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Barry Cooper tells the story of a beautiful building called the Banqueting House in London. When you visit, you see a beautiful painting on the ceiling by the Belgian painter Peter Paul Rubens. The caretakers at the Banqueting House realized there was problem enjoying this beautiful painting on the ceiling — it was literally a pain in the neck.
As you look at this painting after a while it really starts to hurt. What they've done to help you is to put mirrors on top of little carts. As you push these carts around, you look into the mirror which enables you to enjoy this glorious painting to your heart's content.
So why did God create us? In a sense, you and I were made by God to be like those mirrors. We were made to reflect His beauty, His goodness, so that the whole world can see it and enjoy it.
That's what it means in Genesis 1:27, which says, "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him." We are designed to be an image of God's glory reflecting out to a watching world.
Imagine you've finished your day trip to see the Banqueting House. You walk out with your friends and someone says, "That was fantastic!" Someone else says, "Yeah, it was fantastic. Those mirrors were amazing!"
But you say, "Well, yeah, the mirrors were good, but they were only good because they reflected the ceiling." The point of mirrors, the reason they are there, is not to draw attention to them, but to reflect. Our purpose is something similar: to reflect God, and enjoy Him as we do that.
This is so counter-cultural! We are used to drawing attention to ourselves rather than our Creator.
But according to the Bible, that's not the point of life at all. Bringing glory to self can't bring us ultimate satisfaction because that's not who God made us to be. We were designed to bring glory to Him by enjoying Him, appreciating Him and by reflecting Him.
You may ask if this point doesn't that sound a little egocentric of God. Why does He need his creation to bring glory to him, is He insecure?
It is true that if I demanded everyone glorify me, there would obviously be something deeply insecure or arrogant about me. The difference, of course, is that I'm not God. The difference is that although I'm not the center of the universe, God genuinely is. So it's good for us to give glory to him. It's appropriate to give God glory for who He is and what He's done.
There's another reason it's good to give glory to God. It's the way we were made. You could use a violin as a doorstop, but that's not what it was made to do. You would be wasting it and it would not make the beautiful music it was created to produce.
In the same way, you and I were designed to thrive and flourish when we do what we were made to do.
You and I were made in God's image, made to reflect his awesome beauty. It's only when we live like this that our hearts truly sing. It's what we were born to do.


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We tend to think of our lashes as a beauty feature on our face and we spend a lot of time trying to find ways to enhance their appearance, so it is easy to forget they are there to serve a function. Our eyelashes and our eyebrows are both designed to offer protection and to block debris that can fall into our eyes as we are go about our day. While dirt, dust, and debris can still make their way into our eyes blinking away irritants is an effective way to keep them out.Read More
The Value of Long Lashes
Jul 26, 2013 1:23:00 PM
Aging Over The Decades
Jul 25, 2013 2:09:44 PM
Even if you are the picture of health the effects of aging will begin to slowly creep in. Here is what you can expect to look for in aging over the decades:Read More
Grow Healthy Eyelashes
Jul 23, 2013 1:38:03 PM
Every girl wants beautiful eyelashes – the first thing to do is to realize that your body's hair growth is directly related to what food you allow into your body. A well-balanced diet that is rich in protein foods and vitamins A, C and E will boost the health of your eyelashes and encourage growth spurts.Read More
Celebrity Eyes In A Second
Jul 22, 2013 1:37:06 PM
There are so many people who would spend hundreds on gimmicks to get beautiful, celebrity-style eyelashes. This isn't necessary, as you too can now enjoy beautiful celebrity eyelashes in no time. One of the biggest secrets in the industry is effective eyelash enhancers.Read More
What Causes Wrinkles?
May 31, 2013 4:06:07 PM
Brow lines, laugh lines, crow's feet—you may notice them beginning to form, but why do we get wrinkles? Wrinkles begin to form on our face for a variety of reasons, beyond the normal aging process. Here are some of the most common causes for developing wrinkles:Read More
Skincare tips for the everyday girl
Mar 11, 2013 8:00:00 PM
Not everyone has the time or resources to invest in the very latest treatments to get a beautiful and smooth skin. If you want to know how you can enjoy the benefits of beautifully radiant skin, then read these tips:Read More
Younger Looking Skin
Feb 14, 2013 7:00:00 PM
As people age, they turn to skin brightener serums to help their skin look younger. These serums have been shown to diminish the appearance of age spots, blemishes and a variety of other skin imperfections which is generally the result of a combination of aging and sun damage. There are many serums availableRead More
Longer Lashes Prescription Free
Jan 17, 2013 7:00:00 PM
The first FDA-approved cosmetic eyelash enhancer launched in 2009. A monthly dose costs $120.00 plus requires a doctor visit. As with any prescribed drug, there are numerous side effects to be wary of. Women today can get the look of longer, fuller eye lashes without a prescription or doctor visit. Eyes lash serum and conditioners are researched and designed to promote the look of longer eyelashes using a natural blend of herbal extracts that are safe and gentle for the eyes, without the harmful side effects caused by medicinal drugs.Read More
Your Skin is the Canvas
Jan 3, 2013 7:00:00 PM
You're an artist. You look at the canvas before you and see potential. Potential for beauty, for expression, for a masterpiece. You dip your brush into the paint, bring it to the easel, poised and ready to apply to first stroke…when your son barges into the room and sprays the once-ivory canvas with deep brown cake batter. The artist in you thinks for a moment whether there is a way to incorporate this unexpected development into the anticipated work, when the rationalist in you realizes: this canvas is headed for the dump.Read More
The Lost Natural Complexion
Jan 3, 2013 3:40:37 PM
On a number of occasions, I've admired other women's complexions. And I tell them so. "Your skin is gorgeous – what do you do?" I ask, not really expecting an answer that exceeds a bashful, "I guess genes?" or, "A bit or moisturizer, I suppose…." And yet, time and again, I'm disappointed to find that the response is, "Thanks! I use this amazing foundation," or, "I'm totally in love with this mineral makeup, actually; makes my skin look flawless."Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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Amtrak formally began leasing the roughly 85-mile stretch on Dec. 1, with dispatching moving from CSX's Selkirk Yard to Amtrak's Command and Conrol Center in New York. Amtrak owns a short stretch of the Empire Corridor in Manhattan, running from Penn Station to the Spuyten Duyvil swing bridge linking Manhattan and the Bronx by rail, where the route merges with Metro-North's Hudson Line. Metro-North controls the right-of-way between the bridge and Poughkeepsie.
Amtrak also already controlled a 9-mile stretch of right-of-way west of Schenectady to Hoffmans, N.Y., according to the Empire State Passengers Association, a grassroots advocacy group.
"With this historic agreement, Amtrak and our state partners can now move forward together and begin work on key infrastructure projects to enhance passenger rail travel in New York State," Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman said.
Amtrak and New York State are in the initial stages of implementing improvements to the Empire Corridor to improve speed and address some capacity issues. Plans include a second track between Schenectady and Albany, which has been postponed for decades, and building a fourth track to increase platform access at Albany-Rensselaer Station, Amtrak's fifth-busiest station. Grade crossing and signal improvements are also planned.
Amtrak hits a top speed of 110 mph between Albany and Hudson, N.Y. but plans also call for increasing current speeds on more of the right-of-way.
For its part, "CSX is very pleased that it could work with New York State and Amtrak on this historic agreement that establishes the foundation for even stronger rail connections between metropolitan and upstate New York. We look forward to working with Amtrak as it takes on responsibility for operations on the Hudson Line between Hoffmans and Poughkeepsie," said Louis Renjel, CSX's vice president-strategic infrastructure. "The agreement also ensures that CSX will have the ability to continue providing efficient, economical and environmentally beneficial freight rail service to customers and communities on the line."
CSX will pay Amtrak $1.5 million a year for use of the track by its freight trains, plus additional fees based on the number of freight cars and other usage by CSX. The agreement covers a 25-year period with an option to extend it another 23 years.


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Missy's Peanut Butter Passion Cake
Melissa Dommert
Blue Ribbon Recipe
I'm lost for words... This cake is pure peanut butter heaven. The Test Kitchen
★★★★★ 177 votes5
- 2 c
- sugar
- 1 c
- vegetable oil
- 2
- eggs
- 1 tsp
- vanilla extract
- 3 c
- all purpose flour
- 3/4 c
- cocoa, unsweetened
- 2 tsp
- baking powder
- 2 tsp
- baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp
- salt
- 1 c
- coffee, room temperature (water can be substituted for the coffee but it's purpose is to enhance the chocolate flavor of the cocoa)
- 1 c
- buttermilk
- 8 oz
- cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 c
- peanut butter, creamy
- 1/2 c
- powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp
- salt
- 12 oz
- non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
- 1/2 c
- chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs
- 2 c
- chopped peanut butter cups
- 1/4 c
- prepared fudge frosting (any brand) or
- chocolate syrup (optional)
How to Make Missy's Peanut Butter Passion Cake
- 4Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, salt, peanut butter until smooth.
Using a spatula, gently fold in whipped topping until smooth. Chill frosting for about an hour (even overnight is okay). This frosting tastes like a creamy peanut butter mousse.
Spread cake with frosting and sprinkle all over with chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs. Garnish with chopped peanut butter cups and warmed fudge frosting or as desired.
For the cooking contest, I carefully cut each peanut butter cup in half and placed it on the cake (as shown in the photo) but what I really like to do is buy 2-3 packages of individually wrapped peanut butter cups (I think there are 8 in a package) and chop them up into chunks. This is easier to do if they're slightly chilled. Pile them onto the top of the cake (broken pieces, crumbs and all) and drizzle that with the softened fudge frosting (first soften it in the microwave for about 10 seconds - just long enough to thin it). Chill until serving time.
For a gourmet touch, I like to split the layers or sheet cake in half and spread frosting between the layers as well. If you do it this way (and it's worth it to do it), the cake is much easier to work with if it's very well chilled. Who doesn't like extra layers of frosting? You could also sprinkle finely chopped peanut butter cups on top of the frosting between the layers.


