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A linguistics professor was lecturing to his English class one day. "In English," he said, "a double negative forms a positive. In some languages, though, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative."
A voice from the back of the room piped up, "Yeah, right."
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Weekend Joke
Something for fellow language lovers.
4 comments:
I LOVE this one! Probably because I'm a language nerd, but still. XD May I share this?ReplyDelete
Of course! It isn't mine but I saw it in a variety of places so didn't give attribution. It is just one of those jokes that floats around. Enjoy! :-)ReplyDelete
I love it! I'd never heard this one before. I'm still laughing!ReplyDelete
LOL, I'm a language nerd too. I will have to share that one with my language nerd friends. ;)ReplyDelete
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Orbital elevator technology could become a serious reality despite the fact that progress over the last ten years has been less than promising. The individuals involved with the LiftPort Space Elevator project believe that humanity is not that far away from designing a usable surface to orbit infrastructure. While there are those that remain skeptical, the project does show promise. I had tons of questions when I first heard of this. How does it work? What's the difference between a 'space elevator' and 'orbital elevator'. Is this technologically feasible? Is there going to be actual elevator music on the way to the moon (if so, count me out)? Here's a little information I've discovered based on my research thus far. Let me know what you think of all of this. I personally think it has potential.
Can it be built?
Using rocketry to move equipment to the lunar surface is well within the boundaries of current engineering according to some scientists. A robotic version could theoretically be built in six years and a human-rated system might be built in ten. The Lunar Space Elevator Infrastructure, or Elsie as the project coordinators call it, wouldn't be anywhere near an industrial complex. Therefore, one would have to be extremely careful to ensure that all necessary components ended up on the moon. Basically, what this all means is that cargo or passengers would be taken to the "liftport" in lunar orbit using rocketry available today. From there, the cargo/passengers would be transported via the orbital elevator to the moon. Therefore, the costs are reduced (it's much cheaper to fly a fraction of the way to the moon). Plus a smaller rocket could be used to reach the liftport. Again, this reduces overall costs. The image below illustrates how this all might work once completed.
The seemingly outlandish ideas of orbital or space elevators aren't science fiction. They represent a genuine attempt to make space travel easy and economical. Orbital elevators can be become reality in a much shorter timeframe than an Earth-to-Moon elevator such as the one recently announced by Japan (they estimate completion around 2050). Should the team at LiftPort be successful, their work would have numerous benefits for commercial and scientific developers by allowing easy access to the space and the moon.
What are your thoughts on orbital elevators? Do you think they're realistic or will currently available technology prevent them from happening any time soon?
Image Credits: 1) Caltech 2) Liftport
Related articles
- Lunar Space Elevator is Feasible for Deployment within 7 Years (nextbigfuture.com)
- Japan Will Have a Space Elevator by 2050 [Space Elevators] (gizmodo.com)
- Earth could see invention of space elevator by 2050 (InnovationToronto.com)
- Japan plans snail-paced space elevator for 2050 (news.cnet.com)
- Japanese company to construct space elevator by 2050 (lostateminor.com)
- Elevator to Space! (weeklyworldnews.com)
Share the post "Let's Explore Orbital Elevators"

subset: commoncrawl


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You can use your own hands to feel energy waste in your house during cold winter days. Have you ever noticed that some walls in your house are colder to the touch than others?
Feeling your walls is an easy indoor project for a cold winter evening. Take a tour of you place and feel the walls in each room with your bare hand. Take notes or make a sketch of the floor plan. Mark the coldest spots that you discover.
You are not checking for the actual temperature of the walls. You just want to find out which walls are colder than the rest. You also want a reminder of where they are so you can fix the problem later on.
If you prefer to find out exactly how cold your walls are, I recommend the pistol grip style of infrared thermometer that are available now. I often use on in my day job as an Energy Conservation Engineer.
It is logical that the inside surface of the exterior walls will be cooler than the interior walls. It is normal for the walls next to the windows to be cooler than the wall between the kitchen and bathroom for example. You may be surprised to find that one wall is colder than the rest.
Remember Your Walls Are Hollow; See the Photograph
The empty space inside of the walls of your house makes a pathway for air to flow up or down. Typically, warm air from inside your house will sneak up to the attic using the secret passageways inside the walls. Hollow walls waste energy when they act as an escape route for air that you paid to heat.
Hollow walls can also provide a pathway for cold air to drop down from the attic making the wall feel cold.
Seal Off the Secret Energy Passageways In Your Walls
A can of spray foam insulation is the modern answer for shutting off the energy escape route in your walls. Use the foam to seal the wall at the floor and in the attic at the top of the wall.
WARNING: Don't go crawling around in your attic unless you know how to avoid putting you foot through the ceiling or worse.
WARNING: Use just enough foam to do the job. Excess foam can cause damage as it expands.
All holes for wires or pipes need to be sealed in the attic. You need to seal around ductwork that goes up into or down from the attic.
A small amount of spray foam can be used to seal electric outlets. Take the out let cover off and squirt a little foam into the wall at both sides of the outlet. Trim off any excess and put the cover back on.
You can seal light switches the same way. Spray foam is fun to work with.
What to Do About Cold Exterior Walls
Cold areas on exterior walls indicate that there is air moving inside the wall or that there is not enough insulation inside the wall or both. Map out the cold spots and then talk with an insulation contractor about having spray foam injected into the walls. Spray foam seals and insulates, all in one application, fixing both types of cold wall problems.
The job needs to be done by a contractor who has the equipment and knowledge of just how much to use without damaging your walls.
If too little foam is used the wall will still have hollow areas.
If too much foam is used it will push out so hard, as it expands, that it can split the wall open. Fixing bulging walls will be expensive.
Eliminating cold walls will reduce your heating bills and lower your air conditions bills too. You will be more comfortable and save money.
Related Posts:
How to find air leaks to seal off wasted energy


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Gold has usually been taken into consideration as a safe haven asset. Now Bitcoin is appearing to display gold-like properties. Anti Danilevski, chief executive officer of KICKICO, a Russian blockchain platform for initial coin offerings, explains that during economic problems, Bitcoin has already been acting in analogous approaches to gold representing a calm harbor for traders.
Anti Danilevski stated:
"Over the last 12 months S&P 500 index was reduced, gold increased by 14.4%, while Bitcoin raised by 74.9%. over the last 5 years, S&P 500 improved by 68.8%, gold reduced by 26.5%, while bitcoin grew by an impressive 24.9%."
Anti Danilevski believes cryptocurrency isn't just an awesome backup plan, but in comparison to gold, it grows more in its rate with a developing marketplace. Considering the current occasions including the conflict between North Korea and President Trump, we noticed gold growth on the back of real fear of war.
James Trescothick, senior global strategist at easyMarkets, said:
"In spite of this modern episode of hair pulling which was regarded as the closest risk of warfare between North Korea and the United States from 1994, this spike in gold wasn't mouthwatering. Instead it was another asset that appealed to the hundreds searching out protection."
James Trescothick said in the past there has been the belief that traders must place ten percent of your wealth into gold and wish it goes down. This logic underlines the well-known fact that once gold rises in price it suggests that other property are performing terribly and worry is gripping the marketplace.
James Trescothick stated:
"It is time to place ten percent of your wealth into Bitcoin and desire it doesn't crash. In the middle of July, Bitcoin was buying and selling nearly $1985 per coin earlier than continuing its growth higher and around the beginning of August it traded at $2789.58 per coin. After which as hostilities raised between North Korea and the United States, it skyrocketed. First it broke the three thousand dollar mark earlier than reducing via the four thousand stage with ease."
We saw gold react in a similar manner moving from $1258.80 an ounce at the start of August earlier than moving thirty-one dollar up as threats from each North Korea and Trump gripped the media. Both reacted in safe haven style, but it was the scale of the flow and the rate of upward push in Bitcoin value that was awesome.


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Ask the Dream Doctor: An A-Z Guide to Deciphering the Hidden Symbols of Your Dreams
From Airplanes To Weddings, What Do Your Dream Symbols Really Mean?How many times have you awakened from an emotional dream convinced of its significance yet baffled by its practical meaning in your everyday life? In this remarkable book, dream doctor Charles Lambert McPhee, founder of the celebrated website askthedreamdoctor.com, helps you unlock the hidden meaning in your dreams and transform your waking life. Drawing on hundreds of thousands of dreams sent to his website, he provides expert interpretations based on years of expertise and experience. Alphabetized for easy reference, filled with more than 160 real-life dreams from people around the world, Ask the Dream Doctor will help you unravel many common dream symbols, including: Airplane Crash. . . Are your dreams precognitive? Are they warnings? Car . . . Are you driving your own car [symbol of self]--or allowing someone else to drive it? Is the car in your dream "out of control"? Chase Nightmares . . .What disturbing feelings are you trying to avoid? Are you procrastinating making a big decision? House . . . What is your dream house like? It may reveal more about your true self than anything in your waking life. Sex . . .It s not always about the obvious. Discover what underlies one of the most common metaphors of all. Tornado . . . Are you in an intense emotional or family conflict? Your dreams may be waking you up to something you haven t recognized. Water . . . Learn about the kind of dream that alerts you to see a sleep doctor immediately!
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Fifth harmony pleases fans
Published 6:00 pm, Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Despite not fully winning over America's hearts when they appeared on TV's "The X Factor," Fifth Harmony, which stopped by the Palace Theatre on Monday night, does have a solidly rabid fan base: tween girls. Making up the bulk of audience, these pint-sized fans were on their feet, screaming, dancing and singing throughout the group's 70-minute set, even when the show had some rough spots.
And while the concert was high-energy throughout and more entertaining than not, there were a few low points. Fifth Harmony opened with the one-two combination of "Boss" and "Reflection." Both featured lots of singing and dancing, but all five members were dancing out of sync with each other, and at least two of the vocalists were on different harmonic wavelengths, while another loudly cajoled Albany to "make some noise." It was visually and aurally jarring, but the show got better after that.
A mash-up of "Miss Movin' On," "We Will Rock You," Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" and Rihanna's "Bitch Better Have My Money" had the potential to be a trainwreck, but was actually pretty cool. The follow-up of the infectious dance-pop number "Sledgehammer" was even better. From that point, the group settled into a nice groove of harmonic convergence, efficiently and energetically working through the "Reflection" album in its entirety.
After an homage to Mariah Carey, "Like Mariah," the group took seats and performed a few ballads, highlighted by the soaring vocals of "Who Are You" and lowlighted by a second mash-up in which Carey's "Dreamlover" lost its catchy pop sensibilities in favor of overwrought histrionics by vocalist Ally Brooke.
The penultimate tune, "Worth It," was the best-received song of the night. The members of Fifth Harmony were all over the stage, the audience was singing and dancing and a lot of the fans scrambling for the exits by its conclusion, only stopping when their parents explained the nuances of the encore break. Closer "Body Rock" was fun but essentially an afterthought after "Worth It."
Bea Miller was the best of the three openers. The 16-year old singer, also a second season contestant on "The X Factor," played a set of songs that were essentially grunge-pop for tween girls. She was an outsized personality, roaming the stage and engaged with the audience with considerable charm. She sang really well, and it seemed like her music better spoke to the life of an average teenager than the party-based numbers and sexual posturing of some of the other acts.
Third opener Common Kings sounded like a terrible version of Sublime. First opener Natalie La Rose's brief set featured high-intensity dancing and a lot of lip syncing. Her single "Somebody" was fun, but that's probably because the chorus is lifted from Whitney Houston's pop classic "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," a song popular when I was a kid.
Jim Shahen Jr. is a freelance writer from Delmar.
More Information
Fifth Harmony with Common Kings, Bea Miller and Natalie La Rose
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Ave., Albany
Length: Fifth Harmony 70 minutes; Common Kings 25 minutes; Bea Miller 25 minutes; Natalie La Rose 20 minutes
The crowd: Close to sold-out, mostly tween girls and their parents/guardians, with a smattering of outliers.


