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Canterbury Bulldogs in freefall after Brisbane mauling as Josh Reynolds hits self-destruct
A month ago, Canterbury and their livewire five-eighth Josh Reynolds could do no wrong.
Now, the Bulldogs are struggling to make the finals and Reynolds' immediate playing future is in doubt over a double dose of madness in the blue-and-whites' fourth consecutive defeat – a game he finished in the sin bin.
First, the NSW pivot was reported for lashing out with his foot at Brisbane's Sam Thaiday while he was on the ground. Then he tripped Bronco Ben Barba.
He was reported for both offences as the Bulldogs put together four consecutive losses for the first time since the start of last season, losing 41-10.
A high tackle on Alex Glenn three minutes from fulltime at Suncorp Stadium prompted the referees to make good on a threat to despatch him to the sin bin, where television cameras captured Reynolds kicking a chair.
The Bulldogs had the honour of providing both halves, Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson, to NSW's victorious State of Origin campaign. But since that glorious triumph, the men from Belmore have coughed and spluttered their way through a winless month.
Brisbane are back in the finals race while the Bulldogs will be fighting to keep their campaign alive against Parramatta on Friday.
Brisbane led 20-6 at the end of a first half which featured a couple of freakish tries.
Reynolds' 13th-minute score was the ultimate broken play touchdown. Josh Jackson sent a wonky pass to Reynolds who kicked into the north-eastern corner.
Tim Lafai tapped the back back to Reynolds who crossed, the Broncos arguing that Jackson had been inside the 10 pursuing the kick. He was - but played no part in the play.
The try was given, Trent Hodkinson converted and the Bulldogs were looking good.
There were a couple of let-offs for the home side as Des Hasler's men tried to add to their total: a penalty for Josh Hoffman being tackled in the air and Ben Hunt stealing the ball expertly from Tony Williams.
Broncos prop Josh McGuire was ruled to have lost the ball over the line in the 21st minute but shortly afterwards, Brisbane opened their account.
A dangerous and sharp Corey Parker offloaded around the corner to Matt Gillett, whose flick to scorer Dale Copley was eye-catching but close to forward. Copley's touchdown was converted by Parker for 6-4.
On-field officials Gerard Sutton and Alan Shortall appeared to have little idea if Brisbane winger Daniel Vidot snuck over in the corner in the 13th minute but opted for a try.
When video referees Bernard Sutton and Luke Phillips agreed, the Bulldogs erupted.
"How can you give that a try?" captain Michael Ennis said. "There's no evidence at all he got that on the ground. Commonsense says it wasn't a try."
Gerard Sutton said it had been called a fair try live and the video officials had not had sufficient evident to overturn their ruling.
Smart stepping from close to the line gave halfback Hunt a good individual try in the 34th minute, which he converted himself.
And five-eighth Barba dazzled when he picked up a Jack Reed offload and tiptoed his way over the tryline in the south-eastern corner in the shadows of halftime.
After a positive start, the Bulldogs were facing a fourth consecutive defeat. That outcome was held at bay momentarily when Jackson fought his way over in the 47th minute.
But five minutes after Reynolds was booked for the first time, Brisbane replacement forward Corey Oates crashed over off Gillett's pass.
Then hooker Andrew McCullough added a field goal before second rower Thaiday earned himself a place on the scoresheet, too. Hunt poached his second just before fulltime after lead-up from McGuire and McCullough.
The Bulldogs were battered and bruised, their bench reduced to two fit players and their season teetering on the brink.
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It took a while for massive layoffs to hit many technology companies in the face of the weak global economy. Once the financial turmoil hit the technology sector and Silicon Valley, it hit with great force and many firms ceased to operate.
One of the biggest firms to find itself in rough financial waters was Nortel. Nortel announced in January that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The firm also filed for protection in Canada as well.
Bankruptcy was the first step for the telecom giant to attempt to save it from going out of business completely and now the company has announced more steps to protect itself. Nortel says that it will cut 3,200 jobs, 10% of its current workforce. Losing your job is bad enough, but eWeek reports that the firm didn't offer the employees severance packages.
Nortel's workforce today is at about 30,000 and at the companies highest point it had 90,000 global employees. Severance packages were suspended when the firm filed bankruptcy in January.
Nortel CEO Mike Zafirovski said, "We do not have the flexibility, particularly in North America—Canada and the U.S.—for us to be paying severance pay." Zafirovski did say that Nortel would honor any country-specific legal obligations it has to its staff.
Nortel warned a week ago that it was working on a plan that would include more layoffs. According to an analyst from DSAM Consulting Duncan Stewart Nortel only needs about 15,000 to 18,000 employees to continue operating in its current form. That means that Nortel will likely shed up to half of its current workforce before the cuts are through.
The cuts announced this week would be in addition to another 1,800 workers still to be shed reports eWeek. Nortel is also changing its compensation structure to reduce bonuses and cut equity-based payment plans.
Court documents showed that Nortel had about $2.4 billion in cash when it filed bankruptcy with about $4.5 billion in long-term debt.

