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The weather forecast calls for all of this snow to be melting in about a week. In case you think you just can't wait that long, here are some photos of MSGL summers past to see you through.
1994 - Digging in the tiny sandbox at Morton Center.
2000 - Hula hooping at Morton Center.
2001 - Hi Cathy!
2002 - The Parent/Infant class posing by the sandbox.
2003 - Waiting for a wagon ride.
2009 - Sack racing at the family picnic at Happy Hollow Park.
2010 - Releasing a newly-emerged Monarch butterfly.
2011 - Summer camp besties.
2012 - Shoveling in the shady sandbox.
2013 - Gardening at summer camp.
It will only be a few more days until warmer, friendlier weather arrives. Until then, take heart! Spring never fails to arrive.
Have a terrific Wednesday.
1998 was a big year for MSGL because we announced our expansion so we received lots of media coverage. This week's Wayback Wednesday post features another story from the Lafayette Journal and Courier. On July 7th, a story about our summer camp cooking class filled the 4 Kidz Only page. (I love that the J&C embraced phonetic spelling!)
The photos are beautiful and the children's quotes, especially about date math, are really sweet.
Featured teacher, Revati Nemani is still with MSGL today in the Catalpa class. The children featured in this article are now in college. Are any of them studying to be chefs? We would love to know. If you know Alie Magnante, Daniel Plesniak, Asher Bogdanove, or Andrew Staiger, please pass this along. It would be great to hear from them.
And maybe you and your young ones will give one of these recipes a go? We would love to hear about that, too.
Winter is upon us and the staff of the Wayback Wednesday department is preparing to head south for the season. (The staff certainly wishes this was true.) Okay, we're not really going anywhere but we have discovered a treasure trove of awesome photos. We will be scanning them and organizing them over winter break. When everyone returns in January you can look forward to the beginning of "Building MSGL." It's the story of how our families built the MSGL campus that we know and love today.
To whet your appetites I am posting one photo from that winter of 2000. Look at this photo and see if you can figure out where in the school it is. The first commenter to get it correct wins a free Wayback Wednesday t-shirt. (The staff certainly wishes this was true.) Okay, no t-shirt but you can still be first. Have fun guessing!
Have a terrific Wednesday and an awesome winter break!
It's been a long week for everyone at MSGL and it's only Wednesday. The roots of our beloved river birch tree, which shaded the sandbox for more than 10 years, finally overtook the sewage pipe coming from Building A. The tree was cut down, the sandbox was dug up, and the lovely pergola that Ron Stier designed and built to shade the children has been dismantled. This is the sight today as workers remove roots and begin to repair the pipe. As luck would have it, we received 3 inches of snow this morning so classes were cancelled.
It's not a pretty sight right now on the playground. (Photo by Tony Harvey)
Yesterday, we said goodbye to the river birch tree.
The river birch comes down, one limb at a time. (Photo by Lena Atkinson)
But this is Wayback Wednesday and we have to go way back. So let's take a look back at how we got here. This is the sandbox under construction in 2001. The river birch was planted later that year. It probably seemed like a really good idea at the time.
2001 - Sandbox under construction.
Two years later the children are enjoying the new sandbox. The birch tree is wrapped in black at top left.
Miss Sherry and friends enjoy the shade of the river birch and the pergola during summer camp in 2010.
And here is a nice photo of the whole area from Summer, 2011.
Certainly one of the most popular areas in our outdoor classroom, the sandbox is going to be sorely missed until it can be reconstructed. But even as we lament this loss, it's good to remember that things could be worse. Back in September, 2007, this was the view outside of Building A.
2007 - Old toilets being removed during demolition of Building A.
Take heart, friends. The water will soon be flowing in Building A and children will once again play in a shady sandbox. And Spring is only eight days away. Have the best possible Wednesday!
~ Heather
This week's installment of Building MSGL focuses on the work of the jackhammer, a tool that was put to much use during the first few months of the construction project. Lots of concrete had to be broken up and hauled away so we could remodel the buildings and install new steps and sidewalks.
Tony Harvey breaks up concrete in Building B to make space for new plumbing for sinks and bathrooms. This was one of his least favorite days of the entire 6-month project.
Looking at Building A as the concrete demolition gets underway.
Later that day, it looked like this. Watch that first step - it's a doozy.
Don Harvey and Craig Lamb prepare to take out the upstairs landing.
As the demolition continued, it became apparent that the light-duty jackhammer they had been using was not going to cut through some of the steps. One parent volunteer took a look at the slow progress they were making and set off to find a better solution. Half and hour later he pulled in with a trailer-mounted mobile air compressor and a much more powerful jackhammer. Tony Harvey said that was a real game-changer for this phase of the project.
"We had a little jackhammer that you could plug into an outlet in an airplane bathroom," he joked. "This parent came back with a rig that looked like Iron Man built it. When we flipped the switch on the big one you could see lights flicker in the apartments across the street," he said, once again, joking. "We had been working all day on those steps and in just 20 minutes with the big hammer, they were dust."
The old steps are broken up to make way for the new stairs/ramp that will lead into the upstairs hallway in Building A.
Just for fun, I am including before, during, and after photos from Building A so we can admire the progress from an old church basment entry to a modern, ADA-compliant school entrance.
During demolition.
Here it is with the concrete walls freshly poured.
Here, the railings are being installed.
And here it is that first summer, looking quite lovely.
Thanks for joining me in the wayback. Have a super Wednesday!
We're keeping things simple on Wayback Wednesday this week with a short and sweet little collection of photos from October, 2002. Teacher Judy West took the children of the Red Oak class on a nature hike to Purdue's Horticulture Park to enjoy the crisp morning, collect leaves, and hug some very deserving trees.
Do you have favorite photos you would like to share on Wayback Wednesday? Please contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com. Have an outstanding Wednesday!
Let's recap our Building MSGL series on Wayback Wednesday. Montessori Parents, Inc. purchased the Calvary Baptist Church on Soldiers Home Road in 1999. Demolition of the interior began in September, 2000. Now it's December, 2000 and the stud walls are in place so that wiring, plumbing, and drywall work can begin.
Looking toward the Oak Room in Building B.
Standing in Catalpa looking through the wall into the Oak Room.
Looking out the door of the Maple Room into the office hallway.
Here's the view walking in the office door.
Here's that same view just a couple of months later.
This is the Maple Room looking toward the stairs.
This is the Willow Room looking toward the kitchen area.
And here is the Spruce Room filled with drywall supplies.
The Harvey & Son Construction crew. Steve, Don, Nolan, and Tony working over Thanksgiving Break.
That's all for this week. Have a terrific Wednesday!


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The first segment of the Hearing Loss in the Military broadcast will be direct training and education presented by Dr. Lybarger. Topics will include:
* Hearing Damage & Combat Experiences
* Hearing Damage & other Combat Related Injuries
* Adapting to Multiple Disabilities
* Family Members Coping with Combat Related Hearing Loss
The second segment will involve a panel of experts answering questions about hearing loss. The panel will consist of the Executive Director for the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, a representative from the Veterans Administration, a Marine and a family member and Dr. Ron Lybarger.

subset: commoncrawl


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Boulder fire crews managed to extinguish a fire burning in some bushes and trees next to an apartment building near 30th Street and Glenwood Drive, according to police radio traffic.
Dispatchers said multiple people called in the fire around 1:15 p.m. near an apartment complex at 3265 30th St. First responders indicated bushes near the building were on fire, and that the flames were spreading toward the building.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames by about 1:30 p.m.


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Much of the discussion at Friday's meeting of the McDonough County Public Transportation Committee focused on the recent movement of vehicles equipment, and staff to the new Macomb Transit Center on East Pierce Street.
"It was pretty seamless," Jude Kiah said of the transfer of Go West buses from Center Street to East Pierce.
The Go-West director said the 30 buses formed a parade, complete with police escort. Once the buses were docked, drivers and their families enjoyed a potluck lunch.
Kiah said bus mechanics now work staggered shifts rather than simply coming in an hour apart. He said the night shift is basically for routine, single-mechanic maintenance though a second mechanic can be called in if necessary.
Bob Fuhr said Bridgeway vans, drivers and mechanics are now located in the center. Stan Carlisle of the American Red Cross Chapter said those drivers and vans are now in the center as well.
Transit Director Gary Ziegler said van dispatchers moving into the center were assisted by Macomb/McDonough County Information Systems Director Jake Holmes, who set up their computer hardware and software.
Ziegler said the final construction completion document will not be signed until Illinois Department of Transportation representatives can do a final walk through the building.
Kiah announced that U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will be the keynote speaker at the Macomb Transit Center's grand opening on Monday, April 1. Another special guest will be Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider.
MCPT has also invited U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk and U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, to send representatives to the local event. Public walkthroughs of the building will be conducted in the afternoon, according to Kiah, and special bus runs from 2 to 5 p.m. will be available to pick up any area residents interested in taking a tour.
McDonough County Board Chairman Scott Schwerer, an MCPT committee member, asked how many members have ridden on one of the buses or in one of the vans. He said he had not, and six more of the 11 members present said they had not either. Schwerer suggested that members of a public transportation board should take time to use the system.
Ziegler said the "demand response" point to point van service registered 24 new users in February. He said this increases the total client base to 4,148.
Ridership was down last month, Ziegler said, because of severe winter weather. Carlisle said some scheduled out-of-county trips for medical appointments had to be cancelled because of the bad weather.
An average of two out-of-county trips a day are scheduled in March. The vans made 27 trips in February: eight to Peoria, five apiece to Galesburg, Quincy, or Springfield, and one trip apiece to Carthage, Hamilton, Canton, and Iowa City.
Ziegler said a total of 3,605 van trips around the county were provided in February. He said there were about 172 rides given each day.
Go West bus service in Macomb served a cumulative 220,055 riders last month on the Western Illinois University campus and around the city. Ziegler said a cumulative average of 26,603 people rode the city routes, with an average daily ridership of 1,053. He said city route ridership is up by 5.8 percent from 2012. Bus service was cancelled one day in February because of a snowstorm.