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Title: Hope In Darkness
Author: Lena7142
A/N: Written for Faye Dartmouth, while the poor thing was laid up sick. She also kindly provided a beta - remaining mistakes are a result of my own poor typing skills.
Summary: Michael had been pre-med. Not that it mattered at all. Because he'd never made it to med school and he wasn't a medical doctor and he didn't know what to do when someone was really hurt or sick. Like now.
"So give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light
Cause oh, that gave me such a fright
But I will hold as long as you like
Just promise me we'll be alright"
- Ghosts that We Knew, Mumford & Sons
Michael had been pre-med in college. Not that it actually mattered much. When his application to med school was rejected, he'd taken it as a sign. Med school had always been more of his father's dream for him than Michael's, anyhow. So he went to graduate school for his second major: psychology. Eventually earning a Ph.D. in psych, he'd spent a year or two in clinical work before switching to teaching classes. After that he was recruited as an analyst and ultimately, a field operative for the CIA. Psych had been his area of specialty. Pre-med had been an abandoned pipe dream. He only brought it up on occasion to make a point, or to bully medical officials who were in his way, or to jokingly reassure his team.
Michael had been pre-med. Not that it mattered at all.
Because he understood biology and he knew some of the basic theory, but he'd never made it to med school and he wasn't a medical doctor and he didn't know what to do when someone was really hurt or sick.
Like now.
Because Billy was trembling and drenched in sweat despite his shivering, breaths fast and reedy as they whistled through his cracked lips. And there was nothing that Michael could do about it except wait and hope.
Michael had offered to go get help. After all, he'd been the one to run fifteen miles through Bolivia at night to get a doctor when Martinez had been shot. And they needed help – they were out in the middle of nowhere in Estonia and it was cold and dark and desolate.
But it had been impractical – he couldn't run: it was more than fifteen miles and he'd twisted his ankle earlier in the mission. Their only means of transportation had proven to be a slightly rusted but still functional motorbike in the shed behind the safehouse. It sat two, and between the lot of them, only Casey knew how to drive it. They'd talked about trying to get Billy on it to drive him to a clinic, but by that point he was too far gone to focus his eyes, let alone hold on to a bike. So Casey had gone and taken Martinez with him since they needed his skills as a translator to get help for Billy.
And Michael was left with no way to help. The cabin was quiet except for the crackling fire he fed to keep out the chill and the rattling sound of Billy's teeth.
With nothing to do, Michael had made things to do. He'd dragged the narrow cot as close to the fireplace as he dared, positioning Billy so he'd get the most of the warmth and avoid the drafts that creeped in through the crooked windows. The blankets he'd discovered in the closet smelled of mothballs and mold, but he'd piled them on to Billy nonetheless. And then he'd braved the freezing night to go out with a flashlight and locate the well, breaking the layer of ice away from the bucket to bring in water, which he now soaked a washcloth in to mop the sweat from Billy's brow.
He fussed. He fretted. He checked his watch, over and over again, watching the minutes pass and mentally charting how far Martinez and Malick had gotten.
If they didn't run out of fuel.
If the bike didn't break down.
If they didn't get stopped.
He shook his head, forcing himself not to think about it. There were too many things that could go wrong. Too many things that had gone wrong. There would be plenty of time later to agonize over the numerous operational failures that had led to this moment.
But none of it would help Billy, and right now that was all Michael wanted to be able to do.
The mission had gone to hell in a biological research lab that had been converted into a weapons facility. The men the ODS had been targeting were working on germ warfare, attempting to weaponize strains of viruses that had the power to wipe out swaths of the global population. When they'd gone in, it had been with the intention of a lengthy infiltration; they'd believed the research to only be at the theoretical stage. But when they found live cultures, the plan changed and their timetable became severely truncated.
Ultimately they'd managed to subdue and apprehend most of the staff and then blow the facility to bits, incinerating all the viral samples before things had gone too far and before the weaponization was complete.
Unfortunately, that hadn't been enough to keep an irate lab technician from stabbing Billy with a syringe before Michael had gotten a shot off.
The facility had been miles out. Their safehouse was ever farther. The ODS went to ground to lick their wounds and assess what intel they'd grabbed, hunkering down in the cabin in the snow to wait for contact from the Agency.
Then Billy started getting sick.
The data they'd been able to recover with the building in flames was meager, but between Rick's translations and Michael's vague memory of the biology courses he'd taken, they'd deduced that the sample Billy had been injected with hadn't been fully weaponized yet; it wouldn't spread, as the incubation period hadn't been accelerated sufficiently to outlive the host.
But though it might not kill millions, odds were good it would still probably kill Billy.
At first, Billy had seemed fine.
"Naught but a wee sting," he'd said, smiling and looking relatively unruffled, though Michael knew him well enough after seven years to tell that the Scot had been shaken by his encounter in the lab. "I've had vaccinations that smarted more."
The technician that had attacked him was dead and the writing on the tray was largely indecipherable, so Michael had little to go on. But for the remainder of the mission Billy'd appeared hale and hearty, and Michael had almost dared to hope...
Then, on the way to the safehouse in a stolen truck, Billy had started to grow pale.
"You're quiet," Casey had remarked. "Normally I'd celebrate this, but it's anomalous enough that I find it alarming."
"Just tired," Billy answered, despite the fact that he was looking quite peaky. A few miles later, he started to sniffle.
Then the truck broke down, and they were all stranded two miles from the safehouse with snow gently drifting down around them. Michael pulled out a crude map and a compass and they'd pulled their jackets around them, trudging through the snow, Michael limping on his bad ankle. Billy started coughing, clearing his throat often, though the snowfall deadened the noise, leaving everything oddly muted.
By the time they reached the cabin, they were all shivering. Casey dragged a few logs in from the stoop and Martinez had set about lighting a fire with skills Michael was fairly sure the younger operative had gained as a boy scout. Gradually they warmed up and began to plot their next move. Only Billy didn't stop shivering.
"Maybe you should lie down?" Rick suggested tentatively. "There's a cot in the corner..."
Billy nodded wearily. "Perhaps. I confess, I'm fairly knackered."
He curled up in the corner, hacking and sniffling miserably while Casey built the fire up and Rick procured an oil lamp from the cabin's small kitchen to let them better view the hard-copy files they'd recovered.
Rick pulled out the laptop he'd lugged with him in a backpack throughout the entirety of the mission, grimacing as he opened it. "Battery's half dead and there's no electricity."
"Then we go through it as fast as we can," Michael said, handing him the flash drive they'd snuck out. Glancing over at Billy, who was wiping at his nose with a sleeve, he wanted to get through the data and get out as soon as possible.
The snow had stopped, Michael noted as he peered out the window into the darkness. He tried to take some comfort in that - too much more on the ground and there was no telling if Casey and Rick would get mired in it. The bike had been a flimsy thing, decades old, and Michael doubted it was made for slogging through snow.
The chill remained, however, creeping in between the old, warped boards, edging its way beneath the door. Michael busied himself with stuffing towels and rags from the kitchen in between the cracks in what was probably a futile effort to block out the cold.
On the cot, Billy moaned and thrashed, tearing the blankets from his sweat-soaked body with a whimper, trembling. Michael pursed his lips together, then crossed back over to the cot, pulling the blankets back up to Billy's chin despite the other man's inarticulate protests.
"Easy, now," Michael murmured, not sure what else to do or say. He wasn't even sure if Billy could hear him, until Billy opened his too-bright eyes and stared straight back at him.
"Michael?" he croaked, coughing wetly.
"Yeah, I'm here." He forced a small smile. "I'm not going anywhere." Neither of us are, he reflected rather grimly.
Billy blinked several times, his eyes glassy with fever. He'd been going downhill fast, his condition worsening as his temperature climbed. His face was flushed now in the light of the fire, hair spiked with sweat and plastered to his temples. "Where're Casey and Carson?" he slurred, looking to the side.
Michael winced. "Getting a doctor for you. They'll be back soon."
"Oh," Billy murmured, eyelids drooping. "Tha's good..."
Good. Michael grimaced. It wouldn't be good until they had Billy in a hospital, on the mend, and he could stop feeling so damn useless.
But all he said was "yeah," as he gave Billy's shoulder a squeeze and watched as the other man's shallow breathing evened out as he slipped back under.
Billy slept in the corner while Michael and Casey and Rick sifted through the information. Michael looked up now and then to find Rick stealing worried glances over at the cot; he didn't blame him, and couldn't bring himself to snap at Martinez to focus.
Because they weren't just going through the intel for the sake of intelligence now. It was becoming clear that Billy was sick. And if Billy was sick, then it was almost certainly because of the injection. And if they wanted to do anything, they'd need to know what he'd been hit with.
Casey growled in frustration as he leafed through a singed file. "Do you remember the number on the tray in that lab?"
Michael closed his eyes and thought hard. In his mind's eye, he pictured Billy, grinning stupidly as he prepped one of the charges. Then one of the technicians they'd previously subdued slowly crept to his feet, reaching for a syringe and lunging forward even as Michael had raised his gun and shouted for Billy to get down –
– Too slow –
Michael squeezed his eyes shut harder. No, no that part wasn't what mattered now. The tray...
"A23 something," was all he could recall, opening his eyes again.
Casey stiffened, looking a bit grim. "I think I know what it was."
Michael took the file from Casey's hands. Then felt his stomach drop. "They were experimenting with Spanish Flu?"
Rick frowned. "Spanish Flu?"
Casey grunted. "You ever hear about the 1918 flu pandemic?"
Rick blanched in response.
Michael squinted at the notes. "It's heavily modified. Still unfinished."
"But still a strain of Spanish Flu," Casey murmured, looking over at Billy. "And an aggressive one."
Michael swallowed. A Spanish Flu outbreak could kill millions.
And Billy would be fatality number one.
"If it's just the flu though, shouldn't he be fine?" Rick asked. "I mean, I get it almost every year... and Billy's healthy."
Michael almost pointed out that unlike many influenza outbreaks, the flu pandemic decimated young, healthy adults. But a sideways glance at Billy silenced him; just because Billy was quiet and still didn't mean he wasn't potentially awake and listening. So all he said was, "We still need to get him to a doctor."
"We risk contagion," Casey pointed out with a worried look.
Michael shook his head, pointing to a data table in the file. "They accelerated the incubation rate, but not the time it takes to become infectious. And it looks like they were still working on making it airborne."
"So he's not infectious?" Rick confirmed.
Michael shook his head, trying to focus on the data. "Shouldn't be yet. By the time the virus is able to spread..." he trailed off. By then, Billy might no longer be a viable host.
"I'll go look out back. See if there's a truck or anything out in the barn or in the shed," Casey said, standing.
Michael nodded. Because if he was reading this right...
Billy was only going to get worse.
Michael had read it right: Billy kept getting worse.
And Michael was legitimately afraid.
He hated to admit it. Hated to think it or acknowledge it. The instant, fight-or-flight sort of fear had its use, of course. It prolonged survival. But this fear – the kind that settled in his gut, cold and coiled...
Billy turned and groaned again, then started coughing. It began as a weak, wet cough, then grew into a whooping hack as he desperately tried to suck in air through the sputum now filling his lungs. Michael helped roll him on to his side, then sat by helplessly as Billy coughed and coughed and kept coughing until he began retching, spitting up watery bile on to the floorboards in between ragged breaths.
When he finally rolled back with a whimper, Michael was there to wipe the spittle from his chin with a rag. "Hey. Hey, just hang in there."
"Hurts to breathe," Billy wheezed, surprising Michael with his lucidity.
"Kinda thought you were gonna cough up a lung there, so I'm not surprised," he answered.
Billy smiled faintly, then winced. "Where are we?"
"Safehouse," Michael said. "Rick and Casey are getting a doctor. You're gonna be fine."
It was a quiet word, said with tiredness instead of malice, but it still stung. Mostly because it was true. Michael wasa liar. He lied and twisted and manipulated for a living. He lied to Higgins and he'd lied to his wife and he sometimes even lied to his team.
But not now. He couldn't be lying now.
"It's just the flu, you big wuss," he returned. "You'll be up and at 'em in no time."
But Billy had drifted off again, and Michael was left alone with his lies and his fears.
It began to snow again.
Heavy, fat flakes drifted soundlessly down from the black, blanketing the world. Michael chewed his lip as he looked out the window at it. If Casey and Rick hadn't made it to a doctor yet –
No. They'd made it. It'd been hours, they had to. And they had to be on their way back now.
They had to be.
Michael nearly jumped out of his skin when Billy cried out.
The coughing had subsided somewhat, though Billy's breathing remained wet and ragged. His fever, on the other hand, had continued to climb, ravaging and wracking his body. Michael had given up on pulling the blankets back over him when he tore them off; his skin was papery and hot to the touch now, even as he shuddered and trembled. Instead, Michael wrang out and replaced the cold rag on Billy's forehead and, in the increasingly rare moments when Billy seemed vaguely cognizant, coaxed him to take sips of water.
But the fever raged.
And now Billy thrashed and shouted, convulsing with pain as tears ran from his open but unseeing eyes. The mild confusion had escalated, and now he was fully in the grip of delirium.
"Charges are se– no! No, run! No, get down!" Billy cried, lunging forward even as Michael reached out to push him back down on to the cot. "Carson!" he choked, before going limp and sobbing.
Michael looked away. Billy was the one suffering, but for Michael, it was torture.
"Shhh. It's okay," he murmured, replacing the cloth on Billy's brow.
Billy shuddered violently and whimpered, shrinking away from the touch, prompting Michael to draw back.
"I'm sorry," Billy moaned. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry, please..."
It was painful. To hear. To watch. To see one of the most capable and lively operatives he knew – his friend – reduced to this. And to be utterly unable to do anything to help.
Billy's mumbling continued, decreasing in articulation though he occasionally shouted and shook, the fever refusing to release him into peaceful sleep. Michael watched. Michael waited. And Michael hoped.
And when Billy wept and protested and begged forgiveness, Michael squeezed his hand until he quieted. And when once more, Billy murmured the words "I'm sorry," head lolling weakly to one side, Michael looked down at his feet and tried to ignore the tightness in his own chest as he replied:
"Me too."
When Billy moaned and pushed the blankets away, Michael mopped his brow. When he shivered, Michael pulled the covers back over him. When he screamed and cried, Michael squeezed his shoulder and spoke soothingly. And when he fell horribly still, his energy utterly spent as his body used the very last of its reserves to simply keep breathing through his fluid-filled lungs, Michael watched. And waited.
Billy had nearly nothing left.
And neither did Michael.
Billy's chest was only just rising and falling when Michael heard the sound of an engine and the crunching of snow outside. He reached for his gun, standing with his weapon raised, putting himself between Billy and the door.
Then the door opened, and revealed Casey and Rick.
And a truck. And a medic.
The pistol nearly slipped from his fingers in relief.
The motorcycle had run out of fuel half of the way out. Casey and Rick had trudged through the snow all night to get to the nearest town, their feeble jackets nearly worthless against the Baltic winter. Rick was pale and still shuddering nearly as hard as Billy had been, and Casey's hands were red and puffy as circulation returned. He winced at the effects of the frostbite, but said nothing of it as he explained how they'd found a local farmer who'd been willing to drive them to the nearest emergency clinic. The farmer's cousin was a local veterinarian who did some moonlighting as a doctor for locals, and had agreed to come along.
But through the details and explications, all Michael really heard – all he really understood – was that help had arrived.
Billy didn't even have the strength left to shiver as they bundled him up into the back of the truck. They wrapped him in the sweat-dampened blankets as the engine idled, then put out the fire, locked up the safehouse, and piled into the truck.
The drive was the longest of Michael's life.
Once or twice Billy went so still that Michael felt his heart leap into his throat in terror that he may have stopped breathing. But when he hovered his fingers just above Billy's lips and beneath his nose, he was reassured by the presence of breath, however weak.
Michael held on to Billy, squeezing his shoulder yet again. At this point, he wasn't sure who he was even comforting anymore. "Just hang on. Worst part's over," he murmured.
Billy didn't stir.
Michael hoped he was right.
Billy's lungs were filled with fluid.
That was all Michael was really able to get from the second-hand translation Rick was giving of the doctor's words. Billy's was pneumatic, and his body's immune system was overreacting by trying to flush the virus out with even more fluids, drowning him.
Billy had been wheeled away on their arrival, someone clamping an oxygen mask over his mouth while a broad-shouldered nurse began barking orders in a competent sort of way that would have been reassuring, if Billy's lips weren't turning blue.
Rick and Casey had walked. Michael had waited. They'd all ridden here and done everything they could.
It just needed to be enough.
Michael was exhausted. It was dawn when they'd arrived at the clinic. Billy was wheezing wetly, but unable to rouse from consciousness. The heat coming off of him from the fever had been terrifying, and Michael found that his nerves were shot. He hadn't slept since this mission started. He hadn't done a lot of things, now that he thought about it. He'd been powerless to do many more...
He put his head in his hands. Billy was in the doctor's hands now. But Michael wasn't a doctor, even if he had been Pre-Med once upon a time.
Not that it mattered now.
(Even if now was when he needed it to).
It was touch and go. Rick translated medical jargon as best he could, and the doctors made unhappy faces and Michael was too spent to feel anything but numb. Casey got his hands bandaged and scowled and Rick fretted and Michael stared at the wall, unable to get the rasping, choking sound of Billy's breathing out of his mind.
Until they let them see Billy.
And as the Scot took deep breaths through an oxygen mask, his exhalations fogging up the plastic as proof that his respiratory system hadn't failed yet, Michael felt hope.
Billy got better.
His fever broke. His lungs drained. Soon he woke and made feeble jokes, charming even the no-nonsense nurse. Gradually he recovered his strength. And the hellish night that Michael had spent holding vigil in the dark and the cold became a distant memory he could tuck away into the back of his mind.
Time passed. Weeks. Months. They planned and executed missions, and no one said a word about Estonia after the debriefing was through, apart from a few offhanded jokes about Billy taking overseas sick leave in the middle of a job. But Michael couldn't help but flinch, even at those jokes; his team were good spies, so they were observant - and knew how to be silent when it mattered.
Until one evening when Michael and Billy grabbed drinks at the bar after work. Casey had a rigorous workout planned for the evening and Martinez was taking Adele out, so that left only the two of them, sipping martinis after a long day.
"I never said thank you," Billy suddenly said, out of the blue.
Michael raised an eyebrow. "For what? I'm not paying for your drink–"
Billy scoffed. "You never have. No, I meant, thank you for Estonia."
Michael stopped, lowering his drink from his lips. "I didn't do anything in Estonia. Thank Malick and Martinez, they were the ones who hiked through a snowstorm to get a doctor."
"They did," Billy agreed. "And you stayed." He put his glass down with a small clink and looking at Michael meaningfully. "I'll admit, I was not at my most cognizant for much of that evening, and I apologize as that must have made me a rather dull conversation partner, but I remember that part, mate. I remember you were there and you held on when..." he swallowed uncomfortably, looking down. "I remember enough."
Michael stared down at his drink, wondering if he wanted to forgo it, or to chug it and order at least three more. "I was pretty damn useless."
Billy gave him a blank look. "You did more than you know."
Michael shook his head. "You know, I almost became a doctor. If I'd actually gone and studied–"
"–Then no doubt, you'd be a wonderful doctor right now, saving numerous lives, though mine would not be among them. You wouldn't be with the Agency and I probably would have been left to Casey's less-than-tender ministrations, and honestly, Casey as a nurse might be a funny mental image, but I doubt that in practice it would give me much will to live."
Michael snorted. "I dunno, he'd probably threaten to break your legs if you died on him."
Billy chuckled. "He probably would," he replied, sipping his drink. "But honestly, Michael. That was one hell of a long night. You stuck it out." He finished the martini then looked at Michael and gave a small and oddly honest smile. "So I did too."
Michael looked down. Then looked up. Then slowly, finally, allowed himself to smile. "Okay."
"Okay?" Billy grinned hopefully.
"Okay. You can thank me. By paying for this round."
Michael laughed as Billy rolled his eyes in outrage. "You cheap bastard, Michael Dorset!"
And as they ordered another round and ribbed on each other and told jokes until closing time, Michael felt a bit less useless in the grand scheme of things.
Michael had been pre-med in college. Not that it actually mattered much. Because he might have gone on to med school in another life to become a doctor.
But here and now, he'd found his calling as a spy. As part of the ODS. And that mattered more than anything.


