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text:
For medical examiners, �human stupidity equals job security.�
I�ve made a good living from human stupidity, including from gun violence. Digging bullets out of bodies doesn�t bother me. But those shootings in Newtown, Conn., bother me.
In the aftermath, a lot of people have said a lot of things that are true:
�Guns don�t kill people; people kill people.� That�s true. Knives, cars and ball bats don�t kill people, either.
�The American people have a constitutional right to own guns.� That�s true. The Supreme Court said so.
�The best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.� There�s a lot of truth to that, too. It�s a romantic notion. I fantasize about being the good guy. I�ve said that if anybody breaks into my house and threatens me, I�ll do my level best to send him out in a bag.
�None of the proposed regulatory changes � including assault-weapons bans, limitations on clip size, more background checks and improved mental-health screening � would have prevented the killings in Newtown.� Sadly, that�s also pretty much true.
Lots of people are crazy. There�s no way to predict who will become violent. In retrospect, most serial and spree killers are described as �Nice guy; real quiet; kept to himself.� That�s nothing a background check would identify.
Maybe with a less lethal weapon or smaller clip, the Newtown outcome would have been less terrible in the sense that six dead kids would be marginally less terrible than 20.
Individually or collectively, proposed regulatory changes won�t stop gun violence. The only thing they might do is signal the beginnings of a change in public opinion.
When I was a kid, smoking was cool. Hollywood stars, my favorite teacher and my adored great-uncle smoked.
During my lifetime, and more quickly than I would have thought possible, views changed. Smoking wasn�t cool. Smoking killed people � both smokers and bystanders exposed to the smoke.
Smokers fought proposed bans that violated their rights. When Mayo Clinic banned smoking anywhere on clinic property, smokers said it was terrible to further burden sick, stressed and grieving people.
Too bad. The rights of people to be free from the dangers of secondhand smoke trumped the rights of smokers � who are no longer cool. They�re addicts.
During my lifetime, guns have always been cool. People got shot willy-nilly in TV Westerns and gangster shows. Popular movies romanticized the gun battle at the OK Corral and the in-a-hail-of-bullets deaths of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Bonnie and Clyde.
I own and shoot guns. I once had an AR-15 assault rifle. It was of no real use, but it was cool.
I think the only way to put a dent in gun violence is to somehow initiate another cultural shift. Somehow, people like me will have to stop thinking guns are cool.
I don�t know if the shootings at Newtown will be enough to nudge American society in that direction or not, but they should be.
firstname.lastname@example.com Dr. Carol J. Huser, a forensic pathologist, served as La Plata County coroner from 2003-12. She now lives in Florida and Maryland.

subset: commoncrawl


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From the sounds of it, Anthony Davis will play, but Jamal Crawford will not. Since Granger has already taken his physical, he will likely play.
Can't wait to see Granger and Davis out there together tomorrow. It should be a great game.
This is a Exciting time to be a Clippers fan, Damn I'm so Pumped, I can't wait till this game start's. I Guess I'll just have to settle for seeing the "New" "Look" squad by playing some NBA 2k14. I hope to see Granger play tonight and see Davis get some more Burn out on the floor.
Same, can't wait.
I loved Collison in the game against Houston as our main scorer in the end. It will be interesting to see if he get another chance in the end together with Paul on the court.
This game could be also interesting for are new Players Granger and Davis because we should win this game and maybe they get enough time to make a first step in this team.
Another question is Bullock. Will he play more? Or Green?
^^^^ I wouldn't be surprised if Bullock started at SG. Jamal and Reddick are both out most likely but it would be awesome if both played tonight. Wishful thinking
Yeah that is interesting.........................who will start at SG? Green or Bullock? Or even Barnes, and Dudley back in at the starting 3 spot.
The Pelicans played the Suns last night so they should be a little tired.
The minutes of Bullock will go down with Granger playing,he will play garbage minutes.
When Jamal is back yes, but what about filling the 2 spot while he is out?
Pelicans will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back so I expect them to be more than tired especially after trying to keep up with the fast-paced Suns last night. Clippers can and should win this one.
I'm looking forward to seeing Glen Davis and Danny Granger play in this game.
Pelicans thought that about us on Monday plus Davis came back already:
The good news is that Granger's first game isn't against Miami or other stiff competition, so he should get a chance to play significant minutes. But with only one practice under his belt. Doc only has like 24 games or so to get ready for the playoffs and to get Granger into the flow with his team mates. If Doc sees Granger as the guy in the playoffs, and not Bullock, it is easy to predict who will be getting minutes. I wonder when the first time we will see somebody try to throw a "Lob City" pass to Big Baby. It's a bird, it's a plane, no...it's Super Baby...able to leap tall buildings with a single bound.
IF the team gives a lob pass TO him in tonight's game, when he comes down, all the concession stands will have to restock their chip racks, lol!
I Have been counting down the minutes and hours for this game lol
I am really excited to see Granger and big baby play today(I had school Wednesday so didn't watch big baby)
I don't think Granger will return to all star level, but definitely way better player than Dudley and Barnes.
Lets get this W tonight!!
More playing time for Granger and Davis for chemistry integration to the team.
I hope nobody freaks out this time and tempers their expectation. Doc knows what he's doing and will give players minutes the way he sees fit. At the same time, here's hoping it's an early blowout so we can see Davis and Granger with more minutes than expected today.
If I were a gambling man I would guess Willie. Been there done that and held the fort last season so why not now for a couple of games. then we see Darren Roll into backup pg and sg. Then new guys take the field
Yeah I would guess Willie too.
i think collison might start at the 2. he seems to get all of willie's minutes
If Collison starts who gives CP a rest?
same thing i was thinking. wouldn't mind seeing green start though
Forgot to mention, I'll plan on being at one of these places by 7pm so I can reserve a spot for ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME, But I have to hear from you so I can make the arrangement, so get a hold of me, and meet with you tonight!
lol If I still lived in Rancho Cucamonga I'd go.
collison will start for jamal crawford
Sounds fun... too bad I'm in San Diego.
Does anyone know for sure if Crawford is out for tonight? I read that he's supposed to be out 2-3 games, but I was hoping that he would feel better by today.
Doc said granger might not even play today.
Well that sucks! I hope he does play today
Can we hear DGs interview, dang!
Here you go:
http://www.nba.com/clippers/video/2014/ ... ov-3178129
I hope that when Jamal comes back, he goes back to the 2nd unit. I rather see Willie Green play the 2 while Redick's out. At age 34, I think Crawford can use less minutes.
It always helps to have CP3.
Big Baby's jumper was automatic in the background of Mike Smith and Kristina Pink!
Have not been so excited about a free agent pick up in a long time. So pumped for this game.
Players wearing Los Clippers practice shirts. I wonder if we'll have the same jerseys.
When JJ coming back?
Maybe playoffs... Idk
No Danny today!
Wtf DG can't play now?!
Clerical error my ass
Dang, no Danny tonight. I was hoping to see him play tonight.
Los Clippers!
What's the reason Danny can't play tonight?
ETA: Someone messed up on the active roster list. Ugh.
No Granger? I'm so excited to watch the game tonight to see Danny play.
I don't get why granger is inactive tonight. He says he was healthy. We don't have both of our SG and we'll be short with players. Why wouldn't he play?!


