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SAMHSA recently announced funding opportunities for Fiscal Year 2009. Requests for applications include grants to support programs for treatment drug courts, juvenile drug courts, and related recovery and reentry services. See the related cover story in this issue.
If you are interested in applying for SAMHSA grants, it's important to check SAMHSA's Web site or Grants.gov on a regular basis for the latest information.
Offender Reentry Program (Application due date: May 21, 2009)―up to 21 grant awards of approximately $400,000 per grant for up to 3 years to expand and/or enhance substance abuse treatment and related recovery and reentry services to sentenced juvenile and adult offenders returning to the community from incarceration for criminal/juvenile offenses. Applicants are expected to form stakeholder partnerships that will plan, develop, and provide a transition to community-based substance abuse treatment and related reentry services. Limited funding may be available for activities in correctional settings in addition to community-based services. The grants will be administered by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (TI-09-005, $24.6 million)
Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity for Adult Drug Courts (Application due date: May 8, 2009)―up to 39 grant awards of $300,000 per year for up to 3 years, totaling $11.6 million, to expand and/or enhance substance abuse services in "problem-solving" courts that use the treatment drug court model to provide alcohol and drug treatment, recovery support services supporting substance abuse treatment, screening, assessment, case management, and program coordination to defendants/offenders. Priority for funding should be given to addressing gaps in the existing continuum of treatment. (TI-09-003, $11.6 million)
Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity for Juvenile Drug Courts (Application due date: May 5, 2009)―3 grants, each with two separate awards: up to $425,000 per grantee for the entire 4-year grant period from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and approximately $200,000 per year from SAMHSA over the course of 4 years for up to $600,000 total to enhance the capacity of existing juvenile drug courts to serve substance-abusing juvenile offenders through the integration and implementation of the Juvenile Drug Court: Strategies in Practice, and Reclaiming Futures program models. The grant program is a collaboration with SAMHSA, OJJDP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. SAMHSA funds will be used to fund screening, assessment, and treatment components, while OJJDP funds will support court services' components. (TI-09-004, $1.025 million)
Development of Comprehensive Drug/Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment Systems for Persons Who Are Homeless Program (Application due date: April 30, 2009)—up to 33 grants of approximately $350,000 per grant for up to 5 years to expand and strengthen treatment services for persons who are homeless (including those who are chronically homeless) and also have substance use disorders, mental disorders, or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders.
Funds are available in two categories: "General" and "Services in Supportive Housing." Approximately $4.5 million per year of the $11 million will be used to provide supportive housing services. The remaining $6.8 million will be available for "General" Treatment for Homeless grants. The grants will be administered by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (TI-09-006, $11 million)
Statewide Consumer Network Grant Program (Application due date: May 21, 2009)―approximately 12 grant awards up to $70,000 or less per year for up to 3 years to help statewide consumer-run organizations build a solid foundation for delivering and sustaining effective mental health services. (SM-09-014, $840,000)
Project LAUNCH (Application due date: May 2, 2009)―12 grants for up to 5 years, with maximum award for each grantee of $850,000, to promote the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and behavioral health of young children, birth to age 8. Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children's Health) grants support early childhood system integration and improved collaboration, policy-making, and planning at the state, territorial, tribal, and community levels, as well as the expansion of evidence-based practices in prevention and wellness promotion for young children. Project LAUNCH is a collaborative Federal partnership effort of several Department of Health and Human Services agencies including SAMHSA, the Administration for Children and Families, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (SM-09-009, $51 million)
Healthy Transitions Initiative (Application due date: May 20, 2009)―7 cooperative agreements for up to $480,000 annually per grantee for up to 5 years for State/Community Partnerships To Integrate Services and Supports for Youth and Young Adults 16–25 With Serious Mental Health Conditions, and Their Families (Healthy Transitions Initiative). The initiative will create developmentally appropriate and effective youth-guided local systems of care to improve outcomes for youth and young adults with serious mental health conditions in areas such as education, employment, housing, mental health, and co-occurring disorders and decrease contacts with the juvenile and criminal justice system. The grants will be administered by SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services. (SM-09-008, $16.8 million)
Requests for applications include a variety of new grants including Project Launch.
Symbolic "big checks" were presented to six organizations.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Find out what you can do to help prevent and reduce drinking by teens and college students.
News of recent deaths from sniffing refrigerants.
We've heard the commercials urging parents to talk. Are teens getting the message?
"Culture Card" offers information on tribal sovereignty, myths & facts, and more.
You can't see stress, but you certainly can feel it. A new SAMHSA Web site offers resources, referrals, and more.
A recent report gives a state-by-state update on information technology's effect.
"Tweets" from the Nat'l Suicide Prevention Lifeline help awareness.
Recent data from two SAMHSA surveys – National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS) and Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) – provide updated information.
Programs in Seattle and Philadelphia are two success stories highlighted in this DVD.
Send your press releases, studies, and news on recovery for posting on the site.
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How "Dragon Age 2" Undermines Its Own Narrative
Political intrigue and corruption, theological and ethical quandaries, family drama, romance, tragedy, international conflict, blood-soaked battles: Dragon Age 2 has all of these and more. BioWare's sequel to 2009's Dragon Age: Origins may not span the continent of Thedas like its predecessor, but it's no less ambitious, packing all of the aforementioned elements into a storyline that spans a decade in the life of one of the most important figures in the Dragon Age world.
And yet, as I explored the ancient, gloomy city of Kirkwall as Hawke, a lowly refugee who begins making a name for himself amidst social and political upheaval, and ultimately emerges as the city's "Champion", I found myself curiously unmoved. Indeed, as the game wore on, I became increasingly frustrated. This is no small matter, seeing as how this is BioWare we're talking about, makers of some of the finest RPG video games in recent history.
What makes BioWare games so good is that they're adept at getting the player to become emotionally invested in their storylines via romance, tragedy, ethical dilemmas, epic scopes, and just good storytelling. There have been times while playing BioWare games, such as Mass Effect 2, where I had to put down the controller and walk away for awhile in order to give myself time to think through whatever dilemma had just been thrown in my path. Which is disconcerting—wasn't this just supposed to be a game?—but also a refreshing and challenging break from the glut of mindless first-person shooters.
This rarely held true with Dragon Age 2, however. The only thing that was disconcerting about the game was how little I was actually disconcerted by the game, despite its pervasive sense of gloom, doom, and tragedy. The brutal deaths of family members, the betrayals and backstabbings, the moral dilemmas: none of them seemed to matter. I believe there are two key reasons for this.
1. Don't Believe The Dwarf
The vast majority of Dragon Age 2 occurs in the form of flashbacks. Your story is told by one of your companions, a dwarven rogue named Varric Tethras who is being questioned by the Chantry, the game's primary religion (think the Catholic Church), regarding Hawke's life. Essentially, the world is going to hell in a handbasket and the Chantry believes that Hawke is somehow at the center of it all, and they want to know why.
The flashback structure is an interesting storytelling method, but it has one significant problem. Early on, it's established that Varric is an unreliable narrator. The initial version of events that he gives to the Chantry regarding Hawke's exploits is wildly embellished, from Hawke's fighting prowess to the size of his sister's breasts. Furthermore, as you proceed in the game, Varric proves to be the consummate storyteller, basically establishing himself as Hawke's PR department and encouraging increasingly outlandish stories about Hawke's rise to power and fame.
