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Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is the world's fifth largest automobile manufacturer by production volume.[1] The company sells vehicles under the Ford and Lincoln brands.
While Ford's domestic sales have been generally stagnant, Ford's European operations have increased share by producing many critically acclaimed vehicles well known for quality.[2][3] This difference between Ford's domestic and international operations is a result of costly US manufacturing facilities caused by high wages and expensive healthcare and retirement obligations for union labor. Therefore, improving operational efficiency and developing a more fuel efficient product offering are the centerpieces of Ford's turnaround plan. For example, Ford has cut 40,000 jobs in the past three years and closed seven factories in the past five years. [4][5] Meanwhile the company has unveiled plans to bring six of its fuel efficient models (average fuel economy of over 30 mpg) currently sold in Europe to the U.S. market.[6] In addition to answering demand for smaller cars in the short-term, Ford hopes that offering the same lineup of automobiles in all of its international markets will provide considerable economies of scale in the long-term.
The company reports revenue from automobile sales in this segment. In FY 2011, this sector contributed 6.3 billion USD of pre-tax profit (about 72%).[7]
Ford sells cars and provides purchase financing worldwide. Although the company is a large global enterprise, it had historically made little effort to capitalize on potential economies of scale achievable from its size until early 2008 when CEO Alan Mulally unveiled the One Ford turnaround plan. The One Ford plan included the Global Product Development System - a method of sharing designs and development globally and between markets, with the goal of making global processes more efficient.[8] As the developing world has grown wealthier and higher energy prices have universally increased demand for better fuel economy, the company's strategy seeks to create fewer automobile models that can be sold across the globe with few modifications: coined 'world cars.' Ford's first world car was the new Ford Fiesta[9], which was engineered by Ford of Europe, but would eventually be produced and sold in the US and China.[10] Ford's future plans call for the development of many more world cars, with the idea of creating a similar vehicle offering in all of its markets worldwide.[11]
|FY2010 worldwide wholesale unit volumes by automotive segment (in thousands)
|North America
|South America
|Ford Asia Pacific and Africa
|Special Items
Ford reports revenue from providing financing to consumers (loans and leases for car buyers) and businesses (loans and lines of credit) in this segment. In FY 2011, this sector contributed 2.4 billion USD of pre-tax profit (about 28%).[7]
This division arranges automobile financing in 36 countries worldwide through a network of over 12,500 Auto Dealerships.[13] Ford Credit's loan portfolio shrank following the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors in 2008 (reducing sales volume and therefor loan demand).[14]
Revenue grew +12.7% YoY to 136.3 billion USD.[15] The main contributor to revenue growth was strong North American sales, boosting Automotive Sector revenue to 128.2 billion USD (about +15% YoY). Financial services revenue declined 1.6 billion USD (about 16.5% YoY).
Earnings before tax (EBT) grew by about 463 million USD to 8.8 billion USD (+5.6% YoY); pretax margin declined about to about 6.4% (vs. 6.9% in FY 2010). [15]
Net income increased significantly to 20.2 billion USD (+208 % YoY); net margin was 14.8% (vs. 5.4% in FY 2010). The increase in net income and net margin was due to a one-time accounting item: a 12.4 billion add-back to deferred tax assets which the company had previously written down.[15] The company's net income for the year marked the third year in a row that the company generated a profit following the FY 2008 financial crisis. Perhaps in an effort to tell shareholders that the company was "back", it announced the resumption of paying quarterly dividends.[16]
Wholesale volume increased by about 382,000 vehicles (+7% YoY), and the average price per vehicle increased by about 1,530 USD to about $22,511 USD.
The company's balance sheet liquidity improved in FY 2011, reporting reporting a 9.8 billion USD net cash position vs. 1.4 billion USD in FY 2010.[15]
Traditionally, Ford's most profitable vehicles have been large SUVs and pickup trucks. However, volatile oil prices and political pressures for more fuel-efficient cars have taken a toll on the market for these larger vehicles. As a quick fix, Ford announced plans to retool three manufacturing facilities formerly used to produce trucks to instead make six of its more fuel efficient european models in the US (such as the Mondeo and European version of the Focus, both of which are far more efficient than Ford's current American offerings).[17] This offers the advantage of quickly bringing highly demanded fuel efficient cars to the U.S. market without having to invest the money and time to create an entirely new automobile.[18] In the longer-term, the company intends for all of its vehicles to be the leader (or co-leader) for fuel economy in any given car category. The company is also embracing lower tech solutions such as low resistance tires and 6-speed automatic transmissions that improve fuel efficiency over transmissions with fewer gears. These 6-speed transmissions allow the engine to rev at more efficient levels and improve fuel efficiency by 4-6% over the 4 and 5 speed transmissions currently installed on most Ford vehicles.[19] Ford hopes to build 98% of its vehicles with six-speed transmissions by 2012.[citation needed]
Yet as the development and production of a new car costs billions of dollars and several years to implement, Ford's efficiency campaign is both costly in itself and difficult to reverse once implemented, especially since Ford has practically exhausted its ability to borrow or sell additional assets to raise money. These investments are planned to create approximately 1,000 new jobs related to Ford's future electric vehicles, which includes battery pack assembly. Therefore, if Ford's aggressive bet on a shift to smaller cars proves wrong, or is executed poorly, the long-term viability of the company could be in question.
Ford has historically maintained a heavy North American focus, claiming that higher income U.S. consumers buy more often and tend to buy upscale. However, North America's once-significant lead on international unit sales has all but disappeared and more importantly, growth in car sales in the BRIC countries continues growing quickly.
How Ford manages to take advantage of this trend will be decisive to the company's long term growth. As discussed above, Ford's current international plan is the "One Ford" campaign, which seeks to save production and design costs by producing a single fleet of vehicles for all markets worldwide. The first fruit of this scheme is the new Ford Fiesta, which was developed by Ford Europe but is sold in all Ford's major markets.[citation needed]
Ford's main advantage was that it was able to take advantage of the lenient political and economic climate meant for bankrupt US automakers while the company was operating under neither condition (bankrupt and government influence). As a result, Ford was able to "slash capacity, renegotiate healthcare, divest non-core brands, cut debt, and preserve valuable tax assets", all items that were easier to do with the US government and United Auto Workers more accepting to preserving the company rather than dealing with another bankrupt automaker.[20]
Coming out of the TARP era, Ford now has transformed itself into a concentrated and highly levered bet on the recovery of US light vehicles. Ford has realized that the future of US automobiles will not be the gas-guzzling vehicles that were produced by automakers like Hummer for GM. Rather, Ford has positioned itself to take on upcoming government challenges of increasing MPG and market desire for smaller vehicles.[21] However, other international brands, especially Honda Motor Company (HMC) and Toyota Motor (TM) have had a head start, as they did not suffer the many structural problems that the Big Three Auto Woes dealt with in the past years. Further, smaller cars may not only reduce emissions but also reduce profits; both Western Europe and Japan, two markets that desire compact and eco-friendly vehicles, are consistently one of the least profitable geographic segments for automakers. Though Ford has weathered the storm, it will continue to face greater challenges coming from the changing US market and stronger foreign competitors.
Ford continues to lose market share in the U.S., but considers this loss acceptable as it attempts to return the company to profitability, trying to become a smaller, more flexible auto company than it has traditionally been.


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Carencro Advances To 5A Title Game, Breaux Bridge & VC Fall
The Carencro High Bears have advanced to the class 5A state championship game, after defeating Byrd, 34-21, in the semifinal round of the LHSAA football playoffs, on Friday night.
Carencro, the #7 seed in the 5A bracket moves onto the title game, against 5th-seeded West Monroe, who defeated Mandeville, 26-14, on Friday evening.
The Carencro/West Monroe game championship game will be held on Saturday, December 10, at 7 pm, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, in New Orleans.
Breaux Bridge and Vermilion Catholic weren't as fortunate however.
The Tigers fell to Neville, 16-7, in a class 4A semifinal, while the Screaming Eagles lost for the first time all year, dropping a 54-41 class 1A semifinal contest to West St. John.
View the complete playoffs brackets, and results, courtesy of LHSAA.org.

