text:
from The Desert Sun
There's someone else to add to the list of teenage phenoms from the late 90's:
Along with Guga, Mirjana Lucic accepted a wildcard into Indian Wells to start her comeback. She had a good start yesterday, defeating Southern Californian Lindsey Nelson 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the first round. Props to Lindsey, though. She's working hard herself, but just ran into someone who's been to the semifinals of Wimbledon.
Here's a sad (comprehensive) account of Mirjana's life after that run-in with Graf. A lot of terrible things happened, but now she's back and focused on her tennis.
When she's a little more in her groove, we can talk to her about that outfit. No thank you, Martha!
via OutSports.com


text:
One of the bigger events of the NBA Off-Season is approaching with the release of the NBA Schedule. We could make the standard jokes about the Raptors will play 41 games at home and 41 games on the road. Which is true, but how the Raptors schedule is laid out could influence the direction they ultimately decide to go.
The fact that Andrew Wiggins sits as the top prize in a NBA draft class that is expected to be deep looms large. The group that makes up the Raptors roster is not concerned with this fact. They will always be looking at the present for both their individual careers and the team as a whole.
The Raptors management are the ones that have to consider that bigger picture. So taking this back to the schedule release and what that could mean could greatly impact the direction. Traditionally the Raptors schedule has been front loaded. What I mean by this, they tend to see their tougher part of the schedule early on. Which means the challenge for this roster of players to keep their heads above water could be far greater.
If the Raptors find themselves with a losing record at the end of the calendar year it would be almost irresponsible to not look ahead to the draft and the future. While it has been a long time since the Raptors have seen the playoffs just getting there is not really enough. At least it shouldn't be if the Raptors are going to deliver on the promises made by Tim Leiweke and Masai Ujiri about turning this organization around.
If the Raptors are on a path that makes them a fringe playoff team hovering around the 7-10 mark in terms of position in the standings that will not be enough. What Masai Ujiri has been able to do is build some flexibility into this roster to change direction and goal if need be. The key is figuring out who are the pieces of this puzzle going forward especially if things do not go well for this team early on.
It is not a case of tanking as much as it is evaluating the best path to being a consistent playoff participant. This is something this franchise has struggled with during its entire existence. There is no question that if the Raptors can land a talent like Andrew Wiggins that is a game changer for this franchise. That doesn't require blowing your brains out to have the best chance to make that happen. The simple reality is that even the worst team only has a one in four chance of landing him. But to have a shot is likely more valuable than to finish seventh or eighth to be cast aside by the Heat or Pacers.
Life is all about timing and the key will be the Raptors making the right choices at the right time to maximize their chances in the future. A great example of a team that was able to get to that lower tier of the playoffs and only to return to losing is the Charlotte Bobcats. They are also a cautionary tail in why tanking does not exactly produce a winner.
In the end you need to, as the old Kenny Rogers song says, "You got to know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em," not only applies to gambling and cards. Any good poker player will tell you it is all about maximizing your odds of winning. They will also tell you that you can do everything right and it still takes some luck at the end of the day.
One of my favourite people in wrestling CM Punk says that "Luck is for losers" which would make a good theme for the NBA Draft Lottery. There is another saying that states people create their own luck through hard work and dedication. The teams that excel while they may have caught lucky break here and there in reality do a solid job at scouting and have a good track record at projecting talent. Both scouting for the NBA Draft and scouting the players in the league that may not be getting utilized within the organization they are a part of.
While people will focus on the moves Masai Ujiri has made to roster some of the most important moves might be the ones off the floor. To build a solid foundation in scouting talent is vital to success. That is vital and important for maximizing the chances at success. Let's say the Raptors find there way into lottery and get Andrew Wiggins, that is fantastic and a great accelerator to a great many things for the franchise. If they don't "Get Lucky," at least they need to have a solid foundation that can evaluate talent so they can still build and succeed. This down the line makes an attractive destination for Wiggins in the future. This is not just for him but for a generation of Canadian talent that could really make a difference and be a light to a way out of the dark for the Toronto Raptors.
At the end of the day it is important to see the forest and not just the tree. What happens in this individual season is not the point. It is the ability to evaluate the future and build a solid organization that can compete over the long haul not the short one. I don't think I am saying anything that people don't understand in saying that the Toronto Raptors will not win the NBA Championship in 2013-14. It is about can they in future seasons compete for that ultimately goal. That takes a lot of things to fall in place and that goes back to having some luck and some timing along with hard work, but ultimately putting yourself in the places to have those things happen.
Those are my thoughts, but we here at the Dino Nation Blog will be looking for some of your own on next Tuesday when the NBA Schedule is released. We are going to organize a google hangout to hear from you. So if you have a webcam, a mic and a pair of headphones and some thoughts on the Toronto Raptors you might be able to help us out and be part of this event. Will be picking some people to join us in the hangout and have a chat going as well so everyone can take part. We will talk about the schedule, but more the overall thoughts of you the fans for the upcoming season and future of the Toronto Raptors.
I am looking forward to hosting this event and sharing my knowledge and thoughts but this is more about hearing what you all have to say. So if you're interested in being part of this give me a shout and will be select a bunch of people to make up are fan panel. I hope this will be a success and something we plan to keep doing at various points throughout the season. In order for that to happen it will take some people that have some entertaining and informed opinions. Which I see on Twitter all the time on a daily basis so please consider giving this your time and I think it will be fun. Even if you don't have a webcam there will be a chat that you can take part of and interact with the show or just sit back and be entertained by it.
So that is about it the season is coming fast, but maybe not fast enough for some. Still we can all talk and voice our opinions in the meantime.
Raptors Schedule Could Impact On The Future
Posted by James Borbath at 2:58 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
User talk:Merit Badge
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
Bad news (kinda sort-of)...
Dear User Merit Badge,
Listen, please don't be offended; but, I'd really like to abscond your account (actually, just your username) and turn it into a Dummy account. See, your username just seems too, well, official... and I'm concerned that some (less experienced) users might misinterpret that yours is an admin account. (That's why I created the other Dummy accounts.)
I thought I had already snatched this one up; but, I guess you got to it before I did.
You can easily create a new account. In fact, I hope you will.
So, what do you say? --RWSmith (Sysop), 09:08, November 8, 2007 (EST)
P.S. I tried to email you directly; but, your User preferences have it disabled. One more thing... don't feel pressured to just let me have my way... it's totally up to you. I mean it. If you really want to keep this username, we'll just deal with it... as long as you keep in mind that, on occasion (and probably rare, at that) somebody might --just might-- think you're coming across as an admin.
- No response. Done. —RWSmith (Bureaucrat), 21:35, March 25, 2008 (EDT)


