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5 U.S.C. 301; Title II, Subtitle H, Pub. L. 103-354, 108 Stat. 3228 (7 U.S.C. 6991
For purposes of this part:
(1) The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC);
(2) The Farm Service Agency (FSA);
(3) The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC);
(4) The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS);
(5) The Risk Management Agency (RMA);
(6) The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS);
(7) Rural Development (RD);
(8) The Rural Housing Service (RHS);
(9) The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) (but not for programs authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 or the Rural Telephone Bank Act, 7 U.S.C. 901
(10) A State, county, or area committee established under section 8(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h (b)(5)); and
(11) Any predecessor or successor agency to the above-named agencies, and any other agency or office of the Department which the Secretary may designate.
(1) Programs subject to various proceedings provided for in 7 CFR part 1;
(2) Programs governed by Federal contracting laws and regulations (appealable under other rules and to other forums, including to the Department's Board of Contract Appeals under 7 CFR part 24);
(3) The Freedom of Information Act (appealable under 7 CFR part 1, subpart A);
(4) Suspension and debarment disputes, including, but not limited to, those falling within the scope of 7 CFR parts 1407 and 3017;
(5) Export programs administered by the Commodity Credit Corporation;
(6) Disputes between reinsured companies and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation;
(7) Tenant grievances or appeals prosecutable under the provisions of 7 CFR part 1944, subpart L, under the multi-family housing program carried out by RHS;
(8) Personnel, equal employment opportunity, and other similar disputes with any agency or office of the Department which arise out of the employment relationship;
(9) The Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. 2671
(10) Discrimination complaints prosecutable under the nondiscrimination regulations at 7 CFR parts 15, 15a, 15b, 15e, and 15f; or
(11) Section 361,
(a) This part sets forth procedures for proceedings before the National Appeals Division within the Department. The Division is an organization within the Department, subject to the general supervision of and policy direction by the Secretary, which is independent from all other agencies and offices of the Department, including Department officials at the state and local level. The Director of the Division reports directly to the Secretary of Agriculture. The authority of the Hearing Officers and the Director of the Division, and the administrative appeal procedures which must be followed by program participants who desire to appeal an adverse decision and by the agency which issued the adverse decision, are included in this part.
(b) Pursuant to section 212(e) of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, Pub. L. 103-354 (the Act), 7 U.S.C. 6912(e), program participants shall seek review of an adverse decision before a Hearing Officer of the Division, and may seek further review by the Director, under the provisions of this part prior to seeking judicial review.
(1) Denial of participation in, or receipt of benefits under, any program of an agency;
(2) Compliance with program requirements;
(3) The making or amount of payments or other program benefits to a participant in any program of an agency; and
(4) A determination that a parcel of land is a wetland or highly erodible land.
(a) The provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act generally applicable to agency adjudications (5 U.S.C. 554-557), and the Equal Access to Justice Act (5 U.S.C. 504) and its implementing regulations at 7 CFR part 1, subpart J, shall apply to proceedings under this part except for proceedings under § 11.5 and § 11.6(a).
(b) The Federal Rules of Evidence, 28 U.S.C. App., shall not apply to proceedings under this part.
(1) Requests mediation or ADR prior to filing an appeal with NAD, the participant stops the running of the 30-day period during which a participant may appeal to NAD under § 11.6(b)(1), and will have the balance of days remaining in that period to appeal to NAD once mediation or ADR has concluded.
(2) Requests mediation or ADR after having filed an appeal to NAD under § 11.6(b), but before the hearing, the participant will be deemed to have waived his right to have a hearing within 45 days under § 11.8(c)(1) but shall have a right to have a hearing within 45 days after conclusion of mediation or ADR.
(2) The Director shall determined whether the decision is adverse to the individual participant and thus appealable or is a matter of general applicability and thus not subject to appeal, and will issue a final determination notice that upholds or reverses the determination of the agency. This final determination is not appealable. If the Director reverses the determination of the agency, the Director will notify the participant and the agency of that decision and inform the participant of his or her right to proceed with an appeal.
(3) The Director may delegate his or her authority to conduct a review under this paragraph to any subordinate official of the Division other than a Hearing Officer. In any case in which such review is conducted by such a subordinate official, the subordinate official's determination shall be considered to be the determination of the Director and shall be final and not appealable.
(2) A request for a hearing shall be in writing and personally signed by the participant, and shall include a copy of the adverse decision to be reviewed, if available, along with a brief statement of the participant's reasons for believing that the decision, or the agency's failure to act, was wrong. The participant also shall send a copy of the request for a hearing to the agency, and may send a copy of the adverse decision to be reviewed to the agency, but failure to do either will not constitute grounds for dismissal of the appeal. Instead of a hearing, the participant may request a record review.
(c) If a participant is represented by an authorized representative, the authorized representative must file a declaration with NAD, executed in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 1746, stating that the participant has duly authorized the declarant in writing to represent the participant for purposes of a specified adverse decision or decisions, and attach a copy of the written authorization to the declaration.
(a)(1) At no time between the filing of an appeal and the issuance of a final determination under this part shall any officer or employee of the Division engage in
(i) Discussions of procedural matters related to an appeal; or
(ii) Discussions of the merits of the appeal where all parties to the appeal have been given notice and an opportunity to participate.
(2) In the case of a communication described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section, a memorandum of any such discussion shall be included in the hearing record.
(b) No interested person shall make or knowingly cause to be made to any officer or employee of the Division an
(c) If any officer or employee of the Division receives an
(1) All such written communications;
(2) Memoranda stating the substance of all such oral communications; and
(3) All written responses to such communications, and memoranda stating the substance of any oral responses thereto.
(d) Upon receipt of a communication knowingly made or knowingly caused to be made by a party in violation of this section the Hearing Officer or Director may, to the extent consistent with the interests of justice and the policy of the underlying program, require the party to show cause why such party's claim or interest in the appeal should not be dismissed, denied, disregarded, or otherwise adversely affected on account of such violation.
(2) The Director and Hearing Officer shall have the authority to administer oaths and affirmations, and to require, by subpoena, the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence. A Hearing Officer shall obtain the concurrence of the Director prior to issuing a subpoena.
(i) A subpoena requiring the production of evidence may be requested and issued at any time while the case is pending before the Division.
(ii) An appellant or an agency, acting through any appropriate official, may request the issuance of a subpoena requiring the attendance of a witness by submitting such a request in writing at least 14 days before the scheduled date of a hearing. The Director or Hearing Officer shall issue a subpoena at least 7 days prior to the scheduled date of a hearing.
(iii) A subpoena shall be issued only if the Director or a Hearing Officer determined that:
(A) For a subpoena of documents, the appellant or the agency has established that production of documentary evidence is necessary and is reasonably calculated to lead to information which would affect the final determination or is necessary to fully present the case before the Division; or
(B) For a subpoena of a witness, the appellant or the agency has established that either a representative of the Department or a private individual possesses information that is pertinent and necessary for disclosure of all relevant facts which could impact the final determination, that the information cannot be obtained except through testimony of the person, and that the testimony cannot be obtained absent issuance of a subpoena.
(iv) The party requesting issuance of a subpoena shall arrange for service. Service of a subpoena upon a person named therein may be made by registered or certified mail, or in person. Personal service shall be made by personal delivery of a copy of the subpoena to the person named therein by any person who is not a party and who is not less than 18 years of age. Proof of service shall be made by filing with the Hearing Officer or Director who issued the subpoena a statement of the date and manner of service and of the names of the persons served, certified by the person who made the service in person or by return receipts for certified or registered mail.
(v) A party who requests that a subpoena be issued shall be responsible for the payment of any reasonable travel and subsistence costs incurred by the witness in connection with his or her appearance and any fees of a person who serves the subpoena in person. The Department shall pay the costs associated with the appearance of a Department employee whose role as a witness arises out of his or her performance of official duties, regardless of which party requested the subpoena. The failure to make payment of such charges on demand may be deemed by the Hearing Officer or Director as sufficient ground for striking the testimony of the witness and the evidence the witness has produced.
(vi) If a person refuses to obey a subpoena, the Director, acting through the Office of the General Counsel of the Department and the Department of Justice, may apply to the United States District Court in the jurisdiction where that person resides to have the subpoena enforced as provided in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (28 U.S.C. App.).
(3) Testimony required by subpoena pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of this section may, at the discretion of the Director or a Hearing Officer, be presented at the hearing either in person or telephonically.
(2) The Director shall assign the appeal to a Hearing Officer and shall notify the appellant and agency of such assignment. The notice also shall advise the appellant and the agency of the documents required to be submitted under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, and notify the appellant of the option of having a hearing by telephone.
(3) The Hearing Officer will receive evidence into the hearing record without regard to whether the evidence was known to the agency officer, employee, or committee making the adverse decision at the time the adverse decision was made.
(2) The Hearing Officer shall set a reasonable deadline for submission of the following documents:
(i) By the appellant;
(A) A short statement of why the decision is wrong;
(B) A copy of any document not in the agency record that the appellant anticipates introducing at the hearing; and
(C) A list of anticipated witnesses and brief descriptions of the evidence such witnesses will offer.
(ii) By the agency:
(A) A copy of the adverse decision challenged by the appellant;
(B) A written explanation of the agency's position, including the regulatory or statutory basis therefor;
(C) A copy of any document not in the agency record that the agency anticipates introducing at the hearing; and
(D) A list of anticipated witnesses and brief descriptions of the evidence such witnesses will offer.
(3) Not less than 14 days prior to the hearing, the Division must provide the appellant, the authorized representative, and the agency a notice of hearing specifying the date, time, and place of the hearing. The hearing will be held in the State of residence of the appellant, as determined by the Hearing Officer, or at a location that is otherwise convenient to the appellant, the agency, and the Division. The notice also shall notify all parties of the right to obtain an official record of the hearing.
