
also allowed us to develop the Panama Canal Museum in a Trunk lesson plans and
student activities. The trunks are available to teachers in seven school districts
around the U.S. so that new generations will have the opportunity to discover the
story of the Panama Canal as part of the American legacy to the world. Our staff
will also be conducting a teacher training day in some of the school districts where
the trunks have been placed.
Because these grants require a 50/50 cash match from the museum, donations
from museum members and friends are part of the life blood of the program. Won't
your family, friends or reunion class consider sponsoring a trunk (available for
$1,500) for a school or school district? Please contact Director Elizabeth Neily or
Education Curator Kalika Novoa.
Museum Issues Ten-Year Report
To signal the completion of the first ten years of operations, the museum has
compiled for its membership a ten-year report. The report highlights the significant
achievements and graphically captures some of the most important benchmarks
reflecting the progress that has been made by the museum during that period.
In order to minimize printing costs and postage, the report will be sent in an
upcoming eBlast to all members who have email addresses on file with the museum.
Those members for whom we do not have email addresses may submit a request in
writing or call the museum at (727) 394-9338.
Page 2 Panama Canal]Museum
Message from the President
In 2008, our tenth year of operation, we enjoyed our highest VI
level of income since the museum's inception ($161,927). This
was due, in large part, to a spike in dues and donations, strong
sales in our store and the success of our book of family histories,
the Write of Passage. However, we also experienced our highest .
level of expenses ($162,115), resulting in a very slight loss for
the year. While this loss may or may not signal a downward
trend, there is some cause for concern based on the state of the
economy and the prospect that, even if expenses stay steady,
income from dues, donations, store sales and other sources may
not be as easy to obtain this year as in the past.
One large donation of $25,000, from the Harry and
Mary Egolf Trust, and $17,500 in net proceeds from the
Write of Passage book were critical to our near break-even
result. We cannot always count on large one-time
donations or special fund-raising projects such as those, so we will have to be very prudent this year
in controlling our expenses.
Like many organizations trying to survive in these difficult economic times, the museum faces an
uncertain future; but we hope that the continuous support and generosity of our members will
continue, at least at prior years levels, and we on the board, the staff and volunteers will work even
harder to ensure that this important endeavor stays the course to preserve our American heritage.
We hope you enjoy this Spring issue of the Review in which we highlight the many events, activities
and people that your dues and donations help to support.
Joe Wood
The mission of the Panama Canal Museum is to document, interpret and articulate the role of the
United States in the history of Panama, with emphasis on the construction, operation, maintenance
and defense of the Panama Canal and the contributions to its success by people of all nationalities.
The vision of the Panama Canal Museum is to achieve national and international recognition as
the foremost source of historical information uniquely dedicated to documentation of the United
States' participation in the history of Panama.
Page 3 ..... j .Panama Canal Museum-
Board of Trustee Highlights
The Museum's Board of Trustees held its first meeting
of calendar year 2009 in March. The following actions
were taken:
S The Museum has initiated discussions with the University of Florida regarding the possibility of
entering into a collaborative relationship with that institution. Janet Romero, Associate Director
of Development and Alumni Affairs, University of Florida International Center and Center for
Latin American Studies, briefed the board on the benefits and opportunities of partnering to ensure
the preservation of our collection. The board authorized the president to pursue this initiative with
=> The board received a written report from G. H. Repple Investment Advisor, Fred Bremer,
regarding the museum's investment portfolio. Through investing heavily in bonds, the museum's
investments were not significantly affected by the economic downturn and the portfolio remains
=> The board's strategic plan and major gifts initiative were reviewed as the board prepares to embark
on a significant fund-raising campaign.
S The museum's website upgrade is still in progress and is considered by the board to be a top
priority to get it back on line.
=> The museum's reunion exhibit theme, Flora and Fauna, will highlight the tropical paradise of
Panama and the Canal Zone.
= The Golden Frog 2009 ornament and the Flora and Fauna 2010 calendar were given the green light
by the board.
=> The board heard a report by Barbara Marshall, co-chair of the joint Panama Canal
Society/Panama Canal Museum cultural seminars to be held at the reunion this year.
=> The board authorized a review of the museum's donor recognition program, including a review of
existing categories of donor levels, in order to simplify the Wall of Honor and enhance current
efforts to recognize donors.
> The board heard reports on educational outreach, grants, fundraising cruises, the Write of Passage
book project, the museum store, membership and operational and administrative actions.
=> The board authorized the treasurer to begin negotiations to seek an extension of the museum's
current lease.
4 Panama Canal Musm
.....*'" f-. f.-. .;:. :*.-': ."'. Wi. ",_
Museum Activities at the Panama Canal Society Reunion
Volunteers Needed
The Panama Canal Museum always needs volunteers, but especially at the annual Panama
Canal Society Reunion, being held this year July 1st-5th at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in
Orlando. While you work in the museum's exhibit room (Gatlin A2-A3) or at a vending table in
the vendors' room, there will be others on duty to help with anything that needs doing. Most who
help have such a good time they request to work every year. Please let us know if you can be one of
our volunteers this year.
Museum Exhibit Brings Back Memories of "Paradise"
Remember all the beautiful flowers growing
right outside your door in the Canal Zone?
Remember all the fruits and vegetables
available just down the street at the Chinese
Gardens? No gardening tools or supplies, but
still we had beautiful colors, shapes, and
varieties all year round. Flowering trees and
orchids, colorful foliage and stand-alone
flowers, fence climbers and bushes; they were
all visible from the comfort of our homes.
As pretty as these were to our eyes, they
attracted the eyes of butterflies as well. Every
bit as colorful and almost as varied as the
flowers, "nature's angels" fluttered about our
Canal Zone homes and gardens. You can see
examples of all these and more in the Panama
Canal Museum exhibit at this year's Society
"Jungle Jon" will be displaying a portion of
his vast butterfly collection in the exhibit room
as well. Everybody has seen and
admired the Royal Blues but
have you ever seen the "Royal
Whites?" They will be on
display. Ever see a half male,
half female butterfly? It will be
on display. Want to see a
"Balboa High School" and
"Cristobal High School"
butterfly? See (and buy!) one
this year.
Remember Cristobal High School Coach
Palumbo's insect collection? A portion of his
"Jungle Critters" collection will be on display as
a tribute to his love of nature and skill at
presenting jungle science to his students.
Coconut and rhino beetles, tarantulas and
water bugs, grasshoppers and poison dart frogs;
you'll see them all.
And speaking of frogs, wait 'till you see our
display of Panama's golden frog. It will
complement the cultural seminar, led by
Dustin Smith, on the international effort to
save this and other amphibians.
We had fun in the jungles catching those
bugs, butterflies and other critters; but we had
fun in other ways too. Take a look back in time
with us and view pictures of the "good old days"
and the things we did and places we went to for
fun in the sun in the Zone.
Square trees and golden
frogs, giant bugs and beautiful
butterflies, flowering plants and
hanging orchids, black sand
beaches and blue marlin fishing;
all lend themselves to an exotic,
romantic, beautiful place we
once called home-the Panama
Canal Zone. Come visit the
museum exhibit and see our
tribute to a place we once called
Page 4
Page 5
Museum Activities at the Panama Canal Society Reunion
Silent Auction Tradition Continues
The museum will once again be holding a silent auction Thursday through Saturday at the reunion. Stop
by the Museum Exhibit Room to view and bid on the treasures until just before 5:00 PM on Saturday, when the
bidding stops and top bidders can claim and pay for their items. Paintings; old books; gift certificates; bateas;
and all kinds of Panama Canal, Canal Zone, and Panama memorabilia will be waiting to tempt you! If you
have some treasures to donate for the auction, please contact the museum.
Joint Panama Canal Society/Panama Canal Museum
Cultural Seminars,
Wekiwa 4-5, Level 2)
Friday, July 3rd, 2-4 p.m.
The Conservation of Golden Frogs and
Other Amphibians of Panama
Featured Speaker: Dustin Smith,
Zoological Supervisor of Amazon and
Beyond, Miami MetroZoo
Currently, there are approximately 200 species of
amphibians found in Panama. Unfortunately, their
populations are declining at a rapid rate. Many of
these species, like the Panamanian golden frog, are
found nowhere else in the world. During Dustin
Smith's recent trips to Panama, he has searched for
and found facilities in Panama willing to dedicate
land, time, and money to conserve these important
amphibians. More recently, as a deadly fungus
spreads through the land, numerous golden frogs
have been saved (www.projectgoldenfrog.org) and
delivered to the Panama facilities for conservation.
Dustin Smith will share highlights from his recent
trips with photos and video regarding the amphibian
decline and will also share his findings about other
interesting species of fauna that are found in
Saturday, July 4th, 2-3:30 p.m.
Write of Passage: Stories of the American
Era of the Panama Canal
Featured Speakers: Panama Canal
Come hear some of the 106 family histories
contained in this wonderful collection of personal
reflections of life in Panama and the former Canal
Zone during the American Era of the Panama
Canal from 1904 to 1999. Many of the stories
document early Panama Canal construction day
work, life and family experiences, and more than 40
of the Write of Passage stories reference a Roosevelt
Medal recipient. There are many family photos
contained in the book along with a 30-page
pictorial journey through the many decades of the
American Era and a special section that honors the
Roosevelt Medal holders and descendants
mentioned throughout the book. Speakers sharing
a glimpse of their family life at this cultural seminar
are unnamed at the time of this writing and will be
introduced during the seminar. You will surely
step back in time and reminisce!
Panama Canal Museum
Page 6 Panama Canal Museum
Museum Activities at the Panama Canal Society Reunion
Shop at the Museum's Vending Tables
Again this year, the Panama Canal Museum will be offering the high quality items that have become a
mainstay of our vending tables at the reunion. Some of the new items, like our 2009 golden frog collectible
ornament, and 2010 flora and fauna calendar, will carry out the flora and fauna theme of one of our exhibits
this year. Last year's plush golden frogs will return, and we'll also have a 500-piece Panamanian golden frog
jigsaw puzzle. We hope to have copies of our most recent bestseller, Write of Passage: Stories of the American
Era of the Panama Canal, containing the fascinating family stories of a number of our Zonian friends. We'll
also have our prize-winning cookbook-Opening the Gates to Canal Cuisine-as well as some other recently
published books, including The Canal Builders: Making America's Empire at the Panama Canal, by Julie
Greene, and Seaway to the Future: American Social Visions and the Construction of the Panama Canal, by
Alexander Missal. The popular Panama Fever, by Matthew Parker, is now available in paperback. Bateas,
mugs, tumblers, coasters, maps, hats, t-shirts-these are a few more of our "favorite things" we want you to be
sure to check out!
Yearbooks Wanted!
The Panama Canal Museum has compiled a large library of yearbooks from the
Canal Zone and DoDDS-Panama schools. The collection interests visitors who
attended these schools and their descendants. Others use the books for research,
planning class reunions, or obtaining photographs. Thank you to all who have
helped us build this collection and to those who may be able to help us now.
As with most of our library, we are hoping to obtain three copies of each book.
We could use donations of the following books to enable us to have at least one
copy of each yearbook:
Conquistador (Canal Zone Junior College, Canal Zone College, Panama Canal
College): 1950, 1951, and from 1972.
El Pacifico (Paraiso High School): 1962-1964, 1966
Zonian (Balboa High School): 1916-1919, 1923, 1937, 1965, 1988, 1999
Cougar's Pride (Curundu Junior High School, Curundu Middle School): 1975, 1977, 1980, 1992, 1997, 1998
Yearbooks from any of the elementary or Latin American schools; Canal Zone High School Gatun
Board Mebe Prfl Bob Zumbado: ~WrTR ~T
Robert F. Zumbado, born in San Jose, Costa
Rica, in 1936, lived in the Canal Zone from 1944 to
1955. His mother, Margaret Clark Wallace, worked
at the U.S. Embassy in Panama and his stepfather,
Alan S. Wallace, retired as a Panama Canal pilot in
1956. Bob, a 1955 graduate of Balboa High School
and The University of Florida in 1960, is a retired
U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and is
currently the Panama Canal Museum's exhibit
committee chairman. He has two daughters, Sandra
Z. Herbert, a special education teacher in Huber
Heights, OH, and Deborah L. Zumbado, the
controller for Surgical Information Systems in
Alpharetta, GA.
In support of a dream of BHS '55 classmates and
lifelong friends, Chuck Hummer and Joe Wood, and
a small band of other loyal Zonians, Bob became a
founding member of the museum in July 1998.
Following the example of Lew Taber at the first
founder's meeting, Bob pledged $1,000 to help jump
start the museum project and has continued to be a
generous donor. Over the last ten years Bob has
handcrafted many wooden chivitas and Panama
clocks which, through raffling and auctioning, have
added to the museum's treasury. Other products of
Bob's handiwork are pedestals, display cases and
rolling carts upon which are mounted many of the
museum's artifacts on display. When asked, Bob said
that the thing for which he's most thankful to the
museum is the opportunity to establish and display
the Military Honor Roll to recognize and thank
Zonians for their military service to the country
Bob Zumbado is shown holding two items he has made for past
museum auctions and raffles: a clock in the shape of the isthmus of
Panama and a chiva.
during the American Era of the Panama Canal, 1904-
More than his own efforts in support of the
museum, Bob takes pride in the accomplishments of
his wife, Marguerite Neal Zumbado, BHS '54, and
good friend, Paul Glassburn, BHS '55, both of whom
he brought into the museum knowing they would
work tirelessly for the cause. Marguerite has
managed the silent auction for the last three years,
making it a major fund raising event and laying the
ground work for its continued success with a written
operating guide for future auctions. Paul, in addition
to serving as the museum's treasurer for seven years,
has played a major role in every facet of onsite
museum operations as well as Panama Canal
Museum reunion operations. Bob's biggest wish is
that all former Zonians would step forward and join
the museum to commemorate and preserve the rich
history of the United States in the Panama Canal.
The title of the Jozef J. Goethals book recently donated to the Panama Canal Museum is:
Goethals: 880-1900; The Story of the Goethals Story
An error in the title of the book appeared in the Fall/Winter issue of The Panama Canal Museum Review.
Voute Profil PeggyHf
Peggy's active affiliation with the Panama Canal
Museum began in 2006 when she organized a fund
raiser on Florida's east coast, now known as Space
Coast Bunco. She joined the
museum staff in the fall of 2007 as
editor of the Musings and the
following year accepted the
challenge of producing the
museum's biannual issue of the
Panama Canal Museum Review.
A Roosevelt Medal holder
descendant, Peggy was born in
Gorgas Hospital, Ancon, Canal
Zone, on October 19, 1950, to Hugh
and Anne Edwards Hale. As a child .
she lived in the Canal area towns of -' -. '
Gamboa, Diablo, La Boca and '
Margarita. She is a third generation
graduate of Cristobal High School; after graduating
in 1968, she attended Drake College in Fort
Lauderdale, FL, and Canal Zone College. In 1970 she
married Dennis Huff; they have one daughter, Diana
R. Grimison, and four grandchildren. As a housewife
and mother, Peggy enjoyed boating, bowling, and
volunteering in the community. She was active in the
Canal Zone civic council and scouting and was a
certified coach in the junior bowling program. She
received an associate of science degree from Panama
Canal College in 1984. In 1989, Peggy was a crew
member in the "Ultimate Most," which took first
place in the patch boat category in the ocean-to-
ocean cayuco race.
Peggy's professional career began in 1984 with
the Civil Engineering Squadron at Howard AFB. In
1988 she transferred to the Army where she worked
briefly for the maintenance division at Corozal before
being awarded a Department of Defense budget
analyst internship. As a journeyman analyst she
worked for United States Army South, specializing in
U.S. National Guard, Army Reserve and joint service
nation building training exercises in Central and
South America, managing budgets
in excess of six million dollars. As a
member of the USARSO Civil
Military Operations staff, she
organized fund raisers for
humanitarian relief programs in the
interior of Panama. Peggy especially
enjoyed flying in military helicopters
into areas where no roads existed to
deliver food, school supplies, sports
equipment and white elephant items
.. to needy interior families. She
7. terminated her government career
,- .- when U.S. forces left Panama.
Peggy and Dennis moved to
Merritt Island, FL, in 1999. She joined the Merritt
Island Woman's Club when she saw the club's "Keep
Brevard Beautiful" sign on the side of the road; she
participates with the club in "trash bash" events
throughout the county and is the club's treasurer.
She enjoys gourmet cooking, bowls and is a member
of two quilt guilds. As an EduQuilter, she was a
sewing buddy for a fifth grade class of beginning
quilters; especially rewarding was the enthusiasm
shown by the young men in the class. She donates
isolette quilts to neonatal units in Brevard County
hospitals and lap quilts to the Brevard Hospice
program. Peggy has won three blue ribbons in the
Florida Federation of Women's Clubs annual arts
competition for her needlework items.
Peggy enjoys the time that she has spent as a
Panama Canal Museum volunteer; especially her
involvement with the museum's book project, Write
of Passage, and to sponsoring the annual Space Coast
Bunco fund raiser.
,Panama Canal Museum
- -.. . :* :'* ._ ,; .. . ; -. -. "_ : i, -
Roosevelt Medal Descendants Show Up All Over the U.S.
The Williamsburg Farmer's Market in Williamsburg,
VA, was the recent meeting place for Pat Steiner Kearns,
Vice President, Panama Canal Museum, a volunteer at the
weekly farmer's market, and Fritz Wildt, a vendor, who
sells excellent bison meat he raises on his farm in Virginia.
Pat and Fritz began discussing Panama Canal
construction after Pat, a Roosevelt Medal holder
descendant, told Fritz that she would be attending a
Panama Canal Museum meeting the following week.
Fritz asked about the museum, telling Pat that he had an
uncle who worked on building the Canal. Within a few
weeks, Fritz brought a recently acquired medal to the
market to show Pat and see if it was an authentic
Roosevelt Medal. Fritz had recently inherited an old
chest of drawers from his aunt, and within the chest of
drawers he found the medal he is showing Pat in the
It was difficult to read but it was indeed a Roosevelt
Medal, No. 6997, and had been given to George C.
Thurgood for two years of service. George was married
to Agnes Travers (Fritz's aunt). Agnes was a member of
the Panama Canal Society for years and continued
membership when she lived in the U.S. After some
discussion, Pat provided Fritz with the name and address
of Dorn Thomas, our museum trustee who does extensive
research for members and produces the Roosevelt Medal
certificates we sell to family members. Dorn has been
very involved for years on this project, and his work is
appreciated by thousands of descendants of construction
The Roosevelt Medal was issued as a result of an
executive order dated June 23, 1907, by President
Theodore Roosevelt. It recognizes service by American
citizens on the canal project who completed at least two
years of satisfactory continuous service with the canal
construction force, including the Panama Railroad
Company, between May 4, 1904, and December 31, 1914.
Artist F.B. Millet, who died in the sinking of the RMS
Titanic, designed the Roosevelt Medal. It was struck in
bronze at the U.S. Mint, Philadelphia, PA, from dies
prepared by Victor B. Brenner of New York City. The
U.S. Congress approved a special appropriation to mint
Pat Steiner Kearns & Fritz Wildt with Roosevelt Medal.
the Roosevelt Medal. Of the 7,423 emblems struck, 7,391
were issued; the others were kept in reserve as
replacements for originals lost by the holders.
An inch and one-half in diameter, the obverse of the
medal features a reproduction of a three-quarter bust of
President Roosevelt, sculptured by Millet, with the