text: Brazilian street artist and muralist, Eduardo Kobra continues to electrify cityscapes with vibrant, geometrical and extremely detailed images. Just last May, Kobra and his team, who are known for painting cultural icons, hit downtown Chicago to honor one of its natives and incredible bluesman, Muddy Waters. The 10-story mural of Waters brings energy to the streets of quintessential Chicago as a high profile addition to the Wabash Arts Corridor campaign beautifying blank walls in Chicago. (1)


text:
A.) Sorry, you will need to check with support directly about that issue, we are all users here. ZA staff do not monitor this board. If you feel more secured with official support please contact them directly at the link in signature, its free for registered users.
Moreover if you already contacted Tech Support then it's important you go back to them again to report the issue is not resolved.
B.) here is a suggestion that works for other users..
The instruction for a clean install are below,
1. Download the latest version Looking for the latest version? <== click here
2. Remove your current ZA version (in XP use Windows add/remove programs)
3. Remove other security tools installed. Use http://www.appremover.com/ to double check no left overs are present.
4. Clean your system and registry withthe Free Ccleaner.exe
5. Download to your desktop and run the ZA removal tool, now reboot after running ZA Removal tool.
6. Install the latest ZA version without touching any default settings,
and Do Not Restore Save Settings from the old install.
http://forums.zonealarm.com/showthread.php?t=78193 <=click here
Let us know how you have managed to resolve the issue. It will help other users with the same problem.


text:
Heineken Cup
Yachvili forced to sit out Sarries match
ESPNscrum Staff
November 15, 2011
Yachvili struggled with injury during the World Cup © Getty Images
Biarritz will be without star scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili for their Heineken Cup clash with Saracens on Saturday.
The 31-year-old struggled in the latter stages of the World Cup with a thigh injury and he underwent scans on Monday which determined the injury has once again flared up following their 28-21 loss to the Ospreys. The MRI scan showed traces of bleeding on the hematoma which means the 59-cap French international faces 15 days on the sidelines.
"He complained of pain at half-time and during the second half - every time he kicked he felt like he was punched in the leg," said Biarritz coach Patrice Lagisquet. The 15-day layoff means the scrum-half will also be forced to miss the Top 14 basement side's clash with Racing Metro.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Communication error please reload the page.


text:
Notice Number: NOT-PS-06-009
Key Dates
Release Date: April 7, 2006
Issued by
National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP/CDC), (http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/nchstp.html)
On February 23, 2006, the National Centers for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, CDC, issued a Request for Applications, entitled RFA-PS-06-009, "Strategies for Identifying At-Risk African American Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Who Are Unaware of Their HIV Status". This notice is to inform the scientific community:
The authority for this program includes Section 301(a), 42 U.S.C. 241(a), as amended, of the Public Health Service Act. Part I. Overview Information, Authority, is changed to the following:
Authority: This program is authorized under Section 301(a), 42 U.S.C. 241(a), of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, Section 317(k)(2) of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. Section 247b(k)(2)], as amended, and Section 318 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 247c), as amended.
This notice applies to applications received for the April 20, 2006 receipt date.
Direct questions about this change to:
Amy L. Sandul, Scientific Program Administrator
Extramural Research Program Office
National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mailstop E - 07
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
Telephone: (404) 639-6485
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
Office of Extramural
Research (OER)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Audio or Video files, see Help Downloading Files.


text:
And they lived happily ever after ...
This ubiquitous idiom—generally associated with fairy tales—presupposes a life of unending happiness until death. It's a universal goal to which most brides and grooms aspire when exchanging their marriage vows.But this isn't a story about happy endings, per se. Rather, it's about the joy of the journey and the wisdom to be found in one's professional peers, about open-mindedness and risk-taking, and about making the most of opportunities. For Sylvia Broeckx and Niels Puttemans of U.K.-based Ever After Video Productions, 2008 was a transformative year.
Launched in 2002 as a self-described "one-woman band," Broeckx and Puttemans' studio is now basking in the glow of "Best Wedding Day Film" of 2008 honors from the U.K.'s Institute of Videography (IOV) and making the most of the industry's newfound interest in its work by launching a training division. It's a whole new chapter for the Belgium natives, and therein lies the challenge-and the happy pursuit of their fairy tale ending.
ONCE UPON A TIMEGrowing up, Broeckx and Puttemans weren't the kids in the AV club, obsessing over the latest gadgets and shooting techniques. They were born 2 years and roughly 12 miles apart-he in Vilvoorde in March 1976; she in Asse in June 1978-and came to know each other through their involvement in a local orchestra, where she played the trumpet, and he played the bass clarinet. "We got to talking and found we had similar interests," Puttemans recalls, including a passion for music, "and in 1995, she asked me out on a date" to a performance of Mozart's "Requiem Mass in D Minor."
Over the next several years, they pursued degrees at universities in Leuven, Belgium, and Sheffield, England, about 3 hours north of London. Her academic credentials include a B.A. in art history (1999) from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U. Leuven) and a B.A. (Hons) in film studies (2002) from Sheffield Hallam University; his include an M.A. in musicology (1999) from K.U. Leuven and an M.Phil. (Master of Philosophy) in sound design (2008) from the University of Sheffield. Besides music, their shared hobbies include Latin and ballroom dancing (as students, they participated in a competitive dance program jointly run by their respective universities in Sheffield) and scuba diving.
By their own admission, Broeckx and Puttemans knew little about the profession they would ultimately choose for themselves. Broeckx's study of film history, theory, and criticism at Sheffield Hallam had exposed her to the art form, but the intricacies of event videography itself weren't part of the program. Even as they planned their own Sept. 1, 2001, wedding, they eschewed the idea of hiring a professional videographer because, as Puttemans puts it, "The state of Belgian videography wasn't something we'd consider spending money on." Instead, they turned to trusted friends to shoot the festivities.
EVER AFTERImagine Puttemans' reaction then when, one night the following spring, Broeckx announced she wanted to start a wedding film company. "I was about to graduate with my film studies degree and had noticed that there weren't many jobs in our area," Broeckx explains. At the time, "most film-related work was based in London, but I didn't like the idea of relocating. Because we had recently gotten married, our wedding was still in the back of my mind. Putting the two together resulted in the idea of a wedding day film business." Puttemans admits he "was so surprised" by the idea, he "wasn't sure if she meant it or was joking."
And yet, within minutes, the two were thinking about company names and a business plan. "We wanted a name people would easily remember and associate with weddings," Broeckx continues. "We wanted a name that sells a dream rather than a commodity-something that speaks to the imagination." Determined not to use "technology-related terms such as 'DV' or 'DVD,' even though that was quite popular in the U.K. at the time," they assembled a list of possibilities and checked domain name availability. "Ever After turned out to be our favorite, and the whole thing just snowballed from there." A few weeks later, Broeckx was filming her first wedding-at no charge-with borrowed camera gear. "At first, I provided technical support only when needed," Puttemans recalls, "but I was quickly bitten by the filming bug and am now an integral part of the business."
Since those early days, the couple has filmed roughly 150 weddings, mostly in the U.K. They work from their four-bedroom home in Sheffield, employing freelancers when needed. Broeckx serves as the main camera operator and editor, while Puttemans manages the equipment, sound acquisition, and DVD authoring. They offer four standard packages priced from roughly $2,300 to $4,400 (the "higher-end of the U.K. market," Broeckx says), as well as a "World Package" that includes all travel expenses; two Wedding Day Edit-only packages priced for basic or extended coverage; and a menu of add-ons, including Trash the Dress, movie trailers, end credits, and photo montages.
EVER MORELast year was pivotal for Ever After in more ways than one. After 6 years of operation, the studio entered its very first awards competitions-the IOV Awards and inaugural MCPS Musical Marriage Awards, held concurrently in Coventry, England, in mid-October. To the partners' great delight, all three entries did well: Ever After's Trash the Dress entry was chosen by the British public as one of three runners-up for the MCPS Musical Marriage Award; its 2008 show reel earned second place in the IOV Awards' Open category; and its video for the dramatic Dec. 8, 2007, wedding of Claire and Brian at Allerton Castle, in North Yorkshire, earned the top prize in the IOV Awards' Best Wedding Day Film category.
The timing couldn't have been better. Given the state of the economy in 2008, Puttemans and Broeckx had "briefly flirted with the idea" of doing corporate work using a different company name-mainly, he says, "to protect ourselves from the global economic downturn through diversification." Ironically, they learned of their IOV victories just before they were due "to make a final decision" about whether to proceed with the plan. The wave of industry attention that followed changed everything: Suddenly, "fellow videographers were contacting us with questions and asking about possible training opportunities," he says.
"There's only so much you can describe in an email or on the phone, so we thought, 'Why not demonstrate it in a typical wedding situation?'" Broeckx said in a December 2008 IOV story announcing the studio's first-ever training workshop. Structured as a "fun and intimate learning experience" with a high degree of interactivity, the Feb. 21-22 event gave 10 participants an opportunity to shoot a faux bride in a variety of locations using unconventional camera movements and setting techniques demonstrated by Broeckx and Puttemans. On the second day, the couple walked participants through Ever After's editing process using footage they captured on Day 1 and helped participants edit their own footage using some of those same techniques.
Puttemans says every Ever After Video Training workshop will be "tailored around the needs and wants of the participants" and will likely cover topics ranging from cinematic shooting and editing techniques to equipment selection and search engine optimization strategies. The training division, which he oversees, also provides exclusive one-on-one sessions with both partners and training DVDs. Adds Broeckx: "Offering training rather than branching out into corporate work allows us to keep the focus on our first love: wedding films."
CHAPTER AND VERSENot surprisingly, Ever After's style is heavily rooted in Broeckx and Puttemans' art history backgrounds. "Because Sylvia knows a lot about film theory, we've tried to incorporate some of those ideas and techniques into our wedding productions," Puttemans explains. Their "personal art preferences" are also an influence, having led to their "use of darker, highly saturated colors." When they aren't working, Broeckx adds, they try to see "at least five movies a week, spanning the entire spectrum of styles. Quite often, we'll discuss a shot, sequence, composition, or soundtrack-sometimes [as we're watching] the film!"
They're quick to cite other influences as well. "After joining the IOV, we were introduced to the massive array of tools available to our profession," Broeckx says. "It's also important to acknowledge the opportunities the internet has provided. Apart from attracting most of our customer base, it introduced us to the worldwide community of wedding videographers. Once we joined forums such as Video University and WedFACT, we realized there was much we didn't yet know. The welcoming attitude of American and other videographers has allowed us to improve and differentiate our work beyond our wildest dreams. The sharing of information through forums, conventions, seminars, and training DVDs [has] made a big difference."
"One specific example of this can be seen in our same-day edits," Puttemans elaborates. "We learned about the concept through the VU boards and an article in EventDV. After studying the Wedding Day Edits DVD produced by [four-time EventDV 25 honorees] Mark and Trisha Von Lanken, Sylvia decided the U.K. was ready for this concept, so we began marketing the idea to brides and videographers alike. We're happy to say that our seminar on the subject at the IOV's 2006 annual convention convinced several other U.K. videographers to give it a try."
Clearly, Broeckx and Puttemans aren't the only videographers adapting and evolving; the videography industry within the U.K. has gradually changed as well, and with it, the general public's appreciation for the services it provides. "When we founded the company, we noticed that our fellow videographers were happy to talk about the equipment, but they were very hesitant to show each other their work or to discuss methods or styles. It seemed most people were worried their style would be ripped off" by a competitor, Puttemans says. "In the past few years, this attitude has started to change. U.K. videographers have begun posting clips on their websites so others can see what they're doing and so the public perception of the profession might change. People are finally starting to realize that the only way this can happen is through information-sharing."
Marla Misek Clark (mjmno1 at aol.com) is a freelance writer and editor based in Alexandria, Va.