text:
HOUSTON — There were moments, especially during the lost season of 2005 when victories were as scarce hereabouts as snowmobiles, that Andre Johnson would wonder whether there wasn't an exit ramp for him somewhere in this freeway-happy town.
"I wouldn't say that there was a time when I said, 'Get me out of here,' " recalled the Texans' receiver laureate. "Had I thought about it? Yeah."
But that wasn't what the man had signed on for when he arrived from Miami in 2003 as the franchise's sticky-fingered future.
"I knew there would be tough times coming to a new franchise," he said, "but you had a chance to be part of something special."
The Texans haven't won a Super Bowl yet but have clinched a return trip to the NFL playoffs and already are assured of their best season (11-1 and counting) since they opened shop in 2002, the year that the Patriots won their first ring.
If Houston beats New England Monday night in Foxborough — which no visitor has managed in a decade of Decembers — it would be well on its way to clinching home advantage throughout the postseason, which would have seemed a long shot even two years ago.
"This is something we've been working for around here for a long time, to put ourselves in a situation like this," remarked Johnson, who has proclaimed the star-spangled showdown as the biggest game in franchise history. "I didn't think it would take 10 seasons for it to happen, but it did, and I'm just enjoying every moment of it."
Elite numbers
Johnson is the only man on the roster who goes back that far, and he's savoring what is shaping up as a career campaign. He has surpassed the 10,000-yard milestone for receiving yards (10,770) and submitted his sixth 1,000-yard season (1,114).
Last month, when Houston survived overtime shootouts with Jacksonville and Detroit, Johnson set an NFL record for yardage in consecutive games with 461, piling up 273 on 14 catches against the Jaguars (including the winning 48-yard touchdown), and 188 on nine against the Lions.
"It's been six years now I've been watching it up close and personal, but every time I think I've seen it all, he goes and does something even to outdo himself before," testified quarterback Matt Schaub.
"He just continues to impress me and wow me as far as what he's able to do on the football field."
Significantly, Johnson is doing it at 31 after missing nine games last year with an uncooperative hamstring that kept him fidgeting in street clothes while his teammates were making their unprecedented run to the playoffs.
"Last year, I was excited, but at the same time, I was down because you're like, man, I know I could be out there helping the team," said Johnson, who returned for the playoffs.
"Those would be the times when I would get down on myself and try to hope that I could hurry up and come back.
"But at the same time, I was excited to see that it was all coming together, that we finally had a chance to make the playoffs. Now, it just makes you appreciate it even more."
The Texans without Johnson would be like the Colts without Reggie Wayne, and his body of work rivals that of any of his counterparts in the game for consistency at a lofty level.
Johnson is the only receiver ever to have at least 60 catches in each of his first eight seasons. His 80.4-yards-a-game average is the highest in history among receivers who've played at least 100 games, and his receptions per game (5.82) are the most for anyone with at least 500.
"Coming into this league, I always said that I wanted to be the best that ever played, but to accomplish that, you have to try to be consistent," said Johnson. "That's my biggest thing, trying to be consistent year in and year out.
"I've battled through a lot of injuries in my career but I always thought that if I could be healthy, that I could go out and put up the big numbers."
Hanging tough
Most impressively, Johnson put them up for a team that didn't have a winning season until three years ago and where his Sunday stats were the sidelight to a defeat. But the 2005 season, when the Texans went 2-14 and Johnson was limited to 63 catches and 688 yards, tested his resolve.
"There were times when I didn't want to get up and come to work," he acknowledged. "It's hard because you're working your butt off and you just can't get the job done. That's the biggest thing I tell the guys. You don't ever want to experience that because it's not a good feeling."
There were better teams that could have promised Johnson more productive outings, but he was determined to stay the course while a toddling franchise became competitive.
"There's always frustration, but that's the thing that makes you grow as a player, as a person," he said. "You've got to find out a lot about yourself — if you're going to be loyal, if you're going to run away from it.
"My thing was, I wanted to stay. I wanted to be a part of something special. I wanted to help this organization get to where it is right now and help it achieve more."
Progress came excruciatingly slowly. Houston went 6-10 in 2006, then 8-8 for two years, and then 9-7 before backsliding to 6-10 in 2010. Still, anything was better than 2-14.
"I really don't think things could have got any worse than what they already were," Johnson reckoned. "Things were coming together and you could just see it."
The arrival of general manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak from the Broncos in 2006 was the turning point. When the Texans brought in Schaub from Atlanta a year later, it took a while for him and Johnson to align themselves.
"When Matt first got here, he would tell me every play why he didn't throw me the ball," Johnson remembered. "It got to a point where we started to see the same things out on the field.
"You just kind of know each other. In the heat of the moment, you know where the ball is going. I'm just glad that I've been able to make plays and come up big in games and I'm glad that he has the faith in me to take a chance of throwing the ball."
Presence and presents
Whenever he isn't stuffing the ball into the belly of Arian Foster, his 1,000-yard running back, Schaub usually is looking for No. 80 downfield.
"The ultimate security blanket," he said. "If push comes to shove and we need a play, I know I'm going to go in his direction."
After last year's injury, the Texans weren't sure whether Johnson could return to his customary top-of-the-line form.
"After what he went through and watching early in the year . . . I think there was some concern on his part and my part," said Kubiak. "We were trying to work through some things, limit the reps, do all the right things to get him back.
"Then all of a sudden we come out of New York [in early October], and since then, it's just been, 'Game on.' "
The Texans are savoring the holiday season now, and Johnson spent Tuesday afternoon at a local Toys 'R' Us store watching a dozen at-risk children fill shopping carts with gifts for themselves and their siblings in 80 seconds as he picked up the $20,000 tab.
"It's a great thing to be able to help people in need," said Johnson, who established his charitable foundation when he was a rookie. "I always said if I was to make it to the NFL I would always give back to the community."
Even if he were wearing a Santa suit, Johnson would be recognizable in Sam Houston's town. If he didn't leave when his team was drilling nothing but dust, he's certainly not leaving in the middle of a gusher.
"I don't plan on going anywhere," he declared.John Powers can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Sold Out
Use the square confetti cookie stencil to decorate cookies, chocolate covered Oreos, fondant cupcake toppers and more! Stencil on the designs with royal icing, airbrushing or even our edible food paint powders. Find tips on decorating with the paint powers on our blog. Grab cookie stencil scrapers and a set of magnets to make using your stencils even easier! See more cookie stencils here.
COUNT: one cookie stencil
DESIGN SIZE: approx. 3/8"
STENCIL SIZE: approx. 5.5" x 5.5"
NOTE: Cookie Countess Cookie Stencils are made of flexible 5mil food grade plastic. They are hand-washable, reusable and made in the USA.
NEED MORE: Multiple quantities are available. If you need more than you are able to add to your cart please email us and we would be happy to check our stock.
Have more questions: see our shipping, general & product FAQ pages.
Save 10% off your first order + get the inside scoop on new items, blog posts and exclusive savings. Become a #BPSsweetie and sign up for our newsletter! Once signed up you'll receive a series of 3 special emails to welcome you!


