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If you want to survive prison, there is only one way to do your time: Mind your own business. Prison culture demands that you keep to yourself and show no weakness, emotion, or tears unless you want to be someone's punk or prey. Someone disrespects you, plays on you by stealing your stuff, you better get your respect back and fast. There's no such thing as trust in the pen: Cozy up to the guards, and you're marked as a snitch. Cozy up to another inmate, and you'd better be sure he's not running some con on you. Prison is no place to make friends.
That is, unless you're transferred to the Carol S. Vance Unit at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility outside Sugar Land. From a distance, the prison looks like any other--a cluster of brick and concrete structures surrounded by acres of furrowed farmland. Vance is a minimum-security penitentiary--but not so minimum that a 12-foot chain-link fence topped by 3 feet of razor wire won't stop a wild romp through Houston's nightlife only 30 miles away.
But gain access to the secured area just past the guards, and things begin to look almost ethereal. The prison yard is a well-manicured flower garden. A "hallelujah tent" offers an outdoor sanctuary for communal prayer. Inmates walk around virtually unrestricted, carrying Bibles as though they were regulation prison-issue. They stop to chat, hugging each other openly while exchanging I-love-yous.
"This is agape love, not sexual love," Warden Fred Becker says. "The whole way the program operates is rather nontraditional. It took us a while to learn how to deal with it."
The 200 or so inmates who occupy more than half of the Vance Unit live in cubicles, not cells; they are called members, not inmates; and they are part of a controversial "Christ-centered, biblically based" program--the first of its kind in the nation--that hopes to rehabilitate convicts by pumping them full of God, 24-7.
The InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) is sponsored by Prison Fellowship Ministries, a worldwide organization founded by born-again Watergate conspirator Chuck Colson after he served seven months in prison for obstruction of justice. That IFI first took seed in Texas in 1997 had much to do with Gov. George W. Bush seeking to define himself both in Texas and nationally as a compassionate conservative. Bush supports faith-based initiatives that limit the government's role in providing social services such as welfare and drug treatment while expanding the role of churches. "Charitable choice" has become a political catchphrase for those who seek a religious alternative to the government's social safety net, even if it means using taxpayer dollars to fund nonsecular programs. But it does create problems for those who fear faith-based initiatives will tear down the wall between church and state by using public money to promote Christianity and subsidize religious discrimination.
Nevertheless, Bush has promised, if elected president, to bring faith-based programs to at least four federal prisons. Vice President Al Gore has also touted faith-based programming as a cornerstone of his social-service agenda. IFI has begun similar programs in Kansas and Iowa and has received inquiries from more than a dozen other states and countries. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which oversees 163,000 state inmates, supports expanding the InnerChange program to women as well as men and implementing the program beyond the Houston area to include Dallas and Fort Worth. Much depends on the upcoming session of the Legislature. Prison Fellowship Ministries has always raised private donations to support InnerChange operations, and for the first time lawmakers will be asked to approve public funding for the program.
The support for Bible-based prisons is being generated without hard research that shows whether they are lowering the recidivist rate, which in Texas hovers around 30 percent. Although IFI is still accumulating data, the program claims that its parolees re-offend far less often than parolees from the general prison population. Since the few secular rehabilitation programs in Texas prisons don't seem to be making an impact, IFI claims God is the only way to go.
As the program seeks to "transform" the inmate from the "inside out" by immersing him in an otherworldly environment, it may be creating a biblical worldview that its inmates can't sustain after they make parole. No doubt IFI inmates are offered valuable rehabilitative tools--mentoring, aftercare, family reconciliation classes, a job upon release. But for the state to deny inmates who are not evangelical Christians these same programs on a secular basis may be unconstitutional, as well as unfair. InnerChange argues their programming just won't work without the nonstop God: It's the Bible, with its moral structure and theology of forgiveness, that enables hardened convicts to rebuild their shattered lives.
InnerChange member Kevin Bigelow sits in the prison library and claims he has read every book--religious or otherwise--among the stacks. He's a Christian now, and if there is anyone in the program that can out-Jesus the other members with his superior biblical knowledge, it's Bigelow. At 38, he seems caring, thoughtful, but acts as if he is smarter than everyone else. If it weren't for the fact that he was addicted to stealing, he may never have gotten caught--four times.
As a kid, Bigelow was bored by school in Youngstown, Ohio, where his mother moved to marry for the fourth time. Bigelow, born in Dallas, came from a family of nine children, never knew his father, and rarely spent time with his mother, who worked two jobs. "She did the best she could to make sure her kids had a roof over their heads," he says. But Bigelow and his three brothers ran around Youngstown unfettered.
Rather than attend high school, the Bigelow brothers operated a burglary ring, at first breaking into houses just to see if they could. With that thrill came the realization that they were sitting on valuable merchandise that could easily be fenced for cash. The brothers were so successful that they bought two new cars, a boat, even paid cash for an $80,000 house in a nearby town. Their mother only found out about their enterprising ways when a friend snitched to the police to save her own skin. But their mother refused to let her sons learn their lesson from behind bars. When Kevin was released from juvenile detention after just a few weeks, he followed her to Houston.
Bigelow was a hard case, tightly wound and stubborn. Because he believed he knew more than everyone else, he grew reckless and took stupid chances as he sated his appetite for money, cars, and women. He figured the worst thing that could happen to him was a short trip to the pen, and during the '80s the state of Texas was only too happy to oblige.
Bigelow went to prison three times for various forms of larceny, serving no more than a few months before making parole. Although he earned his GED and a college degree behind bars, he says the only thing that prison taught him was how to be a better criminal.
In the early '90s, Bigelow graduated to con artist as he swindled those who brought him their family heirlooms for appraisal. Once caught, he was sentenced to 25 years, but his chance of quick release was stymied by an expanded Texas prison system that no longer needed to parole inmates to avoid overcrowding.
Doing time was no problem for Bigelow: His reputation for splitting open the head of another inmate with a mop bucket preceded him. During the first few years of his sentence, Bigelow got religion, but more as an academic exercise, studying the Bible when he became the librarian for the prison chaplain. He grew familiar with Latin and Greek, and his insatiable intellectual curiosity put him in contact with a Bible study ministry, where he learned about the InnerChange Freedom Initiative. The main condition for his participation in the program was that he be within 18-24 months of his release date.
After a 30-day introduction followed by a 30-day orientation, Bigelow was selected as an IFI member. He wasted no time falling into lockstep with the appropriate mindset. "Those of us who were chosen believe it was God's will," he says.
IFI member Erik Indian stands before the latest group of candidates to enter the program and praises both them and God. "I have been here 14 months, and I have never seen a stronger group than I am looking at right now." Indian delivers his words with the cadence of a tent preacher. "Y'all came in here loving God. It took six months before my bunch could sit in here without fighting."
Indian has come here to ask for volunteers among his fellow inmates. Tommie Dorsett, the IFI program director, has asked for a prayer chain--72 hours of nonstop praying from 7 p.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Monday. "The reason," Indian explains, "is that there are financial needs of InnerChange that have to be met." He points to a prayer sign-up sheet, 144 slots of 30 minutes each. "Now what is prayer? Not only is it you talking to God, it's also when God talks to you!"
A chorus of amens rings out.
Volunteering to pray at InnerChange is like volunteering to wear make-up at a Mary Kay convention. Some members wake up as early as 4 a.m. to get in some private Bible time. For others, a 5:30 a.m. breakfast brings Christian fellowship. Next comes the community devotional under the hallelujah tent. InnerChange life skills classes go from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. Biblical counselors teach members how to live with patience, understanding, and tolerance, using Jesus Christ as their role model. They are taught to abide by strict guidelines: no dancing, drinking, profanity, homosexuality, or masturbation (which always provokes a lively debate in prison). If members can live by this rigid code and understand what God (or at least evangelical Christianity) expects of them, their lives, they are told, will become less chaotic, more manageable.
"We believe that crime is a result of a sinful heart," says Jack Cowley, IFI's national director of operations. It's not enough that a counselor tells an inmate to stop "raping a 2-year old child," says Cowley, or that the therapist discovers whatever childhood trauma caused the inmate to rape. The inmate won't stop unless he believes God wants him to stop. "If you explain the relationship that Christ wants to have with them and acquaint them with the foundation of truth that rests in the Bible, something mystical happens. He will be transformed."
The InnerChange Web site claims the program is open to all faiths and denominations as long as inmates are willing to "participate in a Christ-centered, biblically based program." Yet it isn't enough to believe in "Christian values" to be transformed. IFI teaches that true inner change can only occur when Jesus is accepted as one's personal savior--which must make it difficult for Muslims and Jews.
"I told a Muslim going through the program that if he didn't have a relationship with Jesus, he was going to hell," Cowley says. "Our concern is to lower the recidivism rate, but our ministry is to save souls for Christ."
On weekends, InnerChange members are allowed to visit with their families, unrestricted by steel bars or glass partitions. Unlike other minimum-security prisons, light kissing, hugging, and hand-holding with visiting family are not only permitted but encouraged. Weekday evenings, members and their families participate in reconciliation classes using biblical principals of forgiveness to bridge the pain, fear, and deceit inflicted by the inmate on his family. "We use basic psychological principles, but we platform them on biblical principles," says IFI biblical counselor Cherry Pleasant (whom the members call Mama). "We look at what it means to be a man of God and try and teach what God intended the role of men and women to be."
Men are commanded by God to be providers, Pleasant says, to subdue the earth, be fruitful, and multiply. Women are intuitive, detail-oriented, and emotional. They must complement, not compete with men and must submit to the authority of their husbands, "but only if he is a man of God," Pleasant quickly adds. "That always creates quite a stir among the women."
Evenings also bring Christian volunteers who conduct classes on restorative justice, which attempt to promote forgiveness and empathy by engaging inmates in conversation with crime victims; biblically based substance abuse programs and GED and computer classes also are held.
Within six months of entering the program, each inmate is assigned a Christian mentor, a volunteer from the Houston area who agrees to spend at least three hours a week for the next 12 months counseling, teaching, and hand-holding his new protégé. Mentors play a big part in an inmate's "re-entry program," introducing them to the mentor's church and family. The program virtually guarantees that each inmate will have a job upon release, and Christian businessmen from the community hold seminars in interview skills and résumé writing, offering inmates employment as part of the program. In addition to a job, each inmate upon release is expected by the program to have a place to live, a Christian mentor, and a church to attend. These are not conditions of parole, so the members are free to disregard them without fear that the state will return them to prison.
