text:
Running out of time on global warming
A decade ago most experts thought of global warming as the largest challenge civilization faced—but one that would happen relatively gradually. That cautious optimism has faded as one study after another has proved that the earth was more finely balanced than we'd understood. The climate crisis is bearing down on us much faster than most people realize. The temperature rise has started melting every frozen thing on earth. In the Arctic Ocean, white ice that reflected the sun's rays is quickly turning into water that absorbs more of the sun's heat. And, as the ice melts, there's the very real chance of a catastrophic rise in sea levels.
The Century's work relies primarily on subscriptions and donations. Thank you for supporting nonprofit journalism.
Support us by buying books:


text:
|Linden Masonic Lodge No. 132 rewards readers with Bikes for Books
LINDEN, Michigan — Students in Linden and Lake Fenton elementary schools had extra incentive for March is Reading Month — a new set of wheels.
This year, the Linden Mason Lodge No. 132 donated eight bicycles and helmets, two for each school, in the Bikes for Books program.For each teacher-approved book students read, they will be entered in the April drawing for one of eight brand new bikes and helmets. Parents monitor student reading and sign an entry slip when the kids finish, which the students bring back to school.
"It gets the kids interested, and gives them a little get up and go and gives them a chance to win a new bike for them to read some new books," said the lodge's Bikes for Books Chairman Fred Chappelle.
The program was introduced at Torey Hill Elementary School last year.
"Last year was very successful and this year we expand more," Chappelle said.
Chappelle said that while he and other Masons — including Charlie Blain, Mylan Huyck and Billy Murphree — worked hard on the project, they couldn't have done it without the help of committee, schools, principals, librarians and others involved in the project.
"Everyone who's been involved in the school district has been really gung-ho about it," he said.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
MUSKEGON, MI -- People often ask singer-songwriter Ben Fielding to describe exactly what "Hillsong LIVE" is.
"It's basically the worship expression of our church here in Sydney," said Fielding, a worship leader at the huge Hillsong Church in Australia which draws 30,000 worshipers over a typical weekend.
"It's kind of the best of our worship team (eight or nine members), where we have an emphasis on songwriting and singing," added Fielding, 32, from his Sydney-area home.
Hillsong LIVE is one of the headliners at the Unity Christian Music Festival this year in Muskegon. The performance is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8.
The Hillsong banner of artists (which include other groups such as Hillsong United) has released more than two dozen albums over the last two decades. They are careful to craft songs that are based on the Bible, intentionally meant for worship, and can be fairly easily sung by church congregations.
"We want to make sure we're singing the truth, and we've got a process in which our songs are screened by pastors," Fielding noted of the Hillsong brand, which now includes branch churches around the world.
Songs such as "The Stand," "Forever Reign" and last year's "Cornerstone" have a firm footprint in the modern worship music catalog.
"Cornerstone" had the highest ever debut on the Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) listing, a ranking of songs requested for use by churches.
An estimated 11,000 North American churches sang the song last Easter.
Many of Hillsong's worship anthems have been covered by other artists. Most notable is "Mighty to Save," an award-winning tune Fielding co-wrote with fellow Hillsong worship pastor Reuben Morgan. It's the pair's best known collaboration.
"You just have to pinch yourself that something you helped create is having the impact it has," Fielding said of the tune that currently is No. 3 on the CCLI list.
"People can sing it on Sundays, but even during the week in moments of needing to hear a message… the song can do that, too," he added of stories they've heard of the song's impact.
"Shout to the Lord," an anthem written 20 years ago, was one of the first to emerge from the Hillsong fold. It remains among the top 25 songs sung in contemporary worship.
Just released is the CD "Glorious Ruins:" 12 new songs that have all been written and sung in the Hillsong church over the past year or so.
Among the new songs are "Man of Sorrows," (already catching on in churches) and a song Morgan co-wrote with U.S. worship artist Chris Tomlin, "Glorify Your Name."
The Unity Festival's Aug. 8 pairing of Hillsong LIVE with the worship-oriented Passion Band and its lead singer Kristian Stanfill was welcome news to Fielding. Especially since both groups do limited touring.
"I love those Passion guys, and I've done some songwriting with Kristian," he said. "They have the same sort of heart as our church does."
Fielding was asked about the impact of their music on non-Christians or those unfamiliar with their worship approach in their concert/presentation settings.
"We want our songs to carry the message of the Bible," said the artist. "Some people are curious about the things of God and are waiting for someone to share the message."


text:
Northwest NEWS
ay 25, 1998
Northshore Nightlife
Jump Up will play blues May 29 at
Forecasters Public House
at Redhook Brewery, 14300 NE 145th St. in Woodinville. Hear more blues May 30 when the Mark DuFresnes Band entertains. Both shows are from 9 to 11 p.m. No cover charge. 483-3232.
Grazie Ristorante
at Canyon Park presents The Edmonia Jarrett Quartet May 29 and 30. Performance times are 8:30 p.m. to midnight in the lounge. No cover. 402-9600.
in the Rose Hill Shopping Center in Kirkland features 70s, 80s and 90s dance music. 80s Something will perform May 29. Cover is $7. Petting Zoo will play May 30. Cover is $5. Times are 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. 827-9292.
The Cantina Club at Las Brisas
, 20615 E. Bothell-Everett Hwy, presents blues, reggae and rock 'n roll. Albritton Mclain will perform May 29-30. Performance times are 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. 489-0334.


text:
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet a special patient, Zach Guillot. The 7-year-old is notorious, as his mom says, around the hospital because of the "antics" he's involved in on the floor where he is undergoing chemotherapy and waiting to receive a second bone marrow transplant.
Zach was readmitted to Children's Dec. 16 after relapsing from his battle with acute myeloid leukemia.
One of his antics includes riding his Big Wheel around his impatient floor at night. And he's recently found fame among Children's employees for the videos he and his Child Life specialist have recorded.
Among the 14 videos on his YouTube channel, there's a legendary lightsaber duel between Zach and his "Sith Nurse" caught on camera, animated shorts and adventures as Indiana Jones and Ironman.
When I walked into his room, he introduced himself with some playful meowing. Being a bit of a kid myself, I thought it was hilarious. But I really had to hold back from laughing when he welcomed his doctors to his room by hissing.
Zach's mom Julie said she and her husband Jeff have appreciated how the staff at Children's has allowed Zach to be himself during his stay in the hospital.
"There's more to recovery than medicine," Julie said. "The staff keeps it lighthearted and play with him. It really helps with the whole experience. It's the little things that can make a kid feel better."
I certainly saw that's the case with Zach. It's so encouraging to see a young child being himself, in high spirits, playing Wii and meowing at guests, while going through something as challenging as chemotherapy.
If you're interested in helping kids like Zach, join the bone marrow registry or participate in the Be a Match Bone Marrow Drive held at Children's annually on Valentine's Day. For more information on times and locations for the drive visit marrow.org.


text:
Matches Ip addresses to Operator (no match de-oped and kicked)
Operator may only log in from approved Ip addresses.
Scans server for invalid Operators and will kick.
Unapproved Operator de-oped and must re-log.
Add 2nd or 3rd Ip for Operator with command.
Remove 2n or 3rd Ip with command.
Extra protection for the possibility of hack or malicious plugins giving Op.
Invalid Op cant login as op.
Names are Case Sensitive
Commands :
Important Player names are case sensitive.
/ot <player name >
Ops player and records Ip for comparison.
/otr < player name>
Remove operator status along with current Ip.
/otadd <Ip address >
Add extra Ip address for your operators if deemed necessary.
/otremove <Ip address>
Removes extra Ip addresses you may have given access to
Permissions :
Op only
Installation :
Unzip file and copy to CraftBukkit plugins folder.
Start server.
Stop server
Important do this to make sure you are op at server start or you will be deoped on log-in.
Once you are Op you can add your op's in game.
Go to your plugins folder to OpTracker Folder. Make sure to put your Ip in OpIpList.txt.
(One Ip per Line)
(One user name per line)
Go to your plugins folder to OpTracker Folder. Make sure to put your User Name in OpList.txt.
Make sure you name is in bukkit folder ops.txt
Start server
Be sure to check out BanTracker a very good choice to go with this plugin.
Misc. :
This plugin uses Mcstats PluginMetrics.
If you wish to disable Metrics go to the plugin metrics folder and change opt_out to true.
Keep in mind plugin coders use this to track usage and features.
If its disabled It doesn't look as if its used much.
So a feature or perhaps the entire plugin may be discontinued.
- 5 comments
Dudemister1999 Sep 22, 2013 at 17:31 UTC - 0 likes
I've been having hackers come on as my Head Admin and Co Owner, and WorldEditing everything to bedrock, sponge, lava, water, and stone. Time to see if this plugin is our saviour!
OzoneSebaPL Jan 24, 2013 at 18:14 UTC - 0 likes
wonderful plugin very useful to me on my server Thanks !
drodon91 Jan 22, 2013 at 20:51 UTC - 0 likes
Where is the dowload Link ?
- 5 comments
Table of contents
- Date created
- Jan 21, 2013
- Category
- Last update
- Jan 23, 2013
- Development stage
- Release
- License
- GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3)
- Curse link
- OpTracker
- Downloads
- 2,247
- Recent file
- R: OpTrackerVer1_1CB1_4_7R0_1 for CB 1.4.7-R0.1 Jan 23, 2013


