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Saturday's 4:30PM ET GameCincinnati @ HoustonThe Texans are playing at home as 4.5-point favorites in the Wild Card Round, but this is a club springing leaks. Houston has dropped three of its last four games and become a different team over the course of the year. The run game isn't nearly as dominant as it used to be. When Arian Foster hasn't faced the Colts' bottom-four run defense, he's managed 392 yards on his last 117 carries (3.35 YPC), wearing down on a league-most 391 touches. Houston's pass defense, another early-season strength, has been problematic since midyear. The Texans haven't so much as intercepted a pass since Dec. 2, over that span allowing Andrew Luck (twice), Christian Ponder, and Tom Brady to amass a 9:0 TD-to-INT ratio against them. Cincinnati is a much hotter team, having won seven of its last eight with the lone loss occurring in Week 14 versus Dallas, 20-19, in a game the Bengals controlled for three-plus quarters. Aside from the fact that the Texans are at home, it's hard to pinpoint reasons for confidence in Gary Kubiak's team. ... A.J. Green is the big name in Cincy's offensive corps, but complementary pass catchers Jermaine Gresham and Andrew Hawkins may give Wade Phillips' defense just as many issues. Having lost inside linebackers Brian Cushing (ACL) and Darryl Sharpton (hip) for the season, the Texans will trot out coverage-deficient veterans Bradie James and Tim Dobbins as starters. Houston slot corner Brice McCain is out with a broken foot. Feisty, elusive, and deceptively physical, Hawkins will be a tough cover for overmatched fill-in CB Brandon Harris. Gresham is a pedestrian talent, but he too will be a difficult assignment for the likes of James, Dobbins, and Barrett Ruud. The Bengals can win these matchups over the middle.
Friday Update: The Texans lost their fourth inside linebacker to a season-ending injury when Dobbins (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Friday. Ruud, an in-season street free agent pickup, will get the start next to James. Houston's defense remains vulnerable in pass coverage over the middle.Green will square off with Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson on the perimeter. Rather than shadowing No. 1 receivers, the Texans have generally played "sides" at corner this year, leaving Joseph on the right and Jackson on the left. Joseph had a disappointing season and at this point is arguably the weaker link. Houston's pass defense failings make this a plus matchup for Green and upstart rookie X receiver Marvin Jones, who sees far fewer targets than Green but flashes playmaking ability. ... For the second straight year, Andy Dalton has faded down the stretch. Over his last five games, he's accounted for six touchdowns compared to seven turnovers with a paltry 5.84 yards-per-attempt average. Dalton has talent limitations, and they become glaring when his pass protection experiences any hint of leakage, or when Green isn't consistently winning outside. Dalton and a run game that was down, then up, then down again over the course of the year are Cincinnati's biggest question marks. ... J.J. Watt is a literal one-man wrecking crew. He carried Houston's pass rush on his back this season, leading the NFL with 20.5 sacks. Watt moves all around the formation, playing tackle in dime packages and both end spots on base downs. Neutralizing Watt will be critical for Cincy's upset chances. The Bengals have a top-five offensive line, excelling in both pass and run blocking. ... Feature back BenJarvus Green-Ellis will start against the Texans, but missed Week 17 with a hamstring strain and whether he'll be at full strength Saturday is uncertain. The Texans' heavyweight front seven defends inside runners like Green-Ellis much better than perimeter threats ala Bengals pace-change back Cedric Peerman, so it might not be a bad idea for playcaller Jay Gruden to scale back Green-Ellis' snaps. If Gruden insists on feeding an ineffective Law Firm, the Cincy offense could render itself one dimensional.Foster made fantasy football owners happy all year, but his on-field performance has increasingly become a major worry. And it's not all on him. Using rare offensive line committees at right tackle (Derek Newton, Ryan Harris) and right guard (rookies Brandon Brooks and Ben Jones), the Texans have struggled mightily on outside zone runs. The run game is the foundation of Houston's offense, and it's become decidedly mediocre. On Saturday, the right side of Houston's line will match up with Bengals All-Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins and wickedly-talented left end Carlos Dunlap. Not only does Cincinnati rank third in the NFL in sacks (51), it creates run-game havoc via backfield penetration. This defense is good enough up front to thwart Houston's sagging ground attack, turning Matt Schaub from glorified game manager into the single biggest reason the Texans win or lose. ... Recent play suggests Schaub isn't the man for the job. Timid and too reliant on the checkdown, Schaub has completed 84-of-131 passes for 946 yards (7.22 YPA), one touchdown, and three interceptions over the last four games. He's also absorbed 12 sacks, the highest total during a four-game stretch of Schaub's career. As alluded to previously, Mike Zimmer's defense happens to be pretty good at rushing the passer. It's another big cause for concern for Houston.Houston and Cincinnati met in last year's Wild Card Round, as well, and Andre Johnson whipped the Bengals for 90 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. It's debatable whether last year's playoff stats have any relevance whatsoever for the rematch, but Johnson could conceivably put up even bigger numbers should Zimmer's front seven control the Texans' rushing design, as is being predicted here. Johnson was an absolute monster in the 2012 regular season, setting a career high with 1,598 receiving yards at age 31. ... Houston uses a rotation of possession threat Kevin Walter and rookie DeVier Posey at Z receiver. Walter has topped 33 yards just once since mid-November, while Posey is attempting to battle through a recent spate of drops. Any production the Texans get from Walter or Posey should be considered a bonus. ... A big-time pass-catching weapon early in the season, injuries have pushed tight end Owen Daniels to the backburner for the past month and a half. Daniels has dealt with chest, knee, hamstring, and back ailments dating back to Week 12, failing to clear 50 receiving yards in any of the ensuing six games. Kubiak's offense was at its early- and midseason best when Daniels, X-factor Garrett Graham, and swiss-army-knife fullback James Casey were clicking in two- and three-tight end packages. But it hasn't been that way for awhile. The Texans will move the ball in the passing game if Daniels shows up healthy and Kubiak suddenly rediscovers some of that elusive magic.Score Prediction: Bengals 23, Texans 21Saturday's 8:00PM ET GameMinnesota @ Green BayAaron Rodgers opens the postseason with a full arsenal as slot man Randall Cobb returns from his ankle sprain and Jordy Nelson rejoined the lineup in Week 17, at the back end of an injury-plagued year. Greg Jennings caught fire late in the season, securing a team-high 15 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns in Weeks 16-17. Include red-zone maven James Jones and talented if underachieving tight end Jermichael Finley, and Green Bay boasts the most lethal pass offense in this year's playoffs. The Packers have not had all five pass catchers play in the same game since the season opener. It's the one area in which they hold a commanding edge on Minnesota. ... The Vikings ranked 24th versus the pass this regular season, allowing opponents to compile a 28:10 TD-to-INT ratio, 63.9 completion rate, and 92.3 QB rating -- the league's eighth highest clip. During Leslie Frazier's six seasons overseeing Minnesota's defense, Rodgers has shredded the Vikings for 24 touchdown passes, only four picks, and 70.7-percent completions. Green Bay is a virtual lock for passing success Saturday night at Lambeau. Minnesota will simply hope to contain it by feeding Adrian Peterson in the offensive run game and playing assignment-sound defense to keep Rodgers off the field. ... One worrisome injury for Minnesota is slot corner Antoine Winfield's broken hand, which was aggravated in last week's home win over Green Bay and limited Winfield to 18-of-65 snaps. Rodgers attacked fill-in Marcus Sherels relentlessly after Winfield's departure, and go-to guy Cobb wasn't even playing. The Cobb matchup with whomever Minnesota uses to guard the slot could have a big impact on the outcome of this game.The Vikings can rush the passer (fifth in sacks) and hold their own against the run (No. 11 rank), but the back end of Frazier's defense is reeling entering January. Right corner Chris Cook has struggled since returning from a broken arm two games ago. Winfield isn't himself, and rookie Josh Robinson's playing time has been cut. Top outside reserve A.J. Jefferson was never any good, and along with Sherels got eaten alive in the Week 17 game by Rodgers. Nelson, Cobb, Jennings, and Jones ought to have their way with this unit. And Rodgers doesn't play favorites in his progressions; he unfailingly throws to the open man. ... The Packers are committed to a hot-hand backfield approach, although the running game could be a bit of an afterthought in the Wild Card Round considering Minnesota's stoutness versus the run and susceptibility against the pass. 5-foot-8, 203-pound scatback type DuJuan Harris (14 carries, 70 yards) carried the mail in Week 17. In Week 16, late-season street free agent pickup Ryan Grant led the team in carries (20) and rush yards (80), scoring a pair of garbage-time touchdowns. Alex Green had been the lead back before that. Ultimately, Packers coach Mike McCarthy utilizes the running game as a change-of-pace element of offense; a complementary means of moving the ball. If the run game is not clicking early on, McCarthy will be more than willing to abandon it and give Rodgers the keys.Although Christian Ponder has played better recently, the Vikings can confidently be expected to saddle up Peterson as their offensive centerpiece. Facing Packers coordinator Dom Capers' mixed fronts, Peterson gashed Green Bay for 409 yards on 55 carries (7.44 YPC) in these clubs' two regular season meetings, scoring three touchdowns. Capers used an eight-man box on 13 of the 55 runs. Peterson averaged an incredible 6.9 yards per tote versus the 13 crowded looks. ... An unsung hero behind Minnesota's rushing success has been lead blocker Jerome Felton, who had Packers inside linebacker A.J. Hawk's number in Week 17 and has quietly been a bulldozing force all season. Green Bay ranks 17th in run defense and allows the seventh most yards per carry in football (4.53), so Capers' group is very much vulnerable on the ground. ... Rock-solid line play is another reason for Vikings optimism. Tackles Matt Kalil and Phil Loadholt, guards Charlie Johnson and Brandon Fusco, and center John Sullivan have been a picture of continuity; not one of them has missed a start this year. Kalil limited All-World pass rusher Clay Matthews to three tackles, one sack, and one QB hit in the regular season finale. Ponder has absorbed just four sacks and committed one turnover in his last three games, while accounting for five all-purpose touchdowns.Ponder made big-time throws late in the Week 17 upset and finished with a season-best 120.2 passer rating. While Ponder may prove in over his head if Minnesota falls behind, demanding that its quarterback engineers a comeback, he is playing well enough to effectively manage games and keep his team competitive. Overall, the passing game is still a weakness on the Vikings' side. They can't afford a big early-game deficit. ... Z receiver Michael Jenkins managed three catches for 37 yards and a touchdown in the two 2012 meetings with Green Bay. He's mostly a blocking receiver. ... X receiver Jerome Simpson was a major disappointment in his first -- and likely last -- regular season with Minnesota, catching 26 passes for 274 yards and zero touchdowns. He didn't exceed 50 yards in any of his 12 appearances. ... Rookie slot man Jarius Wright possesses big-play ability, but has been wildly inconsistent filling in for injured Percy Harvin. Wright did blow by Packers right corner Sam Shields for a 65-yard bomb off play-action to set up last week's game-winning touchdown. If the Vikings are to have any semblance of passing success in Green Bay, Wright and Kyle Rudolph are the likeliest means. ... Rudolph has been less of a receiving factor down the stretch, however, as his on-field impact is showing up more as a blocker in the running game. He still finished the regular season with nine touchdowns. All nine occurred in the red zone.Score Prediction: Packers 30, Vikings 20