subset: commoncrawl


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maists is a valid word in this word list. For a definition, see the external dictionary links below.
The word "maists" uses 6 letters: A I M S S T.
No direct anagrams for maists found in this word list.
Words formed by adding one letter before or after maists (in bold), or to aimsst in any order:
a - stasima c - mastics misacts miscast d - dismast e - miseats misseat samites tamises g - stigmas k - kismats n - santims r - tsarism t - statism u - autisms
Shorter words found within maists:
ai aim aims ais ait aits am ami amis amiss as ass at is ism isms it its ma maist mas mass mast masts mat mats mi mis miss mist mists sat sati satis si sim sima simas sims sis sit sits smit ta tam tamis tams tas tass ti tis
List shorter words within maists, sorted by length
Words formed from any letters in maists, plus an optional blank or existing letter
Try a search for maists in these online resources (some words may not be found):
Wiktionary - OneLook Dictionaries - Merriam-Webster - Google Search
Each search will normally open in a new window.
List all words starting with maists, words containing maists or words ending with maists
All words formed from maists by changing one letter
Other words with the same letter pairs: ma ai is st ts
Browse words starting with maists by next letter
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text:
Topic: Software
Apple's new iBooks Author aims to simplify e-book creation
01/19/2012, 10:01 am
Apple on Thursday unveiled a new Mac OS X application that the company says will simplify the process of creating and selling digital textbooks through its iBookstore.
Reality TV heavyweight drops Final Cut Pro in troubling trend
01/04/2012, 08:01 pm
The pioneering TV studio that effectively invented the reality TV genre with MTV's "The Real World" series has switched from Apple's beleaguered Final Cut Pro video editing software, instead choosing a workflow produced by rival Avid.
App downloads up 83% on strong iPhone 4S sales
12/28/2011, 04:12 pm
iPhone app downloads in the U.S. during November saw an 83 percent rise from a year ago, while the aggregate volume of the Top 200 ranked free apps for Apple's handset grew to 5.65 million downloads per day.
Quicken for Mac 2007 being rebuilt to work with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion
12/22/2011, 02:12 pm
Intuit announced to customers on Thursday that it plans to release a "re-engineered" version of Quicken for Mac 2007 that will be compatible with the latest version of Apple's Mac operating system, OS X 10.7 Lion.
Dominant U.S. App Store may be surpassed by China in 2012
12/21/2011, 06:12 pm
Apple's U.S. App Store sales handily beat revenue generated from the Android Market in 2011, while strong Chinese growth gave the already immense numbers a shot in the arm and may surpass U.S. downloads in 2012.
Apple looking to expand iCloud with new applications
12/21/2011, 03:12 pm
Though Apple just launched its new iCloud service, the company is already looking to improve the suite with new applications for the iPhone and iPad.
Google updates iOS Gmail app with Scribbles, bug fixes
12/14/2011, 05:12 pm
Internet search giant Google released the first update to its Gmail app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, bringing a short list of changes and bug fixes to the iOS client.
Microsoft patches Office 2011 14.1.4, Apple updates Logic Express 9.1.6
12/14/2011, 03:12 pm
Microsoft has released a new Office for Mac patch and Apple has delivered a new update for its now discontinued Logic Express 9.
iTunes 10.5.2 released, Thunderbolt Display firmware updated
12/12/2011, 06:12 pm
Apple has released the latest version of iTunes for Mac OS X and Windows, which carries improvements to the iTunes Match service and fixes an audio distortion problem, and firmware for the Thunderbolt Display has been updated to version 1.1.
Apple updates Aperture 3 with iCloud, iOS 5, Lion fixes
12/08/2011, 06:12 pm
Apple has released a 3.2.2 update to Aperture, its professional photo software, via the Mac App Store.
Apple makes Logic Pro 9, MainStage 2 exclusively available through Mac App Store
12/08/2011, 05:12 pm
Apple has discontinued boxed versions of its Logic Pro and MainStage, making the titles exclusively available through the Mac App Store alongside its Aperture and Final Cut Pro apps targeted at professionals.
Apple updates Keynote, Windows iCloud Control Panel
12/01/2011, 08:12 pm
Following a Safari browser fix on Tuesday, Apple has issued updates to its Keynote presentation software and the iCloud Control Panel for iOS device owners using Windows PCs.
Rumor: Apple axed 'evolutionary' 64-bit Final Cut Pro 8 for 'revolutionary' FCPX [u]
11/30/2011, 12:11 pm
Apple may have canceled production of an "evolutionary" 64-bit Final Cut Pro 8 update in favor of what it viewed as a "revolutionary" update with what eventually became the controversial Final Cut Pro X [updated].
Apple and Google opt out of industry-sponsored app ratings system
11/29/2011, 07:11 pm
The two largest mobile app providers, Apple and Google, will not take part in an application ratings initiative created by CTIA-The Wireless Association, and will instead continue to rely on their own in-house systems.
Black Friday Software: Office 2011 for $69.99, VMware Fusion for $29.99, more...
11/25/2011, 01:11 am
Black Friday has brought an assortment of discounts on essential Mac software, including up to 50% off Adobe's products, Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 for $69.99, and VMWare Fusion for $29.99.
OS X sandboxing flaw casts doubt on upcoming Mac App Store requirement
11/11/2011, 08:11 pm
A newly-discovered security flaw in the sandboxing functionality of Mac OS X has prompted concerns over Apple's requirement that all applications submitted to the Mac App Store must implement sandboxing by March 2012.
Apple releases iAd Producer 2.0, Java updates
11/08/2011, 11:11 pm
Apple on Tuesday released the 2.0 version of its iAd producer software, as well as Java updates for Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Lion users.
Security researcher finds code signing flaw that opens door for iOS malware
11/07/2011, 07:11 pm
A newly discovered iOS security flaw could allow disguised malware capable of stealing user data to bypass Apple's stringent security measures and enter the App Store.
Adobe releases Photoshop, Premiere Elements 10 on Apple's Mac App Store
11/07/2011, 08:11 am
"Special editions" of Adobe's consumer-oriented editing software, Photoshop Elements 10 and Premiere Elements 10, are now available to purchase on Apple's Mac App Store.
Apple rumored to take on Google's 3D maps with superior technology
10/29/2011, 11:10 pm
Evidence continues to point to Apple actively developing a 3D mapping surface through a combination of acquisitions and in-house development, with recent rumors suggesting that the iPhone maker has acquired a Swedish 3D mapping company.


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TMC License Plate
Alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of Thomas More College can show their TMC pride by sporting the re-designed Thomas More College license plate now available (as of December 1, 2014) for Kentucky residents at vehicle registration renewal. Current TMC license plate holders must exchange their 'old' plate when renewing in December at their local county clerk's office.
Individuals who do not currently have a Thomas More College license plate may purchase one at their normal registration renewal. Each plate costs $44 upon initial issue. The price includes $10 for student scholarships and is returned to the College. Renewal is $31 in subsequent years.Custom license plates available for all private colleges help promote Kentucky independent higher education and are made available through the cooperation of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Each year AIKCU holds a friendly competition among its member campuses to see who can generate the most money for student scholarships.


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Lord Drayson, UK Minister of Science and Technology, took the wraps off the TTXGP exclusive CRP Racing eCRP 1.0 today at the 4th Annual Cleaner Racing Conferance. CRP's goal is to innovate in the world of motorcycle roadracing and the all electric race bike seems to be a good fit for the company. The eCRP 1.0 dual motor electric drive is based on 2009 TTXGP winning Team Agni X01, while the rest of the bike was designed and built in house by CRP and incorporates 30 years of race proven technological know-how.
CRP Racing does not have plans to field an electric race team but will make the bike available to teams who want to race in the TTXGP. The bike will not be available to teams wishing to run races in the competing FIM ePower Series who has yet to announce a race team entry.