text:
14 openly gay and lesbian athletes to compete in London Olympics
Post your comment
Comments on this article are now closed.
Reader comments
They definitely missed some including a number of GB athletes
So, most of them are female. But you chose to show one of the (very few) men? Usual PN bias then……
Or have they just chosen the most famous?
Or the cutest?
Yes, if you're a gay man! :)
Pinkuse does trail behind when it comes to covering women. Unless of course they were born male.
Well, looking resolutely on the bright side, you could say the number of openly gay male athletes has doubled since the last Olympics …
They are missing quite a few in this report though
Hope Powell the manager of the GB womens football team is a lesbian and out…
Karen Bardsley (GB Football), Karen Carney (GB Football), Kelly Smith (GB Football), Fara Williams (GB Football), Rachel Williams (GB Football) …
There are rumours about many others including James Magnussen (Australia Swimming)
Magnussen! lol Here we go again like the Ian Thorpe saga. More like a few hundred thousand gay fantasies praying that Magnussen is! lol One of my friends , whenever a spoting 'hero' is mentioned says "Oh I bet he is gay" I say, "have another glass of wine, dear"
Gary, all your examples aren't male – my original comment was about gay male athletes who are openly gay (not rumoured to be).
Not sure the female footballers are officially on record as being gay but surely Hope Powell deserves a mention as Team gb football manager.
It was late and I missed the word male and I do apologise.
As it is I support all LGBT athletes who are out (or not) and compete.
Its not just about eye candy ;-)
Since when did these footballers come out coz last I knew Kelly smith was straight
You would think from this article it was easier to be a Lesbian in the Olympics than an openly Gay Man. Where have they all gone???
They haven't gone anywhere, they've just not come out (or been allowed out) of the closet yet.
Is is really sad that in this day and age that Athletes and indeed those in public are still told they must hide who the are. What kind of message does this send to young LGBT people. It is good that there are so many that are out but from the stand point of Young Gay men who are known to be one of the highest risk groups for suicides do not have more out male Athletes to look up to.
Just because someone wants to live a private life that doesn't automatically make them a closet case.
If a hetero person doesn't like to show affection in public that is deemed a personal choice. We do it, we get all of the negative connotations.
We will eventually look back on coming out as being retrograde. One other thing. Do hetero kids need to come out to their homo parents? To go a step futher, why does a gay kid need to come out to their gay parents, cause they do.
The problem isn't the hetero world its us signing back up to live in another enclosure. A pen of sorts.
FUnny how most of them are from the same few countries!
Not funny in the slightest.
It's not like you are going to get an Arab country with openly gay competitors, is it?
I may no Australian, but that will not stop me from supporting Matthew in the spirit of out and proud. I hope he wins big.
Wonder if there'll be any bisexuals? Evidently they're not on OutSport's radar
Maybe they are not out.
Well I know someone on team GB women's football who is openly gay but her name isn't on here.
There's a certain high-profile Team GB diver who I very much suspect should be on that list.
If you're thinking of the same person as me, apparently he's enjoying a "fledgling romance" with a female American diver – so maybe he's straight (or bi)
Oh wheres that little hunky twink of a diver? Whatshisface that Team GB are adamant appear as hetero as possible.
Which he might be, despite happily flirting with all and sundry.
Tom Welling? Phwoar, I hope so! ;)
Sorry, I meant Tom Daley…
There are a lot more openly gay female footballers than are on that list. Also Hope Powell, Great Britain's football manager is worth a mention.
Yes these are the ones who're out…. 1% is out and the real number of gay people is probably closer to 10 – 16% . We really need to make athletes feel safe to be who they are and not hide it.
Outsports has increased the number of out sportsmen/women in London to 18, including British equestrian Carl Hester
Was this the year they eliminated softball from the olympics?
depends what you mean by 'out' i spose. many will be out to friends and family and perhaps do not feel the need to make a public declaration or maybe they havent been asked. I mean, there are 10,500 athletes or thereabouts; we probably know only a handful..
I suggest that an organizing effort be made at this year's Olympic Games to bring ALL athletes together for an anti-homophobic international standard.
Archbishop Tutu, who just said "anti-gay is this time's apartheid," should be asked to become the "World Face" on such an effort.
Don't forget Claire Harvey http://paralympics.channel4.com/the-athletes/athleteid=16398/index.html
Wait, that's IT?! How sad is that! Also clearly half the women footballers in the US and UK team are gay. I don't even think they're closeted about it either.
Read the new article about how grindr crashed as the athletes entered the Olympic village.. of-course there are more who are not out
If the story about the Grindr crash is anything to judge by, there are a great deal of LGBT people who appear to be linked to the Olympics (whether as athletes, officials, support teams, media or visitors).
I understand the purpose and history of the closet. I know what the phrase(s) 'coming out' & 'openly gay' mean. If a gay person doesn't want to show affection in public they are ashamed. If we don't declare our sexual preference to the world, we are a closet case.
This constant retelling of who is out bears no relation to any person outside of the supposed spotlight. We are none the less visible to the bigots that walk the street.
I'm not cheering on the gays at the olympics. I'm not even cheering on my national team. There is something else to cheer for!
Why come out, to be boxed back in?
You have forgotten our own Carl Hester, the dressage rider. Tut tut.
Out of 12000 athletes who took part in the Bejiing Olympic games, only two homosexuals and eight lesbians identified themselves? If Alfred Kinsey's figure of 10% was correct, where were the missing 1,190 gay athletes? Or in the name of Equality should 1,190 gay athletes have been found to replace the straight ones, simply to satisfy the Equality quota.
It's good that there are more LGBT athletes in this year's Olympics, but isn't it also a shame that we need to highlight them? I fear the "Jock in the locker room" thing of abusing gay teammates prevents many LGBT athletes from being true to themselves and coming out.
These comments are un-moderated and do not necessarily represent the views of PinkNews. If you believe that a comment is inappropriate or libellous, please contact us.
More like this
Most commented this week
- 7-year-old put into father's custody after mother 'raised him as female' 108
- More than a billion people are still living under British anti-gay laws 91
- Trans teen refused service because staff didn't believe his ID belonged to him 58
- Gay couple receive death threats after showing support for Donald Trump 58
- Simon Cowell apologises for gay joke 52
- Straight people getting AIDS is a 'left-wing lie', pro-Trump radio host claims 40
- Bishop of Liverpool: Gay Christians have a right to be angry with the Church 36
- Jazz Jennings gets real on dating as a trans teen 35
- Labour Party report confirms Angela Eagle was targeted by homophobic abuse 31
- Shows must have more on-screen LGBT representation, BBC says 27


text:
The writing strategy in French language learning among Malaysian students: A qualitative approach
Abdul Halim, Hazlina and Abd Rahim, Normaliza and Abdul Jabar, Mohd Azidan and Abdul Aziz, Adi Yasran (2009) The writing strategy in French language learning among Malaysian students: A qualitative approach. The International Journal of Learning, 16 (5). pp. 445-458. ISSN 1447-9494
Official URL: http://ijl.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.30/prod.220...
This exploratory study aims to determine and categorize the type of strategies used by Malaysian students in their learning French as a foreign language with regards to writing skills by applying Dörnyei's (1995) communication strategies taxonomy. The study utilized both a qualitative and quantitative method of data analysis. A total of 30 subjects participated in this study. The task consisted of the administration of the writing task by the subjects after their 100 hours of learning French. The main instruments used in the study were a writing task prompt and an observation checklist. Instruments were adapted mainly from Dornyei & Scott (1997).
Repository Staff Only: Edit item detail


text:
Born about 1129; d. 18 June, 1165.-Feast 18 June. She was born of an obscure family, entered the double monastery of Schönau in Nassau at the age of twelve, received the Benedictine habit, made her profession in 1147, and in 1157 was superioress of the nuns under the Abbot Hildelin. After her death she was buried in the abbey church of St. Florin. When her writings were published the name of saint was added. She was never formally canonized, but in 1584 her name was entered in the Roman Martyrology and has remained there.
Given to works of piety from her youth, much afflicted with bodily and mental suffering, a zealous observer of the Rule of St. Benedict and of the regulation of her convent, and devoted to practices of mortification, Elizabeth was favoured, from 1152, with ecstasies and visions of various kinds. These generally occurred on Sundays and Holy Days at Mass or Divine Office or after hearing or reading the lives of saints. Christ, His Blessed Mother, an angel, or the special saint of the day would appear to her and instruct her; or she would see quite realistic representations of the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension, or other scenes of the Old and New Testaments . What she saw and heard she put down on wax tablets. Her abbot, Hildelin, told her to relate these things to her brother Egbert (Eckebert), then priest at the church of Bonn. At first she hesitated fearing lest she be deceived or be looked upon as a deceiver; but she obeyed. Egbert (who became a monk of Schönau in 1155 and succeeded Hildelin as second abbot ) put everything in writing, later arranged the material at leisure, and then published all under his sister's name.
Thus came into existence
The Catholic Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive resource on Catholic teaching, history, and information ever gathered in all of human history. This easy-to-search online version was originally printed between 1907 and 1912 in fifteen hard copy volumes.
Designed to present its readers with the full body of Catholic teaching, the Encyclopedia contains not only precise statements of what the Church has defined, but also an impartial record of different views of acknowledged authority on all disputed questions, national, political or factional. In the determination of the truth the most recent and acknowledged scientific methods are employed, and the results of the latest research in theology, philosophy, history, apologetics, archaeology, and other sciences are given careful consideration.
No one who is interested in human history, past and present, can ignore the Catholic Church, either as an institution which has been the central figure in the civilized world for nearly two thousand years, decisively affecting its destinies, religious, literary, scientific, social and political, or as an existing power whose influence and activity extend to every part of the globe. In the past century the Church has grown both extensively and intensively among English-speaking peoples. Their living interests demand that they should have the means of informing themselves about this vast institution, which, whether they are Catholics or not, affects their fortunes and their destiny.
Copyright © Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company New York, NY. Volume 1: 1907; Volume 2: 1907; Volume 3: 1908; Volume 4: 1908; Volume 5: 1909; Volume 6: 1909; Volume 7: 1910; Volume 8: 1910; Volume 9: 1910; Volume 10: 1911; Volume 11: - 1911; Volume 12: - 1911; Volume 13: - 1912; Volume 14: 1912; Volume 15: 1912
Catholic Online Catholic Encyclopedia Digital version Compiled and Copyright © Catholic Online


