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Keith pulling an interesting face
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Climbers: Keith Spence
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OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - For the third year in a row, Wisconsin's spearing season for sturgeon lasted for the entire 16 days on Lake Winnebago.
A dozen fish were taken Sunday just before the season closed.
Normally, the season ends early as spearers quickly reach their quota limits. That happened this year on the lakes north and west of Winnebago, but not on the big lake itself.
All told, the DNR said 567 sturgeon were taken – one more than a year ago. And 39 of them weighed over 100 pounds.
On the big lake itself, 306 fish were taken – and a record 9.5 percent of them were over 100 pounds.
Emily Walsdorf of Van Dyne caught the biggest sturgeon on the season's final day. It was 70-and-a-half inches long, and weighed just over 115 pounds.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thank you! 2013 was a huge success and we had one jolly time. Thank you to all of our sponsors and spectators. We'll have a recap soon with pictures.
2013 Winter Brewfest!
Get ready! Only few more days until Vancouver Winter Brewfest!
- 1 Person = $25 (tax included) 23.70 + 1.93 tax
- Entry - 1 Mug - 10 Tokens
- 2 Persons = $45 (tax included) 42.29 + 2.71 tax
- Entry - 2 Mugs - 22 tokens
- Designated Driver / Non-drinker = $5 (unlimted soft drinks by Corwin Beverages)
- No mug!
- Keep your mug and Bracelets PLEASE!
- Additional Tokens can be purchased inside the event
- Entries are good for all 3 Days! Please keep your wristband on for next day Re-Entry
- If you DO NOT have a wristband you will have to pay the FULL RE-ENTRY FEE: MUG PRICE = $25!
Additional Token Prices
- 4 Token Package = $5
- 10 Token Package = $10
- 20 Token Package = $20 (includes two free taste tokens)
- Glass Mugs = $12
Please check-in at the Pre-Order/VIP line.
Doors Open at 3pm on 12/13/13
2013 Winter Brewfest!
We are excited for 2013 Vancouver Winter Brewfest!
This is when the magic happens! Early Bird Pre-sales will happen, announcement of beer line-ups and more!
Thank You Vancouver Downtown Association for being our supporter! We couldn't make this event happen without your support, and we can't thank you enough.
Make sure you check out VDA's Event Calendar to check out your local upcoming events.
Make sure to get the latest updates and notifications through our Facebook page.
Wanna Volunteer? Sign-up Early & Pick your spot!
See why you should volunteer HERE
See why you should volunteer HERE
Taste the NW during the Holidays
Energy Events is proud to present the Vancouver Winter Brewfest December 13th, 14th and 15th at Esther Short Park.
This is 21 and over event
We are excited to present the 2nd Annual Vancouver Winter Brewfest December 13th through the 15th at the Esther Short in downtown Vancouver, WA. We have teamed up with some of the best local breweries creating some of the best winter beers in all the land. Sample and discover new beers from breweries such as Vancouver based Loowit Brewery and Mt. Tabor Brewing and check out tried and true ales from Widmer Brewing and Ninkasi Brewing to name just a few.
Why should you come to the Vancouver Winter Brewfest?
- We're located just a short 10 minute drive from downtown Portland.
- We are the only Winter Brewfest in Vancouver!
- Lines? What lines? We have designed the festival to have an average wait time of 5 minutes and no longer than 10 minutes to get your beer. It takes twice as long just to get in the tent at some ale-fests!
- We present a better and more affordable experience than other festivals, putting that holiday cheer back into your mug and not "Scrooging" you out of your wallet.
- Most of the beer served will be available at local grocery stores like Whole Foods. That means if there's a beer you really like, there's a good chance you can pick up a six-pack later on and not worry about the beer only being made for the festival.
- 35+ Breweries will be represented!
- Purchasing tickets early, saves you even more money and no wait time at the door!
Tree Lighting
Community Tree Lighting & Holiday EventsEsther Short Park and the Vancouver Hilton
Friday, November 29
- 3PM: Vancouver Farmers Market vendors open at Esther Short Park
- 3PM~ 7PM: Loci train rides available around Esther Short Park
- 6PM: Community Tree Lighting with Santa at Esther Short Park by Vancouver Downtown Association
Vancouver Propstra Square
Thanks to all breweries and including these Vancouver's very own!
Special Thanks to Bader Beer and Wine Supply
See you in December!
Brian, Tim and Wookie. Your Humble Beer Elves.


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There are three million disabled children in the United States. But one Maryland mother is trying to make her son's life easier -- one smile at a time.
Ryan is a young man with a traumatic brain injury. But how do people "see" him?
Ryan's mother, Debbie Sahlin, says people stare. She has even been kicked out of a public park.
She was told, "Why would you take a child like that swimming anyway?"
Some families don't even want to go out in public.
"They go home crying -- the parents. I just can't live with that," said Sahlin.
So she started the Lollipop Kids Foundation and a new campaign called "Smile, Don't Stare."
Shannon Kennedy is one of the teenagers who has taken a pledge to smile, don't stare. Shannon's little sister, Molly, had a disability and died in 2013.
"People would stare and judge her," said Kennedy. "I knew my sister more than they did. It hurt me more than it hurt her."
While these teens are wishing for cars and college acceptance letters, others just want to be acknowledged.
"The little boy, he had a sign that said, 'I wish [kids] would ask my name.' I feel like that's something we take for granted," said another teen named that made the pledge.
"These children are going to teach you more than anyone on the face of the Earth," said Sahlin. "They fight. None of us know how to fight the way these kids do. Their patience, they don't the meanness that society has. They don't know evil. They don't know lying. They don't know deceit. They're just so wonderful."
If you are a parent, odds are you have experience it. You are out in public place and your child notices someone with a disability.
Your tendency might be to shush your child. But Sahlin said that sends a dangerous message about people with disabilities.
She said, "From then on out, that little child is thinking, 'Ew. They're over there. They're separated.' That's where the isolation occurs."
Sahlin said it is easier than you think. Smile, don't stare.
"When somebody walks by and just smiles at us and smiles at my son, it's just this feeling of acceptance," she said.
"Big difference," said Kennedy. "It makes them feel wanted. It makes them feel acknowledged, like they belong."
KTBC FOX 7119 East 10th StreetAustin, TX 78701Phone: (512) 476-7777Fax: (512) 495-7001


