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Browse Games
User Review
Lowly Worm
Xbox 360
Everyone should know by now that Infinity Wards latest is not to be missed, and it was more than just a video game release. It amassed millions of hours of playtime and had gotten endless amount of press over the past year, making it practically a force of nature unleashed on the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Every nuance of the game as been inspected, every detail has been examined, to the point that if they wanted an unspoiled experience when their copy arrived they would need to make an effort to avoid the news about it. The developer has honed its well-worn formula to achievable and logical shine, far from shunning the weight of expectation; rarely in mechanics, it crafts a campaign that surprises with scope.
The series of Modern Warfare 2 is back on the hands of Infinity Ward, the developer that brought us Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the most significant multiplayer FPS. But between Call of Duty 4 and Modern Warfare 2 was another game that managed to be successful in its own right, which was Call of Duty: World at War, it never had a chance at being another Modern Warfare, though.
I need to get one thing straight – it was obvious that Modern Warfare 2 wasn't going to be able to compete against its original, but that's not to say this sequel has practically no chance of being anything other than a great game. COD4 had featured a strong single player campaign and was nearly perfect as a multiple game, Infinity Ward is simply building off this. Their mission, which turned out to be very successful, was to keep gamers interested and to add to the franchise regardless of how much time they might typically spend on a first-person shooter. Modern Warfare 2 has a top-notch online experience, a great single player campaign, and a new Spec-Ops mode that lets players test their skills in one-off missions and builds off COD4's popular coda.
The single player campaign in MW2 takes everything a step further, but can be found a lot similar to COD4. The story is much harder hitting; they get you ready for a much more in-your-face look at nuclear attack, terrorism, and hand-to-hand combat than the previous game. Despite that MW2 is more of a mature game than the series' previous titles, it also takes the story and goes completely over-the-top with it. It's a military plot combined with different vehicular sequences, and slow-motion action stunts along the lines of the Watchmen movie.
The story isn't entirely clear why certain things take place, following it can be very hard and muddled, and many of the character's relationships with one another remain foggy. While there are some missing links they don't really detract from the story and their almost always clear what your character needs to accomplish, why you're on a specific mission, and the larger strategy that you are operating under. The story doesn't quite hold up for the same period as the original, which is a huge shock since COD4's campaign mode was a quick run through. It's not by much but I would have imagined Infinity Ward trying to make something longer with their sequel to listen to all of the criticism. You may want to not ask too many questions and suspend your disbelief though, especially if you're geo-politically minded. One point that's interesting though is that you never fight in the anonymous, sandy regions found in COD4, instead the game mentions many specific places and countries which you never step foot on. Another thing is how quick the set pieces get put together just apparently after America went to war. It looks like the war has been going on for years!
This is a title that oozes a confidence built on collective experience, from the comforting and safe assault course opener. It's the sort of videogame that doesn't flinch in delivering set-piece after set-piece understanding exactly what its audience wants with barely a pause to load the next scenario. The commitment certainly isn't questionable, but the politics may be.
The developer has – controversially – included an extremely graphic depiction that the player has full control over of a very specific act of terrorism early on in the game. This is something of a talking point, unsurprisingly, and to ignore the issue would be remiss.
I wouldn't say it was deeply disturbing but the level is, without the doubt, an experience that is the most thought-provoking I have yet encountered in any mainstream game. Providing you're immersed in the context and its atmosphere it can also be a pretty sobering experience, but you can easily skip or ignore this level if you don't want to put yourself through a fairly clearly-defined moralistic mill. Despite the abhorrent undertone running beneath, it's powerful in a way that videogames rarely are, and I just can't help but admire it in some twisted way. It shocked me all the way through of playing it.
For those of you in the persuasion of wondering what all the fuss was about, as there will be a significant chunk of the gamers that will end up feeling this way, MW2's action beat and constantly assaults the senses that proves the primary draw.
At times the visual panache and superlative gunplay borders best-in-show which is here Infinity Ward steps above and beyond criticism. Set-piece animation is integrated in an almost seamless fashion within the level design, enemies crumple realistically under fire, and you'll be hard-pushed to spot a single respawning set of foes, which even if early reports of veteran difficulty as a direct consequence are to be believed.
The colour and lighting is noticeably improved in this second iteration, the crisp 60fps console versions are surprisingly well-detailed, and whilst the environment remains resolutely non-interactive, it's a sheer pleasure to keep the eyes locked onto the screen when things are being blown up for you with relative frequency.
New additions to the mission structure will be pleasingly well judged, from climbing mechanics that offer up a healthy dose of tension to vehicle sections that work within the confines of the physics engine – it's all integrated with a strong taint of talent and money behind the scenes, but whilst all this is great fun the majority of the missions will be familiar (clear the house, destroy the AA gun, follow the tank, etc). Even this is still done brilliantly, its Infinity Ward's baby after all, and even though Treyarch may well be an improving off-year custodian, the fingerprints are unmistakable.
There is a new part to the game called The Special Operations (Spec Ops). These are short missions where you have a very clear goal – kill this many rebels, win this race, get to this point, etc. They are basically run through missions on either normal, hard, or veteran modes that are Call of Duty skill challenges in order to win stars. More stars will win you some achievement points and will increase your ever-present completion percentage. The missions include defending a point and stealth escapes, though you also get vehicle missions like a snowmobile race and a helicopter attack, even though their varied they stick to the same operations and settings handled in the game. These Ops can be fun, but not long lasting as there isn't any way-points making the missions very challenging – you have to start over by making one critical mistake, which is not so easy when you have attack dogs and about 40 guys to kill. Anyone who dreams of getting 1000 Xbox achievement points must know that Veteran-level challenges are only for the most skilled gamers and anyone else putting in the time is going to be disappointed. Ops is a great way to improve your game while playing with a friend as it can be done in single player or multiplayer (including local) modes.
It's all about more within MW2's multiplayer. More mayhem, more levels, more weapons, more skills, and so on. COD4's multiplayer has become the baseline against which all online FPS games are measured, and what better way could there be to follow this experience with MW2? With highly customizable skills and weapons and huge skill streak bonuses, Infinity War this time made sure to keep Veteran players interested while allowing new players to get into the game, with solid early level weapons and death streak bonuses. You feel like your achieving something with every session you are playing multiplayer because you are building up towards the next level. So that next holographic sight or launcher could be right around the corner. This means two things – there is a constant sense of achievement whether you were victorious or not and you don't want to put the game down. It might not be a huge step up from COD4 but it's still a great experience with enough changed to keep things interesting.
This may arguably be the best online FPS right now, but not everything is perfect with the multiplayer though. The game is now largely silent as MW2 has basically killed voicechat. This was about the opposite in COD4, this was mainly put down by numerous homophobia, racism and cheating. So instead Infinity Ward decided to curtail the chat, except allowing it in a few games. Most players (at least on the Xbox 360) have unplugged their headsets because the cuts that were made were large enough. Teamwork is what could have taken MW2 multiplayer to the next level, unfortunately it just doesn't look like its going to happen in this generation.
MW2 refines and builds on the most solid of bases and is spectacular, as a whole, in all the right areas. This game has problems just like any other, but despite this it's a game you should play for what it does achieve. The single player subject matter is often hard to follow and mostly over-the-top, but it also has powerful settings and compelling characters with a thought-provoking undertone. It really gets players into the mindset of the game as it's a much more cynical look at the battlefield than previous titles. Spec Ops often requires a second player due to its difficulty, but it's the single biggest addition to the game, and lets players perfect their skills in scenario-based combat which becomes quite rewarding. It's definitely not as brilliant as its original, since it's the same type of exercise but with a few different ideas added in, but MW2 is still a brilliant game in its own merits and stands proudly head up high above most other FPS shooters. This is a game every FPS and war veteran fan should definitely buy.


