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'Diving Bell and The Butterfly' Is Vivid, Inspiring
Amalric Astonishes; Subversive Delights Lift Pathos-Free 'Savages'
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" is unsparing and inspiring in equal measure. The camera immediately puts us in the position of its hero, a man regaining consciousness after a catastrophic stroke that has left him lucid but almost completely paralyzed. We see what he sees -- foggily, at first -- and hear the tumbling thoughts he can't communicate to those around him. When a doctor says "Don't be afraid," we recoil from the ghastly irony. No fate could be more frightening (the diagnosis is a mercifully rare condition called locked-in syndrome), no premise for popular entertainment could be more improbable. Yet Julian Schnabel's magnificent French-language film, like its true-life subject, transcends reality's prison with surreal buoyancy.
The source material is a slender but celebrated memoir of the same name by Jean-Dominique Bauby, who is played, in radiant good health as well as the deep freeze of immobility, by Mathieu Amalric. (In either mode it's an astonishing performance.) Before he was struck down at the age of 43, in 1995, Jean-Do, as his friends and associates called him, ruled the fashion roost as the dynamic and witty editor in chief of French Elle. After his stroke, he was taken to the Berck Maritime Hospital in the Pas-de-Calais, where rehabilitation specialists soon discovered that he could signal by blinking his left eye. Over fourteen months that followed, Jean-Do managed, incredibly, to formulate and polish his manuscript in a mental notebook, then dictate it by blinking in response to letters on a chart. He died in 1997, two days after the book was published.
First Person
A Movie Stokes My Memories
By Joshua Prager
A blinking left eye inevitably recalls "My Left Foot," the fine Jim Sheridan film with Daniel Day-Lewis as the severely disabled writer and painter Christy Brown, or, possibly, Javier Bardem's quadriplegic longing for death in "The Sea Inside." (Or, more distantly, the horrors of total disability in Dalton Trumbo's "Johnny Got His Gun.") But "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" soars above and beyond the genre, just as the delicate dazzler of Bauby's title flies on the wings of his memory and imagination. (The diving bell is emblematic of his encasement.) The movie has done what those who've cherished the book might have thought impossible -- intensified its singular beauty by roving as free and fearlessly as Bauby's mind did.
The images are sumptuous, when they aren't claustrophobic -- vistas of the beach at Calais, where the patient, strapped in a wheelchair, is surrounded by his wife and children; fantasies of flight, of skiing on virgin snow, of beautiful women, of the hospital's storied past, of convivial company and food (good Frenchman that he is, Bauby still nurses an oyster fetish), of Parisian streets and canopies of trees, accompanied by a lyrical theme from "The 400 Blows." (The soundtrack as a whole is terrific.)
Such visual fugues may come as no surprise: Mr. Schnabel had already established himself as a painter of note before he revealed himself as a gifted filmmaker -- the previous proofs of those gifts being "Basquiat" and "Before Night Falls" -- and his cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski, is a distinctive artist in his own right. What's remarkable is the grace and authority with which the film depicts Bauby's three lives -- his subjective point of view, peering out at his surroundings through his one good eye; an objective account of devoted care-givers ministering to him, of friends and loved ones visiting him; and, at the film's core, the unquenchable flow of dreams, desires, language, sardonic humor and crystalline intelligence that constitute the core of the man.
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," adapted brilliantly by Ronald Harwood, is far from a one-man show. It's fully populated, and impeccably acted, by a cast that includes Max von Sydow as Bauby's father, locked in his bourgeois apartment by advanced age and weakened legs; Emmanuelle Seigner as Céline, his devoted though terrified wife (who must serve as go-between during a phone call from his mistress); Marie-Josée Croze as Henriette, his lovely speech therapist, and Anne Consigny as Claude, the amanuensis who shares, with Bauby's children, the dedication of his book. Although this Claude is outrageously glamorous, Henriette has a glorious response when her patient lets her know he wants to die. It's one of many moments that leave you gasping.
'The Savages'
I can't begin to count the ways in which "The Savages" pleased me, but the very best of them is the way Tamara Jenkins's comedy stays tough while sneakily turning tender.
The Savages, sans quotes, are a family to which the term dysfunctional does insufficient injustice. They function, but very sadly, and in the father's flagrant case, very badly. Lenny Savage, a nasty old reprobate played with pitiless brio by Philip Bosco, is careering into dementia after coming apart, in a grisly Arizona retirement community, at several crucial seams. Lenny's plight requires immediate action by his daughter, Wendy (Laura Linney), and/or his son, Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman), but they're trapped in parallel companies of the theater of the absurd -- she as a would-be playwright in Manhattan, wasting herself on a married man, he as a lovelorn professor in Buffalo, writing a book about Brecht and droning on to blank-faced students about principles of drama. ("Looks like the Unabomber lives here," she says of her brother's bleak house.)
The main dramatic principle of "The Savages" couldn't be simpler -- use a parent's decline, and the desperate issues it entails, to force the children to take stock of their lives. Those issues are familiar, and wrenching. What does Lenny need, assisted care or a nursing home? Where to find a decent facility? How to pay for it? But the contemporary problems of a serviceable plot aren't what make this movie such a pathos-free surprise, or such a subversive delight. At every step of the way Ms. Jenkins puts her people through changes as fascinating, in their free-form fashion, as the Lava light that holds Lenny in befuddled thrall. ("What does it do?" he demands to know.)
What the wonderful cast does is define ensemble acting. Ms. Linney has never been lovelier, or more affecting. Mr. Hoffman has never been more likable than when the usually laconic Jon, seized by a brief spasm of joy, joins Lotte Lenya in a Kurt Weill-Bertolt Brecht song on his car radio. One budding Internet wit has suggested that "Philip Bosco may deserve an Osco." I'd say make it Oscos all around.
* * *
DVD TIP: At the end of my review of Ms. Jenkins's 1998 debut feature "Slums of Beverly Hills," I said she was "on the brink of a great career." Since then she has made only one short, but it's no great stretch to believe that she is finally over the brink. The subject of this semiautobiographical comedy is the Abromowitz family, nomads living on the cracked-stucco margins of the 90210 ZIP code in 1976. As in "The Savages," the family is borderline dysfunctional, but "Slums" is really about the pain of an adolescent daughter's hopeless love for a heedless dad. Natasha Lyonne is the daughter, Vivian, while Alan Arkin plays her father, Murray, an aging, almost aged failure. To find the remnants of Murray Abromowitz in the wreckage of Lenny Savage is no stretch at all.
Write to Joe Morgenstern at email@example.com


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Apparently, there is agreement among our political leaders about extending the George W. Bush tax cuts for individuals making less than $200,000 and families making less than $250,000. This is about 97 percent of all Americans. They disagree on whether we should also extend these tax cuts for the wealthiest 3 percent of Americans.
So, what would we have to do to further enrich some of the wealthiest people in our country? We will have to borrow approximately three-quarters of a trillion dollars over the next 10 years and give that borrowed money to the most wealthy among us. We will then have to force our children to pay back this money. Truly, the sins of the parents will be visited upon our children.
We should recognize the proposal to extend these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans for what it is -- a sin.
Mountain Brook

subset: commoncrawl


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Gears of War 3 becomes the biggest launch of 2011 so far
The finale of Epic's hit 360 shooter series Gears of War has shot to the top of the sales charts to become the biggest launch of 2011 so far.
Gears of War 3 pushed Techland's sell-out zombie survival title Dead Island off the top of the charts and fended off a tight challenge from F1 2011 as well to top the UK multipformat charts.
F1 2011 came in a close second with Dead Island slipping all the way down to third, possibly due in part to the scarcity of copies of the game at retail now.
Zumba Fitness jumped back up to fourth from last week's sixth place with Deus Ex: Human Revolution holding firm in fifth.
Thanks GamesIndustry.biz.
Latest News
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 after all
- Tomonobu Itagaki's Devil's Third gets a release date
- Adr1ft is coming to PC and consoles at the end of the summer
- EA gives the new Mirror's Edge a name – Mirror's Edge Catalyst
- ZombiU PS4 and Xbox One port reportedly in the works
- Mike Bithell's Volume to be released this August
- Gearbox's new shooter Battleborn gets a pre-E3 trailer
- Steam Controller launches in October, Steam Machines arrive in November
- Gears Of War devs Black Tusk change their name to The Coalition ahead of E3


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Northwest NEWS
ctober 16, 2000
Smith - Norman
Jeanne Monique Smith and Kevin Michael Norman were married May 21 at the Hollywood Schoolhouse in Woodinville.
Jeanne, daughter of Gloria Holsin and Jim and Nancie Smith, is a 1991 graduate of Monroe High School. She is also a 1997 graduate of ECC-Culinary Arts and is employed at Coho Cafť in Redmond as a lead cook.
Kevin is the son of Clarence and Rosanne Norman. He is a 1992 graduate of Shorewood High School and a 1998 graduate of the University of Washington. He is employed at Nextel Communications in Redmond as the service and repair manager.They are currently living in Woodinville, but are buying a house in Monroe at the end of October.