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text:
Nice introduction, thanks Christian
Great overview!
thank you Christian,
designed multiple custom USB device interfaces
Thanks Great Introduction Looking forward to tomarrow
I currently support USB devices and have wrtten some exploritory code to detail the root hubs and detect different types of devices. I am interested in continuing on with this code.
I'm looking forward to this week because it is very relevent to my work
Hi picking up this one late
Work blocks the streamming audio so
@gongji, the A and B connectors are to distinguish a host from an endpoint. The A connector plugs into a host and the B connector plugs into an endpoint. So, the cable between your PC and your printer has an A connector on the end going to the PC and a B connector going to the printer. This helps keep the signal polarities correct as well as preventing someone from trying to use the printer as a USB host.
In fact, I dont think any USB cable has the A connector on both ends. If it did, somone could really mess things up by trying to connect two hosts together.
Your flash drives have only an A connector because, in essence, the functional equivalent of the cable with its B-end is an integral part of the flash drive, so only the A end of the "cable" is actually used.
Cheers from Massachusetts
Thanks for the presentation. :-)
a lot of materials for 30 minutes. It is very good, but the presentation felt rushed.
why did the USB committee define A and B connectors? I don't see the B connector that much anymore. In fact, I have only seen the A connector on all my USB external drives.
Thank you for the information
processor clock speed is 125MHz
we are designing USB3.0 flash controller
Good seminar lot to be covered.
To become familar with USB, to upgrade serial based equipment designs that are being phased out in the near future.
Thanks Christian; excellent presentation
Various uses, from connecting serially to a PC as a terminal to uploading data to/from a memory stick to adding a keyboard interface.
Hello from Wisconsin!
good day to all
each time I learn something new...
good info
thank you
Thank you, it is great!
Excellent presentation, Thanks from CA
Data upload, debug
Hi from Oregon
Late today....sorry to have missed it live....thanks for taping and archiving.
Good session, thanks
One of the slides mentions that USB cables are made with wires size 28 AWG. This is the minimal size, but the actual configuration of the cable depends on the current consumption of the load and the overall length of the cable.
Thanks, looking forward to tomorrow.
I think the "stack" is not hardware registers. It means some software framework for USB.
You say that I need a CPU in my FPGA controller because I need to implement a "stack". But a stack is nothing more than a bunch of registers. I can very simply build a bunch of registers in my FPGA. Also, I can construct finite state machines of virtually any complexity. So, what also am I missing? I really would like to think about using USB, but I would like to keep the implementation in my FPGA-based controller as simple as possible. Thanks, Christian.
OK, chat with you tomorrow.
You are welcome!
Have a great day. I'll be here the rest of the week for this great lecture.
We will see the electrical specification tomorrow.
It is preferable for a Hub to be self-powered to be able to provide power for all its ports.
The maxmum cable length is from one port (Host or Hub) to the next device (Hub or Device).
Thank you. I'm learning a lot.
The maxmum cable length is from one Host or Hub port to the next device (Hub or Device).
I like to learn to update and use the applications:
We will look at the Classes and how to use them on Wednesday.
Great. All the equipment is going into a 19" rack so it would be nice to have just one hub. Is the maximum cable length per device? from the host or hub? or total length of all cables as in the IEEE-488 spec.?
Is there a maximum number of devices per hub?
I want to make sure I answer your question correctly. There can be as many downstream devices from a Hub if there are other hubs downstream. A Hub port is one connection, an extension of the bus.
Let me know if I answered your question.
The limit on a bus is 127 devices because of the addres field (7 bits).
If you have a hub with enough hardware and mechanical resources to have 126 ports (1 address will be used by the Hub to identify itself to the Host), then it is possible.
Yes, 6 hops: Host - Hub - Hub - Hub- Hub - Hub - Device.
I like to learn to update and use the applications.
Can I implement the protocol without the need for a CPU in my controller's FPGA?
You need a CPU, the Software stack for a Device is fairly simple but require a CPU. A USB Device stack can be implemented with the requirement for a kernel ( in a SuperLoop model).
using 20-24mhz on PIC 18f
Thank you.
I interpret "hop" as "tier" in slide 6. Therefore with a maximum of seven tiers, there would be a maximum of six hops. Is this correct?
If it is 8 bits, why not 255 devices?
Yes, good point. The address field in USB is 7 bits... We will see that Wednesday
The latest Jan Axelson USB book (2011) is available in Kindle edition. for 15USD -- however it is aimed at Linux embedded.
No current application, but looking to use for configuration and upgrades
I was wondering about the USB ports embedded in laptops. It appears that the front USB ports aren't the same as the rear USB ports. One set will show a modem folder in Device Manager while the other set will not. Is there a hierarchy in USB? Is this a Host Controller issue?
Yes, in this case the front ports are driven by one USB Host controller and the rear ports by a different (second) one.
It is a capability issues. There is not hierarchy.
Is there a "hop" limit or a maximum number of ports on a given hub?
If you have enough resoruces, the limitation will be the field used to represent the Nbr of Ports (8 bits, if I remember correctly)
I am interested in having a cpu communticate with a "smart" power supply controller, or controllers. I am interested in using USB for interconnections between host and "device" rather than use boards communicate using ISA bus, or even PCI bus--using the PC104 format. This would drastically reduce the number of I/O connections to the FPGA on the "device" which must communicate with the host. I need to know if the protocol is simpiler to implement that the alternative protocols. I don't know the USB protocol AT ALL. So, would I gain anything using USB bus rather than ISA? What is required in the "device" to communicate over USB? Can I implement the protocol without the need for a CPU in my controller's FPGA? This question is particularly of interest to me. I imagine the host (PC104 CPU) has plenty of software support already to communicate, but what do I need in my smart controller ("device") to communicate over USB?
Thanks Christian and Jen
Thank you Christian. Unfortunately I was experiencing audio issues, so I missed the beginning part where you spoke of Host Controller speed. I was wondering about the USB ports embedded in laptops. It appears that the front USB ports aren't the same as the rear USB ports. One set will show a modem folder in Device Manager while the other set will not. Is there a hierarchy in USB? Is this a Host Controller issue?
This is a great presentation... any chance of turning it into a 2 week course?
The Host driver question will be addressed Thursday
PC have the notion of Virtual COM ports. If your device can follow the CDC-ACM class, the major OSs have drivers for it
Back to the drawing board.
¸If you want your product to be a USB Device, then yes, you need a B connector
Are there any generic PC drivers to support serial profile on a device?
Thunderbolt versus USB 3.0: This is why USB 3.0 was designed.....competition
When you connect a hub to a host port. the hub is reconized as a HUB device and will report the number of ports it has. The Host will know. We will see tomorrow how electrically the host is made aware of the existence of a device
Where does Thunderbold fit into the USB evolution?
Telling me the device only uses the B connector tells me I bought the wrong connectors for my projects. Looking for one with Ethernet and USB in the same connector housing. Won't find similar for IEEE-488.2.
The Host of the Hub are the USB network elements that provide power.
So any A connector will provide power
From the perspectiv eof slide #9, if you plug a 4-port USB extender into a USB por on your computer (to turn 1 port into 4) where would each of the 4 extended ports fall?
You'll hear about wireless USB in upcoming classes that cover 802.15.4 and ZigBee
Good books on USB are books from Jan Axelson.
The Micrium team also published a USB Device Book that is downloadble from the Micrium web site
For OTG connector(micro-A usb connector, ex) , does it always need to provide power as host?
THanks for the introduction to USB. Explaining the connector and signal changes from 2.0 to 3.0 was very useful
Numbered slides would be helpful.
Good show!
Keep up the good work. Rodney B. Rutherford
Thanks Christen. I feel that this will be great stuff to know.
Wireless USB went against WiFI, Bluetooth and Zigbee.
THis is why we don't hear about Wireless USB anymore.
Wireless technology that transport IP packets will prevail.
Thanks. Nice intro.
Thanks for the presentation Christian. Do you forsee any microcontrollers / microprocessors providing a USB 3.0 device and/or host port in the near future?
Great start, can't wait for next segments.
Nice introduction, I can hardly wait for the next few classes - Thank You!
Thanks Christian
Good intro, looking forward to the embedded portion.
Thank You.
Thank you Christian & Jen
Thanks Christian!
Thank you Christian for an excellent introduction
Slide 12: Diagram for Type A Connector shows Data pins are 2 and 3, while Type B connector shows Data are on pin 1 and 4...
Thanks Jenifer and Christian.
Thanks, great intro
Thank you Christian!
Thank you!
Thanks for the overview. Looking forward to the meat!
Interesting presentation
Thank you for today's presentation Christian
thanks, great intro
Thanks Christian! Great class.
Any good reference book you suggest?
looking forward to Wednesday.
For the slide number, you can click on outline, and follow along that way.
Whatever happend to Wireless USB?
Great presentation - thanks
thanks danlafleur
16/32 bit does not make a difference for our applications... at this time.
I see some people using a 430, other PIC32, etc. Does it make a difference whether you're at 16 or 32 bits?
@ Admin / Jennifer: For some reason the slide numbers stopped starting in slide 12. Also, the slide numbers are very hard to see since they are buried beneath the "DigiKey Continuing Education Center" banner.
I'm looking ARM M0 & M3 parts from ST, NXP and ST and looking to use USB like a serial port for debugging.
Please add page numbers to your slides.
I can see the slides now
PSOC 40MHz
Cypress FX2LP and Microchip PIC32
Host side: Intel Atom OTS board. Several Huds (tbd). Device side: STM32F103 (ARM Cortex A3) USB Full-Speed.
I'm interested in emitting USB from within a software simulation of a still-being-designed chip - definitely slow-mode!
Are there microcontrollers that can have a seperate high-speed clock for the hardware-centric USB 2.0 interface but clock the microcontroller core at a slower speed to save power?
Stellaris Cortex M4 @ 80 MHz.
51 Mhz
We are using an FPGA with embedded micro at 60 MHz (synced to external USB Phy).
PIC18/24 at 16MHz
Not doing USB yet, learnging for future need
OSC - 25MHz
I use ARM and AVR from 8Mhz to 100Mhz for data collection.
ARM Cortex A8 400-600 MHz
Using a 16 MHz Atmel
NXP, 24MHZ clock
Intel IXP465 533MHz
we have centred on MSP430 family for new products
I am interested in investigating USB as the protocol for interfacing a computer to devices, controllers, and sensors in industrial processing equipment. I am finding the environment to be too noisy for reliable USB. What can I do do improve the robustness in this environment?
MSP430 -- 16 MHz -- Cortex M3/M4 -- 50MHz to 80MHz
uC at 50-100MHz
No worries, Jay. You can find the entire class archived on the site.
@jay_madore He wants to know why you're interested in USB.
hello from Spokane
more and more the equipment I interface to is usb, used to be rs-232.
hello from Toronto area.. sorry a bit late
using Atmel AT90USB1286 (embedded USB Controller) to interface to PC USB master
I would like to learn more about enumeration. I would like to send information to the embedded device while enumerated as an HID device. I woule like to learn how to enumerate as multiple types from, i.e. HID and cdc.
Test equipment that interfaces to PC via USB.
Why is it limited to 127 devices?
Use for communication and control of test equipment
Use USB as a common device interface.
to better understand usb and it's protocol.
Want to figure out how to do serial profile to device's device connection from PC
As USB is more and more the hub of today's device interconnectedness, I want to understand how it works to see how I may take better advantage of it in the future.
Our company designs user interfaces for various industries and we typically use USB as the direct interface for standalone modules, or as the communication protocol between our part and the main processor board.
that explains why my Toshiba tablet has a host and a device USB connector
I am looking to use USB to communicate with microcontrollers to gather sensor data.
USB for secure data storage, e.g. secure token.
Multiple custom designed USB device (Sensor sampling at 100Hz) connecting to a PC.
write drivers for both host and target.
Use USB for high speed serial interconnect between two pieces of hardware (systems).
Various interfacing uses, such as USB connections to Bluetooth Modules, Wifi, etc. Also, generic connection to USB based data storage.
will it only be audio?
Primary intention for using USB in our embedded products would be focused on transfer speed. Getting data from point A to point B as fast as possible. It would be nice to use USB 3.0 but that doesn't seem likely for low-power embedded devices in the near future.
Designing an evaluation board for an Optical Transport Processor; using USB as a user interface to control the evaluation board.
interfacing with PC, android devices, etc...
I would like to use USB for full duplex communication between Windows PC and custom industrial automation electronics.
I'm very interested in the 2-wire pair implementation.
I used as Host,Device and OTG for communication across modules
Send SPI and audio data...
Not using at present but may need to know for the future
@Christian: no current USB application but would like to have some details on how to implement USB and avoid typical problems.
Using USB for firmware updates and log file offload.
How to network USB nodes and communicate each to other?
I like to design test equipment to inteerface into a computer
I have USB in my embedded product now. I'm looking for any design issues I may have missed. Some very new USB flash drives are unreliable.
We're forced to use USB during embedded firmware dev because they TOOK OUR UART AWAY!
: )
USB connection between a PC and my embedded system.
communication between modules
I can not see the slides
use USB for remote sensor applicaitons (temp. Humidity, etc)
I'm putting USB, Ethernet and IEEE-488.2 in test equipment I'm designing.
greater understanding the challenges of implementing USB in embedded systems.
Hook up disk drive to embedded -- TI Stellaris Cortex M3/M4 in particular. Plus transfer data to PC.
RS232 virtually obsolete in industrial control
I use USB for all the development boards I use now
I plan to use USB for transmitting channels of digital audio.
Using USB to design external sensor modules.
interfacing w/hardware to configure a device.
Mostly for academic purposes
transfer data to pc
I was designing RS232 equipment in 1969... I thought RS232 was there well before me...
Got audio back
To anyone having trouble with audio - try refreshing your browser and hitting play again. If that's not working, the class will be available in our archive. We find Firefox works best.
If audio keeps dropping out the red buffer line may not be there. If you can, try a different browser.
I own one of those swiss army knives w/the USB memory device in it.
I can't seem to open the .ppt file with Open Office.
Jim Hughen
Audio keeps dropping out.
Audio fine now..
Try refreshing your brower. It might be your connection.
audio just fine
audio is not good enough here. always stop
getting hiccups in the audio...
Hi Jeffrey, did you click the play button?
no audio
Hello from Richmond, TX.
To test audio before a lecture, open an archived file. If audio works on it, it will work for the lecture.
Hello from Toronto
audio is loud and clear...
Hi All.
Audio is active
Hello everyone!
Hello from sunny Miami.
Hello from Costa Mesa, CA
audio has started, good here.
audio ia running
Got audio!
Hi all
Hello from Montreal, Quebec.
hello everyone
If the show starts and you don't hear the audio, try refreshing your browser.
Hello everyone.
Could you open the audio player now so we can test it?
Enjoy the show!
Hi everyone, we are set to begin in less than 2 minutes. If you haven't already, please download today's slide deck, which you will find under Special Educational Materials.
Hello from Dallas, TX
Good day everyone, from Ottawa ON
Hello from Fredericksburg, VA.
is too bad that we do not have a sound test. We find out at lecture time
hello all from Edmonton, AB
Hello from Chatsworth, CA.
Hello from Wheaton IL
I don't see the audio player yet.
Hi USB class,
This is Jim Hughen ready to go.
Hello from Corona, California
Howdy from Texas!
Hi from Tulsa
HI, everyone
Greetings from Florida.
online and ready to go.
Good afternoon from eastern MA.
This is Christian and I am online.
9:45AM from North pole, AK
Morning, it's -25 degrees below
(Global warming)
binarybrain-The audio player will apear above at 2pm EST. You may need to refresh at that time, and click the play button, if it does not start automatically.
Waiting for the start...
Hello - When / where does the audio link appear?
Hello from Millington, Michigan
Hello all from Cedar Park Texas...
Good morning from Boise, ID
Howdy :)
I'm very familiar with this week's lecturer. You're in for a treat.
@Joefrom Ozarks...
Good thought -- it wil be now. ;-)
Hi from Bethlehem, PA
Hello from Scottsdale Arizona (70degF at 11AM)
Hello from Sunrise, Florida, The sun-shine state!
Hello from Minneapolis (8 degF this morning!)
one ping only.
@DaveWR Is that a song? :)
Hello everyone
First of all... You were late for Thanksgiving by a month...
Hello from very snowy SE Lake Simcoe Ontario Canada...
It's snowblower time... Even Santa's resindeer get stuck in this stuff, and the Sled Dogs take shelter.
Hello from Arizona! Nice and warm here.
Howdy folks, from SW Missouri! :)
Good Day from Mobile, AL
howdy - eh!
Hello - Eh! from the warm climes of Canada
too early
ciao from Italy :)
hi everyone
Good morning from Logan, UT.
good morning to all
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Saying goodbye is never easy, but alas, it's time. A salute to the Astros and their fans.
Three years ago, Roy Oswalt, a native of Weir, Miss., (pop. 500), built a restaurant smack dab in the middle of his hometown and near three others, intending to give people who lived nearby a place to go for a nice dinner without having to drive 30 miles into town to do so.
Oswalt promised me that when the restaurant was complete and ready for public consumption, he would invite me to come to town so I could cover the grand opening. True to his word, when the date was finalized, he sent a text message that he was ready, and he offered up a room in his lodge located on his sprawling white tail deer ranch.
Roy's friend, Joey, showed me around the place while Roy was busy at the restaurant preparing for the opening. Joey drove me around the hundreds of acres of land on a four-wheeler, doing his best to explain the country life to a city girl whose idea of "getting back to the land" was hiring someone to trim the six feet of grass that sits in front of her townhome off Washington Ave.
Joey was a great host. He showed me the lake Roy built with the bulldozer Drayton McLane gave him years earlier. He drove me by several wooded areas where white-tail deer freely roamed. And, much to my delight, he got as close as he could to the deer, even as they freaked out and sprinted in the opposite direction, which is what deer do when intruders (me) show up.
After a long afternoon on the ranch and a tasty dinner at Roy's new restaurant, Joey ticked off the list of activities for the next day. First up: waking up at 5 a.m. to artificially inseminate the white-tail doe, with contributions from super-special, well-bred deer from an undisclosed, far-away place where super-special deer apparently are raised.
"It's going to be great," Joey said, excitedly.
"You know, that sounds fascinating," I said. "But I think I'm going to go ahead and sleep in," I said.
That visit to Roy's hometown occurred a few months after I began a new job with my old team, a position designed to bring the fans closer to the Astros through the annals of Social Media and blogging. That trip was the first of many in-depth glimpses to our team, for our fanbase, with the intention to give insight as to who these players are and what makes them tick. We wanted to show them not as robots but as people, beyond what you can see for yourself by watching on TV and reading in the paper.
We felt the best way to implement that plan was to provide a never-ending stream of behind-the-scenes access through storytelling, photos and videos. To illustrate the ins and outs of the Houston Astros. To make fans feel like they were part of the process.
Simply put, the last three years have been an absolute blast. But now, as is the case with most elements of life, it's time to move on.
Over the last 16 seasons, I've had three jobs: first with the Astros, then with MLB.com, and then back with the Astros. In another week, I will leave my post with the Astros to go back to MLB.com for an exciting new opportunity. I'll be a national correspondent, working with all 30 teams on a variety of levels. My first assignment will be All-Star week.
While I've obviously had plenty of experience changing jobs, this one is a huge leap, because although I'll still be based in Houston, for the first time, I will no longer be working exclusively with the Astros. So this, in many ways, is goodbye.
I'm not really into "farewell" columns writers post when they're on the move, but I do want to express my gratitude to you, the readers. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thanks for all of it — the good, the bad and the loud disagreements. For the give and take, the back and forth, the laughter and the spirited debates. Mostly, I thank you for trusting me, for knowing you could ask me just about anything, and accepting my answers as candid, honest and forthright. That was hugely important to me.
Those of you who are regular readers of this blog know I like to ramble on about a bunch of completely unrelated topics. I figure that would be a fitting way to end this chapter. So here we go:
* Your Astros are in extremely good hands. I refer to Jeff Luhnow as a rock star (although I'm not sure if I've ever told him that. Guess he knows now). He understands what it takes for an organization to sustain long-term success and is building the Astros accordingly. Sure, he's smart and savvy, but he has that little something extra that makes you believe he's going to be in this job a long while. He gets baseball, he gets people, and let's face it, he's just a really cool dude. The first thing he said to me when we met at his introductory press conference was "I follow you on Twitter." I think @drjohnreyes phrased it perfectly when he said, "Jeff Luhnow being on Twitter is like finding out your parents skydive."
* Jim Crane also gets it. The worst thing an owner can do is take over a team, put a sound plan in place to build a winner, and then blow a jillion dollars on a free agent past his prime, messing up the team's financial structure for the next decade. This will not happen with Crane. He hired smart, capable people to run the baseball operation, and he's leaving it up to them to do just that. The plan is in place and they are sticking to it. Trust me, it's a good plan. My money's on it working.
* Despite the Astros' current record, the organization as a whole is in a very good place. The Minor League teams are winning, a lot. This would be in stark contrast to the last several years, when the Minor League teams were losing, a lot. If it sounds simple, that's because it is. Luhnow's mantra: build the Minor League rosters with winning in mind. That means disregarding who was drafted in what round and feeling a need to push former high picks through the system just for the sake of moving them. Now, it's about performance and development, and little else.
* Minute Maid Park is still one of the premier ballparks in baseball. For the last 10 years, my top three have not changed: Minute Maid Park, AT&T Park (San Fran) and PNC Park (Pittsburgh). Working from Minute Maid Park has been a pleasure, and I'm guessing the fan experience isn't much different.
* For all of the grief Ed Wade took, he did a lot of good work here. There's a lot of talent in the Minor League system and many of those players were obtained under Wade's watch. You haven't heard a lot about them, but you will. Soon.
* I don't care what Chris Snyder's batting average is. He's been a great addition to this team. He has that certain something that makes him a perfect presence in a big league clubhouse. Every team needs that veteran guy who keeps things steady, can relate to all teammates and handles winning and losing with an unwaveringly calm approach. He's a ballplayer, in the truest sense. He needs to stick around.
* I hated the hot sauce packet mascot race. Mascots who run in races, by definition, need eyes. When you put faces on inanimate objects, it's funny. And what's up with Mild Sauce losing every day? I know Texans like their spicy toppings, but come on. Totally fixed.
* Six years ago, Oswalt and I made a friendly wager. He insisted that when his contract ran out after 2011, he was going to retire. I disagreed, guessing he'd keep pitching. The wager: dinner. Roy, changing your cell number doesn't get you off the hook. Pay up.
* When the Astros were winning and winning and winning in 2004 and '05, the rosters were comprised mostly of players who had never played for another Major League team. Most were drafted by the Astros (Berkman, Biggio, Oswalt, Ensberg, Lane, etc.) and others were obtained through trades as Minor Leaguers (Bagwell, Everett). This created a sense of unity among teammates that made the winning that much more meaningful. When the modern-day Astros start rolling again, the rosters again will be filled with mostly players who were drafted and developed by this organization. That's significant.
* Best moment: Covering the clubhouse scene when the Astros won the pennant. What I remember most about the World Series was not that the Astros were swept, but that Craig Biggio said to me at least three times, "You know, this was totally worth the wait."
* Worst moment: Covering the clubhouse scene the day Darryl Kile died, 10 years ago today. The grief was overwhelming. I've never witnessed such complete devastation and I sensed that some of Kile's friends would never be able to get past the loss.
* Best quote: Billy Wagner. You just never knew what was going to fly out of his mouth. A reporter's dream, a team's (occasional) nightmare.
* Most nerve-racking non-Astros moment: Watching, in person, Brad Lidge attempt to nail down the save in the World Series clinching game for the Phillies in 2008. I was covering the Series for MLB.com and my assignment was to document the postgame celebration on the field. I snuck down to the seats right behind the third-base dugout and watched the ninth inning from there. I was so nervous for Lidge that I actually feared I was going to either pass out or toss my cookies. Fortunately everything turned out well for both of us.
* Most challenging moment: Covering Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS. Reporters have to turn in game stories five minutes after the last out is made, and with two outs in the ninth, no one on base and Lidge on the mound, I had 700 words written about the Astros' pennant-clinching win over the Cardinals. Ten minutes later, Albert Pujols launched his moon shot to left field, and I had no choice but to highlight the story, push delete, and start over. (Honorable mention: the 18-inning win over the Braves in the NLDS. When games go that long, paragraphs that were important three innings ago eventually become irrelevant. So for three hours, it was type, delete. Type, delete. Rinse, repeat.)
* Favorite memory that I couldn't write about: I finished my game coverage around 3 a.m. after the Astros clinched the pennant in St. Louis and walked back to the media dining room to pour a Budweiser beer from the single tap located near the eating area. I propped my feet up, savored the moment and realized I was probably drinking the very last Bud beer ever to be poured in old Busch Stadium. The ballpark was razed the next morning.
That should just about do it. Thank you again for your friendship. I will continue blogging and tweeting in my new job, so I hope you'll continue to follow along. In the meantime, please continue to follow @astros for information about your hometown nine.
Be well, Astros fans!
91 Comments
Not nice! This is NOT April Fool's Day!
Thanks, Alyson! All the best!
Alyson, we hardly knew ye. Congrats on MLB. I look forward to your continuing saga, but will always cherish your association with the Astros.
Thank You Alyson! You have done a GREAT job covering our Astros!
I hate to see you go but, but good luck with the new gig. MLB.com is getting the best there is🙂
THANK YOU Alyson!!
I've always enjoyed your work and great inside information!
I also enjoyed watching you from time to time on FSN Houston.
I've been a "life long" Astros fan since the 6th grade in 1975 living in Wisconsin.
I remember seeing you in Milwaukee from time to time as I never missed an Astros game when they were in town.
BEST OF LUCK with the new job at MLB I know you'll "knock it out of the park"
Oh man…i'm trying to be happy for you Alyson but it's a struggle. I'll tell you one thing that you need to take with you. You made a hugely positive difference in the Astros organization. You made it fun to follow the Astros on days when it otherwise wouldn't have been. Take care of yourself. See you on twitter/facebook and MLB.com.
Will continue to follow you on mlb. Why Houston? Why not New York? I figured your next gig would be with MLB.TV in one of those roles. We'd love to have you up here.
Let me say "thank you" for everything you have done. There is no doubt you'll kick ass in your new position, and I wish you all the best! With that being said, this is very sad, and I'll miss you. Take care.
Congrats and best of luck Alyson! You will truly be missed.
Congratulations! I always enjoyed reading your blogs and will continue to follow your work at mlb.com. Good luck on the new job!
Alyson, You were the best at what you did for the Astros. And very much helped our city during some bummer times. I wish you the best in everything you do. -Steph
This makes me sad! But congratulations anyway. Hope it's a great job!
Thanks Alyson. Living in Fort Smith, Ark. since1999, and following you, Brownie, JD, Brian and Milo and Co. on radio is like living in my hometown of Conroe. You will always be apart of the Astros' family.
Thanks for am the some of the greatest pictures and blogs and keeping the Astros Fan community in the know with all your tweets and whatnot! You will be greatly missed! Congrats on the new position. You've made such a difference for us social media addicts! Xoxo!
I've enjoyed reading your work, your radio spots, & the times that you replied back to my tweets..good luck to you, hope to see your work down the road…
joe b. housson
Allyson, I will miss your wonderful gift of gab and photos you bring to us, the fans. But, good luck on your new job — sounds just wonderful!!!! Will be looking for you and will still follow you on the Twittermachine.
Best of luck on your new endeavour. You've been great in everything you've done here and we thank you for it. "Candid, honest, and forthright" would be perfect adjectives for the job you have done. Hope you will come to some SABR meetings.
Agree 100% with everything you say about Jeff Luhnow and the direction of the organization. These guys know what they are doing. An acquaintance with ties to the Cardinals organization made the comment, "Losing Luhnow is a bigger loss than losing Albert." I can believe that.
I was there the night that Mild won. It was in late September.
As for the dinner bet with Roy. You know it's at his restaurant in Weir, and this time the deer insemination is included, right?
Thanks, Alyson. Greatly enjoyed all your work and will continue to follow. I remember when this whole thing started with your announcement 3 years ago of the new position with the Astros. I thought "That's gutsy. This whole social media thing is just a fad." Boy was I wrong. Now I am as addicted as anyone to the flow of information and the insights that were never possible before. It has opened up a whole new world to my eyes. I cross my fingers every day that nothing goes horribly wrong and it all closes up like a clam shell, never to be opened again. I think you should definitely consider the last 3 years a success. Goal achieved. Good luck with the new job!
Will miss you terribly! Congratulations and best wishes on your new job.
WOW! Hate to see you leave. I have always enjoyed your Astros stories. They were interesting and a great insight into the team as people and not just ball players. Sometimes opportunities present themselves that we would be foolish to pass up and this is obviously one for you. Hope the Astros can find someone to continue the great programs you started (like Social Media games) and give us glimpses into what makes our team tick, Ball season won't be the same without you but best of luck in your new position.
Good luck with the new job! Won't be the same at mmp. I am there every game for bp, come out when you get a chance.
Congratulations on the new role and thanks for sharing your insight and experiences with the Astros! The important thing is, we still get to follow you and hear about the 29 teams in the MLB, that has to be one of the best jobs in baseball (other than actually being on the field!) Looking forward to it!
Alyson, Your value to the Astros and their fans is immeasurable. The social media nights were unprecedented in the Astros experience as was the insight you shared with us. I wish you the best of everything and hope that you keep in touch as we will, of course, continue to follow you! I don't know if anyone can really "take your place" but I hope the Astros continue the social media programs you started. You even got an old gal like me on Twitter. Having you to help celebrate my milestones with CAL was the best. We were planning my official retirement party on the next social media night in July. I can honestly say it won't be the same without you. Good luck and God speed.
Alyson…you are simply the best…I am really going to miss you in the press box and giving you a hard time and long games…I wish you the best in your new adventure and I know you will be successful in whatever you undertake…Hope to see you at some point back in Houston
Good luck Alyson. Try to tone down the snark, know it all commentary I've come to know from you – it's not very flattering but best of luck!
Thanks Scrunchie! Actually how do you spell that? Anyhow your the best, I'm expecting a call to Granato and Sean manana!
Best of luck Alyson! Our loss is another's gain!
Say it ain't so Totto……….we're not in Houston anymore!!!! You'll be missed!
Congrats Scrunchy. We'll see you around.
Have really enjoyed your writing and hope to keep doing so. Please let us fans know where to find you in your new role.
Scrunchy, you wii be missed : ( I have followed your reporting from the start, have thoroughly enjoyed your wit, sense of humor, and light hearted approach following the one team that I have always and will always poured my heart and soul into. I was there for the infamous NLCS game 5 and much like you I had already moved on to the World Series as my friends and I poured beer on each other behind row 118! Since then I have never felt the same energy at The Juice Box nor same deflation! You shared the highs and lows and super lows of us Diehards. Admittedly I had a pretty sizable crush on you as well : / I wish you all the best with your future endeavors, and I'm quite sure if you ever get homesick Mr. Crane and the Astros will welcome you back with open arms! Good Luck- Russ S.
Thanks, Alyson, you've done an awesome job transitioning the Astros into the social media era, and look forward to your work with MLB.
Well done. Congrats and good luck.
Thanks, Alyson. You've done a great job for the Stros. Good luck & God bless.
Noooooooo!!!!!!! Alyson, you'll be missed. Beat of luck to you.
Back in Mar, 2011, you, Debby & I were sitting in the Bonefish Restaurant in Kissimmee, and I said to you that your next job would be with MLB.com and you said, "No way – I'm staying with the Astros." Much to my disappointment, I was right and you were probably wrong, for the first time. Can't tell you how much Debby & I will miss our visits with you. Still have great memories of you in Phoenix & Kissimmee. We love you, lady, and have always thought of you as one of our daughters. Hope we bump into you, again, real soon. I need one of your super hugs! Love you – Rhod & Debby
BTW – good luck, to you!
Nothing ever stays the same, and it shouldn't. You have been a wonderful listener to us when we were sooooo sad and angry, and when we had the highest of highs!!
We will go on to the AL, without you…..but please don't forget about us! Check in every now and then, to let US know how YOU are doing! Thank your family for
allowing us to borrow you for the last 10 years🙂🙂🙂 Take good care of yourself.
Way to go Alyson, you printed it just like Justice told you to. It must be hard to be a good spin on the worst team in baseball. The people of Houston are slowly beginning to come to the realiation that the Astros are not designed to win. They are supposed to flounder. In five years the Astros will pack their belongings in a garbage bag and move to wherever Heir Selig tells them to move. The attendance at MM is a huge joke around the league. Nobody even knows the name of the players posted on the outside of the ballpark. Ms. Footer, i can't blame you, get out while the getting is good. The time has come to face the truth, you WILL NOT put a winner on the field with the money Crane Inc. is willing to spend. I can't wait to see who (if anyone) will take your place. Maybe they can get a park vendor to pull double duty. It's obvious that you can't sell peanuts to nonexistant fans. Don't let the door hit you too hard.
Wow, you're ridiculous.
The attendance in Oakland and Tampa Bay are the jokes around the league. The Astros are bringing in decent numbers and the team is a lot better than they were expected to be and better than 4 other teams in MLB when they were expected to be bottom feeders. This is a young, excited team eager to play their hearts out because they love the game. They are better off if "fans" such as you stay away. You also downplay the hard work that Alyson put into her job. All you negative posters go back to grumbling about the economy and politics. We fans are tired of hearing the negativity. If you don't like the Astros, stay away. Please!
Glad you're headed somewhere you'll be able to spread your talent around all of baseball and being recognized for being the best writer in the sport! Thanks for all the great reporting and stories over the years, you will be sorely missed!
You've worn many hats & will be sorely missed. Enjoy your new job! God Bless.
Always appreciated the great work! And now that you're no longer an Astros employee you should make your presence known on a certain Astros fansite.
I was shocked and saddened by your posting and farewell. You did such a good job with the Astros, it is really hard to to lose you. You were a members of the Astros just like the players, coaching staff and broadcast crews. Although, we have never met personally, we have shared many things over the last few years. I was there for the Albert / Lidge meeting in 2005, the Clemens game in the LDS and yes sad to say, game 4 of the 2005 WS. Speaking of Washington Ave, I grew up a few blocks south of there at Memorial Drive. Was a Houston Buffs fan back then. Again, congratulations on the new job, you will bat .400 and make great plays like the Killer B's!
Well, it is with great sadness that I bid you farewell. Good luck on the new position. You will always be a part of the Astros to your fans, and yes you do have fans. The talk shows at the BWW will never be the same with out you. We will have a Blue Moon toast to you at each show. You COULD drop by sometime to see everyone too…
Alyson, A tip of the cap for your dedication through the years. We were lucky to have you. Damn lucky.
Having just met you this year and followed your blog regularly this year…it doesn't seem fair to loose your talents in the same timeframe. THANK YOU for all that you have done for the Astros and the fans! I am certain you will be greatly missed. Thanks, Bob Droubi
How many days will it take for you to train Luhnow as your replacement?
I have never taken the time to comment on your blog. Through the years I have constantly read your writings, enjoying your wit, candor and overall positive attitude while covering our local nine. I'll miss not being able to come to the Astros' homepage and the first link I click is yours. Well thanks for the your time and good luck in all of your future endeavors.
I was really not effected by anything that Alyson wrote until her goodbye article. Most of her information was sophmoric. Yeah, I get it she sweet talks the players and the management. I tried to look beyond that. The problem is that Alyson refused to say anything negative about anything to do with the Astros. I'm not gong to say that I'll never watch another game, I watch or listen to every game I can. I guess that if someone including Alyson would actually tell the truth about what is happpening and what has happened to the Astros, I would feel better. According to Alyson, in the last tweet, the GM is a rock star, Crane is a superhero, the team is the best in the league and Minute Maid is the best park in MLB. The fact is that I want someone of substance say the Bud Selig sold the Astros out, that Crane was willng to accept the move to the AL no matter what and the owner team has absolutely no intention of investing the real money to make the Astros a contender. The only thing that can be tracked down is the money spent on this team and it is not enough to produce a contender. The owners intend for the fans to fill the stands to watch a minor league team. I wish that Crane would have taken the 60 million that he saved by agreeing to move to the AL in real quality players. My only hope was in the draft. So what does the ownership do, they sign a bunch of high school players! I think that the owners are paying some PR company to write tweets, letters etc. to every baseball website, blog etc. preaching how great the team is. That is where Alyson comes in. Now Alyson can go do Buds whatever, but we all can go ROOT, ROOT, ROOT for what used to be a proud team.
I guess all good things must come to and end. My wife and I always enjoyed your blog as well as your social media nights. The insight you provided to the club was great!
Hope all the best to you in the future!
Thank you Alyson. .. Best of Luck in the future but know, we'll always consider you a part of the Astros!
Think what Hal was trying to say is the Crane bought Selig a new desk big enough for both Justice and Alyson to fit under. Furthermore, I agree with Hal in saying the Astros are a horrible excuse for a major league baseball team.
Alyson did say something neagative about the Astros. She didn't like the hot sauce packet races. I know she went out on a limb here, may cost her her job!
When is your last day Alyson? Becky😦😦😦
Now, that was a great final write up. Thank you for your opinions and insight. I have really appreciated your work as an Astros employee, I think they will have a hard time replacing you best of luck in the future. Your analysis and knowledge of the game will be missed as well as your world class hair! You are one gorgeous woman.. sorry this post went there, my wife is aware of my crush and thinks it funny. the combo of the sports knowledge and the rest does it for me🙂
Best of luck in your future endeavors.
Wow!!! What a shock! Well, your change is well deserved. Thanks Allyson for the nice memories & quality you brought into the Social Media Events. My wife & I will miss you at the succeeding SMEs, but we will try to keep them going in your honor, you deserve at least that much. Drop by the Budweiser patio when you can and say "Hi'. Good Luck in your new endeavor, we know you'll be great!
Thank you so much for your contributions to the Astros, Alyson. Your reporting was an indispensible lifeline to me while I was rooting for the Astros from abroad (outside of Texas, that is). And your multi-disciplinary approaches to this space and beyond have been pure joy for the past several years. I will miss you, but it thrills me to hear that you are moving on to even bigger and brighter things.
From the great Colt .45s jersey debate to photos of Astros checking into their hotel in the wee hours of the morning, thank you for this blog. Wishing you fair winds and following seas. P.S. Please tell Dave Raymond that his blog will have to take up the slack in your absence.
Oh NO!!!! Say it ain't so …………….you can't leave us. Just as we sit on the cusp of GREATNESS…………okay…….maybe not greatness, but certainly on the cusp of "we seem to be in better hands." You are GREAT! You have been great to read. While with MLB and then back with us, you are the glue that kept many Astros fans hanging on as fans because you made it personal bringing the guys to us by your photos and quips, stories and ALWAYS a fair opinion. You know I wish you the very best! Does this mean you will get to see your family more or less? Where will you be based? Please don't forget us…….. YOUR FANS in Houston. Will you be on TV more? Will be watching the tube to see if we can spot you at the All-Star game!! Have a blast. I hope this means you got a BIG FAT RAISE to leave us. God Bless you Alyson, I know I speak for many, many fans when I say we have appreciated all of your hard work to bring our team a little closer to us. ALWAYS travel safely, and may God hold you in the palm of his hand as you travel. Come back to visit us, and when you see Roy O…….tell him I miss him, and wish him all the success in the world and that because of him………I now root, root, root for the Rangers, and he will never stand alone on the mound!
Linda Montoya
Allison, you are a class act. I have enjoyed my Astros so much more because of your efforts. Thank you and good luck at MLB.com (again). Crossing my fingers you'll make your way back to the Astros down the road some day.😉
You will be so, so missed, Alyson! I'll never forget the winter meetings in 2005, going there as a job-seeker and fan, and sitting by myself in a bar at the hotel one evening as you sat with colleagues – I said in my head, "gulp, that's Alyson Footer!!" – you did the job I always dreamed of, in ways I never could have dreamed. Best of luck in the future!
Thank you for all you have done for Social Media, MLB but most importantly our Astros!! You will be missed! Best of luck to you!
Bummer! We'll miss you…but Congrats on the new gig! Go 'Stros!
Congratulations on your new job. I wish you the very best. I'll miss your somewhat sarcastic sense of humor. I've enjoyed being able to tag along with you on your trips behind the scenes. I'm really going to miss all the pictures.
Best wishes & good luck!
I know YOU'RE going to be great in YOUR new job.
You will be missed..that's all I'm able to write through my tears..sappy broad! Thanks for the inspiration.
Wishing you the best on your new journey, but girl you will truly be missed.
You left the place better than you found it. I'll never forget how your piece on DK's passing expressed the mood of the team and touched my heart. Look forward to following you on MLB.com.
It is hard to watch when the great ones move on to other teams, whether by trade or free agency. I classify you as one of those true loses that fans will honestly miss. Thank you for your service through the good, bad ans ugly. You will be missed.
Thanks Alyson for the great work you did for the Astros Always enjoyed the Blog
Thank you and good luck! If there wasn't a game I could catch on tv I always looked to your posts on Twitter to keep me updated. Loved the random tweets about non baseball things as well.
We'll miss you Allison. We love our Astros and you had become that honest refreshing source of first hand information wherever I was when I travelled. We wish you the best at mlb.com. don't forget your Houston friends. We won't forget you! Dana Martin
Thank you, Allison. For everything. I'm now 16 (and a Junior in HIgh School), and I've been reading your writing ever since oh…4th grade? Somewhere around there. Anyways, I have never recieved information about my favorite team from any other source. You keep me beyond updated. You keep me updated so I can keep my friends updated, and anyother people who aren't as tuned into the 'Stros as me. You leaving is a very, very sad in my eyes! But, I do know one thing; From the many stories I've read from you, I know you work/worked your butt off. You deserve to be in the position you're recieveing, more than any other writer I've ever read. You inspire me way beyond most other things, other than Jesus, and my mom.
Again, Thank you!
Chandler Andrews.