Sunday's 1:00PM ET GameIndianapolis @ BaltimorePopular sentiment may posit that the Ravens backed into the playoffs after dropping four of their last five games, but it's worth noting that they smoked the Giants 33-14 two weeks ago and rested starters in Week 17. And Baltimore is getting someone special back for the first round. While it's impossible to quantify the emotional boost from Wednesday's announcement of surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer Ray Lewis' impending retirement, his return is likely to have some effect on Sunday's game. Lewis will be on the field with his teammates -- back from an 11-week triceps injury -- and claims to be "100 percent" healthy. Lewis' skills appeared to be diminishing early in the year, but he should be a run-defense upgrade with fresh legs after the layoff. ... Schematically, Baltimore has an edge on Indianapolis from the standpoint that the Colts are a decidedly vertical-passing team and border on one dimensional in that respect. Playcaller Bruce Arians' system demands that Andrew Luck make a high volume of low-percentage downfield throws, which helps explain the still largely impressive rookie's unimpressive turnover count (23), completion rate (54.1), and QB rating (76.5). The Ravens happen to have a takeaway specialist in the back end of their defense in centerfield safety Ed Reed, who butters his bread by picking off vertical throws. Although 2012 was not Reed's best season, he still intercepted four passes and has a whopping eight picks in 11 career playoff games. Baltimore is a good bet to win Sunday's turnover battle.Luck finished his first NFL season ranked fifth in pass attempts, and coach Chuck Pagano recently acknowledged that he's playing with a "tired arm." Both the national and local media have been protective of the Golden Boy, so little was made of the comment. The numbers bear it out. Luck has completed just 78 of his last 168 passes (46.4 percent) for 1,012 yards (6.02 YPA). While he's compensated with a 4-1 record and 8:5 TD-to-INT ratio across that span, the sustainability of the latter two statistics is worth questioning. Luck could be exposed a bit by a rested Ravens defense that's especially likely to be high on energy in Lewis' return. ... Donnie Avery and dynamic rookie T.Y. Hilton are Indianapolis' purest vertical weapons, but Reggie Wayne is the sustainer on offense. A short-to-intermediate receiver at this stage of his career, 34-year-old Wayne finished the regular season ranked sixth in receptions (106), seventh in receiving yards (1,355), and fourth in first-down catches (73). It would be safe to expect Wayne to have a Wild Card game voluminous on targets and grabs. The Ravens must limit Indy's big plays in the passing game, however, and Reed should have a lot to do with it. ... A grinding, workmanlike runner, fifth-round rookie Vick Ballard is the Colts' every-down back. While Ballard is a suitable fit for Arians' power-running offense, he managed just four runs of 20-plus yards during the regular season, handling 211 rushing attempts. Among backs with at least 200 carries, only three (Shonn Greene, Mikel Leshoure, banged-up Trent Richardson) had fewer 20-yard gains. Ballard is capable of moving the chains as a complement to the passing game, but he's not quite a difference maker.Joe Flacco's contract year didn't live up to expectations, but he did deliver Baltimore a fifth playoff berth in five seasons while posting a career-high 3,817 passing yards. Flacco was particularly sharp at home, where Sunday's Wild Card game will conveniently take place. In eight games at M&T Bank Stadium, Flacco completed 176-of-283 throws (62.2 percent) for 2,363 yards (8.35 YPA), and a 15:5 TD-to-INT ratio, with three additional touchdowns on the ground. The Colts rank 21st in pass defense and 24th in sacks, so this is a favorable matchup. ... Like Flacco, Torrey Smith opened the regular season piping hot only to fade in late fall and winter. Also like Flacco, Smith was much more productive at home, where he scored seven of his eight touchdowns and racked up 59.3 percent of his yards. Flacco would be smart to aggressively target Smith when matched up with burnable Colts left cornerback Cassius Vaughn. Baltimore needs to stay away from right corner Vontae Davis. ... Ravens slot receiver Anquan Boldin sat out Week 17 to rest a shoulder injury and practiced fully this week. Physical, 6-foot-1, 223-pound Boldin will spend most of Sunday's game in 5-foot-10, 185-pound Colts slot CB Darius Butler's coverage. Boldin turned 32 in October, but still paced Baltimore in 2012 targets, catches (65), and receiving yards (921).Three players handle Baltimore's pass-catching load. No. 3 is tight end Dennis Pitta, coming off a breakout third NFL season. Though he lacks flashy measurables, Pitta dropped just three passes all year, securing 61 and reaching pay dirt seven times. Pitta is a reliable underneath target for Flacco, often picking up the slack when aging Boldin has down games. ... The star of Baltimore's Wild Card Round offense still figures to be do-it-all tailback Ray Rice, who closed out the regular season with 441 yards on his final 89 carries (4.96 YPC) and will be fresh after playing single-digit snaps in the Ravens' Week 17 rest game. Indianapolis ranks 29th against the run, serving up an AFC-most 5.14 yards per carry. No team in the NFL has allowed more running plays of 20-plus yards. If Rice touches the football 20 times in this game -- and he ought to -- the Ravens will win.Score Prediction: Ravens 27, Colts 21Sunday's 4:30PM ET GameSeattle @ WashingtonThe Seahawks and Redskins play a very similar brand of offense. Quarterbacked by dual-threat playmakers, both clubs flummox defenses in the read-option game and set up shot-play downfield throws off play-action. Seattle and Washington are run-based zone-blocking teams, each finishing the season in the bottom-three in pass attempts. Stretching defenses vertically, they also both ranked in the top-three in yards per throw. The big difference between the clubs lies on defense, where the Seahawks hold a significant edge. Seattle allowed the fewest regular season points in football, and the fourth fewest yards. Despite stretch-run improvement, the Skins served up the 11th most points and fifth most yards. Not his elusive, spectacular self playing with a bulky right-knee brace, Robert Griffin III has his work cut out to generate aerial success versus Seattle's top-six pass defense. With right corner Brandon Browner back from suspension and left cornerback Richard Sherman escaping punishment altogether, the Seahawks are capable of essentially eliminating perimeter pass catchers like Pierre Garcon with physical press-man coverage. ... Playcaller Kyle Shanahan and RG3 must get creative. Seattle's defense excels at disrupting pass routes and is not vulnerable in any particular area. Washington simply will not move the ball or score points without a brilliantly designed game plan from Shanahan. Seattle has not allowed more than 17 points to an opponent since November and arguably has the best defense in the NFL right now. They're a very difficult team to play against.Alfred Morris may be the single biggest key to the Redskins' Wild Card Round offense. Ripping right past any notion of a Rookie Wall, Morris has actually gotten better as the season moves along, amassing 1,076 yards on his last 220 carries (4.89 YPC) after averaging 4.67 yards on his initial 115 pro runs. The zone scheme consistently springs Morris into space, and he attacks oncoming defenders with tackle-breaking violence. If Griffin is to connect with Garcon, Z receiver Leonard Hankerson, or slot man Santana Moss off play-action fakes, it will be because the Seahawks are more worried about Morris gashing them. ... Despite missing six games with a torn foot tendon, Garcon led Washington in 2012 receiving yards (633) and the Skins went 9-1 whenever he appeared for a game. Although this pass game had a spread-the-wealth look during its top receiver's missed time, Garcon is unfailingly the go-to guy when healthy. Shanahan keeps Garcon constantly moving around the formation to prevent against bracket coverage and double teams. The likes of Hankerson, Moss, Josh Morgan, and tight end Logan Paulsen are role players in the Shanahan system. Hank, Morgan, and Paulsen are also impact blockers in the run game.The Skins rallied into the postseason by ripping off seven straight victories, but Seattle has just as good an argument for being the hottest team in the game. The Seahawks have one loss since October, along the way toppling Minnesota, Chicago, and San Francisco in 42-13 blowout fashion. While quarterback Russell Wilson deserves plenty of kudos, Marshawn Lynch is the offensive lynchpin after setting career highs in rush yards (1,590) and yards per carry (5.05). Washington's defense ranked top-five versus the run during the regular season, but Lynch holds his own against stout units, amassing 342 yards and three all-purpose touchdowns on 79 carries (4.34 YPC) in four 2012 meetings with top-ten run defenses. Lynch caught fire as Seattle installed more zone-read plays in the second half of the year, ripping off eight 100-plus-yard performances over the final ten games. The zone-read freezes opposing front-seven members, literally keeping defenses on their heels. That's great news for running backs. ... Not only did Wilson match Peyton Manning's rookie touchdown pass record (26), he added four scores on the ground and became a dynamic, dual-phase weapon as playcaller Darrell Bevell diversified the late-season offense. Particularly notable for this matchup is Wilson's performance under duress, as Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett relies heavily on blitzes to mask coverage deficiencies. According to Pro Football Focus, Wilson compiled an 11:4 TD-to-INT ratio and 96.7 passer rating when blitzed this season. For rookie comparison sake, Andrew Luck's TD-to-INT ratio when blitzed was 8:5 with a 77.6 rating.Haslett's defense utilizes frequent single-high safety looks to support the run and bring an extra blitzer into the box. The gambling strategy paid dividends throughout Washington's win streak, but leaves the secondary vulnerable. It should be no surprise that the Redskins ranked third to last in the NFL in regular season pass defense. Seattle's best blitz beaters are Z receiver Sidney Rice, slot man Doug Baldwin, and No. 2 tight end Anthony McCoy, who quietly paces the Seahawks in yards-per-catch average. Just as he did with Dez Bryant in Washington's Week 17 play-in win over the Cowboys, Haslett figures to employ DeAngelo Hall in shadow coverage of opposing top receiver Rice. Hall played his best game of the season against Bryant, holding the red-hot wideout to an innocuous 71 yards on four catches. Hall has not always been so effective, though, and his matchup with Rice will be one to monitor as a potential difference-maker for the Seattle-Washington outcome. ... Seahawks X receiver Golden Tate will likely spend most of the Wild Card Round in Redskins right cornerback Josh Wilson's coverage, in another fierce one-on-one battle. Wilson is Washington's most consistent cover man. ... Seattle lacks game breakers at tight end, but it's notable that the position gives Haslett's defense fits. The Seahawks do make frequent use of two-tight end sets, and the Redskins allow league highs in receptions (105), yards (1,062), and touchdowns (10) to tight ends. McCoy and Zach Miller will be Seattle's X-factors in this game.Score Prediction: Seahawks 24, Redskins 20