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2250 Hickory Road, Suite 300
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania 19462
United States
|Areas of Practice
|1) Litigation, 2) Medical Malpractice Defense, 3) Insurance Defense and 4) Professional Liability
|The American University (B.S., 1994)
|Most recent firm
|O'Brien & Ryan, LLP
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Associate Attorney / Personal Injury Insurance Defense
USA-NY-New York City
Associate Attorney / Personal Injury Insurance Defense Five to Ten year associate with courtroom experience. Bar Admission NY.NJ. Responsibilities will require working on all aspects of def...
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Case Manager Paralegal – Health Care Medical Malpractice
USA-LA-New Orleans
Curry & Friend, PLC, an established boutique defense firm is currently accepting resumes for a Health Care Medical Malpractice Paralegal position. The ideal candidate must have at least 5 years ...
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Pip Attorney, Insurance Defense
PIP Attorney, Insurance Defense The candidate will provide legal representation to Progressive insureds and/or to the Progressive Insurance Companies before courts and arbitration panels in all aspe...
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A. Harrison Barnes is a well-known attorney throughout the United States. As a member of the Malibu community, Harrison is committed to serving the needs of Malibu residents and businesses in legal matters.
Benjamin P. Smith is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice. He is a trial lawyer with a particular focus on high-stakes disputes in the biotechnology, medical device, and internet industries.


text: Photo Goethe-Insitut/Jean Guy Lambert Our offerings German courses Learn German with the international market leader for German courses. German exams You can record your language skills by taking a Goethe-Institut German exam. Library Learn more about society, politics, and culture in Germany. Lending Service eLibrary About us We promote knowledge of the German language abroad and foster international cultural cooperation. Contact and Opening Hours Staff Career Current Projects © Goethe-Institut 180 Seconds City From Berlin to Bogota – and back via Tokyo and Montreal! 16 cities, 64 short films and four themes taken from life in the big cities of the world. Überblog A blog über all that fascinate the Goethe-Institut Montréal. © ester reglin film Achtung Film! A monthly film series of contemporary German cinema presented at the Cinéma du Parc in Montreal


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Manuka Doctor Wins Award for Best New Brand
Manuka Doctor Wins Award for Best New Brand at the Annual CEW UK Beauty Awards 2012
Don't you just love it when a New Zealand company wins a prestigious award overseas? It has to take some doing to win an award for Best New Brand mass category at the annual Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) United Kingdom Beauty Awards 2012 and that is exactly what New Zealand company Manuka Doctor has done. This award is for its unique Purified Bee Venom products. Manuka Doctor Director, Nicola Macfarlane, says the win is a huge achievement for the company which only entered the United Kingdom market six months ago. As she says, this is a huge endorsement by the influential United Kingdom beauty industry for the quality of their skincare products.
The CEW United Kingdom Beauty Awards are highly regarded in the beauty industry there and serve as a platform for recognising creativity and innovation in the development of beauty products. Believe it or not, former winners of this award include products from beauty giants Elizabeth Arden, Guerlain and Clarins and you don't get much better than that!
Manuka Doctor manufacture their skincare ranges ApiClear and ApiNourish which use purified bee venom and sales of these products have totally exceeded the company's expectation. In fact, initial shipments late last year of some products from the ranges sold out within the first three weeks of appearing on shelves in Britain. Manuka Doctor has been researching and refining their product for twelve years and through the development of a patented purification process, Manuka Doctor has been able to create a unique range of purified bee venom skincare products unique to their brand.
Having won the Best New Brand prize has opened up a number of new possibilities for Manuka Doctor, including expanding their distribution worldwide into several new markets. Bearing in mind that these awards are highly influential not only in the United Kingdom but also around the world, this is a massive advantage for Manuka Doctor's products.
Nicola said she would like to think that winning this award, being such great news for their growing company should send a clear message to other New Zealand entrepreneurial companies who are seeking to break into overseas markets so that they can all join in to have a positive impact internationally. Manuka Doctor's purified bee venom skincare range is renowned for its age-defying, anti-wrinkle and cell-regenerating benefits which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars and helps with natural collagen formation. These products are available on line at www.manukadr.co.nz or at the Manuka Doctor shop in Auckland at the corner of Quay Street and Lower Albert Street.


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Vernon residents struggle to set clerk's salary
Town of Vernon - Emotions ran high as town residents spent nearly a half-hour setting the salary for the town clerk position during their annual budget hearing Oct. 24.
After researching the salary of area clerks who perform similar duties, Town Clerk Marie Kumershek had asked that the clerk's salary be raised 17.8 percent, from $43,711 to $51,500. In the end, she had to settle for a 2 percent raise.
"I think you have to remember that this position hasn't gotten a raise in four years," she said to residents in arguing for her proposal. She added that if the raise wasn't approved for the 2013 budget, the position would have gone six years with no raise.
But some residents didn't see things that way. Resident Mary Ann Karas said, "How many of us in this room haven't gotten a raise in how long?" She added that her insurance premium goes up every year. "I could (not) care less whether they have to pay 15 percent (of their insurance premium) or not, because they are getting a monthly salary."
Supervisor Bill Craig opposed the raise, saying that a study should first be done to determine the best way to run the office. He added that the study has been talked about for the past few years, but no action has been taken. "We need to stop in our tracks, study where we're at," he said, and then decide whether the town needs to change positions, the number of staff, etc.
Town resident and Waukesha Town Clerk Jamie Salentine supported the raise and said, "I think the Town of Vernon has been underpaying for a while for the position."
Former Supervisor Rodell Singert strongly supported the raise. "I feel the person (currently) in that position - or any future person - deserves the increase in salary because of the duties that are asked of that person," he said. Resident Jim Slawny expressed his support of staff raises, stating that having been president of many companies, he know how expensive replacing good people can be. "You really have to take that into consideration."
After voting on several different salary amounts, residents barely agreed on $44,586, a 2-percent pay increase, in a 29-27 vote.
The town treasurer was also given a 2-percent pay raise, from $16,341 to $16,667 in a 32-17 vote.
Budget highlights
Residents approved the proposed tax levy, which was set at about $1.67 million, a 0.59-percent decrease from the 2012 levy of about $1.68 million. Total proposed expenditures for 2013 are about $3.21 million for 2013, a 4.6-percent increase, or $142,526 over 2012's budget of about $3.07 million.
Town Auditor Wendi Unger explained that several major factors affect the tax levy and the 2013 budget. The property revaluation reduced the town's assessed value by about $4 million, an amount that Unger said is not unusual, given the economy.
Major expenditure changes include a decrease of $40,994 in general government expenditures, mainly due to a decrease in professional fee expenditures and a decrease in committee expenditures. Highway department expenditures increased $39,783, mostly due to increases in capitol outlay for equipment and road maintenance.
The Town Board and management are proposing to use $150,000 of reserves to balance the 2013 general fund budget. Unger explained that this amount represents funds budgeted for in 2011 but not spent in 2012 for highway department capitol outlay.
Also on the budget is $478,710 slated for capitol expenditures in all funds which is being funded through $190,000 in new debt, $150,000 in reserves carried over from 2011, $9,000 in grants and $129,710 in tax levy.
Residents voted to keep the tax rate the same as the past few years at $2.01 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The board will make its final vote on the 2013 budget during its Nov. 8 meeting.
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More from Mukwonago Chief
- Video: Chief on the street featuring new principals, community remodeling and more!
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Chemical Changes
When a person falls in love, the "happy" chemical dopamine and the "trust" chemical oxytocin increase to very high levels. Critical thinking shuts down, caution is thrown to the wind and one becomes blind to her lover's faults. At times, it seems as if the lover is the only thing that matters. People become "addicted" to these chemical rushes much the same as one can become addicted to drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, morphine and oxycontin. When a relationship ends, the body is in withdrawal from these chemicals. The circuits in the brain that are involved in love and loss are really a motivational system. A person who has been dumped is experiencing the same irrational and involuntary brain state as a person deprived of food, water or a drug. Mania and an obsession with regaining what has been lost may set in. The circuits of fear and anxiety are also at full throttle, as oxytocin levels decrease. These effects may be worse for those who never felt safe and secure as children, as the fear circuit never developed properly.
Physiological Changes
Being dumped also has effects on the autonomic nervous system. The chemical changes cause physiological variations in heart rate, blood flow, blood pressure and digestion, to name a few. The stress hormone cortisol runs high, weakening the immune system and bringing fatigue and sickness. Loss of romantic love ignites the same brain circuits as physical pain. Thus, the notion of a heart breaking is not simply a metaphor. Loss can create very real pain in the body.
The physical and chemical changes brought about by the loss of romantic love can create a cycle of symptoms. If the heart does not heal quickly, symptoms can begin to build upon one another, creating more and more problems. Many people nursing a broken heart withdraw from social activities and sink into depression. The sleep cycle is thrown off as the person either lies in bed all day or develops insomnia. Frequently, there are also disturbances in eating patterns. Some people will stop eating while others may overeat or tend to overindulge in very unhealthy foods. The constant nagging pain of loss may also lead to constant, uncontrollable crying, and an inability to work or concentrate on any task. These debilitating symptoms can have adverse effects on all areas of life. As work suffers, so do finances. As social relationships are put on hold, support and connection with reality are lost. It is important for someone who has just had her heart broken to keep a social support system. It may also be helpful to look at the benefits of singlehood. Many people find that after the initial shock of the breakup has passed, they have a newfound energy. The freedom, independence and sense of accomplishment that come with doing it all on your own can be revitalizing. Anyone who feels overwhelmed by the loss of a lover should seek professional help. Sometimes the pain is too difficult to bear alone. A chat with a therapist may help to sort out the negative feelings.
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The car allowances that some St. Tammany Parish government administrators receive are getting a closer look by the parish government, as this story by reporters Kim Chatelain and Robert Rhoden shows. The allowances, parish officials say, are cheaper than giving employees take-home vehicles.
Meanwhile, in Mandeville, the Wine Loft has closed its doors, the establishment's attorney says, mostly over some noise issues. Here's a previous story on the issue.
In Folsom, a St. Tammany Parish sheriff's deputy was hurt in a single-vehicle crash near the end of his patrol shift. As of Thursday morning he was out of surgery and in critical but stable condition, the sheriff's office said.
Finally, looking for a novel way to ring in the new year? You have 362 days to work up the gumption to join the crew that annually takes a dip in the chilly Tchefuncte River. Keep in mind - they call it the Ice Man Dip & Dash. Check out our coverage from Wednesday's plunge.


