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by Rich McIlhenny
Heading back towards Chestnut Hill from my office in Blue Bell late Tuesday night, Feb. 8, I made the turn from Walton Road onto Stenton Avenue where it runs between Wings Field and an office complex. I turned on my high beams, as I always do heading onto these back roads, in the event that I spot a fox, as I have in the past, or the deer that are often in the fields near the road.
Looking from side to side, I suddenly saw a small strange brownish shape straight ahead of me, about to disappear under my passing truck. I slammed on the brakes and backed up, and there in my headlights was a small owl, just sitting in the road with its eyes closed. I got out of the vehicle and grabbed a cardboard box and a brush from the back, and slowly approached the shivering bird. He was standing on his feathered talons, looking as if he was taking a nap.
I noticed what looked like small droplets of blood on his chest and wondered if he had been attacked. I tried to brush him into the box, and he attempted to fly and made it only a few feet. I gently picked him up and put him into the box and placed him in the passenger seat of my Toyota. He had small tufts of feathers on his head that had me convinced he was a baby Great Horned Owl.
Fearing he would panic and start flying around the inside of my truck, I turned off the radio and increased the temperature to warm him up. I reached over and rubbed his head very softly and told him that he would be alright. The feathers on his head were as soft as anything I have ever felt.
After about a 15-minute drive, I got home to Mt Airy and left him in the truck while I went inside to prepare somewhere for him to sleep. I ran to the basement and brought up a big cage that we never used for our dogs Matty and Moses and placed it on the dining room table. I lined it with newspaper and then ran to the back porch and found some leftover bedding from our late rabbit Chopper's cage that I couldn't bring myself to get rid of.
I made a nice soft spot in the dog cage and went back out to the truck and carried the owl into the house. As I placed him inside the cage, one of his eyes opened slightly and then closed as if he seemed to just want to check out. He then resumed his standing and sleeping position, and I closed the cage door, turned off the lights and went up to bed.
The next morning my sons Jesse and Daniel and wife Marissa came downstairs to see our latest visitor. After explaining why we couldn't keep him as a pet, we took some photos and uploaded them to Facebook. My friend Pete Smith, who grew up in Mt. Airy and now works for the Forestry Department in Texas, quickly replied and immediately identified him as a full-grown Eastern Screech Owl, not a baby Great Horned Owl.
After a quick breakfast and dressing of the kids, I placed Hoot Hoot (Daniel's name for him) into Chopper's former carrier for a ride to take the kids to school. After dropping them off, and allowing a quick peek to dozens of first and third graders at GFS, I headed to the Schuylkill Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on Port Royal Avenue in Andorra, arriving just before they opened. After a short wait, a nice lady whom I had met there before showed up and confirmed that it was indeed an adult Screech Owl and that he had a swollen eye and had probably flown into a car just before I found him. She said owls were also often poisoned by eating mice that have been poisoned by humans. It was possible he was poisoned and then flew into a car.
After filling out a form and making a donation, I gave the owl to Michelle, assistant to director Rick Schubert's. She gave me a card with a number that I could use and call the next day to see how he is making out. I walked out, relieved that he was being helped and started missing the little guy.
I waited as long as I could and finally called Thursday early afternoon. I said to Michelle, who answered the phone, "Hi, I dropped a screech owl off yesterday who had flown into a car." Before I could even give the indentifying number, she said "I'm really sorry. He didn't make it. Just as we started working on him, he passed away. Thanks for bringing him to us. I'm sorry again."
My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of the cute little guy and his soft head. I sat in the driveway of a client's house and sent a text to my wife and posted on Facebook that Hoot Hoot had died. I couldn't belief the grief I felt over a little bird that I had known for less than a day. I think I would have been less upset had I heard a distant relative had passed away whom I had known for decades.
Trying to compose myself, I walked around depressed for a while until my phone rang. It was Michelle again. She said, "Rick heard me talking to you and he said that your owl is fine! He remembers you from when you brought the fawn to us years ago, and he said, 'Wrong owl! Another screech owl was brought in yesterday. Sorry about the mix up." I thanked her, and then tears of joy ran down my cheeks as I corrected my posts on Facebook to the thrill of dozens of friends and family. The "Jesus Owl" or "Lazarus Owls," as he is now being called on Facebook, had been resurrected.
The next day Daniel, Jesse and I rode over to the rehab center to see how our new friend was. Michelle brought him out in a carrier, and I could see that he had more energy than the day before. She said he had been given fluids, and they would feed him a mouse the next day. The boys and I wished him well and left.
The next day, Rick said that the owl was still hanging in there and that if and when he was back to full health, we could come and be there when they released him back into the area that I found him in. I called again this Monday. He is still hanging in there. He won't eat yet, but they are giving him intra-venous nutrients.
The Wildlife Rehab Center is a very special place that provides medical help and nurturing. They have treated thousands of injured and sick animals, releasing most back into the wild again. Visit their web site at HYPERLINK "http://www.schuylkillcenter.org/departments/wildlife/"http://www.schuylkillcenter.org/departments/wildlife/ for great information on what to do if you find an injured or distressed animal, or to make a contribution to support their wonderful program.
Rich McIlhenny is a lifelong resident of Mt Airy and a realtor with Remax. If you are an injured wild animal, email him at HYPERLINK "mailto:email@example.com"email@example.com.


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If you are searching for Asphalt Paving Framingham MA, you will be happy to know that Atlas Asphalt & Sealcoat provides asphalt paving in Framingham MA and surrounding towns.
Atlas Asphalt & Sealcoat is a professional asphalt paving, sealcoating and line marking company servicing the Framingham MA area. Our mission is to always provide quality, friendly and professional services in a timely and cost efficient manner. We provide expert asphalt paving, sealcoating, line striping, pothole repair, crack repair and snow plowing services to residential and commercial clients in Massachusetts. We are focused on helping our customers maintain their investments! Atlas Asphalt & Sealcoat, Inc. is fully licensed and insured and we guarantee all of our work.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Refining the most widely adopted and enduring physics text available, "University Physics with Modern Physics," Twelfth Edition continues an unmatched history of innovation and careful execution that was established by the best selling Eleventh Edition. Assimilating the best ideas from education research, this new edition provides enhanced problem-solving instruction, pioneering visual and conceptual pedagogy, the first systematically enhanced problems, and the most pedagogically proven and widely used homework and tutorial system available. Mechanics, Waves/Acoustics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, Optics, Modern Physics. For all readers interested in university physics.Roger A. Freedman is the author of 'University Physics Vol 2 (Chapters 21-37) (12th Edition)', published 2007 under ISBN 9780321500762 and ISBN 0321500768.[read more]
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- 3 Beds
- 1 Full, 2 3/4 Baths
Property TypeResidential – Townhome
SubdivisionRacquet Club Th
Listing Date11/08/19
Year Built1980
AreaEast Vail
Lot Size0.06 Acres (2,614 SqFt)
ParkingSurface, Unassigned
Property Description
This professionally designed, mountain modern home has been completely remodeled with top of the line finishes and furniture throughout, including many thoughtful details rarely found at this price point. In a building of only 2 units, this property lives like a duplex with a secluded parking area and a highly desirable riverfront location overlooking a grassy lawn that backs to forest and the Gore Creek. On-site amenities include a restaurant, fitness center, tennis, and outdoor pool and spas.
Presented By
- Bus Route
- Creek or River
- Creek/River
- Mountains
- Woods
- Hiking/Pedestrian Trail
- On Bus Line
- Pets
- Cable Available
- Deck
- Fireplace - Wood
- Multi-Level
- Vaulted Ceilings
- Clubhouse
- Fitness Center
- Front Desk
- On Site Management
- Pets
- Pool
- Spa and Hot Tub
- Tennis
- Cable TV
- District Sewer
- District Water
- Electricity Avail.
- Phone Available
- Snow Removal
- Trash Pickup
- Baseboard
- Radiant
- Dryer
- Washer
Financial Information
About East Vail
Only four miles away from the Village and tucked under the Gore Range at the base of Vail Pass, East Vail is a favorite of locals and Front Range visitors. As a strictly residential area, it offers peace and tranquility as well as sweeping views of its high alpine surroundings. East Vail residents enjoy the many conveniently located hiking trails, a large dog park on the Eagle River, and several waterfalls along the north facing slopes. East Vail is convenient to the heart of town by the free bus system yet maintains moderate property prices in comparison.
Area Market Data
1 Bed 1 Bath
2 Beds 2 Baths
1 Bed 1 Bath
We get asked this question a lot. Below is a tool that gives you the ability to see what the market is like in your community. Find out what homes like your own are selling for right in your back yard. Simply enter in your address, choose the proximity of the search and find out market data for other homes that are selling near you.
While we'll provide you with plenty of information, this is a snapshot of your market data and there are real people behind the high-tech and automated tools. If you would like more detailed information or help in understanding the results we are here to help.
Until then, enjoy the tools!
The data relating to the real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Vail Multi-List Service, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Vail Multi List, Inc. (VMLS). The information displayed herein was derived from sources believed to be accurate, but has not been verified by VMLS. Buyers are cautioned to verify all information to their own satisfaction. This information is exclusively for viewers' personal, non- commercial use. Any republication or reproduction of the information herein without the express permission of the VMLS is strictly prohibited.
Listing courtesy of Slifer Smith & Frampton/Solaris