Unreliable narrators are tricky to begin with, regardless of the medium. Sometimes they can be used to add an extra layer of characterization, especially if used in the first-person sense. Or, in the case of a movie like Rashomon, they can make interesting philosophical points regarding mankind's fallibility, the elusive nature of truth, etc. But in the case of Dragon Age 2, Varric's status as an unreliable narrator undermines Hawke's heroism. If Varric's retelling is established to be less than trustworthy, then what does that mean for the character of Hawke, his companions, and their actions, victories, defeats, betrayals, and sacrifices? How can I, as the player, trust that the characters actually do anything that I saw (and made) them do within the story? Were all of my—and their—efforts potentially in vain?
I realize that this all sounds rather "meta", and may seem trivial, particularly within the context of a video game. But certainly the goal of a game like Dragon Age 2 is to immerse me in a fully realized mythical world—just read the in-game codex to get a sense of how deeply thought out the world of Thedas is (Tolkien would be proud)—where I'm allowed play a part in the fashioning of an epic hero. Indeed, where I can enter into the story and become invested in it in a manner and to an extent that "simply" reading a good fantasy novel can't allow for.
It's a delicate balance, and I have nothing but respect for the amount of work that goes into plotting a game that seeks to balance a player's free will with the needs of a convincing, detailed, and emotionally affecting tale. That being said, I find it odd that BioWare would introduce an unreliable narrator, an element whose very purpose is to "break the spell"—to pull back the curtain and reveal the story to be something other, and perhaps even less, than what it was previously thought to be.
This tactic could have been interesting had the unreliable narration been rolled into the plot to a greater degree: perhaps as a tactic employed by Varric to deceive the Chantry, protect Hawke, or some other purpose. And it could very well be that Dragon Age 3 will clear this all up (and if it does, I will gladly stand corrected). But, as best as I can tell right now, the game only plays with this "deeper" approach once or twice, and so we're left with a tiny, niggling doubt as to the exact merits and details of Hawke's actions and choices. The only way it could've been more frustrating is if the whole game had turned out to be a dream.
2. We Have All The Time In The World
Once you arrive at Kirkwall, and begin your decade-long ascent to power, you begin receiving all manner of quests. Some of these quests take place in Kirkwall during the day, some at night, and some in the regions immediately surrounding the city. The game's map screen gives you a way to toggle between these three "zones", so that, for example, you can set up a meeting at midnight during the day and then jump ahead to Kirkwall at night to actually attend the meeting. Or you can receive a letter at your stately manor regarding some hidden cave filled with beasties and treasure in the surrounding wilderness, and quickly jump out to the wilderness to do some dungeon crawling.
This makes certain game mechanics easier, but it also completely destroys any sense of time within the game, and subsequently removes any sense of urgency from the game's events. For example, after I had entered the game's final act, in which the the central conflict between the Chantry and the mages under its control comes to a head, I realized that I had completely botched my characters' leveling, thus preventing me from using some of the kick-ass weapons, armor, etc. that I had accumulated. And so, with the specter of internecine warfare and social strife looming over my head, I began grinding, i.e., going on any and all side and secondary quests to build up my characters.
Normally, this would mean little more than lots of button-mashing. But in the case of Dragon Age 2, it also meant a fair amount of toggling between Kirkwall in the daytime and Kirkwall at night. Assuming that Thedas' time works similarly to Earth's time, and that we're talking about sequential days and nights, I think I spent around two weeks of in-game time leveling up my characters. Two weeks during which the Chantry was oppressing mages, and during which mages were sowing seeds of sedition and even potential terrorism. But I was never once penalized for my lack of urgency in dealing with the game's climactic crisis, nor was I reminded that there were more important things than killing random monsters that I ought to be doing.
In all fairness, I also had this issue with Mass Effect 2, but there was a whole galaxy to traverse, one mass relay at a time—so I, as far as the game's world was concerned, had some time. But in Dragon Age 2, I was told time and again that things were bad and only going to get much, much worse. But apparently, both sides were perfectly willing to bide their time whilst I gallivanted about the city and nearby countryside so that I could bulk up enough to wear some new, shiny piece of armor.
This brings us back to the issue of balancing player freedom with the needs of the storyline. In this case, BioWare erred on the side of my freedom as a player, and subsequently, undermined the storyline and robbed it of drama and urgency. I can't help but wonder what it would have meant for the game had I been told that I only had a certain number of days in which to settle my affairs, i.e., build up my characters, before all hell broke loose. Or, if the game called me out for my laziness and prevented me, in some way, from traveling to certain locations or visting with certain individuals because Kirkwall was about to explode in bloodshed.
As a player, I might've been frustrated at the loss of freedom. (I certainly would've been kicking myself for my lack of foresight and planning.) But would such an approach have driven home even more pointedly the notion that something was truly at stake, that the lives of countless individuals were riding on my shoulders? If a good story is contingent upon crisis, what better crisis could there be than knowing that, however unprepared I thought my companions and I might be, we had to head into the storm nevertheless—that the city of Kirkwall, the Chantry, the Mage's Circles, and the whole of Thedas were depending on it?
The best review of Dragon Age 2 that I've read so far comes from Paste Magazine's Kirk Hamilton, in which he writes that the game's "main storyline is a sloppily scripted tease for a grander tale that has yet to be told, and its side stories feel empty and pointless." "Empty" and "pointless" are two words that I, reluctantly and begrudgingly, have to agree with. What makes it most frustrating of all is that there are adjustments and tweaks that BioWare could've made to the game, to the narration and some of the game mechanics, that would've made the game far stronger and more compelling. As it stands, though, Dragon Age 2 is a game full of promise, but also a game that consistently prevents itself from realizing the vast majority of that promise.
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Comment #1
hmm, I left a long comment here a couple weeks ago, but it didn't post. I wonder if it timed out since I worked on it off and on throughout the day. Oh well…
I can't say I share your assessment of the dwarf, mostly because I don't really think about about his narration. Aside from the occasional cut scenes that show him being questioned, I still feel like I'm in control of the story. One thing that I've noticed is that with so many warring factions and muddy plot-points, I feel like every decision I make is wrong. Maybe it'll work out in the end, but I really think there should've been a way to save mama-Hawke from having her head chopped off and sewn to a Frankenstein-esque zombie creature.
When I'm playing DA:2 I feel the same way I do when I'm in the middle of a discussion between ultra-right and ultra-left wingers. I just want to say, look you're both idiots. Sure blood magic and necromancy is wrong, but that doesn't give templars the right to be jerks to all mages.
I do agree with you that none of the major plot points seem to be terribly dire. This is especially apparent when you get to the tipping point of that chapter's major plot line and your companion ask, "Are you sure you don't have some other errands to run before we get down to business." I mean, I appreciate the heads up that this is the point of no return, but but to do it in such a blatantly apparent manor breaks the rhythm of the game. It only points out what a poor job Bioware did at pacing the game.
One of my biggest pet peeves about this is that it's so easy to get your side quests jumbled. Since you usually have multiple side quest going on and you have to visit multiple areas to complete one quest, it's too easy to run quests simultaneously, and completely lose track of the story. I've had to really focus on completing one quest before getting into another just to keep maintain some kind of continuity to the story.
I hate to bag on the game to much, because it's still a fun romp. It just needed a bit more polish to be up to the standard of excellence that Bioware fans expect.