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Like most women on their wedding day, I felt as though I was the most beautiful bride…despite the fact that I didn't reach my weight-loss goal prior to the big day.
During the flurry of wedding planning, I visited bridal boutiques and was shocked to discover that based on my measurements, I had to try on gowns from the plus-sized department.
I quickly began a fad diet and a few months later became ill. My doctor told me that I had developed a kidney stone that could very likely have been caused by the diet I was following. I decided to forgo the diet and concentrate on wedding plans.
Even though my weight wasn't where I wanted it to be on the big day, it was a glorious summer wedding nonetheless, and I couldn't have been happier.
As autumn quickly approached, and I settled into marital bliss, I decided it was time to revisit my goals and take off those extra pounds. I wanted to do this not only for me, but also for the family my husband and I planned to have.
I work as a psychologist at a middle school, and when a coworker proposed a weight-loss competition for the staff, I jumped onboard. I knew the friendly wager was the exact shove I needed to start shedding pounds.
Like the TV show, "The Biggest Loser," each participant was matched with a friend. Everyone weighed in with his or her partner weekly, and after 3 months the pair who lost the most pounds and percentage of weight won a monetary award.
I was motivated to win that prize, but knew the pounds weren't going to simply melt off. I recalled having some success in the past using food journals to track what I ate and count calories. By logging my food intake, I became much more aware of what I ate every day as well as the portion sizes.
I combined journaling with meal planning and drinking eight glasses of water daily. I also started walking 15 minutes a day, and it was much easier than I imagined. Eventually, I worked my way up to a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio activity every day in addition to strength training exercises three times a week.
My attitude, however, was the most challenging obstacle I faced. You see, I am a perfectionist by nature, and because of this, I quickly became disappointed in myself when I overindulged or skipped a workout. Instead of pushing myself harder the next time, my self-criticism would set me back, and I would ignore my goals for days.
Eventually, I realized that one of the most important factors in weight loss is consistency. It dawned on me that when I strayed too far from the path, I undid several weeks of weight-loss success. I quickly learned that humans make mistakes, and that I needed to let them go in order to move forward.
I began following an 80-20 rule. By this I mean that I ate healthy 80% of the time and indulged the remaining 20% of the time. This truly helped me as I became less flustered and found it easier to stick to my goals. I found that maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle isn't as challenging when you treat yourself occasionally, hold yourself accountable and forgive yourself for any mishaps that might occur.
Since I work in a school where tempting snacks, such as birthday cakes, muffins and other sweets, make regular appearances, I began taking healthy snacks to work. Low-fat string cheese, light yogurt, apples and bananas helped me avoid all of those enticing treats found in the teachers lounge. I also began eating every 3 to 4 hours in order to control my hunger and curb any cravings.
Whenever I felt like giving up, I reminded myself of the reasons I wanted to trim down in the first place. Besides needing a healthy body to carry a child, I also wanted to be able to teach my family how to stay healthy.
I was determined to gain the skills and confidence I needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle before my husband and I had children and started our own family. And the best way to do that was to lose the weight and understand what it takes to eat right and live well.
Three months later the contest came to an end, and my partner and I were announced the winners…we lost the most weight! I was 50 pounds lighter and I was thrilled to win the award. I realized, however, that my greatest prize was gaining the skills I needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle for myself.
Currently, I am down 60 pounds, and I couldn't feel better. While my journey began as a plus-sized bride, today I am a happy, healthy wife, ready for anything that comes my way.
While on my weight-loss journey, I relied on a few secrets that helped me shed pounds and stay motivated.
Here's a few of my all-time favorite dishes from the first edition of the Comfort Food Diet Cookbook:
Special Brunch Bake»
Pumpkin Pancakes»
Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wraps»
Fudgy Chocolate Dessert»


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Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw likely done for seasonSeptember 17, 2012 – 1:14 am by Ryan Phillips
The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the middle of a collapse that has taken them from a near-lock for the postseason, to on the outside looking in. On Sunday things got even worse.
The Dodgers lost on Sunday, and are now 7.5 games behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West, and one-game out of the final NL wild card spot. But Los Angeles also learned on Sunday that they will likely finish the regular season without the ace starting pitcher, Clayton Kershaw.
The 2011 National League Cy Young Award winner is probably done for the 2012 season thanks to right-hip inflammation that has been bothering him for a while. Kershaw took a cortisone shot to help dull the pain last week, but couldn't even make an attempt to start on Sunday.
Before the game, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told Kershaw he wasn't going to pitch until he saw hip specialist Dr. Bryan Kelly, and the 24-year-old didn't argue with his manager. If Kershaw opts to have surgery on his hip he will likely miss the start of the 2013 season as well. It would be a huge blow to the team.
Kershaw was easily the ace of Los Angeles' staff despite having just a 12-9 record this season. So far in 2012 he boasts a 2.70 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and an NL-best 206 strikeouts in 206.2 innings. He has also allowed just 157 hits and 53 walks this season.
Chad Billingsley has also been shut down for the season, which means the Dodgers are really up against it with two weeks left in the season. They added Joe Blanton and Josh Beckett via trade earlier in 2012, but neither guy has looked good in Dodger Blue.
Unless Kershaw makes some kind of miraculous recovery, the Dodgers are going to have serious problems making the playoffs this year.


text: Hi all. My name is Lesley, I live in Australia on a 2.5 acre hobby farm. I love all sorts of art hobbies and sports. For years I have not allowed myself to indulge in scrapbooking. All my friends do fabulous work, but I looked at the dollars they were spending and the mess. I love my computer and wondered how I could do it on here rather than the traditional methods. Along came scrapbook max......wow. I have been looking around the site and reading and veiwing some of people works and must say I am highly impressed with it all. Any tips, tricks or ideas from any of you would be fabulous. I look forward to meeting many of you in the near future.


