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I honestly believe fouls/officiating even out for the most part during the course of a game. It seemed like we got every call to start the 2nd half but yet State was in the double bonus before us.
I think you are right regarding the evening out of calls. I'm thinking more about potentially having to adjust the way you've played an entire conference schedule for a critical one and done game.
I think this all evens out. If there was any truth to your hunch, it'd benefit offensive-minded teams with free-flowing offenses (IU, UM) as much as it would hurt other B1G teams, I would think.
I tend to think that what teams/players get away with is like 40% reputation, 15% crowd influence, 10% game situation influence, and 35% actual rules of basketball.
MSU and OSU have a reputation as defensive squads so I think will get away with some of the same stuff.
State has played physical forever and they usually do well in the tournament. I think most teams adjust.
"There are no B1G refs in basketball, just NCAA refs that work in different areas" post.
But I think it might still be an issue in terms of style of play.
That is an interesting point. Maybe it is because I don't watch other conferences as much that I don't see it there. I wonder, though, if for example the B1G and P12 and ACC are geographically separated enough that there is no overlap in officials working the games that distinct styles/patterns emerge. Just speculating.
geographic areas are why certain refs (TV Ted Valentine, Gene Steratore, etc.) ref more B1G games, and I assume the same happens in other conferences.
This could easily explain part of why there are different styles of play
But there aren't really B1G officials. They do games all over the country.
So no, I think it's overblown. And it's easier to adjust to not playing physical than a game where they're letting people play.
This isn't football. There's no such thing as a B1G crew.
You just notice certain people like Valentine more than you do others.
Sparty thugs it up every year and Craft and Sulligener got away with a lot as well. Wisconsin has gone on a couple streaks in the tourny too.
The refs won't be the problem. Turnovers, lack of D, rebounding and or cold shooting will kill any team regardless of the officials.
Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that NCAA basketball refs are not exclusive to any conference. Thus, there would not be a difference between "B1G refs" and refs that call games in the tournament.
If anything will impact the B1G it could be the less physical style of play in other conferences. When both teams do it, some of it has to get through or else everybody will foul out. When only one team does it, you'd think the refs will see one team as committing more fouls.
I know you are wrong. While all refs are NCAA sanctioned refs, the Big Ten has a select group of refs that officiate every Big Ten game during the Big Ten season and Tournament. These refs also officiate various Big Ten games during the nonconference season. During the NCAA tournament, these refs will be assigned to various NCAA tourney games, although never involving a Big Ten team. This is true for all conferences and all NCAA sports.
This is simply not true. Let's take a look at Ted Valentine's season:
He's worked 16 B10 games, 10 SEC games, 5 SoCon, 3 SWAC, 2 A10, 2 Sunbelt, 2 ACC, and 1 MAC game.
The Big Ten has an assigner or officials coordinator who assigns his referees to B10 games, but those referees are independent contractors. They can, and do, work for other assigners in other conferences when they have open dates.
Valentine's career:
The 98 officials selected for the N.C.A.A. tournament are randomly assigned
The author leaves out that he's referring to the first round. There's too much logistically to sort out to avoid conflicts. It's not like football where you have a small number of crews and an even smaller number of games to deal with.
Tom from AA beat me to the point, but to summarize: (1) basketball officials are independent contractors. They do not "belong" to a conference, but will accept assignments from many different conferences throughout the year. They take assignments that they want, and turn down assignments that they don't want. This is the opposite of football officials, who belong to conference officiating staffs and are mostly not permitted to work in other conferences. (2) The NCAA makes an effort to avoid "familiar" officials in the tournament, but with this setup they obviously can't always do it. The 2007 South Regional final between Georgetown and Ohio State was officiated by Ted Valentine, for example.
you're absolutely right and that Michigan will benefit from this relative to the rest of the B1G.
imagine how well we can play when all the hand checking, holding, and other defensive bullshit are called?
I'm of the belief that Michigan will benefit from having fought through the big ten. I 'd imagine the shooters will feel much more free in the tournament
They get away with a ton of staff with regards to physicality. They always do well in B1G because the ref let them get away with it. Come NCAA tourney, they get high seed and get upset by lower seed teams like Cornell, Bucknell, etc. When they get whistled for things they get away, they don't play as physical and they don't do well. There is a reason why they struggled in non-conference games.
MSU will mug you, but they can run and score too. Wisconsin can do nothing but hold and mug and handcheck. They're pretty screwed when you take that away from them.
Eh, hpyothetically this all seems it would make sense. However, this isn't the first year that the Big Ten has been a physical conference, it's been this way for years, and Wisconsin was 1 point away from going to the Elite 8 last year (which would have been against Ohio St. and guaranteed a Big Ten team in the Final Four, which OSU made anyway).
Home court advantage is a huge deal to teams strengths from what I have watched. So when you play at msu or osu it's going to be a physically played game and refs let more things go. Msu and osu were riding our offensive players and that is something that gets called in a tourney game......
Michigan, Indiana tend to be more offensive and the calles tend to favor that style for these teams when at home. I think it's why pennst got a win, they played our boys tough in a2 physically to nock our boys off their shooting....in happy valley they got away with even more they wouldnt in a2 or in a tourney..
Biggest thing is play aggressive no matter what the refs are calling. Be aggressive offensively since they are an offensive team, and keep the defense active bigtime....The most aggressive team under control gets the calls.........That is why duke seeming owns officials but they play under control but ultra aggresive...
I swear this thread is giving me serious deja vu from about a week ago...
I've been saying this with my friends for a while. It should help us though, as long as we keep getting wins so we are there mentally come tourney time.
I mean were not exactly getting good officiating right now...I hear what you're saying, but at this point I would love some non big ten officials for a game. Or just anyone other than valentine. He's a terrible official
Big Ten teams have done well in the tourney over the past decade, even if we haven't managed to win it all. There's been a Big Ten team in the Final Four practically every year, so officiating doesn't seem to be a handicap. Anyhow, some of our "favorite" officials (Hightower, Valentine) work the tourney, often all the way to the Final Four.
Spot on. Data to back you up:
MSU folk saying Burke wouldn't be capable of half his offensive prowess if it weren't for B10 refs. I guess they didnt watch any preseason games. Then again, they also think Albrecht is our only PG ft next year.
I could live with that. They notice the cameras more than the players.
Wisconsin is the most affected, like every year under Bo Ryan. Craft's reputation is national, so he'll still get calls and Izzo is Izzo. If anything, I figure Indiana and us will be helped.
God knows how Illinois or Minnesota feel like playing on any given day, so with them it's impossible to say.
I don't think this is really true. Wisconsin often makes the Sweet 16. They just don't usually have the talent to advance further.
Because of the lack of athletes. It's not playing rough or fast, it's being able to play both. Schools like OSU and MSU play physical, but if it's a tightly called game have the talent to play a track meet too. And the think is in the Tourney, you're not going to get only one style of game called. So you have to be able to do both. And normally I think that favors the physical, because it's easier to pull off and not bump so much and let the game flow than it is to adjust to being clutched and grabbed and bumped on shots when you're not used to it. MSU and and Ohio have the horses to deal with it, Wisconsin doesn't unless they're letting them play. So after a certain amount of games you're due for a crew that's going to call everything tight.
At least for Michigan, while they can't really bang and play that way, coming out of the Big Ten they're used to it so they won't be surprised by some other team they run into that gets overly physical.
A lot of people are posting the "There are no B1G referees, only NCAA [Division 1] referees" comment. On its face this is true, but it partly misses the point. While it is true that the guys who do B1G games do other conference games as well, it's not like there is a random massive pool of nationwide refs from which the B1G game assigments are drawn and all of the individual differences cancel out. Most refs work primarily within just a few conferences and usually that is based on either the top conferences (B1G, ACC, Big East) or it is based on geography (B1G, MAC, Horizon). The B1G scheduling coordinator seeks out certain refs who they perceive to be good. Secondly, many refs actually have a primary conference that they declare. The way that works is that refs pick a primary conference who gets to schedule them as much as the league wants and in exchange they get more $ for being responsive to the league's scheduling needs and the convenience of already getting a chunk of games scheduled in one geograpic region.
There are 18 games/team *12 teams * 3 referees divided by 2 teams per game = 324 referee assignments per season (ignoring BTT). Last year there were 9 men who did 168 of those 324 assignments or 52% of all ref assignments. See: http://statsheet.com/mcb/conferences/big-ten/referees?season=2011-2012. All sorts of great data on refs on that site by the way. When people talk about B1G refs they are talking about the style of those particular refs who are popping up at a lot of B1G games. TV Ted is just one guy but he was in about 22% of the conference's games last year. See that link above but Mike Kitts, TV Ted, Terry Wymer, Mike Sanzere and Ed Hightower did 1/3 of the refs assignments in the regular season. Just five guys. So yeah, there are not B1G exclusive officials but there are a fairly small group of officials who do B1G games a lot and make up a good % of the refereeing. Now, whether those particular guys who do the B1G currently are more prone to allowing physical play is I guess is up for debate. Dunno what the data says. Certainly there are individual differences that are clearly visible over time
The conference office's direction and tradition of play in the league and other stuff may also play a role. For sure reputation matters. No way that the Iowa guy, McCaffrey, gets away with the physical play against us that Izzo does. But Izzo has been to 6 Final Fours and has a reputation for teams w/ physical play and reputation matters so he'll get more calls or more importantly more non-calls. Refs are human.
It was totally inconsistent and at times just plain bad. We got a lot of calls early in the second half but then it was as if they were trying to not see the MSU mayhem. This type of inconsistency is the hardest to deal with as a player.
With about 11 minutes left in the game Michigan gets into the bonus. There would be only one additional foul called on MSU over the next eleven minutes while there were six called on us until McGary was fouled intentionally with 8 seconds left. After the game I spent ½ an hour and reviewed the period right after the 11 minute mark going in slow motion at times and trying to be as fair as possible. The refs were just awful to us.
10:46 Hardaway drives to the hoop between two defenders both of them grab him and rip the ball away. No foul. We get the ball out of bounds
9:15 Burke drives the lane and is grabbed and pushed and has to dish the ball to Albrecht who misses an open three.
8:44 Both teams scramble for a missed shot rebound. An MSU player grabs Hardaway by the shoulder and pulls him backward as he positions for the rebound. The ball hits both of them and goes out. MSU gets the ball.
8:08 Burke drives and is fouled once before he get to a massive pick set by GRIII. He gets pushed in the back as he makes the layup. No call.
8:02 GRIII is backing up as Appling jumps into him and attempts a shot which McGary cleanly blocks. I think this is a fair call until during the time out they show highlights from a first half play where MSU did the exact same thing to us and did not get called for a foul (i.e. first defender on the ball bodies up on the drive and the second defender cleanly blocks the shot as it goes up.)
7:08 Burke get fouled on the drive with no call and dishes to Lavert who lays it in awkwardly as Nix throws him to the floor. No call.
6:45 Morgan pulls in a rebound with two player on his back. The as he turn to throw an outlet pass he is fouled again a couple of times by an MSU player trying to steal the ball. No call on either.
6:39 Burke drives and is grabbed and pushed and has to dish the ball. No call.
5:35 Burke is fouled at least three times on a drive to the hoop and makes the bucket anyway. He shouts something at the refs in displeasure which is something I do not remember him doing very often if ever. I guess he was fed up also.
4:36 Burke is fouled at least three times as he tries to bring the ball up the court. Only on the third shove that sends him to the floor does the whistle come. He makes both ends of the one and one. This is the first foul called on MSU in over 6 minutes and the last foul shot we get until McGary is fouled intentionally with only 8 seconds left. I could go on with a description of additional missed calls but we won so now I will just have some cheese with this whine.
3:53 Payne gets a rebound and then walks at least 4 steps after getting a rebound off a missed FT. No call. This was the worst miss of the entire game and almost unbelievable that it did not get called. Enough already!
TL;DR summary- The lack of consistency of calls in this game was shameful. However, this is not happening just in our games but across the board in B1G games this season. (I have watched quite a few non-Michigan games on BTN this year). I have been playing the game myself and watching B1G b-ball since Cazzie and I have never felt the refs were this piss poor. I have also ref'ed b-ball myself so I know how hard it is to be fair and balanced but SHEEESH it's bad this year.
Nice work. Sorry it was there to have to do, though, but it seems as if it was a real thing going on and not just "us being homer fans". I was keeping a bit of a tally myself and (not near what you came up with) also recognized we got to the Bonus relatively quick, especially for us. I was worried a bit and those worries seemed to come true. Nothing called for us for the next 8 or so minutes and next I know, they're in the Double Bonus with a couple minutes left and we're still sitting at 8 fouls toward us; something psychologically seemd to happen in the minds of the officials and it affected the game. Yadda yadda, yes we did some stupid thing ourselves that almost cost us but that shouldn't ignore what was strangely being called/not called by the unbiased officials.
I think M's platform favors neutral court and close called games. Allows Burke and Hardaway more freedom to move.
MSU can potentially play that game too.
As long as the games are called down the middle, non-Big Ten officiating should help. In the tournament, the only team allowed to play Big Ten defense is Duke. This would be OK if their opponents were, but they get called for touch fouls.
Otherwise, though, getting mugged every conference game should help Michigan withstand any standard defense they see in the tournament.
What about the fact that the B1G teams have already played a stretch of their schedule as hard as anything in the NCAA tournament? @IU, OSU, @Wis, @MSU has got to be as hard or harder than any 4 game stretch in the NCAA tournament this year. Granted Michigan lost 3 of those, but it's great practice for when it comes to tournament time. The B1G should do fine, as every team in the conference has played a 4 game stretch as brutal as that one. I don't think any other conference has the same difficulty of conference schedule.


