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The winter season may be full of heart- and soul-warming celebrations, but cold weather can also pose some unknown risks to your heart.
The rate of deaths and hospitalizations for heart disease and stroke tend to increase dramatically during the winter. A recent study in "Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association" discovered that in some cases, the number of heart-related deaths increased by more than 50 percent.
It looks like winter is hard on the heart, for reasons both obvious and obscure. Take a look at five wintertime traps outlined by Life Line Screening, a provider of preventive health screenings.
1. Shorter, colder days. Darker days can upset the balance of heart-related hormones, increase levels of stress hormones like cortisol and lower the threshold for a cardiovascular event. Cold weather can reduce blood flow to the heart by tightening your arteries. If you must go outside, it helps to warm up indoors with some stretches first and, of course, dress warmly.
2. Disrupted routines. From chores to eating and sleeping, many routines are thrown off by winter. For instance, doing something strenuous like shoveling snow in the morning, a time when you're usually inactive, can raise your blood pressure and increase the risk of a cardiovascular event. In any case, go slow and don't overexert yourself.
3. Flu season. As we all know, winter is flu season. The flu usually causes inflammation, which can make arterial plaque less stable and trigger a heart attack. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot, especially if you're older than 65 and have risk factors for heart disease.
4. Stress on top of stress. The holidays tend to usher in stress as well as merriment and cheer, especially with family obligations and financial responsibilities. Levels of pre-existing anxiety and depression — both of which are associated with heart attacks and strokes — can peak for some people during the holidays.
5. Too much cheer. Winter festivities often lead to overindulging on drinks and rich food. Most people tend to eat more, drink more, smoke more, sleep less and gain weight. Plus, you're probably not sticking to a work-out routine, if you have one. Try to avoid excess amounts of nicotine and caffeine, since those especially stress the heart.


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Local Christians sense authorities, extremists and society in collusion against them.
RABAT, Morocco, June 17 (Compass Direct News) — Moroccan Christians say Muslim extremists in the country are aiding and encouraging the government to pursue them by exposing and vilifying them on social networking site Facebook.
Facebook user Gardes Maroc Maroc has posted 32 image collages featuring dozens of Christian converts, calling them "hyena evangelists" or "wolves in lamb's skins" who are trying to "shake the faith of Muslims." That terminology on the website, which is in Arabic, matches that of Morocco's anti-proselytizing law, which outlaws efforts to "shake the faith of Muslims."
The online images depict Christian converts and their families from across the country and include details about their roles and activities in churches, their personal addresses and anecdotal stories attempting to malign them.
"These are some pics of Moroccan convert hyenas," reads one image.
Since March, the Moroccan government has expelled more than 100 foreign Christians for alleged "proselytizing." Authorities failed to give Christians deportation orders or enough time to settle their affairs before they left.
Observers have called this a calculated effort to purge the historically moderate Muslim country, known for its progressive policies, of all Christian elements — both foreign and national.
Amid a national media campaign to vilify Christians in Morocco, more than 7,000 Muslim clerics signed a statement denouncing all Christian activities and calling foreign Christians' aid work "religious terrorism."
On the Facebook page, Gardes Maroc Maroc makes a particularly strident call to Moroccan authorities to investigate adoptive parents of children from the village of Ain Leuh, 50 miles south of Fez. The user claims that local Christians under orders of "foreign missionaries" were attempting to adopt the children so missionary efforts would not "go in vain."
On March 8, the Moroccan government expelled 26 Christian foreign staff members and parents working at Village of Hope in Ain Leuh.
Now efforts against national Christians have gained momentum. One image on the Facebook page challenged the Islamic Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments, saying, "Evangelist hyenas are deriding your Ministry." The page with the images claimed that Christians had rented out an apartment belonging to that government ministry.
An entire page was dedicated to a well-known Christian TV personality in the Middle East, Rashid Hmami, and his family. The user also inserted pictures of hyenas next to those of Christians, presumably to indicate their danger to the nation.
National Christians Threatened
Moroccan Christians told Compass that authorities had begun harassing them even before the forced deportations of foreigners, and that pressure from officials only intensified in March and April.
Since the deportations started in early March, it seems that authorities, extremists and society as a whole have colluded against them, local Christians said. Dozens of Christians have been called to police stations for interrogation. Many of them have been threatened and verbally abused.
"They mocked our faith," said one Moroccan Christian who requested anonymity. "They didn't talk nicely."
Authorities interrogated the convert for eight hours and followed him for three weeks in March and April, he said. During interrogation, he added, local police told him they were prepared to throw him in jail and kill him.
Another Moroccan Christian reported that a Muslim had taken him to court because of his Christian activities. Most Moroccan Christians that spoke to Compass said the attitudes of their Muslim relatives had shifted, and many have been kicked out of their homes or chosen to leave "to not create problems" for their families.
Moroccan converts meet in house churches. Some of them have stopped meeting until the pressure subsides.
"The government is testing the reactions," said Moroccan lawyer Abdel Adghirni of the recent pressure on Christians.
The lawyer, known as one of the strongest defenders of Berber rights in Morocco, said that although the government's recent reactions seem regressive, they are part of the nation's societal transformation process.
"The government is trying to dominate," said Adghirni. "They are defending themselves. They feel the wind of change. All of this is normal for me — like a complex chemistry that activates as different elements come into contact. Things are moving."
Congressional Hearing
In an effort to alert U.S. Congress to the sudden turn against religious tolerance in Morocco, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission is holding congressional hearings today on the deportations of foreign Christians from the country.
Earlier today, the National Clergy Council held a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to congratulate the Moroccan government on religious tolerance. Organizers of the congressional hearings said they view the council's press conference as an effort to counter the hearings.
The Rev. Rob Schenck, who heads the council, has had numerous exchanges with Moroccan Islamic leaders and in early April met with the Moroccan ambassador to the United States.
"I have enjoyed a close friendship of several years with the ambassador," Schenck stated on his website.
Organizers of the congressional hearings have said they are baffled that the National Clergy Council, and in particular Schenck, would speak so highly of the Moroccan government at a time when it is in such blatant violation of human rights.
"There's good and bad in every country, but what Morocco has done on the whole to advance religious liberty in that region of the world is extraordinary," Schenck said in a media statement yesterday on Christian Newswire. "We hope to present a fair and balanced picture of this unusual country."
Congressman Frank Wolf (R-Va.), co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, said that the Moroccan government has deported nearly 50 U.S. citizens.
"In spite of this, the U.S. government has pledged $697.5 million to Morocco over the next five years through the Millennium Challenge Corporation," he said. Wolf is advocating that the United States withhold the nearly $697.5 million in aid that it has pledged to Morocco.
"It is inappropriate for American taxpayer money to go to a nation which disregards the rights of American citizens residing in Morocco and forcibly expels Americans without due process of law," he said.
Among those appearing at the hearing today is Dutch citizen Herman Boonstra, leader of Village of Hope, who was expelled in March. Boonstra and his wife were forced to leave eight adopted children in Morocco. Moroccan authorities have refused re-entry for the couple, as they have for all deported Christian foreigners.
Lawyer Adghirni said he believes Morocco cannot survive and develop economically — and democratically — without national diversity.
"We can't be free without Christians," Adghirni said. "The existence of Christians among us is the proof of liberty."

subset: commoncrawl


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Using the example set by the life of slain U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, President Obama this morning told delegates to the United Nations that the diplomat's killers will not determine the world's future. Instead, Obama said, it will be people such as Stevens who build "bridges across oceans and cultures" and set the world's agenda.
We updated as the president spoke. Scroll down to read through the highlights.
Earlier today, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney spoke to the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City. See our post about that: " Romney Touts 'Prosperity Pacts' To Help Middle East, Developing Nations." Obama will address former President Clinton's forum later today.
Update at 10:52 a.m. ET. In Conclusion, He Returns To Stevens' Example:
"I promise you this," Obama says as he concludes. "Long after these killers are brought to justice, Chris Stevens' legacy will live on in the lives he touched. In the tens of thousands who marched against violence through the streets of Benghazi; in the Libyans who changed their Facebook photo to one of Chris; in the sign that read, simply, 'Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans.'
"They should give us hope. They should remind us that so long as we work for it justice will be done; that history is on our side; and that a rising tide of liberty will never be reversed."
Update at 10:47 a.m. ET. U.S. Will "Do What We Must" To Keep Iran From Developing Nuclear Weapons:
"Make no mistake," Obama says, "a nuclear-armed Iran is not a challenge that can be contained. It would threaten the elimination of Israel, the security of Gulf nations, and the stability of the global economy. It risks triggering a nuclear-arms race in the region, and the unraveling of the non-proliferation treaty. That is why a coalition of countries is holding the Iranian government accountable. And that is why the United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon."
Update at 10:43 a.m. ET. All Hate Speech Must Be Condemned:
"The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam," Obama says. "Yet to be credible, those who condemn that slander must also condemn the hate we see when the image of Jesus Christ is desecrated, churches are destroyed, or the Holocaust is denied."
Update at 10:36 a.m. ET. On The "Crude And Disgusting Video":
The president moves to the issue of the Innocence of Muslims video that has incited outrage and violence in some Muslim nations.
"I have made it clear that the United States government had nothing to do with this video," he says, "and I believe its message must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity. It is an insult not only to Muslims, but to America as well — for as the city outside these walls makes clear, we are a country that has welcomed people of every race and every faity. We are home to Muslims who worship across our country. We not only respect the freedom of religion — we have laws that protect individuals from being harmed because of how they look or what they believe. We understand why people take offense to this video because millions of our citizens are among them.