text:
Kings' schedule released
The Kings' 2012-13 schedule has been released — pending labor peace, of course — and it does indeed kick off with a home game against the New York Rangers, on Oct. 12. The Kings' start is home-heavy, as they play five of their first seven regular-season games at Staples Center. As usual, the Kings will play each Pacific Division opponents six times each, the other conference opponents four times each and then 18 games against the Eastern Conference, split evenly, home and away.
The Kings face the New Jersey Devils in Stanley Cup Finals rematch on Feb. 9 at Prudential Center.
The Kings have four five-game road trips: through Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Columbus and Colorado in late November and early December, followed by, in mid-December, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, Detroit and San Jose. Then there's the annual "Grammy trip" in February, this year through Washington, Buffalo, New York (Rangers), New Jersey and Pittsburgh. The toughest one might be in late March and early April, as the Kings go through Dallas, Chicago, St. Louis, Florida and Phoenix. (Really, NHL? Florida on that trip?) The Kings have a season-long six-game homestand in January.
After the final five-game trip, the Kings finish the regular season with four of their final six games at home. The Kings have 12 sets of back-to-back games and finish the regular season with an April 13 home game against Anaheim. As for which Eastern Conference teams the Kings and hosting, and also playing on the road, here's the breakdown…
New York Rangers (Oct. 12), Carolina Hurricanes (Oct. 18), New York Islanders (Nov. 6), Tampa Bay Lightning (Nov. 17), Florida Panthers (Dec. 6), Philadelphia Flyers (Jan. 3), Washington Capitals (Feb. 15), Winnipeg Jets (Feb. 23), Toronto Maple Leafs (March 4).
Montreal Canadiens (Dec. 13), Ottawa Senators (Dec. 15), Boston Bruins (Dec. 17), Washington Capitals (Feb. 3), Buffalo Sabres (Feb. 5), New York Rangers (Feb. 7), New Jersey Devils (Feb. 9), Pittsburgh Penguins (Feb. 10), Florida Panthers (March 30)
The full schedule can be viewed by clicking here.
- No profanity, slurs or other offensive language. Replacing letters with symbols does not turn expletives into non-expletives.
- Personal attacks against other blog commenters, and/or blatant attempts to antagonize other commenters, are not tolerated. Respectful disagreement is encouraged. Posts that continually express the same singular opinion will be deleted.
- Comments that incite political, religious or similar debates will be deleted.
- Please do not discuss, or post links to, websites that illegally stream NHL games.
- Posting under multiple user names is not allowed. Do not type in all caps. All violations are subject to comment deletion and/or banning of commenters, per the discretion of the blog administrator.


text:
BB Holiday Season Cruise
New Year's Eve Cruise
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Boarding Time: 8:00pm
Sailing Time: 9:00pm - 1:00am
Ring in the New Year on the river! Cincinnati's sparkling skyline provides a spectacular backdrop as we cruise into the new year! The magical night includes a special three-entree buffet, entertainment, a split of champagne at midnight, late night snack buffet, and party favors. It is the perfect way to celebrate the New Year!
Click the "Book this Cruise" button below to see up to the minute scheduling. Cruise schedule may change during off-season months.
See all of our up-to-date special packages when you choose a specific date in our online reservation system.
Adults: $105.00*
Children: $65.00*
Preset Salad and Bread with Butter
Dinner buffet: Carved beef roulades, shrimp scampi over risotto, baked chicken, asparagus & baby carrot bundles, green beans with caramelized onions, and roasted potatoes with sautéed leaks
Served dessert: Chef's choice of dessert
Midnight Buffet: Popcorn bar with fresh popped popcorn, flavored butters, seasonings, salts, caramel corn, gourmet mini hot dog bar, with ketchup, mustard, assorted relishes, peppers & onions, assorted flat bread pizzas, nachos with cheese & salsa, and kettle potato chips.
Consumer Advisory: Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, eggs or un-pasteurized milk may increase your risk of foodborne illness.
*All cruise prices are inclusive of all applicable taxes, fees, and charges. If a Senior rate applies, they are considered to be ages 60 and up. Children rate applies to ages 4-12. Infants are no charge, but a ticket is required. Menus are subject to change, especially in the off-season months. Have questions? Check out our FAQ page.


text:
Terence Higgins: Sextuplet Crossover Fill
Sextuplet Crossover Fill
Organized shed sessions have become a popular trend in the drumming community. In my travels and during my time on the road, I have been invited to join in on a few of these sessions, and I find they can be very useful, informative, and lots of fun. Here's a fill that's based on something I picked up at one such shed session. It's based on the sixteenth-note-triplet fill but written using a sextuplet grouping. This lick is set using the floor tom, snare, hi-hat, and bass drum. It is very important to use the sticking as it is written, at least to get started. The fill starts with the right hand on the hi-hat. Notice the left hand crossover on the floor tom – this is the key to executing this fill effectively.


text:
Quiet, rural and extremely beautiful, the ELQUI VALLEY unfolds east from La Serena and into the Andes. Irrigated by canals fed by the Puclara and La Laguna dams, the valley floor is given over entirely to cultivation – of papayas, custard apples (chirimoyas), oranges, avocados and, most famously, the vast expanses of grape vines grown to produce pisco. It's the fluorescent green of these vines that makes the valley so stunning, forming a spectacular contrast with the charred, brown hills that rise on either side.
Some 60km east of La Serena, appealing little Vicuña is the main town and transport hub of the Elqui Valley. Moving east from here, the valley gets higher and narrower and is dotted with tiny villages like Montegrande and the odd pisco distillery. Pisco Elqui, 105km east of La Serena, is a very pretty village that makes a great place to unwind for a couple of days. If you really want to get away from it all, head for one of the rustic cabañas dotted along the banks of the Río Cochiguaz, which forks east of the main valley at Montegrande, or delve beyond Pisco Elqui into the farthest reaches of the Elqui Valley itself. Buses and a paved road will get you all the way to Horcón but not to the farthest village of all, Alcohuaz.


text:
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama—It's that time of year for good music, good eating and family fun. WhistleStop 2013 opens its gates today at 4 pm at the Historic Huntsville Depot.
Along with the music, visitors will enjoy finger-licking good barbecue Between the WAAY Wing Thing Tasting at 6 p.m. today, and the People's Choice Tasting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, there is sure to be something for everyone. Don't forget about the ShadeTree Competition, Kid's Q Competition, and the KCBS Professional Competition.
With these helpful cornhole throwing techniques, be sure to register for the CornHole Championship. Registration begins at 4 p.m. with the tournament starting at 6 p.m.. Entry fees are $35 per event, with events on both days.
Visitors are encouraged to come back Saturday to hear the announcements of the winners from all the competitions as well as one of this year's headliner Lee Brice.
Although, the festival is family friendly, with a kid's zone filled with events and activities just for them, no dogs are allowed on the festival grounds.
Remember to bring cash for parking and purchases in the festival, although ATM's will be made available.
The festival is open 4-11 p.m. May 3, and 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. May 4Weekend passes: $35 ages 16 and up, $20 ages 9-15
Single-day passes: $25, $20
(Ages 8 and under free with paid adult)
Click here to see a full schedule of this weekends events.
Follow Tiffany on twitter for live updates from the festival all weekend.


text:
The Louisiana Supreme Court has canceled the Dec. 8 execution date for convicted killer Antoinette Frank, who remains on death row for the 1995 triple murder at the Kim Anh restaurant in eastern New Orleans.
Frank, 37, was a rookie officer with the New Orleans police department when she and Rogers LaCaze gunned down off-duty police officer Ronald Williams, and siblings Cuong Vu and Ha Vu, who worked at the family-owned Vietnamese restaurant, juries ruled after separate capital murder trials months after the killings.
Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Frank Marullo has twice this year issued a death warrant for Frank - the third time he has done so since her conviction - only to have the state supreme court overturn his execution order.
Marullo has repeatedly ruled that Frank has had an exhaustive appeal, while her defense attorneys said this year that Frank has yet to have a full-blown appeal of the jury verdict condemning her to die by lethal injection.
The supreme court recalled the death warrant on Monday without a written opinion and also placed a hold on Franks case pending her post-conviction appeal.
"The supreme court is stopping everything right now," said attorney Gary Clements, director of the Capital Post-Conviction Appeals Project of Louisiana. "We are just starting the post-conviction appeal. Its the first and only time that anybody who has lost their trial can come in and bring evidence of things that should have been brought in before and other new things that are discovered now."
In September, the Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office gave Clements their complete file on the Frank case, more than 18,400 pages that include police reports and notes. Louisiana law requires that after conviction, prosecutors make such files public, Clements said, including documents not available to the defense team at trial.
LaCaze, 32, is separately appealing his own death sentence and conviction for the Kim Anh murders.
Louisiana hasn't executed a convict since 2002, when Leslie Dale Martin was put to death by lethal injection for the 1991 rape and strangulation of Christina Burgin, 19, in Calcasieu Parish.


