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It was the evening of June 3, 1781– a Sunday– and war was on its way to Charlottesville.Nearly forty miles to the east, at Cuckoo Tavern, John Jouett Jr. had finished dinner and gone outside to catch a few winks. Because of the oppressive late spring heat and the food and drink sitting heavily in his gut, "Jack," as his friends called him, was soon fast asleep despite the revelry droning on in the background. Jouett was curled up under a great elm near the tavern's picket fence, the only thing separating him from the county road.A couple of hours before midnight, he was startled awake. Although Jouett was a strapping figure and an excellent horseman, the sight he saw as he peered into the moonlight toward the steadily approaching clatter had to be absolutely terrifying: a 250-man raiding party filling the dusty roadway for about 200 yards. At the head trotted the green-jacketed horsemen whose very name had grown infamous: the British Legion.They were dragoons– horsemen armed and drilled to also fight dismounted— who were crown loyalists from New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York City. A year earlier at the Battle of Waxhaws in South Carolina, these same cavalrymen– hardened Americans who had sworn allegiance to King George– had hacked their way through Virginia Continentals attempting to surrender. With sabers slashing, the Legion massacred dozens of patriots. Jouett would have heard the stories.A ruthless leaderBobbing alongside the vanguard that night was the Legion's leader, Lieutenant Colonol Banastre Tarleton, a 26-year-old Liverpudlian who had risen in the ranks thanks to his fast riding, hard fighting, and ruthlessly aggressive nature. To the British, wrote historian Winthrop Sargent, Tarleton was "a capital horseman, the very model of a partisan leader." To the Americans, however, he was the "Green Dragoon" or "Bloody Ban," the commander– and, as it turned out, the butcher– at the massacre at Waxhaws."Tarleton's Quarter!" had become a patriot rallying cry; it meant death to enemy troops with their hands in the air. The road through Cuckoo (then, as now, just a tiny village in Louisa County), ran northwesterly to Louisa Court House, then onward to the gap in the Southwest Mountains at Pantops, a distance of about 38 miles. Just beyond sat the previously unimportant town of Charlottesville.About three weeks earlier, however, the patriots had lost Richmond, so Charlottesville became the temporary state capital with the entire government— both houses of the legislature and Governor Thomas Jefferson– ensconced in Jefferson's hometown in the foothills. Jouett's father, John Jouett Sr., was the proprietor of Charlottesville's Swan Tavern, just across from the courthouse, and at that very moment, no doubt, a number of the unsuspecting assemblymen were sampling the fare at Swan Tavern.Inflamed by the sight of the enemy passing by him at Cuckoo Tavern, Jack Jouett's thoughts must have raced. He would have instantly surmised Tarleton's destination. But could he beat them to Charlottesville to sound the alarm? How could he get around them? Was his horse up to the challenge of such a long and treacherous ride?Understanding the dire circumstances, Jouett quickly determined to risk his life in an attempt to thwart one of his country's most fear and despised, enemy commanders.Unlike the legendary "Midnight Ride" of Paul Revere— much celebrated in poetry, paintings, and even U.S. postage stamps— Jack Jouett's overnight race from Cuckoo to Charlottesville remains relatively obscure. Perhaps it's because Jouett, unlike Revere, was not already wealthy or famous when he undertook his heroic feat. And perhaps it's because Jouett sought his post-war fortune out on the frontier, away from the centers of population and publicity.Whatever the reason, the Central Virginian's desperate dash, under the light of scrutiny, far outshines the Bostonian's. Revere rode 15 miles on well-traveled Massachusetts roads, while Jouett rode at least 40 through the Virginia frontier. Moreover, the stakes in Virginia were higher. The state's civil leadership, in its entirety, was seemingly Tarleton's for the taking.The war comes to VirginiaIn 1781, the American Revolution was in its seventh spring, and things were not going well. Remarkably, the Old Dominion, supposedly the country's most populous– and arguably its most powerful– state, had buckled quickly under the enemy's blows with the entire administration skeddadling like a flock of frightened geese. How had the situation gotten so grim?The tide had begun turning on December 30, 1780 when traitor Benedict Arnold— now an enemy general— had sailed up the James River with 1,800 men aboard 27 British warships. With the new capital at Richmond, with its military supplies and tobacco-packed warehouses, the obvious target, the last six months of Jefferson's second one-year gubernatorial term were about to get ugly."When the general panic set in," wrote historian John E. Selby, "the governor fled from the city with his family in the early morning hours of January 5." Arnold captured the city that afternoon.Two weeks later, after much burning and looting at Richmond and elsewhere along the James, Arnold sailed downstream to Portsmouth to dig in. Meanwhile, all across Virginia, county lieutenants desperately attempted to muster their militiamen, but too few turned out.In April, a British fleet landed over 2,000 reinforcements at Portsmouth, and over the course of that month, the British launched several raids and actions fought all along the James— including a one-sided naval contest located between Richmond and Petersburg at a place called Osborne's Landing. There, on April 27, the entire Virginia navy was lost, including—perhaps prophetically— a warship called Jefferson.When the British again advanced against Richmond on the last day of April, this time they encountered French-born Major General Marquis de Lafayette at the head of 900 northern Continentals dispatched from George Washington's army. The capital was rescued at the eleventh hour.For the next month, this Lafayette-led force— augmented by some 1,500 untested militiamen— was the largest the Old Dominion could muster, but soon the 24-year-old Frenchman was greatly outnumbered.The new British leader, General Charles Lord Cornwallis, had marched into Virginia from North Carolina with 1,500 additional British soldiers, and another 1,500 arrived by sea. Cornwallis was an experienced and aggressive officer with a consolidated British field army of about 7,200 veterans.After remaining relatively unscathed for the war's first six years, Virginia had become the war's most active theater."To frustrate these intentions""Cornwallis was not an aristocratic dilettante," says Andrew O'Shaughnessy, director of the International Center for Jefferson Studies. "He was a real military professional. He was also a gambler, someone willing to take major risks. He essentially wanted to make Virginia collapse."Frustrated at his inability to ensnare Lafayette— whom Cornwallis called the "aspiring boy"— the 43-year-old Britisher decided instead to raid Virginia's interior. Knowing that the governor and the relocated legislature would soon call out more state troops, Cornwallis ordered Tarleton— the brutal cavalryman— "to frustrate these intentions, and to distress the Americans, by breaking up the assembly."It was May 10, 1781 when the Virginia legislature determined to quit the state capital and reconvene in Charlottesville, beyond the Southwest Mountains. Early on June 3, Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton set out from Hanover Court House, north of Richmond, with 180 dragoons from his own Legion and 70 mounted infantrymen from the 23rd Regiment, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. These improvised horsemen, foot soldiers atop horseflesh stolen from the Virginia countryside, rode with light muskets slung across their red tunics.At the time, an average horseman traveling unchallenging terrain could expect to cover 30 miles in a day. Tarleton had something much bolder in mind. As he later wrote, he planned "a march of seventy miles in twenty-four hours."Because the weather was unusually hot, however, the going was slow, and Tarleton's column spent most of the first day to reach Cuckoo Tavern, a distance of about 30 miles. In order to bag his game, however, Tarleton was pushing his men to cover more.It was about two hours before midnight when Jouett awakened to see the enemy raiders trotting past Cuckoo Tavern.Jouett quickly donned his riding boots, "scarlet coat, and military hat and plume," wrote Jefferson biographer Henry S. Randall. His bay mare Sally— which another historian called "the fleetest steed in seven counties," was nearby in the tavern's paddock.It would have been much easier to go back to sleep and hope that someone else could save Virginia's government. Jouett knew, however, that his knowledge of the wilderness trails was unsurpassed. Providence could not have selected a better messenger.A history in tavernsBorn in Albemarle County on December 7, 1754, the 26-year-old Jouett has been widely described as intelligent and resourceful. He was also a strapping young fellow, according to Joel Meador, executive director of the Jack Jouett House in Versailles, Kentucky."He stood 6 feet 4 inches tall, and weighed about 220 pounds." Unfortunately, little is known of his early days. "He was the son of a tavern owner," says Meador.Indeed, the running of wayside taverns— a lucrative business in the days when friendly stopping-places were few— seems to have been in the Jouett family blood. In 1742, Jack's grandfather, Matthew Jouett, had opened an "ordinary" in his house near the present-day town of Louisa. Matthew's son—John Jouett Sr., Jack's father— had once been the owner of Cuckoo Tavern itself. After selling that establishment in 1773, Jouett Senior, wrote Edgar Woods (Albemarle's first historian), purchased "one hundred acres adjoining [Charlottesville] on the east and north, and at that time most likely erected the Swan Tavern, of famous memory." During the Revolution Jack Senior acted as a commissary, wrote historian Virginius Dabney, selling "considerable beef and other needed supplies... to the quartermasters of the Continental Army."The standard story— that Jack, as wrote Dabney, "was a captain in the Virginia militia, as were his three brothers" does not hold up under examination. A search of the state's militia records revealed no Captain John Jouett. Instead, one of the early accounts—Randall's 1858 biography of Jefferson—referred to Jack as a "showy gentleman" who "was no officer," but had "an eccentric custom" of wearing military-style getup.Patriotism, evidently, was also a dominant trait in this French Huguenot family. With two Jouetts serving in the Virginia Continental Line (the regular army at the time)—older brother Matthew in the 7th Virginia (mortally wounded at the 1777 Battle of Brandywine), and Robert in Col. James Wood's 12th Virginia– Jack and his father may have felt compelled to make a political statement of their own. In June of 1779 both signed the curious Albemarle "Declaration of Independence" which stated in part that: "we renounce… all Allegiance to George the third… [and] will be faithfull & bear True Allegiance to… Virginia as a free & independent state."An abandoned roadFreedom and independence were certainly at stake as Jouett began sorting his thoughts on that moonlit night. Jouett had no way of knowing if anyone else was was to get ahead of Tarleton's troopers. If he was indeed acting alone, the Old Dominion's fate was resting on his skills, the evening's visibility, and Sally's speed.Cantering along Mountain Road, the main highway, at a safe distance behind Tarleton's column, Jouett must have realized he had to get around them to beat them to Monticello and Charlottesville. Finding a detour might be an impossible proposition on a dark night. Fortunately, this one had a nearly full moon.Moving cautiously once he neared Louisa Courthouse, Jouett must have caught a glimpse of polished buttons and metal-sheathed sabers, as historian Tapp wrote, that in the moonlight he "could see dimly the dragoons moving about." The raiders had stopped to water their horses and refresh themselves, and Tarleton later wrote that he "halted at eleven near Louisa court house, and remained on a plentiful plantation till two o'clock."In the dense wilderness that covered Virginia in the 18th century, well-maintained roads were in short supply. While Mountain Road was blocked by the Loyalist forces, Jouett knew that to its south, across the South Anna River, was Three Notch'd Road leading all the way from Richmond (where it's called Three Chopt Road) to the Shenandoah. To best outstrip Tarleton, therefore, Jouett had to find a way southwestward, toward the road whose famous signposts— trees bearing three hatchet chops, like chevrons— would thereafter guide him to Charlottesville.But how? Somewhere nearby was the answer: an old logging trail that had supplied the logs for the court house."He knew the trail well," wrote historian Tapp, "having hunted along it."So off he and Sally went."His progress was greatly impeded by matted undergrowth, tangled brush, overhanging vines and gullies," wrote Virginius Dabney. "[H]is face was cruelly lashed by tree limbs as he rode forward, and scars said to have remained the rest of his life were the result of lacerations sustained from these low hanging branches."Drenched with sweat, Jouett splashed through the South Anna somewhere south of Louisa Court House. Perhaps he stopped briefly to water Sally, and perhaps he even washed off her flanks, now covered with scratches. Soon he was back in the saddle."He could judge by the position of the moon that the night was far spent, causing him to travel faster," wrote Tapp, "He was determined to beat Tarleton or die in the effort."Within a few miles, Jouett turned on to Old Mountain Road and then onto Three Notch'd. Heading west along the latter well-marked byway, Jouett spurred Sally to even greater efforts. He still had miles to go, and Tarleton's force was still on the move.The Affair of Carter's MountainBefore daybreak, the marauders had detained "some of the principal gentlemen of Virginia" and captured a member of the Continental Congress, Frances Kinloch, and burned 12 wagons carrying weapons and clothing for the Continental Army.At Castle Hill, the Keswick-area estate of Dr. Thomas Walker— discoverer of the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky— the British cavalrymen rested for half an hour. This brief stopover has been the subject of numerous tall tales, all involving an elaborate, delaying breakfast. None, however, should be believed, because Tarleton would not have fallen for such a ruse. He was in a hurry.Meanwhile, Jouett and Sally were crossing the Rivanna River at the village of Milton and then ascending Monticello Mountain three weary miles later. It was 4:30am.
How Jouett must have appeared upon arrival is lost to history. What is recorded is that Jefferson's guests included members of the General Assembly including the speakers of both houses. Jefferson would later write that the legislators "breakfasted at leisure" before proceeding to Charlottesville.
Legend has it that as Jouett remounted to spread the alarm Jefferson offered up a glass of fortifying Madeira.
Jefferson himself, however, remained unhurried. Perhaps it was because his ill-fated governorship had ended two days earlier. (This meant, of course, that at the moment Virginia had no chief executive.)
After sending off his family and carefully organizing his papers, Jefferson was warned again of the British approach, as he could see– via telescope– soldiers arriving in Charlottesville. Finally, he galloped up the adjoining wooded slope where he'd sent his family. Ascending nearby Carter's Mountain, Jefferson was mere minutes ahead of the first loyalist dragoons under a detachment led by Captain Kenneth McLeod.
