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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and top Republicans agreed Thursday to end a budget impasse that prompted the longest state government shutdown in recent history, after the Democratic governor surrendered on raising taxes.
Dayton said the state government would be back in business "very soon," but he didn't say exactly when.
The deal to erase a $5 billion deficit came after a big sacrifice from Dayton, who made new income taxes a central campaign message last year and the centerpiece of his budget. He dropped that and said he would accept — with conditions — an offer the GOP put forward on the eve of the shutdown to bring about $1.4 billion into the budget by delaying payments to schools and selling tobacco payment bonds.
Republicans agreed to his conditions, which included relinquishing a list of policy changes such as banning state aid for stem cell research and a plan to cut the state workforce by 15 percent.
They conceded to higher state spending than they had wanted. Republican lawmakers spent months insisting that the two-year budget be capped at $34 billion, the amount the state was projected to collect without new sources of money. Instead, it will be closer to $35.4 billion.
The deal — if approved by lawmakers — would end a government interruption that has lasted two weeks and isn't over yet.
Dayton announced the deal outside his office with House Speaker Kurt Zellers and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch after a three-hour negotiating session. The somber looks on their faces testified to a hard bargain.
"We're on a fast-track to getting this resolved permanently," Dayton said.
Dayton said the shutdown would end "very soon, within days," The Star Tribune reported.
"It was about making sure that we get a deal that we can all be disappointed in, but a deal that is done, a budget that was balanced, a state that was back to work," Zellers said.
"Nobody is going to be happy with this, which is the essence of real compromise," Dayton said.
Other political news of note
Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
House Speaker John Boehner became animated Tuesday over the proposed Keystone Pipeline, castigating the Obama administration for not having approved the project yet.
- Budget deficits shrinking but set to grow after 2015
- Senate readies another volley on unemployment aid
- Obama faces Syria standstill
- Fluke files to run in California
- Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
The deal is contingent on approval by the Legislature, no easy task after an election in which a more conservative Republican caucus took power. But Koch said she believed rank-and-file legislators would approve it.
Dayton didn't say when he will call a special legislative session to pass a budget but indicated it would be within days. He said a stopgap funding measure won't be necessary because the two sides will agree on and pass bills setting a new two-year budget.
Yet many of the deal's details remained murky, including exactly what will be cut from planned spending.
The shutdown has idled 22,000 state employees, closed state parks and rest stops and cut off funding to many social services. It has cost the state millions in the cost of preparing for the shutdown and in lost revenue since then. The interruption has also prevented entrepreneurs and professionals from getting state licenses. The latest licensing snag threatens to stop the sale of Miller, Coors and other popular beers in the state within days.
Payments by the state to schools and local governments have continued, and a court has taken some of the pressure off by restarting the flow of cash to programs ranging from child care assistance to home meal services for the elderly.
The governor sounded weary earlier Thursday when he told a University of Minnesota audience in Minneapolis that he would embrace the GOP proposal. He said people he met as he traveled around the state had this clear message: End the shutdown.
"They want this resolved, and they don't even care how. I care how," Dayton said.
The deal is contingent on approval by the Legislature, no easy task after an election in which a more conservative Republican caucus took power. Koch and Zellers said they believed rank-and-file legislators would approve it. Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers, and Democratic minority leaders weren't in on the deal-making.
"Certainly we're not doing any end zone dances," said Rep. Mike Benson, a freshman Republican from Rochester. "Realistically there are some things that are going to go down hard. Sounds to me we're kicking the can down the road a little bit with the education shift, but we're not raising taxes."
Democratic House Minority Leader Paul Thissen said in a statement that it would be up to Republicans to pass the compromise.
Unions, and some Democrats, sharply criticized the plan as irresponsible for borrowing against future revenue.
"More debt and more borrowing only make this bad situation worse," state Rep. Ryan Winkler, a Democrat from Golden Valley, said in a statement. Winkler said the delay in school funding, which has become a regular part of Minnesota's budget balancing, would "mortgage our children's future."
"Some of what we have been working for has been set back years today," said Rev. Grant Stevensen, who heads a coalition of Twin Cities congregations focused on social justice issues and said he was disappointed that Dayton dropped his call to raise taxes on top earners.
Outside the Capitol, there was frustration that the impasse went far enough to close government.
"I guarantee I lost some business out of it," said Jim Berg, who owns a 13-cabin resort in Crosslake and was hurt by the suspension of fishing licenses in the shutdown.
Berg said he's not sure whether the settlement comes soon enough for him to salvage the rest of the summer.
"Only time's going to tell that," he said.
Msnbc.com staff contributed to this report from The Associated Press.
© 2013 msnbc.com


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Volunteers with Mayport USO host a "no dough dinner" twice a month for military families in need of a hand up in between paychecks. every other Monday before payday, officials say they help nearly 300 people.
That number could soon rise, if mandatory federal budget cuts go through. The reductions could lead to employee pay slashed by 20 percent due to 22 weeks of one-day-a-week furloughs.
"Our main goal is to help them out through paydays because military families go through a lot already, so we try to ease it with the little bit that we can," said Mayport USO Center Director Pam Coates.
Soldiers and their families who are concerned over the cuts are already planning on starting a new budget in order to stay afloat during the cuts.
"In talking with some of the wives from our command today, they're planning on coming out to this dinner so they can start budgeting in case this does happen," said Deb Mullinax.
For many families, including Ashley Haley's, the cuts would be devastating. Haley's 4-year-old son, who has autism needs expensive behavioral therapy sessions that she fears could be dropped from her insurance if lawmakers can't find a solution.
"No other insurance other than the military covers the therapies like Tri-care so, if anything like that got cut, it would affect him with autism. You know, they regress very easily and stuff like that, so my concern would be that it would affect him in the long run," said Haley.
Regardless of what happens come the March 1st deadline, "No Dough" organizers say they will continue to cook for military families in need.
"We're here to help our military families," said Coates.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ariel Castro, 53, was found hanging in his cell around 9:20 p.m. yesterday Tuesday September 3rd at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, in central Ohio. A spokeswoman for the prison said early today that prison medical staff performed CPR before Castro was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 10:50 p.m.
Castro was also watched closely in Cuyahoga County Jail in the several weeks after his arrest and before his case was resolved by a guilty plea, with logs noting his activity every 10 minutes. He was taken off county jail suicide watch in early June after authorities determined he was not a suicide risk.
The three women disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16 and 20 years old. They escaped from Castro's Cleveland home May 6, when Amanda Berry, one of the women, broke part of a door and yelled to neighbors for help.
"Help me," she said in a 911 call. "I've been kidnapped, and I've been missing for 10 years and I'm, I'm here, I'm free now."
The two other women were so scared of Castro that they held back initially even as police officers began to swarm the house. But quickly they realized they were free.
"You saved us! You saved us!" another of the captives, Michelle Knight, told an officer as she leaped into his arms.
Castro was arrested that evening. He had also fathered a child with Berry while she was in captivity; that girl was 6 years old when freed. A judge rejected Castro's request to have visiting rights with his daughter.
Elation over the women's rescue soon turned to shock as details emerged about conditions of their captivity. Investigators say they were bound with chains, repeatedly raped and deprived of food and bathroom facilities. Knight told investigators she was beaten and starved several times to force her to miscarry.
Castro was sentenced Aug. 1 to life in prison plus 1,000 years on his guilty plea to 937 counts including kidnapping and rape.
In a rambling statement, he told the judge he was not a monster but a man suffering from a pornography addiction.
"I'm not a monster. I'm sick," Castro said at his sentencing.
Knight was the only one of the three who appeared in court at his sentencing.
"You took 11 years of my life away, and I have got it back," she said in the hushed courtroom. "I spent 11 years in hell. Now your hell is just beginning."
Source: Associated Press


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Here are some recent casting additions at a glance:
- Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica) has been confirmed as a cast member in Machete Kills, starring Danny Trejo.
- Rosie Huntington-Whiteley(Transformers: Dark of the Moon) is set to join the cast of Mad Max: Fury Road.
- Jason Mantzoukas (The Dictator) joins the David Wain-directed comedy, They Came Together, with Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler.
Hit the jump for more.
First up from Omelete comes word that Edward James Olmos has joined the production of the sequel to Robert Rodriguez's Machete. The original starred Trejo as an ex-Federale on a revenge mission, but the plot of Machete Kills reads as follows:
"In a new mission, by request of the president of the United States himself, Machete needs to defeat a dangerous drug lord that threatens the government with nuclear attacks."
There is no word yet on what role Olmos has in the film, which just started shooting this week. The picture also stars Mel Gibson, Amber Heard, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara, Demian Bichir and of course, Trejo himself. Look for Machete Kills to open sometime in 2013.
Just Jared reports that Victoria's Secret model Huntington-Whiteley will join Mad Max: Fury Road, the fourth film in the franchise (all of which have been directed by George Miller). Huntington-Whiteley will play one of the "five wives," along with Zoe Kravitz and Riley Keough. Who are the five wives? Kravitz explains:
"There's a group of five women being taken from one place to another place, and I'm one of those women. So they call us the five wives. There are five women who are five wives. No, I'm not playing all five wives."
Keough and Kravitz recently flew to Namibia, Africa for the start of the shoot. Mad Max: Fury Road also stars Tom Hardy, Nicholas Hoult and a shaven-headed Charlize Theron.
Finally, from Deadline comes news that Mantzoukas will join They Came Together as Rudd's character's best friend. Written by Wain and Michael Showalter, They Came Together is a satire of romantic comedies that follows Molly (Poehler), the owner of a knick-knack shop, who is about to be run out of business by a corporate competitor, run by Joel (Rudd). Look for They Came Together to debut in 2014.