"This program is not for everybody. The first batch we had were a bunch of manipulators," Warden Becker admits. "But if this transformation is taking place like it appears to be, it will be a guiding torch for prisons around the world."
Even though InnerChange is expanding its operations to other states and countries, even though it operates from a solely Christian theology and its promise of lowering the recidivist rate has yet to be substantiated, criticism of the program has been largely nonexistent.
"Most people figure that if it makes my mama feel safer when she goes to the Wal-Mart, then what do I care if they are praying every day," Cowley says.
Yet there are serious First Amendment questions presented by faith-based initiatives, which some claim are eroding the wall separating church and state. The conservative desire for limited government and privatization helped enable the passage of a provision in the 1996 welfare reform bill called charitable choice. This federal legislation allows faith-based organizations to administer welfare programs with public funds as long as there are secular alternatives. The bill gets fuzzy when mandating the extent of religious involvement allowed in these programs. While it bans outright proselytizing with public funds, it allows a faith-based organization to retain the "practice and expression of its religious beliefs" while providing its "public purpose." It also protects the right of those receiving help to be free from religious coercion. Although charitable choice is a federal law, its application has been expanded in Texas under the Bush administration, which maintains its own faith-based task force.
In 1996, Carol Vance, the former Houston district attorney and then-chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, approached Bush about implementing a faith-based prison in Texas. Vance had visited Brazil with Chuck Colson, where they toured a Christian prison that claimed it had lowered the recidivist rate of its inmates from 80 percent to 4 percent. Bush signed onto the plan, looking for ways to lower the staggering Texas recidivist rate, which at that time hovered around 48 percent. In addition to IFI, the state also allocated money to secular rehabilitation programs within the prison system, including substance-abuse and sex offender treatment units. But none of these programs was as extensive or as inmate-friendly as the church-state partnership reached with Prison Fellowship Ministries. Under its contract, the state would provide security, housing, and food for IFI members, but Prison Fellowship Ministries would raise the program's $500,000 annual operating budget. For Bush, there could be no better expression of compassionate conservatism: a small ministry offering a viable alternative to a big government bureaucracy.
After Bush decided to run for president, he would speak about InnerChange on the stump, promising to expand faith-based prisons into the federal system. His campaign asked Jack Cowley to speak at the Republican National Convention, though his speech was whittled down to seven minutes.
Only recently have First Amendment advocates begun to challenge the constitutionality of charitable choice in the courts. In July, the American Jewish Congress (AJC), a Jewish civil liberties organization, filed suit in Austin alleging that Texas state officials should not have given public money to a church group in Brenham that used Christian theology to prepare welfare recipients for work. AJC contends that any public money spent on preaching violates church-state separation and subsidizes religious discrimination.
Even though InnerChange doesn't receive state money and ostensibly makes participation voluntary, AJC staff attorney Marc Stern still finds it constitutionally offensive. "The theory of charitable choice is at least there is a choice," Stern says. "On a secular basis, Texas doesn't provide the kinds of rehabilitative services that InnerChange does. There are no family programs, no mentoring or aftercare. If you want to be rehabilitated in Texas, then you have to go through Chuck Colson. That's not voluntary, it's coercive."
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C.-based civil rights group, contends the IFI program violates the First Amendment's establishment clause because "it is government endorsement of religious conversions," says spokesman Steve Benen. "For the state to allow prisoners to be segregated into those who are willing to be converted and then to give them special treatment--a safer environment, better living conditions, more access to family--that's not only unconstitutional, it's blatantly unfair."
Cowley doesn't worry about the legality of his program, not when any religious organization can come to the state and try to set up its own faith-based program. In fact, he is so confident that InnerChange will pass constitutional muster that his organization is asking the next session of the Texas Legislature to pick up $1.5 million of its operating budget for an expanded program, proselytizing and all. According to Cowley, Wayne Scott, executive director of the TDC, is so supportive of InnerChange that he wants the program to take over the entire Vance Unit. With room for 400 inmates, IFI would increase its "catchment" beyond Harris County to include inmates paroled to Dallas and Tarrant counties. Scott also wants InnerChange to begin a women's unit, but as a condition, Cowley is insisting that female inmates not be separated from their children 6 years old and younger. ("It's not only biblical, it makes sense socially," he says.) Raising preschoolers in prison, however, just might be a deal-breaker.
If the Legislature appropriates public money for InnerChange, expect civil liberties groups to consider litigation. "From what I know, Colson's group runs a good program, but it's expensive," says attorney Stern. "If the state does fund it, American Jewish Congress will look at the possibility of challenging that funding in court."
But litigation isn't likely to drive InnerChange out of business. It's more likely to shut its doors if the results it has promised the state aren't realized. Next spring, InnerChange expects researchers with the Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council to complete a statistical evaluation of the program. "If our recidivist rate isn't significantly lower," Cowley says, "then we will leave."
But how statistically significant will the small IFI sample be when no comparable secular program can be used as a control group because none exists? InnerChange members might just do better because they get much more attention than the rest of the prison population. The program accepts no sex offenders, few violent offenders, and no inmates who pose a security risk. More than 20 percent of the inmates drop out of the program once they realize how rigorous it is: Change is hard; some inmates figure it's a lot easier sitting around the dayroom watching TV than contemplating the Holy Ghost.
But those who remain in these nurturing environs are so immersed in the Bible, a moment seldom passes when they are not given the opportunity to think about matters of the spirit. Reproducing this God-high on the outside will not be easy. Only after members make parole will their true test of faith begin.
Gerardo Escamilla believes he can make it on the outside. Before getting busted for delivery of cocaine in 1991, he lived a "Christian life." He was married, a father, attended church, and owned his own trucking company in Houston. But money got tight, and when he needed some extra cash to fund his business, he began selling drugs. A lot of them.
"I could have closed the company," he says. "But it was my company and my pride, and I knew what I had do to keep it alive." He was arrested holding 20 kilos of what he thought was premium cocaine. Turns out his supplier had ripped him off, selling him cornstarch. That made no difference to Harris County. He was charged with possession of a simulated controlled substance.
"By the grace of God, I received a 15-year sentence," he says, his wide eyes tearing as he confesses the pain he caused his family. "While I was on bond, I went off the deep end--abusing drugs and whoremongering and staying away from home two to three days at a time." Though he still loves his wife, she divorced him. He says he understands why.
He remembers the date he was sent to prison--December 26, 1996--as if it were tattooed on his arm. It's the last day he saw his son. "God has shown me that it is good for him not to see me here," Escamilla says.
The whole experience broke him, and once in prison he quickly returned to God. He was a natural for the InnerChange program and made the transition easily. "Anyone can be a man," he says. "But to be God's man, a man who walks in humility and love and patience, that is what the program pushes, and it is transforming my life."
He winces when asked if all the inmates are on his same spiritual journey. "Twenty to 30 percent of the guys are here because they want to make parole, and they see this as a way to go home," he says. "They learn how to talk the talk, but when they get back to their cubicle, it's obvious they are conning the program and living their life without God."
This comes as no surprise to Ruben Garza, a street-savvy IFI biblical counselor. "Prison culture requires that you find out what you need to say and do to get yourself out of here," he explains. Garza believes that half the men at InnerChange are serious about the program, another 25 percent are uncertain, while the other 25 percent aren't ready for it at all. "They have always depended on one person, themselves, and now we are asking them to depend on something that they can't even see or touch. But the environment is at least conducive to planting the seed."
Whether that seed will grow after a member makes parole falls under the purview of aftercare manager Larry Frank, a big bear of a man who is more likely to hug a stranger than shake his hand. He has supervised the 156 InnerChange members in Harris County who have been released since the program began, helping them with their transitions, catching them before they stumble.
Because Frank does not have the authority of a parole officer, the only method he has to keep InnerChange members involved in aftercare is by marketing its benefits. "The things I have to keep them hooked are jobs, housing, a nurturing church, and mentoring," he says. "But they can walk away from their aftercare any time they want." Frank claims he has only lost a dozen or so members, but no one at InnerChange is willing to offer any hard numbers on the program's success until the state does its evaluation next spring.
The most critical time for InnerChange parolees, says Frank, is the first 12 months after they leave prison. "They're forced to come down from the mountain and confront all the things they left behind."
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Success often depends on the strength of the relationship between mentor and member. "We would like to see each man become part of the mentor's church and family," Frank says. "But even then, we expect them to hit a valley three to four months after they come out of prison. We call it spiritual ambivalence."
This ambivalence is generally precipitated by some form of rejection--the loss of a job or a girlfriend, a wife or brother-in-law who resents the holier-than-thou attitude of someone who has just gotten himself out of the state pen. "The biggest mistake our guys make is trying to pick up where they left off," Frank says. "The devil starts bringing back old survival thoughts." The member turns to marijuana, crack; it becomes easier, more familiar to lie around the house than go to work. That's where the mentor and the church come in, trying to rescue the parolee from himself, "to get him walking in the spirit rather than the flesh," Frank says.
Gerardo Escamilla has been instructed in all the ungodly traps that members must avoid once they walk through the back gate of the Vance Unit. Nevertheless, in May he is scheduled to begin his life all over again in the free world. A mentor has agreed to back him in the trucking business. Escamilla wants to see if he can get it right this time, "and get right with God," he says. He wonders what it will be like with his family. He invited his ex-wife to family reconciliation classes, but she didn't respond. She does write him, though, as does his 12-year-old son, who has made his father proud, maintaining an A average in school. Escamilla knows that when he sees his boy, they will be fine.
He also hasn't given up on his ex-wife, who hasn't remarried. "When I get out," he assures himself, "and we finally make eye contact, I know she will say to me, 'You really are that changed man you say you are.'"