Two of Jefferson's slaves, Martin and Caesar, "were engaged in secreting plate and other valuables under the [planked] floor of the front portico, when McLeod's party arrived," according to Randall. Just as the last piece of silver was handed down to Caesar "in the cavity," Martin either heard the hoofbeats, or saw the loyalists through the trees, "and down went the plank, shutting Caesar into the dark hole below." There Caesar would remain "without light or food" until McLeod's troopers departed, many hours later.Although Jefferson quickly rejoined his family at the nearby estate of Blenheim, he later referred to this extremely troubling episode— the so-called "Affair of Carter's Mountain"— as the nadir of his political career.Daniel Boone and JouettLittle Charlottesville, in the meantime, was a blur of activity. Warned by Jouett, the assemblymen hastily convened and decided to meet again three days later in Staunton, forty miles further west. Then they scattered.After dispatching McLeod to Monticello, Tarleton had charged through Moore's Creek and overpowered a small militia force at Secretary's Ford, eventually site of the Woolen Mills, and then thundered onto the courthouse square. Most of the flock, of course, had flown."Seven members of the assembly were secured," wrote Tarleton, neglecting to list their names, "and several officers and men were killed, wounded, or taken." During their one-day stay, the British discovered "a great quantity of stores," and destroyed "one thousand firelocks... [u]pwards of four hundred barrels of powder" and "[s]everal hogsheads of tobacco."Jack Jouett's later activities that morning are difficult to sort out.Historian Randall wrote that Brigadier General Edward Stevens— wounded in battle and now serving in the legislature— was able to elude the British dragoons because he was dressed as a Virginia farmer and mounted on a shabby horse. "Mr. Jouett," however, thanks to his ersatz military attire, "was more attractive game." So the enemy took off after him instead. "After [Jouett] had coquetted with his pursuers long enough, he gave his fleet horse the spur, and speedily he was out of sight."Another story revolves around Daniel Boone. Representing the massive western Virginia county of Kentucky, the famous frontiersman was among the legislators in Charlottesville that day. As noted in My Father, Daniel Boone, youngest son Nathan Boone related the following 70 years later:"[W]hen Jack Jouett gave notice of Tarleton's approach, my Father… remained, loading up on wagons the public records. [W]hen they were overtaken by the British, questioned hastily, and dismissed… [Jouett] called out, 'Wait a minute, Captain Boone, and I'll go with you.'" An enemy officer then asked, "Ah, is he a captain?" and took Boone into custody. Conveyed to the British camp east of town, and held overnight in a coal house, the legendary frontiersman was reportedly interrogated by Tarleton and released.The two stories are difficult to square, as they seem contradictory. One has Jouett racing away from Charlottesville because of his ostentatious military garb. The other has him completely overlooked by the British— despite shooting off his mouth at the courthouse. Did either of these events take place? We'll probably never know.What we do know is that on June 15, 1781, just two weeks later, the assemblymen resolved that Jouett should receive "an elegant sword and pair of pistols as a memorial of the high sense which the General Assembly entertain of his activity and enterprise."After all, thanks to Jouett's ride, four signers of the Declaration of Independence escaped capture: Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson Jr. and Richard Henry Lee. A "Who's Who" of Virginia history, this extraordinary list comprises a future president (Jefferson), the father of another future president (Harrison, whose son William Henry was elected in 1840), and the man who next became Virginia's governor (Nelson). Patrick Henry was also among the escapees, as was the father of John Tyler, Jr., who followed William Henry Harrison into the White House.EpilogueJack Jouett got the pistols two years later, but his receipt of the sword was delayed twenty years. By that time, he'd made quite a name for himself out on the frontier.Jouett had managed Swan Tavern for a spell, but in 1781, like thousands of other Virginians, he lit out for Kentucky. Two years later, he married Sallie Robards, a relative of Andrew Jackson's, and the couple had 12 children. In 1787, and again in 1790, according to historian Lewis Collins, Jouett represented his region of Kentucky in the Virginia General Assembly. The year Kentucky gained statehood, 1792, Jouett was elected to the new state legislature. Jouett was an agricultural leader as well; he imported livestock in large numbers and thus helped the Bluegrass State achieve its cattle- and horse-breeding fame.In Kentucky, Jack Jouett is remembered as a high liver, a man full of humor and fun. Remarkable for his hospitality, Jouett, became a friend of Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson, "indeed of all the great men of early Kentucky," Collins wrote.Jack Jouett died at Peeled Oak, his Bath County, Kentucky farm, on February 21, 1822. He was buried in the nearby family cemetery, where unfortunately, says Meador of the Jack Jouett House, "all the stones have been lost." Somehow it seems fitting that the Central Virginia patriot whose early life and heroic deed have been mostly lost to history, now lies lost out on the Kentucky frontier."Even in death," says Meador, "he's still very much a mystery."~Rick Britton writes about history and makes maps for many publications, including books he has written. His other Hook cover story was "Unhappy Grandpa," a 2008 piece about the twilight years of Thomas Jefferson.
There needs to be a revision to the Hook's link to this article from the front page. It says "Jouett beats Revere any day and night."
Whatever Virginians want to tell themselves about Jack Jouett's ride, it did NOT result in a bunch of Minutemen shooting up the redcoats in the very first skirmish of the Revolutionary War. The British were chased out of Boston by March of 1776. The "civil leadership of Virginia", or whatever it is that Jouett is supposed to have saved, is not NEARLY as important to the eventual outcome of the Revolution as the defeatS the British suffered "up North".
A bunch of rich Virginians being alerted to the fact that they'll soon have to surrender Charlottesville (which, oddly, never happened in Boston after Revere's ride), may be a nice story if you're a well-off, white Virginian. Pardon the rest of us for not caring a whit.
Jouett deserves praise, but the Hook makes itself look like another provincial, backwater rag by trying to take down a True American Hero and making this local hero into something he clearly is not.
The ride of Paul Revere was at a time and context far, far different from Jack Jouett's ride. To not recognize this, you'd have to be an absolute dullard.
Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Boston, Trenton, Saratoga.... by the time the war entered Virginia, the Yankees and French had already beaten the British, and it was only a matter of time before this fact resulted in a British surrender.
Jack Jouett's ride may have allowed Thomas Jefferson to run away like a coward over Carter's Mountain, but it didn't accomplish much more than that. Wheras the Northern version of heroism resulted in one of the most famously heroic skirmishes in world history, this local ride resulted in not much more than a rich guy running away and leaving his slaves and his own children behind.
It is so typically Charlottesville to try to turn this into something greater than it is.....
Write about Jouett on his own terms. Please don't compare and try and take down the legacy of Paul Revere. The title of this article is just silly. The conclusions seem to be already drawn before the article was written? I would research Revere and his ride a little more before casting him the way you do in this article.
Both Revere and Jouett are important for the roles they played. Someone once pointed out that Jouett was lesser known because he didnt't have a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to immortalize him in a poem.
I have wondered what if Tarleton had been successful and captured Jefferson and perhaps executed him. It would have changed the course of history in many ways. Would there have been a Louisiana Purchase? Would there have been a university established in Charlottesville.
While he may have been held hostage or perhaps sent back to England for trial, the capture of the author of the Declaration of Independence would surely have been a harsh blow to the colonials' morale.
Maybe Harry Turtledove will write a novel with this theme in one of his alternate histories.
@meanwhile: Wow, sectionalism seems to be alive and well in the 21st century. . . . The fact of the matter is that, despite all the great northern victories listed, the war in early 1781 WAS NOT a foregone conclusion: British Lieut. Gen. Sir Henry Clinton was still heavily fortified at New York City, the powerful British Navy still commanded the Atlantic seacoast (and the Chesapeake Bay), and (a bit later) British Lieut. Gen. Charles Lord Cornwallis was overrunning the State of Virginia (the most populous of the original 13). George Washington at the time was still trying to figure out how to assault Clinton and retake New York. Meanwhile, French Lieut. Gen. Jean Baptiste, Comte de Rochambeau (who led the French expeditionary force) was trying to talk Washington out of it. But don't believe me, look it up. And while, as you say, Revere's ride led to a "skirmish," the skirmish that sparked the war, no doubt, but a "skirmish" nonetheless, Jouett's ride probably Virginia's government from capture, and eventually led—fewer than 5 months later—to Yorktown, the major American victory in Virginia that virtually ended the Revolution.
Also: Far from "casting aside" Revere's herioc ride—I titled my piece "From Cuckoo to Charlottesville"—what I'm saying is that Revere had a major poet to dramatically set down, and exaggerate, his feat. Jouett's heroic ride has been overlooked and needs to be re-examined considering the situation at the time—excluding modern perception, that's called "presentism." Do I believe that Jouett's ride was ultimately more important than Paul Revere's? Yes, I do.
If Jacks ride saved Thomas Jefferson from execution than that fact alone is worth the price of admission.
"Rah, rah, rah. Go Paul Revere!" That's all I've been hearing for more than 230 years. Whatever happened to me???
"Do I believe that Jouett's ride was ultimately more important than Paul Revere's? Yes, I do."
Well, you would be wrong. The Declaration of Independence never would have been proposed by John Adams had the Massachusetts colonists not taken up arms against the British. It was the blood spilled that compelled the Continental Congress to consider breaking away from England more than any dispute over taxation, and the minutes of the Continental Congress bear this out.
To say, 5 years after the fact, that the Declaration of Independence's primary author's life or liberty was more important to the cause of independence than the ACTUAL REBELLION is exactly the sort of provincial, sycophantic historical revisionism that drives true students of history batty.
Yes, Jefferson's capture MAY have resulted in a lowered morale for the Continental Army. Or he may have become a martyr to the cause.
You are welcome to your opinion, but that does not mean that your opinion is correct. It simply is not.
@meanwhile: Any legitimate point you're trying to make is rendered invalid by the tone of your diatribe. "Rich Virginians," "typically Charlottesville," "provincial, sycophantic," etc. etc. Any "TRUE student of history" would not find it necessary to belittle an entire region in such a manner. Your comments prove you to be more spiteful and ignorant than those you are attacking.
@Rick Britton: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article. It is fascinating, well-written, and obviously extremely well-researched. Thank you!
@meanwhile: "Well, you would be wrong."
You don't think that the colonists would have fought at a future date if the Regulars had got to Concord unannounced? And why credit Revere? He never made it to Concord like I did.
At least Jouett's story is accurate.
Great article--having missed a 7th grade Virginia history class, I really didn't know much about our boy Jack. Thanks, Rick, for your lively writing and teaching some of us a thing or two.
And @meanwhile, your snarkiness is out of line, you can disagree without being insulting. Fact is, both were important moments in history, but Paul's ride definitely got hyped/magnified in the public mind. And the others involved in the event, like Samuel Prescott, have been forgotten. Maybe you'd like to try to write an article about him and tell us why he's a forgotten hero...or maybe you just want to snipe at a real writer?
An excellent piece. Thank you. No need to trivialize it by comparing to Revere. Give us more of this stuff!
this paper has really gone down hill. Does anyone there do any real reporting or work. The articles are trivial or just incorrect & the entire paper is an eyesore. Really LAME!
Thanks for the article! As a "provincial" Louisan, I'm thrilled to see Jack get his props. Many in these parts have long held that if VA had a poet the likes of Longfellow, Jack might be known far & wide too! :) In any case, it's an engaging piece of local history. Also, for what it's worth, I think The Hook is Cental Virginia's best newspaper! Thanks for the insightful, provocative journalism.
Rick Britton joined us today on "Charlottesville—Right Now!" to discuss the article. Podcast is here: http://bit.ly/mBqmIH
They are trying to make the point that Jouett's ride was much tougher than Revere's. I think we can agree that is true
@meanwhile says:Well, you would be wrong. The Declaration of Independence never would have been proposed by John Adams had the Massachusetts colonists not taken up arms against the British
If you are so naive as to think that we would all be english subjects if the Mass militia had lost you are sorely mistaken.
These men were men and the men of Virginia would have made it happen, with or without Paul Revere.
There is no doubt that Virginia would have won freedom.
But the fact of the matter is that the article was not about who had the bigger willy. It pointed out that a local boy risked life and limb to try and save a movement and very few people know it. The stuff about Paul Revere was not to discredit him it was to put context to the times.
" meanwhiles" inability to understand does not make him right.
"There is no doubt that Virginia would have won freedom."
Oh really? The ONLY war effort Virginia has led resulted in an Unconditional Surrender.
The bottom line is that Thomas Jefferson COULD have been a martyr cause, or even have stood and fought as they did in Massachusetts. He chose instead to flee.
His retreat and cowardly fleeing is not nearly as important to the war effort as the actual fighting that took place. THAT is why Jouett is merely a footnote; the story is not that significant.
Believe it or not, Charlottesville, Virginia is not the center of the universe. Sorry.
@meanwhile: why was Jefferson's fleeing "cowardly." What would have have had him do? Stay to be captured? Seems to me Jefferson fleeing the British was the smart (and only) thing to do.
he who fight and run away live to fight another day
The guys up in Lexington and Concord didn't do the "smart" thing, did they?
Jefferson did not a thing for the cause of the revolution after writing the Declaration. And he was NOT the impetus for the Declaration being written, John Adams was. But he did write it beautifully.
He was a terrible governor, and would have done the cause of the war immeasurable good to put up a valiant and noble defense of Charlottesville, simply for the propaganda effect.
It wasn't his smarts that caused him to run away, as there was no reason for him to run away except that he wanted to keep enjoying the creature comforts of Monticello. And I don't blame him. We all know Jefferson had it good up on the hill...
But him fleeing Tarleton was not some smart, tactical move. It WAS cowardly. What else was it? Did Jefferson serve some purpose to the war? His term was ending. The ONLY person he was thinking about was himself.
His capture would have given the colonists another reason to fight. Benedict Arnold was a traitor, that only made the colonists angry. Valley Forge was a nightmarish disaster, that only gave fortitude to our soldiers. Bunker Hill, Trenton, Nathan Hale, there were many examples of bravery and sacrifice in the story of our country's founding.
This story is NOT one of them. I'm glad Jefferson got away. But to claim his escaping was in any way equivalent to the Battle of Lexington and Concord is really laughable.
Yeah, a guy rode in on a horse saying the British were coming. That's about the end of the similarities.... Nobody took up arms against the invading British, they fled away on horse because they were worried more about their own hides than the cause of liberty.
It seems to have escaped everyone's notice that Paul Revere was captured, not once but twice, by the British. He managed to talk his way out of it both times, but he was also considerably slowed down and really accomplished less as a result. A lot of the people he alerted already had heard the news by that time.
I hate to think what this country would have been like without Thomas Jefferson's presidency. Louisiana and points west would be speaking even more Spanish than they are now, for one thing. And we would have a lot fewer states.
Good grief, meanwhile, take a damn pill.
You seem to be dressing up in full armor to attack a hot fudge sundae.
This was a nice little piece that tried to tell us something about an overlooked historical tidbit. I found it entertaining. If you have to go on long rants to criticize the author of the piece, Thomas Jefferson, and Charlottesvillians in general you've got some personal issues to work through.
yOU NEVER PRINTED NOR REJECTED it
Justiniano Campa
This was a well written, well researched piece by Rick Britton, kuddos to him!! I am however, distressed by the comments made by "meanwhile," who obviously is a bitter, angry person, with a chip on his shoulder, right in line with some of the other misinformed folks who have been responsible for some of the ugly rhetoric that has been spreading through our country, since dare I say, Barack Obama became the Democratic nominee for president. Even though I am just reading this piece now, thank you as well to the thoughtful insight from the comments above. We can disagree on things without being insulting.....that is what's COWARDLY!! I doubt meanwhile would just sit there and let himself be captured. Jefferson did the only thing an intelligent person would do, plus, he had much left to do with his life, and didn't want his ill wife and young children to be left without a husband and father. Good article Rick!!