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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - View original article
|St. Hildegard von Bingen, O.S.B.
Illumination from the Liber Scivias showing Hildegard receiving a vision and dictating to her scribe and secretary
|Doctor of the Church, Sibyl of the Rhine
Bermersheim vor der Höhe, County Palatine of the Rhine, Holy Roman Empire
|17 September 1179 (aged 81)
Bingen am Rhein, County Palatine of the Rhine, Holy Roman Empire
|Honored in
|Roman Catholic Church
(Order of St. Benedict), Anglican Communion, Lutheranism
|10 May 2012 (equivalent canonization), Vatican City by Pope Benedict XVI
|Major shrine
|Eibingen Abbey
|17 September
|St. Hildegard von Bingen, O.S.B.
Illumination from the Liber Scivias showing Hildegard receiving a vision and dictating to her scribe and secretary
|Doctor of the Church, Sibyl of the Rhine
Bermersheim vor der Höhe, County Palatine of the Rhine, Holy Roman Empire
|17 September 1179 (aged 81)
Bingen am Rhein, County Palatine of the Rhine, Holy Roman Empire
|Honored in
|Roman Catholic Church
(Order of St. Benedict), Anglican Communion, Lutheranism
|10 May 2012 (equivalent canonization), Vatican City by Pope Benedict XVI
|Major shrine
|Eibingen Abbey
|17 September
|Part of a series on
|Christian mysticism
Main articles
11th and 12th century
Bernard of Clairvaux
Guigo II
13th and 14th centuries
Dominican mysticism
Dominic de Guzmán
Contemporary Papal views
Saint Hildegard of Bingen, O.S.B. (German: Hildegard von Bingen; Latin: Hildegardis Bingensis) (1098 – 17 September 1179), also known as Saint Hildegard, and Sibyl of the Rhine, was a German writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, Benedictine abbess, visionary, and polymath.[1] Elected a magistra by her fellow nuns in 1136, she founded the monasteries of Rupertsberg in 1150 and Eibingen in 1165. One of her works as a composer, the Ordo Virtutum, is an early example of liturgical drama and arguably the oldest surviving morality play.[2]
She wrote theological, botanical and medicinal texts, as well as letters, liturgical songs, and poems, while supervising miniature illuminations in the Rupertsberg manuscript of her first work, Scivias.[3]
Although the history of her formal recognition as a saint is complicated, she has been recognized as a saint by parts of the Roman Catholic Church for centuries. On 7 October 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named her a Doctor of the Church.
Hildegard's exact date of birth is uncertain. She was born around the year 1098 to Mechtild of Merxheim-Nahet and Hildebert of Bermersheim, a family of the free lower nobility in the service of the Count Meginhard of Sponheim.[4] Sickly from birth, Hildegard is traditionally considered their youngest and tenth child, although there are records of seven older siblings.[5] In her Vita, Hildegard states that from a very young age she had experienced visions.[6]
Perhaps due to Hildegard's visions, or as a method of political positioning, Hildegard's parents offered her as an oblate to the church. The date of Hildegard's enclosure in the church is the subject of a contentious debate. Her Vita says she was enclosed with an older nun, Jutta, at the age of eight.[7] However, Jutta's enclosure date is known to be in 1112, when Hildegard would have been fourteen.[8] Some scholars speculate that Hildegard was placed in the care of Jutta, the daughter of Count Stephan II of Sponheim, at the age of eight, and the two women were enclosed together six years later.[9] The written record of the Life of Jutta indicates that Hildegard likely assisted her in reciting the Psalms, working in the garden, and tending to the sick.[10]
In any case, Hildegard and Jutta were enclosed at Disibodenberg in the Palatinate Forest in what is now Germany. Jutta was also a visionary and thus attracted many followers who came to visit her at the enclosure. Hildegard tells us that Jutta taught her to read and write, but that she was unlearned and therefore incapable of teaching Hildegard Biblical interpretation.[11] Hildegard and Jutta most likely prayed, meditated, read scriptures such as the psalter, and did handwork during the hours of the Divine Office. This might have been a time when Hildegard learned how to play the ten-stringed psaltery. Volmar, a frequent visitor, may have taught Hildegard simple psalm notation. The time she studied music could have been the beginning of the compositions she would later create.[12]
Upon Jutta's death in 1136, Hildegard was unanimously elected as "magistra" of the community by her fellow nuns.[13] Abbot Kuno of Disibodenberg asked Hildegard to be Prioress, which would be under his authority. Hildegard, however, wanted more independence for herself and her nuns and asked Abbot Kuno to allow them to move to Rupertsberg.[14] This was to be a move towards poverty, from a stone complex that was well established to a temporary dwelling place. When the abbot declined Hildegard's proposition, Hildegard went over his head and received the approval of Archbishop Henry I of Mainz. Abbot Kuno did not relent until Hildegard was stricken by an illness that kept her paralyzed and unable to move from her bed, an event that she attributed to God's unhappiness at her not following his orders to move her nuns to Rupertsberg. It was only when the Abbot himself could not move Hildegard that he decided to grant the nuns their own monastery.[15] Hildegard and about twenty nuns thus moved to the St. Rupertsberg monastery in 1150, where Volmar served as provost, as well as Hildegard's confessor and scribe. In 1165 Hildegard founded a second monastery for her nuns at Eibingen.
Hildegard says that she first saw "The Shade of the Living Light" at the age of three, and by the age of five she began to understand that she was experiencing visions.[16] She used the term 'visio' to this feature of her experience, and recognized that it was a gift that she could not explain to others. Hildegard explained that she saw all things in the light of God through the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.[17] Hildegard was hesitant to share her visions, confiding only to Jutta, who in turn told Volmar, Hildegard's tutor and, later, secretary.[18] Throughout her life, she continued to have many visions, and in 1141, at the age of 42, Hildegard received a vision she believed to be an instruction from God, to "write down that which you see and hear."[19] Still hesitant to record her visions, Hildegard became physically ill. The illustrations recorded in the book of Scivias were visions that Hildegard experienced, causing her great suffering and tribulations.[20] In her first theological text, Scivias ("Know the Ways"), Hildegard describes her struggle within:
But I, though I saw and heard these things, refused to write for a long time through doubt and bad opinion and the diversity of human words, not with stubbornness but in the exercise of humility, until, laid low by the scourge of God, I fell upon a bed of sickness; then, compelled at last by many illnesses, and by the witness of a certain noble maiden of good conduct [the nun Richardis von Stade] and of that man whom I had secretly sought and found, as mentioned above, I set my hand to the writing. While I was doing it, I sensed, as I mentioned before, the deep profundity of scriptural exposition; and, raising myself from illness by the strength I received, I brought this work to a close – though just barely – in ten years. (...) And I spoke and wrote these things not by the invention of my heart or that of any other person, but as by the secret mysteries of God I heard and received them in the heavenly places. And again I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, 'Cry out therefore, and write thus!'[21]
Hildegard's Vita was begun by Godfrey of Disibodenberg under Hildegard's supervision. It was between November 1147 and February 1148 at the synod in Trier that Pope Eugenus heard about Hildegard's writings. It was from this that she received Papal approval to document her visions as revelations from the Holy Spirit giving her instant credence.
Before Hildegard's death, a problem arose with the clergy of Mainz. A man buried in Rupertsburg had died after excommunication from the Church. Therefore, the clergy wanted to remove his body from the sacred ground. Hildegard did not accept this idea, replying that it was a sin and that the man had been reconciled to the church at the time of his death.[22]
On 17 September 1179, when Hildegard died, her sisters claimed they saw two streams of light appear in the skies and cross over the room where she was dying.[23]
Hildegard's works include three great volumes of visionary theology;[24] a variety of musical compositions for use in liturgy, as well as the musical morality play Ordo Virtutum; one of the largest bodies of letters (nearly 400) to survive from the Middle Ages, addressed to correspondents ranging from Popes to Emperors to abbots and abbesses, and including records of many of the sermons she preached in the 1160s and 1170's;[25] two volumes of material on natural medicine and cures;[26] an invented language called the Lingua ignota ("unknown language");[27] and various minor works, including a gospel commentary and two works of hagiography.[28]
Several manuscripts of her works were produced during her lifetime, including the illustrated Rupertsberg manuscript of her first major work, Scivias (lost since 1945); the Dendermonde manuscript, which contains one version of her musical works; and the Ghent manuscript, which was the first fair-copy made for editing of her final theological work, the Liber Divinorum Operum. At the end of her life, and probably under her initial guidance, all of her works were edited and gathered into the single Riesenkodex manuscript.[29]
Hildegard's most significant works were her three volumes of visionary theology: Scivias ("Know the Ways", composed 1142-1151), Liber Vitae Meritorum ("Book of Life's Merits" or "Book of the Rewards of Life", composed 1158-1163); and Liber Divinorum Operum ("Book of Divine Works", also known as De operatione Dei, "On God's Activity", composed 1163/4-1172 or 1174). In these volumes, the last of which was completed when she was well into her seventies, Hildegard first describes each vision, whose details are often strange and enigmatic; and then interprets their theological contents in the words of the "voice of the Living Light."
The composition of the first work, Scivias, was triggered by the insistence of her visionary experiences in about 1142, when she was already forty-three years old. Perceiving a divine command to "write down what you see and hear",[30] Hildegard began to record her visionary experiences. Scivias is structured into three parts of unequal length. The first part (six visions) chronicles the order of God's creation: the Creation and Fall of Adam and Eve, the structure of the universe (famously described as an "egg"), the relationship between body and soul, God's relationship to his people through the Synagogue, and the choirs of angels. The second part (seven visions) describes the order of redemption: the coming of Christ the Redeemer, the Trinity, the Church as the Bride of Christ and the Mother of the Faithful in baptism and confirmation, the orders of the Church, Christ's sacrifice on the Cross and the Eucharist, and the fight against the devil. Finally, the third part (thirteen visions) recapitulates the history of salvation told in the first two parts, symbolized as a building adorned with various allegorical figures and virtues. It concludes with the Symphony of Heaven, an early version of Hildegard's musical compositions.
Portions of the uncompleted work were read aloud to Pope Eugenius III at the Synod of Trier in 1148, after which he sent Hildegard a letter with his blessing.[31] This blessing was later construed as papal approval for all of Hildegard's wide-ranging theological activities.[32] Towards the end of her life, Hildegard commissioned a richly decorated manuscript of Scivias (the Rupertsberg Codex); although the original has been lost since its evacuation to Dresden for safekeeping in 1945, its images are preserved in a hand-painted facsimile from the 1920s.[3]
In her second volume of visionary theology, composed between 1158 and 1163, after she had moved her community of nuns into independence at the Rupertsberg in Bingen, Hildegard tackled the moral life in the form of dramatic confrontations between the virtues and the vices. She had already explored this area in her musical morality play, Ordo Virtutum, and the "Book of the Rewards of Life" takes up that play's characteristic themes. Each vice, although ultimately depicted as ugly and grotesque, nevertheless offers alluring, seductive speeches that attempt to entice the unwary soul into their clutches. Standing in our defense, however, are the sober voices of the Virtues, powerfully confronting every vicious deception.[33]