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Spa and Hot Tub Chemicals
After a tiring day, most people resort to spas as form of relaxation. It is now possible to have your own spa at home. Contrary to popular belief, this is not expensive and it will not take a lot of effort to maintain a spa. Spas and hot tubs offer something enjoyable with quite a number of health benefits that you can get from it as well.
If you have a spa at home, keeping it clean is your number one priority or else it will have a negative effect on your relaxation. The good news is that there are a lot of chemicals that would keep your spa clean.
Using hot tub chemicals is very simple. There are test strips that you can purchase to test the chemicals in the spa. Putting chemicals on the spa will make the water last longer and it could also protect the users from becoming sick since this will kill the bacteria in the water.
Before putting the chemicals in the spa, you will need to know the pH level of the water and the level of alkalinity and calcium hardness. Once the spa water is balanced, you can shock the spa with a non-chlorine or a chlorine oxidizer. After that you will want to run the filter for several hours, to mix up the chemicals.
To keep the water sanitary, most spa owners use bromine or chlorine mini-tabs. Chlorine is cheaper, but stronger smelling and a bit less stable in high pH situations. You can also take advantage of using minerals to help with the sanitation. Frog or Nature2 purifiers for spas allow you to reduce your level of sanitizer.
Spa pH: To examine the PH level of water, use a good test strip. Your spa pH level should be somewhere 7.2 to 7.4. If it is lower, there is pH additive that you can add. On the other hand, if it is too high, there is a pH reducer that you can use. Knowing the calcium hardness is also important as well, so the water is not too hard or too soft. In case it doesn't reach the recommended level of at least 150 ppm, there are calcium adjusters that you can purchase to raise the calcium level, or harden the water.
Observe the color of the water. If it has a curious shade, it could mean that your spa contains metals. There are metal reducers sold for your spa, that will keep metals in solution, so they don't stain your spa surfaces.
Aside from adding chemicals to spa water, it is best to clean the hot tub filter regularly. Remember to change the spa water every two months. Clean the filter at least once a month. Perform chemical tests every week, and shock the spa. These steps will help you to keep the spa always clean and sanitary for your users.
Tags: hot tub chemicals, Spa Chemicals, spa maintenance, Spa Sanitizer, spa supplies

subset: commoncrawl


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Linear Equation Card Match
Unit 7: Linear Equations in two Variables
Lesson 21 of 23
Lesson 21 of 23
Objective: SWBAT recognize multiple representations of linear equations in two variables (numeric table, algebraic equation, and graph).
Big Idea: Use a card matching activity to help students recognize multiple representations of the same linear equation in two variables.
50 minutes
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Beginning the Card Sort
35 min
Resources (1)
Linear Equation Card Match Cards.pdf
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I have closed this lesson a variety of ways in the past. Sometimes, I simply ask students to do a gallery walk of all the posters after they are glued and hung on the walls. Students literally walk about the room in a set pattern and leave post-it note comments on each other's posters. Sometimes, I have one group present a particularly difficult match under the document camera. Other times, I have closed without a public presentation of student work but instead took pictures with my ipad and post them to Edmodo.com with questions for students to answer as homework that night.
Resources (2)
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Similar Lessons
Skeleton Towers
Big Idea: Figurate Numbers
Linear Patterns
Big Idea: Constant-increase and constant-decrease situations lead to linear graphs and are represented by linear equations.
Day Four & Five
Big Idea: To help guide instruction for the year and establish a baseline for quarterly benchmark assessments, students will take a benchmark test aligned to the CCSS.


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Call center sales orders should only display items available from Retail categories (or use Assortments & Catalogs for specific items in drop down menus)
When modify fieldItemId, Validate the item that are part of the catalog associated with thespecified source code.
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Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained here in is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use for other considerations.