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Isabella GRAHAM was my 3x great-grandmother and came from the county of Durham in the north of England, but ended her days at the other end of the country in Brighton, Sussex on the south coast of England.
Isabella was baptised in St. Mary's Church, Staindrop, Durham on the 11th June 1818. She was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth GRAHAM of New Raby, Staindrop. She appears to have been one of eleven children, although at least three of these did survive to adulthood.
New Raby appears to have been a small settlement about a mile north-east of the main part of the village of Staindrop and about half a mile east of Raby Castle. The houses now appear to have disappeared completely and the woodland surrounding it has engulfed them. I am sure there is an interesting story behind this if I had the time to look into it.
I have no record of Isabella until the 1841 census where she is still living with her father at New Raby, Staindrop along with a six year old John GRAHAM, who doesn't seem to be one of Isabella's siblings so is probably a nephew. Her father is described as an agricultural labourer but Isabella herself has no occupation given. Her mother had died a couple of years earlier in 1839, and her father would die three years later in 1844.
I have been unable to trace Isabella in the 1851, so the next record I have is of her marriage to my 3x great-grandfather Thomas KINGHORN in London in 1853. They were married on the 31st July 1853 in the parish church of St. James Piccadilly in Westminster, London. This was Thomas' third marriage but Isabella first, both were described as being of full age.
Thomas was a tailor and lived at 10 Great Windmill Street, whereas Isabella was living at 19 Great Windmill Street. Thomas' father was Thomas KINGHORN, the mail guard about whom I have written a great deal in the past. The witnesses at the wedding were Henry MORGAN (about whom I know nothing) and Dorothy GRAHAM, who was presumably one of Isabella's older sisters.
Together Thomas and Isabella had three children, before Thomas' death in May 1863, all three were baptised at St. Jame's Church where their parents had married.
- Dorothy Isabella KINGHORN (born 22 Jun 1854) my 2x great-grandmother
- Abraham Graham KINGHORN (born 25 March 1856)
- Isabella KINGHORN (born 1 Nov 1858)
In the 1861 census Thomas and Isabella are living at 3 Golden Place (just off Golden Square) in Westminster with their three children and one of Thomas' sons from his first marriage, also called Thomas. In 1871 the widowed Isabella (whose occupation is given as a nurse) is still at 3 Golden Place living with her son Abraham and three lodgers.
By 1881 Isabella has moved to Brighton, Sussex. She is living with her son Abraham and his wife Sarah and their three children at 79 Hanover Street, Brighton. By 1891 she has moved to join her daughter Dorothy Isabella and her husband Henry BATEMAN and their two children in nearby Preston, Sussex (on the outskirts of Brighton) at 19 Yardley Street. Her occupation is given as a retired nurse.
I don't know the exact date or cause of Isabella's death. Her death was registered in Brighton Registration District in Q3 1900. By this time her daughter Dorothy and her family had moved to Hurstpierpoint, Sussex but I don't know if Isabella had remained in Brighton or whether she went with them. The fact that the death was registered in Brighton doesn't mean that she was living there, she may have died at the hospital in Brighton. The only way to know for sure would be to get a copy of her death certificate.
I don't know where Isabella was buried (or cremated), I am guessing it was at one of the cemeteries at Brighton, but may have been at the cemetery at Hurstpierpoint. The problem is that the Brighton cemeteries charge an arm and a leg to search their records, I am hoping one day that they will become available online for a reasonable price.