(ii) The hearing will be conducted by the Hearing Officer in the manner determined by the Division most likely to obtain the facts relevant to the matter or matters at issue. The Hearing Officer will allow the presentation of evidence at the hearing by any party without regard to whether the evidence was known to the officer, employee, or committee of the agency making the adverse decision at the time the adverse decision was made. The Hearing Officer may confine the presentation of facts and evidence to pertinent matters and exclude irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence, information, or questions. Any party shall have the opportunity to present oral and documentary evidence, oral testimony of witnesses, and arguments in support of the party's position; controvert evidence relied on by any other party; and question all witnesses. When appropriate, agency witnesses requested by the appellant will be made available at the hearing. Any evidence may be received by the Hearing Officer without regard to whether that evidence could be admitted in judicial proceedings.
(iii) An official record shall be made of the proceedings of every hearing. This record will be made by an official tape recording by the Division. In addition, either party may request that a verbatim transcript be made of the hearing proceedings and that such transcript shall be made the official record of the hearing. The party requesting a verbatim transcript shall pay for the transcription service, shall provide a certified copy of the transcript to the Hearing Officer free of charge, and shall allow any other party desiring to purchase a copy of the transcript to order it from the transcription service.
(A) Treat the appeal as a record review and issue a determination based on the agency record as submitted by the agency and the hearing record developed prior to the hearing date;
(B) Accept evidence into the hearing record submitted by any party present at the hearing (subject to paragraph (c)(6)(ii) of this section), and then issue a determination; or
(C) Dismiss the appeal.
(ii) When a hearing is cancelled due to the absence of a party, the Hearing Officer will add to the hearing record any additional evidence submitted by any party present, provide a copy of such evidence to the absent party or parties, and allow the absent party or parties 10 days to provide a response to such additional evidence for inclusion in the hearing record
(iii) Where an absent party has demonstrated good cause for the failure to appear, the Hearing Officer shall reschedule the hearing unless all parties agree to proceed without a hearing.
(2) Not later than 15 business days after the date on which an agency receives the determination of a Hearing Officer under § 11.8, the head of the agency may make a written request that the Director review the determination. Such request shall include specific reasons why the agency believes the determination is wrong, including citations of statutes or regulations that the agency believes the determination violates. Any such request may be made by the head of an agency only, or by a person acting in such capacity, but not by any subordinate officer of such agency.
(3) A copy of a request for Director review submitted under this paragraph shall be provided simultaneously by the submitter to each party to the appeal.
(2) The Director will complete the review and either issue a final determination or remand the determination not later than—
(i) 10 business days after receipt of the request for review, in the case of a request by the head of an agency; or
(ii) 30 business days after receipt of the request for review, in the case of a request by an appellant.
(3) In any case or any category of cases, the Director may delegate his or her authority to conduct a review under this section to any Deputy or Assistant Directors of the Division. In any case in which such review is conducted by a Deputy or Assistant Director under authority delegated by the
(a) In making a determination, the Hearing Officers and the Director are not bound by previous findings of facts on which the agency's adverse decision was based.
(b) In making a determination on the appeal, Hearing Officers and the Director shall ensure that the decision is consistent with the laws and regulations of the agency, and with the generally applicable interpretations of such laws and regulations.
(c) All determinations of the Hearing Officers and the Director must be based on information from the case record, laws applicable to the matter at issue, and applicable regulations published in the
(a) Reconsideration of a determination of the Director may be requested by the appellant or the agency within 10 days of receipt of the determination. The Director will not consider any request for reconsideration that does not contain a detailed statement of a material error of fact made in the determination, or a detailed explanation of how the determination is contrary to statute or regulation, which would justify reversal or modification of the determination.
(b) The Director shall issue a notice to all parties as to whether a request for reconsideration meets the criteria in paragraph (a) of this section. If the request for reconsideration meets such criteria, the Director shall include a copy of the request for reconsideration in the notice to the non-requesting parties to the appeal. The non-requesting parties shall have 5 days from receipt of such notice from the Director to file a response to the request for reconsideration with the Director.
(c) The Director shall issue a decision on the request for reconsideration within 5 days of receipt of responses from the non-requesting parties. If the Director's decision upon reconsideration reverses or modifies the final determination of the Director rendered under § 11.9(d), the Director's decision on reconsideration will become the final determination of the Director under § 11.9(d) for purposes of this part.
(a) On the return of a case to an agency pursuant to the final determination of the Division, the head of the agency shall implement the final determination not later than 30 days after the effective date of the notice of the final determination.
(b) A final determination will be effective as of the date of filing of an application, the date of the transaction or event in question, or the date of the original adverse decision, whichever is applicable under the applicable agency program statutes or regulations.
(a) A final determination of the Division shall be reviewable and enforceable by any United States District Court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code.
(b) An appellant may not seek judicial review of any agency adverse decision appealable under this part without receiving a final determination from the Division pursuant to the procedures of this part.
(a) An appeal, a request for Director Review, or any other document will be considered "filed" when delivered in
(b) Whenever the final date for any requirement of this part falls on a Saturday, Sunday, Federal holiday, or other day on which the Division is not open for the transaction of business during normal working hours, the time for filing will be extended to the close of business on the next working day.
(c) The time for filing an appeal, a request for Director review, or any other document expires at 5:00 p.m. local time at the office of the Division to which the filing is submitted on the last day on which such filing may be made.
In two situations, parties other than the appellant or the agency may be interested in participating in Division proceedings. In the first situation, a Division proceeding may in fact result in the adjudication of the rights of a third party, e.g., an appeal of a tenant involving a payment shared with a landlord, an appeal by one recipient of a portion of a payment shared by multiple parties, an appeal by one heir of an estate. In the second situation, a party may desire to receive notice of and perhaps participate in an appeal because of the derivative impact the appeal determination will have on that party, e.g., guaranteed lenders and reinsurance companies. The provisions in this section set forth rules for the participation of such third and interested parties.
5 U.S.C. 301 and 552; 7 CFR part 2.
This subpart provides guidance for the general public as to the organization and functions of NAD.
NAD was established on October 13, 1994. Delegation of authority to the Director, NAD, appears at § 2.34 of this title. The organization is comprised of three regional offices: Eastern Regional Office, Indianapolis, Indiana; Southern Regional Office, Memphis, Tennessee; and Western Regional Office, Lakewood, Colorado; and the headquarters staff located in Alexandria, Virginia. NAD is headed by a Director. NAD is assigned responsibility for certain administrative appeals as set forth in subpart A of this part.
5 U.S.C. 301 and 552; 7 CFR 1.1-1.16.
This subpart implements the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture at 7 CFR 1.1 through 1.16 concerning FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552). The Secretary's regulations, as implemented by the regulations in this part, govern the availability of the records of NAD to the public.
Section 1.5 of this title requires that certain materials be made available by each USDA agency for public inspection and copying in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 522(a)(2). Members of the public wishing to gain access to these NAD records should write to the appropriate address shown in appendix A of this subpart.
(a) Requests for NAD records should be in writing and addressed to the NAD official having custody of the records desired as indicated in § 11.22(d). Addresses are found in Appendix A of this subpart. In his or her petition, the requester may ask for a fee waiver if there is likely to be a charge for the requested information. The criteria for waiver of fees are found in section 6 of appendix A, subpart A of part 1 of this title. All requests for records shall be deemed to have been made pursuant to FOIA, regardless of whether FOIA is specifically mentioned. To facilitate processing of a request, the phrase "FOIA REQUEST" should be placed in capital letters on the front of the envelope.
(b) A request must reasonably describe records to enable NAD personnel to locate them with reasonable effort. Where possible, a requester should supply specific information, such as dates, titles, appellant name or appeal number, that may help identify the records. If the request relates to a matter in pending litigation, the court and its location should be identified.
(c) If NAD determines that a request does not reasonably describe the records, it shall inform the requester of this fact and extend the requester an opportunity to clarify the request or to confer promptly with knowledgeable NAD personnel to attempt to identify the records he or she is seeking. The "date of receipt" in such instances, for purposes of § 1.12(a) of this title, shall be the date of receipt of the amended or clarified request.
(d) Nothing in this subpart shall be interpreted to preclude NAD from honoring an oral request for information, but if the requester is dissatisfied with the response, the NAD official involved shall advise the requester to submit a written request in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section. The "date of receipt" of such a request for purposes of § 1.12(a) of this title shall be the date of receipt of the written request. For recordkeeping purposes, the
(e) If a request for records or a fee waiver under this subpart is denied, the person making the request shall have the right to appeal the denial. Requesters also may appeal NAD decisions regarding a requester's status for purposes of fee levels under section 5 of Appendix A, subpart A of part 1 of this title. All appeals must be in writing and addressed to the official designated in § 11.33. To facilitate processing of an appeal, the phrase "FOIA APPEAL" should be placed in capital letters on the front of the envelope.
(f) NAD shall develop and maintain a record of all written and oral FOIA requests and FOIA appeals received by NAD, which shall include, in addition to any other information, the name of the requester, brief summary of the information requested, an indication of whether the request or appeal was denied or partially denied, the FOIA exemption(s) cited as the basis for any denials, and the amount of fees associated with the request or appeal.
Any person whose initial FOIA request is denied in whole or in part may appeal that denial to the Director, National Appeals Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Suite 1113, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. The Director will make the final determination on the appeal.
This list provides the titles and mailing addresses of officials who have custody of NAD records. This list also identifies the normal working hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, during which public inspection and copying of certain kinds of records is permitted.