Amongst the work's innovations is one of the earliest descriptions of purgatory as the place where each soul would have to work off its debts after death before entering heaven.[34] Hildegard's descriptions of the possible punishments there are often gruesome and grotesque, which emphasize the work's moral and pastoral purpose as a practical guide to the life of true penance and proper virtue.[35]
Hildegard's last and grandest visionary work had its genesis in the one of the few times she experienced something like an ecstatic loss of consciousness. As she described it in an autobiographical passage included in her Vita, sometime in about 1163, she received "an extraordinary mystical vision" in which was revealed the "sprinkling drops of sweet rain" that John the Evangelist experienced when he wrote, "In the beginning was the Word..." (John 1:1). Hildegard perceived that this Word was the key to the "Work of God", of which humankind is the pinnacle. The "Book of Divine Works", therefore, became in many ways an extended explication of the Prologue to John's Gospel.[36]
The ten visions of this work's three parts are cosmic in scale, often populated by the grand allegorical female figures representing Divine Love (Caritas) or Wisdom (Sapientia). The first of these opens the work with a salvo of poetic and visionary images, swirling about to characterize the dynamic activity of God within the scope of his salvation-historical work. The remaining three visions of the first part introduce the famous image of a human being standing astride the spheres that make up the universe, and detail the intricate relationships between the human as microcosm and the universe as macrocosm. This culminates in the final chapters of Part One, Vision Four with Hildegard's direct rumination on the meaning of, "In the beginning was the Word..." (John 1:1). The single vision that comprises the whole of Part Two stretches that rumination back to the opening of Genesis, and forms an extended meditation on the six days of the creation of the world. Finally, the five visions of the third part take up again the building imagery of Scivias to describe the course of salvation history.[37]
Attention in recent decades to women of the medieval Church has led to a great deal of popular interest in Hildegard, particularly her music. In addition to the Ordo Virtutum, sixty-nine musical compositions, each with its own original poetic text, survive, and at least four other texts are known, though their musical notation has been lost.[38] This is one of the largest repertoires among medieval composers.
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From Ordo Virtutum
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One of her better known works, Ordo Virtutum (Play of the Virtues), is a morality play. It is unsure when some of Hildegard's compositions were composed, though the Ordo Virtutum is thought to have been composed as early as 1151.[39] The morality play consists of monophonic melodies for the Anima (human soul) and 16 Virtues. There is also one speaking part for the Devil. Scholars assert that the role of the Devil would have been played by Volmar, while Hildegard's nuns would have played the parts of Anima and the Virtues.[40]
In addition to the Ordo Virtutum Hildegard composed many liturgical songs that were collected into a cycle called the Symphonia armoniae celestium revelationum. The songs from the Symphonia are set to Hildegard's own text and range from antiphons, hymns, and sequences, to responsories.[41] Her music is described as monophonic; that is, consisting of exactly one melodic line.[42] Hildegard's compositional style is characterized by soaring melodies, often well outside of the normal range of chant at the time.[43] Additionally, scholars such as Margot Fassler and Marianna Richert Pfau describe Hildegard's music as highly melismatic, often with recurrent melodic units, and also note her close attention to the relationship between music and text, which was a rare occurrence in monastic chant of the 12th century.[44] Hildegard of Bingen's songs are left open for rhythmic interpretation because of the use of neumes without a staff.[45] The reverence for the Virgin Mary reflected in music shows how deeply influenced and inspired Hildegard of Bingen and her community were by the Virgin Mary and the saints.[46]
The definition of viriditas or 'greenness' is an earthly expression of the heavenly in an integrity that overcomes dualisms. This 'greenness' or power of life appears frequently in Hildegard's works.[47]
Recent scholars have asserted that Hildegard made a close association between music and the female body in her musical compositions.[48] The poetry and music of Hildegard's Symphonia is concerned with the anatomy of female desire thus described as Sapphonic, or pertaining to Sappho, connecting her to a history of female rhetoricians.[49]
Hildegard also wrote Physica, a text on the natural sciences, as well as Causae et Curae. Hildegard of Bingen was well known for her healing powers involving practical application of tinctures, herbs, and precious stones.[50] In both texts Hildegard describes the natural world around her, including the cosmos, animals, plants, stones, and minerals.
She combined these elements with a theological notion ultimately derived from Genesis: all things put on earth are for the use of humans.[51] She was particularly interested in the healing properties of plants, animals, and stones, though she also questions God's effect on man's health.[52] One example of her healing powers was curing the blind with the use of Rhine water.[53]
Hildegard also invented an alternative alphabet. The text of her writing and compositions reveals Hildegard's use of this form of modified medieval Latin, encompassing many invented, conflated and abridged words.[6] Due to her inventions of words for her lyrics and use of a constructed script, many conlangers look upon her as a medieval precursor. Scholars believe that Hildegard used her Lingua Ignota to increase solidarity among her nuns.[54]
Maddocks claims that it is likely Hildegard learned simple Latin and the tenets of the Christian faith but was not instructed in the Seven Liberal Arts, which formed the basis of all education for the learned classes in the Middle Ages: the Trivium of grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric plus the Quadrivium of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music.[55] The correspondence she kept with the outside world, both spiritual and social, transgressed the cloister as a space of female confinement and served to document Hildegard's grand style and strict formatting of medieval letter writing.[56][57]
Contributing to Christian European rhetorical traditions, Hildegard "authorized herself as a theologian" through alternative rhetorical arts.[56] Hildegard was creative in her interpretation of theology. She believed that her monastery should exclude novices who were not from the nobility because she did not want her community to be divided on the basis of social status.[58] She also stated that "woman may be made from man, but no man can be made without a woman."[23]
Due to church limitation on public, discursive rhetoric, the medieval rhetorical arts included preaching, letter writing, poetry, and the encyclopedic tradition.[59] Hildegard's participation in these arts speaks to her significance as a female rhetorician, transcending bans on women's social participation and interpretation of scripture. The acceptance of public preaching by a woman, even a well-connected abbess and acknowledged prophet, does not fit the stereotype of this time. Her preaching was not limited to the monasteries; she preached publicly in 1160 in Germany. (New York: Routledge, 2001, 9). She conducted four preaching tours throughout Germany, speaking to both clergy and laity in chapter houses and in public, mainly denouncing clerical corruption and calling for reform.[60]
Many abbots and abbesses asked her for prayers and opinions on various matters.[1] She traveled widely during her four preaching tours.[61] She had several fanatical followers, including Guibert of Gembloux, who wrote to her frequently and became her secretary after Volmar's death in 1173. Hildegard also influenced several monastic women, exchanging letters with Elisabeth of Schönau, a nearby visionary.[62]
Hildegard corresponded with popes such as Eugene III and Anastasius IV, statesmen such as Abbot Suger, German emperors such as Frederick I Barbarossa, and other notable figures such as Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, who advanced her work, at the behest of her abbot, Kuno, at the Synod of Trier in 1147 and 1148. Hildegard of Bingen's correspondence is an important component of her literary output.[63]
Hildegard was one of the first persons for whom the Roman canonization process was officially applied, but the process took so long that four attempts at canonization were not completed and she remained at the level of her beatification. Her name was nonetheless taken up in the Roman Martyrology at the end of the 16th century. Her feast day is 17 September. Numerous popes have referred to Hildegard as a saint, including Pope John Paul II[64] and Pope Benedict XVI.[65]
On 10 May 2012, Pope Benedict XVI extended the liturgical cult of St. Hildegard to the entire Catholic Church[66] in a process known as "equivalent canonization,"[67] thus laying the groundwork for naming her a Doctor of the Church.[68] On 7 October 2012, the feast of the Holy Rosary, the Pope named her a Doctor of the Church, the fourth woman of 35 saints given that title by the Roman Catholic Church.[69] He called her "perennially relevant" and "an authentic teacher of theology and a profound scholar of natural science and music."[70]
Hildegard of Bingen also appears in the calendar of saints of various Anglican churches, such as that of the Church of England, in which she is commemorated on 17 September.
Hildegard's parish and pilgrimage church in Eibingen near Rüdesheim houses her relics.
In recent years, Hildegard has become of particular interest to feminist scholars.[71] They note her reference to herself as a member of the "weaker sex" and her rather constant belittling of women. Hildegard frequently referred to herself as an unlearned woman, completely incapable of Biblical exegesis.[72] Such a statement on her part, however, worked to her advantage because it made her statements that all of her writings and music came from visions of the Divine more believable, therefore giving Hildegard the authority to speak in a time and place where few women were permitted a voice.[73] Hildegard used her voice to condemn church practices she disagreed with, in particular simony.
Hildegard has also become a figure of reverence within the contemporary New Age movement, mostly due to her holistic and natural view of healing, as well as her status as a mystic. She was the inspiration for Dr. Gottfried Hertzka's "Hildegard-Medicine", and is the namesake for June Boyce-Tillman's Hildegard Network, a healing center that focuses on a holistic approach to wellness and brings together people interested in exploring the links between spirituality, the arts, and healing.[74] Hildegard's reincarnation has been debated since 1924 when Austrian mystic Rudolf Steiner lectured that a nun of her description was the past life of Russian poet philosopher Vladimir Soloviev,[75] whose Sophianic visions are often compared to Hildegard.[76] Sophiologist Robert Powell writes that hermetic astrology proves the match,[77] while mystical communities in Hildegard's lineage include that of artist Carl Schroeder[78] as studied by Columbia sociologist Courtney Bender[79] and supported by reincarnation researchers Walter Semkiw and Kevin Ryerson.[80]
In space, the minor planet 898 Hildegard is named for her.[81]
In film, Hildegard has been portrayed by Patricia Routledge in a BBC documentary called "Hildegard of Bingen" (1994),[82] by Ángela Molina in Barbarossa (2009)[83] and by Barbara Sukowa in the film Vision, directed by Margarethe von Trotta.[84]
Hildegard was the subject of a 2012 fictionalized biographic novel "Illuminations" by Mary Sharratt.[85]
The first single of the album Mala by folk singer Devendra Banhart is named after her.[86]
Primary sources
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hildegard von Bingen.