"I know there are some who ask why we don't just ban such a video. The answer is enshrined in our laws: our Constitution protects the right to practice free speech. Here in the United States, countless publications provoke offense. Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs. Moreover, as President of our country, and Commander-in-Chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so."
Nations will disagree about whether limits should be put on free speech, Obmaa adds, but "on this we must agree: there is no speech that justifies mindless violence."
Update at 10:30 a.m. ET. Why Ambassador Stevens And Those Like Him Must Determine The World's Future:
As he begins his address, the president speaks of Chris Stevens, the slain U.S. ambassador to Libya.
"Chris Stevens embodied the best of America," Obama says. "Like his fellow Foreign Service officers, he built bridges across oceans and cultures, and was deeply invested in the international cooperation that the United Nations represents. He acted with humility, but stood up for a set of principles – a belief that individuals should be free to determine their own destiny, and live with liberty, dignity, justice, and opportunity.
"The attacks on our civilians in Benghazi were attacks on America. We are grateful for the assistance we received from the Libyan government and the Libyan people. And there should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice. ...
"But understand, the attacks of the last two weeks are not simply an assault on America. They are also an assault on the very ideals upon which the United Nations was founded — the notion that people can resolve their differences peacefully; that diplomacy can take the place of war; and that in an interdependent world, all of us have a stake in working towards greater opportunity and security for our citizens.
"If we are serious about upholding these ideals, it will not be enough to put more guards in front of an Embassy; or to put out statements of regret, and wait for the outrage to pass. If we are serious about those ideals, we must speak honestly about the deeper causes of this crisis. Because we face a choice between the forces that would drive us apart, and the hopes we hold in common.
"Today, we must affirm that our future will be determined by people like Chris Stevens, and not by his killers. Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations."
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Hiroki Kuroda went out there on the mound tonight and took all of the voluminous MSM coverage of Manny Ramirez' departure and the Dodgers' 2010 season hara-kiri, and kicked all of it squarely in the nuts. Seven and a third innings of magnificent no-hit ball, and 7.2 IP of one-hit, 7 K ball, bested Philly ace Roy Halladay and sent the Phillies back to their Best Western hotel scoreless and wanting.
And how about that Rod Barajas? In his first game in his hometown park in a Dodgers uniform, he calls a great game for Kuroda (but should have called for the beanball against Shane Victorino, who broke up the no-no), hits a run-scoring double play ball for the second run of the game, and then hits a home run off of Halladay to put the Dodgers up 3-0. We never looked back.
Way to go, Hiroki. And for all you MSM who are going to keep saying Manny was/is a cancer and the Dodgers will be unfertile into 2030: let me join our gun, Hiroki Kuroda by saying: GO TO HELL.
photo: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images


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Well duh. Wouldn't every team be looking for scoring forwards?
We're tired of mentioning "team toughness", but after hitting back-to-back-to-back jacks in 2008 with Tyler Myers, Tyler Ennis, and Luke Adam, the Sabres needed to add core muscle and keep building a team that would be hard to play against. Enter the 2009 class featuring a 1-2-3 punch of Zack Kassian, Brayden McNabb, and Marcus Foligno. Guys that hit, protect, produce, and above all show their teeth near both painted areas of the ice. The '09 group wasn't a splash of toughness. More like an injection that could make for a very stiff drink.
It's not that the Sabres gained a nasty edge at the expense of offense, but a cruise through the prospect stat sheet shows why it's time to achieve better balance with natural scoring.
Adam cashed a respectable 29 goals on the farm in 2010-11 (plus a few in the NHL), but all it took was 26 to lead the junior prospects this past season. With Marek Zagrapan, (35, 2005-06), Benjamin Breault (40, 2006-07), Paul Byron (37, 2007-08), Ennis (43, 2008-09), and Adam (49, 2009-10) topping previous leader boards, I can't recall the last time the Sabres didn't have one player hit the 30-goal barrier. The list doesn't start with the strongest credibility, but the point is that the prospects weren't exactly burning out goal lamps in 2010-11.
So let's cut to the chase.
The Sabres have selected a defenseman with their first pick in four of the last five years. I don't believe that any team in the modern era has gone with a blueliner in five of six. I declare with great confidence that the Sabres are taking a forward if they stay at #16.
Furthermore, it's the 10th anniversary of the 2001 draft that saw the Sabres take forwards with their first five picks, including centers with their first two. That coincidentally was the last time the Sabres drafted and successfully developed a scoring line pivot (Derek Roy). You're never going to fix anything with one draft class, but this haul could come close to resembling the mix of that 2001 group (sans the Europeans).
Keep in mind the Sabres have never gone through a draft without taking a defenseman. With only three slated for CHL development in 2011-12, it's hard to think that trend will begin now.
The Depth Chart
*I recommend consulting the Spring 2011 prospect rankings for a longer-winded top-to-bottom analysis.*
Current stock levels show the Sabres thin at center, particularly those with right-handed sticks, while also being light at left wing. I don't advocate drafting solely to "round out the depth chart", and neither do the Sabres after taking d-men with three of their first four picks a year ago, but perhaps those spots make for compelling tiebreakers as Kevin Devine's crew constructs their board.
After passing on the position a year ago, it also wouldn't hurt if the Sabres added a goaltender. The upcoming season could be the first since 1972-73 that sees them begin the year without a drafted backstop on the farm. Only once has the franchise ignored the position two years in a row (1973-1974), and it's hard to see that happening again after a 2010-11 season that saw all three NCAA properties end the year as second fiddle.
The Buffalo Sabres franchise under Darcy Regier (1997-present)….
- have made a total of 122 draft picks, with 47 appearing in NHL (39% to date)
- 69 from the CHL (57%)
- 28 from Europe (23%)
- 25 from NCAA/Jr. "A" feeders (20%)
- 69 from the CHL (57%)
- drafted and developed 18 of the 32 players who wore the Sabres sweater in 2010-11 (56%)
- 11 from the CHL (QMJHL – 4, OHL – 4, WHL – 3)
- 5 from the NCAA (3 of which drafted from Jr. "A")
- 2 from Europe (Sweden and Slovakia)
- 11 from the CHL (QMJHL – 4, OHL – 4, WHL – 3)
- have chosen at least one player from the OHL in every draft (since 1997), and have selected more players there (26) than any other league
- have drafted a total of 24 players from the WHL, including three of their last four #1 picks (did not choose any players from the WHL from 2005-2007).
- have taken 19 players from the QMJHL, but only one in the 1st round (Marek Zagrapan – 2005)
- have selected zero Europeans in the last four drafts
- have used four of their 19 first round picks on NCAA players, but none since 2004 (Drew Stafford)
- have never selected a player from the BCHL, an established feeder league for NCAA talent. The league has had 68 players drafted since 2000
- have worked four drafts (1998, 2001, 2008, 2010) where they haven't taken a goaltender
- have drafted a total of 11 goaltenders, with only three appearing in the NHL (Noronen, Miller, Enroth)
We'll go visual to offer a little more insight into the past four drafts.
League Distribution (by year)
2007 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
2008 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||
2009 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
2010 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Round Distribution (by league 2007-2010)
1st | 1 | 3 | ||||||
2nd | 2 | 1 | ||||||
3rd | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | ||||
4th | 2 | 1 | ||||||
5th | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
6th | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||
7th | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
The first chapter in Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers: The Story of Success discusses how some Canadian hockey players born in the first months of the year enjoy advantages that those born later in the year don't have. A closer study reveals that birth month does indeed correlate closely with success in hockey.
In 2010, the Sabres drafted four players born in the month of January (Pysyk, Sundher, Henley, Isackson) and another two in February (Sutch and Boychuk). The Sabres last two first-rounders have been January-born (Pysyk and Kassian) while the third was a February baby (Myers). Another January birth date, Kootenay standout Brayden McNabb, recently signed his first professional contract a year after February-born Nick Crawford lead the OHL in points for a defenseman
Still think the trend means little? The Sabres leading scorer this past season was Thomas Vanek. Diehard fans (or anyone with Google) know he was born on January 19th.
Entering the draft with picks in six of the seven rounds, the Sabres will sit out round #2 for the third straight season after burning futures on the acquisitions of Craig Rivet, Raffi Torres, and Brad Boyes.
1st round, #16
2nd round, #46 (traded to St. Louis for Brad Boyes)
3rd round, #77
4th round, #107
5th round, #137
6th round, #167
7th round, #197
The Crop Report
The class of 2011 is considered by many to be wide open after the first five picks. It's top-heavy with talented forwards, especially at the center position, while fewer choice rearguards could create trade activity as day one heats up.
If you recall last year's draft preview, I detailed the "Every Other Year" goaltending theory and went on to predict that six would go in the top-60 picks. As it turns out, six were taken in the top-62. With no first-round goalies taken in the 2007 and 2009 drafts and the Sabres eyeing the nets as a secondary need, it'll be interesting to see if the crease talent again slides in the "off year". That should allow for some decent options in the final three rounds.
What about Europeans? The Sabres will travel over the pond to begin 2011-12 but haven't selected a player from a European league since 2006 – the longest current "streak" of any NHL club. While new ownership has promised an expanded scouting presence including eyes overseas, changes have yet to be made and likely would not have a ton of impact on this draft anyways. Until deeper intel is gained I expect business as usual with European scout Bo Berglund mildly influencing a heavy North American end-product.