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Every day we feature items from some of our trusted sellers who are offering deep discounts (usually between 20% and 90% off) and free shipping. The only catch is that we have limited quantities of these fixed-price items, and at these great prices, they won't last long. Once they're gone, they're gone.
We update featured deals at least once a day starting at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. And when we sell out of items during the day, we replace them with brand new deals. On newer deals you'll see a message that says something like "Added 2 hours ago" to let you know it's a fresh offer. Check back often to make sure you don't miss out on the latest Daily Deals.
Q.How is the discount on each Daily Deal item determined?A.The price that is stricken is the "List Price" for the item. The List price is the price (excluding shipping and handling fees) the seller of the item has provided at which the same item, or one that is nearly identical to it, is being offered for sale or has been offered for sale in the recent past. The price may be the seller's own price elsewhere or another seller's price. The "% off" simply signifies the calculated percentage difference between seller-provided List Price and the seller's price for the Daily Deal item. If you have any questions related to the pricing and/or discount offered in the Daily Deal, please contact the seller.
Q.Is it really free shipping?A.Absolutely. All Daily Deals have free shipping, always. Cool, huh?
Q.Does each Daily Deal last an entire day?A.Not always. When we sell out, the deal is over. If you see something you want, you'll want to grab it quickly. If you love it, chances are others will too, and we only have so many to go around. Also, eBay may for any reason, such as making room for another great deal, take down a deal before it sells out or before the end of the day.
Q.How often are Daily Deals updated?A.We start fresh every morning with four new deals at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. As these items sell out, we replace them with new offers throughout the day, so it's always a good time to check out eBay Daily Deals.
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A pedophile who is serving 40 years in prison for attacks on two 7-year-olds had more than 17,000 images of child pornography when arrested.
Robert Vernon Patnoude, 28, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Wednesday to one count of possession of child pornography. With his plea, a more serious charge of distribution of child pornography will be dropped.
"Seventeen thousand images of child pornography were discovered on a memory device," Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean Eichelberger said. "The defendant also had printed images."
Patnoude, who lived on Carline Road in Burnettown before his arrest, was heavily shackled and wearing beige South Carolina Department of Corrections-issue clothes. He spoke clearly and politely to Chief Judge Margaret Seymour.
On June 23, 2011, Patnoude pleaded guilty to six indictments for criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 11, and admitted to sexually assaulting two 7-year-old boys.
These charges came from General Sessions indictments. The attacks occurred between the fall of 2010 and the time of his arrest in March 2011. On Wednesday, Eichelberger told the court that the arrest came from a federal law enforcement operation tracking those downloading child pornography.
The prosecutor said an undercover agent downloaded child pornography from a peer-to-peer site. The agent tracked the Internet Protocol address of the person downloading the file to Patnoude.
Details about the arrest, in which neighbors of Patnoude were first thought to be the perpetrators, were not offered in court. Patnoude was leeching the wireless Internet connection of neighbors, without their knowledge or permission, to download the illegal images.
Now that his guilty plea has been accepted by the court, Patnoude faces up to an additional 10 years in prison. He is currently estimated to be released in 2051.