text:
Lancers follow Hoagland's lead
Waterford - Waterford High School began the day by stopping one losing streak and finished the day by stopping another one.
In between, East Lyme gave it all it could handle before Waterford finally secured a 29-24 Thanksgiving Day football victory - Waterford's third straight in the rivalry.
"I like how it came out,'' said Seth Hoagland, Waterford's junior quarterback. "I just kept thinking about it being the last game for the seniors and that we had to do it for them.''
And it was Hoagland who was the most responsible for the win. His interception of a Mitchell Murphy pass with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter secured the win.
The victory was the first for Waterford on its home field against East Lyme since 1993.
Before the interception, all Hoagland did was run for three touchdowns, pass for another and throw for a pair of conversions.
"When East Lyme took Bishme (Sheppard) away we had to look for another option,'' said Waterford coach Mike Ellis, "and that's where Seth came up big.''
Waterford (4-6) started off on the right foot by winning the coin toss - it had been 0-for-9 this year coming in - and Hoagland got right to work on its first possession, driving the team 32 yards for a touchdown after Kyle Willoughby recovered an East Lyme fumble. Hoagland hit Joe Gustafson for a 13-yard TD pass and Willoughby for the conversion and an 8-0 lead.
East Lyme (2-8) answered right away, with Corey Brimmer capping a 60-yard drive with an eight-yard run and Eric Stirtan running for the tying conversion.
Waterford followed with a 12-play drive that ended with Hoagland scoring from a yard out and hitting Gustafson for the conversion and a 16-8 lead early in the second quarter.
The Vikings scored the next nine points to take a 17-16 lead. First, nose tackle Matt Gillespie dropped Sheppard in the end zone for a safety. Then, Waterford fumbled away a punt and Zane Smallidge recovered for East Lyme. Two plays later Brimmer went 29 yards for a score and Adam Opsahl's extra point gave East Lyme its only lead of the day.
With 1:56 left in the first half, Hoagland drove the Lancers 65 yards on six plays. He scored on a six-yard run and Nik Lehet's point after touchdown gave the lead back to Waterford, 23-17. Hoagland ran 21 yards for a touchdown with seven minutes left in the third quarter for a 29-17 lead.
East Lyme did not go quietly.
With 5:10 left, Sam Counter blocked a Hoagland punt and Gillespie recovered on Waterford's 30. And on a fourth-and-14, Murphy found Dean Beebe for a 33-yard touchdown pass. Opsahl's kick cut the lead to 29-24 with 3:36 left.
East Lyme immediately forced Waterford to punt, getting the ball back at its own 20 with 1:17 left. Murphy completed three of his next five passes to bring the ball to Waterford's 32, but Hoagland's interception sealed the deal.
"We battled offensively and we battled defensively,'' East Lyme coach Paul Tenaglia said. "I thought we did an excellent job on Sheppard and Mattie (Gillespie) was in the backfield all day.''
Hoagland rushed 22 times for 89 yards and completed 8-of-12 passing for another 126 yards. "This is the most I've ever had to run,'' he said.
"You have to credit East Lyme,'' said Ellis. "They took Bishme out of the mix and doubled up on Willoughby. And offensively they were able to move the ball down the field. This was the best I've seen them play all year."
Sheppard did gain 54 yards on 17 carries and Willoughby caught three passes for 47 yards.
Brimmer rushed for 58 yards on 11 carries, Stirtan gained 48 on 16, Murphy was 8-for-21 with 146 yards and Mark Chmielewski (87 yards) and Beebe (89) caught four passes each.
Hoagland and Brimmer won the Palmer Sabilia Awards, as the most valuable players for each team.
East Lyme had won two of its last three coming in, after an 0-6 start.
"We had to forget about everything else,'' said Brimmer. "Everybody put their heart into this one.''
High school referee Tony Gigliotti and NBA referee Josh Tiven
Norwich woman says Harvard 'shamelessly' profits from her slave ancestors' photos
No Obama fan, but Trump could learn from his 'dignified stability'
Chickenpox outbreak entangles parents, students, school in vaccine showdown


text:
POMONA >> Jason Torres of Rancho Cucamonga came for the food.
So did just about everyone else. And there were thousands who attended the Asian American Expo on Saturday at Fairplex.
The event continues today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Dar Tjioe, 25, of Pomona said he also was there for the Asian food — and snacks he could buy.
"It's easy access, all in one place," he said.
But food is not the only item for sale.
You could buy a $40,000 grand piano, made from carbon fiber, not wood. And better yet, it had been reduced to a little below $30,000.
You could find out about luxury car rental — as in Lamborghinis and Ferraris — and both were on display. The price, starting at $349 per day, but there was a 10-percent-off coupon at the expo.
There also were many performances, both musical — dancing and martial arts.
Performers, when not on stage, mingled with the crowd.
Among them was Kelly Seto, 16, of West Covina, a Chinese bamboo flute player who belongs to the Walnut-based String and Bamboo Youth Group.
Kelly, who has been playing the instrument for four years, said her group likes to mix it up with Chinese songs that are thousands of years old and modern Western music.
And there were employees doing the various demonstrations and sampling all the food items for sale.
Johnathan Woo, 19, a Cal Poly Pomona engineering student, likes the crowd and the money provided by his part-time job — handing out food samples.
"This is a very good crowd," he said.
About those free samples: Ever try dried octopus? Hint: It requires a lot of chewing.
How about vacuum freeze-dried durian? Or Vietnamese coffee? Or plum enzyme drink —which according to a brochure "protects the liver."
There were also samples of dried seaweed, walnut pastries and Poppino candy.
The Asian American Expo is held in advance of the Lunar New Year, which will occur on Jan. 31.
On that day, the Year of the Snake ,will be replaced by the Year of the Horse.


text:
Kristin Cavallari may have had an on-screen love affair with Justin Bobby on the just-finished fifth season of "The Hills," but the star told the LA Times on Wednesday that things between them were less heated than they appeared.
"With music and editing they can make it seem that way, but it wasn't romantic with Justin and I at all because I didn't trust him," Kristin said in an interview following the show's Season 5 Part 2 finale, in which the pair seemed to decide to give their budding relationship a chance. "Just because we kissed doesn't mean we were intimate."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Are They Or Aren't They? Hollywood's Hottest Rumored Couples
Instead, she described their current status as "hanging out and talking."
"You're going to have to wait and see what happens on the next season," she said.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Access Top Ten: TV's Leading Ladies You Love To Hate
As for Justin Bobby, he told the newspaper that they weren't "necessarily" in a romantic relationship.
"When we met, it was just kind of nice, and personally for me to be on the show and conversate [sic] with somebody I haven't yet on the show," he said. "We work and do our scenes and see each other and that's that."
The reality star also had some heavy words for ex Audrina Patridge, whom the Times asked him to set the record straight on – had they indeed been a couple?
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Stars & Scenes from 'The Hills' Season 5, Part 2
"Realistically, no," Justin Bobby said. "I've only had two loves of my life and then there's been a whole dating montage."
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Kristin Cavallari: 'Lots Of Drama' Coming Up On 'The Hills'
PLAY IT NOW: 2009 MTV Video Music Awards: Kristin Cavallari - John Mayer Is 'A Nice Guy'
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Kristin Cavallari - The Hills - Reality TV - MTV - TV


text:
This SVG Basketball include both the SVG File and DXF files, for you to use on all of your scrapbook and silhouette products.
These SVG Basketball and DXF Files will work for the following software be sure your software will take the listed formats we sell
* Silhouette Cameo & Portrait Machines.
* Cricut Explore.
* Other DIY Craft Cutters.
These SVG cutting files and DXF cutting files have been tested at the highest quality.
They are cut files with outlines to be used with Silhouette Cameo and Cricut Design Space. These SVG cutting files have been tested at the highest quality.
If you need any help with unzipping, extracting or using these files please contact me as soon as possible. Due to the electronic nature of these files there will be no refunds.
You may not share, sell or re-distribute as is, use in giveaways or freebies, or claim these images as your own.
You may use our SVG Basketball to make finished items for personal use, gifts and finished products you sell.