With a focus on the forwards and repeated reference to a "paint game", does size always matter? Yes and no. The pipeline will need to keep adding size down the middle even if Adam ends up there. Saying that tough, the skill factor could see the Sabres consider a handful of guys that are more in the mold of a Pat Verbeek. They may not all have the same "little ball of hate" style employed by Nathan Gerbe (trust me, he's working his way there), but this wide open draft class presents some interesting high-motor, sub-six-foot options. In fact, 23 of the 93 skaters invited to the combine stand below six-feet in height.
It's also worth mentioning how there are some 19-year olds that likely have carved out mindshare for teams needing a quick boost to the system. The Sabres have used their last two seventh-round picks on players in bonus years of eligibility, so keep an eye when the final bullets fly.
Did you know…
The OHL produced nine of the NHL's top-30 point producers in 2010-11, more than twice as many than any other league (NCAA, Sweden, QMJHL – 4). Five of those nine OHL products play the center position.
Day One Strategy
Director of Amateur Scouting Kevin Devine has gone on record as saying they like 18 players before seeing a significant drop-off. Given the unpredictability of the draft, I imagine Darcy Regier would be looking at a team like the Phoenix Coyotes (20th overall) as a trade-down option if players outside of their list go in the top-15. A 2nd rounder could allow a club to move up four spots, and the Coyotes hold the 51st and 56th picks.
Remember, a year ago Florida traded the 15th pick to Los Angeles in exchange for the Kings' 1st round pick (#19) and a 2010 2nd round pick (#59).
And so we'll take a cruise through the various rounds to discuss some ideal North American targets.
If the Sabres hold their position in the first round, they are sure to walk away with a very competent forward. There are several compelling players I can write about in this spot, but I'll list five who really stand out as future difference makers.
1st round, 16th overall
Mark Scheifele, RC, Barrie Colts (OHL)
A complete player who kept improving as the year progressed, the Barrie Colts forward is in my opinion among the top-12 North American prospects lined up for the draft. The fact that he is right-handed makes him even more attractive at #16.
After de-committing from a scholarship to Cornell, the 6'2, 183-pounder entered the OHL with a bang in 2010-11 under the guidance of former Sabre Dale Hawerchuk. It was a muddy track all year for the Colts, winning just once every four times out, but Scheifele kept his head above water with 22 goals and 75 points against a steady diet of top defensive units. His consistency continued into the U18s, where he shined as Canada's best forward with six goals and two assists in the tourney's seven games.
The big-bodied pivot is rich in natural offensive talent. He's a powerful skater, seems to always know where his line mates are, and uncorks a heavy finishing shot. He's also proven solid in his own zone, with much of his two-way aptitude credited to him playing on the blueline up through bantam. He simply needs to add strength and become more explosive for his scoring line potential to be achieved.
I confidently take Scheifele at #16 and watch him get bigger and better over the next two seasons. My greatest fear is that he'll be picked before the Sabres are able to get to him, so I'm hoping the scouting Viagra from the U18's wears off by the time the first round gets under way.
Mark McNeill, RC, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
At 6'2, 201 pounds and a rock on the puck, McNeill would give the Sabres another skilled bull to roam the forward ranks. The Langley, BC product powered his way up draft lists this past season, more than tripling his rookie year totals with 32 goals and 81 points for the undermanned Raiders. Inside of that number was an impressive 20 points collected while closing the regular season on a 10-game point streak. With a build similar to Luke Adam (the pair has the exact same dimensions as 18 year-olds), McNeill carried his momentum into the postseason with five points in a first-round loss to Saskatoon. McNeill ended the year by joining Scheifele as a standout at U18s, picking up six assists to cement his mid-first round draft stature.
McNeill's size, toughness, and offensive skills would certainly fit the Sabres recent trend up front. At the same time, big, gritty centers that can score like Ryan Getzlaf are hard to find. It's abundantly clear that throwing McNeill into a mix with Ennis, Adam, Kassian, and Foligno would give the Sabres some serious positional balance in the prospect ranks for the first time in while, so I don't think they'll hesitate to snag him if Scheifele is off the board.
J.T. Miller, RW/LC, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
A big, strong forward with excellent playmaking skills, the 6'1 Miller mixes offense with plenty of jam. The Pittsburgh Hornets product scored 11 goals and 37 points in the USHL this past season before piling up another 12 points (4+8) to lead the USA to the gold medal at the 2011 Under-18 World Championship. Mix in his strength in the dirty areas and the four tilts on his season fight card, and it all adds up to a player that will fit right in with the current members of the Sabres training program.
Heading to the University of North Dakota but likely not for all four years, the Sabres just might see the improved left-hander as a future gem with a couple more years of seasoning. After all, Miller likes to drive hard and the Sioux play a power game in the highly competitive WCHA. The path seems to have worked for Drew Stafford.
Miller's hands and checking ability would provide productive, hard-hitting beef to the middle. His offensive game is simple – go hard to the net. If he does this consistently, he could develop into a Ryan Kesler-type of player for any team taking him. Why not the Sabres?
Bonus points for the Pittsburgh connection as a man with Pens connections, Terry Pegula, watches his first draft as owner of the Sabres.
Zack Phillips, RC, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
An excellent two-way player and superb passer, Phillips remained in the center of the draft radar with a QMJHL season that saw him pot 38 goals and 95 points for the Memorial Cup winning Sea Dogs. Whether it's as a wing or his natural center position, the hard-working New Brunswick native is smart defensively and has proven to be a complete complementary player who consistently wins draws, shoots with accuracy, and makes wise decisions. With the Sabres having a scouting presence in the Maritimes, you can bet that they have a very good read on the 6'1 center. If they're like me, they don't think that he'll need a ton of time to develop.
Phillips was a smallish kid who thought for sure he'd go the NCCA route. He played New England prep at Lawrence Academy where he earned a scholarship to UMass, but then a growth spurt and trade of his rights to Saint John put him in the QMJHL on a roster with what could be four first-round picks in this draft. From there, he performed well in every situation he was put in – from the CHL Top Prospects Game to the Memorial Cup – and even rated well at the combine despite no time to prepare like most of his peers.
I like Phillips' all-around skill game enough for #16. Perhaps he isn't as explosive or aggressive as many would prefer, but he's highly competent in all three-zones and could be a future "glue guy" in the top-six with his skating, passing and finishing aptitude.
Matt Puempel, LW, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Based on sheer goal scoring ability, Peterborough forward Matt Puempel is a name to consider when the Sabres hit the on-deck circle. The six-footer can skate and shoot lasers, and like last year when Colorado took lower ranked Joey Hishon at #17, the same range could see a team step up and take an average-sized triggerman that scored 67 goals in his first 114 OHL games.
The question mark is health. After passing his OHL Rookie of the Year totals with 34 goals and 69 points through 55 games, Puempel was forced to shut it down this past February to undergo surgery to repair a chipped hip bone. He interviewed at the combine but did not take part in workouts. While #16 could be high due to the uncertainty, it's hard to look away from the pre-injury explosiveness.
The Sabres likely appraised Puempel's jump while tracking Zack Kassian in his first post-draft year before the bruiser's trade to Windsor. Puempel came from the same AAA program as Kassian (Sun County) and trained with the Sabres prospect before joining him with the Petes. The pair even shares the same birth date (January 24th). Tell me this doesn't sound like a wildcard the Sabres need to consider.
So what if they move down?If the Sabres trade down to #20 or beyond, they'll likely do so knowing they will have a crack at one of the above players…or perhaps they have a dark horse in mind?
Shane Prince, LW, Ottawa 67's (OHL)
A native of Rochester, NY, the high scoring Prince opened the eyes of scouts by emerging as a top performer on a line with the OHL's leading goal and point man, Tyler Toffoli (LAK), and Oilers 2010 second rounder Ryan Martindale. The intense left wing slickly dished an impressive 63 assists (4th in OHL) en route to finishing 13th in scoring with 88 points. Goal scoring was talked about at the top, but it has been a while since the Sabres brought in a player with 60+ apples in his draft year.
In mid-March, Prince got smoked coming across the blueline by Niagara's Tim Billingsley. The hit, which resulted in a 10-game suspension for the IceDogs defender, put Prince on the shelf for nearly a month with a concussion and whiplash. He returned to play the 67's final three games of their disappointing playoffs, but didn't fully quell any health concerns until he showed up in excellent shape at the combine. Among the gamut of tests, Prince scored rather well in the strength (11 reps of 150 pounds on the bench) and endurance (12:00 on the bike) portions.
Noted for his blazing speed and ultra high compete level, Prince could slide down some lists due to his 5'11 frame. Regardless, he's well-tuned under the hood and will only get better as he becomes stronger on the puck. The Sabres brought the skilled playmaker in for a visit and I suspect Doug McKenney and the rest liked what they saw. What better way to celebrate their return to Rochester than taking a kid born and raised there who grew up a Sabres fan?
Day 2
3rd round, 77th overall
Reid Boucher, LW, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
Need an efficient player who can score when the team needs it most? One of the youngest players in the draft pool (9/7/93 DOB), Boucher elevated his stock with 24 goals for the US-NTDP this past season. The Michigan State recruit continued his rise in April on a line with Miller and Rocco Grimaldi at the U18s, helping lead the way to gold with eight goals in six games. In all, the smallish battler scored 16 goals in 16 international games this past season to match the production of high-flying Grimaldi, all the while accounting for 17% of the NTDP's total offense.