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Portraits of Temple Grandin at Colorado State University. Grandin is a Doctor of Animal Science best known for her work related to the humane treatment of livestock throughout their life and ultimate slaughter. Her work in this area draws from her condition as a person with high-functioning autism; her visual sensitivities contribute to her research and ability to isolate things that stress livestock passing through factory lines and other stressful environments.
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subset: commoncrawl


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We have already have had a few episodes of "Who Do You Thin You Are?" on NBC — a couple of really good ones too. This Sunday (March 25, 2012) on PBS will air the start of their 10 part series, "Finding Your Roots, With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.". So we can watch Helen Hunt on Friday and then on Sunday night we can learn about the roots of Cory Booker & John Lewis.
This series has already made a startling announcement related to comedian Wanda Sykes. In the NYT, article "Family Tree's Starting Roots" we are told that, "The bottom line is that Wanda Sykes has the longest continuously documented family tree of any African-American we have ever researched, " said Mr. Gates. The Wanda Sykes episode will air in May — mark that one down now!
I read the New York times article (see prior link, twice) and was startled by Wanda Syke's family tree — a new twist again on African American genealogy (there is a fascinating reason why her roots are so well documented).
Scan Pages App
I was so motivated that I used the NYT newspaper article to demonstrate a new App on the iPhone (yes its free), called Scan Pages. I had previously download another Ricoh App, ImageToText (which OCRs an iPhone image and emails you the OCR'ed text) –which I had occaision to use during the RootsTech 2012 conference. The Scan Pages App is not an OCR application. It does create images (B/W are much better than color) that can be mailed in JPG of PDF format. It cleans up the images (in terms of straightening or de-skewing) and emails them to you. I did the newspaper's article of Wanda Sykes in PDF. I also did a Scan Pages black-white image of a 1905 directory of Catholic Churches in Detroit . If you compare the two PDF documents, it is clear the cleaned-up B-W (1905 Churches) beats the color (Wanda Sykes).
Later on this week, I am going to try using the App, PDF Splicer, to put together in one PDF document the two emails of the two page article on Wanda Sykes. I also have two pages of that 1905 Church Directory so I will also try combining those two PDFs as well in PDF Splicer.
Mobility Genealogy is a fast-paced niche. Keep tuned in here for ideas to use in your research.