inscription around the border: "FOR TWO YEARS
On the reverse there is a bird's-eye view of Gaillard Cut,
with steamers passing between Gold Hill and Contractor's
Hill. The now familiar Canal Zone motto "THE LAND
DIVIDED, THE WORLD UNITED" is inscribed on the
horizon. The legend "Presented by the President of the
United States" is around the border, and on the bottom
the coat of arms of the Republic of Panama and the name
of the recipient are imprinted.
Page 9.,
Panama Canal Museum
Red, White and Blue Champions
In January of this year, the museum received a letter from
Jeanne Stough, asking if it could locate a documentary film that
was made by a Hollywood film crew that went to Panama in the
late 1930's. The film showcased Henry J. Grieser's Red, White
and Blue Troupe-the world famous swimming teams from the
Canal Zone that entertained troops and VIP's who visited
Panama prior to WWII. Previous efforts over the years to obtain
a copy of this film never produced results.
Jeanne remembers seeing the film and mentioned that it
featured troupe members diving off the booms of the giant
cranes and off the locks walls in the Canal. Upon receipt of this
request, the museum team sprang into action and, after some
extensive and dedicated research, beginning with Google and
following up with the Library of Congress, UCLA's Television
and Film Archive and Paramount Pictures, the film was finally
The Library of Congress was the first to respond. It did not
have the film, but sent us the Dialogue of the Red, White and
Blue Champions, produced in 1938 by Grantland Rice for his
GRS Sportlights Series. It is reprinted in this issue for the
enjoyment of our readers. The Library stated that the actual film
is housed in the UCLA Television and Film Archive.
We then contacted the Archive and were told that while
they do have the film, Paramount Pictures owns the copyright
and would have to give UCLA permission to reproduce it.
Assuming permission is granted, the film would have to be
transferred from film to tape at a cost of $400 plus dubbing
charges. At the time of this writing, Paramount had not yet
responded. However, unbeknownst to Jeanne Stough and the
Museum, Jeanne's cousin, Jim Kenealy, after learning of its
whereabouts, surprised everyone by obtaining a copy of the film
from UCLA! A great ending to the saga of the missing film, and
we are grateful to Jim for making this happen.
Jeanne, whose sisters, Babe and Sissy, were members of the
troupe, says, "I swam in many of Coach Grieser's formations,
but was never good enough to be awarded that prized RW&B
patch." Some of the members of the RW&B Troupe, including
many who appeared in the film, were Eddie and Jim Albin;
Willie Allen; Ted Bailey; Wallace Baldwin; Ruth and Kelly
Bauman; Roy Boggs; Elaine Bohan; Dollie Bowen; Alice
Brayton; Henry and Mateel Brewerton; Jim Bunker; Bill
Burge; Caleb Clement; Tom Connors; Al Cooper; Mike
Dailey; Jim DesLondes; Paul Disharoon; David "Dabby"
Dixon; James Dodson; Rita Driscoll; Helen and Marni
Dryden; Virginia "Tede" and Lorna Duff; Roy Dwelle; Clyde
Ellis; Florence Ferguson; Marguerite (Babe) and Marilyn
(Sissy) Flynn; Genevieve Foley; John Foley; Alan Ford; Helen
Fuller; Mary Alice Garcia; Issy Gibson; Betty Golden; Larry
Golden; Harry Granberry; William H. Grant; Pete Green;
Richard "Dick" Grimison; Betty Haldeman; Gayle Haldeman;
George Haldeman; Joyce Haldeman; Tharon Haldeman; Bill
Hall; Hayden Hern; Elizabeth Hirsh; June Holcomb; Bill
Hollowell; Vera Howell; Audrey Hudson; Helene Hudson;
Vonna Hambelton Huldtquist; Jack Humphrey; Ellen Foley
Husum; P. Bill Hutchings; Roberta "Bobby" Jacques; Charles
Jackson; Thomas Jacome; Jim Kenealy; Dot Kalar Kennedy;
Angela Klemmer; Anna Knapp; Mary Leach; Pat Leach;
Barbara LeBrun; Mary Jo Lowe; Joe Ludlum; Libby Lundy;
Opal Lundy; Alma Mann; Billie Bowen Martin; Emily
McGahhey; Adrienne Muller; Earl Mullins; Bob O'Donnell;
Evelyn Pearl; Clarence Peterson; Lucille Pierce; Howard
Ploesell; Norine Rathgeber; Helen Reynolds; Jeanne Rocker;
Tom Roth; August "Augie" Schwindeman; Bert Shelton;
Virginia Stamme; Betty Brooks Stergion; Ed Sullivan; Alice
Taber; Cito Towery; Henrietta Wilson Trickk; Emma
VanClief; Helen Van Clief; Frances Farrell Viglielmo; Harry
Walbridge; Jack and Mack Walbridge; Phydillis Walbridge;
Bill Wedwaldt; George Whaler; Peggy White; Gene White;
Eddie Wood; Carol Russon Wright; Andy Van Siclen; Peggy
White; Frances Brown Whitlock; Mary Sullivan Young; Billy,
Phyllis and Isabelle Zemer.
Over the years other Canal Zone swimmers and divers were
part of Coach Grieser's teams: Richard DeTore, the father of
museum trustee Gerry DeTore, who celebrates his 100th
birthday in August, remembers swimming with Eddie Wood
and against Johnnie Weismuller. He was on a relay team of
Red, White and Blue Troupe members that lost an exhibition
race to "Tarzan," who swam all four legs himself
Perhaps the most famous of the troupe members was Alan
Ford, who will always be known as the swimmer who finally
broke Weismuller's 16 year-old record in the 100 yard freestyle,
clocking 50.6 to Weismuller's 51 flat. Thirteen months later, on
March 18, 1944, Ford gained immortality by becoming the first
man in the world to swim 100 yards in under 50 seconds.
"He never wrote me to congratulate me or made an effort to
meet me," Ford said in an interview last year with Bruce Wigo,
the chief executive of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
"The only time I spoke to him since meeting him in the Canal
Zone when I was a kid was when I was inducted in 1966. When
I was introduced, someone let out a loud 'Boo!' It was
Weismuller. Everyone laughed when they saw who it was. But
I'm not sure he was joking."
Ford passed away on November 3, 2008.
Donors who have made gifts to the museum as a tribute to
his memory include 222 Slim's, Margaret Bivin, Michael and
Katharine Bowlus, Constance Breidenbach, Thomas and
Marie Cruisinberry, George and Nancy Ehrman, Malcolm and
Marilyn Foster, Catherine and Ronald Gogas, Walter and
Louise Griggs, Arthur and Ruth Haas, Roy and Dot Kennedy,
Marjorie McNair, Gertrude Miegel, Carroll and Virginia
Wilson, and Virginia Yeager.
The museum is interested in knowing the names of any
other members of the Red, White and Blue Troupe. Any
information you may have will be greatly appreciated.
Photographs are also welcome as we try to capture the history of
this magnificent group of Canal Zone swimmers.
Page 10
Pariama.Canal Museum
Dialogue: Red, White and Blue Champions
Hello everyone. This is Ted Husing away down in
Panama where we proudly present the famed Red, White and
Blue aquatic troupe of the Canal Zone. A most unique
organization of swimming and diving stars developed by their
noted coach and director Henry Greiser. First we take the
small tots all under six years of age. Sons and daughters from
Army, Navy and civilian homes in the Panama Canal Zone.
Coach Greiser banishes water fear by having them splash their
faces, blow bubbles and stick their hands under water and
soon they have unconsciously learned the first requisite of a
good swimmer-proper water breathing. There are two
reasons for the splendid showing of these amphibians in the
Canal Zone. The abundance of year round warm water and
their remarkable coach who for twenty years has been taking
kiddies right from the nursery to the diving board.
Here comes three year old Dabby Dixon, master of fancy
and assorted leaps. He has his own ideas and his own
springboard. What a man! Good splashing Dabby. Young
man I think you're going places. Those older girls of five and
six are much further advanced. That's a nice somersault!
Don't push sister. Jump! These kids are supervised and
watched but not instructed. They build up their own
confidence. With this confidence and spirit a coach can turn
out champions in factory lots. Just like a lot of water bugs and
they help each other to the ladder. A double dive is tried. Not
bad for six year olds. From so much swimming they take on
the characteristics of a lot of frogs. When eight years of age
they're ready for the higher platform and what's more they
love it. Nice dive kiddies-thanks! Now for the older boys
and girls who use the entire Panama Canal for their
swimming and diving playground.
The spillwater over Madden Dam is a pleasing place to
start the day. The famous Culebra Cut which was dug
through the continental divide, the backbone connecting
North and South America. When a giant ocean liner passes
through these youngsters like a lot of porpoises, love to
measure strokes with the seagoing greyhound. Uncle Sam has
huge cranes, derricks and dredges always available for any
emergency to keep the canal open. This million dollar crane
makes a perfect diving platform with elevations varying from
forty to sixty feet. Not much like the old swimming hole but
for that matter these youngsters are not like the boys and girls
of Grandma's day-they're twentieth Century dolphins and
mermaids. Real aquatic stars. Not a pay load but a pretty
shovelful. The giant bucket can scoop twenty-five tons at a
time from the bottom, which is sixty feet below the surface. It
is always ready-team up-to dig in where some new
landslide may endanger blocking the channel. The water
nymphs seem never to tire trying old dives from new places.
The fascination of watching the ships go thru the locks is
no novelty to these girls. They have different ideas. A cruise
ship means fun so they scamper along the side of the locks to
where a boat is tied up and then by mass attack overcome
some good-natured ship's officer and get a hitch-hike thru the
canal. It's not the boat ride the girls want but a little water fun
in the ship's swimming pool. Sort of a busman's holiday. As
this South American liner passes from the West Coast to the
East Coast the girls folic and amuse the passengers.
The chambers of the giant Pedro Miguel locks make a
perfect swimming pool. A great spot for practicing team
swimming with a 1000 yard straightaway and a width of 110
feet. They won't scrape bottom as it's eighty feet deep. The
twin brothers, Jack and Mack Wallbridge, are the troupe's
fastest swimmers. These lads are only in their teens but you're
going to hear a lot more about these speedboys because
they're coming champions. It makes little difference which
wins because you couldn't tell them apart anyhow. The
powerful electric mules that haul the giant liners thru the
locks make perfect moving platforms. Looks like a lot of
sport. Atop the rivet-studded gate of Pedro Miguel Lock.
This holds back a fifty foot wall of water measuring four
million cubic feet. It makes a perfect platform for the divers
of the troupe. Where could you beat this? The gate is steady
as a rock-fifty feet of air to fly through and sixty feet of water
before you strike bottom. Now a perfect jack-knife dive. A
one and a half takes more than ability. It takes a whale of a lot
Here's a pretty mermaid in a pretty back flip. A twin
swan by two daring misses. We repeat in slow motion and
look at their shadows on the lock. It looks mighty high but it's
too late to change your minds girls-you'd better go on. Only
high school girls but at fancy diving they are post graduates.
Flight diving in the beautiful now modernistic pool of the
Panama government. A flight execution of the difficult one
and a half. Almost every celebrity who has ever visited
Panama has been entertained by this remarkable troupe of
aquatic youngsters. Wouldn't you be? Their swan song is the
swan dive. So long girls-see you at the next Olympics.
Page 11
Educational Outreach
On February 25, 2009, the Panama Canal Museum presented a Museum in a Trunk to the
Hillsborough, FL, school district. The trunk was placed at Liberty Middle School, which has a strong
social studies department. The District's social studies supervisor, Martha Ford, who made the site
selection, lived in the Canal Zone, attended Balboa
Elementary, and even participated in the cayuco races.
Additionally, James Ammirati, the principal of Liberty
S- Middle School, is the son of Frank Ammirati, who grew up
Lin the Canal Zone. James's mother also happens to be a
principal in the Hillsborough County School District.
Kalika Novoa, Education Curator, and Elizabeth Neilly,
Director, made the presentation to the school. They were
Pictured left to right: Phil Cagno, Liberty Middle School Social Studies delightfully surprised with the presence of two eighth grade
Department Head; Kalika Novoa, Panama Canal Museum Education classes led by U.S. history teacher, Simon Meshbesher.
Curator; James Ammirati, Liberty Middle School Principal; and Martha
Ford, Hillsborough County Schools Social Studies Supervisor. Kalika talked to the students about the contents of the trunk
and how to use them. Then the students gathered to have their picture taken holding items from the
trunk that interested them.
The trunk sponsor was an anonymous donor to the Panama Canal Museum.
Change Made in 2010 Panama Canal Museum Cruise Plans
Plans for the 2010 museum fundraising cruise to the Caribbean
and Panama have changed-for the better, of course! The original -
plans were canceled by the cruise line, and now we will be cruising on
Celebrity's new ship, Equinox (scheduled to debut in August 2009).
Fine dining, magnificent venues, spacious staterooms, and award-
winning service are promised on this 11-night cruise, which leaves
from Fort Lauderdale on January 25, 2010. A special excursion is being planned in Panama. We hope
you'll study the flyer enclosed in our spring mailing and join us for this memorable cruise. For every
cabin we reserve, Travel Leaders will donate $100 to the Panama Canal Museum. Please call the
museum or Travel Leaders (1-888-652-1365) for more information.
Museum Receives Original Al Sprague Painting
Recently, the Panama Canal Museum received a donation of an Al Sprague original painting of the
Tivoli Hotel. Although the museum has a number of his prints, receiving an original painting is very
special, indeed.
When the donor, Katherine Lessiack, of
Kerrville, TX, gave the painting to the museum,
she related how she and her husband, the late
Robert Lessiack, happened to have that painting.
It originally hung in the Washington, DC, office of
the Panama Canal Company, which was
responsible for representing the Canal's interests
in legislative, financial and political matters in
dealings with Congress, the White House, the State
Department, the Pentagon and other U.S.
agencies. Bob's work as budget officer for the
Panama Canal Company in the Canal Zone would
take him to Washington on business once or twice a year. While there, he would visit the PCC
Washington office and always admire the Al Sprague painting of the Tivoli Hotel.
In 1975, as Bob was about to retire as deputy comptroller with 30 years of PCC service, he went to
work at his office at the Administration Building in Balboa Heights and was greeted by Bitsy Frensley
Atkinson, telling him that she was glad he was there as Hazel Murdock, the assistant to the secretary
(Merrill Whitman) at the Washington office, had arranged to call him when he was expected to be in
the office. The call came through, and Hazel told Bob that since he had always been so interested in
and appreciative of the Al Sprague painting of the Tivoli Hotel there in the Washington office, she was
going to give it to him as a retirement present. Because Bob and Katherine (who also worked for the
Panama Canal Company doing budget and other work for the Personnel Bureau and Executive
Planning Staff) were still planning where they would settle after retirement, it was about a year later
that the painting was sent from Washington, DC, to their home in Kerrville, Texas.
Unfortunately, Bob passed away in 1983, but the painting remained there in their home with
Katherine until just a few months ago. At that time Katherine decided: "The best place for the
painting is at the Panama Canal Museum." All who have seen the painting since its arrival at the
museum agree wholeheartedly with her good judgment! Thank you so much, Katherine, for donating
the painting and telling us a little of its history.
Attendees Enjoy Museum's Annual Pot Luck Luncheon
Barbara Peterson's
grandchildren and Diane
Peterson Pearson's
children with their friend:
Kristle, Tim, and
Michelle Pearson with
Nick Dowell. They were a
wonderful help with
anything that needed
Treasurer Paul Glassburn and Frank Leves, a recent spon-
sor of a Panama Canal Museum in a Trunk, look pleased
with the state of the museum--or maybe it's the delicious
luncheon that spurred the smiles!
Barbara Peterson, the
museum's Secretary, giving out
tickets for the drawings.
Cheryl Peterson Russell and her sister, Jayne Peterson
Owens, have a chance to visit with Marian Evans
Blair, whom they knew in the Canal Zone years ago.
At the potluck luncheon, Gerry DeTore, Dick Cunningham, Paul
Glassburn, and Mario Calleja adjourn to Mario's trailer for a few
minutes to discuss plans for making it easier to load, transport,
and unload everything the museum takes to the Reunion each year
in the trailer. The modular units Mario is planning intrigued the
others, and more good ideas surfaced in the discussion.
Mickey Walker Fitzgerald, Emily Bliss, Carole Walker Miller, and Kathy Egolf
are pleased with the special presentation of a Panama Canal Society Roosevelt
Medal pin that they arranged for the museum to present to Mickey and Carol's
Aunt Emily. Emily is the widow of Curtis Bliss, who was the son of Roosevelt
Medal holder, Gerald DeLeo Bliss, Sr., Postmaster in the Canal Zone, 1905-1934.
February 14, the day of the potluck lunch, was also Curt and Emily's anniversary,
and the date that Curt passed away in 2005. At the luncheon Mickey, Emily, and
Carole each told a bit of their family history as part of the Write of Passage
Faith Brundage, Muriel Whitman, Frank Scruggs, and Director
Elizabeth Neily pause for the photographer.
Space Coast Panazonians Sponsor Annual Museum Fund Raiser
Space Coast Bunco, an annual fund raiser for the Panama
Canal Museum, was held at the Dog 'n Bone Pub in Cocoa
Village, FL, on April 18th. Thirty-six players attended and
enjoyed an afternoon of fast paced competition. Five new
players joined the group-Amber Lugering, Bob and Jeanne
Rupp, Judi McCollough, and Suzie Burke. Eight players
were recognized as original group members, having attended -
every year since the group began playing in 2006.
This year's Space Coast Panazonian donation to the
museum puts their total at over $3,300; they are in their third Pictured above: Suzie Burke, Jim Reid, Amber Lugering, Melinda
Niemeyer, Wanda Ewell, Pam Reid, Joan McCollough, Judi
transit on the Museum's Wall of Honor. McCollough, Kay Hamilton and Christina Volonnino.
A sandwich sale, sponsored by PALS (Panama Amigos Lending Support), was held in conjunction with
Space Coast Bunco IV, to support the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.
SCB IV champions are Nikki Meyer, Connie Stoakley,
Sheryl Alberga and Jeanne Rupp. Runners-up were Pam and
Jim Reid, Wanda Ewell and Peggy Huff. Bunco awards went
to Louise Hunt, Nikki Meyer, Janet Watkins, Leanne
Watkins, Bob Rupp, Richard Lemon, Suzie Burke and Jim
Reid. Winning the award for traveling the farthest to attend
the event was museum volunteer Judi McCollough. The
50/50 opportunity drawing was won by Suzie Burke. Door
prizes donated by Joe and Bev Wood, Kathy Egolf, and an
Nikki Meyer, Connie Stoakley, Sheryl Alberga, Jeanne Rupp anonymous donor were won by Judi McCollough, Leanne
Watkins, Amber Lugering, Suzie Burke, Edie Willoughby and Jerri Farnsworth.
Richard Lemon (left), owner of the Dog 'n Bone Pub and our event
host, waits his turn while Jim Reid (right) counts the scoring dice for
Bob Rupp.
Judi McCollough, Tinker Cooper and Sue Fisher
Space Coast Bunco V is scheduled for April 17, 2010
Larry Siegel
Carl Berg
Southern California
Joan De Grummond
Tina Cartotto Ressa
Alice Latimer
Miami, Florida
Hindi Diamond
Ormond Beach, Florida
Mickey Walker Fitzgerald
Pensacola, Florida
Barbara Egolf Dedeaux
Barbara Vose-Kulig
Sarasota, Florida
Barbara Peterson
firstname.lastname@example.com net
Tampa Bay, Florida
Muriel Whitman
Atlanta, Georgia
Marie Drake
Pacific Northwest
Dan & Pat Nellis
chdarwin9581 @toast net
Gordon Davis
Gdavis l @comcast.net
Kerrville. Texas
Jo-Anne Fields
Joanne firstname.lastname@example.com
Seattle, Washington
Marilynn Abreau Stevens
Collections Committee Request
The museum's collection has
experienced such growth in the first ten
years of our operation that storage space
is now at a premium. Consequently, we
are asking that donations to the
collection be limited to historically
significant items, such as artifacts from
the construction period, original
documents, unique photos, hardware
manufactured exclusively for canal
operations, rare publications, etc. If in
doubt about an item's historical value
when you are considering donating one
or more to the museum, please contact
the museum with a brief description of
the items you'd like to donate.
7985 113th Street, Suite 100
Seminole, Florida 33772
Tel. (727)-394-9338
Fax (727)-394-2737
Museum Hours:
Monday-Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
This newsletter is published by the Panama Canal Museum for
its members, donors and benefactors. Additional copies can be
obtained by writing or mailing the Museum. The Museum is
staffed by a museum director, two part-time clerical assistants
and volunteers who graciously donate their time and skills to
carry on the work of the Museum. We acknowledge and thank
our many benefactors, donors, volunteers and friends who
continue to assist this important project.
Board of Trustees
President Emeritus
Charles W. Hummer, Jr
Joseph J. Wood
Vice President
Patricia Steiner Kearns
Executive Vice President
Katherine E. Egolf
Barbara D. Peterson
Paul D. Glassburn
Buildings & Facilities
Shawn Rupp
Collections Committee
Gerry DeTore
Exhibit Committee
Robert F. Zumbado
Finance & Development
Larry Siegel
Information Technology
J. Patrick Coffey
Marketing &
Membership Committee
Oral History
Richard D. Morgan
Store Committee
Katherine Egolf
Joey Zornes
Dick Cunningham
Frank Stevens Hawks
Robert J. Karrer, Jr.
Barbara Bonanno
Paul Morgan, Ph.D.
J. Dorn Thomas
Board of Advisors
Robert K. Dawson
William R. Gianelli
Thomas R. Goethals
Walter P. Leber
D. P. McAuliffe
Robert McMillan