text:
State police based at Bridgeton barracks recently released the following information based on its activities between May 11 and May 24.
Of the more than 1,500 calls for service handled by troopers based at the barracks over the period, 80 investigation reports, 140 general police operations reports, 27 supplemental investigation reports, 35 accident reports and three reports detailing domestic violence were generated.
A total of seven people were injured in four accidents within the Bridgeton barracks' coverage area over the 14 days.
Troopers conducted 159 property checks on area businesses, public facilities and homes and initiated 371 traffic stops over the period.
Troopers arrested six people for driving while intoxicated and 26 people on active warrants as a result of proactive patrols over the 14-day period.
An additional 40 people were arrested on various criminal charges during the period.
Several of those 40 arrests came as a result of a quality-of-life detail initiated by the Bridgeton barracks' community affairs trooper, according to Sgt. Gary Catts.
Trooper Brian Stanker on May 14 sent bike patrols into Countryside Village in Upper Deerfield Township and to the area of Walden, King and Longview drives in Fairfield Township after receiving numerous citizen complaints of trespassing and open-air drug-dealing at those locations.
Stanker regularly talks with township officials and community groups in his capacity as the barracks' community liaison.
The bike patrols, which consisted of personnel from the Bridgeton and Port Norris state police barracks, were well-received by residents, Catts said.
Five people were arrested at Countryside Village on May 14.
Edison Jenkins, 30, of Upper Deerfield, was charged with criminal trespass. He was released on his own recognizance.
Darnell Crawford, 22 of Bridgeton, was charged with criminal trespass and lodged in the county jail on active warrants.
Terron C. Stanback, 25, of Bridgeton, was charged with criminal trespass and hindering apprehension. He was lodged in the county jail on active warrants out of Glassboro.
Rahmir Crosell, 19, of Bridgeton, was also charged with criminal trespass and hindering apprehension. He was lodged in the county jail on active warrants out of Cumberland County Superior Court.
James Holbrook, 33, of Bridgeton, was arrested on active Cumberland County Superior Court warrants and lodged in the county jail.
Future quality-of-life details are being scheduled for the summer months in the Bridgeton and Port Norris barracks' coverage areas to address similar citizen complaints, Catts said.
On May 15, troopers responded to a horse farm on Morton Avenue in Deerfield Township on a report that a 45-year-old female had been kicked and stomped by a horse.
The woman was treated at the scene by Rosenhayn Vol. Fire Co. personnel and Underwood-Memorial Hospital Mobile Intensive Care Unit paramedics, then transported by ambulance to Cooper University Hospital, in Camden. She was released on May 16.
The horse eventually was placed in a pen without further incident.


text:
That isn't to say the five-piece, Grand Rapids jam band isn't paving its own way with its funk/rock, jazz/fusion music.
"Everyone can see that change needs to take place here, and we're trying to bring music back to its roots," said mandolin player and vocalist Jason Wheeler. "It's a communication tool. Music is about celebration and communication."
The band -- including Glean founder and former Live Bait (a now-defunct local jam band) band member Paul Geoghan (bass/vocals), former Live Bait members Adam Balcer (lead and rhythm guitar/vocals) and Dan Robinson (drums), Steve Wheeler (percussion) and brother Jason -- has been devoted to "plugging in and helping out wherever we can" since forming in February 2007.
Glean Infusion
When: 9:30 tonight
Where: Billy's, 1437 Wealthy St. SE
Cover: $5
They love the area, perform many benefit shows and try to create a unique networking experience for music and art lovers at their high-energy live shows. It's all about creating a positive communal feeling at their gigs, the band said.
"We really put it out there. We'll play a two-hour set sometimes. We lay it out and play as hard as we can," Wheeler said.
Usually, glass blower and painter Joe Sherry, of Vision Beyond Art on South Division Street, accompanies the band.
"We don't say what we're playing, and he doesn't say what he's painting" prior to performing together, Wheeler said.
The artist makes for a full show experience, band members said. And it helps promote the arts in the area.
Band members make sure each gig is different. They change their set list nightly, drawing from a 40-song repertoire written by the group's three main songwriters.
When asked to describe their sound, Geoghan and Wheeler were reticent, because they sample from so many musical styles.
"It's kind of like Red Hot Chili Peppers meets the Grateful Dead ... I don't know," Geoghan said. "We do explore all different realms of music."
They are slated to open for Badfish -- A Tribute to Sublime on Sept. 28 at The Intersection. The band also is working on its first album. Recording wraps up Friday.


text:
Several letter writers recently suggested renaming the Huey P. Long bridge. I disagree.
Instead, let's rename the Crescent City Connection, which doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Since we already have a bridge named for a famous Louisiana politician, let's rename the CCC in honor of two famed Louisiana musicians. The span heading into the city, birthplace of jazz, could be named after Louis Armstrong. Name the other span heading away from the city after the late Cajun fiddler Dewey Balfa.
The three bridges can then collectively be known as the Huey, Dewey and Louie!
Louis Crispino
New Orleans


text:
Kaudiyala(38 km)
Nestled amongst the dense forests on the Rishikesh-Badrinath route at an altitude of 480 m, Kaudiyala is a centre for adventure/water sports, particularly white water rafting. There is also ample opportunity to view wildlife in its natural habitat. GMVN conducts river rafting courses here.
Dehradun(47 km)
The other excursions are to Kunja Puri Temple (25 km), Vashishta Gufa Ashram (25 km), Bharat Mata Temple, Bhootnath Temple and Pushkar Temple.
Neelkanth Mahadev(12 km)
Situated on top of a hill at a height of 1,675 m across the river Ganga.
Mussoori (77 km)


text:
Publisher's Description+
From Argente Software: Argente - Registry Cleaner Portable can safely clean and repair problems in the Windows registry with just a few clicks of the mouse. By using a registry cleaner regularly and repair your registry, your system will not only be more stable but it will also help Windows and its software to run more quickly. Argente - Registry Cleaner uses a detection algorithm for high performance quickly identify missing and invalid references in your Windows registry. Argente - Registry Cleaner Portable scans your entire registry looking for invalid entries and provide you with a list of the errors found in the registry. Corrects error trying to delete a specific type of value in CacheMUI on Windows Vista.
read more +


text:
Fatal fire at 3308 N. Ruch St. in Whitehall Township
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 4:40 PM
A Whitehall Township woman who returned to a burning home to save the family cat died from her injuries Tuesday. Fire officials say the fire at 3308 N. Ruch St. was accidental, but they are still trying to determine the cause. Express-Times Photo | CHRIS POST
Related articles
- Whitehall Township woman dies after attempt to save cat from burning home - UPDATE February 14, 2012, 3:30 PM
- Tina Groller, 56, identified as victim of fatal fire in Lehigh County February 14, 2012, 10:38 PM
- Whitehall Township fatal fire sparked by cigarette, official says February 20, 2012, 5:43 PM


text:
"What's in a Name? That which we call a rose still smells just as sweet." -- William Shakespeare, "Romeo and Juliet"
What is in a name?
Namely: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform.
What do they mean? Where do they come from?
These days, the Conservative movement faces the greatest challenge with its image and, arguably, even its name. But all three major Jewish denominations -- Reform, Conservative and Orthodox -- have common roots. They originated in the Haskala (the Enlightenment) of the mid-18th century. This movement was led by Moses Mendelssohn, the philosopher who opened up the culture of the Western world to Jews. Haskala's embrace of modernity paved the way for the seeds of Reform Judaism a century later and for the beginning of Orthodox Judaism in the mid-1800s, which rejected the influences of modernization.
But at the start, Jews were not creating denominations; they were just putting forth differing religious beliefs, which Jews had done for centuries.
"In the 20th century, there was a parting of the ways," said Jonathan Sarna, professor of Jewish history at Brandeis University and author of "American Judaism: A History" (Yale University Press, 2004). "It was retrojected backward like there had always been such movements," he said.
But there hadn't.
"The word Reform was influenced by the Protestant use of the term," Sarna said, referring to the 16th-century movement to reform the Roman Catholic church. He, like many Jewish historians, dates the origin of the official term "Reform," or "Reformed" as it was known in the beginning, to 1824, when 47 Charleston Jews petitioned their synagogue, Beth Elohim, to change the prayer service to include English prayers, among other things. It was refused, and the group broke off to form the Reformed Society of Israelites for Promoting True Principles of Judaism According to Its Purity and Spirit.
By the time the Hebrew Union College was formed in 1875 in Cincinnati, the term and its meaning were clear: reform of the old ways, openness to modernity, a denial of the divinity of the Torah and a changed prayer service. (The preferred term today is "Reform," without the "ed" suffix to denote a continual process of change, as opposed to a fixed state of being.)
The term "Orthodox" -- from the Greek ortho (right, correct) and doxa (thought, teaching) -- is typically used to refer to the "correct" theological or doctrinal observance of religion. The term first emerged in the beginning of the 19th century to refer to traditional Jews, but it is not clear whether the term was coined by Reform Jews or by the traditional Jews themselves.
Sarna believes it was the traditional Jews who used the term "to divide themselves from what they saw as heterodox," he told The Journal. In other words, there was no reason for them to define themselves as Orthodox, that is, as following the one, true way, until Reform came along and offered something other than traditional practice. The term Orthodox stuck, and by 1898, the Union of Orthodox Congregations was founded.
Like Orthodox Judaism, "Conservative" Judaism also was named in reaction to Reform Judaism -- actually, it formed directly out of Reform Judaism from the traditional or "conservative" branch of the Reform movement, which wanted to keep Hebrew prayer and other traditional aspects of Judaism, such as the laws of kosher.
This traditionalist group broke off from the Reform movement after the 1885 Pittsburgh Conference, which set forth principles that were an anathema to the traditionalist branch. Rabbi Neil Gillman, in his book, "Conservative Judaism" (Behrman House, 1996), writes: "In eight sharply worded paragraphs, it dismisses 'such Mosaic and rabbinical laws as regulate diet, priestly purity and dress' as anachronisms that can only obstruct spirituality in the modern age; it accepts as binding only the moral laws of Judaism and those ceremonies that 'elevate and sanctify our lives,' rejecting those that are 'not adapted to the views and habits of modern civilization....'"
Gillman writes that 10 weeks after the conference, a group of men in New York founded a rabbinical seminary "in conservative Jewish principles." (A year later, eight students started studying there -- at The Jewish Theological Seminary of New York.)
"Really the word 'Conservative' was to be the opposite of liberal," Sarna said. The originators of the Conservative movement didn't intend Conservative to mean in the middle or the center, but imagined that there would be only two groups: liberal (Reform) Jews and non-liberal, or Conservative Jews, Sarna said, just as British politics was divided into liberal and conservative factions. Of course, that didn't happen, because while the Conservative movement was opposed to the freewheeling modernity of the Reform Jews, it still believed halacha, or Jewish law, should evolve at a faster pace than the traditional or "Orthodox" Jews did.
That was more than a century ago, and for movements given names that were relative to each other -- as opposed to absolute -- how do the terms hold up? Both the terms Orthodox and Reform still seem to fit, even though both movements have moved to the right.
"The Conservative movement has the biggest problem with its name," Sarna said. For the most part, Conservative Jews are not politically conservative and, religiously, are more liberal than the Orthodox.
There's nothing necessarily permanent about any of these terms. Still, names have a staying power with the flock, as has been evident when Jewish service organizations encounter resistance to changing their own names. Sarna says that The United Jewish Appeal lost support when it changed its name to the lesser-known United Jewish Communities. And Rabbi Norman Lamm of Yeshiva University failed in his attempt to revise the term "Modern Orthodoxy" to "Centrist Orthodoxy."
As to changing the name of Conservative Judaism to Centrist Judaism or Covenantal Judaism, Sarna said, "It's enormously difficult ... and questionable whether a name that has been known for more than a century should be changed."
View our privacy policy and terms of service.