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Hunter Installations Ltd
At Hunter Installations Ltd we offer gate automation services from initial design, installation and maintenance. We offer solutions to retrofit automation systems on existing gates. All our automation systems come with free 3 year warranty on replacement parts. We supply and install systems for domestic dwellings and commercial sites.
Headley George Developers
NetDolan Smart Homes & It Support
Lumitiq Ltd
Mango AV
Lighting Controls Introduction
Clever homes
BR Centre
BR Centre specializes in electrical wiring, automation systems (intelligent buildings), security, burglary, alarm and CCTV systems in single-family and multi-family homes, hotels, sports halls, office and corporate buildings. We provide complete electrical wiring, automation and monitoring installations at the stage of building construction as well as during building expansion or renovation. We use only the highest quality certified materials and industrial grade control equipment. This ensures that our systems are very durable and reliable and each installation is covered by warranty and post-warranty service program. Security We offer a comprehensive security system installations. Our security system installation utilizes only the top quality and extremely reliable Satel components. Satel is a world leader in security systems used in critically important installations. The security system is controlled either via keyboards located close to building entrances or by a smartphone application. It can be also armed or disarmed by wireless chip card in your wallet or by a key chain. The security system is connected, managed and utilized by Smart Home system. For example, motion sensors are used to control lights in your home and fire or burglary alarms are used to turn on all the lights. Because security system is constantly communicating with Smart Home system it can notify your smartphone in case of emergency, burglary, fire, flooding or silent alarm. The security system can also be connected to 24h alarm monitoring services. This allows you to save on building insurance and stop worrying when you're away. CCTV surveillance system Our installations are based on top of the quality Panasonic and Gantz cameras and recorders. Panasonic is one of the most advanced and experienced CCTV manufacturers in the world. The equipment is very reliable and comes with 3-year warranty. We are able to offer the best prices, technical expertise and support during warranty period as well as after manufacturer's warranty. Live video from CCTV cameras can be viewed with smartphone and web browser on your PC. For more demanding users we offer cameras with facial-recognition ability and cameras with pan and tilt motion tracking.
Smart Home and Lighting Systems Ltd
Smart Home and Lighting Systems Ltd We offer a Reliable, friendly and a wealth of experience to all of our projects and clients. We offer the following - Intelligent Lighting Systems ( Lutron & Rako) -Whole House Audio -Whole House Video distribution - Data & Wifi networks -Electrical Installations - Home Cinema
Spacia Systems
Spacia Systems provide bespoke Sound, Visual, Network & Security solutions for the home and commercial premises. We've been installing CCTV and Security Systems, Home & Bussiness Networks and Home Theatre systems since 2012 all over West London, Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire with many satisfied customers over the years.
Cornflake are masters of technology, offering bespoke services in everything from home cinema installation to home security and home automation systems. We transform homes by integrating smart technology for a beautifully simple, immersive and seamless experience.
Limelight Automation Ltd
Home of Technologies Ltd
Audio visuak facilities
Inspire Audio Visual
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Click on the link "Edit data for ..." beside the drop-down menu at the top of each free horoscope page, and change the data in the entry form according to your wishes.
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Click on My Astro in the main navigation at the top of the page. In your list of birth data, you will find the link Edit behind each set of data. Click on the Edit-link behind the set of data you would like to change. This takes you to the data entry form.
To change your birth place, please click on the link other town beside the entry field for your birth town.
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February 02, 2013
All Day EventLocation: FLThe 5th Annual Melbourne Music Marathon Weekend is taking place on February 2 and 3, 2013 in beautiful Melbourne, FL. With a kid's race, 5K, 8K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, and Half Marathon relay, there's something for everyone. For more information, please visit: http://www.themelbournemarathon.com/


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Carrie B. Roberts, 87, of Quincy, Florida, died on Sunday, March 6, 2011, in Tallahassee, Florida. Services are Saturday, March 12, 2011 at St Joseph M.B. Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Sunnyvale Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, March 11, 2011 from 1:00-7:00 p.m. Williams Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include: 1 son; Charlie Roberts of Panama City, Florida. 2 daughters; Helen Roberts and Martha Roberts, both of Quincy, Florida. 1 brother; Willie B. Williams of Lake City, Florida.1sister; Rosa Lee Frazier of Lake City, Florida. A host of grandchildren.
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WASHINGTON — A Colorado-made Old Glory created from hemp will fly high above the nation's Capitol on the most patriotic day of the year thanks to an Eastern Plains farmer who is more than passionate about getting the industrial stuff legalized nationally.
The flag gets one day of air above the Capitol dome before another flag, meaningful to someone else, replaces it the next day.
But the Fourth of July, when hundreds of thousands throng to the National Mall to see fireworks and listen to a free concert, is arguably good real estate to promote the cause.
"I thought it was a great act of symbolism," said Michael Bowman, who grows corn in drought-ravaged Wray and wants to replace some of his fields with industrial hemp to save water.
Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, a fierce advocate of pushing marijuana decriminalization at the federal level, held the flag on the U.S. House of Representatives floor a few weeks ago during a debate on an amendment to legalize industrial hemp.
Though the amendment passed, with bipartisan support from most of the Colorado delegation, it ultimately did not get sent to the Senate because the House killed the farm bill.
Three states have industrial hemp laws on the books: Colorado, Vermont and Kentucky.
Bowman plans to take his hemp stars and stripes to fly above the state capitols in those three states as a tribute to the crop, which he's quick to point out has no THC and could not make anyone high.
He was unsure when he would be able to bring the flag back to Colorado and get it atop Denver's golden dome.
"George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp," Polis said. "The first American flag was made of hemp. The U.S. Department of Agriculture produced a "Hemp for Victory" video in 1942."


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Reports published Dec. 21, 2012 in The Mexico Ledger
PARIS GIRLS: The opening game of the Madison Tournament on Wednesday was the fourth game in as many school days for the Lady Coyotes. That poses a challenge for any team during any point of the season. "It's tough on the mind and the body, but I thought we handled those four games very well and put together a good four-game winning streak." remarked PHS coach Chris Willingham. Paris came out strong early jumping out to a 12-2 lead, but struggled for the remainder of the first half to put Wellsville away. The final score was 50-18. "We challenged our team to come out in the second half and play our tempo and we did that very well scoring 25 points in the third quarter alone. We were very focused and used our defense to create our offense," stated Willingham. The Lady Coyotes used the fourth quarter to rotate players and work on improving certain aspects of the game. "I am very happy with our effort in the second half and encouraged going forward knowing that if we put two complete halves together we will be a tough matchup for a lot of teams," said Willingham. Paris heads into a much needed break 6-4 and in the championship semi-finals of the Madison tournament.
Top scorer for Paris was Payton Gruber with 22. Haley Frederick has 7P, Shelby Dickey and Dede Bounds each scored 5P, Leah Ensor and Kaylee Callison added 4P each.
COMMUNITY R-6 BOYS: The Trojans traveled to Van-Far on Wednesday and brought home a 53-42 victory over the Van-Far Indians. Clay Thebeau led all players with 23 points. Justin Durham scored 10P. Durham, Conner Brooks, Kaleb Harris, Justin Wilson and Lane Thebeau all scored from 3-point range. Durham had 9 rebounds, while Wilson brought down 4. Wilson, Clay Thebeau had 3 assists each, while Wilson and Brooks had 3 steals each.
The Trojans are now 6-1.
Brian Kurz led Van-Far with 12 points, followed by Ryan Nelson with 11.