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The Carmi-White County Junior High girls basketball teams hosted their first game of the season, splitting games with visiting Eldorado.
The Carmi-White County Junior High girls basketball teams hosted their first game of the season, splitting games with visiting Eldorado. The seventh grade team just missed a win in their season opener while the eighth grade squad pulled in their first win of the year in five games.
The seventh grade Lady Bullpups could not contain a 7-2 run in the fourth quarter to keep the Lady Eagles grounded Wednesday, Oct. 30, experiencing the loss 28-25. The Bullpups, coached by Jenny Howard, led by two heading into the fourth quarter, but could not add any points to the total until midway through the final period, giving Eldorado enough time to get the advantage and stay out in front.
Lily Wenzel led the Bullpups with 7 points followed by Julia Smith and Mayci Edwards who each added 6. Other Bullpup scorers were Remi Huff with 4 points and Carlee Hart with 2. Edwards led on the boards with 6 rebounds and six steals followed by Hart with 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Other stats were Lily Wenzel (2 rebounds, 1 steal), Remi Huff (1 rebound, 3 steals), Alexia Chambliss (2 steals) and Claire Shephard (2 rebounds). Other members of the team included Emily Brown, Courtney McRoy, Nora Blake and Haley Collins.
In the eighth grade contest, the Lady Bullpups had a slow start, trailing 18-13 after the first quarter but evened things up at 23-all heading to the locker room at halftime. The Lady Eagles proved fierce and maintained their ground through the second half, but in the end, CWC got the edge in the 43-40 win.
Abby Vaughan was once again tough to contain, scoring 19 points and adding 9 rebounds and 3 steals. She was followed by the team's point guard, Janes Smith, who added 10 points and 1 rebound. Other Lady Bullpups in the stats included Olivia Bohleber (6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal), Carrie Blankenberger (4 points, 2 rebounds) Emmajoy Gray (2 points, 2 rebounds) and Autumn Schneider (2 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal). Other members of the team include Grace Biggerstaff, Ivory Rhodes, Lindsay Slaton, Grace Sinclair and Shaelyn Perkins, who is currently injured and unable to play.
Roger Hortin's eighth grade team moves to 1-4 on the season. Longtime assistant Lee Wohlhueter also joined Hortin on the bench for CWC.


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Buyers offered more than $3.3 million Wednesday for 14 commercial properties at an auction in Sarasota.
They bid on office and retail buildings, industrial properties and vacant lots in Sarasota and Manatee counties with hopes of snagging deals from motivated sellers.
"What's the commercial market like? I'll tell you at the end of the day," Ian Black, whose real estate company put together the auction with Auction World USA, said before the bidding started.
None of the deals are guaranteed to go through. The owners can accept or reject the offers by Friday or negotiate different prices, Black said, noting that some of the properties had not had offers in months.
Only two of the 16 properties up for auction failed to get a bid. Another received an offer before the auction and was pulled from the line up.
"I'm very happy with the outcome," Black said later. "We are now negotiating on 15 properties, and that doesn't happen very often in our profession."
Rather than offering the properties one at a time - in what Black said was a first for Sarasota - auctioneer Mark Henderson drummed up the highest dollar offer, and that bidder then selected the property he wanted.
More than 75 people attended the auction at The Francis. Forty-one people registered to bid, Henderson said.
The top bid was $1.2 million for the parcel at the southwest corner of Pineapple Avenue and Ringling Boulevard, a site long targeted for projects that never happened. The bidder declined to identify himself to the Herald-Tribune, saying he was acting as an agent on behalf of the buyer.
Another buyer offered $315,000 for two vacant retail buildings at 1520-22 Fruitville Road in downtown Sarasota.
Investor Sal Diaz-Verson Jr. was not looking to buy, but he bid $200,000 for a two-office, seven-unit medical building at 8400-8460 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
"I just came in with some friends to observe," he said. "Before I know it, I'm walking out with a property. I didn't plan on doing anything."
He said he believes the medical offices, a total of 14,600 square feet, will be good income producers because they are the type of buildings in demand in the area.
Dr. Arnold Yoskowitz, president of Twin Towers Heritage Realty of Sarasota, offered $310,000 for a vacant two-story office building at 6015 31st St. E. in Bradenton. The 2.5-acre site includes nearly 40,000 square feet of building and a 188-space parking lot.
He said he came to the auction specifically to buy it.
"We will look at alternative uses for the property to make it more attractive to the current commercial market, possibly subdividing the building to make more units that are easier to occupy," Yoskowitz said.
A retail store at 1506 Fruitville went for $450,000. It had been on the market for $925,000.
A one-story office condo in the Pine Park Office Park on the South Trail landed a $305,000 offer, while a vacant one-acre lot zoned commercial at 608 Manatee Ave. E. in downtown Bradenton brought a $275,000 bid.
Seeking buyers in unusual Sarasota auction
Buyers offered more than $3.3 million Wednesday for 14 commercial properties at an auction in Sarasota.


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Despite growing up on a farm in rural Minnesota, Dolezal felt called to the sea during World War II.
Growing up in rural Renville County, Leonard Dolezal certainly had his share of time spent working with machines.
In fact, he took time off after graduating from the eighth grade and stayed at home to help serve as a mechanic for the family farm.
That experience would serve Dolezal well after he returned and graduated from high school.
"In 1945 right after I graduated from high school I joined the Merchant Marines," said Dolezal.
Dolezal, who already had several brothers serving in the military, also had a second cousin who had found a niche on board ships serving with the Merchant Marines.
"My second cousin Frank Dolezal came home on a vacation and told me all about it," said Dolezal.
Soon after, he was in Brooklyn, N.Y. at "boot camp" learning the ins and outs of his new role. "We were right on the ocean. The Coast Guard had a training camp next to us."
After graduating from his boot camp experience, Dolezal found himself on board a cargo ship as an oiler heading for Italy.
The oiler, he explained, ensured the machinery for the huge engines on the ship were well lubricated and cooled to make sure they continued to run right.
Dolezal admitted getting a bit sick on that first voyage across the Atlantic, but added after a while "you get used to it."
Dolezal rose through the ranks in the Merchant Marines and served time with the U.S. Army and the U.S. Coast Guard aboard their ships working in the engine rooms helping to ensure everything ran right.
The U.S. Merchant Marines is a unique entity in that it can and does serve roles in the public and private sector. Dolezal actually served onboard ships with the U.S. Army and the U.S. Coast Guard, and hauled for commercial groups shipping everything from grain to fish.
He also often was on ships that hauled ammunition and troops, as he was in the Merchant Marines during the post-World War II days, as well as during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
When he retired, Dolezal had earned the rank of chief engineer, which meant not only being responsible for the operations of the ship but also for the crew of people who ran and maintained the engines.
Serving until 1975, Dolezal said he saw the world many times, adding he never really liked crossing the oceans, especially during bad weather.
He enjoyed many places, but said he really liked the time spent in the Caribbean.
Once on a trip across the Pacific Ocean the rudder of the ship Dolezal was working on broke, which put the crew on the mainland for a long period of time.
"We had to stay in Hawaii," he said. "It was sure nice there, but boy was it expensive."
Dolezal said he also saw time in Alaska, adding in those cases when the tanker ships he was on board would haul oil they would not even get to the shore.
"There would be a line we had to hook up to out in the bay," he said.
Dolezal said he saw some pretty remarkable things over the 30 years he served, including seeing a water system for Bombay, India made entirely out of wood, and during one stopover in Thailand they were there so long grass began to grow on the hull.
In most years, Dolezal said he spent up to six months at sea, and he said he very much enjoyed those years serving in the Mer-chant Marines.
Having already been involved with the farming operation, Dolezal's transition to complete civilian life was an easy one.
Several certificates of honor hang on the walls of Dolezal's home telling a brief tale of his years of service with the Merchant Marines.
His stories of life at sea are ones Dolezal cherishes, as he smiles as each new story begins. Yes, it was a Merchant Marine's life, and it was a good one.