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Events Listings
ARDENWOOD HISTORIC FARM -- Ardenwood farm is a working farm that dates back to the time of the Patterson Ranch, a 19th-century estate with a mansion and Victorian Gardens. Today, the farm still practices farming techniques from the 1870s. Unless otherwise noted, programs are free with regular admission.
"Blacksmithing," Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watch a blacksmith turn iron into useful tools.
"Horse-Drawn Train," Thursday, Friday and Sunday. A 20-minute ride departs from Ardenwood Station and Deer Park.
"Animal Feeding," Thursday-Sunday, 3-4 p.m. Help slop the hogs, check the henhouse for eggs and bring hay to the livestock.
"Victorian Flower Arranging," Thursday, 10:15-11:30 a.m. Watch as Ardenwood docents create floral works of art for display in the Patterson House.
"Horse-Drawn Train Rides," Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 10:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Meet Jigs or Tucker the Belgian Draft horses that pull Ardenwood's train. Check the daily schedule and meet the train at Ardenwood Station or Deer Park.
"Country Kitchen Cookin','' Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy the flavor of the past with treats cooked on Ardenwood's wood burning stove. Sample food grown on the farm and discover the history of your favorite oldtime snacks.
"Animal Feeding," Thursday-Sunday, 3 p.m. Feed the pigs, check for eggs and bring hay to the livestock.
"Toddler Time," Tuesdays, 11-11:30 a.m. Bring the tiny tots out for an exciting morning at the farm. Meet and learn all about a new animal friend through stories, chores and fun.
"Potato Harvesting," Learn the spectacular history of this New World native as you dig with your spade and help find the spuds.
"Mother Goose Day," May 1, 11:30 a.m.-noon. Play games and hear a story or two.
"Composting Garden Chefs," May 1, Noon-1 p.m. Discover secrets of composting in the heirloom garden.
"Meet the Bunnies," May 1, 1:30-2 p.m. Learn why rabbits are great hoppers and how they use their long ears to sense danger.
"Yarns About Wool," May 2, 11 a.m.-noon. Hear stories about sheep and learn about shearing, spinning, knitting and weaving.
"Afternoon Fun and Games," May 2, 2-3 p.m. Try your hand at old-fashioned games.
"Name That Seed," May 2, 1-2 p.m. Play games to learn all about seeds.
"Coocoo for Cookies," May 2, Noon-1 p.m. Bake cookies in the wood burning stove.
"Toddler Time," May 4, 11-11:30 a.m. Bring the tiny tots out for an exciting morning on the farm.
Lambs, Kids and Piglets -- Oh My,'' May 8 and May 29, 11 a.m-noon. Learn farm animal facts on a morning stroll.
"What's the Cluck About,'' May 8, 1-2 p.m. Learn about fine feathered friends and make a craft.
"Hay Hoisting," May 9 and May 30, 2:30-3 p.m. Make rope and help hoist hay bales.
"Kids and Lambs," May 9, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn to tell breeds of sheep and goats apart.
"Old-Fashioned Games," May 9, 2-3 p.m. Try walking on stilts, marbles and jacks or compete in a sack race.
"Flower Pressing Perfection," May 9, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Learn how to preserve precious petals by making flower presses.
"Tussie-Mussie for Mom," May 9, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Select flowers for a special mother's day message.
"Zainy Brainy Weather Vaynes," May 9, 11:30-12:30 p.m. Make your own unique weather vane.
$1-$5; free children under age 4. Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont. (510) 796-0199, (510) 796-0663, www.ebparks.org.<
BAY AREA RAIL TRAILS -- A network of trails converted from unused railway corridors and developed by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.
BLACK DIAMOND MINES REGIONAL PRESERVE RAILROAD BED TRAIL -- This easy one mile long rail trail on Mount Diablo leads to many historic sites within the preserve. Suitable for walking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Accessible year round but may be muddy during the rainy season. Enter from the Park Entrance Station parking lot on the East side of Somersville Road, Antioch.
IRON HORSE REGIONAL TRAIL -- The paved trail has grown into a 23 mile path between Concord and San Ramon with a link into Dublin. The trail runs from the north end of Monument Boulevard at Mohr Lane, east to Interstate 680, in Concord through Walnut Creek to just south of Village Green Park in San Ramon. It will eventually extend from Suisun Bay to Pleasanton and has been nominated as a Community Millennium Trail under the U.S. Millennium Trails program. A smooth shaded trail suitable for walkers, cyclists, skaters and strollers. It is also wheelchair accessible. Difficulty: easy to moderate in small chunks; hard if taken as a whole.
LAFAYETTE/MORAGA REGIONAL TRAIL -- A 7.65 mile paved trail converted from the Sacramento Northern Rail line. This 20-year old trail goes along Las Trampas Creek and parallels St. Mary's Road. Suitable for walkers, equestrians, and cyclists. Runs from Olympic Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road in Lafayette to Moraga. The trail can be used year round.
OHLONE GREENWAY -- A 3.75-mile paved trail converted from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway. Suitable for walkers, strollers and skaters. It is also wheelchair accessible. The trail runs under elevated BART tracks from Conlon and Key Streets in El Cerrito to Virginia and Acton Streets in Berkeley.
SHEPHERD CANYON TRAIL -- An easy 3-mile paved trail converted from the Sacramento Northern Rail Line. The tree-lined trail is gently sloping and generally follows Shepherd Canyon Road. Suitable for walkers and cyclists. It is also wheelchair accessible. Begins in Montclair Village behind McCaulou's Department Store on Medau Place and ends at Paso Robles Drive, Oakland. Useable year round.
Free. (415) 397-2220, www.traillink.com.<
BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL -- The Bay Area Ridge Trail, when completed, will be a 400-mile regional trail system that will form a loop around the entire San Francisco Bay region, linking 75 public parks and open spaces to thousands of people and hundreds of communities. Hikes on portions of the trail are available through the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. Call for meeting sites.
ALAMEDA COUNTY -- "Lake Chabot Bike Rides." These rides are for strong beginners and intermediates to build skill, strength and endurance at a non hammerhead pace. No one will be dropped. Reservations required. Distance: 14 miles. Elevation gain: 1,000 feet. Difficulty: beginner to intermediate. Pace: moderate. Meeting place: Lake Chabot Road at the main entrance to the park. Thursday, 6:15 a.m. (510) 468-3582.
ALAMEDA-CONTRA COSTA COUNTY -- "Tilden and Wildcat Bike Rides." A vigorous ride through Tilden and Wildcat Canyon regional parks. Reservations required. Distance: 15 miles. Elevation gain: 2,000 feet. Difficulty: intermediate. Pace: fast. Meeting place: in front of the North Berkeley BART Station. Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. (510) 849-9650.
Free. (415) 561-2595, www.ridgetrail.org.<
BICYCLE TRAILS COUNCIL OF THE EAST BAY -- The Council sponsors trail work days, Youth Bike Adventure Rides, and Group Rides as well as Mountain Bike Basics classes which cover training and handling skills.
"Weekly Wednesday Ride at Lake Chabot," Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. A 13- to 20-mile ride exploring the trails around Lake Chabot, with 1,500 to 2,000 feet of climbing. Meet at 6:15 p.m. in the parking lot across from the public safety offices at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley. Reservations requested. (510) 727-0613.
"Weekly Wednesday 'Outer' East Bay Ride,'' Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. Ride some of the outer East Bay parks each week, such as Wild Cat Canyon, Briones, Mount Diablo, Tilden and Joaquin Miller-Redwood. Meeting place and ride location vary. Reservations required. (510) 888-9757.
Free. (510) 466-5123, www.btceb.org.<
BLACK DIAMOND MINES REGIONAL PRESERVE -- Originally the home of several Native American tribes, white men began coal mining in the area in the 1860s. The preserve today features old mines and displays of the history of the area.
"Time Traveling Trekkers," May 1, 9 a.m.-noon. Learn about the history of the park on a 2-mile strenuous hike.
"Prospect Tunnel Picnic," May 8, 9 a.m.-noon. Carpool to the eastern reaches of the park to take a trip underground to see late bloomers.
"Painting in the Park," May 9, 10-11:30 a.m. Gather various minerals and elemtns and turn them into art.
Free unless otherwise noted; $5 seasonal parking fee on weekends. Daily, 8 a.m. to dusk Somersville Road, about five miles south of state Highway 4, Antioch. Information: (925) 757-2620, Tickets: (925) 555-1212, www.ebparks.org.<
"The Spring Color Palette," May 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Study color and create a beautiful color wheel and a series of spring color studies. $75-$85.
"Watercolors in the Field," May 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Experiment with brushes and various painting techniques. $75-$85.
Intersection of Wildcat Canyon Road and South Park Drive, Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley. www.ebparks.org.<
COYOTE HILLS REGIONAL PARK -- The park is located on the shoreline of Fremont Bay and features rich wetland areas as well as Ohlone Indian shellmound sites. Hiking in the park allows scenic views of San Francisco Bay and southern Alameda County. The 12-mile Alameda Creek Trail runs from the Bay east to the mouth of Niles Canyon and features an equestrian trail as well as a bicycle trail; hikers are welcome on both. The park conducts naturalist programs and has a visitor center with a nature store and Ohlone, natural history and wildlife exhibits.
SPECIAL EVENTS -- Free unless otherwise noted.
"Do Butterflies and Bees Have Knees," May 8, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Observe these animals as they are absorbed with feeding.
"Lends on Wildlife: Tips and Tricks," May 9, 1-2:30 p.m. Join experienced photographers in the nectar garden to learn tips and tricks for capturing stunning photos of birds and butterflies.
"Focus on Wildlife: A Photo Exhibit," May 9, 10:30 a.m.-noon. View the best of Coyote Hills wildlife photographs.
Free unless otherwise noted; A parking fee may be charged. Registration required for events. April through October: daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; October through April, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., unless otherwise posted. 8000 Patterson Pass Road, Fremont. (510) 636-1684, (510) 795-9385, www.ebparks.org.<
CRAB COVE VISITOR CENTER -- At Crab Cove, you can see live underwater creatures and go into the San Francisco Bay from land. You can also travel back in time to Alameda's part. The goal is to increase understanding of the environmental importance of San Francisco Bay and the ocean ecosystem. Crab Cove's Indoor Aquarium and Exhibit Lab is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the East Bay.
"Sea Siblings," Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Explore the natural world and take part in a theme related craft. Designed for the 3-5 year old learner. Registration is required. $4. (888) 327-2757.