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This magazine covers areas that you wouldn't expect , It educates you as well . Life is not only about the fine things but of reality and how things happens. I'am new to mens journal and I never expected it to be so much of my intrest, I think the journalist and others who took part in this magazine did a great job.
Steve Nash's comment "celebrity is to keep boring people from their nothingness" is awsome. It goes right along with another saying I found online one day "Great people discuss ideas, average people discuss events, ignorant people discuss people." How about profiling the everyday hard working guy next door. He may not be trying to lead an NBA team to a Championship, but I bet he's got an interesting story to tell. Thanks for writing such a great magazine.
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Okay I solved this one myself (with some help from the internet)
I assumed that because I was on the admin account I had the powers of an admin, this was not the case.
I bound the Hex program to the taskbar and clicked ctrl+shift+ left clicked the closed Hex program. The computer asked if I wanted to run the program as admin and I said yes.
hooray! now for some editing fun maybe give Liu Zhang some better stats (too bad I can't get that gormless look off his face)


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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas coach Mack Brown would not commit to starting Case McCoy or David Ash at quarterback in the Alamo Bowl against Oregon State.
In a bowl press conference on Thursday, Brown said his staff has not yet met to discuss bowl preparations and the quarterback position.
Ash had been the starter most of the season, but was replaced by McCoy in the regular season finale, a loss at Kansas State. McCoy had 17 straight completions at one point in that game, but also threw two interceptions that led to Kansas Stat touchdowns and the Texas loss.
Ash suffered a rib injury in Texas' loss to TCU on Thanksgiving and also threw three interceptions in that game.


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Robert Mueller's report clearly shows a number of times that Don Trump attempted to obstruct justice, such as telling his White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller. There are at least 10 such instances documented in the report. And yet, Trump and his minions claim the report exonerates him. It does not, but setting that aside for the moment, today he is obstructing justice yet again! He is digging his hole deeper and deeper, and I sincerely hope he falls into it very soon.
First, it was announced yesterday that Trump and his business organization are suing the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Elijah Cummings, in an attempt to block the subpoena the committee issued requesting information from Trump's accounting firm about his financial records. Now, this subpoena would not have been necessary if Trump had been forthcoming with his tax returns, as every other president since Reagan has done. When one refuses to answer a question, it throws up red flags and becomes obvious one has something to hide, and it is glaringly obvious at this point that Donald Trump has a heck of a lot to hide.
Judging by the fact that Trump had been involved in some 5,000 lawsuits prior to becoming president, we should not be surprised by this latest, for suing someone seems to be his modus operandi any time things don't go his way. The argument in this one, however, is laughable.
"Instead of working with the President to pass bipartisan legislation that would actually benefit Americans, House Democrats are singularly obsessed with finding something they can use to damage the President politically."
Trump's lawyers are also seeking to block his accounting firm, Mazars USA, from providing any information to the committee. There is small chance that Trump will win this suit, BUT … it is seen as mainly a delaying tactic, likely until he can think of something else. Trump is wasting our money on efforts to hide his own perfidy. Plus … he is challenging the U.S. Constitution that calls for a system of checks and balances, as he asks the judicial branch to stop the legislative branch from doing their job overseeing the executive branch. Playing both ends against the middle, so to speak.
And about those tax returns … the Internal Revenue Service missed the first deadline to turn six years' worth of tax returns over to the House Ways and Means Committee, and the deadline was pushed back until … today, and as of this writing there is no sign of any tax returns. More obfuscation.
But wait … there's more!
Former White House personnel security director Carl Kline received a letter directing him not to show up for questioning by the House Oversight Committee. The letter came from White House deputy counsel Michael M. Purpura and claims that the subpoena for his testimony "unconstitutionally encroaches on fundamental executive branch interests." Kline's attorney said he will abide by the White House directive.
Mr. Kline's testimony was requested as the committee is investigating the security clearances that appear to have been handed out willy-nilly on Trump's orders, even though investigations had shown those individuals to be a security risk. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner was one of those individuals.
Every single one of the above instances are attempts on the part of Trump to obstruct justice by hook or by crook. Obstruction of justice, by the way, IS against the law. Imagine if you are summonsed to appear before a judge for some matter and you don't show up. Guess where you'll be going? But Trump is getting by with it because … he believes he is a king, not a president of a relatively democratic nation. More and more, I am coming to believe that impeachment may be the only answer. I had been of the opinion that we should wait until all these investigations were concluded, however it appears that they may not be concluded for years, as he and his lawyers continue meddling, obfuscating, interfering and obstructing the process of the investigations.
And in other news, I am distressed to read that in less than two months, on June 3rd, Trump will travel to the United Kingdom for a state visit. The Brits do not want him there, and it is certain that he will only humiliate us in front of our UK friends. There is no good reason for him to go … it is merely an ego trip. Last July when he went to the UK amid many protests from the citizenry, it ended up costing the country £18 million, or about $23 million in security. I have an idea … how about just not having security … let the chips fall where they may.
Some are predicting even more, larger protests this time … as I said, nobody wants him there. On the fun side, however, they are getting out the Trump baby blimp and dusting it off to use again. I read in The Guardian that they may even make a new one … a hot air balloon five times the size of the original!
And on that note, I think I am finished for now … have a great day, my friends!


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Big i-commerce shop
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About Me
The main product of Attract company is design creation and implementation of web applications of any complexity: from promo-sites to portals. We use multiple web technologies for our projects. The main programming languages are PHP, Ajax and JS. Both Prototype and JQuery are applied in the projects. MySQL is the main database platform. We use various CMS as Drupal, Wordpress, Joomla for projects depends on requirements or preferences of the customer. For high data intensive projects Sphinx engine (Craiglist, Amazon engine) is used. Our approaches are Agile and Waterfall depends on preferences of customer. Our team will provide best quality of service and our designers will create amazing design for your web site.
$30 USD/hr


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Student or Learner
Can somebody help me with writing appeal to work from negative decision ?
I tried to change my working hours beacose I got a baby and was refused, now I got 5 days to appeal from this decision. Mayby somebody got any idea what should be in this letter?
Staff or payroll number: [your payroll or staff number]
Dear [managers name]
I am appealing against your decision to decline my application for flexible working on the following grounds:
other employees in a similar situation have been accepted
Yours sincerely,
Name: [your name]
Date: [date in DD/MM/YYYY format]


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Mac OS X users: See How to update Java for Mac for more information.
Java Update is a feature that keeps your Windows computer up-to-date with the latest Java releases.
When you have auto update enabled, your system periodically checks for new versions of Java. When a new version is found we ask your permission to upgrade your Java installation.
You can schedule how often to check for updates, or check manually at any time.
Typically, you will be notified of the update within a week of its release.
By enabling your system to check for the latest version, you keep your system secure with the latest patch updates. We strongly recommend that you do not disable the update feature. Instead, change preferences for how often you'd like to be notified of newer versions. The default setting is to notify on a weekly basis.
Use the Notify Me option under the Update tab of the Java Control Panel.
When you are notified of a newer version, click on the notification message to start the update process.
Starting with Windows Vista and later versions, when you restart your system, the Windows process
jucheck.exe (also known as
Java Auto Updater), is initiated and attempts to check for the latest Java version. The Windows User Account Control (UAC) prompts you to allow this process to run.
The ability to make changes to the Update tab may not be enabled if you are not logged in as administrator or if your network administrator has disabled that feature during installation.
Java Auto Update is not available for 64-bit versions of Java prior to Java 8. For those versions prior to Java 8, the Update tab is not available in the Java Control Panel.
Starting with Java 8 Update 20, the Update tab in the Java Control Panel enables users to automatically update 64-bit JREs (in addition to 32-bit versions) that are installed on their system.
See Java update settings are not saved in the Java control panel for more information and a workaround.
Yes, updating to Java 7, using Auto Update or updating through the Java Control Panel, will remove the highest version of Java 6 installed. Java 6 has reached its End of Public Updates, which means there will be no further public secure updates for Java 6. It is recommended that Java 6 be removed from your computer to make it more secure.
Change the Java update settings through the Java Control Panel.
For daily updates, you can select the time of the day for the update. For weekly updates, you can select the day of the week and the time of the day. For monthly updates, you can select the day of the week and the time of the day. Monthly updates check weekly and notify you within 30 days that an update is available, however, if an update is considered critical you are notified within a week of its release.
From the Java Control Panel Update tab, you can manually check for an update any time by clicking on the Update Now button located at the bottom of the Update tab on the Java Control Panel. Java Update can only be run if the system is connected to the internet. Alternatively, you can go Java.com to get the latest Java version.
After updating the Java version, you need to close and restart the Java Control Panel to get the updated Control Panel.
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Rupp's chance to start will come eventually
PHILADELPHIA -- Catcher Cameron Rupp was a September callup after splitting this season between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In his final 21 games with the IronPigs, he batted .329 with three homers and 11 RBIs. Phillies interim manager Ryne Sandberg wants a chance to evaluate Rupp. He just hasn't found the right opportunity to get him a start yet.
"I think about that daily when I make out the lineups. I'm anxious to see him. Like everybody else, he'll have his spot to get in a game," Sandberg said. "He's helping out with some bullpen [sessions]. So it will just be a matter of getting into a game when it feels right. I make out the lineups with the purpose of a quality game and a chance to win. That's always the first and foremost thing."
Right-hander Tyler Cloyd will start against the Padres on Tuesday, so Rupp is familiar with him from Lehigh Valley.
"That would be a consideration, but I don't think it would be a bottom-line thing. I don't think it would matter that much to me, who he would catch. A guy like Cliff Lee, he doesn't have a catcher he prefers. None of the pitchers do. For the most part, the pitcher has the ball and it's just a matter of a game plan and communication. So that's another thing you look at to see how he does and where he's at."