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Autocross Sunday #1 Hosted by the E-board
SCCA - SoCal Solo II
Registration closed January 13, 2017 11:59 PM on January 13, 2017 11:59 PM PST Registration ends January 13, 2017 11:59 PM on January 13, 2017 11:59 PM PST Registration opens December 4, 2016 12:00 AM on December 4, 2016 12:00 AM PST Registration runs from December 4, 2016 12:00 AM to January 13, 2017 11:59 PM
The 2017 Cal Club Autocross Sunday Championship Series starts anew with this, the first event of the 2017 season. AutoClub Speedway in Fontana will be the host location as classes are turned on their ear with new arrivals and some sad departures. But whatever class you choose, you can expect another year of fierce competition. With hotels cheap and plentiful in the Fontana/Ontario area, why not make it a weekend and join us for the Kick-off practice as well?
For those new to the sport, this is a great time to get involved. Novice class competitors use only their six best finishes of the year to determine the novice champion. If you start today, you have an entire year to accumulate those wins. Don't delay.....get started today!
For those of you that haven't experience the thrill of autocross, your decision to join us at Autocross Sunday may just lead to an addiction. Some who try it never leave. Others move on to different forms competition. But there's one thing that all who come have in common ........we're a family who has taken our driving skills to a level that makes us some of the most proficient drivers in the country. Whether you're a first timer or a seasoned veteran competing for a yearly class championship, Autocross Sunday is the place for you.
What is Autocross?
Autocross is a safe, relatively low-speed motorsport where drivers must negotiate a course marked by pylons with their cars. Cars are sent out one at time with about 20 seconds between runs. Top speed in autocross is typically no faster than speeds you would find on public roads, thus most cars only need working seat belts and drivers only need a helmet for safety. Courses are typically laid out in empty parking lots or air strips. Our courses are usually about a mile in length and take between 45 seconds and 90 seconds to negotiate. Courses contain a series of elements such as curves, corners, and slaloms that test the driver's skill and the car's agility. Cars are separated into classes based on Sports Car Club of America rules for national classes as well as California Sports Car Club supplemental regulations for local classes. Events are timed and the fastest time in the class wins. For a closer look, check out this excellent video by Stephen Chiang.
What is Autocross Sunday?
For some, Autocross Sunday is our time to show the world, well at least our friends, just how well we're able to negotiate the course in cars we've prepared for competition. This is for bragging rights, plain and simple. For others, it's a time to learn, both about ourselves and our cars. It's about becoming a better driver and a better person. But for all, it's about having fun and making new friends. Speaking of fun, persons aged 12 and older are allowed as passengers. That's right! Your friends and family can now ride along. An SCCA membership is required. Passengers may get a free temporary membership at registration. Whether your a first timer or a seasoned veteran competing for a yearly class championship, Autocross Sunday is the place for you.
No Experience Necessary
While you may have never thought much about improving your driving skills, things you'll learn about your car and yourself may just keep you out of trouble by giving you the tools to negotiate our roads and highways more safely. By participating in an Autocross Sunday, you will become a better driver .......GUARANTEED!
We at the Cal Club Autocross welcome new participants to the sport. Our autocrosses are work/run events and our organization is not for profit. We're all volunteers. Everyone pitches-in and shares in the work as well as the fun. It is important that you show up to work on time and complete your work assignment. We realize that getting started can be confusing. To help you get acclimated, a Novice Coordinator will be there to answer questions and help familiarize you with the course and procedures. Course walks to help you with learning the course will leave the starting line at 8:00 am and during the lunch break. At the completion of the course walk, you'll get a briefing covering course safety and operating procedures. Once the event begins, instructors will be available to help you as little or as much as you want. We're a very friendly group, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask any of you're fellow participants. A smile and a courteous attitude will go long way toward making you autocross experience a great one. For more information to help you get started, check out our novice guide here.
What to expect
Combine wonderful Southern California weather and a first class autocross course designed by the Cal Club Autocross team, we're sure to have a great day of fun and competition. Your hosts for the event are the volunteers who make up Cal Club Autocross, a not-for-profit club assembled for the sole purpose of organizing world class autocross events in the Cal Club Region of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). Organizers are non-paid volunteers. All participants will be required to perform a normal work assignment as your contribution to the event.
When you arrive
Be sure to sign the event waiver at the entrance to our area. Park your car in any open spot and come to registration for check-in. After registering, proceed to the tech area so your car and helmet can be approved. Be sure allow enough time for a course walk. That it's........you're ready to go.
No Overnight Camping
There is no overnight camping allowed on this site. However, personal belongings, including vehicles, may remain overnight. The site is fully fenced and the gates will be closed and locked when we leave for the night. Gates close at 10:00 pm and reopen at 6:00 am. Everything must be removed by the time we leave on Sunday. Neither Cal Club Autocross nor the event site will be responsible for damaged, lost, or stolen property.
Driving directions
For for turn by turn driving directions to the event, just left click on the map to the right.
As with any venue, we want to make a good impression on our landlords. With that in mind, please use the receptacles for your trash and do not leave trash anywhere on site. Also, have respect for the neighbors and drive carefully both inside and outside the site.
Event Master - KJ Christopher
Registration - Jonathon Hartendorp
Timing and Scoring - Rick Brown
Course Designer - Adam Tarnoff
Workers - Jon Lugod
Tech - Randy Gonzalez
Gate - Kevin Pao
Novice Coordinator - Leonard Cachola
Safety Steward - Sean Fenstermacher
Youth Steward - Steve Ekstrand