text:
It's a good thing that a booming market can cover up a lot of flaws at an oil company. Were that not the case, BP (NYSE: BP ) might be in some real trouble right now. In roughly one year, this company has seen a major refinery accident, a pipeline rupture, a trading scandal, and ongoing delays in bringing the Thunder Horse platform back on line.
Yet profits continue to roll in to the company's coffers. Reported revenue rose 24% this quarter as significantly higher price realizations (up more than 23%) helped to offset a greater-than-2% decline in energy production. Assessing profitability is a bit hairier. Reported profits (on a replacement cost basis) climbed 23%, but there was a large charge in the year-ago period. Take that out, and the growth rate falls to about 5%.
Performance was likewise mixed within the individual business segments. E&P profits were up about 12% on an adjusted basis, but refinery and marketing profits rose about 20% on a similar basis, even though throughput and sales were both down (10% and 6%, respectively). As you might imagine, margins saved the day there -- overall refining margins were up almost 50%.
If this is the best BP can do, I can't see any good reason why investors should opt for this company over ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM ) , Chevron (NYSE: CVX ) , or ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP ) , to say nothing of slightly more exotic ideas like Eni (NYSE: E ) .
I would argue, though, that this isn't the best BP can do. For starters, the company has historically posted low finding costs, and it has some pretty big projects in the near-term pipeline that should boost production. What's more, the recent accidents may be suggestive of sloppy or careless practices, but a thorough review and recommitment to best practices should avoid them in the future.
I do admit to being puzzled, though, by some of the company's priorities. It's willing to make a splash in alternative markets like solar power, where it will compete with large companies like Sharp and small companies like SuntechPower (NYSE: STP ) , but it seems to have no interest in the Canadian oil sands projects. I'll grant that oil sands exploitation is more like mining in some respects, but it's a heckuva lot closer to its core competencies than solar power.
In any case, if you think BP has learned its lessons and that management is getting back on the right track, the shares don't look overpriced. If you're not quite as confident, though, there's a wealth of other options worth exploring.
For more energetic Foolishness:
SuntechPower is aMotley Fool Rule Breakersrecommendation. Find more cutting-edge technology stocks from David Gardner and his team with a free 30-day trial.
Fool contributor Stephen Simpson has no financial interest in any stocks mentioned (that means he's neither long nor short the shares).


text:
The Gallup organization has come out with yet another poll showing that Americans by an overwhelming percentage sympathize with the Israelis rather than the Palestinians. This time, the pro-Israel sentiment is at a near record level: 63 percent of those asked said their sympathies lie more with Israel, 23 percent said both or neither, and just 15 percent of those polled sympathized more with the Palestinians.Another Gallup poll last week showed that Israel had the fifth highest 'favorable' rating among Americans, trailing only Canada, Britain, Germany and Japan; Israel was viewed favorably by 67 percent of those polled and unfavorably by 25 percent. The Palestinian Authority was viewed favorably by ten percent of those polled, while 70 percent viewed it unfavorably. Yemen and Pakistan both enjoyed higher standing with those polled than the PA. (more…)
This is your free article this month. A quality publication is not cheap to produce.
Subscribe today and support The American Interest—only $2.99/month! Already a subscriber? Log in to make this banner go away.
Subscribe today and support The American Interest—only $2.99/month! Already a subscriber? Log in to make this banner go away.
Published on: February 25, 2010Middle East 'Realists': Anti-Semites or Just Dumb?
show comments


text:
MARSHALL - What if a person couldn't read this line, a book, a newspaper or even a recipe or a contract? For most, it would limit their opportunities in life. But literacy allows infinite possibilities. Reading is one of the most important aspects of learning in every child's life, allowing a person think, be aware, wonder and explore. It's a basic component to success in life.
This year, Scholastic is celebrating its 90th anniversary of bringing books to children. The company - originally published in 1920 by M.R. Robinson as the Western Pennsylvania Scholastic - launched a world-wide campaign called "Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life," targeting parents, educators, students and their communities to focus on the importance of reading.
At the Marshall High School, the Reading Incentive Program (RIP) for grades 9-12 is celebrating its seventh year, which also coincides with an annual Scholastic book fair, known as the community book sale.
Article Photos
Photo by Jenny Kirk
Marshall student Brett Fleahman checks out the book selection at the Scholastic book fair, known as the annual community book sale, in the media center Tuesday at the Marshall High School.
"We call it our community book sale because we try to invite as many people we can in the surrounding communities," said Diane Konjura, Marshall Public Schools K-12 media specialist. "It's our 50 percent off sale, so it's nice to be able to offer that to everyone."
This year, the book sale spans six days, ending today.
"The profits from the book sale are used for our Reading Incentive Program," Konjura said. "We want to make sure our kids are reading as much as they can as often as they can."
The program is open to any student who wants to participate. Typically, more freshman and sophomores are involved more than the upperclassmen. Reading is done at the student's convenience and is logged by the number of minutes spent reading.
"For every hour of reading, the student gets a lottery ticket," Konjura said. "We have weekly drawings. If they win, they're still eligible for the fourth quarter drawings, when the larger prizes are drawn."
Every week, two students in the program receive prizes, one for the over-50 (hours) club and one for the under-50 club. The winners are announced on Tiger TV.
"Our top prize last year was a 19-inch flat screen television," Konjura said. "We've also given away digital cameras, dorm-size refrigerators and Ipod Nanos. Some of the smaller prizes are like $10 gift certificates to places like the movie theater or a University of Minnesota blanket. We'll go into the English classes and ask the students for ideas."
Much has changed during the years for Scholastic, but providing a connection to children via books has not. Norman Bridwell's "Clifford the Big Red Dog" made its debut in 1963. The lovable canine giant is still popular today.
Other series have also made an impact on readers, including the "Magic School Bus," Pony Pal," "Baby-Sitters Club," "Adventures of Captain Underpants," "Dear America," "I Spy," "Goosebumps" and "Harry Potter."
Also making Scholastic's top-90 books in 90 years list were "No, David," "Nothing But the Truth," "Sing a Song of Popcorn," "A Corner of the Universe," "The Thief Lord," "Slam," "Book! Book! Book!" "Dragon Rider," "Duck on a Bike," "Freak the Mighty," "A Drop of Water," "Hush!" "Is Your Mama a Llama?" and "Henry's Freedom Box."
Konjura's favorite author growing up was Roald Dahl, whose timeless classics include "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "James and Giant Peach," "Matilda" "Fantastic Mr. Fox" and "The Witches."
"I liked the Roald Dahl books," Konjura said. "I also liked Kevin Henkes, who is from Madison, Wis."
Konjura said the "Hunger Games" trilogy by Suzanne Collins has been extremely popular.
"They're really good," Konjura said. "They've been on the New York Bestsellers list. I'd say the books are for about sixth-grade level and up."
Brett Fleahman was at the book fair at the MHS Media Center Tuesday, scanning the shelves and tables full of potential reading material.
"I like reading," Fleahman said. "I like 'John Madden's Heroes of Football.'"
Snowflower Yang and Ruwenyda Mohamed were also looking at the books for sale.
"It seems like the most popular books for us teens now is about vampires and zombies," Yang said.
Much like the "Harry Potter" books did, the "Twilight" saga by Stephenie Meyer has been a phenomenon since gripping the teen scene in 2005.
"That's what people are addicted to," Mohamed said. "But I don't always read the really popular books. I like a lot of other stuff. I really liked Dragonfly. I don't always remember the books I've read. But I remember 'Night.' It started out a little boring, but then it got much better."