"Catch of the Day," Sundays, 2-3 p.m. Drop by to find out more about the Bay and its wildlife through guided exploration and hands-on fun.
"Sea Squirts," 10-11:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Discover the wonders of nature with your little one. Registration is required. $6-$8.
"Seaside Picture Frames," May 1, 1-2 p.m. Learn about the Bay and build a beautiful picture fram from materials similar to those in the park and at the shore.
Free unless otherwise noted; parking fee may be charged. 1252 McKay Ave., Alameda. (510) 521-6887, www.ebparks.org.<
DUNSMUIR HOUSE AND GARDENS HISTORIC ESTATE -- Nestled in the Oakland hills, the 50-acre Dunsmuir House and Gardens estate includes the 37-room Neoclassical Revival Dunsmuir Mansion, built by coal and lumber baron Alexander Dunsmuir for his bride. Restored outbuildings set amid landscaped gardens surround the mansion.
ESTATE GROUNDS -- Self-Guided Grounds Tours are available yearround. The 50 acres of gardens and grounds at the mansion are open to the public for walking Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Booklets and maps of the grounds are available at the Dinkelspiel House. Free.
GUIDED TOURS -- Docent-led tours are available on the first Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. (except for July) and Wednesdays at 11 a.m. $5 adults, $4 seniors and juniors (11-16), children 11 and under free.
Dunsmuir House and Gardens, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland. (510) 615-5555, www.dunsmuir.org.<
FIFTY-PLUS ADVENTURE WALKS AND RUNS -- The walks and runs are 3-mile round-trips, lasting about one hour on the trail. All levels of ability are welcome. The walks are brisk, however, and may include some uphill terrain. Events are held rain or shine and on all holidays except Christmas and the Fifty-Plus Annual Fitness Weekend. Call for dates, times and details.
Free. (650) 323-6160, www.50plus.org.<
FOREST HOME FARMS -- The 16-acre former farm of the Boone family is now a municipal historic park in San Ramon. It is located at the base of the East Bay Hills and is divided into two parts by Oak Creek. The Boone House is a 22-room Dutch colonial that has been remodeled several times since it was built in 1900. Also on the property are a barn built in the period from 1850 to 1860; the Victorian-style David Glass House, dating from the late 1860s to early 1870s; a storage structure for farm equipment and automobiles; and a walnut processing plant.
Free unless otherwise noted. Public tours available by appointment. 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San Ramon. (925) 973-3281, www.ci.sanramon. ca.us/parks/boone.htm.<
GARIN AND DRY CREEK PIONEER REGIONAL PARKS -- Independent nature study is encouraged here, and guided interpretive programs are available through the Coyote Hills Regional Park Visitor Center in Fremont. The Garin Barn Visitor Center is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In late summer, the Garin Apple Festival celebrates Garin's apple orchards. The parks also allow picnicking, hiking, horseback riding and fishing.
Free; $5 parking fee per vehicle; $2 per dog. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. 1320 Garin Ave., Hayward. (510) 562-PARK, (510) 795-9385, www.ebparks.org/parks/garin.htm.<
GREENBELT ALLIANCE OUTINGS -- A series of hikes, bike rides and events sponsored by Greenbelt Alliance, the Bay Area's non-profit land conservation and urban planning organization. Call for meeting places. Reservations required for all trips.
"Self-Guided Urban Outing: Berkeley," This interactive smart growth walking tour of central Berkeley examines some of the exciting projects that help alleviate the housing shortage in the city as well as amenities important to making a livable community. The walk, which includes the GAIA Cultural Center, Allston Oak Court, The Berkeley Bike Station, University Terrace and Strawberry Creek Park, takes between an hour-and-ahalf to two hours at a leisurely pace. Download the itinerary which gives specific directions by entering www.greeenbelt.org and clicking on "get involved'' and then "urban outings.'' Drop down and click on Berkeley. Free.
"Get to the Point," May 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Explore the natural beauty and cultural history of Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline and Point Richmond.
Free unless otherwise noted. (415) 255-3233, www.greenbelt.org.<
HAYWARD REGIONAL SHORELINE -- With 1,682 acres of salt, fresh and brackish water marshes, seasonal wetlands and the approximately three-mile San Lorenzo Trail, the Hayward Shoreline restoration project is one of the largest of its kind on the West Coast, comprising 400 acres of marshland. Part of the East Bay Regional Park District.
Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. 3010 W. Winton Ave., Hayward. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org/parks/hayward.htm.<
HAYWARD SHORELINE INTERPRETIVE CENTER -- Perched on stilts above a salt marsh, the Center offers an introduction to the San Francisco Bay-Estuary. It features exhibits, programs and activities designed to inspire a sense of appreciation, respect and stewardship for the Bay, its inhabitants and the services they provide. The Habitat Room offers a preview of what may be seen outside. The 80-gallon Bay Tank contains some of the fish that live in the Bay's open waters, and the Channel Tank represents habitats formed by the maze of sloughs and creeks that snake through the marsh. The main room of the Center features rotating exhibits about area history, plants and wildlife. Part of the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District.
"Exploring Nature," An exhibit of Shawn Gould's illustrations featuring images of the natural world.
"Weekend Weed Warriors," 1-4 p.m. Help the shoreline to eliminate the non-native plants that threaten its diversity. Ages 12 and older. Registration required.
"Waterfowl of the Freshwater Marsh," 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Join an expert birder to go "behind the gates'' to areas of the marsh that are not open to the public.
"Nature Detectives," 11 a.m.-noon. An introduction and exploration of the world of Black-Crowned Night-Herons. Ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Registration required.
"May Mollusks," May 1, 11 a.m.-noon. See a touch tank full of shelled creatures with no backbone such as clams and snails.
"Mud Flat Exploration," May 2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Take a hike to the bay during low tide and explore the mudflats for snails, crabs, barnacles and more.
"Freshwater Marsh From a Different Prospective," May 8, 9 a.m.-noon. Go birding in the opposite direction on the trail in search of the elusive Black-crowned Nigh Heron.
"Weekend Weed Warriors," May 9, 1-4 p.m. Help out with invasive plant removal.
Free. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward. (510) 670-7270, www.hard.dst.ca.us/hayshore.html.<
JOHN MUIR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE -- The site preserves the 1882 Muir House, a 17-room Victorian mansion where naturalist John Muir lived from 1890 to his death in 1914. It was here that Muir wrote about preserving America's wilderness and helped create the national parks idea for the United States. The house is situated on a hill overlooking the City of Martinez and surrounded by nine acres of vineyards and orchards. Take a self-guided tour of this well-known Scottish naturalist's home. Also part of the site is the historic Martinez Adobe and Mount Wanda.
Public Tours of the John Muir House, Begin with an eight-minute park film and then take the tour. The film runs every 15 minutes throughout the day. Wednesday through Friday, 2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
MOUNT WANDA -- The mountain consists of 325 acres of grass and oak woodland historically owned by the Muir family. It offers a nature trail and several fire trails for hiking. Open daily, sunrise to sunset.
JOHN MUIR HOUSE, Tours of this well-known Scottish naturalist's home are available. The house, built in 1882, is a 14-room Victorian home situated on a hill overlooking the city of Martinez and surrounded by nine acres of vineyards and orchards. It was here that Muir wrote about preserving America's wilderness and helped create the national parks idea for the United States. The park also includes the historic Vicente Martinez Adobe, built in 1849. An eight-minute film about Muir and the site is shown every 15 minutes throughout the day at the Visitor Center. Self guided tours of the Muir home, the surrounding orchards, and the Martinez Adobe: Wednesday-Sunday, 1 a.m.-5 p.m. Public tours or the first floor of the Muir home: Wednesday-Friday, 2 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations not required except for large groups.
$3 general; free children ages 16 and under. Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 4202 Alhambra Ave., Martinez. (925) 228-8860, www.nps.gov/jomu.<
KENNEDY GROVE REGIONAL RECREATION AREA -- The 95-acre park contains picnic areas, horseshoe pits and volleyball courts among its grove of aromatic eucalyptus trees.
$5 parking; $2 per dog except guide/service dogs Through September: daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante. (510) 223-7840, www.ebparks.org.<
LAKE CHABOT REGIONAL PARK -- The 315-acre lake offers year-round recreation. Services include canoe and boat rental, horseshoe pits, hiking, bicycling, picnicking and seasonal tours aboard the Chabot Queen. For boat rentals, call (510) 247-2526.
Free unless noted otherwise; $5 parking; $2 per dog except guide/service dogs. Daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. 17930 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.<
LINDSAY WILDLIFE MUSEUM -- This is the oldest and largest wildlife rehabilitation center in America, taking in 6,000 injured and orphaned animals yearly and returning 40 percent of them to the wild. The museum offers a wide range of educational programs using non-releasable wild animals to teach children and adults respect for the balance of nature. The museum includes a state-of-the art wildlife hospital which features a permanent exhibit, titled "Living with Nature,'' which houses 75 non-releasable wild animals in learning environments; a 5,000-square-foot Wildlife Hospital complete with treatment rooms, intensive care, quarantine and laboratory facilities; a 1-acre Nature Garden featuring the region's native landscaping and wildlife; and an "Especially For Children'' exhibit.
WILDLIFE HOSPITAL -- September-March: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hospital is open daily including holidays to receive injured and orphaned animals. There is no charge for treatment of native wild animals and there are no public viewing areas in the hospital.
$5-$7; free children under age 2. Wednesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek. (925) 935-1978, www.wildlife-museum.org.<
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SHORELINE -- This 1,200-acre park situated near Oakland International Airport offers picnic areas with barbecues and a boat launch ramp. Swimming is not allowed. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Grove, a group of trees surrounding a grassy glade, is at the intersection of Doolittle Drive and Swan Way. The area also includes the 50-acre Arrowhead Marsh (part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network) and a Roger Berry sculpture titled "Duplex Cone,'' which traces the summer and winter solstice paths of the sun through the sky.
Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless otherwise posted Doolittle Drive and Swan Way, Oakland. (510) 562-PARK, Picnic reservations: (510) 636-1684, www.ebayparks.org.<
MILLER-KNOX REGIONAL SHORELINE -- A 295-acre shoreline picnic area with a secluded cove and swimming beach, and a hilltop offering panoramic views of the north Bay Area.
Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless otherwise posted. 900 Dornan Dr., Richmond. (510) 562-PARK, Picnic Reservations: (510) 636-1684, www.ebparks.org.<
MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK -- The 3,849-foot summit of Mount Diablo offers great views of the Bay Area and an extensive trail system. Visitors to the park can hike, bike, ride on horseback and camp. Notable park attractions include: The Fire Interpretive Trail, Rock City, Boy Scout Rocks and Sentinel Rock, Fossil Ridge, Deer Flat, Mitchell Canyon Staging Area, Diablo Valley Overlook, the Summit Visitor Center (open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the Art Gallery, the Observation Deck and the Mitchell Canyon Interpretive Center.
Free. $6 per vehicle park-entrance fee; $5 for seniors. Daily, 8 a.m. to sunset. Mount Diablo Scenic Boulevard, from the Diablo Road exit off Interstate Highway 680, Danville. (925) 837-2525, www.mdia.org or www.parks.ca.gov.<
OAKLAND ZOO -- The zoo includes a Children's Petting Zoo, the Skyride, a miniature train, a carousel, picnic grounds and a gift shop as well as the animals in site specific exhibits, which allow them to roam freely. Included are "The African Savanna,'' with its two huge mixed-animal aviaries and 11 African Savanna exhibits; the Mahali Pa Tembo (Place of the Elephant), with giraffes, chimpanzees and more than 330 other animals from around the world; "Simba Pori,'' Swahili for "Lion Country,'' a spacious 1.5-acre habitat offering both a savanna and woodland setting for African lions; "Footprints from the Past,'' an anthropology exhibit showcasing four million years of human evolution and an actual "footpath'' of the first hominids to emerge from the African savanna; "Sun Bear Exhibit,'' a stateof-the-art space the zoo has developed for its two sun bears; and Siamang Island, a state-of-the-art, barrier-free area that emulates the gibbons' native tropical rain forest habitat. Also see the Malayan Fruit Bats from the Lubee Bat Conservancy in Florida that are now roosting in trees at the zoo. In addition there are special exhibits and events monthly.
"Valley Children's Zoo,'' The three-acre attraction offers a completely interactive experience for both children and adults. The exhibits include lemurs, giant fruit bats, otters, reptiles, insects and more. Daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"Endangered Species," An exhibit of photographs about the most endangered animals on the Earth and what can be done to save them. At the Education Center. Open daily during zoo hours. ONGOING EVENTS --
"Valley Children's Zoo,'' Daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The three-acre attraction will offer a completely interactive experience for both children and adults. The exhibits include lemurs, giant fruit bats, otters, reptiles, insects and more. Free with regular Zoo admission.
"Wildlife Theater," Saturday, 11:45 a.m.; Sunday, 1:45 p.m. On Saturday mornings listen to a story and meet a live animal. On Sunday afternoon meet live animals and learn cool facts about them. Meet in the Lobby of the Zoo's Maddie's Center for Science and Environmental Education. Free with regular Zoo admission. (510) 632-9525, ext. 142.
$7.50-11; free children under age 2; $6 parking fee. Daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Knowland Park, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland. (510) 632-9525, www.oaklandzoo.org.<
PLEASANTON RIDGE REGIONAL PARK -- This 3,163-acre parkland is on the oak-covered ridge overlooking Pleasanton and the Livermore Valley from the west. A multi-purpose trail system accommodates hikers, equestrians and bicyclists.
Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Foothill Road, Pleasanton. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.<
POINT PINOLE REGIONAL SHORELINE -- The 2,315-acre parkland bordering Pinole, Richmond and San Pablo offers views of Mount Tamalpais, the Marin shoreline and San Pablo Bay. There are trails through meadows and woods, and along the bluffs and beaches of San Pablo Bay. Visitors can hike, ride bikes or take the park's shuttle bus to reach the 1,250-foot fishing pier at Point Pinole.
$5 per vehicle; $4 per trailered vehicle; $2 per dog (guide/service dogs free). Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless otherwise posted. Giant Highway, Richmond. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.<
PREWETT FAMILY WATERPARK -- There are pools and water slides for all ages, from the Tad Pool for toddlers to Boulder cove for older swimmers. In addition to fun pools and slides there are fitness pools for lessons and exercise, lawns for relaxing, locker rooms, community room and kitchen. Lap lanes are open year round. Food and beverages are not permitted in the park. Picnic tables are available outside the park.
$5-$9. Sunday through Friday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch. (925) 776-3070, www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CitySvcs/Prewett.<
QUARRY LAKES REGIONAL RECREATION AREA -- The park includes three lakes sculpted from former quarry ponds. The largest, Horseshoe Lake, offers boating and fishing, with a swim beach that will open in the spring. Rainbow Lake is for fishing only, and the third lake, Lago Los Osos, is set aside for wildlife habitat. In addition, there are hiking and bicycling trails that connect to the Alameda Creek Regional Trail. The park includes three lakes sculpted from former quarry ponds. The largest, Horseshoe Lake, offers boating and fishing, with a swim beach that will open in the spring. Rainbow Lake is for fishing only, and the third lake, Lago Los Osos, is set aside for wildlife habitat. In addition there are hiking and bicycling trails that connect to the Alameda Creek Regional Trail.
$5 parking; $2 per dog except guide/service dogs; boat launch fees; Park District fishing access permit fee of $3. Through Labor Day: daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sept. 6 through Sept. 30, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2100 Isherwood Way,, between Paseo Padre Parkway and Osprey Drive,, Fremont. (510) 795-4883, Picnic reservations:: (510) 562-2267, www.ebparks.org.<
REI BERKELEY -- A series of lectures on hikes and outdoor equipment.
"Bike Maintenance Basics," May 4, 7 p.m. REI bike techs demosntrate how to take care of your bike, fix flat tires and another minor adjustments.
Events are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 1338 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. (510) 527-4140.<
ROBERT SIBLEY VOLCANIC REGIONAL PRESERVE -- East Bay residents have several volcanoes in their backyard. This park contains Round Top, one of the highest peaks in the Oakland Hills.
Free. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. 6800 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.<
RUTH BANCROFT GARDEN -- One of America's finest private gardens, the Ruth Bancroft Garden displays 2,000 specimens from around the world that thrive in an arid climate. Included are African and Mexican succulents, New World cacti, Australian and Chilean trees, and shrubs from California.
DOCENT TOUR SCHEDULE -- Saturdays, 10 a.m. Docent-led tours last approximately an hour and a half. Plant sales follow the tour. By reservation only. $7; free children under age 12.
SELF-GUIDED TOURS -- Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-noon; Friday, 9:30 a.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Sunday, 5 p.m. Self-guided tours last two hours. No reservations required for weekday tours; reservations required for Friday and Saturday tours. Plant sales follow the tours. $7; free children under age 12.
Gardens open only for tours and special events listed on the garden's telephone information line. 1500 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. (925) 210-9663, www.ruthbancroftgarden.org.<
SHADOW CLIFFS REGIONAL RECREATION AREA -- The 296-acre park includes an 80-acre lake and a four-flume waterslide, with picnic grounds and a swimming beach. Water slide fees and hours: (925) 829-6230.
$6 per vehicle; $2 per dog except guide and service dogs. May 1 through Labor Day: daily, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; shortened hours for fall and winter. Stanley Boulevard, one mile from downtown, Pleasanton. (510) 562-PARK, www.ebparks.org.<
SULPHUR CREEK NATURE CENTER -- A wildlife rehabilitation and education facility where injured and orphaned local wild creatures are rehabilitated and released when possible. There is also a lending library of animals such as guinea pigs, rats, mice and more. The lending fee is $8 per week.
"Toddler Time," Learn about animals by listening to stories and exploring. Themes vary by month. Call for schedule. $7 per family.
"Day on the Green Animal Presentations," Meet an assortment of wild and domestic animals. Wildlife volunteers will present a different animal each day from possums to snakes, tortoises to hawks. Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
Free. Park: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Discovery Center: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Animal Lending Library: Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wildlife Rehabilitation Center: daily, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 1801 D St., Hayward. (510) 881-6747, www.haywardrec.org/sulphur_creek.html.<
SUNOL REGIONAL WILDERNESS -- This park is full of scenic and natural wonders. You can hike the Ohlone Wilderness trail or Little Yosemite. There are bedrock mortars that were used by Native Americans, who were Sunol's first inhabitants.
"Sunol Sunday Hike," Sundays, 1:30-3 p.m. A natural history walk in the wilderness.
"Sunol Sunday Hike," Sundays, 1:30-3 p.m. A natural history walk in Sunol Regional Wilderness.
"Birding From a Cliff," May 2, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Hike to the top, eat lunch and bird over the edge on this 3.5-mile trip.
Free unless otherwise noted; $5 parking; $2 dog fee. Geary Road off Calaveras Road, six miles south of Interstate Highway 680, Sunol. (510) 652-PARK, www.ebparks.org.<
TILDEN REGIONAL PARK -- This park is large and contains hiking trails, a golf course, a miniature scaled train to ride, The Brazilian Building and picnic areas.
"Mayday Celebration," May 1, 2-4 p.m. Celebrate May first with maypoles, bubbles, and crafts for the whole family.
"Artists on the Farm," May 2, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Draw, color and sketch your interpretations of happenings around the barnyard.
"Reptile Rendezvous," May 9, 2-3 p.m. Learn about the reptiles that call the nature area home.
Free unless otherwise noted. Daily, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entrances off Wildcat Canyon Road and Grizzly Peak Boulevard, Berkeley. (510) 525-2233, www.ebparks.org.<