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David Kwong: Two nerdy obsessions meet -- and it's magicDavid Kwong is a magician who makes crossword puzzles -- in other words, a pretty nerdy guy. And for his next trick ...
Billy Collins: Two poems about what dogs think (probably)What must our dogs be thinking when they look at us? Poet Billy Collins imagines the inner lives of two very different companions. It's a charming short talk, perfect for taking a break and dreaming …
Marco Tempest: And for my next trick, a robotMarco Tempest uses charming stagecraft to demo EDI, the multi-purpose robot designed to work very closely with humans. Less a magic trick than an intricately choreographed performance, Tempest shows off the robot's sensing technology, safety features and strength, and makes the case for a closer human-robot relationship. (Okay, there's a little magic, too.)
Jennifer Senior: For parents, happiness is a very high barThe parenting section of the bookstore is overwhelming—it's "a giant, candy-colored monument to our collective panic," as writer Jennifer Senior puts it. Why is parenthood filled with so much anxiety? Because the goal of modern, middle-class parents—to raise happy children—is so elusive. In this honest talk, she offers some kinder and more achievable aims.
Louie Schwartzberg: Hidden miracles of the natural worldWe live in a world of unseeable beauty, so subtle and delicate that it is imperceptible to the human eye. To bring this invisible world to light, filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg bends the boundaries of time and space with high-speed cameras, time lapses and microscopes. At TED2014, he shares highlights from his latest project, a 3D film titled "Mysteries of the Unseen World," which slows down, speeds up, and magnifies the astonishing wonders of nature.
Ziauddin Yousafzai: My daughter, MalalaPakistani educator Ziauddin Yousafzai reminds the world of a simple truth that many don't want to hear: Women and men deserve equal opportunities for education, autonomy, an independent identity. He tells stories from his own life and the life of his daughter, Malala, who was shot by the Taliban in 2012 simply for daring to go to school. "Why is my daughter so strong?" Yousafzai asks. "Because I didn't clip her wings."
Chris Hadfield: What I learned from going blind in spaceThere's an astronaut saying: In space, "there is no problem so bad that you can't make it worse." So how do you deal with the complexity, the sheer pressure, of dealing with dangerous and scary situations? Retired colonel Chris Hadfield paints a vivid portrait of how to be prepared for the worst in space (and life) -- and it starts with walking into a spider's web. Watch for a special space-y performance.
Henry Lin: What we can learn from galaxies far, far awayIn a fun, exciting talk, teenager Henry Lin looks at something unexpected in the sky: distant galaxy clusters. By studying the properties of the universe's largest pieces, says the Intel Science Fair award winner, we can learn quite a lot about scientific mysteries in our own world and galaxy.
Maya Penn: Meet a young entrepreneur, cartoonist, designer, activist …Maya Penn started her first company when she was 8 years old, and thinks deeply about how to be responsible both to her customers and to the planet. She shares her story -- and some animations, and some designs, and some infectious energy -- in this charming talk.
Joe Kowan: How I beat stage frightHumanity's fine-tuned sense of fear served us well as a young species, giving us laser focus to avoid being eaten by competing beasts. But it's less wonderful when that same visceral, body-hijacking sense of fear kicks in in front of 20 folk-music fans at a Tuesday night open-mic. Palms sweat, hands shake, vision blurs, and the brain says RUN: it's stage fright. In this charming, tuneful little talk, Joe Kowan talks about how he conquered it.
Eddy Cartaya: My glacier cave discoveriesSnow Dragon. Pure Imagination. Frozen Minotaur. These are the names Eddy Cartaya and his climbing partner Brent McGregor gave three glacier caves that they were the first to explore. As the Sandy Glacier slowly slides down Mount Hood in Oregon, the caves and tunnels inside it morph annually thanks to warm water from above and warm air from below. At TEDYouth, Cartaya takes us inside these magical spaces where the ice glows in bright blues and greens, and where artifacts rain from the ceiling.
Jane McGonigal: Massively multi-player… thumb-wrestling?What happens when you get an entire audience to stand up and connect with one another? Chaos, that's what. At least, that's what happened when Jane McGonigal tried to teach TED to play her favorite game. Then again, when the game is "massively multiplayer thumb-wrestling," what else would you expect?
Apollo Robbins: The art of misdirectionHailed as the greatest pickpocket in the world, Apollo Robbins studies the quirks of human behavior as he steals your watch. In a hilarious demonstration, Robbins samples the buffet of the TEDGlobal 2013 audience, showing how the flaws in our perception make it possible to swipe a wallet and leave it on its owner's shoulder while they remain clueless.
Tania Luna: How a penny made me feel like a millionaireAs a young child, Tania Luna left her home in post-Chernobyl Ukraine to take asylum in the US. And one day, on the floor of the New York homeless shelter where she and her family lived, she found a penny. She has never again felt so rich. A meditation on the bittersweet joys of childhood -- and how to hold them in mind.
Jack Andraka: A promising test for pancreatic cancer ... from a teenagerOver 85 percent of all pancreatic cancers are diagnosed late, when someone has less than two percent chance of survival. How could this be? Jack Andraka talks about how he developed a promising early detection test for pancreatic cancer that's super cheap, effective and non-invasive -- all before his 16th birthday.
Jay Silver: Hack a banana, make a keyboard!Why can't two slices of pizza be used as a slide clicker? Why shouldn't you make music with ketchup? In this charming talk, inventor Jay Silver talks about the urge to play with the world around you. He shares some of his messiest inventions, and demos MaKey MaKey, a kit for hacking everyday objects.
Raghava KK: Shake up your storyArtist Raghava KK demos his new children's book for iPad with a fun feature: when you shake it, the story -- and your perspective -- changes. In this charming short talk, he invites all of us to shake up our perspective a little bit.
Taylor Wilson: My radical plan for small nuclear fission reactorsTaylor Wilson was 14 when he built a nuclear fusion reactor in his parents' garage. Now 19, he returns to the TED stage to present a new take on an old topic: fission. Wilson, who has won backing to create a company to realize his vision, explains why he's so excited about his innovative design for small modular fission reactors -- and why it could be the next big step in solving the global energy crisis.
Sanjay Dastoor: A skateboard, with a boostImagine an electric vehicle that can get you to work -- or anywhere in a six-mile radius -- quickly, without traffic frustrations or gasoline. Now imagine you can pick it up and carry it with you. Yes, this souped-up skateboard could change the face of morning commutes.
Rachel Sussman: The world's oldest living thingsRachel Sussman shows photographs of the world's oldest continuously living organisms -- from 2,000-year-old brain coral off Tobago's coast to an "underground forest" in South Africa that has lived since before the dawn of agriculture.
Jay Silver: Hack a banana, make a keyboard!Why can't two slices of pizza be used as a slide clicker? Why shouldn't you make music with ketchup? In this charming talk, inventor Jay Silver talks about the urge to play with the world around you. He shares some of his messiest inventions, and demos MaKey MaKey, a kit for hacking everyday objects.
Keller Rinaudo: A mini robot -- powered by your phoneYour smartphone may feel like a friend -- but a true friend would give you a smile once in a while. At TED2013, Keller Rinaudo demos Romo, the smartphone-powered mini robot who can motor along with you on a walk, slide you a cup of coffee across the table, and react to you with programmable expressions.
Taylor Wilson: My radical plan for small nuclear fission reactorsTaylor Wilson was 14 when he built a nuclear fusion reactor in his parents' garage. Now 19, he returns to the TED stage to present a new take on an old topic: fission. Wilson, who has won backing to create a company to realize his vision, explains why he's so excited about his innovative design for small modular fission reactors -- and why it could be the next big step in solving the global energy crisis.
Richard Turere: My invention that made peace with lionsIn the Masai community where 13-year-old Richard Turere lives, cattle are all-important. But lion attacks were growing more frequent. In this short, inspiring talk, the young inventor shares the solar-powered solution he designed to safely scare the lions away.
Shane Koyczan: "To This Day" ... for the bullied and beautifulBy turn hilarious and haunting, poet Shane Koyczan puts his finger on the pulse of what it's like to be young and … different. "To This Day," his spoken-word poem about bullying, captivated millions as a viral video (created, crowd-source style, by 80 animators). Here, he gives a glorious, live reprise with backstory and violin accompaniment by Hannah Epperson.
Thomas Suarez: A 12-year-old app developerMost 12-year-olds love playing videogames -- Thomas Suarez taught himself how to create them. After developing iPhone apps like "Bustin Jeiber," a whack-a-mole game, he is now using his skills to help other kids become developers. (Filmed at TEDxManhattanBeach.)
Bruce Feiler: Agile programming -- for your familyBruce Feiler has a radical idea: To deal with the stress of modern family life, go agile. Inspired by agile software programming, Feiler introduces family practices which encourage flexibility, bottom-up idea flow, constant feedback and accountability. One surprising feature: Kids pick their own punishments.
Marcus Byrne: The dance of the dung beetleA dung beetle has a brain the size of a grain of rice, and yet shows a tremendous amount of intelligence when it comes to rolling its food source -- animal excrement -- home. How? It all comes down to a dance. (Filmed at TEDxWitsUniversity.)
Angela Patton: A father-daughter dance ... in prisonAt Camp Diva, Angela Patton works to help girls and fathers stay connected and in each others' lives. But what about girls whose fathers can't be there -- because they're in jail? Patton tells the story of a very special father-daughter dance. (Filmed at TEDxWomen)
Tavi Gevinson: A teen just trying to figure it outFifteen-year-old Tavi Gevinson had a hard time finding strong female, teenage role models -- so she built a space where they could find each other. At TEDxTeen, she illustrates how the conversations on sites like Rookie, her wildly popular web magazine for and by teen girls, are putting a new, unapologetically uncertain and richly complex face on modern feminism. (Filmed at TEDxTeen.)
Steven Addis: A father-daughter bond, one photo at a timeA long time ago in New York City, Steve Addis stood on a corner holding his 1-year-old daughter in his arms; his wife snapped a photo. The image has inspired an annual father-daughter ritual, where Addis and his daughter pose for the same picture, on the same corner, each year. Addis shares 15 treasured photographs from the series, and explores why this small, repeated ritual means so much.
Lemn Sissay: A child of the stateLiterature has long been fascinated with fostered, adopted and orphaned children, from Moses to Cinderella to Oliver Twist to Harry Potter. So why do many parentless children feel compelled to hide their pasts? Poet and playwright Lemn Sissay tells his own moving story. (Filmed at TEDxHousesofParliament.)
Jane Goodall: What separates us from chimpanzees?Jane Goodall hasn't found the missing link, but she's come closer than nearly anyone else. The primatologist says the only real difference between humans and chimps is our sophisticated language. She urges us to start using it to change the world.
Arvind Gupta: Turning trash into toys for learningAt the INK Conference, Arvind Gupta shares simple yet stunning plans for turning trash into seriously entertaining, well-designed toys that kids can build themselves -- while learning basic principles of science and design.
Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run?Christopher McDougall explores the mysteries of the human desire to run. How did running help early humans survive -- and what urges from our ancient ancestors spur us on today? McDougall tells the story of the marathoner with a heart of gold, the unlikely ultra-runner, and the hidden tribe in Mexico that runs to live. (Filmed at TEDxPennQuarter.)
Richard St. John's 8 secrets of successWhy do people succeed? Is it because they're smart? Or are they just lucky? Neither. Analyst Richard St. John condenses years of interviews into an unmissable 3-minute slideshow on the real secrets of success.
E.O. Wilson: Advice to young scientists"The world needs you, badly," begins celebrated biologist E.O. Wilson in his letter to a young scientist. Previewing his upcoming book, he gives advice collected from a lifetime of experience -- reminding us that wonder and creativity are the center of the scientific life. (Filmed at TEDMED.)
Robert Ballard on exploring the oceansOcean explorer Robert Ballard takes us on a mindbending trip to hidden worlds underwater, where he and other researchers are finding unexpected life, resources, even new mountains. He makes a case for serious exploration and mapping. Google Ocean, anyone?
Ben Saunders skis to the North PoleArctic explorer Ben Saunders recounts his harrowing solo ski trek to the North Pole, complete with engaging anecdotes, gorgeous photos and never-before-seen video.
Liza Donnelly: Drawing on humor for changeNew Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly shares a portfolio of her wise and funny cartoons about modern life -- and talks about how humor can empower women to change the rules.
Caroline Phillips: Hurdy-gurdy for beginnersCaroline Phillips cranks out tunes on a seldom-heard folk instrument: the hurdy-gurdy, a.k.a. the wheel fiddle. A searching, Basque melody follows her fun lesson on its unique anatomy and 1,000-year history.
Robert Full: Learning from the gecko's tailBiologist Robert Full studies the amazing gecko, with its supersticky feet and tenacious climbing skill. But high-speed footage reveals that the gecko's tail harbors perhaps the most surprising talents of all.
Marco Tempest: Augmented reality, techno-magicUsing sleight-of-hand techniques and charming storytelling, illusionist Marco Tempest brings a jaunty stick figure to life onstage at TEDGlobal.
Munir Virani: Why I love vulturesAs natural garbage collectors, vultures are vital to our ecosystem -- so why all the bad press? Why are so many in danger of extinction? Raptor biologist Munir Virani says we need to pay more attention to these unique and misunderstood creatures, to change our perception and save the vultures.
Birke Baehr: What's wrong with our food system11-year-old Birke Baehr presents his take on a major source of our food -- far-away and less-than-picturesque industrial farms. Keeping farms out of sight promotes a rosy, unreal picture of big-box agriculture, he argues, as he outlines the case to green and localize food production. (Filmed at TEDxNextGenerationAshevillen.)
Ze Frank's nerdcore comedyPerformer and web toymaker Ze Frank delivers a hilarious nerdcore standup routine, then tells us what he's seriously passionate about: helping people create and interact using simple, addictive web tools.
Sarah-Jayne Blakemore: The mysterious workings of the adolescent brainWhy do teenagers seem so much more impulsive, so much less self-aware than grown-ups? Cognitive neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore compares the prefrontal cortex in adolescents to that of adults, to show us how typically "teenage" behavior is caused by the growing and developing brain.
Scott Kim takes apart the art of puzzlesAt the 2008 EG conference, famed puzzle designer Scott Kim takes us inside the puzzle-maker's frame of mind. Sampling his career's work, he introduces a few of the most popular types, and shares the fascinations that inspired some of his best.
Jim Toomey: Learning from Sherman the sharkCartoonist Jim Toomey created the comic strip Sherman's Lagoon, a wry look at underwater life starring Sherman the talking shark. As he sketches some of his favorite sea creatures live onstage, Toomey shares his love of the ocean and the stories it can tell.
Terry Moore: How to tie your shoesTerry Moore found out he'd been tying his shoes the wrong way his whole life. In the spirit of TED, he takes the stage to share a better way. (Historical note: This was the very first 3-minute audience talk given from the TED stage, in 2005.)
Edith Widder: Glowing life in an underwater worldSome 80 to 90 percent of undersea creatures make light -- and we know very little about how or why. Bioluminescence expert Edith Widder explores this glowing, sparkling, luminous world, sharing glorious images and insight into the unseen depths (and brights) of the ocean.
Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kidsChild prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.
Steven Levitt on child carseatsSteven Levitt shares data that shows car seats are no more effective than seatbelts in protecting kids from dying in cars. However, during the question and answer session, he makes one crucial caveat.
Ben Saunders: Why bother leaving the house?Explorer Ben Saunders wants you to go outside! Not because it's always pleasant and happy, but because that's where the meat of life is, "the juice that we can suck out of our hours and days." Saunders' next outdoor excursion? To try to be the first in the world to walk from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back again.
Lewis Pugh's mind-shifting Everest swimAfter he swam the North Pole, Lewis Pugh vowed never to take another cold-water dip. Then he heard of Lake Imja in the Himalayas, created by recent glacial melting, and Lake Pumori, a body of water at an altitude of 5300 m on Everest -- and so began a journey that would teach him a radical new way to approach swimming and think about climate change.
Beau Lotto + Amy O'Toole: Science is for everyone, kids includedWhat do science and play have in common? Neuroscientist Beau Lotto thinks all people (kids included) should participate in science and, through the process of discovery, change perceptions. He's seconded by 12-year-old Amy O'Toole, who, along with 25 of her classmates, published the first peer-reviewed article by schoolchildren, about the Blackawton bees project. It starts: "Once upon a time ... "
Carolyn Porco: This is SaturnPlanetary scientist Carolyn Porco shows images from the Cassini voyage to Saturn, focusing on its largest moon, Titan, and on frozen Enceladus, which seems to shoot jets of ice.
Jon Nguyen: Tour the solar system from homeWant to navigate the solar system without having to buy that expensive spacecraft? Jon Nguyen demos NASAJPL's "Eyes on the Solar System" -- free-to-use software for exploring the planets, moons, asteroids, and spacecraft that rotate around our sun in real-time. (Filmed at TEDxSanDiego.)
Tierney Thys swims with the giant sunfishMarine biologist Tierney Thys asks us to step into the water to visit the world of the Mola mola, or giant ocean sunfish. Basking, eating jellyfish and getting massages, this behemoth offers clues to life in the open sea.
Louie Schwartzberg: The hidden beauty of pollinationPollination: it's vital to life on Earth, but largely unseen by the human eye. Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg shows us the intricate world of pollen and pollinators with gorgeous high-speed images from his film "Wings of Life," inspired by the vanishing of one of nature's primary pollinators, the honeybee.
Sheila Patek clocks the fastest animalsBiologist Sheila Patek talks about her work measuring the feeding strike of the mantis shrimp, one of the fastest movements in the animal world, using video cameras recording at 20,000 frames per second.
Taylor Wilson: Yup, I built a nuclear fusion reactorTaylor Wilson believes nuclear fusion is a solution to our future energy needs, and that kids can change the world. And he knows something about both of those: When he was 14, he built a working fusion reactor in his parents' garage. Now 17, he takes the TED stage at short notice to tell (the short version of) his story.
Karen Bass: Unseen footage, untamed natureAt TED2012, filmmaker Karen Bass shares some of the astonishing nature footage she's shot for the BBC and National Geographic -- including brand-new, previously unseen footage of the tube-lipped nectar bat, who feeds in a rather unusual way …
Hannah Brencher: Love letters to strangersHannah Brencher's mother always wrote her letters. So when she felt herself bottom into depression after college, she did what felt natural -- she wrote love letters and left them for strangers to find. The act has become a global initiative, The World Needs More Love Letters, which rushes handwritten letters to those in need of a boost.
Deborah Gordon: The emergent genius of ant coloniesWith a dusty backhoe, a handful of Japanese paint markers and a few students in tow, Deborah Gordon digs up ant colonies in the Arizona desert to understand their complex social system.