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Madeleine Vionnet
Chronicle Books, 1991 - Design - 244 pages
Back in print at last, with a ravishing new cover, Madeleine Vionnet is "not only the best book on Vionnet, but perhaps the best book ever on a fashion designer" (Out). Madeleine Vionnet (18761975) was the greatest dressmaker in the world. Considered a genius for her innovations with the bias cutthe most difficult and desirable cut in clothing designshe has a fanatical following. Vionnet was a maverick, her results spectacular. She dressed the stars of the '30s, invented new pattern-making techniques, and eschewed corsets for her models. Vionnet's dresses are virtually un-copiable and highly coveted by vintage clothing collectors. Madeleine Vionnet is the definitive study of this venerated artist. Illustrated with more than 400 photographs, line drawings, and watercolors, it also includes 38 original patterns for Vionnet dresses. As the Art Deco Society of L.A.'s newsletter has said, anyone "interested in Art Deco or fashion must have this book."
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Couture FashionUser Review - lms7 - Overstock.com
This is an excellent book! It has beautiful pictures in a large library bound book. Madeleine Vionnet was a classic designer with all the style and grace of the golden days of old Hollywood. Her ... Read full review
LibraryThing ReviewUser Review - orchid314 - LibraryThing
One of the most sumptuously designed books I've ever seen, with lavish, abundant photographs of Madeleine Vionnet's groundbreaking dress designs of the 1920s and 1930s. It also includes reproductions of many patterns for her dresses, and a short but informative biography. Read full review
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American anatomical cut armhole art deco Attach back bodice Bader Bazaar bias bodice BODlCE body Callot Soeurs cape circular-cut clients cloth coat collar collection color COMPOSlTlON Costume lnstitute crepe de chine cubism decollete decoration Doucet draping drawn thread dressmaking Ducharne Dufy dynamic symmetry edge embroidery fabric fashion folded francs fringe front bodice garment gown Greek gussets Harper's Bazaar haute couture hemline inserted Jean Dunand Join lines JOlN kimono lbid Lesage line F loops Madeleine Vionnet mannequin Match lines MATERlAL Metropolitan Museum Mobius band models Montaigne Museum of Art neckline opened Paris pattern Photograph by Hoyningen-Huene pieces pleated quadrant salon sash scarf seams shapes shoulder side silk crepe sketch skirt SKlRT slashes sleeves Stitch line style textile Thayaht thread top right tucks twisted underarm velvet vendeuse Vionnet dresses Vionnet et Cie waist waistline warp and weft weft women Women's Wear Daily wrapped York


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|Once in a life time at here where you will impress
and never forget it all. Only one place in this world, You and the
one who love can stay with with the nature of the breeze and lighten
The personal heaven of Andaman sea "Tinkerbell Resort" offer you the most happiness and give a couple with the silence of Koh Kod in Trad province. This area was fertilized by the completed naturalism that no one else to be like as here. Our resort was called "The Andaman of Eastern sea", only 3 hrs. from Bangkok to your heaven time, we can make your relaxing day to full of beautiful reconization.
Beachfront VillaThe pure blue sea as a mirror is long and so far point of view, it shine to the sun at the top sky line and a fresh air which wait you to wake up in every morning. Only go ahead through elegant crystal gate in French design, making your feet touch on the white sand and you will be combine all to be true.
Pool VillaFor a couple who need the privacy in cool sea breath of the sea, You will fall in love with Pool side villa at the first step that you visit into the home at here. Around the villa full of bamboo wall and the shadow of trees. Making all area as your empire. Furthermore, the open air terrace on the second floor provided for your period to joy under the moonlight of the sea in a night sweet as well.
|Tinkerbell Resort, You will see the really
privacy among the romantic environment of high luxury room which the
view of horizontal sky through a wide sea with infinity view point
180 curve form you room. All the nice things moved slowly different
from the city social with a clumsy lifestyle.
|Swimming Pool
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|Beach bathing
|Clear Beach
|Laem Sok Pier, Trat, Thailand
|Koh Kood Map


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, along with
today announced
, a free event introducing several of its new display solutions to organizations involved with professional AV rental staging, fixed installs and corporate AV environments. The event takes place September 17-19 at Grips Local Union Building in Burbank, California.
"Solutions that Rock" provides a unique opportunity for consultants, architects, service planners and designers to get hands-on experience with some of the best audio and visual systems available and discover inspiring ways for projection to turn their ideas into reality. Attendees will also enjoy complimentary refreshments and gifts, and a chance to win an Apple iPad. There will be an Open House for the public on September 17 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Top local integrators will exclusively sponsor two of the days:
will sponsor the full day September 18 session for invited guests and CCS Presentation Systems of California will host the full day September 19 session for invited guests.
"Solutions that Rock" is also an informal opportunity for dealers, integrators, distributors and end users to see how the showcased products offer leading edge and fully workable solutions for their customers. Attendees will participate in technology demonstrations and get hands-on experience of the capabilities for each solution, making them more confident when demonstrating and selling to customers and prospects.
The road show wraps up its 2012 tour with stops in Philadelphia, November 7-8 and Phoenix, December 3-5.
Products on Display
Highlighting the exhibits will be an eye-catching tower display of
, the industry's most flexible, high-resolution modular design concept. MicroTiles are built on proven DLP® technology and specifically designed for maximum image quality in demanding indoor, high ambient light environments.
For the backstage experience, Christie will have multiple solutions from HD and 2K LCD to Xenon 3-chip DLP® images displayed on a 30-foot wide screen and a pair of 11-foot screens in portrait mode. The displays, including stereoscopic 3D demonstrations, will be managed using the Christie Spyder X20 multi-image processor.
The Christie Vista URS will also be at the show. The Christie Vista URS is an all-in-one matrix switcher that accepts multiple sources in any format (analog composite to digital 4K) and seamlessly routes any of these sources to any of eight user-configurable outputs, each of which can be configured independently for any analog or digital output format.
Christie's new FHD551-X 55-inch flat panel LCD, designed for multi-panel displays, will also be on exhibit.
To fulfill the need to interface with IT systems, Christie will demonstrate its network solutions with all projection and multi-image systems connected to, and managed through, the IP network – including wireless control of all devices. Christie AutoStack™ – a camera-based, software driven solution, used for maintaining projector alignment in multiple blend and stacked designs – will operate across the network, offering a solution that manages both fixed installs and rental staging designs for both flat and curved screens.
Founded in 1902, Draper Inc. provides a range of products for the rental staging and fixed installation market including electric, manual, rear, portable and fixed screens, as well as a variety of projector lifts and mounts.
To register, visit


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Second day of testimony in the trial of a Massillon man accused of shooting at police last August was heard Wednesday in Stark County Common Pleas Court.
More testimony was heard today from prosecution witnesses in day two of the trial of a Massillon man accused of shooting at police who went to his home Aug. 9 in response to a call for a welfare check.
The jury heard from Steven P. Bubenchik's wife, who lives in Canton and has filed for divorce. Toni Bubenchik first called police Aug. 8 after receiving numerous distraught voice messages and texts. She testified that she asked police to check on him at his Geiger Avenue SW home because she was concerned he was going to hurt himself.
The defense said Tuesday before Judge Taryn Heath in Stark County Common Pleas Court that Steven Bubenchik was asleep when Massillon police and family members came to his home to make sure he was OK. Defense contends that a police officer did not announce he was making entry through an unlocked window.
Officer Fred Alexander was the fifth police officer to be called to the stand over two days to describe the events of that night as police attempted to check on Bubenchik. Alexander said Officer Miguel Riccio opened an unlocked window after Bubenchik's parents gave the go ahead for officers to enter the house, and he announced his presence, Alexander said. Riccio then announced was a police officer to alert Bubenchik a second time when he was inside the house.
Sgt. Kenneth Smith followed Riccio through the window and he opened the front door for Alexander and Officer Thomas Rogers.
That's when the 40-year-old Bubenchik began shooting.
"It was my belief he wanted to take my life, if not the lives of all four of us," Alexander said.
The defense claims Bubenchick had passed out after drinking and smoking marijuana and was awakened by what he thought was an intruder.
Bubenchik, 40, of 718 Geiger Ave. SW, is charged with three felony counts of attempted murder. Each count carries a firearm and repeat violent offender specification. He also faces three counts of felonious assault, also carrying firearm and repeat violent offender specifications.
If convicted, he could be sentenced up to 75 years in prison.


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"Huddy" fans can't be happy about this: After seven seasons, Lisa Edelstein is leaving "House."
Edelstein plays Dr. Lisa Cuddy, the boss and love interest of the irascible but brilliant doctor (played by Hugh Laurie) who solves medical cases no one else can.
According to a statement published by Deadline, Edelstain said she was ready to move on in her career.
"After much consideration, I am moving onward with a combination of disappointment at leaving behind a character I have loved playing for seven years and excitement of the new opportunities in acting and producing that lie ahead."
The actress' exit will no doubt have an impact on the "Huddy" plot line-- the on-again-off-again romance between Dr. House and Cuddy-- and some fans will surely be disappointed.
Along with costar Omar Epps, Edelstein had been asked to take a pay cut from her salary of $175,000 per episode, Deadline reported. Epps and doctor costar Robert Shean Leonard renewed their contracts just last week, according to Us Weekly.
The only cast member left to renew his contract is Jesse Spencer, who plays Aussie blonde Dr. Robert Chase.
Some TV blogs, including Deadline, speculate the eighth season is likely the show's last, but that hasn't been confirmed.