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Boys' Boots
We have a huge selection of amazing boy's boots, all year round, here at Wynsors. We have great value walking boots for boys from big brands including Regatta and Hi-Tec. As well as trendy desert boots for boys perfect for the winter season. We also stock boys boots featuring character favourites too! Spiderman, Minions, Paw Patrol… whatever boys boots you need we've got it covered.


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Students investigate human trafficking
August 26, 2013
During the summer, Lewis & Clark students continue to work hard in their fields of study. By collaborating with faculty on research projects, students are able to engage their curiosity, expand their learning, and prepare for life after college, all while making meaningful contributions to scholarship.
Rachel Schumacher '14 and Nathan Romine '14 are working alongside Assistant Professor of International Affairs Heather Smith-Cannoy on her upcoming publication on human trafficking. The group studies trafficking both in Oregon and around the world. In the following Q&A, the team members reflect on their experience.
What are you researching? What question or problem are you trying to answer/solve with your research?
Using cases from both the developing and developed world, the book we are working on explores the similarities and differences in traffickers' methods and patterns of victimization, while investigating the dramatically different ways that local and state authorities are combatting human sex trafficking. We identify the variations between the developed and the developing world in supply, demand, and responsive approach to the problem. We support our findings using case studies, existing data, government and nongovernmental organization reports, as well as an original data set. We have case studies on trafficking in the the U.S., France, Italy, India, Thailand, Moldova, and Russia.
Does your research have any potential applications in the real world, or will it influence other work in your field?
We are very excited about the outcome of this project because we feel as though it has the potential to make a difference in the real world. As we get deeper into the research this summer, we are finding that certain approaches to combating trafficking and assisting trafficking victims have yielded far better results. For example, in Italy the Department of Equal Opportunities is solely responsible for directly anti-trafficking policy. This centralized approach has led to very progressive, victim-centric policies that go far beyond what other countries are currently doing to assist trafficking victims. We hope these types of insights will contribute to better anti-trafficking policies and more help for victims.
Is any of your research taking place off campus? If so, what's that experience like?
Romine: Most of the research has taken place in my second home, Watzek Library. However, we do conduct some interviews via Skype so as to confirm and discover new trends in human trafficking as well as the tactics used to combat it.
What first sparked your interest in this research area?
Romine: I've always had an interest in movement and the displaced, whether it be refugees, immigrants, or victims of human trafficking, as in the case of our research. When I took Heather's Human Rights class in the fall, I initially wanted to study the ways in which Mexico's drug war had increased human trafficking and the ways in the government took part in the abuse. Being that the research on the matter in Mexico is relatively scarce, I was informed that the project would take more time than I had available to devote to a single project that semester. Taking part in this project has allowed to me the time and opportunity to delve further into this subject matter.
Schumacher: As an international affairs major, I have been particularly fascinated by human rights legislation and transnational networks. Outside of academics, I have also been in connection with and attended events by trafficking organizations in Portland such as Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans, Sexual Assault Resource Center, and Shared Hope International. A turning point for me was my travel to India the fall after my freshman year where I visited two anti-trafficking organizations in Kolkata. My abroad experience and my involvement with human rights organizations sparked my interest in transnational crime and sex trafficking.
How has working closely with faculty influenced your education?
Romine: Something I've always appreciated has been a professor's willingness to listen. It felt like a milestone when I realized my professor was asking for my opinion and my ideas and trusting the information for her future publication. By being so willing to listen, inviting me into discussion, and creating a space where I am comfortable to exercise my own thoughts, my professors have helped me become a more confident student.
Schumacher: I have always been impressed by Lewis & Clark's faculty because they all have a unique research interest. Summer research not only immerses me in that particular focus in the international affairs field, but it allows me to contribute to it as well. I am definitely a more skilled and enthusiastic researcher and have been able to make connections in the international field.
How do you hope your experiences this summer will impact your future studies or professional pursuits?
Romine: My experience this summer has further piqued and solidified my interest in transnational crime, human rights, and migration. A project of this size also gives me an opportunity to improve my skills as an organizer. I think it would be phenomenal to one day work for an organization like the International Organization for Migration or the International Labour Organization. I'd also like to craft migration policy in the U.S. or maybe even become a professor.
Schumacher: This research has turned my previous academic and extracurricular interest in crime into a decision to pursue professional work in the field of transnational crime. I have already come across several organizations in my research that I have been tempted to contact about a future career. I hope to find myself one day working for a research institute on human rights violations related to transnational crime.
Department of International Affairs
Zibby Pillote '14 contributed to this story


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NJSSA Home Plate
NJSSA Home Plate Leagues Locations Tournaments Rules Contacts Meetings & News Newsletters About Recognitions Forms and More Comments Sponsors/Donate In Memorium Photos Blog
New Jersey Senior Softball Association
The NJSSA is an over 50 softball association comprised of 7 Central New Jersey County Leagues including Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Mercer, Morris, Somerset and Union Counties. Many of our players also play with our neighbors, the South Jersey Senior Softball Association in Camden and Gloucester Counties. Our league teams are grouped by levels to ensure a competitive level for all to enjoy. Further, we split our leagues into 50+, 60+, 65+ and 70+ leagues to best match our players' abilities. We enjoy over 2100 players in our leagues and we are eager to have many more! We heartily invite any who wish to play and/or coach. Please feel free to contact us via any of the various methods listed below.
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Last Update: March 30, 2020
The NJSSA Welcome All Senior Softball Players
To make this a quality and valued site, NJSSA welcomes your ideas and comments. Click on the picture or the link to contact us.


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or Sign in with Facebook
or Sign up with Facebook
Madeleine Burry.
September 20
| See Comments
Published by: PetCareRx
When your cat or dog carries around too much weight, it can lead to major health problems and an uncomfortable day-to-day lifestyle. And the number of obese and overweight pets is only increasing amongst American cats and dogs, according to the most recent annual survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Find out how to institute strong dietary practices to prevent weight issues, or eliminate excess weight if necessary. And, get tips on how to know if your pet has a weight problem.
So what makes your pet pudgy? The answer generally relates to the amount of food your cat or dog is eating, especially when compared with the frequency of your pet's exercise. As a pet owner, you have a great deal of control over these two factors. To prevent, or treat, weight gain, it's important to know how much you are feeding your pet and provide your cat or dog with ample opportunities and encouragement to exercise.
It is often easy to figure out when your pet is overweight: a telltale waddle, pudgy face and body, and reluctance to exercise will reveal the extra pounds. If your pet's weight gain occurs gradually, it can be more challenging to spot. Find out some of the telltale signs of excess weight, such as poor grooming or difficulty moving around. And remember to keep an eye out on your pet's shape: you should be able to see a defined waist. If you feel along your pet's sides, and cannot feel your cat or dog's ribs, your pet is carrying around too much poundage.
If your pet is overweight or obese, before making any major changes to diet or implementing an exercise plan, make your first step a discussion with a veterinarian about your strategy. The treatment plan will likely revolve around evaluating what your pet is eating - are there lots of treats? human food? big portions? - and making any necessary changes to diet. Vets may recommend high-protein snacks that are grain free like Zuke's Lil' Links to reduce caloric intake. As well, it will be important to implement changes to your pet's exercise habits and brainstorm creative ways to introduce activities that will get your dog or cat moving around, like new cat toys or going on hikes with your dog.
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This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or diagnosis or treatment by, your veterinarian with respect to your pet. It has, however, been verified by a licensed veterinarian for accuracy.
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Birdseed Suet Cupcakes
Feed birds with this simple and fun homemade birdseed suet recipe.
In the winter, birds benefit from a high-energy suet treat. Stacy Tornio, editor of Birds & Blooms, developed this recipe with her kids using cupcake liners to stay mess-free. They're happy to report that the birds love it.
You will need:
1 cup shortening
2 cups chunky peanut butter
5 cups cornmeal
Assorted nuts, birdseed or dried berries
To make a bird cupcake, melt 1 cup shortening and 2 cups chunky peanut butter over low heat, then mix in 5 cups cornmeal. Fill cupcake tins and top with your choice of nuts, birdseed or dried berries. Cool in the refrigerator. To give as a gift, arrange on a plate or stack and then wrap with cellophane. Print off the recipe card below and attach it to the cellophane so your recipient can make more. Add a bow, and you have an instant gift!