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Albany 9-1-1 calls are being answered as normal now after a hectic night at the 9-1-1 center caused by a power outage.
The center's backup generator failed, and dispatchers were left in the dark with no computers.
A Water Gas And Light underground cable at sub station three failed about 11 PM last night, plunging much of downtown Albany into darkness. Including the courthouse, where the 12 year old 125 kilowatt generator should crank up automatically when the electricity fails. But the generator did not operate properly, and soon the entire courthouse went dark, including the 9-1-1 center.
Albany 9-1-1 Communications Facilitator Charlotte Floyd said "This is what the dispatchers saw. Absolutely nothing. Screens went blank. Lights went out. We had absolutely no power."
But the 9-1-1 center has a backup plan for such situations. Using flashlights, answering calls on cell phones, and contacting first responders with portable radios.
Floyd said "So from 11 o-clock to 2 o-clock we just managed the best we could. I'd like to say our team did an excellent job in there. They stayed calm and handled just as it came to them."
During the power outage workers put their emergency plan into action and were able to answer calls and make sure emergency response wasn't disrupted.
Meanwhile facilities managers were struggling to get that generator going. Mechanics have been working on it for weeks, and tested it thoroughly just Monday.
Dougherty County Facilities Management Department Director Dwayne Greene said "Every step that we possibly could to make sure that generator would work and the switch gear would work. And we're still having issues with it."
They got the generator working and power back to the building by 2 AM. Then I-T directors had to start up all the computer systems again safely...with the 9-1-1 center getting priority.
Replacing that emergency generator has been in the plans, checking out the best equipment for their needs.
Greene said "That's kind of the reason why I am moving cautiously with it, instead of moving quickly and choosing the wrong, selecting the wrong equipment."
A mechanical engineer to help with that selection of a new generator is being brought on board, to make sure that emergency calls are always answered, power or not.
Officials say they hope to have a new generator in place in the next 4 to 6 months.
W.G.& L. officials say between 700 to 800 customers lost electricity while they repaired that underground cable. All had their power restored by 3 AM.
Copyright 2013 WALB. All rights reserved.
P.O. Box 3130
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 446-1010
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(229) 446-4005
EEO Report
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Roxkin Reader's Profile
|Display Name:
|Roxkin Reader
|Roxkin Reader's Book Lists
|For you Peepz (4 titles)
|Scream!!!!!! I can't believe I stayed up till midnight to finish this!!!! (4 titles)
A couple titles that will keep you reading until the end...
|Intresting Titles That You Wish You Could Read (15 titles)
|Odd Romances (7 titles)
|Are you a Shopholic? Cause, like, totally, like I am like, totally a like, total Shophalic!!!!!! (3 titles)
|Roxkin Reader's Comments
|Thirst. No. 4, The shadow of death /
by Pike, Christopher, 1955-
Love Pike creations? Read this! posted Dec 6, 2011 at 4:50PM
|Geek charming /
by Palmer, Robin, 1969-
As good as the movie that premiered on Disney! posted Dec 6, 2011 at 4:50PM
|Shopaholic & baby /
by Kinsella, Sophie.
So made for you Shopaholics!!! posted Dec 6, 2011 at 4:49PM
|A cry in the night /
by Clark, Mary Higgins
Great action! Love it! posted Dec 6, 2011 at 4:49PM
|Dangerous girls : a novel
by Stine, R. L.
Want to read this? Giving this a high rating cause it is soooo good, read ya peeps!!!! posted Dec 6, 2011 at 4:47PM
|Diary of a wimpy kid : Greg Heffley's journal
by Kinney, Jeff
Very funny book. Includes things any kid would want to read when it comes to Greg and his little brother Manny, it gets to the point of being WAY cool. MUST READ FOR YA PEEPS!!!!! posted Nov 26, 2011 at 9:40AM
|Black duck
by Lisle, Janet Taylor.
I like the action in this book, I think any type of genre would be Historical Fiction. Really sad story when it comes to the end. MUST READ. posted Nov 26, 2011 at 9:37AM
|Dangerous girls : the taste of night : a novel
by Stine, R. L.
Must read for people who love reading horror or just books by the known author R.L. Stine posted Nov 26, 2011 at 9:36AM
|The giver
by Lowry, Lois.
I have read this book in school, it is A LOT different then the other books I read. I find it really sad that Jonas is going through all this. I find it to be a quick read but to the point. posted Nov 26, 2011 at 9:30AM
|A cry in the night /
by Clark, Mary Higgins
Based Minnesota book. posted Nov 22, 2011 at 5:28PM
|Remember me
by Clark, Mary Higgins
REALLY GOOD BOOK!!!!!!!! It has everything the Queen of Suspense would offer in her Minnesota based book. posted Nov 22, 2011 at 5:27PM
|The ruling class
by Pascal, Francine.
So want you peeps to read this fab book!!!!!! I am just so stunned ( but cool) by this ending. It has everything that a book about wannabes need to actually take a look and be like, posted Nov 20, 2011 at 2:17PM
|The ruling class
by Pascal, Francine.
OMG!!!!!! This book is spectacular!!!!!! Read it if you like juicy info and you move a lot or just moved onceposted Nov 20, 2011 at 11:28AM
|Thirst. No. 4, The shadow of death
by Pike, Christopher
great book!!!!!!! I just totally feel like it has a good vibe to the action in the previous books. I would give it an overall approve. Great read for elementary students. I love the authorposted Nov 20, 2011 at 10:59AM