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Bruce Springsteen's discography is so full of highly conceptualized and carefully sequenced albums that it's hard to know what to make of "High Hopes" — at least initially. A quixotic collection of odds 'n' sods, it finds him mostly diving into his prodigious vaults to revisit (and in some cases re-create) years-old material that mostly merits more than leftover status. The title track, for instance, is a cover of a Havalinas song Springsteen first recorded in 1995 and has now turned into a brassy showcase for the current incarnation of the E Street Band, while "American Skin" gets a powerful new studio makeover. "Harry's Place," which features the late E Street Band members Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici, has a foreboding, ambient street vibe that makes it as richly evocative as other tracks, such as the gospel-tinged "Heaven's Wall," the folk-styled "Hunter of Invisible Game" and "The Wall," and the Celtic-flavored "This is Your Sword." He also covers the Saints' "Just Like Fire Would" and Suicide's "Dream Baby Dream," while the soulful rocker "Frankie Fell in Love" sounds like something Springsteen and company played in Jersey shore clubs during the early '70s.
Jennifer Nettles, "That Girl" (Mercury Nashville), ***
Taking a momentary step away from Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles does exactly what a successful band artist is supposed to do on a solo album — anything BUT what he or she does with the group. Nettles nods a bit to country here on tracks such as the uptempo "Moneyball" and the rockin' honky tonk of "Know You Wanna Know," but working with producer Rick Rubin and songwriting collaborators such as Richard Marx, Butch Walker, Sara Bareilles and Little Big Town's Phillip Sweet, she mostly delves into gentle melodic paeans such as "Falling," "Me Without You" and "Thank You" and shows real passion and acumen as a soul belter on the powerhouse closing couplet of her own "Good Time to Cry" and a cover of Bob Seger's "Like a Rock." We certainly don't want to see Nettles abandon Sugarland, but here's hoping that she's not done exploring these other musical terrains, either.New & Noteworthy:
The American Professionals, "We Make It Our Business" (Charlie in the Box): The second full-length album from the San Francisco power pop trio led by former Actionslacks member Chuck Lindo.
Bastille, "All This Bad Blood" (Virgin/EMI): The British electro pop group expands its debut release, "Bad Blood," with two new songs plus B-sides, mixtape tracks and other rarities.
Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, "South" (File Under Music): The latest outing from the all-star Canadian country-rock group whose Colin Linden is part of ABC's "Nashville" team.
David Broza, "East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem" (S-Curve): The Israeli singer-songwriter recorded his latest set with both Israelis and Palestinians, with guest appearances by Wyclef Jean and co-producer Steve Earle, who duets on Broza's cover of his "Jerusalem."
Mary Chapin Carpenter, "Songs From the Movie" (Zoe/Rounder): Carpenter offers up new orchestral arrangements of 10 of her older songs, arranged and conducted by Grammy Award winner Vince Mendoza.
Rosanne Cash, "The River & the Thread" (Blue Note): Another characteristically exceptional set from Cash, this time exploring her Southern roots with an all-star cast of musical helpers.
Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound, "Fine Rude Thing" (Groovesbur Joys): The Milwaukee troupe blends Midwest heart with New Orleans and Caribbean grooves on this 11-song set.
The Crystal Method, "The Crystal Method" (Tiny e): The electronic duo's fifth studio album includes guest vocals by LeAnn Rimes, Franky Perez and "The Voice's" Dia Frampton.
De La Tierra, "De La Tierra" (Roadrunner): The debut outing by the Latin heavy metal all-star group featuring members of Sepultura, Mana and other bands.
Devour the Day, "Time & Pressure" (Fat Lady Music): The debut outing from the Memphis hard rock duo formed by ex-Egypt Central members Joey "Chicago" Walser and Blake Allison.
Tinsley Ellis, "Midnight Blue" (Heartfixer): The Georgia-born blues guitarist's latest album includes a version of his "A Quitter Never Wins," which was previously recorded by Jonny Lang.
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, "Give the People What They Want" (Dap-Tone): The soul singer returns in good form after a successful cancer battle that kept her off the road for the better part of two years.
Luna, "Luna" (Domo): The esoteric Korean musician takes on songs by Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Mike Oldfield and more on this covers set.
Mindless Self Indulgence, "F— Machine" (Metropolis): A decidedly unsubtle remix album that includes contributions from KMFDM, Combichrist, Black Lipstick, Chantal Claret and others.
Jon Pardi, "Write You a Song" (Capitol Nashville): The upstart California country singer shows what he's got beyond the breakthrough hits ("Missin' You Crazy" and "Up All Night") that preceded this set.
Railroad Earth, "Last of the Outlaws" (Black Bear): More pickin' and grinnin' from the New Jersey Newgrass group.
Supersuckers, "Get the Hell" (MVD): Eddie Spaghetti and company are still punky and proud of it as they celebrate their 25th anniversary with their first new album in five years.
Switchfoot, "Fading West" (lowercase people/Atlantic): The San Diego modern rockers' ninth studio album is a companion to the surf documentary of the same name, featuring songs both in and inspired by the film.From The Vaults
Lynda Carter, "Portrait" (Epic/Legacy); Crazy Horse, "Scratchy: The Complete Reprise Recordings" (Wounded Bird); Deep Purple, "Live in Stuttgart 1993" (Cherry Red); Mark Lanegan, "Has God Seen My Shadow: An Anthology 1989-2011 (Light in the Attic);" Lone Justice, "This is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes 1983" (Omnivore); Alan White, "Ramshackled" (Wounded Bird); Lucinda Williams, "Lucinda Williams" (Thirty Tigers)Soundtracks
Roque Banos, "Oldboy" (Varese); Tangerine Dream, "Thief" (Perseverance)


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Jeffco Public Schools is in early discussions regarding a possible bond issue and tax increase on the November ballot.
Superintendent Cindy Stevenson said the district has begun talking about the idea of a bond and mill levy with its staff and the public. The decision ultimately lies with the school board, which has until August or September to move forward.
"I would say there's a likelihood we will, but the decision has to be formalized by the Board of Education," Stevenson said.
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text: Save This Event For Later 5th Annual ROCKWELL RIDE & WALK BRISTOL, CT, Sun Aug 25, 2013 Who's Registered? | Contact Event | Event Website | Google Calendar Start line address: Rockwell Park, 128 Jacobs St, BRISTOL, CT 06010 Presented by St. Vincent DePaul Mission and Biker's Edge Registration for this event requires a password. Please enter the event password below.


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Toy Fair is Coming!
February 4, 2011 6 Comments
Arguably the biggest toy event of the year, Toy Fair is coming next week! Taking place in New York as always, 2011's version runs from Sun Feb 13 to Wed Feb 16. It is a chance for toy manufacturers to really show off the items coming up for the year, and Hasbro is always a huge participant. Which means this is a great opportunity for us to learn about their plans for our beloved Galactic Heroes for 2011. And a chance for us to speculate about what they will reveal — so what do you want to see?


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It is often said that it's only when you try to explain something to someone else that you come to realize that there are holes in your understanding of the topic in question. Such was the case when it came to presenting the concept of rounding in my most recent book, How Computers Do Math (John Wiley & Sons Inc.) featuring a virtual 8-bit computer-calculator called the DIY Calculator. As soon as I started my research into rounding, I was surprised to discover the wide range of algorithms in use. I was even more surprised to find that even the simplest technique--truncation, also known as chopping--has different results when working with signed vs. unsigned binary representations.
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Let's start the ball rolling by considering the various rounding schemes in the context of the sign-magnitude decimal numbers we know and love so well. The most fundamental fact associated with rounding is that it involves transforming some quantity from a greater precision to a lesser precision; for example, suppose that we average out a range of prices and end up with a dollar value of $5.19286. In this case, rounding the more precise value of $5.19286 to the nearest cent would result in $5.19, which is less precise.
Given a choice, we would generally prefer to use a rounding algorithm that minimizes the effects of this loss of precision, especially in the case where multiple processing iterations--each involving rounding--can result in "creeping errors."
By this we mean that errors increase over time due to performing rounding operations on data that has previously been rounded. However, in the case of hardware implementations targeted toward tasks such as digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms, for example, we also have to be cognizant of the overheads associated with the various rounding techniques so as to make appropriate design trade-offs (see Fig. 1).
Round-toward-nearest: This is perhaps the most intuitive of the various rounding algorithms. In this case, values such as 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 would round down to 3, while values of 3.6, 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9 would round up to 4. The trick, of course, is to decide what to do in the case of the halfway value 3.5. In fact, round-toward-nearest may be considered to be a superset of two complementary options known as round-half-up and round-half-down, each of which treats the 3.5 value in a different manner as discussed below.
Round-half-up: This algorithm, which may also be referred to as arithmetic rounding, is the one that we typically associate with the rounding we learned at grade school. In this case, a halfway value such as 3.5 will round up to 4. One way to view this is that, at this level of precision and for this particular example, we can consider there to be 10 values that commence with a 3 in the most-significant place (3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9). On this basis, it intuitively makes sense for five of the values to round down and for the other five to round up; that is, for the five values 3.0 through 3.4 to round down to 3, and for the remaining five values--3.5 through 3.9--to round up to 4.
The tricky point with the round-half-up algorithm arrives when we come to consider negative numbers. In the case of the values –3.1, –3.2, –3.3 and –3.4, these will all round to the nearest integer, which is –3; similarly, in the case of values like –3.6, –3.7, –3.8 and –3.9, these will all round to –4. The problem arises in the case of –3.5 and our definition as to what "up" means in the context of "round-half-up." Based on the fact that a value of 3.5 rounds up to 4, most of us would intuitively expect a value of –3.5 to round to –4. In this case, we would say that our algorithm was symmetric for positive and negative values.
However, some applications (and mathematicians) regard "up" as referring to positive infinity. Based on this, –3.5 will actually round to –3, in which case we would class this as being an asymmetric implementation of the round-half-up algorithm. For example, the round method of the Java Math Library provides an asymmetric implementation of the round-half-up algorithm, while the round function in Matlab provides a symmetric implementation. Just to keep us on our toes, the round function in Visual Basic for Applications 6.0 actually implements the round-half-even (banker's rounding) algorithm discussed below.
Round-half-down: This acts in the opposite manner to its round-half-up counterpart. In this case, a halfway value such as 3.5 will round to 4. Once again, we run into a problem when we come to consider negative numbers, depending on what we assume "down" to mean. In the case of a symmetric implementation of the algorithm, a value of –3.5 will round to –3. By comparison, in the case of an asymmetric implementation of the algorithm, in which "down" is understood to refer to negative infinity, a value of –3.5 will actually round to –4.
As a point of interest, the symmetric versions of rounding algorithms are sometimes referred to as Gaussian implementations. This is because the theoretical frequency distribution known as a Gaussian distribution--which is named for the German mathematician and astronomer Karl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855)--is symmetrical about its mean value.
Round-half-even: If halfway values are always rounded in the same direction (for example 3.5 rounds to 4 and 4.5 rounds to 5), the result can be a bias that grows as more rounding operations are performed. One solution toward minimizing this bias is to sometimes round up and sometimes round down.
In the case of the round-half-even algorithm (which is often referred to as "banker's rounding" because it is commonly used in financial calculations), halfway values are rounded toward the nearest even number. Thus, 3.5 will round up to 4 and 4.5 will round down to 4. The round-half-even algorithm is, by definition, symmetric for positive and negative values, so both –3.5 and –4.5 will round to –4.
Round-half-odd: This is the theoretical counterpart to the round-half-even algorithm, in which halfway values are rounded toward the nearest odd number. In this case, 3.5 will round to 3 and 4.5 will round to 5 (similarly, –3.5 will round to –3 and –4.5 will round to –5). In practice, however, the round-half-odd algorithm is never used because it will never round to zero (rounding to zero is often a desirable attribute for rounding algorithms).