subset: commoncrawl


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"Terri" is that rare teen drama that actually depicts high school as being even worse than you remember, while miraculously maintaining a sweetness and sense of hope.
Filmmakers regularly try to capture the struggle of surviving high school, with the degrees of success as varying as the approaches. But few have the courage to shine a light on what a truly horrifying and miserable time it really is. Azazel Jacobs' new film, "Terri," captures the horror about as honestly and unflinchingly as you could hope (?) for.
Jacob Wysocki stars in the title role as a morbidly obese teen who lives in fly-buzzing squalor with his Uncle James (the brilliantly cast Creed Bratton), a man slowly slipping into dementia. With no fully functioning adult in play, Terri primarily subsists on a diet of beans-on-toast and wears pajamas to school. Rough.
U.S. & World
The closest thing to a friend that Terri has is Vice Principal Fitzgerald (John C. Reilly), the kind of educator who manages to embarrass both himself and his charges by trying to talk cool. Like most adults, nothing he says to Terri is more damaging than the lies he tells him, but unlike most grown-ups he has the courage to admit when he's screwed up, "because that's what people do."
Wysocki and Reilly develop the kind of pained rapport you'd expect between a troubled kid and an adult whose job it is to care about him. More importantly their give-and-take turns into that of two people who genuinely like each other, in a manner that's almost unnoticeable, yet totally believable.
Patrick DeWitt's screenplay is a subtle examination of the cruel nature of Darwinism, the food chain, and how Terri's relationship with food is keeping him walled off (quite literally in one scene) from life. Food is how he relates to people, how he hides from them, and why they mock him.
The film's denouement feels a bit strained, as DeWitt and Jacobs try too hard to make a point that could've been made more easily, but they redeem themselves with the manner in which things are ultimately resolved, allowing Terri to crash back to Earth with his dignity intact.
"Terri" opens Friday in limited release


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Moderator: S.Jeffery
tollbaby wrote:Should be fixed again *sigh* Steven, is there a reason this is suddenly a problem again?
spiphany wrote::? I'm confused...what would we gain by pulling up only books that have exactly a certain number of votes?
The idea behind listing the rank with a certain minimum vote is that it rules out books that have only one or two votes, i.e., where we don't have enough votes to really have a representative sampling. After a point, it doesn't matter so much whether there are 50 votes, or 100. Or am I missing something? (Statistics have never been my strong point.)
severance wrote:No, no, no - all you have to do is put an 18 at the end of the URL instead of 20 - then you'll see that Neverendig Story has 18 votes, as has The Sword of the Lictor, while The Great Book of Amber has 19. It's a five minute job to do it all manually, whereas it'll be a lot longer for the coders to write a script for something that isn't that important.
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St. Bonaventure University honored three alumni Saturday night with William P. "Stax" McCarthy Alumnus of the Year awards.
Honored were Rob Buckla, '84, Ann Flynn McCarthy, '74, and Lee Coppola, '64. They were celebrating, respectively, their 30th, 40th and 50th class reunion years at SBU's annual Reunion Weekend.
The award is named in memory of former annual fund and alumni director William "Stax" McCarthy, '72, and is presented to a St. Bonaventure graduate who offers continued service to the university and captures the spirit of Saints Francis, Bonaventure and Clare.
"We are grateful to all of our honorees for their extraordinary support and contributions to the rich history of St. Bonaventure," said Monica Mattioli, '77, executive director of Alumni Operations.
Rob Buckla is a member of St. Bonaventure's Athletic Advisory Board and is the mastermind behind the '80s reunions at basketball games, which always include a Bonaventure Athletic Fund component. He has been a member of the Devereux and Seraphim Legacy societies, and is a Mt. Irenaeus volunteer.
Buckla also has been a volunteer for the Bonathon class challenge, Career and Professional Readiness Center, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Alumni Association. He holds a doctorate in higher education administration and a master's degree from Vanderbilt University.
Buckla is vice president of university advancement at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.
Ann Flynn McCarthy has been a SHARE admissions volunteer, an active member of the Buffalo Alumni Chapter, past Gaudete Medal committee member and winner of the award in 2004, member of the 1858 Society and a founding trustee of Mt. Irenaeus.
McCarthy's most recent endeavor for the university was co-authoring and editing — with her husband, Bob, '76, and son, Dan, '10 — "The Good Journey: 150 Years of History of St Bonaventure," produced to commemorate St. Bonaventure's 150-year anniversary in 2008.
A Buffalo resident, McCarthy is also an active volunteer with the United Way, Special Olympics and a longtime member of the Food Bank of Western New York.
McCarthy retired in 2012 as the consumer affairs manager at Wegmans.
Lee Coppola has been a devoted university volunteer for 50 years. He has been an Annual Fund volunteer, past member of the Buffalo Gaudete Committee, past reunion class agent, frequent Press Day and Career Day speaker, and active member of the Buffalo alumni chapter.
The dean of the Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication from 1996 to 2011, Coppola had a long and distinguished career as a newspaper and TV reporter in Buffalo. For his efforts, he received the distinguished George Polk Award, as well as awards from the National Press Club. In 2012, he was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
Coppola graduated from the UB School of Law in 1983, and in 1991 left the broadcasting world to become an assistant U.S. attorney in Buffalo, where he spent five years prosecuting drug dealers.
About the University: The nation's first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. We are establishing pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers in the context of our renowned liberal arts tradition. Our students are becoming extraordinary.
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Get DVD Talk Feeds
In the late 1950s prime time network television seemed to be divided between Westerns and variety
shows. I can strong personal memories of Dinah Shore in big poofy skirts singing See the USA in Your
Chevrolet and being bored out of my skull when my Uncle came over and everyone had to watch
Lawrence Welk. Frank Sinatra aired a number of classy specials, almost none of which can be seen today,
except perhaps in television museums. This disc from Quantum Leap and Music Video Distributors presents
a special show from 1959, with the unbeatable Ella Fitzgerald on board.
Part of the novelty of the show comes from the weather. The entire program was planned to
be taped out of doors in Palm Springs, a Concert in the Desert, so to speak. The shooting day was
rained out, a rare occasion for that part of California, and the entire show hastily rewritten
for an indoor set with minimal props - mainly bar chairs and umbrellas. Frankie apparently stayed home
but dispatched Peter Lawford to shoot an introduction in a cloudburst, with writers hastily cooking
up a script to make fun of the company's bad luck. The only part of the show taped in the desert is a dance
sequence with Juliet Prowse, which comes off rather well. What they don't explain is how the technicians were
going to record live audio out there. Surely Nelson Riddle's orchestra wasn't going to set up on
the sand dunes, and if they were, what would it sound like?
So they retreated to a blank sound stage, where the acoustics are just like any other Hollywood
variety show of the time - excellent. Due to the ravages of time, the audio part of the program
is hissy but intact - but the video on this disc is a kinescope of a 2" videotape, or a
videotape of a kinescope. Either way it doesn't look very good. It's a shame these great talents didn't
have the foresight shown by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz to use film; if that were so they'd be
re-running these vintage variety shows even now. Here's the lineup of
Frank is his Ring-A-Ding 1950s self, cool and collected and acting like God's gift to his
guest Juliet Prowse (co-star in his then-new picture, Can-Can). They have one number where he
sings to her and the camera doesn't pull away fast enough before their mock kiss, so we see their
faces hovering side by side, as if repelled by static electricity. Lawford is his bland self and
Gingold cute enough, but both struggle in the variety format that leaves little room for spontaneity.
The great diva Fitzgerald either sits or stands but never moves, yet her voice is still the center of
the show. You can tell she's a legend by how much Sinatra worships her.
Nelson Riddle is also treated like quality goods, and Sinatra addresses a personal get-well greeting
to Cole Porter, who I believe at this time was on his deathbed. Perhaps because it's his own show,
Sinatra is especially polite to his guest performers - no late-career sarcasm here. An unexpected highlight
comes when he sings in harmony with the Hi-Los, just as he used to do as a young performer.
The show comes intact with all of its cornball Timex ads. John Cameron Swayze officiates as a Timex is shot
through a plate glass window on the nose of an arrow. With their poor-quality supered titles, the ads really
are a time capsule. Swayze talks to one of Santa's tiny elves matted like an ornament into a yule tree,
reminding us that this was a Christmas show that aired on December 10, 1959.
Quantum Leap's liner notes say that "While the quality of reproduction may not meet modern
technological standards, (the show) is a rare record of two of the most popular performers of
the twentieth century performing together.." The rarity part is true, but the quality of the disc
isn't up to minimum 1959 standards, either. The picture has videotape wrinkles,
film scratches & dirt, and some very badly blooming video. When Juliet Prowse dances in the desert,
she's surrounded by a black aura of video burnout. In other words, I'd place the quality of the show
as the same as a graymarket videotape, with a more stable picture. This disc is clearly for Sinatra and
Fitzgerald's key fans of the kind who will be pleased to have it in any form.
The star photos on the attractive cover are unrelated to the show.
On a scale of Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor,
The Frank Sinatra Show with Ella Fitzgerald rates:
TV Show: Very Good
Video: Fair or slightly worse
Sound: Good -
Supplements: partial star bios and discographies
Packaging: Keep case
Reviewed: December 5, 2004


