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Glance through your now ice-water-doused Facebook feed, and it may occur to you that the ice-bucket challenge — in which people dump ice water on their heads and film it to raise awareness about ALS — is among the most successful charity campaigns in recent history. But is it actually a short-sighted effort?
By many accounts, the ice-bucket challenge's success is staggering. As of Friday, The ALS Association had received $53.3 million in donations, up from a mere $2.2 million during the same period last year, and the association attracted more than 630,000 new donors during this period. Celebrities — from George Bush to Ben Affleck — have taken part in it, the media has written hundreds of stories on the topic, and pretty much every American has seen at least one — if not dozens — of icy videos on their social media feeds. Those, no doubt, are statistics any charity would envy.
And it's easy to see why the ice-bucket challenge has been so successful. It both supports a worthy cause — as many as 30,000 Americans at any given time are suffering from ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, a sometimes deadly disease that leaves many sufferers paralyzed -- and entertains people (admit it, it's hard not to click on videos of people dousing themselves in ice water). Plus, the campaign itself is easy — if chilly — to participate in, and when people do participate, they create shareable content that's fun — or at least funny — for other people to watch and then themselves take part in.
Listen to an interview with Catey Hill about the ice-bucket challenge.
But experts caution that campaigns like this have a number of pitfalls and may not be a great long-term strategy. "It's caught people's attention in a very viral way, but it's not a sustainable funding model," says Eileen Heisman, the CEO of the National Philanthropic Trust, a public charity that provides philanthropic expertise to donors, foundations and financial institutions, and this year's recipient of the Outstanding Fundraising Professional award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. "It will lose its novelty — people think 'Been there, done that' — and they look for something else new and clever."
In other words, this campaign is great at getting one-off donations, but not at creating a real connection with the cause and thus getting the kind of long-term donations that organizations need, she says. "If you interviewed people [who donated], some wouldn't know what ALS is," she says.
Or, as Ken Berger, the CEO of Charity Navigator, which rates charities for consumers, says about the campaign: "It's like a flash in the ice bucket — a mile wide and an inch deep." He adds that you're now seeing an "explosion of donations that will very quickly peter out," likely within weeks.
Indeed, there's already a weariness and backlash among some about the campaign. Some people complain that the campaign now has taken on an "all about me" mentality. After all, you either give money to the charity or you donate to ALSA.org; judging from the number of videos on social media, many do the latter. Some say that giving to ALS means people won't give as much to other charities. And others still are just sick of seeing all the videos on their social media feeds.
But perhaps the more important, and potentially troubling, question is this: what's next? Berger says that the key hurdle here is how the ALS Association manages the massive influx of donations, something that many organizations in the past, when faced with similar situations (say when donations pour in following a natural disaster) have struggled to do. "Do they have the capacity and wisdom to step up and manage this massive influx in an accountable, transparent and effective manner," he says. "Often, the answer is no." The ALS Association didn't reply to a request for comment.
Still, even if the ALS Association struggles to manage this influx of money, the donations peter out, and the backlash increases, Berger points out that it's unlikely that the ice-bucket challenge negatively impacts the association's long-term fundraising efforts, and it may even gain some longer term donors thanks to this challenge. In other words, even if the ALS Association isn't able to replicate these eye-popping levels of fundraising every year, it's a win for ALS, even if that win comes with a few troubles.


text: A few nights ago I resumed an online investigation that, to this point, had been a wild goose chase. I was simply hoping to find a contact from whom I could request records from Martinique, as I did when I requested records from St. Lucia. What I ended up finding was even better. I happened upon a blog that pointed me towards the website for La Banque Numérique des Patrimoines Martiniquais. I'll quote from my fellow geneablogger Anne Morddel to explain just what can be found at the BNPM website: Continue reading

subset: commoncrawl


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Thank you for signing up to receive information from PGA.com and PGATOUR.com about current and future features and offers.
History of the PGA Championship
Over the past nine decades, the PGA Championship has developed into one of the premier sporting events in the world.
At the exploratory meeting of The Professionals Golfers' Association of America on Jan. 17, 1916, 34 other golf professionals joined the legendary Walter Hagen to lay the building blocks for the foundation of what is, today, the world's largest working sports organization. It was there that the idea for a national championship was conceived. Department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker, who hosted the meeting, would provide a trophy for the competition, as well as an initial purse of $2,580 for the match-play event.
The first PGA Championship was played in 1916 at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, N.Y. But it would be five years before an American-born PGA Professional claimed the Championship. England's Jim Barnes won the inaugural Championship, but the event was interrupted for two years by World War I. Barnes came back in 1919 to capture his second consecutive Championship and began his own era of domination. Hagen would go on to post his record-tying five PGA Championships in the 1920s. Gene Sarazen would claim victories in 1922, '23 and '33.
Denny Shute captured the PGA Championship title in 1936 and 1937, becoming the first back-to-back winner before Tiger Woods in 2000. The baptism of Byron Nelson as one of the finest competitors in PGA Championship history began in 1939 when he was defeated, 1-up by Henry Picard, in the finals. "Lord Byron" reached the finals in four of the next five PGA Championships, and etched his name on the Wanamaker Trophy twice, in 1940 and 1945. The Championship was not played in 1943 because of World War II. During the post-war years, the Wanamaker Trophy added the names of Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Chick Harbert, Doug Ford and Jack Burke.
In 1958, the format of the PGA Championship was changed from match play to stroke play. The new era in PGA Championship history added the names of Dow Finsterwald, Bob Rosburg, Jay Hebert and Gary Player to its Champions roster. In 1963, Jack Nicklaus won his first of a record-tying five PGA Championships. Fittingly, Nicklaus tied Hagen's record with his last PGA Championship triumph in 1980 at Oak Hill Country Club in Hagen's hometown of Rochester, N.Y.
In 1999, a 23-year-old named Tiger Woods became the fifth-youngest winner in PGA Championship history when he outlasted Spain's 19-year-old Sergio Garcia by one stroke at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club.
Woods made the PGA Championship's return to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., in 2000 perhaps the most thrilling climax in history. In the process, Woods became the first back-to-back PGA Champion since Shute.
In 2001 at The Atlanta Athletic Club, unheralded David Toms conquered the strongest field in golf history by finishing with a 15-under-par 265 to set a major championship record for 72 holes.
Rich Beem's stunning back-nine charge elevated him past Tiger Woods to the title in the 84th PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., and Shaun Micheel held off Chad Campbell on Sunday at brutally difficult Oak Hill Country Club to win the 85th PGA Championship for his first career victory, icing the win with a spectacular 7-iron and tap-in birdie on the 72nd hole.
In 2004, the Championship moved to Wisconsin and breathtaking Whistling Straits in Kohler, where Pete Dye's creation on the shore of Lake Michigan produced Vijay Singh's second PGA Championship triumph. Singh, the 1998 victor at Sahalee Country Club in Redmond, Wash., closed with a final-round, 4-over 76 -- the highest winning score ever by a PGA champion -- then made the only birdie over the three extra holes to defeat Justin Leonard and Chris DiMarco in a three-hole playoff.
The following year, Phil Mickelson claimed his second major in as many years with a brilliant up-and-down tap-in birdie from the heavy greenside rough on the par-5 18th hole to win the 87th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. It was the first Monday finish at the PGA Championship in 19 years. And not since 1986 at Inverness had a player from the last group won the Wanamaker Trophy with a birdie on the 72nd hole.
Over the past nine decades, the PGA Championship has developed into one of the premier sporting events in the world. More than 100,000 people line the fairways of the nation's finest golf facilities during PGA Championship week to view the strongest, all-professional international field in major championship golf. As it was more than 80 years ago, the Wanamaker Trophy is still prized as one of the golf world's greatest treasures.


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AHPA regularly presents in-person technical workshops to train the herbal products industry on the latest tools and methods that help ensure high-quality products and compliance with federal and state regulations.
Author: Haley (Admin)/Monday, April 25, 2016/Categories: Committees, Botanical Raw Materials Committee, Analytical Laboratories Committee, Standards Committee
Number of views (4746)/Comments (0)
2018 Annual Fund Sponsors
AHPA appreciates the support of its sponsors, but does not endorse, recommend, or provide a warranty for any sponsor company, its products or services. AHPA has no responsibility for any transaction entered into with any of these companies.


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Mauer's home run leads rare Twins power surge in 8-6 win over slumping Brewers
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MINNEAPOLIS – Joe Mauer had two hits, two RBIs and one of Minnesota's four home runs to help the Twins beat the slumping Milwaukee Brewers 8-6 on Thursday night.
Chris Parmelee, Brian Dozier and Ryan Doumit also went deep to back P.J. Walters (2-0), who gave up four runs on 10 hits in six innings. The Twins swept the season series against their neighbors to the east for the first time in franchise history and have won five of their last six following a 10-game losing streak.
Kyle Lohse (1-6) gave up six runs on eight hits in 4 2-3 innings against his former team. Logan Schafer drove in three runs and finished a homer shy of the cycle for the Brewers, who have lost a season-high six straight games.