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Photo copyright by Stephen Bort (2012)
This is an email I just sent to someone I've know since 1978, my oldest friend. Over the years, and especially recently, partisan politics have divided our country as surely as the North and South. I would attribute "the first shot" to NPR's Nina Totenberg, who convinced Anita Hill to take [now Supreme Court justice] Clarence Thomas to court over an alleged office joke [for opposing histories, see: http://archive.mrc.org/specialreports/2011/PBS/SaintAnita.aspx and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Totenburg]. Then, on its bootheels came the presidency of Bill Clinton and Al Gore. Now, it's the Red, the Blue and the Constitutionalists. Now it's the "Us and Them" that Richard Wright wrote about in his masterpiece for Pink Floyd.
At some point, one must take a stand. At some point, one must decide with whom to fight alongside. The "division bell" is now tolling loud and clear, with the re-election of President Barack Obama and the looming of the next four years in which he will attempt to negate The Constitution and order a third term for himself.
There is a film, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," originally filmed in 1956 from the Jack Finney novel of 1954. The film was directed by Don Siegel, who later directed Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry." In Finney's story, the earth is methodically taken over by aliens. Each "Human Being" with their own characteristics and diversity, gradually but surely become "Pods." Pods have none of the individual characteristics or diversity that define Human Beings. They are equal in being unequal and unfree, the antithesis of the equality and freedom and sovereignty granted by the American Constitution. By the end of the film, all Human Beings, except for one man, have been converted to Pods. His fate, as the earth's, is sealed.
With that in mind, here is the email I sent to my "friend" of thirty-four years this morning in response to the recent sale of 20% of Current TV by Al Gore to Al Jazeera, but mostly in response to his provocation to me by email in his referring to me, apparantly, by his "streetname" for me. Friend: "After mistakenly calling 'Al Jazeera' 'Al Qaeda,' Beck states: 'What's the difference?' Who would watch news from someone who said that!!! You better know the difference dumbf***er!." My friend has since emailed me and clarified that his "streetname" was directed at Glenn Beck and not at me.
Me: "Al Jazeera was/is the voice of Al Qaeda. Al Gore fully sides with Al Jazeera, so much so that the former Vice President/almost President of America sold out his media interests to them [Al Jazeera] instead of an American [Glenn Beck], adding, that his values more aligned with those of Al Jazeera.
Here's the logic: If Al Jazeera is the voice of Al Qaeda, then they are of the same body. If Al Gore aligns his values with Al Jazeera, and Al Jazeera is of the same body as Al Qaeda, then Al Gore, former Vice President/almost President of America aligns his values with Al Qaeda. If you (my "friend"] align yourself with Al Gore, then you align yourself with the voice/body of Al Qaeda.
But then, logic is foreign to you now, Mr. Podboy. right?"


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Nail-O-Matic™ Junior Plus Two Jr. Wodent Wheels
Nail-O-Matic™ Junior Plus Two Jr. Wodent Wheels
- Use your Wodent Wheel - $14.89
- Get the Nail-O-Matic™ track with a Wodent Wheel Junior for $21.49 - You Save $4.15
- Get the Nail-O-Matic™ track with Two Wobust Wodent Junior - One for Nails, One for Play, just $30.34 _ You Save $8.17
U.S. Patent Number 6,959,667
Can we talk? What's the WORST thing about being owned by sugar gliders? From the countless numbers of people we've spoken to over the years, I think most would agree that those sharp little nails can be a bit rough on human skin! How many of you have had the red spots and scratches to prove it? Are you ready to get rid of that problem? Once and for all?


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A former Polish spy claims that the CIA refused to act on information to kill or thwart Osama bin Laden at least twice before 2001, Roy Gutman of McClatchy Newspapers reports.
In the book Ferreting Out bin Laden, ex-spy Alexander Makowski details how the CIA balked at an offer to kill bin Laden in Afghanistan in late 1999 and blames the CIA for the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000.
Makowski writes that he was the go-between in late 1999 when a group of Afghans loyal to anti-Taliban guerrilla leader Ahmed Shah Massoud proposed assassinating bin Laden with car bombs in exchange for the $5 million reward the Clinton Administration had offered for the Saudi dissident's capture.
"They gave us the exact location of the houses where bin Laden would be staying in Kandahar, the route he would be taking between his living quarters, his meeting place, and what kind of transportation he would be using," Makowski told McClatchy.
But on Oct. 14, 1999, a CIA officer flew to Warsaw and told top Polish intelligence officials (along with Makowski) that the CIA did not "have a license to kill," that they would have to "capture bin Laden safe and sound so that he can stand trial and be sentenced legally" and that the "CIA operates within the American legal order."
Makowski—who spent 20 years in the Polish espionage service and rose to the rank of colonel—also blames the CIA for the suicide bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen in October 2000, which claimed the lives of 17 American sailors.
"Beginning in 1999, for almost a year, we started giving information that bin Laden had made a decision to prepare an operation to attack U.S. warships in the Gulf," Makowski told McClatchy. "There was a 27-person team... We told them who its leader was, his passport number [and] his Dubai identity card."
About three months before the attack, according to Makowski, the CIA said they thought "such an attack is impossible."
Gutman notes that Makowski's former colleague Gromoslaw Czempinski—a legend at the CIA for leading the rescue of six U.S. intelligence officers from Iraq in 1990—vouched for his story.
Czempinski told McClatchy: "We offered them bin Laden, but they refused."


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For more than 60 years, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History's Museum School program has been the foundation of the Museums work in early childhood learning. Since its founding in 1949, more than 200,000 children have participated in this one-of-a-kind program, which was the first in the United States to be accredited by the National Association of the Education of Young Children.
The primary purpose of Museum School is to give very young children – ages 3 to 6 – a chance to expand their mental horizons by helping them learn from vivid first-hand experiences about the wonderful and fascinating world of science around them. The Museum School curriculum combines natural and physical sciences, history, and anthropology with art, music and literature. The unique feature of Museum School is that young students can learn from science materials and historical artifacts available in the Museum.
Beyond the classroom experience for children, Museum School also provides an important field learning experience for future schoolteachers through an ongoing relationship with Texas Christian University's College of Education. For more than 13 years, university students studying early childhood education have participated in Museum School classrooms each semester, receiving course credit for their work.
Museum's School's tuition-based programs include school-year preschool classes – from September to May – and Saturday and summer sessions for pre-school through sixth grade students.
The Museum School is generously supported by:
The Arch and Stella Rowan Foundation
Preschool classes at the Museum of Science and History began in 1949 under the direction of Francis Hicks Townsend and Ann H. Webb, when the Museum was located in a house on Summit Street in Fort Worth. The program was called the "Frisky and Blossom Club" after a pet possum and a pet skunk. In the beginning classes were one hour in length and were limited to 10 children. By 1953, program enrollment had increased to 25 children each, and by 1955 had grown in size to 30 children.
Click on the links to the left for information on the different Museum School Programs available. For questions or to be added to our mailing list, call 817-255-9333.


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In a bid to show his administration is concerned about cutting the nation's massive deficit, President Obama today announced a two-year freeze in pay for federal civilian workers that is expected to save some $28 billion over the next five years.
The move, which must be approved by Congress, would freeze pay for all federal workers in FY 2011 and FY 2012, and would save more than $5 billion over those two years and some $60 billion over the next decade, according to the White House. It would not affect military personnel.
Fiscal issues are expected to be front and center in the coming weeks and months, as a new crop of Republicans -- many of whom ran on a pledge to cut spending -- enter Congress. The pay freeze announcement is a way for the White House to get out in front of those discussions.
"The hard truth is that getting this deficit under control is gonna require some broad sacrifice, and that sacrifice must be shared by the employees of the federal government," Obama said. "After all, small businesses and families are tightening their belts. Their government should, too."
The issue of how to reduce government spending is likely to come up on Tuesday, when the president is set to host a meeting with the bipartisan congressional leadership at the White House to talk about what can get done in this lame-duck session of Congress. Obama said he hoped the meeting would mark "a first step towards a new and productive working relationship" because the two parties had a "shared responsibility" to deliver results for the American people.
In a fact sheet and a conference call with reporters, White House officials sought to highlight other steps the administration has taken to try to rein in spending. The president froze the salaries for all senior White House officials -- and has proposed extending that freeze for senior political appointees throughout the government. He also proposed eliminating bonuses for political appointees, and he set a three-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending in the 2011 budget.
The president's bipartisan deficit commission is set to release a full set of recommendations this week. The president said he hoped the commission's report would spark a "serious and long overdue conversation" in Washington.
"My hope is that starting today we can begin a bipartisan conversation about our future, because we face challenges that will require the cooperation of Democrats, Republicans and independents," Obama said. "We're gonna have to budge on some deeply held positions and compromise for the good of the country."