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Norwegian architecture firm Jarmund/Vigsnæs Arkitekter (JVA) recently completed a cabin situated some 1,200 m (3,937 ft) above sea level in Norway's rugged Okstindan mountain range. The Rabot Tourist Cabin is one of many official DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) cabins scattered around the country, and shelters hikers from the harsh local weather conditions. Read More
In 2013, Hydrapak introduced its SoftFlask series of soft-sided TPU water bottles designed to collapse into your pocket. The design seemed handy, but we wondered why the company chose to use a rather big, bulging bottom on a design meant to pack small. It addresses this shortcoming with the all-new Stash. The Stash's collapsible TPU body is paired with a flat bottom that snaps together with the top, making the packed bottle even easier to transport. Read More
Keeping mobile electronic devices powered up can be difficult for the modern camper and hiker. Generating power from Mother Nature in the form of wind and sun is the preferred option for many, with a number of portable solar and wind generators emerging to fill this need. The latest is Windpax, a collapsible, portable wind turbine system designed to not take up too much space in a backpack. Read More
If there's one thing liable to ruin the backpacking experience, it's being weighed down by too much baggage. The problem is there are several things considered essential for the serious backpacker who spends his or her day hiking and his or her nights camping in the wilderness. One of which is a stove. The Vertex Ultralight Backpacking Stove could solve the dilemma of traveling light vs. eating every evening. Read More
Coxa Carry reroutes backpack straps to free your arms
Backpacks have seen plenty of changes and innovations of late, as evidenced by the Pelican S100 and TYLT Energi+ device-charging backpack, but most of those changes relate to the pack itself. The folks behind the Coxa Carry system leave the pack alone and focus on the straps and belt, creating a solution that they believe is more comfortable and functional than the typical set of shoulder straps. Read More
A solution for athletes that hike or run at night, and get thirsty while doing so, the new GoMotion Synergy Hydration LightVest offers a unique blend of LED lighting and storage. The chest-mounted light is designed to provide a more comfortable beam than the headlamp, while the greater pack offers space for water and more. Read More
Substratum hiking boots incorporate emergency fire-starting kit
Recently launched outdoor line Rocky S2V is more determined than the Discovery Channel to ensure that you're prepared to survive. For backcountry skiers and other winter explorers, it offers a jacket with an integrated survival kit. For hikers, it offers the Substratum boots, which can start a fire as well as pull you out of other jams. Read More
In recent months, Google Maps has ramped up its cartographical efforts to provide more detailed maps of North Korea and take users to more exotic locations like snow-covered mountains and underwater coral reefs via Street View. Now thanks to the Trekker, Google's own backpack-mounted camera system, users can explore stunning 360-degree panoramic images on a virtual hike through the Grand Canyon. Read More
Barefoot shoes go hiking with the Lizard Kross Scramble
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Fikkes two-in-one trekking and fishing pole
It may read like a Scandinavian misspelling of a common tree, but the Fikkes is actually an innovative piece of gear that combines two staples of the outdoors. This pole will help you fish distant bodies of water of all kinds. Read More
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The American Colonies, 1775. It's a time of civil unrest and political upheaval in the Americas. As a Native American assassin fights to protect his land and his people, he will ignite the flames of a young nation's revolution. Assassin's Creed III takes you back to the American Revolutionary War, but not the one you've read about in history books. As a Native American assassin, eliminate your enemies with guns, bows, tomahawksand more. Join the Continental Army in a war for our freedom. With your comrades at your side, hunt down the British redcoats through chaotic city streetsand engage in full-scale military assaults in the wilderness. Experience the real war that shaped our nation. Experience the truth behind the most gruesome war in history: the American Revolution. Introducing the Anvil Next game engine, the stunning new technology that will revolutionize gaming with powerful graphics, lifelike animations, immersive combatand advanced physics.
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Home > Post > Post 3 > Post 3 News Release > 2013 News Releases > News Release
News Release
Trooper Jonathan M. Biven
Public Affairs Officer
Kentucky State Police
Post 3, Bowling Green
(270) 782-2010
Click here to e-mail Trooper Jonathan M. Biven
Two Killed in a Motorcycle Collision in Warren County
Date of News Release: 04/29/2013
(Bowling Green, KY) -- On Monday, April 29, 2013, at 2:44 A.M., Kentucky State Police Post 3 Bowling Green was contacted by the Bowling Green Police Department and was asked to respond to Ewing Ford Road regarding a two person fatal collision.
Prior to the collision, BGPD Sergeant Jason Scott observed the operator of the motorcycle driving in a reckless manner on Lovers Lane in the vicinity of J.C. Kirby and Sons Funeral Chapel. Sgt. Scott activated his emergency equipment and attempted a traffic stop. The operator of the motorcycle then accelerated at high rate of speed. Sgt. Scott stated that he observed a passenger on the back of the motorcycle and deactivated his emergency equipment and terminated the pursuit of the motorcycle.
The operator of the motorcycle continued through the intersection of Lovers Lane and Cemetery Road and onto Ewing Ford Road. The operator lost control of the motorcycle and collided with a rock fence. The motorcycle came to final rest after striking the security gate located on Ewing Ford Road. The operator and his passenger were pronounced dead by the Warren County Coroner's Office.
The investigation is still ongoing and is being led by Trooper Brett Coomes. Trooper Coomes was assisted on scene by Lieutenant John Clark, Sergeant Jermaine Savage, and Trooper Josh Amos.
At 10:20 EDT an update came in and identified the operator and passenger. .) The operator of the motorcycle has been identified as Timothy K. Madison (22) of Bowling Green, KY and his passenger has been identified as Sandrice L. Parker (24) of Bowling Green, KY.


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The prince of tennis. Vol. 12, Invincible man
Konomi, Takeshi
Teen Fiction KONOMI
Konomi, Takeshi
Teen Fiction KONOMI
Summary: In the next round of games, Seishun's Takeshi Momoshiro encounters Kiyosumi in the No. 3 singles and Ryoma battles Jin in the No. 2 singles. However, Ryoma has his work cut out for him because, for some mysterious reason, Jin can't possibly lose.
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Education is All About Crossing Boundaries.
Every year, Wilkes University becomes the home for students hailing from all over the world. Students from India, Ireland, China and Brazil, to name a few, have all chosen Wilkes University. They chose it not only for its exceptional academic offering, but also for its small, intimate classes taught by a dedicated, hands-on faculty who know the needs of international students. Wilkes University is located in a safe and friendly community (Wilkes-Barre has one of the lowest crime rates of any U.S. metropolitan area)—surrounded by some of the most serene woodlands and mountain ranges in the northeastern U.S. And with major cities such as New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., just a few hours drive away, Wilkes' location allows you to make the most of your time in the United States.
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We sailed from Kusadasi to Marmaris overnight, we were out of bed early to watch the sun come up between the islands as we sailed into Marmaris Harbour, the views were picturesque, well worth our early morning rise. We had to vacate our rooms by 9am, we left the ship about noon,bused it to Dalaman ready to board ...
Market Madness
... lamps and a couple of stalls with hand-painted mezze dishes and coasters. I treated myself to some of the latter for my university room! It was a shame these lovely stalls were almost masked by the other more garish, enthusiastic street vendors. As we reached the end of the market we got to the best part - food! The hustle and bustle of tourists in the previous part of the market seemed to disappear and we found ourselves amongst the local ...
Boating on the Bonetkoning Part 1
Not only did we have beautiful scenery and a great time with friends and family, we also learned about sailing an 82ft boat. The Bonetkoning was built in 2005 and is completely computerized and state of the art. I had no idea you could put a boat like it on auto pilot and then change its course with a mouse. We had seen pictures of the boat online but in person it was even more beautiful and very ...