text: Save The Bay seal tours and nature cruises prove that summer isn't the only time to enjoy the Bay. Take a 90-minute scenic ride down the Pawcatuck River into Little Narragansett Bay for the peaceful views of beautiful fall foliage and glimpses of winter harbor seal visitors as they rest on rocks and shorelines. Save The Bay provides binoculars, and expert guides offer an educational view of our winter marine visitors and the habitat they love. $17 Save The Bay members, seniors and children aged 3-12; $22 non-members. Check the website provided for specific dates and times along with the option to pre-register.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
On the 14th anniversary of the terrorist attack that occurred on September 11, 2001, the people of the City of Amsterdam, New York came together. Politics, animosity, religious and cultural differences were set aside so our community could remember family members, first responders and volunteers who were injured or tragically and needlessly lost their lives in that horrific event. The ceremony was also a source of consolation for friends and family members of the victims who carry that grief to this day.
A piece of the fallen World Trade Center was erected as a remembrance in Amsterdam's Riverlink Park. It was a solemn occasion consisting of familiar rituals, song and music designed to console those who are still suffering.
A second Soul Relieving Ceremony was held the next day by the Buddhist World Peace and Health and Guang Huan Mi Zong organizations utilizing the cultural and religious rituals familiar to the Chinese group. They prayed for the injured, lost and those who suffered on 9/11/2001.