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COLUMBIA — Four years ago, Sandra Dayse was severely beaten by a man she loved. On Tuesday, she told an audience gathered to honor victims of domestic violence that escaping that situation has given her a new lease on life.
"I learned the hard way that domestic violence does not discriminate," Dayse told a crowd of several hundred gathered at the Statehouse in Columbia. "There were red flags that rose ... but I chose to ignore them."
Dayse shared her story as part of this year's Silent Witness Domestic Violence ceremony. The annual event, hosted by Attorney General Alan Wilson, honors the South Carolina men and women killed because of domestic violence the year before.
On Tuesday, Wilson read the names and stories of 39 women and nine men killed by their partners last year. A bell tolled for each person, and life-size silhouettes representing each victim were held up.
The event, part of national Domestic Violence Awareness Month, comes on the heels of a report issued last week by the Violence Policy Center in Washington showed that South Carolina ranks first in the country in the rate of women killed by men.
The rate of 2.54 per 100,000 was more than double the national average, according to the report. South Carolina has ranked in the top 10 states every year for the past decade.
Living in Charlotte, N.C., in 2002, Dayse met a man she initially described as "very charming and smooth." But as the couple moved in together and eventually married, Dayse said her mate became increasingly jealous, irrational and, eventually, verbally and physically abusive toward her.
"I had to always walk on eggshells because I never knew what would tick him off," she said.
By 2009, the couple had two children together, and Dayse said she knew she needed to find a way out of the relationship. One January day, as she recuperated from gallbladder surgery, Dayse said her husband beat her with a baseball bat and dragged her downstairs and outside their home. Her surgical stitches burst. Her children looked on in horror.
"I felt numb," she said. "I saw a living, breathing monster."
Neighbors came to Dayse's rescue and called 911, caring for her children as she healed. Her husband was eventually found not guilty on assault charges, but Dayse said she fled with her children to a Columbia shelter and is forging a new existence.
"I escaped the nightmare that was him," she said. "I am very excited about my new life."
More info: www.scag.gov/criminal-domestic-violence-in-south-carolina


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Press release 50/2017
15 March 2017
An Informal EU Development Ministers' meeting will be held in Brussels on 16 March. Finland's representative at the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Kai Mykkänen.
The Ministers will discuss the revision of the EU development policy. Their discussions will provide direction for the new European Consensus on Development, which frames the development policy activities of the EU and its Member States. The aim is to have it completed by the end of May.
In addition, the Ministers will discuss the preparations for the EU-Africa Summit and Africa's role in the post-Cotonou arrangements. The Cotonou Agreement, which defines the cooperation between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, will expire in 2020.
Over lunch, the Ministers will deal with migration and development. The future European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) will mobilise funding to the promotion of development in the countries bordering Africa and the EU, which are central for migration.
Minister Mykkänen has placed the position of women and girls among the key priorities in Finland's development policy. Finland wants that the EU development policy emphasise women's position and opportunities of influence in economic and political decision-making. In the EU, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) must become a comprehensive goal in order to safeguard girls' right to their own body, education and own choices.
Finland also underlines the importance of job creation for young men and women, sustainable use of natural resources, and supporting more efficient and fair tax collection and better knowledge of economic matters in the partner countries
Inquiries: Pasi Rajala, Special Adviser, tel. +358 400 464 393 and Sari Lehtiranta, Director, tel. tel. +358 295 352 139.
The Foreign Ministry's email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@example.com.


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AICPA Urges IRS to Announce Shutdown Contingency Plan
November 26, 2013
In a November 18 letter, the AICPA noted that the partial government shutdown in October resulted in several months of continuing impact on tax return processing and that the IRS has already announced a projected delay in the start of the 2014 tax filing season from January 21 to sometime between January 28 and February 4.
"Our members and their clients are concerned about any additional delay in the filing season as well as any planned reduction in IRS services that may affect a taxpayer's and a tax practitioner's ability to timely file tax returns, pay taxes, obtain refunds, address notices from the IRS, or contact the IRS with questions," the letter stated.
The AICPA offered to work with the IRS to help it consider and prioritize issues, services and functions that taxpayers and practitioners are likely to need during the filing season. "For example, we are deeply concerned that another government shutdown with the IRS operating only at 9.3% of its workforce (8,752 of the 94,516 employees as of September 7, 2013, were deemed essential during the October 2013 government shutdown) would result in a huge strain on taxpayers and practitioners trying to timely report and file their income taxes by April 15, 2014," the letter explained.
The AICPA also expressed the hope that in the event of a January 2014 government shutdown, the government will be able to retain many more IRS employees as deemed essential during filing season than was the case during last October's closure. The Taxpayer Advocate was cited as an example. "Taxpayers need this avenue available to them when faced with hardships in the midst of another government shutdown," AICPA Tax Executive Committee Chair Jeffrey A. Porter, CPA, pointed out in the letter. "The IRS keeping more essential positions working during January would help make the already delayed filing season operate as smoothly as possible."


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NBAA2010 in Atlanta, GA.
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NBAA2010 will feature Exhibits at the magnificent Georgia World Congress Center, a Static Display of Aircraft on DeKalb Peachtree Airport, over 100 Education Sessions and Maintenance and Operations Sessions (M&Os), and nearly 25,000 business aviation professionals who are interested in seeing and learning about all that is new in the world of business aviation.
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Learn more about special programs for students aged 12 and above, including Careers in Business Aviation Day. Complimentary registration is available to students attending University Aviation Association (UAA) colleges and universities. Learn More.
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Review the preliminary schedule of events, including the complete list of Professional Development Program (PDP) sessions. Continue.
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View the full list of Exhibiting Companies from around the world, in 84 products and service category. New listings are added continuously. Continue.
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See a detailed, interactive map of exhibitors at the Georgia World Congress Center. View the floor plan.
NBAA/CAN Charity Benefit
Live and Silent Auctions will be held to benefit Corporate Angel Network (CAN). Musical entertainment will be is the legendary rock group Chicago. Learn more.
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Held at Stone Mountain Golf Club in Stone Mountain, GA on October, the Chairman's Charity Classic Golf Tournament will benefit NBAA Charities. Learn more.
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NBAA's Annual Meeting & Convention is the year's most significant media event for the business aviation industry. Learn more.
Review the list of NBAA contacts available to support America's premier business aviation event. Continue.
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Register for NBAA2010 and related events, including PDP courses, the Single-Pilot Safety Standdown and charity golf tournament. Register now.
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The web server has been replaced.
The old web server ran under CentOS 6.7 Linux which had become quite outdated. CentOS provides no reliable method of doing a live upgrade from one major release to the next.
The new server runs under Ubuntu 15.10 which is current. Ubuntu provides a method of doing live upgrades and in fact I have upgraded from
12.04 -> 12.10 -> 14.04 -> 14.10 -> 15.04 -> 15.10, and while there were occasional minor issues, like Nvidia drivers being incompatible with the new kernel, all in all these upgrades were successful.
This resolved the problems with incompatible php modules and now ownCloud is fully functional.
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The Consumer Staples sector ranks first out of the ten sectors as detailed in my Sector Rankings for ETFs and mutual funds. It gets my Attractive rating, which is based on aggregation of ratings of nine ETFs and eight mutual funds in the Consumer Staples sector as of January 23rd, 2013. Prior reports on the best & worst ETFs and mutual funds in every sector and style are here.
Figures 1 and 2 rank all eight ETFs and all six mutual funds in the sector that meet our liquidity standards. Not all Consumer Staples sector ETFs and mutual funds are created the same. The number of holdings varies widely (from 22 to 120), which creates drastically different investment implications and ratings. The best ETFs and mutual funds allocate more value to Attractive-or-better-rated stocks than the worst ETFs and mutual funds, which allocate too much value to Neutral-or-worse-rated stocks.
To identify the best and avoid the worst ETFs and mutual funds within the Consumer Staples sector, investors need a predictive rating based on (1) stocks ratings of the holdings and (2) the all-in expensesof each ETF and mutual fund. Investors need not rely on backward-looking ratings. My fund rating methodology is detailed here.
Investors seeking exposure to the Consumer Staples sector should buy one of the Attractive-or-better rated ETFs or mutual funds from Figures 1 and 2.
Get my ratings on all ETFs and mutual funds in this sector on my free mutual fund and ETF screener.
Figure 1: ETFs with the Best & Worst Ratings
* Best ETFs exclude ETFs with TNAs less than $100 million for inadequate liquidity.
Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings
Rydex S&P Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RHS) is excluded from Figure 1 because its total net assets (TNA) are below $100 million and do not meet our liquidity standards.
Figure 2: Mutual Funds with the Best & Worst Ratings – Top 5
* Best mutual funds exclude funds with TNAs less than $100 million for inadequate liquidity.
Sources: New Constructs, LLC and company filings
ICON Funds: ICON Consumer Staples Fund (ICLEX, ICLCX) is excluded from Figure 2 because its total net assets (TNA) are below $100 million and do not meet our liquidity standards.
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) is my top-rated Consumer Staples ETF and earns my Very Attractive Rating. Rydex Series Funds: Consumer Products Fund (RYCIX) is my top-rated Consumer Staples mutual fund and earns my Attractive rating.
PowerShares S&P SmallCap Consumer Staples Portfolio (PSCC) is my worst-rated Consumer Staples ETF and Fidelity Select Portfolios: Construction & Housing Portfolio (FSHOX) is my worst-rated Consumer Staples mutual fund. Both earn my Dangerous rating.
Figure 3 shows that 72 out of the 214 stocks (over 68% of the total net assets) held by Consumer Staples ETFs and mutual funds get an Attractive-or-better rating. Upon further inspection, we see that investors are putting money in the best Consumer Staples ETFs as 92% of total net assets are in Attractive or Very Attractive-rated ETFs. On the other hand, investors are not putting their money in the best Consumer Staples mutual funds as less than 26% of total net assets are in Attractive-or-better rated mutual funds. More ETFs (five out of nine) earn an Attractive-or-better rating than mutual funds (four out of eight) in this sector. That comparison suggests Consumer Staples portfolio managers are not deserving of their fees.
Figure 3: Consumer Staples Sector Landscape For ETFs, Mutual Funds & Stocks
As detailed in "Cheap Funds Dupe Investors", the fund industry offers many cheap funds but very few funds with high-quality stocks, or with what I call good portfolio management.
As noted above, investors need to tread carefully when considering Consumer Staples ETFs and mutual funds, as the overall Attractive sector rating does not mean all ETFs and mutual funds in this sector earn Attractive ratings.
Philip Morris International, Inc. (PM) is one of my favorite stocks held by Consumer Staples ETFs and mutual funds and earns my Very Attractive rating. It has a top quintile ROIC of 36% and rising economic earnings.
The current share price of ~$88.84 implies that the market expects a permanent, albeit slight, decline in PM's profitability over the next year. Revenue growth of 1.2% and an economic earnings margin (ROIC-WACC) of 29% over the next year, both of which are inferior to last year's performance, would correspond to a share price of just over $111, which would result in a nice gain for investors.
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (THS) is one of my least favorite stocks held by Consumer Staples ETFs and mutual funds and earns my Very Dangerous rating. THS has a consistently poor economic earningsmargin (-2.1% over the past five years) but has seen its share price more than double over that same time. It appears THS investors must be focused on the company's revenue growth, which, at 15.4% compounded annually over the last five years, is impressive. However, THS can increase its revenue all it wants, but without positive economic earnings there is no shareholder value creation and no economic justification for its current valuation.
124 stocks of the 3000+ I cover are classified as Consumer Staples stocks, but due to style drift, Consumer Staples ETFs and mutual funds hold 214 stocks.
Figures 4 and 5 show the rating landscape of all Consumer Staples ETFs and mutual funds.
Our Sector Rankings for ETFs and mutual funds report ranks all sectors and highlights those that offer the best investments.
Figure 4: Separating the Best ETFs From the Worst ETFs
Figure 5: Separating the Best Mutual Funds From the Worst Mutual Funds
Review my full list of ratings and rankings along with reports on all nine ETFs and eight mutual funds in the Consumer Staples sector.
Sam McBride contributed to this article
Disclosure: David Trainer owns PM. Neither David Trainer nor Sam McBride receives any compensation to write about any specific stock, sector or theme.