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15 U.S. Code § 15d - Measurement of damages
In any action under section 15c(a)(1) of this title, in which there has been a determination that a defendant agreed to fix prices in violation of sections 1 to 7 of this title, damages may be proved and assessed in the aggregate by statistical or sampling methods, by the computation of illegal overcharges, or by such other reasonable system of estimating aggregate damages as the court in its discretion may permit without the necessity of separately proving the individual claim of, or amount of damage to, persons on whose behalf the suit was brought.
Injuries sustained prior to Sept. 30, 1976, not covered by this section, see section 304 of Pub. L. 94–435, set out as a note under section 15c of this title.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Food trucks are on a roll.
Whether they're parked along the streets of Los Angeles, in a Miami shopping center, or at a Chicago corporate highrise, the trucks are as trendy as it gets in the restaurant business.
Folks are lining up at mobile counters in cities across America to gobble down everything from gourmet fusion food to specialty cupcakes from chef-entrepreneurs.
"They're popping up everywhere," says Eric Giandelone, director of foodservice research at Mintel International. "They have huge appeal because they are an inexpensive way to get into the food industry. Owners also have more control over how they can operate."
Restaurants and quick-service chains have joined the fray with their own trucks.
The growing interest in the segment has created even more cross-pollination: truck chefs opening brick-and-mortar units, restaurants adding street foods to menus, and, in some cases, developing whole concepts around street food.
"This is going on all across the country," says Kevin Higar, director of consulting and research for Technomic Inc. He recently spent three months crisscrossing the nation and talking to food truck operators who typically set up shop at different locations each day.
Unlike brick-and-mortar restaurants that have large menus, food trucks have become popular, particularly among 25- to 45-year-olds, for their distinct, limited offerings.
"You find people with a strong passion and the skill to make two or three or four things really, really well," Higar says. Then these items filter out to other chefs because "we're really good at ripping off ideas and making them our own."
Twitter and Facebook are key to food trucks' success, helping followers find out the trucks' location on any particular date, as well as the day's menu. It also builds the kind of relationships that leads some chefs to name menu items after customers or customers' pets.
"Truck owners really have to do social networking," Giandelone says. "They aren't going to have a marketing budget. For customers, it's more like an adventure because of ever-changing menus and ever-changing locations."
In a few cities, food trucks gather at one spot for a temporary food court. In Miami, truck maker Food Cart USA promotes these events several days a week.
"It's been great for the industry and an easy way for customers to come out and try all different types of great food," says Crystal Ramirez, the company's manager.
A typical evening may see a chorizo and sirloin burger from Latin Burger and Taco, Jefe's fish tacos, crêpes from Caza Crêpes, and Big Daddy's discos voladores.
Food trucks have their roots in moving military canteens, Old West chuck wagons, New York City food carts, and street vendors worldwide.
Catering trucks have traveled the pavement for decades. Featuring a refrigerator case, warmer unit, and griddle, they regularly visit several blue-collar workplaces a day, serving sandwiches, pastries, and similar items.
As Hispanic construction workers grew in numbers in California in the '80s, entrepreneurs refitted trucks to create moving taquerias, known as taco trucks.
But a new breed of chef-impresario has now found a niche for various gourmet efforts from a truck.
The recent recession is a major reason the food truck culture took root and grew, says restaurant industry veteran Ray Villaman, a principal with Mobi Munch, a mobile foodservice infrastructure company.
"We saw a lot of the old taco trucks go belly up in the economic downturn," he says. At the same time, white-tablecloth eateries also suffered, and "a lot of fine-dining chefs were looking for their next move. They jumped at these trucks."
Their numbers are still small. Of the 4,000 food trucks with permits in Los Angeles County, "probably 3,500 are Mexican style," says Josh Hiller, co-owner of Road Stoves, which rents trucks and provides other services to mobile chefs.
"There are only a couple hundred that could be categorized as gourmet trucks," he says.
Road Stoves has worked with many of the new breed, including the owners of Kogi BBQ, which led the wave of upscale mobile chow.
Roy Choi, a Culinary Institute of America grad and the truck's chef, "is the poster child for igniting the movement," Villaman says.
Kogi got its start on a rainy weekend in November 2008, says Alice Shin, creative director for the Los Angeles enterprise that has grown to five trucks and several traditional restaurants.
Its fusion of Asian and Mexican food, notably marinated barbecue meat and kimchi in tacos, didn't find many takers at first, Shin says. But word of mouth and the tactical use of Twitter and other new technology eventually made the truck a phenomenon.
Kogi's culinary success is in Choi's ability to mix Mexican and Asian ingredients in portable food. The brand has several regular items, including the signature short-rib tacos for $2.10 each, plus daily specials.
Fusion is a major food segment for trucks nationwide. There are Mexican-Filipino, Peruvian-Japanese, Jamaican-American, and Asian-South American combinations.
Ironically, Kogi started partly because restaurant recruiter Dave Danhi couldn't get Choi a regular restaurant position four months before the truck hit the road.
Now, Danhi is also a partner in a rolling food emporium, The Grilled Cheese Truck. Like many trucks, it visits several spots a day during a Tuesday-to-Saturday schedule.
The menu is based on another popular truck style: comfort food. Prices range from $3 for an American Cheese sandwich to $7.75 for the Brie Melt, which features brie, homemade fig paste, and smoked turkey or bacon on black peppercorn potato bread.
The spotlight item is Danhi's Cheesy Mac and Rib Melt, which combines Southern-style mac and cheese with sharp cheddar, slow-cooked pork barbecue, and caramelized onions on buttered, fried white bread.
The five times weekly e-newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the latest industry news and additions to this website.


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what's zipcar?
Glad you asked. It's a smarter way to get around the city.
- Drive cars by the hour or day. Gas & insurance included.
- In neighborhoods, cities and airports across the globe.
- Car sharing saves you hundreds over car ownership.
- Choose from sedans, hybrids, vans and more.
- Membership starts as low as $7/month.
how it works
4 simple steps to Zipcar freedom.
Download the app or join online. Once approved, you'll get a magical Zipcard that unlocks thousands of cars across the globe.
Book a Zipcar for as little as 1 hour or as long as 7 days.
Hold your Zipcard to the car's windshield to unlock. Voila! It's all yours.
Hit the road. When you're done, park the car in its reserved spot and scan your Zipcard to lock up.
where do zipcars live?
Find us in your local neighborhood, or in cities and airports across the globe.
rates & plans
Try a few on for size and pick the one that fits. (You can change at any time.)
Learn about Zipcar rates.
Pick the plan that's right for you. Once you've joined, you can reserve cars by the hour or day. Driving rates vary by city and car model. (You guessed it, fancy cars are a little more.)


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Changes related to "Determining if a PC can capture audio packets sent from an IP phone"
From DocWiki
This is a list of changes made recently to pages linked from a specified page (or to members of a specified category).Pages on your watchlist are bold.
Legend: N - new page, m - minor edit, b - bot edit.
No changes on linked pages during the given period.


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Fifth Circuit Affirms Farmers Branch Housing Ordinance As Unconstitutional Targeting of Undocumented Immigrants
Ruling caps five-year legal battle over latest unlawful ordinance enacted by the City of Farmer's Branch, costing taxpayers millions
New Orleans, LA – Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled the City of Farmers Branch, located outside of Dallas, TX, violated the Constitution by passing a housing ordinance aimed at driving out Latinos. The court held that "the ordinance's sole purpose is not to regulate housing but to exclude undocumented [immigrants], specifically Latinos." The Fifth Circuit further held that the City of Farmers Branch's Ordinance 2952 is an unconstitutional and invalid regulation of immigration and "constitutes an obstacle to federal authority over immigration and the conduct of foreign affairs." Today's ruling affirms the permanent injunction issued by the district court on March 25, 2010, which has since blocked implementation of the ordinance.
The challenge was brought by MALDEF, the ACLU and the ACLU of Texas.
"Today's decision soundly rejected Farmers Branch's immigration scheme which was really designed to push out Latinos" stated Nina Perales, Vice President of Litigation at MALDEF and attorney who successfully argued the case before the Fifth Circuit on October 4, 2011. "The federal courts have made clear that cities cannot make their own immigration laws and target residents for expulsion simply because of their race or nationality," continued Perales.
Ordinance 2952 is the latest in a series of anti-immigrant ordinances enacted by the City of Farmers Branch, Texas. Past unsuccessful legislative efforts to pass anti-immigrant ordinances – both blocked by MALDEF and ACLU attorneys – include Ordinance 2892 and its later replacement Ordinance 2903. These past ordinances sought to require landlords of apartment complexes to verify that every person living in an apartment in the City, was a United States citizen or an eligible immigrant. Defense of the series of cases has cost taxpayers for the City of Farmers Branch millions of dollars.
"Other Texas municipalities should pay close heed to what the 5th Circuit held today," said Lisa Graybill, Legal Director for the ACLU of Texas. "Farmers Branch has invested over 5 years and literally millions of its residents' taxpayer dollars in costly litigation trying to regulate immigration. As the Court held, immigration regulation is a 'national problem that needs a national solution.' It is time for Farmers Branch to give up its mean-spirited and quixotic efforts to do the federal government's job." ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project (ACLU IRP) has served as co-counsel on the case.
Today's appellate ruling follows the March 2010 determination by the U.S. District Court that Ordinance 2952 was preempted by federal law.
In concluding its ruling, the Fifth Circuit stated that:
"This country has a large Latino population and millions of Latinos live here without legal permission. However, the great majority live quietly, raise families, obey the law daily, and do work for our country. For all that they contribute to our welfare, they live in constant dread of being apprehended as [undocumented immigrants] and being evicted, perhaps having their families disrupted. As unsatisfactory as this situation is it is the immigration scheme we have today…
"Because the sole purpose and effect of this ordinance is to target the presence of [undocumented immigrants] within the City of Farmers Branch and to cause their removal, it contravenes the federal government's exclusive authority over the regulation of immigration and the conditions of residence in this country, and it constitutes an obstacle to federal authority over immigration and the conduct of foreign affairs. The ordinance is unconstitutional, and the judgment of the district court is affirmed."
Omar Jadwat, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, said: "Today's decision conclusively rejects Farmers Branch's unconstitutional attempt to turn a municipal law into an anti-immigrant weapon. It is another defeat for the 'self-deportation' movement and the latest example why states and cities should not be implementing hateful policies that lead to racial profiling and violate people's fundamental rights."
Coalition Contacts
Laura Rodriguez, MALDEF email@example.com or call (310) 956-2425
Vesna Jaksic, ACLU national firstname.lastname@example.com or call (212) 284-7347 or (212) 549-2666
Dotty Griffith, ACLU email@example.com or call (832) 291-4776
Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation's leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the "law firm of the Latino community," MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.