Home Time
... God why always me!! I hope that the earplugs are effective. Note to self. Invest in some noise cancelling headphones on return home. Something to look forward to. Being able to put loo paper in the loo............ Update. Due to poor weather in the Southeast of the UK our flight is delayed about 1 ½ hours. On a plane surrounded by children. Help me ...
Sögüt to Orhaniye
... sail. Best bit of the holiday. Having a week with Claire and Richard. Laughing. A lot........ Prize giving. Yes the issue of the port light was mentioned...... However we won a prize for the best mooring!! We so proud. We specialise in reversing for at least ½ a mile into our chosen berth very slowly..... Last dinner was quiet and a bit sad. Two weeks of relaxation and discovery finished. Now for the journey home. Shortly off to Dalaman airport to return ...


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Real cute the e-card !!
Reach out to someone very special with this well animated fun ecard.
Wish a couple on their anniversary with this beautiful ecard.
A beautiful anniversary card for the happy couple.
An anniversary card with a beautiful bouquet and a wish.
Send this ecard to a couple on their anniversary.
A wedding anniversary card for the couple.
Wish your wife/ beloved on your anniversary with this heartfelt message.
A beautiful and romantic card for your partner on your anniversary.
Send this anniversary card to the man in your life.
Wish a couple on their anniversary with this beautiful message.
A witch and a wizard conjure up some magic for their anniversary.
A cute card to wish a very happy anniversary to the couple.
An ecard to wish a very happy wedding anniversary.
A nice wedding anniversary card for the lovely couple.
A beautiful card for a wonderful couple.
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Color, bake and create 4 BFF bracelets. Includes (12) precut Shrinky Dinks designs, (6) colored pencils, (1) pencil sharpener, cotton cord, (4) jump rings and instructions. Non-toxic. Ages 7+. WARNING: Choking Hazard. Small Parts. Not for children under 3 years. Warning: Functional Sharp Edge. Adult supervision required when baking. Not for microwave use. This is an officially licensed Shrinky Dinks product. Read More
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As if juggling a family and working from home weren't difficult enough, add other projects such as home improvement to the mix and things can get a little hectic to say the least. One of the main difficulties with home improvement projects is finding competent and dependable help. Empire Today is a home improvement store with a long history specializing in flooring, windows and bath renovation products. For 50 years Empire Today has cultivated a brand and has become a household name.
Founded in 1959 and based in Northlake, Empire Today has offices in major cities across the US and Canada. As a brand, the company has become a cultural icon of sorts with several generations of people coming to know and recognize both the Empire Man and the "588-2300 Empire Today" jingle internationally...Oh that catchy jingle that is burned into our brains... And their commercials were always campy and funny.
While most notably known for their carpet, Empire Today is a full service home improvement store offers other types of quality flooring, including hardwood, laminate flooring, and ceramic flooring. And they do windows too!


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The big question for any homeowner considering installing solar power is a simple one: How quickly will the system pay for itself?
The short answer: It depends on where you live.
SEIA is the solar energy industry's go-to source for the latest coverage on solar power, including U.S. and international policy, research and polls, business and financing trends, and more. Our staff strives to support the media covering solar energy issues and guide our members on effective media outreach with clear statements, background materials, news and multimedia resources.
SEIA is committed to informing policymakers, the media, and the American public about the benefits of solar energy for today's communities, our economy, and our country.
Learn more from our statements and industry news below.
The big question for any homeowner considering installing solar power is a simple one: How quickly will the system pay for itself?
The short answer: It depends on where you live.
Residents here probably won't notice that their water and sewage treatment systems will soon be powered by fields of solar panels but a project to convert the plants is nearing completion.
New solar panels will be installed at the University of Florida by the end of November, reducing the university's energy costs and serving as a teaching tool for professors and students.
Blue & Green Tomorrow
Six UNESCO World Heritage sites including Qutb Minar, Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb have been earmarked to receive clean energy installations over the coming months.
More solar power generating activity is coming to Yuma County with the announcement that the permitting process has begun for a new solar photovoltaic facility — the Hyder II Solar Power Plant.
Governor Deval Patrick on Wednesday visited the Westford Solar Park to officially flip the switch on the state's largest privately owned solar facility.
Naked Energy, a British company, has made a name for itself by developing a tubular hybrid solar panel that can do twice the work of a traditional flat photovoltaic panel.
As part of its SunShot Initiative, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a new funding solicitation focused on improving the accuracy of solar forecasting. The agency will give out up to $9 million over three years.
Installing solar power at their Shelter Island, N.Y., Ace Hardware store seemed like the right thing to do for the planet, say owners David Gurney and Meredith Page. But now that the brother-and-sister ownership team have the system, they're finding that it's also good for their wallets.
Growth in renewables manufacturing is about to slow, and thousands of jobs will be lost, if Congress doesn't level the playing field between renewables and traditional fossil energy sources, renewables advocates told the National Hydropower Association conference April 18 in Washington DC.


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Filters for your fountian
posted 6 years ago
Honestly my motor vent in the fountain catches more cat hair and junk than my filter ever dreamed of....so I don't know if those really work....or if it is just a way for us pet owners to spend more money???
Pros: I THINK it's cleaning the water
Cons: Not quite sure if it really is cleaning the water
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Four TCU students have been taken to a local hospital after a crash on Loop 323.
The crash happened on Loop 323 near Old Henderson Hwy. around 12:40p.m.
According to Tyler Police, the driver identified as 22-year-old Jonathan Sanfelippo from Tyler, told officers a white car may have caused the crash by forcing a red SUV to hit an embankment and flip landing on its roof.
The passengers in the vehicle have been identified as 22-year-old Tim Bloomfield, 22-year-old Marshall Weber and 20-year-old Reeves Sodoma. Both the driver and the passengers were taken to a local hospital where they will be released with minor injuries.
Police say the four college students from Texas Christian University were heading to Florida for a Spring Break trip at the time of the crash.
The white car mentioned by the driver has not been located. Police do not have a good description on the vehicle other than it being a white car.
Police mentioned alcohol was inside the red SUV but no alcohol was detected on the driver and say it was just being transported for their Florida trip.
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Another great book by Unit Editions, pre orders are available now.
This meticulously researched book offers a complete career overview of Herb Lubalin, beginning with his early days as one of the original Mad Men in the New York advertising world of the 50s and 60s, and continuing into the years of his greatest achievements as one of the world's most influential typographers and graphic designers.
Herb Lubalin's work is enjoying an unprecedented revival of interest amongst young graphic designers. The Lubalin cult is global, with strong pockets of interest in Korea, Japan and, of course, the USA and UK.
Pre-order this limited edition, numbered and boxed monograph now for the reduced price of £55 (includes free postage), available here!
Shipping is expected to commence the week of 13th August 2012.
448 pages
3/4 paper wrap with foiled typography
Author Adrian Shaughnessy
Editors Adrian Shaughnessy, Tony Brook and Alexander Tochilovsky
Design Spin
Read More


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| Entrepreneur | Musician | Investor | Connector | Fb: JayCoopMusic Twitter: JayCoopMusic Spotify: Jay Coop
Followgram is the most complete web interface to enjoy your Instagram photos. This site uses the API of Instagram but is not certified by Instagram.
Followgram.me v.1.2 (beta) © 2012 IQUII - All rights reserved
Recommended by Instagramers and Instagramers Italia


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Size: 28,955 acres.