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Rebecky wrote:might disappear for a while. I'm getting sicker. Aches. chiils. fever. headache. etc.
just want to sleep at this point.
Okay...it's been 3 whole days since you ran away and I'm hoping you feel lots better Beckykins!
Wren...SOOOO happy to see you around and ewes hair is goigeous!!!
And, Shannikins...I'm gonna try to read those two stories when I get home tonight. I can't wait to figure out which one belongs to who or is that whom?
Btw...cut me hair to top of shoulders and it feels WONDERFUL! No more pulling it in my armpit at night every time mes turns over. Byeeee for now.


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Project New Guy: Part 1 - 2000 Chevy Silverado
New Attitude and Altitude for the Front Suspension
I was hired to work as the Associate Editor of Truckin' in early September of 2010. For the first three months of working at the mag, I was truck-less. That was until I picked up the perfect project truck, a 2000 Chevy Silverado that had been used as a work vehicle, and for $3,000, I couldn't beat it. It was in sad shape, which made the need to fix it up taste that much sweeter. After talking with Editor Dan Ward, I decided that I wanted to build a daily driveable 'bagged show vehicle.
Once I decided what I was going to do, I needed a rendering. I contacted Robbie Bryant, owner of Keg Media. We chatted about what I wanted the truck to look like and within a few weeks I received an email with the rendering attached. It looked better than I had imagined. Now all I had to do was make it look like that. I first needed to find a suspension that would let the truck lay out on terra firma. After much research I decided on KP Components. Their kit was the most complete and required the least amount of custom fabrication. I ordered their front control arm kit, which came with the upper and lower control arms, 2-inch drop spindle, and Varishock billet aluminum, double-adjustable shocks. For the rear, I chose their bolt-on cantilevered four-link kit with the Watt's link upgrade and step notch kit. I knew that this would allow the rear of the truck to lay all the way out.
To install the kit, I contacted Adam Diaz with Master Image Customs (M.I.C.) in Montclair, California. M.I.C. is known for building some of the baddest cars and trucks on the road, so I knew they were more than capable of installing everything. Follow along to see how we gave the front end of this former ranch hand truck a better stance, and don't miss next month's install on the rear KP setup.
Not shown in the photos
19. The final step was to bolt on the Varishock double-adjustable shocks onto the front. With that complete, Adam and Andy moved to the rear suspension, but that will have to wait until the next issue. Be sure to check back to see the install of the cantilevered four-link with Watt's link in the rear.
19. The final step was to bolt on the Varishock double-adjustable shocks onto the front. With that complete, Adam and Andy moved to the rear suspension, but that will have to wait until the next issue. Be sure to check back to see the install of the cantilevered four-link with Watt's link in the rear.
|Your Questions Answered
|Time Spent Working:
|6 hours
|Degree of Difficulty:
|Tools Needed: Various sockets and wrenches, sledgehammer, plasma cutter, air chisel, and air gun.
|Parts Used:
|KP Components Front Suspension System with 2-inch drop spindle and Varishock double-adjustable billet shocks #KPC-C71
|SSBC six-piston front brake kit with red powdercoating #A126-53
|Slam Specialties RE-7 airbags: $99.00 each
|$198.00 (total)
|(prices from manufacturers and do not include tax, shipping, or installation)
Slam SpecialtiesFresno, CA 93727
SSBC Performance Brake SystemsClarence, NY 14031
KP Componentswww.kpcomponents.com
Master Image CustomsMontclair, CA 91736


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Companion Animal Hospital Vernon Hills
1101 S. Milwaukee Ave.
Ste 102 Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061
(847) 821-6189
Mon - Tue: 8:00AM - 7:00PM
Wed: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Thu: 8:00AM - 7:00PM
Fri: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Sat: 8:00AM - 1:00PM
Sun: 10:00AM - 2:00PM
Companion Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary medical facility, located in Vernon Hills, Illinois. The professional and courteous staff at Companion Animal Hospital seek to provide the best possible medical care, surgical care and dental care for their highly-valued patients.
- Anesthesia
- Bacteriology/Mycology
- Behavior
- Canine Practice
- Canine and Feline Practice
- Cardiology
- Critical Care
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Exotics
- Feline Practice
- Immunology
- Internal Medicine
- Microbiology
- Neurology
- Nutrition
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Pocket Pets
- Preventative Medicine
- Radiology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Reptile
- Small Mammal
- Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Surgery
- Toxicology
- English
- Most insurance accepted
- Cash
- Check
- Debit
- Discover
- Mastercard
- Visa
Derek Williamson
5 stars Susan H Featured review
I visited Companion Animal Hospital with my dogs yesterday and we had a wonderful experience. The staff is so kind, and knowledgeable. They made us feel like we were the most important patients of the day and went to great lengths to make us feel welcome. And, most importantly, they provided excellent veterinary care and discussed in detail each dogs specific health scenario and all of the options and possible avenues for treatment. I am so happy that I was referred to Companion AH. I look forward to a long relationship with them.
Susan, we are happy to hear that you had such a great experience with us. Thank you for trusting us with your veterinary care.
Dr. Williamson
5 stars Anonymous Verified customer
So friendly & helpful! The doctor discussed a lot with me to learn about My dog instead of just telling me what to do. The staff is very professional & caring.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We are glad you enjoyed your experience with us at Companion!
Hospital Manager
5 stars Karen K Customer since 2017
The staff took time to listen to my concerns and provided me with information that was helpful. I received a call quickly the next day with the results of tests done. Overall the peace of mind it gave me made the visit well worth it. Plus, my little girl got a lot of love and attention from the doctor and staff, which she just loves.
Thank you for the wonderful review Karen! It was a pleasure working with Riley and hope to see her again soon!
Hospital Manager
5 stars Sarune B Customer since 2018
Love this place. Everyone is so nice, patient, and knowledgeable
Thank you for the wonderful review, Sarune! It was such a pleasure to meet you and Ghost and we look forward to seeing you again!
Hospital Manager
5 stars Amber G Customer since 2018
This team truly loves each pet as their own! My entire family has been going here for years and we have never been disappointed.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! It is always a pleasure seeing you and Hermie!
Hospital Manager
5 stars Michelle W Customer since 2018
Very good with my dog and they were actually able to push up my nurses visit.
Thank you for the wonderful review, Michelle. It is always a pleasure seeing you and Sasha!
Hospital Manager
5 stars Anonymous Verified customer
Friendly, attentive staff. Reminder calls night before procedure, updates and photo of pet after procedure were a nice touch. Pick up was easy, with detailed post op directives. Thanks for taking good care of our pup.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We are glad you enjoyed your visit!
Hospital Manager
5 stars Kara F Customer since 2017
Excellent staff, great vets, all over a great place
Thank you for the wonderful review. It is always a pleasure to see Gabby!
Hospital Manager
5 stars Carol F Customer since 2015
My experience at Companion was GREAT, everyone is always so friendly when I walk in the door with my pet. Jessica the groomer is the best we have ever had and we highly recommend her.
Thank you for the wonderful review, Carol. It is always a pleasure to see you and Riley! Have a great day!
Hospital Manager
5 stars Sandy A Customer since 2016
Office is always clean, staff is friendly and responsive, great with the animals, and the vets are excellent!
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We look forward to the next time we see Lyla and Teddy!
Hospital Manager
5 stars Carolyn B Customer since 2018
Companion Animal Hospital is a very caring and compassionate place to get care for pet. Everyone was very professional. The Doctor explained everything in great detail and took the time to go over all our options without rushing. I felt like we were his top priority. The support staff was exceptionally caring and did there best to take care of a very frightened cat. Would highly recommend going to Companion Animal Hospital.
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave such a kind review! We appreciate your recommendation!
Hospital Manager
Also in Vernon Hills
Bavaro Hair Spa
Have been a client of this excellent salon for over 30 years!!! I have never been disappointed with the cut, color or any other service they provide! I love, love, love this place!Read More …
Libertyville Vision Center
The Werk Shop
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The Hair Fetish