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Indiana – Danny Granger was awful in Saturday's debut and it could be another 10 days before he is clicking. Maybe you have the guts to start him with four games this week, but I'm just not ready. Paul George, George Hill, Roy Hibbert (who has really struggled over his last five) and David West, on the other hand, all look like strong plays.
L.A. Clippers – The Clippers play four times and Caron Butler is suddenly hot. I'd roll with him, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford this week. DeAndre Jordan has been too quiet lately, but is still an option with the four games, while Matt Barnes and Chauncey Billups might be worth a look in deeper formats. Lamar Odom had a season-high 18 on Saturday, but I still don't trust him enough to start him.
L.A. Lakers – The Lakers only play three times, but Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash (who is finally coming on), Earl Clark and Antawn Jamison all look like solid options. Metta World Peace missed all six shots on Sunday and is shooting it poorly, so weigh options carefully before throwing him into your lineup. He's shooting just 32 percent in his 10 February games. Just keep an eye out for information on Clark's pinkie, Nash's back and Howard's shoulder.
Memphis – The Grizzlies play three times this week, but then go on a run of 3-4-4-4-4 over the next five weeks. I like the idea of adding Tony Allen, but he's a shaky play with three games. Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and a struggling Marc Gasol all look like good plays, but I wouldn't risk playing Tayshaun Prince for just three games. See Waiver Wired for more info on Allen's strong play of late.
Miami – LeBron James and the Heat have just three games this week, but then go 4-4-4-4-3-4 to finish out the season. LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are still must-starts, while Ray Allen, Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers are also worth a look in deeper leagues. LeBron is dealing with a quad injury, but had 28 points on Sunday, so you have to start him.
Milwaukee – Brandon Jennings was awful on Saturday with just 11 points, while J.J. Redick had 16 points in the loss to Atlanta. With three games this week, I still don't trust Redick enough to play him, while Jennings, Monta Ellis, Ersan Ilyasova and Larry Sanders all look like strong plays in most leagues.
Minnesota – The Wolves play just three times this week, but Ricky Rubio is on fire, Derrick Williams is playing well and a red-hot Nikola Pekovic all look like strong plays. I'd also think about giving Andrei Kirilenko a start this week, but Luke Ridnour, J.J. Barea and Alexey Shved are a real roll of the dice.
New Orleans – The Hornets play three times and Eric Gordon is doubtful for either Tuesday or Wednesday, as he still hasn't been cleared for back-to-backs. Greivis Vasquez, Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson and Al-Farouq Aminu are all nice options, while I'd steer away from Robin Lopez and Jason Smith if games matter in your league.
New York – Carmelo Anthony picked up a Flagrant-1 during Sunday's game during an altercation with Spencer Hawes, which could land him a one-game suspension. He popped Hawes in the back of the head during the scrum, so watch for more info on Monday. Even if he plays just two games, Melo is still nearly a must-start player, while Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire and J.R. Smith all look like decent plays. Raymond Felton left Sunday's game with a bruised right heel, but returned to finish, so I think he's OK to leave in your lineup.
Oklahoma City – The Thunder go three times this week, but Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka all deserve to be in lineups, while Kevin Martin hit 1-of-5 shots for five points on Sunday. Weigh your options before considering him a must-start player. The Thunder's schedule isn't great, as they finish 3-4-4-4-3-3-3, which is a fantasy playoffs buzzkill.
Orlando – With four games, Moe Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, Arron Afflalo and Andrew Nicholson all look like nice plays, but Jameer Nelson sat out on Saturday with a knee injury. Any time he's out, E'Twaun Moore and Beno Udrih are worth a close look. Nelson is iffy for Tuesday with the injury, so watch for updates. Tobias Harris played well on Saturday, but I'd be pretty leery of starting him just yet.
Philadelphia – Thaddeus Young was back in action from a hamstring injury on Sunday and had 11 points and 10 boards, making him a must-add player. With four games, Young and Jrue Holiday are must-starts, while Spencer Hawes is close. Nick Young disappeared on Sunday, but I'm not ready to write him off just yet. Dorell Wright is worth keeping an eye on, while Evan Turner should also be worth a play this week. Lavoy Allen is not someone I'd trust in my starting lineup this week.
Phoenix – The Suns play three times this week and Marcin Gortat (who is getting hot again) and Goran Dragic are still must-starts. Luis Scola, Jared Dudley and Jermaine O'Neal are all worth a look, but I don't fully trust any of them.
Portland – Owners of Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge and J.J. Hickson have tough decisions to make this week as the Blazers play just two games.
Sacramento – With four games, Isaiah Thomas, Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins are must-starts, while Marcus Thornton and John Salmons are also worth a look in most leagues.
San Antonio – The Spurs play just three games this week, but there aren't any back-to-backs to worry about. That means I'm guessing that Tony Parker (who rested on Sunday), Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Manu Ginobili will play in all three games this week. But then again, you never know with Gregg Popovich.
Toronto – With four games, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay and Amir Johnson all look like solid plays, while Jonas Valanciunas and Alan Anderson might be worth a shot this week. Andrea Bargnani played 13 scoreless minutes on Friday, and should be on benches in all leagues until further notice, unless you just want to drop him.
Utah – With three games I'm starting Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, but guys like Randy Foye, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Marvin Williams all need to be looked at closely before running them out there. Mo Williams is still out with his thumb injury, and I'm not expecting any late miracles.
Washington – A four-game week makes John Wall, Bradley Beal, Nene and Emeka Okafor must-starts, while I would also not be afraid to run Martell Webster out there, as he's surviving the Beal storm and starting at small forward. Trevor Ariza is also a nice sleeper option after his 18 points and four steals on Saturday. He's playing well off the bench.
Games Played for Week 18
4 Games Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Toronto, Washington
3 Games Brooklyn, Charlotte, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Antonio, Utah
2 Games Boston, Portland
For more information before setting lineups, follow me on Twitter, check out Waiver Wired, and join Ryan Knaus for a free live chat on Monday.
Atlanta – Josh Smith blocked just two shots last week, but it could have been much worse. Had he been traded to the Bucks, he would have lost one game and maybe more, and would have also had to learn a new system. Now Smoove will play four games in each of the next six weeks and might lead your team to a championship. Devin Harris is coming on, but is an injury risk, while Kyle Korver may still be worth a start, despite his demotion and his production tailing off in Atlanta. Obviously, Jeff Teague and Al Horford are must-starts.
Brooklyn – Joe Johnson has missed two straight and is iffy for Tuesday with his heel problem, giving owners a tough decision to make in a three-game week. Watch for more info on Monday and start him at your own risk. If he's out, C.J. Watson should play well in his absence. Gerald Wallace doesn't look like a great option with just three games, while Brook Lopez and Deron Williams remain must-starts.
Boston – With just two games, owners will have to think hard about whether to start Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jeff Green. I'd bench all the guards, and keep in mind Jordan Crawford failed to score in just 12 minutes on Sunday, which I don't find all that surprising.
Charlotte – The Cats play three games this week and Byron Mullens is in a funk, hitting just 2-of-21 shots over his last two games. I think he'll get it turned around this week, and would still lean toward playing him in most situations. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is coming on a bit so keep an eye on him, while Kemba Walker looks like a must-start. Ramon Sessions and Gerald Henderson should also be decent plays.
Chicago – Taj Gibson suffered a knee injury on Sunday night, leaving him iffy for his next game, and possibly means more minutes for Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. Here is some video of Derrick Rose dunking, and while he might make a surprise return any day now, you simply can't use him until it happens. And yes, he could also miss the rest of the season. Kirk Hinrich was out again on Sunday with his elbow injury and he's missed nine of his last 10 games. If he's out, Nate Robinson should be started, but we simply need more information on Hinrich than we have right now. And with four games, Luol Deng joins Boozer and Noah as must-starts.
Cleveland – Kyrie Irving is dealing with a sore knee and while it doesn't sound like a big deal, it's something to definitely keep an eye on. He's averaging just 14.5 ppg over his last two. Dion Waiters is hot and with three games, owners need to weigh options carefully. Tristan Thompson is another possible fantasy starter on this team.
Dallas – With four games Dirk Nowitzki, O.J. Mayo and Shawn Marion all look like solid plays, while Darren Collison, Vince Carter and Elton Brand are also guys I wouldn't mind throwing into a lineup this week.
Denver – Danilo Gallinari is dealing with a thigh bruise that's limited him for the last couple games and leaves him a little iffy for Monday against the Lakers. My guess is he'll play, but that's just a guess. With three games, anyone not named Gallinari, Ty Lawson and Andre Iguodala are shaky plays, although Kenneth Faried should also be in most lineups.
Detroit – Will Bynum has been suspended for a game, turning his four-game week into a three-gamer. Brandon Knight missed Saturday's game with a knee injury, leaving him iffy for this week. If he's out, Rodney Stuckey should be an excellent play, especially given Bynum's suspension. Greg Monroe and Jose Calderon are the only true must-start players on this team, which is simply a fantasy mess.
Golden State – We were high on Jarrett Jack all year, and despite some struggles along the way, he's on fire right now and is a must-own player. Andrew Bogut might be out indefinitely with a back injury, but Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and David Lee are all must-starts, while Carl Landry is worth a shot given Bogut's injury. Start the inconsistent Harrison Barnes at your own risk, and enjoy the four-game week for the Warriors, as they have just two more after this one. I've pretty much bashed the idea of owning Bogut all season, and while I waivered on that last week, he now looks droppable in most leagues.
Houston – Just as fast as I picked up Thomas Robinson, I have cut him in most leagues. Weekly games played matter in most of my leagues and the Rockets' schedule stinks. Additionally, he won't play until he practices and we still don't have any clue how Kevin McHale plans on using him. Meanwhile, Carlos Delfino has started at PF and played heavy minutes in his last three and I'd rather own him going forward. Just like every week from here on out, with the exception of Week 23, the Rockets play three games. James Harden, Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin look like strong plays, while Delfino and Omer Asik are also worth a look.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jay Z and Beyonce hit the Internet with a slick and seductive mock movie trailer for their upcoming tour, On the Run.
In the video entitled Run, a scantily clad Beyonce flees the cops and totes a machine gun and Jay Z conspires with characters played by Sean Penn and Don Cheadle. Other stars who make an appearance include Jake Gyllenhaal and Blake Lively.


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Lawrence Joseph Forck Sr., of Chillicothe, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at his home in Chillicothe, Mo.
Lawrence Forck Sr. was born Sept. 7, 1931 in Jefferson City, Mo., the son of Lawrence Emil Forck and Anotia Catherine Evers Forck. Lawrence married Mary Frances Bloss on Oct. 6, 1951. She preceded him in death on Nov. 6, 2002.
He was a graduate of Westphalia High School, Westphalia, Mo.
He worked as a route driver for Hostess Baking Company and after retirement worked for Hy-Vee in Chillicothe.
Larry was a member of the First Christian Church in Chillicothe and in his younger years was in the church softball league. He enjoyed bowling and he was very active in the Little Theater in Chillicothe, where he built many sets, was a property manager and even directed some productions.
He is survived by a son, Lawrence Forck Jr.; two daughters, Cheryl Wood and Jean Lanahan; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Norma Driskill, Hazelwood, Mo.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Mary.
There has been a cremation.
Memorials services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 at the First Christian Church, Chillicothe, Mo. There will be a private burial. There is no scheduled visitation. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 and Friday, Jan. 18, 2013 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the First Christian Church and left at the funeral home or mailed to Heritage Funeral Home, 3141 N. Washington, Chillicothe, MO 64601. Online condolences may be left at www.heritage-becausewecare.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Heritage Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Mo.
Chillicothe resident Lawrence Joseph Forck, Sr., died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013
Lawrence Joseph Forck Sr., of Chillicothe, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at his home in Chillicothe, Mo.