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Kurn Hattin Choir earns slot on WGBY TV show
WESTMINSTER -- Powered by lunch and youthful energy, the Kurn Hattin Homes for Children's Select Choir sounds pretty good as it runs through a medley of "Oh Happy Day" and "Lean on Me" Thursday afternoon.
Fitting songs as it turns out. The choir is preparing for a very big deal that is equal parts "Oh Happy Day" and "Lean on Me."
This morning, the three dozen singers in fifth to eighth grades will head to Springfield, Mass., where they will compete in WGBY's televised choral contest "Together in Song."
Kurn Hattin is the first Vermont chorus selected for the show and will compete with 37 other choral groups from the region for the chance to appear in the live finale at Springfield's Paramount Theater on April 28.
There was a palpable charge of excitement in the air Thursday as the students, supported by choir director Lisa Bianconi and several other volunteers, faculty and staff, ran through their medley.
"It means a lot to me and the rest of the choir because this is the most important thing we've done together as a group," said Jahyde Bullard, a 13-year-old student at the home and school for boys and girls ages 6-15 whose families are experiencing a time of need.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," added Talia Griffin, age 11.
No strangers to big deals, the Kurn Hattin choir has performed in New York, New Jersey and recently on stage at the Bellows Falls Opera House with Grammy-winning Cape Breton musician Natalie MacMaster. Still this one is extra special.
"For these kids to go to a TV station to have a taping is like the most amazing experience of their lives," said Bianconi, who received a steady stream of good wishes and congratulations from colleagues Thursday and was quick to share credit whenever she could. "I think the most important component of the Kurn Hattin program is that it's a team. ... It's not just the music program, it really supports the whole community."
The singers will be in the studios of public television station WGBY for a few minutes today, long enough to record their medley. "Together in Song," hosted by Springfield Symphony Orchestra Maestro Kevin Rhodes, will air on WGBY on Saturdays at 8 p.m., beginning on March 23. The Kurn Hattin choir will compete with 37 other choral groups in 10 categories according to age and genre. Each week, a panel of judges, as well as TV viewers, vote for the best group in each category.
School faculty and staff stopped by rehearsal Thursday afternoon and spoke words of encouragement, sweetening those words with the promise of extra ice cream and a "dress down" day in celebration.
"We are very, very proud of you guys," said Principal Scott Tabachnick.
"We already feel like we won," said Bianconi.
That's all well and good, but the singers have high aspirations.
"I just want to win so people could know our choir," said Jahyde Bullard.
The key to success? "Be proud of ourselves," said Musa Abdi, 13.
The producers of "Together in Song" found out about the choir through a Kurn Hattin trustee who lives in the Springfield area. From there, the Kurn Hattin choir sent in an audition tape and was selected to compete in the show.
Word that Kurn Hattin was selected came on Dec. 21, the day of the school's family holiday concert. It was the best possible holiday gift.
"They were so excited and full of energy," said Bianconi.
Today's TV taping is just the latest proud accomplishment for a music program at Kurn Hattin that dates back to the 1920s when it was established by Mrs. Esther Mayo, wife of then director Pete Mayo. Under Mrs. Mayo's direction, the band once performed at The Waldorf Astoria in New York City for the New England Women National Convention. Among Kurn Hattin's notable alumni musicians are Dick Nash, trombonist for Henri Mancini and Emmy Award-winner for the score of the TV series "The Thornbirds" -- (his original Kurn Hattin trombone hangs on the music room wall). Another graduate of Kurn Hattin is Herman Robinson, who performed with the Metropolitan Opera.
Now, these young people are writing a new chapter.
"What Kurn Hattin allows these children is to have a sense of accomplishment that comes with hard work. Good things go to all of those dedicated to our program," Bianconi said.
"Music is my life. I've made tons of friends just by expressing my talent with music," said D'Leanne Solovei, 14. "Music makes me feel like I'm not alone ... that I have lots of people that I can connect with."
For information on "Together in Song" and broadcast times, visit togetherinsong.wgby.org. For more in Kurn Hattin Homes, visit www.kurnhattin.org.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


text:
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, March 1, 2013, 9:43 AM
Town Square
Groupon CEO: 'I was fired'
Original post made on Mar 1, 2013
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, March 1, 2013, 9:43 AM
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 1, 2013 at 9:58 am
Mr. Mason should seek employment in the public sector for his next job. Poor performance is not a reason for dismissal in that domain.
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Mar 1, 2013 at 10:08 am
Like many other corporate executives, Andrew Mason got in over his head and his arrogance and stubbornness ruined not just his job but also the jobs of hundreds of others.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Mar 1, 2013 at 10:55 am
The guy said he's accountable, but he should've said he's at fault - that would've actually been candid. His letter was the departure letter equivalent of settling out of court while not admitting guilt.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 1, 2013 at 1:36 pm
This is a smart guy and he will rise again, like many other tech founders.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Mar 1, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Any tech company with its main office in Chicago -- no wonder they didn't have the brains to succeed. Jeez, is this Silicon Valley elitism speaking?
a resident of Green Acres
on Mar 1, 2013 at 2:55 pm
I wish him well. With what Obama has done to our economy, how is any company to guarantee anything
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Mar 1, 2013 at 3:16 pm
How quickly the Fox News fans are brain washed. The economy crashed under George Bush. Obama has brought the stock markets back to near record highs.
a resident of University South
on Mar 1, 2013 at 3:59 pm
I can only assume Mr. Mason is a millionaire several times over and received an obscene severance. Please tell me I am wrong.
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Mar 2, 2013 at 8:26 am
Coupon will be history by the end of 2014.
a resident of Portola Valley
on Mar 2, 2013 at 10:32 am
He made plenty of money from the IPO, but his severance was less than $400 (plus six months of health benefits). See:
Web Link
a resident of Barron Park
on Mar 4, 2013 at 12:54 am
Cedric de La Beaujardiere is a registered user.
I recently watched a program on KQED Channel 9 about early silicon valley entrepreneurs, maybe it was "Something Ventured (Web Link). Anyway, one of the people interviewed said something to the effect that original founders of companies rarely last long in their position after the company either gets venture capital or goes public (I don't recall which, probably the later). It's probably a very different skill set to come up with a good idea and make it happen, than to create and run a company, and set and meet quarterly goals. It must be traumatic to be pushed out of the company one has created. Presumably, that trauma is assuaged somewhat if one has gotten millions of dollars through the venture.
The article Ladera Cyclist linked to says, "It's unclear why the famously quirky Mason chose the strangely precise figure of $756.72" for his annual salary. I notice that (7+5)*6=72, though that doesn't explain anything.