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Hello all,
I am new to RP'ing. Been interested for a while, but we dont have much of that around here. I am really interested in Dark Heresy. I play Warhammer 40k alot at home and at the local GW store. If you have questions about me, I have answers!


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You might also like..
The History of Microstar
The company was founded by five people back in 1986 and is listed on the stock exchange in Taiwan. Those people were Huang Jinqing, Lin Wentong, Lu Qilong, Hsu Xiang and Yu Xian'neng and each played their part in expanding their enterprise from its origins in Taipei City into the vast potential that existed in mainland China.
In the year 2000, Microstar set up a production plant in Shenzhen and then subsequently in 2001, an R&D facility in Kunshan in Eastern China.
Ex-Sony Employees
Each one of the 5 founders were former employees of Japanese electronics giant, Sony and were made redundant in 1985 as part of a downsizing strategy. Without this change of direction, MSI might never have been in existence and their considerable industry experience and know-how would never have been thrown together.
Micro Star International was born in August 1986.
Company Timeline
By 1997, MSI had grown significantly and this led to a number of manufacturing plants being created across China over the next few years. Also during this time, MSI floated on the Stock Exchange in Taipei (otherwise known as the TAIEX).
Just 3 years later, in 2000, their global expansion gathered pace, as MSI opened its Netherlands based logistics centre, for the purpose of distribution across Europe.
Fast forward to 2008 and the company's progress was still going strong, as it was widely viewed as being amongst the top, global Taiwanese brands. No mean feat when you consider that there were (and still are) over 500 such brands in existence in the country.
The upward trajectory for Microstar continued unabated and by 2013, MSI had been awarded as a key enterprise in the country by 'Taiwan Excellence' (Comprised of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs) for a staggering 15 successive years.
Global Leader
Just two short years later, MSI was chosen as the fourth best brand of laptops by 'Laptop magazine' and it is now arguably the biggest single supplier of gaming laptops in the world, making it a trusted name in the field.
Over the last decade, the company has been involved in the sponsoring of professional eSports teams (like Digital Chaos and Fly Quest) and is even the primary benefactor to the international competition 'MSI Beat IT', which has been running since 2010.
Specification of Acer Aspire AZ1-622-UR53 memory upgrade
Your system memory specification is listed below, most importantly your maximum memory capacity:
|Device Specifications
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|Acer Aspire AZ1-622-UR53
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|N° of Ram Slots
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|Standard Ram
|2GB or 4GB (Removable)
|Maximum Memory
|Acer Tech Support
|Official Acer Support Link
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We take the time to look into each machine to ensure that we offer all sizes and speeds that the machine is able to take not just the latest specification that has been released. We believe that offering all options for machines provides a 100% guarantee that the memory with function with your original memory module efficiently.


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Sprint Cup wish list: Add Labor Day doubleheader, road course to Chase
NASCAR officials have left the door open for an overhaul of the Sprint Cup schedule for 2015.
There's no guarantee they would change it. They typically leave the door open every year. But with NBC replacing TNT and ESPN to televise the final 20 races in 2015 (Fox is doing the first 16 instead of 13), that leaves the door open a little wider than in the past.
So here are some ideas for NASCAR to ponder:
MORE: 2014 schedule | Texas beer-bacon milkshake | Danica ready for Talladega | Rankings
• End the regular season and begin the Chase for the Sprint Cup on Labor Day weekend. Yep, that's right, on the same weekend.
It's not as far fetched as one might think. Keep the Richmond schedule the same and set the Chase field on Saturday night.
Then drive four hours down the road to Darlington, where NASCAR should be on Labor Day weekend.
Practice Sunday night, qualify Monday afternoon — or line them up by points so the Chase drivers are all up front? — and race on Monday night. Prime time Monday to open the Chase. What's not to like?
The only thing lost in this might be a few hours of sleep. NASCAR would lose the marketing time from the week leading up to the Chase, but just think about how awesome the weekend would be for racing.
International Speedway Corp. could possibly sell a combined ticket for Richmond and Darlington. Now that would be a Labor Day weekend to remember.
• Add a road course to the Chase. And make it a new one.
Sonoma and Watkins Glen have good things going on their current race weekends so it wouldn't be right to mess with something that is going well.
So add the Circuit of The Americas in Austin to the Chase. Push the Texas race in Fort Worth to early in the Chase to give the two Texas tracks some time between each event and run the road course as the eighth Chase event — another wild card that could really shake things up down the stretch.
The Circuit of The Americas track has gotten rave reviews and it is a facility that could handle the event both from an infrastructure standpoint and weather-wise late in the Chase. It also would serve a market relatively underserved by NASCAR.
• So if two new tracks are added to the Chase schedule, which ones come off?
Kansas and Chicagoland. The Chase needs fewer 1.5-mile tracks so those tracks are out.
Since ISC promised Kansas City officials it would have two races there when lobbying for the casino rights, it would have to keep two races at the track.
Sacrifice Chicagoland altogether? That's a hard one because it would be best for NASCAR to continue to race in that market. But ISC should take a long, hard look and see what the draw is from Chicago versus other areas in the Midwest already served by races at Indianapolis, Michigan and Kansas.
It could be argued to drop a Pocono race and add Chicagoland to the summer schedule. Pocono, though, in its own quirky way, is so unique that going there twice isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Atlanta, which loses its Labor Day weekend race in this proposal, moves to a date in the spring. Despite attendance struggles at the track, not racing at one of the sport's historic tracks in the deep South just doesn't seem right.
• NBC should start and end its schedule the same as ESPN currently does.
NBC should start at Indianapolis but with a Saturday night race. That could be an electric kickoff to its coverage.
And the season should still end at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The variable banking at that track has produced great racing the last couple of years. Though it isn't as popular with fans, it is a track where drivers racing for a championship can control their own destiny the most.
Las Vegas has not produced good enough racing in recent years for a switch to be made. The movement to have the Sprint Cup banquet the day after the season finale is short-sighted — NASCAR actually gets a boost in publicity by having its celebration with the top 12 (this year 13) drivers a few weeks after crowning its champion.
There are many other ideas that come to mind, including waiting longer between races on the west coast in order to spread those events throughout the year instead of running all three by the end of March. There are several other tracks that want Cup races, but most still need to prove that they have the infrastructure and facilities to handle at least 60,000 people and the television compound capabilities as well as be in a market that could still help expand the sport.
NASCAR has an opportunity to go into the scheduling process with a more open mind than usual. Here's one good idea — NASCAR should use that opportunity to do things that could generate more excitement for the sport.