text:
On Thursday's edition of "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart opened the program with a wide-ranging assault on the media's obsession with the question of what's "fair game" in political discourse.
Stewart started the segment with a clip from Thursday's episode of MSNBC's early-bird political talk show "Morning Joe," in which host Joe Scarborough slammed a New York Times story on Mitt Romney's opulent La Jolla, Calif. home and argued that the newspaper would never take a close look at the opulent home of, say, former Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. (Alas, according to Scarborough's co-host Willie Geist, the Times ran many stories on Kerry's tremendous wealth and lavish digs).
Many media figures and political pundits have asked: is it "fair game" to go after Romney's wealth? What exactly does "fair game" mean, anyway?
U.S. & World
"Fair game is an issue the media seems to be talking about," Stewart said. He jokingly asked if it's "fair to judge job applicants by prior work experience."
But ultimately, Stewart concluded, asking what's "fair game" in modern political culture is nothing but a "time-killing circle jerk."
But then again, Stewart said, "even circle-jerks end with some kind of tangible conclusion."
Check out the full clip below via Comedy Central:


text:
|Point in Direction ()
point in direction ()
The Point in Direction () block is a Motion block and a Stack block. The block points its sprite in the specified direction; this rotates the sprite.
The blocks use the 360 degrees in a circle. The Default Value is 90 and can be replaced by any Number (360+x displays the same than 0+x).
There has been some confusion involving the number system due to the fact that 0 is straight up, rather than off to the right (the default direction) or off to the left (as in a protractor), and that it uses a -180 to 180 circle rather than a normal 360 degree circle. Despite complaints,[1] no changes have been made.
Example Uses
If a sprite must be turned and its direction is not known, this block can be used.
Some common uses for the Point in Direction () block:
- Flipping a sprite
when I receive [Flip v] point in direction ((direction) + (180))
- Choosing where a cannon points
point in direction (answer)
- Pointing vehicles towards a destination
point in direction (wanted destination)
- Main article: List of Block Workarounds
The block can be replicated with the following code:
turn right ((wanted direction) - (direction)) degrees
See Also
Motion Blocks
Move () Steps • Turn () Degrees • Go to () • Go to X: () Y: () • Glide () Secs to () • Glide () Secs to X: () Y: () • Point in Direction () • Point Towards ()• Change X by () • Set X to () • Change Y by () • Set Y to () • If on Edge, Bounce • Set Rotation Style () • X Position • Y Position • DirectionMore blocks...