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First of all, what's his name? I don't have any of my books to check because someone is borrowing them. Second, is he a Pureblood?
First of all, what's his name? I don't have any of my books to check because someone is borrowing them. Second, is he a Pureblood?
Who are you talking about? The man who executed Buckbeak? I don't think he had a name. He was just some random man who didn't have a big enough part in the books to be given a name.
But if he is going to have a big part in your story, I say just make up a name.
Buckbeak's executioner was Macnair. The following is listed for him as to his job besides being a Death Eater.
Walden Macnair's respectable front for years was that he was an executioner for the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures (PA16).
Terri Black (as in Mrs Sirius {aka Padfoot} Black)
Hufflepuff Head of House
He probably is a pureblood because he's a Death Eater, Voldemort, Snape and possibly Pettigrew seem to be the only exceptions to the pureblood rule to becoming part of the Dark Lord'd gang.
I write. I drabble. I duel. I poet. I'm a BADGER!!!
Banner by the fabulous Julia - theoplaeye
There were many, many halfblood death eaters, though they all pretended to be pureblood.
Thanks to everyone who answered. It helped a lot.
Really? Where is that stated in canon?Originally Posted by Halgy
There may well have been some non-pureblood Death Eaters, who may have been pretending to be purebloods, but the only ones we know about from canon are Voldemort and Snape. (We don't know about Peter, and it's not clear that he was ever an official "Death Eater" per se.)
The executioner was Macnair, as everyone already said. I think he was a pureblood because if I remember right he hung out with Malfoy in school.
I know this isn't technically for this thread, but it questioned me. Why would you think he was never and official Death Eater? He had the mark, didn't he? Greyback was never and official Death Eater because he didn't have the mark.We don't know about Peter, and it's not clear that he was ever an official "Death Eater" per se.
Sorry for sounding so...snob-ish about it. You are right; there are no other ones that are stated as such in cannon, but it is implied a few times that many deatheater pure-bloods are half-bloods. In any case, the possibility of half-bloods being deatheaters is proven by Snape's deatheaterdom.Originally Posted by Inverarity
I don't recall any such implications. The fact that Snape was a half-blood didn't seem to be public knowledge.Originally Posted by Halgy
I did forget about Peter taking the Dark Mark, though.
So, it's probably reasonable to assume Macnair is a pureblood.


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I installed the ZA Free Firewall(latest version) earlier today. Whenever I go to open Internet Explorer (latest version), it comes up with the "Internet Explorer cannot display the page" error. In the program control section of ZA , it displays two program files for IE, both of which have complete and total access. However, changing any of these settings does not change anything, and whenever IE is opened it automatically brings up the "IE cannot display the page" error. Even turning all ZA operations off still brings up the same message. IE was working fine before I installed ZA Firewall, so that basically leaves one culprit.
Details: I am running Windows 7 Home Premium and ZA 9.2.057.000


text: Recently purchased my spouse a new desktop with Windows 7 64 bit. Installed Extreme Security via direct connect to wireless router then attempted to install Netgear USB wireless adapter. Software for adapter installed correctly but was unable to see any wireless network even though it was setting within 3 ft of wireless router. After working for a number of hours and trying various suggested fixes by 3rd party "experts" gave up and did a complete reload of the systems operating system. Installed Netgear USB wireless adapter software first and adapter worked as it was supposed to. Since then I got a reply from Netgear tech support (over a week from initial problem report) and they indicate that the problem is with Kaspersky software installed on the system. Do not know if Zone Alarm uses this software in virus detection but suspect so due to Negear not installing with Zone Alarm installed (note did shutdown Zone Alarm but still would not install) and would install without Zone Alarm installed. Here is the link to the problem and solution:


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Porcello scheduled to work on Tigers' off-day
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
LAKELAND, Fla. -- While most of the Tigers enjoy their lone off-day of the spring, Rick Porcello will be on the back fields of the Tigertown complex, getting in his scheduled work against Minor League hitters in an intrasquad game. It's becoming an annual routine for him, the way the schedule falls.
The Tigers always schedule an off-day in Spring Training for the Wednesday of the next-to-last week of camp, giving them just over a week to ramp up workouts and make final player evaluations and roster decisions before heading north. In turn, the Tigers line up their Spring Training rotation in large part based on how their schedule falls to open the regular season.
For the fourth time in five years, Porcello's spot in the rotation falls on the off-day. Rather than change his start-to-start routine, the Tigers have him pitch in a Minor League game. It's not that common for Major League starters to do; some teams will move a big league starter or two over there for a spot start instead of have him face a division rival late in Spring Training.
The catch for Porcello, though, is that his Minor League start seems to always cost him an off-day. Instead of sleeping in, Porcello will be on the mound for an 11 a.m. ET contest against a lineup of Tigers farmhands.
Anibal's shoulder inflammation not major concern
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Manager Brad Ausmus wasn't worried about the status of Anibal Sanchez on Tuesday, a day after the right-hander was scratched from a scheduled start because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Sanchez's schedule for the rest of this week, however, appears to be on hold.
"We've kind of mapped out a schedule," Ausmus said. "Sanchie doesn't seem concerned about it."
Sanchez told Venezuelan reporter Wilmer Reina on Tuesday morning that he received a cortisone shot in the shoulder to relieve inflammation around a nerve. He won't throw for a few days.
Sanchez's next turn in the Spring Training rotation would have come up on Saturday, but he's now on track to start Monday against the Pirates barring any setbacks. If he makes that outing, as well as next Saturday's exhibition against the Nationals in Washington, he should be on track to remain on turn for the third game of the regular season on April 3 against Kansas City.
"We can still get him around 100 pitches in his last start if everything goes according to plan," Ausmus said.
The inflammation is believed to be similar to the strain in the shoulder that sidelined Sanchez last June. Sanchez had to go on the disabled list at that time so the Tigers could fill his spot in the rotation.
Ausmus giving Davis more time to heal
LAKELAND, Fla. -- After spending most of Spring Training getting his legs ready for the regular season, speedster Rajai Davis is being slowed down for a few days, and he will sit until Friday to allow his sore right hamstring some time to heal.
The decision came down to manager Brad Ausmus, who scratched Davis from the lineup for Tuesday's home split-squad game against the Blue Jays. The Tigers are off on Wednesday, and Davis already was scheduled to skip Thursday's trip to Viera, Fla., to face the Nationals.
"We just decided with the off-day [to] give him the three days," Ausmus said. "He'll come in and do some baseball work on Thursday.
"I didn't even ask him. I just came in and made an executive decision. With the off-day tomorrow, there's no reason to play him today. The outfield's still a little bit wet. He's got 35 at-bats or something. We can get him more at-bats in the last 10 days. I just pulled the plug on him."
Smyly carves up Blue Jays with cut fastball
LAKELAND, Fla. -- While Drew Smyly has made steady progress all spring in bringing a changeup back to his repertoire, his cut fastball has been a work in progress. He didn't have it at all against the Marlins last week and struggled, but Smyly had faith he'd find it again like he has in two previous camps.
On Tuesday, he found it, and he cruised through five shutout innings in the Tigers' 18-4 win over the Blue Jays.
"My tempo was better, my control was better, and my cutter was finally cutting," Smyly said. "All around, I think I was a lot sharper than I was the last few games."
Smyly doesn't know why it came back; he's just glad it did.
"You just kind of wake up one game and it's there, going for you," Smyly said. "It can still get better for sure, but today it at least had the action that it's supposed to have. That was good to see. For me, that kind of changes the whole dynamic."
Smyly had some encouragement on the pitch from Alex Avila, who caught him for just the second time this spring.
"Sometimes for pitchers, some pitches they don't have a feel for it and you keep throwing, keep throwing, keep working on it and it comes back," Avila said. "Today, I made sure I called a lot of cutters to make sure he threw it. He had it going today."
Smyly's velocity took a step up along with his command. His fastball ranged from 89-93 mph, according to manager Brad Ausmus, and topped out on a pitch at 95.
Quick hits
• Though the Tigers made three outs on the basepaths early in Tuesday's 18-4 win over the Blue Jays, Ausmus said he was impressed with two reads that his baserunners made on pitches in the dirt. In particular, Hernan Perez scored from third on a third-inning wild pitch by Ricky Romero that didn't skip far past catcher Dioner Navarro, allowing Perez to dash home as Navarro tried a no-look toss behind his back. Torii Hunter took second base on the same pitch.
• Ausmus, who has talked about trying out some ideas on shifts this spring, experimented with a two-strike shift for the first time, moving Danny Worth from third base to short right field on Blue Jays left-handed hitter Colby Rasmus in the fifth inning. Ausmus waited until two strikes to shift Worth because he didn't want to leave the left side of the infield open for a bunt. "That's the first time we've done that this spring with a guy who can bunt a little bit," Ausmus said. "I don't think he really falls into the category of a hitter that tries to direct the ball the other way with two strikes. There won't be many of those."
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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I was recently skimming through my Data Book and noticed that there aren't any stats for Madara. So I thought it would be fun to give an educated guess as to what his skills amount to on a score board. Note: this is not a rating of Edo Madara, however, I will use some of what we've seen from him (in his Edo state) within perspective and reason. Also, his Rinnegan/Mokuton will not be counted. Please enjoy.
It will be catagorized through: Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Intelligence, Strength, Speed, Stamina Hand Seals, and Total score.
Ninjutsu - Madara was known as a master Fire style user and a profficient knowledge in Yin-Yang release, as well. With Fire, he was able to create great walls of fire and even dragon-shaped fire balls. His fire style was so powerful, it took several Water Wall jutsu's just to repel his flames. He was strong enough to burn Tsunade, even with her Strength of a Hundred Technique active. With Yin/Yang, he was able to create clones of White Zetsu and even put his will into a mass and create Black Zetsu. So Madara gets a 5 in this catagory.
Genjutsu - While not much has been given on his exact skill in this catagory, he would have atleast a adept skill with it, seeing as he awoken it at a very young age. Now, normally I'd give him a 4 in this, BUT seeing as he is only 1 of 2 Uchiha that have been shown to be powerful enough to enslave the 9-tails to his will, I have to give him a 5.
Taijutsu - Now, we do not know how much, if any, did Kabuto boosts in this catagory, so I will use it within reason. He has been shown quick enough to dodge Gaara's sand and Mei's Lava Release at close range. Also, he was able to guard himself against A (in his lightning armor) without the use of Susanoo. He was able to disarm other shinobi and kick an enemy double his size with ease. For this, I will give him a 4.5. He cannot receive a 5, in my book, because Guy is a 5 and I refuse to believe Madara's Taijutsu is on par with his.
Intelligence - You cannot debate his high intellect. He has created an elaborate plan that has spanned decades upon decades. He has been shown great knowledge in DNA, Medical and Surgical, and even genetics and human anatomy. He even created a living clone of Hashirama. He has a 5.
Strength - He has been noted to have extremely powerful chakra, even by Uchiha standards. He also was able to fight and SURVIVE many battles with Hashirama, himself. His very name would send a wave of fear into anyone who has heard of him. For this, he gets a 5.
Speed - As stated in the Taijutsu section, he was able to dodge many attacks at close and long range, and even disarm people before they had a chance to react. He was able to block an attack by A in his Lighting armor. He gets another 5.
Stamina - This is a tricky one to judge. I've have read people's comments about him fighting Hashi for 3 days and 3 nights and so on. But I cannot find any source to verify this. But he has been able to fight Hashi and Hashi has great stamina being a Senju. For the moment, until I get any further proof, I will give him a 4.
Hand Seals - Well, with him being great at Ninjutsu and having a 5 in speed, I will give him a 5.
Total Score - 38.5
Hope you enjoyed, let me know what you think.