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Neighbor saves 8 toddlers from burning New Orleans home Wednesday
Fire caused by children playing with fire, investigators say
A neighbor rescued eight toddlers from an Uptown two-alarm fire caused by the children playing with the element, firefighters said.
The fire happened in the 2000 block of Josephine Street at 9:23 a.m.
Fire crews said a neighbor forced their way into the home and rescued eight toddlers between the ages of 3 and 5.
When crews arrived at the scene, the blaze had spread to the bedroom of the shotgun home and then to the kitchen, where the fire burst out of the windows, spreading to a nearby apartment building on Daneel Street. The neighboring house on Josephine Street was slightly damaged by the fire.
Initially, fire investigators didn't know that children were in the home when the fire began. After interviewing witness, they learned that a neighbor had saved the children from the inferno.
All eight children were in a bedroom and one of the boys set fire to the mattress, investigators said.
The New Orleans Police Department and the Department of Children and Family Services were called to the scene to investigate the condition and take custody of the children.
The fire was under control by 9:53 a.m. and no injuries were reported.
Copyright 2013 by WDSU.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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What better way to spend the coming bank holiday than a visit to Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, East Sussex? Well it will probably be raining this year so it might not be so good this year, but people have been visiting Beachy Head for pleasure for decades.
I've no idea if this was a bank holiday, or what time of year this photo was taken, but there are certainly plenty of people exploring the cliff top and enjoying the views, more so then I was there recently.
The people on this card are perhaps a little close to the edge, they are certainly closer than I got on my recent visit. Nothing spoils a good walk more than falling off a cliff or the cliff falling away from beneath your feet!
This card was published by Valentines, and although the postcard has been used, the bottom half of the date is missing, so I can't see when it was posted, but I would imagine it dates from around 1910.
Coincidently the first episode of the latest series of Ramblings on BBC Radio 4 features Clare Balding exploring Beachy Head with a group of disabled ramblers. The episode is currently available on the BBC iPlayer.