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KSR Amplification, powered by Rhodes Amplification, LLC, is a company dedicated to producing high quality guitar amplifiers, switching systems, and occasionally mods. We specialize in the design of versatile guitar amplifiers loaded with useful features. We have several standard models available; have a look at our amplifiers for more information.
We have our own in-house cabinet shop. With a variety of cabinet offerings, feel free to specify any speaker not currently listed as an option. We can acquire any Celestion speaker to fit your needs.
Colossus H-100
The fine folks at Kiesel Guitars recorded this demo of their Colossus H-100 with matching RCS/412 cabinet loaded with Celestion V30 and K-100 speakers. This amp lives on their showroom floor and is available for customers to demo their guitars.
Artemis II-100
Chris Peters wrote and performed this awesome sounding clip of the Artemis II-100 along with his RCS/412 cab loaded with Celestion G12-65 speakers.
Gemini 100
Rob Scallon with some awesome 8 string action through the Gemini.
Ares 50
Check out our most affordable model, the Ares!
Brand Update
Why KSR Amplification? To begin with, I assure you we are the same folks who have been delivering your high quality gear since 2009 as Rhodes Amplification, LLC. However, through a series of events, some within our control, and some not, we have decided to adorn our line of guitar products with the KSR Amplification name. This is what you'll see on the front of all our physical shipments soon. On the back we will still proudly display our official business name: Rhodes Amplification, LLC.
Why change? Frankly, we feel it is much more beneficial to our customers if we continue designing and building cutting-edge products rather than pouring our resources into legal battles.
We hope you like the new name and new look. We welcome your feedback. Please feel free to contact us with any questions and/or comments.
A note for current customers -- your already ordered amps will all bear the Rhodes Amplification brand as you originally expected when placing your order.
Direct Sales / Dealers
Dealers around the world carry KSR Amplification products! We will continue to sell direct within the USA and Canada, though we are bringing domestic dealers online in 2015. Please contact us for street pricing or we will put you in touch with a dealer in your country.
You may also use the on-line quoting system by simply adding the product(s) with the desired options to the Cart. Once you've added everything of interest, finish the Checkout process to submit a quote. We will reply as quickly as possible with your customized pricing information.
Note that not all items are in-stock. Out of stock and/or custom spec'd amplifiers and switching products typically have a 4-16 week lead time. Cabinets are typically 1-2 weeks. Items in-stock will ship within 2 business days.


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When Shelby County Commissioners get together Wednesday, July 17, for committee sessions, they will probably begin to fill in some of the blank space left in the wake of their decision this week to vote down a $4.38 county property tax rate.
Shelby County Commissioners voted down a $4.38 county property tax rate Monday.
(Daily News File/Lance Murphey)
The 7-5 vote striking down the tax hike came eight days into the new fiscal year and weeks after the commission gave final approval to a county government operating budget that is based on the $4.38 rate.
There were early signs that the seven-vote majority already could be dividing on next moves.
Commissioner Steve Basar, who was part of that majority, later moved for reconsideration, which was approved. That keeps the framework of an ordinance before the commission. But his amendment to put the tax rate at $4.32 was voted down.
The $4.32 rate is the certified tax rate that county government and the state estimate would create the same amount of revenue for county government as the existing rate of $4.02 based on property value lost in the 2013 property reappraisal.
When the $4.32 amendment failed, a majority on the commission then voted to send the matter to committee sessions next week. Without that, the commission would have had to start over with the budget process.
The surprises in the key vote total were Democratic Commissioners James Harvey and Justin Ford, both of whom voted no.
Ford didn't take part in the commission debate before the tax rate vote.
Harvey said he believed it was possible to keep the property tax rate at $4.02 and not lay off any county employees or curtail any county services.
"I will not be voting for a tax increase," he said. "I am convinced that there is still yet an opportunity for us to cut costs."
He and Ford joined with five Republican commissioners who had expressed opposition to a $4.38 rate from first reading on.
"I would like to make a last appeal for us to live within our means," said Commissioner Heidi Shafer.
"I guess I'm scratching my head trying to figure out where all the panic is," countered Commissioner Walter Bailey, who estimated the tax hike would come out to about $9 a month more for many homeowners. "Where is the draconian imposition on taxpayers?"
Bailey tried unsuccessfully to raise the rate 4 cents more to $4.42.
Commissioner Wyatt Bunker argued it is the cumulative impact of an already high tax rate that is prompting people to leave the county.
"You just can't say every year, 'Give us more funding,'" Bunker said. "The way you control government is to restrict the cash flow to government."
Commissioner Steve Mulroy argued keeping services the same requires a higher property tax rate.
"The government is not immune from inflation," he said. "We're not going to cut realistically $60 million, which is the amount it takes to keep the tax rate at $4.02."
Just before the $4.38 rate was defeated, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell said a significantly lower tax rate would mean layoffs and reduced services across county government.
"To say that we have not given proper attention to cutting is really a fallacy," he added. "We will continue to cut."
He also defended the extra $20 million in the budget in funding for the consolidated school system and the 6-cent tax hike in the tax rate that would go for half of that amount of new school funding.
Luttrell cited "significant turmoil" in local public education and said interim superintendent Dorsey Hopson is "trying to pull our education system out of the fire."
"This year, I think we as a county owe it to the public education system to show them that level of support," he continued.
And Luttrell said all seven of the cities and towns in Shelby County proposed property tax hikes for the new fiscal year and pointed out that six of the seven have Republican mayors.
Meanwhile, the commission later elected Harvey as its new chairman for a one-year term that begins Sept. 1 and elected Basar as chairman pro tempore for a similar term.
Harvey was elected by six of the seven commissioners who voted "no" with him on the tax rate. The only exception was Ford; he voted for current Chairman Mike Ritz, who was making a bid for a second term.
Harvey also drew support from fellow Democrats Henri Brooks and Sidney Chism.
He was elected on the ninth round of voting by the commission. The first three rounds were before the debate and decision on the tax rate. The commission then put off later votes until after the final reading of the tax rate ordinance.
Basar was elected to the No. 2 post with seven votes in a closer contest with Shafer.
Copyright 1995 -
by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved


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Used 2006 Nissan Titan King Cab Review
Edmunds expert review
With a stout V8, roomy interior and loads of innovative and useful features, the 2006 Nissan Titan is an impressive full-size that every truck buyer should consider.
What's new for 2006
Vehicle overview
Given that Ford's F-150 outsells the most popular passenger cars by a 2-to-1 margin, you had to figure it wouldn't take long before the import automakers would want to take a slice of that pie for themselves. With the Titan, Nissan set its sights directly on truck buyers looking for a true full-size truck with full-size capabilities and toughness. With dimensions that are within a few inches of the F-150, the 2006 Nissan Titan has the kind of cargo and interior room you expected in a full-size truck. There's a fully boxed frame underneath for maximum rigidity and strength, as well as a traditional solid rear axle with leaf-spring support. Two body styles are offered: a half-ton extended cab (called King Cab) with reverse-opening rear access doors and a 6-foot-6-inch bed, and a half-ton crew cab with four full-size doors and a 5-foot-6-inch bed.
The standard drivetrain is a 5.6-liter V8 coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission. The engine is a 32-valve, dual-overhead-cam design highlighted by a variable intake for maximum low-end torque and an aluminum block for reduced weight. Current power specifications have the engine pushing 305 horsepower and 379 pound-feet of torque. Compare those numbers to any of the domestics' V8s and it's clear that the 2006 Nissan Titan stacks up favorably in both categories. The transmission features a tow-haul mode that works together with the engine's electronic throttle control to provide a smooth power curve and seamless shifts under load. Four-wheel-drive versions get a part-time transfer case with ultralow gearing for steady rock crawling, while an optional off-road package adds lower axle gears and the large off-road tires.
Rack and pinion steering assures precise control, and the standard four-wheel antilock disc brakes are fortified with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and BrakeAssist for more power during panic stops. Inside the Nissan truck, there's a modern cabin with all the latest features and plenty of room for passengers and cargo. The rear doors on extended-cab models open up a full 168 degrees for easier access, while both models feature rear seats that fold up to reveal a nearly flat load floor. On the outside, the Titan's bed can be ordered with a spray-in bedliner right from the factory, as well as an adjustable tie-down system that offers an almost limitless number of tie-down points. It's clear that Nissan did its homework when it came to the design of the Titan, as this pickup compares favorably to its domestic competition in almost every respect. Whether you need power for towing, space for hauling or just a comfortable and spacious cabin, the 2006 Nissan Titan offers it all.
Trim levels & features
The full-size 2006 Nissan Titan truck comes in two body styles: an extended cab (King Cab) with a 6-foot-5-inch bed and a crew cab with a 5-foot-5 bed. Both are available in two- or four-wheel-drive configurations and three trim levels: XE, SE and LE. Base XE models come well equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, a 40/20/40-split bench seat and a CD stereo. The midgrade SE adds captain's chairs and a flow-through center console, along with power windows, locks and mirrors; keyless entry; an overhead console; and chrome trim for the exterior. Top-of-the-line LE models add power-adjustable leather seats, a Rockford Fosgate audio system, power-adjustable pedals, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with integrated compass, heated and auto-dimming side mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a utility package for the bed. Notable options include a DVD-based navigation system, a DVD rear entertainment system, a sunroof and a factory-applied spray-in bedliner. There's also an off-road package that includes Rancho shocks, heavy-duty skid plates, a lower final-drive gear ratio, BF Goodrich all-terrain tires and a push-button rear locking differential. A tow package adds a heavy-duty radiator, upgraded springs, extending tow mirrors and a stability/traction control system.
Performance & mpg
The Nissan Titan offers only one drivetrain combination: a 5.6-liter V8 hooked up to a five-speed automatic transmission. The V8 is rated at 305 hp and 379 lb-ft of torque. With the optional tow package, the Titan extended cab is rated to pull up to 9,500 pounds (the crew cab maxes out at 9,400). The standard five-speed automatic transmission features a tow-haul mode for handling heavy loads. Four-wheel-drive models get a part-time transfer case with ultralow gearing.
Standard safety features include a tire-pressure monitoring system and four-wheel antilock disc brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and BrakeAssist. Seat-mounted side-impact airbags and roof-mounted side curtain airbags are also available on all Titan models while stability control can be added to SE and LE trim levels.In NHTSA crash testing, the 2006 Nissan Titan received five stars for driver protection and four stars for passenger protection in frontal impacts.
A tightly controlled ride and a gutsy engine make the Nissan Titan feel smaller than it really is. The five-speed transmission keeps the engine in the heart of its power band for strong acceleration that rivals any of its competitors. Strong brakes and solid road feel further contribute to the Titan's ability to handle everything from heavy loads to daily errand-running.
The Nissan Titan features a spacious and functional interior design with easy-to-use controls and numerous storage bins. SE and LE trim levels offer captain's chairs with a floor-mounted transmission shifter and a flow-through center console (a bench seat with a column shifter is standard on base models and a no-cost option on the SE). The rear load floor is flat for hauling large items inside the cab, and the rear doors on extended-cab models open 168 degrees for easier access. Crew-cab models feature a standard power up-down rear window with defroster.
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Training Summary
Disc golf is one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities among youth and young adults. This course will teach you how disc golf can help you to improve your Scouting program, including using disc golf as an activity, for advancement, and as a great source of service projects. And, of course, you'll learn how to play disc golf—and teach others to play.
Time Required
50 minutes
Target Audience
Scoutmasters, assistant Scoutmasters, Webelos den leaders and den chiefs, Venturers, and Venturing Advisors.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Play and teach disc golf
- Take a den, patrol, troop, or crew on a disc golf outing
- Tie disc golf to advancement and other Scouting goals
Training Format
- PowerPoint
- Lecture
- Field lecture
Required Materials
- PowerPoint equipment, if desired
- Golf discs, 1 per participant + trainers
- Targets, ideally 1 for every 4 to 6 participants
- 4-foot sections of rope, tape, or sticks to mark tee lines. 1 per target.
- Handouts:
- Disc Golf and Advancement
- Disc Golf Service Project Guidelines
- Disc Golf Service Project Ideas
- The Rules of Disc Golf According to the Scout Law
- Disc Golf in Support of Scouting Resources
Pre-Training Prep
Go to the course directory at www.PDGA.com and look up one or more disc golf courses near the training site. Check out the camps in your council to see if any have disc golf courses.
Disc Golf in Support of Scouting
Before participants arrive, set up targets and tee lines. Show Slide 1 while participants are gathering. Distribute the discs. (Do not distribute handouts until the end of the course.)
Introduction (1 minute)
Show Slide 2. Introduce yourself and tell why you know about disc golf.
Tell participants: At the end of this course you will know what disc golf is. You'll be able to play disc golf correctly. You'll also be able to teach people how to play disc golf. Plus, you'll be able to take your den, patrol, troop, or crew on a disc golf outing.
You will also learn how disc golf fits with the mission, aims, and methods of the Boy Scouts of America. You'll be surprised to learn all the ways to you can use disc golf to encourage advancement. And you'll get some ideas for disc golf-related service projects, and how to make them successful.
Part 1: What Is Disc Golf? (2 minutes)
Show Slide 3.
Tell participants: The name of the game is disc golf. "Disc" because "Frisbee®" is a registered trademark of Wham-O Inc., and "golf" because the rules and strategies are very similar to golf. Disc golf was invented in the 1970s to boost disc sales.
The way you play is to throw a disc at a target. You keep score by counting how many throws it takes to get the disc in the target.
A lot of youth are already playing disc golf. You may have heard your Scouts or Venturers talking about it. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, the popularity of disc golf is increasing at 15 percent per year. There are a lot of disc golf courses—more than 2,500 in the United States and another 250 in other countries.
Most people who play disc golf are young men, so it is a natural fit for Scouting. However, men, women, and children all play disc golf, from about age 7 into their 90s.
Show Slide 4.
Some of disc golf's appeal is that it requires no certification and no safety equipment, and it presents few safety hazards. In fact, youth can play disc golf without any adult supervision.
Most of the time, disc golf is free to play, because the disc golf courses are in public parks. You can play with as few as one disc, which costs approximately $10. And, you play in almost any weather, winter or summer. Play stops only for lightning.
Part 2: How to Play Disc Golf (10 minutes)
Show Slide 5.
Now you're going to get a 10-minute clinic in how to play disc golf. Pay attention, so you can give this same clinic to teach others how to play.
In one sentence: To play disc golf you throw the disc from the tee into the basket using the fewest throws.
Instructions to Trainer: If you are not using the slides, take the group to the tee area and show the front line.
To play a hole of disc golf, you start at a tee area. At a really good course, this will be a cement pad, about 5 feet by 12 feet. It could also be a rubber pad or a gravel-filled box. It might just be a board set into the ground, or two stakes to mark a line. It could just be a pole or a traffic cone. Sometimes, you just look for where the grass is worn out.
Whatever the tee box looks like, there will be a front line—even if it's only imaginary. You throw from behind this line. You can do a run-up to get momentum to throw really hard; you just have to release the disc before you go over the line. It's OK for your momentum to take you over the line after you throw.
Instructions to Trainer: Go through an imaginary run-up and follow-through. If you are giving the training indoors, do it in slow motion.
Normally, you'll be playing with a small group. Everyone in the group throws their first throw from the tee area, before anyone in the group throws a second throw. Of course, you should not disturb the person throwing.
Instructions to Trainer: If giving the course in the field, tee off first. Throw only about 20 feet. Pick two or three participants to be in your "group." Have them tee off. Skip the following narration of the slide.
Here is what it looks like. The person with the orange disc is throwing. The target is to the right, out of the picture. Notice the thrower is not in front of the sign that marks the tee area.
Note to Trainer: These pictures were taken on the disc golf course at base camp on Philmont Scout Reservation.
Show Slide 6.
There are two basic types of throws that most players use: backhand and forehand. I'll describe both. You choose one you want to try, and we'll get a chance to get up and throw in a minute.
Most people have thrown a flying disc using the backhand throw. A disc golf throw is similar, but you want to grip it harder, and throw it harder. To throw backhand, hold the disc like this. The thumb is on top of the disc while your fingers are curled under; grabbing the disc. Press your fingers against the rim for more power. If you want to spread your fingers, that's OK—do whatever feels comfortable.
Instructions to Trainer: Whether or not you are using the pictures, demonstrate everything shown in the pictures.
Show Slide 7.
After you've gripped the disc, stand sideways to the target with your throwing shoulder pointed at the target. Reach back and fling your arm forward.
Instructions to Trainer: Demonstrate the throw. If you are using pictures, flip back and forth between this slide and the next.
Show Slide 8.
Instructions to Trainer: Flip back and forth between this slide and the previous.
Note to Trainer: If anyone remarks on the COPE course in the background, explain that these pictures were taken on the disc golf course at Tomahawk
Scout Reservation.
Show Slide 9.
Another type of throw is the forehand throw. To throw forehand, hold the disc like this. Your thumb will be on the top of the disc, and your middle finger will be pressing on the inside bottom rim. The middle finger will push the disc forward when you fling the disc.
Instructions to Trainer: Demonstrate.
Show Slide 10.
Stand with your throwing shoulder away from the target and the other shoulder pointing toward the target. Bring the disc forward to throw it.
Instructions to Trainer: Demonstrate the motion. Flip back and forth between this slide and the next a few times.
Show Slide 11.
Like this.
Instructions to Trainer: Demonstrate.
Show Slide 12.
After everyone throws from the tee area, the group moves to the disc that is farthest from the basket. The person whose disc is farthest is "out."
Instructions to Trainer: If giving the course in the field, have your group move to the disc farthest from the target (it should be yours).
Here are the players at the "out" player's disc. Can anyone think why no one goes past the disc that is farthest from the basket?
Instructions to Trainer: If no one gets the answer, prompt with "Here's a hint, it's a safety thing." If no one guesses, explain: "It is so no one gets hit in the back of the head with a disc."
Show Slide 13.
A key to any kind of golf is that the next throw (or stroke) is made from where the last one landed. All you really need to remember for disc golf is to throw from behind your disc. Draw an imaginary line from the center of the target to the center of the disc. Your foot should be on the extension of that line, behind the back of the disc, like this.
Instructions to Trainer: If teaching in the field, put a disc on the ground and position your foot behind it (away from the target). If using the slides, point out the target, the disc, and the foot.
Show Slide 14.
The goal, of course, is to throw the disc into the target, like this.
Show Slide 15.
"In the basket" means either lying in the basket or hanging in the chains. If you are throwing at poles, trees, rocks, or things like that, you just need to hit the object.
Instructions for Trainer: If teaching in the field, set up some discs like the picture. Point to each disc as you talk about it.
A disc would not be "in" if it were lying on top. It would not be "in" if it were under the basket. A disc is "in" only if it is supported by the basket or the chains.
Show Slide 16.
After your disc stays in the basket and you take it out, you have finished playing that hole. Let everyone else finish. When everyone has completed the hole, move on to the next tee, so the next group can start throwing at the target. How do you find the next tee? There might be a sign that says "To Next Tee." You might be able to see the next tee. Or, just follow the most well-worn path.
Show Slide 17.
Before you start playing the next hole, the scorekeeper should record the scores. Players can take turns being the scorekeeper. The scorekeeper calls out the name of the first player listed on the scorecard. That player says his or her score. The scorekeeper repeats the score, writes it down, and calls the name of the next player.
Instructions to Trainer: If your presentation is on schedule, go through a simulated scorekeeping. Pick three other people, find out their first names and have them make up a score. Say your own name, say a score, write it down. Say the second person's name, have them say their score. Repeat what you heard and write it down. Say the third person's name, have them say their score. Say an incorrect score, let them correct you, repeat it correctly, then write it down. Say the fourth person's name, have them say their score. Repeat what you heard and write it down.
Show Slide 18.
Before you let anyone start playing, talk about safety. The unique safety factor is those flying discs. Remember, players will be throwing these as hard as they can. The discs weigh about as much as baseballs, and the edges are a lot sharper. You don't want anyone to get hit by a disc that is traveling at up to 75 miles per hour. A flying disc can cause serious injury.
So, make sure that no one throws when there is the slightest possibility of the disc going anywhere near anyone. If it appears that a disc is about to hit someone, everyone should yell "FORE!"—really loud—as a warning.
To protect yourself, you should always be listening for others yelling "fore" and be on the lookout for flying discs. If you hear "fore," put your head down and cover your head with your arms. If you see a disc coming toward you, watch it and move to a safe place before it lands.
Show Slide 19.
Of course, all the hazards of being outdoors are still there. In fact, you need to be MORE aware of them. Discs will fly and roll into the worst places. That gives players a lot of temptation to do things they normally wouldn't do.
Instructions to Trainer: Ask the participants for ideas of unsafe things that youth might do to retrieve a disc. If you don't get enough answers, use the following ideas: Wade into a swamp, chase a disc over a drop-off, reach into a patch of poison ivy, hit a hornet's nest, stick their hand under that rock where a rattlesnake is, climb a power pole, get up on a roof, climb over a fence.
As leaders, you need to establish the safety rules for the area where you are. For example, Safe Swim Defense applies if there is water, which means no one should get wet. Discs don't cost much; just leave them when they land in unsafe areas.
The positive side of this is that the youth will actually interact with, and carefully study, the nature around the spot where the disc landed.
Actually, the manmade hazards may be of more concern than the natural hazards. Don't try to get a disc off of power lines or the poles that hold them. Don't try to climb up to the disc and don't poke at it with a stick. Watch for power lines near any trees where a disc gets stuck. Never climb any tower, fence, wall, or any other manmade structure to retrieve a disc.
A lot of disc golf courses are next to private homes or land. If the disc lands in someone's yard, it is no longer your disc. Don't trespass to get it back. There may be a guard dog. Anyway, it's not good citizenship to break laws.
Part 3: Practice Play (15 minutes)
Show Slide 20.
OK, it's time to get up and have a little fun. We're going to play a very short practice hole. Then, we're going to learn how disc golf can support Scouting.
Instruction to Trainers: Get the participants up and playing for a few minutes. Stop them before they want to quit.
Walk around and guide the participants in their grip and motion.
If teaching in the field, or if participants have easy access to outdoors or a gym, use the tee lines and targets you set up before the training began. Let the participants divide into groups and play.
If teaching indoors in a medium-sized room, and participants can't get outside (because of weather or time constraints) set up a target by a wall that has no windows, lights, or other breakables. Have participants form a semicircle and drop their discs at their feet. Tell them that was their first throw. Have them throw. If there are 8 or fewer participants, they can take turns, If there are more, have them throw all at once.
If teaching indoors in a small room, or a room full of breakables, don't let them throw.
Part 4: Youth Disc Golf Styles (2 minutes)
Show Slide 21.
You probably know that youth go through developmental stages that affect their behavior. This also affects how they play disc golf. By adjusting the style of play to the age of the group, they'll have more fun.
First of all, you probably don't want to try disc golf with boys younger than Webelos Scouts. Some kids that age will take to it, but most won't have the patience or physical skills for it to be much fun.
10- to 13-year-olds aren't going to follow the rules, and that's OK. To them it's just a fun way to play. Just tell them that the point of the game is to throw the disc at the target. If it doesn't go in, pick it up and throw it again. They play fast—they won't wait to take turns throwing. They form a rolling herd of kids bumping into each other, swarming over the course. Every few steps another disc flies up out of the middle of it, toward the hole. You'll see all types of throws, from baseball-style to bowling. That's OK. Don't bother correcting them.
With Scouts this age, just play a set amount of time, about 45 minutes. Don't force them to finish a certain number of holes. They won't do more than 6 holes in any case. It's OK to take these youth to most public courses. If you're setting up a course for these youth, the holes should be only 50 to 150 feet long.
Show Slide 22.
For youth ages 14 and above, it's a whole different experience. They treat this just like they do other sports. They want to learn and follow the rules—including the courtesy rules of throwing in the proper order, and keeping score correctly. The very first time they play, it will take about five holes for the rules to sink in.
They take a few seconds to plan their shots. They may have a few different throws and a variety of discs they can select from. They are willing to work on their throwing skills. If you have an expert around, youth this age may be willing to listen. At this age, they might want to complete the course. Even beginners can enjoy any public course you'll find.
Here's a tip: The older the youth, the more they like disc golf. So, it's perfect for retaining older Boy Scouts, as a Venturing activity, or to keep camp staff happy.
Part 5: Disc Golf and Scouting
Show Slide 23.
Like all games, stories, and training, disc golf is a way to create teaching moments at an accelerated rate. The nature of the game forces the players to make choices. Because there are rules, goals, and a winner, there are temptations to cheat. Therefore, opportunities to make ethical choices come up. This is the opportunity for you, as leaders, to enforce the mission of the BSA.
For example, say Amit is the scorekeeper. Billy calls out his score as 4, but Amit thinks it is a 5. Now, Amit, Billy, and the rest of the players in the group have a situation where an ethical choice needs to be made. Your role is not to make the choice for them, but to provide guidance—if they need it—as they work it out. Keep your eyes open, and you'll see an opportunity like this just about every hole.
Show Slide 24.
One of the aims of Scouting is physical fitness. Obviously, when youth are out playing disc golf, they are getting good exercise. But, there is another teaching opportunity here. You can suggest that if they want to play better, they could train for it. Do some extra exercises. Eat better, avoid smoking and drugs. For some youth, disc golf will be that one sport that motivates them.
There are a lot of opportunities to develop mental fitness in disc golf—and the youth will never realize it is happening. To start with, the youth are doing fourth-dimensional physics in their head to figure out where their shot will go. Doctoral dissertations have been written on the aerodynamics of rotating objects. More down-to-earth, players need to learn, interpret, and apply the rules. Even the act of adding up the scores can be quite a mental exercise for youth, especially if they get into some of the more complicated team games. As the players get better, they'll start to think about strategy. You can
guide them here.
Show Slide 25.
Another aim of Scouting is character development. Disc golf is a sport; aren't sports all about character development? Players will have opportunities to learn to handle disappointment. When that happens, your role is show them how to act.
The citizenship training in disc golf is actually quite explicit. The courtesy and etiquette rules for playing in a group are a basic form of citizenship.
Show Slide 26.
Now it's time to get down to the nuts and bolts. So, you want to go play disc golf. Where can you play? The best place is a permanent course. The most complete and up-to-date online course directory is at PDGA.com. You put in your zip code and get a list of the closest courses, with driving directions and descriptions.
Instructions to Trainer: Tell the participants about the public course nearest the training site, and about any nearby Scout camps with courses.
You can also set up your own course. If there is a disc golf store nearby, they might let you borrow some real targets. After all, you're creating new customers for them. You can set out laundry baskets or trash barrels, or just stick poles in the ground. You can mark trees by putting two pieces of tape around them about 3 feet and 5 feet off the ground. You could also go "free-range." Take turns picking out nonbreakable objects to throw at, and find interesting places to throw from. An example of a good place to do this would be on school grounds, where everything is already ballproof.
Show Slide 27.
OK, where can you get discs? You might find out that a lot of your youth already have some real golf discs. They usually have more than one and can share. If you're at a Scout camp with a course, they probably lend out discs. You could buy new discs for about $10. You can find them at camp trading posts, disc golf specialty stores, hobby stores, sports equipment stores, and discount stores. Often, a convenience store near a course will have a stand with a few discs available. Used sporting goods stores sell discs for as little as $3. If you want to outfit your whole group, you can also buy misprinted discs in bulk for a few bucks each. Look online.
There are different kinds of discs—drivers, putters, midrange—but to get started, each person really needs only one disc, and any kind will do. If you can't get real disc golf discs, anything will do. Sometimes it's even more fun.
Show Slide 28.
You might think that there is no connection between disc golf and advancement. And yet, if you have any disc golf players in your group, you will find a lot of things they can do that are disc golf-related, and which will also help them earn awards and advancement.
For example, Webelos Scouts can earn the Ultimate belt loop and pin by playing disc golf. This would be a good activity to do with a Scout troop. Venturers can use disc golf to earn the Venturing Sports awards. One of the requirements is to teach the sport to someone—like a Scout troop.
Show Slide 29.
With temporary badges, you can do pretty much anything you want. Some Scout camps have disc golf badges or segments. A council could make a troop ribbon or similar award. You can also design your own to commemorate a disc golf outing.
Show Slide 30.
What you might not realize is how you can use disc golf to inspire Scouts to achieve some of the requirements for all these kinds of awards. I'll just give a couple of ideas. One of the handouts will have a whole list, but think outside the box. If a Scout has a stack of golf discs, suggest to him that he might look at the Collections merit badge.
Many of the special awards in Scouting—like the 50-Miler Award— require some trail work or conservation service hours. You can do these on a disc golf course. For rank advancement, playing disc golf with the troop counts as a nonmeeting outing. And of course, a Scout who is also disc golfer would jump at the chance to do service hours or his Eagle Scout leadership service project on his favorite disc golf course.
Part 6: Disc Golf Service Projects (5 minutes)
Show Slide 31.
Here are some ideas for disc golf–related service projects.
If the youth were to teach disc golf to a group of children, or residents of a retirement home, that would be a good service project. And, they'd have a lot of fun doing it. If there is a tournament being held to raise funds for a charity, your youth could help out. Even something as simple as handing out water to the players would be helpful.
If the youth has a favorite disc golf course, it's probably in a park. Most parks could use some improvements—maybe trash cans or benches, or removing barriers to accessibility.
If you remember only one thing from this course, remember this: Before a Scout does anything to a disc golf course, or before he proposes a new course, get a qualified disc golf course designer. Otherwise, the project may actually do more harm than good.
Part 7: Ideas for Action (3 minutes)
Show Slide 32.
OK, your brain is full, that's about all we're going to pump into it today. It's time to regurgitate some of it.
At some point during this presentation, you got an idea. Sometime during talking about how to teach disc golf, how disc golf fits with the Boy Scout ideals, how to use disc golf as an activity, or to promote advancement, or for service projects, you thought, "Hey, I could…," or "I know a Scout who…"
Now everyone wants to hear your idea. Who has an idea they thought up, or heard here, that they're going to use?
Instructions to Trainer: Take ideas for about three minutes. E-mail original ideas to email@example.com. If no one volunteers, prompt with: Who has ever played disc golf, either in Scouts or not? If no one volunteers, read a few ideas from the handouts.
Part 7: Resources (1 minute)
Show Slide 33.
To help you with those ideas, here are some places to get more information. These are all listed on the handouts, but here's is a quick introduction.
The first, PDGA.com has everything you need to know about disc golf, or at least a link to it. There, you can find the rules book, a course directory, how to find a course designer, and a list of local clubs.
The Educational Disc Golf Experience is a group that develops educational programs around disc golf—including packages for summer camps. Their instructional video is an excellent introduction to the sport for everyone, not just Scouts. If you don't feel comfortable teaching disc golf, show the Scouts this DVD.
And, if you are looking for a book printed on actual, old-fashioned paper, there is one.
This training module is available at Scouting.org under Boy Scouts/Adult Leaders/Training/Supplemental Training Modules.
Part 8: Conclusion (1 minute)
Show Slide 34.
Disc golf is popular among youth. You might not realize how many youth in your group are already playing it.
As we've seen, you can use disc golf to further the leadership training of your youth.
It is easy to get started in disc golf, and it's inexpensive. The initial learning curve is steep, which is satisfying for both youth and adults.
Most importantly, you now have all the tools you need to use disc golf in support of scouting. So have fun.
Part 10: Handouts and Adult Leader Putt
Now, you can stand up and pick up your handouts. If you want to stick around, I'll show you an adult leader putt. Your youth won't know about it, and it's dead-eye accurate from about 15 feet away.
Instructions to Trainer: Say good-by to anyone who wants to leave. Demonstrate the adult leader putt for the rest, then let them try it for themselves.
Show Slide 35.
Hold the disc up by your head, kind of like a waiter carrying a tray. Balance the disc on your thumb, with your fingers along the back rim.
Instructions to Trainer: Demonstrate as you explain.
Show Slide 36.
To putt, throw the disc down and hard, right at the basket. The action is like shooting a free throw in basketball. Put a lot of back spin on it. If you get the disc spinning fast enough, aerodynamically, it will act like a ball. Only use this putt when you are about 15 feet away from the target.
Instructions to Trainer: Demonstrate as you explain. Flip back and forth between this slide and the previous.
Show Slide 37.
Instructions to Trainer: Put this slide up after demonstrating the adult leader putt.
Disc Golf and Advancement
(2008 Requirements)
Here are some ways disc golf can be used for advancement in Scouting.
Cub Scout Ultimate Pin and Belt Loop. Recently, the requirements were changed to allow these to be earned by playing disc golf OR Ultimate.
Venturing Awards. The Quest Award, which is the sportsmanship award for
Venturing, specifically mentions disc golf. Disc golf can also be part of earning the Sports Bronze Award.
Temporary Patches. Disc golf-related temporary badges or segments can be earned at some camps. You can also design your own disc golf temporary patch.
Merit Badges. Many merit badge requirements can be geared toward the interest of a Scout who likes disc golf:
- Citizenship in the Community
Requirement 2a(3). On a map of your community, locate and point out . . .
other interesting points. Where's the disc golf course?
Requirement 4. Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community . . . Whether to install—or what to do with an existing—disc
golf course.
- Collections. Discs are collectable.
- Communications
Requirement 6. . . . Develop a plan to teach a skill . . . Teach disc golf.
Requirement 7b. Create a Web page for your Scout troop, school, or other organization . . . for the local disc golf club.
- Engineering. Requirement 1. Select some manufactured item . . . investigate how and why it works as it does. Use a disc golf target or flying disc.
- Entrepreneurship. Requirement 2. Identify and interview an individual who has started his or her own business. A disc golf store owner or course designer.
- Environmental Science. Requirement 3d(3). Photograph an area affected by erosion . . . and discuss why the area has eroded and what might be done to help alleviate the erosion. Find erosion on a disc golf course.
- Graphic Arts. Requirement 3. Design a printed piece (flier, T-shirt, program, form, etc.) and produce it . . . for an upcoming disc golf tournament.
- Journalism. Requirement 4. Attend a public event and [report on it]." Attend a disc golf tournament, or a community meeting about a disc golf course.
- Orienteering. Set up an orienteering course at the disc golf course.
- Reading. Read a book about disc golf.
Special Awards
- 50-Miler Do the 10 hours of trail work by improving a disc golf course.
- William T. Hornaday Awards. For "Invasive Species Removal," pull buckthorn from a disc golf course.
- Paul Bunyan Woodsman. "Clear trails…trim a downed tree"… do it for a disc golf course.
- Den Chief Service Award. Requirement 12(a) Serve as a staff member of a Cub Scout special event… Requirement 12(f) Help to plan and carry out a joint pack-troop activity. Either could involve a disc golf tournament or seminar.
Rank Advancement
- Second Class 1b. Take a 5-mile hike to a disc golf course.
- Second Class 2a and First Class 3 Play disc golf with your patrol for one of
the outings.
- Second Class 4, Star 4, and Life 4. Improve a disc golf course, or help at a charity tournament for a service project.
- First Class 2. Set up the orienteering course at a disc golf course. It is open, out in nature, and has places already marked.
- First Class 11. Invite a non-Scout to play disc golf with your patrol.
- Star 4 and Life 4. Do service projects for a disc golf course.
- Eagle. For the leadership service project, establish or improve a disc golf course.
Disc Golf Service Project Guidelines
What do I need to know if a Scout wants to do a disc golf–related service project?
Disc golf service projects have become popular in recent years, especially as Eagle Scout leadership service projects. Many Scouts are interested in disc golf. They get excited about the opportunity to make a visible, permanent impact on the sport they love.
The Scout may get to create a new course from the ground up. More likely, he will make improvements to an existing disc golf course. Either way, the result could be an amenity for the community that will provide thousands of hours of enjoyment.
However, disc golf has some unique aspects. There are certain things the Scout needs to know to make sure the project gets finished, satisfies the needs of the beneficiary, has no erosion or safety problems, and is fun for everyone.
What does the Scout need to know about disc golf? It depends on the type of project he is going to do. The key question is will the project affect how the course is played?
Projects that do not affect the play of an existing course. Many disc golf courses need improvements that are not directly related to playing area of the course. Some examples would be adding benches, building a bridge or boardwalk over a water hazard, adding protection for trees that are frequently hit by flying discs; installing a rain shelter; or setting up a "welcome center" with rules, a course map, and a score card dispenser.
Before changing anything on or near a disc golf course, the Scout should consult with someone who is familiar with the course. Just getting permission from the course owner is not enough. The course owner (who probably represents a city, school, or religious organization) may not play disc golf. The Scout should make sure that the project will not adversely affect how the course plays. For example, a poorly placed hedge row might block the flight path to the target. Safety is also a concern. An improperly placed bench might be located where flying discs tend to land.
Projects that do affect how a course is played. A new course falls into this category. Other examples include adding or removing targets, installing signs, installing (or removing) hazards like ponds and plants, or upgrading the tee areas.
For this type of project, the Scout will need to bring in an expert called a qualified disc golf course designer. A new course, or changes to a course, should be executed according to a design that meets the Professional Disc Golf Association Disc Golf Course Design Standards.
For an Eagle Scout leadership service project, it is acceptable to have an expert provide the design for the course-related aspects of the project. The Scout is not supposed to do all the work, but instead to provide leadership.
Sometimes a Scout will be reluctant to let go of the design responsibility. Often, this is because the Scout has some great ideas of his own. Suggest that the Scout discuss his ideas with a disc golf course designer. Most designers would be happy to incorporate
the Scout's ideas into the design. The designer will make sure the course is safe and appropriate for the skill level of the intended players, and that it meets the goals of the beneficiary.
Some Scouts may have spent a lot of time to learning about the principles of disc golf course design. They may feel they are ready to design a course. In such a case, the Scout should have his design reviewed by a disc golf course Designer. Point out to the Scout that even professional disc golf course designers with years of experience rely on peer review to make certain their designs comply with standards and to provide the best course for the location, the players, and the landowner.
A Word About Baskets. Although it may seem that the Scout or a volunteer could build workable disc golf targets from scratch, it is not a good idea.
Homemade baskets are not as durable as manufactured baskets. In a few years, your rusty broken baskets will not reflect well on the Scout's project.
Homemade baskets are not as safe. Manufactured baskets have been designed to avoid sharp edges, pinch points, and choke openings.
Homemade baskets would not meet the standards for holding a sponsored tournament.
Homemade baskets are not really much less expensive than manufactured. Wouldn't it be better for the volunteer to spend all those hours on other aspects of the Scout's project?
Disc Golf Service Project Ideas
- Run a tournament.
- Teach a group how to play.
- Help out at a charity tournament.
- Set up EDGE—Educational Disc Golf Experience—for a school.
- Improve the trails from each target to the next tee.
- Install safety nets or fencing.
- Install cement tee pads.
- Put a fountain in a pond or lake.
- Add a lost-and-found message board.
- Build a bridge or boardwalk over water.
- Add shoe scrapers near the tees.
- Put in benches.
- Add trash cans along the course.
- Plant grass on the fairways.
- Lengthen or shorten holes to meet current design standards.
- Implement erosion control measures.
- Add a second set of anchors for the baskets.
- Change the tee colors to the standards for each level of difficulty.
- Add protection for trees that get hit by discs.
- Set up a "welcome center" with rules, course map, score card dispenser, benches, and water.
- Add flowers or native plants beside the fairways.
- Remove barriers to make more holes universally accessible.
- Add another set of tees for greater (or easier) challenges.
- Theft-proof the baskets.
- Add rain shelters.
- Install a practice putting green—one or two targets for warm-ups.
- Build a cement pad and screening for portable toilets.
- Replace broken or stolen baskets.
- Install signs—tee number, distance, par, next tee this way, suggested flight path, rules, map.
- Build a "Nine Around" game—one target with nine tees.
- Mark an "object course" where the targets are marked poles, trees, or rocks.
- Add more holes to bring a course up to 18 holes.
- Install a new course.
The Rules of Disc Golf According to the Scout Law
Trustworthy. Keep track of the number of throws you make. Report your score to the scorekeeper after every hole. If you are the scorekeeper, accurately record everyone's score. Make your throws from the correct lie.
Loyal. Be loyal to yourself or your team by continuing to try for your best score on each hole through the whole round.
Helpful. If someone loses their disc, help them find it. Explain to other players the best way to play a hole. If another player asks, give them advice to improve their game.
Friendly. Compliment other players' good throws; do not tease them about the bad throws. Have fun, and make it fun for the other players.
Courteous. Do not distract anyone while they are throwing. Watch other players to help keep track of where their discs land.
Kind. Be gentle with the equipment. Do not scare animals. Never throw when your disc might hit someone!
Obedient. Follow the rules of disc golf; it is more fun that way. Throw from the exact spot your previous throw landed. If you lose your disc, throw from where you threw before, and add one extra to your score.
Cheerful. The number one rule of disc golf is HAVE FUN! Laugh when your throws do something unexpected.
Thrifty. The fewest throws wins. Starting at the tee box, get the disc into the basket in as few throws as possible.
Brave. Each time you play, try a throw or two you do not think you could ever make.
Clean. Leave the course cleaner than you found it. Do not leave any of your trash. Pick up some trash, if you see any. Wipe the mud off your disc—it will fly better.
Reverent. Respect nature. Do not destroy plants, or cut limbs off trees.
Disc Golf in Support of Scouting Resources
Professional Disc Golf Association
– Rules
– Course Directory
– Design Standards
– Course Designers
Educational Disc Golf Experience
– "Getting the EDGE" instructional video
– Camp Programs
Disc Golf: All You Need to Know About the Game You Want to Play
by Michael Steven Gregory
Boy Scouts of America National Council
– Boy Scout Advancement and Awards Requirements
– Mission and Value Statements
"Disc Golf in Support of Scouting"
– Boy Scouts/Adult Leaders/Training/Supplemental Training Modules