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The Devils Lake Firebirds baseball team picked up their first two wins of the season by sweeping Valley City in a double-header on Thursday May 9, 2013.
The Devils Lake Firebirds baseball team picked up their first two wins of the season by sweeping Valley City in a double-header on Thursday May 9, 2013.
Game 1
In the first game of the evening, the Firebirds came out swinging and tallied 12 runs off of 13 hits.
Devils Lake started off the first inning with two big runs to take an early lead. Valley City came back in the second inning with a run of their own to cut the deficit in half.
The lone run by Valley City in the top of the second never phased the Firebirds who went on to score three runs in the second and third inning to take a commanding 8-1 lead.
Valley City would get one more run in the top of the fourth, which ended up being their last run of the game.
Devils Lake went on to score two runs in the fourth and fifth inings to end this game early.
According to the Department of North Dakota American League Baseball, all games will be considered a complete contest if one team is leading by 10 or more runs at the end of five innings.
The final two runs in the fifth inning made it a 12-2 final in favor of the Firebirds.
"We had been looking to string some hits together and push some runs across and we were finally able to do that," said head coach Justin Bear.
It was hard to point out one particular player who had a great game because everyone played so well. In game one, senior Damond Brokke led the way with three hits, three RBI, and two runs. Senior Nick Almen also had a terrific game by going 2-3 with two RBI.
On the mound for the Firebirds was senior Nathan Mertens. Mertens had a career game and almost pitched a no-hitter.
Mertens only allowed one hit throughout the game and struck out nine batters in the process.
"Nate Mertens gave us a good solid start on the mound and got us the win," added Bear.
On the basepath, the Firebirds stole bases like it was their jobs. The team tallied a total of nine stolen bases throughout the shortened game.
Leading the way was Brokke, Brady LaMotte, and Austin Moser who all stole two bases. Gabe Schmidt, Jordan Swanson, and Mertens also recorded a stolen base.
Game 2
The second game of the night was much more competitve and Valley City didn't let the beatdown in game one phase them.
This game started much like the earlier game with the Firebirds taking a big lead early. The score after two innings was 5-0 in favor of Devils Lake.
It looked like this one would end early too, but Valley City made sure that wasn't the case. There wasn't much action in the third inning and the score remained 5-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Valley City finally came alive and produced three runs to cut the Firebirds lead to two runs. Devils Lake couldn't respond in the bottom of the inning which kept the score at 5-3 going into the top of the fifth.
Valley City had momentum but couldn't do anything in the fifth. Devils Lake also struggled in the fifth which meant they had a two run lead with only two innings remaining.
Valley City recorded one run in the sixth to make it a one run game. The Firebirds responded with a run of their own to make it a 6-4 game with only one inning to play.
Devils Lake wouldn't allow anything to happen in the top of the seventh to make it a 6-4 final.
These games were key for the Firebirds because it should help build their confidence going into Saturday's games against West Fargo and Shanley.
"It was important to pick up the wins tonight. We had more quality pitching from Holden Kurtz and Jordan Swanson," said Bear.
The Firebirds ran the basepath well again in game two and recorded five stolen bases. Jordan Swanson and Landen Hall both stole two bases while Kallen Freemen tallied one of his own.
The two wins improve the Firebirds record to 2-5 on the year.
You can catch the Firebirds next home game on Monday May 13, when they take on Grand Forks Central in a double-header. Scheduled start times for those games are 5 pm for game one and 7 pm for game two.


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Obstacles, predators greet cicadas after 17 years underground
Hamden - Even before entering the Magicicada Preserve, an enveloping hum vibrated out onto the road, and within a few steps along the main trail, visitors were bathed in an endless chord that amplified when the sun emerged from the clouds.
"Isn't it amazing?" asked Lawrence Gall, an entomologist at the Peabody Museum of Natural History, as he led the way through the preserve on Wednesday. "It's a low thrumming, throbbing sort of sound."
Providing this unique acoustical experience were some 1 million pinky-sized, winged musicians clustered on low branches, trunks and treetops throughout the hardwood forest - the periodical cicadas that had only days ago emerged from 17 years in solitary underground burrows to begin three weeks of mass choruses of mating calls followed by copulation, egg-laying and death. The sound comes from twin white timbrel structures on the underside of the males.
"I think of their sound as like a huge flock of pigeons on caffeine, all cooing," said Danny Brass of New Haven, a retired veterinarian and amateur entomologist who accompanied Gall and two others from the Peabody.
This was Gall's 12th trip this spring to the 90-acre preserve, owned by the South Central Connecticut Water Co., and one of dozens of visits over the last few weeks by Peabody Museum staff monitoring the emergence of the cicadas.
Unique in the insect world, the cicadas live underground as nymphs for 17 years. Then, when the soil warms to just the right temperature, they dig their way to the surface to shed their skins and transform into adults with neon orange eyes and large, orange-striped wings.
During the walk Wednesday, clusters of mostly females could be seen hanging vertically, horizontally and upside-down on sapling branches - most of the males stayed high in the tree canopy. Others walked slowly up tree trunks or fluttered awkwardly to another perch. A few cicadas landed on shoulders and legs, usually ending up in the palm of one of the visitors' hands for a closer look before being placed back on a branch.
"The ground here is actually spongy, because there are so many emerging here," said Gall, toeing the hole-speckled earth below a large maple tree that hosted a dozen or so cicadas on its trunk. "This is one of the denser colonies in the state."
Colonies have been emerging along the East Coast for the past several weeks but only began emerging at the end of May in Connecticut, the northernmost extent of their range. In the preserve, Gall said, the phenomenon began about a week ago and kicked into full gear in the last day or so.
"This is the first time we've seen mating pairs here," said Gall, as he and Brass hovered around a male and female latched together but facing opposite directions on a tree trunk. The female faced skyward, climbing up the tree as the male faced the ground but moved with its mate.
"This one is literally walking backwards," Brass observed.
Gail Ridge, entomologist with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, said her office has been getting four to five calls per hour since the emergence began.
"They're in two categories," she said. "People ask, 'How can I kill them?' and 'Where can I go to find them?'"
The cicadas, found only in the south-central part of the state along traprock and basalt ridges, are harmless, Ridge said, and she strongly dissuades people from using pesticides against them. Plus, she said, they'll only be out for another week to 10 days before they'll disappear for another 17 years. As to the second question, she's directing people to Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden and Hubbard Park in Meriden, but also noted that large colonies are being seen in North Branford and Southington.
"Once people learn about them, they're really quite fascinated by their remarkable life cycle," she said.
A special exhibit on the cicadas at the Peabody has been attracting a lot of interest, Gall said, as have the guided cicada hikes the museum is offering. During Wednesday's visit, Gall and Nicole Palffy-Muhoray, graduate entomologist at the Peabody, collected several specimens, including newly emerged nymphs that had not yet shed their skins, to join about 25 other live ones on display.
"This one just hatched out in the last hour," said Palffy-Muhoray, pointing to a tan bug atop some dead leaves, a pale shadow of the striking winged adult it was about to become. "His wings are still all curled up."
Later on the walk, Gall pointed out a cicada clinging to a tree, half-in and half-out out of its nymphal shell. Its partially exposed adult body was a ghostly white that would darken to black in a few hours. The ground below was littered with empty nymphal shells.
"We're seeing them here at all stages of emergence," he said.
Each of the females, he said, would lay about 600 eggs in tree branches during the three weeks of adulthood, but only a few of those eggs would make it to adulthood. After hatching from the eggs in about 10 days, the nymphs climb out or fall out of the trees and immediately start tunneling their way into their underground chambers.
High mortality rates also afflict the cicadas in their adult stage. Alongside the throngs of live cicadas throughout the preserve were nearly as many who hadn't make it - nymphs who had never gotten out of their shells, adults who had fully emerged except for their wings, which became crumpled in the rain before they had a chance to harden.
Others fell prey to a fungus that shrivels their abdomens. Many others are eaten by birds and other wildlife - just about anything that normally eats insects will feast on periodical cicadas.
"There are all manner of tragedies here," said Palffy-Muhoray, who then stopped to scoop up one of the successful ones.
"Hey buddy, want to be in the exhibit?" she said, dropping the cicada into a collection bowl. "You'll be famous."
State entomologist: Weekend heat could bring call of cicadas
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Recipes brought to you by Avanti Savoia
Visit us online at www.avantisavoia.com
Viking Wild Duck
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(Recipe ID: 631)
Serves 4
Preparation time: 1 Hour and 30 minutes
Source: Vito De Carolis
Pour a cup of mead and dine like a viking.
Items indicated with an astrisk (*) available for purchase in the Avanti Savoia store. See below to add these items to your cart.
- 1 Wild Duck
- Fine Sea Salt and Fresh Ground Green Peppercorn, to rub *
- 2 Tablespoons Cooking Extra Virgin Olive Oil *
- 1/2 cup Yogurt
- 1/2 cup Whole Milk
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- 1 Tablespoon All-Purpose Flour
- Fine Sea Salt and Fresh Ground Green Peppercorn, to taste *
- 1 Tablespoon Blackcurrant Jelly
- Rub the duck all over with salt and pepper. Put the cooking olive oil in a heavy casserole, add duck and brown it.
- Pour yogurt and milk all over it. Cover with a lid and simmer for 1 hour, remove the duck and keep warm.
- Make the sauce by melting the butter in a small saucepan and stir in the flour and cook until it is light brown. Slowly add some of the strained liquid from the casserole, stir then cook for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the blackcurrant jelly.
- Serve duck with sauce on side.
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The following ingredients are available in the Avanti Savoia online store. Click the product name for more information.