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There's only one thing you love more than blinged-out fashion: the Tigers. You might spend every Sunday shopping but you spend every Saturday in the stands cheering on your favorite team. Bring a little team spirit to the mall or an evening out with this LSU Sport Luxe wristlet! This super cute handbag displays a metallic design of a crowned heart and a "Forever" banner with gorgeous rhinestone accents. It also comes with a large heart-shaped charm that displays the Tigers logo and wordmark that is surrounded with more bling. With a bag full of team spirit you'll be in a great mood for another shopping spree!
- 80% Polyester/20% Cotton
- Carry handle with lobster claw clasp
- Officially licensed collegiate product
- Main zippered compartment with contrast silk lining & interior slip pocket
- Versatile strap can be worn over the shoulder or as a wristlet
- Measures approximately 9" x 5"
- Domed team graphics
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- Rhinestone accents
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- Brand: Little Earth
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I didn't really get a great deal achieved last week. Of course there was the trip down to Chichester yesterday, but I spent most of my free time thinking about this blog and the way forward, essentially trying to streamline things and make more time for actual family history research.
I have scanned my latest batch of postcards, like I was planning to, but I never got around to scanning the four wills, let alone start transcribing them. I must at least get them scanned this week and try to make a start on transcribing them. I also need to scan the two newspaper articles that I copied down at Chichester, and transcribe them as well.
I have done more work on the BOXALLs of West Dean, Sussex and I think I have achieved my original goal of identifying the six BOXALLs on the war memorial at West Dean. I am still a little unsure about one of the men, and there may also be one other who is not recorded on the memorial. This week I need to start pulling everything together, but also there is so much more work that I could be doing on the BOXALLs, there are so many of them that I could keep going for ages.
So this week is going to be mostly organising and sorting out, a bit of scanning and possibly some transcribing. I will be really interested to see if my blogging plans actually help free up my time for family history. Also I need to try and decide what I am going to do with the bundle of maps that I bought yesterday.