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If you have production databases running on SQL Server and you've upgraded to SQL Server 2000 or are considering doing so soon, you'll want to know about one exciting new feature of SQL Server 2000. This new feature, the database recovery model, controls both the speed and the size of your transaction log backups and the degree to which you might be at risk of losing committed transactions in the event of media failure. As a SQL Server 2000 database owner (DBO), you can use the ALTER DATABASE statement to supply one of three values—full, bulk_logged, or simple—for any database's recovery model. These three values replace the database options select into/bulkcopy and trunc. log on chkpt. Those options are also available in SQL Server 2000, but Microsoft intended them only for backward compatibility and they might disappear in a future release. I recommend that you discontinue using them and rely on setting your recovery model instead.
Although I recommend that you determine your database recovery model as soon as possible, your decision isn't permanent. You can change recovery models any time, and I'll describe the ramifications of such changes. But first, let me tell you how the three new models relate to the two database options that were available before SQL Server 2000.
SQL Server usually can back up data in one of three ways: a full database backup, a transaction log backup, or a differential backup. (File and file group backups are irrelevant for this discussion.) In SQL Server 7.0 and earlier releases, if you've turned on the option that allows SELECT INTO and unlogged bulkcopy and you've already performed either of those operations, you can't back up your logs. So if you have scheduled log backup scripts to run at regular intervals, those backups will fail.
Conversely, if you have scripts that execute SELECT INTO operations and you've turned off the option to allow these operations, those scripts will fail. With the new SQL Server 2000 database recovery options, your SELECT INTO and bulk copy/bulk insert scripts will never fail. You'll always be able to perform these operations under any model. And with two of the three models, you can make log backups no matter which operations you've done, and your backup scripts won't fail. The difference between the models is in how much time and space your backups take and how great your risk of data loss is. Let's look now at the three database recovery models.
Full Recovery Model
The full recovery model guarantees the least risk of losing work if a data file is damaged. For a database with this model, SQL Server fully logs all operations, so every row inserted through a bulk copy program (bcp) or BULK INSERT operation is written in its entirety to the transaction log. If you experience a media failure for a database file and need to recover a database that was using the full recovery model, you can restore the database up to any specified time. If your log file is available after the failure, you can restore up to the last transaction committed before the failure. Also, SQL Server 2000 supports a feature called log marks, which lets you place reference points in the transaction log; in the full recovery model, you can choose to recover to a log mark. (SQL Server 2000 Books Online—BOL—contains more details about log marks.)
The full recovery model also fully logs CREATE INDEX operations, unlike earlier SQL Server releases, which log only the fact that an index was created. In SQL Server 2000, the recovery from a transaction log backup that includes index creations is much faster because you don't need to rebuild the index.
The full recovery model sounds great, but it comes with a trade-off. Your transaction logs can be enormous, and consequently, making log backups can take substantially longer than with any previous release.
Bulk_Logged Recovery Model
The bulk_logged recovery model allows for recovery in case of media failure and gives you the best performance using the least log space for certain bulk operations, including BULK INSERT, bcp, CREATE INDEX, WRITETEXT, and UPDATETEXT. In the bulk_logged recovery model, SQL Server minimally logs these operations. When you execute a bulk operation, SQL Server logs only the fact that the operation occurred. However, the operation is fully recoverable because SQL Server keeps track of which extents the bulk operation modified. Every file in a SQL Server 2000 database now has an additional allocation page called a MINLOG page, which SQL Server manages like it does the GAM and SGAM pages. (For more details about these two page types, see Inside SQL Server, "The New Space Management," April 1999.)
Each bit on a MINLOG page represents an extent; a bit value of 1 means that a minimally logged bulk operation has changed the extent since the last full database backup. A MINLOG page is located at the eighth page of every data file and every 256,000 pages thereafter. All the bits on a MINLOG page reset every time a full database backup or log backup occurs.
Because the bulk_logged model minimally logs bulk operations, the operations can happen much faster than under the full recovery model. Setting the bits in the appropriate MINLOG page requires some overhead, but compared with the cost of logging each change to a data or index row, the cost of flipping bits is negligible. If your database is using the bulk_logged model and you haven't performed any bulk operations, you can recover to any point in time or to a named log mark. If you have performed bulk operations, you can recover up to the end of any transaction log backup.
The trade-off comes during the log backup. Besides copying the contents of the transaction log to the backup media, SQL Server scans the MINLOG pages and backs up all the modified extents along with the transaction log. The database's log file stays small, but the log backup can be many times larger. So with the bulk_logged model, the log backup takes more time and can take up considerably more space than in the full recovery model. The time necessary to restore a log backup you made in the bulk_logged recovery model is comparable to the time to restore a log backup you made in the full recovery model. The operations don't need to be redone; the information necessary to recover all data and index structures is available in the log backup.
Simple Recovery Model
The simple recovery model allows for the fastest bulk operations and the simplest backup-and-restore strategy. Under this model, SQL Server truncates the transaction log at regular intervals, removing committed transactions. Thus, only full database backups and differential backups are allowed; you'll get an error if you try to back up the log while using the simple recovery model. Because SQL Server doesn't need the log for backup, it reuses sections as soon as all the transactions in them are committed or rolled back and no longer needed for recovery from server or transaction failure.
Comparison to Database Options
I mentioned that Microsoft intended these recovery models to replace the database options select into/bulkcopy and trunc. log on chkpt. However, in SQL Server 2000, changing either of these options also changes your recovery model, and changing your recovery model changes the value of one or both of these options. The recommended method for changing your database recovery model is using the ALTER DATABASE command:
ALTER DATABASE <database_name> SET RECOVERY \[FULL | BULK_LOGGED | SIMPLE\]
To see what model your database is using, you can use the new property function DATABASEPROPERTYEX:
SELECT databasepropertyex('<database_name>', 'recovery')
This command returns one of the three values: full, bulk_logged, or simple. Table 1 shows the relationship between the database options and the new recovery models.
If you're using SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition or Enterprise Edition, the Model database starts in the full recovery model, so all your new databases will use the full model also. If you're using SQL Server Personal Edition or the Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE—formerly Microsoft Data Engine), the Model database starts in the simple recovery model. You can change the recovery model of the Model database or of any user database by using the ALTER DATABASE command. Or you can change the recovery model by changing the database options. For example, if your database is using the full model and you change the select into/bulkcopy option to true, your database recovery model automatically changes to bulk_logged.
Conversely, if you force the database back into the full model with ALTER DATABASE, the value of the select into/bulkcopy option changes automatically. In fact, the sysdatabases table doesn't record any special information for the recovery model. The status bits for these two database options determine the recovery model. If the 4 bit in sysdatabases.status is set, the database has select into/bulkcopy enabled, and if the 8 bit is set, the database has trunc. log on chkpt. set. Table 1 can help you determine which recovery model a database is using.
Recovery Scenarios
Now let's look at how to recover your database in each of the three models. If your database is using the full recovery model, the log has all the information about every change to your database. If you lose any data files because of media failure, you can still back up the transaction log containing all the work done up to the time of the failure, assuming that you didn't also lose your log files. (Unlike with SQL Server 7.0, you don't need access to your primary data file to back up a transaction log.)
Recovery with the full model starts with a restore of the most recent full database backup, followed by the most recent differential backup. You can then apply all transaction log backups made after the last differential backup (or after the full database backup, if you have no differential backups). The last step is to recover all transactions that were completed by the time of the failure by applying the log backup you made after the failure occurred.
If your database is using the bulk_logged model but you haven't performed any bulk operations, you can restore exactly as if you were in the full recovery model. However, if you have performed bulk operations, a final backup of the last part of the log requires that the data files be available so that you can back up the affected extents along with the transaction log.
Under the bulk_logged model, if you're restoring your database because of a media failure involving the data files, you can't perform that final log backup. You'll start by restoring the most recent full database backup, followed by the most recent differential backup. You can then apply all transaction log backups made after the last differential (or after the full database backup, if you have no differential backups). You can restore only to the last log backup made before the failure.
In the previous two scenarios, if the media failure affected the log files, you can restore to the last log backup made before the failure. In the case of the simple recovery model, you can restore only the most recent full database backup and then the most recent differential backup, if one exists.
The new recovery models offer you two major benefits. First, you can always perform a SELECT INTO operation without having to worry about what options you've set. Second, you can freely switch between the full and bulk_logged models without worrying about your backup scripts failing. For example, you might need to switch between models if you usually operate using the full model but occasionally need to perform a bulk operation quickly. You could change the model to bulk_logged and pay the price later when you backed up the log; the backup would just take longer and be larger.
You can't easily switch to and from the simple model, but this limitation isn't a big sacrifice. When using the ALTER DATABASE command to change your recovery model from simple to full or bulk_logged, you must first make a complete database backup for the change in behavior to be complete. The simple recovery model is comparable to the database option that truncates the log on checkpoint operations. The truncation option isn't recommended for production databases, where you need maximum transaction recoverability. The only time the truncate log on checkpoint option is really useful is in test and development situations or for small databases that are primarily read-only. I suggest the same requirements for using the simple recovery model. In your production databases, use the full or bulk_logged models and switch between those models whenever you need to.


text:
- About
- Admissions
- News / Events
- Academics
- Programs
- Preschool
- Ways to Give
Blog Posts
- School Supply List 07/20/2018
- Blessings to Staff Moving On 06/13/2018
- Why Catholic Schools? 06/08/2018
- Alumni Survey 06/05/2018
- Spring Carnival 05/18/2018
Events Calendar
Student Quotes
The education that we get here at All Saints is really quite an honor, and I'd like to share it.HannahGrade 5
I learned at school it is better to give than receive – Jesus said that.TylerGrade 2
Our school has provided me with a loving and caring environment and given me a chance to truly be myselfAllieGrade 8
Ever day, I learn and get the answers to questions that will help me become a better person and a better Christian.AnnieGrade 6
The teachers at All Saints are like God's back-up apostlesOliviaGrade 7
At All Saints School, every day is a day with a great teacher. With their love for teaching, Christ-like values and fierce encouragement, they inspire us to follow Christ and be the best possible people we can be.CoraGrade 7
At school I learned how to read the Bible and that's important to me.ReganGrade 2
I love All Saints School because we get to learn about God and you have nice friends. My teacher is nice because she is so kind.EmilyGrade 1
My Catholic education has prepared me to follow Jesus and be a light of the world.TaylorGrade 5
My Catholic school education has taught me that everything in life was given to us by God and it is our job to make sure that everything I do is something to help others and be like JesusMichaelGrade 6
At my school, we learned how to pray the rosary and picked up trash so we are saving God's creationBenQuote 2
I love my Catholic school and without it I wouldn't have the great education I do now.KatieGrade 6
At All Saints, I have learned more about how to live as Jesus did, been given service opportunities and been able to create a strong foundation of faith that helps me make decisions.AinsleyGrade 8
I like to be able to pray every day at school and I like that we get to talk about saints and how to be more like them.LiamGrade 5
What I learned at All Saints is not just about what a book says. It's about taking the teachings of Jesus and adding them into your life.NatalieGrade 8
My favorite part of the day at school is when we all get to pray for something special.CarolynGrade 5
All Saints School has taught me to be a follower of Christ and trained me to do what Jesus did.MaxGrade 5


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Hours and Admission Info
Summer Camps
Spring Break Camps!
Science Innovation Hall of Fame Awards
Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight
Become a Member
Biplane Rides (June-September)
Homeschool Discovery Days!
Support the Air Zoo!
Become a Volunteer
Register Group Tours
Book Air Zoo Facilities
Air Zoo to Host Special F-8 Crusader Presentation
Commander Rick Adams to Speak
March 25, 2013
Source: Danielle Nicholl
Job Title: Public Relations & Marketing Manager
Phone: 269.350.2811
Email: email@example.com
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Air Zoo will hold "The Last Gunfighter: The Legend of the F-8 Crusader," a special presentation by retired Navy Cmdr. Rick Adams, on April 5 at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Adams will speak about his seasoned career as an F-8 Crusader pilot and more. He has amassed more than 4,000 hours and made more than 400 carrier landings in several different fighter aircraft. As a young lieutenant in Vietnam, Adams flew 125 combat missions and returned to the U.S. as one of its most decorated pilots.
The Navy awarded Adams the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroic efforts over the jungles of Hanoi, purposefully exposing his aircraft to eight SA2 surface-to-air missiles which were fired at his aircraft during what went on to become a successful decoy mission. Adams flew with the Blue Angels in 1968 and 1969, serving as their press demonstration pilot. He also served several years as an air-to-air combat instructor before leaving the Navy to work in the private sector.
"The Last Gunfighter: The Legend of the F-8 Crusader" is included in the price of general admission.
For more information on this special event, visit www.airzoo.org or call 269.382.6555.
The Air Zoo is a nonprofit organization located at 6151 Portage Rd. in Portage, Mich. It is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and offers a restaurant, gift shop, and banquet facilities. General admission is $10 per person. Unlimited rides and attractions may be purchased with an Ultimate Ace Wristband Package ($16.50), which includes general admission, or tickets can be purchased individually for rides. Children who are 4 years old or younger are free.