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Viol on the Isenheimer Altar (1506-1515)
The Viols by RWC
Viol bows
Sound and technique
Popularity and repertoire
The viol today
RWC Viols
RWC Viol kits
The viols, vihuelas de arco, violas da gamba or simply, gambas are a family of musical instruments related to the vihuela, rebec, guitar, etc.
Many people call viols or gambas to all the members of the family and keep the name of viola da gamba exclusively for the bass viol.
There is an almost universal misconception that the viol is a much earlier instrument than the violin and that somehow the entire violin family developed from it.
The viol preceded and then remained contemporary with the violin which finally superseded it as concert halls grew larger, and the louder and more audible tone of the violin family became more popular
The status, technique, repertoire and construction of the viol is quite different to the violin.
The vihuela de arco (Spanish for "bowed vihuela") saw its beginnings in the late 15th century in Spain when local guitarists (or as they were called "vihuelists") began playing their instruments with a rabab bow (the rabab was an instrument from North Africa).
The instrument retained everything from its original family: the flat back, the frets, the tuning (the tenor viol has the shape, size, and tuning of the Spanish vihuela), the arched bridge and the playing position, but was bowed rather than plucked.
This new instrument was at first held like a guitar, and was bowed vertically but later began to be held upright, either resting on the lap or held between the legs like a cello, giving it the name viola da gamba (Italian for "viol of the leg")
This differentiates it from the similar but only distantly related violin family, known earlier as the lira da braccio or viola da braccio (Italian for "viol of the arm") family. The violin and its family had entirely different origins and during the Renaissance it was thought to be a very inferior instrument to the viol.
The bass viola da gamba continued to be used (as a solo instrument and also to accompany the harpsichord in basso continuo) into the 18th century, by which time it had acquired associations of courtliness and antiquity.
However, the instrument fell out of use as concert halls grew larger, and the louder and more audible tone of the violin family became more popular. In the last century, the viol has been revived by early music enthusiasts.
The viols come in six sizes: "pardessus de viole" (which is relatively rare), treble, alto, tenor, bass, and double bass (also known as a violone).
The treble is about the size of a violin (but with a deeper body); the tenor viol is approximately equivalent to the modern viola; the bass is a bit smaller than a cello. The largest, deepest size, the double bass, is the only viol played in orchestras today.
The English made a lighter and smaller version of the standard bass viol appropriate for a rapid solo repertoire and became known as the division viols.
German consort basses were larger than the French instruments designed for continuo.
A closely related instrument is the viola d'amore, although the viola d'amore is played under the chin, viola-fashion.
The viol usually has six strings, although examples with only five strings do exist.
The bass viol has a long tail, fretted finger board, a flat back, sloping shoulders, and deep sides with reinforcing crossbars inside. A carved head often adorns the top of the instrument.
Although the most common bass viol has six strings, a low seventh string in the bass viol was supposedly added in France by the Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe (c. 1640-c.1690), who taught many of the French gamba virtuosi of the 18th century. However, the picture "Saint Cecilia with an Angel" (1618) by Domenichino clearly shows a seven-string viol.
The viol is fretted like those of a lute by means of moveable, tied-on frets made of gut.
Historians, makers and players generally distinguish between renaissance and baroque viols. The latter are more heavily constructed and are fitted with a bass bar and sound post like modern stringed instruments.
Viol bows
The bow is generally convex as were violin bows of the period, rather than concave like a modern violin bow.
The "frog" (which holds the bow hair and adjusts its tension) is also different from that of modern bows: whereas a violin bow frog has a "slide" to hold the hair flat across the frog, viol bows have an open frog that allows more movement of the hair.
This is essential to allow the traditional playing technique in which the player tensions the bow hair with one or two fingers of the right hand whilst playing.
Unlike members of the violin family, which are tuned in fifths, the standard tuning of the viol is in 4ths, with a 3rd in the middle (like the standard Renaissance lute tuning and similar to that of the modern guitar).
For treble and bass viols (treble is one octave higher) the notes would be d',a,e,c,G,D. For the tenor viol the tuning is g,d,A,F,C,G'.
Alternate tunings (called scordatura) were often employed, particularly in the solo lyra viol style of playing, which also made use of many techniques such as chords and pizzicato (i.e. plucking rather than bowing the strings), which were not generally used in consort playing. An unusual style of pizzicato was known as a thump.
Sound and technique
All viols are played while seated, with the instrument held on or between the knees (there is no support on which to rest the instrument as is the case with the modern cello).
The viola da gamba retained the underhand bow technique of the rabab, as well as the left hand guitar technique. The bow is held like a pencil or chopsticks in an underhanded position with the finger controlling the tension of the horse hair.
This led to virtuoso playing of solo music in chordal fashion, known in England as "lyra-viol" technique, or virtuoso linear playing known as divisions.
The sound of the viol is sweet, resonant and shimmering, quieter than that of violins, violas, or cellos. Viols smaller than double basses are, in fact, too quiet to be effective in large orchestras or big concert halls, which is why they are no longer very common.
But many people today love the particular timbre of viols and the Renaissance and Baroque music written for them. Concerts are usually given in small halls or churches, which suit viols well.
Popularity and repertoire
The instrument found a large following in amateur circles, being relatively easy for a beginner. It was the ideal instrument to play "in family," children playing the smallest instruments, and adults the larger ones. Many homes would have a so-called chest of viols which would contain one or more instruments of each size.
At the same time serious musicians became virtuosi on the sadly neglected viol.
Many European courts had viola da gamba players in the 17th and 18th centuries. Charles I, King of England was reputed to be proficient enough on the bass viol to contribute a strong voice when playing with his favorite musicians.
In France the viola da gamba was a favorite among Parisian intellectuals, and was one of Louis XIV's favorite instruments.
The repertoire for the viola da gamba is vast, at least 9000 or so solo pieces, and even more repertoire for ensembles (called consorts).
Gamba consorts, were common in the 16th and 17th centuries, when they performed vocal music (consort songs or verse anthems) as well as that written specifically for instruments. Only the treble, tenor, and bass sizes were regular members of the viol consort, which consisted of three, four, five, or six instruments.
Music for consorts was very popular. The last music for viol consorts before their modern revival was probably that written in the early 1680s by Henry Purcell.
There are several important treatises concerning the viol. The first was by Silvestro Ganassi: Regola Rubertina & Lettione Seconda (1542/3). Diego Ortiz published Trattado de Glosas (Rome 1553), an important book of music for the viol with both examples of ornamentation and pieces called Recercadas. In England, Christopher Simpson wrote the most important treatise, with the second edition being published in 1667 in parallel text (English and Latin). This has divisions at the back which are very worthwhile repertoire. After this the French treatises by Rousseau, Danoville (1685) and Loulie (1700) show further developments in playing technique.
Composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Karl Friedrich Abel wrote music for the bass viol.
Lyra viol music was commonly written in tablature, and there is a vast repertoire of this music, some by well-known composers, and much anonymous.
Viol on the Isenheimer Altar (1506-1515)
The viol today
Today, the viol is attracting ever more interest, particularly amongst amateur players all over the world who have taken up this wonderful instrument anew.
This may be due to the increased availability of reasonably-priced instruments coupled with the greater accessibility of music editions. Also, the viol is regarded as a suitable instrument for adult learners as the viol repertoire demands musicianship more than virtuosity.
There are now many societies for people with an interest in the viol. The first was The Viola da Gamba Society, which was established in the United Kingdom in 1948 but has a worldwide membership. Since then, similar societies have been organized in several other nations.
The 1991 French film Tous les Matins du Monde by Alain Corneau, based on the life of of two famous French violists (the Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe and Marin Marais), prominently featured these composers' music for the viola da gamba and brought viol music to new audiences helping to rediscover the mystery of the "monarch of instruments". The soundtrack performed by Jordi Savall has sold more than a million copies worldwide.
Jordi Savall (born 1941 in Igualada, Spain) is perhaps the best-known modern viola da gamba player. He has made more than 80 recordings, is conductor of a touring and recording Early Music ensemble named "Hespèrion XXI" and he is also a two-time Grammy nominee.
Finished Viol
RWC Viols
The Renaissance Workshop Company Ltd. (RWC) is the world's largest specialist manufacturer of early music instruments, all based on existing originals or relevant iconography and are handmade by a small team of dedicated craftsmen who have many years experience.
RWC designs and manufacture, for historical performance, a wide range of faithful reproductions of mediaeval, renaissance and baroque musical instruments from keyboards (clavichords, harpsichords, spinets…) and stringed instruments (fiddles, lutes, viols, hurdy-gurdies, psalteries…) to windcaps (crumhorns, cornamusen, shawms...)
RWC is not only an Early Music workshop making musical Instruments to the highest standards, the company has saved many rare and some relatively unknown instruments from extinction.
The RWC viols are available in four sizes and make particularly good consort instruments.
The Treble Viol is based on an instrument by Henry Jaye in a private collection and is a 'small' treble.
The Tenor Viol is based on an instrument by John Rose in a private collection and is a full size tenor.
The 6-string Bass Viol is based on an instrument by Henry Jaye dated 1624 in a private collection and is a 'large' division viol measuring 1205mm overall length with a vibrating string length of 682mm and ribs 120mm deep.
The 7 String Bass Viol is based on an instrument in a private collection and is a 'small' bass viol.
Each instrument is hand built to special order in the RWC workshops in Toledo (Spain) and comes with 12 months warranty.
What makes the Renaissance Workshop Company Ltd. unique however is that the same range of Early Music instruments are offered to customers either complete or in kit form for home assembly. Each kit provides all the parts for you to build the instrument and has been designed for ease of assembly. Most do not assume any prior knowledge or experience of instrument making.
Although many kits are sold to aficionados, the company supplies to connoisseurs of mediaeval, renaissance and baroque music throughout the world. RWC has really contributed to the take off of the sales of early music instruments world-wide.
RWC Finished and Kit Viol
RWC Viol Kits
The same range of Viols are offered in kit form for home assembly.
An important feature of the RWC viol kits is the inclusion of a mould to ensure success, even for the first time builder, so assembly of the body can begin immediately.
The selected maple back is centre jointed, sanded to thickness and with the fold guide pre-cut.
The fingerboard and tailpiece are supplied as tapered blanks to be shaped before applying the matching rosewood veneer.
The ribs are pre-bent. Pegs, maple bridge, purfling, veneer, fretting gut and a set of good quality strings are all included.
A fully dimensioned plan and instruction manual take the builder through the construction of the instrument in a clear and concise manner, with 'step by step' photographs further illustrating each stage.
All the kits Include free access to the customer 'Helpline' should you need any advice on construction, setting-up or playing.
The 6 string Treble Viol kit has the
centre jointed front made from top quality Swiss pine with the arching profiled,
leaving only the final thicknessing and sanding for the builder.
The neck has a solid scroll and a shaped peg box with taper reamed holes to which solid rosewood pegs are already fitted.
The 6 string Tenor Viol kit has centre
jointed front made from top quality Swiss pine with the arching profiled,
leaving only the final thicknessing and sanding for the builder.
The neck has a solid scroll and a shaped peg box with taper reamed holes to which solid rosewood pegs are already fitted.
The 6 string Bass Viol kit has the centre
jointed front made from top quality Swiss pine with the arching profiled,
leaving only the final thicknessing and sanding for the builder.
The neck has a pierced scroll and a shaped peg box with taper reamed holes to which solid rosewood pegs are already fitted.
In the 7 string Bass Viol kit, the top
quality Swiss pine front is supplied centre jointed only, leaving the shaping
and profiling to the builder.
The neck is cut to outline shape leaving the finishing and fitting of the rosewood pegs to the builder.
This kit requires some previous experience of instrument making and a reasonably well equipped workshop.
The Renaissance Workshop Company Ltd. (RWC)