text:
Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 3 full review
Ashampoo Photo Optimizer is a simple, inexpensive photo editing program that does a decent, but not stellar, job correcting and enhancing pictures. Although its results will satisfy some home users, its tools are quite limited.
The Ashampoo Photo Optimizer interface is highly accessible; most people will get right to work on their pictures without bothering to glance at the Help menu. On the left side of the screen is a Windows Explorer-like tree, displaying all the drives and folders connected to your computer and your network.
When you click on a folder that has photos in it, those are displayed as thumbnails at the top of the screen. However, the only file format it supports is JPEG. In fact, when we clicked a folder that contained only TIFFs, the program froze, and we had to use Windows Task Manager to close it. Once you have JPEG thumbnails displayed, click on one to open that picture in the active editing window.
Tools are limited to Optimize, Color Correction, Effects and Red Eye Correction. The Optimize is an auto tool that analyzes your photo and applies whatever corrections the software feels it needs. It can also be applied to a group of photos at once. In most cases, Optimize did an okay job of brightening dull, low-contrast images, but it failed with some hue shifts.
The Color Correction tool is misnamed, because its sliders are only for Brightness, Contrast and Gamma - not a single traditional color correction tool in sight. The Effects are limited to Sepia, Invert Colors, and Greyscale.
The Redeye tool is simple enough to use; select the area where the red eye is, and the program will do the rest. You can also rotate your picture in 90 degree increments, left or right. That's it. There isn't even a crop tool. On the plus side, Ashampoo Photo Optimizer saves your original photo, before applying edits. So, you can Undo any changes to your picture even months later.
NEXT: our expert verdict >>
Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 3: Specs
- Windows XP/Vista/7
- 10MB hard disk space


text:
WASHINGTON — President Trump declared angrily on Thursday that he was the victim of a witch hunt, and all but contradicted his deputy attorney general on the firing of the F.B.I. director, in an extensive denial of any collusion between his campaign and Russia.
Mr. Trump used a chaotic White House news conference with Colombia's leader to directly confront a weeklong barrage of criticism and questions in a political storm that he said was dividing the nation. He also conspicuously distanced himself from aides like his former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, in repeating his claim that Moscow and its agents had not secretly assisted his campaign.
"I respect the move," Mr. Trump said of the Justice Department's decision on Wednesday to appoint a special counsel to investigate the matter. "But the entire thing has been a witch hunt."
"And there is no collusion between, certainly, myself and my campaign — but I can always speak for myself — and the Russians," he said. "Zero."
Mr. Trump made his comments while standing alongside Colombia's president, Juan Manuel Santos. As he dug in his heels, Mr. Trump further muddied his explanation of why he dismissed the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey — and in doing so, offered a different version of events from one given to senators just hours earlier by the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein.
In that meeting, Mr. Rosenstein outlined his decision to appoint Robert S. Mueller III, a former F.B.I. director, as special counsel. Several senators emerged afterward to say Mr. Rosenstein had told them he was certain that the president was going to dismiss Mr. Comey, even before he wrote a memo critical of the director's performance.
But at his news conference, Mr. Trump reverted to the White House's original claim that he was primarily responding to Mr. Rosenstein's recommendation to dismiss Mr. Comey. The president had later claimed that he had moved against Mr. Comey in part because of his frustration over the F.B.I.'s handling of the Russia investigation.
"Director Comey was very unpopular with most people," Mr. Trump said on Thursday. "When I made that decision, I actually thought that it would be a bipartisan decision. Because you look at all of the people on the Democratic side, not only the Republican side, that were saying such terrible things about Director Comey."
There was a palpable sense among the senators who filed out of the briefing room that the center of gravity in the investigation was shifting from Capitol Hill to Mr. Mueller, who will spend weeks assembling a staff and a list of witnesses to interview.
"This pretty much shuts Congress down," Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, told reporters. "Democrats, you got what you wanted. You got a special counsel. Now we'll just move on. We're not prosecutors."
The prospect of Mr. Mueller, a former federal prosecutor with a reputation for moral rectitude and an exacting management style, opening a wide-ranging investigation further rattled a demoralized White House staff, only a day before Mr. Trump was scheduled to depart on a grueling nine-day trip to the Middle East and Europe. Several of Mr. Trump's advisers and associates have urged him to hire an experienced outside lawyer to help him deal with the surging controversy over whether his campaign had ties to Russia, according to several people briefed on the conversations.
Mr. Trump began the day in a defiant mood, abandoning the conciliatory tone the White House had shown in a statement Wednesday evening. In an early-morning Twitter post, he cited, without evidence, "illegal acts" committed by the administration of his predecessor, President Barack Obama, and the campaign of his former opponent, Hillary Clinton — and said they had never led to a special counsel.
"With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel appointed!" Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter, initially misspelling counsel.
Moments later, he added, "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!"
The president was correct in his observation about the rarity of a special counsel, though his references to the Clinton campaign and the Obama administration did little to bolster his case. There were multiple congressional investigations into the attacks in Benghazi, Libya, and the role played by Mrs. Clinton, then the secretary of state, and Mr. Obama.
It was not the first time Mr. Trump likened the questions about his campaign and Russia to a witch hunt. In January, while president-elect, he said in an interview with The New York Times that the persistent focus on Russia's hacking of the American presidential campaign was a witch hunt carried out by people bitter at his victory.
The president elaborated on that theme in the news conference, casting the investigation as a needless distraction from the achievements of his administration, which he enthusiastically enumerated.
"We've had tremendous success," he said. "You look at our job numbers. You look at what's going on at the border."
Some of Mr. Trump's claims raised more questions than answers. "You're going to see some incredible numbers with respect to the success of General Mattis and others with the ISIS situation," he said, referring to the defense secretary, Jim Mattis. "The numbers are staggering, how successful they've been."
He promised to name a new F.B.I. director soon, having acknowledged to reporters earlier in the day that former Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut was a top contender.
Mr. Trump's sense of grievance over the Russia investigations had been deepening even before the naming of a special counsel. On Thursday, he arrived in the East Room primed for confrontation.
Rather than call on a reporter from a conservative-leaning news organization, as he has in the past, Mr. Trump pointed to Jonathan Karl, an ABC News correspondent known for his close questioning during White House briefings.
When a second reporter, Scott Thuman of the broadcaster Sinclair, asked Mr. Trump whether he had urged Mr. Comey to drop the Russia investigation, Mr. Thuman could not finish the question before the president interrupted. "No. No," Mr. Trump snapped. "Next question."
Mr. Santos, a Harvard-trained economist who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for negotiating a peace treaty with the FARC guerrillas, watched the spectacle with an inscrutable expression. After he sidestepped a question about whether he agreed with the White House plan to build a wall on the border with Mexico to halt the flow of drugs into the United States, Mr. Trump jumped in.
"That was a very long and very diplomatic answer," Mr. Trump said. "I will say it a bit shorter: Walls work. Just ask Israel."
Earlier, Mr. Trump said that coca cultivation and cocaine production had risen to record levels in Colombia, and challenged Mr. Santos to remedy the problem.
Mr. Santos returned the favor minutes later when asked whether he had advice for Mr. Trump.
"I don't think I'm in a position to give any advice to President Trump," Mr. Santos said with a smile. "He can take care of himself."