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Host a foreign student at Shoreline Community College and bring the world to your dinner table
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
|A new international student at orientation
Photo courtesy SCC
Are you interested in gaining international experience? Do you like helping young people learn and grow? Would you like to share your home and that empty spare bedroom?
ABODE Homestays (ABODE) is currently looking for home-stay hosts for international students who will begin studying at Shoreline Community College this fall.
In home stays, the host provides the student with a private, furnished bedroom and three meals a day, often a self-serve breakfast and lunch and then dinner prepared by the host most nights of the week. Hosts are not required to provide transportation to school as students will use public transportation. The host receives a monthly stipend of $625 as compensation for the costs of hosting a student.
Young families, single parents, retired couples and single people from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds are eligible to host students if they meet the home-stay requirements.
Students will be arriving in mid-September and applications must be received by ABODE at least one month before placement. The time allows the organization to find the best matched homes for the students. Hosts are generally informed of their student two to four weeks ahead of arrival.
A successful host is interested in other cultures, likes to share the American experience and would enjoy having an international student in their home.
For more information, check the website or contact ABODE Homestays by email or phone 206-527-8654.


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We may have the "best Bond ever" in Sam Mendes' Skyfall if early accounts are to be believed. Stateside, we'll have to wait a few weeks to find out (unless you're like Steve and got to see it early). The newest clip features Bond (Daniel Craig) going up against his new nemesis, Silva (Javier Bardem). Bardem looks delightfully crazy as Silva and proves that Bond's troubles with public transportation are far from over.
Also starring Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Berenice Marlohe, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Helen McCrory, Skyfall opens in the US on November 9th. Hit the jump to check out the new clips as well as all the clips released so far.
Steve recently saw the film and had this to say:
Wow. Just wow.
#SKYFALL is one of the best James Bond movies and one of the best films this year.
Here's the new clip from Skyfall featuring a look at Craig and Bardem squaring off (Click over to Apple to view in HD):
Here's a look at the other clips released so far, followed by the official synopsis:
Here's the synopsis for Skyfall:
Daniel Craig is back as James Bond 007 in Skyfall, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In Skyfall, Bond's loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.


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Students who went to the Senja-Cashew Community Club on 4th and 5th January for their Edusave Merit Bursary Awards were pleasantly surprised to walk into a hall full of activities – and very unusual activities too.
In one corner, 3D printers were humming, printing what kids doodled on the app – doodle 3D. Kids were walking around with 3D printed flowers, butterflies and even their names. Other children took their first foray into making with electronics as they tried out Hackidemia SG's classic offerings – Vibrobots, Zombie Signalizers and Little Bits.
Parents stood back and watched, proud and at the same time apprehensive, as kids as young as 4 tried wielding a saw and mallet at the woodworking station. Makers from different parts of Singapore and different walks of life came together with a singular goal – to instill the value of hands-on making to parents and the empowerment it gives to young children who delight in the simple pleasure of seeing and loving what they have made with their own hands.
Check out the video uploaded at the Singapore Mini Maker Faire Facebook Page!
The maker roadshow at Senja Cashew Community Club was jointly organized by Science Centre Singapore, Singapore Mini Maker Faire, Hackidemia Singapore, Silicon Straits, Simplify3D, Sustainable living Lab and Senja-Cashew Community Club, leading up to the Singapore Mini Maker Faire 2014 later on this year.
This blog entry has been contributed by Dr Kiruthika Ramanathan, Science Centre Singapore.


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Thanks to everyone who made our second Android workshop a great success last night. Participants are still playing around with the development tools and sample code. Some initial project ideas were discussed with Project Breadcrumb already starting to take shape in our sandbox. The reverse Q&A format worked particularly well and will be used to cover all topics for future open community gatherings.
Thanks to Mitch Altman, Jimmie P Rodgers, Robots.ie and TOG for hosting an inspiring Electronic Workshop at the Science Gallery last night. Mitch is co-founder of Noisebridge in San Francisco and generously shared his experiences throughout the day on subjects ranging from creating a culture of Doacracy to facilitating safe open spaces. This 4 minute video from Andrew David Watson at Hive 76 in Philadelphia shares Mitch's passion for making your future.
We also got the opportunity to visit TOG enroute and learn more about their journey over the last year. Adrian grabbed a picture of one TOG project which would be a welcome addition to any international art gallery. They told us about two new projects which merit sharing. The first is Irish Robotics Club Make Night held monthly in the Science Gallery which encourage hobbists from all fields to come by and make anything. The next Make Night is 6pm – 9pm Wednesday, March 31st and admission is free. The second is Open Jam being held on March 27th at Enterprise Ireland's Head Office, The Plaza, East Point Business Park, Dublin 3. Register here for those interested in attending.


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Whether it's the Adonis DNA or tiger-blood, the media can't get enough of Charlie Sheen and more than a million people are hooked on his every tweet.
But a growing list of critics that includes the founder of Gawker's feminist blog Jezebel, ordinary Americans and even pagans say Sheen is not the warlock he claims to be. And he shouldn't get a pass for his past behavior and attitudes toward women either, they say.
In a scathing New York Times op-ed, Jezebel's Anna Holmes argued Friday that lost amid Team Sheen cheerleading over New Yorker cartoon captions and other Internet memes is a continuing acceptance that the actor has "earned the right to indulge" in objectifying and abusing women.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Long before "Two and a Half Men" was canceled, Holmes noted Sheen made headlines for: accidentally shooting his former fiancée in the arm; having a restraining order filed against him by ex-wife Denise Richards; pleading guilty to holding a knife to the throat of soon-to-be ex-wife Brooke Mueller; and trashing a New York hotel as a porn star cowered in the bathroom.
Holmes criticized CNN's Piers Morgan as being the latest in a string of media personalities to have failed to press Sheen on his history of domestic violence. She picked on Morgan for having told Sheen he was "entitled to behave however the hell you like as long as you don't scare the horses and the children."
Other TV commentators have used words like "sluts," "gold diggers" and "whores" to refer to Sheen's latest two live-in girlfriends, leading Holmes to argue the broader American culture is culpable in projecting "contempt for women who are assumed to be trading on their sexuality."
But maybe it's all just in the media. While networks and entertainment news sites -- including this one -- continue to cover Charlie Sheen's bizarre reality show, The Washington Post suggests ordinary Americans are starting to tire of his antics.
Seventy-one percent of 1,000 Americans polled by Rasmussen Reports now say they have an "unfavorable impression" of the actor, according to the Post.
After Sheen's "GMA" appearance, 60 percent of those polled by HCD said he seemed "mentally ill," the paper reported.
Whether certifiably insane or crazy genius, the actor set a Guinness World Record for the splitseconds it took to collect a million followers on Twitter on the power of his Sheen-isms.
He's been able to draw a crowd, but it's far from clear that Charlie's is "winning."
Selected Reading: Washington Post, EW, NYT


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- Double click on the downloaded file and just follow the instructions. Everything is automatic. The WampServer package is delivered whith the latest releases of Apache, MySQL and PHP.
- Once WampServer is installed,?you can manually add aditionals Apache, Php or MySql (only VC9, VC10 and VC11 compiled) versions.?Explanations will be provided on the?forum.
- Each release of Apache, MySQL and PHP has its own settings and its own files (datas for MySQL).
Using wampserver
- The "www" directory will be automatically created (usually c:\wamp\www)
- Create a subdirectory in "www" and put your PHP files inside.
- Click on the "localhost" link in the WampSever menu or open your internet browser and go to the URL : http://localhost


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Many invitations come with return card envelopes that are already affixed with proper postage. Suppose, the recipient of such a card has no intention of replying (or decides to reply by some other means). Is s/he then allowed to use that unused postage for other purposes?
Why or why not?


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Mar 01, 1981 | ISBN 9780553210354
"The English-speaking world is indebted to these two translators." —Orlando Figes, The New York Review of Books
"Excellent. . . . The duo has managed to convey the rather simple elegance of Tolstoy's prose." —The New Criterion
"Pevear and Volokhonsky's new version is . . . flexible individuated, immediate." —The Nation
"Well translated. As a lover of Tolstoy's work, one couldn't ask for more, and I can't recommend it highly enough." —André Alexis, The Globe and Mail (Toronto)


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Obligatory Texas History Lesson
Prompted by TPM, who almost gets the whole story. True, when the Texas Senators (no, not a baseball team) fled in 2003 to thwart DeLay's mid-cycle redistricting plan, one Dem returned to Texas and the law finally went through. But they knew to flee to Oklahoma (basically the closest state from Austin, and still quite a distance) because of the Killer Bees in 1979.
And, as the story at Time notes, that time the tactic worked, even though the Senators holed up in a house in Austin not far from the Capitol. So while I sometimes think the entire country wants to be too much like Texas (a right to work state with almost no union representation, and right-wing politics that would make a Neanderthal think twice), in this case the Senators from Wisconsin clearly learned something from the Senators from Texas. Here's hoping they learned it from the Killer Bees.


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Planned Maintenance: Manchester Telephone ExchangePosted: Monday, May 22nd, 2017 at 18:23 by Adam Heath
Tuesday 30th May 00:01 – 06:00
During the above window we will be performing a software upgrade and a reload of one of our devices at this location. This is expected to take approximately 1 hour, during which time directly connected customers will lose service. All other traffic will remain unaffected.
Affected services include DSL and leased lines terminated in this location.