Standing 5'10, 192 pounds, Boucher is more than just a clutch goal scorer. He works hard and finishes his hits, and will have plenty of time to add core strength, work on his skating, and improve his play away from the puck. The "it factor" makes me confident going with him if still available at #77, which coincidentally is close to where a 5'10, 195 pound college-bound star named Chris Drury was taken back in 1994 (74th overall).
Michael St. Croix, RC, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Another gifted right-hander, St. Croix enjoyed a 29-point spike in his second WHL season to finish with a line of 27-48-75 and a +28 rating. The 5'11, 180-pounder is a natural center, using his hands and vision to deliver crisp passes and accurately pick corners with a pretty hard shot. He's not a physical, power guy and doesn't have an elite gear, but he clearly has a good sense of the game which translates to a good job around the net.
It's tough to determine whether the nifty stickhandler will be available, but perhaps a combination of lack of international exposure and average build causes him to land in the Sabres lap. Along with Pysyk on the backend, a St. Croix pick would build a nice Sabres cluster on an Oil Kings club that should emerge as a serious contender in 2011-12. The instincts are present for a scoring line career, so like current Sabres prospect Kevin Sundher, maybe it's just a matter of playing with more fire and showing a little more battle as the important minutes come. Good value here.
Nick Cousins, LC, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
The 5'11 Cousins is a tough opponent thanks to his mix of agitation and offense. In other words, he's a pest who can score. After a regular season that saw him pot 29 goals, including a team-best 12 on the PP, and a total of 68 points for the lowly Greyhounds, Cousins continued his rise when he worked his way from Canada's third line to the #1 unit to score 4+4 at the U18s. His hard-working style makes him an appealing player in the middle rounds as the Sabres look to blend more speed and gritty versatility into the size and toughness.
Continued statistical ramp-up is expected in his next junior seasons, but it's hard to forecast loads of offense as a pro. A better projection could be a third-line energy type who can add a little spice here and there, whether it's drawing a penalty or cashing a timely tally. A player once committed to the University of Michigan, Cousins' statistical comparable might be a player in the mold of former Michigan State forward Corey Tropp, the Sabres 2007 3rd round pick who scored 26-36-62 in his draft year.
Logan Shaw, RW, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
I'm really not sure where the demand level will be for Shaw, but he's of interest if still available into the third round. At 6'3, 197 pounds, the Nova Scotian is a big winger with decent feet and a quick release who churned out 26 goals and 46 points this past season for the lowly Screaming Eagles. The reason a player of his size and scoring aptitude could slide is that his physical game often falls short of what his frame suggests. With the two-way tools in place though, increased body work could see him develop into serviceable middle line player.
Compared to last year when he was a budding forward on a roster with Luke Adam, Jacob Lagace, and Maxime Legault, Shaw looks like a more confident player. His acceleration is noticeably stronger and he's getting more shots on net. The latter was impacted by a sharp increase in ice time, which is sure to continue in the 2011-12 season – his fourth in the league. The Sabres are aware of this October-born project. If they like him, he'll become a candidate for 2012-13 AHL duty.
**European Alert**
William Karlsson, LC, Vasteras (Sweden)
If the Sabres are going to pull the trigger on a European, Karlsson may be the type of player to open the hatch. A crash-and-bang speedster with two-way smarts, Karlsson racked up 20 goals and 54 points in 38 games this past season for Vasteras of Sweden's top junior league. The 6'0, 185-pound pivot continued to use his hands and energy to produce two goals and three assists as Sweden won silver at the U18s.
Karlsson has excellent stickhandling skills, makes nifty passes, and isn't afraid to hit high-traffic areas to make plays. Time will tell if the Sabres, who have drafted from Vasteras before (Dennis Persson, 2006), are keen to adding this fast-paced flavor to the middle of their prospect mix. With Karlsson under contract Vasteras for two years and Vasteras not qualifying for the Eliterserien next season, his 2011-12 development will occur against second level competition of the Allsvenskan.
4th round, 107th overallShane McColgan, RW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
McColgan is a speedster who could have a legitimate shot of becoming a scoring line pro if he can achieve some consistency. The shifty product of the LA Jr. Kings has amassed 135 points in his first two WHL seasons, including a 2009-10 campaign that saw him finish as runner up to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for rookie of the year, but didn't hit the upward trajectory that many were expecting in 2010-11. After posting 21-45-66, McColgan upped the ante by ripping off eight goals and 11 assists in 10 postseason games for the Rockets.
The real issue here is size. He knows what to do with the puck, but the feisty forward is a smallish 5'8, 165-pounds. He needs to get stronger and continue playing bigger like he did during the playoffs, and more importantly carry the strong finish into next season if he's going to get the shot his skills deserve.
The elusive wheels and vision make you wonder if back-to-back seasons of 65+ points are worth considering for a Sabres club looking for offense. With a scout nearby, the Sabres will have better intelligence on him than any other team making picks. His skills have me thinking of him at #77, but I'm slotting him here to match a lower risk with the potentially high reward.
Steven Fogarty, RC, Edina Hornets, (MN-HS)
Despite missing an opportunity to snatch a strong Notre Dame forward in 2010 (Riley Sheahan), the Sabres could be in line for another crack by targeting Irish commit Steven Fogarty. A 6'2 power forward in the making, Fogarty rolled through Minnesota's class AA ranks this past season with 26 goals and 51 points in 30 games, amounting for over 20% of Edina's offense along the way.
Fogarty is strong down low, likes the physical game, and obviously has a decent set of hands. He recorded three hat tricks this past season, including a four-goal game, and a total of nine multi-point contests. The Mr. Hockey award finalist joined the USHL's Chicago Steel for six games at the end of the season, scoring two goals, and is set to return for a full year of Jr. "A" to improve his skating before entering the CCHA in fall 2012.
There's a chance that Fogarty is moved out to wing as his career progresses, but regardless of where he plays, he's got the size and tools that could project nicely four years down the line.
Zac Larraza, LW, US NTSP (USHL)
A hard working wing, Larraza is a legit mid-round target due to his size and blue collar attitude. The 6'2, 195-pound Arizona product was a consistent two-way force this past season for the NTDP. After scoring just 12 goals and 20 points over the past two seasons in Ann Arbor, Larraza likely moved up draft lists with a strong showing at the U18s. His energy game produced a goal and four assists at the tourney, including a clutch shorthanded marker against Canada that started with his own shot block.
Hockey clubs will always need responsible depth players to satisfy middle line roles. An intelligent player who competes hard, Larazza will take his speedy effort to Denver of the WCHA this fall where he'll develop under the same roof that produced Chris Butler.
Andrew Fritsch, RW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Arriving in an early season trade with Niagara, the efficient Fritsch quickly clicked with Garrett Wilson and Joey Hishon, scoring 27 goals and 35 assists for the OHL Champions before getting sidelined by a late-season lower body injury. The two-way forward returned in the final series, producing limited numbers but having a clear impact on flow of the offense. The Brantford native went on to score a goal and an assist in four games at the Memorial Cup.
Quick-footed with an average frame, the 6'0 Fritsch could last to this point depending on how much credit evaluators give to him versus his line mates. Teams value responsible guys who can skate and finish so he's a logical target for the Sabres as the better scorers start disappearing. If selected in this spot, it would be the second consecutive year that the Sabres have used a fourth rounder on a member of the Attack (Shipley).
5th round, 137th overallMatt Mahalak, G, Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
An athletic 6'3 netminder from the Whaler goaltender factory (Michal Neuvirth, Justin Peters, Jeremy Smith, Matt Hackett, Scott Wedgewood), Mahalak maintained his well-thought-of draft stature with a solid rookie finish for the OHL's Whalers. The Toledo, OH native, who played at Culver (IN) Military Academy and then with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms before heading to major-junior, eased his way through eight games but quickly warmed during the important part of his draft year, peaking with a .934 save percentage in 15 starts after January 1st.
A bright student off the ice, the disciplined Mahalak is a big butterfly goaltender with an excellent glove. He looks strong in the nets, moving well with the play and making himself big when challenging. He's just a promising young goaltender who should keep getting better, making him a great choice in the thick of day two. Notable Regier goaltenders taken in the neighborhood of this pick include Ryan Miller (138th, 1999) and Brad Eidsness (139th, 2007).
Brent Andrews, LC, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Andrews is a hard-working, two-way forward who does many things well. Not a flashy offensive contributor but more of a role player, the PEI native scored 12 goals and 29 points this past season for the Mooseheads. Perhaps his most sparkling stat was finishing 11th in the league in faceoffs with a 55% success rate. Once a highly rated prospect in the QMJHL draft (15th overall in 2009), Andrews came through with a strong checking line performance at the U18s.
At 6'1, 198-pounds, Andrews is confident in his base execution. He finishes hits, kills penalties, and plays smart with the puck on his stick so now what you want to see more of his shooting and skating games to produce a statistical bloom. I think he represents a good value pickup in the second half of the draft based on his proficiency down the middle.
Troy Vance, RHD, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
Fairly mobile in his 6'6, 205-pound frame, Vance packs the potential of an active shutdown defender with intriguing offensive upside. The 17-year old arrived in January to sturdy up the Tigres blueline, racking up a +8 rating and four points (1+3) in 23 games. Vance continued his upward trend in the playoffs, notching another four points (1+3) in nine contests before bowing out in the second round to Saint John.