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Water drainage problems are being addressed in Hawley Borough, Councilman Jack Robertson reports.
The borough road crew was attending to a problem on Prospect Street, Thursday Dec. 20th.
Road Master Flip Kellerman and Streets & Roads Assistant Roger Smyth responded to 317 Prospect Street after a call had been made to the Borough office. They sandbagged the property at that address to prevent or minimize flooding damage caused by excessive storm water runoff. The water had overwhelmed the drainage system.
On the same day, they also inspected severe road erosion on the unpaved portion of Prospect Street, where it meets Route 590 (Hudson Street). The erosion was the result of an early morning storm.
The crew also opened blocked storm drains throughout the borough.
Robertson, who chairs the Streets & Roads Committee, stated that the borough is keenly aware of water drainage problems created during severe storms. He said that the streets department routinely inspect and open blocked storm drains.
"Residents can assist by maintaining their properties and reporting any problems to the borough," Robertston said.
Road erosion has also been a problem on the 200 block of Wangum Avenue. The borough is prioritizing the road for repaving and storm water draining, should funding come available, he said. Following a recommendation by the Road Master, Robertson asked residents to avoid parking on the 200 block of Wangum Avenue during snow and ice storms, to facilitate snowplowing and salting operations.
The first major snow storm of the season arrived Wednesday night, Dec. 26. Robertson, who was appointed to Council this past year, said he was amazed at the work the road crew must do to clear the streets. After traveling through the town Thursday to look at the roads, he said he was impressed with the crew's efforts at plowing the snow.
When there is a large snow storm or faced with back-to-back storms, the borough crew is assisted by a contractor in plowing streets and removing snow piles from plowing.
Borough residents are reminded of their responsibility to clear the sidewalk of snow and ice following a storm, and to ensure that fire hydrants are dug out.


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Every year since 1996, I've delivered seminars at Canada's largest woodworking and building skills trade show.
Chairs were filled and people were sitting on the floor when I arrived to talk about building your own 600-square-foot house this past November and this interest encourages me. The idea of small, low-maintenance, beautiful and cosy homes meshes well with a world rediscovering the value of living within one's means, and a mix of traditional and modern building methods makes it easier to do than ever.
My oldest son, Robert, is 21 and instead of hitching up to a 30-year mortgage, he's pursuing a debt-free lifestyle with a small place he's building with his own hands. Robert had no building experience, but the design we've come up with is simple enough that he doesn't need to be a pro. Over the years, I've guided other people as they've created their own modest, efficient houses and it's something that makes sense in many situations.
There are books, magazines, online resources and DVDs that'll show you all the hands-on techniques required. By far my favourite source of information is the Taunton Press (taunton.com or 800-477-8727). Their Fine Homebuilding magazine has taught me more over the years than any other single source of information.
Modest proportions, authentic materials, energy efficiency and durability are the four main design values I aim for in the small places I help make happen. Robert's cabin, for instance, sits on pillars he made from local stone. Though this approach is hardly ever used in modern construction, it makes good sense in many parts of Canada. It also looks great.
With no basement, any pillar-supported home requires floor insulation, and applying it on top of the plywood subfloor makes the most sense. Barricade basement insulation panels (ovrx.com or 866-544-6879) are two-by eight-foot sheets of foam with engineered wood glued on one face and though they're meant to insulate basement walls, they work great on floors. The foam is dense enough to support foot traffic, with no need for wood support strips. Screws driven through the panels hold them down, with the finished floor installed on top.
Spray foam is more expensive than other insulation options, but it yields a home that uses roughly half the energy of otherwise identical structures. Foam application can be contracted out to a professional or you can do it yourself with a spray kit. I've used Tiger Foam (tigerfoam.ca or 888-844-3736) in the past with great results. The smaller the house, the more sense it makes to do the work yourself.
Many people at my seminars share my appreciation for having structural wood more visible in homes. One way to make this happen is to replace conventional floor and ceiling joists with exposed beams and rafters. It's easy to do with a small design. Roofs look especially good when rafters and roof boards are exposed to view on the inside, with insulation applied on top of the roof.
I didn't invent the small-is-beautiful homebuilding philosophy and there are many more details than I have room to discuss here. But if you remember just one thing, let it be this: Modest, well-built places are more of an option than you might think. Go ahead and dream small.
Steve Maxwell, syndicated home improvement and woodworking columnist, has shared his DIY tips, how-to videos and product reviews since 1988. Follow him at SteveMaxwell.ca, on Facebook or@Maxwells_Tips on Twitter.


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This is my Great Grandfather. This property, 423 West Union Street, has been in the 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and referred to as living at this address in 1935.
Only two folk are listed in the 1940 Census, but look back a couple of Census years. (1910)
My grandfather is on the 4th line


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KU Grain Engulfment Prop – 1st Class
It was 1988 or there about – when you go back that far it doesn't really matter if you get your date exactly right. I was attending a trench rescue class put on by KU Fire & Rescue. To say the training was bad is an misrepresentation of the word "bad" – it was worse than bad.
For starters the ropes and rigging was all tossed together in military hand-me-down bags – with no rhyme or reason. Before we could get started on the training we had to sort out and untangle the mess. Then there were the props. These were something like what a deranged high school industrial arts student put together.
Flash forward to March 6, 2013 – today – in Stafford County. KU Fire & Rescue put on Grain Engulfment training with their new State-of-Art prop trailer. To say it was good is a misrepresentation of the word "good" – it was better than good.
KU worked cooperatively with numerous industry representatives to pay for the Grain Engulfment prop – a total cost of over $150,000. It consists of two submersible entrapments with the ability to transfer grain back and forth between the two with an auger. Then there's a large capacity generator that allows the entire operation to work independent of external power.
Another part of the prop that's independent of the trailer is a corrugated grain bin panel holder that's set up for breach cutting. The entire prop is built with numerous safe guards in place. Storage bins on each end of the trailer allow the Grain Engulfment prop to be fully self contained.
If you are a Kansas emergency responder and haven't had the opportunity to use the Grain Engulfment prop – you need to do so at your earliest opportunity. If you aren't from Kansas – you need to see if KU would let your state training agency copy this one.
Great Job KU Fire & Rescue!