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We started talking about how many actors played the role of Tom Hughes, Lisa's son. In the 1979 episode on the disc, Tom was played by Tom Tammi.
"I had more boys...," Eileen laughed.
Our conversation turned to the 2010 episode in which Bob and Kim celebrated their 25th anniversary episode. It seemed more like a series finale than the actual final show.
"You are so right," Eileen said. "I loved that. I think that was one of Helen's last shows."
Eileen loved both anniversary episodes that aired on Friday and Monday.
"That was a wonderful script," she said, "because Lisa almost got back to Bob. She tried. It was on the same day--or we filmed it the same day, and it was broken up into pieces. In the opening, Kim gets so mad at Bob."
"But then they spoiled it," Eileen continued, "by having Lisa and Susan saying, 'Well, we proved that he really belongs to Kim.' We did that the following Monday, and when I read that, I thought, 'No, that's not how I played it! I played it like Lisa really wanted this!'"
Some actors leave soaps and have big success in their careers and try to ignore their soap opera history. But not Julianne Moore (Frannie).
"She came back, and everyone was happy to see her," Eileen recalled, "and she seemed very happy to see everyone, and I thought that was really a lovely touch. It was fun."
We were so upset with the way the character of Lisa was handled on the finale that it almost made our 25 Biggest Blunders in Daytime Soap Opera History list.
"Leaving Lisa standing alone in the hotel was disgusting," Eileen agreed. "That was their 'Up yours!' to Lisa."
The show not only had lost understanding of the historical value Lisa provided, but the entire sense of community was gone in the final years.
"It certainly was," Eileen said, "and I had such a fit when Bob had his stroke (or whatever he had) and Lisa just stood there, in the hospital room. I expected to have something to say, or to do. They had me in the background: 'Eileen, get out of the way of the camera. Eileen, move over to the left, you're in the camera shot.' That's what I hated. It was disgusting! Lisa, as his first love, should have come up, and he should have asked for her."
There seemed to be no accountability at ATWT at the end for some of the decisions made. It's as if those in charge did not "get" the show.
"It's not only that they didn't get it," Eileen agreed, "but also that they didn't like it, I can tell you that."
We thought at least a phone call from Grant Colman would have been a nice ending for Lisa. But how would Eileen want it to end?
"Here's how I would have had it at the very end (I do this in my club act)," she revealed. "I always said, Lisa would be standing alone, in the hotel lobby, and John and what's-her-name go running out the door, happily ever after, and you see a hand come in, and hands Lisa a glass of champagne. Then, you would pan up, and it would be Ellen DeGeneres! [laughter] Lisa was a lesbian all the time, that's why she could never keep her husbands straight!"
Eileen agrees with us that soap operas could have merchandised more over the years.
"They missed the boat, didn't they?"
But she's excited about the new ATWT DVD collection.
"I'm glad you're doing it, I think it's a splendid idea, people will love it."
Eileen still hears from fans with their stories of missing AS THE WORLD TURNS.
"At my farewell to AS THE WORLD TURNS show, a young man came up and cried and cried afterward, and said, 'What am I going to do? I work, and I want to come home after and turn on my television, and have dinner with my family. And you won't be there anymore.' I will never forget that. He cried, and cried, and cried. He lost his family when we went off the air."
What does Eileen think lead to the demise of ATWT?
"[P&G] wanted to be rid of it," she said. "CBS was of no help. Their idea in casting (actually starting back in the eighties) was to get a good looking hunk, and a pretty girl, who couldn't act. They were models, and they couldn't act. And they started to show up in the opening, in the prologue. People would turn it off. I was there... the kids were beautiful, but it's not beauty that grabs the audience, it's the person."
The WIPING process was our No. 2 Blunder of all-time. So much soap opera is lost forever. But Eileen does have an episode master tape from 1961. It's possible others exist we may not be aware of yet. But was more than the WIPING process involved?
"I heard, at the studio, from people I think would know--that the library that kept our shows up through the '70s--that they torched it!" she revealed. "They just said, 'Aw, get rid of it,' and they just burned it down. That's what I heard. And I heard that from people who were not the actors (who would naturally say that) but, I think, from some of the people who worked in the office."
At least AS THE WORLD TURNS episodes from September 1979 forward are completely preserved and someday hopefully every available episode will be digitized and sold online.
"Oh, that is fabulous!" Eileen said.
We will be able to pick an episode or group of episodes and watch stories from the past, even the banging shudder episode!
"It reminds me, for some reason, about how I once played my own corpse, you know?" Eileen laughed. "I have newspaper clippings of that. I've just gone through, because I'm trying to get stuff all together from that time, and at the time my daddy laughed and laughed, he said, 'Oh, girl, your picture was in the obituary section of [my hometown newspaper]!"
We cover a lot of soap opera history at We Love Soaps so fans send us old soap magazines from the '70s and '80s. We laughed about some old articles that feature Eileen with her second husband, Danny Fortunato.
"That is so funny," she said. "You know, I have just been working on that period of my life? I had (at a friend's house, who was keeping them for me) four huge Xerox boxes full of those magazines, and he's gone through it and cut out stuff for me, so I'll have it for a lecture series."
Eileen then revealed the role she played in trying to get press coverage for daytime soap operas.
"Something you might be interested in: when I first got on ATWT, I went up to CBS's publicity department, and I said, 'You need to have some fan magazines about soaps.' And they laughed hysterically, and said, 'Nobody cares.' I said, 'You'd be surprised who cares. You should do this.' So I went to a woman at CBS who only handled movie magazines there. I said, 'You need to put a section in.' I was a real champion for this. And then they started."
So we have Eileen to partially thank for the wonderful print press coverage of daytime during the 1970s and beyond.
"There was absolutely nothing," she recalled of her early years on ATWT. "They said, 'Oh, we can't do that.' Then it started, and it caught on. I really believed in that; I've always believed in PR."
She also agrees that spoilers have taken away a lot of the incentive for watching the soaps these days.
"'Carly dumped Mike.' Or whatever. 'So-and-so dumped so-and-so.' Then you think, 'Oh, okay. I already know.' It spoils it."
The broadcast networks seem to have moved on from traditional soap operas.
"They all want to go to reality shows and doctor shows," Eileen said. "Doctor so-and-so tells you how to..."
One thing we can all agree on. These shows will never make the same type of impact on millions of viewers as Lisa and the characters from AS THE WORLD TURNS did for 54 years.
You can watch clips featuring Eileen from the ATWT DVD collection, and purchase your copy, at SoapClassics.com.
Roger Newcomb is a producer and writer in New York City. Aside from co-hosting WE LOVE SOAPS TV, he has written and produced a full-length indie film, Manhattanites, and two radio soap operas, SCRIPTS & SCRUPLES and ROCKLAND COUNTY. He has also made acting appearances in indie web series IMAGINARY BITCHES and EMPIRE. He has consulted on numerous indie soaps and is currently a producer on THE BAY and executive producer on the indie short May Mercy Lie, which is currently making the rounds at film festivals.
- AS THE WORLD TURNS ON DVD: Eileen Fulton Reminisces About Meeting Doug Marland, Gardenias, Tight Dresses & More (Part 1 of 3)
- AS THE WORLD TURNS ON DVD: Eileen Fulton Reminisces About The Anniversary Episodes and Lily & Holden's Wedding (Part 2 of 3)
- BREAKING NEWS: 20 Classic Episodes of AS THE WORLD TURNS to be Released on DVDs
- EXCLUSIVE: We Reveal the 20 Episodes Chosen for the First AS THE WORLD TURNS DVD Collection
- EXCLUSIVE: SoapClassics.com President Mark Yates Reveals New Details of ATWT DVD Release, What's Next, And Online Streaming!
- SoapClassics.Com: AS THE WORLD TURNS DVD Is Region Free, Will Play Anywhere In The World
- SURVEY RESULTS: Fans Weigh In On The AS THE WORLD TURNS DVD Episodes
- AS THE WORLD TURNS ON DVD: Sara Ramirez Reminisces About Playing Hannah


text:
Got any fun Paris suggestions for the immature?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
When R U Going 2 Grow Up?
Got any fun Paris suggestions for the immature?
24 comments:
I'll Nevers gros pu if it means looping agilité to be enchantée! Oops, I notices m'y keyboard si on french & I can't seem to get it Beck. Maybe nos? Let me try Alain...ReplyDelete
Sorry, I had sent a note to Taunte in Oise. I was saying I never want to grow up if it means loosing ability to be enchanted. I love This post! Your itinerary looks a treat! Look forward to following along!
Charming. I think that people who manage to retain a child-like quality are endearing anyway, n'est ce pas?ReplyDelete
Never Grow Up
for where is the fun in THAT?
{{ to B a child
or dog
in paris
is to Have It All,
don't you think?
2--spoiled rotten
3--well*dressed }}
Do I hafta grow up??? I think Somepinkflowers said it best. I love that first photo of the little boy leaning over the wall with the toy sail boats floating around in the water. It reminds me of an impressionist painting. You never disappoint. :)ReplyDelete
Coincidentally I spent most of my day at The Noyes Museum, In South Jersey. One of their exhibitions was "Alice: Into The Looking Glass," comprised of images reflecting that classic story.ReplyDelete
One of the really fun participatory pieces was a HUGE box, a room, actually, big enough for an adult to get into. There were tiny doors, and windows, and the perspective was skewed, so you felt like a GIANT.... child. As a 74 year old artist, I plan on never growing up!r
You can only grow old if you do not keep a childlike love of new experiences...ReplyDelete
What to do? Try pedaling on the Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel, now powered by solar energy and a lot of pedals... think of it as a bike at the gym!
Oh Alice is my favorite icon.ReplyDelete
The Noyes Museum has no pics on their site...
I lurve Annie Lebovitz version.
Fun GapKids video here!ReplyDelete
Thanks cg
- Becky6:17 AM
I have a trip planned in early May & was wondering.. Where do you find a schedule of events going on while you are there?? Awhile back you posted some pastry tours that I'd love to join..ReplyDelete
I'd love to have a similar experience to yours this time so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
In the meantime, I'll be reading with enthusiasm!!
Wish you would be there in early May
MEETING THE FRENCH is a good place to start for fun tours BeckyReplyDelete
for current events I just check Google 'Paris Events March' for ex.
Hello all the way from the now-sunny Poznan, Poland!ReplyDelete
I was just reading your blog - it's so very interesting, especially the way that you use photographs to illustrate (and bring to life) Paris!
I'm very very surprised that Parisiens like chupa-chups - just goes to show that the "outside" image of a city/country is so often different to the reality!
Lollipops aren't popular here at all - we prefer cakes, but without icing!
Thank you again! :)
Carol, well captured on the French children side of Paris. Even today my kids were asking for these lollies - hey mum, after all it's the mid-term hols, ok?ReplyDelete
I'm always drooling at the windows of the posh children's store, 'Bonpoint', even if it came as a prezzie for my firstborn and it was the first to have a button fly off ;-)
La Musee de la Poupee is a wonderful place to visit.ReplyDelete
Anyone who travels around with a small striped bear(doudou) should be worried about growing up IMHO.ReplyDelete
Nice post.so good.Christian Louboutin like it very much.ReplyDelete


