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2005 Year in Review
With each new season came Bremertons share of notable people doing noteworthy things. New construction projects dotted the city. The school district passed a bond that will fund additions to the high school and Mountain View Middle School. The city council wrangled with its share of topics including a heated debate on whether to merge two housing authorities. Police Chief Rob Forbes retired and incumbents prevailed in the this years election. The Patriot has squeezed 2005 into a nutshell for one last look back.
Winter brings new ships, diversity
In January the USS John C. Stennis arrived at Naval Base Kitsap Bremerton. Families and well-wishers eagerly awaited the sailors on board.
We dont feel any of the chill with the very warm reception weve received, said Capt. David Buss, commanding officer of the Stennis. Bremerton is our homeport.
The arrival of the Stennis created a significant amount of work for not only the shipyard itself, but the private contractors in the shipyard as well, said Capt. Clarke Orzalli, who then served as commander of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.
In February, Bremerton City Councilwoman Dianne Robinson brought forth The SInclair Park Project, a thumbnail sketch of the contributions made by African-Americans during World War II.
We dont recognize blacks here and that they have played a major role in Bremerton, Robinson said. Our history is important.
The Black Historical Society of Kitsap County got started around 1982 and Robinson said she believes it was one of the first organizations to begin recognizing Black History Month.
We did a little pamphlet about 100 years of history untold, she said. Now we have a CD.
Even though blacks had lived in the Bremerton area before John Bremer arrived and decided to make Bremerton a city, a large number of blacks moved to the city during World War II to work in the shipyard, she said. The Sinclair Project was built in response to the housing needs for the influx of workers into the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at the height of World War II. The CD was shown at the Norm Dicks Government Center later that month.
The idea of 30-minute ferry service from Bremerton to Seattle got closer to reality when Pacific International Engineering tested a prototype vessel. The biggest obstacle in getting the service is preserving the Rich Passage shoreline.
The M/V Spirit, a 72-foot catamaran has a hull designed to minimize wakes at high speeds. It simulated a weekly ferry run, making eight round-trips between Seattle and Bremerton Monday through Friday. The trials were part of the Fast Ferry Research Project that was initiated in June 2004, designed to investigate the feasibility of adding passenger only fast ferry service between Seattle and Bremerton. The project is being funded under federal grant program administered by the Federal Transportation Administration and is being conducted under the direction of PI Engineering of Edmonds.
The Bremerton Police Department filled three positions and increased its diversity with officers Craig Anthony, Harold Whatley and Jeffrey Inklebarger.
We need to mirror the very community we provide services to, said Bremerton Police Chief Robert Forbes, who retired in September.
The hirings of Anthony and Whatley, who are both African-American, represent a step in the right direction, Forbes said.
We need to continue to make progress in the police department, he said.
All three officers also bring varying degrees of experience to the department, he said.
Anthony came from the Suquamish Tribal police force, Whatley came from the Everett Police Department and Inklebarger came from the King County Sheriffs Office.
The possibility of adding a crematorium to Navy Yard City ended with a screeching halt when County Commissioners reversed a decision by the Hearing Examiner. The proposed crematorium was to be located at the corner of G Street and Charlotte Avenue and would be operated by the Kass Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island. The dispute began August 2004 when neighbors learned of the project.
Among the issues were the hearing examiners determination that the neighbors and school district failed to appeal the building permit in a timely manner.
We are obviously pleased that the Commissioners ruled the way they did, said Roger Lubovich, Bremerton city attorney.
The Kasses later filed a lawsuit in Pierce County Superior Court seeking to overturn the decision.
Spring brings in the winds of change
New ideas and changes to the way Bremerton does business seemed to permeate the spring months. An old idea to merge the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority (KCCHA) and Bremerton Housing Authority (BHA) was brought to the table again. The debate, study and eventual vote took several months to conclude.
Its been about 20 to 30 years since this idea has been looked at, and I think its time to look at it again to see if we can be more efficient, Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman said. He would later appoint a Blue Ribbon Committee to make recommendations to the council.
Proponents of the merger, which in November failed 5-4, said it would allow a more regional approach to housing and move along the seemingly stalled Westpark redevelopment. Those against the merger claimed BHA would lose its contract administration division.
The organizations contract administration division employs 50 personnel and brings in about $2 million in net profits to the city from the administration of federal housing programs in other cities, counties and states including Hawaii and Nebraska.
Kitsap Credit Union began work on its new headquarters by demolishing Bernies in March and preparing to break ground, which it did later this year. The new building, expected to be operating by July 2006, will feature 48,000 square feet of office space with a credit union branch at street level, he said. The credit union plans to lease 16,000 square feet of the office space to other businesses.
Across town a much different project broke ground this past spring. Benedict House, a homeless mens shelter, will be located at the corner of Rodgers Street and Cambrian Avenue.
I think the rain is appropriate because it reminds us of one of the most important needs in our community, said Bremerton City Council President Daren Nygren. Its time to put the controversy over the Benedict House behind us.
The Benedict House will provide a permanent facility to house homeless men and will help men better themselves through the services it will provide, she said. In November it began operating out of a temporary location until the facility is complete in early 2006.
Bremerton School District voters initiated a change when they passed a $30.6 million bond package in May. The voters are saying We like what were seeing in the revitalization, please keep moving forward, said Bette Hyde. superintendent for Bremerton Schools.
The bond money will reshape the district into a 6-8 grade middle school and a 9-12 grade high school configuration. An separate-standing addition to Mountain View Middle School will cost about $15.1 million. Construction is expected to start next May. A new gym will be added to the current Mountain View Middle School for about $2.8 million. Bremerton High School will gain about 38,000 square feet and about 400 (freshmen) students. at an estimated cost of $10.2 million.
The Bremerton Fire Department reaped the rewards as it moved into a new Fire Station No. 1 on Park Avenue. The $3.1 million fire station was financed by a public safety bond measure. It is about 3,000 square feet larger than the current station, but is state-of-the-art. The building offers classroom space and an apparatus bay large enough to house modern-day trucks and more parking.
The Bremerton art community got a glimpse of the world famous Bremerton native Jack Lenor Larsen who created mohair tapestries for the city council chambers at the Norm Dicks Government Center.
Something more organic was called for, he said explaining why he had scoffed at the suggestion three years ago that he make the curtains blue velvet. He called that idea perfectly dreadful. He went with a more translucently hand-spun, hand-woven mohair to let the light through them. He chose a more cheerful color palette and seemed pleased with the overall look of them. Larsens fabrics have been shown at the Louvre, Chicago Sears Tower and been purchased by Hollywoods elite. Hes worked in 90 countries and has friends on 100 cities.
Whats old is new again (fire station, chief forbes)
Summer brought to the table two notable items centered around the Bremerton City Council. One measure found success while the other failed miserably. The question of reducing the number of city councilors from nine to seven was answered with a resounding no. Councilmen Mike Short and Will Maupin wrote a proposal they wanted sent to voters.
We are somewhat top heavy on the city council. There are some efficiencies to be gained, Short said.
The idea to reduce its numbers was originally raised in February and received little support from the council then.
Instead of being put on the ballot, the council voted to appoint a citizens committee to study the effects of a reduction. That information was supposed to be brought to the council by Dec. 1.
Beginning Aug. 1 the Bremerton City Council saw an increase in their paychecks from $750 a month to $1,000 or $12,000 a year. City Council president receives an additional $150 a month or $1,800 a year. This thanks to the three-member citizens commission appointed to re-evaluate council salaries. The increase was proposed by Jim Reed, the commissions chairman after his initial proposal for a 67 percent raise failed. Reed and Dena Swisher voted in favor of the 33 percent increase while Doug Wakefield voted against it. Several citizens opposed a pay increase.
You have to take into consideration they will have to take time off work, Swisher said.
The citys police force underwent a change of command as its chief Rob Forbes retired after 25 years with the Bremerton Police Department.
Theres things that Id like to do other than law enforcement, Forbes said before a public ceremony, which was Sept. 30. I came to the conclusion after 25 years, I would like to step back and evaluate what options are on the horizon.
In addition to his dedication to law enforcement, Forbes served on the Kitsap United Way board of directors and with the YMCA of Kitsap County.
Capt. Craig Rogers was promoted to interim chief, then became chief in December.
The old Fire Station No. 1 had a bit of an identity crisis as it went from an old fire station, to a museum, to a brew pub in a matter of weeks. Officials from the Fire Museum of the Northwest breathed a sigh of relief thinking they finally had a permanent place to house their artifacts.
The city council voted 5-3, with Mike Short, Will Maupin and Wendy Priest opposing, to sell the New Deal era-built art-deco building to the Port of Bremerton, who planned to lease the space to the museum.
The ports attorney later recommended the port pull its offer because it was illegal.
Elie Benaron of Los Angeles later agreed to purchase the fire station for his original offer and has plans to covert it into a Benaron a pub style restaurant. The deal was expected to close by the end of the year.
Bremerton rolls out the red carpet (garage, katrina)
For more than 31 years the USS Camden (AOE 2) has called Bremerton its homeport from which it has deployed to provide the beans, bullets and oil to the fleet. On Thursday, Sept. 29, the fast combat support ship was decommissioned at Pier Delta at Naval Base Kitsap at Bremerton ending 38 years of naval service.
More than 300 people attended the pierside ceremony.
Today we are not only going to honor the decommissioning of the USS Camden, but we are going to honor 88 years of continuous service of the Combat Logistics Force of U.S. Navy commissioned ships. Today we close the door as USS Camden represents the last of the Navy ships to turn that mission over to the Military Sealift Command, said Capt. Kenneth Norton the ships current commanding officer.
Camden was the second of four Sacramento class ships to be built after Navy officials determined in 1952, the need for ships that were fast and that could deliver three products all at once to the emerging fleet of newer and faster aircraft carriers being built.
While Bremerton bid a fond farewell to the Camden, it welcomed several families in the wake of the devastating hurricanes Katrina and Rita that hit New Orleans with a one, two punch.
The Ussin family was among the first to arrive after a long journey from Tuscaloosa, Ala.