subset: commoncrawl


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Morning, world.
What's shaking? Anyone in the mood for a free book today?
"What happens when a frustrated American artist-turned-soccer-mom and her overconfident and charming British cyber-lover plan a three-day tryst of erotic depravity at a hotel in New York City?
Elizabeth and Richard are about to find out.
Elizabeth is about to turn forty years old, facing empty nest syndrome, and wistful about roads not taken. Unhappy in both her marriage and her career, she mourns abandoning her dream of being an artist. She feels like an outsider in her sports-obsessed family and a misfit at work in the corporate world. She's hoping Richard, a refined, British upper class gentleman with unusual sexual preferences, will be her Knight-in-Shining-Armor and rescue her from her unfulfilling life. What ensues is a hilariously poignant sexual romp through the Big Apple."
Yep, it's true. My very first published novel, Three Days in New York City, the first of the "sex in the city" trilogy, is TOTALLY FREE TODAY and you can pick up your copy right here at All Romance eBooks.
I feel I should mention that while I've been told Three Days is a laugh out loud comedy, a lot of the jokes revolve around sex and it is extremely graphic, so normally I'd say BUYER BEWARE but hey hey, since it's free today and today only, I say, Go for it! And if you like what you read, don't forget about the second book in the trilogy, Another Bite of the Apple, and the third and maybe or maybe not final installment, Bitten to the Core. If you would like the paperback versions of any of these books, please visit my author page over at Indiebound or directly from my publisher right here. Notice I am trying to steer you away from Amazon, but...sigh...I know resistance is futile, I know, so here is the link for that.
Speaking of writing, guess where I will be on Saturday?
Yep, I'm back, and I'll be with the East Coast Authors at a table selling and signing the reissue of Daddy Left Me Alone with God. And there will be lots of free chocolate! Stop by and say hello. For further details on the festival, here's the link to their webpage. For those of you who still get the morning newspaper, usually the Philadelphia Inquirer contains an excerpt with a map of where of the various authors/events will be but if not, trust me, I'll be tweeting and Facebooking my location.
It really is true about Facebook. Now that I know how it works, I see that's where everyone is. The blogging community as I knew it is dwindling. There are still huge communities of everything from mommy bloggers to entertainment/gossip bloggers, but most people, especially writers who need to be spending their time working on their novels, are now stationed at Facebook. So...if you haven't already, you can friend me right here.
And for me, blogging has become kind of bittersweet. Julie and Eric have apartments of their own; I no longer tour with them...so like, how do I top my stories of the past seven years since I first started blogging? I refuse to be one of those, "Well, today I had an English muffin with peanut butter for breakfast and maybe if I'm lucky, there's some brown rice and veggies left over for lunch...then I plan on writing, reading so and so's novel, and ooh ooh, I took a nap!"
But yeah, how do I go from writing about meeting Robert Fripp to talking about English muffins and peanut butter?
Yer right. I can't. So I don't.
But the truth is, I have been working on my new book and I've been basically a shut in, taking care of my dog. Gah! I've been housebound for weeks, playing nursemaid to Monty the wonder dog. Yes, I know he is thirteen and has a terrible illness, but he's still hanging in there; I am confident he's not in any pain (seeing as how he still brings me his leash and has a totally voracious appetite)...but his illness, which suppresses his immune system, leaves him susceptible to just about everything and right now in addition to Cushing's disease he's fighting something called demodicosis. Don't google it. I even refuse to be my usual self and look. My feeling is, if the vet is still upbeat and Monty is still acting like Monty, I'm just taking it a day at a time and enjoying every second with him, but yeah, I am afraid to leave him alone and need a babysitter for him if I do go out.
But here's proof that he's doing great - in honor of opening day of baseball season this week, I got Monty a present and he's looking damn fine for a sickly senior citizen, isn't he?
Also, I should mention that when he turned 13 a few weeks ago, since it was his bar mitzvah, we had a party...Julie and Eric came over, we sang Happy Birthday, and this gorgeous cake is vegan peanut butter:
The idea was inspired by my vet, who told me that he has "patients" who do indeed lavishly bar mitzvah their dogs. Since I did not even have a bar mitzvah for my son, heathen that I am, I made up for it with Monty. We also had vegan coconut ice cream with our cake. :)
So, while I've been missing, I am sure you've seen the Facebook and twitters from not only me and the family but by others...Julie and Eric have been busy, busy, busy. From the Pink Revolver concert, featuring legendary musicians guitarist Jane Getter, keyboard player Rachel Z, drummer Camille Gainer Jones, vocalist Vivian Sessoms and bassist Julie Slick...and I understand another show is in the works for either May or June...here are some photos from last month:
I am still waiting for a You Tube to surface from that show, along with a You Tube from another project Julie is involved with drummer Carl Bahner...if you check Julie's website, you'll see she's got another show with Carl lined up as well as some Paper Cat shows..she's also the new bassist for Philadelphia super group Dragon King. But no worries, she's still an active member of the Adrian Belew Power Trio and there is talk of a very interesting tour this fall. Watch this space! Hmm...to save you the trouble, here's a list of Julie's upcoming gigs but I know there are more that she needs to add that are quite, quite special:
04/29 – Phoenixville, PA – Bahner/Slick Duo – Pickering Creek Inn
04/30 – Philadelphia, PA – Dragon King – The Barbary
05/04 – Philadelphia, PA – PAPER CAT – Johnny Brenda's
06/07 – Philadelphia, PA – with Eric Slick, Tim Motzer, and Chris Cuzme – Triumph Brewing Company
Did you know that Eric has a brand new website? It's very cool but will be even cooler once he's off tour and has the time to update it but for now, here is the link. Eric is currently on tour with Dr. Dog and last night they played at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, North Carolina where I just read they had quite the monsoon and hailstorm last night. Ha ha, it wouldn't be a real tour if one of my kids wasn't involved in some kind of natural disaster, huh. So, two things. One, here is a photo of Eric from the sold-out Dr. Dog show in Philadelphia on February 11, where management took pity on me (being one of the few people in the venue over 30) and let me sit on the side of the stage...
and two, here, in case you've never been so lucky, what it looks like in the green room backstage at the Electric Factory where they played that night...well, not exactly what it looks like, but look who is hanging out "watching" all the partying...
Pretty cool, huh. Also, Eric had more than another fifteen minutes of fame last week when he appeared for almost ten days on the front page of the Bonaroo website with this video, where he reminisces about meeting Dr. Dog for the first time...where? At Bonnaroo, of course!
But the nicest thing that happened was this morning, when I received the official "review" from my pal, brilliant photographer Michael Inman (ha ha, Mike, I see you've abandoned your blog, too but you can friend Mike on Facebook right here. I met Mike when J&E first joined the Adrian Belew Power Trio because he is a long time King Crimson and prog music fan, so I was a little nervous about how he would react to the looser, jamband style of Dr. Dog. I needn't have worried. Here's the lovely, lovely excerpts from his FB messages that I came down to when I woke up this morning.
First. Mike sent me a copy of a message he sent to Andre Cholmondelay, who is currently teching with the UK reunion tour featuring Eddie Jobson, John Wetton, and Marco Minnemann:
"Hey Andre,
Just had to tell you this. I went to see Eric last night in Dr. Dog...and quite honestly I didn't get what all the fuss was about that band...till I saw them LAST NIGHT OMG! They were so insanely excellent! He has come such a long long way in such a few short years. You had a significant part in his development for giving him his first break in Project Object. I wish I had seen him in that band too. However I think Eric has found the right place now with Dr. Dog OMG! I never thought I would say that because I SO LOVED him in the Power Trio with Julie.
But last night I saw these boys play their ASSES OFF! They were buggin on the stage...bouncing all over the place I was in the front row and I am still freaking out at the caliber of this band! I am weeping with Joy for how amazing they are. Before I went in Eric came out and talked to me a bit. He was saying how playing iwth this band is so much different than playing where he had a lot more fills. He really had to teach himself restraint. You know what he has learned with this band is how to be a supporting drummer and hold back till it's his time to shine and trust me he has plenty of fills!
I know you have been through so so much lately losing Cheri and all and have gone through and are going through some really rough patches. But something in the cosmos told me I needed to write you to tell you just how amazing this boy has become! He has some incredible parents, an amazing sister and you of course also played a very important part in his journey so far.
I hope when you read this if warms your heart to hear these words. I know you are an amazing musician, and a super addition to any road crew a band could ever have. I am sure that Wetton and Jobson know this and if they don't they are fools! I took many photos last night it was very difficult to capture these boys because they run all over the place...such energy! Such talent...such timing! And Eric has a huge role in that.
Hope that you come through the Charlotte area sometime in the near future and if you do please let me know. And when you get the chance if you haven't already done so.....go see Eric in Dr. Dog. I think you will be grinning the entire show just like I was.
Peace, Mike"
Isn't that the most beautiful message, ever? And here's what Mike wrote to me, directly, when I thanked him so much for his letter to Andre and me:
"You are welcome Rob and Thank You for hooking me up with the photo pass! It's always appreciated! Oh and these guys can really make a huge noise! OMG! I am still in awe of their live show! There is no video and no audio recording that can EVER capture this. Oh and you know as well as me....that Eric will always be in twenty side projects no matter what band he is playing in. AND I pray he and Julie are playing together again.....because they TALK they communicate through music...like Identical twins who have their own language!
Peace, Mike"
I love what Mike says about Julie and Eric. Indeed.
By the way, if you are in the NYC area, you can catch the UK reunion show Monday night. You can find the details right here. Julie asked me if I could go - I think she may be attending - but in light of everything going on right now, I kind of doubt it. Having attended this show in 2009, I can tell you it's incredible (and I saw them without John Wetton so I can just imagine how awesome it is now)...so yeah, if you live anywhere near New York, you really need to GO.
Okay, then. Have I covered everything? Get your free copy of Three Days in NYC today; come say Hi to me at the Book Festival next Saturday (unless you are a stalker then please, do not bother me har har), if you are in the Florida area go see Eric on this current Dr. Dog tour which runs through next week...if you are in Philly do not miss any of the upcoming Julie/Eric shows (though there are some great NY ones coming up that neither have on their respective websites yet so I'm thinking I'd better stay quiet until they are officially announced)...and if you are a praying sort of person, send me some white light for my doggie.
Talk soon...
P.S. Whoops, I did forget one thing. This weekend marks the one year anniversary of The Great Canadian Writers' Retreat. So much has happened to all four of us this year! I really want to do a blog post which gets into that in detail, but this time last year, one of the highlights was hanging out with Susan Henderson five months prior to the publication of her debut novel, Up from the Blue. Well, guess what. A year to the day of our first night together, Susan appeared on the Rosie O'Donnell radio show after receiving this tweet from Rosie!
"@rosie @LitPark - I love ur book - almost done with it - would u like to come on my radio show ?"
Can you imagine how Sue felt when she got that tweet? From Rosie Freaking O'Donnell? Anyway, yep, Rosie sent a car to pick up Sue and you can listen to the whole interview right here. That might not be the direct link, but it will take you there.
Okay, then. Happy Sunday, all. I believe you have some reading to do. :)