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Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have sparked rumours they are trying to rekindle their romance after the pair reportedly had a series of meetings in Los Angeles.
The Twilight co-stars split in July (12) over the actress' "indiscretion" with filmmaker Rupert Sanders, but now fans of the former couple are hoping for a reconciliation amid reports they are back in contact.
A source tells Us Weekly that Pattinson and Stewart have met several times in recent weeks, adding, "They're working it out. He's still in love with her."


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Conscious Business
How to Build Value Through Values
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More and more business leaders are catching on to an often overlooked fact: consciousness is our basic faculty for survival and success. Without it, we forget what is important to us and lose sight of the steps we might take to reach those goals.
Conscious business, explains Fred Kofman, means shining this awareness on every area of your work: in recognizing the needs of others and expressing your own in seeing the hidden emotional obstacles that may be holding your team back in making good decisions under pressure, and even in delving into such spiritual questions as "Who am I?" and "What is my real purpose here?"
In Conscious Business, this visionary teacher and consultant to Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! and other leading companies presents the complete training manual in the breakthrough techniques he has shared with over 20,000 executives on four continents, including:
- Unflinching integrity, the key to success beyond success
- Why culture, not know-how, is the best place to first focus a company's improvement efforts and how to pull it off
- Right leadership, and how it translates into making more money
A conscious business fosters peace and happiness in the individuals, respect and solidarity in the community, and mission accomplishment in the organization, teaches Fred Kofman. With Conscious Business, you hold the definitive resource for maximizing profit and potential in the workplace and beyond.
Created by Fred Kofman as a companion to the book, the Conscious Business audio program explores key insights in greater depth in an engaging seminar format.
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- Review for Conscious Business Review by daisy
Life-altering! Listen to this guy!! Took a one-week class with him 8 years ago!! Still learning from that experience. Have listened to the full Conscious Biz course at least 5 times. Buy either the short one or the full-length one. You will NOT regret it.
(Posted on 2/28/2010)
Contents 3 CDs (234 minutes) Date Published September 01, 2006 ISBN-10 1-59179-538-9 ISBN-13 978-1-59179-538-4 Dimensions 5 x 5 3/4 inches Product Code AW01094D
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Contents 1 Audio download (3 hours, 54 minutes) Filetypes M4B, MP3, PDF, ZIP Date Published September 01, 2006 ISBN-10 1-60407-032-3 ISBN-13 978-1-60407-032-3 Product Code AW01094W


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Reference Services
Starr Library has no less than five reference librarians to assist you. Our reference staff is available on an on-call basis. You should feel free to contact our librarians at any time. If the librarian you wish to speak to is not available, please leave a phone or e-mail message, and you will be contacted as soon as possible. Or, for immediate assistance, you can contact one of the other librarians instead.
Reference Librarians Contact Information
- East Asian Studies, Western Languages
Ms. Ria Koopmans-de Bruijn
(212) 854-1505
- Chinese Studies
Dr. Chengzhi Wang
(212) 854-3721
- Japanese Studies
Dr. Sachie Noguchi
(212) 854-1506
- Korean Studies
Ms. Hee-sook Shin
(212) 854-1507
- Tibetan Studies
Dr. Lauran Hartley
(212) 854-9875


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a place where young scene kids from the city of glasgow can hang about. though really, its a train station, GROW UP.
"aw mon we need tae get tae scentroo tae do our makeup an chat aboot oli sykkes then have a sip of lambrini n pretend tae be mwi & no even inhale ma jakey mayfair smooths properly. a mean fs glasgow central is the place tae beee"
by rufussss June 16, 2008
buy the domain for your travel blog


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Check out reviews left by other students or leave your own review. You could win a free scholarship.Add your Review
Matt from St.louis, MO
Reviewer is A past student here.
0 out of 1 people found this review useful. 1 of 3
Categories Comments Campus Safety
theres like one cop in town hahaha
Greek Life
Clubs and Activities
this doesn't get a star because there are none at least there aren't any advertised.
Great for these types of students
i dont think anyone should come here its basically a high school on steroids.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
theres no traditions
Bang for the buck
its cheap yea but honestly if im going to spend any ammount of money i would like to come out feeling like i know more than i did when i came in...... not here.
What to do for fun
hahahaha sleep.....theres a small river you can go to and fish but if theres anything to do its in jeff city which is about 20 to 30 miles away.
Food and Dining
the food sucks. its the same crap every week and its all fried.
Dorm Life
the dorms are nice and clean
Academic Rigor
the gen ed teachers are great but the instructors suck. my instructor couldnt explain anything in reasonable terms for us students to understand. he either said you get it or you dont.
Tips for prospective students
honestly i would fin a better college with more of the college atmosphere. theres no clubs to join and nothing in town to do.
In three sentences
linn state technical college was extremely boring. theres nothing to do and its difficult to make friends here. the gen ed teachers are great but the instructors are horrible.
Matthew from Saint Louis, MO
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
3 out of 3 people found this review useful. 2 of 3
Categories Comments Bang for the buck
Absolutely, about $5k a semester for a student that lives in Missouri is a great price for great class courses and everything else the college has to offer.
What to do for fun
It's a small town, and I have only sen half of it, but there are many clubs and activities around the college campus.
Food and Dining
2 Different areas to eat, with very friendly people who work there. Great selections of food choices to eat.
Dorm Life
I will be living off campus, but from what I saw of the Dorms, they are very clean, well maintained, affordable, and a very nice setup for the students to get to know each other.
Academic Rigor
The Automotive Technology program is my choice of study. The layout of the course over the semester is pretty straight forward. Sticking to a section at a time with different professional, knowledgeable teachers according to each section.
Tips for prospective students
Don't knock any school until you visit. Always ask questions, questions about the town, jobs, local activities etc... Keep up to date on school news.
In three sentences
A very under looked technical college with a massive selection of technical occupations. The students are very friendly and hyped to start the school year. The teachers are awesome and look forward to teaching.
Michael from Kansas City, MO
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
2 out of 2 people found this review useful. 3 of 3
Categories Comments Great for these types of students
Tips for prospective students
You will need a 21 or higher if you don't want to take the compass test. Also you will have to take the Bennett test. This school for a community college has dorms. Its a rarity so apply for them ASAP!
Bang for the buck
A+ Students with minor financial aid can pay everything to attend without hardly costing anything.
Will enjoy being here
Population of 2,000 people. Very open fielded.
Will learn a lot
A&P Licenses with Associates in Applied Sciences.