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My three favorites would be.... (In no specific order)
1. LOTR (or really any J.R.R Tolkien in the medieval category: The Hobbit, the Silmarillion, etc.)
2. Ranger's Apprentice- Great if somewhat under publicized books about a boy who is taken in as a trainee ranger, taking on a role similar to that of the Dunedain.
3. Chronicles of Narnia. Great books, and definitely classics.


text: Hey AppleJam, I just picked up a 1200 GS Adventure a couple of weeks ago. I work at the Walgreen's here in Hood River. I'm one of the pharmacists. Stop by and say hi, I'd love to hit some back roads with you and some of the other ADVrider guys.


text:
November 9, 2012
In the world of jazz, John Coltrane is viewed as a spiritually driven supremely gifted sax player, one of the greatest horn players to ever live. So when I ran into Gary Golio's book "Spirit Seeker," I was interested in seeing if he was trying to exploit our beloved St. John Coltrane or if he was trying to bring another generation into the knowledge of Coltrane's legacy. He did the latter, masterfully.


text:
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Police say they have arrested three people in connection with an armed robbery that targeted the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Olympics.
The three men were arrested Friday in the western Greek city of Patras, close to Ancient Olympia.
They were arrested after they tried to sell the most ancient of the antiquities, a golden seal-ring dating from the late Bronze Age, about 3,200 years ago, for an initial asking price of €1 million ($1.3 million).
Police recovered all 76 artifacts stolen from the museum by two masked robbers on Feb. 17, 2012. They were found buried in a field 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the museum on Friday.


text:
One issue that seems to come up often is whether to apply a patch immediately or wait to ensure its stable, etc.
In an eWeek article, ISS was quoted as saying:
I know that froma security standpoint you want to apply patches and updates that protect your system from known vulnerabilities. I am curious of others thoughts on balancing that versus the stability of the system.Databases are also particularly vulnerable to attack, since DBAs are loathe to install patches that haven't been thoroughly tested
As they mentioned in the quote, if you have a mission-critical datbase that is running flawlessly and a new vulnerability is announced that is critical- do you patch immediately and risk screwing up the database, or do you hold off and risk getting hit by the vulnerability?
Here is the full article: Databases Ripe For Attacks


text:
- Finance Home
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Business License Application
The business license application for a new business should be received thirty (30) days before the business opens. Application should also be received on the specific "due date." If compliance with these time frames is not met, the business may be assessed a late fee.
1) Print and complete the attached new business license application (or use the fillable form then print). Applications are also available at the Finance Department.
2) Mail in or hand deliver the application along with a check payable to "The City of Lake Oswego". (Regular business hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
Mailing Address
City of Lake Oswego
Business License Application
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Email Address
Physical address
City Hall, 1st floor, Finance Department
380 A Avenue
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Phone 503-635-0279
Fax 503-534-5220
Other Materials:


text:
Mario Batali grabs a brawny handful of parsley leaves and tosses them into the pot without looking. Onstage before a crowd of 400 at the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago, Batali is demonstrating how to make fregula soup with clams. It's a simple recipe--fregula is just a kind of pasta--but the soup looks a mess. An intemperate amount of chili flakes has gone in, as has what seemed unadvisedly large pinches of saffron, which has a neat but metallic flavor that can overwhelm. As Batali stumbles over a loose cord onstage, it occurs to me that he must be exhausted. It's...
Super Mario!
Top chef, TV host, official cook of NASCAR ... Mario Batali knows what we really want to eat
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text:
No. 92,251
Under the facts of this case and as more fully set forth in the opinion, we hold: (1) An objective reasonable person standard is adopted in making our determination of when a child witness' out-of-court statements are testimonial under Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 158 L. Ed. 2d 177, 124 S. Ct. 1354 (2004); (2) an interview of a child abuse victim conducted by child protection agencies in conjunction with law enforcement officials is testimonial under Crawford, giving rise to the protection of the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution; (3) the doctrine of forfeiture of the right of confrontation is not applicable to this case; (4) a videotaped interview of a child witness was erroneously admitted into evidence requiring reversal of the defendant's conviction, vacation of his sentence, and grant of a new trial; and (5) there was sufficient competent evidence produced apart from the videotaped interview to allow the State to retry the defendant.
Appeal from Sedgwick District Court; JOHN J. KISNER, JR., judge. Opinion filed March 10, 2006. Conviction reversed, sentence vacated, and remanded with directions.
Roger L. Falk and Christopher Hughes, of Law Office of Falk & Owens, P.A., of Wichita, for appellant.
Charles L. Rutter and David Lowden, assistant district attorneys, Nola Tedesco Foulston, district attorney, and Phill Kline, attorney general, for appellee.
Before GREEN, P.J., LARSON, S.J., and WAHL, S.J.
LARSON, J.: Elroy D. Henderson appeals his conviction of one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, K.S.A. 21-3504(a)(3)(A), contending his right of confrontation was violated and that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction.
Although we reverse and remand for a new trial under the reasoning of the recent United States Supreme Court case of Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 158 L. Ed. 2d 177, 124 S. Ct. 1354 (2004), we must set forth the facts in considerable detail in order to resolve Henderson's second contention that without the admission of a videotape interview of the alleged victim, F.J.I., there is insufficient evidence to support his conviction.
Factual and procedural background
Henderson was charged in October 2003 of lewdly fondling or touching F.J.I., a 3-year-old child on or about February 24, 2003. Following a preliminary hearing, he was bound over for trial on the charge of aggravated indecent liberties in violation of K.S.A. 21-3504(a)(3)(A).
Shortly before trial, the State moved to admit two statements made by F.J.I. pursuant to K.S.A. 60-460(dd). In one statement made in March 2003, while in the presence of her mother and a nurse, F.J.I. nodded her head affirmatively when asked whether "Tae" (the name F.J.I. called Henderson, her mother's former boyfriend) had hurt her. The State also sought to admit a videotape of an interview of F.J.I. conducted by Detective Jon Cherney of the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department and Lori Chandler of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS).
At the hearing on the State's K.S.A. 60-460(dd) motion, F.J.I. was brought to the court outside the presence of the jury. After F.J.I. was asked a number of questions, the court found she was unavailable as a witness because she was unable to understand the proceedings, understand the questions, or understand her duty to testify truthfully. The State proffered evidence as to proposed testimony of the mother, the nurse, and a physician to establish the reliability of F.J.I.'s statements. Henderson's counsel asserted there was insufficient indicia of reliability under the circumstances. Henderson further objected to the admission of the statements, contending it violated his right to confrontation. The court then found that F.J.I.'s affirmative response to her mother's questions at the hospital did not possess a particularized guarantee of trustworthiness and would not be admitted. However, the court found the videotape did possess the required trustworthiness and would be admissible. In making its decisions, the court relied several times upon State v. Myatt, 237 Kan. 17, 26, 697 P.2d 836 (1985), and Ohio v. Roberts, 448 U.S. 56, 65 L. Ed. 2d 597, 100 S. Ct. 2531 (1980).
The testimony at trial showed F.J.I. was taken by her mother to the Wichita Clinic on March 3, 2003, complaining of pain during urination, and the mother noticed a thick discharge from F.J.I.'s vagina. The nurse, Frances Harris, took swab samples from F.J.I. for testing at the clinic's lab. The tests showed a urinary tract infection and were positive for gonorrhea. The tests were redone to ensure accuracy and again showed the same results. Harris advised the mother of the results and reported the test results to the authorities. Harris testified she had examined F.J.I. in the past during regular checkups and found no sign of a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
F.J.I.'s mother testified and confirmed Harris' report of gonorrhea. Mother said F.J.I. had complained that her stomach and "potty place" were hurting for about a week, and 3 days before she took F.J.I. to the clinic, she noticed a discharge from F.J.I.'s vagina. Mother stated the only person who had unsupervised access to F.J.I. was her ex-boyfriend, Henderson, who she identified as "Donte." Mother testified she had told this fact to Harris.
Mother further testified she had dated Henderson; they had broken up; but they started seeing each other again in February 2003. Mother said Henderson came to her house in the early morning hours of February 24, 2003, and they had unprotected consensual sex. She said later that morning Henderson offered to watch F.J.I. while she was at work because her regular babysitter was not available. Mother said Henderson and F.J.I. were alone that day for 6 hours. She testified no other man or men had unsupervised contact with F.J.I. in the 4 weeks preceding March 4, 2003. Mother also said that after learning of F.J.I.'s test she had a STD test which showed she was positive for gonorrhea. In her testimony, mother denied instructing F.J.I. to identify Henderson prior to her interview with authorities.
The testimony concerning F.J.I.'s interview, which is the central issue to this appeal, showed that F.J.I. after her diagnosis was interviewed on March 7 by Detective Cherney and Lori Chandler. Cherney and Chandler both belonged to the Exploited and Missing Child Unit (EMCW). They first talked to mother and then talked to F.J.I. in her mother's presence; this interview was videotaped. The audio portion of the interview was transcribed as well. Henderson renewed his objections to the admission of the videotape and its transcription on confrontation grounds.
The videotape was played to the jury over Henderson's objections. During the interview, F.J.I. identified different body parts based upon a drawing of a girl figure. She referred to her backside as her "body" and her front genital area as her "potty." When Chandler was telling F.J.I. about the parts of a girl that nobody should touch, F.J.I. said, "Tae touched my body and it was hurting." She stated that Tae touched her with "the ding ding." F.J.I. showed Chandler on the drawing where Tae's ding ding touched her. She said the touching happened at her grandmother's house. Chandler then pulled out a drawing of a young adult male and asked F.J.I. to show her what a "ding ding" was. F.J.I. looked at the picture but did not react. It appears Chandler then pointed to the penis and asked F.J.I. what it was. She first said, "I don't know" and then said, "That's a hot dog." When asked again what a "ding ding" was, F.J.I. stated, "It lives in the boy's body" and that it was right there by the "hot dog." She said she saw Tae's "ding ding" and then said, "He's got green hair." Upon further questioning, it was clear F.J.I. did not know the name of colors. Later, she said Tae's "ding ding" touched her and appeared to point to the front genital area on her own body. Later, when asked if she was dressed, F.J.I. indicated she took off her diaper off and let Tae touch her body.
In October 2003, Cherney and Chandler interviewed Henderson. Henderson denied having any sexual contact with F.J.I. but admitted babysitting her on February 24, 2003. Henderson said he had an appointment for a STD test in February 2003 but did not get it because he did not have the money to pay for it.
Dr. Katherine Melhorn, a pediatrician, testified that gonorrhea was a STD which could be spread by any mucosal contact and did not require actual intercourse or penetration for it to be transmitted. She testified the gonorrhea bacteria dies quickly and a child could not develop gonorrhea by sitting on a toilet seat recently used by a carrier. She said once exposed, the incubation period for gonorrhea is between 2 and 7 days and physical symptoms would manifest after that time. She testified that gonorrhea can disappear after one treatment of the appropriate medication.
Henderson testified on his own behalf that he had a relationship with F.J.I.'s mother for several months between November 2002 and early January 2003, and that he lived with the mother during part of that time but that they broke up. In the early morning hours of February 24, 2003, Henderson called mother and asked if he could come over and mother agreed. They had consensual intercourse. Later that morning, mother asked him to babysit F.J.I. and her little brother. Before mother left for work that day, she told him she thought F.J.I. had a yeast infection or urinary tract infection because the child had a discharge from her vagina. Mother said she would take her to the doctor at the end of the week. Henderson did not see mother again until June or July of that year. Henderson said he asked mother why she gave detectives his name for something she knew he did not do. He said mother apologized and said the matter was dropped. At mother's request, Henderson babysat F.J.I. again in September. F.J.I. was not fearful around him. Henderson admitted testing positive twice for the STD chlamydia but never for gonorrhea.
Henderson presented the testimony of two girlfriends with whom he engaged in sexual intercourse either before or after February 24, 2003. Both denied having been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease or having symptoms of one, but only one of them had actually been tested.
The jury found Henderson guilty. His motions for new trial, for judgment of acquittal, and pro se motions were denied. He was sentenced to 59 months' incarceration. He now timely appeals.
Did the admission of the videotape interview of F.J.I.
violate Henderson's right to confrontation?
Henderson clearly challenged the admission of the Cherney and Chandler interview of F.J.I., both prior to trial and by making a timely objection at trial which the court agreed would be treated as a continuing objection. With respect to the confrontation issue, Henderson contends the recent United States Supreme Court decision of Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, which was decided on March 8, 2004, less than 2 weeks after Henderson was sentenced, requires his conviction be reversed. We agree.
The State does not dispute the Crawford standards apply in evaluating Henderson's claims but simply asserts the hearsay statements are not "testimonial" under Crawford and/or that Henderson forfeited his right to confrontation. Clearly, new constitutional principles apply to all cases pending on direct appeal when the decision is issued. See, e.g., State v. Meeks, 277 Kan. 609, 88 P.3d 789 (2004) (applying Crawford standards on direct appeal still pending at time Crawford opinion was issued); State v. Gould, 271 Kan. 394, 23 P.3d 801 (2001) (applying decision of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435, 120 S. Ct. 2348 [2000], to case pending on direct appeal).
Whether a defendant's right to confrontation has been violated is a question of law subject to unlimited review. State v. Saleem, 267 Kan. 100, 107, 977 P.2d 921 (1999).
The trial court clearly followed the law existing at the time of trial as stated in State v. Myatt, 237 Kan. 17 which held that K.S.A. 60-460(dd) was constitutional on its face under the standards of Ohio v. Roberts, 448 U.S. 56.
However, when Crawford was decided in March 2004, the majority held the Roberts analysis to be incorrect. The use of hearsay standards of reliability when addressing Sixth Amendment confrontation issues was abandoned, at least when "testimonial" evidence is at issue. 541 U.S. at 62-68. The basic premise of Crawford is that out-of-court testimonial statements are not admissible unless a witness was unavailable and the defendant had a prior opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
We must thus first determine if F.J.I.'s statements to Cherney and Chandler are testimonial under Crawford standards. If the statement is nontestimonial, we are allowed the flexibility of developing our own rules of evidence to test its admissibility. 541 U.S. at 68. However, we are not given any precise instructions as to what evidence is to be considered testimonial, as the Crawford opinion stated: "We leave for another day any effort to spell out a comprehensive definition of 'testimonial.' Whatever else the term covers, it applies at a minimum to prior testimony at a preliminary hearing, before a grand jury, or at a formal trial; and to police interrogations." 541 U.S. at 68.
But, it is helpful to our analysis that the statements involved in Crawford were from a Mirandized police interrogation of the defendant's wife who was present at the time her husband allegedly stabbed a man who had earlier attempted to rape her. Crawford held that "[s]tatements taken by police officers in the course of interrogations [were] also testimonial under even a narrow standard" and "fall squarely" within a class of testimonial statements. 541 U.S. at 52-53.
The only explicit statement by the Supreme Court was that "[w]hatever else the term covers, it applies at a minimum to prior testimony at a preliminary hearing, before a grand jury, or at a former trial; and to police interrogations." 541 U.S. at 68. The court also noted that "[v]arious formulations of this core class of 'testimonial' statements exist." 541 U.S. at 51. The court referenced "ex parte in-court testimony or its functional equivalent" such as affidavits "or similar pretrial statements that declarants would reasonably expect to be used prosecutorially." (Emphasis added.) 541 U.S. at 51. The court also cited an amici's formulation that included "statements that were made under circumstances which would lead an objective witness reasonably to believe that the statement would be available for use at a later trial." (Emphasis added.) 541 U.S. at 52. Although the Supreme Court did not expressly adopt these formulations, it noted that the formulations all shared a "common nucleus," implying they were appropriate for consideration. 541 U.S. at 52.
The State seizes upon the "reasonably expect to be used prosecutorily" phrase and argues that as a 3-year-old, F.J.I. could not reasonably believe her statements would be used at trial. If we were to adopt this standard, we would decide a serious constitutional issue based on the subjective intent of the declarant or on a "reasonable child" standard. Neither choice is logical or provides the more certain result that Crawford seems to require or that was found lacking under Roberts.
