text:
REDLANDS -- On cold nights, citrus growers Jerry and Beth Sanders set their alarm to wake them every hour or two so they can check the thermometer, and, if needed, decide what to do to keep their oranges warm.
Even in Southern California, frosty winter weather can threaten fruit and the health of citrus trees, whether planted in big commercial groves in San Timoteo Canyon and Mentone, family groves like the Sanderses' in the Crafton Hills, or in backyards all over the Redlands area.
Commercial growers use wind machines and high-tech irrigation systems to keep trees safe.
Families growing oranges, lemons, grapefruit and other subtropical fruit at home, especially those with just one or two trees, probably don't have those tools available.
Still, there are some things home growers can do to protect their trees, according to Chuck Hills, grove manager for Larry Jacinto Farming, which operates 600 acres of citrus and avocado in Redlands and Mentone.
Critical temperatures - say, 29 degrees or colder - are not in the forecast for the next couple of days, Hills said, but it's important to keep track of weather trends and be ready.
Home growers give their trees the best protection before they plant them, he said.
Location is key.
Close to the house is best, or near a wall, because structures absorb heat in the daytime and radiate it at night.
He said home growers can also insulate the trunks of their citrus trees with materials such as cardboard or palm fronds, and then wrap the trunks in plastic.
"You start to worry when you see temperatures below 30 degrees," Hills said. "A lot depends on where you are, and what time it is: If it's 29 degrees at 8 o'clock in the evening, it's going to be a long night. If it's 29 degrees at 5:30 in the morning, you're going to be fine."
Hills got his first exposure to protecting orange trees from frost in the 1970s.
A student at Redlands High School, he was part of a 12-man crew that would fire up smudge pots in the groves when the temperature dropped. It was hard, sooty work, and he missed out on some sleep.
"But it was a great way for a kid to earn extra money for Christmas vacation," he said.
Smudge pots worked well for decades, starting early in the last century, but they are not economically practical anymore, Hills said.
"As time went on and fuel oil got more and more expensive, they quit using smudge pots," he said. "Back in the 1960s, they paid 12 cents a gallon for fuel. Now it's more like three dollars."
Wind machines that draw warmer air from the inversion layer are the norm now, he said. They can raise the temperature by several degrees.
But the Sanderses, who for 12 years have lived on and operated a 5-acre grove in the Crafton Hills area, spend a lot of money when they run their wind machine. Powered by an old Ford flathead gasoline engine, it cost them $1,600 to run it during one particularly cold week several years ago.
"It was well worth it, because it saved our crop - and it was a great crop that year," Jerry Sanders said. "Not exactly practical for the backyard grower, though."
Sanders suggests keeping the soil around citrus trees very moist at night. It might seem counter-intuitive, because water freezes at 32 degrees. But that is exactly the point, he said. Once the water freezes, it will not get any colder - so a blanket of ice is good protection. Even so, on cold nights he sets his alarm to wake him for thermometer checks.
"Last night was very cold," he said on Monday. "I was up several times, but it never dropped below 32 degrees."


text:
Bozell asserted Clinton claim on poverty was "comical" -- but Clinton in fact understated the true figures
Research ››› ››› SIMON MALOY
In his September 21 nationally syndicated column, Media Research Center president L. Brent Bozell III criticized ABC host George Stephanopoulos's "cotton candy" interview with President Clinton on the September 18 edition of ABC's This Week, deriding as "too comical to correct" Clinton's claim that his administration "moved 100 times as many people out of poverty in eight years as had been moved out in the previous 12 years." But Clinton's positive record on addressing poverty is, in fact, almost a mirror image of the negative record of the preceding 12 years: The presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush actually saw a dramatic net increase in the number of impoverished Americans, whereas Clinton's presidency witnessed an even more dramatic net decrease.
The number of poor Americans grew by more than 6 million between 1981 and 1992 -- while decreasing by 7.6 million between 1993 and 2000 -- so Clinton's statement was, in fact, a sizable understatement of the difference. If the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations could claim a net decrease of 70,000 people below the poverty level, Clinton would be numerically correct in claiming that his administration had "moved 100 times as many people out of poverty."
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, there were approximately 31,822,000 Americans below the poverty level in 1981, the first year of Reagan's presidency. That number rose sharply to 35,303,000 in 1983, when it began to gradually decrease. In 1990, the numbers began to rise dramatically again, and by 1992, the final year of George H.W. Bush's presidency, the number of Americans below the poverty level had risen to approximately 38,014,000 -- a net increase of 6,192,000. In 1993, when Clinton first assumed office, there were 39,265,000 impovershed Americans. That number decreased every year of Clinton's presidency, and by the end of his second term in 2000 there were 31,581,000 Americans below the poverty level -- a net decrease of 7,684,000.
Bozell concluded his September 21 column by criticizing the media for lobbing softball questions at Clinton, claiming that they offered him "shoeshines" and "backrubs" and that "[t]he public deserves better." But in his June 15 column, Bozell defended Fox News host Neil Cavuto against accusations that he "wasn't tough enough" during a June 8 interview of President Bush. Bozell claimed that Cavuto's interview "was no puff job" and that Cavuto asked "some challenging questions." Among the questions Cavuto asked Bush that Bozell defended were "Do you think you get a bum rap in the media on the economy?" and "Do you ever get mad at your fellow Republicans?"
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Serberus i like where its going, you just need to work on the porportions of your bars. The bottom of the E is a little fucked up, but its an easy fix. Really diggin how the E transfers into the R. Also when you do your piece, do the white glow before you do your outline, it will look alot cleaner.


text:
I'm a little concerned about the recent announcement that filmmaker George Lucas is selling his "Star Wars" franchise to Disney, and that Disney plans to extend the series.
I wonder what "Star Wars" movies made by Disney will be like. I worry about changes at Disneyland.
It won't seem right if Tinker Bell starts using the Force instead of pixie dust. And nobody wants to see Han Solo trade in his Millennium Falcon for a cartoon car with balloon tires and a bulb horn.
Now, I love "Star Wars" and I love Disney, but I always have kept them in separate compartments of my brain. Now I'm supposed to move them into the same compartment? It may be a stretch.
I grew up with Disney, of course. I was enchanted by Disney cartoons, Disney comic books, Disney animated movies. All those stories and characters are precious to me.
I also am a big "Star Wars" fan. In fact, I've been a fan for slightly longer than most people.
I happened to be attending a weekend convention of booksellers in San Francisco in 1977. On the first afternoon, Darth Vader made a sudden live appearance on the convention floor and started walking the aisles. I learned later that he was the actual actor (David Prowse) wearing the actual costume that soon would be seen on movie screens around the world. But he was an unfamiliar character that afternoon. Nobody had seen him before.
He was a striking figure, though, and he created quite a stir.
He posed for a picture with my sister, and I still laugh whenever I see it. The look on her face is somewhere between gleeful and aghast.
During the course of the Darth Vader appearance it was announced that all conventioneers were invited to attend a preview showing that evening of a new movie called "Star Wars." Of course I went, so I was among the packed audience that sat enthralled for the first public screening of the movie.
The instant it was over, everyone jumped to their feet and cheered. I never have seen that happen in a cinema before or since.
The applause continued as a man walked onstage and introduced himself as George Lucas, the movie's director. He was joined on the stage by a couple of other people, and I have no idea who they were, but I'm sure they are very famous now, as is everyone who had anything to do with the making of "Star Wars."
So. Now the whole franchise passes into new hands. Disney's hands. And, like I said, I don't know what to think, or expect.
If Princess Leia appears in future "Star Wars" films, will she move up those hair buns to the top of her head, so they look like Minnie Mouse ears?
Will Luke Skywalker and other Jedi knights fight with pirate swords instead of light sabers?
Will Darth Vader suddenly appear with a peg leg and a hook hand, like Captain Hook in "Peter Pan"?
Will R2-D2 sprout fairy wings and start flying around like Tinker Bell?
Oh, dear.
What if Chewbacca starts sounding even weirder? I mean, what if he starts talking like Donald Duck?
And what if Jar Jar Binks makes a comeback, and this time he not only looks goofy, and he not only acts goofy, but he really is Goofy! You know, Mickey Mouse's pal.
Meanwhile, what's going to happen at Disneyland?
What if the Pirates of the Caribbean ride gets a makeover, and it starts looking like the famous cantina scene in "Star Wars"?
What if the creepy dolls in "It's a Small World" are swapped out for Ewoks, those deranged little teddy bears from "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi"? Talk about creepy!
I think I will be afraid to visit the old Haunted Mansion if it becomes the Haunted Death Star, and instead of ghosts it is filled with Siths!
I won't be able to stand it if the elephants on the Flying Dumbo ride are replaced by big blobby Huts. You know, like Jabba the Hut. Gross!
What if the bears in the Country Bear Jamboree are replaced by Wookies?
And, worst of all, what if Yoda, the little philosophical fellow in the "Star Wars" movies, joins the cast of Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"? What if his new name is Thinky!
That's right. Dopey, Sleepy, Sneezy, Thinky ...
Read more John Weeks at http://sbsun.com/johnweeks.
Contact him by email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=0/3, Sex=0/3, Mature Content=0/3. Santas Xmas Dash is back and better than before! Help Santa deliver the presents, with all the great features of the first game plus a new multiplayer race mode and single player 60 second dash. With added support for the thumbstick and left/right triggers its more challenging than it ever was. Watch as events scroll on from the left giving you time to prepare for each event.
Buy Xbox content on Xbox.com. Your Xbox 360 console will automatically download the content next time you turn it on and connect to Xbox Live.Learn More
Click to create and send a link using your email application
Click to create and send a link using your email application


text:
"New Thrasher online now"
Route One has a massive range of Skateboard products across decks, trucks, wheels and everything inbetween. With brands such as Palace, Enjoi, Girl, Polar, Bones Bearings, Spitfire Wheels, Independent Trucks and many more, your perfect set-up is just a few clicks away.
£129.95 £129.95£129.95 to £129.95
£129.95 £129.95£129.95 to £129.95
Lines open Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5pm
© 2017 Route One Retail Ltd. All Rights Reserved.