After leaving their New Orleans home a day before Hurricane Katrina slammed the city, the Ussins made the long drive to Tuscaloosa, which normally takes less than five hours, in 15 hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic in the humid Deep South. Despite living in cramped quarters with 26 other people, the four women were grateful to have a friend in the city that is home to the University of Alabama.
We stayed with a friend because we couldnt get a hotel room, said Rose Winters, who traveled with her mother, Pearl Ussin and sisters Barbara and Verna Ussin. She was a blessing. We had 10 kids and 20 adults all in the same house.
Pearls son, Floyd Ussin, has lived in Bremerton the past 20 years after finishing his career in the Navy. Ussin and his wife, Toni, greeted his sisters and mother when their flight from Houston arrived in SeaTac. Churches and agencies worked together for the One Church, One Family initiative will help guide the Ussins through the process of getting a place to live and otherwise settling in.
In the November general election Bremerton School Board incumbents DeWayne Boyd and Cynthia Galloway prevailed over newcomers. Mayor Cary Bozeman, councilors Brad Gehring, Mike Shepherd and Carol Arends we all re-elected to office unopposed. Newcomers Adam Brockus and John Ales battled over Manette for Daren Nygrens soon-to-be vacated seat. Brockus won the contest. Nick Wofford ran uopposed and will replace Mike Short in District 9.
The Bremerton City Council began more merger talks, this time with Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue on whether to merge the two departments.
A six-month feasibility study with Emergency Services Consulting inc. (ESCi) began in earnest this month as talks turned to action.
Id like to see it happen. I think it will save us some money, said Councilor Cecil McConnell of a merger.
ESCi is a consulting service to public safety agencies throughout the United States and Canada and will determine if a merging of the two entities is mutually beneficial.
(A merger is) cost effective. It gets more people on the street and is less overhead, Bremerton Fire Chief Al Duke.
The consultants will not only look at the pros and cons of a possible merger, but also will study the benefits of the two departments maybe not neccessarily merging, but still consolidating at a smaller level.
Both CKFR and BFD are splitting the cost of the study which will total $35,000 plus the cost of reasonable expenses that is not to exceed more than $2,400. About $20,000 has been set aside in the citys proposed 2006 budget to fund the study.
With the Navys and citys officials watching, the Navy parking garage at Fourth Street and Park Avenue opened for business. Boasting about 1,000 spaces, the facility replaces the same amount that were eliminated within Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) as a security measure following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks more than four years ago.
Everybody won on this project. It wasnt easy, but everybody won, Mayor Cary Bozeman said. Its a monument to people working together. It took all of us working together to pull this together. It shows what we can do when we work together on something.
The project initially slated to cost slightly less than $10.8 million came in at $12 million when all was said and done, according to Lt. Cmdr. John Daniels, public affairs officer for Navy Region Nothwest.
The garage covers about 1.8 acres of property where a Payless drugstore, the Bremerton Antiques Gallery and the Olympic College continuing education center once stood.
The parking relief will be in full effect by the end of January as the Navy is phasing in parking permits for the facility 200 at a time.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and five other Republicans who have pledged not to raise taxes were named Wednesday to a special 12-member congressional committee charged with finding up to $1.5 trillion in government savings.
With the nation's ability to borrow more money at stake, if not its future credit rating, this could set up a clash between the panel's Democrats who will fight changes to Medicare and other entitlements and its Republicans resistant to tax hikes. A number of financial experts say it'll take spending cuts and additional revenue -- another way of saying tax hikes -- to get the government's budget in check, but plenty of politicians dispute that, with Republicans saying now is not the time to raise taxes.
The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, created by lawmakers in the budget deal that helped avert a government default in early August, must get a majority vote to save at least $1.2 trillion over the next decade. This is on top of the $900 billion in spending cuts already announced in the deal, part of a package worth up to $2.4 trillion. The deal enabled the nation to raise its statutory $14.3 trillion debt limit.
Even with the deal, the partisan clash and an inability to wring further spending or revenue concessions were factors in Standard and Poors' decision to downgrade the federal government's credit rating.
Under the default-averting deal, the so-called super committee has until Nov. 23 to find between $1.2 trillion and $1.5 trillion in 10-year savings. At least seven of the 12 members must vote to approve its recommendations. The full Congress then must vote on the package by Dec. 23.
If Congress fails to, or if it votes down the package with a veto-proof majority, automatic cuts will kick in, spread among discretionary programs including defense.
That prospect is not what lawmakers want. And despite his pledge to Americans for Tax Reform that he would not support tax increases, Portman's inclusion on the committee prompted cheers from both sides of the aisle. His Ohio Democratic colleague, Sen. Sherrod Brown, said that "Rob has shown a willingness to find common ground by looking at both tax reform and spending cuts in order to reduce the deficit."
Portman, an Ohio freshman, served for a year as President George W. Bush's budget director and was on budget and tax-writing committees in the House of Representatives. His Senate spokeswoman, Christine Mangi, said he "does not believe we should increase taxes in this economy. He has also said we must reform the tax code and that the savings from closing tax loopholes should be used to lower rates."
Portman said recently, for example, that he would not automatically oppose changing the law that allows U.S.-based corporations to shield themselves from taxes by keeping profits overseas. Getting rid of this provision could be seen as a tax hike, but Portman said he could consider it if it is paired with a cut to this country's corporate income tax rate, among the world's highest.
Portman was not available for an interview but issued a statement saying he "will work hard to ensure that meaningful spending cuts are made to reduce our deficits, change the trajectory of Washington's record high debt, and to encourage economic growth and job creation."
Looming just as large as the question of taxes is the matter of entitlements, or formula-driven programs that serve seniors (Social Security and Medicare) and the poor (Medicaid). Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who picked Portman, Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona and Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania to be on the committee, specifically mentioned his desire to include entitlement and tax reform in the committee discussions. McConnell called entitlement programs "the biggest drivers of our debt."
Liberal groups and Democrats want entitlements left alone, saying CEOs, Wall Street and oil companies need to share more of the sacrifice.
"That is why Sen. Rob Portman, in his powerful new role as a super committee member, should not even think about taking more money from our grandparents on Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid," said Tom McMahon, executive director of the advocacy group Americans United for Change.
Grover Norquist, president of the anti-tax Americans for Tax Reform, tweeted his response to the naming of the committee's Republicans: "Your wallet is safe."
The super committee's three House Republicans, appointed by Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday, are Reps. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, Dave Camp of Michigan and Fred Upton, also of Michigan.
Democratic senators on the committee are John Kerry of Massachusetts, Max Baucus of Montana and Patty Murray of Washington. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has not yet announced her three picks.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Frustration Ch. 01— Frustrated with her husband's poor performance.
Inheritance Ch. 00(i)— ...or sometimes you just don't see it coming!
Father Bland's Angels: Verse 03— Big tit teen tricks Dad into fucking her.
Teaching Daughter Self Esteem Ch. 13— My busty daughter wants to get pregnant.
Penny's First Time with Her Stepdad— Penny's first naughty encounter with her stepdad.
My Daughter, My Lover— A daughter's touch.
First Days as a Slut Ch. 06— Cindy shows off. Tina shows Cindy how to please men.
The Allowance Ch. 02— Cara and her daddy invent a new way to earn an allowance.
No-Nonsense Niece— She'll do what it takes to save her uncle.
Homeschool Prom Night— His sexy date is making him nervous...it's his sister!
Seven Minutes in Heaven Pt. 02— Keeping it in the family.
A Unique Family— Open minded parents have no issues taking their children.
Aaron— A "Daddy" Rents His Spare Room Out to a Nudist "Son".
The Auction Pt. 01— A 'slave' auction.
The Shelter— A father & his friend fuck the former's adult daughter.
Morning After— Cara models for Daddy & Uncle Johnny in a sexy photoshoot.
Back to the Future Ch. 02— Marty's incestuous adventures continue...
Pretty Daughter— Jen is a sexslave.
Spam— An incestuous father & daughter come to terms.
The Circle Ch. 50— Nancy gets a family and gets loved.
The Four Sluts Pt. 02— Lauren's brothers want a taste.
The Allowance— Cara and her daddy invent a new way to earn an allowance.
Can I Change Your Mind— How to market a machine that creates instant prostitutes.
His Daughter, the Stripper— A young stripper is surprised when her dad visits the club.
Friends— A 'dad' & his future son-in-law have pool sex.
Strawberry Blond Summer— Cindy pursues a past without knowing it—or caring.
The Shooter— A man's incestuous daughter provides counseling.
True Detective— An adult daughter catches her father having gay sex.
Daddy's Panties— An adult daughter 'outs' her crossdressing dad.
Daughter's Panties Ch. 02— A father pleasures himself in his adult daughter's panties.
Scene from a Marriage— Newlywed amber discusses sex therapy & incest.
Beach Cottage Family Orgy— Sun + wine + sea + hormones + family.
Holy Shit Ch. 03: Redo— Re-write of my previous Ch. 3 in this series.
Movie Night Ch. 03— A Cuckold turns to his sexy adult daughter for answers.
The Collection— A Man Donates his Sperm at a Fertility Clinic.
The Futon— Father & Adult Daughter Have Sex while Mom watches.
Daddy's Little Angel Ch. 01— While mother's away, Danielle gets her first taste of Daddy.
Schoolgirl Pt. 01— An adult daughter sells her dad on becoming a sex worker.
Shooting The Moon Ch. 03— Ruth the cafe owner's daughter is initiated at work.
Felicity— A mysterious woman bares all for her 'dad'.
Teaching Daughter Self Esteem Ch. 09— Daddy continues self esteem lessons with busty daughter.
No Prison Baby— Christina's family men work to spring (and use) her.
Daddy Saw His Chance Pt. 04— Daddy gives his good girl a spanking.
Them that Helps Themselves— Jeb takes over providing for a frontier farm family.
Incestuous Escape— Mother and son pull out all stops in Russia escape.
Love in a Time of Insanity Pt. 03— A woman has sex with her father in wartime Japan.
Emerald-Green Eyes— Inbreeding: Curse of the old South.
Ring Around the Rosie— All in the family in showing college expenses support thanks.
Once Upon a Christmas with Daddy— Daddy's little girl is home, despite Mom's scheme.
A Taste of Incest - Turkey (Dad)— She'll do anything to save her father.
Drones— A father has sex with his adult daughter in a dystopia.