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Twice a month, WitOut digs through its virtual piles of old columns to repost something great you may have missed.
This post was written by sketch comedy writer and performer Rob Baniewicz, of Camp Woods and Meg & Rob fame.
I went to a Catholic high school — a cheap one at that. This meant no sound system in a theater that held well over 200 people. I mean, there was a microphone… maybe two … but no body mics, nor any sort of system to pick up the sounds of a group or a chorus. And unfortunately, my high school felt the only financially viable shows were musicals, which, on the one hand, were guaranteed to bring in at least twice the crowd of 16-year-olds performing Stoppard but on the other hand, would elicit awkward cries of "What did he say?" when Caiaphas, in a deep, deep baritone sang, "Jesus must, Jesus must, Jesus must die." I learned early on in my high school career that our lousy sound system could not be depended on to support the actors. This is what prompted me to connect with my voice and is something necessary for any sketch performer.
Let me start with a disclaimer — in my experience, I have found that a lot of improv folks come from a theater background. Consequently, in an improv show, I tend to hear most everything regardless if I want to or not. On the other hand, I've sat through dozens of self-obsessed sketches that are barely audible, the performers completely ignorant to the fact that there's an audience in front of them. So forgive me if this seems like a no-brainer, but it needs to be said: people are paying to hear you, and even if they're not listening, YOU WANT THEM TO.
To get started with some basics, let's talk about remembering there is an audience and giving them the theater they deserve. My desire to project during a performance stemmed from the fact that I wanted my half-deaf father to hear me warble "Let's Misbehave" during Anything Goes. Sure, my actions clued the audience in to the slinky sexual awkwardness that characterized my high school drama productions, but without my voice, I was merely a mime on a cruise ship.
So first, face the audience, dummy. No microphones is an inevitable side-effect of DIY performances and a fact that actors need to be flexible about when they're doing shows in Philly. I can't tell you how many sketches I've seen where I had no idea what was going on onstage, despite sitting only a few feet away. Talk to your fellow performers but face the audience. If you're an ak-tor, you can call it "cheating out." Moral of the story — don't turn your back on the crowd who is there to support you.
Second, talk loudly. We're doing these shows in bars, backyards, the Piazza and anywhere else that will have us. Figure out what your diaphragm is and use it (hint: it doesn't go in a lady). You may feel like you're yelling (and in some cases you are), but this is the only way to ensure that every joke is heard and thus, ensure that every joke is given its rightful opportunity to hit.
If you look at some of the more successful sketch groups in Philly — Secret Pants, Feeko Brothers, Camp Woods, and Animosity Pierre — they all have an inherent sense of the audience which enables them to perform theatrically. I know the idea of being theatrical may send a chill up some down and dirty sketcheteers' spine, but a live show is theater, no matter what. To succeed is thus to act theatrically. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, if you can't get up on stage and be heard, you might as well be performing to a windmill…
Man of La Mancha, anybody?


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|Tucker Carlson on Hannity's 'Great American Panel'
Tucker Carlson addresses Vick role
Fox analyst Tucker Carlson gave the harshest critique of Vick's past yet, saying the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback "should have been executed" for his gruesome dogfighting crimes.
Carlson was guest hosting for Sean Hannity's show on Fox News Channel on Tuesday night when he made the remarks. He led a panel discussion about President Barack Obama commending the owner of the Eagles for giving Vick a second chance after his release from prison. Vick served 18 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting ring.
"I'm a Christian, I've made mistakes myself, I believe fervently in second chances," Carlson said on the show. "But Michael Vick killed dogs, and he did [it] in a heartless and cruel way. And I think, personally, he should've been executed for that. He wasn't, but the idea that the president of the United States would be getting behind someone who murdered dogs?"
HotAirs' Ed Morrissey asked Tucker Carlson for a clarification of his controversial statement
Video: Tucker Carlson says Vick should have been "executed" for dog killings
I love dogs — we have three — and I think what Vick did was horrifying and shockingly cruel. Executed? I don't know. I do know that 19 months is a joke. People get more than that for tax evasion. He certainly shouldn't be back in the NFL with Obama rooting for him. What the president said is disgusting. That's the story as far as I'm concerned.


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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – A New Smyrna Beach High School coach was arrested on Monday after deputies say he was stealing money from students' wallets.
Rodney Barnes, 43, a physical education teacher and assistant varsity football coach, has been charged with felony burglary and grand theft after a sting operation.
Deputies said more than $950 and a total of nine victims have been identified in the thefts in the boys' locker room over the last few months.
"Operation Sticky Fingers" was brought on by Volusia County deputies after suspicions of a coach being involved in the thefts. In the investigation, deputies used a special powder that's invisible to the eyes. They coated several bills with the powder then left the money in a wallet in a student's locker. When the money disappeared, deputies and school administrators used a special ultraviolet light and found the powder glowing on Barnes' hands.
Barnes admitted to taking a $50 bill from the student's wallet. He also admitted to several other thefts totaling $170. However, deputies are continuing to investigate more thefts than the ones to which Barnes initially admitted.
Barnes told WKMG-TV, "I made a mistake," and said even if he were allowed back to the school, he would not go because he realizes staff and students have lost respect for him.
He was booked into the Volusia County jail on $3,000 bond but was able to post bail and walk out late Tuesday night.
Volusia County school officials said Barnes is not able to return the school "until he has met with the Professional Standards office and disciplinary action has been determined."


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SAMRO FOUNDATION is involved in outreach programmes and sponsorship of the arts. The main objective is to create and maintain an environment in which the arts in South Africa may flourish. This includes giving broad support to composers, musicians, and arts organizations in South Africa. The Foundation offers some of the largest scholarships and bursaries for music students in the country, and our Overseas Scholarships have helped boost the careers of many well-known performers.
Our Music Archive, which holds over 100,000 music scores, serves as a resource for researchers and artists. Through our newly created Stakeholder Hub, we build relationships with other arts organizations and help incubate growing businesses. SAMRO FOUNDATION has undergone a lot of growth recently, and we will always stay true to our vision of investing in the value of music.