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26,000 Chicago teachers are on strike as of September 9, picketing at 675 schools.
The 404,000 mostly low-income students are either at home, at one of the 144 schools still open (like the charter schools), or at a non-profit center's strike camp.
No one can say how long the strike will last because to end, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel must find some way to resolve these critical issues:
- job-security
- wages and benefits
- teacher evaluations
CTU president, Karen Lewis explains the teachers' concerns about evaluations, "We are also concerned that too much of the new evaluations will be based on students' standardized test scores. This is no way to measure the effectiveness of an educator. Further there are too many factors beyond our control which impact how well some students perform on standardized tests such as poverty, exposure to violence, homelessness, hunger and other social issues beyond our control."
Mayor Emanuel, who supports the new teacher evaluations said about the strike, "This is totally unnecessary, this is avoidable, and our kids do not deserve this."
Ed Weekly explains the differences between the two sides which are markedly different.
But, after reading all the issues on both sides, I found Teacher X's blog post about why he is striking compelling. You can read it here . I recommend you do.
What do our Mom Congress delegates think of the strike?
Stacy Kannenberg of Wisconsin says, "I am against the strike! I believe the needs of the children and parents NEED to always come FIRST! The private sector employee goes to work without a 'contract' every day!"
Ohio delegate Hilary Frambes disagrees, saying, "I am in support of the CTU Strike. I believe the teachers in Chicago are indeed thinking of children and their families in their actions. They are fighting against the emphasis on standardized testing in their district.... tests which would decide the fate of teachers and schools. We all know that standardized tests aren't a true measure of learning, so why should they be a factor in deciding a teacher's job security or possibly closing a school? I think it's fantastic that educators are fighting against this... for the good of their schools and community. Strikes are unfortunate, but...our collective voices are all we have left against oppressive "reforms"."
"While I generally am not in favor of striking, it is sometimes necessary," says Megan Lynch, delegate from New Jersey. "This district has reached a critical mass. I have a friend who is there. One of the biggest sticking points is the teacher evaluation system. We all know it is preposterous to link a teacher's salary based on standardized testing outcomes particularly when some of these teachers have classes with 40 plus students. It is unrealistic and unfair. These teachers are taking a stand against something that is detrimental to the children."
What's your opinion of the Chicago teacher's strike?