text:
|New Arrivals
|Betsy & Adam
|Blondie Nites
|View All
Welcome to NYDressCo
Pay Less For Your Prom Dresses, Homecoming Dresses, Evening Dresses and Bridesmaid Dresses! Find your 2012 Prom Dress and Evening Dresses at discount prices. We carry the latest Betsy & Adam, Blondie Nites, and Xscape Evenings dresses. Use the search function to find the the dress you are looking for. If the prom dress or other formal evening dress you want is not on our site send us an e-mail and we will try to get it from the dress manufacturer. We ship direct from their warehouse. First quality dresses at discount prices. You can order these formal dresses online or by calling our toll free number: 877-693-7700. Whether you need a cocktail dress, a prom dress or any other formal evening dress you can find them on the NY Dress Co website. All of our formal evening dresses come direct from the designer to you. NY Dress Co is your friend in the dress business.


text:
Allergic rhinitis means allergies or hay fever. When you are exposed to particles in the air that you're allergic to, like pollen, dust, or cat dander, your immune system attacks the particles and causes symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose.
You may have symptoms often during the year, or just at certain times.
Last Revised:
October 9, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Rohit K Katial, MD - Allergy and Immunology
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.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


text:
Genasis (Feat. Scaffbeezy aka SB) - Maxed Out [Label Submitted]
Genasis ft Scaffbeezy aka "SB" ..."MAXED OUT"
Twitter @Scaffbeezy @Genasisishere
SB mixtape coming soon "VS clarity" vol.1
Posted by @Worldstarvids
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text:
Nicklas Bendtner WonderGoal In EliteSerien
Nicklas Bendtner is currently playing his trade in Norway for Rosenborg. About a month ago he showed a moment of brilliance and great technique with a great effort with the outside of the foot.
Quaresma-esque here it is :
Host Of Clubs Linked With Featured Player N.B-52 + Flashback Videos !!
Featured player Nicklas Bendtner' future has yet to be decided, a whole host of clubs across Europe have been linked with the Danish shadow striker. The likes of Benfica, Frankfurt, Malaga, Hamburg and Barclaycard Premier League's Southampton and new boys Hull City.
Personally i would prefer Bendtner to stay with Arsenal because i honestly believe everything there for him to still become one of the EPL's best its just how much he may want it. Although it seems unlikely, NB has previously been quoted as saying he would like a new start away from Arsenal. Last season admittedly turned out a really dissapointing season for the talented striker, there is no denying that, I've noticed alot of people have stuff to say about Bendtner didn't score whilst being at the Biaconeri but the same people also have to take into consideration he played just 9 times, majority of the time cameo appearances off the bench in Serie A games.
Maybe things havent gone totally to plan in the last couple of seasons but in my opinion theres no denying NB's ability and potential. I think a move to maybe a good Europa League or a Premier League side would be the best bet for N.B.
So . . . whats your opinions Arsenal/Denmark enthusiasts? ….
Cheers peeps – Matthew Collins
Juventus Manager Antonio Conte Has Only Kind Words For NB As Featured Player Injures Wrist In Cameo Appearance In Serie A Clash
The 2012-13 football season has come to an end. One maybe featured player Nicklas Bendtner could have mixed feelings about despite picking up a Serie A winner's medal with Juventus. Its been a very tough season for NB with several injury problems and mistakes being highlighted off the pitch.
During Saturday's 3-2 defeat away to Sampadoria, Bendtner came on for the last 13 minutes and has one touch before falling awkwardly on his wrist, it looked pretty painful and he was rushed straight down the tunnel. It pretty much rounded up his time on loan in Turin. The coach Antonio Conte was interviewed after ther clash with Sampadoria where he spoke about the game and also featured player Nicklas Bendtner.
It's a pity only for the 100th injury of Bendtner, who has really had an unlucky season. It's a shame for Bendtner, as he has been so unlucky. He damaged a tendon in his hip, then returned and hurt himself again. I wish him all the best, as he's a good lad and a fine footballer.
Article by Matthew Collins
NB Included In 23 Man Squad For Derby Della Mole Catch The Match Live On ESPN From 1:30PM
1 Buffon
3 Chiellini
4 Caceres
6 Pogba
8 Marchisio
9 Vucinic
11 De Ceglie
12 Giovinco
13 Peluso
15 Barzagli
17 Bendtner
19 Bonucci
20 Padoin
21 Pirlo
22 Asamoah
23 Vidal
24 Giaccherini
26 Lichtsteiner
27 Quagliarella
30 Storari
32 Matri
34 Rubinho
39 Marrone
More To Follow . . .
Article By Matthew789
Nicklas Bendtner Back In Juve 23 Man Squad For Clash With AC Milan After 4 Month Injury Spell
Nicklas Bendtner is back! yep you read it right, back in action after a long spell on the sidelines with an unfortunate 4 month thigh/groin problem. He is in the 23-man squad for Juventus' Serie A clash with Italian giants AC Milan in what should be a mouth watering clash. It was a long road to recovery after going under the knife for surgery and then a prolonged rehabilation process took place for the 6″5 Danish attacker.
It's great to hear NB is back, you don't wanna see a player of his calibre wasting away in the stands/sidlines. I've been a strong enthusiast to his footballing career ever since he broke through into the AFC reserves, during his loan spell at Brum and seen him play numerous times for Denmark. I believe NB is vastly underrated in the football world i made this weblog when i was 15 and still hope NB realizes his footballing potential. He's a rare type of striker, standing at 6ft 5 you would presume he is a somewhat old skool English no#9 with his height and physical attributes but that is not the case, technically very good, can drop deep and play " the final pass" " through ball" and has good vision. You don't get labelled 'Technically great and intelligent' by the North-East version of Messi lightly ( Sessegnon on NB). So Arsenal/Birmingham/Sunderland/Juventus & Denmark football followers leave your comments if you want, and let me know you're opinions, Cheers peeps!
Article By Matthew Collins


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Photo Credit: Jack White's picture is courtesy of About.com. Photographic illustrations of Jack White are copyright © by their respective holders. The images are published with permission or as allowed by the copyright law's fair use or quotation provisions. If any copyright holder objects to an image being included, please notify us and it will be removed immediately.
Disclaimer: This information about Jack White is derived from astrological interpretation of Jack White's date, time, and place of birth.


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Anthem is a beautiful planned community located just north of Phoenix, AZ. in the foothills. It has been voted the #1 planned community in America. Anthem reflects a spirit of community everywhere you look, it's in the air!
Spectacular mountain and sunset views, championship golf courses, awesome clubhouses, fine dining, fitness centers, water park, community center, rock climbing wall, schools, shopping, regional library, performing arts center, catch and release lake, tennis courts and more!
As your Anthem AZ Realtor, I pride myself on helping my clients find a place they can call home. Our population is a global one with friendly neighbors from around the world. We are just minutes from beautiful Lake Pleasant and all the activities of nearby Phoenix. The area offers an abundance of recreational and cultural activity's year round. Anthem is close to boating, camping, hiking, sporting and musical events here and around the valley. Come see what Anthem has to offer you and your family.