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In collaboration with the NC Dream Team and The Ella Baker Women's Center for Leadership and Community Activism, and sponsored by the Chapel Hill's Public Arts Commission and the Office of Public and Cultural Arts, local visual artist Luis Franco and poet and writer Kane Smego organized a project with African American, Latino, and multiracial youth to discuss racial identity and issues of racism through the expressive medium of the graphic novel or comic book.
During a series of twelve Saturday morning workshops at the Street Scene Teen Center (and additional outside work) the teens developed their characters by writing poems about themselves and their own experiences with racism. They then crafted story lines, storyboards and plot sequences, and drew and colored the various frames to bring their superheroes to life on the pages of their very own comics. The teens' artwork and poetry debuted in an exhibition at The ArtsCenter recently in Carrboro.
"Comics Speak!" grew out of a response to a community need for expression, discussion, and collaboration. The goal was to empower youth of color to use the arts to confront the obstacles they and their communities face on a regular basis, as well as celebrate the vibrant cultural identities they possess. The project provided space and instruction for these youth to connect and identify these issues, by using both visual art and spoken word as a means of communicating with the community at large. The project was an extension of two earlier community workshops conducted by Chapel Hill's Sacrificial Poets that identified a desire for an artistic means of expression for the teens that was positive and identity-affirming.
1 & 2: Project organizers Kane Smego and Luis Franco, partner organization leaders Pat Parker of The Ella Baker Women's Center for Leadership and Community Activism and Amy Fisher of NC Dream Team, and the whole "Comics Speak!" youth team.
3: Students Isrieal Settles (center) & Jose Portillo (right) answer questions about their comics
4: Student Mashallah Salaam explains her artwork to her fans
5: Jaime Perez & Gabriel Garcia with their artwork
6: Students Jasmine Farmer & Gerardo Alvarez-Ariza with their artwork
7: Artist Luis Franco discusses the exhibition with attendees
8: Marco Cervantes performs a spoken word poem
9: Poet Kane Smego, Pat Parker of The Ella Baker Women's Center for Leadership and Community Activism, visual artist Luis Franco, Amy Fisher of NC Dream Team
Photos by Wagon Wheel Arts Promotion and Chapel Hill Public Arts.


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Topic: ClamAV problems
This morning I came in to a non-functioning mail server. After a little digging, ClamAV "updated" its database to a corrupt one, and refuses to start.
I removed the offending /var/lib/clamav/daily.cld, and it all comes back up. Good! Except when I run a freshclam (Either manually or automatically) the database gets "updated" to the corrupt one again... Seems the new database is corrupt, and if that's the case, I can't imagine I'm the only one having that problem?
Needless to say that's not acceptable... So the question I have is, how do I fix this problem, by either:
- Fix the database once and for all (I have a feeling this is up to the clamav people, but you never know)
- Prevent freshclam from running and corrupting the database again (I did stop the clamav-freshclam daemon. Is that enough?)
- Take clamav out of the whole system so it won't bring down the server?


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HOLLY HILL, Fla. – A Holly Hill teen has been arrested on New Year's Day after deputies say he shined a green laser into the cockpit of a Volusia County Sheriff's Office helicopter.
Andrew Decker, 18, has been charged with pointing a laser light at a driver/pilot after the VCSO pilot said Decker shined a green laser into the cockpit multiple times as they were flying in the area of Hammock Drive.
When deputies asked Decker why he was shining the light, Decker said he was "just shining the trees" and that he was "just seeing if the laser would go that high and it did."
Decker also said he thought the laser was "cool" and learned about laser pointers in Boy Scouts.
Deputies said pointing a laser pointer at pilots can blind them and cause serious damage to their eyes.
Decker was arrested on felony charges and taken to Volusia County jail just after midnight, where he bonded out.


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As January draws to a close, we are diving back into our January gallery, The Times, for one last chance to be wowed, and to be inspired to better our pages through journaling, photography, and design. Please, won't you join us?
Journaling prompts are often the fastest start to a layout. Nothing like a good story to drive a page forward. We thought these six layouts had terrific ideas for journaling.
2013 | Aliza Deutsch
12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill Basics Paper) + patterned paper (My Mind's Eye, Cocoa Daisy) + enamel dots (My Mind's Eye, Freckled Fawn) + brads (My Mind's Eye) + thickers (Maya Road) + wood veneer (Cocoa Daisy) + embossing powder (Ranger) + flowers (Fancy Pants) + fonts (Linenstroke)
Do you ever think to yourself, "How did I get here?" As time goes by, we are still our same old selves but yet, the mirror shows someone else. Take a moment to journal about the growing up/old and how it makes you feel.
Current Slang | Lisa Ottosson
8.5 x 11 | materials patterned paper (BasicGrey Persimmon A+B side, Jillibean Soup Cold Avocado Soup) + font (Blackout, Veteran Typewriter)
Our language is constantly evolving. Pages like these are fun to look back on, as we tend to forget what was current as time eeks by. Might we suggest you enlist the aid of the teenagers in your homes? They are great at knowing all the hip slang. Though chances are they won't call it "hip slang!"
Top Headlines | Marnie Flores
12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (Creativity by Crystal, BasicGrey) + fonts (Engravers MD, Amertype MD)
Lists like this are easier than ever with the help of google. No longer do we need to rely upon our memories! This time of year, though, several news sites have lists compiled from which you can pick and choose headlines that matter to you.
Currently | Lisa Ottosson
8.5 x 11 | materials patterned paper (Cocoa Daisy Haystack A+B side) + stamp (Rukristin.com, Cocoa Daisy)
Some of our teams most favorite layouts are those that document the here and now. These are great pages for teens and selfies alike.
2013 Year in Review | Valerie O'Neall
12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (My Mind's Eye) + cardstock (American Crafts) + brads, buttons, enamel dots & shapes (My Mind's Eye) + pen (Copic) + fonts (Howser, cut with Silhouette Cameo)
Get out your timer. Set it for two minutes. Now take a moment to think back through your year. Make a list of 20 things you remember from 2013. Once your two minutes are up, get a new paper and start over. Sometimes it is tricky to get started, so the second list is helpful. If you are stumped, spend some time with your 2013 photos and then make a list. Or make a list of 12 things, coordinating with the months of the year. Or gather round the table as a family and make a list together!
Binge Watching | Marnie Flores
12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (BasicGrey) + fonts (Century Gothic, Seaside, Bebas)
Have you changed the way to watch tv or listen to music lately? We have moved from tv to cable to dvr to netflix/hulu. These changes in technology, or how the changes affect you, are important to how we live our lives. Thus making it a terrific starting point for a layout!
The gallery was filled with well shot photos but we felt like the photos on these layouts were additionally inspiring.
What We Watched | Sue Althouse
12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill) + patterned paper (Pebbles) + thickers (American Crafts) + ink (Jenni Bowlin) + stickers (Pebbles) + Epoxy Letters (My MInd's Eye) + typewriter (Remington)
When I think of screen shot I think of my computer screen. But Sue smartly took a shot of her tv screen to capture these images. Which gave the added bonus of a consistent black border in all her shots. Such a smart way of getting the images you need to document your favorite shows.
Decades | Jennifer Larson
12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill) + patterned paper (Studio Calico, Echo Park) + buttons (My Mind's Eye) + die cuts (Heidi Swapp) + thickers (Heidi Swapp) + punch (EK Success) + circle cutter (Coluzzle) + stickers (7Gypsies, My Little Shoebox) + pen (American Crafts) + ink (Jenni Bowlin, Stampin' Up!) + floss (DMC) + stamp (Studio Calico) + font (Times New Roman)
Pick three decades. Find a representative photo. Then start your layout! Easy as that!
instalunch | Laura O'Donnell
12 x 12 | materials digital template (Valorie Wibbens Stitched Pockets #6) + digital cards (Gina Miller Insta-Cards 1) + font (Print Clearly)
Food is a huge part of our lives. Either making it, eating it (or avoiding it!). Our phones are the perfect cameras for foodie photos. A design such as this will mask the limited quality and allow the subjects to shine.
2013 In Review | Cristina C. Scrap
12 x 12 | materials cardstock (American Crafts) + stickers (Studio Calico) + alpha (American Crafts) + wash tape (Studio Calico) + adhesives (Zig 2 way glue) + stamps (Studio Calico) + ink (Versafine Tsukineko) + embossing powder (American Crafts) + heat gun + stencil (Amy Tangerine for Studio Calico) + thread
Cristina's layout is good to remind us that we need to get in our photos. With our beloved. Or without. But get in our photos!!!
I Give Up | Francine Clouden
12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill Basics Paper) + patterned paper (Studio Calico) + spray ink (Kesi'Art, Studio Calico) + journal card (Jenni Bowlin) + wood veneer (Studio Calico) + chipboard stickers (October Afternoon) + stickers (October Afternoon, Provo Craft, Sasafrass Lass) + stamps (Kesi'Art, Label Tulip) + sequins
Here is another screen shot, not of the computer screen! This one is Francine's phone. Showing her favorite books. For all the reasons we love Pinterest with its visual lists, a shot like this truly is worth a thousand words!
Every Time | Amy Sorensen
12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (scraps from my green drawer) + alphabet stickers (American Crafts) + background stamp (Close to my Heart) + fonts (Sanchez Slab, Foro Rounded)
Siblings love one another so much. And then they grow up. They still love one another. But are afraid to show it. Or say it.
Little kids loe having their photos taken. And then they grow up. They still want to have photos. But are afraid to ask. Or say that they love it.
So growing up sibling photos are a double whammy of fun. So know it might not be well received. But also know, in the end, much appreciated.
This month's gallery provided myriad templates to follow for layouts, but also included so many many ideas for making great pages. Here are a few layouts/ideas we wanted to highlight for you.
Nook Lover | Celeste Smith
Celeste's layout is a study in the use of coordinating papers. Companies work hard to create lines with perfectly proportioned and balanced pattern scale. Then they select colors that work beautifully together. So let them do all the hard work. And then just sit back and enjoy the easiness of putting a layout together using a few or a plenty!
Moments | Stephanie Bryan
12 x 12 | cardstock (American Crafts) + patterned paper (Studio Calico, American Crafts) + labels (Studio Calico, Carta Bella, Two Peas in a Bucket) + mists (Heidi Swapp) + stickers (Carta Bella, Webster's Pages) + clothespin (Crate Paper) + other (doily, crepe paper, sewing machine)
Do you see Stephanie's stamp just above her title? See the three colors? What a great way to use a stamp. Paint the inks on with your pen and stamp a multicolored image. So much more fun to look at, no?
Thirty Years| Jina Jean
12 x 12 | materials patterned paper (October Afternoon, Gossamer blue, Studio Calico) + metal badges (October Afternoon) + wood die cuts (BasicGrey, Dear Lizzy, Studio Calico) + die cut shapes (Studio Calico)+ sticker (Pink Paislee, Dear Lizzy) + tag (Dear Lizzy) + cork (Studio Calico)
Now and then. A fun idea for photo comparisons. Look at the similarities in Jina's photos. What a sweet thing to identify and then discuss. And it allows for a giant ampersand to be a part of the layout! A lovely layout in every way.
Hello | WaiSam Ho
12 x 12 | materials cardstock (American Crafts) + patterned paper (Chic Tags, Carta Bella, Studio Calico, Heidi Swapp) + mists (Heidi Swapp) + stickers, embellishments (Carta Bella, My Mind's Eye, Prima Marketing Inc.) + stamps (Kellie Stamps) + inks (Hero Arts) + miscellaneous (washi tape, gesso, doily, ribbon, twine, sewing machine)
See the doily? See how it's pink? A little mist here and a little mist there and you can change an embellishement to be jsut he color you need it to be!
2013 | Kate Christensen
12 x 12 | digital materials paper (Favorite Things by Gennifer Bursett; Iconic by Audacious Designs) + buttons (Abundance by Dawn by Design) + stitching (Bare + Necessities No.2 by creashens; Once Upon an Imagination by Allison Pennington) + tags (Washi Tags by Gennifer Bursett; Simply Said by Gennifer Bursett) + flowers (Let's Go by Scotty Girl Design) + mist (A Wonderful Day by Sahlin Studio) + sequins (Torquay by Kaye Winiecki Designs) + fonts (Rad Alphas by Karla Dudley; Traveling Typewriter)
Tags and washi tape. Two little items that together make an embellishment with a big impact. And allow for your journaling to take a place of prominence on your layout. So it doesn't get lost when it matters!
What Does the Fox Say? | Diane Payne
8.5 x 11 | materials patterned paper (Studio Calico, Webster Pages) + flair (Freckled Fawn) + paper clip (Freckled Fawn) + wood veneer (Studio Calico) + mist (Heidi Swapp) + stickers (Freckled Fawn, Studio Calico) + ink (Jenni Bowlin) + pen (American Crafts)
One of the bonuses of scrapbooking current photos is that trendy embellishments are available. Try to base a page around an iconic trendy element. Just like Diane's fox. Mmm good.
A Moment's Peace | Amy Coose
12 x 12 | materials cardstock (Bazzill) + patterned paper (Studio Calico) + thickers (American Crafts) + tags (Chic Tags) + stickers (Skipping 5) + wood veneer (Studio Calico)+ pen (American Crafts
Cool titles are cool. Let's follow Amy's example and find a word in some patterned paper. Or use varying shades to create an ombre title. (If you don't have varied letters, you could create some with mist...)
That's it! We hope you enjoyed our gallery this month and we look forward to seeing you next Saturday for our brand new one!