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Tuesday, January 5, 2010
RIP Joseph M. Wilcots
Joseph M. Wilcots dies at 70; cinematographer on 'Roots' and its sequel
He was the first African American to join the International
Cinematographers Guild. For 15 years, he also worked in various
capacities on Michael Jackson's music videos, tours and other projects.
By Dennis McLellan
Joseph M. Wilcots, a trailblazing African American cinematographer whose
credits include the landmark 1970s TV miniseries "Roots" and "Roots: The
Next Generations," has died. He was 70.
Wilcots died Dec. 30 at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster of
complications from a stroke he suffered in 2008, said his manager,
Phyllis Larrymore Kelly.
The first African American to join the International Cinematographers
Guild -- in 1967 -- Wilcots initially worked on camera crews for TV
series such as "The F.B.I." and "Mission: Impossible" and on films such
as "The Learning Tree," "The Last Picture Show," "The Cowboys" and "Lady
Sings the Blues."
As a director of photography, he achieved his greatest acclaim for
"Roots," the 1977 ratings phenomenon based on Alex Haley's bestselling
epic family saga.
"Joseph Wilcots could be considered the Jackie Robinson of
cinematography," Steven Poster, president of the International
Cinematographers Guild, Local 600, said in a statement.
Describing Wilcots as "a kind and gentle man with amazing talent,"
Poster said Wilcots "loved the work he did and gained the respect he
deserved throughout the industry."
In 1977, Wilcots received a national Emmy nomination for "outstanding
cinematography in entertainment programming for a series" for Part Seven
of "Roots." His work on "Roots" also earned him a local Emmy nomination.
"In doing a picture called 'Roots,' we felt it important that we should
have an African American cinematographer," "Roots" executive producer
David L. Wolper told The Times this week.
"It's extremely difficult to photograph African Americans," Wolper said,
"because when you shoot a scene with an African American and a white
person standing next to each other, the lighting is so complex, and he
was an expert in that."
Louis Gossett Jr., who played Fiddler in "Roots," agreed.
"As the cinematographer, Joe said, 'This is going to take some time if
this is going to look good,' " said Gossett. "It was a challenge for him
to balance in the same scene those colors and the different gradations
of skin."
As for the result, Gossett said, "We all loved it. It had to be very
difficult for that man with that time frame and time pressure, but he
did it."
Said LeVar Burton, who played Kunta Kinte, the African who is abducted,
taken to America via slave ship and sold to a Virginia planter in the
1700s: "What stands out immediately is that the look and feel of 'Roots'
holds up today, in 2010; it does not feel dated at all."
Burton said Stevan Larner was the director of photography on the first
three hours of "Roots."
"Joe started in hour four and took it the rest of the way," he said.
"What I remember about Joe on that shoot is that he's a very gentle,
gentle soul, as well as a very talented man."
For Burton, the "compassion of the man" was evident while shooting the
final scene in hour four in which Kunta Kinte is whipped and forced to
take the name Toby.
"For me, the challenge was standing still while this guy with a whip was
letting it go behind me at 120 miles an hour," recalled Burton. "We
rehearsed it, Joe lit it, they gathered all the extras, [but] it wasn't
working. I was way too skittish.
"He and the director, John Ermin, recognized this was a very important
scene, and I needed to get comfortable with my back to the whip. Joe was
very supportive, [saying], 'Let's go to something else; let's put this
back on the schedule for another day.' "
In the early part of "Roots" when he was shooting Burton, Wilcots said
in a 2007 interview with the Archive of American Television, "I wanted
to make the audience smell the dirt and to create such an atmosphere
that the dirt was the second part of the picture.
"And I was able to accomplish that by whenever I had the opportunity I
would either start on the dirt or shoot something of dirt around and so
there was like a hidden meaning, and it was the dirt and the earth."
Among Wilcots' other credits as a cinematographerare " Bill Cosby:
Himself," "Where the Red Fern Grows: Part 2" and the TV series
"Matlock," "Palmerstown, U.S.A." and "Brewster Place."
For 15 years, he also worked variously as a cinematographer,
photographer, producer, director and editor on Michael Jackson's music
videos, tours and other projects.
Wilcots was born Feb. 1, 1939, in Des Moines.
After a four-year stint in the Navy as a photographer, he worked four
and a half years at Westheimer Co., a Hollywood optical house for which
he was involved in providing visual effects for "Star Trek" and other TV
series and commercials.
Wilcots is survived by his wife Annette; his son, Joseph Wilcots II; his
daughter, London Morrow Wilcots; his sisters, Loretta Hall, Virgie
Monroe and Lois Newcomb; and his brothers, Michael and Henry Wilcots.
A celebration of Wilcots' life is pending.
WILCOTS, Joseph Morrow
Born: 2/1/1939, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A.
Died: 12/30/2009, Lancaster, California, U.S.A.
Joseph M. Wilcots' westerns - camera operator, cinematographer:
Thomasine & Bushrod - 1974 (camera operator)
The Aurora Encounter - 1986 (TV) (cinematographer)
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Swallowable Parfum is a capsule that enables human skin to emit a genetically unique scent about who we are and how we perform our identities. Once absorbed, the skin becomes a platform, an atomizer; a biologically enhanced second skin synthesized directly from the natural processes of the body.
Amid growing rhetoric around the body as the new frontier for technological advancement, internationally celebrated body architect Lucy McRae teams up with acclaimed Harvard biologist Sheref Mansy, to create Swallowable Parfum: a digestible scent capsule that breaks entirely new ground in the science of human instinct.
Fragrance molecules are excreted through the skin's surface during perspiration, leaving tiny golden droplets on the skin that emanate a unique odor. The potency of scent is determined by each individual's acclimatization to temperatures, to stress, exercise, or sexual arousal.
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Is The Juilliard School a Good Fit?
We compare your accomplishments and preferences to what The Juilliard School has to offer to get a general idea how well you match up with this school.
Keep an Open Mind
A low fit score doesn't necessarily mean this college isn't worth looking into. Think of it as a general guide.
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Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. (November 12, 2012) – Los Angeles' premier oceanfront vacation destination, Terranea Resort presents a new leadership structure and strategic direction, led by Executive Vice President and Managing Director Terri A. Haack. The expanded management team will ensure continued success in providing guests with the world-class experiences, unparalleled service and celebrated dining that Terranea is renowned for. Seven new executive appointments have been announced, including the promotion of Shawn Jervis to the newly created role of general manager.
As general manager, Jervis will report directly to Haack and will be responsible for all aspects of Terranea's operations and guest services. Jervis brings more than 20 years of experience in the hotel and hospitality industry to the role. He joined the resort as director of operations and food and beverage, in advance of the $450 million property's opening in June 2009, and successfully launched and developed the resort's food and beverage landscape. Prior to his role at Terranea, Jervis spent nine years at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua in Maui, and has also held leadership positions at prestigious properties such as the Grand Wilea, Maui; The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Dearborn, MI; Adams Mark Hotel, CO; and Renaissance in Washington, DC.
"Shawn's enthusiastic nature, inspirational leadership, tremendous work ethic and depth of knowledge of the resort make him the ideal candidate for the position," said Terri A. Haack, executive vice president and managing director of Terranea Resort. "In his current role, Shawn has done a tremendous job for Terranea. As general manager, we look forward to seeing him further this success to take Terranea to the next level."
Executive Chef Christian Schmidt has been named director of food and beverage and culinary operations and will now oversee both front and back of the house food and beverage operations in addition to his role as executive chef and corporate culinary director for Destination Hotels & Resorts. Chef Schmidt has been a leader in America's dining scene for more than 25 years. He has mentored celebrated chefs such as Michelle Bernstein (Azul, Miami), Jason Weaver (Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas) and Jason Stoops (Mandarin Oriental, DC) and has held culinary positions at acclaimed luxury hotel brands like the Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental and Fairmont Hotels.
Chef Michael Fiorelli has been promoted to executive sous chef and will oversee the resort's eight food and beverage outlets, in-room dining department, and catering and banquet services. He will continue to play a major role in Terranea's daily culinary operations as a member of the food & beverage strategic team. Formerly chef de cuisine at mar'sel at Terranea, Fiorelli's dedication and leadership is responsible for turning the breathtaking restaurant into one of Los Angeles's most acclaimed dining destinations. Chef Fiorelli has worked alongside culinary icons like celebrity Chef Kerry Simon of Simon LA and James Beard Award winner Mark Milittello of Mark's at the Park. His career also includes tenures at the Little Nell in Aspen and nationally acclaimed The Inn at Little Washington.
Formerly sous chef at Terranea Resort's signature restaurant mar'sel, Rebecca Merhej has been promoted to chef de cuisine of the restaurant. Chef Merhej has been an integral part of the culinary team since opening and contributed greatly to the development of mar'sel. Prior to mar'sel, Merhej worked alongside Chef Michael Fiorelli under the direction of Chef Kerry Simon of Simon LA. She has a degree in culinary arts from the Kitchen Academy in Los Angeles, which is now the Le Cordon Bleu.
Carlo de Leon has been promoted to assistant director of food and beverage and will be responsible for the overall management of the resort's extensive food and beverage operations. De Leon has more than 16 years of hospitality industry experience. He first joined Terranea as manager of Catalina Kitchen in March 2009 and quickly moved into the role of director of restaurants. Earlier in his career, De Leon has held positions at The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, The Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel, Four Seasons Scottsdale and Four Seasons Wailea. He has earned degrees in the culinary arts and business from both Le Cordon Bleu and the California Culinary Academy.
Jun Sur has also been promoted to assistant director of food and beverage and will oversee the food and beverage banquets division. Sur has more than 17 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. Prior to joining Terranea, Sur was the acting food and beverage director at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. He has also served as food and beverage manager for the Hyatt Regency Maui and was an assistant beverage manager at The Westin Maui.
Jennifer Yang will have the new title of service delivery analyst, expanding her current position as assistant to the executive vice president and managing director. Employed since pre-opening in 2009 and a native of Palos Verdes, Yang is a graduate of Colombia University and is currently perusing her MBA at the UCLA Anderson School of Business. She is also a member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association's Under 30 Council, which is comprised of emerging leaders within the lodging industry.
"We are thrilled to be able to recognize such great talent from within our organization and look forward to seeing these individuals thrive in their new roles," said Haack. "This is a tremendous opportunity for our strategic team to develop and we are excited to work together as Terranea grows and continues to provide the ultimate guest experience."
About Terranea Resort
Terranea, Los Angeles' premier oceanfront resort, is located on California's Palos Verdes Peninsula. Amid unparalleled Pacific Ocean views, guests enjoy world-class accommodations with 582 rooms that range from hotel suites to bungalows, oceanfront casitas and spacious villas, which are also available for purchase as seaside second homes through Terranea Real Estate. Amenities include The Links at Terranea, a nine-hole par three golf course; award-winning 50,000 sq. ft. oceanfront spa and fitness center; three swimming pools and a 140-foot waterslide; marea luxury boutique; 135,000 sq. ft. of conference and meeting space; and eight dining venues, including signature restaurant mar'sel; Nelson's, a cliff-side spot ideal for whale watching; and Asian-inspired bashi, newly opened June 2012. The resort's innovative activity center and adventure concierge, Pointe Discovery, lets guests discover and explore Terranea's rich terrain with miles of scenic coastal trails, secluded beach cove and ocean environment. Fun, enriching programs and activities such as habitat photography, falconry, kayorkle and paddleboarding also abound. Terranea Resort is owned by a joint venture comprised of Lowe Enterprises and JC Resorts and managed by Destination® Hotels & Resorts. For more information, visit www.terranea.com, call 866-802-8000 or follow Terranea on Facebook and Twitter.