Location: San Bernardino County; 60 miles northeast of Baker, California (Note: Boundary set backs from roads or trails are 30 to 300 feet)
Area Description : The 30,012-acre (approximate) North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness consists of the broad western end of Sandy Valley and the northern portion of Mesquite Mountains. Rolling brown foothills, a few steeper mountains, and medium sized buttes comprise the reddish-brown geologic features in the wilderness. Vegetation of this area is characteristic of the mid-elevations of the eastern Mojave Desert. Dominant vegetation includes creosote brush scrub, blackbush, Joshua tree woodland, yucca, cacti, and some grasses. Wildlife is also typical for the Mojave Desert; including coyote, black-tailed jackrabbits, ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, quail, roadrunners, rattlesnakes and several species of lizards. Due to the lack of natural waters, bighorn sheep do not inhabit the area on a permanent basis but do transverse the area. The southern tip of the wilderness provides critical habitat for the desert tortoise.
Getting There : To access the southernmost point of the wilderness, take the Cima Road exit off Interstate 15 (26 miles east of Baker), and travel north approximately 8 miles on the paved Excelsior Mine Road until it intersects with the graveled Kingston Road. The wilderness lies between these two roads.
Nonfederal Lands: Private lands may lie within the wilderness area. Please respect the landowner and do not use these lands without permission.
Additional Information :
Area Management
Permits are required for commercial or organized activities.
Recreational Opportunities
Hiking, horseback riding, hunting, camping, rock hounding, photography, and backpacking are examples of activities that can be enjoyed in this wilderness. The wilderness boundary was drawn to exclude seven non-wilderness corridors or 'cherrystems', which provide vehicle access to the interior of the wilderness area.
Climate and Special Equipment Needs
Temperatures are fairly mild in the early spring, late fall, and winter; generally 30-80°F. Summer temperatures are extremely hot. Temperatures are commonly over 115°F and can get well over 120°F. Always carry water; desert springs are not reliable water sources.
Signs indicating "Wilderness" and "Closed Road" or "Closed Route" are placed at various intervals. Vehicles can be parked outside the wilderness boundary; however, the boundary is set back 30 feet from unmaintained dirt roads and 300 feet on paved roads.
Mechanized or motorized vehicles are NOT PERMITTED in a wilderness.
Hunting, fishing, and non-commercial trapping are allowed under state and local laws.
Pet are allowed, but please keep your pets under control at all times.
Horses are permitted, however you may be required to carry feed.
Removal, disturbance, or attempting to remove archaelogical materials is a felony. Selling, receiving, purchasing, transporting, exchanging or offering to do so is prohibited by law.
CAMPING: Camping is permitted, limited to 14 days. After 14 days, campers must relocate at least 25 miles from previous site.
Help BLM preserve California's fragile deserts. Please park your vehicle or set up camp in previously disturbed sites.
Gathering wood for campfires, when permitted, is limited to dead and down materials. Do not cut live vegetation.
The BLM encourages all desert recreationists and travelers exploring public lands, not only within southern California but through the west, to use propylene glycol based antifreeze/coolant in their touring and recreation vehicles. Proven safer, it will have minimal impacts on the wildlife and the environment should a leak occur.
Bureau of Land ManagementNeedles Field Office1303 S. Hwy 95Needles, CA 92363Phone: (760) 326-7000Fax: (760) 326-7099Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., M-FContact us by Email


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Man wanted for armed rape, robbery in Brooklyn
Police are searching for a 21-year-old man wanted in the rape and robbery of a woman at gunpoint in a Brooklyn park last year.
The attack occurred almost a year ago on May 29, 2012. Police were recently able to identify Damien Hollis as a suspect thanks to a positive DNA hit.
Cops say Hollis approached a 26-year-old woman early on the morning of May 29, 2012, at a bus stop located at East New York and Ralph avenues. He brandished a firearm and ordered her to walk to Lincoln Terrace Park, where he raped her. He then took the victim's cell phone and fled.
Hollis is described as about 6 feet tall and 160 lbs. with short black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.
Danielle Tcholakian contributed reporting to this article.
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Schedule an AppointmentWe understand that laser eye surgery is a big step for you, that's why we're happy to provide a free consultation to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Even if you've been told you're not a candidate for LASIK, the advanced technologies we use make LASIK available to more people than ever before. Schedule an appointment for your free consultation today.
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It was recently announced that James Gandolfini passed away while vacationing in Italy. He is best known for his role as Tony Soprano, a gangster with a guilty conscience from conducting routine mob business. If you would like to pay homage to Mr.
Read more
The recent demise of beloved actor James Gandolfini inspired me to get out my Sopranos complete series box set and begin watching the series all over again. I loved this show. It was truly the best drama/soap opera ever. In an age of DVRs and "waiting until it comes out of video," The Sopranos still saw people arranging their Sunday evenings around the television schedule.
© 1995-2014 Mid-Continent Public Library. All rights reserved.


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Narrow your search
Ex-movie theater projectionist Steve Guttenberg covers high-end audio news and reviews.
CNET's favorite speakers, including sound bars, Bluetooth speakers, and full surround sound systems.
The Bowers & Wilkins CM1 S2 speakers look great and sound terrific, but they aren't the best choice for rockers.
Oppo may have packed the Find 7 with the latest and greatest specs, but it faces stiff competition from the LG G3, which has similar specs but a better design.
With its impressive performance, easy operation, and unbeatable price, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is the ideal turntable for anyone looking to get into vinyl.
The design of Toshiba's high-end Kirabook hasn't changed since last year, but it has aged gracefully. The components get an update and the battery life gets a big boost, making this an all-around excellent, but expensive, ultrabook.
Polk Audio's new Woodbourne speaker has a gorgeous mahogany wood top and supports both Bluetooth and AirPlay.
Sporting Android 4.3, a Snapdragon 800 CPU, and a 13-megapixel camera, the Grand S II is ZTE's newest marquee smartphone.
Pricing not available
Although it doesn't have LTE, the ZTE Nubia 5's impressive specs and reliable performance make it a great value for an unlocked, high-end phone.
The Grand S Pro is a good deal with a carrier agreement, but U.S. Cellular has other phones that are faster and more reliable.
Small-screen gaming laptops are rare because they require serious engineering sleight of hand. The EON13-S walks the line between power and portability, but it would be so much cooler with a custom body.
The Toshiba Satellite S55t-A5277 comes close to being a great mainstream slim gaming laptop, but it's undone by an unimpressive display.


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CRANDON, WI (WTAQ) - Almost 500 electric customers in northern Wisconsin were still without power this morning, after a series of heavy storms rumbled through the area Thursday night.
The Wisconsin Public Service utility reported almost 360 outages as of 7 a.m., mostly in the Crandon, Three Lakes, and Rhinelander areas.
Wisconsin Power and Light reported 61 outages in Menominee County, which was also hit hard by severe weather nine days ago. We Energies had about 25 outages in the Shawano area, and Xcel Energy said about 25 customers were out near Luck in northwest Wisconsin.
The storms took down trees in several parts of northern Wisconsin, and dumped hail in the northwest and 4 inches of rain in the Rhinelander area.
More rain is expected on and off throughout Wisconsin Friday, and during the Labor Day Weekend.