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Afghanistan: The journey home
Suchat and I touched down at Dover Air Force Base last night, our able C-17 crew bringing us home safe and sound to end a two-day transit, with Germany layover, from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.
The trip, which began at Dover just after midnight Dec. 1, gave us a true appreciation for the demands of cargo supply and resupply. We flew a total of 14,328 miles and were in the air on the way home alone for a total of … was it 17 1/2 hours? For the crew, members of the 3rd Airlift Squadron and the 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, it was just another day at the office. These folks ring up a lot of hours and effort carrying gear supplies to the war and back – as well as the war's wounded and dead.
We've been telling their story, and those of other Dover-based airmen now deployed to Bagram, via posts on this blog and occasional Tweets. Beginning
next Sunday, Dec. 16 23, we'll do so in detail, with words and pictures, in your News Journal and on delawareonline.com. Stay tuned. – William H. McMichael


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PEORIA, Ariz. -- Reading from a prepared statement, San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal apologized for a second time following his 50-game suspension for a positive test for testosterone.
Grandal was suspended Nov. 7 and issued a statement then through the Major League Baseball Players Association. He read a statement Saturday at the Padres' spring training camp but did not take questions.
Grandal also did not comment substantively on last month's report by Miami New Times that he appeared in records of Biogenesis of America LLC, a closed anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Fla., under investigation by Major League Baseball for distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs.
"I have taken full responsibility for my actions and apologized to my teammates, the fans and the San Diego Padres organization," Grandal said, taking less than 2 minutes to read his statement. "I plan to put that mistake behind me, serve my suspension and continue working hard to be the best player and teammate I can be."
As for Biogenesis, Grandal said "I am aware of the various press reports about so-called patient files from a Miami clinic, and that Major League Baseball and others are investigating those allegations."
"I intend to cooperate fully in their investigations. I have been instructed by legal counsel not to answer questions relating to the pending investigations," he said. "Based on that legal advice, I will have no further comment."
Grandal is allowed to participate in spring training and to play in exhibition games. He will remain at the Padres' training complex after the team breaks camp, while serving his suspension.
"It was part of what he needs to do," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He talked to the guys and he'll continue to make amends moving forward. He apologized for what this did to our group."
Those in attendance wouldn't discuss specifics, but several teammates volunteered that Grandal said he "hoped" they would accept his apology.
Grandal's speech was short, but apparently effective.
"He felt like he had something to take care of, and he manned up and did it," center fielder Cameron Maybin said. "He gained a lot of respect by doing it, and saying what he said. He took responsibility. He was accountable. We as a team can put this in the past. We accept his apology and now we're going to move on."
Grandal's actions may be forgiven, but Padres general manager Josh Byrnes hopes they're not forgotten.
"I don't want to be dismissive of it," Byrnes said. "There's a lesson to be learned here, because this is a serious issue with serious consequences. But I do believe that it won't happen again and that Yasmani's apology was sincere."
Grandal hit .297 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs as a rookie last year after being called up on June 2. While he is serving his suspension, Nick Hundley is expected to start behind the plate with John Baker as the backup.
Grandal is eligible to return May 28 at Seattle. He can join a Padres minor league team 10 days before that to prepare.
NOTES: LHP Clayton Richard and the Padres agreed to a $5.24 million, one-year contract that avoids salary arbitration. Richard had asked for a raise from $2,705,000 to $5.5 million and was offered $4,905,000 after he went 14-14 with a 3.99 ERA in 33 starts covering 218 2/3 innings last year. Byrnes has never let an arbitration case reach a hearing. ... Maybin (right wrist) and infielder Logan Forsythe (left knee) will be held out of most drills for the next two days. Black considered the decisions precautionary and said neither injury would require further tests.


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Artist Bio
Christian metal act Falling Up is in many ways a protégé of the better-known group Kutless: members of the two bands grew up together in the Portland suburb of Albany, OR, and the more established band initially brought Falling Up to the attention of both their label, BEC Recordings, and their initial producer, established CCM artist Aaron Sprinkle. But where Kutless is a fairly standard-issue Christian gloss on metal-tinged emo, Falling Up has a more chart-oriented sound with strong electronica and hip-hop influences (including a full-time programmer and DJ in their early lineup) married to their nu-metal base. The band formed in Albany in 2000, eventually coalescing into the lineup of singer, keyboardist, and primary songwriter Jessy Ribordy, guitarists Tom Cox and Joseph Kisselburgh, bassist Jeremy Miller, drummer Josh Shroy, and DJ and programmer A-Dub. Naming themselves after an early unrecorded song, Falling Up signed with the Tooth & Nail subsidiary BEC Recordings in 2003 and released their debut album, Crashings, in February 2004. Slimming down to a four-piece with Cox's and A-Dub's departures, Falling Up released their more conventionally metallic second album, Dawn Escapes, in the fall of 2005. Falling Up underwent another major lineup change in 2006, replacing founding member Kisselburgh with new guitarist Micah Sannan and adding full-time keyboardist Adam Taylor so Ribordy could focus exclusively on vocals. With the recording of their third album delayed by the lineup turmoil, Falling Up took the somewhat unusual step of releasing an album of electronic, industrial, and darkwave reworkings by various producers and DJs of songs from their first two albums. The remix album, Exit Lights, was released in September 2006.
- Falling Up's Website
- Falling Up on Facebook
Falling Up . Albums
Fangs!March 2009
Album Tracks
CaptivaOctober 2007
Album Tracks
Exit LightsSeptember 2006
Album Tracks
Dawn EscapesOctober 2005
Album Tracks
CrashingsMay 2003
Album Tracks