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Fellowships & Scholarships
Contact Us | Payment Information | Academic Calendar | Find Your Financial Aid Advisor
Looking for ways to fund your graduate education? If you can demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and/or community involvement, you may qualify for a fellowship or scholarship at the University of Houston. More than 1,400 graduate fellowships are offered each year to qualified students in all fields of study.
Scholarships and fellowships may be awarded based on merit, financial need, diversity, or other circumstantial and academic major considerations.
Here's a look at some of the University-wide options. Many colleges and departments also offer their own fellowships, and you can also explore scholarships from outside sources.
Questions? Contact the Financial Aid Office.
Fellowship Opportunities
The following two-year fellowships are available to students who enter graduate or professional programs at the University of Houston. Students of exceptional caliber who represent extraordinary academic credentials receive these fellowships. Award amounts vary according to the academic goals and background of the recipient.
- Paul & Daisy Soros Foundation Fellowship
- Amount: The fellowship includes a grant of $20,000 per year for two years and a tuition grant of one-half the tuition cost of the US graduate program attended by the Fellow (up to a maximum of $16,000 per academic year).
- Qualifications: This Fellowship is awarded to eligible prospective graduate students who meet one of the "New Americans" criteria, plans to remain in the United States, is younger than 30 years of age, and shows evidence of the attributes quoted in the Soros application materials.
Current Scholarship Opportunities
- University of Houston Alumni Association
- Amount: Varies
The Houston Alumni Organization offers and lists a variety of scholarship opportunities for students of all levels. Scroll through their list to see what interests you, remember to check back as the HAO list is updated often.
- Desk & Derrick Club of Dallas Scholarships
- Deadline: July 1
The Desk and Derrick Club of Dallas is offering scholarships to outstanding college students planning a career in Petroleum, Energy and Allied Industries. Funds are available to both undergraduate and graduate students. The awards depend on the qualifications and needs of each student. Eligible students are those who are natives of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, show financial need, and have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0. An official transcript, the Desk and Derrick application, current college tuition invoice and book receipts, and a letter to the committee chairman outlining the student's qualifications and goals are required.