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College regent to help commercial truck driving program in Alvin
Published 9:02 am, Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Alvin Community College regent Karlis Ercums III and his company signed a $1 annual lease for a 45-foot tanker trailer and a 53-foot spread axle, flatbed trailer to benefit the Commercial Truck Driving program.
The Commercial Truck Driving program helps students prepare for passing the Commercial Drivers License exam administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety, according to a press release from the college.
Alvin Community College is at 3110 Mustang Road, Alvin.
For more information, call 281-756-3500, visit www.alvincollege.edu/ or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The Prince of Wales, who has said he is running "out of time", is to lose his right-hand man. Paddy Harverson has resigned as communications secretary to Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Harverson, 50, who had managed the reputation of the Prince for nine years, plans to set up a communications agency advising corporate clients and high net-worth individuals.
He is likely to have built up quite a formidable contacts book during his years working for the heir to the throne, and, previously, for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
His only slip-up came in 2006 when he hardly endeared his boss to the then Labour government by telling Mandrake how impressed he had been with David Cameron as the new leader of the Opposition. "He has had an amazing first month or so,'' he said.
Happily, he was big enough to take me out to lunch not long afterwards.
In July, Mandrake disclosed that the Prince had appointed Kristina Kyriacou, the long-term mentor to Cheryl Cole, as the public relations supremo for his sprawling charity empire.
"His Royal Highness was frustrated that his charities, which do so much good work, were not getting the public attention that they deserve," I was told at the time.
Myleene Klass: My hot pants days are over
Now a mother of two children, Myleene Klass has given up trying to squeeze into ever-smaller outfits.
"I know I will never fit into a pair of hot pants and look like Kate Moss, but I wear things that my figure allows," the 34-year-old television presenter tells Mandrake at the Drapers Fashion Awards, at the Grosvenor House hotel in Mayfair. "I'm proud of the body I have, so it's all right."
Klass adds: "I've had two kids; I've grown up. I don't care so much if people say they like what I am wearing or draw a circle round my cellulite. You kind of just get a grip when you are in your thirties. You get more self-confident and more self-aware of what looks good on you from an insecurity point of view.
"I want to set a good example to my two girls. They say 5 per cent of what they learn is what they listen to, and 95 per cent is what you show. It's important to empower your girls, and the women around you, to feel confident in their own bodies."
Meaty issue
Jamie Oliver uses chicken meat from farms where animals can be kept in hangar-like barns with no access to outdoor space in his new range of lunches for Boots. Fergus Henderson says such moves are giving meat a bad name.
"It's tricky when you go mass market, but moves like that give the wrong impression," the owner of the acclaimed St John restaurant says at the launch of Fish, the first recipe book from the restaurant J Sheekey. "It's why it is becoming a lot more of a thing to be an environmental vegetarian. I'm seeing less people are eating meat now."