subset: commoncrawl


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Moniteau still undefeated after big win
WEST SUNBURY — After the Chucks matched the Moniteau Warriors' first scoring drive with one of their own, Moniteau's defense answered the bell and shut out the Chucks for the rest of the first half, while the Warriors' offense scored three touchdowns in the second quarter. The Warriors went on to win the game 45-6.
"I think as a group, as coaches and players, we're disappointed in our performance," Punxsy head coach Alan Nichol said after the game. "We just made a lot of mistakes, and we didn't do our jobs. We kind of look at it as one of those things we're going to have to make sure we improve in all areas. Moniteau's a good team, but we're better than that."
Moniteau opened the game with the ball and took less than two minutes to jump out to an 8-0 lead.
The drive started with a nice return by senior Robert Brehm, who ran the kick back near mid-field. The Warriors opened the game with three run plays by three different players — a two-yarder by fullback David Campbell, a five-yarder by tailback Dustin Geagan and a seven-yarder by quarterback Kyle Armagost that earned a first down.
On first-and-10, Armagost dropped back and hooked up with senior receiver Ethan Pry for a 38-yard touchdown pass. Armagost ran in the two-point conversion to set the lead at eight.
Punxsy benefitted from good field position of its own after senior running back Alex Fedigan returned the ensuing kickoff to the Chucks' 45-yard line.
Fedigan was stalled on first down, and after an incomplete pass by Zimmerman, the Chucks were facing third-and-long, but Zimmerman connected with sophomore wide receiver Clayton Dale for 13 yards and a first down.
Two plays later, Zimmer- man found Dale again near the 20-yard line, and thanks to a good down-field block by Alex Bevak, Dale was able to find the end zone.
Zimmerman attempted to roll out for a pass on the two-point conversion but was unable to find anyone. Zimmerman was stopped short of the goal line, keeping the score at 8-6.
Punxsy's defense made the big play it needed on the next drive after Moniteau picked up three first downs.
Armagost went under center for the first time in the game and fumbled the snap. Punxsy senior linebacker Hayden Muth emerged from the pile with the ball, and the Chucks' offense was back on the field at the 20-yard line.
The shift in momentum was short-lived, though, when the Chucks went three-and-out, ending with a six-yard sack by Moniteau's Andrew Armagost, and were forced to punt.
Zimmerman's punt sailed out of bounds at the Chucks' 29-yard line, giving Moniteau outstanding field position, and the Warriors took advantage.
Geagan opened the drive with a 17-yard run to the 12-yard line, and after Kyle Armagost picked up a first down on a fourth-and-inches from the two-yard line, he finished off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Another two-point conversion by Armagost pushed the lead to 16-6 early in the second quarter.
Punxsy's next drive was another three-and-out. Fedigan picked up two yards on first down, and Zimmerman connected with tight end Josh Neal, but Andrew Armagost came up with another sack on third down to force the punt.
The two teams exchanged turnovers on downs, but on Punxsy's punt Pry returned the ball to the Chucks' 25-yard line.
Geagan started the drive on the short field with an eight-yard run, and the Warriors picked up the first down on a 14-yard connection between Kyle Armagost and Joey Deal, which set up a first-and-goal from the three-yard line.
On the next play, Geagan ran up the middle for a three-yard touchdown run.
Another two-point conversion by Armagost gave the Warriors some breathing room at 24-6.
Punxsy's ensuing drive started on a high note with a nice return by Dale to the 32-yard line, but Zimmerman was sacked twice and threw an incomplete pass, forcing the Chucks to punt again.
After a five-yard false start penalty, Zimmerman was back to punt inside his own 10-yard line when Deal broke through the line and blocked the punt after a high snap.
The Warriors fell on it at the one-yard line and took only one play to punch it in for another one-yard Kyle Armagost touchdown run.
Geagan ran in the two-point conversion to give Moniteau a 32-6 lead with two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the half.
Punxsy almost went three-and-out again after Fedigan gave the Chucks eight yards on two runs, but Moniteau stuffed the third-down attempt short of the sticks.
On the attempted punt, though, the Warriors were called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, giving the Chucks a first down.
Zimmerman connected with Fedigan for a three-yard pass, but on second-and-seven a Zimmerman pass fell incomplete as the clock expired on the first half.
Nichol was disappointed that Punxsy couldn't keep the momentum gained by answering the early touchdown score in the first quarter.
"We caught a little spark on that touchdown pass from Zimmerman to Dale," he said. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to keep the momentum defensively."
Punxsy opened the second half with the ball, but were forced to punt after a three-and-out, and Moniteau cashed in on its first drive, going 55 yards on three plays. Geagan opened with a 35-yard run after a five-yard penalty on Moniteau, and finished the drive two plays later on a 25-yard touchdown run — his second of the night.
The two-point conversion failed, and the score was 38-6.
Punxsy put together its best drive after the first-quarter scoring drive on its next possession with the help of a Moniteau penalty on a fourth-and-20 punt when they roughed the kicker.
The biggest play was Caesar Maruca's kick return to the Warrior 40, but the Chucks' drive came up short, and a Zimmerman punt pinned Moniteau at its own three-yard line.
Moniteau went 97 yards in 12 plays for its final score of the game.
The Chucks forced Moniteau into a third-and-35 after Jacob Shiock blew up a play in the backfield for a nine-yard loss and the Warriors were called for a ten-yard hold, but Kyle Armagost connected with Brehm for a 43-yard first-down pass to keep the drive alive as the clock expired on the third quarter.
It looked like the Chucks might get a break on the second play of the quarter when Armagost fumbled the snap, but the tide turned when he picked the ball up, reversed field and ran for 22 yards before being pushed out of bounds.
Penalties bit the Warriors again after they earned a first-and-goal at the 10 but were pushed back with a 10-yard hold and a five-yard false start on successive plays.
On first-and-goal from the 25, though, Armagost ran a quarterback keeper and went the whole way to the end zone for the final score of the game.
Moniteau kicked its first extra point of the night, and the score was 45-6.
Armagost and Geagan each reached milestones on the final scoring drive with Armagost going over 1,000 yards passing for the season and Geagan reaching 1,000 rushing yards.
With the lead greater than 35 points, the running clock mercy rule took effect. Punxsy went three-and-out and punted away to Moniteau, which turned the ball over on downs with four minutes remaining in the game.
Punxsy's last attempt at a scoring drive ended when backup quarterback Matt Burkett attempted to run for a first down on fourth-and-13 but came up just short of moving the chains.
Moniteau kneeled on the ball twice, and the game was over.
Nichol said the field was sloppy, but his team wasn't making any excuses after the game.
"The field was a wreck, and I think overall, we have some guys playing positions they didn't start the year off in, but this time of year you've got to be solid," he said. "If you're not, the other team will take advantage, so we need to continue to work on those areas."
Despite the loss, though, Nichol said he is proud of the will to win he sees in his players as they head into their final three games of the season.
"We're down to a three-game season, now," he said. "These guys really desire to do well. That's what'll carry the day for us: Their spirit to play well and to win."
Moniteau's defense was stifling to the Chucks, allowing just 63 total yards offense — including -8 rushing yards after recording six sacks, which count towards the rushing total in high school football.
Armagost led Moniteau's ground-attack with 89 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns but was effective through the air, as well, throwing for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
Punxsy's Zimmerman passed for 71 yards, coming up just 13 yards short of reaching the 1,000-yard milestone for the season, and senior receiver Luke Janocha, who would have needed 72 receiving yards to reach the 500-yard milestone for the season, didn't play for the Chucks Friday.
Punxsy returns home next week for Senior Night when the Chucks host Redbank Valley in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Jack LaMarca Stadium in Punxsutawney.