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Parts for Mariner V-175 HP (EFI) Gear Housing (Driveshaft) (Counter Rotation)
View diagram and parts list below.
Aftermarket gearcase may be available for less than $900 USD. 70 HP+ only. Please call.
Reference numbers in this diagram can be found in a light blue row below — scroll down to order.


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I have been thinking about SP / DLX whatever it is lately and how "muddied" the waters have gotten in this regard.
Once upon a time the Mag and Cocker were clearly high end. They used a slightly different mechanical system from most any other marker out there. You either had the mag, the cocker, or one of the "cheap" blowback markers like the Spyder.
I recently picked up a Shocker NXT. The last PSP Chicago I went to (the first year that sideline coaching was allowed IIRC) I drooled over the Shocker NXT. Say what you will about SP of the era but I had shot the SFTs for some time and rather liked the NXT. I was, that year, shooting an Evil Minion for other reasons.
When I "came back" to paintball this year I picked up an NXT (and a Viking, and a classic RT mag). Having grown into the sport shooting SFTs the NXT is everything I remember. Sure it will have its issues but on the field I really do not see what any other marker could do any better. I am sure that owners of the axe, mini, and various other markers will say the same thing. The interesting thing about the NXT is I bought it used and paid a bit less than Ion prices for it.
So buyers are given markers that use, effectively, the same system for firing a paintball in the Ion, various Shockers, and the Luxe. I can spend anywhere from a couple hundred dollars (or less if I buy used) to $1500
The main advantage of the higher end markers has come down to "ergonomics". I understand it can be a valid argument but ergonomics are, but nature, different from person to person. Especially considering the age range and body type difference of paintballers on the field.
So I ask AO its thoughts on todays markers and the lines between low end, high end, and mid range.


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I'd like some of what their having. Defense is not very good???? The defense is about the only thing on the team that is very good at this point. IMOFrom the day after the Super Bowl to the end of the season opener, every fan in America clings to the hope that their team is going to win it all.
Hope is a good thing, but sometimes it's delusional.
Gaping holes in the way a team has been constructed sorry, Raider Nation, the offensive line still stinks are often overlooked. With that in mind, here's a list of issues to consider for all AFC teams, including the five or six that could easily win the Super Bowl:
Buffalo Bills: The Bills may have been 7-9 last season, but they had some serious issues that make that record look like overachievement. They had the fifth-worst run defense last season and they gave up a staggering 4.7 yards per carry. You wonder why rookie safeties Donte Whitner (second in tackles) and Ko Simpson (fourth) looked so good? The guys in front of them were that bad. Sure, Indianapolis may have won a Super Bowl with the worst run defense in the league, but that was a first in NFL history. The Colts have Peyton Manning. The Bills have J.P. Losman. You see the difference.
Miami Dolphins: The post-Marino era enters year eight. The sum total of the first seven years produced the kind of hangover you get at the frat reunion. Jay Fiedler, Sage Rosenfels, A.J. Feeley, Gus Frerotte, Joey Harrington ugh, where's the Bloody Mary mix? Now the Dolphins are turning to 37-year-old Trent Green and soon-to-be 26-year-old rookie John Beck to repair the present and future. It's a dicey plan, but no issue looms larger for this team. They have to do something and fast.
New England Patriots: A busy offseason (LB Adalius Thomas, WR Randy Moss, WR Donte' Stallworth and WR Wes Welker were among those added) has made the Pats a popular favorite to win a fourth title this decade. Problem is, the defense is suspect, particularly when you consider that the starting linebackers (Thomas, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Junior Seau) have played a combined 53 years. They may know what they're doing, but they may not make it through the season. Young guys had better be ready.
New York Jets: The first year of the Man-genius era a playoff appearance for a team that doesn't wow anyone with talent was pretty impressive. The Jets won by playing conservative ball and staying healthy. The problem with that combination is that, with raised expectations, it will be difficult to repeat. If a player or two gets hurt, the Jets could fall into the draft's top 10. Worse, Mangini could lose the faith of the players he drives so hard.
Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens are imaginative, lively and unpredictable when they're on defense. But as much fun as it is to watch the likes of Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs do their thing, the Baltimore offense is no treat. The franchise hopes that the infusion of younger RB Willis McGahee will do the trick, but you have to wonder. McGahee can blame the lack of "scenery" in Buffalo for his mediocre play, but great players don't let such things affect them.
Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals have one of the league's most impressive lineups on offense and in the police department. Cheap shots aside, it's hard enough to be successful when your team is completely focused. It's much harder when you have to wonder what stupid thing your teammate might do next. Here's hoping coach Marvin Lewis learned an important lesson: Having a bunch of criminals is too much of a distraction.
Cleveland Browns: People love the pick of homeboy QB Brady Quinn, and it was a pretty good move. The problem is that the Browns still don't have a quarterback with enough experience to mentor their three young guys (Quinn, Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson) who are competing for the top job. While there's nothing wrong with competition, without a veteran who has a little bit of perspective, this situation could tear apart the locker room. The coaching staff better be careful.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Was it the motorcycle accident? Immaturity? The appendectomy? There were a lot of things that went into Ben Roethlisberger's terrible 2006 season after his amazing Super Bowl year, but what may have hurt him most was that Pittsburgh didn't have a real running game. At least not a traditional Steelers running game. Willie Parker was fine, but the Steelers didn't have the power game that forced opposing defenses to cheat up to stop it and then leave the deep stuff open for Roethlisberger. Forced to be a more traditional quarterback, Roethlisberger showed he's still learning.
Houston Texans: Having replaced failed QB David Carr, Matt Schaub is the Texans' new darling. Schaub is unproven, and it would be amazing if any quarterback survived behind the Texans' weak offensive line. If Schaub doesn't pan out, second-year coach Gary Kubiak is going to be in hot water. His first big decision as a coach was to pass on both Reggie Bush and Vince Young to take Mario Williams and keep Carr. That blew up on him.
Indianapolis Colts: While the Colts are coming off their first title, this team has been at the top of its game for about four years. But the franchise has to replace key contributors who got too pricey, such as LB Cato June (Buccaneers), CB Nick Harper (Titans) and RB Dominic Rhodes (Raiders). The Colts' foundation is great and they'll make the playoffs again, but whether they can replace guys like the aforementioned could be the difference in their run at another title.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Coach Jack Del Rio addressed his offensive woes by changing coordinators, bringing in former Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter. But is Del Rio too late in making adjustments to his defense-first mentality? On offense, the Jaguars have plenty of great-looking athletes like Maurice Jones-Drew, Matt Jones, Fred Taylor and big-armed Byron Leftwich, but the fatal flaw has been living up to their considerable promise.
Tennessee Titans: Overlooked in the Adam "Pacman" Jones fiasco is that he was showing tremendous growth as a cover corner and is a great punt returner. Replacing him will be a nightmare for coach Jeff Fisher and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who deserves a long look as a head coach by any team in need of an high-energy leader. Fortunately, the offense will be interesting, no matter who lines up at running back behind second-year QB Vince Young.
Denver Broncos: For the first time in more than a decade, the Broncos are getting away from their traditional cut-blocking scheme in favor of a more traditional style featuring heavier linemen. The timing is unfortunate, as new RB Travis Henry would have been perfect in the old scheme. But because second-year QB Jay Cutler isn't suited for the movement of the old system, change was essential. It will be interesting to see how it works out.
Kansas City Chiefs: The offensive line has been overhauled after losing mainstays Willie Roaf and Will Shields in back-to-back years. The coaching staff hopes unproven Brodie Croyle, a third-round pick in 2006, can beat journeyman Damon Huard in the quarterback derby after Trent Green's departure. RB Larry Johnson is unhappy with his contract after getting abused (416 carries) last season. And it remains to be seen whether the Chiefs can finally develop a big-time receiver (Dwayne Bowe is this year's hope) to take pressure off the rest of the offense. Oh, and the defense is not very good. Other than that, everything's fine.
Oakland Raiders: For those of you old enough to remember the last time the Raiders were truly great (sorry, the Rich Gannon years don't qualify), pull out your Sex Pistols album and spin "Problems." That song defines what the Raiders have become. There's hope for the future in QB JaMarcus Russell, but hope is going to have to wait while the Raiders try to deal with that horrible offensive line and general lack of offensive talent. Good luck to rookie coach Lane "Baby Face" Kiffin. He's going to need it.
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers are scary good when it comes to pure athletic talent. With RB LaDainian Tomlinson, QB Philip Rivers and DT Jamal Williams, they also have enough leadership to overcome what coach Norv Turner might lack in that department. The Chargers must remain focused through a difficult first two weeks. They open at home against Chicago and travel to New England.
P.S. If anyone wants the actual link here it is: FULL STORY