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City water work set of a series of fire alarms in Northwest Austin early Friday morning.
As Austin Water Utility worked on the Jollyville Reservoir at Spicewood Springs and 183, workers had to shut down a water pump for a while. That triggered more than eight water flow alarm activations in the Lakeline Mall area, prompting response from Austin firefighters.
Austin Water Utility spokesman Jason Hill said there was plenty of water stored up to flow in case of a fire, so there was never any danger to residences or mall businesses. He said the alarms were probably just overly sensitive to the change.


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Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Listmania! The Films of 2008, Part 2
Best Actor: Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man, Tropic Thunder)
Honourable Mentions:
Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Redbelt)
Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon)
Colin Farrell (In Bruges)
Michael Fassbender (Hunger, Eden Lake)
Best Actress: Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road)
Honourable Mentions:
Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man)
Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)
Julianne Moore (Blindness)
Frances McDormand (Burn After Reading)
Lina Leandersson (Let The Right One In)
Best Supporting Actor: Aaron Eckhart / Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Honourable Mentions:
James Franco (Pineapple Express)
Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges)
Eddie Marsan (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Adam Scott (Step Brothers)
Matthew Fox (Speed Racer)
Best Supporting Actress: Emily Mortimer (Redbelt)
Honourable Mentions:
Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Dame Judi Dench (Quantum of Solace)
Laura Ramsay (The Ruins)
Amy Poehler (Baby Mama)
Wei Zhao (Red Cliff)
Best Performance by Hott Sam Rockwell: Snow Angels
Honourable Mention: Choke
Worst Actor: Mark Wahlberg (The Happening)
Dishonourable Mentions:
Al Pacino (88 Minutes, Righteous Kill)
Hayden Christensen (Jumper)
Jim Sturgess (21)
Steven Strait (10000 B.C.)
Vin Diesel (Babylon A.D.)
Worst Supporting Actor: Burt Reynolds (In The Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale)
Dishonourable Mentions:
Tom Wilkinson (Cassandra's Dream)
John Hannah (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor)
Ray Liotta (In The Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale)
Jamie Bell (Jumper)
Tyrese Gibson (Death Race)
Worst Actress: Liv Tyler (The Incredible Hulk, The Strangers)
Dishonourable Mentions:
Kate Bosworth (21)
Camilla Belle (10000 B.C.)
Zooey Deschanel (The Happening)
Renee Zellweger (Leatherheads, Appaloosa)
Alicia Witt (88 Minutes)
Worst Supporting Actress: Charlotte Rampling (Babylon A.D.)
Dishonourable Mentions:
Leelee Sobieski (88 Minutes, In The Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale)
Saffron Burrows (The Bank Job)
Claire Forlani (In The Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale)
Betty Buckley (The Happening)
Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Best Performance Hiding Behind An Uncanny Impersonation of a British Icon: Michael Sheen as Sir David Frost in Frost/Nixon
Most Unexpectedly Demented and Entertaining Performance in an Unexpectedly Demented and Entertaining Movie: Matthew Fox (Vantage Point)
Most Glorious Ham: Matthew Lillard (In The Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale)
Best Uncredited Performance: Steve Martin (Baby Mama)
Worst Uncredited Performance: Gerard Depardieu (Babylon A.D.)
Most Entertaining Actor in an Appalling Movie: Al Pacino (88 Minutes)
Most Entertaining Actress in an Appalling Movie: Meryl Streep (Mamma Mia!)
Most Depressing Performance From a Talented Actor Trapped in a Schlocky Movie: Morgan Freeman, seen here posing in front of a destroyed Loom of Fate (Wanted)
Some Loom of Fate. It didn't even see a bunch of exploding rats coming. Pathetic.
Dishonourable Mention: Kevin Spacey (21)
Most Depressing Performance From a Talented Actress Trapped in a Schlocky Movie: Joan Allen (Death Race)
Dishonourable Mention: Maria Bello (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor)
Most Egregiously Wasted Cast: Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh and Anthony Wong Chau Sang (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor)
"Where The Hell Have You Been?" Actor of the Year: Lance Henriksen (Appaloosa)
Honourable Mention: Brian Dennehy (Righteous Kill)
Best Director: Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight)
Honourable Mentions:
Matteo Girrone (Gomorra)
David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Snow Angels)
Gus Van Sant (Milk, Paranoid Park)
John Stevenson, Mark Osborne and Jennifer Yuh Nelson - (Kung Fu Panda)
Darren Aronofsky - (The Wrestler)
Best Directorial Debut: Steve McQueen (Hunger)
Honourable Mentions:
Martin McDonagh (In Bruges)
James Watkin (Eden Lake)
Worst Director: Jon Avnet (88 Minutes, Righteous Kill)
Dishonourable Mentions:
Robert Luketic (21)
Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Woody Allen (Cassandra's Dream)
Roland Emmerich (10000 B.C.)
Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!)
"Where The Hell Have You Been?" Director of the Year: John Woo (Red Cliff: Part One)
Honourable Mention: Marc Caro (Dante 01)
Best Screenplay: Martin McDonagh (In Bruges)
Honourable Mentions:
Christopher Nolan / Jonathan Nolan / David Goyer (The Dark Knight)
Seth Rogen / Evan Goldberg (Pineapple Express)
David Mamet (Redbelt)
John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let The Right One In)
Matteo Garrone / Roberto Saviano / Maurizio Braucci / Ugo Chiti / Gianni Di Gregorio / Massimo Gaudioso - (Gomorra)
Worst Screenplay of the Year: Gary Scott Thompson (88 Minutes)
Dishonourable Mentions:
Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb (21)
Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
Woody Allen (Cassandra's Dream)
Russell Gewirtz (Righteous Kill)
Jason Richman (Bangkok Dangerous)
Best Sound Design: Ben Burtt (Wall*E)
Honourable Mention: Leslie Shatz (Paranoid Park)
Best Score: Hans Zimmer/John Powell (Kung Fu Panda)
Honourable Mentions:
Alexandre Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard (The Dark Knight)
Michael Giacchino (Speed Racer)
Tarô Iwashiro (Red Cliff)
Jeff McIlwain/David Wingo (Snow Angels)
Best Original Song: Another Way To Die – Jack White and Alicia Keys (Quantum of Solace)
Honourable Mentions:
What Happens After - Explosions in the Sky (Snow Angels)
The Wrestler – Bruce Springsteen (The Wrestler)
Most Unexpected Vocal Performance: Clint Eastwood dueting with Jamie Cullum on the title song to Gran Torino.
Honourable Mention: Ed Harris singing You'll Never Leave My Heart over the end credits of Appaloosa.
Best Cinematography: Caleb Deschanel (The Spiderwick Chronicles)
Honourable Mentions:
Christopher Doyle/Rain Li (Paranoid Park)
Colin Watkinson (The Fall)
Sean Bobbitt (Hunger)
Claudio Miranda (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Wally Pfister (The Dark Knight)
Worst Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Dishonourable Mentions:
Haris Zambarloukos (Mamma Mia!)
Simon Duggan (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor)
Decha Srimantra (Bangkok Dangerous)
Most Disappointing Photography: Roger Deakins (Revolutionary Road)
After his stellar work last year on No Country For Old Men and especially The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, it pains me to say his work on Sam Mendes' adaptation of the Richard Yates novel left me cold. It's very nice work, and he doesn't do anything wrong, per se. It's just kinda limited. Was this Sam Mendes' fault? Or was I expecting too much after he excelled himself last year? Only one shot stuck in my mind; the bravura overlighting while Kate Winslet looks out of a window at the end of the movie. That was awesome. Other than that, I was frustrated. Perhaps it's my fault for expecting fireworks every time out, but I kept thinking about how gorgeous Antonio Calvache made suburbia look in Todd Field's Little Children, and it irked me greatly. I'm sure King Deakins will thrill me again in the future, but for now, ::pouts::
Best Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Honourable Mentions: Speed Racer, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Seriously, those effects in Benjamin Button were insane. Digital Domain and their cohorts have the effects Oscar sewn up for sure. Anyway, one more installment to go, best filed under the heading "Miscellaneous". I'll be stuck looking for more pictures again tomorrow. Oy...
4 comments:
- The Judge said...
Joan Allen looks like Voldemort's female incarnation in that pic. What's with her neck, Admiral Neck?
- 7 January 2009 at 15:05
- Dawn White said...
Jeez...I love this!
I agree on so many of your points and thanks so much for giving us the Gran Torino song again...I remember feeling so much emotion when I heard that ...
Hey, we're in the middle of watching Brideshead...was that 2009? It's great, we might watch the PBS series after this just to compare/contrast/enjoy.
- 7 January 2009 at 17:16
- Vinsel said...
i think this movie was funny but i put tropic thunder first place, but pineapple express is funny!!! I am just going to get the UNRATED Disc, The dvd avaialable..This Pineapple Express: Unrated (2008) DVD is now available at Cinebox.net
- 8 January 2009 at 12:03
- Admiral Neck said...
Ms. Judge, that photo doesn't even begin to represent the tautness of Joan Allen's face. A more depressing sight I don't think I saw all year.
Dawn, I have yet to see either the new version of Brideshead (from 2008) or the earlier series, but I know that series, with Jeremy Irons, is very very highly regarded. I think you should definitely give it a try.
- 10 January 2009 at 01:08