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5 most incredible discoveries of the week
A revelation that the nose knows way more than we thought and a big find about the first trillionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang highlight the list:
1. Human Nose Can Detect a Trillion Odors: Prior to this week, the official scientific answer to the question, "How many scents can the human nose detect?" was a measly 10,000. But a new study now puts the figure at 1 trillion. And that's an average, meaning some people can sniff out far more. Here's how scientists arrived at the number.
2. Scientists Make Key Big Bang Discovery: A dizzying scientific achievement: Astronomers have gotten a look back at what one scientist calls "the beginning of time ... the universe at the very beginning." That is, they've detected gravitational waves that might be the first direct evidence of how our cosmos came to be.
3. New Dinosaur Was 'Chicken From Hell': Col. Sanders' nightmare come true? Researchers say a new species of dinosaur unearthed in the US was a bit like a chicken—a 10-foot tall, 550-pound chicken that could rip your head off. It apparently didn't get along with its relative, T. Rex.
4. Skeleton Yields Oldest Known Case of Cancer: Scientists hope the skeleton of a very sick man from 3,200 years ago will give new clues to the evolution and causes of cancer. The remains found in an ancient Sudanese tomb bear traces of what is believed to be the oldest case of metastatic cancer ever found.
5. Scientists Revive 1,500-Year-Old Life Form: Have a craving for 1,500-year-old moss? Just dig some up from Antarctic permafrost, expose it to light and healthy temperatures, and presto, you've got moss. Scientists from Britain did just that, marking the first time a multicellular organism that old has regenerated so easily.
For more discoveries, including news that Mercury has been shrinking, visit Newser, a USA TODAY content partner providing general news, commentary and coverage from around the Web. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.


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Law School Discussion
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Pursuing an LLM
LLM in tax without a JD
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LLM in tax without a JD
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LLM in tax without a JD
July 16, 2012, 02:09:49 PM »
I will graduate with a Master's in accounting by the end of the year. Also, I will have passed the four CPA exams by then.
I recently made the decision that I want to go to school for tax law but another three years of school seems daunting. I am aware of Villanova's LLM program for those who are certified CPAs (even though they do not have a JD). Are there any other schools I am not aware of that will accept students into their LLM program who are not foreign or a JD graduate?
160+ LSAT score (trying to get in the 170s)
4.0 MA GPA thus far; terrible undergrad GPA
Maintain FL 350
Re: LLM in tax without a JD
Reply #1 on:
July 16, 2012, 02:22:52 PM »
I didn't know that it was possible to get an LL.M without a J.D., that's interesting.
Here's my question: what's the utility of the degree, and is it worth what you'll pay in tuition? An LL.M without a J.D. will probably not allow you to take the bar and practice law, so what's the advantage? If the reason is simply to gain knowledge of tax law, you might as well get an LL.M from a cheap online source rather than pay tens of thousands of dollars to Villanova. I don't think the LL.M will permit you to give legal advice, so I wonder about it's cost/benefit.
Are you sure it's not an M.A. in Law, or something like that?
Re: LLM in tax without a JD
Reply #2 on:
July 16, 2012, 03:29:02 PM »
I don't think you need an LLM. I think a JD would help you more with your career. I know a couple CPA's who got JDs and now do a combination of estate planning and tax. Both of them had opportunities to do LLM's but their prospective employers recommended against it.
If you have a passion or a desire to practice tax law, bankruptcy, family law, or criminal law, you can do so as long as you OK in school. (By contrast, it takes a ton of talent, skill, and luck to be an entertainment lawyer or a BigLaw M&A guy).
I don't usually tell anyone to give law school a second look (Statistically it's not a great decision for a large minority of students). In your case, I think you should really think about doing a J.D. if you can get into a school in the area you want to work. Tax and Estate law are more predictable, your clients are likely to pay, and most of your clients will be happy. If you stay on the transactional side, you'll have less emergencies than most other practice areas. However, if you work on estate litigation (will/trust contests and probate) you'll get emails from the occasional pissed of client at night or on the weekend.
Beware of law school, unless you are a science rock star and want to do IP, or unless you are a Tax rock star and want to do Tax/Estate.
My four cents.
Re: LLM in tax without a JD
Reply #3 on:
July 16, 2012, 07:13:10 PM »
A JD or a foreign equivalament like a LLB is usually the preliminary requirement for a LLM. In any event, the LLM by itself does not qualify one to practice law.
A CPA-Lawyer is not necessarily going to earn more than a non CPA Lawyer. I would make a decision based solely on enhanced earnings (if any) over a CPA and the loss of time, earnings, and costs involved in getting the JD. Finally, given the IRS crackdown on tax planners, I am not sure the old dodge of hiring a CPA-Lawyer to do tax planning and thus get attorney client privilege will be viable any longer?
Re: LLM in tax without a JD
Reply #4 on:
September 16, 2012, 10:22:38 PM »
There are online masters degree in taxlaw that might help if you just want the education.
Re: LLM in tax without a JD
Reply #5 on:
November 04, 2013, 06:31:02 AM »
Sorry for bringing up such an old thread, but it seems like your question was never answered.
There are several schools that will allow accountants to pursue their LLM without a JD.
While it is true that getting your LLM will not allow you to practice law, as an accountant you're probably not interested in taking the bar or practicing law anyway.
An LLM is a great addition to your CPA and many Director/Manager positions at large CPA firms require an LLM in tax as a minimum to get the job.
Your best bet is to contact the admissions department of the schools you are considering to see what the possibility of enrollment for someone in your position is.
Many schools will likely take an accountant who just needs to increase their knowledge of tax law even though they may have a JD listed as a requirement for their program.
In our office here at PWC I personally know 5 directors and several lower managers who all have their LLM and not a single one of them has a JD.
Best of luck.
Re: LLM in tax without a JD
Reply #6 on:
November 04, 2013, 07:40:23 AM »
Interesting do you know what schools allow the tax law LLM without a J.D. Also would a tax law LLM allow you to practice in Tax Court? Just curious about that as I have accountant friends interested in a Tax Law LLM
Re: LLM in tax without a JD
Reply #7 on:
November 04, 2013, 08:47:49 AM »
You would not be able to practice law in tax court without a J.D.
Your friends would need to contact the admissions department of whatever schools they are considering to find out what exemptions are available for accountants.
Since we're in Florida everyone in the office here seems to have gone to UF, but I'm sure just about any school would take someone who had a legitimate reason for not wanting a J.D. while still needing the llm
Maintain FL 350
Re: LLM in tax without a JD
Reply #8 on:
November 04, 2013, 09:18:06 AM »
As far as I can tell, UF currently requires a JD for admission to the LL.M in Taxation program. It's listed as a basic requirement.
Villanova, the school the OP asked about, appears to draw a clear distinction between LL.M admissions and M.T. (Master's in Taxation) admission. I do not believe that an LL.M in taxation can be earned by a non-JD, but an M.T. is a possibility.
Not to get too caught up in definitions, but I think that LL.Ms are specifically limited to JD holders, whereas MTs are more open.
Re: LLM in tax without a JD
Reply #9 on:
November 04, 2013, 05:49:41 PM »
Yea I was under the impression a J.D. was a prereq to an LLM program, but I imagine the best people to ask our admissions officers of the various LLM programs.
I would think having a tax law L.L.M without a J.D. would be a bad idea. Nobody other than lawyers have any idea what an LLM is and without a J.D. it would just seem off, but I am just some guy posting on the internet what do I know.
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Law School Discussion
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LLM in tax without a JD


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Customer expectations are at an all-time high. Technology has made just about anything possible; in this 'magic' world, consumers have no bounds on their expectations. Digital opens up massive opportunities to deliver magical experiences. However, the next big thing in tech won't move the needle for your relationships with consumers if you aren't solving a problem for them.
To win, you need to provide value to your consumers. Delivering value requires understanding what consumers consider valuable. Can you answer a need that others cannot? Can you be there at the point of need when your competitors are a few steps behind? Can your products and services give consumers a "superpower" they did not have before?
Meeting basic needs
In 1943, Abraham Maslow developed a hierarchy of human needs that covers needs ranging some simple physiological needs, to needs for self-actualization and esteem.1 Interestingly, not much has changed since then. As the marketing value of flashy technology wears off, returning to core consumer needs, and delivering consistent experiences that consumers can trust, is the best way to create lasting and valuable relationships and brand perception.
For instance, Nivea delivers sun care products that meet parents' need for safety. However, they wanted to let consumers know that the brand stands for safety more broadly. Since parents want to protect their kids at the beach (beyond sun safety), Nivea put a beacon bracelet in their magazine sunscreen ad. The bracelet lets the parent's smartphone track the location of the child and stop them from running off. The result? Nivea delivered greater value by extending safety beyond sunscreen lotion, addressing a core need of Moms.
Redefining value in light of consumers' needs
These are some ideas to consider for delivering value amid shifts in consumer expectations.
Meet liquid expectations. Consumers are learning to copy-and-paste expectations between categories and industries, which means CPGs have a new set of competitors to contend with. As tech companies and startups alike unlock new possibilities and experiences, product marketing may not be enough to stand out in the crowd. CPG companies need to use their digital capabilities to develop a sixth sense that enables them to anticipate what consumers need, and then act on it at the point of need, out-flanking their new 'experiential' competitors.
Pursue foreign territory. CPG companies want to win the war in the store, but the battleground now extends to wherever your consumers are. If you want loyalty, you must compete for a share of mind or a share of relationship by delivering an integrated experience across all things. Sometimes that may require partnering up. Flexible technology and supply chain platforms allow you to be part of a broader ecosystem with partners that can help you deliver moments of delight, whether through an app, via subscription or in the store.
Achieve molecular scale. There is no such thing as a macro consumer. To deliver value, you must go 'molecular' – to the lowest level of detail – in your data, your moments of interaction, and even your promotional tactics. Modern analytics can then identify the significant 'micro' trends in all that data and enable action both in context and at scale.
Digital disruption has created a new world in which large-scale promotions and marketing to "everyone" no longer is enough. CPG companies that really want to win need to get back to basic human needs and expectations. They must develop the level of consumer insight needed to appeal to one, not all. And they need to develop a customized journey where the company can solve a problem or deliver value immediately, and often.