Vamos! Day of the Fucking Dead— Our family's Hallowe'en in Guatemala - Oh, Daddy! Oh, Mommy!
Family Reunion— A family broken up years ago, accidentally come together.
My Wife's Sunday Bikeride— A cuckold seeks pleasure with his adult daughter.
The Wife/Daughter Cuckold— A man is openly cuckolded by his old friend.
Daughter's Panties— A father supplies his daughter's panties to a horny stranger.
Ava and/or Eva Pt. 02— Eva seduces her dad and secrets are revealed.
Becoming Daddy's— Sadi just graduated, now daddy owns her.
Spitting Image— Carly realizes her love for her father.
Homelands Pt. 11 Ch. 03— A duel.
Homelands Pt. 11 Ch. 01— Introductions.
Me & Dad – My 19th Christmas Ch. 05— Meeting Lindsey's brother Gaven.
Me & Dad – My 19th Christmas Ch. 04— A morning delight with Lindsey, then Dad.
A Father's Love— A dad and daughter discover where true love begins.
That's My Girl— A father rediscovers his daughter - a Randy tale.
Teaching Daughter Self Esteem Ch. 07— Daddy visits daughter's dance instructor
Kitten's Anniversary Present— Wife has a nice present for her husband.
Teaching Daughter Self Esteem Ch. 05— My daughter and her girlfriend ask Daddy for dating advice.
Teaching Daughter Self Esteem Ch. 04— Daddy applies lotion each night to daughter.
Teaching Daughter Self Esteem Ch. 03— Busty daughter has a bra fitting
Teaching Daughter Self Esteem Ch. 02— Daughter falls asleep with her head in Daddy's lap
Homelands Pt. 10 Ch. 02— Rabbits and Hares.
Daddy's Little Princess Ch. 02— A shopping trip and a getaway add some spice.
Walk In Ch. 02— Jessica and her dad go swimming, sunning, and stuff.
Candy's Daddy— Candy takes her Daddy on an exotic, erotic vacation.
My Daughter's Surprise— My daughter, my lover, my love.
Sarkon's Spoils: Captured Family— Umika tries to help her fellow slaves. A family is captured.
A New Life for Dr. Mitchel Ch. 02— Marsh's relationships grow stronger.
Homelands Pt. 08 Ch. 03— Leaving the Dreaming.
Passion Ch. 25— Incubus worshipped, maiden seduced.
It's How You Wrap It— Alison gives her Daddy a latex-covered X-Mas present.
Passion Ch. 24— Daughters. Summerwine. Incubus.
Me & Dad – My 19th Christmas Ch. 03— An unexpected, erotic, private pizza party.
Quiznight Extravaganza— Sexual escapades with old and new friends.
Indian Incest: All Are Involved Ch. 21— Mom's story continues.
Irresistible Girl Ch. 03— Two coeds attempt to dominate their mothers via webcam.
New Life, Here We Come Ch. 08— Dad john is back from his business trip.
Homelands Pt. 06 Ch. 03— Crossing the line.
For The Gander— Troubled marriage leads both to stray...but not too far.
What a Good Neighbor Ch. 01— How three women can change a man's life completely.
Homelands Pt. 05 Ch. 06— The conclusion of Part Five.
Homelands Pt. 05 Ch. 04— Another failed attempt.
Homelands Pt. 05 Ch. 03— One group fails, another continues preparations.
Have Faith... Ch. 07— Monica reveals the truths about her choices.
Homelands Pt. 04 Ch. 05— On the way to the Homelands.
It Began on a Christmas Ch. 02— Father and daughter join the rest of the family in action.
Penetrating the Family— One hell of a family Christmas in Coral Gables
Homelands Pt. 03 Ch. 09— A fight with Brianna leads to an eventful evening.
It Began on a Christmas Ch. 01— Daughter gets christmas peresent of the life!
Homelands Pt. 03 Ch. 03— Frank finally meets his children.
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Progressive Scan DVD-Video Player
Details http://shop.panasonic.com/support-only/DVD-S25K.html
Progressive Scan DVD-Video Player, Black
SpecificationsExpand All
More Details
- Multi-Format Playback (Playable Disc Type) DVD-Video, DVD-R, Video CD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW
- DVD-RAM Video Playback Capability No
DVD-R PlaybackCapability Yes
CD-R/RW PlaybackYes
MP3 PlaybackCapability Yes
- WMA (Windows Media Audio) Playback Capability Yes
HighMATCompatible No
- Model Type Single-Disc Player
- 5-Disc Rotary Changer No
- 5-Disc Changer Features No
- Video D/A Converter 54MHz/10-bit
Progressive ScanningYes
- Zoom Variable
- Depth Enhancer No
- MPEG Digital Noise Reduction (Mosquito/Block/3D) No
- Picture Mode Selection Yes
- Monitor Select No
- Black Level Control Yes
- Audio D/A Converter 192kHz/24-bit
- Double Re-master Processing No
- Digital Re-Master Processing No
- Channel Balance Control No
- Delay Time Control No
- Audio Only Function (Video Circuit OFF) No
Advanced Surround (V.S.S.)Yes
Dialogue EnhancerYes
- Headphone Surround (V.S.S.) Yes
- Dynamic Range Compression Yes
- Progressive Video Out (Y, PB, PR) Yes
- Component Video Out (Y, PB, PR) Yes
- S-Video Out No
- Video Out Yes
- 5.1ch Surround Sound Audio Out No
- 2ch Audio Out Yes
- Headphone Out Yes
- Slow & Fast Audio Playback No
- Hi Speed Scan 5 Speed up to x200
- Quick Replay Yes
- Audio/JPEG Navigation Menu Yes
- Twin Laser Pickup Yes
- Progress Indicator Yes
- Energy Star® Compliant Yes
- Position Memory up to 5 discs
- On-Screen Menu Icons Yes
- Chapter Preview Yes
- Sleep Timer Yes
- Quick Guide Setup Yes
- Horizontal Resolution More than 500 lines
- Video S/N 65 dB
- Audio S/N 115 dB
- Dynamic Range: DVD-Video (LPCM) 100dB
- Dynamic Range: CD 98dB
- Power Source AC 120V, 60Hz
- Remote Control Standard
- Still Picture Display (I/P/B) No
- Auto Switching Field/Frame Still No
- Frame Advance (Forward & Reverse) Yes
- Optical Digital Output for DTS® & Dolby Digital® Surround Sound No
Cinema ModeYes
- Audio Navigation Menu Yes
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Manx Telecom launches Island's first live in-store 4G demo
Manx Telecom this week launched a live in-store demonstration of its eagerly anticipated super-fast 4G mobile service as the company continues to make good progress towards its goal of launching the network this summer. Customers can now visit the store in Strand Street, Douglas, to experience the significantly faster mobile broadband speeds for themselves. The company carried out tests on the technology early March which demonstrated upload and download speeds up to seven times faster than those currently experienced on their 3G network. 4G will allow customers to download music, upload photos, play games, stream films and watch HDTV, faster than ever before. Trials have also given clear indications that 4G will mean better mobile coverage indoors and outdoors. The more recent tests follow Manx Telecom making the first on Island test calls over a 4G network, in December 2013.
David Smith, Manx Telecom Marketing Director, said the company was expecting significant interest from customers in the live in-store demonstration. He said:
"Our goal is 4G for all – we want as many people as possible to have access to our brand new 4G service when it launches and we're confident our customers will be impressed when they see 4G speeds for themselves. We're aware that local consumers have a higher than average appetite for new technology and these 'early adopters' will be very keen to enjoy the benefits of 4G network when it's launched. Figures from two recent surveys, carried out here and in the UK, showed 70% of Isle of Man respondents own a smartphone compared with just 56% in the UK. The surveys also indicated that 60% of Isle of Man respondents use their phone to access the internet compared with 47% in the UK. We were also pleased, but not surprised, to see that 81% of Isle of Man respondents were aware of 4G mobile technology. All of these figures, combined with the fact that we will have a competitively priced world class 4G service, gives us every confidence that there will be a big demand from existing and new customers."
The Ofcom figures quoted are from a UK door-to-door survey conducted in the first quarter of 2013, and the Isle of Man survey was commissioned by Manx Telecom and conducted online by HPI Research in January 2014. Both were based on samples representative of national populations.
Manx Telecom says that trials conducted to date suggest its customers will be able to use the 4G service to download a song or game, or get the latest app, in a few seconds rather than the normal two to three minutes currently experienced. TV shows and even HD films will typically buffer in around 30 seconds rather than minutes. Even though full details of coverage and tariffs will be announced nearer to the launch date for the service, Manx Telecom is already reporting healthy sales of '4G ready' smartphones at its Strand Street store. Mr Smith added:
"Over 55% of smartphones purchased are now '4G-ready', and with Manx Telecom's attractive trade-in scheme I'd encourage our customers to actively consider upgrading to a '4G ready' smartphone. Even though the launch of our 4G service is a little way off, 4G is now live in store on over 25 devices, giving our customers a tangible demonstration of what to expect from the Island's leading mobile service provider."
For more information customers are encouraged to call in to the Strand Street store, or visit www.manxtelecom.com/4g
Category: Finance & Business, Telecommunications
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The Amphitheatre serves as a primary venue for concerts during the major summer festivals.
Mural History
Built for the 1962 World's Fair, the artistic mural was created by renowned artist Paul Horiuchi. Originally the mural was placed over a pool of water (now the stage) and surrounded by temporary structures, including the IBM building. Today, the Mural Amphitheatre is used for public programming and festivals, such as Northwest Folklife Festival, Bumbershoot, and the Seattle Center outdoor film and concert series.


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The Fray aren't selling near as well as they used to – few artists are. Their fourth album, "Helios," released in February, never set the charts on fire. But with a few platinum-selling hits in their heyday and a general air of affability, the reliably catchy Denver rockers should have been able to tap into the lifeblood of an enthusiastic radio-loving crowd looking to get high on nostalgia Wednesday, June 11, at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix.
But the crowd was anemic, both in turnout and enthusiasm, with the pit at least half-empty (or half-full, for all you accursed optimists), the outermost side sections empty and the third tier of seats blacked out. The "Helios" tour isn't going to lift the Fray back up to those initial "How to Save a Life" heights, and they played with an air that suggested that they doesn't expect it to.