text: OverviewBack to top Healthy Steps - Cereal Scoop Healthy Portion Serving Item# :120608UPC# :032368100658 Brand:Healthy Steps Ship Weight:0.05 Healthy Steps - Cereal Scoop Healthy Portion Serving (1 serving = 1 cup) The Cereal Scoop measures one serving of any ready-to-eat cereal. even better, store the scoop right in the cereal box so you always have it on hand for the perfect portion ever time. With Healthy Steps Cereal Scoop Measure One Serving Every time!: No Counting No Weighing No Hassle Healthy Hints: Breakfast eaters tend to weigh less than those who forgo the most important meal of the day Ready-to-eat cereals are associated with lower BMIs for women who eat them Portion Control Made PracticalBeing healthy is a constant struggle for many Americans today. The obesity rate is soaring at an alarming rate and every day it seems a new fad diet is introduced. The quest for the "miracle cure" is never-ending and as we are each bombarded with the debate over good carbs, bad carbs, more protein, less protein it's no wonder so many of us are confused about what we should each do personally in our own lives to be healthier. Healthy Steps is not a program you have to follow, it is not a deprivation plan - in fact it isn't a plan at all. Healthy Steps is a line of kitchen products designed to help you prepare properly portioned foods at home and gives you the tools necessary to enjoy the foods you currently eat in a more healthy manner. We understand that today's family is a busy family and so our kitchen products are aimed at saving you time in the kitchen as well. The internet is full of information for living a more healthy lifestyle. Knowing which ones are legit can be tricky. This is why we at Healthy Steps have put together a list of resources for you to use to help navigate you thru the information superhighway of health. Please visit our Healthy Links tab below for some of our favorite sites. Your success in being healthy is important to us. In addition to our line of kitchen products we are pleased to offer resources of healthy recipes on our website. Here you can find anything from simple salads to entire meals. If you have a recipe you'd like to submit please click on the recipes tab above. We would love to hear what you are preparing at home for yourself and your family. On behalf of Healthy Steps , welcome to a new way of thinking, welcome to the first step to a healthier lifestyle. Why is "portion control" so important, and what is a "portion" anyway?The size of a "normal portion" has been steadily increasing in the United States. The food industry wants us to eat bigger amounts so that they can sell us more food. If you compare the size of plates and the amount that was put on them at mealtimes in the 1950s to what we are served now, it is amazing to see the changes. One of the keys to successful management of your weight and of your diabetes is to be conscious of how much you are eating from day to day. Dietitians can be very helpful in coaching you on how to do this. Some of them use a technique called the "Idaho Plate Method." Another simple approach is to use your own hands as a guide. A healthy portion of meat for you to eat at a meal is a piece that is the size of the palm of your hand. A medium potato or apple is about the size of your closed fist. Obviously bigger people tend to have bigger hands and fists, but since they probably need bigger portions, then this simple approach usually helps quite a bit. About Healthy Steps ThenJokari, founded in 1974, was the exclusive marketer of a patented paddle ball game called Jokari. Jokari was a simple toy constructed of a rubber ball attached by a long elastic band to a wooden paddle. The toy quickly gained worldwide popularity over the traditional string paddle ball games and a successful company was born. Eager to capitalize on the obvious appeal of unique items, other patented products quickly emerged including the Fizz-Keeper, a product still sold today, which was designed to preserve opened bottles of soft drinks for weeks by pumping air into the bottle thereby inhibiting carbonation to escape. Through this type of innovation, Jokari grew itself into a popular kitchen gadget, home storage and organization company with an entire line of exclusive products, most with patents. And NowOver the past 30 years Jokari has developed a proven line of products for the home. Since 1974 Jokari has taken great pride in being a leader in the design of innovative products to consumers around the world. And they have always had one goal in mind…providing practical and simple household solutions that ultimately make life easier During the 2010 International Housewares Show Jokari is proud to showcase 30 new products! Jokari's latest line, Healthy Steps, helps consumers eat healthier by providing tools that assist in portion control without the hassle of weighing foods or counting calories while encouraging the consumption of healthy recipes. They are constantly experimenting with new and different products to meet the changing needs of the marketplace. This year alone they have introduced several exciting products that they think you will find useful, from organizing your kitchen and bath to making food prep easier. Jokari products are sold in over 20 countries around the world and though you may not be familiar with the Jokari name, you are most likely familiar with the product.


text:
Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku
Eugene Yelchin
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Won Ton is a shelter cat who is pretty skeptical of his new home and family. Like most cats, he pretends not to care about any of the new toys or food his adoptive family gives him... but sneaks just a peek. A cute story told in perfect haiku that everyone will enjoy.
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text:
robert m. gurney, aia, architect, alexandria, va.
Architect Bob Gurney's clients may have a penchant for Modern architecture, but a series of angular, all-white spaces were not what they had in mind for this row-house renovation. "The husband works in a rectangular government office building and said he didn't want to come home to these rooms stacked on top of one another," Gurney recalls. Fortunately, the clients were also an architecturally adventurous couple who granted him all the artistic freedom he needed to create something "out of the box."
Gurney offset the narrow, in-line footprint with sweeping curves and dramatic diagonals that overlap and rotate around a central point. An urbane mix of materials--including concrete, steel, block aluminum, copper, limestone, Kalwall, and clear and sandblasted glass--plays off the strong shapes to create an environment that's rich in color, pattern, and texture. "They wanted a Modern house but didn't want it to be a temple to Sheetrock," Gurney explains. "We wanted to show that you can do a Modern house that's warm and inviting." The judges agreed that he succeeded, calling the project "amazing."
project architect: Robert M. Gurney, AIA, Robert M. Gurney, AIA, Architect
general contractor: Withheld
interior designer: Therese Baron Gurney, Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Washington, D.C.
project size: 4,000 square feet
site size: .09 acre
construction cost: $140 per square foot
photographer: Paul Warchol Photography


text:
You are here
Air Fatalities
Monthly data, not seasonally adjusted
Improved safety is the foremost goal of the United States Department of Transportation. The Federal Aviation Administration regulates safety, and the National Transportation Safety Board (independent of the U.S. DOT) leads accident investigations.
The number of air fatalities has decreased. There were 581 fatalities in general aviation in 2002, and 436 in 2012. Mass fatalities for air carriers and air taxis have become rarer, and there have been no more than 50 fatalities in any single accident since November 2001. In contrast, from 1991 to 2000, there were six accidents involving more than 50 fatalities.
|Air Fatalities
|General Aviation Fatalities
|Percent change from same month previous year
|- 15.0%
|+ 26.5%
|Air Carrier and Air Taxi (FAR Parts 121 and 135) Fatalities
NOTES: General Aviation data for September 2006 excludes 154 persons killed aboard a foreign-registered aircraft operated by Gol Airlines in a collision with a U.S.-registered general aviation aircraft over Brazil. This incident is otherwise recorded as 154 fatalities for U.S. general aviation in the source database.
General Aviation excludes FAR Part 121, 129, and 135 operations, as well as "Non-U.S., Commercial" (NUSC) and "Public Use" (PUBU). Air Carriers are Part 121, and Air Taxis are Part 135.
SOURCE: National Transportation Safety Board, Aviation: Accident Database & Synopses, available at http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/index.aspx as of December 2013.


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The Ensemble™ 32" whirlpool bath made of solid Vikrell® material, is the ultimate hydromassage experience. The narrow design is great for tight spaces.
- Slightly narrower for tighter spaces
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- Made from solid Vikrell material for strength, durability, and lasting beauty
- Durable high-gloss finish provides a smooth, shiny surface that is easy to clean
- Eight Whirlpool Jets with an adjustable flow control to achieve the desired level of customized performance
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text:
If you love Downton Abbey, read this!
Can't get enough of Downton Abbey? These novels will keep you satisfied until the next episode:
Life Class by Pat Barker
The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
Losing Julia by Jonathan Hull
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text:
R. Todd Bradley
Adjunct Professor of World Missions and Intercultural Studies, Adjunct Professor of Educational Ministries and Leadership
BA,Texas A&M University, 1977; MA, Army Command and General Staff College, 1991; MAR, Liberty University, 1992; DMiss, Western Seminary, 2005.
Todd Bradley has served at Criswell College as Associate Professor of Missions & Christian Leadership and Coordinator of the Missions Practicum Program. He served previously as Associate Academic Dean of the National Defense Intelligence College. He is a retired USAF colonel with 29 years of service involving analysis of and interaction with cultures in the Middle East and Europe. Dr. Bradley holds a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, a Master of Arts in Religion from Liberty University, and a Doctor of Missiology from Western Seminary. He and his wife, Pam, live in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and have two sons.
- WM345 - Ministry in Jewish Contexts
- WM520 - A Biblical Theology of Missions
- WM101 - Intro to World Missions
- WM205 - Cultural Dynamics in Ministry
- WM210 - Intercultural Communication
- WM330 - Ministry in Muslim Contexts
Academic Interests
- Jewish Ministry
- Muslim Ministry
- Middle East History
- Christian Leadership