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The US Bureau of Land Management released a draft resource management plan (RMP) for its Grand Junction, Colo., field office, and will accept comments on it until Apr. 25. The final RMP will guide management decisions involving more than 1 million surface acres and 1.2 million of subsurface mineral estate for the next several decades, it said on Jan. 14.
"We've worked hard with our partners to craft a wide range of alternatives for public review and comment," said Katie Stevens, the field office's acting manager. "We only revise these plans about every 2 decades, so this is a really important opportunity to make your voice heard about how public lands are managed in the Grand Junction Field Office."
Public hearings about the draft RMP have been scheduled for Jan. 29 in Colbran, Jan. 30 in DeBeque, Jan. 31 in Grand Junction, Feb. 5 in Gateway, and Feb. 7 in Fruita.
It analyzes four potential management plans. While one is labeled "preferred," none represents a final decision, BLM emphasized. The US Department of the Interior agency will use the public comments to help develop a proposed RMP/final environmental impact statement, which is scheduled for release next winter. In development of the proposed RMP, BLM may select various management actions from each of the alternatives analyzed in this draft, BLM said.
Contact Nick Snow at email@example.com.


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In addition to drawing traffic to websites consistently, evergreen content helps businesses develop brand authority, maintain buzz on social media, receive spikes in traffic, and rank higher in search engine results.
As you plan your new content for 2013, take the time to review your most popular existing content. It can be just as valuable as the new stuff, especially when you optimize it to make it work even harder.
Here are nine ways to do it.
1. Update and advertise.
Create reminders to freshen evergreen content with updated information and statistics. The updates keep the content relevant and keep people coming to the site. Feel free to post a link to the updated content on a landing page with a sentence or two explaining the change.
2. Turn seasonal into evergreen.
When reviewing posts, look for opportunities to turn the most popular posts into evergreen posts. Even content with a seasonal slant can carry valuable information for any time of year. Update those posts by broadening them from a specific event.
3. Re-share your good stuff.
Just because a post hasn't been updated in a while doesn't mean that it doesn't still carry value. Re-share the post occasionally. Long-time followers may notice that it's content they have seen before, but the content will reach new followers and others who simply missed it.
4. Make the content appear fresh.
Taking the time to update or rewrite a post with new information doesn't guarantee that people will read the content. Often older content (even if valuable and updated) is passed over by searchers because of its publication date. Before publishing, reset the publication date.
Google's keyword tool can help you find search terms that you may have overlooked and optimize for them.
5. Let people see it.
Use a tool, such as Google Analytics, to find what keywords people use to find the evergreen content. Using those keywords, ensure that the content is optimized for them. Also take the time to add social sharing buttons. An influencer's tweeting a link could bring a spike in traffic.
6. Promote the goods.
Take advantage of industry trends and breaking news to promote relevant content. If the Food and Drug Administration touts the benefits of a superfood, share the post you wrote about that food.
Also, just because a piece of content that fits the evergreen mold hasn't taken off, don't give up on it. Promote that content as you would the established content. With any luck, it will take off.
7. Increase conversion rates.
Because evergreen content consistently draws traffic, take the opportunity to drive conversion rates. Insert strong calls to action within the post that direct customers to products and services related to the evergreen content.
8. Do site maintenance.
It's not enough to simply update a piece of content's facts and figures. Ensure that each link used still works. If it doesn't, try to find the information on a different part of the site or similar content posted elsewhere.
9. Use internal linking.
When people visit your site, you might as well keep them there. Insert internal links into evergreen content as much as possible. (The practice has the added benefit of boosting search engine optimization.) Related posts widgets, such as Shareaholic Recommendations, also help as they select similar content by using information from sharing buttons, keywords, and analytics.
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There is rarely any reason for anyone except the most die-hard football fans to stick around for the second day of the NFL draft. For one, yeah, there's a chance your team could select the next Tom Brady in the seventh round, really? Not going to happen. And if it does, do you really need to be there to see it?
Two, you have to stare at Mel Kiper's hair for another eight hours. That's just too much.
But there is one fun second-day ritual at the draft, and that's the annual selection of Mister Irrelevant. That playful title is bestowed upon the last overall pick in every year's draft. The player usually takes his brief -- and by brief, we mean, like, one day long -- moment of fame, reports to camp, is eventually cut, and moves on with his life. Rarely is a contract negotiation part of this story.
Not so for 2009's Mr. Irrelevant, former South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop. Succop is not merely sticking around Chiefs training camp. Oh no. He's done one better, reaching an agreement with the Chiefs on a $1.2 million contract. Not only is that not bad for the draft's final pick, it's not bad for a kicker, either, especially a rookie kicker. Succop's agent deserves an extra percentage or two for that. Or at least "Jerry Maguire" on Blu-Ray.
Succop's job isn't guaranteed; he's expected to compete with Chiefs kicker Connor Barth for the starting job. For now, though, he's no longer Mister Irrelevant. Daddy Warbucks is more like it.
Eamonn Brennan is a Chicago-based writer, editor and blogger. You can also read him at Yahoo! Sports, Mouthpiece Sports Blog, and Inside The Hall, or at his personal site, eamonnbrennan.com. Follow him on Twitter.


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MIAMI, Florida, August 7, 2008 (ENS) - The link between a warmer climate and more powerful rainstorms has been confirmed by scientists using both computer models and satellite observations gathered over a period of 20 years.
Heavy rain events increase during warm periods and decrease during cold periods, according to the scientists in Florida and England who said today that their research is the first to provide observational evidence linking higher temperatures with heavier rains.
"We use satellite observations and model simulations to examine the response of tropical precipitation events to naturally driven changes in surface temperature and atmospheric moisture content," they explained.
The study focused on changes in sea surface temperatures associated with El Niño, a pattern of warming in the central tropical Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America that results in floods, droughts, and other disturbances around the world.
El Niño patterns occur at irregular intervals of two to seven years and usually last from one or two years.
Based on satellite observations combined with data from computer models the scientists found "a distinct link" between tropical rainfall extremes and temperature.
"A warmer atmosphere contains larger amounts of moisture which boosts the intensity of heavy downpours," said study author Dr. Brian Soden, an associate professor of meteorology and physical oceanography at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
Both observations and models indicated an increase in heavy rainstorms in response to a warmer climate, but Soden and his team found the amplification of rainfall extremes observed by satellite was "substantially larger" than that predicted by the computer models.
This means that projections of future changes in rainfall extremes due to global warming caused by human activities may be underestimated, and future rains may be even heavier than previously thought.
"Comparing observations with results from computer models improves understanding of how rainfall responds to a warming world," said co-author Dr. Richard Allan of the University of Reading's Environmental Systems Science Centre.
"Differences can relate to deficiencies in the measurements, or the models used to predict future climatic change," he said.
Established by the UK's Natural Environment Research Council, ESSC undertakes research into how life, land, oceans, atmosphere and ice sheets interact with each other.
Soden says the sensitivity of the Earth's climate to an increase in the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide depends on the response of clouds and water vapor.
"My research strives to better understand the role of atmospheric hydrologic processes in governing climate and climate change through the use of satellite observations and mathematical models of Earth's climate," Soden says on his website. "This research is motivated by the need to better understand how human activities are altering Earth's climate."
The report, "Atmospheric Warming and the Amplification of Precipitation Extremes," is previewed online in "Science Express" today, and set for publication in an upcoming issue of the journal "Science," a publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.