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Conservation and Environment in Costa Rica: Monthly Updates
Monthly Updates from 2009
As the New Year approaches we are beginning preparations for an even better year than the one that is just passing. During November we focused a lot moving the butterfly project further forward getting ready for an even larger project next year.
October has been another very good month here in the park, although the rains have been falling harder than anyone expected we have been continuing many of our projects and have begun some very interesting phases of established projects.
September has been another hard month in Barra Honda, with the rains coming and going at random times we have been trying to avoid the heavy downpours but still get as much work done as possible.
Ever since the rains started a couple of months ago the forest in and around Barra Honda have sprung to life, even though we have what is locally called the wet season's summer (a period of 3-4 weeks where it doesn't rain at all) there has still been enough rain to change the forest around us.
July has been a very interesting month for us here in Costa Rica. Months of planning, meetings, modifications and phone calls all to organise the work, accommodation and trips for our busiest month of the year!
Although June hasn't been the busiest time for us in terms of volunteers, we have still been incredibly busy continuing the work that has already been started, finishing certain projects around the park and setting up our butterfly project.
After such busy months since January we honestly expected May to be a time where we could all relax a little and take stock of the start of our first solid year here in the park, but even though we had times with only 1 volunteer we managed to keep pushing forward and managed to make some big break-throughs!
March and April have been such busy times here at the park that I honestly can't remember where the time has gone!
As this is my first article since arriving in Costa Rica in November 2008 I thought a brief explanation would be necessary, not just about myself but about the park that Projects Abroad is working in.


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Jamie Lynn Mullinax, 49, died Sunday, July 15, 2012, at Stones River Hospital E/R following a short illness.
A resident of Auburntown, he was a native of Rutherford County.
Parents: Thomas Brown Mullinax & Claudia Spurlock Mullinax of Auburntown
3 Children: Joshua Brown Mullinax of Woodbury; Lucas Mullinax & Mahalie Mullinax of Murfreesboro.
2 Sisters, April Mullinax Myers and her husband, Roger and Jacqueline Marshall and her husband, Rick all of Murfreesboro.
Friend: Rebecca Woodside of Auburntown
A member of the Baptist Church, he was a Machine Operator at the Cannon Co. Hwy. Dept.
Private Graveside Services are planned.
Visitation will be from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at Woodbury Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Woodbury Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses.
For online tributes , http://www.woodburyfuneralhome.net


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by Tom Utescher
After the Mount St. Joseph Academy Magic went ahead by a dozen points at the start of their last basketball game before Christmas, the visiting Knights of Delaware Country Christian School staged a 19-6 rally and put the Mount's season-long win streak in jeopardy.
The Knights, who also entered last Thursday's game without a loss (5-0), saw their 19-18 halftime edge disappear in the third quarter, and the Magic went on to achieve a 7-0 mark by claiming a 46-27 victory.
Pacing the offense for the winners were the usual senior suspects, guard Mary Jo Horgan (17 points, seven steals, four rebounds, two assists), and forward Steph Smith (15 points, six rebounds, three steals, three assists).
Juniors Cailin Schmeer and Bridget Higgins (three rebounds, three assists) produced eight and four points, respectively, and senior Meg Black and sophomore Meg Geatens each tossed in a free throw.
Literally the "center" of attention for the Mount St. Joe defense was Delco's 6'4" Emily Homan; the hosts held the Lafayette College recruit to six points in the contest. The Knights were able to make a game of it in the first half thanks to guards Stacey MacArthur and Emily Evans. Only a sophomore, MacArthur led the visitors in scoring with 11 points overall, while Evans, a senior, finished with seven.
Horgan got the Magic started with a pair of free throws, then three field goals by Schmeer and four successful foul shots by Higgins had the hosts ahead 12-0 less than three minutes into the game. With a little over three minutes left in the initial period, the Knights' Homan hit back-to-back baskets in the paint, and it was enough to spark a revival for Delco Christian.
MacArthur then joined in for the visitors, slashing to the basket and then canning a three-pointer early in the second round. The Magic, up 14-9 at the end of the first quarter, saw their lead dwindle until Delco's Evans scored off a steal to even the score at 16-all.
The home team regained the lead with a baseline jumper by Smith, but one free throw by MacArthur and two for Homan gave the guests a 19-18 lead at the intermission. Acting hastily on offense, the Magic had repeatedly tried to drive to the hoop against Homan, who blocked eight of their lay-ups.
"I thought some frustration set in for us," commented MSJ coach John Miller. "We were making uncharacteristic mistakes, and people were taking it on their own shoulders to bring us back.
"We didn't turn the ball over very much against their press," he continued, "but when we came down the floor we would try to go in and score without running a play, and we're a better team when we run our plays."
The Mount mentor felt that if Delco's Homan was going to stay low in the paint and stop the Magic guards from penetrating for lay-ups, he could take advantage of the 6'1" Smith's ability to shoot the midrange jumper.
"I told Steph just to step out," Miller said, "and I told the guards to look for Steph, and she'll be open for that 15-footer."
The second half opened with a three-pointer by MacArthur that put the visitors up 22-18, but Horgan quickly matched that trey and then scored a lay-up off a pass from Schmeer to move the Magic ahead, 23-22, two minutes into the third quarter. After MacArthur's "three," the Knights did not score again for more than 10 minutes.
Three straight field goals by Smith and a jumper by Schmeer made it 31-22 at the three-quarter mark, and the Mount was rolling. Smith continued to lead the MSJ offense in the final period, recording 13 of her 15 total points in the second half of the game. The Mount's intense defensive effort in the second half had come at the cost of only two team fouls.
Assessing the state of his ballclub at this stage of the season, Miller noted, "We've played some good non-league teams, and the three league games we won were all on the road, so in the 2011 part of the schedule we'll have just five league games on the road and eight at home. I really like the way we're playing."


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I have a few cards to share with you today. First up is my card for CPS sketch 113. We were sponsored by Cornish Heritage Farms this week, using this beautiful stamp collection called "Ornamental Beauty". Up next are a couple of mother's day cards for Glitz Designs. This first card features paper and cardstock stickers from the Hot Mama collection.
And this card features paper from the Audrey collection. Both of these collections are two of my current Glitz faves!
And just a couple more things. I have hesitantly put the "followers" gadget on my sidebar. I have had some readers comment and email me that it would be easier to become a follower of my blog if I put it on my sidebar. I didn't add it to seem precocious, or because I think that so many people want to follow my blog...but I did add it to make it easier for anyone that does want to follow the blog. So there you have it!
And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the start of the Cuttlebug Challenge Spa Weekend blog hop!! It is the kick-off to the fabulous Spa Weekend we have planned for everyone, full of projects, inspiration, and TONS of prizes. Check out the details here, and I hope that you join us!!
Until later,
11 comments
Lovin' all of your most fabulous cards Lea!!ReplyDelete
Gorgeous cards! I love the "bling" necklace on the last card. You have such a knack for details. SUPER adorable!!! ♥♥ KayReplyDelete
Beautiful cards! Thanks for visiting my site earlier ~ I love yours, and will be here a while checking it all out! Have a great day!ReplyDelete
OMG, Your cards totally ROCK!! I love your work!!ReplyDelete
Thanks for leaving me a message on my blog!!
Love Patricia
All three of these are beautiful!! You are a master of embellishemnts!!! Even your CAS card rocks the embellies!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 30, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Love your cards Lea..Tose Glitz design look fab!!TFS:)♥ReplyDelete
LOVE these hot cards--totally fabulous with all the bling and pink, and the sentiments too!ReplyDelete
Yeah, last night's Idol was pretty cool! I wasn't sorry to see Adam knocked down a peg or two.ReplyDelete
These are super fab cards Lea! I am so loving the black white and pink combo!
(-: Heidi
*gasp!* These are all fab! I love your gorgeous work!!!ReplyDelete
What a beautiful card with the simplicity, I love the last card, simple and effective.ReplyDelete
The phrase sums it up. Nicely done!ReplyDelete


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Bill Gates on what you did not and will not learn in High School..
We were visiting a Community College today and came across this very interesting "news clipping' posted on a door of an affiliate of the college, it reads… Incase you can not read the paper print – Here you are from … Continue reading
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John Legend, Os Mutantes, Devendra Banhart, Caetano Veloso, Dirty Projectors, Seu Jorge, Beck, Bebel Gilberto, José Gonzales, Beirut, Tom Zé, Of Montreal, Gogol Bordello, Javelin, Madlib, Brazilian Girls, St. Vincent, and Neon Indian are among the many artists who collaborate on Red Hot + Rio 2. (Besides the Red Hot albums, the Red Hot Organization put out Dark Was The Night and No Alternative.) As with the first volume, this album features legendary Brazilian acts working alongside other artists to raise money for HIV/AIDS charities, with a focus here on '70s/'80s Brazilian composers. A few bands like Cults, Beirut, and Brazilian Girls recently got together this weekend to film their contributions inside a loft in Williamsburg. You can see a gallery from that event above. Beirut'sRed Hot track is a stomping cover of Caetano Veloso's "O Leãozinho." The title of this romantic ballad translates to "little lion." Listen to the studio version below:
Beirut – "O Leãozinho" (Caetano Veloso Cover)
Red Hot + Rio 2 is out 6/28. There's more information at redhot.org.