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Restaurant review: Somewhere in Time is somewhere wonderful
If you haven't been to Somewhere in Time Café, then you are in for a treat.
This Old Mystic diner-esque café would fit right in on Guy Fieri's popular Food Network show, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." Host Fieri travels the country to sample the best of this genre. The joints he highlights inevitably fall into one of three categories: the bar with good food; the throw-back, where nostalgia is what's really on the menu; and the homey spot, where creative cooks dance around the classics, infusing them with fresh ingredients in creative combinations.
The latter is where Somewhere in Time fits in.
Partners Sarina and Gwen McGugan bought the restaurant in 2000 and, according to the menu, "wanted to have a little breakfast and lunch place filled with the smell of coffee and yummy food. We pictured our restaurant filled with friendly people and the comfort of home."
Indeed, this is a seat-yourself, breakfast-all-day kind of place. To keep the chill out of the dining room, visitors are asked to enter through the side door, which opens into a carpeted hallway flanked by bulletin boards crammed with local business cards. Up the ramp and to the left is the door to Somewhere in Time.
A fabulous assortment of mismatched tables and chairs of the vintage, chrome-legged variety fill the space. The dark teal walls feature knotty pine wainscoting and are broken up by handmade art work and the bright front windows that let in the light.
This is also a place where you help yourself to coffee. There is regular and decaf, flavored and not, plus hot water and tea bags and an assortment of milk, all in thermal containers waiting for you to choose your favorite.
The sizeable menu is augmented by specials boards, one each for breakfast and lunch, and baked goods - homemade muffins and scones that come in flavors such as cranberry orange, almond joy and red velvet.
Indeed, if you like a sweet start to your day, you'll find it here. The banana bread French toast is on the regular menu, back by popular demand, alongside buttermilk or whole grain pancakes to which you may add everything from blueberries and cranberries to homemade granola, chocolate chips and cream cheese. On a recent visit, the specials board included a caramelized peaches and toasted pecan pancake topping as well as Christmas French toast made with apple cinnamon bread and drizzled with caramel and walnuts.
Savory breakfast choices include the basics - eggs, bacon, toast - as well as the more exotic. All kinds of omelets include filling options like chicken-apple, turkey or veggie sausage; broccoli, roasted red peppers and fresh spinach; and cheeses from jalapeno and cheddar to Swiss and goat. There are breakfast sandwiches and burritos, quesadillas and even huevos rancheros. Or perhaps you'd prefer a bowl of oatmeal or a side of Cajun corned beef hash.
A recent specials board included a breakfast enchilada - scrambled eggs, avocado, sausage and cheddar, wrapped in a flour tortilla, topped with cheddar and enchilada sauce and served with a side of sour cream - as well as a steak and pepper omelet and a healthy egg white omelet.
The sizeable lunch menu includes soup of the day - tomato and goat cheese ravioli soup on our last visit - and a banquet of sandwiches, many of which feature Somewhere's fresh roasted, hand-carved turkey: I count the Mookie - Thanksgiving on a bun - and the turkey club among my favorites. There's also a Black Angus burger and a veggie burger; a BLT and a steak, turkey or avocado Reuben; and a variety of grilled chicken sandwiches and a selection of wraps.
On my last visit, I had my favorite turkey club and Sarina's Salad, a generous mix of fresh greens, carrots, raisins, walnuts and cheddar, with a tangy white zinfandel dressing. Delicious. My husband chose a wrap from the specials board, grilled chicken with spinach, apple and goat cheese, and a side of the tangy artichoke and chick pea salad. The wrap was crunchy and packed with flavor, and salad was rich and herbaceous, a good complement.
Despite the great food and the homey atmosphere, the best thing about Somewhere in Time may be the service: it's simply delightful. The waitresses are busy - the place is often hopping - and efficient, but they always seem glad to see you. They know the menu inside and out, and they make you feel comfortable from the moment you sit down.
I'd say the McGugans have realized their vision.
Somewhere in Time Cafe
3175 Gold Star Highway (Route 184), in Old Mystic Plaza, Mystic
(860) 536-1985
Cuisine: Diner-plus, familiar breakfast and lunch favorites but with creative combinations, fresh ingredients and amazing homemade baked goods and sweet offerings.
Service: Fast, efficient, always friendly.
Prices: Breakfast, $5.50 to $12, and lunch, about $7.25 to $10.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Handicapped access: At the main entrance, there is one step up into the dining room, but the side entrance provides access via a ramp.
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Dear Editor:
Why we must pressure our legislators to abolish the New Jersey absentee vote policy:
One of the reasons people praise our democracy is because we have the right to vote in a private booth where no one has to know which way we voted.
Absentee voting totally eliminates this assurance of a secret vote, leaving the process open to all kinds of anti-democratic corruption. Whether it's people being pressured by entities having influence over their lives(job-wise or housing-wise), to absentee-vote a certain way or face repercussions; or people accepting money to vote a certain way---the non-secrecy of an absentee vote provides the proof that the voter is voting the desired way of the vote-buyer or pressuring entity. They see the vote on the non-secret paper ballot and then it is placed in the envelope and sent in.
This corruption, illegal yet nearly impossible to prove, wins elections, disrespects democracy, and needs to be federally investigated.
Please pressure your legislators to abolish New Jersey's policy that allows everyone to absentee vote and replace it with allowance only for the ill, disabled, or out-of-town.