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Roof Shingles
Roof shingles are similar to what the skin does to the body; they provide protection from the elements. They are placed in layers on top of a roof to provide unparalleled coverage and security. It is of great relief to know that during a weather event such as a hurricane or a snowstorm a roof in good condition will provide comfort. But to provide such comfort, it needs to have roof shingles in good shape.
Furthermore there's a wide variety of roof shingles to choose from, all featuring various benefits to the homeowner. For instance, there are the metal roof shingles, whose maintenance costs are virtually none as they last for 20-50 years and blend in with various types of home designs. They are the most expensive roof shingles but pay for themselves after only a few years, so it's a great investment on a home. The asphalt roof shingles are popular; used in most homes. They are popular due to their durability and affordability; for a small amount of money at a hardware store one can cover an extensive roof area and they last up to 30 years with minimal maintenance. They can withstand heavy weights, such as excessive snow, without shattering.
Concrete roof shingles are similar to the metal roof shingles in that they can withstand corrosion, extreme temperatures, breakage, wind and rain. They are also quite expensive but have as long a life as the metal ones with very little maintenance, blending well with any home design. Photovoltaic, or solar roof shingles, are becoming commonplace in areas where the sun shines year round. These shingles are quite beneficial in that they harness the sun's rays, producing energy. Energy costs are saved with these roof shingles. They are very easy to install and, ironically, not as expensive as their metal or concrete counterparts.
The roof shingles most recommended would be the asphalt roof shingles. Their benefits exceed those of the other roof shingles. For instance there's a wide selection of styles and colors to choose from. There's greens, naturals, reds, whites, blacks, etc. These colors will enhance the aesthetics of the home while providing safety. A roof can resemble wood, tile or slate, with the right roof shingle. So the style and color possibilities are endless!
Furthermore some homes use white roof shingles as a cost-effective way to reduce air conditioning costs by as much as 20%. In hot weather states, this makes a great selling point. In cold weather states, just the opposite is true in that black shingles will enable the interior heat to stay inside, keeping the house warmer during the cold months. When it's 20 degrees outside, the home inside can remain at 80 degrees or warmer, staying insulated from the elements.
Another cost-effective benefit of roof shingles is that their warranties are among the best available for any consumer product anywhere. If the roof shingles were purchased at a hardware store they will conveniently replace them, under warranty of course, should any repairs need to be done; for the lifetime of the house. Style, Reliability, Affordability. These are the unmatched benefits and hallmarks of roof shingles; offering peace of mind for affordable prices.
Roof Shingles


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Introducing IADC WellSharp®: Fit-for-purpose well control training and assessment
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Fraud Warning: Do not deposit checks drawn on bank account ending in 4415.
IADC has recently become aware that one or more individuals are attempting to make fraudulent purchases, typically by mail, using counterfeited checks imprinted with IADC's name and logo. Individuals accepting such checks do so at their own risk. Checks bearing IADC's logo and contact information and that are drawn on bank account ending in 4415 are fraudulent.


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Walk the talk
Back in the fall, I posted a preview of the Keith Haring by Nicholas Kirkwood collection in all its insanity. Fast forward to now, and I noticed this wedge pump style has popped up at Colette. Honestly these are better than the early previews! It was 1986 when Haring opened his concept pop-up boutique in Soho selling items bearing his designs. Who would have thought some 25 years later his work could still generate this much hype...amazing when you think about it (these are going for over $1200).
8 comments:
- Claire M. said...
I like the leopard shoes ;)
- July 14, 2011 at 2:03 AM
- Megan Hattie said...
whoa, such a classy bag! and those shoes are AMAZING
--Megan//The Martian Tide
- July 14, 2011 at 8:00 AM
- Sarah said...
that bag is great. it sort of reminds me of the Coco Chanel "take away" purse, which would make for a great diy!
- July 14, 2011 at 1:25 PM
- mar said...
Over $1200? Whaat?
Well i really like the shape of these babies!
- July 16, 2011 at 9:27 PM
- STOP IT RIGHT NOW said...
They've had the Cast of Vices bags available at A+R for a while! I got mine there. The bag is A LOT softer and thinner than you'd expect. Nice and scrunchy like a real plastic bag haha.
- July 20, 2011 at 1:43 AM
- roxanne said...
i can never bring myself to carry a purse, which always leaves me with no choice but to carry things in plastic bags when the going gets rough. i should definitely just skip the middle step and get the leather plastic bag.
- July 20, 2011 at 9:11 AM
- Amanda said...
ooh sweet, thx for the tip jayne!!
- July 21, 2011 at 4:44 PM
- A La Mode said...
I'm so loved up over the Keith Haring X Nicholas Kirkwood collection. I want the i insane thigh high roller booties!
- July 22, 2011 at 6:09 AM


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The proposal to replace Chu came in a Feb. 25 email from Dan Carol, a former issues adviser to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, and was circulated by Peter Rouse, Obama's chief of staff at the time, AP reported Friday.
Spokesmen from the White House and from Energy said the plan was not taken seriously, the report said.
The White House released the email in response to Nov. 3 subpoenas issued by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is looking into a $500 million federal loan granted to the now-bankrupt Solyndra Inc.
"As our investigation has unfolded, many more questions have emerged about both the initial loan to Solyndra and the subsequent restructuring [of the firm] that put taxpayers at the back of the line," committee chairman Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and investigations subcommittee chairman Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., said in a joint statement.
"Interest in Solyndra was not limited to the Department of Energy or Office of Management and Budget: some of the president's most senior advisers were closely monitoring the loan as well."
In his email, Carol suggested offering the Energy' top job to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and making Chu the department's chief scientist, AP reported.
"This is a huge job and he would be perfect for it," Carol said in the email, adding that Chu "is a wonderful and brilliant man, but he is not perfect for the other critical DOE mission: deploying existing technologies at scale and creating jobs."
Solyndra's bankruptcy and allegations that Energy acted illegally in supporting the failed firm have been a point of controversy for the administration.
Dan Leistikow, Chu's spokesman, said the emails "reaffirm that decisions were made on the merits and that all of the baseless allegations about political considerations just aren't borne out by the facts," AP reported.
Chu will testify before the House energy committee on Thursday.