text:
Champion, Taylor Lift Birds To Win Over Lincoln
SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Adam Champion turned in a quality start, and Jake Taylor did a little bit of everything to carry the Sioux Falls Canaries to a 4-1 win over the Lincoln Saltdogs Wednesday afternoon in front of 3,130 fans at Sioux Falls Stadium.
Champion (3-1) won for the third straight start, holding Lincoln to four hits and just one run in 6 2/3 innings. He retired nine of the last 10 men faced after yielding the game's first run on Mike Provencher's RBI single in the top of the fourth. Champion walked two and struck out four.
Meanwhile, the Canaries' offense took advantage of the limited opportunities offered by former big leaguer and Lincoln starter Joe Bisenius (3-2). Trailing 1-0, Taylor reached on an infield single, and Jared Clark belted a double high off the center field wall to bring Taylor home and tie the game.
In the sixth, Nick Van Stratten tripled with one out and plated on Taylor's go-ahead sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.
The Canaries received a gift-wrapped run in the seventh thanks to a Yasel Gomez throwing error.
In the eighth, Taylor added a solo home run for the Birds' final tally, capping a 2-for-3 afternoon with two RBI and two runs and hiking his season average to .319.
Taylor also contributed behind the plate while making his first start at catcher. He was part of a key strike-'em-out, throw-'em'out double play in the eighth inning after the leadoff batter walked.
Matt Daly relieved Champion in the seventh and tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings before giving way to closer Alan DeRatt for the ninth. DeRatt yielded two base hits to allow a potential tying run to the plate, but he induced Provencher into a 4-6-3, game-ending double play for his seventh save of the year.
Bisenius was effective but took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out nine.
After an off day on Thursday, the Canaries will begin a 10-game road trip through Texas that takes them to Amarillo, Laredo and El Paso across more than 3,200 miles. The first game of three-game series against the Amarillo Sox is at 7:05 p.m. on Friday.
Courtesy: Sioux Falls Canaries


text:
March 18, 2008
The Lipscomb Lady Bisons softball team has combined a lot of work with a little play in Florida the past few days.
After winning three-of-four Atlantic Sun games, the Lady Bisons face one of their biggest challenges Tuesday afternoon when they play a double-header against Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse Florida State.
"For us to get an opportunity to play a program like theirs is an honor for our program," said Lady Bisons coach Kristin Peck. "They have a much storied program. We are going to walk in and hopefully play the way we are capable of and give ourselves a shot.
"We are playing well right now. We have a lot of confidence built up in our last few games. If we can limit our mistakes and go in and hit the ball we are going to do some good things and hang right with them."
The Lady Bisons are 11-12 overall. Florida State is 21-9, 12-7 at home.
"They make a lot of things happen with their athleticism and speed," Peck said. "We have a challenge ahead of us, but it is a fun challenge to put up our best against their best and see what happens."
Christen Campbell (6-4, 4.10) will start the first game for the Lady Bisons. Alaina Jacobson (3-2, 4.04) or Kim Jacobson (2-6, 5.47) will start the second game.
"Alaina and Kim work well as a combination," Peck said. "We are not 100 percent sure about the second game. We will kind of see how game one goes."
The Lady Bisons split with UNF Friday, losing 1-0 and winning 5-4. Saturday they swept Jacksonville by scores of 4-3 and 4-0.
"To go on the road in our conference and walk way with three-out-of-four games is definitely a good weekend and a great start," said Peck. "We feel good about how we are playing right now. There are still a lot of little things we need to work on, but the way we are playing right now speaks for itself.
"UNF is a team that is going to do good things in our conference. Jacksonville is a very much improved team from a year ago."
Alaina Jacobson was one of the stars in the A-Sun games. She won two games in two outings, one as a starter, and one as a reliever. Jacobson allowed only one earned run in compiling an ERA of 0.8. She threw a complete game, four-hit shutout against Jacksonville in a 4-0 decision, the first shutout of the year for the Lady Bisons, and pitched 4.1 innings against UNF in the win there.
"Alaina works hard all the time," Peck said. "She is in great shape. She is one of those people who are very dedicated to the little things.
"Alaina is not a strikeout pitcher. She has to rely on her defense. A lot of the balls put in play against her are dinky little pop ups and weak ground balls. If we can limit the big hits against her she is going to be very successful."
This and that: Center fielder Lauren Dortwegt had two hits in each game against Jacksonville. Shortstop Abby Keese had two hits in one of the Jacksonville games. They are tied for the team lead in multiple-hit games with eight each.
Keese hit a solo home run with two outs in the seventh against UNF for a 5-4 win. She has eight home runs for the season, six short of last season's 14 as a freshman.
Keese and third baseman Kellie Sirus both have six-game hitting streaks. Keese ended a 12-game hitting streak two weeks ago, the longest on the team. Sirus also ended a 10-game streak, the second longest on the team.


text:
The annual "Mosi" show as many folks call it hosted by Florida Frag Swap is going to be at a new location this year. This is there face book page
They typically have a great raffle and all of our favorite local stores and many of the other great vendors from florida and other states are at this one day show so don't miss it.
Its a great chance to see the newest hobby related stuff and get some awesome deals.
I personally go to this show every year.
If your interested in helping at the show that is a possibility as well, and if you become a FSS member at or before the show you get in for free I believe.
I am going, and our Club has moved our Sea Oats planting and BEACH BBQ meeting to the following weekend "more to come in a different post on that" so that our members can enjoy both events. If your looking to go and want to share a ride or just meet there post here.
SEE YOU THERE fellow REEFERS.


text:
Last year (almost to the day) I posted a recipe for Fruity Pebble Treats after I had gotten "glutened" by eating a rice krispy treat – silly me for missing the MALT flavor ingredient (see my post about the new gluten-free Rice Krispies here). So instead of making the same mistake twice, I followed the advice of one of my readers, Kristi, and made the crispy treats using Fruity Pebbles (I've also made them with the cocoa pebbles and both are awesome!). Before making these I called Post to double-check that these two cereals were in fact gluten-free and was assured that they were gluten-free. You can check out the original post here.
A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from Post with the following information:
Thought you might be interested in hearing that longtime favorite Post cereals, Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles, are gluten-free and can be enjoyed on their own or in gluten-free treats!
They also generously sent me a box of each the Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles to review and offer a giveaway to one of my lucky readers (see below). I decided that I would make something with the Fruity Pebbles because as I found out last year Bryan really really likes the Cocoa Pebbles and pretty much that means those were off-limits and were his to enjoy. 😉 (I'm such a nice girlfriend huh?)
And the following is from the press release that was attached:
Beginning in January, Post Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles cereals will lower sugar content and establish a new upper limit of 9 grams per serving for Fruity Pebbles; 10 grams per serving for Cocoa Pebbles. In addition to lowered sugar levels, all Pebbles varieties are also deemed by FDA regulations to be Cholesterol Free, an Excellent Source of Vitamin D, Low Fat and Providing 10 Essential Vitamins and Minerals.
Pebbles, a rice-based cereal, will also be receiving Gluten Free certification, a relatively unique distinction in the cereal category. In response to increased concerns over celiac disease and products containing wheat gluten, the brand went through a rigorous FDA approval process to achieve Gluten Free status on all Pebbles boxes.
"Post Foods is dedicated to providing both nutritious and delicious cereals for people of all ages, and we're pleased to announce improvements to the Pebbles brand that will assist in our ongoing efforts to improve kids' nutrition," said Bart Adlam, President of Post Foods. "By lowering our sugar content and receiving Gluten Free certification, we hope moms feel confident serving a cereal that combines the fun and heritage of Bedrock with great taste that kids love. "
Additionally, Post Foods is working in tandem with the Children's Food & Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), a program launched by the Council of Better Business Bureaus to help tackle the issue of childhood obesity. A progress report released Dec. 15th by the CFBAI shows Post Foods is demonstrating excellent compliance with the established pledge to advertise healthier foods to kids and continues to achieve steady progress in promoting products that are better for them.
Now you will see "Gluten-Free" listed right on the boxes so now there is no second guessing if these are gluten-free or not. You can now make those delicious crispy treats or better yet you can try one of their many other recipes such as these Yabba Dabba Doo Cookies (Pebble Cookie Crispies). The recipe listed on their website is not gluten-free however, it is super easy to convert this recipe to be gluten-free. Below is my adaptation of Post's original recipe which is a great recipe for both kids and adults:
Yabba Dabba Doo Cookies
1 pkg. Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix- such as Betty Crocker* (If using this cake mix, add two teaspoons of vanilla)
1/2 cup Oil
1/4 cup Water
1 large Egg
2 1/2 cups Fruity or Cocoa* Pebbles Cereal (*if using Cocoa Pebbles use a gluten-free chocolate cake mix)
Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl mix the egg, oil, and water until well combined. Add in the cake mix and mix until combined with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Once everything is combined add in the Pebbles and mix well.
Drop tablespoons of batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet (I always line my pans with either a Silpat or with parchment paper) about two inches apart. Bake for 11 minutes or until cookies are beginning to brown.
Cool cookies on a wire rack – makes about 4 dozen.
I had a box of the Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix on hand however you could use another gluten-free yellow cake mix or better yet try this awesome recipe from the lovely Carrie at Ginger Lemon Girl who created her own gluten-free vanilla cake mix.
Now for the giveaway! Who wants to win a box of each the officially Gluten-Free Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles?!? It's pretty simple to enter just follow the instructions below by Monday June 13th at 11:59 pm:
You MUST leave a separate comment for each entry. Each person may enter up to four times total. The boxes of cereal will be sent directly from Post. There will be one winner. The winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize. If the winner does not respond in that time frame a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is open to anyone in the continental U.S.
Ways to enter:
- Follow Creatively_GF on Twitter
- "Like" Creative Cooking Gluten Free on Facebook
- Subscribe to this blog and receive e-mails with new posts (top right of this blog)
- Mention this giveaway on Twitter (include @Creatively_GF) or on Facebook (mention @Creative Cooking Gluten Free)
Thank you to the lovely people over at Post for providing these samples and offering a giveaway to one of my readers.