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2 Easy Home Fixes Using Vaseline
In our home, there's always something that needs fixing. If it's a big enough problem, I usually get right on it since there are some problems that are just not worth avoiding, like a leaking sink for example. Then there are those problems that are not in-your-face noticeable, but over time drive you mad. In today's post, we show you two of those long, nagging issues that we quickly fixed using vaseline.
Quiet a Noisy Door
In a home with two little children, silence is golden. We had a nursery room door that didn't subscribe to that philosophy and routinely squeaked whenever it was touched. No big deal normally, but when your five month old is sleeping and any small noises will wake her, that noisy door is suddenly a liability.
Here's how we silenced our door. We removed each hinge pin and one at a time coated them with a light amount of vaseline and then reinserted them back into the hinge. It's easier to do them one at a time like that then to remove them all at once. Also keep in mind that we added a dollop of vaseline to some tissue paper so as to not get the vaseline contaminated with the crud that's on the hinge pin.
To remove each pin, I used a small roofing nail to hit the hing pin from below with a hammer.
A noisy hinge is caused from metal rubbing against metal. The vaseline gets between them and lubricates the joint. You can see from the picture of the hinge pin below that there was some metal to metal rubbing, which is why there are dark spots.
With all three hinge pins lubricated, the door is dead quiet.
Unstick an Entry Door
Since we mainly enter and leave our home through our garage door, the front door is really only used when we have company or if we get a package. Consequently, it tends to stick after it's been closed for a while. It takes a good solid pull to open it. It's not sticking from the door making contact with the frame. The door appears to be adhering to the weather stripping.
So, back to the vaseline. I used another dollop of the petroleum jelly and applied a thin layer of it to the weather stripping where it makes contact with the door. I added to both sides and the top.
That's it. The door no longer sticks.
That wasn't so hard.
Do you have any home improvement uses for vaseline?
Do you have something around your home that's been sorta broken but not quite broken enough to fix it yet? For us, that forever broken item has been the closet door in our master bedroom. Since our home is still fairly new (built in 2010) it's subject to some degree of settling and movement. Usually when people say their homes are settling, they're talking about their foundations… but doors can sag over time too.
What are the symptoms of door sag?
– The door latch doesn't fully engage the strike plate, so it shuts but doesn't engage
– To get the door to latch, you have to lift it up by the knob
– To open the door, you have to lift it by the knob
Needless to say, it's pretty annoying. We had all the symptoms. Here's what's going on with the door.
When the door drops, the latch mechanism becomes misaligned with the strike plate. Instead of sitting in the center of the plate opening, the latch mechanism sits too low.
As annoying as this little problem can be, fixing it is fairly simple. Now, your first instinct may be to just lower the strike plate a touch. You certainly COULD do that if you want, but lowering the strike plate means chiseling the door jamb, possibly mucking up the screw holes and the strike plate hole. Instead, you can just add a shim or two to the bottom hinge.
Here's how to fix a sagging door…
I remove the three screws that hold the hinge to the door jamb. You don't need to remove the hinge from the door, just the jamb. Then I hold a piece of cardboard behind the hinge plate and trace the outline of the hinge and mark the hole locations.
With the hinge traced, I cut out the shape from the cardboard and punch the holes with a pen tip.
Then I place the shim into the area where the hinge sits and trim off any excess cardboard with a box cutter or scissors.
With the cardboard shim in place, I reinstall the hinge back over the shim. That's it! Now try opening and closing the door. This worked the first time for me, but you may need to add a second cardboard shim over the first to get a satisfactory result. The shim will compress some.
Not too hard right? I can't take credit for this tip. I saw it on an episode of This Old House several years ago. I don't remember what Tom Silva used for a shim, but cardboard seems to work fine.
Any minor annoyances hanging out at your home?
How to Replace a Broken Sump Pump
Hey everybody! Sorry if I've been AWOL lately. Work has been pretty crazy and I've been unable to read or comment on my regular blog reads. I'm hoping to set aside some time in the next day or two to get caught up. In the meantime, I've also been busy with annoying, but necessary repairs around the house. This past week I had to replace our sump pump. As far as technically challenging repairs go… on a scale of 1 to 10, this one is around a 3 or a 4, where changing a light bulb would be a 1 and replacing a furnace is a 10.
So, we've lived in our current NJ house for a little over 2 years now and we've never, ever heard our sump pump run. Even during and immediately after hurricane Sandy it was quiet. About a week ago, Lisa had been noticing this recurring humming noise coming from the basement. In typical, 'you're probably hearing things mode' I blew it off as just typical furnace noise. Then a couple days later I was in the basement grabbing some tools and I heard it first hand. Crap. The sump pump was running for 30-45 seconds, would stop for 30-45 seconds then would run again. It wasn't raining, and it hadn't rained heavily for a couple weeks. Something is wrong with this picture.
If you don't have a sump pump or are not sure how it works, I can explain. Most new home foundations and a lot of existing homes are outfitted with a perforated plastic pipe that wraps around the outside perimeter near the footer or the base of the basement wall. It then gets covered in gravel to prevent sand and dirt from clogging its slits. This pipe, which can be sometimes referred to as a "weeping tile" (ala Mike Holmes) then runs into the basement into a large bucket. The bucket is equipped with a sump pump that evacuates the water back outside, except it does so away from the house, keeping the foundation dry and less likely to settle further or become disturbed from water erosion.
Here's what our bucket and evacuation pipe looks like…
The small pipe on the left is the condensate discharge from the central air system. The larger pipe on the right is the outlet pipe from the sump pump. These systems are also vented and may have two large pipes as opposed to one. We DO have a vent in this system it's just hidden in the basin.
That large plastic box is a check valve.
The check valve prevents the water that was just pumped out from coming back down the pipe and back into the sump bucket. It's just a little rubber gasket that only opens in one direction. When this pump was continuously running, the first thing I assumed was the check valve wasn't sealing and it was constantly sending the water back into the basin only to be ejected again. After taking the check valve apart, cleaning it, putting it back together and then plugging the pump back in, it was still running constantly.
Time to investigate further. So, I disconnected the check valve, slid the AC discharge pipe out of the way and popped off the cover to the basin. Couple things I noticed:
1. there wasn't much water in the bucket, only a couple of inches.
2. there was a spider in there with a leg span about as long as my thumb and with WAY more hair on its legs than mine. I'm generally not afraid of spiders. I was afraid of THIS spider.
Sump pumps usually have some type of float mechanism so when the bucket fills high enough with water, it will switch on. This pump was running AND the float was a couple inches above the water. This thing is straight up broken. Now I could try to repair the switch mechanism or I could just go out and buy a new one, a new shiny one that didn't have giant banana spiders hidden inside. I think you can guess which way I went on this.
They even sell these in stainless steel! As if it were going to be on our kitchen counter next to the toaster.
The replacement went pretty easy. I disconnected the old sump pump at the check valve union and just pulled it out of the sump bucket. Easy. The new sump pump and the old sump pump have different PVC fittings. Take note, the one on the right has a fitting that goes OVER the threads. The new one is a female type connection, where the PVC will need to go INTO the pump. So much for reusing that pipe.
Here's a closer shot of the fittings…
So, after assembling a few pieces to the new pump, I glued on the male fitting to a small section of 1 1/2″ PVC pipe. Lowes and Home Depot sell certain diameter pipes in larger 8′-10′ lengths and a few at 4′-5′ lengths. Since this is a smaller section, I opted for the car friendly 5′ piece.
To glue on the male fitting (which I fitted up to the display pump at Lowes to make sure I had the right one), I just placed my pipe on a stable surface to start. You'll need both the purple primer and the PVC glue for this part.
I applied the purple primer to both pieces and then the glue to both. You need to put these two piece together within a few seconds once you apply the glue or it will harden prematurely.
To glue them together, place the male fitting over the pipe, hold it steady for a few seconds, then try to give it a very slight turn. If you get resistance to the turn, you're good. I like to hold the piece onto the pipe for maybe 30 seconds to a minute before letting go.
Okay. The new pump was then connected to the pump and placed into the basin. I marked both the new pipe and the old pipe for length taking into consideration a gap for the new check valve.
To cut the new pipe to length, I just used my miter saw.
With the new pipe cut, I added some thread compound to the male fitting and reinstalled the pipe to the new sump pump.
To cut the existing part of the discharge pipe that was hanging from the basement wall, I used a hack saw. You could also use a reciprocating saw, aka a Sawzall, but I find they shake the pipe too much.
The new check valve is a flexible rubber boot style and it slides over the pipes and gets clamped down. You just need to leave some extra room between these pipes for this valve.
Sorry that photo is a little blurry, but you get the idea.
After the new valve was installed, I plugged it in and tested it by lifting up the float. Success!
The flexible check valve let's you get away with the pipe being slightly misaligned, which is nice.
So, that sucked. Any annoying repairs in your future? Any 8 legged monsters?
How to Clean Black Shower Mold Permanently
Keeping with our bathroom theme… Unless you routinely scrub your tub or shower, you're bound to get a good amount of black moldy build-up in those tough to clean areas. We've all seen it. Sorry if I'm starting to sounding like a commercial. It happens. It comes from years of trying to sell my ideas to Lisa. So, our master bathroom shower has seen some better days. Surprisingly, we actually DO clean it often enough that we shouldn't have any issues with black staining mold or hard water stains, but nonetheless we do. Here's how I was able to get our shower mold free and looking new.
How to Clean Black Shower Mold Permanently
First, I always start with a cleaning product that contains bleach. We typically use Tilex. The chemical odor can be pretty overwhelming, so whenever I use it, I try to keep the windows open to let some fresh air in and I wear a mask. I aggressively work the cleaner into the problems areas with a stiff bristle brush. If you still have some black mold after this step, then you'll need to remove and replace the caulk.
Here's what our shower looked like after the best cleaning it's ever gotten.
Still pretty gross. To remove the moldy caulk, I used a box cutter with a sharp blade and a flat bladed box cutter, which is like a window scraper, to score it. Once all the caulk was scored, you can usually peel it out. Be sure to get all of the caulk out of the joints. Some of the more stubborn caulk may harden to the point that it's like grout. The hardened stuff may need some more persuasion. I used a flat head screw driver. You do need to be careful that you don't damage your tile or shower basin. Also, wear safety glasses. Proceed with caution and at your own risk.
Once all the moldy caulk was scraped out, it looked better.
With all the caulk removed, it's time to prep for the new caulk. Be sure to clean up the area where the caulk was previously. It will also need to be nice and dry in order for any caulk to adhere well.
Now, if this were a latex based painter's caulk, I'd dive right in. The latex caulks are pretty easy to work with and are fairly forgiving. However, your shower and bathroom applications require a silicone based caulk. Silicone caulk is notoriously difficult. So, to make it easier on ourselves, we're going to use some painter's tape to mask off the area. I leave a good 1/4″ gap in the area where the caulk will be applied.
Once the tape is in place, we're set.
Now, you can buy high quality silicone caulks that are specifically designed for a shower or bathroom application, as opposed to a window or door for example. The caulk we used for this repair guarantees several years free of mold. Hopefully, with normal cleanings, we won't need to repeat this procedure.
Here's a link to the caulk I'd recommend if you are considering this project.
The caulk can be applied in a thin bead and can then be smeared with your finger.
While smearing, I try to get a seamless look. Pull your finger smoothly across the caulk line and don't stop until you get to a corner. Once you've smoothed all the caulk, remove the tape. Very gently, re-smooth out the caulk lines again. You're done. Let it dry according to the caulk manufacturer's directions. You usually need to wait around 8 hours after you apply the caulk until you can shower.
Now, my assumption is the builder didn't use a high quality caulk the first time around. We're going to be more vigilant this time and hopefully can clean the shower with a less caustic cleaner, but I'm hoping I won't need to repeat this for a long, long time. And if you do spot some small black mold spots in your caulk, don't fret. Try letting the Tilex cleaner soak for a little while (few minutes) before you plan on re-doing it.
The hardest part of this whole process is removing the old caulk. Plan on this whole fix taking at least a couple of hours. It will be time well spent.
Anyone else dealing with some crappy caulk? I wrote an entire post about caulk and didn't make one juvenile joke. #itskillingme'
This post contains one Amazon affiliate link, but feel free to purchase caulk wherever you'd like. :)
Hey guys! Lisa and I are planning getting a new car very soon and we're pretty excited about it. We'll fill you in on the details once we make a decision. We're still looking, but I think we'll be driving something new in the next couple of weeks! In the meantime, we're getting the Jeep ready to be traded-in. It's got 160,000 miles on it and could use some TLC. In this post, we're going to repair some rust that has been plaguing the driver's side wheel well. The basic rust repair process in this post should be the same for most cars.
Doesn't look so hot, does it? I've tried to repair it a year ago and it didn't hold up longer than a few hours. This time is going to be different. I've learned the error of my ways.
To start, we're going to mask off the door into the car to keep rust, paint and body filler dust from getting inside.
Then we sand off the old paint to get down to the rust and bare metal. Make sure to wear a mask. You can see that the area is pretty beat up to say the least. The goal here is to remove as much of the really rusted out metal. You can use a small hammer or a screw driver to knock it loose.
If you tried to apply a body filler material right over the rust, you'd get crappy results. You'll need to apply a rust converter first and then clean the surface. The rust converter chemically bonds to the rust and makes it a paintable or body filler compatible surface. I didn't do this step the first time I tried this repair last year. The rust converter and wax and grease remover are all sold at local car parts stores. Be careful with the rust converter, it's pretty noxious stuff. Read the warning label!!
Once the rust converter is applied, the rust turns to a dark black color.
Now we can add the body filler. The most common product is the Bondo brand. It's a two part system consisting of the filler and the hardener. You add roughly a pea sized amount of the red hardener to each golf ball sized amount of filler and mix on a hard surface until it's the same color as the applicator. Then just apply liberally to the affected area and smooth with the applicator. You'll need to act quickly as it hardens in minutes.
Once the Bondo has hardened about 20 minutes after you've applied it to the car, you can take a sander with a course grit sandpaper and smooth out the body filler. If you have a lot of rust on the section you're working, you'll probably sand off some of the rust converter in the process. This sanding will expose the rust and will require another coat of the rust converter. If the repair looks good at this point, you can pretty much sand with a 220 grit paper or add more body filler until you're satisfied.
Since I needed a little more filler, I used what is basically a skim coat to glaze the area. It's the same process as the body filler, only it's a little more runny.
After that coat was applied and sanded up to 220 grit, I added another coating of the rust converter and then cleaned off the excess with the wax and grease remover.
Then it was time to prime. I used a grey colored auto primer, which you can get at any auto parts store. The primer is where you'll be able to see any imperfections in the body filler you might have missed otherwise. If you don't like your results, you can add more filler and sand, etc. Since this is a trade in, I'm not beating myself up to get it perfect. It just has to look rust free. A close inspection reveals the metal is a bit lumpy looking.
After it's been primed, I switch to my finish paint color. I bought a spray can online from a company that matches OEM car colors. You just go to their website and enter in your car's make, model and color and you can select from a variety of different options. I picked a regular can of spray paint, but you could get a quart and use an HVLP gun like the pros. After the matching color, I add a couple coats of a clear gloss finish. Still not done though. You need to wet sand whatever you painted with a 1000 and 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper to get the clear coat smooth enough where it will feel like the rest of the car to the touch. If you skip the wet sanding, you get rough spots that attract dirt. I actually have one of these dirty spots from my first repair attempt last year. I haven't sanded this one yet either, but I'll be taking care of that this weekend.
The finished product is okay. It's not great, but like I said, we're trading it in and I knew the rust was going to be a hit on our trade in value.
Not bad for a few hours worth of work. If you had a body shop do this kind of repair it could set you back a couple grand. It's nice to know it's not that challenging. Of course, the body shop guys are usually highly skilled and you may not get a perfect result compared to them until you really get the swing of it. Hopefully we won't need to do this to our next car.
Anyone else living with rust on their car?
Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend! Lisa and I caught up with some old friends and spent a good amount of time with both of our families. Overall a great weekend. I was also able to squeeze a couple hours of car work to do a 3M headlight restoration kit on our Jeep.
I've been meaning to try this restoration process on my now 8 year old SUV for a while. If you're not familiar with this whole headlight improvement thing, I'll fill you in. Headlights tend to yellow and haze up after a few years on the road. The haze can reduce the light output and looks pretty crappy. To correct it you have a couple options. You can replace the headlights, but that can be a couple hundred dollars. The other option is a restoration kit. The kit I used cost $30. It basically involves using a drill with a variety of sanding pads to scour and polish the plastic headlight housing to restore it's clarity.
I'm not going to show you the step by step process of this particular product, but here's a great video that shows you the procedure.
Here's how it worked for my car.
The before:
Not too bad.
Here's what the kit looked like.
The first step is to clean the headlights with soap and water and then tape off the area around the headlight with painter's tape.
I thought using a pneumatic sander would be a better option than a cordless or corded drill, but it didn't work as well as I'd like, so I switched back to the cordless drill.
The after:
So, overall, I'm pretty happy with the results. The headlights look considerably better. They don't look brand new, but this process was unlikely to restore them to that level anyway. If you want headlights that look brand new, you may be better off buying new ones. These kits also can't cure discoloration or staining that's inside the headlight. To remedy those stains you may need to remove the headlight and manually wash it.
So, we're slowing crossing off items on our car's to-do list. There are still a number of projects left, but we expect to be done with them by the end of October.
What needs work on your car? Is there anything you'd like to see done?
So, last week as you may recall, we added a reverse osmosis system (ROS) to our kitchen sink. How do we like it so far? We love it. The water tastes great and we don't have anymore plastic water bottles collecting dust all over the house. Wasn't terribly difficult either, although there were a few tricky steps, like drilling through the stainless steel sink and adding a section of pipe for the drain.
Now, I'm generally a cautious guy. Whenever I mess with plumbing, I usually keep an eye on it for a little while to make sure it doesn't leak. With the water supply lines, you usually don't need to do that. They are pressurized and they'll either leak immediately when the water is turned on or not at all. They CAN have a slow drip, but even those usually materialize sooner than later.
The drain pipes on the other hand, can take a while. They aren't under any pressure and leaks can be painfully slow to develop. The photo above is our kitchen sink the day after I installed the ROS. See that paper towel and the water pail? Yep. We sprung a leak. The entire left side under our sink had a nice puddle of water in it. The culprit? The right side p-trap. What's weird about that? I modified the left side p-trap in our ROS install and didn't even touch the right one. Apparently, I must have bumped it or something when I was messing around with the left side.
How to Fix a Leaking Sink
After a close inspection, I was able to feel a lot of water around the topmost p-trap fitting. So, the first thing I did to remedy this whole situation was to just put some muscle into that fitting and crank it down tight to see if that helped. Since this is a slow drip, I put a dry piece of paper towel under the p-trap and left it alone for a couple minutes. After a little while, I noticed the paper towel had some wet spots. Crap.
The only real option I have at this point is to replace the p-trap and the maybe the tall pipe that has the dishwasher port on it. They readily sell these at home supply stores and they're very inexpensive. I paid under $10 for both of these parts.
I started the fix by removing the old p-trap. It comes out very easy. You just loosen the two nuts that hold it in place. They're almost always hand tight. You don't really need to use a wrench for any of this.
That long pipe came out next. Same deal as the p-trap. Once it was out, I laid it next to the new one and marked the new one so it had the same length. To cut it, I just used a pair of tubing cutters, but you can also use a hack saw.
With the straight pipe cut to the correct length, it gets installed the same way the old one came out.
With the straight pipe in place, the new p-trap is up next. Very simply installation.
So our finished photo looks identical to our first photo. Only difference is this one doesn't leak. To be sure we corrected the problem, I left another piece of paper towel underneath the sink. This time, I left it under there for a couple days. No drips!
What was wrong with the old one? Hard to tell. It's possible it got bumped and then maybe messed up one of the seals. Who knows? I'm not losing sleep over it.
So, that wasn't very exciting, but hopefully you learned something about your sink!! Fix ay problems at your place lately?
Hey! Thanks for stopping by. We're Lisa and John and this is our DIY and Home Improvement blog. Feel free to browse our DIY project gallery or our latest posts. You can read more here.
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I have this issue that's been annoying me for a long time. My HIS 4870 1GB while on the desktop and surfing will increase the fan speed if there is too much activity such as scrolling lots of images or dragging things around rapidly.
Here is the thing, if I go into CCC and manually set the fan speed to 38% this fixes the revving fan problem. But I don't want to leave it setup like that because it will get too hot during games and might crash. I don't want to set it at 45% while just at my desktop because the noise is too loud. I tried making a profile, but that idea was pretty worthless to me IMHO as I don't want to think about turning something on or off, needs to be manual during 2d activity and automatic during 3d games.
Honestly if it is really bugging you-
1.Clean out all the dust first just to see if that fixes it but it probably wont.
2.Add on a spare fan on the side of the computer for like $10-$20 this is almost a guaranteed fix.
Otherwise unless you do indeed make profiles I don't think there is a way around it.
I have an air compressor so dust is not the problem. I live in Florida so the heat is a factor. The idles temps of this video card are resting at 50 to 54C. The fan does not seem to be revving with the temperatures, just the activity of the desktop or when a game starts.
I have a 120mm Antec fan blowing on the side pointing right at the video card. My case has 144mm fans so airflow is not a problem.
I'm looking into RivaTuner to see if it can manually adjust the speeds matched with temperature rather than activity.
Holy crap there is a ghost in my computer! lol
With RivaTuner I bring up the low level system tweaks and under the fan tab the slider is wickedly moving back and forth between 35 and 45%!
Hmmm... that's just insane. :(
lol-something to look into..
Anyone else that tries the Rivatuner way will need to look into using the Scheduler if the Threshold Add button is missing.
In the 'scheduler' tab on the main window, you can link to your profiles and assign a threshold value there.
I copied this from someplace...
Open RivaTuner
1. Go to settings, make sure send to tray on close and run a Windows startup are checked.
2. Under main tab, under driver settings, click customize and then click the picture of the graphics card, system settings.
3. Go to the fan tab, select direct control from the drop down box.
4. Move the slider to whatever percentage you want, then click the save button, and call it whatever you want.
5. Repeat for how many settings you want i.e. 60% for temperature over X degrees, 80% for temperature over X degrees. Click OK on this window.
6. Go to the launcher tab.
7. Click the green plus symbol, select regular item, and press OK.
8. Type a name, select the box associated fan profile, and then choose whichever one you want e.g. name - "fan speed 60%", then select 60% fan profile.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 for however many you want.
10. Go to the scheduler tab.
11. Click the plus button.
12. Type a name, and select launch item, then choose the launcher that you want to use.
13. Select run task on hardware monitoring range event.
14. Select core temperature from the drop down menu, and then enter the temperatures that you want to use that speed between e.g. 60% between 70C and 80C.
15. Put 0 in both data sampling period and task freezing period to allow seamless changes between your fan profiles.
16. Click OK.
If it asks you about enabling background hardware monitoring at any point, you have to make sure you enable it. Then all you need to do is play some games to make the card hot, and the fan should come on!
Jesus.. Mother #$%#@$% my fan profile corrupted or vanished? Sigh..lol
Lol-definately a ghost on that computer-Give rivatuner admin abilities just to make sure it is actually saving data-all I can come up with
Got it working, but still ran into issues with it revving up and down like a wild animal at those critical hot points. So what I did was changed the Monitoring Settings Data Pulling Intervals to 5000 and in each Scheduler option changed the data sampling period and task freezing period to 30000 milliseconds.
Not the most ideal fix, but at least its quite during normal web browsing and only revs up during games. :)
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LOGAN TWP. -- Drivers are being asked to avoid using the Commodore Barry Bridge during the early morning hours of Saturday, June 27.
Between midnight and 4 a.m., the bridge will be closed to all traffic because of PENNDOT construction on the Pennsylvania side.
In addition, beginning Friday, June 26, at 9 p.m., the right lanes will be closed in both the eastbound and westbound directions for two hours in advance of the entire bridge being closed to traffic.
All lanes should be back in service by 4 a.m. Saturday
Part of the construction requires removal of overhead lane light gantries.
Drivers should consider using the Walt Whitman Bridge as an alternate during the construction.
Construction updates are also posted on www.drpa.org.