They opened on an easy, breezy note with "Helios" track "Closer to Me," lead singer Isaac Slade halfway through imploring to the crowd, "Alright Phoenix, I want to see you stand." They stayed standing, mostly, through the radio-faithful piano-rock yearning of "You Found Me" and "All at Once," Slade beating his chest and reaching to the sky on held notes like an overly earnest church counselor.
"Arizona!" Slade said. "How you feelin'?"
The set was thick with songs from "Helios," about half the tracks, which played well to a receptive if well behaved crowd between the "How to Save a Life" tracks they were clearly saving their energy for. It didn't help that the sound mix muddied the vocals and that some songs bled so uneventfully into one another that you had to wait for the chorus, if you could understand it, to know that the song had changed.
But bum mix or no, there was no mistaking the opening piano notes of "How to Save a Life," a triple-platinum radio hit you couldn't avoid to save your life unless you'd been in a hermitage in Nepal for the past decade. They were well into the set before they dipped into that well, and the crowd was hungry for it, singing along with the words they knew so well until they bled inexplicably into a verse of Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball," a welcome touch of tomfoolery before the knockout punch of "Over My Head (Cable Car)."
They closed their regular set with first "Helios" single "Love Don't Die," which with its funkier groove and hand-clapping catchiness had Slade dancing on his piano rather than crooning from it, tambourine in hand, eschewing earnestness for bombast. It veered the furthest from the Fray's playbook, tapping into a youthful vein of churchgoing, rafter-raising enthusiasm. Little wonder – the track was written and produced by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, the go-to Top 40 preacher man of the moment.
It would have been a fine note to end on, but after exiting the stage for a weak minute, the Fray ambled back on and played "Be Still," a slow piano jam that just wouldn't seem to end, and two more "Helios" tracks, "Break Your Plans" and "Same as You" – a pair of downbeat, darkly atmospheric songs that had Slade prompting fans to break out their cellphones and sway in the glow and the gloom.
The Fray faded to a close with a buzzy, haunted sound bereft of swells and anthemic joy. The crowd made for the exits en masse long before the final note sounded with the tactical rationale of fans abandoning a sports game for their cars before the final score is called.
Whether it's because their team was so far ahead or so far behind, well, that's a judgment call.


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A Raptor Show: Just Look Up!
This Merlin, not to be confused with the Peregrine Falcon (top of page), is a smaller falcon with a lot of heart. It shows up in proportionately large numbers in Block Island banding studies in comparison to other raptors.
For decades, scientists have known that Block Island serves as a vital stopover site each fall for migrating warblers, vireos, and many other songbirds. But despite the careful documentation of annual songbird movements, surprisingly little was known about migrating raptors.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, most raptors – particularly peregrine falcons – were still recovering from the widespread use of harmful pesticides earlier in the century. More recently, however, birders have been thrilled at the increasingly common sight of these amazing birds streaking over the island. A real treat!
Anecdotal information about additional raptors migrating through Block Island led a crew from the Biodiversity Research Institute to come down from Maine last year to investigate. Researchers spent two months at Lewis-Dickens Farm counting and banding raptors.
And the data confirmed what The Nature Conservancy and its local partners had theorized: Block Island is not only vital for songbirds, it's also extremely important for raptors.
This is especially true for the Merlin, a medium-sized falcon. In fact, the capture rates for Merlins on Block Island were some of the highest anywhere on the east coast.
In all, scientists captured eight different raptors: Merlin (74 banded), Peregrine Falcon (35 banded), Northern Harrier (10 banded), Cooper's Hawk (8 banded), Sharp-shinned Hawk (7 banded), American Kestrel (5 banded), Red-tailed Hawk (1 banded), and Northern Goshawk (1 banded). The study was conducted from September 8 to November 1, and will be repeated during the same period in 2013.
But here's the best part! Six large peregrine falcons were fitted with special backpacks, enabling researchers to track the birds' movements for more than a year. This real time data provided invaluable information that will allow for better protection of the falcons during their migration in the spring and fall.
After so many years of scientific research and monitoring, this groundbreaking study was a great reminder that there is still much to learn about the natural world on Block Island. If you get a chance to come to Block Island in the fall, be sure to look up to the sky. The "raptor migration show" is about to start!
View the movement of the 6 Peregrine Falcons tagged on Block Island by the Biodiversity Research Institute. Click on the map below for a full-sized image.


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Endicott, NY (WBNG Binghamton) The winner of this year's Dick's Sporting Goods Open will not only be a part of En-Joie history, but he'll be a part of Champions Tour history as well.
This week will mark the 1,000th winner on the Champions Tour. The man that won the 500th tournament will be in the running for the second big landmark as well.
Hale Irwin won the 1997 Burnet Senior Classic to take home the Champions Tour's 500th title, and he said maybe he'll be lucky enough to be crowned number 1,000 as well.
"You never know in this game. It never fails to amaze me how this game sort of ebbs and flows and changes and yet at the same time it's still the same," said Irwin. "It's a wonderful game that we never seem to be on top of, yet at the same time we always come back for more, get beat up and come back for more."
The first winner on tour will also be in attendance this weekend. Don January, who won the first title back in 1980, will be on hand to present the 1,000th winner his trophy.


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Heartbreak Ridge
Released January 1, 1986
Further exploring his screen persona, producer-director¬actor Clint Eastwood stars here as Tom Highway, a gruff, foul-mouthed anachronism of the old Marine Corps who drinks too much and is constantly getting in trouble. Near¬ing retirement age, having alienated most of his superiors, Highway asks to end his career where it began and is transferred to perform gunnery sergeant duties in his old outfit. There, the small reconnaissance platoon he is to train proves to be a group of lazy malcontents who feel that they've been duped by the slick military advertising on television. Earning the admiration of these young hotshots by besting them physically and mentally at every turn, Highway proceeds to whip them into a self-respecting fighting unit that knows how to work as a team. He also tries to rekindle the love of his ex-wife, Aggie (Marsha Mason), who divorced him because she was tired of his insensitivity and love for the military. Highway hopes to impress her with his newfound awareness ("Did we mutu¬ally nurture each other?" he clumsily asks her), culled from women's magazines on the sly. Just as it seems that he is making progress with Aggie, however, Highway and his men are sent off to a small Caribbean island none of them has ever heard of—Grenada—to rescue American medi¬cal students from a hostile Marxist government backed by Cuban troops. HEARTBREAK RIDGE has drawn flak from those who think Eastwood somehow endorsed the Gre¬nada invasion by refusing to overtly criticize it. But East¬wood isn't interested in the political meaning of the action; what concerns him is how it defines his characters, who only want to survive, not analyze, the conflict. The strengths and foibles of human beings are what this film—and all of Eastwood's directorial efforts—is all about, and his Tom Highway is one of the most vividly etched male characters seen on-screen in years. Eastwood makes no apologies for this man who knows only how to train men to kill, but he does understand him. Highway knows he is an anachronism and that he will soon have to leave the only role in which he feels confident; he has made the Marines his family, but now that family is rejecting him in favor of a much more glamorous image. He isn't the kind of man who is willing to wallow in his mistakes, however, and in the only way he knows how he makes an attempt to understand the woman he has taken for granted, who will be his salvation. (The beautifully played scenes between Eastwood and Mason are some of the most telling and realistic between a man and a woman to be found in any recent film.) East¬wood believes that people can change, that contact with others can enlighten, and that attempting to understand one another is extremely valuable, but his characters are close-mouthed, wary, and afraid of appearing vulnerable, simply because they are vulnerable. He proves that it is still possible to infuse "an entertainment" with greater rele¬vance. Eastwood fans who choose to simply watch and root for the "good guys" will not be disappointed by HEARTBREAK RIDGE, but neither will those looking for insights into the human condition."


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A century of providing presents
Ann L. Fouty Features Editor
write the author
Late television personality Sonny Elliot and Pete Waldmeir of Grosse Pointe Woods. Photo courtesy Goodfellows
November 28, 2013
Through the Depression, recessions and a world war, the Old Newsboys' Goodfellow Fund of Detroit has lived up to its motto: "No kiddie without a Christmas."
With a $1.2 million budget to provide 35,000 Christmas packages to children ages 4 to 13 in Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, River Rouge and Harper Woods, the Detroit Goodfellows are in the 100th year of raising funds. The money collected this year buys warm clothing, underwear, books, candy, dolls and toys for the 2014 season. The 2013 bills have been paid. When the Goodfellows stand on the street corners selling papers Dec. 2, they are planning Christmas presents for 2014's packages.
"The need has gone up and down," said Pete Waldmeir, past president, Grosse Pointe Woods resident and an early recipient of a holiday package.
"Mom raised three kids by herself. My grandfather, Peter Nielsen, was a cop and he got us on the list with the Goodfellows. The cops used to deliver packages," he said.
Now parents must come to a delivery site to pick up the packages.
The Detroit charity has 235 members who raise funds through newspaper sales, direct mail solicitation and a breakfast.
"The breakfast has been tremendously successful. It's a wellspring of good will," Waldmeir said.
An early morning breakfast is staged in the fall and each year honors a philanthropic member of the community. Past recipients include Dick Purtan, A. Alfred Taubman and Peter Karmanos Jr.
To spread the news and good will, the Goodfellows participate in the annual Thanksgiving Day parade and hosts its own parade. The 2013 Goodfellows parade is at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2, beginning at the Guardian Building proceeding around Campus Martius and concluding at the Penobscot Building where members sing Christmas carols, said Sari Schneider, executive director. Members, including Goodfellows president Frank Brady, and Detroit police and fire fighters sell newspapers on various corners from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day.
Funds raised buy the goods in the package, including 11,000 dolls.
"Every girl up to the age of 8 gets a doll. Every doll is hand dressed," Brady said.
In fact, the dolls create quite a competition among those who create the outfits. And there are always more who want to dress the number of dolls.
Of the thousands of dolls dressed to the nines, five are selected to be the best dressed. Those who created the winning outfits reap only recognition and all the dolls are displayed in Compuware's world headquarters in Detroit until it's time to be packaged in late October and early November to go to some lucky little girl.