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Style Sourcelist: Contemporary Kitchen Faucets Under $300
The faucet in your kitchen can actually say more than you think about the space. Some may just glance over a faucet but if you really pay close attention to detail when purchasing one you'll notice just how the quality can vary from model to model. Paying what may seem like a hefty penny for just a faucet can be daunting, but if you choose carefully, that sucker can last you years and years.
• Danze Parma Single Handle Pre-Rinse Faucet, $303.00 at Amazon: Single hole installment makes this a top choice. It's a modern twist on a traditional yet industrial faucet. Stainless steel coated brass, this Danze faucet will not only make a statement but it'll stand the test of time.
• KOHLER Simplice Single-Hole Pull-down Kitchen Faucet, $218.63 at Amazon: The selling point on this Kohler faucet is the pull-down feature. With this, there's no longer a reason to install a separate sprayer because it's built into the faucet. It's made from stainless steel.
• Grohe Concetto Dual Spray Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet, $251.40 at Amazon: This faucet is a combination of the previous two. A modern and attractive shape combined with ease and convenience.
• MOEN Camerist Faucet, $273.05 at MOEN: Comes in four different finishes ranging from chrome to oil rubbed bronze; this is the most traditional faucet. It features a traditional shape with modern conveniences due to the fact that it has a built in pull-out sprayer.
• Delta Kate Single-Handle Pull-Down Sprayer Kitchen Faucet, $178.00 at Home Depot: Featuring a single handle, soap dispenser and pull-down sprayer this isn't just a one hole job but that's ok! It comes in two finishes; chrome and stainless steel. The price is certainly a huge selling point.
Images: as linked above


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Americans, Aussies win titles at US Open swim meet
IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Daniel Tucker won the men's 100-meter freestyle, and Gillian Ryan won the women's 800 free on opening night of the U.S. Open swimming meet on Tuesday.
Tucker won in 49.11 seconds. Dax Hill took second in 49.17 and Seth Stubblefield was third in 49.33 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center.
Ryan broke away in the last 50 meters and finished in 8 minutes, 25.57 seconds. Sarah Henry was second in 8:26.39. Haley Anderson, who won the 5-kilometer open water race at the world championships last week, took third in 8:29.71.
The world's best swimmers are competing in the pool competition this week in Barcelona, Spain.
In the men's 1,500 free, Zane Growthe won in 15:13.39, nearly 16 seconds faster than his previous best time. Matthew Levings of Australia was second in 15:14.48, and Arthur Frayler was third in 14:14.92.
South Africans Sebastian Rousseau and Dylan Bosch finished one-two in the men's 200 butterfly. Rousseau touched in 1:55.64, followed by Bosch in 1:57.28. Bobby Bollier was third.
In the women's 200 fly, Tilly Gray, a 15-year-old swimmer from Britain, won in 2:09.83. Lauren Herrington was second in 2:10.32. Brenna Maclean of Canada was third.
Yolane Kukla of Australia led all the way in winning the women's 100 free in 54.87. Aussie Kelly Stubbins was second in 55.26. Two-time Olympian Amanda Weir was third in 55.27.


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Larry is starting on a reduced dose tomorrow. He spent three days last week in ICU. Oncologist was out of town and no one could figure out why his temperature kept going up to 104 and he was having seizures. Whether seizures were caused by brain mets or fevers or both we will never know. We know fevers were caused by combo. I know it took a lot out of him. I think I see why everyone on this sight says melanoma specialist. Doctors at our hospital have never heard of the drugs Larry is on. Larry really likes his oncologist. . Financial counselors and social workers are really great dealing with insurance to get the meds here. Doc has said if he can't take the reduced dose there is nothing else they can do for him here. I know the drugs were working because 3 centemeter brain met is now 2 centemers after 18 days on Tafinlar Mek Combo. I hope the reduced dose works for us.
Re: Side effects from Tafinlar Mek Combo(3/21/2014 - 8:14am)
I am sorry that Larry has had such a tough time with his treatments, but he sure sounds like a fighter! It's great news that the tumors are shrinking with the combo. I will pray that the reduced dosage eliminates these horrible side effects so that Larry can stay on the combo.
You might also start looking into the Merck MK-3475 (anti-PD1) Expanded Access Program. Check out Catherine Poole's recent post on the Melanoma Internaional Foundation forum: http://forum.melanomainternational.org/mif/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=34908
And remember that MK-3475 may well be FDA approved by this Fall. So tell Larry to keep fighting! And please do keep us posted as to how he is doing.
Re: Side effects from Tafinlar Mek Combo(3/21/2014 - 8:23am)
Sorry to hear. As you point out, high fevers are a well known side effect of the combo. Perhaps they can switch to Zelboraf since he responded to the GSK combo--though hopefully he'll do fine at the lower dosage. As for the other response, I believe that Merck's EAP requires progression on both BRAF (where relevant) and ipi--but of course, it makes sense to verify with Merck or one of the sites.
Re: Side effects from Tafinlar Mek Combo(3/21/2014 - 8:46am)
You are correct, Mat, Merck's EAP requires progression on both BRAF (where relevant) and ipi. According to his profile, Larry already tried Vemurafenib and had to stop because of severe side effects.
Re: Side effects from Tafinlar Mek Combo(3/21/2014 - 11:38am)
When my husband was having trouble tolerating the combo, and had tox with Zelboraf, his oncologist suggested looking at the Novartis BRaf combo trials. You might want to search clinicaltrials.gov (or any other trial search engine) for open LGX818 trials. Also, I think the combo is what leads to the increased incidence of fevers, so going to just Dabrafenib may alleve the side effects with maintainingg the efficacy albeit not necessarilly as long as with the combo.
Re: Side effects from Tafinlar Mek Combo(3/21/2014 - 10:52pm)
Sorry to hear Larry is having such a rough time. I too had 2 stints in hospital with side effects from this combo. I was taken off all meds for a week or so & then restarted on a reduced dose of dabrafenib along with normal dose of trametinib & a course of prednisone . I was weaned off prednisone twice ( side effects returned) but the second time more gradually ( 1 mg a week) - & ever since then I've been fine! Feeling really well & energised at the moment.
I've had 2 PET scans & both have been all clear - so it does work! Good luck with the reduced dosage . Best wishes, ....Lyn
Heal with every inhalation and let go of cancer with every exhalation.


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Friday, August 23, 2013
Anquan Boldin shining in mentor role for 49ers
Anquan Boldin's contract off the Ravens' books this offseason.
But they're getting more than their money's worth in the lessons Boldin is sharing with a young receiving corps, sharing 10 years of NFL experience every day.
"Q has been so good with the younger guys, trying to teach them how to be professionals," wide receiver Kyle Williams told Jim Trotter of SI.com. "He's not just teaching them what to learn, but how to learn it, how to learn concepts and how you can see certain things in coverages. I think his whole mentality, his whole approach to this game is something we all can learn something from. He's so serious about it. He doesn't play around."
That includes not even taking time to celebrate his Super Bowl win with the Ravens, including a visit with the President which he skipped. Coming close with the Cardinals showed him how small the margin was, and he didn't want to give it away.
"For me it doesn't change," Boldin said of his motivation. "That's the reason why I didn't go to the ring ceremony at the White House. If you take time to celebrate, you kind of lose that edge, lose that hunger."
That professionalism is going to be huge for the 49ers this year. In the absence of injured Michael Crabtree, he could end up a safety net for Colin Kaepernick, giving the second-year quarterback someone to rely on as he grows in the game as well.
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Pop star Katy Perry has taken inspiration from Julia Roberts' Eat Pray Love and embarked on a spiritual quest.
The singer has gone back to nature, and she took to her Twitter.com page on Wednesday to post a photo of herself on top of a mountain with her arms outstretched.
She captioned the snapshot, "I ate, I prayed, I climbed a volcano" – a play on the title of Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir Eat, Pray, Love, which became a 2010 drama starring Roberts.
Perry also told fans she is getting in touch with her spiritual side by meditating and cleansing her chakras, which in Hinduism and Buddhism are believed to be the body's energy centers.
She tweeted, "I can feel the phoenix rising," and later added, "Starting the day with a group meditate… breakfast of champions… Getting some s**t out my chakra's (sic)!"
Perry told last year how she planned to take time out of the spotlight for globe-trotting adventures.
She said, "I wanna have these life adventures and experiences that are not related to work, so that I can come back after I've done that and make another, hopefully, good record… I'm planning a wilderness adventure where you go out for the weekend and you learn how to hunt and gather and then make fire."
Pop star Katy Perry has taken inspiration from Julia Roberts' Eat Pray Love and embarked on a spiritual quest.