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For the span of about 12 minutes on Friday, everything went Oak Ridge's way against No. 1 Maryville.
For the span of about 12 minutes on Friday, everything went Oak Ridge's way against No. 1 Maryville.
The Wildcats came out from halftime down 15 points and put together a drive of 74 yards on 16 plays — including seven straight runs — to score against the Rebels.
Three plays later, Rian Hall intercepted a pass and returned it to the 2-yard line and punched it in himself to cut the lead to two points. He would not be denied again on the two-point conversion as he ran a bootleg left and scored.
But Maryville buckled down, showed their usual resolve and put the ball in the hands of their running back Shawn Prevo during the fourth quarter to get the win 39-25.
"To start the fourth quarter, we were in it and to be in it that means we've come a long way," Oak Ridge coach Scott Blade said. "Six weeks ago, we weren't in the game after the first quarter.
"All you want as a coach is for them to lay it on the line and play the best they possibly can for four quarters, and I think we did that. We did that last week. We had a great year and have a ton to be proud of."
Oak Ridge (10-2) got all it wanted out of their second game against the Rebels. Two early fumbles allowed the Wildcats to take the lead over Maryville (12-0). The first, a fumble by Prevo was turned right back over on a dropped pitch and led to a 32-yard run by Trenton Shuler.
The second put Oak Ridge ahead. Elliott Normand ripped the ball away from Prevo and returned it 32 yards to give the 'Cats a 7-6 lead.
But from there, the Rebel offense outscored Oak Ridge 19-3 to the half. Three field goals by Miguel McNeally, including a 41-yarder as time expired, made the lead 25-10 Rebels.
That's when Hall gave his team the boost it needed to pull even.
"Rian has had a great four-year career for us and tonight was a snapshot of that," coach Blade said. "We're going to miss him. He played well emotionally, mentally and physically.
"The idea is we know we're getting the ball back. Let's milk this clock and see if we can get a long drive. We did exactly what we wanted to right there. Unfortunately, the game is not over after three quarters.
"We just ran out of gas."
The tie game brought the Oak Ridge faithful to life and seemingly stunned the Rebel fans at Jim Renfro Field.
"We were all feeling the pressure a little bit and feeling the excitement all at the same time," defensive end Tyler Dowdy said. "We were just a couple of plays away from making it even more of a ballgame."
Maryville ran off drives of 10 and six plays scoring touchdowns in the fourth to pull away despite losing the turnover battle.
"They don't make many mistakes, and when they do, you have to capitalize on them and minimize yours," Blade said.
Oak Ridge stayed close despite being more than doubled up in total offense (543 yards for Maryville to 244 yards for Oak Ridge).
Hall finished 6-of-12 passing for 88 yards and a score. He also ran for 65 yards, leading the team, on 20 carries and the rushing score.
Matt Moore had eight carries for 54 yards.
Jalen Miller led Oak Ridge receivers with three catches for 45 yards.
All three are part of the 23-member senior class that was coach Blade's first four-year class that knew only his style of play.
"They've brought our program back to relevancy," Blade said. "They're to be applauded for that."
Despite giving their all in the game, it was tough for many of them to take.
"We played them hard," defensive tackle Darius Patterson said. "We left it all out there on the field.
"This season has been great. It's been one of the best seasons for Oak Ridge in a long time. It's been special."
Added Dowdy, "It's been a great year. I couldn't ask for better teammates. I love them all and I am going to miss them."
Robert Holder can be contacted at (865) 220-5508.
Oak Ridge 25, Maryville 39
First quarter
MHS — Trenton Shuler 32 run (kick failed), 10:40
ORHS — Elliott Normand 32 fumble return (Brett Beeler kick), 7:16
MHS — Cody Carroll 45 pass from Nick Myers (kick blocked), 5:53
Second quarter
MHS — Chris Hunt 6 pass from Myers (Miguel McNelly kick), 11:54
MHS — McNelly 21 field goal, 4:46
ORHS — Beeler 29 field goal, 1:26
MHS — McNelly 41 field goal, 0.0
Third quarter
ORHS — Jalen Miller 12 pass from Rian Hall (Beeler kick), 3:11
ORHS — Hall 1 run (Hall run), 1:33
Fourth quarter
MHS — Shawn Prevo 12 run, (McNelly kick), 9:43
MHS — Prevo 1 run (McNelly kick), 6:04
Individual Stats
Rushing — ORHS- Hall 20-65-1, Matt Moore 8-54-0, Elliott Normand 8-24-0; MHS- Prevo 18-169-2, Shuler 13-110-1, Cody Carroll 1-23-0, Myers 9-18-0.
Passing — ORHS- Hall 6-12-88-1-0, Normand 1-4-13-0-1; MHS- Myers 12-18-223-2-1.
Receiving— ORHS- Miller 3-45-1, Ethan Wheeler 2-29-0, Blake Goins 1-14-0, Moore 1-13-0; MHS- Carroll 3-93-1, Prevo 4-55-0, Logan Winders 2-41-0, Chris Raymond 1-22-0, Hunt 2-12-1.


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All you "Star Wars" nerds, take a deep breath. There's no need for your brains to go all Death Star.
UK website Jedi News reports Harrison Ford's injury is worse than initially reported, and he could be away from the set of "Star Wars: Episode VII" for six months. Or possibly longer.
Breathe ... inhalers ... come on, now ...
"Star Wars" fan sites are reporting there was an emergency meeting Monday morning at London's Pinewood Studios, now that estimates say Ford will be away longer than estimated, recovering from the broken leg he suffered when one of the hydraulic doors on the Millennium Falcon fell on him.
Among the options reportedly discussed were temporarily ceasing production, re-writing the script to accommodate Ford's recovery, or ... (breathe) writing Ford out of the script entirely.
Excuse me a second (begins sobbing, feverishly tears apart room, looking for inhaler).
While we all keep breathing, remember that this is only a rumor and no one from LucasFilm, Disney or director J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot production company has commented. But even if part of these reports are true, it doesn't bode well for the film's planned December 2015 release.
As U.K. pop culture site Metro reports, Ford was considered the lead actor in the movie, with Han Solo supposedly being a big part of the plot.
Hey, I have an idea. Tom Selleck was almost Indiana Jones. Why doesn't someone call and see what he's up to?
Tony Hicks provides celebrity commentary for the Bay Area News Group. Contact him at Facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks or Twitter.com/insertfoot.


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Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our MyCapture site.
BILLERICA -- Residents crushed an ambitious $14 million proposal to reinvent the town center Monday night, obliterating the Town Meeting-approved project by more than 7,500 votes in a referendum that witnessed participation from more than 40 percent of the town's 26,000-plus registered voters.
According to the Town Charter, a vote against the plan would only reach ratification if more than 20 percent of all registered voters participated in the referendum.
Monday's referendum marks the first time in at least a century of recorded town history that a proposal approved at Town Meeting, which functions as representative-style in Billerica, has been repealed by registered voters, who killed it 9,084 votes against to just 1,467 votes in favor.
"These residents did democracy well today," an emotional Virginia Musker said, as the results started trickling in at Town Hall. "Something this big should never have come before Town Meeting."
Musker was one of the project's most outspoken opponents. She and others had accused town officials of trying to drive down voter turnout by scheduling the referendum for a Monday.
Town-only votes, Musker and others argued, have traditionally taken place on Saturdays.
There is no language in the Town Charter, however, mandating that referendums be held on any particular day.
The project's defeat marks the end of a fiery debate that has raged ever since the night of Oct. 11, when Town Meeting supported the plan by the necessary two-thirds majority vote.
George Simolaris, the Andover Road resident who jump-started the seven-day petition drive ultimately forcing Monday's referendum, was also present at Town Hall as the landslide results started pouring in.
"Our residents got to get their two cents in," he said.
For redesign opponents like Simolaris and Musker, the biggest fear was that the referendum would draw a turnout of less than 20 percent, which would nullify any repeal.
Simolaris, a painter by trade, estimates he personally made at least 100 signs.
Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our MyCapture site.
Leading up to the referendum, there was not a single sign in town asking residents to support the project. That strategy, project supporters have said, was in direct response to the magic 20 percent turnout number.
In simple terms, a non-vote was as good -- if not better than -- a "yes" vote.
Outside the Vining Elementary School polling location on Lexington Road, residents Denise Doucette and Marie Managhan said they were not aware of any referendum until Nov. 6, the day of the national election.
On that day, opponents of the project had distributed yellow leaflets outside polling locations, hoping to drum up interest in defeating the project.
The only town-sponsored reminders that a referendum was scheduled for Monday was the old sign board at the foot of the Town Common and several print-out notices posted at various public spaces, like firehouses and at Town Hall.
Managhan said she thought $14 million was a waste of money.
"I really don't have a problem with the town center the way it is now, anyway," she added.
Reached after the results came in, Selectmen Chairman Andrew Deslaurier said he was disappointed the project was defeated but added that he "can't argue with the will of the people."
"Maybe we have to look at the language in the charter," he said. "The door for change is definitely open, if this shows me anything."
He noted that supporters of the project had a singular reason for backing it, while opponents could pick "a multitude of reasons" for defeating it, whether it was the $14 million price tag or the fact that it would have brought big-time changes to the center of town.
Those changes would have included returning two-way traffic to Boston Road, slimming Concord Road to a single lane and increasing sidewalk space along the common's business side, just to name a few.
"This was a six-month process," Deslaurier said about the length of time the project has been publicly discussed.
Town Manager John Curran, who had personally led the public through more than 25 presentations on the project dating back to February, could not be reached Monday night for comment.
Follow Evan Lips at Twitter.com/evanmlips.