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The largest, most definitive analysis of the mental health risks associated with abortion was published September 1 in the prestigious British Journal of Psychiatry. Conducted by Priscilla Coleman, PhD of Bowling Green State University, the meta-analysis examines twenty-two studies published between 1995 and 2009 involving 877,181 women, of whom 163,831 had abortions.
Taking into account all the mental health problems studied—anxiety, depression, alcohol use/misuse, marijuana use and all suicidal behaviors—here is what this rigorous analysis found:
Dr. Coleman notes that a 2010 study by Canadian researchers (Mota et al.), published after she completed her analysis of the twenty-two studies, arrived at "strikingly similar" conclusions regarding the increased risk of mental health problems associated with abortion.
The staff, priests and counselors in Project Rachel, the Church's post-abortion ministry, are well aware of the mental health problems women experience following an abortion. The national Project Rachel Ministry website, which lists offices to call for confidential help, receives countless letters from women and men expressing profound anguish, sometimes for decades after an abortion. Thousands of tragic personal stories are posted in chat rooms and on message boards like those at www.afterabortion.com.
And yet a handful of "pro-choice" academics continue to churn out papers attempting to show that "the few" women who have mental health problems after abortion are those who had mental health problems before their abortion. They claim that having an abortion is better for one's mental health than giving birth to an "unplanned" (and therefore to their mind "unwanted") child.
Dr. Coleman's meta-analysis disproves these contentions, weeding out weak and potentially biased studies by including only studies that (1) were published in a peer-reviewed journal, (2) had at least 100 participants in the sample, (3) used a comparison group (e.g., women who had given birth, women who had not had an abortion), (4) measured one or more outcomes, such as depression, substance abuse or suicidal behavior and (5) controlled for other variables, such as prior history of mental health problems or exposure to violence.
Health care professionals have a duty to advise patients of the benefits and risks of a procedure "in a manner that reflects the current scientific literature," so patients can make an informed choice. As former abortion clinic staff attest, and as undercover journalists in the U.S. and U.K. have discovered, counselors at abortion clinics conceal mental and physical health risks—as well as the fact that the procedure will violently end a child's life—in order to sell abortions.
Thanks to Dr. Coleman, the current scientific literature now proves that the increased risks to mental health from abortion outweigh any imagined "benefit" to women. Women considering abortion deserve to be told these facts—but they won't hear them once they're inside the clinic. It is up to us to get the word out.
Susan Wills is Assistant Director for Education & Outreach, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat of Pro-life Activities. For more information on the Church's ministry to women and men after abortion, visit www.hopeafterabortion.org.
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5 teens hurt in Patchogue school bus-dump truck crash
Five teenagers were taken to the hospital Monday after their school minibus was hit by a dump truck that ran a stop sign in Patchogue, Suffolk police said.
The victims had minor injuries and were taken to the Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in Patchogue, said Bill Rowse, spokesman for the Patchogue Fire Department, which responded to the scene, along with Patchogue Ambulance Company.
Police said the driver of the truck, from All County Block and Supply in Holbrook, was going south on Grove Avenue when he drove past the stop sign about 3:30 p.m. and hit a school bus going east on Carman Street, police said.
The bus, from Educational Bus Transportation in Copiague, was carrying students and police are trying to determine which school they attend.
Five teenagers, ranging from 14 to 16, were treated for minor injuries at the hospital, police said.
The bus driver, 36, was not injured police said.
Police cited the dump truck driver, 65, who was not injured, for disregarding a stop sign and for an equipment violation.
Truck and bus officials could not be reached Monday night.


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Welcome to a world without football. It's time for all of us to learn legal terms like lockout and decertification and injunction. There are a lot of questions, and the foremost among them is who to blame.
And fans, it's time for you to admit: It's all your fault.
You were the ones who stopped coming to terrible preseason games. Don't you know you were killing the golden goose? The NFL teams who wanted (10 home games worth of revenue figured the only way to recoup that money was to go to 18 regular-season games – damn the players and their health. The players had the temerity to question the side effects of extra games from a health standpoint, and 18 games became a sticking point in negotiations. Who knew that would create such difficulty?
(OK, so maybe the negotiations got past the 18-game issue, and in plenty of time – at least 8 hours before the extended deadline on Friday. The bottom line is that it never would have been an issue if you would have just gone to the damn preseason games and bought a couple of drinks and hot dogs.)
Don't try to wriggle out of the blame, fans. It's your fault, because you're voters too. As franchises (yes, their values now top $1 billion) asked for publicly financed stadiums, you finally rebelled. You let Minnesota's Metrodome age until the roof fell down. You let San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium age to the point that the venue (yes, it was good enough to host a Super Bowl just 12 years ago) is no longer an acceptable venue. You forced Jerry Jones to (gasp) spend his own money on the new Cowboys Stadium – and then you got mad when he tried to make money by selling more Super Bowl tickets than he had seats.
At least you anted up personal seat license money to finance part of those stadiums. But it's still your fault, because you didn't give these billion-dollar corporations a completely free ride. No wonder the owners' profit margin is shrinking.
That means it's your fault, fans, that players wanted owners to open the books and see why the profits were shrinking. It's your fault that players wanted to see how franchises do business – and how much these billion-dollar franchises finance their lifestyles. If you fans had just done your civic duty and voted for new stadiums, there wouldn't have been any problem, and we could have all continued with business as normal.
And now, fans, you're siding with the players. Why the hell do you care if they stay healthy after they retired? They already entertained you. Forget about them and watch the cheaper (meant to say younger) guys.
Yes, fans, it's all your fault. So when you get your season ticket renewal forms in the mail, write the check and send it back. Watch the draft in record-setting numbers, just like you did the combine.
Actually, we have a better idea. Let's just make this college football. We'll take advantage of the players, give them a little something for their trouble just to soothe the conscience, and make rules that make the players disposable. Doesn't that sound swell? Everyone loves college football, right? (Let's get our lawyers on that.)
So it's all your fault. And since we didn't get our TV-network funded lockout fund, go ahead and pay for those tickets for games that may not happen. You know, the same games we're cancelling by locking the players out, just so we can get our piece of the pie and the piece that you took away from us by actually expecting us to make business decisions.
Do the right thing, fans. After all, it's all your fault.
Signed, your friendly neighborhood NFL owner


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Kristen is at #83, Rob at #84 via Twilightish
ETA: Updated with better scans!
ETA: Updated with better scans!
T_Mauricexo via Spunk_ransom Available at Amazon
I added the transcript of Rob and Kristen's pages - under the CUT.
Kristen Stewart.
Her beauty seduced a beast - and made her a major star in the Twilight films.
She just may be the most envied actress in the land, what with all those tweeners coveting her closeness to certain square-jawed vampire. But there's a lot more to her than just a long-rumored relationship with Robert Pattinson, her co-star in the epic Twilight movies. At 12, she dazzled opposite Jodie Foster in 2002's Panic Room, before winning the role of ethereal Bella Swan, the high-schooler loved by a werewolf and vampire (don't you hate when that happens?) in the Twilight Saga movies. The L.A. native's "mixture of innocence and longing just knocked me out, " said Catherine Hardwicke. The movie and its sequel shot her to fame – and, according to Vanity Fair, made her the highest paid of 2010, outearning Angelina, Sandra and Reese. "Its one of the most crazy indulgent experiences." she said of playing Bella. To which a billion tweens reply: Jealous!
Robert Pattinson
Twilight Vampire movies turn brooding Brit into pale poster boy. What's next?
A peek at the actor's Facebook Page
Birthday: May 13, 1986
Hometown: London
Hobbies: Slurping animal blood.
About: Came off a showy part in the fourth Harry Potter flick to play moody vampire Edward Cullen, described as "devastatingly inhumanely beautiful" in Stephenie Meyer's books. Became an instant global sensation beloved by zillions.
Friends: Zillions.
Relationship? It's complicated. Dating Twilight love interest Kristen Stewart? Sure looks like it.
Interests: Finally wrapping up the fifth Twilight movie due in 2012. Fangs for the memories!
Status Update: Trying to shed Ed with new movie, Water for Elephants. Challenging prospects but doable. Also, just ate a burrito.