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|Female flowers of Alvaradoa
One of South Florida's rare trees, Mexican alvaradoa (Alvaradoa amorphoides) is blooming at the Garden in plot 43, which is near the Visitors Center. This small tree is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. Male flower spikes are long and dangling; females are shorter and fatter, with each small green capsule being an ovary. The tree is one of the host plants for the Dina Yellow butterfly (Pyrisita dina). The other host is bitterbush, (Picramnia pentandra). Alvaradoa ranges from Mexico through Cuba to South Florida. The trees are able to endure in dry conditions; I grow mine without twice-weekly irrigation. It sits in the far corner of the back yard, along with a few other native plants, all of which must compete with roots and shade from a neighbor's Ficus benjamina hedge. Alvaradoa grows fairly rapidly, with long, skinny branches and compound leaves, and a taller-than-wide silhouette. If you plant this rare tree, a rare butterfly may find it.
|Gloxinia sylvatica.
Seeing red (or orange) at this time of year? We're not thinking poinsettias here, but they are in profusion everywhere we look. During a morning walk through the Garden we were struck by the light on two plants: Gloxinia sylvatica and Juanulloa mexicana.
Each offered an expression of nature's magic with chemistry: plant production of secondary metabolites, such as anthocyanin and flavonoids that create red and yellow pigments. More often than not, we take these things for granted. Occasionally we would do well to stop and be awed.
|Juanulloa mexicana.
|Averrhoa carambola 'Thai Knight'.
Carambolas (Averrhoa carambola) are in full of fruit now and the branches of our home trees are bending beneath their weight. Carambolas, or star fruit, come from Southeast Asia where, says tropical fruit expert Jonathan Crane, they have been grown for centuries. The cultivar called 'Arkin,' which came from Malaysia, was introduced to South Florida in 1973. I remember interviewing Morris Arkin, who grew the seeds in Coral Gables. Arkin also developed a macadamia nut tree. A carambola called Golden Star was developed in Homestead in 1965, and Hawaii has developed a number of cultivars as well. The Arkin proved the hardier shipper. 'Thai Knight' is a cultivar named for Bob Knight with the USDA Subtropical Research Station in Coral Gables. It is a deeper yellow than the 'Fwang Tung.'
In our soils, the trees require fertilizer applications every three months as well as the addition of iron and micronutrient sprays to keep the compound leaves green. They like regular irrigation. Carambolas can reach 20 to 30 feet and they have a rounded crown. They produce flowers on the twigs and branches, carrying fruit there as well. Shaking a heavily loaded branch will reduce the weight by simply causing fruit to drop. The fruit is either sweet or tart, and the sweet 'Fwang Tung' variety is great for eating fresh. A refreshing drink can be made of carambolas; they can be sliced and used in salads. Schnebly's Winery in the Redland makes a carambola wine that they say tastes like a Pinot Grigio.
|Stippling on leaves.
When hot, or even pleasant, and dry weather descends on us,
|Red spider mites.
there are some things to watch for in the garden. One is red spider mites. These tiny red insects hide out on the bottom of leaves and suck cell sap, creating a stipple effect on the top of the leaves. I am finding them all over the passion vine Passiflora incarnata. They also love soft-leaved orchids. Once you see the stippling, you may need a hand lens to observe the insects on the underside of the leaf.
Treatment is easy: a hard spray of water, or a mix of 1 tablespoon liquid dish detergent that contains no perfumes and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or horticultural oil in a gallon of water. Spray the undersides of the leaves well. Try the water first.
|A ladybug will eat them.
|Golden oleander aphids on milkweed.
Oleander aphids have been appearing in globs on my milkweeds. They are golden with black appendages. They not only are on the stems, but leaves and seedpods. Ladybugs and their larvae eat them, while parasitic wasps lay eggs in them, which turn them brown and kill them. If you are too impatient for the beneficial insects to show up, use insecticidal soap to suffocate them.


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THE DOME — The key will be getting the proper perspective on what happened to the first team defense in this one.
San Diego's Philip Rivers and his set of fleet receivers made some incredible plays on third down. The one-handed grab by Vincent Jackson along the sideline over Chris Houston was remarkable.
But here are the five things we learned from this one:
1. RE-TOOLING THE DEFENSE: The defense has a long ways to go. Granted it was Rivers and the Chargers vaunted passing attack — without L.T. or Antonio Gates — but you can't allow teams to continually convert on third downs. Just in the second touchdown drive alone, the Chargers converted on third-and-8, third-and-18, third-and-17 and third-and-24.
2. REDMAN IS NO. 2: Chris Redman's showing in the second half was the best play of any of the backups QBs this offseason.
3. YOUNG GUNS: Defensive end Lawrence Sidbury and cornerback Chris Owens were cited by coach Mike Smith as players who jumped out at him in the normal course of the action.
4. HOW BAD IS J-ROCK HURT: He didn't return as a precautionary
measure. If he'd torn something he would not have been allowed to return to the sideline with that plastic airbag contraption on around his left knee.
5. BOOKER CAN GET OPEN STILL: Back up wide receiver showed that he could get open at age 33. He had six catches for 62 yards, included a 21-yarder on a nice seam route.
Not sure what they can do, but I think we better be on the look out for some major changes on the defensive side of the ball.
August 30th, 2009
12:48 am
His name is Lawrence Sidbury. Just an FYI.
August 30th, 2009
12:55 am
Other than 1/ Curtist Lofton & 2/ "pulling a Blitzburg" and bringing our corners in to sack, I saw n o t h i n g I liked on defense. Current assessment: bring in some shutdown corners after the waiver wire, and hope they can learn the system. Redman was a s good as any backup in the league, including Volek. He's a keeper and has the exact same throwing style as Ryan. Ugly, ugly win.
August 30th, 2009
1:27 am
Booker should and hopefully will make this team. He has been so consistent and professional.
Jamal Anderson is an unfortunate waste of space. If we cut him we get no better or worse. I hate that from a No. 8 pick. Thanks McKay. It is so difficult to come back from high 1st round busts, but thats what we have to do.
Nicholaus is servicable but nothing more. He was a 4th or 5th round pick, what should we expect?
Bottom line is we have to use very high draft picks next year to fix this defense. I am not like some Falcon fans with their head in the sand. You hit on a late round pick rarely, and when you blow a No. 8 pick it haunts you for years.
We now need a talented CB, LB, and DE to improve this defense. Bierman and Sidbury have potential, but are not players that are immediate game changing contributors. We need to get this done within two years to take advantage of our current offensive talent.
Again, we can not afford high round draft pick mistakes. This league has to much parity. Good luck TD, I'm cheering for you.
August 30th, 2009
1:37 am
Yes, the secondary looks bad. No, it won't look like this all year long.
Remember one thing Lofton said: you don't want to peak this early on. You want to get better and peak as the seasons wears on.
If things look really bleak (again, why would you put the defensive pressure all on the secondary), then rest assured that Dimitroff will make a move to keep the Titanic from sinking. But how many times are we going to face San Diego and like offenses? Exactly. Patience. This isn't a Super Bowl run. This is still a rebuild.
And guess what? If you "escape" with a win….it's still a win…
August 30th, 2009
2:52 am
@ Big Ray…You made the point about how many offenses we would face like San Diegos…Let's look at it: New Orleans(twice), Dallas, Philly, Giants(those young receivers look like they are going to be pretty decent), and New England. That's 6 teams right there with pretty potent passing offenses. Throw Chicago and Cutler into the mix and that's 7 teams right there. Brent Grimes..he's a hard nosed player, but good grief, he was getting ABUSED by the bigger receivers.
We need pressure on the QB's..they were just sitting back there for HOUUURRRSS waiting on receivers to get open.
Let's go Birds..let's get this together!! Hope all the injuries aren't too bad.