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Busted Knuckles - 2008 Chevy Suburban
Pretty as a penny - mean as a pitbull
Killer instincts are one of the required assets to outlast inferior species in nature's hierarchy. Whether it's the speed of a cheetah, teeth of a great white shark, or venom from a king cobra, certain abilities and inherit instincts ensure survival of the fittest. What if there was a creature with all of these killer attributes in one pretty package? Without question, that freak of nature would send fear into the hearts of everything in its path. In the world of custom trucks, there is an unspoken hierarchy where builders who have been creating works of art for decades have developed abilities to fabricate one-off trucks we as bolt-on customizers see as freaks of nature. One such builder is Bill Carlton, owner of Ekstensive Metalworks in Houston. Working on customer's trucks every day leaves little time to work on his own projects, and not since his amazing HUMMER H2 named "Game Over" (Truckin' Issue 13, Volume 32) has he rolled out a truck of his own. Get ready, here comes a freak.
I got a call one day from Bill that went something like this, "Man, I just bought a Suburban and I'm gonna cut it up." When Bill says he's going to "cut something up," you better believe it's going to be cool. Starting with a 2008 Chevy Suburban he picked up at an auto auction, the Ekstensive crew, along with Tim Donelson owner of Color Blind, started by unbolting the body from the frame and setting the body on a jig. After taking several measurements and using tape to create new body shapes, a Sawzall and plasma cutter made short work of the cuts. Tacked together, with 26 total inches removed, the new body looked insane as the team basically created a two-door Tahoe that Chevrolet never envisioned. A freak indeed. Bill plans on making the side one-piece glass like the older two-door Tahoes and using the factory front doors, albeit with a heavily modified B-pillar for strength and good looks. Up front, the Suburban sheetmetal will be replaced with Silverado HD offerings, providing a mind-trip when looking at the 'Burban from the head-on view. A complete smoothing of the body's unnecessary components will clean up the massaged sheetmetal and a bath in copper paint will really make the two-door stand out.
No custom truck rolls out of Ekstensive Metalworks with a factory suspension, and with Bill's personal truck, the team is going all out with mandrel-bent framerails, two-link in the rear, and Ekstensive's own front suspension that will allow the 'Burban to tuck 28-inch wheels. The 5.3L will receive a full dress-up job with plenty of parts from Street and Performance, and we're told a polished MagnaCharger supercharger may make its way atop the engine for a potent 500hp combo. Inside, the 'Burban will feature leather and painted fiberglass throughout with enough room for his expanding family.
If a zoo had a legitimate freak of nature on display, wouldn't you want to go see it for yourself? So would we, and we can't wait to check out this insane truck when it debuts right here in Truckin' magazine.
If a zoo had a legitimate freak of nature on display, wouldn't you want to go see it for yourself? So would we, and we can't wait to check out this insane truck when it debuts right here in Truckin' magazine.


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Disc Makers has completed a major upgrade of its in-house mastering facility, the SoundLab at Disc Makers. The new suite will provide independent artists with post-production and a professional quality final product, the company claims.
The new SoundLab suite uses both SADiE and Sonic Studio and is equipped with digital and analog processing gear from Weiss, TC Electronics, Apogee, George Massenberg Labs, Avalon Designs, and Focusrite. It is outfitted with Dynaudio Acoustic M-3 speakers powered by Chord monoblocks.


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WIMBLEDON, England -- Yes, it was a victory for quirk. For the weird. For the unconventional. And for a Wimbledon that has seen wacky result after wacky result, who else could be the face of the tournament but a 28-year-old Marion Bartoli, the fighting Frenchwoman who owned the moment and stood tall while her younger opponent, 23-year-old Sabine Lisicki, crumbled?
When Lisicki broke Bartoli in the first game of the match, Bartoli shrugged it off to win six straight games. When Lisicki was trying to serve through her tears after falling behind again in the second set, Bartoli just kept cracking winners. And when Lisicki reeled off three straight games to breathe life into the match and keep her hopes alive, Bartoli stepped up to the line and held at love. Championship point ended on an ace. Not even Bartoli the Dreamer could imagine it would finish this way.
"That was the perfect day," Bartoli said. "It was sunny. It was beautiful. Centre Court Wimbledon, it was packed. I won in two sets. I didn't drop a set for the whole championship. Even in my perfect dream I couldn't have dreamed a perfect moment like that. That is beyond perfection."
But look past the unexpected and the obsession over Bartoli's unorthodox, well, everything, and this was a victory for perseverance. Bartoli didn't come out of nowhere. She is not a fresh-faced new name or a talented but random one-off. Her two-fisted, twitchy game has helped her reach the quarterfinals or better at all four Grand Slam tournaments. She's been ranked in the top 20 for every week for the last six years. She's defeated big names, such as Serena and Venus Williams, Justine Henin and Victoria Azarenka, And she's been around the tour long enough to know that winning streaks, rankings and money don't matter anymore. She's all about the Slams. And now she finally got hers.
"I don't know if you can really realize, but for a tennis player, you start to play like at 5 or 6 years old," she said. "When you decide to turn pro, your dream is to win a Grand Slam. You dream about it every single day. You think about it every single day. So when it happens, you feel like you've achieve something that you dream about for maybe a million hours.
"You went through pain, you went through tears, you went through low moments, and actually it happened. Those five, 10 seconds before you shake the hands of your opponent, you feel like you're almost not walking any more on earth. You're really flying."
Here are some of our favorite photos from the women's final. Fly, Marion. Fly.
The moment of shock. She still can't believe she did it. "Just to finish on an ace to win Wimbledon and you saw the chalk come out of the line," Bartoli said. "I could have seen it in slow motion. I could see the ball landing, the chalk come out, it's an ace, and I've just won Wimbledon. You can't describe that kind of feeling. You cannot put any words what I feel in this moment. I can't believe I won Wimbledon this year. We'll have to see the pictures, to see the match again on DVD to kind of starting to realize it." (Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)
The spirit of Agnieszka Radwanska lives on. (Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)
Bartoli became the first woman in the Open era to win Wimbledon hitting with both hands on both the forehand and backhand sides. That doesn't mean she didn't go to the one-hander every once in a while. You gotta do what you gotta do to win Wimbledon. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images)
Lisicki should take great confidence from these last two weeks into the hard-court season. She's rarely been able to replicate her Wimbledon success elsewhere, but she'll be one to watch at the U.S. Open. "I think I'll take a good rest to recover my body, to give it all the energy back and then prepare well for the hard-court season, which I'm looking forward to," she said. (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The ladies' locker room isn't as catty as people like to make it out to be. Great sportsmanship from the two, as Bartoli put her arm around Lisicki's shoulder as they walked off court. (Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)
Bartoli's title run came out of nowhere, given her 2013 results. She had not won more than two matches in any tournament coming into Wimbledon. Asked for an explanation, Bartoli laughed. "Well, that's me." (Getty Images)


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How to Live a 'Green' Life
Students from Southwestern who are interested in the environment are collaborating with students interested in theatre for social justice to try a new approach to environmental awareness.
The two groups have developed a travelling show that will take people to different places on campus where students encounter decisions that affect the environment. The show, titled "Sam I Am," will feature a student named Sam who doesn't know where to start to live a "green" life.
Performances will be given at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31; Saturday, Nov. 1; and Sunday, Nov. 2. Those interested in seeing the show should gather in the atrium of Mood-Bridwell Hall.
"The show offers a realistic outlook on the small acts of kindness that can start to save the world," said Connor Hanrahan, a junior who is involved with SEAK, the student environmental group on campus. "We'll travel across campus to introduce the audience to multiple ways that they can make a difference in preserving our most precious resources without dedicating their lives to activism. After the show, they'll be equipped with all of the tools they need to stop feeling too small to help, and start feeling empowered to make changes." Hanrahan said he hopes those who see the show will enjoy the energy and excitement that emanates from activism.
"Most of the members of SEAK didn't even start being 'activists' until they came to Southwestern," he said. "It's not something that you're born with, or that you have to do for a living. Activism is just a mindset − it means that you actively engage with the world, its inhabitants and the environment. The reason we love it is that we love the people who are involved. When you have a group of activated individuals, there's an energy that connects everybody."
Amy Litzinger, one of the directors of the show, said the Theatre for Social Justice group plans to collaborate with other student organizations in the future to use theatre to further a variety of causes.