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By Liz Premo
Hampton Union, August 13, 2013
[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]
Artist Lynne Schulte created "The Pink Chair Project" to chronicle
her personal journey as she worked through the pain of losing her
mother, Carolyn, to heart disease in 2011. (Liz Premo photo)
HAMPTON — Patrons who ventured into the Weston Gallery at Lane Memorial Library last month were welcomed by an exhibit of vibrant paintings in which a bright pink Adirondack chair was featured on every canvas.
"The Pink Chair Project," a collection of watercolors and oils by Georgetown, Mass., artist Lynne Schulte, chronicled the artist's personal journey as she worked through the pain of losing her mother Carolyn to heart disease in 2011.
Schulte's exhibit was facilitated by Lane Library staffer Darrel Eifert, who was first introduced to the artist during a library event in her hometown.
"I was very intrigued," Eifert said, adding the library was pleased to feature the "Pink Chair Project" in the Weston Gallery. "It's got an amazing story behind it."
Patrons who attended the reception found the work amazing as well, using words like "spectacular," awesome" and "wonderful" to describe what they were seeing.
"It's a beautiful show. The colors are vibrant," said Karen Raynes, a member of the Hampton Arts Network. "They all tell a story. Even though it's a personal journey you can put yourself into it."
Schulte, who gave a slideshow presentation during a reception held in her honor in the library's Wheaton Lane Room, told her audience, "It really never was a grief story. Right from the beginning it was about love."
Love, and what seemed to be Carolyn's ever-present influence as Schulte embarked upon an artistic journey that began with the question, "How am I ever going to deal with losing her?"
"It was as if she was saying, 'This is what you will do to deal with it,'" Schulte recalled as her series came into being. "She was there all the time."
The pink chair was, too, although its first appearance (in a work entitled "Sunshine and Shadow") wasn't deliberately planned. Two months after her mother's funeral, Schulte had embarked upon a planned trip to Cushing, Maine. Staying at a cottage in that picturesque coastal town, she had her first encounter with the chair.
Schulte described it best on her blog: "After painting away from the cottage, I decided to paint off of the back deck. But first, I enjoyed the view for a while, sitting in the pink Adirondack chair in the back yard. It matched the shutters of the house. As I rested, I thought of how much Mom would have loved that chair. It was her color, an intense knock-your-socks-off pink.
"Back on the deck, I started painting and decided that the chair looked so good there, I would paint it in. I was not prepared for what happened."
Taking great care to check the composition and value areas through an initial "underpainting," Schulte expertly captured the light and shadow she saw before her on her canvas.
"I was taken at how the chair sat on the line between light and dark in the yard," she wrote. "As I carefully started to paint the pink chair into the work, all of a sudden I sensed the presence of my mother. She was there — in the chair! And she has stayed with me through this adventure in painting."
As that adventure continued (with a pink chair of her own that she kept stashed in her car), Schulte would take the chair to her mother's favorite places or locales she thought Carolyn would enjoy. Prominently at the forefront in some paintings, distinctively smaller in others, the pink chair is a constant, eye-catching presence no matter its size.
In the stories that were featured next to each individual painting while on exhibit, Schulte chronicled how and why she would select different settings. For example, on a visit to the Sedgewick Gardens in Beverly, Mass., she placed the chair next to a little pond next to which lilies and lotuses were in bloom.
"I knew Mom would love it, so I set her chair up close to it so that she could get a good look," she said. She named the painting, with its vibrant greens and pinks, "Meditation (First Lotus)," because she envisioned her mother "meditating quietly behind the blooms."
For another painting, entitled "Daisy Love," Schulte honored her mother's fondness for daisies by capturing the chair surrounded by white, yellow and pink flowers. Accompanying the finished work was "The Daisy," a poem penned by her mother (who had written and published a book entitled "This is Me").
Schulte would often talk to Carolyn while painting, and strongly felt her presence at any given spot. Consistently reflecting upon the bond they shared together, Schulte would even take direction from what she felt was her mother's influence from another realm.
"You start to believe this stuff when it starts happening," said Schulte. "It was so clear she was part of this."
Schulte's "Pink Chair Project" will be featured in several additional exhibits before concluding with a three-month showing at Exeter Hospital next summer. At that point she will be able to sell paintings from the series, including to those who will have waited two years for their art.
In the meantime, Schulte offers greeting cards and prints from the "Pink Chair Project." To see more of her work, and to learn more about the project, visit www.lynneschulte.com.


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There's a new boss of the Sparks, and he answers to Magic.
Former Lakers great Magic Johnson stepped in to buy the franchise earlier this year, ensuring a future for the WNBA in the nation's second-largest market. By rescuing the team after its previous owners decided to end their involvement, Johnson gave Candace Parker a chance to chase the only major title to elude the reigning league MVP in her career.
She has won two Olympic gold medals, two NCAA championships at Tennessee and a title with her Russian pro team during the offseason. The Sparks last won the WNBA championship in 2002.
In a preseason survey of the league's 12 general managers, Parker was named on 50 percent of the ballots to once again earn the league's MVP award. She won MVP honors at last year's All-Star game. All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike was chosen as the league's most athletic player with 50 percent of the vote.
Last season, the Sparks were 24-10 and lost to Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals under coach Carol Ross.
Parker averaged 17.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists to lead the team. She'll be surrounded by experienced starters, including Ogwumike, who averaged 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds last season.
Johnson owns the team with most of the same group that controls the Dodgers.
The Sparks play six of their first nine games on the road. After tonight's opener at Seattle, they host Phoenix on Sunday at Staples Center.
Here are five things to watch for when the Sparks start the season:
MAGIC'S INFLUENCE >> The team is already benefiting from his presence with increased exposure off the court. Johnson hosted the Sparks at a recent Dodgers game. Parker and Ogwumike tossed out the first pitch and Lindsey Harding announced the starting lineup. Johnson has told WNBA President Laurel Ritchie that he plans to be an active owner. Johnson has displayed a golden touch when it comes to his business properties, and with the Sparks being tied to basketball, they figure to receive a boost.
GUARD RANKS >> The Sparks signed free agent Candice Wiggins last month, bolstering them at the guard position. She has averaged double-figure scoring in four of her six WNBA seasons and helped Minnesota win the 2011 championship. Wiggins figures to come off the bench, with Harding, Kristi Toliver and Alana Beard giving the Sparks a three-guard starting rotation. All-Star Toliver averaged 14.1 points, third-highest on the team last season.
COACHING STAFF >> Ross added veterans Gail Goestenkors and Gary Kloppenburg to her staff during the offseason. Goestenkors brings over 25 years of experience to the team, including head coaching stints at Texas and Duke, where she coached Beard and Harding. Kloppenburg has over 20 years' experience, both as a head coach and assistant in various leagues including the WNBA, NBA and collegiate ranks.
ADDED DEPTH >> Ross will have a deep bench to utilize when trying to get rest for her starters and keep their legs fresh. The backups include newcomer Armintie Harrington, a seven-year veteran; Farhiya Abdi of Sweden; Sandrine Gruda of France; and Jantel Lavender. The Sparks have the ability to throw different combinations of size and speed at opponents.
GETTING TO THE TITLE GAME >> The Sparks won WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002. They've made the playoffs in five of the past six seasons, but are still seeking their first championship since Lisa Leslie starred for the team. Parker will be eager to atone for getting knocked out in the opening round last year.


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L.A. Dance
by: 1boxapps.com • 0
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by: 1boxapps.com • 0
This is the official mobile app for L.A. Dance in Lake Orion, MI. With our new app you may learn more about us. In addition, Users will enjoy functionality that utilizes the Android operating system. Some of the functionality features include:
-1 Touch Calling
-"Review" wall that allows users to post about their experience.
-GPS enabled directions
-a sharing feature that allows you to share the app with other Android users
-Event Calendar
-Ask A Question
-Send A Picture
-Image Gallery
Download L.A. Dance
Free - 1.17.0110 - 44M
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Find the best Nissan Alloy Wheel Refurbishment Experts
Refurbished and Resprayed Alloys makes a car look years younger - as long as you use a reputable specialist! Fortunately we work with 15,163 Garages and Specialists nationwide, so we can help. We also have Mobile Mechanics that can carry out Mobile Alloy Wheel Repairs/a> .
Enter your registration to see competitive prices and customer reviews, and book an Alloy Wheel Refurb in seconds. Get started now!


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K&N 71 Series Blackhawk Air Intake 71-3088
- Our Price: $334.99
- Shipping:FREE SHIPPING
- Part Number: 71-3088
- Rating: (5)
Blackhawk Air Intake System
- Part #: 71-3088
- Installation Instructions
- Carb Exempt
- 50 State Street Legal
$334.99Free Shipping
Select your vehicle details above to ensure item compatibility.
- Outfit your engine bay with slick looks and maximum air flow with the K&N Blackhawk Air Intake
- Lightweight, hand-worked aluminum tube
- Provides impressive power and torque gains
- Durable Black powdercoat finish with engraved K&N nameplate
- Black K&N DryFlow Air Filter is free-flowing, washable, and oil-free
- Not street legal in California or other states that follow CARB emissions standards
- Custom-designed for your exact vehicle
- Typically installs in under 90 minutes, at stock mounting locations
- Backed by K&N's Million Mile Warranty
Opening up your engine's air supply with a custom air intake is one of the most effective and immediate ways to boost your vehicle's power, torque, and performance. It's also one of the quickest ways to give your engine bay an extra touch of style. Install a K&N 71 Series Blackhawk Air Intake and you'll get the best of both worlds.
The heart of the K&N Blackhawk Intake is its aluminum tube. This lightweight intake tube is shaped and cut to precise measurements to perfectly suit your engine. From there it's hand-worked to remove rough spots, powder-coated with a durable Black finish, and outfitted with an engraved K&N nameplate. The matching black DryFlow Air Filter and heat shield give the whole system a killer, "black-out" look that means business.
Those good looks don't mean much without the performance to back them up, though. To that effect, the K&N 71 Series Intake is specially designed for awesome air flow, and the easy-to-maintain DryFlow Filter keeps your air clean with minimal restriction. The result: real-world gains in torque and horsepower that will have you laying rubber with the best of them.
Give your ride the best in both looks and power with the K&N Blackhawk Air Intake. Backed by K&N's Million-Mile Limited Warranty.
Note: Not street legal in California or other CARB states.
K&N 71-3088 fits:
- 2015-2016 Chevrolet Colorado
- 2015-2016 GMC Canyon
There are no reviews for this application.
See All K&N 71 Series Blackhawk Air Intake Reviews.