text:
#Email #contact #software
Litmus makes your email better
Build, edit, and instantly preview your emails across 70+ clients. Plus, automatically sync your email from Litmus to your email platform in a single click, drastically speeding up your development time.
Catch costly errors
Test the critical elements that impact your email performance with a simple, automated check. Catch broken links, images, and tracking, as well as test campaign load time, scan your subject line for improvements, and more.
Get full visibility
Get full visibility into every aspect of your email program. Create private Litmus teams to manage access and monitor usage across clients, customers, or departments.
Accelerate campaign performance
Discover which email clients are popular with your audience to fine-tune testing and optimization efforts, and utilize engagement and geographic data to inform design, send time, segmentation, and copywriting decisions.
Reach the inbox, not the spam folder
Quickly identify potential issues preventing your email from being delivered, and use actionable in-product advice to improve your chances of reaching the inbox.
Never send a broken email again
Join over 250,000 other companies and use Litmus alongside your existing email tools to send email with confidence, every time.
Start using Litmus. Sign up for a free account in 30 seconds.


text:
Detail Images
Current Color
Free 2-Day shipping on orders over $50. Learn More
Select style & size:Select options
3 Reviews
- Item #YAK0068
Tech Specs
Gearhead Help
Tech Specs
- Reviews
What do you think about this product?
Have questions about this product?
A very strong roof rack bracket
These brackets are the way to attach a roof rack to a camper shell. You are asking for trouble if you get one of those racks that are attached to the top of the shell with screws.
Your roof racks won't work their way off these brackets because the lip on each end will prevent that. These brackets come with 1 inch stainless steel bolts. If your shell has that so-called insulated roof, you will need to buy 2 inch stainless bolts to deal with the thicker shell and be careful to not over-tighten. A brad point bit is best for drilling the fiberglass, and you will find that the fiberglass wears out the drill bit quickly, it will be pretty much expired by the time you put four brackets on. Spend lots of time with careful layout work. Once you drill holes in the shell you can't take them back out. Check that the surface where you want to mount the bracket is flat. I had one slightly curved surface on the shell where I wanted to mount a bracket, learning this after I had drilled the holes. I had to cut and weld the bracket to get a slight bend in it so that the gasket would seal against the shell properly on both bolts. This problem occurred because I wanted the rear rack to be very close to the back of the shell to facilitate loading a boat on the roof rack.
Good Product
Works as advertized.
Yakima Side Loader Bracket
Ideal for attaching any rack to your camper shell. Goes on easily. I use them for both my Yakima rack and an old generic one.


text:
Another Kiosk tale
A month ago I was meeting friends to have lunch at the French Bakery, so I used the Hilltop Parking lot. Money was inserted in the machine to cover one hour, but then I realized that more time would be needed. So two minutes later more money was inserted to extend the time to 1-1/2 hours.
Both tickets were placed on my dashboard. But each ticket showed the individual expire time, not the total. A parking meter, of course, would have combined the time. I continued with my lunch plans and had a delightful time.
Upon returning to my car before the extended expire time, I was greeted with a $26 ticket. The ticket showed it was written 10 minutes before the extended expire time.
Feeling I had been wronged, I followed the instructions to contest the ticket. A phone call assured me that the issue would be reviewed. Copies of the ticket and the kiosk stubs were sent to the City of Philadelphia BAA with a letter of explanation.
I have just received a letter from the Hearing Examiner of the City of Philadelphia Parking Violation Branch stating that my ticket has been dismissed. My time and effort proved worthwhile, and the system although a bother, worked.
It's a shame that these kiosks are so user unfriendly.
Ann Hunter
Blue Bell
Narrow views start while young
When I was at school, an outside guest gave a lecture during a 40 minute time period. A student came in at the back of the classroom for the last five minutes of the presentation. When the question and answer period started, that student stated that he disagreed with everything the speaker had said.
Is the concept of intellectual integrity ever raised in the field of education? It frequently seems that students are taught what to think, not sound thinking skills. In a political discussion, I often hear someone joke about the opposition's position, call them stupid, or a racist, without ever having a meaningful discussion. In another attempt to dodge real analysis of the facts, a person will give a quick opinion and then tell everyone how smart he is. Learning how to win an argument is not consistent with intellectual integrity.
The current polarization in our political process may have its roots in allowing students to rely on intuitive thought. Immediately thinking that the other guy is an extremist nullifies any attempt at deductive reasoning.
As a minimum, students should be taught how to verify facts, not to cherry-pick statistics that support their position, not to exaggerate the opposite opinion, to understand details while avoiding labels, that events have multiple causes, and that a good short-term action may not be right for the long run.
Throughout history, students have been taught what to think which makes it difficult for them to accept new ideas and reach proper solutions.
Glenn Watkins
Chestnut Hill
'Raucous guffaws' at hilarious article
My husband came up the stairs. He heard my raucous guffaws all the way on the first floor.
"What are you laughing at?" he asked.
"Oh, Mike Todd has done it again!" ("Living with a werewolf is a nightmare," March 28)
"Oh, good. I'll look forward to it. "
Our scintillating conversation continued as my giggles and chortles got louder and louder. As soon as he's done reading it, I'll be sure it goes to my daughter in Pittsburgh. All of it was Mike's usual knee-slapping quality, but two parts made me especially undignified — "I tried to flex hard enough to shred my pants and shirt into tatters, but my face just turned red instead of Incredible-Hulk green." Had I been drinking anything, it would have come out my nose; that's how hard I laughed.
And then Mike's celebrating his 365th consecutive terrible night's sleep … oh, and the way Zack, his son, wakes up. Yes, yes.
My granddaughters double-team the effort to create bags under their parents' eyes, and are quite effective. Your column should cheer them up. Fatigue loves company.
Thank you, as always!
Janet Mather
Chestnut Hill
Chestnut Hill is welcoming to all
I admire the choices you make in the Local Life section. When I was a corporate editor, I always tried to emulate the work you do at the Local. I would always look closely at the stories and photos that I was publishing to be sure that different voices were being presented and that I was being inclusive of all of our communities.
I believe that Chestnut Hill has often been perceived as a white, wealthy and exclusive community. You have always made sure there are stories about people of all races, religions and walks of life represented in the Local. In other words, you have always been inclusive.
I don't know whether you think about this or if it's just sewn into your moral fiber. But when people open the Local, they see that the community at least tries to be welcoming to all. Maybe it's because I grew up in Mt. Airy … but I have a deep appreciation for diversity, and I couldn't live or be part of something that isn't diverse.
Carole Verona
Freelance writer
Lafayette Hill
'Irish Philadelphia' article 'wonderful'
You did a wonderful, comprehensive job in writing up information about the Irish in Chestnut Hill (March 21 issue) and in alluding to much of the historical material I have presented in my pictorial history, "Irish Philadelphia," published in the Images of America Series.
I know that Jane Duffin, the editor of the Irish Edition, was really happy to see her mother and father's wedding photo reproduced so artfully in the paper. One thing that was not quite accurate is that Lois Duffin is Jane Duffin's sister-in-law. Lois Duffin owns and operates the orchid business with Jim Duffin, her husband who is Jane Duffin's brother.
I think the information you provided to your local readers will surprise many since the Irish are so mainstream now in so many businesses and the professions and as a presence in your local boards and charities. It was not always so, and the Irish as an ethnic group have risen to the top in almost every part of American life.
Also, I want to thank you for identifying the St. Joseph Sister, M. Anita MacDonald, who was president of Chestnut Hill College. I had difficulty finding out her name when I was writing the book.
Again thank you for this wonderful tribute to the local Irish. I know Jim McGill (some at the Irish Center call him the "Mayor of Chestnut Hill") is very pleased with the article and your mention of him and his favorite spot in the world, the Irish Center, aka the Commodore John Barry Club.
Marita J. Krivda
East Oak Lane