August 30th, 2009
3:36 am
D.O.L…go to bed!!! Leave the late nights to us blog crawlers who are at work and should actually be working…LOL!!!!!!!!!
August 30th, 2009
6:10 am
Can Booker play corner? Moore is a definite concern…once injury prone always injury proned? Wish we could start off with Det and KC again. Defense looked fast at times…just too sloppy – must get more pass rush with Brees and Brady coming up. Good day all…
August 30th, 2009
7:25 am
WHO IS J-ROCK????? If you are going to report something in the newspaper, you should identify with real names. Not all people keep up with the trash talk all the time.
August 30th, 2009
7:40 am
It's a good thing that we have a great offense because the defense is going to struggle. Chris Houston was getting abused by SD's wideouts and the screen passes ate up the linebackers. Coach Vangorder is a great coach, but you can't make chicken salad out of chicken #@^#.
August 30th, 2009
7:49 am
2nd on HJones' question. Who is J-Rock? Jerious Norwood? I like Big Ray's attitude. Let's give them time.
August 30th, 2009
7:50 am
The corners were terrible last night, maybe some due to weak pass rush, maybe some due to Chargers loaded pass offense. And it's intuitively obvious that Jamaal Anderson is a liability, that we could use another linebacker, and that Peria is a rookie. We might also want to direct some of our displeasure toward Van Gorder as well. What has he done for us lately? Offense still looks good, although it sputtered a little. Redmon, as I said a few weeks ago, is number two for a reason so we can all get past this love affair of Shockley with all it's excuses. Hopefully we can get some help off the waiver wire this week or next. Maybe another Foxworth type will be out there.
August 30th, 2009
7:59 am
"attack — with L.T. or Antonio Gates — but you"
that would be without L.T and Gates – fyi
August 30th, 2009
8:47 am
I was afraid letting Foxworth go was a bad move – and last night says it was a terrible move. Was Houston asleep?
I understand Abe takes it easy in preseason but their was no pressure anywhere, though Anderson did get no-called on holds twice I saw.
Maybe TD can package a WR or 2 (it seems we have way more than we need)for a CB.. Booker did look good.
August 30th, 2009
8:50 am
I can't find many reasons to be upbeat about this win… except that somehow, someway, it was a win. Too bad on the timing as well because, we may need this kind of ending later in the regular season. Hope we didn't spend any special favors by getting it. The gridiron gods like to mess with us. They always have. They still do. I mean, Chris Redman looked like young Bret Favre for about 10 minutes or so. You don't get this kind of thing except when the universe is either in perfect balance… or completely out of it.
I don't feel any better with that win… or for knowing that it was preseason either. It's kind of like kissing your sister and drinking decaf coffee. She may be pretty and it may be hot but .. there won't be any late night dates in your future and you wouldn't be able to stay awake for them anyway.
August 30th, 2009
8:54 am
And what about Chris Owens ankle? Did Smith comment on that?
It looks like we need to coach him up asap!
No passrush kills our weak CBs' chances.
August 30th, 2009
8:58 am
San Diego did us a real favor – exposing what needed to be – better to know now than in the real season. Hopefully the coaches and TD can fix things somewhat.
Ryan's stats are better than his play – he should have been intercepted 2 or 3 times, and his passes were often late or soft. I expected better from him with his now strengthened arm.
August 30th, 2009
9:00 am
Foxworth (who had to come in and take over for Grimes last year) proved that in this league, you must go out and spend some money at corner. "Wishing" a low rounder scout team player can "develop" into a solid starting NFL cornerback is just fools play.
August 30th, 2009
9:10 am
The Defense is going to coast the falcons this year. The offense will have to out score all of their opponenets to win and we all know you cant win like that in the NFL. Chris Houston got beat somany times and it was clear that he was lost.Ex. On third and 26 instead of keeping the receiver in front of him, he allows the receiver to get behind him and he is beat easily for a gain of about 30 yards. We play a lot of good qb's and reecievers and Christ Houston and the Falcons D willbe exposed. Vangorder, hmmm for as much as wel ove him with the Georgia D, he decided to blitze on 2nd and long but the sit back and get chewed up on third and long. I am not sure about that strategy. Was Abraham or Anderson playing? I didnt hear either of their names the entire night. Anderson is a bust and they need to release him and as soon as other teams make their cuts, they need to go thrift shopping for a corner and DE, if not, we adre in big trouble and with this schedue we have, I only see 6 wins.
August 30th, 2009
9:24 am
On a brighter note, Thomas Brown got the ball across the thirty each time he returned a kickoff. Wondering if he can make the team based on return skills….
August 30th, 2009
9:31 am
[...] Falcons: 5 things we learned from the Charger game [...]
August 30th, 2009
9:32 am
The release of J Anderson will be an immediate upgrade on the defense, all he could do last night was try to get out of the way of blockers, not fight thru or around the block to contribute, he has no talent-let him go or trade him if you can find any takers.
August 30th, 2009
10:08 am
We have a lot of work to do on the defense. I do feel like this offense has the protential to become one of the most high powered offenses in the NFL. Redman did an excellent job as back up quarterback were pretty much solid at the back up positions on the offense, however we have got to improve the defensive line and the secondary. I guess we will see how our second year coach and G.M. will respond…Should be interesting. Go Falcons
August 30th, 2009
10:10 am
Redman is a pansy. Shockley should be the back up, but Blank won't let that happen.
August 30th, 2009
10:25 am
Free Chaucey Davis!!! I would HOPE that when the regular season rolls around, we'll see more blitz packages to help out the woeful CB play we saw last night. No use tipping your entire hand in pre-season. Grimes looked OK, just too small to keep up with SD's massive WR. Houston was just out of position too often. Yikes.
Sad, too, that the best pass defense play probably came from Lofton of all people.
But mountain jim is right: San Diego showed us what we need to work on for the next two weeks.
Tackling was also pretty lax across the board and across units from the first string D to the 4th quarter crew to ST. There's time to fix it. But if it's not fixed, the Falcons will have to be incredibly lucky to make 9-7.
August 30th, 2009
10:26 am
Wow I really thought this defense was going to be better then this.Someone needs to tell vangorder he is allowed to rush more then 3 on third and long.Hopefully they will do something to improve or we will not see back to back winning seasons once again.
August 30th, 2009
10:42 am
I'm very worried about the defense. Watching the game last night, it looked like we had our 3rd/4th string in against their starters. There needs to be some amount of pass rush with resorting to a blitz every time. But they did blitz on some of those 3rd downs and SD was still able to make the play. Abraham played a good bit of the first half and didn't do very much either. I kept reading how Grimes and Owens were having such a good camp. Why wouldn't they put in Owens when it became obvious that Grimes just couldn't cover. I don't know if it would have made any difference, but at least try something. The coaches didn't make any personal changes with the first team (other than the DL rotation) during that stretch.
I know there is a huge expectation on the team this year, but we should be better than this. With the schedule the way it is, we would be lucky to get to 8-8 playing like this.
Looking at some of the other teams, I really don't see a diamond in the rough getting released or traded that could fix the secondary situation. And I agree about Jamaal, I specifically watched him last night for a bit just to see how he had "improved" this camp. I think he spent more time on the ground after getting blocked than he did trying to rush anyone. He was constantly out of the play or just knocked out of the way. I really don't see any improvement.
August 30th, 2009
10:56 am
I'm hoping the defense simply had a bad day. How does an NFL defense allow a team to convert on third and long three times in a row? They were out-coached as much as they were out-played.