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Check MoDOT's Traveler Information Map for Current Road Conditions!
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MoDOT has more than 3,000 MoDOT employees and 1,500 pieces of equipment ready to fight winter storms on the state's 32,000-mile highway system. If necessary, MoDOT hires emergency equipment operators to help during snow and ice storms and moves staff to the areas most affected by winter weather.
With plows, spreaders and de-icing materials in place, we'll focus on getting roads plowed as soon as possible. Drivers should also do their part by slowing down and driving for winter weather conditions. And while we adjust our efforts to deal with each storm's unique characteristics, you can be sure that when the snow is flying, MoDOT crews will be out in force.
Drivers can find out what they're up against by getting the latest road conditions from MoDOT's online Traveler Information Map.
Travelers can also call MoDOT's toll-free number, 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636), to get road condition information.
Click here to see pictures of winter road conditions
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Learn more
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How to Keep Your Driveway
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Skip to comments.First Love Child of Human, Neanderthal Found
Posted on 03/30/2013 4:48:56 AM PDT by Renfield
The skeletal remains of an individual living in northern Italy 40,000-30,000 years ago are believed to be that of a human/Neanderthal hybrid, according to a paper in PLoS ONE.
If further analysis proves the theory correct, the remains belonged to the first known such hybrid, providing direct evidence that humans and Neanderthals interbred. Prior genetic research determined the DNA of people with European and Asian ancestry is 1 to 4 percent Neanderthal.
The present study focuses on the individuals jaw, which was unearthed at a rock-shelter called Riparo di Mezzena in the Monti Lessini region of Italy. Both Neanderthals and modern humans inhabited Europe at the time.
From the morphology of the lower jaw, the face of the Mezzena individual would have looked somehow intermediate between classic Neanderthals, who had a rather receding lower jaw (no chin), and the modern humans, who present a projecting lower jaw with a strongly developed chin, co-author Silvana Condemi, an anthropologist, told Discovery News....
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
Oh man I just lost a bet with my wife that the former UPI reporter's heinous image would already have been posted on this thread.
Leaky Loves Lucy.
FWIW current man and 'neanderthals' are genetically the same species.
Genetically this is no big deal.
No different than a Mastiff mating with a retriever.
>>>>From the morphology of the lower jaw, the face of the Mezzena individual would have looked somehow intermediate between classic Neanderthals, who had a rather receding lower jaw (no chin), and the modern humans, who present a projecting lower jaw with a strongly developed chin, co-author Silvana Condemi, an anthropologist, told Discovery News....<<<<
Moochelle, is it you??
Actually, neanderthals had larger brains than homo sapiens. It's likely their decendants are amoung the brighter of our race.
So...Fred, Wilma, & Pebbles were not fictional characters after all.
Leakey, Dick
images sourtesy www.themandus.org (6"ice-age fur coat removed in some images for illustration purposes):
Neanderthals lived much more sparsely than Cro-Magnon — smaller, further separated groups. When they met, there would be many more Cro-magnons than Neanderthals. Let's say there were twenty Cro-Magnons for every one Neanderthal. If they freely interbred, then about five percent of the genes of the spawn would be Neanderthal......
Not even close. You post is retarded.
I mean, this was not just another racial group.....
I was taught that homo sapiens and neanderthal were two separate species, I was also taught that true hybrids are infertile. Modern horses don't have donkey dna because their hybrid offspring, the mule, is infertile. If homo sapiens and neanderthal were truly two different species how can there be any neanderthal dna in modern humans?
There is zero possibility of us having genes in common with any hominid from interbreeding. Humans exterminated all hominids from the planet other than possibly for a few survivors (bigfoot etc.) surviving in areas which humans could not inhabit. Humans would not have tolerated crossbreeds amongst themselves.
I know a guy who saw some live ones at area 51. They had eyes that glowed red in the dark, and they were psychic. He was sworn to secrecy because the specimens were being used to model bad guys in the war games computer department of the NSA. The NAS supplies Holywood with all their monsters. The military determined that Neanderthal actually was itself a hybrid of aliens and bonobo. This is all true. It really is. There are movies and computer games to prove it. I would never pull your leg. Nope. Never.
Absurd picures. Probably would not look much different than an modern Australian aborigine.
That is the dirty little secret the PC police won't tell you
I am reminded of the novelty song "Troglodyte", by the Jimmy Castor Bunch.
bastard child of neanderthal male and raped cro-magnon female, on left, and neanderthal hybrid male with mutant cro-magnon chin on right- [notice that the neanderthal male on left is about to get arrested for using "finger gun' on national TV.]
I can see how it might happen. Dinner and a movie on the third date, then back to the pad for a nightcap, vanilla scented candles, with Barry White on in the background . . .
That's really good.
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This past summer, Lucius Shepard published a story at SciFiction, "A Walk in the Garden", which takes place in an Iraq occupied by American soldiers, soldiers not too different from the ones currently there except that they are well-equipped with state-of-the-art armor that offers them every convenience of the wired world, as well as protection against every imaginable form of attack. (Quite a contrast to the soldiers who really are in Iraq and don't have the armor they need.) Shepard's soldiers end up going to a mountain where a blast from a new type of bomb has ripped a hole in the quantum fabric of the universe and created a portal to a world based on some Muslim beliefs about hell and paradise. Their trip becomes one of carnage and suffering, with plenty of scenes which would fit well into the screenplay for a hundred-million-dollar summer blockbuster starring the current governor of California. To maintain a bit of self-respect, apparently, Shepard has included a couple of sentences of pop-metaphysical speculation, thus lending the otherwise purely entertaining tale a thin veneer of lit'ry virtue.
Entertaining it is. It's long, but most of it reads quickly, aside from some paragraphs in the last third which could stand a bit of editing. Shepard is one of the most capable writers ever to grace the pages of science fiction and fantasy magazines, and he's had a bit of crossover success as well, publishing in Esquire and Playboy, among others. He's often cited by SF fans as a writer people who aren't SF fans ought to be able to respect.
While Shepard certainly has a fine flair for language, a rare one, he's often his own worst enemy, giving his plots over to the worst excesses of the Tom Clancy School of Reader Manipulation. Only a few of Shepard's stories have ever seemed to me to be truly successful as works of literature, regardless of genre or marketing labels, with "The Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule" standing as the pinnacle of his achievement, at least among the works of his I've read. The effect of this work on a reader is exactly the effect of the greatest literature -- it wakes you up, startles you, moves you, disturbs you, makes you view the world through a lens you couldn't have imagined before. ("R&R" seems to me almost as successful.)
How frustrating, then, to see an author of such potential and power offering us the half-baked blather of "A Walk in the Garden". If it were a story purely bent on being entertaining, it would be shorter, tighter, with clearer character arcs and a more satisfying conclusion. If it were a story which were really literature, both entertaining and enlightening, it would offer more complex characters (the characters in the story are little more than stereotypes, authorial cannon fodder), more convincing imagery (the conception of the flowery hell is really rather silly, and I found myself laughing at the whole conceit), more political and social ambiguity -- for though this is a story which has plenty to say about the current situation in Iraq, its commentary is hardly subtle and feels tacked-on. It's also now outdated, as early in the story one of the characters says, "Where you think Saddam's at? He's not dead, man. Some guys're sayin' the flowers might be the front of his secret hideout." A good story has no need to be historically accurate -- this could be an alternate universe, after all -- but nevertheless, the current-events patois doesn't so much lend the story any sort of verisimilitude as it does give in to the commodification of yesterday's news, making actual death and suffering into a story device, a cheap trick.
What caused Ellen Datlow to publish "A Walk in the Garden"? Shepard's high profile within the SF field, the reputational gravitas which lends his every pen stroke into a sacred SFnal text? He's a good writer, a damn good writer at times, and every few years or so produces something which can hold its own with the best of contemporary fiction of any sort, but the reverence he inspires in the SF field does him no good, at least if "A Walk in the Garden" is a result of this reverence. The best thing Shepard could get would be an editor who wasn't a friend, an editor who held him in barely any esteem. I think he'd enjoy the tension and frisson of such a relationship, and the result might be great work.
Fame and reverence tend to affect writers badly, as can be seen in the work of almost any writer who got famous and kept writing. Look at Faulkner and Hemingway -- hollowed out by alcohol, Portabled and Nobeled, their last works were worse than last gasps, sad attempts to recapture the spark and fury of the stories and novels they wrote when they were living in poverty and obscurity. Shepard could easily be as good a writer as Hemingway, and probably a better one, a more versatile and humane one, but he can't let the sappy success he's had within the SF field blind him to the greater possibilities within his work.


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Durhamville Gay bars and clubs by distance
- That place (23.3m) Well known and friendly bar for over 20 years. Play a game of pool, darts or just relax on the second floor lounge. Mixed dance ba...more
Durhamville Gay Bars and Clubs from ClubFly
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The popular football exhibition featuring Cayman's football 'legends' makes it return to the pitch! We sit down with event organizer Brent Hydes of the Hope Foundation and George Town's Frank Cornwall to discuss the upcoming event (21 May) at the Ed Bush Playing Field.
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Let's Talk Sports: Clash of the Legends returns!
April 17, 2018
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About the author
Jordan Armenise
From Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Jordan Armenise began his sports broadcasting journey with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. It was in this role where he was able to merge his best attributes: sports knowledge and personality. While with the Ticats, Jordan provided live analysis and interviews while developing a digital portfolio of one-on-one interviews, episodic sports comedy and full length sports & news features. He has also worked with CBC Sports for Hockey Night in Canada, the 2014 Sochi Olympics and Special Olympics as well as roles with Cineflix and Cream Productions as an Assistant Director.
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