The Pennsylvania native isn't classified as nasty but has shown the ability to line up some impressive open ice hits in his brief QMJHL career. General smarts compliment his huge frame so added strength to the legs and upper body could be the developmental key as teams eye him on day two. He doesn't turn 18 until August, so he'll have two solid years of QMJHL action to put it all together.
Colin Smith, RC, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Much like fellow Edmonton native Tyler Ennis, the 5'10, 170-pound Smith is a slippery, undersized playmaker who has the offensive skills to be a breakout junior player. Smith finished third in scoring for the Blazers this past season, collecting 21 goals and an even 50 points while appearing in all 72 games. He caught fire as the season progressed, ripping off 26 points (14+12) in 27 games after January 1st before cooling off in the final two weeks as the Blazers faded down the stretch. With Kamloops out of the playoffs, Smith finished his season with two goals and an assist for Canada at U18s.
Smith's game is marked by quick feet that allow for separation and an ability to be a pest without the puck. An all-around catalyst, he also thinks the game well. He makes plays at speed and will try to spark things physically despite his small stature. The addition of strength will only make him a better battler, but for now he relies on his high compete level to absorb the physical grind. Anywhere after the top-100 seems about right for the talented yet smallish forward.
6th round, 167th overallMichael King, RHD, Westside Warriors (BCHL)
My token BCHL selection comes in the form of Colorado College commit Michael King. A 6'4, 205-pound defenseman, King is physical, mobile, and likes to get involved in the offensive end of the ice. Chosen by Kootenay in the 3rd round of the 2008 WHL draft, the rookie rearguard instead attaracted NCAA offers by scoring five goals and 18 assists in 48 games this past season for the Kelowna-based Westside Warriors.
King, who would likely be talked about much higher if he had played WHL champions this season, is expected to play one more year in the BCHL before hitting the WCHA in 2012. For a Sabres team that really isn't in a hurry to push defensemen through the system, this big, well-rounded package is one to consider late given the extended path of development.
Mike Pereira, LW, University of Massachusetts Minutemen (Hockey East)
Passed over in 2010, Pereira followed his strong finish in the New England prep ranks with an excellent freshman year in Hockey East this past season. Speedy with a nice set of hands and noticeably bigger, the 5'11 wing tied the team lead with 12 goals to finish third on the Minuteman in scoring with 23 points. Pereira is sure to score some clutch goals in the coming years, so the sixth round would be a wise buy to snatch a player who just a year ago was invited to the NHL combine.
An injury that limited his combine participation (and perhaps his decision to attend a second-tier program) may have hurt his draft prospects in his first run, but there is no excuse for him to go un-tabbed this summer. The 19-year-old clicked on 14% of his shots on goal as a freshman and should only become a better all-around player by the time he's through in Amherst. A definite development camp candidate if he goes undrafted.
Barclay Goodrow, LW, Brampton Battalion (OHL)
A big-bodied shooter who scored 67 goals in 71 games as midget before entering the OHL, Goodrow could make sense for the Sabres in the later rounds if they think they can refine his footwork. The Aurora, Ontario native got his draft year off to a slow start with just five goals in his first 24 games, but eventually cut loose to snipe 15 in his next 25 to re-emerge as a legit scoring threat. Finishing as the Battalion's leading goal man with 25 in 65 regular season games, the 6'2, 208 pound wing was unable to get anything going in a first-round playoff loss to Niagara.
Goodrow, whose skating remains choppy while adjusting to a recent growth spurt, is sure to toss his weight around a little more as his game develops. Based on his offensive tendencies and the fact that he's sure to see a ton of time for the Battalion, the size and upside around the paint makes him an interesting candidate when rounding out the draft class.
Dillon Donnelly, LHD, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
Born in Buffalo while father Gord helped patrol the Sabres blueline in the early '90s, the 6'2, 193-pounder brings the exact same aggressive element to the Cataractes. Known for hitting ability and willingness to drop the mitts (35 fights in his first two QMJHL seasons), the hard-nosed bloodlines have bred a stay-at-home protector that could prove to be solid sixth-round value if he masters the simple game.
One of the youngest players in the draft (9/7/03 DOB – same as Boucher), Donnelly will get some big game experience as part of his development cycle when Shawi hosts the 2012 Memorial Cup. Until then, he'll be expected to work on his skating and decision making while maintaining his fearless edge.
7th round, 197th overallYannick Veilleux, LW, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
An average skating forward who employs a physical brand, Veilleux has the offensive potential to make a late-round chance look astute a few years down the road. The 6'2, 190-pounder got off to a hot start this past season scoring six goals in his first six games on a line with Michal Bournival (MTL), but faded in the final months to finish with 19 goals (10 on the PP) and 48 points.
The former #2 pick in the QMJHL draft, Veilleux has the instincts to approach the 30/65 ranges with another year of hitting hard and keeping the puck down low. It's that nose for the net and willingness to get involved that puts him in the discussion if still lingering in the final rounds.
Maxime Lagacé, G, PEI Rocket (QMJHL)
A big, quick goalie with excellent reflexes, Lagacé won eight of his 12 starts as a QMJHL rookie while serving as backup to veteran Evan Mosher. His stats weren't mouthwatering (3.59 GAA, .884 sv%) along the way, but there's a Prior to entering the QMJHL, the Saint-Augustin, Que. native led Quebec midget AAA in goals-against-average (1.87) and save percentage (.930), and finished second in wins (18).
Lagacé is focused in the crease, reading the play well while using fast legs and gloves when challenging. Increased leg strength will help his lateral quicks and contribute to better overall movement as his career progresses. Lagacé has the build and technique to be a quality find once worked on, and with limited viewings on the Island, it's plausible that the athletic 6'2 netminder is available if the Sabres want him.
Tyler Graovac, RC, Ottawa 67's (OHL)
A tall, fluid skater, the 6'4, 180-pound Graovac represents an intriguing option down the middle as day two comes to a close. He didn't post blistering offensive numbers this past season in Ottawa, contributing a modest 10 goals and 11 assists, nor did scouts have an opportunity to watch him compete in the playoffs due to a broken arm, but the Brampton native has hinted at an untapped, two-way offensive package that could be close to a break out.
Over the next two seasons, you want to see him use his size, play with more grit, and capitalize on his scoring line minutes whether it comes at center or wing. He's another player that I'd like to see invited to development camp if he goes undrafted.
Nathan Lieuwen, G, Kootenay ICE (WHL)
An athletic 6'5 netminder, Lieuwen was once a highly rated draft prospect that saw his stock fall due to a concussion in his draft year. It took some time to regain his consistency, but he evolved into a reliable force in his third draft eligible season. After posting 33 wins and a 2.79 goals against average behind a Brayden McNabb-led defense, the refreshed 19-year old earned WHL playoff MVP honors by backstopping the ICE to their third Memorial Cup appearance.
Lieuwen is still somewhat of a raw goaltending prospect. His lateral movement needs work and he seems to have an issue catching the puck. I'm not sure how far he can take his game, but the huge stopper could theoretically be your stopgap #2 in the AHL next season. Think of him late as a "let's see if he develops" type of pick if other options have been exhausted.


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It seems to be universal knowledge among Alexandrians that the West Ends Mark Center was not the ideal locale to erect two high-security Department of Defense office buildings. The federal government obviously disagrees. The project is halfway done.
One of the buildings is 15 stories, the other is 17, and both are rapidly casting a shadow over I-395 and a shadow of doubt, for some, over the governments motives.
With no Metro station in the area and 6,400 federal workers expected to arrive in a little more than one year from now, residents and businesses in the area still seem shell-shocked from the Armys decision to set up shop in the area.
First it was a lack of environmental-impact planning in the area, then the realization after construction began that severely limited access to the site posed outsize traffic congestion issues. After that, the buildings encroachment on the Winkler Botanical Preserve sprung residents into action as city and federal entities pointed fingers at one another.
Now, hundreds of residents are demanding to know why Mark Center was chosen and how Duke Realty, the sites owner, submitted and won an unsolicited bid to help develop and sell the site to the Army.
The Alexandrians submitted a petition to Congress last week asking for an investigation by the Government Accountability Office to determine what influenced the decision to move to this area and how an unsolicited bid came to the Department of the Army, according to Mary Kenkel, who lives near the site and is leading a movement to rewind the tape on the Armys decision-making process.
A land parcel in Springfield near a Metro station was in the running and another mass-transit-friendly spot in Alexandria lost out as well, leading local stakeholders to question the rationale for selecting a site expected to cause so many issues.
We all believe that it was chosen for a certain reason, Kenkel said. And somebody knows why.
The 2008 Defense Authorization Bill allowed the Army to review locations outside of Ft. Belvoir for the federally mandated project to secure DOD auxiliaries under the auspices of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission.
The Alexandria Mark Center site was chosen despite the legislation identifying more transit-friendly options. The choice was made based on the needs of DOD workers and for security reasons, according to the project overview. Little was made of the facillitys affect on its surroundings.
Among other reasons Mark Center provides the best resolution of security concerns, the document states, will improve space requirements and mission relationships, and minimizes changes to existing living, working, and quality of life issues for DoD workers whose offices are to be relocated.
Minimal disruptions are anticipated for workers in terms of commute times, residency changes, and school requirements. Plus, workers will be in close proximity to the Pentagon and the senior leaders they support.