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RAISE YOUR HANDS AND REJOICE — the 2018 schedules are here
Only 87 days until kickoff, my fellow mammals.
Steven Makowicki weighed 190 pounds two years ago.
Makowicki now weighs 240 pounds thanks to Norwich Free Academy's weight training program. It has helped make the senior into a beastly linebacker.
"He's a different player at 240," Wildcats coach Jemal Davis said. "You get that size, you get that confidence and that (level of) play."
Davis and his staff have put an emphasis on hitting the iron. Six platforms were purchased before this season so that 45 players could work out at a time. The staff also put up boards listing record lifts to motivate the players.
"(Those were) some of the things that I was part of when I played football at UConn," Davis said. "One of our mottos is, 'proper preparation prevents poor performance.' We utilize that not only for them in football but in terms of life.
That's why we are here (in the finals) because they have committed to being prepared, and that's obviously demonstrated through their commitment in the weight room. … The growth in our players in size it's just so visible. It's just mind-boggling."
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Marc Allard, Norwich Bulletin: NFA seniors have unbreakable bond, Loss is just what Xavier needed, and, NFA v. Xavier breakdown.
Sean Bowley, Hearst Inc.: Previews of Class LL, Class L, Class M, and Class S.
Gentleman Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press: NFA stands between Xavier and title trifecta, and, Will David beat Goliath? Probably not.
Gentleman Jim Bransfield AND Pooch Diggity Dogg, JRC Amalgamated: Xavier vs. NFA preview (it took TWO great men to write one capsule).
Kyle Brennan, Waterbury Republican-American: Gimme 5: Final five for finals (that's six words, not five).
Kyle and Mark, Waterbury Republican-American: Championship picks.
Brian Girasoli, Norwich Bulletin: 1945 NFA team reunites.
Mark Jaffee, Waterbury Republican-American: Newsome is Ansonia's unassuming running star, North Branford's explosive offense will test Ansonia, and, Xavier star set to join Addazio's BC program.
Carl Josephson, New Britain Herald: Ultimate moment for Berlin football seniors Saturday in title game, and, Redcoats players have strong bond on and off football field.
"Gorgeous" Chip Malafronte, JRC Amalgamated: NFA followed Xavier's winning blueprint to Class LL final.
Colin McDonough, Hartford Courant: Banged-up Berlin hobbles towards state final.
Tom Yantz, Hartford Courant: Running Back DeAngelo Berry Maintains Xavier Tradition.
Arthur Figgis, TEAM DAY: NFA meets Xavier for the Class LL football title.
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You will have to make a concerted effort to ignore this weekend's finals. Something along the lines of locking yourself in a crypt, then having said crypt encased in carbonite and dropped in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
The finals have become such a big-time attraction that they'll be broadcast on espn3.com thanks to its partnership with PlayOnSports, which has a partnership with the CIAC. Circle of friends.
We recommend (for one last time this season) that you follow all the games in these simple ways:
■ Follow the Class LL final at theday.com.
■ Follow on Twitter at #dayfb and #cthsfb.
■ Tune in to CPTV (SUPPORT OSCAR THE GROUCH), ESPN3.com (yes), or CIAC.tv.
■ Listen to the fatherly George DeMaio at WELI-960 AM.
■ Follow in RealTime at CIACSports.com: Class LL, Class L, Class M, and, Class S.
■ GO TO RENTSCHLER FIELD. Spare us your sniveling that, "it's too far". You live in Connecticut, the second-smallest state in The Union. One employee at Polecat Enterprises has relatives that drive two hours to get to the movies in the great Republic of Texas.
Tickets are $10 per day. Yes, one $10 ticket Saturday gets you three games. BARGAIN.
(No whining, either, about ticket prices. You blew that and more and that to see that awful "Red Dawn" reboot. You fool. You should've saved the $$$$ and rented the original. Sure, it made no sense that the Ruskies, Cubans. and Nicaraguans could invade MIDDLE AMERICA, but, hey, fear and loathing the Soviets was big in those days, so we suspended our disbelief. Kids, you can read more about the Cold War at your local library. Or look it up on you iPad.)
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Here's the quick and easy on today's finals.
NO. 3 XAVIER (11-1) v. NO. 5 NORWICH FREE ACADEMY (12-0)
WHEN: Today, 7 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: Xavier 3-2; NFA 0-1.
DAY COACHES POLL RANKING: Xavier No. 5; NFA No. 8.
CALPREPS.COM COMPUTER RANKING: Xavier No. 2; NFA No. 3.
XAVIER PLAYMAKERS: Sr. RB DeAngelo Berry (1,759 yards, 36 TDs); Sr. QB Tim Boyle (2,254 yards, 23 TDs); Sr. G-NG Zack Creeron (6-foot, 287 pounds); Sr. DB Nate Gonzalez; Sr. WR-DB Kris Luster (72 catches, 1,261 yards, 12 TDs); Sr. C-DE Max Schumann (6-2, 269); Sr. LB Max Tylki (6-1, 207).
NFA PLAYMAKERS: Sr. WR-DB Ryer Caruso (18 catches, 501 yards, 9 TDs); Sr. LB Steven Makowicki (6-foot-2, 250 pounds); Sr. RB-DB Marcus Outlow (1,400 yards, 18 TDs); Sr. QB-DB Joey Paparelli (979 yards rushing, 10 TDs; 775 yards passing, 14 TDs); Sr. Tuzar Skipper (6-2, 205 pounds) Jr. RB Khaleed Exum-Strong (11 TDs).
WORDS: NFA has the speed advantage. The Falcons have more bulk (like almost 1,400 pounds worth of bulk on the offensive line). The Wildcats are strong at defensive back, which makes for a fun match-up against Boyle, Luster and the rest of Xavier's passing game. NFA can expect a healthy dose of Berry. Outlow needs to get more touches for the Wildcats. He'll be the best player on the field tonight, and he had only 12 carries — including just four in the second half — in Sunday's semifinal win over Staples. Xavier must keep the Wildcats from breaking through the first level as their quickness will give it fits. NFA has proven itself during the playoffs and made a lot of doubters look dumb. It's hard to pick against Xavier, though. It throws better should the need arise. It's destroyed four playoff teams in its last five games. And it also has more experience in this kind of environment.
COMPUTER PICK: Xavier 42, NFA 21.
POLECAT PICK: Xavier.
NO. 1 ANSONIA (13-0) v. NO. 3 NORTH BRANFORD (12-0)
WHEN: Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: Ansonia 17-8; North Branford 1-1.
DAY COACHES POLL RANKING: Ansonia No. 3; North Branford unranked.
CALPREPS.COM COMPUTER RANKING: Ansonia No. 5; North Branford No. 8.
ANSONIA PLAYMAKERS: Sr. LB Hezekiah Duncan; Sr. WR-DE Raeshaun Finney (9 catches, 229 yards, 4 TDs; 3 INTs); Sr. WR-LB Andrew Matos (38 catches, 975 yards, 13 TDs); So. QB-DB JaiQuan McKnight (1,300 yards passing, 23 TDs; 396 yards, 7 TDs; 3 INTs); Jr. RB Arkeel Newsome (2,008 yards, 35 TDs); Sr. RB-LB Saiheed Sanders (590 yards rushing, 6 TDs).
NORTH BRANFORD PLAYMAKERS: Sr. QB Brandan Basil (2,793 yards passing, 40 TDs; 390 yards rushing, 6 TDs); Sr. RB-LB Chris Caron (48 catches, 993 yards, 15 TDs); Sr. RB-DB Joe Delucia (42 catches, 702 yards, 13 TDs; 4 INTs); Sr. RB-LB Gary Falanga (101 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. RB-LB Dale Hausman (1,311 yards, 13 TDs); Jr. RB-LB Josh Melaccio (91 tackles, 4 sacks).
WORDS: "Defense wins championships" is a cliche and also not exactly true given the number of high-scoring offenses that have blazed their team to titles. Defense will be huge in this game, though, as both teams average 49 points. Ansonia's offense isn't as balanced as the Thunderbirds'. It doesn't need to be with Newsome running behind a strong offensive line. It can throw when it wants and has an elite receiver in Matos. North Branford averages 234 yards passing and 227 rushing. The Chargers have the edge in experience having won Class M last season. Weaver set a state-record for most points in a final when it burned through Darien, 69-26, in the 1999 Class M final. Let's see if either Ansonia and/or North Branford can top that.
COMPUTER PICK: Ansonia 42, North Branford 27.
THE PICK: Ansonia.
NO. 2 BERLIN (11-1) v. NO. 4 HILLHOUSE (10-2)
WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: Berlin 1-5; Hillhouse 4-1.
DAY COACHES POLL RANKING: Both are unranked.
CALPREPS.COM COMPUTER RANKING: Berlin No. 28; Hillhouse No. 6.
BERLIN PLAYMAKERS: Sr. Tyler Bouchard (30 catches, 450 yards, 4 TDs); Sr. RB Justin Gombotz (1,159 yards, 16 TDs; 15 catches, 263 yards, 2 TDs; 3 INTs); Sr. DB-RB Kevin Main (330 yards rushing, 7 TDs; 91 tackles); Sr. RB Scott McLeod (954 yards rushing, 10 TDs; 20 catches, 345 yards, 6 TDs); Jr. LB Dante Vasi (68 tackles); Jr. QB Mitch Williams (1,400 yards passing, 16 TDs).
HILLHOUSE PLAYMAKERS: Sr. RB-DB Andre Anderson (1,270 yards, 14 TDs; 82 tackles); Jr. RB-LB Harold Cooper (1,550 yards, 21 TDs; 14 catches, 248 yards, 3 TDs); Sr. LB Terell Fairweather (111 tackles, 5.5 sacks); Sr. DL Teno Simpson (78 tackles, 5 sacks); Sr. QB-DB Je'Vaughn Moore (809 yards passing, 8 TDs; 850 yards rushing, 7 TDs; 4 INTs).
WORDS: Hillhouse's losses were to state finalists Hand and Xavier. The Redcoats only loss was to Platt (34-14). Platt ran on all but nine plays with quarterback Andrew McBride and Justin Potts combining to run 56 times for 388 yards and five touchdowns. Berlin is facing an even bigger rushing threat in the Academics. They lead the state in offensive yardage (5,620) and average 401 yards rushing. Cooper is also the state's fastest player. Anderson, Cooper and Moore all helped Hillhouse win the 2010 state title. Gombotz (ankle) didn't play in Sunday's semifinal win over Weston and will be a game-time decision. Berlin needs him. The Academics better not get overconfident, though. It took Guilford lightly in Week 6 and miraculously escaped with a 20-18 win (Cooper sat out that game to rest his injuries).
COMPUTER PICK: Hillhouse 35, Berlin 19.
POLECAT PICK: Hillhouse.
NO. 1 HAND (12-0) v. NO. 2 WINDSOR (11-0)
CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: Hand 10-6; Windsor 0-1.
WHEN: Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
DAY COACHES POLL RANKING: Hand No. 1; Windsor No. 4.
CALPREPS.COM COMPUTER RANKING: Hand No. 1; Windsor No. 7.
HAND PLAYMAKERS: Sr. WR Kyle Anderson (33 catches, 504 yards, 4 TDs); Sr. QB Brendan Bilcheck (2,125 yards passing, 17 TDs; 696 yards, 10 TDs); Sr. WR Caleb Ewald (57 catches, 936 yards, 9 TDs); Sr. DE Peter Gerson (6-4, 230); Sr. RB Ian O'Toole (858 yards rushing, 15 TDs); Sr. FB-LB Matthew Walsh (10 rushing TDs).
WINDSOR PLAYMAKERS: Sr. RB-DB Devonte Dillon (674 yards rushing, 5 TDs); Sr. QB Robert Quinn Fleeting (2,555 yards passing; 32 TDs; 655 yards rushing, 10 TDs); Sr. WR-DB Ryhieme Moore (49 catches, 962 yards, 10 TDs); Sr. DE Cole Ormsby (6-4, 230); Sr. DE Lance Ormsby (6-2, 185).
WORDS: Windsor has a great offense. It's among the state leaders, averaging 464 yards, and Fleeting is a dynamic and dangerous force. The Tigers defense is scary, though. It's painful watching the way they paste opposing players. Given the choice of getting hit by Walsh, or shaving with a cheese grater and using tabasco as aftershave lotion. .... please pass the sauce. Hand is also, um, an old hand in big games. It won last season's state title. It's beaten Hillhouse, Xavier and West Haven this season. And it's taken every team's best shot since being ranked No. 1 after its midseason win over Xavier.
COMPUTER PICK: Hand 31, Windsor 21.
POLECAT PICK: Hand.
Only 87 days until kickoff, my fellow mammals.
Public safety forum to focus on crime recidivism, priorities
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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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In these times of economic hardship, the Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC) is asking folks to search their hearts, lend their hands, and reach into their pockets, as it continues to try and help the needy of the Hudson County area.
Oktoberfest on 10/22
PERC is holding its annual Oktoberfest on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 6 to 9 p.m., at 90 Park (formerly Antonia's by the Park), 9011 Palisade Ave., North Bergen, and they are hoping that many will support the event. Tickets are $50, and include beer, wine, and light fare. Tickets may be bought online at www.percshelter.org, by email at email@example.com, or by phone by calling Community Relations Manager Patricia Belenski at (201) 351-5243. Reservations are required.
Those who attend will join the organization in honoring Meals with a Mission and PERC volunteer Diane Cappelluti. They will also get to meet new executive director, Carol Mori.
PERC runs a homeless shelter based in Union City and also helps fund a Kids Homework Club to help children in area low-income families get help with schoolwork during the school year. For these families, the programs are free.
PERC's mission
PERC is a nonprofit organization based in Union City that offers emergency shelter to individuals and families, a soup kitchen, a food pantry, permanent housing for chronically homeless individuals, and other community services.
In 2012, PERC provided nearly 20,000 nights of shelter to men, women, and families; more than 80,000 meals through their soup kitchen, and groceries for 12,000 people through its weekly food pantry.
PERC, originally a collection of Hudson County churches banding together to help the needy, celebrated its 32nd anniversary on Aug. 1.
How you can help
Those interested in assisting the organization's mission can do so by making a contribution. They can go to the group's website, www.percshelter.org. All money raised will go directly toward PERC's mission to provide food, shelter, and services for low-income families.
They can also volunteer, by calling the office at (201) 348-8150. Even with 7,000 volunteer hours, PERC could use more. Serving dinner and working at the food pantry are among the options.
Other ways to reach PERC are by email, firstname.lastname@example.com, or in person, 108 36th St., Union City, NJ 07087.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at email@example.com.