text:
Hi there,
I'm pretty noob, and try as I may I cannot fathom how to get my form to give an error message if the telephone or email is not filled in. I only need one of them to be filled in, i.e. it's a contact form, I need to be able to respond somehow.
I can make it do an error for each individually, but not either or. I was trying to use an OR statement. || but I couldn't make it work
Your suggestions are invaluable.
Cheers in advance,Eoin
p.s. what is a trackback?
Give the form a unique identifier, and attach an onsubmit event to the form.
<form id="userDetails">
<script src="script.js"></script>
var form = document.getElementById('userDetails');
form.onsubmit = function () {
In the onsubmit function, check that either the telephone is entered, or the email is entered.
form.onsubmit = function () {
var form = this,
telephone = form.elements.telephone,
email = form.elements.email;
if (telephone.value || email.value) {
// at least one is okay, no action needed
} else {
alert('Please provide either a telephone number or an email address.');
return false;
Or, you can invert the if condition like this:
if (!(telephone.value || email.value)) {
alert('Please provide either a telephone number or an email address.');
return false;
Or, you can invert the terms in the if condition:
if (!telephone.value && !email.value) {
alert('Please provide either a telephone number or an email address.');
return false;
All three do the same job, but there should only be one of them that gives you a better understanding of what the code is wanting to achieve.
When you click on it you go to an info page that explains exactly what it does.
Thank you oh mighty Javascript Guru. I like your "Ham is to Hamster" quote
I am still struggling.
Because I want to use email validation too, I have been working with the validation plugin for Jquery.
So I tried to adapt your script as follows:
var form = document.getElementById('#homepage_enquiry');
form.onsubmit = function () {
var form = this,
tel = form.elements.tel,
email = form.elements.email;
if (tel.value || !email.value) {
// at least one is okay, no action needed
if (!tel.value || email.value) {
rules: {
email: {required: true, email: true},
else {
alert('Please provide either a telephone number or an email address.');
return false;
It doesn't seem to validate at all any more. It's really frustrating and I haven't even started trying to get the error messages in the right place yet!
Using the jQuery validation means that a completely different solution is available for you.You can use a dependency expression
rules: {
email: {required: '#telephone: blank'}
So that the email will only be required if the telephone is blank.
You can do similar with the telephone rule too.
Ah thank you sweet Guru of the South, I am still struggling though. I have now come up with:
//New Validation
rules: {
name: {required: true},
enquirytb: {required: true},
email: {required: '#tel: blank', email: true, required: true},
tel: {required: '#email: blank', required: true}
success: function(label) {
$('#homepage_enquiry :input').blur(function(){}).valid();
As you can see it's supposed to be rather simple. You need to tell me your name, you need to enter an enquiry, and you need to enter either an email or a telephone number. Presently it requests both things.
If I remove the "required: true" from both the tel/email it requests neither, although gets upset if I don't put in a correct email address.
Argghhh the sooner they invent knowledge transfers from one brain to another the happier I'll be In case that's tomorrow please remember me calling shotgun on your brain "SHOTGUN".
Look at these:
email: {required: '#tel: blank', email: true, required: true},
tel: {required: '#email: blank', required: true}
You only need the one required there. The second required part on each line is clobbering the first one, so get rid of that second one.
I did try that, but then as I say it wasn't validating at all, except if I filled in the email address then it would demand a correct email address (and I didn't very much care for it's manners lol).
essentially if I left both form fields blank it didn't require any validation for those parts
Do you have a sample page so that I may experiment locally and craft together a working solution?
Ok mighty Guru, I hath returned with a sample page which can be found here:Rather Testing Form
Sorry I took so long, it's a crazy life I lead.
Forget the daft layout of the form that's the least of my worries that sort of stuff I can happily muddle along with and end up working out how to do it. And ignore the fact that the errors get in the way. I'm sure I'll bother someone about solving that problem in due time (small steps for little feet).
What I need to really achieve is email and/or telephone needs to be filled in. As you can see I have managed to ensure that name and enquiry fields are required (which is why I've not replied for so long I've spent much of the time patting myself on the back).
After that I'm going to deal with the recapcha business which you may notice I've got half way installed.
Anyway here's my testing process so far:Fill in name and enquiry, submit, it all seems to work. Yet no phone/email was filled in.Fill in nothing it won't submit. That's good.Fill in Name, Enquiry, Phone and it submits, that's fineFill in Name, Enquiry, and an Incorrect email address and it won't submit (good)Fill in name, enquiry and a correct email address and it works (fine).
I know it's not the best form in the world and if that hampers you then feel free to fire abuse my way and I will change it to be more suitable (or try) so that it's easier to work with.
Many thanks for taking the time to help me, one day when I'm a mighty Guru I hope to remember the favour and help back.
Here's what you currently have for the tel and email validation rules:
email: {required: '#tel: blank', email: true},
tel: {required: '#email: blank'}
The space before the blank needs to be removed, and that email:true part shouldn't be there either.
Hold up. I've tried that, it works better now I think, but there's still the issue of the "OR" function.
It seems to require both of them. Or is it something that I've done? It seems to be that once the error message is there it doesn't go away again.
In fact it does seem to go away if I tab between boxes but not if I click. I've used the "onblur" validate function, but I'm guessing that's not the only thing I need to do. Do I use !onfocus?
and I do need the email:true bit because that makes sure it's a proper email address.
actually if telephone and email are both empty it needs to have an error message saying "you need to enter an email address or telephone number" rather than demanding that both fields are required.
wooo hoooo I made it workkkkk. Thanks for all your help Guru, you're amazing, and I'm glad you took the time to give me your input. Mucho Gracias


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Broom racing is a competition between witches and wizards which can involve many competitors, and can be made into an event with millions of spectators. It involves a start-point, an end-point and a broomstick.
In 1754 a broom-race was set up by a wizard named Torquil McTavish who challenged his bitter rival Silvio Astolfi who agreed. The broom-race was due to start in Aberdeen and end in Colosseum, in Rome. During the race lots of spectators, favourers of both McTavish and Astolfi gathered in Colosseum. Somehow McTavish had a hex that turned his knee-caps the wrong way cast upon him. The spectators was so excited that they somehow damaged Colosseum and the explosions woke up thousands of Muggles. It is unknown who won the broom-race however when the Muggles arrived they saw some people trying to catch a Chicken, which was actually a hexed Astolfi that they tried to calm down. The damages to Colosseum had been repaired by witch Orabella Nuttley who had invented a spell called the Mending Charm.[1]


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Courtesy: -
The Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields help provide Nebraska with the most complete practice facilities in the nation for football. The Gass Practice Fields give the Huskers two full-size grass fields located in between NU's two indoor practice facilities - the Hawks Championship Center and Cook Pavilion.
Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields


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Safe Smart Dating, which bills itself as the first national program on dating abuse for the Greek community on college campuses, was recently honored for its positive influence.
One in five.
That's how many women reported experiencing some form of sexual assault in their lifetime, according to a highly publicized study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This and other staggering statistics surrounding the prevalence, ambiguity and underreporting of these incidents compelled Jewish Women International to come up with a way to bring male and female college students together to discuss and define sexual violence.
The resulting Safe Smart Dating program, which piloted at the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, won a national Laurel Wreath award this month for positive influence in the fraternal world.
The recognition comes as the Obama administration works to increase awareness of the issue through a new public service announcement and a White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault. In April, the task force issued its first report, which outlines how to identify, prevent and respond to the high rates of sexual assault on campuses nationwide.
With all this attention, "the stakes are getting higher, and there's more pressure on campuses to do the right thing," said Deborah Rosenbloom, vice president of programs and new initiatives at Jewish Women International, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting and empowering women.
JWI hails Safe Smart Dating as the first national program on dating abuse and sexual assault for the Greek community on college campuses. Created in partnership with sorority Sigma Delta Tau and fraternity Zeta Beta Tau, both of which are historically Jewish, the program launched first at Penn, then at George Washington University and Purdue University.
Penn's reputation for thoughtful, engaged students and vibrant Greek life made it an ideal pilot location, said Dana Fleitman, the manager of prevention and training programs at JWI who helped facilitate the inaugural session in October.
The curriculum stresses the importance of engaging men as allies to end violence against women and change the culture on campus. To that end, both a male and a female facilitator present the material while members from the fraternity and sorority lead smaller group discussions. The goal is to encourage students to think critically about what consent means through interactive activities, Fleitman said.
"Students want to talk about sex and relationships in a safe space with their peers," she said.
The biggest challenge is the ambiguity surrounding what crosses the line, said Brooke Edelman, a rising junior at Penn. As a board member and designated risk manager of the school's SDT chapter, Edelman signed up for a webinar training to lead one of the small groups of students in discussions during the two-hour program.
Edelman said she thought the co-ed aspect of the program increased its impact, and it succeeded in teaching students what to do if they know someone who has been a victim of sexual assault. But, she continued, it was when she and her friends got back to their house that the real discussions began about how the content applied to them and how they would handle a variety of real-life situations. However, when asked about personal connections with victims of sexual violence, Edelman declined to give specifics because of the sensitivity involved.
Laurence Bolotin, executive director of ZBT, said that while there was nothing explicitly Jewish about the curriculum, it was important to partner with other Jewish organizations to raise students' awareness of these issues. The fraternity wants to teach its members what healthy relationships look like, he said, whether romantic or platonic.
In addition to encouraging dialogue on college campuses, the program joins a growing number of governmental and non-governmental agencies aiming to raise awareness about the underreporting of sexual assaults.
Victims often choose not to report these crimes, Rosenbloom said, leading to a discrepancy between the CDC report and far lower figures that universities are required to release under the Clery Act of 1991. For example, in 2012, Penn reported 16 sexual assaults and Temple reported only three. Rosenbloom identified many barriers to reporting, including victims' concerns that the response from campus officials or law enforcement would be inadequate or fears that they would face retribution from their perpetrators.
Locally, Swarthmore College and Temple University are both under investigation for possible violations in handling reports of sexual violence and harassment, along with 55 other universities including Penn State, Princeton and Franklin & Marshall.
Rosenbloom is optimistic that once students have the tools to be effective bystanders, they can also become advocates on their campuses. Now that the pilot is done, her organization is looking to revise and then expand the program, focusing on schools that have SDT and ZBT chapters.
"We're at the very beginning stages," she said. "We're hopeful."
Added Fleitman, "One program can't fix everything, but let's start the conversation. Let's think in a structured way about what makes a healthy relationship."