The petitioners, who have about 200 signatures so far, wonder why the location is less of a security risk than in Springfield, a sparser area and further from the countrys defense hub, the Pentagon. Rather, proximity was a selling point for the Army.
The chosen location sits within a half mile of a medical office building that serves over 1,000 patient visits daily, a mile from one middle school, two elementary schools, a fire house with an ambulance station and Inova Alexandria Hospital, is less than a mile from Northern Virginia Community College and directly across from a large apartment complex and elderly assisted living communities and has no Metro access, Kenkel said.
This section of Seminary Road acts as the link for ambulances that serve Alexandria Hospital, she said.
The Virginia Department of Transportation stated in an April 5 letter to city officials that the traffic improvements proposed by developers will still have a debilitating affect on the region.
As far as being a terrorist target, its height and stance on the edge of the highway place a bomb me sign on it, practically, Kenkel said.
The project has been steamrolling forward rapidly. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) has tried to mitigate the traffic effects by limiting the parking spaces available, hoping to ease the 6,400 workers into the site gradually.
The petitioners want the project ceased. Ideally, Kenkel would have the building re-purposed, as a government building in the Skyline area of Alexandria was after being labeled a terrorist threat.
It wouldnt be the first time, she said. There was complete disregard and so many things done improperly. It needs to be fixed.
I just want to know why something so inane is moving forward.


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It makes their boxes look so clean,
Even if, a bit like a pea green string bean.
This green landing pad is their gateau,
One wonders when it will glow?
Is not afraid to stray
Into poisonous Paris green territory.
Their Aztec chocolates tell the story.
They simply insist upon
Putting it on their table.


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"Deathly afraid."
That's what one U.S. official says about the prospect that Syria's vast stockpile of chemical weapons might be used against rebel forces. From a U.S. national security standpoint, an even worse outcome would be for those weapons to fall into the hands of terrorists.
"Syria has probably the largest and most advanced chemical warfare program in the Arab world, " Michael Eistenstadt, director of the Military and Securities Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said in a report released this week, adding that the country is able to fill thousands of missiles and artillery shells with chemical agents.
"Washington should begin planning to locate, secure and eliminate Syria's chemical stockpile and infrastructure should the regime lose control of chemical weapons facilities or fall outright," says Eisenstadt.
So what is President Bashar Assad's regime believed to have?
They include VX and sarin nerve agents, the most toxic of all chemical weapons, according to Charles Blair, an analyst with the Federation of American Scientists.
Nerve agents are what Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein used to kill thousands of Kurdish men, women and children in one town in northern Iraq in 1988.
The Syrians are also thought to have mustard agent, the kind used by the Germans during World War I, which can create blisters in the lungs. The Syrians are thought to have several hundred tons of it.
American military officials say the Syrians also have thousands of Scud missiles and artillery shells that can be filled with these chemicals.
While U.S. security officials have expressed serious concerns, the Obama administration and military officials so far haven't given any indication that they would favor sending forces into Syria to try to confiscate or safeguard those weapons.
One problem for the U.S. and its allies is that there are an estimated 50 chemical storage facilities in Syria, and the Pentagon projects it would take thousands of U.S. military personnel to guard them.
Right now, the U.S. is keeping a close eye on those chemical weapons, presumably using satellites and other intelligence means. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the Syrian government has started to move some of its stockpile. But it's uncertain if that movement — which the US has not confirmed — is designed to better secure the weapons or get them ready to use against rebel forces.
"We're well aware that Syria has large stockpiles of chemical weapons," the US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, told All Things Considered. "Syria has a legal and moral obligation to secure them. ... Should anyone in the Syrian regime do otherwise, they will be held accountable."
So what are the options if the Syrians are not responsible, or if the country fractures and the armed forces start losing control of the chemical weapons?
The Pentagon is briefing Congress on the situation and the possible options.
Some analysts say the U.S. or Israel could bomb suspected chemical sites. However, some chemicals would be released into the air and endanger nearby civilians. It's also unlikely all the weapons would be destroyed, leaving them vulnerable to loss of theft.
Sending in specialized military teams, from either the U.S. or an ally, is also an option. And one military official says it would take thousands of troops, who could come not only from the US but Israel, Jordan and Turkey.
A third possibility, officials say, involves reaching out to officials within the Syrian military and urging them to continue to secure the sites – maybe giving them money — especially if the government starts to crumble.
CIA officers in Libya worked with officials in that country to secure its chemical weapons sites, though that was after Moammar Gadhafi fell from power last year. And experts say the majority of those weapons already had been destroyed by Gadhafi years earlier as he tried to make better relations with the international community.
The good news is that Syria has never before used chemical weapons. The bad news is that Nawaf al-Fares, who was Syria's ambassador to Iraq until his recent defection, said he believed the Assad regime would be willing to use them if cornered.
NPR's Tom Bowman has covered the Pentagon and the U.S. military since 1997.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Chinese Hotels Ordered to Spy on Olympic Guests' Internet
DailyTech – Report: Chinese Hotels Ordered to Spy on Olympic Guests' Internet
Entire article by Dailytech
Journalists, fans, and support staff betrayed by false "open internet" pledge
A secret order to foreign-owned Chinese hotels compels them to spy on guests during the Olympic Games, according to a memo revealed Tuesday by U.S. Senator Sam Brownback.Brownback, a republican representing Kansas, said he received a document issued by the Chinese Public Security bureau, which orders hotels to install spying equipment on their internet connections and threatens owners with "severe retaliation" – including the possibility of losing their operating licenses – should they fail to comply.
"These hotels are justifiably outraged by this order," said Brownback at a news conference Tuesday, noting that it forces them into the "awkward position" of having to "craft pop-up messages" informing guests of their loss of privacy.
Brownback said he received a copy of the original document, translated from Chinese, from attorneys representing two different "foreign-owned" hotel chains. The companies want to remain anonymous so that they don't face further reprisal. Several other international hotel chains confirmed the order.
An AP report said the Chinese embassy was unavailable for comment.
According to the memo, hotels were told that "all hotel rooms and offices" are considered subject to "on-site or remote technical monitoring at all times."
With little more than a week remaining before the 2008 Summer Olympics begin in Beijing, Chinese hotel owners appear to have little choice. Despite their outrage, hotel companies are more concerned about the long-term repercussions of non-compliance – failure to obey could place an entire company's operations in jeopardy, potentially locking them out of a lucrative, growing Chinese market.
Meanwhile, athletes and participants staying at the Olympic Village have a unique set of woes for their internet access: an IT contractor recently leaked a list of rates for DSL service charged by BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee of the 2008 Olympic Games), with the cheapest option being a 512/512 kilobit line available for 11,700 RMB ($1716.05 USD).
"I just can't believe that not only do I have to deal with the Great Firewall of China, but also pay through the nose to use it!" wrote the anonymous contractor.
According to Australian newspaper The Age, the International Olympic Committee issued a formal apology Wednesday for "misleading" the world's press about the China's "open internet" pledge. Senior IOC member Kevan Gosper, who originally delivered the promise of "unfettered freedom to report in China," said he was unaware of the apparently backroom negotiations with Chinese censors, which will keep a number of "sensitive sites" blocked from access.
Age reporters said they were unable to access a number of sites involving human rights discussions, Tibet, and the Falun Gong, with merely intermittent access to a larger portfolio of websites including the New York Times, BBC China, al-Jazeera, Radio Free Asia, and Taiwanese newspapers.
BOCOG spokesman Sun Weide said that China promised journalists that they would "be able to use the internet for their work during the Olympic Games. So we have given them sufficient access to do that."


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American Moderns on Paper: Masterworks from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
American Moderns on Paper: Masterworks from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Drawings and watercolors are sometimes considered minor works of art, simply preparatory studies for more significant paintings and sculptures. Their fragile nature prevents them from being shown for extended periods, and their smaller size makes them less prominent in a museum or gallery. On the other hand, the immediacy and spontaneity of these media encourage artists to experiment, offering the viewer a glimpse into the mind and hand of the artist at work. The works in American Moderns on Paper, on view in the Figge's third and fourth floor galleries from June 20 to September 20, provide a front row seat to the development of American art during one of the most exciting periods in our history. The exhibition features signature works by American masters such as Andrew Wyeth, Georgia O'Keeffe and Edward Hopper, as well as works by lesser-known, but influential artists such as Peggy Bacon and William Baziotes.
The Wadsworth Atheneum was founded in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1842 by Daniel Wadsworth, whose bequest of Hudson River School paintings gave the museum an early focus on American art. Wadsworth's collection included pastel portraits of George and Martha Washington and several rare early American watercolors. Subsequent acquisitions of works on paper by Winslow Homer and Mary Cassatt laid the foundation for the museum's collection of works on paper. In the 20th century, the Wadsworth's curators, directors and donors had close ties with pioneering artists and dealers in New York—including Alfred Stieglitz, Edith Halpert and the many artists who lived or vacationed in the environs of Hartford—and the collection grew to include works on paper by the key artists of the time. Recent acquisitions of works by O'Keeffe and Ellsworth Kelly round out the roster of artists represented.
American Moderns on Paper features 87 works by 44 artists, created between 1902 and 1962, and ranging in style from the urban realism of John Sloan to the pioneering abstractions of Arthur Dove. During this period, the United States and New York City in particular, became the world center of innovation in the visual arts. Many artists in the show emigrated from Europe, while others were Americans who made frequent trips to travel and study in Paris and other European capitals, absorbing the influences of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and other modernists. The New York Armory Show of 1913, though ridiculed in the press, brought avant-garde works by European masters to the American public for the first time, and many American artists exhibited alongside them.