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While engaged and expecting stars like Jessica Simpson and Snooki opted to put their wedding plans on hold until after their bambinos arrive, other pregnant celebrities chose to put marriage before the baby carriage. For instance, actress Uma Thurman admitted that she and actor Ethan Hawke rushed to the altar because they had a child on the way. The seven-months-pregnant star and her beau were spotted waiting for a marriage license at a Manhattan municipal building in May 1998. Baby Maya was born that July, and her brother Levon followed in 2002. Uma and Ethan have since split, but she's pregnant again at age 41 (but no word yet if wedding bells are in the near future for the star and her boyfriend, Arpad Busson). Click through to see which other celebs were pregnant brides.
When you have a big celebrity family, some romantic milestones are bound to coincide with pregnancies. But singer Seal and his model ex-wife had more than a few. They started dating when Heidi was pregnant with her previous partner's daughter, Leni. The new couple got married right after Leni's first birthday and they were already expecting their first child together, Henry, at the ceremony, since he was conceived right after they got engaged. Heidi was pregnant again by their first anniversary, when she and Seal started their annual tradition of renewing their vows. Heidi had little Johan in her belly at that first vow renewal and little Lou at their fourth.
Which came first: the engagement plans or the pregnancy? It's hard to tell in the case of Jen and now-hubby Ben Affleck. Ben popped the question in April 2005 and the two married two months later. Before the year closed out, their firstborn, Violet, made her debut, meaning Jen was expecting when Ben proposed. As for their wedding, the two exchanged vows on a beach in Turks and Caicos without fanfare — or guests. Neither set of parents was on hand, though Jen's Alias co-star, Victor Garber, was there to officiate the secret ceremony. Violet's presence was apparent, too: Jen's baby bump was on display in an empire-waist wedding gown.
Jessica and Hollywood hunk Cash Warren shared their pregnancy news in late 2007, weeks before anyone saw the mom-to-be wearing an engagement ring. While some may steer clear of the wedding scene during their third trimester, this lovely lady intentionally tied the knot just a month before delivering her firstborn! The couple held a secret ceremony at the Beverly Hills Courthouse in May 2008. And it wasn't a white wedding: The beautiful bride sported a blue gown. The newlyweds' daughter, Honor, was born in June.
It was a big news day in May 2010 when the sultry singer and her rapper-producer partner of a year and a half, Swizz Beats, shared that they were engaged and expecting. Two months later, the musical mates took to the Mediterranean to wed in a private home on the sea. Keeping with the location, Alicia dressed her noticeable baby bump in a one-shoulder Grecian-inspired Vera Wang gown. The happy couple reportedly waited for the birth to find out the sex of their baby, who arrived in October 2010. Alicia and Swizz were surprised with a baby boy, who the newlyweds named Egypt.
Scores of people speculated that Jessica Simpson's baby sister was having a baby when she and Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz got engaged and married within a month. Despite the quick turnaround time, the couple pulled off an elaborate Alice-in-Wonderland-themed wedding at Ashlee's parents' Southern California home. Close friends and family were on hand to celebrate, but no baby bump was spotted under Ashlee's ivory lace gown. Two weeks after exchanging vows, the newlyweds confessed that they were expecting — they were holding off until Ashlee hit her second trimester to confirm the rumors.
A month after losing a baby boy because she went into premature labor (her second miscarriage), the British singer and her partner, Sam Cooper, became engaged while on Christmas vacation in Bali in 2010. At their June 2011 English church wedding, Lily wore a modest wedding gown featuring long lace sleeves, just like fellow British bride, Kate Middleton. Unlike the duchess's dress, though, Lily's had ample room for her baby bump. Sam reportedly made an official pregnancy announcement during his wedding speech, and that November, the pair welcomed a healthy baby girl, Ethel.
Football pro Hank Baskett proposed to the Girls Next Door star in November 2008, and they soon started planning a wedding at Kendra's former home, the Playboy Mansion, for June 2009. Kendra reportedly wanted to welcome her first child around her first wedding anniversary, but she got pregnant sooner than expected. They broke their baby news just a few weeks before the wedding. Luckily, Kendra's rough bout of morning sickness subsided in time for the nuptials, and the bride didn't lose her lunch on her crystal-encrusted gown. Little Hank joined the family in December 2009.


text:
Game Admission Prices
Volunteers are needed to assist with a wide variety of high school athletic contests at all levels (varsity, JV and 'C' squads). Duties could include serving as scorekeeper or scoreclock operator for volleyball or basketball, being a volleyball line judge, working as a timer for swim meets, helping to run track meets or being part of the 'chain crew' for football games.
To volunteer please contact Patrice Woods, HBHS Athletic Director, at 313-4412.
Pick your favorite sport and get involved!
Directions to GSHL Schools
WIAA Athletic Eligibility Rules
In high school, teams practice every school day and frequently on Saturdays, for at least 2 hours.
Coaches may have slightly different expectations and practice requirements (given to all team members).
Athletes must be in attendance at least 3 periods (half-day) to participate after school.
During winter season, teams will have practices during Thanksgiving break, and both practices and competitions during Winter Vacation. For spring sports, there will also be some practices and possibly one game during Spring Break.
Athletic Director: Patrice Woods, 313-4412


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CBA survives finish
Brothers overcome deficit in final minute to advance
Published 12:18 am, Sunday, February 26, 2012
TROY — It looked like Christian Brothers Academy's season would end Saturday afternoon at Hudson Valley Community College. Shenendehowa missed three foul shots in the final minute but still led by two points when CBA's Drew Brundige missed a 3-point attempt.
And that is where things got a little crazy.
After Brundige released the shot, he flew to the ground and a foul was called.
Brundige made the first two free-throw attempts but missed the third one.
However, senior teammate Chaz Lott — the coolest guy on the floor in a hotly-contested Section II Class AA quarterfinal — grabbed the rebound, bobbled the ball briefly and made the shot. Shenendehowa senior forward Brandon Miller was first called for a foul, and then a technical foul, with one second left.
Lott missed the foul shot, but Brundige hit one of the two shots after the technical. CBA then inbounded the ball successfully to complete a wild 52-49 victory.
As the buzzer sounded, a fight ensued at midcourt between Shen's Robert Hughes and CBA's Joe Krong as both benches cleared.
Shenendehowa coach Tony Dzikas, incensed by the late foul calls against his team and for what he believed was a lack of calls earlier in the game when play became contentious, yelled at one of the officials as he left the floor.
"No game should end like that," CBA coach Dave Doemel said, "but perhaps if it was taken care of during the game, we would not have had that problem."
"Very unfortunate for Shenendehowa," Dzikas said. "It was a hard-fought contest for two teams that seem to meet each other a lot in sectionals. We battled to the end, and obviously it got a little crazy at the end."
Brundige, a junior reserve guard who had only been to the foul line nine times (with seven made) this season, went to the line with 4.4 seconds remaining with his team's season hanging in the balance.
"I heard the whistle blow, I'm not going to lie — I got pretty nervous," said Brundige, whose father, Jim, started at Shaker when Sam Perkins played for the Blue Bison. "Christian Leppanen came up to me and said it is just like practice. You shoot them every day. He just smiled. I zoned everyone out and knocked them down."
"Drew will remember this for the rest of his life. That gave us hope," Lott said.
Lott's rebound and putback dashed Shen's thoughts of reaching overtime.
"Drew sunk the first two and I was pretty sure he would sink the third one," Lott said. "I was just leaning in. I just saw the lane part like the Red Sea and I just went for it. It went into my hands and I shot it."
The exploits of Brundige and Lott allowed the Brothers, the winners of the Class AA title in 2009, 2010 and 2011, to advance to Thursday's semifinals at Times Union Center.
Shenendehowa (14-6) erased a 44-34 deficit and grabbed a 49-47 lead on a 3-pointer by Molloy with 1:13 left — sending Shen fans into a frenzy and the other Class AA teams watching to wonder if the Brothers' string of nine straight championship appearances might end Saturday.
But the Plainsmen hindered their chances at completing the upset when Molloy missed on two foul shots with 43.5 seconds remaining and Hughes misfired on the front end of a 1-and-1 situation on Shen's next possession.
Dzikas did not want to take credit from CBA, but he felt the calls at the end should not have been made.
"Usually in the last second, you have to be hit pretty hard to get a call," Dzikas said. "Obviously, I would think 99.5 percent of the refs don't make that call, but we had 'him' and he chose to make that call and end the game that way. I like to have kids end the games."
firstname.lastname@example.com • 518-454-5062 • @TUSidelines