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Enid man to serve 36 months in prison for failing to register as sex offender.
Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, announced that William K. Echols, 28, of Enid, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stephen P. Friot to serve 36 months in prison for failure to register as a sex offender. Upon his release, Echols will be under the Supervision of United States Probation Office for ten years.
After traveling with the carnival around the United States, Husted was discovered in Enid by the United States Marshals after an anonymous tip through the website TipSoft.com. Husted was subsequently indicted by the federal grand jury in April of 2012 and charged with failing to register as a sex offender.
Husted was required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (Adam Walsh Act) following his 2004 conviction in Trinity County Superior Court in California for Molesting a Child. In August of 2012, Husted entered a guilty plea to the charge in the indictment of failing to register as a sex offender. The defendant also has four prior convictions for failing to register as a sex offender in Nebraska, California, and Oregon.


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Alberta Caldwell
JONESVILLE Ś Alberta V. Caldwell, 82, of Jonesville, passed away Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at the Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility. She was born Feb. 2, 1930 in Pontiac, Michigan to Herbert & Frances (Downing) Groat. She was married May 8, 1954 to Max Caldwell and he survives.
Surviving besides her husband Max are four daughters, Karen (Bob) Price of Pickney, MI, Kathy (Gary McMillan) Caldwell of Lansing, Gayle (Gary) Arsenault of Jonesville and Cherie (Ronald) Cochran of Centerville, Tennessee; two sons, Charlie (Bobbie) Irwin of Jonesville and Scott (Pam) Caldwell of Jonesville; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Janet (Delep) Karem of Florida; three brothers, Clyde (Sally) Groat of Pontiac, Dale Groat of Texas and Marvin (Connie) Groat of Lake Orion, MI.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Mary Ann and two grandchildren.
Private family memorial services will take place at a later date. There will be no visitation or calling hours at this time. Arrangements are entrusted to the VanHorn-Eagle Funeral Home in Hillsdale.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimers Association. To view this obituary and send condolences, visit www.eaglefuneralhomes.com.


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HILLSDALE � The life of a musician involves countless hours of travel across a seemingly endless stretch of road all for the chance to play in front of a live audience. It�s an adrenalin rush that cannot be captured in a typical professional.
For Hillsdale native Patrick Martin, tonight marks the end of his first cross-country tour as a musician, with Martin and his band Parasol performing at The Dawn Theatre.
Parasol�s performance tonight caps off a week-long tour that started in Los Angeles earlier this week and featured a recording session and gig in Denver. The band drove from Los Angeles to Hillsdale for tonight�s performance and afterward will travel back to Boston, the city the band calls home.
For Martin, the chance to hit the road with his bandmates for the first time is an exciting opportunity.
�This is the thing I�ve always wanted to do since I was super-little,� Martin said in a telephone interview while he was in Malibu, Calif. this week. �When you�re young, you always envision the person you wanted to be and I wasn�t able to do that in high school. It�s a pretty cool thing.�
Parasol formed in Boston, where the members all attend the Berklee College of Music. Recently the band began playing shows in Boston while trying to build a reputation in the area. Martin admitted it�s been tough to make money early on, but the experience of being on stage is worth every minute.
�Being at music school is definitely totally different. You have to keep up the curriculum, but on the weekends when other kids just want to party, you�re out there pursuing your actual career,� Martin said. �You get what you give. We�re just trying to put as much into it as possible and see what happens.�
With that in mind, the band jumped at the chance to play in front of crowds across the country while finding time to lay down some tracks in a studio.
�We�ve only done one show outside of Boston and that was here in Malibu and that was pretty sweet. The place got pretty packed. Everyone overall was pretty engaged in what we were doing,� he said.
Engaging the crowd is exactly what Martin, the lead singer, wants to do tonight when Parasol takes the stage at The Dawn Theatre. While he hasn�t told the band much about Hillsdale, he did say that Michigan is nothing like it was portrayed in the recent movie �Five Year Engagement.�
�Even though it�s the smallest town in this trip, it sounds like it�s going to be the biggest show,� Martin said. �I just want to pack the place. I hear it can hold 250 people and that�s what I want to see. I want this band to be the cause for that place to be packed again.�
Once the band returns to Boston to close out the semester, Martin and one of his bandmates will return to Malibu for summer internships. After the experience of the last week, Martin said the band definitely wants to be in the Los Angeles area going forward.
�I feel like out here you can kind of feel the opportunity,� he said.
Parasol and another band, Ghosts in the Attic (from Kalamazoo) are each scheduled to play tonight at The Dawn Theatre. There will be a $5 cover at the door and doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Parasol to play Dawn Theatre tonight