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Linked by on Wed 1st Feb 2006 19:53 UTC
A demonstration of the next release of Novell's Linux for desktops drew cheers and applause Wednesday, although the final version of the software is not expected for some months. Nat Friedman, the company's vice president of Linux desktop engineering, showed Novell Linux Desktop 10 playing videos and MP3 music files, and exchanging music and photos with an iPod and a digital camera, in a keynote presentation at the Solutions Linux conference and trade show on the outskirts of Paris.
Permalink for comment 91905
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To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
RE[2]: Videos, MP3s?
by AdamW on Wed 1st Feb 2006 23:19 UTC in reply to "RE: Videos, MP3s?"


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Brian & Kristi McDonald – January, 2008
January 5, 2008
THE NATIONAL DANCE COUNCIL OF AMERICA is proud to induct BRIAN & KRISTI MCDONALD into the United States DanceSport Hall of Fame
This life achievement award is given in recognition of your outstanding contribution, devotion and dedication to ballroom dancing in the United States and worldwide.
Your leadership and commitment to excellence in the field of ballroom dancing and dancesport is an inspiration to all and you have helped us to be prepared for the successes we enjoy today.
Thank you, Brian and Kristi.


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« Back to people
Tim StuttsAlumni, Class of 2008
Tim previously lived in Hollywood, where he worked as a sound designer for films, games, and commericals, at Warner Brothers, Technicolor, and other studios. He has collaborated on sound art installations for the Neues Museum, Germany, and Broward County Airport, US, and developed an interactive film presentation on Aboriginal cutlure. He recently taught Digital Audio Editing at California Design College.


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It's not easy being one of the last soaps standing, as Neda Ulaby reports on today's Morning Edition. For fans, the shuttering of iconic shows like All My Children and Guiding Light has upended routines that, for some, date back to childhood. When I was in high school, my soap of choice was Days Of Our Lives, which Neda says has changed a lot since that era — well, it's changed and it hasn't.
Kristian Alfonso, who talks in the piece about the impact of stopping every day in wardrobe and seeing the clothes go from designer to off-the-rack, has been playing Hope Williams Brady (with some breaks while Hope was falsely believed to be dead) since 1983. Next year, that will be 30 years. Thirty years. She and Bo were a "supercouple" when I was 16, and they still are.
But despite all that continuity, Days has had to adapt in ways that go beyond the clothing budget. Writer Marlene McPherson tells Neda that story arcs used to stretch out for up to a year, and if you ever watched the "Marlena's demonic possession" or "Cruise Of Deception" stories, you know what she's talking about. Now, they try to wrap things up in shorter chunks. It's interesting that as nighttime television finds more space for long stories and serialization, soaps have to move faster to stay alive.
At least one of those adaptations seems very positive, though: Sarah Brown (who I didn't even know was on Days Of Our Lives now; I think of her as Carly from General Hospital, because I am years behind) says that you no longer have to stand around explaining everything that happened yesterday, partly because the show now assumes that people who are confused because they missed something can hop online and figure it out. It's been a while since I watched, but this hopefully means less of people staring out of windows and talking to themselves.
The economics that are affecting daytime soaps are a spin on the economics affecting the rest of television: more competition, cheaper shows (particularly personality-driven talk shows), different audience habits that make live viewing less likely and delayed viewing more likely ... it's an environment that's already killed off several giants with decades of history.
As we've talked about in this space before, soaps are easy to make fun of until you realize that for years, they inspired loyalty from viewers that your average high-profile prime-time show would envy. As Days producer Ken Corday says, and as Agnes Nixon talked about when All My Children was ending, daytime also used to have a role in breaking social taboos, though it's diminished with time.
For now, Days is on through the fall of 2013, when its contract will run out and we'll learn whether those sands are going to keep sprinkling down through that hourglass or not. Until then, fans still have ... well, Hope.
And let's go from political dramas to the dramas of daytime TV. When the soap opera "One Life to Live" went off the air this year, it didn't die off for some soap opera reason - killed by an evil twin brother; and its demise was not fake, either - explained away later as a dream. It was part of a real decline of shows that once dominated daytime TV. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports on one of the last few survivors, "Days of Our Lives."
NEDA ULABY, BYLINE: It cannot hurt to have such an iconic theme.
ULABY: Soap operas are fighting for their lives. "Days Of Our Lives" has been through almost as much as Molly Burnett. She plays a reformed vixen on the show, named Melanie.
MOLLY BURNETT: I've been shot, stabbed, poisoned by a wedding hairpiece. I was shot by my mom on my wedding day. I found out my husband cheated on me with my father-I-didn't-know-I-had's wife, and then they had a child.
BURNETT: Then I got pregnant.
ULABY: Burnett is 23 years old. She admits that soap operas' tortuous plot twists are not exactly cool among her peers. None of her friends watch them.
ULABY: There was a time soap operas wielded wide cultural influence. Even people who could care less about them knew about Luke and Laura's wedding on "General Hospital," in 1981; or when Bo kidnapped Hope from her wedding, on "Days of our Lives."
ULABY: Since 1983, with a few breaks, Kristian Alfonso has played Hope - all cheekbones and raven hair. Over the years, she's watched production budgets get halved, salaries chopped, and the end of filming on location.
How nostalgic are you for the days when you would wear $35,000 wedding dresses and...
: Oh my gosh. It was a big adjustment at first because seriously, that is your first stop in the morning - is wardrobe.
ULABY: That used to mean designer dresses. Now, Alfonso says, Tarjay(ph). Part of how soap operas are trying to adapt to a new era has to do with how they're written. When "Days of our Lives" head writer Marlene McPherson started her career 20 years ago, storylines - or arcs - could work themselves out over a year. Now...
MARLENE MCPHERSON: We'd like to be able to start telling stories that maybe, you know, we'd do a week arc; that it only goes on for a week.
ULABY: McPherson says these days, people have shorter attention spans. She's banned the kind of scenes where actresses like Sarah Joy Brown talk to themselves, to explain what's going on.
SARAH JOY BROWN: You used to have to do exposition for half of your episode.
ULABY: Brown acted on "As the World Turns," "General Hospital" and "The Bold and the Beautiful" before joining "Days of our Lives" last year.
BROWN: These were the rules - that we had to repeat the same things we said the day before. They were certain that the audiences were not going to get it, if you didn't.
ULABY: NBC's strategy these days has changed.
BROWN: Like, if they miss something, too bad, you missed it. You better crawl around the Internet and try to find it. And they will, and they'll find it.
ULABY: Creating stronger online fan communities and deeper engagement with the show is another way "Days" is trying to survive. "Days of Our Lives" executive producer Ken Corday is the son of the couple who created "Days of our Lives" back in 1965. He says soaps used to be leaders in addressing social issues. They featured the first interracial couple on TV, and the first abortion. Now, they play it safe.
KEN CORDAY: You don't deal with politics, conservative or liberal. You don't deal with abortion, being pro or con. These are just no-no's. They're not going to get us any audience.
ULABY: Also out - those over-the-top storylines about demon possession that goosed ratings in the 1990s.
ULABY: "Days" is safe until the fall of 2013. That's when its contract expires. Its Nielsen ratings have stunk even more than usual recently, but people at the show are convinced that Nielsen does not accurately reflect its reach. And maybe they have a point.
UNIDENTIFIED FAN: I love your swagger, darling. I love your swagger on the show.
ULABY: At a huge fan event for "Days of our Lives" in Los Angeles, nobody talked about watching it at 1 p.m. Eastern time on NBC. They watch it after work, on weekends, online, and on a cable channel that mainly airs soap opera reruns.
DEBRAH FALANGA: I'm thankful for SoapNet.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Yeah. Me, too.
FALANGA: I work during the day and I don't have time to watch it, so I stay up until 12 midnight to watch it.
ULABY: Bad news for "Days of our Lives" fan Debrah Falanga: SoapNet is going off the air this week. It's becoming, instead, a Disney-themed cable channel for children.
Neda Ulaby, NPR News.
INSKEEP: Like sounds through your clock radio - so is NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Crazy searchesJanuary 29, 2010 at 6:21 pm | Posted in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | 3 Comments
There was a rash of posts a little while ago about the things people search for to stumble across our blogs. Alas, at the time I didn't have any particularly wacky searches, but now I have! These are two of my top searches in recent days: "Japanese girl" and "whether the weather be not, whether the weather be cold, whether the weather be hot, we'll weather the weather, whatever the whether, whether we like it or not… ;-)" I bet they're disappointed on looking up Japanese girl when they stumble across my embroidery of an old Japanese print! As to the other one, I love the idea that someone typed all that in as one search phrase!
I'm kind of relieved that another top search is 'RA blogs' so they're not all quite so wide of the mark. ;o)
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|Send News. Want a reply? Read this. More in the FAQ. News Forum - All Forums - Mobile - PDA - RSS Headlines Twitter
Well, my daring picks last week were as almost disastrous as could be imagined once the word "daring" entered the conversation. My only winner was the Seahawks, but that's good enough for me, since I've heard enough of RG3's perspective just how great everybody thinks he is to last a long time. We still have Ray Lewis doing that, but at least he's done more to earn the enormous self-respect that's his favorite topic of conversation.
Here's what I was able to piece together of last week's results: Verno 4-0; LiTh, Sepharo, Creston, Rigs, and Mag 2-2; and Blue, Jivaro, and Cutter 1-3.
Here goes for the divisional round: Broncos, Seahawks, Patriots, and Packers.
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Suits, hats and threesomes come together in the first three photographs in my great aunt Jennie's collection. Unfortunately only the first one is identified - as "George's Friends in Manchester" where he worked on a W.H. Smith station bookstall.
George, my great uncle, is on the back row on the right. He was the youngest son of James Danson and Maria Rawcliffe of Poulton-le-Fylde, near Blackpool Lancashire and has featured before on my blog. It must be the hat, as here he looks older than his age. Born in 1894, he could only be 20-21 years old, as in 1916 he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and served as a stretcher bearer. He was killed on the Somme in the September, a week after his 22nd birthday.