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CU study: Federal labs a $1.5 billion economic driver for the state
Colorado-based federal laboratories and their affiliates contributed $1.5 billion to the state economy in fiscal year 2010, and accounted for more than 16,000 jobs, directly and indirectly, a new study shows.
The dollar figure is a 36 percent increase over the $1.1 billion impact for fiscal year 2007, when the Business Research Division of the University of Colorado Boulder's Leeds School of Business last conducted a survey and analysis.
The study, "Impact of Federal Research Laboratories in Colorado, 2009-2010," was done at the behest of CO-LABS, a consortium of federally funded scientific laboratories, universities, businesses, local governments and community leaders.
There are 24 federal labs in Colorado, ranging from large institutions such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to smaller organizations such as the Bureau of Reclamation Technical Services Center and the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.
The new study, released Thursday, March 31, and available for review at the CO-LABS website at www.co-labs.org, was prepared to quantify the economic impacts that federal research facilities and their university affiliates have on Boulder, Jefferson and Larimer counties, and on the state of Colorado.
The study also aimed to assess the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on the Colorado labs and on the surrounding communities. It found that total ARRA construction spending jumped from $2.7 million in FY 2009 to $102.7 million in 2010.
"Colorado is home to some of the most advanced research labs in the world," said Gov. John Hickenlooper. "Their work impacts every aspect of our lives – from the basic research that created the technology for cell phones to predicting the next tsunami. The labs are critical to our state's economy, providing more than 16,000 jobs in partnership with Colorado universities and industry."
Net economic benefits to Boulder County totaled $463.8 million in FY 2010, while the totals for Jefferson and Larimer counties were $413.2 million and $99.5 million, respectively. Economic benefits to the rest of the state totaled $523 million. In total, the facilities account for 7,964 direct jobs in Colorado and an additional 8,521 indirect jobs in FY 2010.
Total construction at the facilities, which occupy 4.7 million square feet of leased and owned real estate, topped $84 million in FY 2009 and $201 million in FY 2010.
The study is an update of an economic impact study conducted for CO-LABS by the Leeds School's Business Research Division in 2008.
The study applied the framework of the Insight Colorado Model to gather data, and utilized IMPLAN to quantify the economic and fiscal impacts of federal research facilities and their affiliates by examining:
- Economic benefits, such as dollars distributed through the economy
- Public revenues, such as tax revenues generated
- Public costs, such as providing government services to the labs and their employees
Sources of the impacts include construction, operations and off-site and secondary effects. Secondary or multiplier effects estimate the indirect employment and earnings generated due to the relationship between the labs and other industries. A lab that spends money on goods and services, while offering partnerships and internships, for example, supports other jobs and other manufacturing operations. The presence of its employees supports retail, entertainment and other industries.
Below is a list of federally funded research entities in Colorado identified by CO-LABS:
- Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior (BuRec)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/DVBID)
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA)
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)
- Laboratory for Atmospheric & Space Physics (LASP)
- National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL)
- National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC)
- National Weather Service (NWS)
- National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
- Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
- University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)
- National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
- Natural Resources Research Center
- National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation
- Crops Research Laboratory
- Central Great Plains Research Station
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC)
- DOT/FRA-Transportation Technology Center (TTC)
- U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA)
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
CO-LABS was organized to establish Colorado as a global leader in research, technology innovation, and commercialization.


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August 01 2018 Weekly Mortgage Applications
- Percent Change for Weekly Residential Mortgage Applications
- Mortgage applications decreased by 2.6% for the week ended August 01, 2018
- Mortgage apps move in the inverse direction of rates
- Rates are still low, so get your fixed rate loans now. If already on a fixed 30 year rate, change to a 15 year fixed loan and cut your term!
- Share your comments on our Facebook page!
5 Quick Ways to Connect immediately
- Send Direct Messageon our Facebook page
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Short Form : Complete a Short Form and receive a list of items needed to complete the processing of your loan


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Scott MacKay
With a B.A. in political science and history from the University of Vermont and a wealth of knowledge of local politics, it was a given that Scott MacKay would become a commentator for Rhode Island Public Radio's Political Roundtable.
As a former political reporter for The Providence Journal, MacKay has spent more than thirty years documenting the ins and outs of politics in Rhode Island and New England. MacKay is married to Dr. Staci Fisher, an infectious diseases specialist at Rhode Island Hospital.
Follow Scott on Twitter: @ScotMackRI


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Original Trinity Hymnal, #265
How precious is the book divine,
By inspiration given,
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,
To guide our souls to heav'n.
It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts,
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light and joy it still imparts
And quells our rising fears.
This lamp, through all the tedious night
Of life, shall guide our way,
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.
Page number: Blue 265, Right-Click Here to Download MIDI File
|© 2020 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Chaplains and Military Personnel


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Young Catholic Inspired by the Pope's Fortitude During World Youth Day Storm
In the midst of rainstorm at the Madrid prayer vigil, 27-year-old recalls, 'We were not afraid at all because we could see that the first one who was serene was the Holy Father. He transmitted a lot of serenity, a lot of calmness.'
ROME (EWTN News/CNA)—As thunder, lightning and wind whipped through the World Youth Day prayer vigil this past August, Pope Benedict XVI was advised to leave the event three times. But he insisted that if the young people stayed, then he would too.
The revelation comes from a young Honduran woman who stood next to the Pope throughout the event.
"The masters of ceremony were asking him if the wanted to leave because it was raining; it was pouring, and the wind was really strong. And he kept on saying that he would not leave. In fact, he twice waved his finger saying, 'No, no, no'," 27-year-old Erika Rivera told EWTN News.
The advisers then asked a third time if the Pope wanted to leave. But this time he responded even more firmly, pointing to the 2 million drenched young pilgrims and saying, "If they are staying, then I am staying too."
"And when he said that, we, the young people who were there next to him, were just so happy to have him as the Holy Father. So it was a fantastic, unique experience," Rivera said.
Rivera was a senior press officer at World Youth Day Madrid, but she also served as the host at a number of the week's papal events, including the Saturday night vigil at Madrid's Cuatro Vientos airbase.
While the rain lashed and lighting flashed, Pope Benedict seemed to remain prayerfully composed beneath two white umbrellas. Meanwhile, the 2-million-strong congregation youthfully sang, danced and prayed in the soaking rain.
"We were not afraid at all because we could see that the first one who was serene was the Holy Father," said Rivera. "He transmitted a lot of serenity, a lot of calmness, and, therefore, you know, we thought, What else could happen to us?"
After approximately 15 minutes, the rain abated, allowing Pope Benedict to thank the crowd for their "joy and resistance" in enduring the storm. "Your strength is bigger than the rain," he told them, adding that "the Lord sends you lots of blessings with the rain."
He then proceeded to lead the young people in Eucharistic adoration.
"It was just fantastic, amazing; it was like a masterpiece," Rivera said. "The Eucharist was there, the Holy Father was there, and the future of the Church was there too, the young people; it was just amazing."
Two months later, Rivera believes there is a deeper lesson to be learned from Pope Benedict's fortitude in the face of a Spanish storm.
While modern society often opts to "take the easy exit," she said, to "see Pope Benedict willing to stay there, to make the sacrifice for him who died on the cross for us, it was truly inspiring for me."


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Like the spork or Bosch corkscrew/screwdriver, Marlon Darbeau's Peera is not a bench with just one function. It also doubles up as a toolbox and table, and probably even makes a sandwich if you say "please" and "thank-you" kindly.
Darbeau works in Trinidad and Tobago, and has found success with the Peera design, exhibiting it as part of the Global Africa Project in NY, which is open until May the 15th next year. Perhaps it's because I live in such a small flat, but whenever I see clever uses of convergence like the Peera, I can't help but want one. Even if I'm far from a handyman. [DesignBoom]
G/O Media may get a commission
LG 75-Inch 8K TV


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I've read or listened to two books recently that made me think about Jewish issues. One is The Land of Painted Caves by Jean Auel, (Crown Publishers, New York, 2011 ; Brilliance Audio on CD) which has no Jewish content since it was about early humans who lived tens of thousands of years ago, and is also fiction. The other was Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit: Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus by Jodi Magness (Grand Rapids, MI. Eerdman's, 2011). I reviewed it for the AJL newsletter, but I wanted to express some thoughts aside from the review. I listened to The Land of Painted Caves during my longish commute to and from work. It had 29 CD's and it kept my interest for all of them. The main flaw of the series, of which it is the latest part, is that this one cave woman, Ayla, managed to single-handedly advance civilization by several major developments: domesticating horses and wolves, using a spear thrower, using flint to start fires and discovering that men had a role in making babies and a few others as well. Her parents died in an earthquake when she was very young and she was rescued by a passing group of Neanderthals who had a very different culture (this happened in Auel's earlier books) but who loved and raised her and taught her their ways. But being "other" caused her to be banished from that group, and eventually she hooked up with others who were "like her". Yet her earlier experiences made her somewhat of an outsider even among her own kind, and therefore she had a clear perception of the problems of otherness. That is what caused me to ruminate on the Jewish condition, that, and perhaps also since I listened to it around the holiday season when otherness comes into sharper focus.
Jodi Magness, who wrote Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit, is a respected archaeologist who combined archaeological evidence with textual passages to try to form a picture of what Jewish life was like in the late second temple period. Her main interest seemed to be the way Jewish purity laws played out in everyday life for people at that time. She talked about the "Jewish elite" of the time, who were enamored of Roman material culture and who tried to imitate it in various ways, including vessels, food, clothing, beverages, personal hygiene and other things but who tried to accommodate those things while retaining the elaborate system of purity laws. She also discussed some of the more extreme groups of Jews who rejected Roman ways, and those who fell in between. The purity laws seemed to accentuate the "otherness" of Jews in the Roman Empire at the same time as many struggled to fit in, yet retain their uniqueness. It reminds me of me, and others like me, trying to be in the modern world, while keeping traditional practices, like kashrut, Shabbat and Jewish holidays. We love Thai and Chinese cuisine and good wines, but we have to adapt it to our ways. Hanukkah begins to look a lot like Christmas, but we say no to trees and colored lights. Are we other, or do we belong, just a little differently? It is obviously a very old question, going back at least to cave man times. Can we go with the flow? How much? It reminds me of those circus performers where one beautiful lady rides two racing horses at once.
Anyway, as they say, what goes around comes around. It seems that we've been struggling with the same problems for a long, long time, and not only as Jews.
Sarah Barnard