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I deleted the last thread and updated this one, sorry for the confusion...
OK, it looks like I'll be heading to AONJ3 this year! I'll know for sure next week once I see when I have to report back to work in August...
So in planning for that, I thought I would put together a thread for those planning to make the Road Trip up to NJ for the big weekend!
I live in Atlanta, so anyone in the area post plans. This includes Load, cphilip, ezrunner, boomer, trench, devil, sinistarr, the Warren Robbins kids, Fatman, whoever.
I figure we'll be heading up I-85 out of Atlanta, so SC, NC VA and other states are in our direct path. Uncle Phil would have to give a better directions than that.
If you're interested in participating in the caravan on our pilgrimage to AONJ, post here.
Details are forthcoming, as usual!
OK! Here's the deal. I was confused by all of the AON?3, so I did a little *reading* and now I think I'm set...
I edited my previous threads and now wish to make the announcement official... This thread now pertains to NONJ3!!! That's right, the one in AUGUST!
Yeah, I can't make the April AONE3 because of work obligations, sorry NE guys.
So, please forgive my stupidity as I have now corrected my mistakes.
Later ~ David "The Village Idiot" Jones


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I wonder how much healthier we all would be if children's movies were a part of our regular routine.
I wonder how much healthier we all would be if children's movies were a part of our regular routine.
Not that a lot of television or movie watching is healthy, but the insight that comes from some of these movies can benefit our mental health. I love the definition of mental health: the psychological well-being and satisfactory adjustment to society and to the ordinary demands in life (dictionary.com). It's no wonder children tend to have such optimistic, ambitious attitudes ~ while relaxing and having fun, they are given encouragement for what is truly important in life.
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is one of these great movies. While watching with my children, I was trying to be completely present, not letting laundry, dinner to be cooked or anything else distract me from sharing this time with them, but I quickly had to get a notepad and jot down all the words of wisdom that was shared.
During one part of the movie, Mr. Magorium is training a young apprentice. Initially she doubts her abilities. Mr. Magorium reminds her, "Life is an occasion—Rise to it!" and that she only has to believe in herself to do the job! It seems basic, but the thought that 'you have what it takes' easily gets pushed aside. Fear, negative self-talk, old tapes playing in your mind, or people saying it can't be done become obstacles. Lord Kelvin, president of Royal Society in 1895, and reknowned mathematical physicist and engineer, commented, "Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible." Luckily that didn't discourage the Wright brothers, just a few years later, from pursuing their dream.
Our minds can easily focus on negative thinking and we tend to be overly critical of ourselves, so recognizing and accepting ones' potential, takes considerable effort. We have to be sure those obstacles don't stand in our way. Whether it's believing you: can pursue a particular career, meet a special someone, lose weight, deserve a raise, accomplish a goal, or whatever it may be, in order to experience success, you have to first believe in yourself. Sometimes it requires making opportunities for yourself, rather than waiting for them to knock on your door. Give yourself a pep talk and point out the reasons you're deserving ~ what are your strengths in that particular area? Take time to really look at the potential you have. Ask yourself on a daily basis, "What did I do right?" then make a list. This will strengthen your self-belief. Or you can try enjoying and really engaging in the light-hearted movies occasionally ~ they can offer uplifting and encouraging reminders. Rise to the occasion of life ~ Believe in Yourself!
Believe in your dreams and they may come true; believe in yourself and they will come true. ~ Author unknown


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The chiefs who conceived and carried out a merger of two hospital systems into University of Colorado Health's burgeoning empire will step down at the same time at the end of January.
UCHealth president Rulon Stacey and chief executive Bruce Schroffel will both leave the hospital system on Jan. 31, launching a national search to lead what has quickly become a dominant player in Western health care.
UCHealth chief medical officer Dr. Bill Neff will become interim head on Oct. 1 to provide more continuity during the search process for a replacement chief. Between October and January, Schroffel and Stacey will be special advisers to the board of directors, UCHealth said.
The new hire will combine the CEO and president positions, University said in a statement by board chair Dick Monfort.
Schroffel, 62, is indicating he will retire. Stacey, 53, will pursue other opportunities in health care management but did not identify a specific position.
Stacey and Schroffel brought big personalities and drive to their roles. Schroffel was the leader of University Hospital since before its move from east Denver to a new facility on Aurora's Anschutz Medical Campus.
Not long after the new hospital was in place, Schroffel launched a major expansion effectively doubling parts of the facility, including a second tower for beds and a massive emergency department.
Stacey led the Poudre Valley Health System based in Fort Collins, battling with Banner Health's various locations for market share in northern Colorado. Poudre Valley also had Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland and a number of clinics.
The two leaders spent a couple of years working on a merger of the nonprofit systems, and Stacey came to Aurora to become the system president. They then worked on further growth, winning a fierce public bidding to become the manager of city-owned Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs.
UCHealth also now encompasses health care services in Wyoming and Nebraska. The system's employment has reached about 15,000 people, making it one of the largest employers in Colorado.
UCHealth's moves appear to be profitable so far, though audited results of a fully integrated system are not yet available. For its fiscal year ending in 2012, University Hospital reported operating income of $147 million on revenue of $941 million in 2012.
Because the nonprofit system does not have shareholders, income is reinvested for expansion or improvements such as an integrated electronic record system.
University, since becoming an independent nonprofit, has few ties left to the state or the CU governance system. Two of the hospital system's 11 board members are appointed by CU, and doctors hired by the University of Colorado Hospital physician group have a faculty appointment with the school of medicine.
Michael Booth: 303-954-1686, email@example.com or twitter.com/mboothdp


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Powerlifting competition raises money, awareness for domestic violence victims
Local athletes spent last Saturday heavy lifting at St. Robert Fitness for a special cause.
All proceeds from St. Robert Fitness Powerlifting competition went to the Genesis House in Waynesville. Genesis House provides professional counseling, shelter, education, work training, and support for domestic violence victims. Event coordinator Frankie Murrieta said that the event raised more than $460 for the Genesis House.
Representatives from Genesis House spoke at the event, urging participants to use their services and help those who are victims of domestic violence.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call Genesis 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 573-774-2628 or toll free at 877-774-2628.


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I wonder if the same sort of thing happens to gamers with more specific tastes than mine. Like, does an Oblivion fan fool around with Borderlands sort of half engaged while waiting for Skyrim? It's hard for me to judge because I like a wide range of games and the problem I always face is deciding which ones get my time.
While we ponder this and other grandiose questions, here are the highlights from today's video game news on the Shack:
- Battlefield 3 Teaser Trailer and First Details Arrive
- Fallout: New Vegas 'Dead Money' on PS3, PC Feb. 22; Future DLC Hits All Platforms Simultaneously
- Report: Remake of Original Halo Coming This Year
- Extended Resistance 3 Trailer Features Dark and Dusty Residential Action
- InVersion Hands-on Impressions


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A 2010 video of "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson preaching against homosexuality emerged and was making the rounds on the Internet on Friday, according to TheWrap.
In the sermon, Robertson grouped gays with people full of "murder, envy, strife, hatred."
This comes two days after A&E suspended Robertson from cable's top-rated reality show for making anti-gay remarks in an interview with GQ.
The 2010 video emerges just as A&E is trying to find a way to keep the show going. On Thursday, Robertson's family said they "cannot imagine" continuing the show without their patriarch.
According to The Wrap, a rising tide of social conservatives are criticizing the network, saying it's infringing on Robertson's free-speech and religious rights. On the other side, people are outraged at his remarks, saying religion is no excuse for bigotry.
In his 2010 speech, Robertson said, "First they say, 'There is no God. Get him out of your mind. Then they bow down to birds, animals and reptiles, and each other. And the first thing you see coming out of them is gross sexual immorality. They will dishonor their bodies with one another, degrade each other. Uh, is that going on in the United States of America? Look around. God's not there ... And boy is there some immorality going on around here. Does it get worse?"
Wait ... he doesn't like animal lovers?
That's kind of weird for a guy who has made a lot of money from something called "Duck Dynasty."
Robertson didn't explain who "they" are. In his GQ interview, he similarly grouped gays with "terrorists" and "drunks" as sinners.
"Women with women, men with men, they committed indecent acts with one another, and they received in themselves the due penalty for their perversions," he continued in the 2010 speech. "They're full of murder, envy, strife, hatred. They are insolent, arrogant, God-haters. They are heartless, they are faithless, they are senseless, they are ruthless. They invent ways of doing evil. That's what you have 235 years, roughly, after your forefathers founded the country. So what are you gonna do Pennsylvania? Just run with them? You're going to die. Don't forget that."
According to TheWrap, the video drew attention in August for Robertson's condemnation of abortion, while the gay remarks were largely overlooked. Apparently someone went back and had another look.