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Kaiser Chiefs choose IK Multimedia
Phenomenally successful British alt rock band Kaiser Chiefs were formed in 2003 and their debut album, Employment, released in 2005, shipped over 3 million copies across the world. Tracks such as 'Ruby','I Predict A Riot' and 'Everyday I Love You Less And Less' have been major selling singles for the band who continue to tour heavily. And not forgetting their inclusion in the various versions of the Guitar Hero game.
IK Multimedia recently spoke with keyboard player Nick Baines, known to fans as 'Peanut', who has been an IK user for many years.
He told them:
"Nick (Hodgson,drums) and I are the studio-heads in the band. We were using T-RackS way back when we were making the early Kaiser Chiefs demos and in the band we were in before that too!"
He then continues:
"T-RackS was our saviour as we were doing the best recordings we could manage with borrowed mics, mattresses for vocal booths and an old digital 8-track thing - everything went through T-RackS and it always came out better!"
"Initially the standalone version was all that was available when we first started using T-RackS, but now the Singles offer much more flexibility in our projects, we love those vintage EQ and Compressor modules, and we recently took delivery of the full Deluxe version - which blows us away!"
Peanut uses T-RackS 3 Deluxe, T-RackS 3 Singles and CSR Classik Studio Reverb in his studio.


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WWE at 1st Mariner Arena
Daniel Bryan stunned the wrestling world by cashing in his "Money in the bank" briefcase to earn a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship. He beat The Big Show, who'd just beaten Mark Henry in a world title chairs match, to claim the belt at WWE's event at 1st Mariner Arena Sunday night.
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|Macon Cove
|Phone: 901-333-5924
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|Union Avenue
|Phone: 901-333-5924
|Fax: 901-333-5630
Student Records-Academic Suspension and Probation
A student whose cumulative "combined" Grade Point Average falls below the minimum required standard for good standing will be placed on academic probation for the subsequent term of enrollment. Students on academic probation may not participate in early registration for the next term.
Academic Suspension
A student, who either fails at the end of the probationary term to meet minimum required standards for good standing or fails to earn at least a 2.0 grade point average during the probationary term, will be suspended for one regular semester. The summer term is not counted as a regular semester. Students suspended spring may not enroll summer or fall. After the period of suspension, the student may re-enroll.
Appeal of Academic Suspension
A student who has extenuating circumstances, i.e. illness, medical conditions, family trauma, or circumstances beyond the student's control, may appeal the academic suspension and be readmitted upon the recommendation of the Readmission Appeal Committee. To make the appeal, the student must contact the office of Special Academic programs at 901-333-5885 before the first day of late registration. The late registration fee will be waived for students approved to readmit.


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CRESTVIEW � One thing is certain: Tisha Melton knows she�s appreciated.
CRESTVIEW � One thing is certain: Tisha Melton knows she�s appreciated.
Parents and Bob Sikes Elementary School students on Wednesday surprised the kindergarten teacher with balloons, gifts and cupcakes. Additionally, they presented a plaque thanking her for her commitment to their children's education.
Classroom volunteer Wanda Wooten � who organized the event along with other parents, and has a granddaughter in Melton's class � said she appreciated the teacher�s efforts.
"She goes out of her way for these kids," Wooten said. "It's amazing what she does for these kids."
That means positive reinforcement, parents said.
"Students will come in and say, 'I can't do this' and she will tell them that they are wrong," Wooten said. "She will tell them that they are smart and they can do it."
Melton said her parental instincts assist in educating her students.
"I'm a mother. I teach them the way I want my children to be taught," Melton said. "It's not about the academics, it�s about how we treat each other."
Melton's impact as a teacher has even influenced one parent to become substitute teacher.
Jean Steele began volunteering in the class after her 6-year-old daughter, Allie, started kindergarten in Melton's class this year.
Steele previously had no notion for a career in education, but after seeing Melton's interaction with students, encouraging them to reach new heights, Steele started substituting at local schools in December.
"She gave me opportunities to work with the children," Steele said. "She would show me how to do things ... telling me that I was doing a great job and that I could do this."
Despite the parents� surprise, Melton said her passion for teaching is just part of her job.
"This is what I am supposed to be doing," she said. "There really isn't one day when I don't look forward to coming here."
That�s due to fellow faculty members, too, she said.
"This is the best school and best grade level I have ever worked with," she said. "That also is a big part of my success: is that it's a team effort."
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.


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Do you know about Delicious Fresh Pan Pizzas?
This year has been truly delicious for Domino's fans. We introduced new and innovative products like Lebanese Rolls and Calzone Pockets to the menu and your feedback has been overwhelming. Now, Dominos doesn't just stop at that, we are tenaciously dedicated to step up our game and are doing so with our new addition- the Fresh Pan Pizza which is determined to take your pizza experience to a whole new level.
You have inspired us to make our latest offering, Fresh Pan Pizza, to be the Tastiest Pan Pizza. Ever. Inspired us to create a soft, buttery crust that takes just seconds to melt in your mouth. Inspired us to create a buttery aroma which is the key to bring everyone closer, as you open the box. Inspired us to make a pizza with a crunch. Now that's music to the ears. Inspired us to make a pizza fresh like the morning sun, made only when you order it. Inspired us to add extra cheese for wider smiles. Perfect for a group picture. Inspired us to make a unique, specially designed delivery box that captures all the new elements involved.
No wonder, over 1 million people have already thoroughly enjoyed the Fresh Pan Pizza. So what are you waiting for? Enjoy the Tastiest Pan Pizza. Ever. Today.
Courtesy : Dominos.co.in


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Not sure if anyone has checked, but the stated mass of a carbon battery is 2, the weight of an accumulator is 5. When you place them either side of the cockpit, the "centre of gravity" indicator a heavier weight on the side of the "lighter" carbon battery.
I've tried various items and many of them don't seem to match their indicated mass.
It makes the carbon batteries seem fairly useless against the accumulators!


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Company: KFSM TV
Updated: 6/20/2013
5NEWS, which is broadcast on KFSM-TV and KXNW-TV, has an immediate opening for a Multi-Media Producer. In this position, you will be responsible for producing newscasts for TV and web content, working closely with reporters, producers, directors and the assignment desk. You will review reporter scripts, develop content for our website, social network sites, and our mobile platform. To be considered, you must have a passion for news. You must be a strong writer, have sharp news judgment, excellent technical skills and the ability to work well with others. You will be expected to bring enthusiasm and creativity to the product. We are looking for someone who understands the important role personality and storytelling plays in the newscast. A college degree is preferred. Ideally, you are already doing this job in another market. •Producers plan content, write stories, build graphics and are responsible for the creative execution of all elements of the newscast. •Producers are expected to brainstorm and use production techniques, graphics and new forms of media (viewer pictures, webcam interviews, etc.) to visually enhance the show. •Producers regularly write stories for 5NEWSonline.com including attaching images and streaming video. •Producers take on special projects as assigned •Producers must have non-linear editing skills. Statement about Other Duties: This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all functions essential to the job for which the employee is responsible, nor an exhaustive list of the minimum requirements and specifications necessary to perform the essential functions, including all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different functions be performed when circumstances change or exigencies require it. Interested parties should submit resume, a resume tape, application and references to Amanda Hale, Executive Producer, KFSM-TV, North 13th Street, Fort Smith AR 72901or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com. No phone calls please. KFSM-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer