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From DDwiki
Revision as of 07:42, 2 September 2010 by OrigamiGuy (Talk | contribs) (Added link to third playthrough)
This page chronicles playthroughs of DD, both for education and amusement. Be as in-depth or general as you want to, but please keep it appropriate for all ages. In the tradition of Day in the Life threads from other roguelike games, role-playing and clever narration is welcome.
Got a playthrough to contribute? Add it to the list! Newer ones go at the top.
- The Adventures of Yeoman Johnson, Episode 3: the Priest
- The Adventures of Yeoman Johnson, Episode 2: the Thief
- The Adventures of Yeoman Johnson: a fresh Human Fighter playthrough by OrigamiGuy (v0.142)


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In this episode of We Come from the Future, we contemplate the best and the worst of James Bond. From the books vs. the movies, to the question of whether Bond is sexist or just horny, we'll consider all the angles. Plus, Esther plays Q as we create a portable flame thrower.
You can subscribe to the io9 show on YouTube, but next week is our very last show ever — so enjoy them while they last!


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Leonard Boyarsky, one of the original creators of Fallout has been interviewed by Gamasutra, mostly about his current role as the lead world designer on Diablo III at Blizzard, but Fallout is also mentioned here and there.
LB: Well, the big difference was with Fallout, there really was no community when we started. I mean, we just were starting from scratch. You know, there was no expectation. So, this is a big difference from that. But the Fallout community is extremely vocal and extremely opinionated about what they want or don't want, so that's kind of prepared me for the Diablo community, which is also very passionate about the game. They have distinct wants, likes, and dislikes for the series. But overall, I mean, we've gotten a really good response from everything we've showed and the stuff we've done.
LB: I don't like to comment on other people's games. I liked the Fallout 3 stuff that was done. One of the most interesting aspects of it... I started as an art director on Fallout 3 [the cancelled version known as "Project Van Buren" at Interplay], and I did a little art on it, so it was interesting seeing a lot of art that I had done recreated in this different space by different artists, but, you know, they obviously bought this license, and they had a love for it.They put their heart and soul into it. It's not easy making games. [laughs] You know, I'm not going to come along and second-guess what other people have done. The people who made Diablo before me could say the same thing about what we're doing with Diablo III, so I wish them all the best of luck with what they're doing with it.
The mention of Van Buren here is a bit confusing, given that Boyarsky left Interplay during the development of Fallout 2 and while Van Buren was being made, he was busy at Troika Games. I'm guessing this is a mistake and he actually meant Fallout or Fallout 2.
Also, don't forget to check the Diablo Wiki for latest updates on Diablo III.


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Every Lowrider community has that one man that seems to have owned cars forever, and holds the neighborhood standard for cruising and developing the perfect lowrider. Rick Ortega was that chosen figure within his home community of Atwater Village, CA. All the youngsters in the neighborhood would gaze in awe at Rick's machines, especially when he would hit the switches, making his machines dance with the perfect boulevard two-step. Rick, who now lives in the city of Covina, California, has owned a few cars in his lifetime, including his signature car "Aladdin." This '64 Impala set the bar for detail and craftsmanship on the scene back in the mid 90's, making Rick a household name within the community.
While Rick enjoyed his local celebrity, his life had changed, and that change would ultimately bring him new responsibilities and priorities. After getting married to his wife Mona, Rick reevaluated his life, and realized it was time to build a future for his wife and three daughters. He realized that the first step towards achieving this future would have to come from making a huge sacrifice; it was time for Rick to sell his prized possession, the "Aladdin." Though it hurt Rick to part with his baby, he knew the right thing to do was to sell it, and figured that he would instead buy a more feasible car to drive. One day after visiting his mom in Atwater, he found this clean '84 Cadillac Coupe DeVille for sale, and, after a little negotiating, the car was on its way home with Rick in the driver's seat.
Always eager to build his cars with a unique style and willing to take risks, Rick wanted to make this Caddy stand out from the build techniques that were common among Cadillac enthusiasts. At the time, most 80's Cadillac owners felt it necessary to update their toys with a Euro clip. Rick remembered how these American beauties were when they were brand new, and decided against the Euro clip, opting instead to build the Cadillac in a style more true to its own era. This build meant a lot of work, and started with Rick meticulously going through the entire engine to ensure that the car would be truly reliable transportation. Rick had a method to his madness, as he was planning to drive this car daily, hoping to show it off at every possible opportunity.
The car was given an initial tune up, and was then taken to Richie Valles of Unique Twist in Burbank, CA, who took the Caddy down to the metal. This car was in cherry condition, so the body work needed was minimal at best. Modifications given to the Caddy at this time included shaving the emblems and door handles, as well as adding a 44-inch moon roof to the car. The Caddy was then sprayed in a House of Kolor lacquer Brandy Wine, and the three-stage paint job was executed immaculately, leaving the Coupe DeVille looking like a completely different car upon completion.
Once Rick took the car home, he had a minor setback that would end up becoming a blessing in disguise, and a blessing that would accidentally help him take the car to the next level. While Rick was working on the car, a cabinet door in the garage swung open a little bit too far, putting a small chip in the once-pristine paint. Frustrated, the situation left Rick no choice but to take the Cadillac to the extreme. The straight candy would have to receive a new facelift before it even got a chance to see any action on the streets.
After the accident, the car found itself back at Unique Twist, where it was given a few extra additions that really dressed up the exterior. Some of the upgrades included pinstripping by Rick Grindle, who expertly laid out the subtle red striping designs to complement the body-lines. Joe Montana then painted murals throughout the car using pearls and candies, leaving the car covered with ghost murals of genies and girls. These scenes were done as a tribute to Rick's old "Aladdin" car. Montana's painting technique is amazing in the sense that these pearl and candy murals can only be seen in certain angles. The exterior paint finish was complete, leaving the Caddy looking even more amazing than before, but in order to finish off the car, Rick clearly had his work cut out for him.
Now that the exterior of the Coupe DeVille looked the way it did, Rick realized that the whole under side of the car would have to be painted and chromed out in order to match the amazing paintjobs the car had just received. After carefully making sure that there would be nothing else in his garage that could damage the car, Rick and friend Douglas Rodriguez removed the frame and engine from the vehicle. He began the upgrades by molding the frame, using a new welder that he had received as a gift from his loving wife Mona.
Rick spent the better part of the next few weeks reinforcing and molding the frame, so that it could withstand the stress from the hydraulic upgrades that would come later in the build. After completing the reinforcement, Rick sent out the frame to Precision Powder Coating in Santa Ana, where their expert staff powder coated the frame in a candy Brandy Wine finish, used to match the exterior of the car. Now that the frame was at the powder coater and out of his way, Rick moved onto the belly of the car, and sprayed it to match the exterior of the car. All of the molded suspension and exterior trim was taken to Jesse and Jose of Universal Plating in Irwindale, since these were Rick's go-to-guys for chroming. The staff at Universal had previously chromed his "Aladdin" car, so they were ready to deliver the quality shine that Rick was looking for.
With the outside of the car and its frame painted and chromed, Rick began the task of detailing the stock 4.4 liter engine. This 4100 engine was candy painted to match the rest of the Caddy, and fully detailed with chrome and paint. There were other additions made to the engine compartment, but the one that stood out the most was the cut fan shroud that was brilliantly sectioned off to allow the detail of the engine to be seen through the plexi-glass. The hoses that could not be hard-lined were polished, chromed and also painted to match. The stock R-74 was also torn down and rebuilt byRubens Transmissions in San Gabriel, CA. Once the transmission was complete, Rick got it back and painted and detailed it to match the rest of the build.
Henry of Henry's Customs gave the Coupe DeVille a full leather interior with modern seats that he had taken out of a newer 2007 Cadillac. The seats were then stitched in two different tones of leather, and accented with lizard skin inserts. Henry worked around the molded and painted dash to give the car a balance between a modern and a classic look. The trunk was also upholstered, and features a booming JBL Audio sound system that was installed around the 2 Aluminum Red's pumps. The pumps were assembled by Luis Lemus of House of Pain in Baldwin Park, CA. Luis dressed the pumps with a whammy pump, 4 Adel dumps plumbed and hard-lined, and powered the entire setup with four 31-series batteries.
This four-year project moved along faster than the timeline suggests, and Rick was happy to finally get the car home. Once there, he set the Caddy up to be show ready, giving Bugs of Arizona the green light to add some extra stripping to the undercarriage and the trunk. Additional pinstripping was performed by Julz of Killer Koncepts, who finished up the remaining loose ends on the build, and thus, "Eyes Without a Face" was born.
Thanks to a little patience, Rick's latest creation is finished and sitting pretty, making this '84 Cadillac Coupe DeVille well worth the wait. You can currently catch Rick hitting the Boulevard in this one-of-a-kind '80s beauty that meshes the perfect balance of class and style, and is sure to influence another generation of builders.
Eyes Without a Face
Owner: Rick Ortega
Vehicle: 1984 Cadillac Coupe Deville
City/State: Covina, California
Club: Lifestyle, Los Angeles
Engine: Stock 4.4 liter engine, candy painted to match and fully detailed with chrome and other tricks
Body/Paint: House of Kolor Candy Brandy wine, pinstripped and muraled with pearl and candy murals that can only be seen in certain lighting
Interior: 2007 Cadillac seats; two-tone full leather interior by Henry of Henry's Customs
Sound System: Nesa headunit, JBL Audio sound system featuring two amplifiers that power the midrange and subwoofers, and two 10-inch monitors
Set Up: 2 Aluminum Red's pumps, dressed with a whammy pump, 4 Adel dumps plumbed and hard-lined, and four 31-series batteries
Tires: Premium Sportway 5.20s
Wheels: 14×7 100 Spoke all chrome Dayton Wire Wheels