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Police are still waiting for accident reconstruction information to release an official cause of Friday's fatal crash in Inver Grove Heights, but they released the identities of the victims on Monday.
One family lost members of two generations when 70-year-old Elaine Clausen crashed the 1994 Oldsmobile Delta she was driving, hitting a school bus head on.
Clausen and her grandchildren -- 11-year-old Laela Shawel and 4-year-old Gion Clausen-Young -- were all killed in the fiery crash.
Shawel was in the sixth grade at Inver Grove Heights Middle School, and her younger brother was enrolled in a preschool program.
The trio were out shopping in Eagan and were on the way back home when Clausen's car crossed into oncoming traffic.
It is still unknown whether a medical or mechanical problem led to the crash.
WTXF-TV330 Market StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19106-2796Phone: (215) 925-2929Fax: (215) 982-5494


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RARE!!! 1981 JEEP CJ-8 SCRAMBLER THIS JEEP IS IN INCREDIBLE CONDITION, RECENTLY RESTORED TOP TO BOTTOM AND FINISHED IN BLACK WITH BLUE GRAPHICS, THE PAINT LOOKS... More
1953 Jeep CJ3A, Nice vehicle in great condition. Only 714 miles since it had a frame off resto.... More
1948 Jeep Jeepster Overlander, Completely restored frame with original factory parts.The attention to detail makes this car a real head turner.A rare find for... More


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Ocean Spray Hotel provides choice aplenty thanks to a large selection of attractive rooms. You can be confident of enjoying quality services at this 3-star property. One of the landmarks in Miami Beach is Public Library. Probably on your 'to-visit' list, Miami Beach Golf Club is not far from here. The surroundings provide easy access to Bass Museum of Art. This museum is located within 1.9 km (1.2 miles) distance. Flamingo Park is a short distance away from here.
An example of one of the common areas at Ocean Spray Hotel is a restaurant. Not only is a dry cleaning/laundry service part of the services here, a concierge service is also available during your stay. The 54 rooms are equipped with modern facilities.
The air at Ocean Spray Hotel is controlled by an advanced system, creating a nice temperature throughout the year. Costless local calls can be made from the rooms here. A housekeeping service is one of the convenient services offered when you stay in one of the rooms of this accommodation. The available wireless high-speed Internet access (surcharge) keeps you connected during your stay in Miami Beach. An Egyptian-cotton sheet set and a pillowtop mattress are part of the bedding provision. A designer toiletries set and a shower/bath combination are amongst the bathroom advantages.
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7 Pretty Date-Night Looks Perfect for Early Spring
Or wear 'em just for you. Either way, they'll be your new go-to's.
By Jill Gott-Gleason
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St. Anne's Belfield sophomore Jalen Harrison will be continuing his baseball career right in STAB's backyard, as the three-sport athlete has given his verbal commitment to the UVa baseball team.
There is an option to play football as well, but Harrison says he believes baseball is where he can really make his mark.
"It was just a really good decision for me and my family, because I want them to be able to see my games, and see me play a little bit," says Harrison. "It's also a really good academic school. So it was a big decision, but an easy decision for me."
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- Product Details
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This is a cotton with a thick basket weave in dark brown. Heavy weight, good for Upholstery.
Color: Dark Brown
Width: 54"
Content: 100% COTTON
Learn about fabric careHOW TO CARE FOR COTTON FABRICS: Machine-wash warm or cold, tumble dry. Pull straight from the dryer to prevent wrinkles, or iron while damp. Prewash cotton fabrics before cutting out your pattern Mood strongly recommends test-laundering a swatch, if you plan to wash your garment or home furnishings yourself.


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By Howard Pousner
On Tuesday, Atlanta sculptor Elizabeth Turk was named as one of 23 recipients of this year's MacArthur Foundation "genius grants."
Turk, 48, will receive an award of $500,000, paid quarterly over five years, from the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. There are no strings attached and no oversight from the foundation, which has made the grants for 30 years. Grantees aren't even required to report how they spend the money.
We asked MacArthur Fellows director Daniel Socolow, a part-time Atlantan, to tell us how it decides who gets the surprise grants.
Q: So, the folks who receive the grants have no idea the MacArthur Foundation has been considering them?
A: It's one of the most amazing things that drops out of the sky on people who have no idea we've been looking at them. You get one call from me: I say, "Guess what, we've been looking at you. We think you're terrific, we think the work you do is fantastic and important. You're never gonna hear from me again, but you're going to get a half-million dollars, and go for it."
Q: What sort of responses do you get?
A: Well, the whole range, you can imagine. Disbelief to pure shock to screaming to giggling to almost fainting. Most people want to hang up because they can't believe it's real.
Q: What's the process for finding these "geniuses?"
A: We're looking for people who are really extraordinary, unusual, very original in whatever area they work. [The grants have] gone to everyone from farmers to astrophysicists. What we're looking for as we search each year through hundreds and hundreds of confidential nominations … is people who are truly extraordinary. Who are really creative. Who we think have great possibilities and potential to do great things moving forward, not just now.
We're betting on what they're going to do for the future.
I invite hundreds and hundreds of people each year who've never been involved in this to suggest people. I then write to tens of thousands of other people about [those suggested], and it's confidential. And I collect all the material written about and by the person, copies of their art if they're artists, music if they're musicians. I take these many, many dossiers to a very small committee of not surprisingly anonymous and confidential folks that are with me for a year, winnowing down from hundreds of hundreds to 20 or 25 [honorees] from across this broad spectrum of expertise.
Q: How many serve on the final selection committee?
A: About a dozen. Nominators and evaluators change every year. Selectors are on a rotating basis, [serving a] three year term. All these people are outside the foundation. The reason for all the anonymity and confidentiality is not to play games. We really believe when you can't find a nominator, can't find any of the players, you can't influence the program. As a result the people who get this are truly deserving and haven't gotten to us through influence
Q: It's amazing that you don't require that they justify, or even detail, what they do with the $500,000.
A: We believe that these people know far better than we what to do with this money. That they're really creative people who need no oversight, nobody hanging on their shoulder.
Q: How do you let people know that they've won?
A: I called all 23 [of this year's winners] in three days. They were all wonderful. I called about 10 days before the announcement, and they can only tell one other person. We have to keep it very close, or we lose control.
Q: How does it feel to be bearer of such wonderful news?
A: It's a little scary because you can get carried away and begin to believe you really are god. You gotta remember humility and recognize you're just about to change each of these people's lives. You've got to stay out of the picture here and let them enjoy it. I've been doing it for 14 years, and it's extraordinary, there's no job like it.


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- News
- Bikes & Gear
- Training & Nutrition
- Repair
- Ride Maps
- Video
- Blogs
Befitting its motocross background, Fox skipped the XC program and turned out the Flux as its first mountain bike helmet in 2007. The Flux features straps molded directly into the helmet for a clean, impossible to tangle setup. Twenty vents let the air in, and if you manage to hit Mach 5 the otherwise useless rear spoiler keeps the Flux from flying off. The green/black/purple model show here is the most colorful of five options.
Vents: 20
Weight: 330 grams


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Esoterica ONLINE is now Open!!!!
Come and shop with us online! We continue to tinker with the site, and I will be sure to let you know immediately if we don't have something in stock so you can either look for another source - or wait for us to get it back in stock. Hugs and Blessings to all of you - and I hope to fulfill your metaphysical needs for years to come! ~ Lilly
Welcome to the online home of Esoterica, a New Age E-Superstore based in Sterling, VA. Esoterica offers crystals, herbs, oils, incense, candles, statuary, jewelry, clothing, and much more. If it's spiritual, mystical, magickal or fantastical, we stock it.
To learn about some of the many products we carry, visit our Products page. For a list of Psychics and the types of readings they perform, visit our Psychics page.
Wellness Links
Esoterica will be vending at Farpoint Convention February 17th - 19th in Timonium, MD. We'll be providing a fantastic selection of awesome Esoterica merchandise as well as Tarot readings by Irene and Lilly.
Click to join EsotericaAnnouncements


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The Prince has been out and about today ... doing sport things like checking out the Brisbane Broncos new home jumper.
The new Nike-designed jersey has more gold along the lower sleeves and saddles.
It looks quite smart, if you ask us (although no one did ...)
Check out pics of Darren Lockyer and Jharal Yow Yeh modelling the new look.
The new jersey was unveiled at the press conference ... duly attended by The Prince ... where the Broncos also announced a new jersey sponsor, Sportingbet.
© Copyright 2014 dmgRadio Australia


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Looking for a villa for sale on the beach at Playa Coson in Las Terrenas... We have several good options for you. Playa Coson is a perfect residential location and can bring very good rental income as well. So also good as investment. We have apartments and villas for sale at Playa Coson. Villas with ocean view over Playa Coson or villas on the beach or close to the beach. Just take a look at our website or call us/mail us.read more
Looking for a perfect vacation rental at Playa Coson in Las Terrenas... Gisela at Las Terrenas Rental has a large selection of the best villas there. From 4-bedroom villas close to the beach to the largest beachfront villa in the Dominican Republic with 13 bedrooms... Villa del Mar. Playa Coson is a perfect family, wedding and retreat destination. Within walking distance a horse ranch, boat tours, atv-rentals, diving, bars and restaurants.read more
Looking for that perfect piece of land at Playa Coson... We have it or if we do not have it we can find it for you! As brokers AND survey office we have knowledge and expertise in land. We have at famous Playa Coson for sale building lots at the beach, close on the beach or with ocean view. We also have larger lots for developers. We have land for sale inside and outside gated communities. Whatever one prefers. All land titled and with deslinde.read more