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Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!
The Knight of Darkness battles evil super-criminals in two action-packed pulp novels by Walter Gibson writing as "Maxwell Grant."
First, in a never before reprinted 1932 epic, The Shadow seeks to unmask "The Five Chameleons," master villains whose uncanny ability to blend in with their surroundings rivals his own. Then, the Dark Avenger feels the savage sting of "The Wasp" in his first confrontation with one of his deadliest foes.
This double-novel reprints the classic cover paintings by George Rozen and Graves Gladney and the original interior illustrations by Tom Lovell and Earl Mayan. Historical articles by Will Murray are included.
Softcover. 7 x 10. 128 Pages. Black & White


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This is the tale of turkey tail — it's convoluted arrival, disappearance and highly anticipated return to the Pacific island the Republic of Samoa (not to be confused with American Samoa).
It's hard to pinpoint precisely when turkey tails started being imported into Samoa from the U.S. and when they became a favorite, affordable dish. Meat byproducts (Spam and fatty lamb cuts from New Zealand) started showing up sometime after World War II, and turkey tails came shortly thereafter.
One thing is clear, as Robert Siegel reports on All Things Considered: Many Samoans love them and miss the fat-laden cut of bird, banned for import in 2007.
Apaula Brown is originally from the Republic of Samoa but has lived in Washington, D.C., for many years. "We usually boil the turkey tails first to get rid of the fat and then we chop the turkey tails into pieces," she says. "If we want to cook it in a chop suey, we mix it with vegetables; it's delicious."
Samoa's ban on the import of turkey tails — and New Zealand mutton flaps, as well — in 2007 was the government's attempt to improve public health in a country that, like several other Pacific island nations, has among the highest rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension in the world. According to a 2010 report from Samoa's Ministry of Health, 53 percent of Samoans are obese.
Sela Panapasa is an assistant research scientist at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research of Fijian and Tongan ancestry. She studies the worsening health problems of Pacific islanders and says turkey tails were a big part of the local diet because they were cheap and accessible until the ban came along.
"I know it may seem ironic but fish and native staple foods do cost more than turkey tails," she says.
Now, no one is saying that the fatty dish is the cause of Samoa's high rates of diabetes and hypertension — 23 percent and 21 percent, respectively, according to the World Health Organization. Other imported foods, genetic predispositions or an increasingly sedentary lifestyle could be to blame, too.
But as for the turkey tails, were American turkey producers just dumping their turkey tails on the island nation?
James Sumner, president of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Exporting Council, says his organization didn't realize they were exporting turkey tails to Samoa until he learned about the ban.
"It was obviously as a result of Samoan demand, not the attempt of the U.S. industry to force other countries to take our turkey tail products," he says. "We're not out trying to develop markets around the world for duck tongue, turkey tails or chicken feet."
The Samoans realized that the ban eventually had to go because banning imports of just one or two products violates World Trade Organization rules.
And since the late 1990s, the poor island nation of just under 200,000 people had been trying to join the WTO, hoping to improve its economy with a gross domestic product of less than $2 billion.
According to Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia, Samoa's ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations, the process of joining the WTO consumed the country for more than a decade. The final agreement to lift the ban on turkey tails was made in 2011. The actual lifting of the ban begins this week.
Here's the deal the Samoans struck: For the next two years they can add a 300 percent tariff to turkey tails, and then for one year, a 100 percent tariff. By 2016, Samoa is expected to have suppressed its people's appetite for turkey tails through public health education. After that, affordable turkey tails could, presumably, return.
But the ambassador, Brown and Panapassa all agree that before the arrival of cheap foreign foods few people were obese. They ate mostly fish and vegetables and lived more active lives.
From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Audie Cornish.
I'm Robert Siegel, and I am in the kitchen of NPR's swank new corporate headquarter in Washington, D.C., where we are about to sample a food item that I'd never heard of until a couple of months ago when I was in the Pacific island nation of Samoa for a day.
Kirk Wickworth(ph), who's one of the cooks here in our kitchen, is helping us carve. Thank you very much.
KIRK WICKWORTH: Yeah, glad to help.
SIEGEL: And pardon me for eating with my hands (unintelligible). Hmm. It's fatty. It's juicy. It's tasty. It's moist. These items that we've been carving up from a turkey are actually turkey tails or, as the Samoans would say...
APAULA BROWN: (Foreign language spoken)
SIEGEL: (Foreign language spoken)
BROWN: (Foreign language spoken) means tail. (Foreign language spoken) means turkey.
SIEGEL: That's Apaula Brown, who's originally from the Republic of Samoa but has lived in Washington for many years. And the reason we are talking turkey tails is they are banned in the Republic of Samoa, not to be confused with American Samoa. Since 2007, turkey tails have been forbidden food and very much missed.
Apaula Brown says they're very tasty when properly prepared.
BROWN: We usually boil the turkey tails first to get rid of the fat, and then we chop the turkey tails into pieces. If we want to cook it in a chop suey, we mix it with vegetables. It's delicious.
SIEGEL: Samoa's ban on the import of turkey tails - and, by the way, New Zealand mutton flaps as well - was an attempt to improve nutrition in a country that - like several other Pacific island nations - has rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension that are among the highest in the world.
When we talk about turkey tails, we're talking about the part of the bird that supports the turkey's large rear feathers. The tail of a 25-pound tom turkey weighs in at about half a pound.
Melvin Inman owns Market Poultry at Washington, D.C.'s Eastern Market.
The story I'm doing is about turkey tails.
MELVIN INMAN: Oh, funny. Go ahead.
SIEGEL: Well, why did you react that way when I said turkey tail?
INMAN: That is a more sophisticated way of saying it now. Folks usually just ask for turkey butts.
SIEGEL: Turkey butts.
INMAN: Right. OK? Or the Pope's Nose.
SIEGEL: The Pope's Nose.
SIEGEL: You've got a bag full of them there.
INMAN: Oh, man, we sell loads of these things. Loads of them.
SIEGEL: But Melvin Inman admits that turkey tails aren't exactly health food.
INMAN: There's no doubt about it. Of all the part of a turkey you can buy, this is probably the worst, you know, nutritionally to you. Sometimes it's quite soggy. The exterior of it looks very mushy, fatty, and for the most part it is. There's not a very large part of it that really has any real meat on it.
SIEGEL: Here's a more severe judgment of the nutritional value of the turkey tail. Sela Panapasa is an assistant research scientist at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. She studies the worsening health problems of Pacific islanders. For example, in the U.S., we count 36 percent of the population obese. In Samoa, it's 53 percent. And turkey tails were a big part of the Samoan diet.
SELA PANAPASA: There is no real nutritional value in turkey tails. It's mostly fat, but it's cheap and easily accessible.
SIEGEL: Samoans told us they used to eat turkey tails imported from the United States several times a week. So the import ban was a big story there.
If it's news to you, well, James Sumner, who's president of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Exporting Council, says that when the ban was announced, the U.S. export trade in turkey tails was news to him too.
JAMES SUMNER: In all honesty, we didn't even realize that we were exporting turkey tails to Samoa. It was obviously as a result of Samoan demand, not the attempt of the U.S. industry to force countries to take our turkey tail products.
SIEGEL: After World War II, imported meat off cuts found eager markets in the Pacific islands. Sela Panapasa, whose own ancestry is Fijian and Tongan, says fatty and tasty turkey tails from thousands of miles away were cheaper and easier to get than what islanders had been eating.
PANAPASA: I know it may seem ironic, but fish and our native staple foods do cost more than turkey tails.
SIEGEL: Were our turkey growers foisting cheap, unhealthy food on Samoa? Again, James Sumner of the Poultry and Egg Export Council.
SUMNER: Well, maybe the tail is to the turkey as the bacon is to the pig.
SIEGEL: The fattiest part.
SUMNER: It is one of the fattiest parts. But who would we be to deprive consumers of bacon?
SIEGEL: By the turkey tail, to be judgmental, one could say this is poultry junk food. This is almost eating pure fat and cholesterol.
SUMNER: Well, but I understand that it's not saturated fat if that's any consolation.
SIEGEL: As for the statement that turkey tails would most likely, if they didn't go to Polynesia, would go to pet food, a fair statement?
SUMNER: Probably a fair statement, except for the fact that most turkey tails remain intact on the whole turkey.
SIEGEL: That is, in this country.
Now, here was Samoa's problem. Banning imports the way they did, designating just one or two products, violates the rules of the World Trade Organization. And since the late 1990s, the poor island nation of just under 200,000 people had been trying to join the WTO, hoping to improve an economy with a gross domestic product of less than $2 billion. Just by way of comparison, Americans spend over $40 billion a year just on poultry. So the ban on turkey tails had to go. It expires this week.
Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia is Samoa's ambassador to the United States, also to the United Nations. In fact, he's the only Samoan ambassador in the Western Hemisphere.
ALIIOAIGA FETURI ELISAIA: Our attitude is that as a global member of the international community, we have to try and be part of, you know, some of the multilateral agencies. And I think WTO also provided that opportunity for us. Though it's a fairly time-consuming exercise, especially for a small country, WTO also is a rule-based organization.
SIEGEL: For Samoa, the process of joining consumed over a decade. And part of the price of admission was acknowledging - at least in theory - the right of Samoans to import and consume turkey tails.
Here's the deal the Samoans struck with the body that governs world trade. For the next two years, they can add a 300-percent tariff to turkey tails, then for one year, a 100-percent tariff. By 2016, Samoa is expected to have suppressed its people's appetite for turkey tails through public health education. Affordable turkey tails could presumably return.
Is it fair for the world's trading nations to make Samoa take our exported turkey tails? Well, James Sumner of the U.S. poultry exporters, who had a small market in Samoa to preserve, a market he admits he had previously never heard of, says, why should governments tell consumers who want to have something that they can't have it?
SUMNER: They're the ones that usually come to us and tell us that we want a specific product. We're not out trying to develop markets around the world for duck, tongue, turkey tails or chicken feet.
SIEGEL: All of which have willing consumers in Asia or the Pacific.
Now, no one is saying that a couple of fatty dishes are the cause of Samoa's very high rate of noncommunicable diseases. There could be genetic predispositions or an increasingly sedentary lifestyle to blame too.
But the ambassador and Apaula Brown of Washington, D.C., and Sela Panapasa of the University of Michigan all agreed on this point. Look at family photos from a few decades back or at drawings of Samoans before the arrival of cheap foreign foods and you'll see people who were not obese. They were people who ate mostly fish and vegetables and lived more active lives. And they hadn't yet heard of eating turkey tails imported from America. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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An article on Polygon offers an extensive look at Spec Ops: The Line, Yager's recently released third-person shooter set in a windstorm-swept Dubai. This offers a detailed exploration of some of the game's themes (warning of spoilers for those who are yet to play), and hears from lead writer Walt Williams on the topic. An interesting aspect of this noted by VG247 is Williams referring to the game's multiplayer support as "a cancerous growth" forced on them as a checkbox item by publisher 2K Games:
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BILLERICA -- The Dracut attorney leading a local family's fight against the town's plan to site a celltower at a nearby soccer field is relying on a decades-old public land-use law, one which the town recently explored when a local group asked for permission to use a slice of park land as a composting center.
In her latest Land Court filing, Julie McNeill of All Land Law pointed out that Town Counsel Pat Costello "understands the implications of Article 97" -- the law requiring a vote from state lawmakers whenever a change in use is proposed for designated park or recreation land -- when he advised selectmen earlier this month to hold off on giving the Composting Study Committee the go-ahead to build a compost area at Vietnam Veterans Park.
The land being eyed as a potential site for a new celltower happens to be Akeson Field, a 4-acre parcel in Pinehurst along the Shawsheen River.
Akeson Field, which has served as a town soccer field, sits about 300 feet away from Chris and Carol Curley's house on Shanpauly Drive.
McNeil's motion in support of the town's request for summary judgment, filed Monday, states Costello "correctly concludes the town must comply with Article 97 in order to change the use on part of the (Vietnam Veterans Park) property for a mini-compost operation."
But Costello responded Wednesday by saying that the two situations are different and added that the Composting Study Committee might not have to adhere to Article 97 since "multiple pieces" of the expansive Vietnam Veterans Park are not restricted to specific use.
The intended use for Akeson Field, according to Costello, is a little more vague. It stems from a Nov. 24, 1951, decision in which a Special Town Meeting voted unanimously to purchase the land from John A. Akeson for $1 "for playground purposes." Costello said there are no distinctions in any of McNeill's filings regarding "the statutory distinctions between parks and playgrounds."
"The soccer fields will remain exactly where they are," he said, adding that he's "looked far and wide" for appellate court-case law that shows playground land falling under Article 97, of which "there is none."
"The truth is that Akeson Field is a gray area," Costello added. "Article 97 is focused on the preservation of environmental open spaces and playgrounds are an entirely different animal.
"Playgrounds by their very nature are not intended to remain in a natural state," said Costello.
The debate over the tower began in January 2011, when the Planning Board denied Independent Tower Holding a permit to build, citing environmental and property-value concerns. Independent Towers later won an appeal in United States District Court. Roughly two months before the Planning Board's denial, Town Manager John Curran entered Billerica into a lease with Independent Towers.
Curran's agreement with Independent Towers followed a vote at Town Meeting to single-out three town-owned parcels where proposals for towers could be considered. Akeson Field happened to be one of those sites.
The significance of the case has not been lost on Costello. He said he's heard from "many other town counsels" interested in the outcome. He noted that the city of Boston is involved in a legal battle over the use of the North End's Long Wharf, where a local group is fighting the Boston Redevelopment Authority's attempts to lease a space to a private operator looking to build a restaurant.
The group, known as the North End Ten, is calling for Article 97 to be factored into any decision.
"The key principal to our argument (in Billerica) is that there's a clear difference in nature between park land and a playground," said Costello.
A summary-judgment hearing, used to dispose a case without having to going to trial, is slated for Feb. 26.
Follow Evan Lips at Twitter.com/evanmlips.