text:
I guess that if you have something that you think is good though keep using it
Who is sick of seeing Wii used as a punn?
it was cute at first...like the first time i read it...
but, now its just annoying.
agree? lol
Gamertag/PSN ID=SensesFailxWiix if you add me send me a message via console or wiichat
I guess that if you have something that you think is good though keep using it
Wii gotten on December 6, 2006
Wii Play = Call of Duty 3 = Mario Party 8 = Twilight Princess = Wario Ware: Smooth Moves = GT Pro Series = Wii Sports = Barnyard = Cars =
I can't wait until Brawl comes out!! I have it reserved!
It was a sad day for the people who are waiting for Brawl to come out....delayed until Feb. 10
It bugs me too. Wiitard is pretty weak as are wii60 and pswii as atitle for the system combo.
Oh I quite like them. When the name was officially announced it brightened up my day laughing at the millions of puns that were put in that email.
Puns can be used as a marketing slogan, as well, so it can sometimes be beneficial. There's always new ones though, as seen by myself just browsing t-shirts on eBay.
I love you, Adam.
yeah, I was planning on a wii pun t-shirt to make. While we see them all the time, especially on the various forums and gaming websites, non-wii players still find them refreshing.
You're a few months late, as a thread like this was created like...3 months ago. lol
I don't mind them that much. They get a little old, but still, it's not something to get upset over.
well, i can't change my name now...
formerly known as wii-fi
well not rly its interesting wiing what people can come up with
~if i owned a death note.you would be first!
Spoiler Alert!Wii:1-09-07!!! 2nd Person In Town To Get Diamond!
Spoiler Alert!Originally Posted by KiwiOriginally Posted by Iranian WiiOriginally Posted by Ssbb LoverOriginally Posted by 24tolifeOriginally Posted by SovietoOriginally Posted by Half EmptyOriginally Posted by Frogger
lol, too bad..Originally Posted by Wii-Fi
and i dont even knwo if i was on this forum 3 months ago, so sorry if im a little late here.. lol
Gamertag/PSN ID=SensesFailxWiix if you add me send me a message via console or wiichat
yea puns are just getting pointless


text:
It's another Wednesday, which means another episode of Bull Durham! The Podcast!
This episode is actually brought to you by Wizard's Comics, home of the best deal on comics in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Check out their website for a list of the week's new releases and information on upcoming Magic, The Gathering tournaments, and watch their Twitter account for news and announcements about the shop and its products.
Episode 59 – Do You Got Some Swirl Up in There?
This week, the boys convene to watch TV and talk about comics I guess. Instead of talking about The Carrie Diaries, they instead discuss one of TV's Josh Schwartz's many shows on the CW, Cult, which is basically what would happen if Lost fans were actually psychotically obsessed instead of just regular obsessed. And that, of course, brings us to another week of Excused, television's most insane, lowest budget dating show that is nothing but one bad decision after another.
The boys love it.
Finally, they talk about comics or something. What's the name of the podcast again? Something about Bull Durham? Let's talk about that.
Download the episode here or subscribe through iTunes. If you want to subscribe the old-fashioned way, insert the following text into your audio program of choice (in iTunes, click "Advanced," then click "Subscribe to Podcast"):
You can also find all the episodes to date on Libsyn's site here.


text:
LANSING, MI -- One woman was cut and another arrested when an argument turned violent Sunday evening, according to police.
Lansing police public information officer Robert Merritt said officers responded to the 500 block of W. Saginaw St. about 8:20 p.m. March 31 for a reported fight. They arrived to find the victim, a 23-year-old Lansing woman, outside in an apartment complex parking lot.
The victim told police she was inside the apartment of her female acquaintance, a 26-year-old Lansing woman, when an argument ensued. The disagreement turned physical, Merritt said.
The victim was trying to leave the apartment when the suspect confronted her and cut her in the back of her neck, Merritt said.
Lansing police found the suspect inside her apartment and arrested her without incident. She is expected to be arraigned Monday.
The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Follow Brandon Howell on Google+ and on Twitter: @BSHowell88. Email him at email@example.com or call him at 517-318-1615.


text:
Beat writer Joe Person of Columbia's The State newspaper is reporting that South Carolina defensive line coach Brad Lawing has spoken with Alabama coach Nick Saban about the remaning opening on the Crimson Tide's coaching staff.
Check out Lawing's bio here.
Lawing, 51, has spent the past three seasons under Steve Spurrier in Columbia, and was previously defensive line coach for Saban at Michigan State in 1999. At this point, it's unclear how serious the interest is for Lawing or Alabama.
Saban is looking to fill the vacancy created by Lance Thompson's depature last week for Tennessee. Sources have said other likely candidates include UA director of player development Jeremy Pruitt, a former defensive coordinator at powerhouse Hoover High, and Travis Jones of the New Orleans Saints, who coached under Saban at LSU and then followed him to the Miami Dolphins. Jones coached the Dolphins' outside linebackers -- Thompson's former spot -- in 2006.
We learned last night that Sal Sunseri of the Carolina Panthers was on board to replace Kevin Steele, who is now at Clemson.


text:
Malaysia Court Rules Non-Muslims Cannot Use 'Allah'
Malaysia: A Malaysian appeals court on Monday ruled that non-Muslims cannot use the word Allah to refer to God, overruling the claims by Christians in Muslim-dominant country that the restriction violates their religious rights.
"Allah", an Arabic word for God used mainly by Muslims, was commonly used in Malay language to refer to God without any religious discrimination before government proscribed the non-Muslims from using it, insisting that the word should be exclusively earmarked for Muslims because its use by the others would confuse the Muslims and could be used to convert them.
Today's verdict by Court of Appeals in administrative capital Putrajaya overturns the decision of a lower court in 2009 that ruled against the government ban. The ruling had sparked the religious tensions between Muslims and the minority communities that led to the attacks on dozens of worship places.
Hundreds of observant Muslims flocked outside the court and hailed the decision with shouts of "Allahu Akbar".
The Christian, Buddhist and Hindu minorities have often blamed government of infringing their constitutional right to practice their religions freely. The government declines the accusations.
Christians, who encompass 9.2% of the total 2.8 billion population of the country, argue that they had been using the word "Allah" in Malay for many decades and that the ruling violates their rights.
The controversy sparked after the government prohibited The Herald, an international Catholic newspaper, from using the word in its Malay-language edition to describe Christian God. The publication, sued the government over ban and a lower court ruled in their favor in December 2009. The government challenged the decision in Court of Appeals.
Announcing the judgment today, Chief Judge Mohamed Apandi, who headed a three-member appeals court panel, remarked that allowing non-Muslims to use the word would cause confusion in the community.
"It is our judgment that there is no infringement of any constitutional rights" in the ban, he said. "We could find no reason why the newspaper is so adamant to use the word `Allah' in their weekly. Such usage if allowed will inevitably cause confusion within the community."
The Herald editor Reverend Lawrence Andrew expressed disappointment over the decision and announced to appeal against the ruling in the country's apex Malaysia Federal Court.
The lawyers of publications argued that the Malay-language Bibles have used Allah to describe the Christian God since before the formation of Malaysia as a federal state in 1963.
However, the hardline Muslim groups emphasize that the usage of word Allah by Christians could be used to decoy Muslims to convert to Christianity.
It is worth mentioning that the Christians in Indonesia, world's largest Muslim population, most of the Arab word and South Asian Muslim nations use the word without objection from the Islamic authorities.


text:
The last thing many Long Island residents expected after losing power in Superstorm Sandy was a high electricity bill, but that's exactly what they're getting.
Customers of Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) are outraged this week after receiving normal electricity bills despite blackouts that, for some, lasted weeks.
According to the New York Post, LIPA charged its customers an "estimated rate" that covered the entire billing cycle, with no mention of potential refunds for the 530,000 customers who experienced blackouts. One angry customer, Jonathan Saporta, told the Post that he was charged $280 for his new home in Great Neck that lost power for two weeks, plus an additional $650 for a Long Beach home that he moved out of in October. He also received a $1,700 bill for his Long Beach restaurant that was totaled during Sandy.
On Monday, LIPA spokesperson Elizabeth Flagler told CNN that customers are being billed "based on the estimated reading of (their) energy use from the same month the year before."
"(The) next actual meter reading will reflect the amount of electricity (customers) have used since (their) previous actual meter reading, and it will automatically adjust ... charges," Flagler said.
LIPA blamed the estimated bills on the fact the LIPA and National Grid employees were unable to perform digital meter readings because they were reassigned to support efforts to restore power. Flagler noted that she believes this is the method all utility companies use in the event of natural disasters.
Billing confusion is just one problem LIPA faces in the wake of the storm. All of New York's utility companies were criticized for poorly communicating with its customers during the blackouts, causing Gov. Andrew Cuomo to form a commission to investigate utilities' storm responses.
In response, LIPA Chief Operating Officer Michael Hervey tendered his resignation on Nov. 13, effective at the end of the year. On Tuesday, vice president of customer service Bruce Germano announced he'd also be stepping down at the end of the year.


text:
Starting today, a whole new generation can learn the joys of being a Material Girl.
It's just what you'd expect, with lots of retro '80s revivals, from lace skirts to studded belts.
Thankfully, no gigantic bows were in sight in the media kit.
The collection, which includes footwear, handbags and jewelry, ranges in price from $12 to $40.
So what do you think? Are you into the groove?Or, more interesting is this video, where Madonna talks about her daughter's style.


text:
Freeland | Competitive Cheer
Season Statistics
Freeland Falcons8250 Webster Freeland, MI 48623 Map It
2012-2013 Record
- Overall
- 0-0
- Conference
- 0-0
Become a Reporter!
Submit updates and help us improve coverage of this school. Sign Up »
There are no stats entries in the selected season for this team. Please select another season from the dropdown above.


text:
SIGN UP TODAY! and get immediate access to all of our wire jewelry videos
The Wire Jewelry Bootcamp has all the best in wire jewelry tools and jewelry making supplies. Our quality jewelry tools are made specifically for wire jewelry making.
Do you need to add any jewelry tools to your jewelry kit? If you do we have just what your looking for! We carry many tools such as pliers, wire cutters, forming tools such as anvils, hammers, and blocks, wrap and tap pliers, bail making pliers, V Making Pliers.
Also available is beading tools, files, gauges, Glues - Adhesives, vises, hole punch, mandrels and so much more.


text:
Many of you have seen the entry on the main Yankees page regarding open auditions for the Pride of the Yankees Blog. Mike and I aren't going anywhere, but we definitely need some help to keep this blog running at the high level you Yankees fanatics have come to expect, and deserve. Depending on the quality & frequency of these audition entries, we might take a step back for a little bit. Knowing myself, I'm sure something will happen in YankeeLand that will just force me to post something. We'll see how it goes.
The entry linked to above tells what we're looking for & how to do it.
Here's my advice--
* For this audition process, you can post as many entries as you like. Topic &
content is all up to you. It's a blank canvas. And don't worry about what I might be doing.
* An entry takes me anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour, as I organize my thoughts & after viewing my favorite Yankees sites, beat writers, sometimes other bloggers, etc etc etc... then adding links and pictures.
* I always proofread my stuff so that it looks as 'professional' as possible. That's important.
* Don't try to go 'outside yourself'. Being yourself is the best course of action, and will be the easiest for you to maintain as time goes on.
* This whole thing is intended to be fun for the blogger as well as the readers/commenters. If the blogger is having fun, it definitely comes across.
* This is my personal opinion, and it may not work out this way-- but it would be great if each individual blogger could bring a certain unique strength to the table.
* A POTY blogger will be obliged to produce future entries on some kind of regular basis. That will not mean every single day- that's something we'll work out together.
Good luck to everyone. I am looking forward to the entries.