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Formal logic
Logic is a method by which valid conclusions are drawn from given premises. It can be applied to natural-language arguments or to formal, symbolic systems. Today logic provides the foundation upon which all areas of modern mathematics and science are ultimately based.
Types of logic
Informal logic is the study of natural-language arguments, especially the identification of logical fallacies.
Formal logic, on the other hand, involves the systematic study of logical reasoning usually within the framework of a symbolic system of terms, operations, quantifiers, axioms, theorems, etc.
Formal logic can be further subdivided into several related areas, including:
- Aristotelian logic (or syllogistic logic) — simple, deductive logic based on syllogisms.
- Propositional logic (or sentential calculus, etc.) — simple, deductive logic based on statements called propositions and the logical operators/connectives "not", "and", "or", "implies", etc.
- Predicate logic (or first-order logic, predicate calculus, etc.) — extends propositional logic by introducing the logical quantifiers "for all" and "for some" (or "there exists").
- Modal logic — extends predicate logic by introducing modal operators such as "possibly" or "formerly".
- Mathematical logic — reduces all of the above to symbolic manipulation based on well-defined rules.
The term classical logic may refer to the first type of logic listed above or the first two or three types; it generally does not include the forth or fifth type.
Deductive vs. inductive reasoning
The kinds of reasoning described by logic can be roughly classified as deductive or inductive.
- Deductive reasoning — conclusions follow necessarily from premises; based on strict implications; sometimes placed in the context of reasoning "from the general to the specific".
- Example: "All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal." (a syllogism)
- Example: "A person can't be both a woman and a man. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is not a woman."
- Notice that each conclusion must be true if we assume the premises are true. The first premise of the second example, however, may not be true, depending on how you define "man" and "woman". If you don't accept the truth of either of the premises, then the argument is still logically valid, but is not sound.
- Inductive reasoning — conclusions may often, but not always, follow from the premises; inferences based on incomplete or imperfect information; sometimes described in the context of reasoning "from the specific to the general".
- Example: "Every man I've known has had a beard. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates must have a beard."
- Example: "If you're a woman, it is very unlikely you have a beard. Socrates has a beard. Therefore, Socrates is probably a woman."
- The first argument looks very much like the first deductive example above. But notice that the first premise doesn't say "all" men have beards, only all men "I've known". Even if the first premise is true, that doesn't mean there's not a man out there you haven't met yet who doesn't have a beard; and Socrates may be such a man. Thus, the conclusion isn't necessarily true. As for the second example, it is a probabilistic argument of the kind that is often encountered in statistics (specifically, in hypothesis testing, also known as significance testing).


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Vietnamese developer Emobi Games announces 7554, a single-player, military first-person shooter set in 1954 during the conclusion of the French Indochina War. The game is expected in February 2012, and we have a few screenshots and the following details:
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After New London fire, building owner says he'll rebuild
New London — The owner of the historic Bacon Building on State Street vowed Thursday to rebuild the 155-year-old building that was partially destroyed Wednesday by a stubborn fire on the fourth floor that spread to the roof.
"I'm going to do it again,'' William Cornish said. The building at 130 State St. includes 17 apartments and three storefronts. Cornish bought the building in 2002 and spent more than $1 million renovating it.
Cornish stood Thursday in an empty storefront where, he said, a tattoo parlor had been expected to open. He listened to the sound of dripping water among the mess of broken pipes and ceiling tiles.
"This is what it looked like when I bought it,'' he said.
Two businesses on the street level, Zambala Grocery at 128 State St. and Monica's State Street Diner at 138 State St., remained closed because of water damage.
"It's difficult to see it," Zambala owner Dakpa Gyaltsen said as he waited for officials from the state Department of Revenue Services to come and claim their lottery equipment. The dropped ceiling in the store had caved in from water damage. All the inventory is destroyed, he said.
"We have no idea what we will do next,'' he said of the business he opened five years ago. "We want to re-open, but it won't be for a couple months."
Monica Rossi, who has owned Monica's State Street Diner for nearly 11 years, also said that despite the "waterfall of water and soot" in her restaurant, she plans to reopen.
"We will rebuild and be open for everyone,'' Rossi said as she sat in a window seat at the restaurant across the street from hers. "Everyone is going to help each other out."
Rossi said she has insurance, including "business interruption insurance," so her six employees will continue to receive their paychecks, at least for a while.
The buildings on either side of the fire-damaged structure, which include apartments as well as Sarge's Comics and Mangetout restaurant, were open for business at about noon Thursday. They were shut down when the power was turned off to the entire city block.
Fire Marshal Calvin Darrow said the Bacon Building is condemned until an engineering review is done to determine the extent of damage.
Fire Chief Henry Kydd said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but it appears to have started in the rear of the building on the fourth floor. The fire was in the roof, above the sprinklers, he said. Firefighters were forced to use chainsaws and crowbars to pry off roofing material to reach the flames.
During the height of the blaze, all New London firefighters and equipment were at the scene, he said, and were assisted by departments from Norwich, Waterford, Poquonnock Bridge, the Naval Submarine Base and the Mohegan Tribe. East Lyme and Montville departments manned the city's firehouses, he said.
"The region responded well,'' Kydd said. "It's a testament to our mutual aid agreements. ... I'm very pleased and very proud."
Three New London firefighters were injured and taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, where they were treated for heat exhaustion or leg injuries. All three will be out of work until cleared by doctors, Kydd said.
Although the building is condemned, residents were being allowed in to retrieve personal belongings.
Rodney Chichester, who manages Hot Rod Café on nearby Bank Street, was picking through the charred remains in his studio apartment on the third floor.
"There's the skylight I always wanted,'' he said, "just not the way I wanted it."
He said he was able to grab his computer and his wallet after he heard smoke detectors going off and smelled the smoke.
"I was just walking around in a daze for few hours yesterday,'' he said, as he watched firefighters spend hours trying to contain the fire and put it out.
Chichester worked Wednesday night.
"What else was I going to do?'' he said. He was staying with Rod Cornish, who owns Hot Rod and is the son Bill Cornish.
Another Hot Rod employee, Lindsey Ducheneau, lived on the top floor of the four-story building with her boyfriend and 12-week-old daughter. She said her kitchen and bathroom were destroyed and smoke damaged much of her furniture, including her bed, a crib and a sectional couch.
"All I care about is the baby's things and my breast milk,'' she said, which she had stored in a refrigerator/freezer. "It could have been a lot worse."
The family is staying at her parents' house.
Fundraiser for Hot Rod Caf� employees
What: "Wing & Beer" fundraiser for Rod Chichester and Lindsey Ducheneau
When: 9 to 11 p.m. Saturday
Where: Hot Rod Caf�, 114 Bank St.
Why: Chichester and Ducheneau, who each work at Hot Rod, were displaced from their State Street apartments Wednesday.
What else: Hot Rod owner Rod Cornish said a donation jar will be set up and half of the proceeds from beer and wings sales that night will be donated to Chichester and Ducheneau.
Old Lyme church holds service as family approaches 100th day in sanctuary
Why did so many people leave the Kendrick Lamar concert before it was over?
After a miserable U.S. Open, why the Travelers Championship is the best golf tournament out there
White House press secretary says she was kicked out of restaurant because she works for Trump
Trump administration considers plan to use $77 million in Coast Guard money to pay for border enforcement


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IGN quotes DICE creative director Lars Gustavsson on the topic of the Battlefield 3 open beta test. As far as putting the military shooter sequel through its paces, he's making a note here, "huge success":
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First, a quick summary of events so far: West and Zampella, who co-founded of Call of Duty creator Infinity Ward before it was bought by Activision, were fired in March under mysterious circumstances; West and Zampella sued for unpaid royalties and brand rights; Activision scoffed. With us so far? Excellent.
IW employees then began leaving the studio in drips and drabs--around 35 eventually left in all; Activision counter-sued, claiming West and Zampella tried to "steal" IW; the pair formed Respawn Entertainment and signed a publishing agreement with EA; some IW veterans joined Respawn; Infinity Ward was restructed. Get it? Got it? Good.
On Tuesday, Activision filed an amendment to its complaint, reported by Joystiq, detailing a whole spread of alleged improprieties. It's claimed that West and Zampella had been in talks with EA for eight months before their firing, plotting together to create a new studio with Activision and Infinity Ward talent. To foster discontent, Activision says, the pair resisted Activision's attempts to pay employees bonuses and incentives. On top of that, they were "already appropriating for themselves approximately 1/3 of the total Infinity Ward bonus pool each quarter."
It's further claimed that West and Zampella intentionally released a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 trailer on the same day as Treyarch released a trailer of their own for a Call of Duty: World at War map pack, to undermine the other developer and the series. Activision has produced supposed text message records of the plan.
"Treyarch released their mp dlc video," an anonymous employee sent to West, who responded "Super nice? We release our video? Crush and destroy with our video." The mysterious person affirmed "We already did. And ... we already did." "Nice," said West.
As West and Zamepella still had years left on their contracts, they rocked the boat by threatening to stop developing Modern Warfare 2, and then hold up Modern Warfare 3, as leverage in negotiations with Activision to found another own studio and work on new games under terms less favourable to the publisher.
EA worked with West and Zampella and their talent agency to plan all this, Activision alleges, with the goal of weakening the Call of Duty franchise and poaching Infinity Ward talent. This included bringing the pair by private jet to a "secret meeting" at EA CEO John Riccitiello's house. However, much of the supporting evidence for these claims is, the defendants insist, confidential and cannot be revealed. Large portions of the legal filing are redacted.
Supposedly, EA had also "sought to extract confidential information from West and Zampella, including information about the Modern Warfare marketing plans and how Electronic Arts could make a 'COD killer.'"
Activision is seeking "at least 400 million dollars" from EA to pay for profits lost due to its inference and for the cost of rebuilding Infinity Ward, as well as "punitive and exemplary damages to punish Electronic Arts and to deter similar conduct in the future."
It also wants back money West and Zempalla had received "during the period of their disloyalty" and to stop them from using confidential information owned by Activision in making their own rival products.