I also hope that all those who have been excusing Shockley's poor play by saying he was forced to play with the second and third teams were paying close attention to Chris Redman's performance with those same playerss.
August 30th, 2009
11:07 am
when we play the patriots we will get destroyed by moss.
August 30th, 2009
11:09 am
The Falcons cold have drafted Joe Barnett out of UCF. Burnett was an all-conference CB and punt returner for the last three years. Check out the history of UCF DB's in the NFL. The Falcons knew they need help at CB and at punt returner. Looks like the Steelers got a "steal" at the end of the fifth round. Burnett is already penciled in as their nickle back and as the starting punt returner.
August 30th, 2009
11:09 am
I assume J-ROCK is Norwood?
August 30th, 2009
11:12 am
Offense will be solid all year. Defense looked in shambles! Neither Chris Houston or Brent Grimes is the answer, short or long-term. Guarantee there will be major changes in secondary soon. Kroy Biermann is too light, with no pass rush skills. He should be replaced immediately by Lawrence Sidbury. Biermann would be more valuable on special teams. I did think Lofton and Erik Coleman played fairly well. They give the defense a couple of "thumpers." Sadly, I don't think DeCoud is the answer at free safety. He's just not a playmaker. Jamal Anderson tried, but he's slow off the snap and can't keep his feet from getting cut when blocked. Start Chrisopher Owens at one corner, and Chevis Jackson at the other and let's see what they can do. Gonna be a long first half of the season, unless the secondary can tighten up and we get more pressure on quarterbacks. Don't be surprised to see some prominent names on defense get cut this week and next!
August 30th, 2009
11:38 am
Got to keep things in perspective. The defense is one of the youngest in the league. there will be some growing pains. the offense will have to carry the team. i am interested in the development of Sidbury & Moore. I may have thought Houston is better than he really is.
August 30th, 2009
11:54 am
I think that Abe played conservatively, and The Falcons staff probably knew he was going to do so..
So, they got to see what would happen if Abe was not Abe.. They wanted to see who was going to "step-up" since Abe was "playing-off" a bit. They did. Some players actually "stepped-down". lol
Abe is still The Lion of The Falcons defense. Without him, the other guys aren't special (or don't want to be). The young players don't know the game yet..
The Falcons defense is not young.. not the starters anyway.
I do believe that CB Chris Houston is still hurt from the groin.. I'm not favoring him, but a groin is no joke. It's one of those situations where a player in competition (with Owens and others) returned too soon.
I am expecting some surprising moves (Cuts, trades, and starters being moved to back-ups).
I think that one of Dimitroff's CB picks will start and remain.
Lateral quickness – Stops the run and screens.
Looks like a few players need their rest at night..lolololol. Just because you are young doesn't mean that you can go without the proper rest. Hopefully, that Atlanta Nightlife hasn't drained these players, and sapped their strength.. There are no "special friends" when you are released, and have no fat NFL checks coming-in. lol. This town is full of users.
The Falcons players need to listen to TE Tony Gonzalez about rest and diet. Even though he is muscular, he is not a "stiff". There is a reason for his longevity besides talent and study.
The Falcons cannot blitz this season, so it is all on the rotation of The Front 4.
August 30th, 2009
12:05 pm
Chris Houston got abused!!!!
August 30th, 2009
12:07 pm
Chris Lofton, Please wrap up!!!!!!
August 30th, 2009
12:08 pm
We better fix our D, or we're in deep trouble.
August 30th, 2009
12:15 pm
**(About Falcons DE Jamaal Anderson)**:
He is so tall, the opposing OTs are just low-blocking him, and taking his legs away.. They aren't standing-up and blocking him.. It sort of like Mora's Cut-Block Scheme..
It is up to The Falcons Staff, because there is nothing that "a tall, big, lanky DE like Anderson" can do unless the scheme around these cut-blocks..
They need to stunt Anderson inside of DT Babineaux..
Anderson won't catch the edge as long as The NFL allows OTs to curl into a Fetal position, and lean into Jamal's legs on passing downs. Because Jamaal is not falling violently, The NFL refs are allowing this…lol. What a shame!
It's up to The Falcons coaching staff. (They should receive no credit for Abraham's success because he already was one of the best pass-rushers in The NFL before they were hired by Blank).
I think if he looses some weight, his speed will increase. I think that was one of the mistakes that The Falcons made in coaching Anderson. He needs his speed more than he needed more strength and bulk.
Jamaal needs to "Karate-Chop" the hands of opposing OTs off of his jersey.. Since he is a very tall man, the OTs are either chopping him low, or grabbing him high, and pulling him down with their weight. After he Karate chops a few arms of these RTs, they will become tired, and their arms will be burning hot and sore..lol.
August 30th, 2009
12:28 pm
Who is J-Rock?
August 30th, 2009
1:08 pm
Defense is very, very sad. We all knew this. However on the offense, who was that ineffective boob wearing Matt Ryans jersey last night? If it was Matty Ice, then his job should be up for grabs as well. All this controversy about DJ and the talentless JPW for third string means nothing to me after watching the flawed play of "our boy". Poor, poor decisions.
Left the dome way early in third quarter in an attempt to escape the mind-numbing depression. Winning seasons 2 years in a row. What an unattainable fantasy(sigh)!
August 30th, 2009
1:10 pm
San Diego's receivers were awesome. Philip Rivers threw some passes that had no business being caught. There were some plays that were undefenndable by anybody. No, what bothered me was the fact that the rush let Rivers threw as much as he pleased. The CBs can't do it by themselves.
Smith & Co. have some work to do.
August 30th, 2009
1:13 pm
Jesus H Christ you think this sorry newspaper could front a STORY OF THE GAME rather than some existential hand-wringing about the new defense?
August 30th, 2009
1:20 pm
I am a huge Falcons fan and keep up with blogs and newspaper stories every day. I have never heard about a dude named J. Rock? What a riot!
August 30th, 2009
1:21 pm
However, I did know who you were talking about.
August 30th, 2009
1:42 pm
Matt Ryan certainly did not have his best game last night There was just no energy or any rhythm on either side of the ball. Coach Smith was royally chewing the defense's a$$ after the 2nd Charger TD where they converted four third downs in a row all with LONG yardage.He was livid. Defense was somewhat better in 2nd half. Third TD by SD that was reviewed was questionable call also. Last year early the D was suspect also, so maybe it can be turned around in 2 weeks. The new video boards are awesome and offer much better field perspective.
August 30th, 2009
2:02 pm
OK… the spectacular catches over Houston and Grimes on third down plays were certainly discouraging, but the screen pass for a touchdown on third and long was awful on every level. The Falcons looked as if they had never defended such a play before. I bet Brian VanGorder had some bad dreams last night: "It's called a screen pass coach. Be afraid… be very afraid." With so much youth and a lack of front line talent at some key spots, the Falcons are going to have to gamble with blitzes and stunts. They will be burned by good quarterbacks every once in a while. This just happens to be the first real gunslinger they have faced.
August 30th, 2009
2:05 pm
On a serious note. What in the world are The Falcons gonna do about Chris "What were U thinkin" Houston? He nearly cost us the game against the Bears last year by letting the reciever behind him in the endzone. In that situation, he let the only thing that could hurt us happen. Last night, it happened again on 3rd and 18. You cant let these recievers get behind you in these kind of situations. Atleast Grimes is in position during these times while getting beat


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Ricardo talks heat and why he left WWE, Former WWE writer in trouble? Stephanie McMahon discusses her heel character.
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