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HINESVILLE, Ga. — A former Army medic pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he burned bloody clothes, spent shotgun shells and a cellphone to try to help fellow soldiers cover up a double killing that prosecutors say was linked to a militia group plotting terrorist attacks while operating inside the military at Fort Stewart near Savannah.
Former Pfc. Christopher Jenderseck of Fargo, N.D., told a Liberty County Superior Court judge he built the backyard bonfire used to dispose of the items last December. He said none of his fellow soldiers told him that he was destroying evidence to cover up a killing, though he figured it out as the fire burned. Still, Jenderseck admitted he did nothing to stop them.
"I was ashamed of myself that I let myself become a part of this," the 26-year-old Iraq veteran told the judge.
Jenderseck was the second defendant to plead guilty in a case that's stunned this military community near the Georgia coast.
Ten people, including eight current and former Fort Stewart soldiers, have been jailed on charges they belonged to an anti-government group that prosecutors say plotted to bomb a park fountain in nearby Savannah, poison apple orchards in Washington state and ultimately assassinate the American president.
Civilian and military authorities began investigating the group last December after fishermen in neighboring Long County found the bodies of 19-year-old Michael Roark, a former soldier who had been discharged from the military just days earlier, and his girlfriend, 17-year-old Tiffany York. Both had been shot in the head at point-blank range and their bodies left in the woods.
Four Fort Stewart soldiers were soon arrested in the slayings. It was months later, during a court hearing in Augusta, when prosecutors revealed the larger terror plots. They said the group called F.E.AR. — for Forever Enduring Always Ready — stockpiled more than $87,000 worth of guns and bomb components. Prosecutors say Roark and York were killed because they knew about the militia group and its leader, Army Pvt. Isaac Aguigui, feared they might talk after Roark left the military.
District Attorney Tom Durden is seeking the death penalty for Aguigui and two other soldiers in the killings — Sgt. Anthony Peden and Pvt. Christopher Salmon. A fourth soldier, Pfc. Michael Burnett, pleaded guilty in August to manslaughter charges. He said Aguigui ordered the killings. He told a judge he witnessed Salmon shoot Roark and Peden shoot York.
Salmon's wife has also been charged, as have three other soldiers and a civilian who prosecutors say committed home burglaries and car break-ins to help fund the group.
But prosecutors said Jenderseck's only involvement was helping the others burn a cellphone, spent shotgun shells used in the killings and clothing the shooters wore that was spattered with blood and brain matter. Investigators later found charred remains of those items in the backyard of Army Sgt. Anthony Peden, who's charged with being one of the shooters.
"Mr. Jenderseck was not present" during the killings, Durden told reporters after court. "Although he was a member of the group, he was not involved directly in the homicides."
That's one reason why prosecutors agreed to let Jenderseck, who had been jailed since mid-September, serve the rest of his seven-year sentence on probation. His defense attorney, Jarrett Maillet, said Jenderseck planned to return to Fargo, N.D., where he enrolled in college after his enlistment with the Army ended in April.
Jenderseck's plea deal requires him to testify against the other defendants in the case and against any new suspects who may be charged later on. However, Durden said Monday he doesn't anticipate any more arrests, though he cautioned he couldn't be certain.
Prosecutor Isabel Pauley told the judge Monday that Aguigui recruited Jenderseck into his militia group last year at a time when he was psychologically vulnerable. Jenderseck had recently finished a tour in Iraq and had plenty of heartache on the homefront. His grandfather had died, his marriage had failed and a soldier friend had committed suicide.
Aguigui, Pauley said, was interested in recruiting Jenderseck because he was a trained combat medic.
"Aguigui questioned this defendant and asked him, 'If I were to bring you someone filled with holes, could you fix him up?'"
Jenderseck ended up getting a tattoo on his right shoulder — the Greek letters alpha and omega intersecting to form an anarchy symbol — that prosecutors say members of Aguigui's group wore. Jenderseck said he had the tattoo covered up with another after the killings because he was ashamed.
His attorney said that while Jenderseck may have been disgruntled with the military when he joined up with Aguigui, he wasn't onboard with carrying out terrorist attacks and knew little of such plots.
"The leader of this group would kind of keep them in the dark and the right hand didn't know what the left had was doing," Maillet said. "What he did know about it he thought was a bunch of talk, and not so much action."


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Eric J. Fritsch, Graduate Adviser
Graduate Faculty: Caeti, Caputo, Chilton, Enos, Fritsch, Holman, Taylor, Tobolowsky.
Applied research projects and program evaluation studies are conducted by the Department of Criminal Justice. The department's current research programs and interests focus on the evaluation of gang intervention units, the development of information systems in criminal justice agencies, the impact of international and domestic terrorism in the United States, the evaluation of local community policing programs, the impact of juvenile crime and laws on the criminal justice system, the investigation of patterns in juvenile homicide victimization, and the effects of substance abuse on crime. In addition, the department's Center for Victim Studies opened in 1995. Its mission is to foster continuing education, academic training and research regarding victims of crime and violence.
The Department of Criminal Justice offers a graduate program leading to the following degree:
The primary objective of the degree program is to provide students with a master's level understanding of the nature and scope of the problems posed by crime, and the operation and administration of the agencies charged with addressing this social problem. The central goal of the Master of Science with a major in criminal justice is to improve the ability of its graduates to undertake informed and thoughtful action as direct workers, administrators, or researchers in the justice system. The program prepares students for entry-level positions in the justice system for students beginning their professional careers and job advancement for students already employed in the justice system. The program also prepares students who are interested in pursuing a PhD upon completion of the master's degree. The master's degree in criminal justice allows each student to take a number of electives, thus permitting students to tailor their degrees to their professional and personal needs. The faculty in the Department of Criminal Justice come from a diverse range of educational and professional backgrounds including criminal justice, law, sociology, political science, social work and urban studies.
All general admission requirements to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies, as outlined elsewhere in this bulletin, must be fulfilled. Application must first be made to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies through the office of the graduate dean. Once the student is admitted to the graduate school, the application will be reviewed by the department for admission to the Master of Science with a major in criminal justice program.
Admission to the program leading to the Master of Science with a major in criminal justice requires satisfactory completion of at least 9 hours of undergraduate work in criminal justice. This requirement can be waived for individuals with significant experience in the criminal justice field. In addition, admission to the program leading to the Master of Science with a major in criminal justice requires satisfactory completion of at least 3 hours of upper-level course work in social science research methods. Applicants may be requested to submit letters of recommendation and a letter of intent as part of the application process.
To receive unconditional admission to the master's degree program with a major in criminal justice, applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 on the last 60 hours of courses for the bachelor's degree or a GPA of 2.8 on all undergraduate work. In addition, applicants must have an acceptable score on the verbal and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Exam.
Applicants who have not completed the GRE prior to applying may receive provisional status into the master's degree program in criminal justice. For provisional admission, the applicant must have a grade point average of 3.0 on the last 60 hours of courses for the bachelor's degree or a GPA of 2.8 on all undergraduate work. Students who are provisionally admitted into the program must submit acceptable GRE scores prior to the completion of their first semester of enrollment.
The program requires satisfactory completion
of a minimum of 36 hours beyond the bachelor's degree. The degree includes a core curriculum of 15 hours, which must be completed by all students: CJUS 5000, Criminal Justice Policy; CJUS 5200, Legal Aspects of the Criminal Justice System; CJUS 5500, Seminar in Criminal Justice Administration; CJUS 5600, Advanced Criminological Theory; CJUS 5700, Evaluation and Research Methodologies. The degree requires each student to select a thesis or non-thesis option. Students selecting the thesis option will be required to complete the core curriculum of 15 hours, 15 hours of electives, and 6 hours of thesis. Students choosing the thesis option must also pass an oral examination in conjunction with a master's thesis defense. Students selecting the non-thesis option will be required to complete the core curriculum of 15 hours and 21 hours of electives. Students choosing the non-thesis option must also pass a written comprehensive exam covering the core curriculum. All course work applied toward the Master of Science with a major in criminal justice must be at the 5000 level. A limited number of graduate research assistantships are periodically available.
The Department of Criminal Justice also participates in a program leading to the master's degree with a major in interdisciplinary studies, which is administered by the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. For further information about the interdisciplinary studies program, consult the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies section of this catalog or contact the Department of Criminal Justice graduate adviser.
Students in other fields may choose criminal justice for a minor. Students selecting criminal justice as a minor are required to complete 9 hours of graduate work in criminal justice.
The graduate committee in the Department of Criminal Justice will recommend withdrawal of a student from the master's program if the student receives two course grades of C or below (for purposes of this rule, the first grade received in a course is used).
Each graduate student must receive advising from the departmental graduate adviser prior to registration each semester.
During the first semester of a master's program, the student must submit a degree plan, through the departmental graduate adviser. The degree plan must be approved by the departmental graduate adviser and the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. Any degree plan change must have prior consent. A maximum of 9 hours of transfer work may be applied toward the master's degree. The final decision on applicability of transfer work rests with the departmental graduate adviser.
All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.
The "Course and Subject Guide," found in the Courses of Instruction section of this book, serves as a table of contents and provides quick access to subject areas and prefixes.
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Fully healthy, Jimenez heading to Futures Game
Catcher missed majority of last season due to Tommy John surgery
By Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com
ST. PETERSBURG -- Catching prospect A.J. Jimenez has put a severe right elbow injury in the past and is now set to represent the Blue Jays at the Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game on July 14.
Jimenez is the Blue Jays' 11th best prospect according to MLB.com, but he likely would have been ranked higher if not for last year's injury. Jimenez was limited to just 27 games last season before he had to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament.
The 23-year-old was somewhat limited during this year's Spring Training as well, but he has since made a full recovery. He is batting .443 (35-for-79) with 11 extra-base hits and a 1.053 OPS in 21 games for Class A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire.
The impressive numbers come in a relatively small sample size, but it's actually his defense that will make Jimenez a player to watch in the future. He entered this year having thrown out 43 percent of would-be basestealers throughout his Minor League career and is considered to have well-above average skills behind the plate.
The Puerto Rico native became Toronto's best prospect behind the plate following the offseason trade of Travis d'Arnaud to the Mets. Jimenez's bat still remains a little bit of a question mark, but there seems to be very little debate about his ability to handle a pitching staff.
The 15th annual Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game takes place at 2 p.m. ET on All-Star Sunday at Citi Field in New York and can be seen live on MLB.com, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD and followed live on MLB.com's Gameday. In addition, XM Radio will broadcast play-by-play coverage of the event live on MLB Network Radio XM 89. MLB.com will also provide complete coverage before, during and after the game. Fans can stay updated by following @MLBFutures on Twitter and can send/receive tweets to/from the U.S. and World Team dugouts during the game by tagging tweets with the hashtags #USDugout and #WorldDugout.
Also, for the first time, fans will determine the final player on the U.S. and World Team rosters by casting their votes in the All-Star Sunday Futures Finalists ballot. There are five candidates for each team, and voting ends on Sunday at 11:59 p.m.
Gregor Chisholm is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, North of the Border, and follow him on Twitter @gregorMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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OCEAN CITY — Ocean City
has spent millions marketing itself as a go-to family destination for years,
and this week, it announced a new partnership with the biggest name in family
related destinations and products: Disney.
Tourism Director Debbie
Turk told the Mayor and Council this week that she had pursued a partnership
deal with Radio Disney that will bring a seven-date free concert tour entitled
the "Sizzlin Summer of Stars" on the beach near North Division Street this
"Disney is the best
branded family name that you can be associated with, and we had approximately
$116,000 in grant money that had to be used in a venture different from our own
campaign and this is the perfect fit," Turk said.
This Saturday at 3 p.m.,
the first of seven concerts spread out throughout the summer will take place
just steps from the Boardwalk at North Division street, featuring Disney
singer/songwriter Anna Margaret and recent Radio Disney "Next Big Thing" winner
Jasmine Sagginario.
Radio Disney is based
out of Philadelphia (640 AM) and features songs from some of Disney's newest
stars, according to Turk.
"This goes right along
with all the free and fun family events that we are trying to offer our
visitors and our residents," said Turk. "We think that it will draw in people
just for these events alone, and studies have shown that there is a huge trust
factor with their audience just based on the places that are linked with the
Disney name."
Turk said that the
town's advertising agency, MGH, is developing website information and graphics
that will be featured on the town's website, which should create excitement
about the events.
On Aug. 15, there will
be a meet and greet with "Hannah Montana"
actor Jason Earles and a prop from the set of the hit Disney show, which is
coming to an end for good at the end of the season, will be given away through
online registration on the town's website.
"This is just the type
of thing that we've been looking for," said Mayor Rick Meehan. "It qualifies
for the type of thing we need to use to grant money for, and it gives us more
added value and more free outdoor family fun for our guests. Plus, you can't get a more established name
for the town of Ocean City to be associated with than Disney.
Turk also noted that the
final concert of the season, which will take place on Aug. 22, features a band
called All Star Weekend, which Disney has been calling the next Jonas Brothers.
"If you have kids and
you know who these kids are, it's going to be a big thrill for them this
summer, and it's totally free," said Turk.