According to Brady, great-nephew of the founder James Brady, parents fill out an application form to become eligible for the Christmas package. When they pick up the package, parents must present proof of the child's age.
"They fill out an application," Brady explained. "That goes into a database and carries over year to year. They have to provide proof of need. We ask for ages and gender (of the children). We package by gender and age."
"Seventy percent of our families are repeat until they grow out (of the program)," Waldmeir added.
Brady's great-uncle founded the Goodfellows in 1914. The elder Brady was Detroit's water commissioner and head of Detroit's Internal Revenue Service.
"He called his friends he sold papers with as a young man (for donations)," Brady said. Presents were purchased with their contributions and donations and distributed by police officers to those children who would otherwise have gone without a holiday gift.
"The police department have been partners (of ours) for years," he said. "We haven't missed a year, through wars and Depression. This is our 100th campaign. There has been a pretty steady need."
In the beginning, children were identified through schools' attendance officers, Waldmeir said. However, with the reduction in staff and the rise in charter schools, families are identified through police and churches.
Goodfellows has expanded its assistance beyond holiday giving. It provides free children's shoes, a free dental program through the University of Detroit Mercy, sends children from Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park to summer day camp and offers two students scholarships to attend Wayne State University's journalism school.
"First it was Hudson's," Waldmeir said about the shoe program, "then Sherman's and Mr. Alan's now. The child must come in to buy the shoes."
While the Goodfellows remain true to its original purpose of providing gifts, the members also want these children to get in the habit of going outside — hence the camperships — and in the habit of brushing their teeth — hence the free dental program and tooth brush and toothpaste in the holiday packages.
With a troop of volunteers to raise the funds to keep the organization paying its bills year round, there is a single paid position, that of the executive director.
"This is a charity without overhead," Brady said. "We have one full- time person. We don't ask much of our members, they do a letter writing campaign once a year. Every member buys their own stamps, envelopes and stationery, plus the thank yous. They can do small stuff plus the big breakfast.
"We've touched close to two million children. The reason why we do it is so kids will have a holiday gift and also when they grow they remember someone remembered them."
To emphasize his point, Brady said every year he gets donations from people he doesn't even know so 35,000 children will find hope and joy in a box.
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Doing well, here. Luckily, they are ok with a slow pace, and DH and I are able to hang out, do some work, and just take a nice slow pace.
Going to an event today -- a little party. My ILs have shown us so many outfit/shoe combinations for this casual gathering, that you'd think they were 11 yr old girls going to a beiber concert. So funny.
Otherwise, getting through all kinds of good things, not at all tempted beyond diet.
I spend most of my time on the floor (love it). we have more furniture than we need, actually. Two chairs, though we do use them occasionally, an I would say that we could probably do without our table/chairs since we usually picnic on the floor anyway. I think if we just had the two beds, dresser, and stool, we'd be just fine. :D Also, the shelves in the closet. We do need those. :D Still. . . it's not much.
But, I guess that guests like to sit in chairs.


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Results tagged ' Mike Olt '
Season in Review: May
The 2012 Frisco RoughRiders season was an unquestioned success. The 'Riders won the first half South Division title, finished with an 80-60 record (good for the second-best overall mark in the Texas League) and advanced to the Texas League Championship Series before losing to the Springfield Cardinals. Along the way, there were standout performances from big-time prospects, thrilling games and terrific storylines. Before looking ahead to the 2013 season, we look back at a special 2012 campaign that proved to be a memorable one for the 'Riders.
Record: 17-11 (T-1st of 8 TL teams)
Average: .268 (2nd)
Home Runs: 24 (3rd)
ERA: 3.27 (2nd)
Top Offensive Players: Mike Olt (.333-5-23, 7 2B, 16 R, .437/.556/.993, 3-3 SB), Jurickson Profar (.322-3-14, 9 2B, 2 3B, 21 R, .385/.513/.898, 3-5 SB), Zach Zaneski (.429-1-8), 3 2B, 7 R, .489/.571/1.061)
Top Pitchers: Chad Bell (7 G, 3 GS, 1-0, 0.69 ERA, 1-1 SV, 0.62 WHIP, .131 BAA), Justin Grimm (6 GS, 4-2, 2.08 ERA, 34.2 IP, 30 K, 6 BB), Joseph Ortiz (10 G, 0-1, 1.74 ERA, 2-3 SV, 10.1 IP, 8 H, 13 K ,3 BB, 1.06 WHIP, .211 BAA), Ross Wolf (9 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 13.2 IP, 9 H, 0 R, 16 K, 3 BB, 3.75 GO/AO, 0.88 WHIP, .188 BAA)
After a solid opening month, the RoughRiders continued their steady ascent in the Texas League in May. Frisco held at least a share of first place in the TL South for every day in April and claimed sole possession of the division lead for all of May as well. The 'Riders began the month by winning seven of their first nine games and held a season-best five-game lead over Midland in the division by May 12.
It wasn't until Frisco's first trip to west Texas in the middle of the month that Steve Buechele's squad lost a second series for the season. The 'Riders first foray to Citibank Ballpark, home of the RockHounds, proved to be a frustrating experience. Midland walked off with a win in the first game before Frisco rallied the next day to win by one run. Big innings hurt the RoughRiders in each of the next two games, as the 'Hounds had six-run and five-run innings in the next two games respectively to win the series. Frisco responded by winning eight of the final 12 games of the month to steady the ship and tie for the best record in the league during the month.
The team's success coincided with a remarkable period of roster stability, a rarity in this age of baseball. Frisco benefitted from the Rangers' relative health and between April 29 and May 23, there were no roster moves made. That changed later in the month when the 'Riders suffered their first true loss in the game of musical chairs that is in-season player movement. Closer Johan Yan, who was leading the Texas League with ten saves, was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock on May 25 where he would remain for the rest of the season. Yan's worth was evident in that the team was 12-3 in games decided by one run while he was a RoughRider.
During May, the team continued to get excellent work from Justin Grimm, wins from Barret Loux (5-0, but his ERA in the month rose to 4.71), terrific relief from the likes of Joseph Ortiz, Fabio Castillo, Trevor Hurley and Yan, and solid production from newly converted reliever Chad Bell. The lefty from Tennessee, who arrived in late April from Myrtle Beach, impressed in the bullpen enough to earn a starting role. In both functions, he combined to post a 0.69 ERA and kept hitters off-guard by working all parts of the strike zone with his deceptive delivery.
Offensively, Mike Olt began to hit his stride offensively, raising his season batting average by 44 points and hitting five home runs with 23 RBI. His teammate on the left side of the infield continued to improve as well. Jurickson Profar continued a hit streak and on-base streak that began in April deep into May. Profar ended up hitting in 29 straight games from April 19 – May 19, tied for the second-longest hit streak in either Major or Minor League Baseball this past season, and he reached base in every game he played over the month. Meanwhile, backup catcher Zach Zaneski earned himself more playing time by continuing to produce offensively every time he was given the opportunity.
With a four-game lead in the division and just two more weeks left until the end of the season's first half, another trip to the postseason was looking like a stronger possibility by the day for the RoughRiders.
May 1: Tim Murphy and two relievers combine on a 2-0 shutout effort at San Antonio. The Frisco pitchers outduel former RoughRider Robbie Erlin, who allows two runs in eight innings. Erlin was part of the Mike Adams trade in July of 2011and was a member of the 'Riders when the deal was made.
May 5: The 'Riders host the RockHounds on Cinco de Mayo in the first game between the top two teams in the South Division. Trailing by a run in the seventh inning, Frisco strikes for two tallies in the bottom of the frame to win 3-2. Joseph Ortiz tosses 1.2 perfect innings for the save while Jurickson Profar extends his hitting streak to 16 games with a third inning single.
May 7: In a matchup of two players that would soon be in the big leagues, Justin Grimm (6 IP, 3 H, R, BB, 5 K) tops A.J. Griffin (6 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K) as the 'Riders beat Midland 4-2. Frisco scores three runs in the decisive fifth inning, capped by Ryan Strausborger's second home run of the season.
May 8: The RoughRiders beat up another future Major League hurler, Dan Straily (5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, BB, 6 K), in a 9-3 win to capture the series victory. Later that day, Grimm is named the Rangers' "Minor League Pitcher of the Month" for April.
May 10: Frisco wallops Corpus Christi 10-2 in the first game of a series in south Texas. Profar runs his hit streak to 20 games with a 2-for-6 effort while Barret Loux (5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K) improves to 7-0 on the season. The true star is Brad Hawpe, who goes 4 for 5 with a double, one run batted in and three runs scored in the game. After the game Hawpe moves into second place in the Texas League in both batting average (.338) and on-base percentage (.455) but struggles moving forward.
May 14: After splitting their series in Corpus, the 'Riders pay their first visit to Midland and go on to lose in walk-off fashion for the first time in 2012. After Chris McGuiness was robbed of an RBI single on a line drive back to the pitcher to end the top of the ninth inning, Shane Peterson wins it for the RockHounds with a bases-loaded RBI hit off Ortiz to give Midland a 6-5 victory.
May 15:Johan Yan enters the ninth inning with a 5-3 lead over Midland but commits an error, gives up a run and loads the bases with one out. He gets out of the jam thanks to a spectacular stop and glove flip by second baseman Guilder Rodriguez that starts a game-ending 4-6-3 double play. Frisco wins 5-4 as Loux becomes the Minors' first eight-game winner.
May 18: On the heels of their second series defeat of the season, the 'Riders look worn down against former big leaguer and San Antonio Mission Josh Geer, who takes a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Jared Prince breaks it up with a double to start off the frame, but Frisco goes on to lose 5-2. Profar narrowly extends his hitting streak to 28 games by tripling in his final at bat in the ninth inning.
May 19: A night after nearly being no-hit, the 'Riders come close to no-hitting San Antonio in a 13-0 victory. Chad Bell (4 IP), Carlos Pimentel (3 IP) and Corey Young (0.2 IP) combine to get to within four outs of the no-no but Young allows a double to Jeudy Valdez with two outs in the frame to spoil the bid. Profar wastes no time in moving his hit streak to 29 games, the longest in the Minors at that point, with a first inning double. Mike Olt closes the affair with a two-run home run in the eighth inning, his ninth of the season.