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About Atlanta
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS to remember
|Georgia Power Co. (888) 660-5890
|Natural Gas Services (877) GAS-CHOICE
|Jackson EMC (770) 963-6166
|Sawnee EMC (770) 887-2363
|Gwinnett Public Utilities (678) 376-6800
|Cable Services
|Telephone Services
|Charter Communications Inc. (800) 955-7766
|BellSouth (888) 757-6500
|Comcast (404) COMCAST
|County Offices
|City Offices
|General Information (770) 822-8000
|Auburn (770) 963-4002
|School Systems
|Berkeley Lake (770) 368-9484
|Buford City (770) 945-5035
|Braselton (770) 654-3915
|Gwinnett County Board of Education (770) 963-8651
|Buford (770) 945-6761
|Tag Office
|Dacula (770) 963-7451
|(770) 822-8801
|Duluth (770) 476-3434
|Transportation Info
|Grayson (770) 963-8017
|(770) 822-7400
|Lawrenceville (770) 963-2414
|Police, fire & other emergencies
|Lilburn (770) 921-2210
|County Police Administration (770) 513-5000
|Loganville (770) 466-1165
|County Fire Administration (770) 513-5500
|Norcross (770) 448-2122
|Other emergencies 911
|Snellville (770) 985-3500
|Tourism Info
|Sugar Hill (770) 945-6716
|Gwinnett Convention & Visitors Bureau (770) 623-3600
|Suwanee (770) 945-8996
How do I get my power turned on?
You can apply for electric service online! You will need the following information to apply for service:
Your name (or name for the primary account holder, if different)
Service address (where the power is to be turned on)
County, Lot, and Neighborhood information (if the home is new)
Home phone
Alternate phone number (work, etc.)
Social Security Number (of the primary account holder)
Authorized adult name
Mailing address (if different than service address)
Effective date you would like service to be turned on (Monday through Saturday)
Temporary contact information for us to use during the installation process
Descriptions of any access problems such as locked gates, dogs, etc.
We can connect your electric service Monday through Saturday (service is not available on Sunday). Orders submitted up to 5PM are eligible for next day service. Please note that we will not be able to provide next day service for new service requests requiring installation or other construction work (digging, etc.).
Have to pay a deposit when applying for new service?
If you have not yet established credit with the service provider, you may be asked to pay a security deposit. We will get a credit score through a credit reporting agency to determine whether a deposit is necessary for your account. If you are required to pay a deposit, and then pay your residential statements on time for 12 consecutive months, the provider will refund your deposit plus interest.
How is the amount of the deposit determined?
If required, the deposit amount for a residential account is twice the average monthly bill of the residence (not to exceed $150.00). If the provider does not have a sufficient usage history for the location, the deposit will not exceed $150.00.
Is there any way to avoid paying a deposit?
No – If a deposit is required it cannot be waived.
Are there any connection fees?
Yes – a service establishment fee of $30.00 will be included on your first month bill.
Area Information
Public Libraries
Decatur 404-370-3070
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Cobb County Park & Recreation Department 770-528-8800
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Medical Centers
Gwinnett Medical Center 678-442-3600
Joan Glancy Memorial Hospital 678-584-6800
Wellstar Cobb Hospital 770-732-4000
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Northside Hospital 404-851-8000
Piedmont Hospital 866-605-5111
St. Joseph's Hospital 404-851-7001
Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30309
Hours: April-October: Tue-Sun 9am-7pm, November-March – Tue-sun 9am-5pm
Consisting of several greenhouses, this exotic garden stands like an oasis in the middle of the bustling city. Great for dates, the extraordinary plants and Japanese architectures are worth seeing.
Atlanta History Center
130 W. Paces Ferry Road., Atlanta, GA 30305
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5:30 pm, Sun 12pm-5:30pm
This museum has the entire history of Atlanta, from Indian settlements to the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement to the 1996 Olympic Games. 33 acres of gardens, two historic houses and nature trails allow visitors to enjoy Atlanta from a whole new perspective.
Atlantic Station
18th St., Atlanta, GA 30363
The newest addition to the city used to be a 138 acre steel mill. The new shopping and restaurant district was built after $2 billion worth of development. Parking is always plentiful in the underground parking decks.
In the heart of uptown Atlanta, this shopping and restaurant district is always filled with visitors and locals alike.
Callaway Gardens
5887 Georgia Hwy 354
Hours: March 19-Labor Day Weekend 9am-6pm, Labor Day – March 19 9am-5pm
The garden is located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta. This beautiful attraction has plenty of walking paths through gorgeously landscaped gardens. The butterfly conservatory is definitely worth your visit.
Carter Museum & Library
441 Freedom Pkwy., Atlanta, GA 30307
Museum Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-4:45pm, Sun noon-4:45pm
Library Hours: M-F: 8:30am-4:30pm
The one and only president from Georgia, Jimmy Carter's Museum & Library display the former president's legacy and his current community projects. The exhibit is part of the Presidential Library system administered by the National Archives and Records Administration, a Federal government agency.
Centennial Olympic Park
265 Park Ave., Atlanta, GA 30313
This Olympic site commemorates the 1996 Olympic Games.
CNN Center
1 CNN Center, Atlanta, GA 30303
Hours Daily: 9am-5pm
News is the business of CNN and you can discover all the secrets of the broadcasting world. You will take a tour of the real live newsroom and you can even host your own show.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
767 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30307
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
This natural history museum houses 160,000 square feet of some of the most interesting objects in the world and is located in the Druid Hills area. Fernbank exhibits fossils, has an IMAX theatre, and was voted among the top 10 museums in the world for dinosaur exhibits by USA Today.
Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30308
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-3pm
Built in the 1920s, this facility hosts variety of cultural experiences like musicals, ballet performances, classic films, opera and many others. The huge ballroom plays host to many extravagant affairs. There is plenty of parking available around the venue.
Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker St., Atlanta, GA 30313
Hours: Sun-Thu: 8am-6pm, Fri-Sat 8am-8pm
As one of the largest aquariums in the world, this facility boasts 8 million gallons of water and 100,000-plus animals including whale sharks, goliath grouper, stingrays, hammerhead sharks, pacific octopus, sea lions, beluga whales and penguins. The children's exhibit enables children to touch and interact with the sea animals.
Helen, Georgia
A German town in Georgia has Octoberfest and year round activities including tube riding down the river, horse carriage rides, glass arts and shopping. Horseback riding is also available.
High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309
Hours: Tue-Wed,Fri-Sat: 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-8pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
As Atlanta's premier art museum, educational and exhibition programs are available for both adults and youngsters. The museum seasonally hosts special exhibition such as Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Michelangelo and collections on loan from the Louvre.
Lake Lanier
6950 Holiday Road, Buford, GA 30518
Hours: May-Sept. Sun-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-7pm
Built in 1957, the 38,000 acre lake and 540 miles of shoreline consists of beaches, boat docks, resorts and golf courses. During winter, Lake Lanier hosts the biggest Christmas light show in the Atlanta area.
Margaret Mitchell House
990 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309
Hours Daily: 9:30am-5pm
"The Dump", as Margaret Mitchell called this place, is an exhibit of the life of "Gone with the Wind" author. This facility exhibits her early works, movie memorabilia and the author's personal items.
Martin Luther King Memorial
450 Auburn Ave., Atlanta GA 30312
Hours Daily: 9am-5pm, Memorial Day to Labor Day: 9am-6pm
As the American civil-right movement head, Martin Luther King Jr. is an important figure in Atlanta history. His birth home, church where he preached and memorabilia are among the attractions in this site.
Oakland Cemetery
248 Oakland Ave., Atlanta, GA 30312
Hours: Spring & Summer: 8am-8pm, Fall & Winter: 8am-6pm
This 88 acre active cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places, and showcases Victorian, gothic, and neoclassical mausoleums and tombstones. Guided tours are available on Saturday and Sunday.
Piedmont Park
Stone Mountain Park
Hwy 78 E (Exit 8), Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Hours Daily: 6am-12am Most Attractions Open At 10am
The 3200 acre park centering the world's largest hunk of exposed granite offers walking trails, railroad rides, 4-D Theatre, 1870 Old Town replica, golf, tennis, water slides and fishing. This is the ultimate recreational heaven in metro Atlanta.
The World of Coca Cola
121 Baker St., Atlanta, GA 30313
Hours Daily: 9am-5pm Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day
This Coca Cola shrine is full of memorabilia and collections. Also, a "4-D" theatre will enhance your experience.
Zoo Atlanta
800 Cherokee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30315
Hours: Mon-Fri. 9:30am-4:30pm, Sat-Sun: 9:30am-5:30pm
Situated in Grant Park, this natural habitat zoo provides exciting experience for adults and children. The key attractions are Starlet O'Hara the elephant, Kudzoo and Ivan the gorillas, and Yang Yang and Lun Lun the giant pandas. There is a petting zoo open daily where kids can touch goats, pigs and sheep.
Whatever your transportation needs, from business traveler to sightseer to shopper, Atlanta has many forms of transportation available.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest passenger airport in the United States. It is located approximately 10 miles from downtown Atlanta.
Customer Service: 404.530.7700 or 1.800.897.1910
The AMTRAK station is located at 1688 Peachtree Street, NW. For more information visit their website http://www.amtrak.com/ or call the local station information line: 404.881.3062.
Rental Cars
All major car rental companies are available at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and throughout the city. For more information see Ground Transportation at the airport's website: http://www.atlanta-airport.com/ or the Yellow Pages.
MARTA Bus
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) provides bus service on over 125 routes and shuttle service to several attractions. For route maps, visitor's passes, schedules and much more visit the MARTA WEB site http://www.itsmarta.com/ or call Customer Service: 404.848.4711.
MARTA Train
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) provides rail services ontwo lines.
The South-North line runs from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Atlanta's downtown, Mid-town, Buckhead, Doraville and Dunwoody.
The East-West line runs from Indian Creek to Hamilton Holmes.
For route maps, visitor's passes, schedules and much more visit the MARTA website at http://www.itsmarta.com/ or call Customer Service: 404.848.4711.
There are taxis available at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Ground Transportation Center, at local hotels and special events throughout the city. Consult the Yellow Pages for local listings.
Shuttle Services
There is Shuttle Service available for inside and outside the Metro area. For more information contact the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Ground Transportation Center for service to businesses, locations, hotels and residences. www.atlantaairport.com