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OCEAN CITY – 'Wow' is about the only way to describe the massive 1,062-pound blue marlin that stunned the big crowd at the 36th Annual White Marlin Open on Wednesday, toppling a state and tournament record that had stood for 20 years.
When angler Robert Ferris and the crew aboard the "No Problem" pulled into the marina at Harbour Island with the tail of a monster blue marlin hanging out of the bow of the boat, the big crowd sensed it was about to see something special. When the fish was hauled out of the cockpit of the "No Problem" and hoisted up the scale, it topped out at an amazing 1,062 pounds, upending a record that had stood since 1989.
Dr. Jim Daniel, fishing aboard the aptly named "Memory Maker" with Captain Marty Moran, set the previous tournament and state record back in 1989 with an amazing 942-pound blue marlin and it stood the test of time for 20 years, but the record finally came down on Wednesday night with the 1,062-pound caught by veteran angler Ferris and the crew aboard the "No Problem." The blue marlin division was wide open going into Wednesday without a single qualifier weighed during the first two days of the tournament, but Farris and the "No Problem" crew all but settled the issue once and for all with the grander.
"No Problem" boat owner and veteran tournament angler Mark Becker said yesterday the huge blue marlin came up in the baits around 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday and took three hours and five minutes to get in the boat. The veteran "No Problem" crew, including Captain Skip Opalko and mates John Hurst and Scott Lawrence, had seen plenty of big blue marlin over the years and boated more than a couple, but Becker said they didn't know just how momentous the catch would turn out to be.
"It did a little greyhounding, which was quite a spectacle, so we got a look at it early and knew right away it was something special," he said. "We didn't know exactly what we had until a couple hours later when we finally got it to the boat. It was a beautiful thing."
With a seemingly unreachable 93-pound white marlin weighed on Tuesday, many of the boats fishing in the tournament on Wednesday rigged for blue marlin, which was still wide open without a single qualifier on the board. However, Becker and the "No Problem" crew were still going after a big white.
"Even though we knew that big 93-pound white was hanging, we were still going after white marlin," he said. "That's the big money fish. That's what we were here for. We had two blue marlin lures out, but we were still looking for a bigger white."
Becker said it would have been him in the chair and not Farris if it was not for a little last-minute wrangling with the angler rotation.
"Ironically, I was next in the rotation," he said. "Bob had just caught a little mako, but I said that doesn't count and he kept his place in the rotation. Not long after that, this big blue came up in the spread and the rest is history. It went down about eight times. It must have stripped off about 500 yards of line. We'd gain some ground on it and it would take off again. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime situations."
Hooking the big blue marlin and finally getting it to the back of the boat was only half the battle. Hauling the beast aboard the 58-foot Viking presented its own challenges.
"It was a chain gang type of effort," he said. "It just barely squeezed through the door. Once we got in on the boat, the beak was hanging over one gunnel [gunwale] and the tail was hanging over the other gunnel. It was an amazing spectacle."
Naturally, the exhausted crew knew once the fish was in the boat they were about to do something special.
"Everybody was just elated, as you can imagine," he said. "Everybody was just hooting and hollering. We had four boys on the boat from Arkansas and one of them had never been in the blue water before, much less seen a fish like this."
Before the "No Problem" made its way into tournament headquarters, the news a big blue marlin was heading to the scale and already started to circulate. The buzz reached a crescendo when the "No Problem" pulled into the marina with the tail of the beast handing over the side.
"When they hoisted it up, the weighing station just about came over on top of us," he said. "Everybody was going nuts. It seemed like we were movie stars for a while there."
Captain Marty Moran, who was at the helm when Daniel and the crew on the "Memory Maker", caught the previous state and tournament record in 1989, said yesterday he knew the day would come when the old mark fell. Moran was in the crowd at Harbour Island on Wednesday and made his way up front to greet the new record-holders.
"Twenty years is a long, long time, but I think this record will stand for a lot longer," he said. "You never know. There are a lot of big fish out there, but as these numbers get larger, the chances of breaking the record get harder. Who knows, somebody might go out there and find one bigger today, or tomorrow, or even next year."
Moran said yesterday he was sorry to see the record fall, but had nothing but admiration and respect for Farris and crew on the "No Problem."
"We would have loved to have held onto the record, but any time somebody goes out and catches a fish like this, it's a monumental occasion," he said. "Most people will never see a fish like this in the wild in their lifetime, much less hook it up and actually boat it. It's a special fish and we tip our hats to them."
At 1,062 pounds, the big blue earned a special place in White Marlin Open folklore, but Moran speculated it was likely much bigger before it was boated and ultimately weighed.
"Our fish might have been a grander," he said. "You lose a certain number of pounds per hour and we had ours on the boat for four or five hours. By the same token, the big blue caught yesterday might have 1,100 pounds or more before they got it to the scale."
A large part of big game sportfishing is being in the right place at the right time, but Moran discounted any notion the big blue marlin caught by Farris and the "No Problem" crew had anything to do with luck.
"Luck is the perfect combination of opportunity and preparation," he said. "A lot of people might get the opportunity, but their gear isn't quite right, or their knots don't hold, or the boat handling let's them down or any number of things. Other people might have the preparation side all tight, but never get the opportunity. It cuts both ways, and to have both sides of the equation fall into place is pretty special."