text: Save This Event For Later Ride the Ridge, 7th Annual Stone Ridge, NY, Sun Jun 2, 2013 Who's Registered? | Contact Event | Event Website | Google Calendar Start line address: Stone Ridge, NY 12484 Presented by High Meadow School 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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Sponsored by Campus Programming
Evocative music, stunning visual effects, and innovative puppetry highlight three of Eric Carle's most beloved tales. The title character in The Very Hungry Caterpillar is joined by whimsical adventurous animals from the pages of Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? and the poignant story of a young girl's unusual quest, Papa Please Get the Moon For Me, in this bright visual production.
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Harsco Rail awarded contracts in North America, ChinaWritten by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
Harsco Rail secured a new service order for a two-year track renewal project in North America.
The project, which starts next month and continues into mid-2014, will involve the upgrade of nearly 20 miles of track and the replacement of more than 45,000 ties, working on weekends to minimize disruption to heavily-used mainlines.
Harsco also received four new equipment orders from China. These orders include the production of 20-stone rail grinders from four separate metro rail systems, each in the process of expanding its service network with additional rail lines and track infrastructure.
The Harsco units will be used to contour and smooth rail surfaces to increase train speeds, enhance fuel efficiency and support safety. All four of the rail companies are new customers to Harsco. Deliveries of the units, all planned as part of 2013 production, are scheduled for the second half of this year.


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Adair County Circuit Clerk Linda Decker to meet with media today regarding failed recording during Barber's trial.
Answers to how Arnold Stephen Barber's testimony failed to be recorded could be coming soon as the Adair County Prosecutor's Office will begin preparations to retry the felony witness tampering case.
The Western District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that Barber's June 2011 conviction should be reversed and ordered a new trial, due to his direct examination and much of his cross-examination not being recorded at trial.
Without a complete transcript, the appellate court said it could not complete a "meaningful review" of Barber's appeal claims.
Adair County Circuit Clerk Linda Decker was set to meet with local media Thursday morning.
Barber, a former local dentist, was convicted of two counts of felony witness tampering by an Adair County Jury. He allegedly offered a $150,000 bribe in exchange for witnesses in the Tom Oswald sex abuse case to not cooperate with the prosecution.
Barber was sentenced to five years in prison.
In their ruling, the appellate judges seemed at a loss for how the transcript was incomplete, apparently only missing Barber's testimony.
"Somehow the machine that recorded the trial for transcription was not turned on during most of Barber's testimony," the ruling says.
Adair County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Wilson, who is currently on vacation, submitted a statement via fax in which he said he was disappointed, but not surprised by the ruling.
In the appellate court's ruling, the judges indicated that in place of Barber's actual testimony, the trial court could have taken information into the record regarding the substance of his examination.
ilson's statement indicated he did not learn of the court's error until well after the proceedings.
"We were made aware that there was not a complete recording of the transcript once the request of the transcript was received," he said.
Wilson also stated that because the case was handled by Judge Karl DeMarce, an associate circuit judge, "under the current budget and court operating system, we were not given a court reporter."
"Instead, we were left to hope that the digital recording system would work without problems. Unfortunately, it did not do so," Wilson said. "I personally feel that any felony case that goes to trial ought to be recorded by an actual court reporter. However, that is not the case.
Instead, justice for the victims and the community continues to be delayed."
Because Wilson is out of the office he was not available to elaborate on the budget constraints to which he referred.
It was not immediately clear when the process toward a second trial would begin again.