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A Jacksonville police officer quit after admitting he told colleagues he would volunteer to assassinate President Barack Obama.
Sam Koivisto said that his comments had been blown out of proportion and he had planned to retire in five months anyway.
The 57-year-old retired in November while facing an internal investigation into his comments to other officers after the presidential election. He told them that if an order came to kill Obama, he "wouldn't mind being the guy."
When questioned by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office integrity unit, he said he also didn't care if a nuclear explosion killed everyone in the northeastern U.S because they supported Obama. He told the investigators his comments were hyperbole and not actual threats.


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It has been a while since I have been to postcard fair (although I have still been buying postcards, mostly on eBay but also elsewhere), so it was nice to get chance to visit the Postcard and Collectors Fair at The Shoreham Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.
I was quite surprised to find the Shoreham Centre packed with people (both collectors and dealers) when I arrived, on previous visits I have found it a lot quieter, so it was good to see so many people. The Shoreham Centre is not particularly large but it is pretty convenient for me to get to, in fact a couple of years ago I walked there, it took me about four hours but I might try that again later in the year when the weather is better.
Results were mixed, as you can see from the pile of cards above there was quite a mixed bag, nine cards in all, all of which were Sussex. Three nice West Dean ones for my collection, another Beachy Head lighthouse (bought for the publisher rather than the subject) and the rest had family associations and were absolute bargains which I couldn't resist. Expect to see some of these on this blog in the coming weeks and months.
For those interested in attending future fairs, they are organised by Beacon Fairs, and the dates for the rest of 2011 are:
- Saturday 16th April 2011
- Sunday 19th June 2011
- Saturday 15th October 2011


text: An online source of ecards, greetings, poems, messages, quotes and wishes to share with your dear and loved ones. Browse our vast collection and pick the best one from them to send it multiple recipients quite easily. Register free to make your own profile, create address book, send cards, famous quotes, and sayings to your friends and invite them to join here for free. Also you can search for friends and build up your own community or circle. Share or send lots of new greeting cards, poems and messages to get connect with your friends and family at any occasion or event, although you are far away from them. So often visit the site to stay updated.


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Rather than missing out on getting my family tree in print and failing to complete my Christmas Tree Project I decided to get my chart printed today.
The printing of the chart was very easy, from Family Historian I created a pdf file of the chart. I selected a custom size for the pdf (841mm x 3276mm) and copied the resulting pdf to a flash drive.
I took the flash drive along to Kall Kwik in Horsham, West Sussex. They weren't sure it would work, they hadn't printed such a large pdf before. But it did work, a the result was quite impressive.
The photos didn't come out quite right, but they are good enough, the printer is only meant for printing plans and line drawings.
There are a couple of things I will change for the next one, the font size needs increasing and the thickness of the linking lines needs increasing.
Of course the chart will never be finished, there are several details I could add in terms of residence and occupation, and I know there are a few more photos I could add.
The cost of this chart (£8.00 plus VAT) was such that I can afford to get one done every month or so. I am not sure that I can add another generation to it, it might be possible, but the print size will have to be reduced or the amount of information reduced to fit it all in.
The only problem is what to do with it, we don't have anywhere in our flat to actually put it on permanent display. The only way I could get a photo of it all was to lay it out along our hall floor.