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Action Center
These are simple actions you can take to help animals.
You Have the Power to Change Things
The cruelty inflicted on farmed animals is terrible, but you can be a part of the movement that will end that abuse. Here's how you can become a powerful voice for animals.
Share What You Know
Share What You Know
You know about the cruelty farmed animals endure. You may also know about the health benefits of vegan eating. But a lot of people don't. Passing out Mercy For Animals booklets is a great way to share what you know with others.
And guess what? Research studies have found that these types of booklets are really powerful. They inspire people to change what they eat and what they think about farmed animals.
Step One:
Order Booklets
They're just $4 plus shipping for a pack of 100. And after your first order, we'll send you more for free! We also have Spanish-language booklets available.
Step Two:
Pick a Spot
You can share these booklets anywhere you want: at home talking to a friend, at the doctor's office, in your classroom, or at your neighbors' doors. It's up to you!
Want to reach a whole lot of people? Consider passing out booklets on a college campus or outside a high school, at a community event like an art show or festival, outside a concert, or by a subway, bus, or train station during rush hour. These are our favorite spots, but any street with a lot of foot traffic will do.
MFA volunteers pass out booklets all over the country. Once you're signed up for our volunteer list, we'll let you know if any events are happening near you.
Step Three:
Get Ready
You don't need to be an expert—the booklet will do the talking for you. If you're passing out booklets in public, try to dress like your audience. And while it's easy to pass out booklets on your own, it's more fun when you bring a friend.
And hey, here's some good news! You have the legal right to pass out booklets on most public property in the U.S. and Canada. This includes almost all sidewalks, universities, and colleges.
Step Four:
What to Say
If you're giving a booklet to a friend, you probably already know what to say. But if you're passing them out in public, here are a few helpful tips.
When leafleting, tilt your head, smile, and say hello or hi. Stand in the middle of the walkway, keep your arm straight and out in front of your body, and place the leaflet in someone's hand. If you extend your hand all the way, bend at the waist, and lean in a bit toward the person, they're more likely to take the leaflet. Saying things like "info to help animals" or "help animals" seems to work best.
Step Five:
Stay Positive, You Rock!
Passing out booklets is a numbers game. The more you pass out, the more animals you help. Don't be discouraged by the fact that many people won't be interested. Some people will be—and they're the ones that matter! Avoid arguing or spending your time talking to hostile people.
Always be positive, polite, and encouraging. The goal isn't to prove you're right, or to demand that other people be perfect. The goal is to get people thinking about these issues so they'll eventually change. You rock for spreading a message of compassion to more people!
Show the Cruel Reality
Show the Cruel Reality
Video footage of the cruelty inflicted on farmed animals is incredibly powerful. Many people who see it are instantly changed. But how can we get people to watch this footage?
If you're part of a school club or community group, consider setting up a "Paid-Per-View" (PPV) event. At PPV events you offer people a dollar to watch MFA's four-minute video, What Cody Saw. Do it once, and you'll see what a profound effect this video can have on people!
Step Two:
Pick a Spot
College campuses and festivals are great locations for carrying out PPV. Get permission to set up your table in the same area as other student groups or vendors.
Step Three:
Gather Supplies
You'll want at least two laptops or tablet computers and several sets of headphones. Some people use "headphone splitters," cheap cables that allow you to plug two sets of headphones into each computer. You'll also need a table and a stack of $1 bills, and you'll want to print out this sign.
Lastly email us to order free copies of our Vegetarian Starter Guide and other literature to pass out at your table as well as a sign-up sheet for collecting email addresses. (Please allow three weeks for shipping within the United States. Shipments to other countries may take longer.)
Step Four:
Get Funding (Optional)
If you don't have enough money to cover the costs of carrying out PPV, the organization VegFund may be able to help with funding.
Step Five:
Be Inviting
On the day of the event, be friendly and outgoing to encourage people to stop and watch the video. A good line to use is "We'll pay you a dollar to watch this short video!" If they ask what it's about, say, "It's about where your food comes from. It's just four minutes long and you'll get one dollar at the end." If possible, try to get more than one person watching each computer at a time.
Step Six:
Start a Conversation
Once people have finished watching the video, talk to them. "So, what did you think?" is a good opener. Now is the perfect time to answer questions they have and share advice on eating vegan or reducing meat consumption.
Give everyone who watches the video a Vegetarian Starter Guide with a dollar bill inside. Also ask them to write their email addresses on the sign-up sheet so we can send them helpful resources on veg eating. (Be sure to email us a photo of the sign-up sheet afterwards.) Thanks for showing others the powerful reality of factory farming!
Speak Your Mind
Speak Your Mind
Don't just tell your friends and family how you think farmed animals should be treated. Tell the world!
Writing a letter to the editor or an opinion piece for a newspaper is a great way to speak your mind about factory farming and vegan eating. Here's how you can do it:
Step One:
Pick a Topic
Look for recent news articles that relate to food or farmed animals, and write a letter to the editor in response. Or think about what's going on in the world right now and write an opinion piece that connects the current event to farmed animals or vegan eating.
Want ideas? Join oINK, MFA's writers group! We'll send you writing ideas, including topics for letters and opinion pieces!
Step Two:
Follow the Rules
Check out the "Opinion" or "About Us" pages on a newspaper's website to see the submission guidelines. Letters to the editor are usually 100–200 words, and should refer to a specific article. Opinion pieces are longer, typically around 750 words. Always keep your writing as brief as possible, and be sure to include your contact information when submitting anything.
Step Three:
Write Well
To get your message across, have one main point and stay on topic. Be positive: "We can all choose delicious vegan options" will go over better than "We shouldn't eat meat." Use inclusive words like "we" and "our" to relate to your readers, and avoid using jargon they won't understand.
If you're an expert, let them know. For example, you might say, "As a huge foodie," "As a high school student," or "As a veterinarian," before making your point. Lastly, always end by letting readers know what they can do to help. Thanks for taking the time to speak up for farmed animals!
Become a Better Advocate
Become a Better Advocate
There are lots of opportunities to speak out for farmed animals and promote vegan eating. But what's the best way to do it? Whether you're talking to a friend, a family member, or a complete stranger, here are six tips that will help you succeed:
Step One:
Be Kind and Positive
If people like you, they'll listen to you. So be kind and stay positive when talking to others about farmed animals. If someone's giving you a hard time, don't get defensive; use humor to disarm them and recreate a friendly atmosphere. Also, never act judgmentally. Telling people they're bad, or trying to guilt-trip them into doing what you want makes them less open to change.
Step Two:
Make It Cool
Make sure people know how popular vegetarian eating is! Talk about the growing number of people cutting out or cutting back on meat. Name-drop celebrities who have gone vegetarian, and mention how many restaurants and grocery stores are now carrying amazing vegan options.
Step Three:
Make It About Them
Almost everyone is against cruelty to animals. Almost everyone wants to be healthier, and wants a cleaner planet. Point out that vegetarian eating is right in line with what people already believe and who they already are.
Step Four:
Show People How
A lot more people would cut out or cut back on animal products if they knew how to do it. So show people how: Give simple, concrete tips on what to eat, where to shop, and how to stay healthy without animal products.
Step Five:
Start Off Easy
Most people see eating vegan as totally unrealistic. For people who are hesitant to make a major change, encourage them to start small by cutting out chicken or going meatless on Monday. Help them take the first step instead of demanding they take the last one.
Step Six:
Get Smarter
Want to be the best advocate you can be? Here are our favorite essays on how to be smart about changing the world for animals:
- A Meaningful Life: Making a Real Difference in Today's World
- Looking Inward: Activism and Self-Identity
- How Vegan? Ingredients vs. Results
- Want to be a More Effective Advocate? Put the (Vegan) Shoe on the Other Foot
- Effective Advocacy: Stealing from the Corporate Playbook
Thanks for standing up to make the world a better place for farmed animals!