The artists in American Moderns on Paper responded in different ways to the influence of the Europeans and to the dynamic changes of the 20th century. John Marin, for instance, incorporated Cubist elements into his cityscapes to express the energy of New York's bridges and skyscrapers. Works by Charles Burchfield, Ellsworth Kelly and others continue the great tradition of landscape in American art, giving it a modern vocabulary. Lesser known artists such as Pavel Tchelitchew brought Surrealist influences into their drawings, reflecting the influence of Salvador Dalí (also included in the show). Others, such as Edward Hopper, who is represented by six watercolors, created a new kind of American realism influenced by their studies in Paris. American Moderns on Paper represents an opportunity to see the evolution of American art during perhaps its most dynamic period through a priceless collection of personal and spontaneous works—those done on paper.
The Figge has planned a number of public programs in conjunction with the exhibition. On June 25, Exhibition Co-curator Erin Monroe will speak about the works on view. On Thursday, July 2, The Show that Shook the World about the New York Armory Show of 1913, will be shown in the John Deere Auditorium.
This exhibition will be on view June 20-September 20, 2015.
American Moderns on Paper: Masterworks from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is presented with the generous support of the Riverboat Development Authority in celebration of the Figge's 10th anniversary, with additional support from Per Mar Security Services and Genesis Health System
This exhibition was organized by the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut. Made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius and the Henry Luce Foundation.
Saturday, June 20
Free Family Day
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Scheduled activities
Free admission all day
Engage in hands-on activities in celebration of American Moderns on Paper.
June 25
5:30 p.m. Opening Reception: American Moderns on Paper
7 p.m. Curator Talk
Erin Monroe will speak about curating the exhibition American Moderns on Paper. Monroe is the Robert H. Schutz, Jr. Assistant Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
July 2
7 p.m. Art Film: The Show That Shook The World
In addition to recreating the history of the original Armory Show through archival footage, the film features a previously unknown and unpublished lecture by Marcel Duchamp delivered at the 50th anniversary exhibition in 1963. Until the premiere of the documentary in 2013, the previously unknown recording of Duchamp's lecture had been preserved in a private archive for more than 50 years.
Edward Hopper, Captain Strout's House, Portland Head, 1927, opaque and transparent watercolor over graphite on wove paper, The Ella Gallup Sumner and Mary Catlin Sumner Collection Fund, 1928.3
Georgia O'Keeffe, Slightly Open Clam Shell, 1926, pastel on white ground on pressed artist's board, The Douglas Tracy Smith and Dorothy Potter Smith Fund, © Georgia O'Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, 2009.1.1


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John's Best Album Sounds Better Than Ever
March 24, 2014 (AP)
By STEVEN WINE Associated Press
Elton John, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)" (Universal Music Enterprises)
It's time to dig yet again into the Elton John archives. Ten years have passed since the release of the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition."
Happily, the four-CD, one-DVD set to commemorate the album's 40th anniversary is more than mere record label recycling. Included are a CD of "GBYBR" songs covered by contemporary artists, two discs of a 1973 concert with John and his band in top form, a handsome 100-page hardcover book and a DVD of a long out-of-print 1973 documentary by the British filmmaker Bryan Forbes.
The artists performing the covers are younger than the original album, a testament to its durability. Best is English singer Ed Sheeran, who transforms "Candle In the Wind" into strummy folk, and Irish musician Imelda May, who applies rockabilly zeal to "Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n Roll)." Alas, Fall Out Boy reduce "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" into a pep rally, and an R&B/rap remake of "Bennie and the Jets" by Grammy winner Miguel and Wale never takes off.
John's original album has been remastered yet again and sounds better than ever. The loud-to-soft contrasts are remarkable for a pop record, rewarding owners of quality headphones or loudspeakers. Dee Murray's underrated bass work, Nigel Olsson's angelic high harmonies and Davey Johnstone's seven guitar parts on "Saturday Night" can be appreciated as never before.
Like the dynamic range, the range of material remains impressive. A musical sponge from childhood, John was at his prolific peak when the two-disc LP, 17-song set was written and recorded in a span of just two weeks. Bernie Taupin's cinematic lyrics become Technicolor tunes, and "GBYBR" is an unsurpassed distillation of rock's golden era spanning both sides of the Atlantic. John draws on the Beatles and the Stones, the Beach Boys and the Band, Bob Marley, "Soul Train," Jerry Lee Lewis and Liberace, and makes it all his own. It helps that he's in the best voice of his career.
The lyrics are surprisingly dark, given the sunny melodies, and by the end of what used to be Side 3 we have a dead bootlegger, a dead lesbian and a dead Marilyn Monroe. The album is a funeral for one friend after another, and much more. It's electric music, solid walls of sound, cocky, campy, lovely, naughty, silly and, 40 years later, still fun. Comic book characters never grow old. Can't wait for the "50th Anniversary Super Duper Deluxe Edition."


text:
This week on the podcast we're talking about the best times to buy anything in 2013, negotiating when you're a nervous mess, and Craigslist's new maps view. We're also answering your questions about going paperless for tax season, managing a shared budget on Android and iOS devices, and literally foiling RFID thieves.
How to Listen to This Week's Episode
Here's how you can listen to our episode:
Download the MP3 directly.
Just listen to it in the Souncloud player below.
News and Top Stories
Farewell to Adam Pash Our fearless leader, Adam Pash, has moved on to startup Superhuman. He'll be missed, but we're excited to see how he makes Superhuman awesome.
Craigslist Adds Maps for Sales Listings, Yard Sales, and Flea Markets As Well As Apartments: Craigslist now has a map view, like the much-loved PadMapper it seems to want to kill. We still like PadMapper and other services like it more, as they tend to have more listings and better features, but Craigslist is on the move. Maybe they'll compete by innovating rather than trying to squash independent developers.
The Best Time to Buy Anything During the Year (2013): Our yearly look at the best times to buy various items. You may not know it, but freezer food is cheapest in March!
How to Get Anything You Want with Minimal Negotiation - Whether you're shy or simply not the aggressive type, haggling and negotiating can be tough. Thorin runs down methods that can work for everyone, even if they're too nervous to try.
How Can I Save Money on My Smartphone Bill When Traveling Internationally? Not easily, but it can be done! I took a look at a bunch of options and found that if you're willing to inconvenience yourself a bit, you can save quite a bit of money on your smartphone bill while traveling abroad.
Questions and Answers
Each week we answer five questions from readers and listeners. Here's what we tackled this week.
(How) can I go paperless for tax season? Yes, you can! It's easy. Just read this.
What's the best app for managing a shared budget on both Android and iOS? Lucky for you, there are a few good options. Mel wrote a guide that runs down several shared budget apps, so one of those should suit you nicely.
How do I protect my RFID passport from the bad guys? Make this or buy one of these.
What software can I use to keep an online blog/database of my technical expertise? WordPress and Blogger can create private blogs, but Penzu was designed for the job and has mobile apps to accompany it.
Tips of the Week
Thorin's Pick: Find Another Pair of Your Favorite Pants Years After They've Worn Out
Whitson's Pick: Downgrade Windows 8 PCs to Windows 7
Dachis' Pick: Know Which Ingredients in Lip Balm Actually Dry Out Your Lips
Downloads of the Week
How Do I Submit a Question?
There are two ;) ways to send in your question:
Call (347) 687-8109 and record a question. Calls are awesome! We like them!
Email your question to [email protected].
Please keep your questions as brief as possible. This means about 3-5 sentences for emails and 30-60 seconds for calls and videos. Your questions can be specific, but broader questions are generally better because they'll apply to more people. For example, "how can I breathe new life into my old PDA?" is much better than "what can I do with an old HP iPAQ 210?" Either way, we look forward to hearing from you!
Newspaper, Computer, Clock (by Brandon Hopkins), and Alert (by Dima Yagnyuk) provided by the Noun Project.


text:
Animals Elephants Giraffes Bird Cranes SwanGet ready to hit the water in a one-of-a-kind swimsuit that you can uniquely customize for yourself. This halter style is sure to earn you heaps of compliments as you splash around in the water or lounge by sipping on an ice cold lemonade. Made from 90% Polyester, 10% Spandex Soft, stretchy, lightweight and quick drying fabric Halter Top One Piece Design Machine Washable Designs imprinted using an advance heat sublimation technique All swimwear comes with hygienic liners
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011792 24737
E: firstname.lastname@example.com
Dinners & Parties
If you are looking for the WOW factor for your next dinner or party event, then look no further - you cannot beat Brunel's Old Station. Have a look at these amazing images of The Passenger Shed.
For dinner in The Passenger Shed we can accommodate 700 guests (or 600 guests for a Dinner Dance).
When catering for your Dinner, you are spoilt for choice - We offer our clients an excellent choice of three reputable caterers and bar providers who would be happy to provide menus to suit your budget.
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Temple Meads Railway Station in the Centre of Bristol - Call Now on
011792 24737 or click here.
Please use this link to obtain your Event Insurance from Brunel's Old Station's preferred Event Insurance provider: Events Insurance


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Doreen Kay (Yantis) Allard
Doreen Kay (Yantis) Allard, 57, of Ethel, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday (April 17, 2013) at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Missouri.