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Thanks to an incredible offensive game that included the game winning bucket from Professor Miller the Nuggets took game 1, 97-95. Miller took over the game on the offensive side of the floor in the fourth quarter, willing the Nuggets to points. Defensively the Nuggets kept Stephen Curry in check for most of the game despite him hitting a three to tie the game up late.
|Kosta Koufos, C 26 MIN | 2-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 7 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 6 PTS | 0
Koufos didn't finish well on the offensive end but he rebounded the ball pretty well and made life at the rim tough for the Warriors at times.
|Ty Lawson, PG 39 MIN | 6-15 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 4 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 12 PTS | -8
Lawson had a strange game. When Klay Thompson was matched up with him he struggled to really do much of anything. But when he saw Jarrett Jack or Harrison Barnes on him Lawson attacked the rim relentlessly getting easy baskets for himself and teammates. The Nuggets need more of that second Lawson to continue to be successful.
|Wilson Chandler, SG 39 MIN | 5-16 FG | 1-2 FT | 13 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 11 PTS | +10
Chandler rebounded great in the first half; he had 11 of his 13 then, and played very good defense on David Lee. Offensively he was normal Chandler, at his best when attacking the rim and streaky when settling for jumpers. The rebounding was the biggest deal though with Denver missing Faried. He also did a great job denying Curry the ball in the possession where Golden State burned their final timeout.
|Andre Iguodala, SG 36 MIN | 2-4 FG | 4-6 FT | 10 REB | 5 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 8 PTS | +11
The offensive numbers look iffy but on the other end of the floor Iggy was his typical self. He saw time on Curry, Thompson and Jack and defended them all pretty well. There were a few times he lost Thompson for baskets but his late game work on Jack was terrific forcing the Warriors to burn their final timeout which ended up coming very much into play. Things are just different defensively with Iguodala on the floor.
|Evan Fournier, SG 22 MIN | 3-9 FG | 5-6 FT | 0 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 11 PTS | +1
Fournier started the game very well attacking Curry and getting to the rim but things fell apart a bit. He needs to hit threes to provide spacing and had some defensive miscommunications at times. Not a bad playoff debut for the rookie though.
|Anthony Randolph, PF 6 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -6
Randolph was on the floor but didn't have that much of an impact. The hook was terrible but the ball fake on the dunk wasn't.
|Corey Brewer, SF 21 MIN | 4-12 FG | 0-2 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | +1
Brewer impacted the game much more than his shooting numbers show. He deflected passes on defense and his threes really changed the game and sent momentum back to the Nuggets.
|JaVale McGee, C 23 MIN | 4-4 FG | 1-3 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 9 PTS | -4
It has gotten to the point that Playoff Pierre is clearly a thing. JaVale dominated the game at times most notably the end of the first half where he made a terrific cut and but Andrew Bogut on a poster. Just a few defensive possessions later he denied David Lee's dunk attempt and Denver got back into the game around halftime. The second half had a few defensive lapses and rebounding problems but he was clearly gassed when it was happening.
|Andre Miller, PG 27 MIN | 11-16 FG | 5-7 FT | 3 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 28 PTS | +5
Wow. Miller has always had moments offensively where he becomes unstoppable and tonight's fourth quarter was another one of those times. He YMCA'd his way to bucket after bucket including the game winning reverse layup that showed more athleticism than I thought Miller had. For someone I had said could, and would, cost the Nuggets a game this postseason because of too much hero ball and a lack of defensive effort it was a game that makes me step back and give him all the props he deserves.
|George Karl
Karl experimented with lineups he had not showed much at all (Koufos/McGee, McGee/Randolph) and trapping Curry on high screens. Curry had an off night and the Nuggets came away with a win and without having to use Faried before his is ready. It was a very good job by Karl outside of a few moments.


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Please note that agencies will not receive faxed reminders of breath test certification expiration dates. Each officer's certification expiration date is printed on the officer's wallet identification certificate.
It is recommended that officers do not wait until the last few days of the month to recertify. Officers may recertify as early as several months in advance of their expiration dates.
Recertification may be completed by going to the registration website: https://www.forensiced.org/reg/inbac/ (Be sure to turn off Pop-Up Blockers BEFORE you attempt the test.)
Note: Recertification must be completed prior to the expiration date printed on the current wallet identification certificate. Officers who complete the recertification test after expiration of their previous certification will not be recertified.
Breath Test Training for new operators has been temporarily suspended beginning in February and will resume October, 2014.
If you wish to request enrollment in the Breath Test Operator Training Course, please email a request to: firstname.lastname@example.com and she will put your officer(s) on a wait list for the breath test training courses that will resume October, 2014.
The request must be on agency letterhead, include each requested attendee's:
Date of request
Full name
Last 4 digits of SSN
Training Officer's email
Officer's Agency email
and must be signed by the agency's training supervisor, chief, or sheriff.
All classes are held at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield.


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You've come to the right place!
Every year, over 50,000 people just like you set foot in Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak.
Also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro is a place of myth and folklore. Located just 200 miles (325 km) from the equator, the mountain defies logic with its glaciated peak.
Climbing Kilimanjaro does not require any technical skills or special equipment. However, the challenge is not to be taken lightly. You need to understand what lies ahead. You have a seemingly endless number of questions. Rest assured, you will find the answers to all your questions here - at Ultimate Kilimanjaro, your Kilimanjaro climb specialist.
We are, quite simply, the #1 guiding service on the mountain. As the best Kilimanjaro tour operator, we provide the highest quality service at a reasonable cost. That is why over 1,000 people climb with us annually, and why past clients refer us to their friends and family. Thousands of people have stood on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with us. Won't you join us on the roof of Africa?
We invite you to explore our site for the most complete and accurate information on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
|Mount Kilimanjaro Quick Facts
|19,340 ft (5,895 m)
|60 miles x 40 miles (100 km x 65 km)
|Tanzania, near Kenyan border in East Africa
|Kibo, Mawenzi, Shira
|Bushland, Forest, Heath, Alpine, Arctic
|Nearby Cities:
|Moshi, Arusha
|Nearby Airport:
|Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
|Tanzania Quick Facts
|38 million
|365,000 sq miles (945,000 sq kms)
|$2.5 billion
|Muslim, Indigenous Beliefs, Christian
|English, Swahili, Arabic
|Tanzanian Shilling ($1=1,500 TSh 11/10/2010)
|Time Zone:
|GMT + 3 hrs
|230V, Plugs D&G
|Climb Safer. Oxygen is now included on all our climbs. The administration of bottled oxygen, along with rapid descent, is used to treat moderate to severe altitude sickness.
|Sleep Warmer. State of the art Mountain Hardwear Trango/MSR Mutha Hubba tents and thick, foam sleeping pads are provided to all climbers. Four season Mountain Hardwear Lamina -30F sleeping bags are available for rent.
|Eat Better. Our food menu has been improved with more entrees and a variety of tastes. Food is resupplied to climbers on longer itineraries so you have ample fresh food on your hardest days.
|Rest Easier. We have upgraded our hotel accommodations before and after climbs, so weary travelers and tired climbers can relax easier in their comfortable rooms.
|Dapper Guides. Our guides are suited up in Mountain Hardwear hardshells, insulated down jackets and moisture wicking baselayers. So the best guides on Kilimanjaro are now also the best dressed guides.
|Happier Porters. We are one of the strongest supporters of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) and pay more than the standard compensation to our porters. We take good care of the people that take good care of you.
|More Route Options. You can climb Kilimanjaro on the exciting new Northern Circuit route, and have the option to sleep next to Kilimanjaro's glaciers with our two Crater Camp route variations.
Read more here.
You have probably heard the news about the ongoing Ebola epidemic in Africa. As of August 21, 2014, there have been approximately 2,500 reported cases, with nearly 100% of these cases originating in West Africa (Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia). There have been 15 cases originating in Nigeria.
There is virtually zero risk of exposure to Ebola while in Tanzania. As the map illustrates, the outbreak is many thousands of miles away. Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person's body fluids. Infected people are not contagious during the incubation period, and only become contagious with the onset of symptoms. Therefore people who are most at risk are health care workers and families of infected people, not tourists.
While we understand your concern and care for your safety, it is safe to continue with your Kilimanjaro plans until further notice. We will monitor the situation very closely and notify our clients of any changes. Should Ebola become an issue in Tanzania, trip insurance, which is a requirement for participation in our trips, would reimburse you for expenses if you purchase the optional coverage "Cancel for Any Reason."
Learn more about Ebola here.
Congratulations to Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema for successfully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Sinema climbed with Ultimate Kilimanjaro on the 8 day Lemosho route and summited on Christmas morning. Below is her tweet:
The U.S. Representative from Arizona is a marathon runner and completed an Ironman Triathlon earlier in the year, which included a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile cycling ride and a 26.2 mile run. Now she adds climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to her list of achievements.
Yes, it's back! We are giving away a free trip to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The contest winner will win one spot on any of our open group climbs in 2015.
Entry is quick and easy. Simply visit our contest page, Climb Kilimanjaro for Free, and fill out an entry form. Enter today, and everyday, until September 2014.
From April 2014 to September 2014, we will randomly draw one finalist at the end of each month. Then on October 2014, we will randomly pick one grand prize winner from our six finalists to climb Kilimanjaro for free!
The grand prize is valid even if you have already booked with us for 2015; we will refund your money! Here is your chance to climb Kilimanjaro --- on us!
Tim Ward, best selling author of What the Buddha Never Taught, Savage Breast and Arousing the Goddess, successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with Ultimate Kilimanjaro. His first hand account of his journey is available in his book, Zombies on Kilimanjaro, a humorous and thoughtful literary travel narrative.
Book Description
A father and son climb Mount Kilimanjaro. On the journey to the roof of Africa they traverse the treacherous terrain of fatherhood, divorce, dark secrets and old grudges, and forge an authentic adult relationship. The high-altitude trek takes them through some of the weirdest landscapes on the planet, and the final all-night climb to the frozen summit tests their endurance. On the way to the top father and son explore how our stories about ourselves can imprison us in the past, and the importance of letting go.The mountain too has a story to tell, a story about climate change and the future of humankind - a future etched all too clearly on Kilimanjaro's retreating glaciers.