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This secluded hotel has outstanding views over the town and surrounding hills. The individually styled bedrooms are spacious and very well appointed - all have plasma TVs. The traditional, country-sty...More about Knockendarroch
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Sitting just a few miles from St Andrews, overlooking the rugged Fife coastline and the hotel's own championship golf courses, The Fairmont is situated on a 520-acre estate. Bedrooms and bathrooms are...More about Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland
Premier Inn Dundee (Monifieth) is in a lovely secluded country location yet is within easy reach of the leisure and business facilities of Dundee. Take a drive up the Dundee Law for a panoramic across...More about Premier Inn Dundee (Monifieth)


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Premier Inn Glasgow (Milngavie) is well placed for work or leisure breaks. Set foot on the amazing West Highland Way, enjoy the stunning scenery of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, catch a...More about Premier Inn Glasgow (Milngavie)
Whether you're just passing through or have time to stop and explore you'll find a warm welcome at the Premier Inn Falkirk East - with such great transport links nearby you can easily zip into Edinbur...More about Premier Inn Falkirk East
Situated on the banks of the River Clyde to the west of Glasgow city centre, Premier Inn Glasgow Pacific Quay SECC Hotel features new generation bedrooms each with an impressive 40" flat-screen TV, a ...More about Premier Inn Glasgow Pacific Quay SECC
Premier Inn Edinburgh Park is situated in a quiet neighbourhood just minutes from the sights and sounds of the city centre. Whether you're looking for culture, entertainment or are here on business yo...More about Premier Inn Edinburgh Park (The Gyle)
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Ideally placed for the M9 and Grangemouth terminal, this former manor house has been tastefully extended. The hotel provides comprehensive conference facilities and guests will find that The Scottish ...More about Macdonald Inchyra Hotel and Spa
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I don�t get it. We live in Durango. In the mountains. Where it snows. Every winter. So why can�t people manage to shovel their sidewalks? Or they wait several days after a storm, and then make a fruitless attempt. By that time, foot traffic has completely compacted the snow into treacherous ice. Why does winter take people by surprise? � Annoyed
Durango has a peculiar relationship with snow. When it falls in the mountains, there�s much rejoicing and folks pay a lot of money to play in the white fluff.
Yet when snow falls on one�s sidewalk, that fun-filled substance becomes an unbearable burden.
In the backcountry, a shovel is an essential tool. Every responsible person who skis �off-piste� has a shovel.
But here in town, a shovel seems optional. Some irresponsible people are �piste-off� that they should own one.
A lot could do with Durango�s rental rate. About half of Durangoans rent their abode, according to the latest U.S. Census data.
Is shoveling the landlord�s responsibility? Nope.
The Durango City Code has the cold, hard facts on snow and ice.
�It shall be the duty of the owner, tenant and occupant of any premises abutting or adjoining any public sidewalk to remove all snow and ice from such sidewalk,� reads Section 21-36.
If you don�t take care of the sidewalk, the city will take care of it for you. It will hire snow shovelers, then bill you for their work and tack on 25 bucks.
Another possibility is that a person slips and falls on your unmaintained sidewalk. When the victim of your negligence hires a personal-injury attorney, you won�t have a snowball�s chance.
But it�s not predominately a dutiful homeowner/slacker renter thing, points out our friend Shane Roukema, one of the city�s code-enforcement officers.
�We have nonshoveling problems everywhere. Renters. Owners. Businesses. You name it,� he lamented after last week�s storm.
�I don�t know what people are thinking,� he mused. �They must believe some friendly elf comes along and clears the sidewalk.�
Someone does come all right. But it�s not an elf. It�s Shane. Or another code officer.
They don�t have pointy ears and a shovel. What they do have is a pointy writing instrument and a citation book.
The holiday timing of the last two storms had a lot to do with lackluster shoveling rates, Shane pointed out. Many folks were out of town visiting friends and family.
What really slays Shane is �abandoned� vehicles on the street.
�After it snows, some people find their car plowed in. So they just leave it there and don�t do anything,� he said.
�They don�t brush the snow off the hood or roof and it sits there for days. After a while, someone reports it, so we go out and �green tag� it,� he said. Owners have 24 hours to move it or the vehicle is towed.
�Most times, the owner calls up and yells at us. �It�s MY car and it�s NOT abandoned!� they scream. But how are we to know? It hasn�t moved in a week. It�s covered in snow. No one is taking care of it. That�s pretty much the definition of abandoned.�
So let�s start off the new year with a clean sweep, starting with the sidewalks and your parked car.
If you�re elderly and need help, call La Plata County Senior Services at 382-6429 for assistance.
If you don�t have a shovel, betcha your neighbor would be more than happy to share.
Or hire the neighborhood kids, who need to get outside more often and could use odd jobs.
And if you don�t want to deal with sidewalks, move to the Animas City neighborhood where there are none, and the cantankerous and libertarian residents, including Mrs. Action Line, aim to keep it that way, thank you very much.
Email questions to �mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com� firstname.lastname@example.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. You can request anonymity if you wash your car this week to ensure we get more snow.


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A Barnwell woman who reportedly tried to shoplift children's clothes and toys from Walmart also faces charges of child endangerment for leaving her children at the store after the alleged shoplifting.
Shaquanna Rebecca Walker, 29, of Cole Lane, was charged with shoplifting, two counts of unlawful neglect of a child and driving without a South Carolina driver's license. She was placed in the Aiken County detention center.
Lester Brown Jr., 18, also of Cole Lane in Barnwell, was charged with shoplifting and placed in the detention center.
Walker and Brown reportedly walked out of the lawn and garden entrance of Walmart on Whiskey Road on Tuesday with a shopping cart full of toys and a purse filled with children's clothes, according to a report from the Aiken Department of Public Safety.
A Walmart loss prevention agent saw the two get into a vehicle to leave the scene and reported the vehicle to Public Safety. An officer pulled over the vehicle a short distance down Whiskey Road, according to the report.
The officer saw the toys in the back of the vehicle, which Walker said she purchased earlier at another store but didn't have a receipt for, according to the report.
The store employee also told officers that Walker left her two children at the store when she and Brown drove away, according to the report.
Teddy Kulmala covers the crime beat for the Aiken Standard. He is a graduate of Clemson University and hails from Williston.


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I was in two minds about going, I hadn't done any preparation for a trip to the West Sussex Record Office (WSRO) and really wanted to stay in bed this morning. It wouldn't have seemed so bad if it was a little bit later, but I was leaving the house at the same time as I would if I went to work.
Things started going wrong when the guy in the ticket office sold me the wrong ticket and I had to go back and get them changed. When my normally quiet and peaceful train pulled up it was all most completely full. This is unheard of at this time on a Saturday morning, I am almost guaranteed a carriage to myself as we speed through the sleeping Sussex countryside. Today I was sharing my carriage with people on the way to Goodwood Revival.
I knew there was plenty I could do when I got to the record office, but I had no plan. It started very hit and miss, with me wondering what to look at next, but then I remembered one of the thing I had wanted to do, find out some more about Thomas and Mary WELLER my 4x great grandparents from Twineham, Sussex. I think I have discovered who they are and where they came from and have the baptisms for all their children including Mary Ann my 3x great grandmother.
The WSRO closes at lunchtime on a Saturday and I got kicked out along with all the other researchers, but my research doesn't stop just because the record office closes. First stop was Chichester Cathedral and memorial chapel of the Royal Sussex Regiment. Here I found the name of my 2x great uncle Ambrose DRIVER on the Roll of Honour for those killed from the First World War. The chapel is just off to the right of the entrance and the sun was shining through the stained glass window above and creating such a lovely pattern across the chapel. I really must spend some more time there and have a good look around the cathedral.
Next stop was Chichester library, for a quick look at some local papers on microfilm. Sadly I could find no mention of the death or funeral of my great grandmother Lilian Mary MITCHELL in the pages of the West Sussex Gazette for December 1939. Still it was worth having a look.
Then I just had time to grab a bite to eat, sitting in the sunshine in front of the Cathedral, before heading back into the record office for a couple more hours research. The afternoon was a bit more organised, some original documents and more microfilm, covering a wide range of people and places.
In the end it was quite a productive day, many of my searches were negative, but even those are helpfully in a way. I know I should have had a plan when I set out and it would probably have been even productive. It was the first time I used my netbook in the record office, and I was glad I had it with me, but I am wondering know what is the best way to create a research plan on it. My next record office trip will probably be to the East Sussex Record Office and I promise to be better prepared for that!
I may not have had a plan, but I did come away from Chichester with a map. I stopped at the second-hand bookshop on my way back to the railway station and picked up a 1953 one-inch map of the Cheltenham and Evesham area, this is where my BATEMAN ancestors originated from. I would have preferred something a bit older, but it was cheap and will be useful in getting used to the area I am researching.