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October 15, 2012 at 06:57:38 Oct 15, 2012 @ 06:57
New to the forum, moved to LA about 4 months back, been really inspired by the streetwear culture out here and have recently been fucking around in illustrator trying to come up with some half way decent designs. This shirt would ideally be either a hoodie or crewneck and I think Id do the base color in either the pink shown or a mint green. Its very basic but I think it's a cool concept, let me know how you feel about it.


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CHINO - Kealoha's celebrating its first anniversary next weekend with a comedy show.
Get ready to laugh with Mel Austin, Bruce Jingles, Mike Muratore and Don Hefty.
Fun and laughter starts at 9 p.m. March 15 followed by a live DJ and dancing at 12206 Central Ave., Chino.
There's no cover charge for Mel Austin's Comedy Show.
Information: 909-590-0604.


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GSA Leaders Hail Recovery Act Progress
Video Length: 2 minute 4 seconds
On the heels of a Department of Labor announcement citing five straight months of job growth, GSA leaders and elected officials joined with businesses and workers in four cities on June 4, 2010, to showcase the progress made in creating jobs and improving local economic conditions through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Administrator Martha Johnson joined U.S. Rep. André Carson, local elected officials, businesses, and workers at the Maj. Gen. Emmett J. Bean Federal Center in Indianapolis to discuss economic and job impacts spurred by the Recovery Act in the area.
"Today we received some encouraging news. In the last month, our economy has created over half a million new jobs. This is the fifth straight month of job growth and a signal that our economy is roaring back to life," said Johnson. "Although a little over 400,000 of these jobs are temporary, census-related positions, the fact remains that they are providing Americans with livelihoods and paychecks, and are a needed relief from the anxiety of unemployment. And, longer-term jobs have been created to help handle and manage the new inflow of federal workers; the U.S. General Services Administration has stepped up to the plate, and we negotiated the office leases to house those new workers."
Indiana has been awarded more than $7.5 billion in Recovery Act funds, and $4.7 billion of that has already been spent.
"I can think of no better place to survey the Recovery Act's progress than the Maj. Gen. Emmett J. Bean Center, the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, and the Minton-Capehart Federal Building, and I am honored to stand with the hard-working Hoosiers who are rebuilding our economy and our confidence in America's future," Johnson added.
Public Buildings Commissioner Bob Peck joined Jackson, Miss., Mayor Harvey Johnson at a similar event at the McCoy Federal Building in Jackson, while Southwest Regional Administrator J.D. Salinas and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett surveyed the progress of the new U.S. courthouse being built in Austin, Texas. Sen. Daniel Inouye joined Pacific Rim Acting Regional Administrator Jeff Neely in Honolulu, Hawaii, at the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse.
GSA is investing $5.5 billion under the Recovery Act to convert and build energy-efficient federal buildings, courthouses, and land ports of entry nationwide. These projects will deliver lasting progress toward modernizing the nation's infrastructure, reducing the federal government's consumption of energy and water, and increasing use of clean and renewable sources of energy.
Download above video: mp4 (3.66MB) | mp3 (2.06MB)


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democracy, despite some all-too-familiar exceptions, is on the march.
They fascinate and annoy middle-class Indians; they preserve Indian democracy—and show us its fundamental limitations.
Other Libyans express confidence that democracy will prevail.
Another Likud cabinet minister, Michael Eitan, called the deal a "threat to Israeli democracy."
AIPAC sometimes talks the language of democracy and human rights.
Friends and fellow citizens, we must make the world free for democracy.
We "believe in" democracy, as we have been brought up in it, or we do not.
In all lands it was hailed as the end of despotism and the triumph of democracy and freedom.
The abuses of democracy in the cities took away all the joy of success.
That at least is the only kind of unity that offers hope finally of making a world safe with democracy in it.
1570s, from Middle French démocratie (14c.), from Medieval Latin democratia (13c.), from Greek demokratia "popular government," from demos "common people," originally "district" (see demotic), + kratos "rule, strength" (see -cracy).
Democracy implies that the man must take the responsibility for choosing his rulers and representatives, and for the maintenance of his own 'rights' against the possible and probable encroachments of the government which he has sanctioned to act for him in public matters. [Ezra Pound, "ABC of Economics," 1933]
A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.
Note: Democratic institutions, such as parliaments, may exist in a monarchy. Such constitutional monarchies as Britain, Canada, and Sweden are generally counted as democracies in practice.


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Provo • BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae has said several times this spring that the offense he is installing will move so fast that three or four running backs will be required to ensure there's a fresh ball-carrier in the game at all times.
That's music to the ears of Adam Hine.
Hine is the forgotten man in the BYU backfield, after Mike Alisa emerged in 2011 and freshman Jamaal Williams stepped to the forefront last year when Alisa broke his arm in the fifth game. After redshirting in 2011 upon completing a mission to Panama, Hine barely played in 2012 due to a patellar ligament strain.
"It was frustrating," said the sophomore from St. George. "I had a little nagging injury that didn't allow me to try my hardest. Now I can give a lot more effort without having to worry about that little injury I had."
Midway through spring camp, Hine has arguably been the biggest surprise among the offensive players, showing well whenever he's been called on to carry the ball, or catch it out of the backfield.
"Adam has a multiple role," Anae said. "As a running back, he does all sorts of things. We are looking at him being a versatile, well-rounded back. So blocking, running, receiving the ball, the whole thing."
Hine, who was known as Adam Timo when he played quarterback for Snow Canyon High and was recruited by BYU as an all-around athlete, says he currently weighs 205 pounds and wants to put on five to 10 more pounds before fall camp starts in August.
"With the new offense, I think we are going to have quite a few running backs, running around a lot," Hine said. "I am one of the guys who are going to give it their best shot, see what happens. I am ready for whatever role they want me to play."
Friday, coach Bronco Mendenhall even mentioned how well Hine is performing in camp, without prompting.
"I really, really like the combination of Adam Hine and Jamaal Williams in the backfield," Mendenhall said.
Quarterback update
Mendenhall said through three weeks of camp that Taysom Hill has separated himself in the starting quarterback race, "not necessarily by performance, but probably more by leadership."
However, the coach said Hill and sophomore Ammon Olsen "right now are fairly close in terms of production."
Mendenhall reiterated that "the ideal" would be to name a starter at the end of spring camp on April 5.
"I think [two weeks] will be enough time, but I don't want to be on record yet saying that will happen," he said.
More than 200 high school football coaches attended a daylong coaching clinic at BYU on Friday, from 10 different states, including faraway places such as Florida, Texas and Ohio. ... San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh was in Provo for a corporate speaking engagement on Friday, and swung by the BYU football complex to meet up with Hill, who originally committed to Harbaugh when he was the head coach at Stanford. "He had remembered me, looked me up, and wanted to see me," Hill said. "We still have a great relationship. ... It is a relationship that will last from here on out." Hill said his transferring to BYU "did come up" in the conversation, but that "he didn't blame me for the things that happened" that caused Hill to leave Palo Alto.
Twitter: @drewjay


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E. Stanley O'Neal
Mike Mergen
News about E. Stanley O'Neal, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
Highlights From the Archives
Risk-Taker's Reign at Merrill Ends With Swift Fall
E. Stanley O'Neal is expected to resign as early as Monday as chairman and chief executive of Merrill Lynch.October 29, 2007 businessNews
The Incredible Shrinking Investment Bank
Once Wall Street stalwarts, the future of Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley are now being questioned - a sign of the broad changes in the financial landscape in recent years.October 17, 2004 businessNews
Money and Business/Financial Desk
Poised to Take Merrill by the Horns
E. Stanley O'Neal could cinch the chance to succeed David H. Komansky, Merrill's popular chief and chairman. No major firm on Wall Street has ever had a black chief executive.October 29, 2000 businessNews
Where the Players Landed
One year after the financial crisis, some of the most famous names on Wall Street are still looking for jobs or fighting lawsuits.
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Alice Cooper to attend documentary's Toronto premiere on Monday
Listen to Alice Cooper on iHeartRadio
Alice Cooper says there are "some very uncomfortable moments" for him in his new biographical documentary. But the legendary shock rocker tells the Toronto Star it's because "Super Duper Alice Cooper" is real, and tells the true story of his life and career. He adds that he's proud the filmmakers "didn't edit out anything" that would make him "look bad."
Cooper is taking his "doc opera" north of the border for the Canadian premiere at Toronto's Hot Docs festival Monday night. Alice will be on hand for the event, and participate in a Q-and-A session following the presentation.
Super Duper Alice Cooper had its world premiere earlier this month at New York's Tribeca Film Festival. The movie also had an industry screening last week in Los Angeles.
Details on U.S. theater showings, which begin Wednesday, are available at SuperDuperAliceCooper.com.
Photo Credit Getty Images


text: Office 365 is in a class by itself. More than merely a different way of licensing, it's a different way of deploying and consuming technologies. As the first cloud-enabled productivity stack of its kind, best practice for deployment is still evolving. If you're thinking about Microsoft Office 365, we recommend that you start with our Online Readiness Assessment.