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Thursday, April 06, 2006
Random questions about resumes
With the job search ramping up for many seniors, I'm getting a lot of scattered and random questions about resumes, questions about small and subtle details, the sum of which ends up being greater than the individual parts.
So, I thought I'd take today to answer a few of the more common inquiries.
Q: If my resume is two pages, do you staple them together?...
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Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Moving into new territory: differentiating resume writing from academic prose
New ground indeed. Don't mean to make the title sound scary for risk-adverse people but, for seniors, moving to "resume style" takes a bit of getting used to. The same style which has guaranteed success with your profs will prove to be a turn off with employers.
So, here are some tips to earn employer commendations in the best form possible, namely an interview:
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Last week, I had the opportunity to catch Ducko McFli perform a short set featuring music from KingDuck, a collaborative EP featuring production by Chris King. The sounds had a Pied Piper effect with beats that managed to move the gathered crowd, which isn't a small feat when considering how our audiences tend to be unresponsive to unfamiliar artists and material. Duck's performance was capped by "Used To Say," featuring artist extraordinaire Rio leading the chorus and harmonizing throughout the track, and lyrics that embody the whole spirit of an underdog MC practicing patience while fighting for a chance to be heard.
The track – actually, the whole EP – ended up becoming an essential part of daily operation for the past five days and the Xclusive Access Media-video seen below compliments it well. Other KingDuck high points include "Serenade," the bouncy "The Dealer" and the lyrical faceoff "Kamayamaya (Goku)" with Classic Williams and Evan Blocker.
Download — P.U.S.H. Productions Presents Ducko Mcfli x Chris King – KingDucK EP | Alt. Link


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Well, I went to Savannah on Friday with the husband for an impromptu holiday weekend for Memorial Day and some work detox. The problem is that Tropical Storm Bonnie came crashing into the east coast and it was a generally crappy time to be walking around in the outside. I say 'problem' but it was really not a problem for me, because it allowed me the weekend in the hotel room with Joe Hill's newest novel, The Fireman. I finished up In a Dark, Dark Wood and meant to transition into another dead tree novel – but the husband was ready to turn the light off so I picked up my trusty Kindle instead.
The Fireman is a 768 page post apocalyptic chunkster. Naturally this means, I am loving it. I'm about halfway through and finding everything about it amazing.
Like I said, the weather in Savannah was crappy, but it didn't stop me from eating all the things. I'm debating on whether or not to write a post about that. I need to write a review for In a Dark, Dark Wood – it's the first BEA book that I've read that has been released – so that's something to do.
I was thinking about joining Bryan in the 99 Days of Summer Blogging – but just in the next few weeks I have some pretty significant time commitments at work through trial week and being sent to GPSTC for training for another week, I'm just not sure that I can write anything worth reading every day for 99 days. I have a desire to revive the blog, but not to just hit the publish button just to publish. If I can get back to three times a week, I'll feel okay.
So, it's Monday! What are you reading? Turned into a little Sunday Salon as well. Let's call it the best of both worlds. What are you reading, Reader?


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during my second ********* with a couple from Rhode Island
lol nice
A few nights ago, passed midnight, I was walking my dog and he found a beautiful mini bamboo chair next to the recycle bin. I reallyyy wanted to take it home, but I got embarassed in the idea of taking something practically from the trash, and even worse in case someone might see me. So I walked the dog back home, but I only resisted for 3 more minutes. Then went back and got it. I thought "I can't believe I'm doing this", but now (and after a just-in-case disinfection and sterilization) the lovely thing looks great in my room under the Jimi Hendrix painting :)
The other day when I was jumping rope and gave myself two black eyes....Lmaoooo...Ater I yelled, "Dam! I can't BELEEEEVEEEE I am doing this!!"


text:
Several pairs of thigh-high leather boots were seen pounding the catwalk this season, seducing both the runway as well as the audience. Pure and unabated sex appeal was the message conveyed through this distinctly kinky and highly erotic footwear.
A statement all of their own, one could strut around confidently in a permanent state of dishabille, naked except for the salacious footwear. Indeed, one had the feeling that were they to purchase just one piece of the collection, they could satiate both their carnal and designer desires with any one of the sultry boots.
Bedroom-Ready Boots
More Stats +/-
16 Sets of Dangerous Heels
Killer High Heels
Extreme Torture Shoes
40 Pairs of Mega Heels
23 Saucy High Heel Boots and Ankle Boot Stilettos