text:
I have been spending some time setting the lash on my pinion/ring gear. My original axle housing was cracked and I replaced the halves. So the original shims don't mean a lot. I set up to measure on the pinion.
With no ring gear shims at all, I measure more than 0.025" lash.
With a 0.010" shim the lash is 0.018"
With a 0.015" shim the lash is 0.014"
With a 0.025" shim the lash measured 0.010"/0.012"/0.013" --- 2 to 3 thou of run out.
With a 0.030" shim the lash measured 0.003"/0.005"/0.006"
Then with the 0.030" shim I measured the lash on each tooth. Actually only 3 teeth have the 0.003" the rest are either 0.005" or 0.006".
I checked for burrs on the ring gear and differential surface. Didn't fell any and I ran a flat stone over and nothing shines up.
Thought that maybe tomorrow I'd rotate the shims and see if it stays the same.
Question is --- is the 0.003" too tight? I'm thinking that I'll just use the 0.025" shims and call it a day.
I have a 1926 Tudor which I drive maybe 3000 miles a year. The pinion and ring gear are a 'MARK' and are about 4 years old. The wear pattern is very good.
Thanks for the help
Personally, I'd use the .015 shim setting the lash at 14 thou. Its really impressive than your run out is only 2 to 3 thou. Done a lot of rear ends and learned that more clearance is better. The quietest rear end had 15 thou lash.
Use whatever shims make the gears run smoothly with each other, with reasonably full contact. Roll them together by hand and when you feel no discernable engagement/disengagement of teeth you've got it. At that point the final shim thickness is not important, only that you have a smooth mesh.
I agree with Richard. Use the .015 shim. I mistakenly set the gears tighter ans ended up with drivetrain noise .
Changed to about the same .014 lash and had a quiet running gear set.
Bob Jablonski
I set mine up like it says in the Ford Service book. They don't use shims or dial calipers! Never had a problem!


text:
Become a Nurse >> Browse Articles >> Nursing School
5 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Nursing Education
Hollis Forster, RNC-NP
Anyone who has completed nursing school can tell you where they have floundered in their education. These could be big mistakes, the school they chose, or small mistakes, "boy, I didn't read that instructor very well." But, here are five possible pit-falls that, in my experience, might be worth side-stepping…
• Gain some first hand knowledge of the field before choosing it as a career path
Having experience with the nursing profession through volunteering, knowing friends or family involved in the field, reading, etc. This will help avoid disappointments about the basics of the career (what, how and when). When I finished nursing school, there was a couple in my class who graduated with wonderful grades, passed the RN exam and within weeks opened a nursery (as in garden) in their community. Well, nursing-nursery, it's a common mistake. Did they know what they were getting into?
• Make a careful assessment of your career goals, short and long term
Look at your goals, to choose a direction that will most effectively work for you and your family. It's becoming easier to complete the A.D.N. (Associate Degree in Nursing) and certification programs of nursing, because of the advance of on-line courses and other flexible alternatives to traditional class work. This makes it possible to complete one rung of the educational ladder and then work while traveling to the next, but knowing your goals and tailoring your education to the ultimate goal will save time and probably money in the long run.
• Go straight through to higher degrees if your goal is set there
If floor nursing is not for you, if you have your heart set on administration work, or other avenues of nursing that demand a Master's degree, then begin a program that will get you there directly. Starting as an LPN and working your way up may only be frustrating. If you must work (and most of us, must) during the time it takes to achieve a Master's degree, consider arranging an assistant position in the field you really want to pursue instead of working in a local acute care setting or physician's office. Although, I recognize that experience on the Med-surg floor of a hospital or as a medical assistant in am ambulatory care setting can add value to any career you plan to enter.
• Avoid changing schools and leaving too much time between achieving goals
This "pit-fall" may be very similar to the one above, but I feel it is worth mentioning separately. When, or if, you change schools during an educational path, there will be classes that the new school will not accept, work experience that you might get credit for in one school may not be accepted by another and most schools (even if you are two classes from your degree) will insist that you take a minimum amount of credits from them before you graduate with a degree in their name, so be careful about choosing your school and diligent about completing a degree or certificate before moving on to the next.
• Accept that nursing school will be a MAJOR part of your life
On the first day of nursing school, my instructors said, "Don't expect to work, or have a relationship while you are in this program." That was many years ago, and programs have become much more "user friendly." However, it is safe to say that nursing school is incredibly intense and very time consuming. Between the clinical and didactic hours and the out- of- class studying time, it is, to say the least, demanding. Of course, there are everyone has family obligations, and many people work while going to nursing school, but take care not to expect too much of yourself during this period. Don't let "burn-out" affect you before you have completed your education.
To pay the bills, look for a flexible job that allows you to give the hours you need to class and study time. If you can get a position in the nursing field, you may get some credits for job experience from your program, but if not that, you can get the experience you will need to go right into a job after you complete your degree.
There are probably many other "mistakes," or "pit-falls" that are not mentioned here or that you can imagine, write your thoughts on this subject as a response to this article and help others avoid these issues on their way to their nursing niche.
Quiz Series:
Is an ADN Right for You?
What's Your Nursing Degree IQ?
More quizzes…


text:
Erin Lucas has broken away from her title as The City starlet, and moved on to acting! The NYC socialite teamed with StyleCaster.com for a short film series bringing together the best of fashion, music, photography, charity and film.
Erin stars opposite Adi Neumann in the steamy, short flick "Bonnie+Bonnie," which airs on Nov. 18 on StyleCaster. Set to "No Need To Be Rude" by The Black Hollies, the film is a new take on the classic Bonnie and Clyde partnership, following two female thieves and lovers whose doorman inadvertently stumbles upon their secret life of crime.
Sound off in the comments below!
Join the conversation


text: Develop your driving skills and gain a greater experience and understanding of vehicle control, obstacle handling and how to assess different environments. Learning Skid Control techniques and Collision Avoidance is great fun and educational - a must for all drivers!. Allow our team of experts to educate you on becoming a better driver; one who anticipates, plans and executes a safe driving practice on our deteriorating roads. We also provide an Anti hijacking course.