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The Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER)
The Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) serves as an essential instrument for the rapid and accurate dissemination of epidemiological information on cases and outbreaks of diseases under the International Health Regulations and on other communicable diseases of public health importance, including emerging or re-emerging infections.
An electronic bilingual English/French version of the WER is accessible every Friday and can be downloaded free of charge.
For information on subscription to the printed edition, visit the WHO Periodicals site在线观看|影视免费观看vip or use the mail address: World Health Organization, WHO Press, 20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27; Fax: (+4122) 791 48 57.
An e-mail subscription service exists, which provides by electronic mail the table of contents of the WER, together with other short epidemiological bulletins. To subscribe, send a message to email@example.com. The subject field should be left blank and the body of the message should contain only the words: subscribe wer-reh在线观看|影视免费观看vip. A request for confirmation will be sent in reply.
Disease Outbreaks
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在线观看|影视免费观看vipPublication on travel risks, precautions and vaccination requirements
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Annual report on global public health and key statistics


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Giants wary of adding players with PED pasts
It's being called an era of forgiveness. Some of baseball's most notorious cheaters are back in business this spring, thriving in new environments and taking very little heat. The Giants rushed to the forefront by enlisting Barry Bonds as a part-time hitting coach in Arizona, but don't be fooled by their generosity.
Until further notice, this era is not for them.
In a recent conversation behind the press box at Scottsdale Stadium, team President Larry Baer sounded notes of caution when it comes to acquiring drug-tarnished players. Whatever may be happening around the game, the Giants take a more extreme view. That doesn't rule out an eventual change of heart, but for the moment, they are gravely concerned with their image and clubhouse cohesion.
"I'd say we take it on a case-by-case basis," Baer said. "We don't have a blanket policy saying we'll never touch a player that has a PED history. But I'd say that for us, it's a larger mountain to climb than others."
Bonds' recent goodwill mission, widely ridiculed by the national media, was merely an extension of an ongoing outreach process. There is talk of including Bonds on the Wall of Fame along the King Street side of AT&T Park. It took some prodding (by this column, as it happened), but three years ago, the Giants erected a "500 Club" board in deep right-center to commemorate the career home-run records of Bonds, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Mel Ott.
All the while, on occasional regular-season visits, Bonds moved comfortably through the ballpark, sat in choice field-level seats and was warmly received. Things are entirely different, in the Giants' eyes, when it comes to taking on a tainted player for full-time active duty.
In the wake of "Game of Shadows," the book that detailed the BALCO drug scandal, and other investigative reports, the Giants were revealed as a shameless disgrace in the days Bonds roamed the clubhouse with his steroid enablers, all of whom had the run of the place. Several players tied to the Giants' organization were identified as PED users in the Mitchell Report, released in 2007. And the club was roundly embarrassed two years ago when Melky Cabrera, such an integral part of its starting lineup, drew a suspension and essentially fled without fully explaining himself to teammates.
"It's one thing for our front office to be aghast about the PED thing, but in that instance, a player lost the clubhouse," Baer said. "That's a very dangerous way to go. To their credit, those guys said, 'If we go down in the playoffs, we'll go down with the guys who got us there' - and they won the whole thing. But you don't want to sign somebody and start wondering, 'Is this guy a fraud?' "
Baer mentioned no names, but I got the feeling the Giants wouldn't trade for Ryan Braun, a fallen hero in Milwaukee, under any circumstances. "With Brian (Sabean), Dick Tidrow, all the guys in the front office, they all want people with character," Baer said. "That's how we've built our clubs. A lot of guys in our clubhouse went through the Melky thing, so they're a little bit wary to begin with."
(The Giants made an exception for Michael Morse, whose reputation within the game has been solid since 2005, his rookie season with Seattle, when he drew a 10-game suspension for steroid use -- treatment, he claimed, for healing a leg injury in the minor leagues.)
So much of the game's forgiving nature surrounds older, past-their-prime types or coaches: Matt Williams (named in the Mitchell Report) managing Washington, Mark McGwire as the Dodgers' hitting coach, the Yankees' Andy Pettitte playing out the string, 43-year-old Jason Giambi still a factor in Cleveland, Bartolo Colon in the Mets' rotation at 40. When it comes to such mid-career players as Braun, Baltimore's Nelson Cruz or the Cardinals' Jhonny Peralta, the feeling among their contemporaries is hardly unanimous.
Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler called for Braun to be completely forthcoming about his drug suspension and demanded that the Hall of Fame be off-limits for any player linked to PEDs. Jonny Gomes, part of the Red Sox's championship team after moving on from Oakland, revealed to USA Today his disgust toward Peralta, signed to a four-year, $53 million contract by St. Louis after serving a 50-game suspension last year:
"This is like if somebody was to rob a bank, eventually got caught, served five years in jail, got out, but still got to keep the money. And I like Peralta. I'm not mad at the guy. It's just that when a guy like Stephen Drew is still at home (unsigned), and this guy has that contract, it's a little tough."
Now that free agency is tied to the draft - teams lose a first-round pick if they sign anyone who turned down his team's qualifying offer - it seems even less likely that the Giants will become obsessed with the market. Drew and Kendrys Morales remain unsigned, Johan Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez only recently got employment, and Cruz's case raised a gaudy red flag: Instead of accepting Texas' $14 million qualifying offer, he wound up signing with Baltimore for $8 million.
"There's just a lot of distrust," Baer said. "Qualifying offer and a PED association - that's a bad combination. Brian and I both feel very strongly about that. You're seeing teams doing anything to get someone who can help them right now, even if it means losing a first-round pick. If we operated that way, we'd have no Tim Lincecum, no Matt Cain, no Buster Posey. ... Where would we be without those guys?"
Moreover, said Baer, there's so much money in the game right now, teams are locking up their prime-of-life players - Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, Evan Longoria and Posey, to name a few - before they get a chance to test the market. "The aging ballplayer just isn't that attractive right now," said Baer. "Draft and develop your own guys, then sign 'em long term to keep them under your control. That's where the game is headed."
The real test will come down the road, when a certain player - great guy and a perfect fit for the Giants, save for an annoying drug association - becomes available via trade or free agency: the dreaded conflict between policy and temptation.
Bruce Jenkins is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @bruce_jenkins1


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VANCOUVER, WA -- Despite a net loss of $8.9 million for the second quarter of 2008 compared to net income of $1.1 million for the second quarter of 2007, Nautilus executives were optimistic in a conference call last week that announced the company's second quarter results. The company's re-organization efforts and a refocus on retail are two of the main reasons for the optimism.
"I would say our balance sheet now is satisfactory," Ed Bramson, Nautilus Inc. chairman and CEO, said in the call. "You might even call it good. Cost reduction program has not yet got to the point where we won't have any losing quarters but we're still working on it."
In late July, Nautilus announced plans to close its Tulsa, OK, facilities by the end of 2008 and transfer the manufacturing of its products to its facility in Independence, VA. Although the closing will affect 140 people, the company said it does not have plans to eliminate any major product lines. The company also plans to consolidate its two distribution centers located in Independence, VA, and Portland, OR. In February, Nautilus announced that it would transition a call center in Winnipeg, Canada, to the company's headquarters in Vancouver, WA.
"In addition to managing our expenses tightly, we are continuing our thorough review of each business unit with a particular focus on profitable growth," Bramson said. "The four areas of strategic focus are new product development, resolving channel conflict, expanding our share of the cardio market and capitalizing on our strong portfolio of brands. In order to improve our profitability in the current economic environment, we have initiated a restructuring program which is expected to reduce fixed costs significantly."
The company will also spend more time honing its retail business, Bramson said, noting that unlike Nautilus, many other manufacturers have to pay a licensing fee on their retail equipment.
"There was a time when you might of thought of [retail] as the secondary channel for selling the direct based home gyms, but it is now actually a self-standing business," he said in the call. "Most of its sales are actually in cardio, and it has it seems to us some fairly good opportunities to gain floor space and to gain customers in some of the larger retail stores."
Nautilus' main cardio focus in the retail world is the Treadclimber, Bramson said. The commercial Treadclimber was pulled earlier this year, and in fall 2005, the company withdrew the product to strengthen its hydraulic system, reintroducing it in summer 2006. The Treadclimber TC916 won a FIBO Innovation Award last year.
"We think there's a big opportunity to grow the Treadclimber direct business because it's relatively small right now, and it's a distinguishable product," he said. "It hasn't been put into retail, and the commercial Treadclimber was not one of our better design efforts I would have to say. But our customers love it."
The $8.9 million net loss does not include Pearl Izumi, the company's former apparel business, which is considered a discontinued operation and was sold on April 18 for $69.4 million. According to a statement from the company, loss from continuing operations for the second quarter was $9.6 million after recording restructuring related and other charges of $6.6 million. The charges were mainly due to severance, inventory reserves and anticipated settlements related to licensing agreements.
In the second quarter of 2007, the company reported income from continuing operations of about $700,000, including a benefit of $18.3 million after-tax from a litigation settlement. Results from continuing operations exclude Pearl Izumi.
Net sales from continuing operations for the three months ended June 30, 2008, were $95.6 million compared to $102.5 million for the corresponding period last year, resulting in a 7 percent decrease. Net sales increases in the company's retail business were offset by declines in the direct business, principally due to a weak consumer and tight credit environment, as well as declines in commercial sales principally due to suspending sales of the commercial TreadClimber.
"An important part of our restructuring activities has been the establishment of separate teams with authority and responsibility for the profitability of each of our global business units. We will now be reporting the commercial, direct and retail businesses on a global basis," the company said in a statement.
As a result of changing the reportable business segments in the second quarter of 2008, accounting rules require the company to perform an interim goodwill impairment test. Nautilus is in the process of determining whether a goodwill impairment charge is required as of June 30, 2008. An impairment charge, if any, would be a non-cash charge. The company expects to complete this goodwill impairment assessment prior to the filing of its Form 10-Q for the second quarter.
As of June 30, 2008, the company had a net cash position of $4 million and unutilized borrowing availability of approximately $35 million versus net debt of $71 million on Dec. 31, 2007.
Related Stories
- Nautilus, Shareholders Face Off at Meeting
- Sherborne Controls Nautilus
- Nautilus Reports Net Loss, Suspends Treadclimber Production
- Nautilus Board Changes
- Nautilus Board Nixes Plans


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I have been thinking about getting some of the Honey Super cell frames, The ones that are fully drawn out! I would like to know if I could give the bees the perco Drone frames to lay some drones in so that I can pull these from time to time to help controll the Mites. Will this cause the bees problems with the small cell frames?
I would also like to know if I start them in one hive body on the HSC frames! Could I add another hive body with small cell foundation after the new smaller bees have starting emerging? So that I could faze out the HSC frames.
I was also wondering, if the brood boxes are small cell foundation, would it hurt to have the honey supers with regular size foundation for the honey storage? I would have a queen excluder on it to keep the queen out!
Honey Super for sale. Where do you live. Tony


text: In case you're unaware, Australia bears the mildly unfair reputation as a continent brimming with freaky fauna. And as artist Katie Lisk explains of this webcomic, "My boyfriend has decided he wants to move to Australia. I decided to make some scientific depictions of what life there would be like." The stonefish in the mailbox absolutely kills me (figuratively).