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Hello everyone,
So earlier in the semester one of my professors suggested that I apply to be part of a Historical Conference and I was given the opportunity to write about anything I desired. As such I chose my subject to be on Xun Yu, his relationship with Cao Cao, and his attempt to protect the Han.
I have all of the necessary knowledge in my head and I can draw a large amount from his biography, but I will need other sources as this is a scholarly paper (at least more than 10 for the 7 page length this should be). So if anyone has any suggestions of English sources for this sort of study, I would be very grateful for your assistance.


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Snap2Chat, is a Native BlackBerry 10 client/version of SnapChat, which is developed by the famous, NemOry Oliver.
His app is now available on BlackBerry World (thanks to our friends from BlackBerry, NemOry, to everyone who helped sign the petition, and to anyone else that helped bring this great app to BlackBerry World)!!
Some great features this app has are:
- See your Feed, Friends, Stories, and Profiles
- Send and receive snaps
- Upload your own Story
- See who viewed and took a screenshot of your story
- Register directly from Snap2Chat
- Front Facing Flash
- Replay re-watch your snaps.
- Edit your snaps with filters and more
- Set # of best friends
- Block, Unblock, Unfriend, Add, Set a friend's display name, and accept Friend Requests
These features are exclusive to Snap2Chat only!
- Snap2Chat presents a whole new way to communicate with other Snap2Chat users The Shoutbox! Shout in the Shoutbox and other Snap2Chat users will be able to like and comment on your shouts! Also add friends from the Shoutbox!
- Customize your app! Select any color for the title bar and choose between a light and dark theme for the whole app.
- Customize your snap! Use BlackBerry 10s built in photo editor to edit your snaps. Also choose from a variety of font types of sizes.
- Unlimited text in captions! Snap2Chat offers the flexibility to write captions longer than one line.
- Edit your profile
- View stories individually
- See your feed in the active frame
- Invite friends via SMS, Facebook, Twitter and other social networks
- Set a refresh interval
Headless support and Hub integration will be coming later on. I really hope to these features in this amazing app!
Keep up the great work NemOry! I'm sure he will help continue to build more apps, and help close the "app gap!!"
You can follow Snap2Chat on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Snap2Chat
You can get Snap2Chat for the special price of $0.99, which will increase to $1.99 afterwards. What are you waiting for? Download it now!!! Snap2Chat - BlackBerry World
PS - there will be a free version coming out as well, but will not have that many features.


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Makes 12
200g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
225g granulated sugar
45g ground almonds
Finely grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon
2 large eggs
90ml sunflower oil
250ml low-fat Greek Yoghurt (I used non-fat)
½ tbsp lemon essence
For the icing
225g icing sugar
1 tsp elderflower cordial
4 tsp water
Preheat the oven to 180oC/fan 160oC/gas 4. Line a 12-hole non-stick muffin tin with paper muffin cases.
Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Sprinkle over the sugar and ground almonds, followed by the grated lemon zest, and mix everything together.
In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs with the oil and Greek yoghurt. Add the lemon essence.
Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir with a wooden spoon. Mix until everything is combined and there are no clumps of dry ingredients.
Spoon the mixture into the paper cases so that they are three-quarters full. Bake the cakes in the centre of the preheated oven for about 20 minutes until they are firm and springy to the touch. Remove from the oven and place the cakes on a wire rack to cool.
To make the icing, sift the icing sugar into a medium-sized bowl. Add the elderflower cordial and water a little at a time to achieve a thick, creamy consistency.
When the cakes are cool, spoon a tablespoon of icing onto each one. Serve plain or decorate with little sugar flowers or thin shavings of lemon rind.
The gorgeous golden cupcakes cooling before being decorated.


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There are no Upcoming Shows listed for this artist.
Rudyard's British Pub
2010 Waugh Dr
Houston, TX 77006
Food, Beer, Music, Comedy, Darts. We have it all.
Takka Takka
A warm combination of folk-inspired songwriting and indie rock instrumentation characterizes the music of Brooklyn's Takka Takka, who formed in 2004 after bandleader Gabe Levine (vocals, keyboard, guitar) relocated to New York from Texas. The band's early lineup also included drummer Conrad Doucette, bassist J.P. Jones (replaced by Grady Jurrens in 2006), and guitarist Damion Jurrens (replaced by Rene Planchon and Drew Thurlow in July 2007). After recording the debut album We Feel Safer at Night in the band's native Brooklyn, Takka Takka spent the latter half of 2006 touring alongside indie rock upstarts Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Jones left the band upon their return to New York and was replaced by Damion's brother, bassist Grady Jurrens. The re-formed band entered Brooklyn's Seaside Lounge to record a follow-up to its self-issued debut; the resulting EP, Talk Faster, was released in early 2007. Shows in the U.K. and a high-profile set at the 2007 South by Southwest festival heightened the band's profile, and Ernest Jenning Recording Co. signed Takka Takka that May. A re-release of We Feel Safer at Night -- packaged alongside the three-song Talk Faster -- followed in September. Takka Takka returned with its sophomore effort, Migration, in 2008.


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Friday, July 9, 2010
Six More Reasons...
...why I love The Book Loft. Who doesn't love going into a bookstore and leaving with free ARCs of some of the hottest upcoming titles? The first ARC they ever gave me was The Hunger Games. Yeah. I about died. This pile made me babble with incoherent joy. Now you understand why I feel guilty if I buy books at B&N or Amazon. I love my local Indie!
This time they gave me:
Matched by Ally Condie
Scumble by Ingrid Law (sequel to Savvy)
After the Wreck by Joyce Carol Oates
Sapphique by Catherine Fischer (sequel to Incarceron)
Crossing Over by Anna Kendall
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
What are you reading this summer?
21 comments:
- Martina Boone said...
Just finished Incarceron and onto L.A. Candy. Hush Hush is waiting in the wings (among WAY too many other books)!
Have a good weekend!
- July 9, 2010 at 6:07 AM
- Kristan Hoffman said...
Finishing up a Nora Roberts series (In The Garden trilogy) then reading some YA fantasy lent to me by a friend. After that, I don't know what, but I hope I can get all that done in July!
- July 9, 2010 at 6:20 AM
- Janet Johnson said...
You found ARCs in a bookstore! Awesome.
I'm reading Book 8 of Sisters Grimm right now.
- July 9, 2010 at 7:20 AM
- Becky Levine said...
Thank goodness for your blog--I didn't even KNOW there was a sequel to Savvy!!! Thanks for the update.
- July 9, 2010 at 7:55 AM
- Sherrie Petersen said...
Marissa: Oooh, how did you like Incarceron? I need to move that one to the top of my pile since The Book Loft gave me the sequel!
Kristan: My TBR piles have taken over every part of my house. It's literally a paper explosion over here!
Janet: After I read your comment I realized I needed to clarify -- The Book Loft GIVES me ARCs. That's why I love my local Indie. And I love the Sisters Grimm books, too. I read book 1 and 2 with my kids.
Becky: Yes, there's a sequel and it looks wonderful. I'll have to review it after I read it.
- July 9, 2010 at 9:29 AM
- lotusgirl said...
That's so cool. They just give them away? How do they get such great ARCs?
- July 9, 2010 at 10:36 AM
- Sherrie Petersen said...
Lois: They only give them away to special people...
This is a small area and they're the only new book store so they essentially have the market cornered, but in a good way! I spend a lot of money in there as well, so I guess they don't mind passing some good stuff my way :)
- July 9, 2010 at 10:48 AM
The book loft is a wonderful place. Lucky you!!!!
- July 9, 2010 at 11:12 AM
- Laura Pauling said...
What an awesome stash! I guess I'll have go the old fashioned way to read those books! Waiting for their release date!
- July 9, 2010 at 12:10 PM
- Tiana Smith said...
Oh my goodness, I have been coveting all those books! It makes me wish I were a special person living wherever you live :) I've been going through all of Shannon Hale's books and I hope to finish them this summer. I'm also planning on reading the Hunger Games (finally!)
- July 9, 2010 at 1:32 PM
- Sharon K. Mayhew said...
Wow, that is so wonderful!!!
- July 9, 2010 at 3:12 PM
- Unknown said...
I've got too many books on my list to name . . . including two by M. Steifvater (both which I won on the blogs). ;)
I can't wait to read Matched. I've already pre-ordered it. :D
I won a copy of the arc for Sapphique too. But LiLa Roecker told me I would HATE Incarceron . . . they know my taste too well. ;)
- July 9, 2010 at 4:39 PM
- Sherrie Petersen said...
Gwen: Aren't they wonderful in there? I feel so lucky :)
Laura: I didn't get to keep Matched but I've already pre-ordered it from them. It's SOOOOO good!
Tiana: The Hunger Games is one of my favorite books ever. The only Shannon Hale I've read is Goose Girl, but I want to try more of hers as well.
Sharon: Yes, I do love my local indie :)
Stina: You are one of the luckiest people I know on the internet! Have fun reading your stash!
- July 9, 2010 at 5:08 PM
- Kari said...
If I took a picture right now, I'd be green. I am so jealous of all those ARC's! How awesome is it that they just give you all those??
Not that I can really complain :) I've got a big pile of TBR books sitting in my room
- July 9, 2010 at 5:28 PM
- Carolyn V. said...
I just started the Hunger Games (I know, I'm a little slow). =)
- July 9, 2010 at 8:59 PM
- Beth Kephart said...
Wow. Your Indies are the Indies out here BUT I absolutely adore my Indies.
This summer I am reading book after book. Most recently Between Shades of Gray, due out next spring. Wonderful.
- July 10, 2010 at 3:23 AM
- storyqueen said...
I really want to read Matched and Nightshade! How cool is it that they gave you ARCs??? What a great bookstore!
I just finished When You Reach Me which was very good. Am starting the Gail Carson Levine Tinkerbell series....you know, cause I got to see her and all.
- July 10, 2010 at 6:31 AM
- Tricia J. O'Brien said...
I pretty much would love to read all of those! You have a great summer of reading ahead. I just finished SHIVER and thought it was great. I've got WILL GRAYSON and LOOKING FOR ALASKA coming up. Yay.
- July 10, 2010 at 10:44 AM
- Suzanne Casamento said...
Ooo. I am so jealous!
Although I am too, reading free books, courtesy of the fabulous Kelly Polark. I won a contest on her blog and I'm enjoying DEAD UNTIL DARK, the first book in the True Blood series.
Yay for free books!
- July 10, 2010 at 5:17 PM
- TerryLynnJohnson said...
great list. thanks!
- July 11, 2010 at 7:10 AM
- Lori W. said...
This is the most amazing bookstore. I have some beautiful books I bought from their loft of used books the last time I visited Solvang (they even have a whole section of Danish books!). You are so fortunate.
- July 11, 2010 at 10:37 AM