May 20: Profar fails to get a base hit in a game for the first time since April 17, ending his 29-game hitting streak in a 2-1 Frisco win over the Missions. By the end of the season, the streak would be tied for the second-longest in Major or Minor League Baseball in 2012. Profar does work a walk in the fourth inning to push his consecutive games on-base streak to 39.
May 21: Yan blows his first career save by giving up two runs in the ninth inning to San Antonio. He had been 25-for-25 in save opportunities since he converted from playing infield before today. His offense, with some help from a fortuitous Jonathan Galvez error, picks him up by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning en route to a 6-5 win.
May 23 – 25: Division leaders Frisco and Tulsa play for the first time at the Drillers' ONEOK Field. Tulsa wins two of three games to claim the series victory, in part thanks to a walk-off wild pitch uncorked by Wilfredo Boscan in the series finale.
May 26: The 'Riders score five runs in the bottom of the first inning off Northwest Arkansas' Chris Dwyer, but the lead is short-lived as Loux surrenders five runs as well in the bottom of the frame. The big righty settles down to pitch six innings as the offense provides four more runs in a 9-6 win. Loux improves to 10-0 in his first ten starts of the season, setting a new Frisco record for most consecutive victories.
May 27: Hawpe, mired in a slump, goes 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in what proves to be his last game of the season, one the 'Riders lose 9-5 to the Naturals. Since his four-hit game on May 10, the former Major League All-Star has hit .130 (6-for-46) with no extra-base hits and one RBI.
May 28: Memorial Day becomes truly memorable for one RoughRider as Val Majewski and Alex Buchholz combine on back-to-back solo home runs off Northwest Arkansas' Noel Arguelles in a game Frisco wins 9-6. It was Majewski's first and only home run of the season; he goes 3-for-5 with another RBI and run scored for the day.
May 31: Frisco closes out the month of May with a 10-4 win at home over Tulsa. After a few days off, Hawpe goes on the disabled list with elbow fatigue (he had "Tommy John" surgery on his left elbow the previous August). Three weeks later he is granted his release by the Rangers organization and does not play again in 2012.
Coming tomorrow: A look back at the month of June.
– Alex V.
Season in Review: April
The 2012 Frisco RoughRiders season was an unquestioned success. The 'Riders won the first half South Division title, finished with an 80-60 record (good for the second-best overall mark in the Texas League) and advanced to the Texas League Championship Series before losing to the Springfield Cardinals. Along the way, there were standout performances from big-time prospects, thrilling games and terrific storylines. Before looking ahead to the 2013 season, we look back at a special 2012 campaign that proved to be a memorable one for the 'Riders. (All photos by Alex Yocum-Beeman/Frisco RoughRiders)
Record: 15-9 (2nd of 8 TL teams)
Average: .263 (3rd)
Home Runs: 26 (2nd)
ERA: 3.08 (2nd)
Top Offensive Players: Brad Hawpe (.321-3-8, .459/.554/1.013), Leury Garcia (.309-0-2, 2 2B, 3 3B)
Top Pitchers: Justin Grimm (5 GS, 4-1, 1.59 ERA, 28.1 IP, 27 K, 6 BB, .194 BAA), Barret Loux (5 GS, 5-0, 1.63 ERA, 27.2 IP, 28 K, 8 BB), Carlos Pimentel (6 G, 2 GS, 2-1, 1/1 SV, 1.35 ERA, 20 IP, 24 K, .174 BAA), Johan Yan (10 G, 0.87 ERA, 5/5 SV, .158 BAA)
High expectations can be a two-edged sword. On one hand, they can elevate preexisting senses of hope and confidence. A baseball team from which a lot is expected can thrive on the positive mojo and can achieve success. Conversely, that hype has the ability to crush a team under the weight of those expectations and it underperforms. Even if a team doesn't collapse, the odds of it failing the live up to high expectations are much greater than actually meeting them.
Enter the 2012 Frisco RoughRiders. With Frisco previously fielding playoff teams in six of the nine previous seasons, the expectations were already there for another successful season. But on top of that, Baseball America tabbed the RoughRiders as the third-most talented roster of players among all 120 full-season Minor League squads. The respected industry publication cited the presence of big-time infield prospects Jurickson Profar (number one on BA's list of top Texas Rangers prospects), Mike Olt (three) and Leury Garcia (11) as well as pitchers Justin Grimm (15), Barret Loux (20) and Miguel De Los Santos (29). Throw in the toolsy, but mercurial Engel Beltre and 2011 Carolina League All-Stars Jared Prince, Ryan Strausborger and Zach Zaneski and it's easy to see why Baseball America had its eye on the 'Riders.
But talented Minor League squads filled with prospects do not always translate into good teams. More often than not, it seems that rosters made up of older players with years of experience in their respective leagues have the most success and win championships.
The RoughRiders bucked those odds and finished April with the second-best record in the Texas League through a balanced combination of fantastic pitching and steady offense. From out of the gate, the team's pitching staff was dominant. Justin Grimm anchored a rotation that anchored five intriguing prospects while the bullpen featured hard throwers aplenty. While the offense got off to a slow start (13 runs in the first five games), it rebounded nicely and proved to be the most dynamic in the TL.
April 4: Before the regular season begins, the RoughRiders host the parent club Texas Rangers in an exhibition game. Making the occasion even more interesting, prized Japanese import Yu Darvish makes the start for Ron Washington's club in his first pitching appearance in his new home market. Darvish does not disappoint, tossing four scoreless innings with two hits and two walks allowed to go along with five strikeouts as the Major Leaguers best the 'Riders 6-1.
April 5: The RoughRiders begin the regular season in Missouri with a 1-0 win over the Springfield Cardinals. Frisco's only run scores on a Jose Felix sacrifice fly while Justin Grimm (5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 10 K) is brilliant in his Double-A debut.
April 6: Frisco falls 4-1 to the Cardinals with the team's only run coming on Mike Olt's first home run of the season. Earlier in the day the Rangers re-sign long-time big league outfielder and Westlake, Texas native Brad Hawpe and assign him to Frisco. Hawpe underwent "Tommy John" surgery while playing for the Padres in August of 2011.
April 7: In what was the first of many, Barret Loux earns his first win of the season in a 6-1 victory over Springfield in the series finale. Loux works out of trouble in nearly every inning (six hits and two walks) but does not allow a run over five frames. Hawpe leads the way by going 3-for-4 with a home run in his first at bat. He finishes a triple shy of the cycle with two runs scored and two RBI.
April 8: The 'Riders continue their season-opening road trip with an extra-innings 3-2 win on Easter Sunday at Arkansas. Felix hits a soft single to left-center field in the 11th inning that scores Engel Beltre from second base to win it. Jurickson Profar snaps his 0-for-13 start to the season by hitting a first pitch home run in the fifth inning to the deepest park of Dickey-Stephens Park.
April 14: In a showcase of two of the best position player prospects in the Minors, both Profar and Springfield's Oscar Taveras hit first inning solo home runs in a game the RoughRiders eventually win 6-2. Profar officially puts his first week struggles (2 for 26 to begin 2012) to bed with a 3-for-4 night at the plate.
April 16: Frisco beats Arkansas 2-1 behind another excellent performance by Grimm (6.1 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 5 K) for its fourth straight victory. The win not only clinches the team's fourth straight series victory to start the season, but it also moves Steve Buechele into the top spot for most wins ever by a Frisco manager. Buechele's 155th win as the 'Riders' skipper gives him one more than Tim Ireland, who managed the team in its first two years of existence and in 2004 won Frisco's only Texas League championship.
April 19 – 22: After winning 10-0 at Corpus Christi in their first divisional game of the season, the 'Riders see their pitching get torched for 22 runs over the next three games en route to losing their first series of the season.
April 24: Following trips to the disabled list by starter Miguel De Los Santos and reliever Ryan Rodebaugh, Chad Bell is promoted to Frisco from Advanced-A Myrtle Beach. An under-the-radar prospect, Bell does not take long to impress, at first in relief and eventually as a starting pitcher. That night Olt hits his fifth home run and Profar triples in a 7-2 Frisco win over San Antonio.
April 25:The 'Riders score three first inning runs off San Antonio's Hayden Beard but cannot hold the advantage as the Missions come back to tie the game by the third. After Bell surrenders a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth inning, Frisco ties it on Hawpe's two-out RBI double in the bottom of the inning to send the game to extra innings. However in the 11th, Jeudy Valdez burns Corey Young for an RBI single to send San Antonio to a 6-5 win in three hours and 23 minutes.
April 26: After Fabio Castillo blows a ninth inning save, the 'Riders and Missions go to extras for the second straight night and take their time to settle things. The game goes to the 13th inning when Guilder Rodriguez strokes a base hit to center field to score Chris McGuiness and send Frisco to a 6-5 win, its first walk-off victory of the year. The game takes four hours and 26 minutes to complete. Earlier in the contest, Leury Garcia pulls up lame at first base running out a bunt and is eventually placed on the disabled list where he will remain for nearly a month because of a right hip flexor.
April 27: Grimm (6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K) rebounds from his first poor outing of the season to outclass the Hooks' Jarred Cosart in a 12-0 'Riders romp. Chris McGuiness crushes a three-run home run – his fifth of the season – in a six-run fifth inning. Bell throws three perfect innings (4 K) for the save.
April 29: Loux strikes out eight batters and allows two runs over six innings as the 'Riders blast Corpus 10-3. The former Texas A&M Aggie ends May tied for the MiLB lead in wins at 5-0 with a 1.63 ERA. Six Frisco players have multi-hit games, including Profar (2-for-5), who extends his hit streak to 11 games.
April 30: Despite allowing four runs over the first two innings, Jake Brigham gets bailed out by his offense in a 9-4 Frisco victory over the Hooks. Zach Zaneski, who entered the game hitting .167 (116 points below his career average) with two extra-base hits, drilled two home runs while Alex Buchholz homered and tripled to pace the offense. The triple was Frisco's 17th of the year, the most by any professional team through the season's first month.
Coming tomorrow: A look back at the month of May.
– Alex V.