text:
This resource is no longer available
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text:
International Composites Technologies, Inc.
B-408199: Jul 15, 2013
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
(202) 512-8278
Kenneth E. Patton
(202) 512-8205
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
International Composites Technologies, Inc. (ICT), of Compton, California, protests the exclusion of its proposal from the competitive range under request for proposals (RFP) No. FA8504-12-R-30298, issued by the Department of the Air Force for ballistic armor systems to be installed on various configurations of the C-130 aircraft. ICT argues that the agency improperly found its proposal technically unacceptable.
We deny the protest.
The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release.
Matter of: International Composites Technologies, Inc.
File: B-408199
Date: July 15, 2013
Scott M. Heimberg, Esq., Thomas P. McLish, Esq., and Troy D. Cahill, Esq., Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, for the protester.
Maj. Frank Yoon, Department of the Air Force, for the agency.
Scott H. Riback, Esq., and Tania Calhoun, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.
Protest challenging contracting agencys evaluation of protesters proposal and its exclusion from the competitive range is denied where the record shows that the evaluation of the proposal as technically unacceptable was reasonable and consistent with the terms of the solicitation.
International Composites Technologies, Inc. (ICT), of Compton, California, protests the exclusion of its proposal from the competitive range under request for proposals (RFP) No. FA8504-12-R-30298, issued by the Department of the Air Force for ballistic armor systems to be installed on various configurations of the C-130 aircraft. ICT argues that the agency improperly found its proposal technically unacceptable.
We deny the protest.
The solicitation, issued as a small business set-aside, contemplates the award of a fixed-price contract to the offeror submitting the low priced, technically acceptable proposal.[1] RFP at 53-54. The basic contract is for engineering services and fabrication of a limited quantity of trial armor systems (along with associated test reports and supporting data), while the options are for production of a specified quantity of armor systems. RFP § B. The armor systems being acquired are to be comprised of two elements referred to as kit A and kit B. Kit A is to be an attachment system permanently installed into the aircraft. Kit B is to be a set of armor plates that are attached to the aircraft using the kit A attachment system. The overall requirement is for an armor plating system that can be installed and removed from the aircraft on a comparatively rapid basis; the RFP contemplates that the agency will purchase more kit A systems than kit B systems so that the armor plates may be used on more than one aircraft. See generally, RFP Statement of Work.
The agency received a number of proposals in response to the solicitation, including that of ICT. The agency concluded that none of the proposals was technically acceptable. ICTs proposal was found technically unacceptable because (1) it did not adequately explain the protesters manufacturing and assembly process, and did not include adequate information relating to facility, equipment and plant layout; (2) did not include adequate information to show that its proposed system met all of the RFPs ballistic performance requirements; and (3) did not show how its system interfaced with the aircraft in terms of providing unimpeded access to the flight deck panels or doors, the nose wheel/landing gear and egress doors. AR, exh. 12, Interim Technical Evaluation Report, at 68-71.
Because none of the offerors submitted technically acceptable proposals, the agency engaged in an initial round of discussions with all competing firms. ICT was given discussion questions relating to all of the deficiencies identified in its initial proposal, and the firm provided responses to these questions. The agency evaluated ICTs responses and concluded that its proposal was still technically unacceptable. On the basis of that finding, the agency eliminated the protesters proposal from the competitive range. ICT filed an agency-level protest with the Air Force challenging its actions. The agency denied the protest, and ICT filed the current protest in our Office.
ICT argues that the agency unreasonably found its proposal technically unacceptable. According to ICT, all of the information necessary to determine the compliance of its proposed armor system with the solicitations requirements was included in its proposal and, as a result, the agency unreasonably rejected its offer.
In reviewing protests challenging an agencys evaluation of proposals, our Office does not independently evaluate proposals; rather, we review the agencys evaluation to ensure that it is consistent with the terms of the solicitation and applicable statutes and regulations. SOS Intl, Ltd., B-402558.3, B-402558.9, June 3, 2010, 2010 CPD ¶ 131 at 2. We also point out that it is an offerors responsibility to submit an adequately written proposal that establishes the technical acceptability of its proposed approach, and allows for a meaningful review by the agency. Verizon Fed., Inc., B-293527, Mar. 26, 2004, 2004 CPD ¶ 186 at 4. Our review of the record shows that the agencys evaluation was reasonable.
The RFPs statement of work (SOW) required the proposed armor system to meet certain specifications. As relevant here, the SOW required the armor plates to meet certain ballistic performance capabilities; required the plates to have an areal density of less than or equal to 8 pounds per square foot; and required that the total system weight could not exceed 1,630 pounds. RFP, SOW ¶ 4.6.
At the heart of ICTs protest is the firms ultimate decision to propose alternate solutions to the agencys requirements. In this connection, the record shows that ICT originally proposed to provide [deleted] plates fabricated from a material referred to as [deleted] AR, exh. 8, ICT Technical Proposal, at 14-15. The record shows that, among other considerations, the agency determined that the initial ICT proposal was technically unacceptable because it did not demonstrate that the [deleted] plates met the solicitations ballistic performance standards. AR, exh. 12, Interim Technical Evaluation Report, at 70. Because of the agencys evaluation conclusion, ICT was sent a discussion question asking for additional information relating to the ballistic capabilities of its [deleted] armor plates. AR, exh. 10, ICT Discussion Questions, at 2.
In its response to the discussion question, ICT offered--for the first time--two different, alternate solutions to meet the agencys requirements. First, ICT proposed to fabricate in-house [deleted] plates using [deleted]. AR, exh. 11, ICT Discussion Responses, at II-2. The record shows that ICT provided ballistic performance data for three different possible configurations of [deleted] plates that it proposed to manufacture in-house. Id. at II-3-4. Second, ICT offered to provide [deleted] plates manufactured by one of its subcontractors, [deleted]. Id. at II-2. ICT also included ballistic performance information about the [deleted] manufactured plates. Id. at II-5. The record shows that the agency evaluated ICTs proposal revisions.
With respect to the [deleted] plates that ICT proposed to manufacture itself, the record shows that they were determined technically unacceptable. AR, exh. 12, Interim Technical Evaluation Report, at 74-75.[2] The record also shows that the agency further considered ICTs initially proposed [deleted] solution but concluded that ICT still had not demonstrated that it met the solicitations ballistic performance requirements. Id. at 75. ICT does not take issue with the agencys conclusions relating to the technical unacceptability of the [deleted] plates it proposed to manufacture itself, or with respect to the technical unacceptability of the [deleted] plates it proposed.
With respect to the [deleted] plates that ICT proposed to be manufactured by its subcontractor, [deleted], the record shows that the evaluators determined that this solution met all of the ballistic performance requirements of the specifications. AR, exh. 12, Interim Technical Evaluation Report, at 75. However, the evaluators nonetheless found this proposed solution technically unacceptable because the [deleted] plates had a higher areal density than the areal density of the ICT-manufactured plates ([deleted] pounds per square foot as opposed to the [deleted] pounds per square foot range specified for the ICT [deleted] plates originally proposed[3]). They were also thicker than the ICT-manufactured plates (the [deleted] plates have an average thickness of [deleted] millimeters, while the ICT-manufactured plates have a thickness of [deleted] millimeters[4]).
The evaluators were specifically concerned that, because of the increased weight and thickness of the [deleted] plates, the total system weight could exceed the solicitations requirement of 1,630 pounds. They were also concerned that the [deleted] plates might not function properly with ICTs proposed kit A attachment system. The evaluators concluded as follows:
Since the original system weight estimates were based off of [deleted] solutions with areal densities lower than [deleted], ICT did not adequately provide an explanation of how the increased areal density of the [deleted] solution affects the total system weight. This also includes the impact of increased weight and panel thickness on the Group A attachment system.
AR, exh. 11, Interim Technical Evaluation Report, at 75.
ICT argues that, although its proposal did not include a total system weight calculation, the agency could have determined that the increased areal density of the [deleted] plates would not have resulted in its total system weight exceeding 1,630 pounds. ICT also asserts that there was no basis for the agency to conclude that its kit A attachment system would not function with the [deleted] plates.
As noted above, offerors have an affirmative responsibility to submit an adequately written proposal, and a firm that does not provide sufficient information to demonstrate that its offered product or service meets the agencys requirements runs the risk that its proposal will be rejected as unacceptable. Verizon Fed., Inc., supra. The record shows that ICTs proposal fell short in this regard.
First, the record shows that ICT failed to include any information showing that the total system weight using the [deleted] armor plates was compliant with the requirements of the RFP. Even if, as suggested by ICT, the agency could have performed a calculation relating to the total weight of the [deleted] plates themselves, there was no basis for the agency to necessarily conclude that the weight of ICTs kit A attachment system would not change in order to accommodate the heavier [deleted] plates.
Second, as noted above, the [deleted] plates are approximately [deleted] percent[5] thicker than the originally-proposed [deleted] plates, and there was no basis for the evaluators to determine whether ICTs attachment system would function with the thicker plates. In fact, ICTs discussion response to the agency in connection with its proposal of the [deleted] plates creates doubt regarding the functionality of the kit A attachment system when used with the [deleted] plates. ICTs response states: [O]ur understanding at this time is that this solution [use of the [deleted] plates] is compatible with ICTs A and B kit proposed design solution. AR, exh. 11, ICT Discussion Responses, at II-5.
In the final analysis, the record shows that there was significant information absent from the ICT proposal, as revised during discussions, and that this lack of information led the evaluators reasonably to conclude that the alternate solution offered by ICT using the [deleted] plates was not technically acceptable.[6]
The protest is denied.
Susan A. Poling
General Counsel
[1] The RFP provided that proposals would be found either technically acceptable or unacceptable considering three subfactors: production plan; integrated master schedule; and requirement objectives. RFP at 54-55.
[2] Again, ICT included ballistic performance data for three different configurations of ICT-manufactured [deleted] plates. One of the three ICT [deleted] plate solutions was found technically unacceptable because the ballistic performance test data showed that the backface deformation exceeded what was allowable under the specifications; the second ICT-manufactured [deleted] plate was found to exceed the specifications requirement to have an areal density of 8 pounds per square foot or less; and the third ICT-manufactured [deleted] plate was found to be acceptable in terms of its ballistic performance, but the agency did not consider this solution because ICT did not mention it as one of the alternatives it was actually proposing. AR, exh. 12, Interim Technical Evaluation Report, at 74-75.
[3] In its original proposal, ICT specified a weight range for its [deleted] plates of between [deleted] and [deleted] pounds per square foot. AR, exh. 8, ICT Technical Proposal, at II-14. ICT calculated a total system weight of [deleted] pounds based on these parameters. Id.
[4] The average thickness of the [deleted] plates is expressed in inches. We have converted that measurement to millimeters to show a more direct comparison. The average thickness of the [deleted] plates is [deleted] inches ([deleted]). AR, exh. 11, ICT Discussion Responses, at II-5.
[5] [deleted] millimeter plates are approximately [deleted] percent thicker than [deleted] millimeter plates.
[6] ICT asserts that the agency should have engaged in discussions with it in order to clarify the agencys concerns with the ICT proposal of the alternate solution using the [deleted] plates. However, agencies are under no obligation to initiate additional rounds of discussions to address a deficiency first introduced by an offeror in its revised proposal. PAE Govt Servs., Inc., B-407886 et al., Mar. 22, 2013, 2013 CPD ¶ 92 at 6.
Feb 22, 2018
IAP World Services, Inc.
We deny the protest.
Peter Vander Werff Construction, Inc.
We dismiss the protest.
Feb 21, 2018
Veterans Electric, LLC
We deny the protest.
VT Halter Marine, Inc.
We deny the protest.
ManTech Advanced Systems International, Inc.
We sustain the protest.
Transworld Systems, Inc.; Account Control Technology, Inc.
We sustain TSI's protest and deny ACT's protest.
MicroTechnologies, LLC
We deny the protest in part and dismiss it in part.
Feb 16, 2018
CSI Aviation, Inc.
We deny the protest.
Heskett and Heskett Services
We deny the protest.
Feb 15, 2018
OST, Inc.
We deny the protest.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here


text:
Showing Suppliers 1 - 5 of 5
Atlas Sound
Address: 4545 E. Baseline Rd., Phoenix, AZ
Business Type: Manufacturer
Fiber Network Tools and Telecom Supplies, Inc. (FNT)
Address: 4401 E. Baseline Road, Suite 110, Phoenix, AZ
Business Type: Distributor
IEC Supply, LLC.
Address: 1455 West 12th Place, Tempe, AZ
Business Type: Distributor
iNNOdata, Ltd.
Address: PO Box 12276, Casa Grande, AZ
Business Type: Manufacturer
Suntron Corporation
Address: 2401 West Grandview Rd., Phoenix, AZ
Business Type: Service
Description: Suntron Corporation Named 2012 Arizona Manufacturer of the Year! Suntron Corporation delivers complete vertically integrated electronics manufacturing services and solutions to support the entire life cycle of complex products in the Aerospace and Defense, Medical Equipment, Industrial,... (more)