text:
Call Us on 03702 187042
Need help? Call us on local rate
03702 187042
Please consult the measuring guides for the relevant product for instructions on measuring your width.
Please consult the measuring guides for the relevant product for instructions on measuring your drop.
Direct blinds uses Paypal Braintree to authenticate your payments which enables us to ensure your details are processed using the most advanced secure technologies available. Transactions use the "Secured by MasterCard" and "Verified by Visa" services from MasterCard and Visa to further enhance fraud prevention.
Posted same day by first class post
Take Advantage of our free service to guarantee your colour match and avoid disappointment.
The Zambezi range of wooden Venetian blinds comes in different natural shades of timber. This range is one of our most popular choice of the quality wooden blind.
Add a touch of luxury to any room with an attractive Zambezi 50 Ash real wood blind.
For more information for your product, please click below
Expertly made to measure in our factories we aim to get your new blind, or curtain, to you safely and quickly.
By JanePW
02 June 2018
Bought two of these - really nice and look great.
By TM
19 December 2017
As described, does the job, thanks
By stuart bamber
14 October 2017
very pleased with quality of the blinds i had chosen
By Jackie Hume
08 October 2017
I've always has white blinds but decided on a color to match the furniture in the bathroom.
So glad I did, they look great.
By Sarah Willis
02 April 2017
Great service - lovely blinds - highly recommended
Zambezi 50mm Ash
Real Wood
Product ID: DB-WSB0560
From £18.98
Why not take advantage of the fact that you can get up to ten sample items at a time !
Unfortunately your sample was not added to your basket. You can only add one sample per product and upto a maximum of 10 samples.


text:
Website with free solutions to math textbooks
Everything from basic math up through high school!
Moderators: Bob Hazen, Theodore, elliemaejune
4 posts • Page 1 of 1
Website with free solutions to math textbooks
I just found this site, http://www.slader.com, that has solutions and explanations to popular textbooks from Pre-Algebra to Calculus. It's perfect for being able to check over your student's work or have them self check. The site relies on peer sharing, so not all books have solutions. But, if your student's book isn't answered, they can contribute their past homework and get paid for it. How cool is that?
There was an episode of Shark Tank that featured a business like this. Do you know if these are the same people?
Oh, my bad. I looked it up and the Shark Tank episode was for a class notes trading website Note Hall. I guess that wouldn't be applicable here.
4 posts • Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


text:
Reclaiming the Bedroom: 5 Reclaimed Headboards
The more I see reclaimed furniture the more I'm inspired to introduce some into my home. The bedroom seems a great place to start! Here are 5 reclaimed headboards that are sure to inspire you!
1. Reclaimed Headboard photographed by Rolald Persson via Apartment Therapy. The white bedding looks so crisp against the natural raw wood and I love the white modern 'n" perched on top of the headboard!
2. Daniel Bodenmiller Rough-Hewn Reclaimed Headboard via HGTV. This reclaimed headboard has a natural modern refined look.
3. Dreamy Whites Reclaimed Doors Headboard via HGTV. Salvaged doors can look great as a headboard, just remember to coat them with a sealer to prevent flaky paint from falling into your bed!
4. DIY Reclaimed Headboard by Lindsey Smith via Design Sponge. Lindsey's DIY headboard is an inspiration. The wavy cut shape gives the reclaimed wood a softer look.
5. Reclaimed Headboard Plans from Ana White. If you are handy, Ana White offers plans for a reclaimed headboard. You can find reclaimed wood at most salvage yards.
Images: as linked above


text:
Will the Voting Machines Get It Right?By Chris Gonsalves | Posted 2008-01-02 Print
Colorado is the latest state to pull the plug on electronic voting machines due to accuracy and security concerns. Who's next?
Electronic voting was supposed to solve the vexing balloting problems that plagued the 2000 presidential election. But as the 2008 primary season kicks off, many states are still wrestling with the accuracy and security of high-tech voting machines, and critics are calling for a return to paper ballots while the mess is sorted out.
Colorado this week became the latest state to pull the plug on electronic voting after election officials there deemed devices from several vendors unfit. Lack of password protection, programming errors and an error rate of better than 1 percent scuttled plans to use gear from Sequoia Voting Systems, Election Systems and Software, and Hart InterCivic, according to state officials.
"I was surprised," Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman told the Associated Press. "It's an awful position to be put in, but I feel strongly it's important that this equipment be secure and accurately count a vote."
Colorado isn't the only state caught throwing taxpayer money at election technology still in various stages of beta release. Shortly after the Florida election debacle of 2000 the election that brought the expression "hanging chad" into the national vernacular Congress passed the $3 billion "Help America Vote" initiative which requires all states to have electronic voting machines in place by 2010.
Computer technology has been employed for decades, largely to scan and compile votes made on manual punch cards. The electronic voting technology in question today however, obviates manual ballots in favor of touch-screens or employs optical scanners to tabulate votes. Almost since the current generation of voting gear arrived, critics have taken issue with systems that leave no permanent record of a vote and provide no way to audit an election if errors or fraud are suspected.
Matt Zimmerman, staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation says many states rushed to comply with the federal mandates and are now forced to confront systems that may compromise the legitimacy of their elections.
"Nobody wanted to be the next Florida," Zimmerman says. "And that's what the vendors promised them."
What they got, however, was various collections of untested systems with problems that have become increasingly evident as the machines are used and tested, he says.
"It's pretty courageous that many states are taking the difficult step and getting rid of bad machines at this point," Zimmerman says.
Coffman said it's still unclear how Colorado which has spent some $41 million in federal grants to roll out new electronic voting gear for the state's 3 million registered voters, according to published reports will count votes for its presidential caucuses, part of the Super Tuesday primaries on Feb. 5. Coffman tells the AP that state and county officials are considering mail-in ballots or traditional paper ballots at polling places.
Page 2: Security Concerns
IT Solutions Builder TOP IT RESOURCES TO MOVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD
Which topic are you interested in?
Data Storage
IT Management
What is your company size?
What is your job title?
What is your job function?
Searching our resource database to find your matches...


text:
Desktop Embed
Offer listeners the richest experience by displaying all metadata (Artist, Song and Album cover) in the SGplayer. The 5 most recent songs are displayed below the current song's metadata. A 3rd pane is optional for companion banner ads.
Popout Player
Take advantage of the SGplayer's mobile detection by using the popout version of the SGplayer. The popout link will direct mobile listeners to the mobile version of the player and desktop listeners to the desktop version.
Mobile Layout
Give your mobile listeners a full screen experience with the SGplayer's mobile layout. The mobile player can be delivered to all listeners or just mobile listeners using device auto-detection.
Video Grid Layout
A video centric layout for podcasting and live feeds alike. The layout scales to the embedded area and provides a grid menu for selecting from available content.
Inline Layout
Minimalist interface for playback of singular audio or video sources. Responsively designed to fit the height and width of the embedded area, with source configuration available via URL.
HLS with Instream Metadata
The SGplayer is compatible with HTML5 HLS audio and video streams. All metadata functionality applies to HLS streams as well.
Custom SGplayer Skins
Support for client developed custom styling for your SGplayer or use StreamGuys professional services to create a custom player skin.
Google DFP Video Preroll
Serve video pre-rolls using SGplayer's integration with Google DFP.