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Monday Morning Quarterback: The Good, The Bad Of Week 2
The Good
The Bad
New England PatriotsNew York Jets
Not much to report in this category other than that Tom Brady threw a 39-yard TD pass to Aaron Dobson on the Pats' first possession of the game. That gave the Pats their only touchdown.
Brady completed 19-of-39 passes and was not in sync with his receivers. Jets quarterback Geno Smith threw three interceptions against the Pats and was not ready for this prime-time game.
Atlanta FalconsSt. Louis Rams
Excellent game for both quarterbacks as Matt Ryan threw for 374 yards and two touchdowns and he did not have an interception. Sam Bradford was in comeback mode since the Rams fell behind early and he responded with a 352-yard, 3-TD effort.
It wasn't necessarily Bradford's fault, but the Rams got off to a slow start and fell behind big. He needed a faster start if the Rams were going to win.
Baltimore RavensCleveland Browns
It wasn't a stellar game for Joe Flacco, but he rallied the Ravens and they avoided the embarrassment of losing to the Browns at home. Flacco threw for 211 yards and a touchdown and he did not throw an interception.
Brandon Weeden is carrying a big burden on his shoulders as he is trying to lead a team that lacks sufficient talent. He threw for 227 yards and avoided throwing an interception, but he could not lead the Browns into the endzone. Weeden injured his hand when he hit a helmet while following through.
Buffalo BillsCarolina Panthers
It was a thrilling moment and E.J. Manuel took advantage. With the final seconds dwindling off the clock and the Bills down by six points, the rookie quarterback saw ace receiver Stevie Johnson break wide open in the endzone. Manuel tossed him the game-winning touchdown pass and the Bills had their first win under head coach Doug Marrone.
The Panthers were the better team, but they don't take advantage of their opportunities. Cam Newton threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns, but he couldn't lead his team to victory.
Chicago BearsMinnesota Vikings
Jay Cutler led the Bears to a fourth-quarter, come-from-behind victory for the second week in a row. He took advantage of Minnesota's loose coverage to hit Martellus Bennett with the game-winning touchdown. Cutler threw for 290 yards, but he did throw two interceptions.
Christian Ponder appears to be in over his head against most NFL defenses. He lacks velocity, footwork, accuracy and confidence. He threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Tim Jennings.
Green Bay PackersWashington Redskins
Aaron Rodgers was sensational against the Redskins' ill-prepared defense. He threw for 480 yards and four TDs, and you got the feeling that he could have thrown two or three more if he had wanted to press the issue.
RGIII is not the same kind of quarterback he was as a rookie. He lacks the quickness and burst that he had, and his team has fallen behind by huge margins two weeks in a row. He had respectable numbers – he threw for 320 yards and three TDs – but he is nowhere near his best.
Houston TexansTennessee Titans
It was not his best game, but Matt Schaub led the Texans to a home victory by throwing a TD pass in overtime. Schaub was sharp when he needed to be, throwing for 298 yards and three touchdowns.
Jake Locker is making significant progress and nearly led the Titans to an upset over a very good Houston team. Locker threw two TD passes and did not throw an interception, but he had just 148 passing yards and that wasn't enough.
Miami DolphinsIndianapolis Colts
Don't look now, but the Miami Dolphins are becoming a legitimate threat in the AFC East. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill continues to make progress as he sliced the Indianapolis defense for 319 yards and he gave the Dolphins control of the game.
The numbers say that Andrew Luck threw for 321 yards, but it took him 43 passes to do it. The Colts need to unleash Luck and have him make more deep throws early to stretch opposing defenses.
Kansas City ChiefsDallas Cowboys
This game saw solid play from both quarterbacks as Alex Smith led the Chiefs to a win in his home debut and Tony Romo did not turn the ball over. Smith threw two TD passes while Romo threw for 298 yards.
The Cowboys did not finish off enough drives. While Romo threw a first-half TD pass to Dez Bryant, the Cowboys had to settle for three field goals and much of that is on the Cowboys' quarterback.
San Diego ChargersPhiladelphia Eagles
One of the best wins in recent years for the Chargers, as they flew East after a devastating home Monday night loss to pick up a come-from behind win. Philip Rivers was sensational, throwing for 419 yards and three TDs. Michael Vick was also brilliant for the Eagles, throwing for 428 yards and two touchdowns.
The Eagles will feel bad that they couldn't come through with a victory in their home opener, but it's hard to fault either quarterback in this game.
Arizona CardinalsDetroit Lions
The Cardinals have to feel good about Carson Palmer. After he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the third quarter, Palmer steadied himself and led the Cardinals to a come-from-behind victory in the fourth quarter.
Matthew Stafford has a big arm and regularly throws for big numbers. He passed for 278 yards and two TDs in this game, but the Lions' offense was dormant in the fourth quarter when the Lions needed points and possession of the ball.
New Orleans SaintsTampa Bay Buccaneers
Drew Brees was not great, but he was good enough to lead the Saints to a road win. Brees threw for 322 yards, and his completions on the game's final drive led to the game-winning field goal by Garrett Hartley.
It's getting late for Josh Freeman. While he is a physically gifted player who looks the part of a brilliant athlete, Freeman makes too many mistakes and seems to repeat them. He threw an interception and lost a fumble in this game.
Denver BroncosNew York Giants
Score this version of the Manning Bowl to big brother Peyton. While the Broncos were held off the scoreboard early, he patiently waited for his opportunity and threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns as the Broncos rolled to the big road victory.
The Giants have plenty of problems and that is putting increased pressure on Eli Manning. He threw four interceptions and he is struggling with his reads and decision making.
Oakland RaidersJacksonville Jaguars
Terrelle Pryor served notice in the opener that he could get the job done and he built off that performance to help lead the Raiders to a win in Week Two. Pryor threw for just 126 yards, but he did not throw an interception. He also ran for 50 yards.
Chad Henne threw for 241 yards, but the Jacksonville offense couldn't mount a serious threat until the game was out of hand.
Seattle SeahawksSan Francisco 49ers
This was not a great game for the quarterbacks, but Russell Wilson did a much better job handling San Francisco's pressure than Colin Kaepernick did against Seattle's hard-charging defense.
Kaepernick was completely perplexed by the Seahawks' pass rush and coverage schemes. It seems unlikely that either quarterback will perform like this the rest of the season.