Catching up with… Mike Olt
Occasionally throughout the off-season we will spend some time catching up with former RoughRiders. In this edition, we hear from Rangers rookie Mike Olt, who spent most of the 2012 season in Frisco. A Mid-Season and Postseason Texas League All-Star, Olt played in 95 games for the RoughRiders, hitting .288 with 28 home runs and 82 RBI. He was called up directly to the Texas Rangers on August 2 but has been hampered by a foot injury in most of his time as a big leaguer. 'Riders broadcaster Alex Vispoli caught up with Mike at a recent Rangers home game to reflect on making the Majors and his time with Frisco.
Alex Vispoli: When you found out you were going up, was that a surprise for you or were you expecting it?
Mike Olt: No, it was definitely a surprise. It was weird how in those last couple of days they were trying to do some [different] things with me, especially playing first base on back-to-back days. But really going into the office I thought they were going to talk to me about what my plan was because the trade deadline was over, what they wanted me to shoot for. I knew I was ready, and then when they were able to say I was getting the call up, it was quite the feeling.
AV: I know Frisco manager Steve Buechele has had creative ways of telling guys that they are being promoted, the one with Justin Grimm comes to mind. If I remember correctly, he was telling you the route to get down to Round Rock?
MO: Yeah, he said to pack my car up and try and head out early to go to Round Rock and he kept the story going the whole time, he probably talked about for five minutes just to stay focused and keep doing what I'm doing, don't change anything. And then, just when I'm leaving he's like "make sure you're in Arlington in time for C.J. Wilson." So that was good, that's something I'll never forget.
AV: What are the emotions you're feeling at that point, where's your heart at that moment?
MO: Oh, I couldn't talk. And that's the first time in my life I probably couldn't talk. I was just really excited. You always hear stories about [getting promoted to the big leagues]; I have some buddies that got called up and they tell you what their feelings are and you can understand where they're coming from, but when you feel that [yourself] then you really understand what it's like, you just get goose bumps. It's everything you've worked for.
AV: Just in terms of the roller coaster for you, I remember talking to you the week or so leading up to the trading deadline and we weren't really sure what was going to happen. You were trusting whatever the plan was and I guess the plan all along was to get you right up there after the trade deadline. Looking back on it the whole range of emotions must have made it both a little fun and at the time a little stressful.
MO: It was, but I did my best to block it all out. And I always said I was definitely able to block it out but there were times when I just wanted to know what was going on. When it was all over with that was definitely relieving, but I definitely did know that I was in a good situation either way so that helped.
AV: You had a base hit in your first Major League at bat. What's going through your head when you step into the batter's box in a big league game for the first time and then you connect on that base hit? Hitter's always talk about getting that first hit early in a game to take some stress off the rest of the way and that you got a hit in your first-ever at bat must have been a weight off of your shoulders.
MO: I was nervous during the day but when it got to game time and I got out there and walked into the box it really felt like just another at bat. I tried to make it as close to normal as I could. Obviously facing C.J. Wilson it's tougher to stay within your approach against a guy like that. But I wasn't nervous which helped me stay [within myself] and not try to do too much so that helped.
AV:Have you had a moment yet where you've taken a step back and said to yourself "Wow, I'm in the big leagues."? Have you had a "welcome to the big leagues" type of moment that you can remember where all of a sudden you realize that you're not in the Texas League any more?
MO: That happened the first day, even with just the crowd. It's a totally different feeling when you have 45,000 fans cheering for you, that's a great feeling. And then in my second at bat I hit a ball up in the hole and a guy makes a "Top Play" on it. I get back to the dugout and that was a time where it was like "welcome to the big leagues." That usually doesn't get caught in Double-A.
AV: Unless it's [Jurickson] Profar, right?
MO: Right [laughs]. No, I would have taken care of him if he caught it.
AV: Has it been nice to see four guys [Wilmer Font, Justin Grimm, Jurickson Profar and Robbie Ross] that you played with in the Minors on the big league roster now with you? Guys that you came up playing with, to play alongside them has that been a fun experience for you?
MO: Yeah, definitely. It always helps to have guys that you've played with and that you're comfortable with. Especially because it's a good group of young guys mixed with the good group of older guys. The veteran guys really show us the way and they make it really easy for us up here. Some of the other guys from other teams that I talk to, for them it's a little of a different atmosphere. Not once when you're here do the veteran guys make you feel like a rookie, so that also helps.
AV: How tough has it been just with the fact that you haven't been able to get on the field in being a rookie and also with the injuries? Unfortunately you've had plenty of practice overcoming the minor injuries, but it's still an adjustment.
MO: No, this isn't the way I want to start my career with something as small as plantar fasciitis. I don't even know how I got it; I don't know how it happened or why it had to happen in the first four days of my big league career. But I was still able to get a lot out of [the experience here] while I was hurt and on the bench. I've learned a ton and I'm excited to take what I've learned and incorporate it with how I go about my business and improve.
AV: How proud were you of your Frisco teammates, following them from afar and seeing what they accomplished without you and without Profar?
MO: I watched every step of the way and I kept in contact with a bunch of the guys. I knew they didn't need Profar or myself to win it; they had a great team and great pitching, timely hitting and that's what we were going to need and we got it for the most part but came up a little short. So that's tough but it was a great year and I have a lot of good memories there.
– Alex
The Newest Texas Ranger
Last night, the Texas Rangers purchased the contract of Frisco infielder Mike Olt. They also put him on the 40-man roster sending utility player Brandon Snyder to Triple-A Round Rock and moving starter Colby Lewis from the 15-day to 60-day disabled list. Olt will make his debut with the Rangers tonight batting eighth and playing first base.
In 95 games with the RoughRiders, Olt had a .288 batting average with 17 doubles, 1 triple, 28 home runs and 82 RBIs. As of today, he is now in the Frisco record books. His 28 home runs put him in third place for single season home runs and ties him with Jason Botts for sixth in all-time home runs. We wish him luck tonight in his major league debut.
Story by Jarah Wright
Our Three Stooges
In honor of the new Three Stooges movie coming out on DVD today, we decided to examine this season through the eyes of the the 'Riders version of Moe, Larry, and Curly also known as Mike Olt, Leury Garcia, and Jake Brigham.
Mike Olt's initials are MO making him Moe. When asked about the season is going, he said he thinks it's going well.
"I'm happy I was able to make improvements in the off-season and build on those improvements," Olt said. "I put them into practice and keep working hard."
Olt is currently hitting .289 with 22 home runs and 63 RBIs. On July 5, Baseball America listed Olt as the third in the top 30 prospects in the Rangers organization and 11th in all of minor league baseball.
Leury Garcia's first name is pronounced like Larry making him Larry. Garcia said he thinks everything is going good so far this season and he wouldn't change anything that he's been doing.
Garcia is currently hitting .273 with 8 triples and 18 stolen bases. Baseball America listed Garcia as the 11th in the top 30 prospects in the Rangers organization.
Jake Brigham started out the season with thick, curly black hair but shaved it off making him our Curly.
Like Olt, Brigham said he thinks the season is going well for him and that he's learning a lot.
"I'm staying healthy and getting to pitch a lot of innings," Brigham said. "I try to learn something every time I go out there."
Brigham currently has a record of four wins and five losses with a 4.67 ERA. He has also struck out 99 batters so far this season.
Story by Jarah Wright
Futures Game Recap
The Futures Game is a chance for major league baseball organizations to showcase talented minor league players who could make it to The Show one day. Two minor leaguers are picked to represent each MLB team. Third baseman Mike Olt and shortstop Jurickson Profar were chosen for the Texas Rangers and RoughRiders manager Steve Buechele was chosen as a coach.
This was the second Futures game in a row for Jurickson Profar who took part in the festivities last year in Arizona. He made an impression quickly. In his first at bat in the 2012 game, he hit a home run to right field to put the World team up 1-0. As he rounded second base, he looked at Mike Olt who was playing third base for the US team and laughingly said 'I told you.' Profar went 2-3 with one RBI. He played shortstop for four innings before being replaced by Francisco Lindor. Profar was mic'd up during his first at bat and the video can be seen below.
However, Mike Olt played the entire game for the US team. He started the game at third base and was moved over to play first base for the remainder of the game. Olt went 1-5 with one RBI including a fly out to Profar. Olt was part of the winning team as the US team defeated the World team 17-5.
Olt and Profar were not the only representatives of the Texas League in the Futures game. They were joined by eight others. Here's a quick rundown of how the fellow Texas Leaguers did in the game.
Oscar Taveras (Springfield Cardinals): Taveras went 1-3 with one RBI. He split time playing right field and center field for the World team.
Kolten Wong (Springfield Cardinals): Wong went 0-2 and played second base for the US team.
Jean Segura (Arkansas Travelers): Segura went 2-3 and played second base for the World team.
Ariel Pena (Arkansas Travelers): Pena pitched for 0.1 innings allowing seven hits and eight runs for the World team.
Nolan Arenado (Tulsa Drillers): Arenado went 1-3 and played third base for the US team.
Jonathan Singleton (Corpus Christi Hooks): Singleton went 3-4 with one RBI. He split time at first base and left field for the US team.
Michael Choice (Midland RockHounds): Choice went 0-2 and played left field for the US team.
Ali Solis (San Antonio Missions): Solis went 0-1 and played catcher for the World team.
Written by Jarah Wright


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The variety and number of fall migrants in southern New Jersey cannot be matched in Massachusetts, but we have one location that is in the same league. It is called Plum Island, a barrier beach that stretches for 11 miles south of the Merrimac River, on the north shore.
The northern end of the island is developed with cottages, almost all of them older and smaller than the usual ocean-front luxury structures. The southern tip is Sandy Point State Park, but the bulk of this island is Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. A single road traverses the entire length of the refuge and ends at the state park.
We visit the island once each in fall and winter, and, as at Cape May, sometimes the songbirds are sparse, but waterfowl and raptors are always present, and there is usually some unique treat awaiting.
In the days before we were scheduled to go, that treat was a Say's phoebe, a cousin of our eastern phoebe, but a distant one from the Rocky Mountain west. This bird was present for several days, perched on bushes and equipment around the garage barns that house the plowing and mowing equipment used at the refuge.