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We all make mistakes. NJ Transit made a doozy. It failed to move trains from rail yards in Kearny and Hoboken to higher ground, despite forecasts that Hurricane Sandy would be a catastrophic storm. The Hudson County rail yards were swamped with as much as 6 feet of water from the tidal surge that followed Sandy. The result: millions of dollars in damage to 261 train cars and 62 locomotives.
Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), chairman of the Assembly's transportation panel, said he's spoken with James Simpson, the state transportation commissioner, about appearing before the panel to explain what happened. Wisniewski said he'll also ask NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein to appear.
"I want to know what happened to our infrastructure as a result of the hurricane, the lessons learned and the cost of putting it right," said Wisniewski, who's also chairman of the Democratic State Committee.
Some rail experts are incredulous that NJ Transit officials didn't move their trains out of harm's way. "My God, New Jersey's a swamp," David Schanoes, a New York railroad consultant, told The Star-Ledger. In New York, the Long Island Railroad, Metro North and the New York City subway system moved their stock to higher ground and sustained minimal damage.
An NJ Transit spokesman said the agency had every reason to believe the rail yards would be fine. Although located in a flood zone, the yard had never flooded, not even after storms like Floyd and Irene. The agency based its decision not to relocate trains on that previous experience, and data from the National Weather Service, the spokesman said. Some rolling stock was moved to Pennsylvania and New York, but not all of it. Some of the damaged equipment already has been fixed and is back in service, and the agency expects that insurance will pick up most of the tab. The system has yet to make a full recovery. Although most lines have full or partial service, the Gladstone Branch remains out.
Now, the agency has to prepare for the next Sandy. NJ Transit officials say they'll review their procedures. Good, and even better if they share the review with the public. Finding a safe harbor for all trains will be a challenge, but it is something NJ Transit must explore.
Sandy took the agency by the surprise. It wasn't the only one lulled into complacency by previous storms. NJ Transit needs to draw lessons from Sandy, the same as everyone else who was caught flat-footed.
• NJ Transit boss defends decision to leave trains in area hit hard by Sandy flooding
• NJ Transit parked rail equipment in locations predicted to flood during Sandy, report says