text:
Not available with current selections
Now Viewing:
Product Highlights
Sheet Amount: 5020 30
Not available with current selections
Not available with current selections
Sheet Size: 13 x 19"
13 x 19"
You Pay: $61.90
Questions? Ask our experts:
800.606.6969 Live Chat
This 50-sheet pack of 13 x 19" Luster Paper from Inkpress Media features resin-coated microporous paper with a luster surface finish. This paper has a basis weight of 240 gsm and a thickness of 10.4 mil as well as a 95% brightness. Additionally, the paper is water and light resistant for durability and instant drying for immediate handling.
|Basis Weight
|240 gsm
|10.4 mil (0.26 mm)
|Surface Finish
|13 x 19" (33.0 x 48.3 cm)
|Packaging Info
|Package Weight
|5.3 lb
|Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
|19.3 x 13.5 x 1.0"


text:
The British Authorities have banned us from the whole ecountry on the grounds that our presence in the United Kingdom would not be "conducive to the public good". On the contrary, Secretary May. I submit to you that freedom of speech and freedom of conscience is most conducive to the public good. It is essential to the public good.
Tom Blumer has a superb post on the British Home Secretary's barring of Robert Spencer and me from Britian.
Banned From Britain: Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer Tom Blumer, Newsbusters
Pamela Geller announced at her Atlas Shrugs blog Wednesday morning that "the British government has banned us (herself and fellow Stop Islamization of America activist Robert Spencer) from entering the country ... In not allowing us into the country solely because of our true and accurate statements about Islam, the British government is behaving like a de facto Islamic state. The nation that gave the world the Magna Carta is dead." She has posted the letter (Page 1; Page 2) from the British Home Office Secretary (UK's equivalent of our Homeland Security) telling her that her presence would not be "conducive to the public good."
A later post at Geller's blog has a collection of press reports which readers should review for the predictable signs of bias. One which isn't there is from the Associated Press, written by James Brooks (bolds are mine):
Two American anti-Islam activists were banned Wednesday from entering Britain following reports they were planning to speak at a far-right rally this weekend.
Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller, who founded the organization Stop the Islamization of America, had been planning to attend an English Defense League march in London.
The Home Office said in a statement that Speller and Geller were "subject to an exclusion decision" and would not be allowed to enter the U.K.
"The Home Secretary will seek to exclude an individual if she considers that his or her presence in the U.K. is not conducive to the public good," it said.
... Spencer and Geller were due to attend an EDL march Saturday to mark Armed Forces Day. The march was set to finish in the London neighborhood where soldier Lee Rigby was killed last month by alleged Islamic extremists.
Spencer said in an email that the Home Office's decision amounts to "craven capitulation."
Matthew Collins, a spokesman from anti-racism campaigners Hope Not Hate, who had opposed Spencer and Geller entering the Britain, said his group was "absolutely delighted" by the Home Office's decision.
"Free speech doesn't give you a right to incite hatred against people," Collins said.
... Spencer and Geller are best known in the U.S. for their opposition to the construction of a mosque near the ground zero site in New York.
Hope Not Hate is celebrating at its home page with the word "BANNED" covering a picture of Geller and Spencer.
SOIA's Facebook "about" page says it "is a human rights organization dedicated to free speech, religious liberty and individual rights." Radical Islam is most certainly not dedicated to those things.
Wikipedia's page on SOIA says that it's "an American anti-Islam/anti-Muslim (Islamophobic) organization."
The oh-so-objective people at Wikipedia say its SOIA page is "Part of a series on Islamophobia." It identifies all of seven "specific incidents" spread over at least seven years allegedly blamed on Islamophobia.
The latest tally at ReligionOfPeace.com tells us that Islamic terrorists have carried out 21,127 deadly terror attacks since 9/11.
Geller frequently points out examples of people with radical Islamic ties who travel freely and frequently to and from Britain. But she can't.
Meanwhile, the UK Sun reports that "HATE preacher Anjem Choudary is backing a Muslim group that stood accused last night of stoking vigilante violence on Britain's streets." The idea is "to create a network of "task forces" to redress wrongs and mete out instant justice."
It seems like the Home Secretary has security-related concerns which are far more important than a couple of people exercising their God-given rights of freedom of speech and expression.
Geller appears to be right. The nation that gave the world the Magna Carta really is dead.
Dear British Home Secretary I formally request to be excluded from England
The UK slips to a new low…bars Pamela Geller and ... - Ruthfully Yours
How to Make Friends By Being Mean To Them Richard Fernandez, PJ Media
They should have just said they were members of Hezbollah… Samizdata


text:
A Jersey City woman stabbed her husband in the chest after returning from a night of partying while their 3-year-old daughter was home alone, authorities said.
Audrey Marie Ceropin, 25, of Prospect Avenue, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child early Saturday morning, police said.
Her husband, Elvis Ceropin, who suffered a 2-inch deep stab wound to his chest and a cut on his right elbow, was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child and was treated at the Jersey City Medical Center for his non-life threatening injuries.
Police said the couple was at a bar on Palisade Avenue in Jersey City and met a man they invited back to their home to continue partying. Once there, the Ceropins began to argue and the man left the home.
Audrey Marie Ceropin told police that her husband struck her and threatened to harm their 3-year-old daughter, and that is when she stabbed him, police said. She also admitted to police that she and her husband left the toddler at home while they were at the bar, reports said.
At the couple's home on Prospect Avenue, police recovered a knife with an 8-inch blade that had been cleaned of blood with a white T-shirt, reports said.


text:
DETROIT, MI – Flights are still departing from Wayne County Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) but delays and cancellations now dominate the schedule there, as a winter storm continues to sweep across the region.
Airport spokesman Michael Conway said he could not give an exact percentage of delays or cancellations, but urged flyers to check airline companies' websites for a flight status before going to the airport.
"A lot of flights have been delayed," Conway said. "There are way higher than normal cancellations. It's been anything but a normal day at the airport."
Departures have not been a problem, but delays at major airports across the region – from Chicago to Toronto – have caused a domino effect for flights coming in and out of DTW. On top of that, heavy snowfall has caused some runways to be temporary closed for clearing.
The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) website listed delays at DTW at 15 minutes or less at about 7 p.m. on Sunday, though earlier in the day the FAA's airport tracking site had put DTW delays at three hours because of the inclement weather.
According to flightstats.com, 203 flights were cancelled at DTW on Sunday, while 355 flights departed.
A winter storm warning is in effect for most of lower Michigan until 4 a.m. Monday morning. The Detroit area could see some 16 inches of snow. On Monday morning temperatures are also expected to drop, and a wind chill warning takes effect at 9 a.m.
David Muller is the business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.


text:
In 1989, an investment banker, originally from Paramus, left her new home in Manhattan to go for a run in Central Park - and was raped and beaten so badly she lost an eye, and was put into a coma.
That same night, five black and Hispanic teenagers were picked up by the police and interrogated. They signed confessions, went to trial, were convicted and served years in prison.
So, who's the victim here?
What an idiotic question.
Except the honest answer is: All of them.
Because the teens, it turns out, didn't do it. They said they did, after endless questioning. But their stories didn't match. The timelines didn't quite work. There were no eyewitnesses, no physical evidence.
Well, there was one witness -- the real predator. Who years later, after a jailhouse conversion, confessed. And whose DNA turned out to be - unlike the five teens -- all over the crime scene.
So how did this happen?
But for some, it'll take "The Central Park Five" to explain.
Others - those who lived or worked in New York back then - already know. They remember years when the city averaged more than five murders a day, and nearly twice as many rapes. When there'd been a white rampage in Howard Beach, and a black one in Crown Heights. When race and crime and sex and fear intersected in constant, confusing, ugly ways.
And to its credit, "The Central Park Five" puts that all in context.
To its credit, perhaps, but to no one's surprise. The film is made by Ken Burns, with help from his daughter Sarah (who spent summers working as a paralegal on the case) and son-in-law David McMahon. Painstakingly accurate, personally rooted documentaries are what Burns has always specialized in.
Yet it's still chilling to see how easily "The Central Park Five" evokes those mad days of urban distrust.
Days when larger-than-strife black activists like Al Sharpton would inflame every crisis, inflate any cause (remember Tawana Brawley?). Days when for many whites, people like Bernhard Goetz were newly-minted heroes and even liberal pundits described suspects with words like "wolves" and "mutants."
Were these five teenagers angels? The film doesn't go into that (although Sarah Burns may know). The honest answer is, Probably not.
But to say, well, look, they must have been guilty of something is nearly as specious as saying well, the woman shouldn't have been jogging there in the first place. And as thoroughly grounded in unthinking anger, and an urge to find a reason, and affix blame.
Which the city did, quickly. And yet the five were innocent. Remember that. Despite their own videotaped confessions, they didn't do it. And the real rapist's DNA proved they didn't do it -- long after they'd all served their time. (Time they served while many pundits publicly lamented there was no longer a death penalty.)
Which is where this movie - which is beautifully shot, and full of well-conducted, quietly dramatic interviews - truly hits home. Because, you realize, this is how blind justice can be. This is how mad we can become, when a truly senseless crime threatens to rob us of our own senses, and makes us want to strike out, immediately.
Because we've already got the tree. We've got the rope. And during scary days of rage, sometimes, that's all we see.
Ratings note: The film contains strong language and some brief, graphic images.
'The Central Park Five' (Unrated) Sundance Selects (119 min.)
Directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon. Now playing in New York.
★ ★ ★ ½
Read on NJ.com
Family Viewing columns
Get our mobile app


text:
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will make an appearance Monday at a Baton Rouge luncheon with major donors and supporters. Louisiana Party Chairman Roger Villere said the event is being handled by the Romney campaign, not the state GOP.
Villere said the luncheon appearance, to take place at the City Club in downtown Baton Rouge around noon, "is an in-and-out event" without a reception or public rally. The luncheon guests are members of Romney's Founders Club, who have raised or given the campaign at least $50,000, Villere said. He said Romney will have other events in the state in coming weeks, but no details have been worked out.
Gov. Bobby Jindal is expected to attend the luncheon, Villere said. Jindal has been mentioned as a potential vice presidential running mate for Romney. Jindal originally backed Texas Gov. Rick Perry for president but switched to Romney after Perry dropped out.