In Crawford, the Supreme Court noted that statements from a 4-year-old to police in White v. Illinois, 502 U.S. 346, 349-51, 116 L. Ed. 2d 848, 112 S. Ct. 736 (1992), were likely testimonial. 541 U.S. at 58 n.8, 61. Likewise, many post-Crawford cases appear to be applying a much more objective standard in determining whether out-of-court statements are "testimonial" under Crawford. See United States v. Summers, 414 F.3d 1287 (10th Cir. 2005) (witness' statement is testimonial if a reasonable person in her position would objectively foresee that a statement might be used in a subsequent investigation or prosecution); United States v. Cromer, 389 F.3d 662, 675 (6th Cir. 2004) (proper inquiry is whether a reasonable person in the declarant's position would anticipate his or her statement being used against the accused in investigating and prosecuting a crime); People v. Sisavath, 118 Cal. App. 4th 1396, 13 Cal. Rptr. 3d 753 (2004) (child's statement to forensic interviewer was testimonial because reasonable person would expect it to be used prosecutorially); State v. Grace, 107 Hawaii 133, 143, 111 P.3d 28, cert. denied 107 Hawaii 348 (2005) (holding the pertinent question is whether an objective observer would reasonably expect the statement to be available for use in a prosecution); State v. Snowden, 385 Md. 64, 83, 867 A.2d 314 (2005) (statement is testimonial if made "under circumstances that would lead an objective declarant reasonably to believe that the statement would be available for use at a later trial"); State v. Mack, 337 Or. 586, 594, 101 P.3d 349 (2004) (rejecting State's argument that declarant's subjective intent controlled whether statement was testimonial).
Our Supreme Court in State v. Lackey, 280 Kan. 190, 120 P.3d 332 (2005), applied an objective standard in determining whether a particular out-of-court statement was testimonial. Lackey held that interviews conducted during police investigations resulted in statements that a witness would expect to be used at trial and could arguably be construed as testimonial under Crawford. 280 Kan. at 200. The witness in Lackey was not a child but there is no indication in Lackey that statements of a child witness would be treated differently.
Several courts have rejected arguments that a young child's statements, because of limited cognitive and developmental skills, are always nontestimonial. See People v. Sisavath, 118 Cal. App. 4th at 1402 n.3; State v. Grace, 107 Hawaii at 143; and Snowden, 385 Md. at 90.
Courts have applied an age-equivalent standard, State v. Scacchetti, 690 N.W.2d 393, rev. granted (Minn. App. 2005), and State v. Krasky, 696 N.W.2d 816, rev. granted (Minn. App. 2005), are pending before the Minnesota Supreme Court. A different panel of the Minnesota Court of Appeals held a 3-year-old's statement to a child protection worker was testimonial, implicitly rejecting an age-equivalent standard. State v. Bobadilla, 690 N.W.2d 345, rev. granted (Minn. App. 2004). Upon review, the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed the finding that the child's statement was testimonial, looked to the clearly delineated purpose of the Minnesota statutory scheme to protect the health and welfare of children, and held the interview by the child protection worker was not testimonial. Important was the fact that neither the child nor the interviewer was acting "to a substantial degree, in order to produce a statement for trial." State v. Bobadilla, 709 N.W.2d 243, 254 (Minn. 2006).
The State has also cited In re D.L., 2005 WL 1119809 (Ohio App. 2005), an unpublished decision, which involves statements to a nurse practitioner who was not found to be working on behalf of or in conjunction with police officers. However, the court did consider the perspective of the victim, relying on the Minnesota Scacchetti case. Slip op. at 4.
In addition, we must point to the result and reasoning of State v. Vigil, 127 P.3d 916 (Colo. 2006). The Colorado Court of Appeals decision, 104 P.3d 258, that a doctor member of a child protection team was allowed to testify as to observations and findings but not to the child's statement identifying her assailant was reversed in part and affirmed in part by the Colorado Supreme Court.
A significant ruling in Vigil is the apparent partial adoption of the objective witness test from the perspective of the child. In holding a child's statement is not testimonial, the Colorado Supreme Court stated:
"Thus, from the perspective of an objective witness in the child's position, it would be reasonable to assume that this examination was only for the purpose of medical diagnosis, and not related to the criminal prosecution. No police officer was present at the time of the examination, nor was the examination conducted at the police department. The child, the doctor, and the child's mother were present in the examination room. [FN8]".
"FN8. We emphasize that the objective witness test involves an analysis separate from and in addition to the police interrogation test. For example, if a child makes a statement to a government agent as part of a police interrogation, his statement is testimonial irrespective of the child's expectations regarding whether the statement will be available for use at a later trial." 127 P.3d at 926.
However, in deciding the case before us, the logic of the Maryland Snowden opinion is persuasive:
"To allow the prosecution to utilize statements by a young child made in an environment and under circumstances in which the investigators clearly contemplated use of the statements at a later trial would create an exception that we are not prepared to recognize. [Footnote omitted.] Thus, we are satisfied that an objective test, using an objective person, rather than an objective child of that age, is the appropriate test for determining whether a statement is testimonial in nature." 385 Md. at 90-91.
Determining whether a statement is testimonial based on subjective intent of a declarant brings into issue all the problems of Ohio v. Roberts, 448 U.S. 56, pointed out in Crawford, 541 U.S. at 62-67. We reject the State's subjective argument and adopt an objective reasonable person standard in making our determination of when a witness' out-of-court statements are testimonial within the meaning of Crawford.
The only trial evidence of F.J.I.'s version of events came through the admission of the videotaped interview of her by Chandler, the SRS investigator, and Detective Cherney which occurred after the medical clinic's report confirmed that F.J.I. had gonorrhea. Proper objections were made that the Confrontation Clause was being violated by admission of the videotaped statement.
Statements given to police and/or child protection workers have been the subject of a number of cases post-Crawford. In Crawford, the Supreme Court noted that statements to police officers during the course of interrogations "fall squarely" in the category of testimonial statements. 541 U.S. at 52-53. The Court also noted it used the term "interrogation" in a colloquial rather than a technical, legal sense. 541 U.S. at 53 n.4. Thus, a witness' recorded statement knowingly given in response to structured police questioning is "undeniably testimonial."
State and federal courts have held that interviews of purported child abuse victims conducted by child protection agencies in conjunction with law enforcement officials are testimonial under Crawford. See People v. Sisavath, 118 Cal. App. 4th at 1402 (child's statement to forensic interviewer held to be testimonial); Contreras v. State, 910 So. 2d 901 (Fla. App. 2005) (videotaped statement to child protection team testimonial); In re T.T., 351 Ill. App. 3d 976, 990, 815 N.E.2d 789 (DCFS process of investigating child sex abuse allegations sufficiently conducted with an eye toward prosecution renders 7-year-old's statement testimonial).
A contrary result was reached in People v. Geno, 261 Mich. App. 624, 683 N.W.2d 687 (2004), where the court found the Crawford issue was not before the court but opined the statement was not testimonial because the interviewer was not a government employee and the statement was not equivalent to an in-court statement. 261 Mich. App. at 631. The private agency's assessment in Geno occurred before the police had been contacted.
The State further argues that because prompt investigations of medical reports are required, the statement is similar to a victim communicating to a health care provider after an assault.
Admissibility of out-of-court statements to medical personnel is not directly in issue here, but the State makes an argument that they are comparable to the statement in issue here. The focus in most cases is on the purpose of the declarant's encounter with the health care provider. State v. Moses, 129 Wash. App. 718, 119 P.3d 906 (2005). When the health care provider is not a government employee and there was no indication of a purpose to prepare testimony for trial, the statements may be nontestimonial. See State v. Fisher, 130 Wash. App. 1, 108 P.3d 1262 (2005) (statement made to physician morning after assault); see also Scacchetti, 690 N.W.2d 393 (statement to physician in order to obtain medical diagnosis, even if videotaped, not testimonial); State v. Vaught, 268 Neb. 316, 682 N.W.2d 284 (2004) (statements to physician in course of seeking and receiving medical treatment shortly after assault not testimonial; exam not initiated by government action); State v. Vigil, 127 P.3d 916 (2006) (previously discussed herein).
Courts have differed on whether informal statements made to a police response to a 911 call or other dispatcher information are testimonial. Two cases where this issue is involved appear to be before the United States Supreme Court. See Hammon v. State, 829 N.E.2d 444 (Ind. 2005), cert. granted 126 S. Ct. 552 (October 31, 2005), and State v. Davis, 154 Wash. 2d 291, 303-04, 111 P.3d 844 (2005), cert. granted 126 S. Ct. 547 (October 31, 2005).
The State's attempt to compare F.J.I.'s SRS/police interview with statements to medical personnel or emergency responders is not persuasive. Clearly, the purpose of the interview with F.J.I. was to determine if a crime had been committed. The interview occurred in a government building in a structured form. Prepared drawings of male and female subjects were used. It was a joint SRS/law enforcement investigation. While Chandler led the interview, Detective Cherney was present and asked questions.
We hold the taped interview of F.J.I. by Chandler and Cherney is testimonial. It was improper for the court below to admit the evidence in the absence of Henderson's ability to cross-examine F.J.I.
The State makes a fallback argument that if we do find F.J.I.'s statement to be testimonial, we should apply the doctrine of forfeiture and hold Henderson forfeited or waived the right to confront F.J.I. The State argues that when Henderson assaulted such a young child he would have known she would likely be unable to testify against him so forfeiture should be applicable here.
In State v. Meeks, 277 Kan. 609, 614, 88 P.3d 789 (2004), our Supreme Court recognized the doctrine of forfeiture by wrongdoing was still applicable under Crawford. Under that doctrine, a defendant who wrongfully procures the absence of a witness at trial is deemed to have forfeited or waived the right to confront that witness. 277 Kan. at 614-16. The doctrine was first applied in Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145, 158, 25 L. Ed. 244 (1878), and was eventually adopted into the Federal Rules of Evidence. See Fed. R. Evid. 804(b)(6).
To admit a statement against a defendant under the doctrine, the government must show the defendant "'(1) causes a potential witness's unavailability (2) by a wrongful act (3) undertaken with the intention of preventing the potential witness from testifying at a future trial.' [Citation omitted.]" United States v. Cherry, 217 F.3d 811, 819 (10th Cir. 2000). The preponderance of the evidence standard is the correct standard for the district court to use in determining whether the defendant procured the witness' absence. United States v. Price, 265 F.3d 1097, 1103 (10th Cir. 2001), cert. denied 535 U.S. 1099 (2002).
The cases applying the forfeiture doctrine in the main have been homicide cases where the declarant was the victim. See, e.g., United States v. Dhinsa, 243 F.3d 635, 651 (2d Cir.), cert. denied 534 U.S. 897 (2001); United States v. Cherry, 217 F.3d at 814-15; United States v. Emery, 186 F.3d 921, 926 (8th Cir. 1999), cert. denied 528 U.S. 1130 (2000); Meeks, 277 Kan. at 614.
Causation between the action of the defendant and the witness' absence appears key. As noted by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts:
"[T]he causal link necessary between a defendant's actions and a witness's unavailability may be established where (1) a defendant puts forward to a witness the idea to avoid testifying, either by threats, coercion, persuasion, or pressure; (2) a defendant physically prevents a witness from testifying; or (3) a defendant actively facilitates the carrying out of the witness's independent intent not to testify." Commonwealth v. Edwards, 444 Mass. 526, 541, 830 N.E.2d 158 (2005).
Other than the murder of the declarant, the causative factor has consistently been some act independent of the crime charged. For example, in forfeiture cases involving threats or coercion, the threats or coercion occurred after the events giving rise to the criminal charges. See, e.g., United States v. Montague, 421 F.3d 1099, 1101 (10th Cir. 2005) (wife's statements to police could be used at trial when husband/defendant violated no contact order and met with wife several times prior to trial); Steele v. Taylor, 684 F.2d 1193, 1199 (6th Cir. 1982), cert. denied 460 U.S. 1053 (1983) (witness was under the control of the defendants who had procured her refusal to testify); Commonwealth v. Edwards, 444 Mass. 526 (defendant's action prior to trial in influencing or colluding with witness to avoid testimony was enough to forfeit confrontation rights).
In our case there is no evidence of any acts by Henderson after the alleged assault. The State cites no case to us where the doctrine of forfeiture has been applied solely due to declarant's age. To accept the State's argument would severely limit the rights granted by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It would open an exception to a constitutionally granted right that we are not prepared to adopt. We reject the State's argument that we should apply the forfeiture doctrine in this case.
The State did not raise a harmless error argument and such a contention has not been considered.
While the trial court's decision was defensible at the time of trial, when we apply Crawford's commands and reach the conclusion the videotaped interview of F.J.I. was testimonial and not admissible under application of the forfeiture doctrine, we are left with constitutionally prohibited evidence erroneously admitted, requiring reversal of the conviction and the granting of a new trial.
Henderson's followup argument is that without F.J.I.'s videotaped interview, there is insufficient evidence to support his convictions, which must therefore be vacated and the case dismissed.
We are required to reach this contention in a ruling ordering a new trial in a criminal matter for the reasons set forth in State v. Elnicki, 279 Kan. 47, 105 P.2d 1222 (2005).
When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged in a criminal case, the standard of review is whether, after review of all the evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, the appellate court is convinced that a rational factfinder could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Ly, 277 Kan. 386, 394, 85 P.3d 1200, cert. denied 541 U.S. 1090 (2004). Circumstantial evidence may establish even the gravest offenses. State v. Davis, 275 Kan. 107, 118, 61 P.3d 701 (2003).
In this case, F.J.I.'s infection with gonorrhea provided a basis for a reasonable factfinder to conclude that F.J.I. had been exposed to some type of sexual contact. Mother's testimony also provided a basis for a reasonable factfinder to conclude Henderson was the only person who had sufficient unsupervised contact with F.J.I. to have transmitted the disease. There was other circumstantial evidence to support that conclusion. Although Henderson attacked the credibility of the various witnesses, an appellate court does not reweigh the evidence, determine the credibility of witnesses, or substitute its view of the evidence for that of the trial court. State v. Mays, 277 Kan. 359, Syl. ¶ 1, 85 P.3d 1208 (2004).
There was sufficient competent evidence presented to allow the State to retry Henderson.
Conviction reversed, sentence vacated, and case remanded for a new trial.