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Amendment #16 to H.3514
Restriction on the Use of Placeholder Social Security Numbers
Representatives Harrington of Groton, Jones of North Reading, Peterson of Grafton, Hill of Ipswich, Poirier of North Attleborough and deMacedo of Plymouth move that the bill be amended in SECTION 4 by striking out subsection (e) of section 16W and inserting in place thereof the following:–
"(e) The office shall work with the departments, offices, or divisions, under the authority of the office, that assist in the administration of public benefit programs, as well as the bureau of program integrity, established pursuant to this chapter, to develop uniform rules and regulations regarding intake procedures and procedures for handling discrepancies that may result between an applicant or recipient's social security number and one or more of the databases or information tools outlined in this section; provided that an applicant or recipient shall be notified of any discrepancy that arises between their social security number and information retrieved by the integrated eligibility system and the applicant or recipient shall be provided an opportunity to explain any discrepancy; provided that self-declarations by an applicant or recipient shall not be accepted as the sole verification of categorical and financial eligibility during eligibility evaluations and reviews; provided that all self-declarations made on or pursuant to an application for public assistance shall be signed under the pains and penalties of perjury; and, provided further that numerical identifiers, other than valid social security numbers, shall not be used as alternatives to social security numbers unless the applicant or recipient is an expecting mother in the third trimester of her pregnancy, a child under 1 years of age, or an asylee. If a recipient is unable to provide an accurate social security number to replace a numerical identifier within a time period of 3 months, the recipient's public assistance benefits shall be terminated unless the individual is a victim of domestic violence who has a pending petition for legal status under the federal Violence Against Women Act.".
Additional Cosponsors
Sheila C. Harrington
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
George N. Peterson, Jr.
Bradford Hill
Elizabeth A. Poirier
Viriato Manuel deMacedo


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Buddies for Birds IV was an opportunity for students from different schools and different grades levels to work together on environmental science activities. The students had developed a relationship earlier in the school year by corresponding in "Buddy Journals" throughout the seasons.
Two field trips were planned allowing fifth grade students the opportunity to teach the younger students on ecosystems and the environment. The first outing involved students working together on planting seeds, which were taken back to the classroom by the younger students to observe and monitor. The second event, which will be held on May 28, 2010, will involve the fifth grade students leading their younger buddies in a scavenger hunt in their outdoor classroom. The students will also plant trees outside on the grounds of Auten Road Intermediate School.
Classroom Close-Up, the television program aired on NJN Public Television with co-production of NJEA and NJN visited Auten Road Intermediate School and filmed the first visit.