text:
How Much More Can The Economy Take?
Is the U. S. in the longest recession in the postwar era? Despite two quarters of tepid growth, the economy now faces that sobering question.
Fading hopes for a sustainable recovery took a body blow in early December. Washington's revisions to third-quarter gross domestic product and a recession-size drop in November employment raised fears that a new period of economic contraction is unfolding.
The latest job numbers show that net payroll employment fell by 241,000 workers last month and that the percentage of hiring industries is rapidly shrinking (chart). The November job loss was on a par with the worst posted during the winter months of the recession, and it all but wiped out the few gains made since April.
For an economy desperately seeking growth in jobs and incomes to get consumer spending back on track, the report was shattering. No recovery can proceed against job losses of that size. And wave after wave of corporate layoff announcements assures that more cuts are on the way (page 24 20 ).
The government's GDP revisions were also a stunner. They showed that final sales fell last quarter, that inventory growth more than accounted for the economy's gains, and that consumers' real income didn't grow at all. Against that backdrop, the economy faces tough sledding this winter.
Now, economists are making some revisions -- to their forecasts. They have cut their average projection for the current-quarter annual growth rate by more than half, from 2.8% in October to 1.3% in December, according to Blue Chip Economic Indicators, a monthly survey of 50 forecasters. They have trimmed their first-quarter growth projections from 2.9% to 1.8%.
That still may be too optimistic. Most measures of economic performance began the fourth quarter below their third-quarter levels, strongly suggesting a drop in this quarter's real GDP. Blue Chip reports that an increasing number of forecasters predict outright declines in both quarters. Also, the latest survey was taken during the GDP revisions and before the dismal job data, so the projections are likely to go lower.
The latest data also got the attention of the Federal Reserve. On Dec. 6, it lowered its target for the federal funds rate by a quarter point, to 4 1/2%. That was the 14th cut since the recession began last July, when the rate stood at 8 1/4%. Since its peak at 9 3/4% in the spring of 1989, the rate has come down by more than half.
And there is more to come. In the past five recessions -- counting the back-to-back downturns in 1980 and 1981-82 as one -- the federal funds rate dropped by an average of two-thirds. Also, the real funds rate, adjusted for inflation, remains higher than at its trough in past recessions, when it has typically turned negative.
Two factors suggest that the Fed will ease policy further: The outlook for inflation amid new economic weakness is brighter, and the increasingly pro-growth mix on the Fed's policy committee imparts a greater bias toward ease. The central bank may well decide to shave another quarter point off the federal funds rate by yearend at its policy meeting on Dec. 17.
If so, expect a half-point cut in the discount rate, to 4%. That move will allow banks to cut the prime rate by a half point to 7%, the lowest since 1977, and it will put the discount rate at the lowest point since 1967.
Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan's remarks on Dec. 6 made it clear that he is still concerned about the growth-depressing combination of heavy debt, bad loans, and lending caution by banks. A month ago, Greenspan likened these problems to a "50-mph headwind" buffeting the economy. In the wake of the latest data, Fed Vice-Chairman David W. Mullins Jr. in a speech on Dec. 10 upped the speed to 75 mph.
Clearly, the Fed is planting the seeds of a true recovery, although they may not sprout until next spring because of the usual lags. The M2 money supply picked up in both October and November, finally showing the first signs of responding to past Fed easing.
Also, lower rates are slowly allowing consumers to reliquify their debt-laden financial positions. That puts more income in people's pockets. By one estimate, mortgage refinancing alone will add some $50 billion, at an annual rate, to consumer spending by spring. And except for revolving credit, consumers continue to lighten their burden of installment debt (chart).
Installment credit rose slightly in October, up $802 million, after a smaller increase in September. However, the advance probably means that consumers are paying off their debt at an even slower pace than they are taking on new credit. Households are having a hardtime unloading their old IOU's, and that will drag outthe reliquification process.
During the past year, installment debt is down by 0.7%, and most types are falling as a percentage of disposable income -- a typical recession pattern. The only exception is revolving credit. That's a red flag that consumers may be using their credit cards as a last-ditch source of funds.
Another problem: High long-term interest rates are holding up progress on housing and consumer finances. Because of the bond market's worries about inflation and Treasury financing, long rates are still lofty compared with the Fed-engineered drop in short-term rates (chart).
However, the threat of more recession makes deflation a greater risk than inflation, so price growth should slow further. Also, based on comments by Treasury Secretary Nicholas J. Brady on Dec. 5, the Treasury may begin to sell fewer 30-year bonds in an effort to shorten its maturities and take some upward pressure off rates. All this should allow long rates to move lower.
Lower rates will eventually work their magic, but for now, the combination of weak income growth, declining final demand, and faster-than-desired growth in inventories is a killer. It sets up the classic recession cycle, as losses in output and employment further depress income and spending.
The November job report was, at least, a mitigated disaster. The Labor Dept. reported some onetime seasonal-adjustment problems that made the decline look worse than reported. And construction employment, which dropped by 95,000, was depressed by snowstorms.
But even accounting for all that, the overall losses far exceeded the expectations of most economists. Nonfarm employment is now only 93,000 higher than the recession's low point in April. If health care jobs had not grown by an impressive 256,000 since April, employment in November would stand at a new cyclical low.
Retail jobs were especially scarce last month. After seasonal adjustment, they fell by 111,000, as stores fearing poor holiday sales added far fewer workers than usual.
Manufacturers also trimmed their November payrolls, cutting 33,000 workers after similar-size losses in September and October. The factory workweek held steady, at 40.9 hours, but that's down from August and September. All this means that industrial production went nowhere for the fourth consecutive month.
Outright declines in factory output are a good bet as winter wears on. Carmakers have already slashed plans for first-quarter output, and falling auto production always has a broad impact on Detroit's supplier industries.
But problems in manufacturing go beyond Detroit. Unfilled orders plunged in both September and October (chart). So companies will have to depend on fresh demand to keep their production lines running at a time when new orders are slowing. If manufacturing goes under again, it will take the rest of the economy with it.
The record length of postwar recessions is 16 months, a span reached in both the 1973-75 and the 1981-82 downturns. If the economy is indeed headed back into the soup, November was month number 16 -- and counting.


text:
Performing Arts
Free Family Day: Red Herring Puppets
Sun, Sep. 21, 2008, 1 pm
FREE, Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center
Red Herring Puppets have created an original rhymed version of the classic tale of Aesop's Fables told with music and large tabletop puppets. These timeless stories are simple to understand and address topics relevant to school age children such as bullying, selfishness, competition, ingenuity, and the affirmation that little beings can achieve great things.
Family Day is funded in part by grants from the Community Foundation of Broward and the Harry Kramer Memorial Fund.
Funding Acknowledgements
The Art and Culture Center/Hollywood is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported in part by its members, admissions, private entities, the City of Hollywood, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council; and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. We welcome donations from all members of the community who wish to support our work.


text:
Clackamas River Water: The FBI has subpoenaed Clackamas River Water, the Clackamas Review reports.
Estacada: A propane gas grill explosion near an Estacada home this morning blew
one of the doors off, leveled a water pump house and caused other
Wilsonville: Two out-of-state drivers were arrested by Oregon State Police troopers on Thursday in separate cases of being caught driving with marijuana, including one case near Wilsonville.
Mt. Hood: Two feet of powder snow from this week's storm will entice skiers and snowboarders to Mount Hood this weekend for the opening of Oregon's ski season.
Oregon City: Oregon City hopes its 16-year search for permanent library site will end on Beavercreek Road. The city emailed an offer Friday to Clackamas County for about two acres of vacant land at the county's Red Soils office campus. Also, as predictable as autumn rain, the Oregon City Public Works Department wants city residents to know the sandbag station is open.
Beavercreek: An 80-year-old Beavercreek man who suffered burns to his head, face and hands when a propane heater exploded on his farm earlier this week has been released from the hospital.
Lake Oswego & West Linn: A Lake Oswego woman caught taking electronics equipment from a West Linn grade school in August pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary Friday and sentenced to 45 days in jail and two years probation.
Clackamas County government: Clackamas County gourmands could see food carts cropping up soon after the county's Planning Commission this week approved a new policy intended to streamline the permitting process.
West Linn: Three separate water main breaks this week are going to cost West Linn an estimated $20,750 in repairs due to the city's aging water system.
Molalla: A car skidded into a telephone pole at Oregon 211 and Dryland Road this afternoon in Molalla, which blocked traffic for 20 minutes, said Molalla Fire District Lt. Denise Everhart.
Lake Oswego: The city tops the state in brainpower, according to the Portland Business Journal.
Milwaukie: An online U.S. military uniform store is set to open a retail location in Milwaukie with hopes of catering to Camp Withycombe soldiers, the Clackamas Review reports.
Clackamas: A Clackamas husband donates a kidney to his wife of 43 years, the Clackamas Review reports.
Sandy: Sandy residents could see higher water rates soon, the Sandy Post reports.
-- Yuxing Zheng