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In baseball the first week of December can be overwhelming for anyone. Rumors are flying, prospects are moving, and you keep your fingers crossed that your club comes away from the Winter Meetings with that prized player everyone is talking about. Let's address the Seattle Mariners first week of December, fact or fiction style:
Fact: Mariners signed Jason Bay, 34, to a 1-yr, $500,000 guaranteed deal.
Jason Bay is officially the byproduct of the Seattle Mariners 2012 Winter Meetings. Bet you didn't see that coming when the rumors started flying around Nashville. But don't be so quick to look down on his acquisition; it is nearly risk free for Seattle. The former slugger is guaranteed $500,000 under the terms of the deal, earning an additional $500,000 if he breaks camp with the team out of Spring Training. There are an additional $2 million in incentives to be earned which one has to believe, if reached, means his production vs. money earned still puts Seattle out in front.
Four years ago the Gonzaga graduate was one of the top players in baseball, establishing career highs in home runs (36) and runs batted in (119) with the Boston Red Sox in 2009. After a lackluster stint with the New York Mets came to an end this off-season the veteran slugger retains a lifetime 122 OPS+. His time in Citi Field has been reported as an 'unhappy alliance'. Bay was injured for parts of all three seasons he spent in New York; suffering a concussion in 2010 and battling rib injuries throughout his final two seasons. The Mets exercised their $3 million dollar team option this off-season, releasing him into free agency.
Of his character former Gonzaga University head coach, Steve Hertz, said, ""He's the antithesis (opposite) of Manny (Ramirez)." Continuing that, "He was really committed to Pittsburgh," Hertz said. "
It strikes me that Bay has played 'less inspired' baseball since leaving Boston, out of character for a player described by so many as a quiet giant in the clubhouse. If you ask me, he is just searching for a home, and what better place to find that than the Pacific Northwest. The place he called home so many years ago.
NOTE: To make room on the 40-man roster the club designated Mauricio Robles for assignment. Robles was billed as a top flight arm when the Seattle Mariners brought him into the organization in 2009. The Venezuelan native posted a 5.78 ERA in 2012, splitting time between Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma.
Fiction: Mike Napoli was the only catcher on Seattle's radar.
While the Mariners catching tandem both caught outstanding games last season, with the club's combined no-hitter (Montero) and the perfect game (Jaso), both are far from defensive minded catchers.
The club was involved in negotiations early with former Texas Rangers backstop Mike Napoli, but in the end they were not his first choice. GM Jack Zduriencik shortly after his signing with Boston, "Napoli brought things to the table that we liked. He's an offensive guy, a right-handed guy, a veteran guy. But, he's no longer available."
I advocated earlier in the season for Seattle bringing free agent veteran backstop Brian Schneider to Seattle on a short term deal. Schneider has been quiet offensively in recent seasons but has allowed only four passed balls over 172 games since 2009, throwing out 5% of runners over league average in that time. He would conceivably sign a 1-yr deal, coming from a platoon assignment in Philadelphia and moving into his 14th Major League season.
Of his current Major League catchers Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said the following from Winter Meetings, "Both guys have their skill set they bring to the table. Neither guy is what you would call a defensive receiver. Continuing to say, "We'll have our ears open certainly to see how the right type of catcher would fit."
This could mean the club turns Montero's focus towards being a full-time designated hitter in 2013 and will look to platoon Jaso with a fellow veteran behind the plate. For now, be sure to use pencil when slotting either behind the plate for 2013.
NOTE: Guillermo Quiroz, who has served four stints with the Seattle Mariners, signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants prior to the Winter Meetings. The veteran catcher was referred as a possible target for Seattle moving into the off-season due to his familiarity with the system.
Fact: The Seattle Mariners selected second baseman Eric Farris, 26, from the Brewer's organization in the 2012 Rule V draft.
This marks the second consecutive season the organization has selected a player with former ties to GM Jack Zduriencik (Lucas Luetge, 2011), who was a member of the Brewers front office from 1999-2008.
Farris was selected in the second round of the draft, meaning he must remain active on the Tacoma Rainiers roster throughout the season or be forfeited back to Milwaukee. In 2012 the toolsy middle infielder hit .286 with Nashville of the Pacific Coast League (Triple-A), stealing 35 bases and recording 138 hits in 131 games played.
Fiction: The Seattle Mariners are structuring a deal with the Kansas City Royals – returning one of either Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, or Wil Myers.
The rumors of compatibility between these two squads began in the Arizona Fall League as Kansas City openly scouted many of the top prospects, including Seattle's own Nick Franklin and James Paxton. The Royals have been forward in asking for left handed pitching in return for Myers or one of their two established Major League hitters.
It was not until shortly before the Winter Meetings however that Kansas City explained their position further. They quickly became adamant that only established Major League arms were being sought in return, which for Seattle left just Jason Vargas in their sights, an arm that would certainly require a 'prospect push' in trade to net the Mariners the return they seek.
Vargas cemented himself as a fringe number two starter for Seattle in 2012, being named American League Pitcher of the Month for July, posting a 1.64 ERA over six starts (5-0) and allowing just eight earned runs in 44 innings pitched. On the opposite end of the spectrum his 35 home runs allowed, second in baseball, and his current arbitration status (2nd year) leave little room for negotiations in trade.
Expect the Royals to move Billy Butler this off-season, hanging onto Alex Gordon, who is a legitimate multi position gold glove winner. Wil Myers hit 37 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A in 2012 on his way to being named the third overall prospect in baseball by MLB.com Don't be fooled by his name being mentioned alongside Butler and Gordon, he is as untouchable as Giancarlo Stanton is for the Marlins. That doesn't mean they wouldn't trade him, but as a General Manager you'd have to understand upfront you were giving up an excessive amount in order to grab a player with his abilities.
The Royals will get their left handed starter, just don't expect to see Vargas in a Royals uniform in 2013.
Fiction: Josh Hamilton is a possibility for Seattle at 3-years, $75 million.
As first reported by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, "Sources: Mariners have discussed three-year deals with Hamilton in range of $20M to $25M per season.
Misleading does not accurately describe the above. It is possible Seattle did offer a three year contract and more than likely it was promptly turned away. If three years were on the table for Hamilton, the Texas Rangers would have already put a pen into his hand.
Fact: The Seattle Mariners are high on Michael Bourne.
Bourne is arguably the most valuable combination of speed and fielding in baseball today; ranked first overall in base running ability (40.6) and fourth in fielding (45.3), second among outfielders, dating back to the 2009 season. For perspective, current Seattle Mariners centerfielder Franklin Gutierrez, nicknamed 'Death to Flying Things', is fifth in fielding at 44.6.
2012 marked the fourth straight season of 40 steals, 20 doubles, and 80 runs for the former Atlanta Braves centerfielder. His 20.1 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) dating back to 2009 is the sixteenth highest total in baseball, one spot below Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista and one spot ahead of last season's high profile free- agent signing, Prince Fielder.
Bourne is smart on the base-paths, plays sparkling defense, and has an offensive game built on contact. That sounds familiar. His skill-set plays well into the confines of Safeco Field, where the ability to avoid making small mistakes is crucial to pulling out close ballgames. He returns the ability to hit lead-off, a legitimate concern for the club after Dustin Ackley failed to impress from this position in 2012.
The official word from agent Scott Boras in regards to Seattle, "We know where they're at and they know where we stand but I imagine we'll continue talking."
Fact remains that Bourne came out of the Winter Meetings with less suitors than he entered with, one of the remaining interested clubs is certainly Seattle.
Fiction: Zack Greinke signing with the Dodgers turns Rangers focus onto signing Josh Hamilton.
Do not forget Texas had the chance to avoid free agency with their star slugger altogether. Towards the end of the 2012 season there were few reports of contract negotiations between the two sides, even fewer following Hamilton's postseason efforts.
The Texas Rangers are more likely to sign Hamilton now that Greinke is no longer available, sure. Is that amount significant? No one knows for sure.
For what it's worth, the club has leaned heavily this off-season into the Justin Upton sweepstakes. Nearly all scenarios this off-season for the younger brother of newly acquired Atlanta Braves centerfielder B.J. Upton include Texas as a suitor. While Hamilton could resume his post in centerfield in lieu of the club acquiring Upton, primarily a right fielder, GM Jon Daniels knows that even clubs with back-to-back World Series appearances have holes to fill.
Fellow Texas Rangers free-agent Ryan Dempster has re-appeared on the clubs radar. Although the veteran pitcher posted a 5.09 ERA after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Chicago Cubs he posted a 9.1 K/9 ratio (highest of his career) and finished with a 7-3 record in Texas.
Fact: The Seattle Mariners are players in the rumored four-team mega trade surrounding Justin Upton.
This is how Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports broke down what he heard during the Winter Meetings:
Rangers get Upton from Diamondbacks
Diamondbacks get Cabrera from Indians, prospect from Rangers
Mariners get Holland from Rangers
Indians get prospect(s) from Mariners
Of course it's not that easy and it certainly isn't a short process but the possibility remains that Seattle could be a 'middle-man' in this deal and catch a break on a quality starter in Derek Holland.
Despite posting a 4.67 ERA in 2012, Holland was very strong off the mound for Texas in a competitive American League West. His full-season 1.221 WHIP was 33rd overall among starters across baseball and his 2.79 K/BB ratio (44th) came in ticks better than fellow Rangers starter Yu Darvish, and National League aces Gio Gonzalez and Yovani Gallardo.
Holland retains one of the more club friendly contracts in baseball, being guaranteed just $26 million (6.5 per) through 2016. His 2017-2018 options are pricey by today's standards ($11, $11.5) but are accompanied with team buy-outs of $1-1.5 million.
Do not expect Seattle to force their hand in this scenario if the price is Taijuan Walker but expect the club to remain in the mix if asked for any other prospect(s) outside Mike Zunino.
Be aware that Seattle has a number of constraints (travel, weather, rebuild), outside their lack of recent winning records, that hamper their ability to lure high profile players to the Northwest. The sheer number of confirmed rumors swirling around the Mariners confirms they are working hard to bring a better product to Seattle into the future. Have faith.
Looking for more Mariners prospect player interviews, news and articles? Want to keep up with which prospects are hot and cold for the M's? "Like" SeattleClubhouse on Facebook and follow SeattleClubhouse Contributing Writer Josh Dobner on Twitter at @JPDobner and site Editor Rick Randall at @randallball.


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Updating a traditional motif, this rug traces Moroccan-inspired diamonds in an expertly hand-loomed flatweave. Slightly irregular lines lend authenticity to the design, which is woven in wool, viscose and cotton for a smooth texture with exceptionally long wear. Slightly uneven, hand-stitched edges enhance the relaxed look.
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Up above my kitchen cabinets I have a lot of empty space. I put some of my Christmas decorations up there, but I needed something else to go with it . . . something simple that would fill in the little spaces that were bare. I dug through my craft stuff and found some leftover burlap. I had made a Halloween Burlap wreath last year and loved how it turned out . . . then the wheels started turning and I decided to use the same idea to make some Christmas trees. It was such a quick and easy craft and it ended up being the perfect compliment to my other decorations!
Our cookbook makes a wonderful gift (and it's priced right at less than $18!) . . . you can check it out HERE.


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Hooray, we're moving (too). This means a new building, new walls, new blisters on our hands from dragging the stuff from one place to another and - YAY - a new two leaves room-in-room studio.
We really had a great time in our beautiful office but now it's time to move on. Time for more space and new studios. Below you'll find some pics and sketches from Axel's new studio. Michaels's studio is also being planned and as soon as we have more details about it, we will show it to you.
This is where Axel's studio is being built.
The work began a month ago.
This is the 3D layout of Axel's room. Not showing the absorbing material and the outer walls.
This is the view from the top.
We're so looking forward to checking out the new rooms. As soon as everything is in place, we will post some recordings to compare the different room and speaker setups. Stay tuned.


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I think Lewis Wilson fought him at the UCMMA contenders show in Dundee
Ridux lost by KO in the opening minute
Last edited by Romeoblood; 17-10-2012 at 02:40 PM.
Stuart Baxter - Contributing writer - The Fight Lounge
think Baxter v Riddux should happen to show just who is Scotland's biggest Loser!!
Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer
Il fight this prick for his space on the island
You guys are always up for slaging these guys but the top prize is $500 thousand dollars like. Julez from Dundee needs more votes and he's the real deal as non of use in Scotlands got the balls to fight him he is having to fight in England. He has got a Title fight coming up at Ucmma event and deserves evry Scots mans votes as he can represent us on the island and unlike this fat baw bag he can win like.
I assume use are trolling pal?
I just think he should get some support from MMA fighters up here in Scotland. He can truly represent us not the other idiot. He has no skills. Julez's is a utter pitbull when he's fighting so should get our support. Alex Reid is supporting and he no's.
58KG (126 lbs) Wuss, the same weight as my 13 year old nephew.
Julez has only won 1 fight .......we offered him a fight at colosseum 5 against a 1st timer which he never got back to us .....chopper was ment to fight on colosseum as well but pulled out on the week running up to show ........they dont have a chance of winning but i'v been voting for julez ,,, just to see him on the show ......so just like his video .....even just for a laugh
pain is the game....TNT.... http://www.tntdundee.co.uk/


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BREVARD, N.C.- The Brevard College volleyball team wrapped their three-game home stand with a 3-0 loss to the Carson-Newman Eagles in Boshamer Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles hit a season-high .440 en route to the victory, taking the sets 25-18, 25-22, and 25-16. Carson-Newman improves to 9-9 (4-7 SAC) on the year, while the Tornados fall to 4-11 (1-10 SAC) in 2013.
Carson-Newman's Rachel Harper delivered a game-high 14 kills, trailed closely by Kiayna O'Neal's 10 kills to lead the Eagles.
Joy Oswalt had a team-high nine kills for BC, while Fatima Gharachorloo had a game-high 10 digs defensively for the Tornados.
Carson-Newman completes a stretch of five straight road affairs when the Eagles travel to Tusculum for a midweek tilt against Tusculum Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
Brevard begins a stretch of three consecutive road matches on Friday night as they visit Queens for a 7 p.m. start from Curry Arena.