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Warm and Cold, Feeling Drained and Being
By The Ithaka - Published November 24, 2000 - Viewed 988 times
Warm and Cold, Feeling Drained and Being Filled
Norfolk, Virginia
November 24, 2000
By Douglas Bernon
I can appreciate that the Inuit have maybe eight billion words for snow, but I'd hoped this year not to talk about snow, not to see snow, not to feel snow, not to be anywhere near snow.
Yesterday, as we altered course from 188 to 255 degrees, turned the corner at the Thimble Shoal Lighthouse, dropped our sails and started to motor into Norfolk, we were at least several weeks behind our imagined schedule. Huddled behind the dodger, watching our breath before us, bundled with every layer of fleece and foul-weather protection we own, and with only our eyes exposed to the world, I was reminded of Fran Leibowitz's felicitous aphorism: "life is what gets in the way of plans." Just then, the sun disappeared, the temperature dropped and the gray rain turned into... snow. Last night, I went to sleep with my hat on. Not good.
But all's not bad either. We puttered along for another four miles, mesmerized by behemoths: rows of aircraft carriers, battleships, tankers, tugs and submarines. When we rounded Buoy 25, we closed for good the Maptech Chart Kit we'd been using since New Jersey, and opened the one that goes from Norfolk, Virginia, all the way to Florida. Often I've liked reading a book so much that I didn't want it to end, and I'd linger over pages, rest between paragraphs, or merely close it on my chest and wait awhile. But in this case, I was delighted to put those covers together and turn towards what's next. While we're way behind whatever it is we thought our schedule was supposed to be, we're also delighted to be doing what we're doing, which is to say that whatever it is that cruising is about, it's surely not speed. Why else would people choose to travel at about the same rate as a Holstein?
|Ithaka, waiting out a cold front at the Norfolk Boat Works.
Tonight we are tied up at the Norfolk Boat Works, visiting with our friends Michel and Germaine–who arrived here a week before we did from Mobjack Bay–and temporarily becoming part of the extended family here in this most unusual boatyard. While not a transient facility, Rob Powell and Karl Creekmore, the two owners, welcomed us with open arms. With an arctic high-pressure front lingering overhead, the temperature here is 40 degrees below the norm, and the wind chill is in the teens. The weather man says it's the lowest temperature this week since Mastodons wandered these parts. Wuss that I am, I was thrilled when Bernadette said she wanted to wait until this front passes so we won't turn into Popsicles before we get south. We're itching to take off, though, on the portion of the Intracoastal Waterway from Norfolk to Miami. Itching yes, but not THAT badly.
The Norfolk Boat Works is a unique environment: There's a grand, black pooch that ambles everywhere, first-rate yacht repair services, storage services, and lots of very-very-very-long-term-do-it-yourself rebuild projects that are more or less going forward. Nestled unobtrusively between an oyster cannery on one side and some old piers on the other, and an easy walk to downtown, this is a kindly place where people have lent us cars, heaters and electric cords, a portable battery charger, taken us out to dinner and breakfast, and offered up oodles of help, encouragement and good cheer. Leaning out from a barge in front of NBW is an enormous Christmas star that the owners, staff and live-aboards in this boatyard put up for a marine charity parade last week to support the Elizabeth River Project.However, if I focus only on the external world, I'd fail to report the grander drama of this week, and several before it, which has been more mechanical and interpersonal. Several readers of our log have e-mailed us (which we both like immensely) and generously opined that I'm too hard on myself and that I ought to lighten up. This is excellent counsel and, while not news, I thank you for your kindness. Alas, I am who I am.
Cruising, for all its many delights, is quite a challenge. When we take on some major new task and role in life, the canyon between where we stand and who we want to be is immense. For people who've been successful in their careers, and who may have forgotten how hard it was to get a foothold those many years ago, that chasm between aspiration and reality can be downright painful. For me, I often feel that I'm straddling that chasm, and someone is moving those footholds farther apart. Anyway, this week I've been much vexed and sometimes despairing about what I thought was a problem I'd created with our batteries and charging system.
|Christmas decorations atop the Norfolk Boat Works barge.
For people who haven't lived on boats, it's important to remember that the seemingly inexhaustible land-based supplies we use willy-nilly (water, fuel, electricity) are precious goods, whose minimal acquisition takes up whole days on board. And then once you've got it, you have to find a place to put it. Consider electricity. To get more of this quickly-consumed commodity, one either has to be attached by electric umbilical to a shore socket or run the ship's engine to make power to save in the ship's batteries, or gather power from solar panels or miniature windmills mounted in the rigging.
On Ithaka, to charge our batteries, we have solar panels and we run the engine. We're sparing of our electrical consumption, and have chosen to have no television, no microwave, no electric kitchen appliances, no washing machine, no hair dryers. We only use minor electrical gizmos that can be fired up in 12-volt cigarette-lighter fittings. Our biggest power munchers are our refrigeration system (which eats gobs of it when we have it on), interior and navigation lights, our computer, and our telecommunications gear.
Ithaka has two battery "banks" (perfect nomenclature, really, for something so valuable). One bank is actually a single battery whose sole purpose in life is to start the engine. The other bank is made up of four very large batteries (305s) linked together to store our power for everything else. When we bought Ithaka, we replaced the old batteries with what are called deep-cycle, wet-cell batteries. After doing our homework, we chose the ones made by Rolls because they're immensely powerful, reliable and mercifully forgiving if you screw up. That turned out to be a great decision.On our boat, we have two alternators attached to the diesel engine that, when the engine is on, make electricity to be stored in the batteries for later use. The little alternator automatically starts every time the engine starts and stores electricity in the start battery. The big alternator has to be turned on manually and then makes electricity for the large bank of batteries. Here's where I messed up. I haven't been turning on the big alternator often enough, and consequently our bank account of power has been consistently low. In my inexperience, I was only turning it on when we needed to fire up the fridge. Not a mortal sin, you might say? But wait. Batteries resent terribly being undercharged, and can become persnickety and uncooperative, looking as if they are full, sounding as if they are full, but not being able to deliver the goods–in other words, not offering enough power to supply your basic daily needs. In fact, undercharging can ruin a lower quality battery completely. This, by the look of our diminished available amp hours, I feared I'd done. The thought of this kept me up worrying for two nights.
In your car you have an elegantly simple gauge with E and F indicators that tell you at a passing glance what amount of fuel is available to you; without conscious thought you have a general idea of how many miles you can go. On most boats, there's no such simple gauge for electricity, although last week we bought and installed one, the Link 20, that does that very well. Anyway, because I've been grossly undercharging the batteries over the past few months, and because I was mis-interpreting the voltage, amperage and specific gravity readings–Get the picture here on the yuppie learning curve?–I assumed we had a terminal problem with our batteries, and that I'd caused it. I've been turning lights off like a miser as I walk the length of the both, badgering Bernadette about power consumption day and night, and pestering everyone I know about whether or not we had to perform battery surgeries or get new ones. Because in sailing there are so many proclaimed experts with different theories, I'd worked myself into a dither and was becoming, my beloved tells me, rather a pain.
Over the past week I'd read and reread various parts of Nigel Calder's book on electricity, and I purposely super-overcharged the batteries (a process called equalization) to try to remedy any damage done by the previous undercharging. What this does is shock and knock the hardened sulphate crud (the result of undercharging) off the plates inside the battery so they can once again do their thing and accept a fuller charge. But I wasn't confident, as it seemed that nearly everyone I turned to offered opposite advice. Meanwhile, I've also been conducting more junior-high school science experiments to determine voltage and loads, making time and amperage discharge graphs, and driving myself and anyone around me nuts.
"That's enough!" said My Personal Commodore. "I can't stand this anymore. We're calling the Rolls company, and asking them."
So today I reluctantly searched out the phone number for the Rolls company up in Nova Scotia and, with my tail between my legs, I phoned them. I spoke with James Surrette, whose family runs and owns the company, and he spent more than half an hour walking me through an exquisitely elementary and useful lesson on batteries, battery care and how to interpret correctly the information I'd graphed. Mercifully, it turns out the Rolls is particularly resilient to my novice mistreatment, and is now fully charged up again, none the worst for wear.
Bernadette is relieved, and no longer will brook my turning off lights too quickly. I'm more relieved than I can express that I hadn't screwed up as badly as I thought, and I'm grateful to new friends in Norfolk and Nova Scotia, who in the midst of unwelcome cold, warmed us with their kindness. As we headed south over the Thanksgiving holiday, we gave thanks for our health and each other, for the privilege of this trip, and for the friendships that always seem to make the difference.
|Great advice for cruisers, on the side of the road. Sometimes words of wisdom emerge in unlikely places.
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Locational Advantage:
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Try out the authentic Nawabi cuisine that is served at the restaurant in Pataudi Palace Hotel Gurgaon. Also served on platter are the delicacies of Bhopal and Rampur. The expert chefs at Pataudi Palace Hotel serve hygienic as well as lip smacking delicacies to the guests.
Special Facilities:


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Japan's long established Stereo Sound magazine, one of the most influential and important audio magazines in the world has awarded Harbeth one of the coveted ultimate best of the best "Grand Prix" prizes and two best-in-price-category awards.
Harbeth's boss Alan Shaw said "Following on from the cover appearance of our P3ESR earlier this year in Stereo Sound (magazine back copy now sold out) - the first time the magazine cover had ever featured an affordable rather than super-high end product - we knew that the new generation P3ESR had quickly achieved serious respect amongst Japanese audiophiles. The P3ESR is by far the least expensive loudspeaker to win the 2010 Grand Prix award; the top prize loudspeaker costs one hundred times more than the P3ESR."
Harbeth last received a 'Component of the Year' (previous name of the Grand Prix) award from Stereo Sound for the original HL Compact, Alan's first design, so this is a twice-in-a-career VIP accolade.
"I'll be travelling to Japan soon to collect the Award - this is a huge thrill and I am immensely grateful for the loyal support we've had in Japan, our first market since 1977, some thirty four years. These awards exactly reflect what the Harbeth brand represents: excellent value-for-money loudspeakers, affordable by ordinary music lovers and built to last."
More information to follow shortly. The Chinese and Korean translated editions of Stereo Sound will be available in the following months as usual. Stereo Sound Publishing Inc. website here.