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It's a creative tradition. For Taylor University's annual Silent Night, fans don't make a sound at a men's basketball game until the Trojans score their tenth point. You can hear shoes squeaking. After Taylor gets to 10, though? Taylor's fans act like their team just won an award for Best Basketball Team Ever.
The Silent Night tradition has apparently been around for over 20 years, and it's received a lot of attention in seasons past. The routine, always done the Friday before final exams, also includes singing "Silent Night" near the end of the game and a postgame campus-wide Christmas party, but this seems like the best part. It might be grating for the team's opponents, but that looks like so much fun. That little kid in a Carson Palmer jersey(?) at the 0:57 mark is just punching a balloon in the middle of the court for no reason! Basketball!
Whether or not it was the tenth-point celebrations, Taylor beat Indiana Dabney, 94-72.


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from Joe Bruno who gave me permission to post these chapters on the KV blog.
I'm writing a spoof novel of the mob in the neighborhood called Find Big Fat Fanny Fast. You can find several first drafts excerpts of Find Big Fat Fanny Fast on my FB wall. The book should be finished in a a few months. It will be available in ebook on the internet and in print a few months later. It can be downloaded to Kindle or any of the other ebook readers. It's much cheaper on ebooks.


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Recent NBA Champions by the NumbersThis article was originally published at NBCSports.com on 11/25/06; it has been updated to include statistics from the 2006-07 season
What is the statistical profile of an NBA championship team? Hall of Famer Hubie Brown, who coached the Kentucky Colonels to the 1975 ABA championship and is now an analyst for ESPN's NBA coverage, has always emphasized the importance of point differential. Hank Egan, a Cleveland Cavaliers Assistant Coach who was a member of Gregg Popovich's staff when the San Antonio Spurs won the 1999 championship, told me that the first statistic he looks at is defensive field goal percentage. An examination of the statistics of NBA championship teams since 1990 shows that these two categories are indeed strong indicators that a team will be successful. On average, those teams ranked third in the league in point differential and fifth in defensive field goal percentage. Eight of those 18 teams ranked first in the league in point differential, 15 of them ranked in the top five and 17 of them ranked in the top ten. The only outlier is the 1995 Houston squad, which dealt with injuries and a blockbuster midseason trade before hitting its stride and winning the NBA title.
It is often said that defense wins championships and the strong rankings of recent championship teams in the category of defensive field goal percentage certainly lends credence to that thought. Still, the object of the game is ultimately to put the ball in the basket, so a championship team must be able to generate at least some offense. In fact, championship teams tend to rank toward the top of the league in scoring. Two of the past 17 champions were the highest scoring team in the league, five more placed in the top five and more than half ranked in the top ten. The identity of the two lowest ranking offenses among recent champions would come as no surprise to anyone who has watched NBA basketball in the past two decades: the 1990 Detroit "Bad Boys" Pistons and the 2004 Detroit "Play the Right Way" Pistons.
Another pattern that is readily evident with even a cursory glance at the accompanying chart is that scoring has plummeted in the NBA, from 107.0 ppg in 1990 to a low of 91.6 ppg in the lockout shortened 1999 season. As of 2006-07, recent rules changes that were intended to increase scoring still had not boosted that number back to triple digits. Yet, despite this obvious trend, the relative relationship between the champion's scoring and that of the rest of the league has not changed much. Even NBA champions that rank highly in defensive field goal percentage generally are in the top half of the league in scoring; they not only outscore their opponents (point differential) but they usually play at a faster pace than the average team in the league. Slowing the pace down to reduce the number of possessions may prevent a less talented team from suffering a lot of blowout losses but it is not generally a recipe for winning a championship.
What about rebounding? That is not included in the accompanying chart because how a team ranks in total rebounds largely correlates with the pace at which that team plays (i.e., how many missed shots are available to be rebounded). The significant thing to note is that every one of these champions outrebounded their opponents by at least 1.6 rpg except for the two Houston teams and the 2002 Lakers. That Lakers squad outrebounded their opponents by a little more than 1 rpg, while both Houston teams were outrebounded by their opponents--the 1995 team by nearly 3 rpg, a number that can at least partially be explained by the trade of starting power forward Otis Thorpe for All-Star guard Clyde Drexler. Rockets' management thought--correctly, as it turned out--that the advantage of having two superstars (Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler) on the court at the same time would outweigh any disadvantage that the team might incur on the glass. Unless your team has two of the game's 50 greatest players--and an armada of clutch three point shooters like Robert Horry, Sam Cassell and Kenny Smith--it is not likely to win a title without enjoying a rebounding advantage.
Perhaps the "strangest" of these champions is the 1993 Chicago Bulls, a team that ranked 11th in field goal percentage, 15th in defensive field goal percentage, 15th in scoring and is one of only six champions in the past 18 years to score fewer points per game than the league average. That Bulls team had a couple things in its favor, though: a good point differential (fourth best in the league)--and a guy named Michael Jordan, who had a certain ability to do special things at the end of close games; the Bulls had several such finishes during the 1993 title run--Charles Smith's misadventures from point blank range (thanks to strong defense by Jordan and Scottie Pippen) and John Paxson's dagger three pointer to clinch the title being perhaps the two most famous close encounters that Chicago won.
The first two Bulls' teams from the second "three-peat" (1996 and 1997) were in many ways the most dominant champions of the past 18 years. Both posted double digit point differentials and both led the league in scoring while also ranking highly in defensive field goal percentage. Those teams put tremendous pressure on their opponents both offensively and defensively. The 1998 Bulls squad was slightly better defensively but shot a significantly lower percentage from the field and only scored 1.1 ppg more than the average team that season. The fact that Scottie Pippen, the team's second leading scorer and leading playmaker, missed significant playing time due to injury no doubt had a lot to do with that squad's reduced dominance.
(Note: this paragraph was written when the 2006-07 season was only a few weeks old; by using point differential and defensive field goal percentage as a barometer, both eventual NBA Finalists and a surprise Western Finalist--the Utah Jazz--stuck out from the pack at that early juncture; Orlando got off to a fantastic start but was not able to sustain it) Which teams look like a champion so far this season? The sample size of games is so small now that one blowout can have a big effect on the rankings. That said, the Utah Jazz have been the surprise team in the league so far, sporting the best record and a gaudy point differential. One possible cause for concern (other than injuries to key players, which have been a problem for Utah in recent seasons): the Jazz rank in the bottom half of the league in defensive field goal percentage. Which NBA teams best combine a stout point differential with a good defensive field goal percentage? There is a "usual suspect," an "unusual suspect" and a "new suspect": those teams, respectively, are the San Antonio Spurs, the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Spurs have been a title contender ever since Tim Duncan arrived on the scene and that does not figure to change this year. The Cavaliers made their presence felt in the playoffs for the first time in many years in 2005-06 and seem poised to make another good run in 2007. Orlando suffered the loss of star players Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway and Tracy McGrady over the past decade but has now assembled a solid team around Dwight Howard, who is blossoming into a force right before our eyes.
Recent NBA Champions by the Numbers
Champion...PPG Diff...FG%...Def. FG%...PPG...Avg. PPG*...Diff.*
Chi...9.0..(1)...510..(2)...475..(13)..110.0..(7)..106.3.. +.7
Summary of average rankings for these 18 NBA champions: On average, these championship teams ranked 3.1 in ppg differential, with eight of them ranking first, 15 of them ranking in the top five and 17 of them ranking in the top ten. They ranked 7.1 in field goal percentage, with one of them ranking first, eight of them ranking in the top five and 14 of them ranking in the top ten. They ranked 5.2 in defensive field goal percentage, with four of them ranking first, 12 of them ranking in the top five and 15 of them ranking in the top ten. They ranked 9.8 in points scored, with two teams ranking first, five teams ranking in the top five and 10 teams ranking in the top 10.
Note: Avg. PPG and Diff. refer to the average points per game for an NBA team that season and the difference between the champion's ppg and the league average.
posted by David Friedman @ 11:43 PM


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HONOLULU Magazine was proud to host Ala Moana Center's Preview Shopping Night & Fundraiser on March 6, from 7 to 9 P.M. The event featured an opportunity to be the first to shop at the participating new stores on Ala Moana's new retail expansion. Shoppers also enjoyed delicious treats from Hale Aina Award winning restaurants, including: The Pineapple Room, Roy's, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Romano's Macaroni Grill and Cafe Laufer. The event also featured live entertainment from George Kuo and the Satomi Yarimizo Jazz Band, and specialty beverages from OCEAN Vodka, Better Brands and Glaceau Smartwater, Vitaminwater and Vitaminenergy. Ticket sales from the event helped to raise over $16,000 for Hawaii Habitat for Humanity.
The following are photos from that event as well as the VIP Blessing and Opening for the retail bridges leading to the new Nordstrom store.