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Sitting at her laptop hunting for a part-time job, UC Davis student Isra Sebiaa spotted an "office help" ad that sounded incredibly appealing.
Posted by an "international business consultant" in Davis, the would-be employer was frequently overseas and needed help running errands, paying bills, mailing packages and doing shopping. The pay: $150 a week for 10 hours of work, plus mileage and expenses.
"It sounded perfect," recalls Sebiaa, a senior majoring in political science. She immediately applied online, sending her résumé, a crisp cover letter and a request for a face-to-face interview.
To Sebiaa's delight, she was "hired" instantly. And that's when the job description suddenly became something very different.
Her unseen boss, supposedly in Sweden meeting clients, emailed Sebiaa's first assignment: She'd receive a $1,100 check, to be deposited into her own account. After deducting $150 as the first week's "pay," she was to wire the remainder to an address in the Philippines.
"As soon as she told me that, I knew it was like things I've read about Craigslist scams," said the 21-year-old. "It smelled really fishy."
Officially known as a "payment-transfer" or Nigerian check scheme, it's a familiar scam that's seduced many adult job seekers for years. Now it's trickling down to college kids.
"We've had about 10 this fall alone," said Marci Kirk Holland, manager of the UC Davis Internship and Career Center.
At California State University, Sacramento, a "handful" of phony ads have popped up in recent years, said CSUS Career Center Director Beth Merritt Miller.
The ruses vary. In some cases, students are told they're hired, then informed that the "boss" has taken ill on vacation and needs funds wired to his account. The students are assured that they'll be reimbursed, plus expenses.
In most cases, students get suspicious and refuse to participate. But not always.
Just this week, another student reported to UC Davis authorities that she'd lost $2,000, after her "employer" supposedly stricken with a heart attack asked her to deposit two money orders and send the proceeds to a Philippines address. The money orders proved fraudulent, and now she's on the hook to pay back the bank.
The student, a Southern California transfer in her first month in Davis, answered an online ad, supposedly from a Davis real estate company, Holland said. The student could not be reached for comment.
At a time when college costs are accelerating and part-time hiring is stuck, this type of online scam is particularly troubling.
"Students are having a hard enough time finding a job and are among the last who should be victimized. It's a tragedy when anyone trying to find a job becomes a victim," said Sylvia Kundig, an attorney in the Federal Trade Commission's San Francisco office.
Last year, foreign money and counterfeit check scams were among the FTC's top 12 consumer complaints. "It's a perennial scam," said FTC spokeswoman Monica Vaca.
The phony job ads come as college graduate hiring by genuine companies appears healthier. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, job offers for U.S. college graduates this June are expected to be up 13 percent from a year ago.
That's why these job scams are doubly harmful, said Holland. "The crime is it reduces students' confidence in applying for jobs. And it hurts legitimate companies trying to hire students for legitimate jobs."
Even more deceptive, the ads appear on the universities' own job-recruiting websites, lending them a credibility that makes many students feel it's safe to apply.
Campus career officials at UC Davis and CSUS say they work hard to vet the hundreds of ads that appear daily on their websites. The bad ones, they note, represent a very small slice of the daily postings; fewer than a dozen among 3,000 current listings at UC Davis, for instance.
Most of the ads that slip through, they say, are those sent via NACElink, an online job-posting service that provides access to national companies that want to reach students on multiple college campuses. Efforts to reach a NACElink representative were unsuccessful.
After a few phony ads first appeared on the CSUS online job board, Miller said, her staff ramped up its vetting process of the site's 500 to 1,000 daily postings. If something doesn't add up, they check business licenses or ask the employer to provide verification.
In addition, she said, CSU career centers statewide alert each other to suspicious posts.
On the UC Davis Aggie Links job site, the phony ads are left up with a warning notice. "We want students to see these ads are fraudulent," said Holland.
That may not be the case everywhere. A week ago, Casey Long of Sacramento, a sophomore at the University of California, Santa Barbara, encountered a phony job listing on his university's website.
Long, the son of Sacramento Bee Executive Editor Joyce Terhaar, answered an ad seeking a "front desk assistant" by a company that billed itself as a "virtual online tradeshow" of buyers and sellers. He checked out the company's website, which seemed legitimate, and filled out an online application. Within a day, a FedEx package arrived with a $1,640 check. The emailed instructions were to deposit the check, keep 10 percent as his fee, then wire the rest to the Philippines.
In the words of the 19-year-old, the whole scenario was "sketch."
"The premise was a bit odd and anything to do with putting checks in one's own bank account screams 'scam,' " he said in an email.
Like Sebiaa, he turned the check over to UC Santa Barbara campus authorities, who said they alerted police.
The FTC and others say the online perpetrators are hard to trace and shut down.
How to avoid getting scammed? When an unseen, online employer makes a tantalizing job offer, use common sense and do some Internet digging.
It's easy for a con artist's company to have a website, or even be incorporated. "That's not a badge of legitimacy," said the FTC's Kundig. "You have to dig below that. Google (the company and person's name) and look for complaints. Do some research."
Anyone who's encountered an online job scam, even if no money was lost, should file an online complaint with the FTC (www.ftc.gov). "Filling out that form is our first step in trying to put somebody out of business," said Kundig.
For college-age job seekers like Sebiaa, it's been an eye-opener. Although "really bummed" when her too-good-to-be-true job offer turned out to be fake, Sebiaa said she's learned to trust her instincts.
As for a job, the college senior recently got hired at the Gap clothing store in Davis. She landed her $11-an-hour job by applying directly on the store's website, followed by a face-to-face interview. From now on, she says, unless they first meet in person, "I'm going to avoid communicating through email with employers."
Work-from-home or virtual job offers often sound tempting, but they could be so-called "payment forwarding" or "payment transfer" scams. That's when a seemingly legitimate company lures job seekers into depositing a check into a personal account, then forwarding the funds to a third party. The checks then bounce, leaving the victim on the financial hook.
Be wary if a job ad:
Requests your bank account, Social Security, PayPal or credit card number.
Asks to "verify your identity" by scanning your driver's license or other ID.
Uses an email address that is not a primary domain (i.e., calls itself "Omega Inc." but has a Yahoo or AOL address).
Includes certain phrases or words, such as "package-forwarding," "money transfers," "wiring funds," "eBay," "PayPal" or "Foreign Agent Agreement."
Contains misspellings and grammatical mistakes.
Job seekers should NEVER:
Give out personal account information to a prospective employer, especially if they've never met in person.
Agree to direct deposit of paychecks until they know their employer.
Forward, transfer or wire money to an employer, no matter how compelling the request may sound.
Source: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, www.privacyrights.org
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.


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Transocean: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
Ryan is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
A SWOT analysis is a look at a company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and is a tremendous way to gain a detailed and thorough perspective on a company and its future. Fresh off a shaky third quarter earnings report, in which the company reported a $381 million loss, I would like to pinpoint the former owner of the Deepwater Horizon rig that burst into flames and later sank in the Gulf of Mexico in the BP oil spill, Transocean LTD (NYSE: RIG).
- Diversified Geographical Presence: Transocean operates a fleet of 115 mobile offshore drilling units, of which are scattered throughout the world, with at least one unit near each continent (except Antarctica)
- Innovative Advantage: In 2011, Transocean set a world record for the deepest water depth by an offshore drilling rig, an astonishing achievements that the company can use as a selling point to their potential leasers
- Solid Business Model: Transocean invests millions in purchasing these offshore drilling rigs, and gains back their initial investment by collecting massive daily rates for the usage of them by oil giants, making Transocean's business model very similar to an real estate investment trust
- Priced Near Book Value: According to the company's 2011 annual report, the company has $15.6 billion in equity, or book value, and currently the stock trades with a market capitalization of $16.63 billion, with a current price to book ratio of 1.04
- Long Term Leases: Many of the leases Transocean's drilling rigs are under are long-term, and most are multi-year, adding a level of security to Transocean's future
- Vulnerability to Disaster: As the world saw with the BP oil disaster, and now the Macondo Well incident, Transocean is greatly exposed to disaster striking one of its rigs, which not only erases that investment, but also opens Transocean up to million dollar fines, as well as a dent in their brand
- Underwater: In 2011, Transocean reported an operating loss of $4.776 billion, however the company is projected to barely swing to profits this year
- Lack of Dividend: At the current moment Transocean does not pay out any dividend and has not expressed any plans to do so in the near future, a major negative in this volatile market
- Debt: According to the 2011 annual report, the company had $2.039 billion in debt due within one year and $11.497 billion in long-term debt, and until Transocean pays down this debt it will weigh heavily on their core business
- Focus on Ultra-Deep-Water Fleet: The majority of Transocean's revenue is derived from its ultra-deep-water fleet, and because of this, Transocean is now focusing on this lucrative segment of their business
- Selling Shallow Water Rigs: The company stated in its third quarter report that it would be exiting the standard jackup market by selling their 38 shallow water rigs for around $855 million in cash, which they could use to reinvest in the business or pay down their debt
- Acquisitions: The company has a long history of acquiring the fleets or part of the fleet of other companies as they look to expand, and this is certainly a possibility going into the future
- Mother Nature: As we have seen most recently with Hurricane Sandy, natural disasters can cause business to come to a standstill, causing Transocean to lose millions in potential revenue
- Competition: There are several other companies that also offer offshore drilling rigs up for lease, and this competition can lead to margin contraction as each tries to offer the best product for the lowest price
- Government Regulation: The government has been very blunt with the oil industry, because of the potential environmental devastation it is not their favorite method of extracting oil from the Earth, and any government regulation could set up barriers hurting Transocean
Major publically-traded competitors of Transocean include Seadrill LTD (NYSE: SDRL) and Diamond Offshore Drilling (NYSE: DO). Seadrill is slightly larger than Transocean, in terms of market capitalization, and offers similar to identical drilling rigs, and competes with Transocean for the all-important lease agreements. Seadrill pays out a massive dividend yielding northward of 8%. Diamond is smaller than both of the other companies, and also possesses a fleet of offshore drilling rigs.
The Foolish Bottom Line
Transocean possesses several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; however, in the end it appears to be a financially unstable company with billions of debt on their balance sheets. The company's business model is tremendous; though the company pays out no dividend and is currently losing money. However, as oil prices further rise into the future, as is widely expected, the demand for oil will grow, and lease rates will go up. If an investor wants to be in this industry, look to the financially solid Seadrill, and leave Transocean alone until they prove they can make money.
Know What You Own
For more information on The Motley Fool's energy stock, Seadrill, check out our premium report on the stock. It gives background on the company and highlights the three areas investors must watch. It also comes with a year of updates on the company, so find out more by clicking here.
makinmoney2424 has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool owns shares of Transocean and Seadrill. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Seadrill. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.If you have questions about this post or the Fool's blog network, click here for information.