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After months of negotiating with the Morrissey administration, the Rockford Rescue Mission won approval Monday from aldermen to expand its program to accommodate more women and children in its recovery program.
The vote was 11-1 for the mission, which helps transform people's lives from despair to independence. It takes no taxpayer money.
Here's where it gets difficult for me. See, I really like and support the Rescue Mission. They do great work. But the alderman who cast the "no" vote has a viewpoint that deserves to be heard.
That vote came from Venita Hervey, D-5, who represents much of the central city. She spoke for several minutes in passionate opposition to the expansion, knowing that the agency had at least 10 votes.
I didn't agree with her vote, but I know why she made it.
Hervey has long been frustrated by what's happened to the west side over the decades, and the mission vote managed to focus all that frustration. Hervey believes that too many social services, public and private, have purposely located in the near west side and, as a result, the area attracts the downtrodden, the poor, the homeless from all over the region. She believes that many of these people are being directed here from Chicago to take advantage of our substantial safety net.
"Nobody talks about what happens when people leave the mission and go into abandoned houses. They come to the mission when they're cold, need something to eat," a still-fired-up Hervey told me today. "Then when they don't want to follow the rules, and it's warm, they still want to drink and do drugs. They lay in people's yards or go to the encampment (of homeless people) under the Winnebago Street viaduct.
"No one cares about the impact on our children and neighborhoods. We are importing a lot of poverty into this city that we can't sustain. Concord Commons is full of people from Chicago."
Rockford has been loaded down with Section 8 housing from the Winnebago County Housing Authority. It has too many halfway houses for parolees, too many houses for sex offenders, said the civil rights attorney who worked in the 1990s for the plaintiffs in the People Who Care discrimination lawsuit against the Rockford School District.
Why, she asked me, can't Roscoe and Rockton take on some of the burden? Haven't people there lost jobs?
"Why should Rockford bear the regional burden? This is a huge burden on police, fire, hospitals. No one talks about the impact on Rockford taxpayers. They should relocate some of these social services into other areas.
"Rockford is becoming East St. Louis, a city of poor people where the people who have money and influence live outside. Teachers, police officers, firefighters don't live here, and that sucking sound is the middle class moving out. Rockford is sliding into a place where we become a place of the poor, the indigent, where we must provide services."
"I'm voting against any more Housing and Urban Development money that goes for these services."
I agree with Hervey's overall premise about the west side. I've written about it.
West Rockford in the 1960s was designated for decline by myopic and bigoted leaders who tried to saddle west Rockford with such disasters as a 1,000-unit public housing project across from Auburn High School, a garbage landfill at Centerville and Cunningham roads, a garbage incinerator on Montague Road. Organized residents stopped those things, which were designed to encourage middle-class residents to buy houses in the subdivisions being built on the east side.
We are living with the inevitable result of that deliberate "wink wink" policy of making the west side into the poverty zone. More recently, the loss of thousands of industry jobs has created a bumper crop of poor people. They are not from elsewhere. They are us.
Unlike Hervey, though, I think the Rescue Mission is part of the solution. Maybe they could open a branch in Roscoe?
Chuck Sweeny: 815-987-1366; firstname.lastname@example.com; @chucksweeny


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Wet, wet, wet …November 16, 2009 at 10:38 am | Posted in Me, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) | 8 Comments
Tags: aches, arthritis, flare, Hugh Laurie, Jeeevs & Wooster, Miranda Hart, pain, R.A., RA, rhematoid arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Stephen Fry, telly, TV, weather
Ouch, ouch, ouch.
It rained all day on Friday, and I had to come home early from work because I was in a significant amount of pain and just not working effectively. It is entirely possible that teaching 'the boss' to crochet was not the best move for either my achy hands or our workload, but it was fun!
Ohoh, I thought, here comes a proper flare … then, curiously, in the evening I felt much better (even though it was still wet). The next day I woke up with one of my approximately five-monthly periods! I've said before that I often find I'm completely R.A. symptom free while menstruating, and sure enough I was almost symptom free over most of the weekend …apart from period backache of course … well, there's always something.
It probably helped that we had a beautiful day yesterday, sunny, bright, deep blue autumnal sky, gentle breeze, trees clinging on to the last of their leaves, almost sparkling in a variety of fiery hues … lovely. (Why isn't fiery spelled firey? Sorry, I have a tendency to go off on tangents like this … you may have noticed.)
Unfortunately it's been pouring most of the night and it's still pouring now … and I HURT! 'The boss' has a day off today so, as there are only the two of us, I ought to be here manning the (dead quiet) phones, just in case I miss something vital. Not sure how long I'll stick it though! The problem is, the moment I do decide, 'That's it, I've had enough!' and go home, I know some client will ring with something vital. (I even know which client … the same one that picks every single occasion when I'm away to find something urgent that needs doing!)
So I shall probably struggle manfully (womanfully, penguinfully?) on and just collapse these evening in front of some silly comedy on the telly or something. At least I know there is some silly comedy to collapse in front of. There's Miranda at 8:30 – I'm still not sure about this. It's only had one outing so far, last week, and it's very old-fashioned Victoria Wood style humour, pretty basic gags, but the lead, Miranda Hart, is very good. Then there's huge tracts of the wonderful 'Jeeves and Wooster' series to watch, as Hubby got the whole shebang from my bro for his birthday. It's the series with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in the eponymous roles. (Not sure I've used eponymous correctly there, but it's a great word, isn't it?) It ran to four series and is ideal to watch when feeling 'carp'. The script takes a few liberties with the original P G Wodehouse stories, but I rarely find it worries me, and Fry and Laurie have absolutely become Jeeves and Wooster for me, to the extent that when I read the original books I hear Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie's voices in my head! (Hmm, afraid that last sentence makes me sound crackers, but never mind … I probably am.)
Right back to work … oh joy … Mantra for the day: "Me gusta mi trabajo, Me gusta mi trabajo, Me gusta mi trabajo…" (I like my work in Spanish … Hoping the mantra might a) help me learn Spanish, and b) convince me that me gusta mi trabajo! (I do … really I do … just not today!)
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Everything Kitchens offer two main types of tea kettles on this page: stovetop and countertop. Stovetop water kettles are heated with your stove or heating surface, while countertop electric water pots are heated by plugging them into a standard wall outlet. Most of these types of electric water kettles use a cordless kettle with a corded base, allowing the user to have free range of movement when pouring hot water. These tea kettles and standard teapot sets come in a variety of types ranging from glass to copper, with traditional Asian-inspired designs or modern stylings.
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Chiefs owner Clark Hunt reportedly met with Marty Schottenheimer
KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -Chiefs fans are excitedly buzzing about whether team owner Clark Hunt is preparing to offer former coach Marty Schottenheimer the general manager position or get his help on reversing the team's declining fortunes.
SiriusXM NFL Radio reported that Schottenheimer was at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday to meet with Hunt, who is in Kansas City. This set Chiefs fans on Twitter and Facebook afire.
The team flatly denies that Schottenheimer was at the practice facility today.
However, left unclear was whether Schottenheimer and Hunt met at a different location, met earlier this week or whether they have a meeting later this week.
General Manager Scott Pioli is under fire after the Chiefs 1-7 start and a disappointing four-year tenure in Kansas City after he left the New England Patriots.
Tell us what you think. Should the Chiefs bring back "Martyball" or hire Schottenheimer as a consultant? Go to KCTV5's Facebook page.


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The Command & Conquer Blog has the announcement of Command & Conquer Generals 2, a sequel to this spin-off of the C&C series of real-time strategy games. A website for the game is already online, indicating BioWare is developing the game, and offering a trailer and screenshots to show off the game's Frostbite 2 engine graphics while confirming this is the announcement teased a couple of weeks ago. The trailer concludes saying the game is due in 2013, and here's a bit on what to expect:
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Bobby Green
TRAINING: A typical day of training is morning conditioning, then two hours of wrestling and jits. Later that night it's two hours of sparring, then the hot tub for injuries.
When and why did you start training for fighting? Started training 4.5 years ago because I had a son.
What ranks and titles have you held? King of the Cage Champion, Total Fighting Alliance Champion, Warriors Fighting Championships Champion
Do you have any heroes? None
What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? I've fulfilled my dream.
Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? No college.
What was your job before you started fighting? Warehouse worker
Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? 2-Time State placer in wrestling in High School
Favorite grappling technique: Slamming people
Favorite striking technique: Knocking people out
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Rainbows in Reykjavik
While most of the gay community celebrates Pride in June with short-shorts and tank tops, the curtain has risen on the world stage for a new era of celebrations. Iceland's second annual LGBT winter festival, Rainbow Reykjavik, will be held Jan. 31 through Feb. 3.
Have you ever dreamt of seeing the Northern Lights? How about walking along the Continental Divide between the tectonic plates of Europe and North America? The program anticipates international guests from all over the world with an itinerary that offers a mixture of nature, activities, culture, cuisine, music & nightlife.??
This is also one of the best times in history to witness the Northern Lights. Recent supercharged Aurora Borealis displays are projected to continue into 2013. The chance to witness Mother Nature's breathtaking Northern Lights is one of Iceland's greatest appeals. NASA researchers predict that 2013 will be one of the most visually dynamic years in decades. Recent coronal mass ejections from the sun are causing amplified Northern Lights displays, stunning stargazers in Iceland and across the Northern Hemisphere. The beautiful glowing display of lights is generated from charged particles created by the sun's coronal mass ejections colliding with the Earth's atmosphere at more than 3.2 million mph.
Collaborate efforts from Icelandair, Icelandair Hotels, Reykjavik Excursions and Pink Iceland have ensured a dynamic schedule of events for the LGBT winter adventurer. Day tours include the Blue Lagoon, considered one of the 25 wonders of the modern world, as well as indoor activities such as The Iceland Phallological Museum, which contains a collection of more than two hundred and fifteen penises and penile parts belonging to almost all the land and sea mammals that can be found in Iceland.
From gourmet meals to private walking tours, the weekend's itinerary will showcase the diversity and acceptance of Iceland's LGBT community, culminating in Midnight Pink Party where revelers can celebrate until the wee hours of the morning.
As a special addition, this year's Rainbow Reykjavik Concert will be hosted by Euroband and feature Iceland's most celebrated Eurovision icons for any evening of power ballad, disco beats and trashy techno. If you've been living with earplugs for the last half-century, Eurovision is a pan-European singing competition held every year since 1956 and one of the biggest televised events in the world.
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Rainbow Reykjavik
The 2nd Annual LGBT Winter Festival in Iceland
Jan. 31 - Feb. 3, 2013
Click here for event details and to register.