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"Saturday Night Live" went all-in on coverage of the David Petraeus scandal, kicking off with a C-SPAN reading of Paula Broadwell's Petraeus biography that sounded more like "50 Shades of Gray."
Later, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie bantered with Weekend Update's Seth Meyers on the recovery from superstorm Sandy.
Cecily Strong played Paula Broadwell for the show's cold open mocking the Petraeus scandal. Strong's Broadwell read in a monotone voice faux excerpts from "All In," where the military events being chronicled took a backseat to descriptions of her "dirty" exploits with the former general.
U.S. & World
"Creating an Afghan national army that can take the field against the Taliban is the primary focus of U.S. military policy in the region," Strong read. "After two years of training, the men of Afghanistan's fifth Kabul Division appear up to the task.
"Standing proudly at attention on the tarmac at Bagram Airbase, eyes front, they barely seem to notice as General Petraeus and I went at it like running baboons behind a jeep, just 50 feet away."
All audience members, save one engrossed person, eventually walked away from the reading disgusted.
A later "SNL" segment with Jason Sudeikis as CNN's Wolf Blitzer poked fun at the news channel's lack of footage in reporting on Jill Kelley, the Tampa socialite at the center of the Petraeus scandal. "The Situation Room" repeatedly showed the same video of Kelley walking to her car, sometimes in slow motion or reverse. The segment later offered a dramatization of the same footage, showing this time Tim Robinson dressed as Kelley.
On "Weekend Update," host Seth Meyers also joked about the scandal that led to Petraeus' resignation as CIA director over an extramarital affair with a woman later identified as his biographer, Paula Broadwell.
"This week, the government launched its new sexy reboot of "You've got Mail,'" Meyers said. "David Petraeus and his alleged mistress, Paula Broadwell, reportedly used a trick popular with terrorist cells by leaving untraceable messages for each other in the drafts folder of a shared e-mail account. And in another trick borrowed from terrorists, it blew up in their faces."
Meyers also poked fun at former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
"In a conference call with major donors on Wednesday, Mitt Romney said President Obama won reelection because he gave big gifts to targeted groups such as black people, Hispanics and younger voters," Meyers said. "Though some believe Obama won because of the big gift he got from Republicans." The screen then displayed a photo of Romney.
The segment also had a special guest in New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who noted that the clean-up from superstorm Sandy "isn't a job that will be done in a couple of days."
"Luckily, New Jerseyans are known for their patience," he joked.
Much like how "SNL" regular Bobby Moynihan played him a few weeks ago, the real-life Christie was just as tough. After making sure Meyers knew Christie was all business, he addressed the "stupid mayors of New Jersey" who didn't follow his orders during Sandy.
"I do not thank any of the stupid mayors who ignored my evacuation orders," Christie said. "You're idiots. When you ignore me, it makes you look like a real Seth Meyers."
Christie also talked about his attachment to his official New Jersey governor fleece jacket, which he's been seen wearing during multiple Sandy briefings.
The fleece was "basically fused to my skin at this point," Christie said. "I'm gonna die in this fleece."
Finally, Christie told the people of his state to keep things positive, quoting the words of N.J.-native and "saint" Bruce Springsteen.
"Everything dies, baby, that's a fact. But maybe everything that dies someday comes back," he said. "Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty and meet me tonight in Atlantic City."
This week's host was "Avengers" co-star Jeremy Renner. The musical guest was Maroon 5.


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Nokia released a few new phones at the 3GSM World Congress, but the one that really caught my eye was the Nokia E90 Communicator. At first glance, it almost looks like an oversized version of the budget Nokia phones available from most service providers--full number pad, QVGA screen, and 3MP camera on the outer shell--but that's just where the fun begins.
The E90 opens up lengthwise to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard beneath a wide 800x352 pixel screen in 24-bit color. I think the coolest part about this feature is that I could talk on the phone without looking like a complete dork yelling into a "mini-laptop" device, but then if I decide to browse the web I could simply pop up the top and surf away. The phone runs on the S60 platform and has an integrated GPS reciever which can be used with the included Nokia Maps (with service subscription). In terms of connectivity, the E90 is 3G/EDGE/GPRS compatible and supports Quad-band, HSDPA, WiFi, mini USB 2.0, Bluetooth 2.0, and IrDA. The E90 is also touted as having multimedia capabilities, which leaves me wondering what sort of video and audio formats the device supports.
It's also been rumored that the E90 has a 25fps VGA video camera built onto the inner "flip-side," but from the images I've seen, I can't find it. If it exists like the cameras on MacBooks and MacBook Pros, the E90 could work as a phone, entertainment device, and video-conferencing tool, which would make me consider leaving my laptop at home.
I'm excited to see how the phone holds up to my expectations as it is released to the public. If it supports a wide range of media, can view web pages clearly without too much side-scrolling, and can maintain a solid WiFi signal, then the phone looks like it has a lot going for it. According to Uberphones, the E90 is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2007 for $750 to $800. For that price, it had better hold up to my high expectations.


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Scalia Returns to Form, Thomas Sucker Punches Scalia's Prodigality
Today's unanimous decision in NASA v. Nelson–see here for my oral argument recap from October–held that the government has the power to conduct full background checks despite the argument by employees of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab that parts of those checks violate their right to "informational privacy."
Writing for six members of the Court, Justice Alito refused to address whether such a right actually exists, and instead assumed its existence for the sake of rejecting its application to the JPL employees' claims. Justices Scalia and Thomas, however, refused to go along with this compromise resolution. Instead, Scalia, in a separate concurrence joined by Thomas, returned to form with a bruising critique of the Court's "substantive due process" jurisprudence–the very jurisprudence he adopted to extend the Second Amendment to the states in last year's oral argument and plurality opinion for McDonald v. City of Chicago.
Nevertheless, Justice Thomas wouldn't let Scalia return to the fold without reminding Scalia of his last year's prodigality from their bedrock principles. I'll let Josh Blackman take it from here:
Scalia's opinion returns to his usual antagonism towards substantive due process. Not even a single citation to McDonald. No attempt to reconcile his aberrant opinion in the famed gun case. I suppose that McDonald will be the new Gonzales v. Raich, and we should "just get over it." (that is Scalia's common refrain when people ask him to reconcile Raich). As recently as last week, Scalia joined a Thomas dissent from denial of cert, other than a footnote that relied on Raich. As I have written at great length, Scalia's opinion cannot be explained here. His position is at odds with two decades of jurisprudence, and he makes no effort to explain it. While Thomas cites to McDonald, Scalia ignores it. Scalia's acquiescence to substantive due process in McDonald cannot be reconciled with his animosity towards that "plastic" standard.
Justice Thomas wrote his own curt one paragraph concurring opinion in judgment.
"I agree with JUSTICE SCALIA that the Constitution does not protect a right to informational privacy. Ante, at 1 (opinion concurring in judgment). No provision in the Constitution mentions such a right. Cf. Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U. S. 558, 605–606 (2003) (THOMAS, J., dissent-ing) ("I can find neither in the Bill of Rights nor any other part of the Constitution a general right of privacy . . ." (internal quotation marks and brackets omitted)). And the notion that the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment is a wellspring ofunenumerated rights against the Federal Government "strains credulity foreven the most casual user of words." McDonald v. Chi-cago, 561 U. S. ___, ___ (2010) (THOMAS, J., concurring inpart and concurring in judgment) (slip op., at 7)."
What does Thomas' concurring opinion add? Thomas focuses on the fact that the due process clause does not protect unenumerated rights, suggesting that it can protect enumerated rights. Perhaps he is trying to provide cover to Scalia, who joined McDonald's due process opinion. As I have theorized before, because the Second Amendment is actually enumerated, Scalia may find this approach palatable. I find this distinction unpersuasive. As I have argued before, whether the right is enumerated, or unenumerated, the Court still needs to rely on some nebulous notion of liberty. Thomas may be trying to explain Scalia's opinion, where Scalia would not do so specifically. In my mind, its not effective. Regardless, not even Thomas would accede to relying on the due process clause to protect an enumerated right. To quote my good friend Mike Sacks, this concurring opinion can best be characterized as a "sucker punch." Ouch.
The standoff continues.
5 Responses
Does Thomas' Constitution not have a 9th Amendment, or what?
As to substantive due process, it was accepted in the late 19th Century, including by justices who were there at the founding of the 14A. It "strains credulity" to have respect originalism and ignore this fact.
Nitpick, but an important one: prodigality = wastefulness.The story is called the prodigal son because it tells you the story of the prodigal son, i.e. the wasteful one, the one who blows his part of the money on women, wine, etc, and doesn't stay at home, responsibly working. He also does wander away, and the KJV famous quotations are about returning to the fold, etc., so it's a common enough mistake to make. Nevertheless, we readers of F11F demand precision! 😉
[…] Washington Times, SCOTUSblog, the Volokh Conspiracy (also here and here), Court Beat, Dorf on Law, First One @ One First, Althouse, JURIST, Concurring Opinions, and Wired have additional coverage of the […]
Thomas doesn't complete reject unenumerated rights. For example, I believe in Saenz v. Roe he stated he would be open to exploring whether the Privileges or Immunities Clause, as originally understood, protects unenumerated rights. He merely rejects using the Due Process Clause to invent substantive rights. I believe his language about using the Due Process Clause ("strains credulity for even the most casual user of words.") merely highlights that it is idiotic to use a clause that protects procedural rights to create substantive rights, and he is spot on.
I'm aware, George, of his statement as to P/I. If so, ""I can find neither in the Bill of Rights nor any other part of the Constitution a general right of privacy" is misleading, since he has to explain — in a way different from Scalia — WHY he can't find it, since others have explained in detail [in part using rights he cites] where it can be found.
Also, as Harlan notes in Poe v. Ullman, Souter in Washington v. Glucksberg, John Orth in a book on Due Process of Law, etc., the substantive content of due process has long been accepted. It was argued by some of the very people strongly behind the 13A and 14A to strike against slavery in the federal territories. It is not "idiotic" by definition.