The daughter of Bob and Dorothy (Martin) Yantis she was born September 27, 1955 in Kirksville, Missouri. On September 30, 1989 in Kirksville, Missouri, Doreen was united in marriage to Gail Allard.
Doreen is survived by her husband Gail of twenty-three years; two brothers, Dale and Penny Yantis of Greentop, MO, and Donnie and Joy Yantis of Kirksville, MO; two nieces, Chelle Cima of Kirksville, MO and Cassi Yantis of Newark, MO; three step-children, Stephanie Thomas-Dodson of Lenexa, KS, Rebekah Allard Smith of San Antonio, TX, and Gail Martin Allard II, of Temple, TX; three great-nephews, Jayden, Cima and Dalton West and one grand-niece, Kyleigh Cima; three granddaughters, Ocean and Sienna Smith, and four nieces and nephews, Gary Allard II, Charles Allard, Vicki Allard Russel and Susan Stewart.
Doreen was preceded in death by her parents.
Doreen enjoyed quilting, sewing, music, dancing, mushroom hunting and especially crappy fishing. She especially loved to find the best bargains for the whole country side. She loved her Yorkshire Terriers dogs and rescued many animals.
She was very much loved and will be missed by all.
Doreen was a member of the Ethel Presbyterian Church and Professional Women's Sorority of Kirksville.
Public visitation will be held Saturday (April 20, 2013) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday (April 21, 2013) at the Ethel Presbyterian Church in Ethel, Missouri, with visitation prior from 1:00 to 3:00.
Expressions of sympathy in memory of Doreen Allard may be made to the Ethel Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be left at the Ethel Presbyterian Church on Sunday or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.


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Hac 2007 II
Hac 07 II: Haskell Hackathon
October 5-7, 2007
University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Photos and blogs
Hac 07 II - Freiburg, Germany. Group photo of hackers.
1. Clifford Beshers, thetallguy, (formerly Linspire, now SeeReason.org) 2. David Himmelstrup, Lemmih, HAppS Inc. 3. Conal Elliot, conal 4. Don Stewart, dons, Galois 5. Russel O'Connor, roconnor 6. Ben Lippmeier, benl23, ANU 7. Johan Tibell, tibbe, Google 8. Christophe Poucet, vincenz, IMEC 9. Tim Chevalier, Binkley, Portland State 10. Bjorn Bringert, Chalmers 11. Eric Kidd 12. Ivan Tarasov, ivant, Sun 13. Joachim nomeata Breitner 14. Ian Lynagh, Igloo 15. Thorkil Naur (thorkilnaur) 16. Thomas Schilling 17. Pepe Iborra 18. Conrad Barski 19. David Fox (formerly Linspire, now SeeReason.org) 20. Duncan Coutts, dcoutts, Oxford 21. Marcus Uneson 22. Phillip Heidegger, Freiburg 23. Ganesh, Heffalump, Credit Suisse 24. Lennart Kolmodin (kolmodin) 25. Jürgen Nicklisch, Jutaro 26. Alexey Yakushev Yakushev (mrchebas), Utrecht University
- Group Picture
- A few from Tim, day 1
- nominolo's pictures, on Flickr
- mnislaih's pictures, on Flickr
- kolmodin's pictures, on picasa web
The 3rd Haskell Hackathon will be held over 3 days, October 5-7 2007, at the University of Freiburg, in conjunction with the Haskell Workshop and ICFP 2007. It is a coding festival, focusing on producing and improving Haskell libraries, tools and infrastructure.
To attend please register, and get ready to hack!
Note: that it is not necessary to register for ICFP, or any of the associated conferences, if you only want to go to the Hackathon. The Hackathon itself will be free, but you will have to pay for travel, accommodation and food.
If you will be attending add your name to the Registration page. Numbers may be limited, depending on availablity of space.
The Hackathon will take place at the same venue as the IFL workshop, at the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the University of Freiburg. The room is 02-016 in building 101.
You can reach the hackathon venue from the main train station by taking the "Breisgau S-Bahn" from "Freiburg - Hbf." to "FR Messe/Universitt". Here is a timetable (pdf). Please note that most but not all trains stop at the hackathon venue. Also, some trains only run Monday to Friday ("Montag - Freitag") or on Saturday ("Samstag").
Alternatively, you can walk from the city center to the hackathon (20 - 30 minutes). The map shows the exact route.
The Hackathon will be integrated with the university summer campus. This will give us all the infrastructure (room, Internet, etc) at minimal hassle. Note: There won't be any stationary PCs, so you should bring a laptop with you.
Local information
For local information (travel, accommodation etc) see the ICFP local info page.
Airport maps:
Hac 2007 II will take place on Fri 5 Oct to Sun 7 Oct. The following table shows the workshops and conferences held in Freiburg during the ICFP period:
Date | Events |
Thu 27 Sep | IFL |
Fri 28 Sep | IFL |
Sat 29 Sep | IFL |
Sun 30 Sep | HW, Scheme |
Mon 1 Oct | ICFP |
Tue 2 Oct | ICFP |
Wed 3 Oct | ICFP |
Thu 4 Oct | CUFP, MM |
Fri 5 Oct | Hac 2007 II, Erlang, ML, PV |
Sat 6 Oct | Hac 2007 II |
Sun 7 Oct | Hac 2007 II |
The Hackathon will, tentatively, be held from 10am to 6pm each day, with dinner after at local venues.
What to bring
- A laptop
- Wireless cards
- Power adaptors if necessary
- Ethernet cable
- Mobile phone
Before you arrive
- Pick out a couple of projects to work on and familiarise yourself with them
- Install an up to date Haskell toolchain (ghc-6.6.1 and if you like a recent snapshot of ghc-6.8.0 also).
Projects to work on
Add ideas here for which you think hacking together as a group (rather than individually) would be beneficial.
Group projects
- Building tests that give 100% code coverage for package base.
- Lots of Cabal hacking still to be done
- Bindings for <your favourite C library>
- Haskell library for <your favourite task>
- Ensure hackage is ready for ghc 6.8
Other things
- Bit layer on Data.Binary 1.0
- libxml
- bytestring parsec
- combine strictcheck and quickcheck once and for all
- darcs hacking
- aggressive inlining for mtl?
- Data.ByteString.Sequence - a ropes-alike lib based on specialised finger trees
- Data.ByteString.Rope, based on
- SGIs ropes or new ocaml ropes
- bit parsing layer for Data.Binary and a network protocol demo?
- dons: HPC coverage for bytestring 1.0
- pretty printer-based ncurses interface
- integrate darcs-piegraph and darcs-graph
- improve the performance of DiffArray using modern techniques OCaml impl.
- vincenz: Note that even underneath the hood, the ocaml impl is using impurity to implement this (namely the modification of the array in Diff)
- New hs-plugins on top of ghc-api. Conal
- Fast general, pure-Haskell image synthesis (speed of Pan or Pajama but via ghc). Use Harpy or a new hs-plugins. Conal
- TiddlyWiki-based code & documentation browser. Syntax-colored and all identifiers fully hyperlinked to sources. Thanks to TiddlyWiki, the browsing experience is fluid & self-organizing. Conal
- Fix the Network.Socket API (at least to allow
setSocketOption x RecvTimeOut
) - Haskell WSGI (http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0333/) equivalent with a reference server implementation.
- UnicodeByteString layer (
maybe). - ByteString network API.
- ByteString simple HTTP
- Library to allow Haskell to communicate with Erlang processes using the Erlang message protocol.
- A better curses rss client than snownews: support ^L resize signal, and parallel feed downloading.
- benl23: Optimize new graph colouring register allocator.
- jutaro: Information extraction for a Haskell IDE (Types,Completion,Navigation)
- ivant: fix Functional MetaPost (figure out the problems of using it from LaTeX, add definitions for using it from ConTeXt, etc.)
- Possibility to turn logging on/off in lambdabot per channel
- Continuous build system, via as simple, general dependency tracking & execution formulated as an applicative functor and using DataDriven computation. No "make" info required (since inferred by construction). Applies uniformly to recompiling, re-executing, installing, compiler-recompiling, GUI specification and execution, etc. For compilation, it can give more precise (efficient) recompilation than language-specific tools (e.g.,
andghc --make
) without being language-specific. Conal 13:51, 1 October 2007 (UTC)
The organisers for the Hackathon are:
The organisers can be contacted via:
The local organisers in Freiburg:
- Stefan Wehr
- Phillip Heidegger
Courtesy of the Programming Languages Group at the University of Freiburg.
IRC channel
A Hackathon IRC channel has been set up. Visit:
on Freenode.
Previous Haskell hackathons
Related events
Hac 07 II is (unofficially) colocated with ICFP and other conferences:
IFL | September 27-29 |
Haskell Workshop | September 30 |
ICFP | October 1-3 |
CUFP | October 4 |
- AJG: What can Galois do to help?
- If there's anything that Credit Suisse can do to support the Hackathon, please let me know - [1]
The Freiburg background is available under the GNU Free Documentation License, from wikipedia.


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Would you be willing to do anything?
Including working at Fauchon?
Dishing out macarons..?
I can think of worse ways to earn a euro...
How about Angelinas? Admittedly this looks a bit grueling...
Window display anyone?
Or would you prefer to be behind the counter with the macarons..?
Do you think it's true what they say about working in a candy shop..?
If you worked at Ble Sucre could you ever lose your taste for pastries?