text:
Obama 'deeply concerned' by Egyptian military's removal of Morsi
President Barack Obama is "deeply concerned" by the Egyptian Armed Forces' decision to remove President Mohamed Morsi from power Wednesday and hopes to see the military quickly return authority to a democratic government.
"The United States is monitoring the very fluid situation in Egypt, and we believe that ultimately the future of Egypt can only be determined by the Egyptian people," Obama said in a statement released nearly four hours after the Egyptian military announced it had removed Morsi from his post. Obama spent part of the afternoon leading a meeting in the Situation Room with members of his national security team, including Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and National Security Adviser Susan Rice, who started her current job on Monday.
"Nevertheless, we are deeply concerned by the decision of the Egyptian Armed Forces to remove President Morsi and suspend the Egyptian constitution. I now call on the Egyptian military to move quickly and responsibly to return full authority back to a democratically elected civilian government as soon as possible through an inclusive and transparent process, and to avoid any arbitrary arrests of President Morsi and his supporters," he continued.
(PHOTOS: Reactions and scenes from Egypt)
The president said he's also directed appropriate departments and agencies to review their aid to Egypt, given that some rules say that aid cannot go to governments taken over by military coup.
"Since the current unrest in Egypt began, we have called on all parties to work together to address the legitimate grievances of the Egyptian people, in accordance with the democratic process, and without recourse to violence or the use of force," he said, and the United States continues to believe that the best way to achieve stability is with a "democratic political order with participation from all sides and all political parties — secular and religious, civilian and military."
(Watch POLITICO report: Obama's Egypt options)
During the current "uncertain period," the administration expects the Egyptian military "to ensure that the rights of all Egyptian men and women are protected, including the right to peaceful assembly, due process, and free and fair trials in civilian courts," Obama said. "Moreover, the goal of any political process should be a government that respects the rights of all people, majority and minority; that institutionalizes the checks and balances upon which democracy depends; and that places the interests of the people above party or faction."
"The voices of all those who have protested peacefully must be heard – including those who welcomed today's developments, and those who have supported President Morsi," he added. In the interim, I urge all sides to avoid violence and come together to ensure the lasting restoration of Egypt's democracy."
(Also on POLITICO: Egypt painfully familiar ground for Obama)
Finally, he said, looking at the longer-term move toward democracy in Egypt: "No transition to democracy comes without difficulty, but in the end it must stay true to the will of the people. An honest, capable and representative government is what ordinary Egyptians seek and what they deserve. The longstanding partnership between the United States and Egypt is based on shared interests and values, and we will continue to work with the Egyptian people to ensure that Egypt's transition to democracy succeeds."


text:
The unConference for women geeks
ahhhhh #ShesGeeky you blow my mind so hard!!! amazing conversations. all day long. with honest, thoughtful, smart, talented women. <3! idneyMiller24:37pm via Web
aprilmpls2:18pm via Seesmic
Got to teach the Monty Hall Problem and Public Key Cryptography to an 11y/o girl today. Thanks to @GiTMSP, @shesgeeky, and @Clockwork_Tweet.
amandaesque2:27pm via Tweetbot for iOS
Another phenomenal #shesgeeky! Thank you so much @GiTMSP for hosting such an amazing event.


text:
Parent Directory | Revision Log
|Links to HEAD:
|(view) (download) (as text) (annotate)
Fix bugs #519554 and #519488 - Update umount instructions
Fix bug #496862 - Only yaboot, thanks to Vladimir Romanov
update handbooks for lazy unmount, bug 361561, thanks to swift for the patches
Update the PPC64 handbook for the autobuilds. Major version bump for this release. Fixes bug 260403, bug 292726, and bug 234310.
As announced on the list (http://archives.gentoo.org/gentoo-doc/msg_e721be404c6a5ae8ce5c5bf02f45381c.xml), assume all arches are using the libata framework, so sd* everywhere. includes updating block device and partition descriptions. also added a new included file for boot config (starting sshd, hdparm, etc). synced up several wayward files, including sparc. also changed/dropped usage of some now useless keys, since everyone's using sd*. lots of intensive, invasive changes. and i never even used sed once.
release time. note that since this is beta1, the release dir and stage/media names have been adjusted accordingly. also, the handbooks are marked with a disclaimer=draft, so once the final is out, that will be removed and the release names adjusted. in the mean time, these are live. the beta is officially released. no, it's not april fools, but it is april 1st. :)
made Open Firmware usage consistent for all handbooks and translations, as suggested by grahl and rane on IRC, and approved by JoseJX. s/openfirmware/Open Firmware/g, so no revbump.
2007.0 release is here; final changes and new docs
2006.1 networked docs are in. portage handbook still untouched per separate bugs. thanks to all the hard work, guys. blame me if something is wrong (and please fix quickly) :)
Fix from #126333
Handbook for 2006.0, "Chuck Norris can divide by zero"
Bind-mounting /dev is now part of the common instructions
#105646 bind-mount /dev before chrooting
Removed kernel version from bootloader's label
Refreshed docs for 2005.1-r1 release (See #102128)
#110770 s/folowing/following/
#103232, `cp System.map /boot` is not needed
s/untill/until/, tx to jakub for reporting
Substitute tabs with two spaces
#88894 - Updates to PPC64 wrt IBM systems
By request of chaggy_ibm, one of JFSs developers, add that any JFS root filesystem must have a "ro" kernel option passed so that it can replay its log before mounting read-write
Updating docos to 2005.0
#75093 - PPC64 Handbook updates including partitioning fix, kernel config fix and an example yaboot.conf
Separation of Gentoo Handbook into Current and 2004.3
#71494 - Unmount bind-mounted /dev
#71495 - Updated yaboots config, added confirmation on creation of new filesystem
Converted dates to YYYY-MM-DD format
Moving 2004.3 documentation
Adding version/date information in pages
Fix english grammer issues
Exit from the mountpoint before unmounting as reported by John Holden
Like cam said, its reboot instead of rebooting
Forgot cvs adding for ppc64
This form allows you to request diffs between any two revisions of this file. For each of the two "sides" of the diff, select a symbolic revision name using the selection box, or choose 'Use Text Field' and enter a numeric revision.
|ViewVC Help
|Powered by ViewVC 1.1.20


text: It's Tuesday morning, the day after Labor Day. Classes won't start in earnest at Middlebury College for another six days. Today, however, is the first full day of activities for first-year students who arrived on campus yesterday. So here I am at a reception, carrying out my role as faculty member introducing myself to parents of these new students. I sip coffee and make conversation, sometimes asking questions, sometimes answering them, and sometimes just listening to nervous banter while trying to be reassuring and friendly.


text:
Nominees for 2012 ACM Awards to Be Announced This Week
For the first time ever, the Academy of Country Music is taking a totally different spin on the way they unroll their awards. This year, they're hitting the internet and announcing the 2012 ACM Awards nominees on Facebook and Twitter, with the bulk of the nominations being unveiled during a digital press conference on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 AM PT.
Co-hosting the awards this year will be Reba McEntire and her friend and fellow country great Blake Shelton. Because of the nature of the announcement of nominees, fans are able to feel much more involved in the overall process, even before the show airs.
To further engage fans, the Academy is offering up a chance for a few fortunate fans to announce the nominees for Entertainer of the Year. For a chance to be one of the chosen few, a fan just has to submit a video of himself or herself announcing the artist they think deserves the title this year. The Academy will choose a few to air during the press conference on Jan. 26.
This year marks the 47th year of the ACM Awards, which will take place Sunday, April 1 at 8PM ET at MGM's Grand Garden Arena and be featured on a live broadcast on CBS.
Watch Video of Reba McEntire Talking about 2012 ACM Awards