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Sam displays cans in 3 triangular stacks. With the same number he could make one large triangular stack or stack them all in a square based pyramid. How many cans are there how were they arranged?
Here is a collection of puzzles about Sam's shop sent in by club members. Perhaps you can make up more puzzles, find formulas or find general methods.
How many tricolour flags are possible with 5 available colours such that two adjacent stripes must NOT be the same colour. What about 256 colours?
The machine I use to produce Braille messages is faulty and one of the pins that makes a raised dot is not working. I typed a short message in Braille. Can you work out what it really says?
Is it possible to use all 28 dominoes arranging them in squares of four? What patterns can you see in the solution(s)?
In how many ways can a pound (value 100 pence) be changed into some combination of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pence coins?
In how many distinct ways can six islands be joined by bridges so that each island can be reached from every other island...
Imagine you have six different colours of paint. You paint a cube using a different colour for each of the six faces. How many different cubes can be painted using the same set of six colours?
How many six digit numbers are there which DO NOT contain a 5?
A game that demands a logical approach using systematic working to deduce a winning strategy
Semaphore is a way to signal the alphabet using two flags. You might want to send a message that contains more than just letters. How many other symbols could you send using this code?
Is it possible to rearrange the numbers 1,2......12 around a clock face in such a way that every two numbers in adjacent positions differ by any of 3, 4 or 5 hours?
How many positive integers less than or equal to 4000 can be written down without using the digits 7, 8 or 9?
Consider all of the five digit numbers which we can form using only the digits 2, 4, 6 and 8. If these numbers are arranged in ascending order, what is the 512th number?
Eight children enter the autumn cross-country race at school. How many possible ways could they come in at first, second and third places?
Place the 16 different combinations of cup/saucer in this 4 by 4 arrangement so that no row or column contains more than one cup or saucer of the same colour.
Blue Flibbins are so jealous of their red partners that they will not leave them on their own with any other bue Flibbin. What is the quickest way of getting the five pairs of Flibbins safely to. . . .
Using only the red and white rods, how many different ways are there to make up the other colours of rod?
Four friends must cross a bridge. How can they all cross it in just 17 minutes?
Sam sets up displays of cat food in his shop in triangular stacks. If Felix buys some, then how can Sam arrange the remaining cans in triangular stacks?
There are nine teddies in Teddy Town - three red, three blue and three yellow. There are also nine houses, three of each colour. Can you put them on the map of Teddy Town according to the rules?
This challenging activity involves finding different ways to distribute fifteen items among four sets, when the sets must include three, four, five and six items.
Liam's house has a staircase with 12 steps. He can go down the steps one at a time or two at time. In how many different ways can Liam go down the 12 steps?
In a league of 5 football teams which play in a round robin tournament show that it is possible for all five teams to be league leaders.
Three dice are placed in a row. Find a way to turn each one so that the three numbers on top of the dice total the same as the three numbers on the front of the dice. Can you find all the ways to do. . . .
I start my journey in Rio de Janeiro and visit all the cities as Hamilton described, passing through Canberra before Madrid, and then returning to Rio. What route could I have taken?
Place the 16 different combinations of cup/saucer in this 4 by 4 arrangement so that no row or column contains more than one cup or saucer of the same colour.
Four children were sharing a set of twenty-four butterfly cards. Are there any cards they all want? Are there any that none of them want?
This challenge extends the Plants investigation so now four or more children are involved.
How many pairs of numbers can you find that add up to a multiple of 11? Do you notice anything interesting about your results?
In how many ways can you arrange three dice side by side on a surface so that the sum of the numbers on each of the four faces (top, bottom, front and back) is equal?
A man has 5 coins in his pocket. Given the clues, can you work out what the coins are?
One face of a regular tetrahedron is painted blue and each of the remaining faces are painted using one of the colours red, green or yellow. How many different possibilities are there?
When intergalactic Wag Worms are born they look just like a cube. Each year they grow another cube in any direction. Find all the shapes that five-year-old Wag Worms can be.
Here are the prices for 1st and 2nd class mail within the UK. You have an unlimited number of each of these stamps. Which stamps would you need to post a parcel weighing 825g?
How many ways can you find to do up all four buttons on my coat? How about if I had five buttons? Six ...?
In a bowl there are 4 Chocolates, 3 Jellies and 5 Mints. Find a way to share the sweets between the three children so they each get the kind they like. Is there more than one way to do it?
A lady has a steel rod and a wooden pole and she knows the length of each. How can she measure out an 8 unit piece of pole?
Take a rectangle of paper and fold it in half, and half again, to make four smaller rectangles. How many different ways can you fold it up?
What do the digits in the number fifteen add up to? How many other numbers have digits with the same total but no zeros?
Make a pair of cubes that can be moved to show all the days of the month from the 1st to the 31st.
In this challenge, buckets come in five different sizes. If you choose some buckets, can you investigate the different ways in which they can be filled?
There were chews for 2p, mini eggs for 3p, Chocko bars for 5p and lollypops for 7p in the sweet shop. What could each of the children buy with their money?
A little mouse called Delia lives in a hole in the bottom of a tree.....How many days will it be before Delia has to take the same route again?
Can you find all the different ways of lining up these Cuisenaire rods?
Tim had nine cards each with a different number from 1 to 9 on it. How could he have put them into three piles so that the total in each pile was 15?
Go through the maze, collecting and losing your money as you go. Which route gives you the highest return? And the lowest?
When you think of spies and secret agents, you probably wouldn't think of mathematics. Some of the most famous code breakers in history have been mathematicians.
How many ways can you find of tiling the square patio, using square tiles of different sizes?
An environment which simulates working with Cuisenaire rods.


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Download Canon iP2770 Resetter v1074 no password below:
Do not forget to turn off the download manager, so the iP2770 Resetter successfully downloaded.
Go to the iP2770 Service Mode :
- The printer is off and plugged the power cord.
- Press the RESUME button two seconds
- then press the POWER button until the green light flame (while pressing the POWER button, ... don't release RESUME button)
- Then release the Resume button, but do not release the POWER button.
- POWER button while still pressed, press the Resume button 5 times. Led will flash alternately orange glow green with the last orange. (not to mistaken 4x because the printer will be totally dead, but it is temporary as well) Then ...
- Release both buttons simultaneously.
- Led will blink briefly and then will glow GREEN.
- The computer will detect new devices, please ignore .....
- This situation is called SERVICE MODE iP2770 and iP2770 ready to be reset.
Then run Canon iP2770 Resetter v1074 :
- Exctract File iP2770 Resetter.
- Prepare a two paper in the printer (to print at the time of the reset process).
- Run the program iP2770 Resetter
- Click "MAIN", then the printer will proceed and iP2770 will print one page with the words "D = 000.0"
- Click the "EEPROM Clear".
- Then click the "EEPROM", and the printer will print the results off iP2770 Resetter. One of the writing row as follows:
- "TPage (TTL = 00 000)"
- Turn off the printer by pressing the POWER button.
- Done ...
Good luck


text:
Aging gracefully or not.
About 3-4 weeks ago I realized that I'm starting to age. Although I'm going to be 36 in a couple of months and have had gray hair for a few years now, the thought of aging has never actually scared me. I figured it would happen and I would do it gracefully. After all, age is just a number and it's all about how you handle it.
Maybe vanity got the better of me, but I looked in the mirror and my eyes - my eyes!!!!! Suddenly, the circles were darker than I had ever recalled, there were fine lines and then these marks appeared near my eyes. What were they? I still don't know! They look like small burns under my eyes. Then one side of my face, near my eyes also, is suddenly much darker than before. It seems like my skin is changing color and the texture is not as smooth as it once was. All the while I'm still battling adult acne. Sheeeesh!!!!!
Am I alarmed? Yes!!!!!
I turned to Twitter in search of advice about under eye concealers. I got some good tips from Brittany at clumpsofmascara.com in terms of products worth trying, but also a simple reminder that I needed to get some sleep and rest a little. I heeded her advice and got some good rest, but I also headed to the store in search of something that may help. I got a concealer and I'm not really happy with it - maybe because I don't quite know how to apply "fancy makeup" (i.e. anything other than lipstick and some basic foundation). So back to the store I will go because it doesn't make sense that I spent about $100 in products and I still feel like I look like a raccoon.
Rather than continue in this state of flux, I have an appointment to see a dermatologist in the morning. I'll keep you posted.
Are you experiencing these "adult" issues too?


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- Library Overview
- Library User Information
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Did you know...
"Star-Spangled Banner" manuscript travels to city
Francis Scott Key's original poem leaves Baltimore the the first time
-Capital Gazette Communications
By LIAM FARRELL, Staff Writer
Divorced from sporting events and off-key, error-plagued renditions of the music, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is most effective when read from a brown piece of paper, frayed at the edges and covered in an ornate scrawl.
The original manuscript of "The Star-Spangled Banner" left Baltimore and came to Annapolis for the first time yesterday as part of a private reception hosted by the National Anthem Celebration Foundation and the Maryland Historical Society.
"It is very important to be able to teach the story behind the song," said Dan Esmond, the founder and president of foundation. "There are a lot of people that don't even know this document exists."
The event comes as Maryland prepares for the bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812 and in the same week as the 80th anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner" becoming the official national anthem.
"What better time than that to have an event?" Esmond said. "Wewanted to get out ahead of some of the other celebration activities."
The poem "The Defence of Fort McHenry" - transported yesterday by armored car and police escort - was written by Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old Maryland lawyer and amateur poet who graduated from St. John's College in Annapolis.
While securing the release of a friend who had been captured by the British, Key was detained by them during the Battle of Baltimore and the shelling of Fort McHenry.
Inspired by the successful American defense, Key wrote the poem that later became an integral part of the nation's identity. The poem was set to the tune of a popular British drinking song.
Until 1931, "Hail, Columbia" "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and other songs were commonly played at patriotic event. U.S. Rep. Charles Linthicum, a congressman from Anne Arundel County, worked for 13 years to pass legislation making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem.
State Sen. James Robey, D-Howard, helped arrange the event. Robey said he was unaware of the manuscript's existence despite his seven decades in Maryland.
"It is not only about the United States of America, it is about Maryland," he said. "I got goosebumps when I took a look at it … How can you not?"
The document was scheduled to be taken from Annapolis to the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, where it will be for the grand opening of a new visitors' center tomorrow. The document will be displayed there for several months.
Read the full story on hometownannapolis.com.


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Hey guys,
So lately I've been thinking about the packs that I own and the intended uses of them, and I think that there is a way to be doing this better, with only one or two packs rather than 3 for my purposes, thus, saving money. First I guess I should describe what I use my packs for, and what I plan to use a new pack for.
Currently I own a Bora 65, Osprey Variant 52, and a MEC 28L daypack thats near the end of its life. My big conflict is that the Variant 52 and Bora 65 are fairly similar, and overlap quite a bit that I feel like I don't need one or the other. Let me explain more.
I need a daypack for hiking, cragging, backcountry skiing, and just general other stuff. Preferably around 30-40L, but compressible down if I have less gear than that. The MEC daypack that I have is too small for cragging and will be soon for backcountry skiing, but the Variant 52 is too large.
I also need an expedition/alpine pack that will be used for ski touring, alpine climbing, and backpacking. Somewhere between the range of 65L, again, compressibility and expandability are quite important to me. The Bora 65 I use for my backpacking and longer ski touring, whereas the Variant 52 is my extremely large day cragging pack and overnight ski touring pack.
So, pretty much, I'm thinking of selling all of these packs and starting from scratch with a new system. I haven't had any thoughts on the daypack, but as for a new expedition/ski touring/backpacking/alpine climbing pack, I have been looking at the North Face Variant 45, which claims to expand to 65L, but compress down smaller if need be.
Open to any suggestions however, I definitely don't know what I'm doing here completely.