It was seen all day on Friday, but not on Saturday. When we arrived on Sunday, there were places available in the small parking lot, but barely. Others were there hoping to find that the wandering phoebe had returned, after trying a different bug-hunting ground for one day.
It was not to be, as both field scopes and super-sized cameras were lugged around in vain. Two eastern phoebes hunted one corner of the marsh next to a barn, but they only taunted us with their autumn yellow bellies. They were so different from the pale overall gray and the rich orange belly of the Say's phoebe.
Our disappointment was brief, for also in this area we found a little bit of sparrow heaven, a dirt pile covered with weeds and grasses laden with seed. Another rare wanderer from the west was said to be among the sparrows that haunted this heavenly mountain, a bird called the clay-colored sparrow.
Phoebes are easy game for birders, but sparrows are a challenge. They are secretive and easily spooked from the bare ground to the shelter of the long stems of weeds that form a mini-forest. We spotted song and savannah sparrows, a few white-crowned and white-throated sparrows, and even a chipping sparrow.
After breeding, the chipping sparrow loses the bright rusty cap as well as the white stripe over the eye and bold black line through the eye. Instead it sports dull features similar to a clay-colored sparrow, the rare species that we sought. With patience, we met the challenge and saw that rare bird.
Even more important than this success was the news we heard from other birders there. We were told that an owl had been found roosting in the low woody area known as "hellcat." We hurried farther down the island to this place with great anticipation, for this owl was not the great horned owl, or the barred owl, or even the screech owl, all relatively easy to find.
This was the saw-whet owl, a small, quiet owl that hides like a sparrow, sleeping deep in the woods, and hunting there as well. The large parking lot was crammed with cars, but we squeezed in and learned from others the turns in the boardwalk that led to the owl. A few minutes later we approached a group that was peering intently into the low trees and tall brush.
We were welcomed in front and shown where to look, for the owl was well camouflaged, the checkered and striped design of its brown and pale feathers helped it melt into the branches. The saw-whet moved not a feather, enduring our gaze with composure not 10 feet away. Only the half-opened eye betrayed a wary awareness.
This owl breeds in the evergreen forests of the high hills from New England to Canada and even in the Rocky Mountains. In winter it slips south to woodland nearer to humans, but still eludes their eyes. This one granted us a special viewing, one we may never have had before, and might never have again.
Seth Kellogg can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Baked Parmesan Cheese Crisps
Aged Parmesan Cheese, Made Into a Crispy, Indulgent Snack
Baked Parmesan Cheese Crisps
Aged Parmesan Cheese, Made Into a Crispy, Indulgent Snack
They look like crackers, but these golden discs are actually 100% Parmesan cheese that has been baked until crispy and golden. Handmade by a small, family-owned company, they're delicious and nutritious (rich in calcium and protein)—an all-natural crunchy treat worth having! Try as a cracker or crumbled into salads. 3 oz.
- Low-carb, high-protein
- Gluten- and sugar-free
- All natural
Baked Parmesan Cheese Crisps
Safety WarningsIngredients
Not a Kosher food.
Warning: Potential allergen, product contains dairy.
Not a Kosher food.
Aged Parmesan (pasteurized skim milk, cheese cultures, salt,
non-animal rennet).
Shelf Life: 6 Months
|Nutritional Item
|% of Daily
|Serving size: 3 crisps (15g)
|Servings per container: about 6
|Calories: 80
|Calories from fat: 50
|Total fat
|Saturated fat
|Trans fat
|Total Carbohydrate
|Dietary fiber
|Vitamin A
|Vitamin C
|Percentages based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Manufactured In: USA
Material - Country Of Origin: USA
Rated 4.3 out of 5Â by 9 reviewers.
Rated 5 out of 5Â by eggy Really Delicious They didn't last long because I couldn't stop eating them. July 9, 2015
Rated 3 out of 5Â by Mine Oh well The taste of the cheese crisps was not to my liking. But my daughter loved them. They turned out to a nice gift for her. June 30, 2015
Rated 1 out of 5Â by summerwind67 Too Cheesy for Me! I like cheese but these aged parmesan cheese chips were not tasty and left a bitter after taste. It also tasted very salty for my taste buds. I will not order again. June 6, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5Â by schuhshine Great Snack ... and more! I tried these for the first time recently, and I'm already back to order more. These are not your usual salty cheesy snack, but they're very tasty, and the Parmesan is a nice change from cheddar. Another reviewer recommended adding some to soup, so tonight, I tried something different, too. I baked thinly-sliced zucchini in a light Parmesan-based sauce; half-way through baking, I crumbled 6 of these crisps over the top, then returned the dish to the oven to finish. My zucchini side dish was the best part of the meal thanks to the added flavor and slight crunch of the Aged Parmesan Cheese Crisps - love these! January 25, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5Â by Greg, the snack guy Great Cheese Flavor I love these cheese "crackers", great flavor and crunch. Who would have thought that fried cheese would taste so good! Habit forming. May 8, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5Â by Ct party gal Too delicious to last very long in your house My daughter opened the package and ate them all within 5 minutes. I wish I had gotten to try one, she did let me have a bite and it was so good. I am going to order 2 or 3 packs for my next party but I don't think they will last very long they are too good. December 7, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5Â by Kalista Chesse Crisps Wonderful in Hot Soup These crisps can be eaten on their own but are really wonderful in hot soup! I have put them in Tomato Soups, French Onion, Vegtable, etc. March 1, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5Â by Serratia I Get A Kick Out Of Parmesan Crisps! Very, very yummy! Love Parmesan cheese (I'm Italian) anyway, but these are terrific! Can't eat just one. Really enjoy the Parmesan "kick" - strong & tasty! February 26, 2013


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Sam Gustin writes: By signing an aggressive copyright protection bill yesterday, President Bush has handed a victory to the powerful forces that lobbied for its passage: Hollywood, the recording industry, and major media companies currently battling what they see as the scourge of digital piracy.
But how much will the new law, the PRO-IP Act, actually do to combat digital piracy? Is it the silver bullet the music business needs to save an industry that is shrinking by hundreds of millions of dollars per year?
My answers: Not much, and no.
The bill, which triples copyright damages and gives the government the right to seize property used to commit intellectual property theft, e.g. laptops, is at the center of what Larry Lessig, the noted intellectual property lawyer, calls "the copyright wars."
Perhaps most controversially, the bill would also create a new "copyright czar" to oversee the nation's efforts to combat piracy. The Justice Department actually opposed that provision, arguing that a copyright czar would undermine its authority.
Writing on TechCrunch, Eric Schonfeld quipped that the new copyright czar would likely do as much good as the president's drug czar has done in combating narcotics traffic and use.
I agree.
And that's the real problem with these types of authoritarian laws. They further drive black-market activity underground. For nearly a decade the recording industry and law enforcement groups have been waging a series of running battles against illegal music file-sharers. And yet such digital file-sharing remains rampant, by some estimates, ten times as large as the legal online music market.
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text: Home » Posts Tagged "most fun small towns" most fun small towns America's Best Small Towns: The 2013 Winners Laura Kidder 10/8/2013 14 Comments After several weeks of online voting and posting, Rand McNally asked the 30 finalist towns in our 2013 Best of the Road... Read More America's Best Small Towns: Announcing the Finalists! Laura Kidder 09/12/2013 42 Comments Clearly, America is passionate about its small towns! On average each week, more than twice as many people voted for their favorites... Read More Have we woken up in heaven? Hillcrest Manor B+B in Corning, NY Rand McNally 06/20/2012 Comments off I wake in the morning to the sounds not of police sirens and ambulances but to the chirping of birds and the... Read More


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Even people who take pride in being under control in every situation can easily lose control of their vehicles on icy or snow covered roads when they drive too fast for conditions.
"When there's ice, snow and slick spots on roadways or when visibility is reduced because of bad weather, driving at the posted speed limit might actually be too fast for conditions," says Wisconsin State Patrol Captain Nick Scorcio of the Northeast Region-Fond du Lac Post. "The speed limit is based on a dry roadway and good driving conditions. You might not be able to stop or control your vehicle at that speed on a slippery road or during hazardous weather."
Slowing down when driving conditions deteriorate is not just sound advice-it's also the law.
It is illegal to drive at speeds that exceed what is reasonable and prudent under existing road conditions. Drivers are required to adjust their speeds to take into account both the actual and potential hazards due to weather, highway conditions or other traffic.
A violation of this Wisconsin law costs $213.10 with four demerit points added to the driver's record. A second offense within a 12-month period costs $263.50 with four additional points.
"The slogan 'Snow Means Slow' also applies to four-wheel drive and other heavy-duty vehicles, which need ample room to stop on slippery roads," says Captain Scorcio. "It's too late to change your driving behavior after your vehicle is in the ditch or involved in a crash. If you drive too fast for conditions, you likely could end up paying a couple hundred dollars for a traffic ticket in addition to your towing and vehicle repair bills."
To better assist drivers in winter, traffic experts offer the following advice:
- Clear snow and ice from vehicle. To improve visibility, remove all snow and ice from the hood, roof, trunk, turn signals, tail lights and headlights.
- Go slow in the snow. Posted speed limits are set for ideal road and weather conditions. Slow down when visibility and road conditions are impaired.
- Don't brake hard. On ice and snow, use "threshold" or "squeeze" braking when driving a vehicle without anti-lock brakes. Apply the brakes firmly to a point just short of lock-up, then ease off the brake pedal slightly. For vehicles with anti-lock brakes, continuous, firm braking is recommended.
- Anticipate danger. Be ready for ice on bridges, hidden lane markings, stalled cars and poor visibility. Adjust your speed, increase following distance between vehicles.
- Put the lid on skids. Ease off the accelerator and don't lock up the brakes. Carefully steer in the direction you want your vehicle to go and straighten the wheel as soon as the car beings to go in the desired direction.
Experts also urge motorists to prepare their vehicles for the winter season, and know how to react if stranded or lost on the road.
Motorists should always carry an emergency kit in the vehicle, containing a flashlight, flares or reflective triangle, distress sign, telephone change or cell phone, first aid supplies and some basic tools.
Motorist should also monitor dashboard gauges and warning lights. If differences in handling are noticed, have the car checked.