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Luther alumni events are open to all alumni and friends of the college, including parents and other family members of graduates and students. If you need more information or if you're interested in planning an event in your area, please call the Alumni Office at (800) 225-8664.
Sponsored by Development
Thursday, March 21, 2013
History Colorado Center
1200 Broadway
Denver, Colorado
6:00 p.m. Reception
6:30 p.m. Dinner and Program
$20 per person
RSVP by Friday, March 15, 2013
online at www.luther.edu/giving/denver
or contact Kelly Wedmann,
563.387.1066 or [email protected].
Questions? Contact Kelly Sorenson, 563-387-1066


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WMATA to perform rebuilding workWritten by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is investing $5.5 billion to install new rail, ties, platforms, escalators, signals, lighting, communication systems and more along its system.
WMATA will perform rebuilding work May 17 through May 19 on the Red, Orange and Green lines.
The Red Line between Van Ness and Dupont Circle and between Rhode Island Ave and Takoma will be closed; workers will replace ties and fasteners and renew the third rail.
The Orange Line between East Falls Church and Clarendon will be closed to allow for track circuit module replacement.
The Green Line between Greenbelt and West Hyattsville will be closed to allow for track upgrades, including tie and insulator renewal, interlocking maintenance and work associated with construction of a new test track for 7000-series railcars.


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Recipes brought to you by Avanti Savoia
Visit us online at www.avantisavoia.com
Meatloaf with Balsamic Glaze
Be the first to review this recipe.
(Recipe ID: 525)
Serves 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes plus cooling; Cook time: 90 minutes
Source: Vito De Carolis
Sophisticated Italian version on a familiar favorite.
Items indicated with an astrisk (*) available for purchase in the Avanti Savoia store. See below to add these items to your cart.
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil *
- 1 Large zucchini, finely diced
- 1 Red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 Yellow bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 Yellow onion, finely diced
- Black peppercorn; freshly ground to taste *
- 5 Cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon Red pepper flakes *
- 2 large Eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon Fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup Fresh parsley leaves, chopped
- 1/2 pound Ground pork
- 1/2 pound Ground veal
- 1 pound Beef chuck diced
- 1 cup Bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese
- 2 cups Balsamic glaze
- Fine Sea Salt *
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Heat Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a nonstick skillet over high heat.
- Add the zucchini, bell peppers, onion, salt, and pepper, to taste.
- Cook until almost soft; about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, and cook for 30 seconds.
- Set aside to cool.
- Whisk together the eggs, and herbs in a large bowl.
- Add the meats, breadcrumbs, Pecorino Romano cheese, 1 cup of the Balsamic glaze, and the vegetables; mix until just combined.
- Mold the meatloaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and brush the remaining Balsamic glaze over the entire loaf. Or mold into a loaf pan.
- Bake the meatloaf for approximately 1 to 1 ¼ hours.
- Remove from the oven and let rest 10 minutes before slicing
Buy Ingredients
The following ingredients are available in the Avanti Savoia online store. Click the product name for more information.


text: Save This Event For Later Gravel Grinder Spring Classic Dirt Road Ride Waterbury, VT, Sun Apr 22, 2012 Who's Registered? | Contact Event | Event Website | Google Calendar Start line address: Waterbury, VT 05676 Presented by Five Hills Bikes and Bike29.com This is a past event. If you wish to see the details for this event click, "Continue" below. If you are looking for a current event, please search the event calendar .


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Luke Runyon
I'm a reporter with Harvest Public Media based at KUNC, covering the wide range of agricultural stories in Colorado.
I came to KUNC in March 2013, after spending about two years as a reporter with Aspen Public Radio in Aspen, Colorado.
During my time in Aspen, I was recognized by the Colorado Broadcasters Association and Public Radio News Directors, Inc. for my reporting and production work. My reports have been featured on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition.
I'm the product of two farm families in central Illinois, which is where I spent most of my formative years. Before moving to Colorado I spent a year covering local and state government for Illinois Public Radio and WUIS in the state's capital. I have a Master's degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield, the same place where I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.


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- Oct 22:
- Police: Definitive link between May abduction try and murder of Jessica Ridgeway
- Oct 20:
- Jogger choked 8-year-old boy near Ketner Lake in Westminster in May
- Westminster police: Cross could lead to Jessica Ridgeway's killer
- Oct 13:
- Investigators follow all leads to find Jessica Ridgeway's killer
- Crowd, purple balloons celebrate life of Jessica Ridgeway
- Oct 12:
- Police moved quickly in first hours of search for Jessica Ridgeway
- Boulder experts offer tips on talking to kids in aftermath of Jessica Ridgeway murder
- Officials: Body is that of missing Westminster child Jessica Ridgeway
- Long search ends: "Justice for Jessica" as hope turns to grief
- Oct 11:
- Jessica Ridgeway case makes Longmont parents think twice about letting kids walk to school alone
- Jessica Ridgeway search: Westminster police say body found is not intact
- Jessica Ridgeway search: FBI asks for help finding suspect who fits profile
- Oct 10:
- Maine police one of many agencies investigating Jessica Ridgeway tips
- Parents ruled out as suspects in search for Jessica Ridgeway
- Oct 9:
- Hundreds attend vigil for Jessica Ridgeway in Superior park
- FBI probing link between Wyoming kidnapping and Jessica Ridgeway case
- Jessica Ridgeway's dad: I just want to find my daughter and bring her home
- Oct 8:
- Jessica Ridgeway case: Neighbor noticed backpack on Superior street night before
- Dual prayer events to be held for Jessica Ridgeway in Superior, Westminster on Tuesday
- Jessica Ridgeway search expands to open space areas surrounding Superior
- Oct 7:
- Jessica Ridgeway search in Superior: 'We believe it is her backpack'
The search for 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway entered its fifth day this morning as crews from over a dozen federal and local agencies continue to search the area near her home and in the open space areas west of Superior, where her backpack was found Sunday.
Westminster police also posted a short video of Ridgeway to the department's Facebook page. You can watch that clip at the top of this story.
Crews worked overnight in some areas, combing fields, canvassing neighborhoods and searching ponds for any sign of Ridgeway, who was last seen walking to school from her home in Westminster on Friday morning.
"The canvas today will focus in and around Jessica's home and some open fields that we didn't finish searching yesterday," Westminster police spokesman Trevor Materasso said at a press conference early this morning.
Police held another press conference later this morning in which Materasso said just over half of 400 households near Ridgeway's home in Westminster had been interviewed.
"They may be unaware that they have information that they don't realize is beneficial to the investigation," he said.
Materasso said arrangements are being made to have Ridgeway's family members address the media through a pooled interview later today.
After a backpack was found containing a water bottle with Ridgeway's name on it in a Superior neighborhood Sunday, the search expanded to include the open space west of Superior bounded by U.S. 36, Colo. 93 and Colo. 128, including Eldorado Canyon.
Rescue dogs, searchers on horseback and a dive team searched Monday in fields and ponds for clues on the whereabouts of Ridgeway. Materasso said crews found several items but have not determined if they in fact do belong to Ridgeway.
"We have been unable to determine if any of the items reported by the search teams or sent in by people are directly tied to Jessica," he said.
When asked about the likelihood of finding Ridgeway alive, Materasso would only say that investigators continue to believe she was abducted but would not elaborate on the odds she was still alive.
"As we learn more about Jessica, our focus is more on an abduction rather than her running away," he said.
Ridgeway has been missing since Friday morning when her mother -- a night shift worker -- told police her daughter was last seen walking to school. She never arrived at Witt Elementary.
Materasso said there are no suspects in the case at this time, and no evidence points to any family involvement. Jessica's father, Jeremiah Bryant, attended a child-custody hearing in a Missouri courtroom on Friday and police don't believe the custody issue is related to her disappearance.
Bryant and Jessica's great-grandmother, Dana Moss, live in Independence, Mo.
When asked by a reporter if any of the family members had taken a polygraph test, Materasso replied, "That's not part of the investigation at this time," and said the family has been fully cooperative throughout the investigation.
Police said they still do not need volunteers, but continue to ask people to circulate fliers and spread pictures of Ridgeway on social media. There does not appear to be anywhere the level of formal search and rescue activity in Superior this morning as there was on Monday.
Materasso said Ridgeway -- who is described as blonde, blue-eyed, 4 feet 10 inches tall and 80 pounds -- may be wearing different clothes and may no longer be wearing glasses.
Materasso said police have posted a video of Ridgeway in which he said you can see several distinctive features, including a gap between her two front teeth and a sore on her nose where her glasses normally sit.
"Really make a mental image of those, and if you are the member of the community who sees Jessica please call 911 or use the tip line," he said.
Anybody with information on her disappearance is asked to call 303-658-4336 or e-mail police.
Dual prayer events called "Light up the Night for Jessica" have been scheduled for tonight in Superior, at Community Park, and in Westminster, at Kensington Park. The public is welcome to participate. Both events are set to begin at 7 p.m. and participants are encouraged to bring flashlights.


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The Topex Hardware Contemporary Series was aptly named. This collection of decorative hardware has some of the most unusual designs; just the thing that a contemporary collector is craving. From sleek lines to offset shapes, Topex has what it takes to make your home stand out. With cutting-edge finishes like bright chrome and stainless steel lite, you'll be creating that up-to-the-minute flavor instantly. Browse this stellar collection of cabinet knobs and pulls, and bring your décor to a whole new level.
You might think you've fallen into the Flatlands with this decorative hardware series. Topex has created a line of modern pulls and knobs that embrace an almost two-dimensional lifestyle. Flat bow pulls and flat round knobs give you just the whisper of an impression, and that impression is unmistakably stylish. The ruler cabinet handles are long, thin tabs with an imprint running along the entire edge for a groovy style that's comfortable to hold onto as well.
If you want something more prominent from your decorative hardware, try bench pulls or modern knobs in big or small rectangles. The straight up simplicity of these cabinet handles and knobs keep the atmosphere fresh and fashionable. From rhombus to circle and everything in between, get your décor in shape with the fabulous Contemporary Collection only From Topex. Order now, and set the trend in your neighborhood.