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January 12, 1949 - July 23, 2013
Newburgh, NY
Kathleen "Kathy" Ostrander, of Newburgh, entered into rest on July 23, 2013 at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh. She was 64.
The daughter of the late Albert and Shirley Brundige Gray, she was born on January 12, 1949 in Bronx, NY. She graduated high school in the Bronx and in November of 1962 she married Jackson Ostrander, who resides at home, in the Town of Newburgh.
Referred to "Ma" by most but know as "Mother" to all - was immensely loved and will be deeply missed.
In addition to her husband, Jackson, Kathy is survived by her children: Richard P. Mauro, Robert Mauro, stepchild, Roni Redner, and Deborah Monks; grandchildren: Nico, Rhianah and Kayla Mauro, Alex and Becky Redner, Paul Foti and Renee Henry; great-grandchildren: Sierra Mauro, Jacquelyn Foti, Victoria Foti and Olivia Henry; a sister, Lori Brooks; two brothers: Johnny Gray and Tommy Gray and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Albert and Shirley, Kathy was predeceased by her brother, Bruce Gray.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 25th, at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh. A Funeral Service will be held today, Friday, July 26th at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, New Windsor.
To send a personal condolence or for further information, please visit www.BrooksFH.com or call 845-561-8300.


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Medical devices include an array of aids and instruments used in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a disease or condition. They range from the lowly tongue depressor to the programmable pacemaker. Although the FDA regulates medical devices, they are often approved quickly and inappropriately. As a result, dangerous and even deadly devices enter the market.
Public Citizen has fought to insure that medical devices are properly classified and therefore subjected to adequate regulation. We have also been involved with post-marketing studies, which are designed to insure that devices are safe when used by a larger population in a variety of settings.
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text:
Seven Deaths Confirmed in Arkansas
Authorities have now confirmed seven deaths in Arkansas after a severe storm
< U.N. Nuclear Negotiations
Sep 26, 2013 16:11
Category: General News
Category: General News
Economic Improvement
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits is at its second-lowest level in six years. It fell by 5,000 last week. Steady declines in applications show that very few companies are laying off workers. The gvernment also reports today that the U.S. economy grew at a 2.5 percent annual rate from April through June, an improvement from the first three months of the year.


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Car Review
2013 Nissan Juke: New Car Review
Pros: Quick-footed handling; responsive engine; available all-wheel drive; comfortable seats.
Cons: Limited cargo space; some cheap interior materials; lack of rear-seat headroom; love-it-or-hate-it styling.
What's New: Backup camera added to Navigation Package on SV model; revised Rockford Fosgate premium audio; new Midnight Edition with blacked-out styling; three new colors.
Inside and out, the 2013 Nissan Juke is one of the most interesting current offerings by any automaker. Part hatchback and part small SUV, this feisty little crossover has a sports-car-like personality and some seriously polarizing styling.
On one hand, the Juke offers the functionality of a hatchback. On the other, it delivers a fun-to-drive experience thanks to a turbocharged engine, precise steering and a sport-tuned suspension. Add a nice dose of cutting-edge electronics features, and you have a CUV intended for a more youthful set. But surprisingly, Juke sales have gone to people of all ages.
The Juke's exterior is the automotive equivalent of a piece of abstract art. From the front, it looks almost amphibious, with its gaping lower fascia and frog-like expression. Its taut, athletic profile wears a descending roofline and virtually no front or rear overhangs. The rear view is almost consumed by an oversize hatch. Ultimately, the Juke's styling is something that buyers will either be drawn to or won't be able to stand.
For those who appreciate the Juke's qualities, there's one more that might help seal the deal: affordability. The Juke has a base price that starts around $20,000, which is lower than most small crossovers. For everything it has to offer, that's a bargain.
Comfort & Utility
The Juke's distinctive design theme makes its way into the cabin with plenty of curvy surfaces and well-drawn lines. Shiny silver trim and accents add a punch of liveliness. The gauges are large and easy to read, and the switchgear feels solid and tactile. So does the thick-rimmed steering wheel, which is ideal for piloting the car through high-speed maneuvers. This cabin also benefits some well-conceived storage areas and compartments. Although the Juke has plenty of soft-touch surfaces, it has its share of hard plastics too.
The front seats are well contoured and supportive, and the side bolsters are amply padded. Both headroom and legroom are in abundance up front. But the rear seat is a different story. The second row offers decent legroom, but headroom might be an issue for taller passengers due to the Juke's low-angling roofline.
Regardless of its practical hatchback configuration, the Juke's cargo space is fairly limited. There are only 10 cu-ft with the rear seats up. Luckily, the second row folds flat to expand rear cargo room to a much more usable 36 cu-ft. But even that is much less than what many of its competitors have to offer.
The Nissan Juke is available in three trim levels: S, SV and SL. Standard convenience features for the base S include power windows and mirrors, cruise control, a 6-speaker stereo and a 60/40 split folding rear seat. The mid-level SV trim comes with sunroof, push-button start and automatic climate control. The range-topping SL includes leather upholstery and seat heat. Among the notable options is an upgraded Rockford Fosgate audio system, which is revised for 2013.
Another change for 2013 is the optional Midnight Edition styling package, which is available on all three trim lines. It includes blacked-out exterior details including 17-inch wheels, mirror caps and a rear spoiler.
The Juke offers several important advanced electronics features, including Bluetooth connectivity, which comes standard on all models. The up-level SV and SL both offer touchscreen navigation with real-time traffic and a USB interface. On the mid-midrange SV, opting for the nav package also adds a backup camera and premium audio.
Performance & Fuel Economy
The 2013 Nissan Juke is equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine. Output is 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Energy is channeled to the front wheels by either a 6-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Juke also offers all-wheel drive, but it's available only on CVT-equipped models.
EPA-estimated fuel economy for the front-wheel drive Juke is 27-mpg city/32-mpg highway with the CVT and 25/31 mpg with manual transmission. The all-wheel-drive Juke's fuel economy ratings are 25/30 mpg.
Standard safety features for the Juke include ABS, traction control, stability control, active front head restraints and six airbags: front, side and head curtain. The 2012 Juke earned the highest crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Driving Impressions
First and foremost, the Juke's turbocharged engine delivers a healthy dose of exhilaration. Both off the line and in mid-sprint, this energetic little hatchback has plenty of get up and go. Passing is especially fun, as those you overtake are sure to give it a look that says, "What in the world is that thing?"
To customize the driving experience, Nissan equips the Juke with its Integrated Control System (I-Con), which allows the driver to select between three different operating modes: Normal, Sport and Eco. Each mode alters throttle response, steering speed and transmission settings based on your preferred driving style.
The Juke is an agile handler, benefiting from a precise steering system and a firm suspension. It's particularly nimble in corners, remaining stable and well planted even at higher speeds. And like most good sports cars, its performance seems to tighten up more as it's pushed harder.
The Juke is also very maneuverable at low speeds. Its small footprint and tight turning radius make it easy to navigate through city streets and crowded parking lots.
Add all-wheel drive to the equation, and the Juke becomes a very capable four-season vehicle. When there's no snow or mud to tread through, you can apply the AWD to a performance-oriented drive on a curvy country road.
Although the Juke is biased toward handling, its overall ride is, for the most part, comfortable and compliant. It might not be as plush as some rivals, but it's certainly adequate for daily commuting and longer road trips.
Other Cars to Consider
Chevrolet Sonic - The Sonic is less expensive but also less powerful. It offers about the same amount of cargo space as the Juke but in a smaller package.
Kia Soul - The Kia Soul offers much more cargo-carrying capacity, but the Juke is lot more powerful and a lot more fun to drive. Both vehicles have a descending roofline that compromises rear-seat headroom.
Scion xB - Like the Juke, the Scion xB is both stylish and tech savvy. The xB pulls ahead on cargo room, but the Juke wins on sportiness and performance.
MINI Cooper Countryman - The Juke and the Countryman are comparable in performance, but the Countryman is a good deal more expensive.
Mazda MazdaSpeed3 - The MazdaSpeed3 is comparable to the Juke in performance and offers more practical cargo space, but it's pricier.
AutoTrader Recommends
The mid-level 2013 Juke SV makes the most sense to us. You'll get a nice array of features without paying the premium that the up-level SL requires. The two main things you'll miss out on are leather upholstery and heated seats. We recommend you add the optional Navigation package, which includes a navigation system with real-time traffic, an upgraded sound system with subwoofer and a USB interface and a backup camera. For those living in colder climates, AWD is suggested. All others will be perfectly content driving the CVT-equipped front-wheel-drive Juke.


text: The Ravens made a roster move after their final walk-through practice before tomorrow's playoff game against the Houston Texans, signing linebacker Josh Bynes from their practice squad to their 53-man roster, and waiving offensive tackle D.J. Jones.Bynes, who was originally signed by the team last July as an undrafted free agent out of Auburn, was on the Ravens' active roster for their game against the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 24.He was let go six days later when the Ravens claimed former New York Jets safety Emanuel Cook off waivers. Bynes was then added to the team's practice squad before today's promotion.He'll serve as insurance with linebackers Jameel McClain (knee) and Brendon Ayanbadejo (thigh) considered game-time decisions for tomorrow's AFC Divisional playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium.McClain said that he will definitely play, while Ayanbadejo's status is less certain.Jones, who played his college ball at Nebraska, was added to the Ravens' active roster late last month when wide receiver/kick returner David Reed was put on injured reserve. Jones was a gameday inactive for the Ravens' regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.


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THJ Apology to fans/alum
This tweet was just retweeted by Tremendous Twitter account. Glad to see the maturity in this young man. Hope he is right.
Would like to apologize to our fans, alum, UofM, and all of wolverine nation for the performance displayed lastnight. Will not happen again.— Tim Hardaway (@t_hard10) February 13, 2013