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Turkey world cup 2002 home shirt in red/white.Features embroidered team crest and logo.Adidas ClimaLite fabric.3 tradional white stripes down the shoulders.100% polyester.
Soccerplus first opened in 1994. We were one of the first soccer websites to hit the webView more
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Phone: 1-800-945-7291
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Rare earth magnets connect quartz faucet handles to bathroom counters in plumbing fixture designer Watermark's new Zen Collection. The screw-free design seamlessly integrates components while its stone composition and slightly irregular shape make for an organic look that warms the installation. The quartz is sourced from the Great Lakes region and is available in nine tones. Watermark Designs, 718.257.2800; watermark-designs.com.
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NFC Chisholm Creeks Jax or Better (FC Sin City slick ace x FC AFC Grand Illusions final Edition)
was bred to
Oakcreeks Slick Mertie (FC Semi-automatic Kolby x Big birden Hannah) Hanna is out of NFC Hiedi Ho's MRT and NFC/FC/AFC CCK'S SIN CITY G SPOT, and is a full sister to FC Chisholm Creek's Riptide.
I haven't seen a better bred litter this year, this litter is going to throw classy, high tailed bird finders. Mertie is a smooth running female, quick on the ground, and classy on her birds. She points and runs with the same high tail, and has an extreme range nose. She has a clean bite, easy keeper, and a lovable personality. These puppies should fit in either at a hunting home or make possible field trial candidates. I just want to see these puppies go to homes where they will be used for what they have been bred to do, find birds!!
Males- $500
Females- $600
I am open to trades, negotiable on price if it gets the puppies into the right hands.
Thanks for the interest
Matt Stucky
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WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel mocks anchors who mangled Lupita Nyong'o's name
Lupita Nyong'o may be an Oscar winner and People's "Most Beautiful Woman In The World," but Jimmy Kimmel pointed out how news reporters are still mangling her name.
"Lupita is unquestionably beautiful but her name is not easy to pronounce, which made it a tough day for our nation's news anchors," the late night host explained.
On Wednesday, the editing team at "Jimmy Kimmel Live" pieced together a hilarious montage of broadcasters butchering the star's unique name.
"I wish people had asked John Travolta to announce Lupita Nyong'o's name," Kimmel jokingly added. "He did such a nice job at the Oscars."
Check out the funny video below!


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Travel is a powerful engine of change: It can protect environments, preserve cultures, and transform lives. Once again, Travel + Leisure honors the companies and organizations that are harnessing travel to positively impact our world. With the help of our panel of expert judges, we sifted through nearly 150 applications to find the 2010 Global Visionaries. Read on—and be inspired to see the world with this year's winners.
Land Management: Great Plains Conservation, Africa
It's hard to tell whether Great Plains is a conservation organization or a safari lodge company—a testament to how well it wears both identities. The six camps under the Great Plains banner all embody the highest standards of service and design, and together they are situated on some 955,000 acres of conserved land. At Kenya's Ol Donyo Wuas, Great Plains has partnered with the local Masai community to protect the area's wildlife while helping to support neighboring villages. The Mara Plains camp, also in Kenya, is leading efforts to preserve the ecologically and culturally sensitive Masai Mara Reserve. And Botswana's Selinda Reserve has converted no less than 320,000 acres from hunting to conservation grounds.
Take the Trip: Ride alongside a herd of giraffes on a horseback safari through Kenya's Chyulu Hills at the Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge (doubles from $650, all-inclusive). See greatplainsconservation.com for other lodges.
Wildlife Protection: &Beyond, Africa
The safari lodge company and tour operator &Beyond was founded in 1991 (as C.C. Africa) on these principles: care of the land, care of the wildlife, care of the people. The company's first project was to restore degraded farmland in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, creating the Phinda Private Reserve. Today, it operates a collection of 46 well-regarded luxury lodges on 8.5 million acres of protected land in Africa and India, and devotes countless staff hours to the reintroduction, relocation, and study of animals. And it has done all of this while giving back to local communities. To date, the &Beyond Foundation has constructed more than 160 classrooms, awarded university scholarships to more than 200 students, and built four health clinics.
Take the Trip: See "Best Life-Changing Trips" and andbeyond.com.
Environmental Upstart: RiverIndia, Arunachal Pradesh, India
After traversing the Tibetan Plateau, the Yarlung Tsangpo River becomes the mighty Siang of northern India. It is there, in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, that RiverIndia, a small rafting-tour operator, is building a sustainable-tourism industry with the hopes of protecting the 1,800-mile-long river, recently targeted for hydropower plants. It's a David versus Goliath story of a scrappy company fighting Indian big business. But it's also the tale of how an organization can train locals to embrace their natural resources, introduce travelers to an endangered landscape, and perhaps keep one of Asia's longest free-flowing waterways on course.
Take the Trip: Eleven-day Himalayan expeditions with RiverIndia begin and end in New Delhi and include six days of rafting along the Siang (11-day trips from $2,250 per person, all-inclusive).
Green Luxury: Sanctuary at Ol Lentille, Laikipia, Kenya
A three-year-old retreat in central Kenya, the Sanctuary at Ol Lentille has everything luxury travelers expect from a safari lodge: suites with plunge pools; gourmet meals and butler service; and guides who find some of the country's best game viewing. It also has other, more surprising touches, including solar-generated power and harvested rainwater that supplies 80 percent of the lodge's needs. What's more, Ol Lentille has created a conservation model that makes partners and owners of the local Masai community.
Take the Trip: Between game drives, guests can brush up on their game tracking with the lodge's private bush-skills course (doubles from $1,200, all-inclusive).
Environmental Leadership: Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality, Central America
Costa Rica's status as a forerunner in green travel is built on pioneering hotels such as Lapa Rios Ecolodge and Latitude 10 Beach Resort. What these properties have in common is Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality, a small management company that works with them (plus three more in Costa Rica and one in Nicaragua) to help combine luxury with sustainability. Rooms are carefully set within forests, infinity pools are maintained with salt and ionization, and refillable water bottles are provided at check-in.
Take the Trip: Lapa Rios (doubles from $380) offers naturalist-guided evening walks through the surrounding jungle, where guests can spend the night in a covered platform bed. For more, see cayugaonline.com.
Sustainable Design: Feynan Ecolodge, Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan
Although the Middle East has become the epicenter of over-the-top development, the 26-room Feynan Ecolodge takes a radically different approach. The adobe-colored property, 2 1/2 hours from Amman, is both austere and alluring—and true to its bedouin roots. Solar panels generate power, and house-made candles light the rooms at night. In the winter, olive-pit charcoal is burned in fireplaces for heat. Guests hike through the wildlife reserve, dine on traditional dishes, and get a taste of the authentic Middle East.
Take the Trip: While at the lodge, book a full-day walking tour, which includes a picnic, introductions to local shepherds, and tea in bedouin tents. (doubles from $120).
Green Giant: CityCenter, Las Vegas
A behemoth development of hotels, residences, restaurants, stores, and casinos may seem an unlikely paragon of sustainability, but the year-old CityCenter is anything but conventional. Its LEED-certified hotels (the Mandarin Oriental, Vdara, and Aria Resort) were constructed with cutting-edge green-building techniques. Classic Vegas amenities have been given a new twist: limos run on natural gas; slot machines double as air conditioners. But it's the sheer scale of CityCenter's accomplishments that's most notable. The development's efficiency initiatives alone save an estimated 94 million kWh of energy and 50 million gallons of water each year.
Take the Trip: The 4,004-room Aria (doubles from $159) is the largest LEED Gold–rated resort in the world. For more, see citycenter.com.
Cultural Immersion: Cnoc Suain, Galway, Ireland
A beautifully restored hill village that literally sits on layers of Irish history, Cnoc Suain offers a thorough immersion in local culture. Bog walks and classes on Irish language, music, and storytelling combine with picturesque surroundings and centuries-old stone cottages to form a microcosm of traditional Ireland that's devoid of pretension or Lucky Charms kitsch. Thanks in part to its ecology program for local students, Cnoc Suain has also made environmental stewardship a key element of its heritage preservation efforts. Its exemplary approach to cultural tourism operates on the assumption that you can't have one without the other.
Take the Trip: Cnoc Suain's two-night Spirit of Ireland Gaelic immersion includes language classes and music sessions (Aug. 26–28, Sept. 16–18, and Oct. 7–9; from $500 per person).
Artisan Revival: The Haciendas, Yucatán, Mexico
When development company Grupo Plan began a painstaking restoration of colonial estates that once anchored the Yucatán's sisal industry, it had little idea that its five beautiful hotels (from the jungle-shaded Hacienda San José to the stately and manicured Hacienda Temozon) would end up revitalizing entire areas of rural Mexico. The properties inspired a wave of community-focused tourism. Today, folk art collectives sell handicrafts both to the hotels and directly to the wave of visitors they are now attracting. Meanwhile, a cultural center and hotel-sponsored initiatives promoting health and literacy are allowing these once-depressed communities to take a larger role in determining their own future.
Take the Trip: Each of the Haciendas has an on-site boutique selling local handmade goods such as carved horn necklaces and Mayan cotton hammocks.
Heritage Site: Linden Centre, Yunnan, China
The product of an unprecedented initiative by two American antiquities experts, this 14-room luxury hotel in Yunnan province serves as a museum, learning center, and meeting place for visitors and local artisans alike. Guests at the restored historic mansion can participate in 10-day to three-week-long painting, writing, and culinary-arts programs, attend a local wedding, or even help carry sedan chairs during a temple celebration. The Linden Centre has helped persuade skeptical officials of the importance of preserving the heritage of China's rural areas, and the owners are now adapting their model for two more historic buildings in Yunnan.
Take the Trip: Traditional Chinese dance programs are held in the hotel's restored central courtyard, set high in the Himalayan foothills (doubles from $125).
Cultural Restoration: Cambodian Living Arts, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
During its brief but devastating reign, the Khmer Rouge eliminated an estimated 90 percent of Cambodia's performing artists. More than three decades later, the aftereffects of this horrific purge are still evident; thanks to Cambodian Living Arts, however, so, too, are signs of recovery. The organization provides space, equipment, and a living wage to master practitioners of Cambodian folk dance, smot chanting, and other endangered art forms and enlists them to teach younger generations—giving the country's cultural traditions a chance to thrive.
Take the Trip: See the organization's Children of Bassac dance troupe perform classic and folk dance styles during weekly shows at the National Museum in Phnom Penh's newly renovated garden theater. For more, go to cambodianlivingarts.org.
Historic Preservation: Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust, Nepal
In a country short on homegrown preservation efforts, KVPT has established itself as a steward of some of Nepal's most fantastic monuments. Most of its efforts have revolved around the stunning Patan Darbar royal complex, which comprises mainly 17th-century Buddhist and Hindu structures and remains a key part of religious life in Kathmandu today. (As Nepal's most popular tourist attraction, it is also an important source of revenue.) KVPT recently restored 18 of Patan's temples, and the trust continues to perform restoration work in the hope of one day opening the entire complex to the public.
Take the Trip: The restoration of Patan Darbar's Sundari Chowk courtyard—the organization's most ambitious effort—will be completed next year and open to tours.
Human Rights: Accor, Worldwide
Hotel companies haven't exactly been eager to address the uncomfortable issue of child sex tourism. But Accor—owner of Novotel and Sofitel, among other brands—has admirably worked with the NGO ECPAT International to build an awareness of this disquieting reality into its business practices, training 13,000 staff worldwide last year and helping to create a manual on the subject that it has distributed to its tourism partners. In particularly afflicted countries such as Morocco and Thailand, the France-based hospitality giant has seized the initiative on an issue that is too often swept under the carpet.
Take the Trip: More than two dozen Accor hotels in Bangkok have ECPAT-trained employees. Look for the summer 2011 opening of the luxurious 345-room Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit (800/445-8667; sofitel.com). For more, see accorhotels.com.
Corporate Greening: Hilton, Worldwide
Plenty of big hotel chains claim they're going green, but can they prove it? Hilton became the first major multi-brand hospitality company to make sustainability measurement a brand standard when it launched its LightStay program last April. Hilton now measures water, waste, and carbon output at more than 1,500 of its properties; by the end of 2011, the company plans to have its entire global portfolio under the same microscope. It's not just about monitoring, however: Hilton's studies show that when a hotel pays attention to its numbers, management reduces the hotel's carbon footprint—by an average of 6 percent. And that is the ultimate goal.
Take the Trip: The 1,980-room Hilton New York generates much of its electric power and hot water from a PureCell power system, the only one of its kind in a New York City hotel (doubles from $429).
Philanthropic Travel: Abercrombie & Kent, Worldwide
As one of the world's most respected tour operators, Abercrombie & Kent has been a leading promoter of a simple but extremely important idea: sophisticated travelers giving back. For nearly three decades, the company's charitable efforts (supporting everything from black rhino conservation in Kenya to building wells in Cambodia) have expanded alongside its commercial operations. A&K now contributes to 50 conservation, health, and education causes around the globe, and last year alone donations from its philanthropic arm and clients reached a combined total of $1 million. The message? Big-time generosity isn't bad for business.
Take the Trip: See "Best Life-Changing Trips" and abercrombiekent.com.
Philanthropic Travel: Overseas Adventure Travel, Worldwide
For nearly two decades, OAT owners Alan and Harriet Lewis have put philanthropy at the center of their business. Since 1992, their Grand Circle Foundation has given an impressive $50 million to educational, development, and cultural preservation projects around the world—doing everything from financing a farm in Costa Rica to building schools in Tanzania and Thailand through its World Classroom Program. OAT has raised emergency funds for such disaster-struck areas as Haiti and Peru, and its employees organize some 30 community-service programs a year, making it one of the finest examples of a tour operator that cares.
Take the Trip: See "Best Life-Changing Trips" and oattravel.com.
Grassroots Outreach: Guludo Beach Lodge, Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique
An eco-lodge of thatched-palm suites on a white-sand beach, Guludo Beach Lodge is a model of conscientious tourism. Founded on business principles that both engage locals and support conservation, health, and education initiatives, Guludo is responsible for providing employment opportunities, scholarships, clean water, and mosquito netting to the 15,000 Mozambicans in its radius. It has spurred an economic turnaround, fostered cultural traditions, and brought optimism to an impoverished part of northern Mozambique.
Take the Trip: A day at Guludo may involve scuba diving, a sunset sail, and visits to the local community (doubles from $510, including meals).
Youth Education: Micato Safaris, Nairobi, Kenya
For Micato Safaris, a luxury tour operator with a history of social responsibility, it started with a simple concept: Why not change the life of one child for every guest it takes on safari? And that's precisely what the company did last winter, by making a commitment to pay for the education of a child from Nairobi's Mukuru slum for every safari it sells. In a community where some 100,000 youths don't attend school, Micato's initiative has a deep impact. Already, the company has plans to send thousands of kids to school, a promise that could cost Micato up to $6,000 per child if he or she continues into college.
Take the Trip: See "Best Life-Changing Trips" and micato.com.
Literacy Initiative: Myths & Mountains, Worldwide
E-books may be on the rise in the United States, but for rural communities in developing countries, access to the real thing can still be a challenge. Enter adventure-travel company Myths & Mountains, which launched the nonprofit READ (Rural Education and Development) two decades ago to construct and supply nearly 50 libraries in Nepal, India, and Bhutan. Today READ operates successfully on its own, but Myths & Mountains is still very involved: the company monitors the libraries and recruits READ supporters, all while offering custom cultural-immersion trips, from textile shopping in Bhutan to cooking lessons in Peru.
Take the Trip: See "Best Life-Changing Trips" and mythsandmountains.com.
Bonnie Burnham
President of the World Monuments Fund
"Cambodian Living Arts presents authentic and intellectually engaging traditions, while also making them accessible to the Cambodian public."
Liya Kebede
Model, designer, goodwill ambassador for the World Health Organization, and founder of the Liya Kebede Foundation
"The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille doesn't just avoid harming the environment, it actually improves the ecosystem. It has a truly light footprint."
Jake Kheel
Environmental director for Grupo Puntacana and director of the Puntacana Ecological Foundation
"Making local traditions an integral part of the hotel operations and guest experience is the Haciendas' real triumph."
Blake Mycoskie
Founder of Toms Shoes and the company's One for One movement
"By preserving history, the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust allows the community to continue its daily rituals."
Louie Psihoyos
Oscar-winning documentarian (The Cove), photographer, and executive director of the Oceanic Preservation Society
"In the quest to restore the wildlife, &Beyond gave locals what Eden didn't—a health clinic."
Dr. Joseph Stiglitz
Nobel Prize–winning economist and chair of Columbia University's Committee on Global Thought
"Even in the age of the Internet, Myths & Mountains' libraries are essential to bringing access to knowledge to those in the developing world."
Tony Williams
Senior vice president of resorts and projects at Emirates Hotels & Resorts
"Many communities have benefited from tourism, but others have suffered from exploitation. Accor has raised the profile of this issue."