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my predication:
- drogba at he's very best.
- alot of fear going forward (as with all finals_
- shit game from robben
- atleast 2 terrible misses by gomez.
-shit game by mata
final score: 2-2 a last minute header for drogba gives chelsea hope and a win for bayern in extra time or penalties.
3-1 bayern, chelsea will take the lead and try to defend it out.. but it wont work because unlike us, they can cross it into gomez.
or thats what im hoping
If Bayern Munich win the CL final tonight, Bayern player Franck Ribery wants to dedicate the win to Eric Abidal. #animsabidal [md]
Chelsea 3-1 Drogba hattrick
I dont have the best feelings tbh ... 3-2 chelsea is my guess ...
Torres to score the goal that will give Chelsea the CL.
Feels weird not feeling tension before a final. Out to enjoy the game today. Hopefully it will be good.
I feel a lot of commentators are leaning for Chelsea, I feel Bayern still has an edge. Though if Chelsea takes the lead, I expect theatrical performance from Drogba again.
Will Van Buyten start in defense tonight? Or Tymoshchuk, instead of him, with Kroos startinging in CM and Muller as CAM?
And Rafinha at RB with Lahm at LB right?
Im not even sure if van Buyten is part of the squad. He played 60min with the reserves last week - doesnt look like hes making it, at least not into the starting 11. Although it would be perfect vs Drog.
Bayern will most likely start like this:


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My premise thus far has been that Old Town is not and never will be a neighborhood community having residents with discretionary income. See Neighborhood and Community.
Old Town development has been repressed by the way it has evolved and its location within two historic districts. There has been little effort, if any, to create a neighborhood community.
For 30 plus years, despite good faith effort by some in the neighborhood -see Old Town Vision and Development Plan (Plan) - urban renewal (began 1974) funds have done nothing but set the stage for failure.
Thus - the die had been cast - ironically by many of those who created the Plan.
When one looks at the primary goal as stated in the Plan - a 24/7 vibrant mixed use, urban neighborhood - there has been little progress then or now.
None can be realistically expected in the future, but see Ryan Frank's article on Old Town revival.
There are those who will rightfully point to much improvement in Old Town - and I will not deny that it has come a long way in shedding its skid row appellation - but little, if any, improvement has been towards building a neighborhood community.
In any event, 'improvement' in Old Town has been beneficial only to the Social services and Entertainment businesses. The Plan was adopted in December of 1999 - too late for urban renewals dollars - the die had already been cast.
But, that should not be an excuse for the lack of urban renewal in Old Town.
The fact is that residents are irrelevant because Old Town had been colonized by the Social services and Entertainment business sectors at a time when there were no resident population to be served or object.
Interestingly enough, neither sector is dependent on the other or on a resident base.
I am singling out the Social service part, because it is their conduct and attitude that is the major hindrance to creating a neighborhood community.
Some of this Social service sector is responsible for the dense population of sex offenders and sexual predators as well as other criminal parolees housed in Old Town.
Old Town may have come a long way from being skid row but not from being a dumping ground. It is one of the secrets in the neighborhood and even in the greater Portland. It is 'secret' in the sense of no one wants to talk about it.
None of the print media will touch this 'dumping ground' issue essentially pretending that it is does not exist. Similar failure too is their approach to drug activity in Old Town.
The fate of Old Town was determined by permitting and, in fact, encouraging the establishment of both the dense Social service sector and the dense housing of the criminal elements such as sexual predators. The city and PDC are responsible.
A practical effect of this density is that no family can (or should) locate in Old Town. I would argue further that no property owner/landlord can morally or ethically lease or sell without disclosure of the presence of sexual predators and the like.
Doesn't responsibility goes further than the city and PDC. If information is available - and it is - isn't failure by the public and private entities to use this information to protect its employees and visitors irresponsible?
E.g., has University of Oregon even looked at city map indicating the presence of sex offenders?
Without a doubt anyone living in Old Town is living near to sexual predators and the like. What is 'near?' Oregon laws concerning the housing of sexual predators is not specific in the distance that they are to be kept from children.
"Near" seems to be as specific as they get. See KGW story and the Statutes.
But isn't a few blocks 'near.' See map using PDC (NW 5th and NW Everett) as the focal point. [The map fails to indicate the true density (it is much higher) - but it makes the point].
Query: Would you move your family here knowing the risk? Remember these predators and the like are free to roam during the day - restricted only by monitoring devices which often don't work.
Does anyone seriously believe that children should be located near sexual predators - however one wants to define 'near?' Or is it okay as long as it is not my children? NMC - a twist on NIMBY?
Is this going to be one those situations where parents will be 'bribed' by the offering of financial assistance?
The construct of Old Town is the responsibility of PDC - urban renewal (or the lack thereof) and the city. Permitting the accumulation of sex offenders and sexual predators in Old Town is unjustified and prevents Old Town from becoming a neighborhood community.
The die has been cast.
However, it is difficult to some extent to 'blame' the businesses in the Social service sector because they were established before the existence of a residential base, and, under the watchful eyes of the city and PDC. Not surprisingly, they have flourished.
But their connection to the criminal element is their responsibility too. Own up.
But, what if the link was broken between the Social service sector and housing of sex offenders, sexual predators and the like - is that enough to save Old Town?
Not really. A substantial reason for the lack development/redevelopment is that despite lip service about being good neighbors - many are not. An often heard objection by those looking for progress is about the queues outside of various providers.
Thus, while there has been a lot of 'promises' about being a 'good neighbor,' e.g., by taking steps to 'eliminate' queues - it later becomes 'reduction' of queues.
They will tell you what you want to hear. [Portland has 'good neighbor agreements' which lack legal enforcement. It is akin to a handshake].
They easily avoid being held to their promises because the neighborhood organizations are silent (guess who makes up these organizations) and TIF dollars and other public monies are never conditioned on them being the 'good neighbor.'
They would appear intractable. Ryan Frank has a quote from possibly the largest non-profit social service provider and property owner in Old Town - Central City Concern - "Most of Old Town's social service groups hold the power because they own their land. "We're not leaving,"
What was not mentioned is not only do they own their own land - most, if not all, are tax exempt.
But - is the other colonizer different?


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You're a lucky woman, Sharni Vinson.
The Australian actress, who appeared in Step Up 3D, was snapped this week strolling through Venice Beach with The Twilight Saga hunk. Sources tell Us Weekly the pair met through mutual pals and have been dating for about "two months."
"She's a lot of fun," says the insider. "They are both very into working out. They hang out in Venice a lot and just stay low-key."
Lutz previously dated 90210 star AnnaLynne McCord for about two years, but they called it quits in the fall of 2010. Now, Vinson is the one who gets to go home to THIS.
[Photo: Pacific Coast News]


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The nation's roads are fast becoming a 'National disgrace' after decades of under investment and poor maintenance by government and councils. With year on year decay in the condition of OUR ROADS along with the increasing bad weather, the UK road network is getting to the tipping point of no return. The planned funding by government and councils over the next few years is less than 50 percent of what is needed to stop the rot. However even if the funding figure was doubled it would not tackle the massive backlog in road maintenance the nation currently has, of around £11 billion.
Something needs to change NOW! NO MORE bickering between government and councils over funding. The truth is what we all know, OUR ROADS are falling to bits and it cannot go on anymore. We are fed up with all the spin by both of them and just want something done about the state of the roads. Motorists pay over £50 billion a year into government yet well under 9% of that is spent on road maintenance. The roads are a key asset so why is it not maintained as such?
What is needed is simple:
1. Ring fenced funding for Road Maintenance from government.
2. Double the funding levels to Highways Authorities to stop the rot.
3. Ten year plan with investment to clear the backlog of maintenance works & monitored by DfT or a new Road Regulator for the road user/taxpayer.
4. Improved management of works and contracts.
5. Improved quality control of works.
6. Change from Road Fund Licence back to Road Tax which is solely for maintenance of OUR ROADS. (reduce fuel duty to allow for increase in Road Tax).
7. Increase the guarantee period for reinstatement of utilities works in the highway from 2 to 5 years.
8. Utilities to pay an opening charge for works in the highway to authorities to provide fund for future repair works as a result of their excavations.
All of the potholes not repaired last year are now getting worse, with the volume of rain and now freezing temperatures over the coming weeks the roads will break up more and more. Please report them via http://streetrepairs.co.uk/ with pictures if safe to do so.
Welcome to Pothole Britain!!!
From Mark Morrell aka Mr Pothole
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Mr-Pothole, on Friday 31 January, 2014. For more information subscribe and follow http://www.pressat.co.uk/
Pothole Potholes Road Government Councils Maintenance Tax Repair Government Transport & Logistics
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Geocaching is treasure hunting for the Global Positioning System (GPS) enthusiast. A GPS is used to navigate to cache locations where rewards or additional tasks are found. The cache can be a small weather proof box or directions to take a self portrait with an unmistakable landmark. Geocaching on public lands is welcomed. Locations to caches within the Surprise Field area as well as all over the world can be found at Geocaching.com.
Visitors are encouraged to visit the local field office to get get maps of the area and current road conditions before starting a treasure hunt. Visit the BLM office prior to establishing a cache to confirm that the site will not jeopardize public health and safety, will not cause environmental damage and will not conflict with other authorized land uses.
For more details on geocaching please see BLM's Official Geocaching Policy: Instruction Memorandum: No. 2005-092 "Geocaching Activities on BLM Public Lands."