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Message Board
Ray Monk Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Monk has written!
Author Monk's Book Reviews
Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius
This is Ray Monk's biography of Ludwig Wittgenstein, one of the most famous philosophers of the 20th Century. Wittgenstein was born in 1889 to one of the wealthiest families in Vienna, Austria, but from an early age felt drawn into pondering philosophical questions like, for instance, "Why should one tell the truth if it's to one's advantage to tell a lie?" Though drawn to philosophy, he first obtained a degree in aeronautics at the Technical University ...


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I expected it to be cooler on account of the recently fallen rain and I wore my bright jacket on account of the grey haziness, but I probably shouldn't have on account of the muggy heat. As Benjamin Franklin once never said, "Those who would trade visibility for comfort deserve neither." He also never said "A pennyfarthing saved is a pennyfarthing earned" and "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a bike commuter a boring, self-righteous prick."
If you're in a bike lane and turning right into another bike lane, to what degree
Clarendon was a sea of khaki. Nothing unusual in that. It might be the most khaki place in the metro region.
If a big truck is blocking the bike lane in the course of making a delivery, it's blocking the bike lane. Them's the breaks and there's no use getting upset about it. Though I have much more understanding for big 18 wheelers blocking the lane due to girth than for delivery vans double parking.
Godspeed, double hiking pole user on the Key Bridge. The slopes of Georgetown are indeed treacherous.
There should be an outdoor cafe on the bridgehead of the defunct Aqueduct Bridge. Here's a picture:
View Larger Map
It's towpath accessible and would get a good amount of foot traffic in the summer. But it's almost certainly NPS-owned and thus inaccessible for enterprising entrepreneurs. If I owned the concession, I'd sell langos and draft beer.
Have you ever stopped at intersection that doesn't even have a stop sign because there's a cop car sitting right there and you have a guilty conscience and are paranoid about getting a ticket because you read too many bicycle crackdown stories on the interwebs? I'm just glad no one was tailgating me.
The intersection of 37th and Whitehaven would be a great place for a 'take turns' sign. There should really be more innovation is urban traffic management. It's far too conservative.
I like ending my trip on a longish climb. It makes the commute feel way more like an stage win than just getting to work. I heard that one of the hidden features of the Commuter Relief Act is the mandatory installation of podiums next to all bike racks. But then we'd get all the commuter doping scandals and two year bans and whatnot.


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iTunes New Release Widget
About iTunes New Release Widget
Get the latest list of iTunes new releases delivered to your Dashboard instantly! Always stay up to date with the latest trends in music.
No set-up required, just download to your Dashboard and start receiving this free feed. Once installed any artist or song you click will bring you directly to the iTunes music store.
The iTunes New Release Widget is a great free add-on to your iTunes digital music player. Dont forget to check out our suite of other iTunes widgets.
Apple is providing links to these applications as a courtesy, and makes no representations regarding the applications or any information related thereto. Any questions, complaints or claims regarding the applications must be directed to the appropriate software vendor.