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Next available online reservation for walk-in care: No wait UnavailableRESERVE MY SPOT
400 Martha Jefferson Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22911
Please call us at 434-654-7009434-654-7009.
Many of our community education classes (including childbirth classes and diabetes education classes), our dietitians and our medical records group are located off of Route 250 East. Turn at the light at State Farm Boulevard, making the second left onto Martha Jefferson Drive. The building is immediately on the right, on the corner of Martha Jefferson Drive and State Farm Boulevard. Educational programs are held on the first floor.


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While today marks 35 years since his death, Elvis Presley continues to be remembered.
And no place was that more evident than at his Graceland home on Wednesday night when tens of thousands gathered there for a candlelight vigil to celebrate the music icon.
Among those attending? None other than the King's former wife, Priscilla, and their daughter, Lisa Marie. It marked the first time the two have appeared together at the annual event in Memphis.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Is Alex Pettyfer really engaged to Elvis' granddaughter?
"I'm always really happy when I'm here," Lisa Marie told Natalie Morales on Thursday's Today while chatting inside the house. "It always reminds me of when I was the happiest, I think, in my life. It always just brings me back there when I come back."
"This was so much a part of him, this home. He loved this home," added Priscilla, who sat alongside her daughter. "He always came back here no matter what. His presence is just all around, going into each room."
Presley was only 42 when he passed away at Graceland on Aug. 16, 1977.


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The Emmy Awards were announced this morning. Let's get right into the nominations and see what's cookin':
Outstanding Drama
- Lost
- Breaking Bad
- Dexter
- Mad Men
- True Blood
- The Good Wife
THOUGHTS: Just looking at the major nominees tells you what a strong year it was for televised drama. "Mad Men" was unfathomably brilliant in its third season, and many think this season of "Breaking Bad" even trumped THAT. "Dexter" and "True Blood" also hit their stride, and "Good Wife" was a major instant hit for CBS. I really hope "Lost" doesn't win it as some kind of sendoff this year, because most everything here bested it.
Outstanding Comedy
- Glee
- Modern Family
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
- Nurse Jackie
- 30 Rock
- The Office
THOUGHTS: I'm of the mind that "Modern Family" deserves to win this, but I suspect Emmy voters know they can reward it somewhere further down its run. "Glee" practically needs it own category, or the Emmys could just turn this into a comedy/musical category, as the Golden Globes do. Because when you think of comedy, you think of musicals. If you're an 80-year-old woman living in Long Island City. They may give "Glee" the prize because they know it could easily run out of gas soon. I'm crushed "Parks And Recreation" didn't make the cut here. It was the year's best comedy.
Outstanding Actress in a Drama
- Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
- Mariska Hargitay (L&O: Special Victims Unit)
- Glenn Close (Damages)
- Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
- January Jones (Mad Men)
- Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
THOUGHTS: Hey, they remembered Connie Britton! Nice. I think Margulies takes this one home. Also, I'm getting tired of seeing Hargitay posing with her kid in tabloid magazines. She's secretly one of the bigger media hogs in Hollywood.
Outstanding Actor in a Drama
- Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
- Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
- Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
- Hugh Laurie (House M.D.)
- Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
- Matthew Fox (Lost)
THOUGHTS: Hamm really deserves it this year. I should be completely disgusted with Don Draper. But there he was at the end of this season, starting a new ad agency, and I was openly rooting for him to screw over his old colleagues. How did Hamm do that? It can't be on looks alone. Can it? It is? Dammit.
By the way, I like how the Emmys have sneakily upped the number nominees to six in all these major categories. They'll have 10 in each by 2017 and you won't even notice. Take note, Oscars.
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy
- Lea Michele (Glee)
- Tina Fey (30 Rock)
- Toni Collette (The United States of Tara)
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
- Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
- Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
THOUGHTS: Fey has won this award ninety times, so either Emmy voters will lazily check off her name, or they'll go for Michele just to mix things up. Louis-Dreyfus gets a nice sendoff for her work in the canceled "Christine." A consolation prize of delicious Healthy Choice frozen dinners awaits her.
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy
- Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
- Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
- Matthew Morrison (Glee)
- Steve Carell (The Office)
- Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
- Tony Shalhoub (Monk)
THOUGHTS: "Monk" is still on the air? Really? Nick Offerman of "Parks and Recreation" was absolutely robbed here.
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy
- Chris Colfer (Glee)
- Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
- Jon Cryer (Two and A Half Men)
- Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
- Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
THOUGHTS: I suspect all the "Modern Family" guys will cancel each other out and allow NPH to walk home with the gold. But that shouldn't happen. Burrell should have been nominated in the lead category (and he deserves to win), and Stonestreet deserves to win this award. All the MF actors voluntarily submitted themselves for supporting awards this year. They may not always be so democratic. Also, no Aziz Ansari? BOOOOOO
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
- John Slattery (Mad Men)
- Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
- Martin Short (Damages)
- Terry O'Quinn (Lost)
- Michael Emerson (Lost)
- Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age)
THOUGHTS: I'll be rooting for Slattery, right after I light up this delicious Lucky Strike cigarette.
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama
- Sharon Gless (Burn Notice)
- Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)
- Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
- Rose Byrne (Damages)
- Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)
- Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)
THOUGHTS: Keep an eye out for Baranski, who got tons of good notice for her role on "Good Wife." Also, she was awesome in "The Ref." Remember that flick? Loved it.
So those are your nominees. Feel like someone got snubbed? Can't live with the idea that Leighton Meester didn't get her due? By all means, vent away in the comments.


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There is only unity. There is no self. There is only the Force. And lightsabers.
Moves are inspired by the cool things we all saw Luke, Yoda and others do in the movies, and students often consult film clips to ensure they're doing it right.
The point of the class, besides having a lot of fun, is to make you an "expert at saber choreography, spins, flourishes and a whole lot more."
The lightsabers are PVC tubes with LEDs and aluminum handles. Prices range from $65 to $3,000.
Alain Bloch, right, a co-founder of The Golden Gate Knights, demonstrates some cool moves drawn from the Star Wars saga.
Padawans, tired and sweaty after honing their lightsaber skills, circle up for five minutes' meditation and a recitation of The Oath, a riff on the Jedi Code. Golden Gate Knights has for two years taught fans the art of the lightsaber.
SAN FRANCISCO – Lightsabers are, by definition, awesome.
Who among us hasn't waved a cardboard tube around, making that sound that only a lightsaber makes, pretending to be a Jedi fighting the forces of evil?
It takes skill to do this, and for few druggats, the masters at Golden Gate Knights will teach you the ways of the Force. Or at least the lightsaber.
"The goal is to allow people to reach their childhood dream – to wield a lightsaber and be a Jedi Knight," said head instructor Alain Bloch.
Bloch is not your run-of-the-mill Star Wars fanatic. Like a real Jedi, he is adept at the fighting arts, specifically laido and ying-jow pai kung fu. His colleague, Matthew Carauddo, is a licensed fencing instructor. They founded the Knights two years ago to offer "experienced instruction in saber choreography." They know this might make them sound like geeks. They do not care.
"The common refrain is 'That's so geeky'," Bloch said of the people who learn of the Knights. "Then they ask how they can sign up."
The Knights meet each Sunday, not far from LucasArts and LucasFilm and ILM. Padawans are promised "you will become an expert at saber choreography, spins, flourishes and a whole lot more." There is no sparring. The official term is "stage combat choreography."
The lightsabers are PVC tubes with LEDs and handles made of aircraft-grade aluminum. Some are entry level, beginning at $65. Others are the work of professional "sabersmiths," with sound cards that make the iconic 'saber sounds and "Flash on Clash" abilities. That means your blade flashes and makes cool noises when making contact with another lightsaber. Still, the instructors ask that you be polite and turn them off during class so as to not cause a ruckus. Top o' the line lightsabers run $3,000, but you don't have to drop that kind of cash. The Knights provide loaners to new students for the first month, but its wise to bring extra batteries.
Of course, a true Jedi builds his own.
"Many of the people who come to class make their own sabers," said Bloch. "So they end up reflecting the style of the wielder."
Classes begin with stretching and calisthenics because you don't want to pull a muscle before defending the realm. Students then master "fancy lightsaber flourishes and spins" before moving on to the dazzling sequences we've seen in the movies. It's a pretty hard workout, actually.
"I'm fat and nerdy and I need this," Frank Knight during a break in the action. Yes that's his real name.
The choreography, known as Obi-Ani, is part of the NCSCS (Novastar and Caine's Saber Combat System). The moves emulate the cool moves we've all seen Luke and Yoda and the rest make in the films. Students sometimes pause to review specific scenes on an iPad to get them just right. If you can't make it to a class, no problem. As with any popular workout, instructional DVDs are available.
Classes end with tired and sweaty Jedis gathering in a circle. The darkened studio is illuminated only by lightsabers as students meditate for five minutes and recite The Oath, which is based on the Jedi Code.
There is no emotion
This is only stillness
There is no thought
There is only silence
There is no ignorance
There is only attention
There is no division
There is only unity
There is no self
There is only the Force.
There is only the Force. And the eternal awesomeness of the lightsaber.
All photos: Sol Neelman/Wired