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I have a Hunter that I've been playing around with a bit just because I felt like rolling a Hunter. He might get to reach level cap, he might not, he might stick around for a while, he might get deleted; Who knows?
This Hunter, like every other character that I level, will be as powerful as I can make him at any given level without sinking a ton of resources into making him so. A big part of maximizing a DPS class is giving them the best weapons you can find that is in line with their type of power resource. For Hunters, we're looking for Attack Power (particularly Ranged Attack Power, or RAP).
If you want to know what weapon is best for you prior to level 20, then you're better off looking at twink blogs. I can answer the question if you really want to know since I do twink hunters, but that's not what this post is here for.
Step 1: Determine Necessary Stats
Hunters have two primary sources of RAP, +Agility and +Attack Power. If you manage to find an item that has both, then that's even better, but there aren't many items in this level range that will provide that to any extent.
I'm personally leveling my hunter as Marksman to get the Careful Aim talent, which adds my Intellect to my RAP. So 15 Int = 15 RAP for my spec. If you're not Marksman spec, then completely ignore the weapons below that I show +Int stats on as they will only help you by providing mana rather than attack power.
So for my purposes I'm going to query every item in the database that provides at least the equivalent of 10 RAP, whether it be from +Agi, +Int, or +AP. And of course, the more the better.
Step 2: Query Wowhead's Database
There are several ways you can query the database at Wowhead as far as filters go. I decided to go with one source of RAP at a time, so I started with Weapons, Usable by Hunters, Required Level 19-40, Agility > 10, and restricted it to only melee weapons by selecting all the non-ranged ones in the list off to the right.
I then did the same changing "Agility > 10" to Intellect and then Attack Power of the same. I then went back and put two filters on it where "Agility > 4 and Intellect > 4" and used that combination also for Agility & AP and Int & AP.
After getting the lists from those I pulled up all of the Heirloom items that Hunters can use and looked at the stats for level 20, 30, and 40. I was very disappointed in how poor the Heirloom melee weapons really are for Hunters. If you're really hurting for mana then you can use one of the staves for a while, but it's still not a great option if you're looking for AP.
Step 3: Analyze the Results
|One Handed Dual Wielding Options
|Weapon Link
|RAP Bonus
|Required Lv
|Cruel Barb
|Vanquisher's Sword
|32 Alliance
33 Horde
Those are the only two one-handed weapons worth mentioning as far as attack power in concerned. That being said, they're also two of the strongest choices throughout because of the fact that they can be dual wielded. You can wield two Cruel Barbs since they are not unique, though they do have a somewhat low drop rate of only 17% from Edwin Vancleef, the final boss of the Dead Mines instance.
The Vanquisher's Sword is sadly a quest reward so you can only get one of them. For whatever reason Alliance can get the quest that gives this sword at a level lower than the Horde can. You can't wield two of them, but you can pair it with a Cruel Barb.
|Two-Handed Options
|Weapon Link
|RAP Bonus
|Required Lv
|Haunting Blade
|Reef Axe
|Armor Piercer
|+16 Agi
|Loksey's Training Stick
|Windweaver Staff
|+15 Int
|Illusionary Rod
|+15 Int
|Grimlok's Charge
|+15 Agi, +20 AP
|Darkmoon Executioner
Those are our options from level 20-40 which provide enough of a bonus to at least somewhat contend with the other items on the list that are close to their own level requirements. The 16 Agi on the Armor Piercer doesn't come close to the 52 AP on the Darkmoon Executioner for instance, but there's a 16 level difference between the two as well which is why it remained on the list.
You may see some items on there and wonder why I bothered listing both, such as the level 20 Haunting Blade which provides more AP than the level 22 Reef Axe. The reason for entries like this is most often linked to how easy the items are to get. The HB for instance is a drop off of a rare spawn, where the RA is a fairly high drop from an instance boss.
Step 4: Kicking It Up a Notch
When you want to get the best out of your gear you need to look not only at the item itself, but also the ways in which you can enhance it. For our Hunter weapons we have two primary options, with a third thrown in there if you happen to use a Marksman spec. If you are not specced into Marksman, then do not consider the Mighty Intellect enchant if you want Attack Power.
Enchant Weapon – Agility: Permanently enchant a melee weapon to increase Agility by 15.
Enchant 2H Weapon – Agility: Permanently enchant a two-handed melee weapon to increase Agility by 25.
Enchant Weapon – Mighty Intellect: Permanently enchant a melee weapon to increase Intellect by 22.
You can see from the enchant options that you can either get 25 RAP on a two-hander, or you can choose between 30 (15×2), 37 (15+22), or 44 (22×2) RAP if you go with dual wielding.
Even if you are a Marksmanship Hunter you need to weigh the differences between the enchants for yourself. While you get up to 14 more AP as well as 660 MP per enchant out of using dual-Int enchants, you get more Crit from the +Agi enchants. You can fire off a lot more of your special shots and stay out of Aspect of the Viper more often if you have the +Int enchants, but you will crit noticeably more often with the +Agi enchants. Of course, there's noting wrong with rocking one of each enchant and getting the best of both worlds.
If you go with one of each for dual wielding, be sure to put the +Agi on your main hand weapon, just in case. Trust me.
You also have the option of using the +22 Int enchant for a two-handed weapon if you wish instead of +25 Agi. You miss out on only 3 RAP, and you gain 330 MP in exchange for the crit chance from the Agi.
Now it's time to do some math and find out what our best bet is for maximum damage.
Even if we assume that you go with the lowest of the three enchants, you'll see that dual wielding trumps two-handed for Marksmanship Hunters, while two-handers generally win out for non-Marksmen.
Dual Wielding: +15 Agility and/or +22 Intellect Enchants
Cruel Barb (+12) x2, +15 Agi Enchant x2 = +54 AP total
Cruel Barb (+12) x2, +15 Agi Enchant plus +22 Int Enchant = +61 AP total (+330 MP)
Cruel Barb (+12) x2, +22 Int Enchant x2 = +68 AP total (+660 MP)
Vanquisher's Sword (+28) plus Cruel Barb (+12), +15 Agi Enchant x2 = +70 AP Total
Vanquisher's Sword (+28) w/ +15 Agi, Cruel Barb (+12) w/ +22 Int = +77 AP Total (+330 MP)
Vanquisher's Sword (+28) plus Cruel Barb (+12), +22 Int Enchant x2 = +84 AP Total (+660 MP)
Two-handed: +25 Agility or +22 Intellect Enchants
Haunting Blade (+28), +25 Agi = +53 AP total
Haunting Blade (+28), +22 Int = +50 AP total (+330 MP)
Reef Axe (+20), +25 Agi = +45 AP total
Reef Axe (+20), +22 Int = +42 AP total (+330 MP)
Armor Piercer (+16), +25 Agi = +41 AP total
Armor Piercer (+16), +22 Int = +38 AP total (+330 MP)
Loksey's Training Stick (+40), +25 Agi = +65 AP total
Loksey's Training Stick (+40), +22 Int = +62 AP total (+330 MP)
Windweaver Staff (+15), +25 Agi = +40 AP total
Windweaver Staff (+15), +22 Int = +37 AP total (+330 MP)
Illusionary Rod (+15), +25 Agi = +40 AP total
Illusionary Rod (+15), +22 Int = +37 AP total (+330 MP)
Manslayer (+38), +25 Agi = +63 AP total
Manslayer (+38), +22 Int = +60 AP total (+330 MP)
Grimlock's Charge (+35), +25 Agi = +60 AP total
Grimlock's Charge (+35), +22 Int = +57 AP total (+330 MP)
Darkmoon Executioner (+52), +25 Agi = +77 AP total
Darkmoon Executioner (+52), +22 Int = +74 AP total (+330 MP)
You can see that dual wielding Cruel Barbs (available at level 20) with the fairly cheap +15 Agility enchant grants you one of the largest potential overall bonuses of all the items until Loksey's Training Stick, and if you use the more expensive dual +22 Intellect enchants instead then they're beaten only by switching one for the Vanquisher's Sword or by upgrading to the Darkmoon Executioner.
Marksmanship Hunters
1st Place
84: Vanquisher's Sword (+28) plus Cruel Barb (+12), with +22 Int Enchant x2
2nd Place (Tied)
77: Vanquisher's Sword (+28) w/ +15 Agi, Cruel Barb (+12) w/ +22 Int = +77 AP Total (+330 MP)
Darkmoon Executioner (+52), +25 Agi
3rd Place
74: Darkmoon Executioner (+52), +22 Int
Non-Marksmanship Hunters (or Hunters without Careful Aim)
1st Place
77: Darkmoon Executioner (+52), with +25 Agility Enchant
2nd Place
70: Vanquisher's Sword (+28) plus Cruel Barb (+12), with +15 Agility Enchant x2
3rd Place
65: Loksey's Training Stick (+40), with +25 Agility Enchant
Putting It All Into Action
Now that we know where we stand on overall bonuses, lets take a look at what weapons we should use while we're leveling since not all of these options are open to us.
Marksmanship Hunters
Level 20:
Cheap: Cruel Barb x2, +15 Agility Enchant x2 (+54 AP)
Intermediate: Cruel Barb with +15 Agility Enchant, Cruel Barb with +22 Intellect Enchant (+61 AP)
Expensive: Cruel Barb x2, +22 Intellect Enchant x2 (+68 AP)
Level 32 Alliance or 33 Horde
Cheap: Cruel Barb with +15 Agility Enchant, and Vanquisher's Sword with +15 Agility Enchant (+70 AP)
Intermediate: Vanquisher's Sword with +15 Agility Enchant, Cruel Barb with +22 Intellect Enchant (+77 AP)
Expensive: Vanquisher's Sword and Cruel Barb, with +22 Intellect Enchant x2 (+84 AP)
Level 40:
Cheap: Darkmoon Executioner with +25 Agility Enchant (+77 AP)
Intermediate: Vanquisher's Sword with +15 Agility Enchant, Cruel Barb with +22 Intellect Enchant (+77 AP)
Expensive: Vanquisher's Sword and Cruel Barb, with +22 Intellect Enchant x2 (+84 AP)
Non-Marksmanship Hunters
Level 20:
Cheap: Cruel Barb x2, +15 Agility Enchant x2 (+54 AP)
Level 30-33
Cheap: Loksey's Training Stick with +25 Agility Enchant (+65 AP)
Expensive: Cruel Barb with +15 Agility Enchant, and Vanquisher's Sword with +15 Agility Enchant (+70 AP)
Level 40:
Cheap/Expensive: Cruel Barb with +15 Agility Enchant, and Vanquisher's Sword with +15 Agility Enchant (+70 AP)
Expensive/Cheap: Darkmoon Executioner with +25 Agility Enchant (+77 AP)
The level 40 for Non-Marksmans are listed as both Cheap and Expensive because of how you get them. The CB/VS combo is more expensive from the perspective of materials required for the enchants themselves. The weapons though are gold-free (requires time though) since CB is an instance drop and VS is a quest reward.
On the other hand, the Darkmoon Executioner is a quest reward from a "crafted" item that is made by Inscriptionists (Scribes to some who aren't me), called the Demon's Deck which requires the Inscriptionist to make Shadowy Tarot cards, which are crafted randomly, until one of each card (Ace thru Five) are created and then combined into a single deck which starts the quest. You can click on the deck again to summon the person you turn the quest into who then rewards you with the axe.


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