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Best Guides for Getting Organized
We know today is all about straightening your bow tie and putting on your party hat, but as we look toward a new year, you may want to consider getting that pile of desk papers and bathroom clutter in order. Start 2012 off with a clean and simplified way of living by utilizing the organization resources in these guides.
• 1 Best Sources for Small Space Organization
• 2 Best Sources for Small Kitchen Organization
• 3 Modern Micro Kitchen: Get the Look
• 4 Best Pantry Organizers: Space Savers & Food Storage
• 5 The Modern, Multi-Functional Office Caddy
• 6 Solutions for a Well-Organized Closet: High & Low
• 7 10 Problem-Solving Stores
• 8 Best Wall-Mounted Desks for Small Spaces
• 9 Best Bathroom Space Savers for Renters: 10 Sources
• 10 Modern Multipurpose Living Room: Get the Look
Images: As linked above


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Links of London Ladies Sterling Silver Amulet Keepsakes Tree of Life Charm
Like a tree's branches, we're all connected. The Amulet Keepsakes Sterling Silver Tree of Life Pendant Charm from Links of London respresents strong roots, unlimited growth and sacred knowledge. Crafted from sterling silver.
Product Information:
About Links of London
Links of London offer an eclectic mix of men's and women's jewellery in sterling silver and 18 carat gold, with an enviable collection of charms and charm bracelets for you to choose from.
Links of London was founded in 1990.
The company resulted from a simple request for a pair of fish cufflinks - bizarre but true. A local restaurant owner commissioned the manufacture of a pair of sterling silver cufflinks, as a gift for their loyal restaurant clients. Harvey Nichols, the exclusive London fashion store, loved the design and ordered a whole collection. Links of London was born and today they have grown internationally with stores in the UK, Hong Kong, USA and Canada.
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They always have something exciting and new to offer. They believe in design and function and endeavour to bring you contemporary classics, fashion must-haves and that extra special piece you weren't expecting to find. That could be a nodding dog or a champagne bubble blower, an 18ct gold sweetie bracelet or a disco diva charm. They love the element of personalisation and allow for engraving on jewellery, embossing on leather or freedom of choice at the charm bar.
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Nine Two Five have revealed their Debut cufflink collection, pulling together a range of nine pairs based on the famous 925 hallmark.
Starting at £160 and going up to £200 for the most expensive cufflinks in the range, the sterling silver sets strive to "produce classic designs with a modern twist, manufactured with true craftsmanship."
In the same way you can't wear a pair of trousers without a good belt, cufflinks really finish off a formal shirt, and also give the opportunity to add a little personal flair to what may otherwise be a stuffy outfit.
Of the entire range, our favourite set is easily the Lapis blue Jelly Bean pair, which are finished with a semi-precious stone inset into the sterling silver link. Call us cheap, but they're also among the most affordable of the range, priced at £160.
For more info on the Debut collection, and to grab a pair, visit the Nine Two Five website.


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10 Pittsburgh-area restaurant bars make Urbanspoon's most popular
10 Pittsburgh-area restaurant bars make Urbanspoon's most popular
-Blue Dust (Homestead)
Ten Pittsburgh-area restaurant bars have landed on Urbanspoon's list of the most popular in America.
The list, which features 200 establishments in 101 cities spanning 33 states, was based on coverage and reviews from food critics, bloggers, the Urbanspoon community and diners.
Florida had the most entries with 31. (Click HERE to view the full list)
Local restaurant bars that made the cut are:
-Blue Dust (Homestead)
-Bocktown Beer and Grill (North Fayette Township)
-Burgatory Bar (Aspinwall/Blawnox)
-D's Six Pax & Dogz (Regent Square)
-Dish Osteria & Bar (South Side)
-Fat Head's Saloon (South Side)
-Harris Grill (Shadyside)
-James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy (North Side)
-Kaya (Strip District)
-Piper's Pub (South Side)


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The best of this week's web to help the afternoon glide smoothly by.
Not every Pokémon is worth catching. In a world of nearly 500 fantastic creatures, there are bound to be at least a few duds. Trainers don't have to look very hard to discern between awesome allies and total turds, for annoyingly tall patches of grass reveal essential truths that separate the Pidgeys from the Pikachus. Evolution, after all, is the law of the land across the Pokéverse. When only the strong can survive to be taught the power that's inside, sadly, the following Pokémon are fainters.
10) Voltorb
Unlike a lot of the pocket monsters on this list, the Pokéball lookalike Voltorb can actually be trained into becoming a fairly useful fighter. With a little love, its range of electric moves can be cultivated to rival that of a Raichu. Unfortunately for Voltorb, few of its kind ever get that far thanks to what can only be described ...Read more
Pokémon is the story of a young boy named Ash Ketchum. Finally having reached the age of 10, he receives his first Pokémon from Professor Oak and sets out on his Pokémon Journey. Along for the ride are his various friends: Misty, Brock, Tracey, May, Max, Dawn, Iris, and Cilan. Together, they journey through the Kanto, Orange, Johto, Hoenn, Battle Frontier, Sinnoh and Unova Leagues. Ash takes every opportunity to capture a Pokémon, Misty trains Pokémon of the Water type while Brock prefers Rock types. Tracey travels around sketching Pokémon. May started her journey for the sights and not the Pokémon but then decided to enter Pokémon Contests. Although Max has no Pokémon, he helps the group out with his handy PokéNav skills so as not to get lost but they still do from time to time. Dawn travels around to compete in contests like her mother did years ago. Iris, although with no long term dream of her own, is out on a Pokémon journey with her trusty Axew in order to raise it well. Cilan has joined Ash in order to see the Unova region, its trainers, and enhance his abilities as a Pokémon Connoisseur.
Story Arcs:
Kanto arc (Season 1): Ash begins his journey to become a pokémon master. He starts his journey with his at first reluctant Pikachu, but the two quickly become friends. As his journey starts he is joined by Cerulean City and Pewter City gym leaders Misty and Brock. Together they travel throughout the Kanto region so that Ash can collect gym badges so that he can compete in the Pokémon League, while fending off the attacks of the villainous Team Rocket.
Orange Islands arc (Season 2): After losing in the Pokémon league, Ash, Misty, and Brock head to the Orange Islands to retrieve the mysterious GS Ball. After obtaining it, Brock decides to stay and work with Professor Ivy to help him with his dream. As Ash decides to compete in the Orange League, they are joined by Pokémon Watcher Tracey. Together they set out on Ash's new Lapras' back and travel around the tropical islands, while still fending off Team Rocket.
Johto arc (Season 3/The Johto Journeys, Season 4/Johto League Champions, Season 5/Master Quest): After delivering the GS Ball to Professor Oak, he can't figure out the secrets of the ball. He sends Ash off to Azalea Town in Johto in order to deliver the ball to the pokéball expert Kurt. Reunited with Brock, the trio once again heads off for adventure in a new land so that Ash can compete in the Johto League, and prove that he is better then his old rival Gary. Not to mention Team Rocket continues in their quest to capture Pikachu.
Hoenn arc (Season 6/Advanced, Season 7/Advanced Challenge, Season 8/Advanced Battle): After settling his rivalry with Gary and ultimately losing in the Johto League, Ash takes Harrison's advice and heads to the Hoenn region. With Misty and Brock back at their gyms, he is all alone, until he encounters an upcoming trainer named May. The two decide to travel together and eventually are joined by May's brother Max, and Brock even returns. Together the four of them traverse the Hoenn region so that Ash can compete in the Hoenn League and so that May can become a great Coordinator and compete in the Hoenn Grand Festival, and don't forget the ever persistent Team Rocket, as well as new foes Team Magma and Team Aqua.
Battle Frontier arc (Season 8/Advanced Battle, Season 9/Battle Frontier): After losing in the Hoenn League and Grand Festival, Ash and May return home. However, the two of them, as well as Max and Brock quickly reunite when Ash is told about the Battle Frontier in Kanto, and May finds out about Pokémon Contests in Kanto. The group of four continue to travel together in the Kanto region so that Ash and May can continue on in their dreams of being champions, with Team Rocket still in tow.
Sinnoh arc (Season 10/Diamond and Pearl, Season 11/DP: Battle Dimension, Season 12/DP: Galactic Battles, Season 13/DP: Sinnoh League Victors): After losing in the Kanto Grand Festival, May heads off to Johto to compete in more contests while Max returns home to Petalburg City. After witnessing the awesome power of Gary's newest Pokémon, Ash heads off to the Sinnoh region to once again find adventure. He soon reunites with Brock and they join up with Dawn, a pokémon coordinator just beginning her journey to become a contest champion like her mother. Together the trio travels through the Sinnoh region so Ash can compete in the Sinnoh League, and Dawn in the Sinnoh Grand Festival, as well as fighting off the evil Team Rocket, Team Galactic, and Pokémon Hunter J.
Unova arc (Season 14/Black and White, Season 15/BW: Rival Destinies, Season 16/Adventures in Unova): After becoming the runner-up of the Sinnoh Grand Festival and after discovering his dream to become a Pokémon Doctor, Dawn and Brock head off on their own to achieve their goals. Meanwhile, after placing in the Top 4 of the Sinnoh League, Ash heads to the Unova region to collect more badges and compete in the Unova League. He is soon joined by Iris, a young girl wanting to be a Dragon Master, and Cilan, a Pokémon Connoisseur. Together they journey throughout the Unova region while also thwarting off the efforts of Team Rocket and a secret organization.
Decolore Islands arc (Season 16/Adventures in Unova and Beyond): Following the conclusion of the Unova League and stopping Team Plasma's mission to control Unova, Ash decides to head home to Kanto. Iris and Cilan want to join him as well and together the three decide to take a detour to Kanto and travel through the Decolore Islands.moreless