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Campus Life
Top 10 Reasons You Should've Gone to Community College
Questioning spending thousands of dollars on school? You should've tried community college! From free, used needles in the bathrooms, to a hilarious student government, here are the top 10 reasons to quit real school and bathe in the alternative, shitty glory that is community college.
10.) It's Basically Free:
Let's start with the obvious. Community college is a nickel per semester. Go to your local Aldi and steal a quarter from the grocery cart line. That'll pay for your two-year degree, plus textbooks.
9.) Small Campus:
You didn't want to go to the University of Minnesota, NDSU, or even the tiny Sarah Lawrence because they were "too big." Well, with community college, your classes have two people in them and one of them looks like it could be a blow-up doll.
8.) All the Drugs:
Finally, a campus without a smoking ban. In fact, drugs are encouraged. Just tell that man in the restroom with the trench coat that you have a cold and he'll give you a shot of heroin for free.
7.) No Dorms:
No having to walk through packed hallways in nothing but a towel into a closet you share with the person you despise more than anyone else in the world. The downside is that you're living with your mom.
6.) Class with Moms:
Community colleges attract lots of people looking for a mid-life degree. Have you ever had homemade cookies during your history class? You do now. Marsha brings a different baked good every class, and she really misses her kids. Welcome to the family.
5.) You're an Underdog:
Sure, your degree won't really get you a job. But what degree will? With a degree from a community college you can tell your grandchildren that you pulled yourself out of the gutter with nothing but your bootstraps and a meaningless piece of paper.
4.) The Student Government:
If you thought a group of 21-year-olds trying to create useless laws was laughable, wait until you see your old shop teacher, Mr. Anderson, attempt to write a bill giving him all the M&Ms in the vending machines. But don't worry, Marsha is the Treasurer and she doesn't know how to work the cash register, so they probably won't figure it out.
3.) Easy Professors:
A good community college professor is like a trail mix. They're nutty, kind of sweet at times, and mostly old, dried-up prunes. Most of them won't remember your names, let alone your grades. So get ready for B+'s all around.
2.) "Honors" Organizations:
Do you have breath? Then you can be in an honors organization at a community college. Because it's a 2-year school there is a fuck-ton of turnover, and they'll treat you like the president because… well… you're their President now. Congratulations, you're the best of the worst.
1.) No Fucks Given:
So you wanna bring a bottle of Smirnoff to your physics lecture, so what? All these "big-time" universities with their fancy buildings and foolish commitment to their students take themselves way too seriously. If you want to bring Chester, your live alligator, to community college, nobody would bat an eye.
Something so bad, 12 beers later, is so, so good.


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"We're new to the neighborhood so we're going to throw a good old fashioned block party," said Lynn Lobell, managing director for QCA.
QCA's new space in the Kaufman Studio annex building on 35th Avenue will feature 12-foot-high ceilings and 17,000-square-feet of open space for film screenings and workshops, as well as serving as a place for local artists to meet.
Lobell said the new facility will welcome artists of all genres, and hopes it will be a place for new ideas to flourish.
"The demographic is changing all across Queens, and there is an influx in creative citizens in Astoria," Lobell said of the move to the neighborhood, although she was quick to point out that QCA is active across the borough.
At the block party, artist duo Attenborough Naftel from Sunnyside will create an oversized stoop that will be used to play a game of stoop ball. Freestyle Art will hand out fishing poles with paintbrushes attached to them to create a Jackson Pollack-like painting.
There will also be music by Beecher's Fault, and local vendors like Sweets First, The Astor Room and William Hallet.


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Keep Pumpkins Looking Freshly Harvested...
Most people want to enjoy their pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns as long as possible, yet prefer to avoid the decaying pumpkin on the doorstep scenario. So how long can you keep a pumpkin before it rots?
Uncut Halloween pumpkins kept in a cool place, but protected from frost will keep for an average of two months. Depending on the weather (cool and overcast is favorable, hot and sunny is unfavorable), a carved pumpkin will last from one day to one week. You can extend this time up to two weeks by covering every cut surface with petroleum jelly.
Lit jack-o'-lanterns decay more quickly because once the lid is on, the pumpkin "cooks" from the inside out. The solution is to carve a chimney hole in the lid so that heat and smoke can escape, allowing your masterpiece to last much longer. Simply light the candle and see where black soot marks the lid; then, cut a hole in that spot to let out the heat.
If you want a longer-lasting, hassle-free display, consider purchasing artificial pumpkins. Long gone are the cheap plastic imitations of yore. Many of today's designer pumpkins are strikingly realistic and can even be carved. For the greatest convenience and enduring spook factor, look for faux jack-o'-lanterns that are pre-lit or light yours with a battery-operated pumpkin candle.
Pumpkin Variety
Pumpkins are a member of the squash family and, like most fruits and vegetables, come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. To create an eye-catching visual display, scour your farmer's market or local garden center for orange, white, red, and bluish-green varieties. Some are smooth, but you also are likely to find gnarled specimens that are downright ghastly.
As an alternative to fresh, faux pumpkins are a mess-free way to decorate season after season. You'll find variety here, too, with both solid, patterned and carved options in assorted sizes and colors. Some carved pumpkins come pre-lit with mini lights for added convenience. Newer animated jack-o'-lanterns are a fun and frightening twist on this traditional Halloween decoration.
Giant or miniature, oblong or round, smooth or nubby, real or faux, fill your porch or patio display with an extensive variety of pumpkins that will allow you to create the most festive or frightening look you desire.
Shop Pumpkin Decorations


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The families of the 40 passengers and crew killed when Flight 93 knifed into a rural Pennsylvania field a decade ago today were praised for helping to inspire a new generation of Americans while keeping the memories of their loved ones' dedication and courage burning brightly.
At a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, nearly 5,000 people listened as the names of the passengers and crew who were killed were read aloud while bells tolled. Afterward, a choir sang as those in the crowd — including family members, first responders, politicians and nearly 1,000 people who came to participate — listened intently.
"Over the past 10 years we have heard this place compared to many other places" including the Alamo and Gettysburg, Gov. Tom Corbett said at the newly dedicated national park that marks the site where Flight 93 crashed. "But the truth is that this place is like no other because the deeds aboard Flight 93 were like no other."
Corbett said the victims "charted a new course, set a new standard for American bravery."
Sunday's memorial service at the Flight 93 Memorial, about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, was being held in concert with ceremonies in New York City and Washington, D.C., where other hijacked jets crashed into both towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Former Gov. Tom Ridge, the nation's first head of homeland security, thanked the approximately 2,000 people who came to the memorial for Sunday's service.
"I think your presence today means almost as much to the families, perhaps as much as the memorial itself," Ridge said. "Your very presence is a powerful message of comfort and understanding and love."
The families then turned and gave the visitors a standing ovation.
Ridge went on to pay tribute to the victims, saying their actions prove "Americans don't live in fear, we live in freedom"
Gordon Felt, brother of passenger Edward and president of the Families of Flight 93, directed some of his comments to the relatives of the other victims.
"I only wish I could have gotten to know each and every one of you under different circumstances," he said. "We lost too much."
Visitors to the Flight 93 service observed moments of silence at 8:46 a.m. and 9:03 a.m. — the times when two other airliners were crashed into New York's twin towers. They did the same at 9:37 a.m., when a third airliner hit the Pentagon.
There was no moment of silence at 10:03 a.m. at the memorial, but the emotion there was evident.
Susan Stine, 52, of Tamaqua, Pa., said she has come to the Flight 93 crash site to mark the anniversary each year.
"Everybody was going to New York for the first anniversary and we came here. I can't imagine not being here on 9/11," Stine said.
"The first time, I wanted to come here to see how it was, and it was amazing. I feel differently when I leave here every year," she said. "I feel better in my heart."
U.S. Rep. Mark Critz, D-Pa, choked up as he spoke about the Wall of Names, a series of 40 marble slabs inscribed with the names of the victims.
Told that the pattern of the wall delineates the flight path of the jet before it crashed, Critz said, "Ten years of emotion came rushing in."
The passengers aboard Flight 93 were hijacked after taking off from New Jersey.
Flight 93 crashed after passengers and crew, some alerted by cell phone calls from loved ones about the New York attacks, decided to try to wrest control of their plane from four hijackers.
The plane crashed during the struggle, and investigators later determined the hijackers intended to crash it into the Capitol in Washington, D.C., where the House and Senate were in session that morning.


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It's been over four years since we published version one of the UK photographers rights guide. We're now very happy to be able to publish version 2 of the guide.
This is intended to provide a short UK guide to the main legal restrictions on the right to take photographs and the right to publish photographs that have been taken.
The guide was written by Linda Macpherson LL.B, Dip. L.P., LL.M is a freelance legal consultant specialising in Media Law and Intellectual Property Law. She is also a part-time law lecturer and has presented seminars on law for photographers.
The guide is a 2 page PDF, it will print out front and back of an A4 page allowing you to make leaflets to hand out. The guide is intended as an overview of the current legal situation in the UK for photographers, it is not a definitive bible of UK law.
Please do not deep link (direct link) to the PDF or rehost the guide on your website.
If you find the guide useful please link to either www.sirimo.co.uk/ukpr or http://www.sirimo.co.uk/2009/05/14/uk-photographers-rights-v2 or leave us a comment. (Comments from the old V1 guide have been kept as there is a lot of great discussion in there).
By downloading this guide you accept the fact that neither Linda Macpherson or Simon Moran accept any responsibility at all for any omissions or errors whatsoever. There is a full disclaimer in the guide, this is just a before you download it warning ! Also Neither Linda Macpherson or myself accept any responsibility for any replies given to comments left. If you require full legal advice please consult a lawyer.
FREE Download – UK Photographers Rights v2
(right click and save as)
This guide was created for Acrobat 5 and above. If you have a problem opening the PDF, please update your copy of Acrobat Reader (it's free to do so).
USA photographers rights guide www.krages.com/phoright.htm
Australian photographers rights http://www.4020.net/unposed/photorights.shtml