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The results of the 14th Annual Restaurant Technology Study reaffirm signs of a rebounding economy. Across all aspects of business (average guest check, gross revenue, net profitability), restaurateurs reported positive growth compared to last year. The study also recorded an uptick in information technology (IT) spending, which increased in 2012 from 2011. Overall, approximately 30% of restaurant operators have an annual technology budget in excess of $300,000. The biggest share of IT spending in 2012, with 29.5% of the budget, was allocated to hardware. Improving productivity and efficiency continues to be the number one driver for IT projects in 2012.
Examining the technology that restaurateurs use, it is evident that many are not afraid to adopt newer technologies such as mobile payment and cloud-based systems. A majority of the restaurants surveyed (91%) use point of sale systems and 61% integrate it into the cost control system. This is a surprising figure, given the fact that the main cause of restaurant failure is a lack of cost control measures. However, that percentage might be representative of the fact that integrating cost control software to a POS is a much easier prospect than it was in previous years.
Making sense of dollars and cents
In an industry where six out of ten establishments will fail within three years of opening, and profit margins are in the single digits, integrating cost control systems to POS gives restaurant operators several advantages, including the ability to track perpetual inventory (the inventory that the operator should have on hand). Having access to this information at all times enables the operator to track costs on a real time basis and more effectively manage the inventory. Ultimately, the operator will be able to make more informed decisions to control costs before it is too late. Upon integration of these systems, the actual inventory items are deducted as sales occur. This simplifies the ordering process as sold items are automatically placed on the purchase order list.
The study did indicate that more than half of restaurant operators are missing out on a huge opportunity in terms of quality control and management by not integrating online ordering. Not only does this technology allow operators to manage rebates, but it also offers reverse bidding for purchasing. In this system, even small operators can electronically send orders to distributors and vendors to get prices. The software has the capability of sorting bids based on the lowest price quoted and prepares a list of purchase orders from multiple vendors. Any penny saved in this process has a direct impact on the bottom line.
The implementation of bar code and scanner technologies in the inventory process is another growth area for restaurants. Only a quarter of the operators surveyed are currently using bar code systems. These systems are not only very easy to use, but they are low-cost and provide significant time saving features if used with a handheld bar code scanner.
A manual inventory method often results in more time spent finding individual items rather than actually taking an accurate count. Implementing bar code technology can speed up the entire inventory process by at least four-fold.
The restaurant industry is still a follower when it comes to technology. This was to be expected when the price of the latest innovations made them cost prohibitive, however, today's technology is much more affordable. More importantly, it is much easier and more likely to achieve a return on investment with new operations systems. In my next column I will spend some time on electronic marketing efforts. This is another area where the cost/benefit analysis should be of great interest to all hospitality operators.
To download the complete 14th Annual Restaurant Technology Study, visit www.htmagazine.com/reports.