text:
Out-of-bounds snowboarder in B.C. will be billed for rescue
CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Wednesday, December 19, 2012 9:13AM EST
Last Updated Wednesday, December 19, 2012 10:14PM EST
A snowboarder who went out of bounds on British Columbia's Cypress Mountain and spent two nights lost in heavy snow will have to foot the bill for the search-and-rescue operation, officials said Wednesday.
Sebastien Boucher, 33, got lost in the backcountry on Sunday and was finally spotted Tuesday evening on a dark, snowy mountainside, thanks to infrared technology.
Due to the difficult terrain of the area, it wasn't possible to immediately airlift Boucher back to safety.
Eventually, with the help of a military Cormorant helicopter from 442 Squadron in Comox, B.C., Boucher was winched off the mountain and flown to nearby Vancouver, where he was reported to be in stable condition with no injuries -- despite his exposure to the elements for more than 48 hours.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Cypress Mountain said the resort will be sending a bill to Boucher "to recover costs and donate the funds to the North Shore Search and Rescue."
"We find nothing heroic about Mr. Boucher's reckless adventure, especially after impacting so many people over the past two days," the statement said.
The total cost of rescuing Boucher is expected to exceed $10,000.
Rescuers had been blunt in their assessment of the situation earlier Tuesday, saying Boucher would have passed fences and warning signs in order to go out-of-bounds and was the "maker of his own demise."
North Shore Rescue team leader Tim Jones said Boucher's actions not only put his own life in danger, but rescuers as well. He said crews are frustrated that skiers and snowboarders often fail to heed warnings about the risks of heading into the backcountry, particularly after heavy snowfall, when avalanche conditions are heightened.
Boucher's family had flown in from Ottawa on Tuesday and spent an emotional day awaiting news of his fate.
"Those guys, those rescue people, thank God. They were angels. They were the best in the world," his mother Micheline Simoneau told CTV News.
Search-and-rescue crew members had begun to fear the worst after the sun went down Monday night, meaning Boucher was spending a second straight night in the wilderness. However, a glimmer of hope emerged around 4 p.m. local time Tuesday when searchers found fresh tracks in the snow, which eventually led them to Boucher.
With files from CTV British Columbia
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text:
The Kansas City Royals announced that they have signed minor league free agent Francisco Pena.
Here is their press release:
Catcher Francisco Pena, son of former Kansas City manager Tony Pena and brother of former Royals player Tony Pena Jr., has signed a Major League contract with the organization and was added to the 40-man roster, the club announced Sunday. He was a Minor League free agent.
Pena, 24, has spent his seven-year career in the Mets' farm system and divided last year between Triple-A Las Vegas and Double-A Binghamton. In 68 games for Las Vegas, he batted .257 with 15 doubles, nine homers and 39 RBIs. He caught 57 games, making just four errors and throwing out 15 of 50 runners on base-stealing attempts.
Also known as "Frankie," Pena is a right-handed hitter who batted .236 in 593 Minor League games for the Mets with 40 homers and 243 RBIs.
His father Tony was a former catcher who managed the Royals in 2002-05, compiling a 198-285 record before resigning in May 2005. Before this year, Pena's 2003 team had the Royals' only winning record (83-79) since 1994. He has been the Yankees' bench coach for the last five years.
Tony Pena Jr. was the Royals' regular shortstop in 2007, batting .267, but then went to a utility role for the next two years and decided to become a pitcher. This year, he posted a 5-8 record in 33 games (nine starts) for the White Sox's Triple-A club at Charlotte.
Pena was signed at 16 years old by the Mets in 2007 as an International Free Agent and performed well for Vegas last season with Travis d'Arnaud out for most of the season.
He spent a few years as a Mets top prospect before sliding down, and became a free agent at the end of this season along with 15 other Met minor leaguers.
Interesting that Royals scouts saw enough to recommend an MLB contract to their front office.


text:
Meet The New Fighter In Borderlands 2: Krieg The Psycho Bandit
Yep, another playable character. This game offers some serious bang for your buck!
Developer Gearbox Software has announced the sixth character for the award-winning Borderlands 2, and you'll be able to experiment with him to your heart's content on May 14.
It's Krieg the Psycho Bandit, and he's a "high-risk melee brawler" who comes equipped with a buzz axe and several psychotic attributes. His three skill trees are Bloodlust (increases axe strength), Mania (more resistant to taking damage) and Hellborn (he gets stronger when on fire). He will be featured in the Psycho Pack DLC, which will retail for $9.99, and remember that it's not part of the Season Pass. The last extra character, Gaige, was delivered in the same fashion, and also wasn't included in the Pass.
Also, don't forget that Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep - which most certainly is part of the Season Pass - will arrive on June 25. That's the fourth and final DLC expansion scheduled, so get your fill!
Related Game(s): Borderlands 2
Tags: borderlands 2, borderlands 2 dlc, borderlands 2 krieg the psycho bandit
5/7/2013 10:34:06 AM Ben Dutka
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Tuesday, May 07, 2013 @ 11:30:57 AM
I guess ill stick to my Siren. I thought I might get this character but ive since changed my mind.
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text:
Clamdigging around Rowayton
Updated 6:47 pm, Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The Roton Middle School Parent Teacher Club will host its annual "Good Morning Pancake Breakfast" family fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria.
Roton students will serve homemade pancakes, including blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes, sausages, bagels, juice and coffee, while parent volunteers work the griddles during this community-building event.
Roton Middle School is located at 201 Highland Ave. Admission is $8; free for children under 5. A holiday craft will be available for children while they wait.
Proceeds from this annual fundraiser go toward Roton students' educational trips, enrichment activities, teacher wish lists and PTC initiatives.
More InformationFact box
Platform tennis season opener
Come join the Rowayton Platform Tennis Association at the Rowayton Community Center for its season opener, Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m.
There will be food, fun and free lessons for the whole family. You don't have to be a member to attend.
For the beginner, the Family Fun Day is a perfect way to check it out and for the seasoned player it's a great way to kickoff the new paddle season.
If you would like to join, or get information on men's and women's league play, lessons and the junior program, visit www.rowyatonpaddle.com.
Artists at the Bluff
The Rowayton Yacht Club is presenting an art show and open house on Sunday, Oct. 14, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Local artists Tom Ranges, Rick Pank, Adrienne Mierzwa and Sandra Aldrich will be exhibiting their art.
Members, neighbors and friends are invited to 77 Bluff Ave. for the festivities.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Campaign for Farm Creek Preserve of the Norwalk Land Trust.
RHS chili cook-off
Do you make the best chili in town, or do you simply enjoy good chili with some cold beer and live music? Join us at the second annual RHS Chili Cook-Off. Test your mettle and prepare your favorite chili recipe the morning of Oct. 13 at Pinkney Park from 1 to 4 p.m., or come at 1 p.m. to taste and vote on your favorites. Enjoy live music by Bill Nollman, Michael Mugrage and Neil Currie. Registration fee to compete is $50. Entry charge for tastings, live music and beer is $15. To register or for information, visit www.rowaytonhistoricalsociety.org.
Gardening for kids
Carol Giunta of the Rowayton Gardeners will be leading the next session of Gardening 101 Monday, Oct. 15, at 3:30 p.m. at the library. Kids 8 and older are invited. This week kids will dissect (and eat) roots to see how they help plants. Space is limited, so email email@example.com or call the Rowayton Library.
Movie night
Friday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m., the library will show the movie "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." The movie follows seven cash-strapped seniors who decide to "outsource" their retirement to a resort in far-off India. Friendship and romance blossom in the most unexpected ways. The movie is Rated PG-13 and the run time is 124 minutes. Popcorn will be served. This program is free and open to the public.
Scene of the Crime book discussion
On Oct. 17 at 7 p.m., once again, the library will be bringing to the community a favorite BookTalk for Adults: Scene of the Crime Book Discussion Series with "Willow Pattern" by Robert van Gulik. Setting has marked importance in many mystery novels. This series looks at novels in some less familiar settings, both geographical and cultural. In many cases the writers have used the settings to create mood, to affect plot, to illuminate characters, and to highlight thematic concerns. Diana Loevy will lead discussions. Other books in the series include: Nov. 14, "A Dwarf Kingdom" by Nicolas Freeling; and Dec. 19, "Smilla's Sense of Snow" by Peter Hoeg. Refreshments will be served. Multiple copies of the books are available.
Intruder incidents to be discussed
Common Council Member David McCarthy is sponsoring a meeting of citizens with the Community Policing Unit at the Rowayton Community Center, 33 Highland Ave., on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. Deputy Chief Wrinn, Lieut. Wong-Won as well as Officer Silva will be present to discuss recent incidents of intruders attempting to gain access to homes or observing woman inside their homes. All residents are encouraged to attend and learn about these incidents as well as learn more about preventative measures and what they should do in the event they see something.
The Rowayton Underground Youth Center is an Rowayton Civic Association sponsored program held in the lower level of the Rowayton Community Center. It provides a safe and supervised venue where our middle-school kids can socialize with friends one Friday night a month, with adult chaperones.
There are board games, bingo games, cards, a pool table, air hockey and foosball. Weather permitting there are also outdoor activities such as basketball, soccer, and touch football. Sixth graders will meet one Friday night a month, and seventh/eighth graders will meet together one Friday night a month, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
A one-time registration fee of $100 for the year (Oct.-June) pays for staff as well as a pizza dinner each night.
Also, there will be two local field trips off site in the spring, and a year-end Bayley beach picnic in June. While this program is primarily for 6th taxing district residents, school friends residing outside of Rowayton are welcome to join in, but must be sponsored by a resident.
Though opening night for sixth graders has passed, you can still join. The opening night for seventh/eighth graders is Friday, Oct. 19, from 6:30 to 8:30pm. Call or email the RCA at email@example.com (sixth-graders) and email@example.com (seventh- and eighth-graders).
Brendan's 101 presents Vogel
Brendan's 101 Gallery presents Karen Vogel and "Time Out," now through Oct. 30. A reception will be given to celebrate her art on Thursday, Oct. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Vogel pushes boundaries and explores different media and techniques with free-form, abstract associations of botanical objects and natural patterns.
Sign up for RAC's fall classes
Sign up now for fall classes and workshops at The Art School at the Rowayton Arts Center, 145 Rowayton Ave. All of RAC's instructors are award-winning artists with many years of experience. For full information and online registration visit www.rowaytonartscenter.org.
Experience the joy of writing letters
When was the last time you wrote a letter to a friend, sealed the envelope and posted it? When was the last time you received a letter?
Come enjoy a cup of hot tea and a cookie or two at the library and write a letter or two Tuesdays at 2 p.m. at the library. Choose from a selection of writing paper, fountain pens and sealing wax ... the postage is on the library.
Donations sought for art tag sale
The Rowayton Arts Center is seeking donations of items in excellent or good condition for "Arts & Ends," a sale of art and art-related items to benefit RAC programs.
Donations may include original artwork in all media, art reproductions, antique photographs, art-related books (how-to, biographies, fine art, coffee-table), crafts and art supplies/equipment (brushes, paint, pastels, stretcher bars, canvas, paper, palates, easels, drawing boards), photography equipment (cameras, tripods), frames, matting, items for youth (art games, books, materials).
Contact RAC for drop-off dates and location at email@example.com or 203-866-2744.
The artistic tag sale will take place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21, at the Rowayton Community Center, 33 Highland Ave. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rowayton Fire Station open house
Come to the Open House at the Rowayton Fire Station at 136 Rowayton Ave. on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Fire Safety Trailer will be there for families to explore and learn about having "two ways out." For information, call 203-838-1650.
The library will be handing out free smoke detector batteries free while supplies last.
Please share Rowayton happenings with your community. Send them to firstname.lastname@example.com. And now you can follow the goings-on in Rowayton on our blog at www.NorwalkCitizenOnline.com. Feel free to comment and start a Rowayton conversation.