subset: commoncrawl


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That is, when and if they can get the project off the ground. The project has been put on a temporary hold, but there is reason to believe those obstacles will be cleared soon.
Barrett and Associates spokesperson David Garza told The Courier the proposed project is expected to include a four- to five-story high-rise apartment building intended for student housing.
The front area of the property will be reserved for a three-story building designed as a shop front with living quarters for owners to live in, if they wish. The potential owners may possibly rent the living space to students, as well.
Currently, the city does not have a zoning ordinance that addresses the specifics of the building proposal for the three-story project. Garza said
"Barrett and Associates is working with the city to establish a future zoning ordinance that allows for shops and living areas," he said.
The first rezoning application that passed the Russellville Planning Commission in November was approved by the City Council in an emergency vote, said Garza.
Garza pointed out the developer, Tier III, has an impressive master plan, although it is subject to change.
Fortunately, there are no wetland issues at the site, according to a study done by FTN and Associates of Little Rock, he said. Garza said the new project will complement the work being done on North El Paso Avenue. The design includes a bike trail that will connect to the planned North El Paso improvement project.
Garza said flooding issues will be avoided by not implementing any building construction near the designated flood plain area located on the property. He said that area has only a 5 percent impact ratio and is close enough to Prairie Creek to reduce flooding concerns.
According to Garza, Barrett and Associates will know more about drainage designs when studies are submitted to the city. He said there will not be much of an increase in run-off from construction because of where the structures will be built.
Greg Hall of Coldwell Banker-James R. Ford and Associates explained the hold-up is due in part to a halted closing of the sale. He said the deal was supposed to close on Jan. 29, but that has been delayed.
Hall would not reveal the specific reason for the hold-up but the professional architect and Oklahoma State adjunct professor Jay Yowell has some very impressive preliminary sketches. He hopes the contract will close soon.
According to Hall, plans include housing for 68 students with an apartment designed around four bedrooms and a community living area and kitchen. He said the design is similar to the Vista apartments but with a more modern architectural approach.


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Waltz Dance Series: Brattleboro Ballroom at the Stone Church, 210 Main St., Brattleboro. Third class of a five-week series. Technique, turns, partnership, combinations. Beginners: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Intermediate: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: Series, $40 either class, $60 for both. Drop-in, $10 for one class; $15 drop-in for both. Carry dance shoes. Information: 802-579-9990 or email@example.com. Kids
Preschool Playgroup: 9:30-11 a.m., Saxtons River Elementary School, in the gym. Birth to age 5. For children and their parents or caregivers. Snacks, stories and seasonally-themed activities. Information: Tracy Binet-Perrin, 603-762-5069.
Playgroup: 10-11:30 a.m., Athens Community Church. Free and open to ages 0-5. Led by Early Education Outreach Coordinator. Information: 802-258-1673.
Story and Craft Time: 10:30 a.m., Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St., Bellows Falls. Singing or a craft after stories. Free. Information: 802-463-4270.
Storytime: 10:45 a.m., Guilford Free Library, Guilford. Cathi Wilken or Laura Lawson Tucker to present a program of songs, fingerplays, books and activities for babies, toddlers and older siblings. No charge. Information: 802-254-6545.
Infant/Toddler Social Time: 11 a.m., Putney Public Library. Every Tuesday. For parents and caregivers of children under 2. Information: 802-387-4407.
Boys & Girls Club: Noon-6 p.m., 17 Flat St., Brattleboro. Programs, activities, special events and use of facilities available for 10-18 year olds. 6-9 p.m., The Junction, Older youth drop-in, 15-22 years old. Information: 802-254-5990.
InterPlay: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Cascading Brook Studio, 216 Williams St., Brattleboro. Information: Judith Reichsman, 802-254-1149, or Stephanie Petkanas, firstname.lastname@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com or 802-380-4241. Rooted in the transformational power of play, combining movement, storytelling and voice. Wear comfortable clothing. First class is free.
Windham County Activities for Youth: See the Youth Services' H.E.Y.! Help Empower Youth! guide to after school and other activities and programs at www.HelpEmpowerYouth.com.
Brooks Memorial Library: 224 Main St., Brattleboro. Check out free museum passes to local area museums: Eric Carle, MASS Mocha, Springfield, Shelburne, Norman Rockwell, Bennington, etc. Reserve online at www.brooks.lib.vt.us, click on "Museum Passes" button. Information: 802-254-5290.
Gentle Yoga for Seniors: 9-10 a.m., Putney Cares Activities Barn, 54 Kimball Hill Road, Putney. Tuesdays, $7 per class, with Eva Greene. Classes focus on alignment, balance, and self-acceptance. Information: 802-387-2125.
Fitness at the Rec: Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St., Brattleboro. Ongoing: 12:10-1:10 p.m., Pilates; 6-8 p.m., Running Fist Kung Fu; 7-9 p.m., Adult indoor soccer. Information: Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Dept., 802-254-5808, www.brattleboro.org.
Open Gym and Game Room: Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department, Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St. 3-5 p.m., Grades 7-12. Information: 802-254-5808, www.brattleboro.org.
Qi Gong in Putney: 4:30-6 p.m., second floor above Front Porch Cafe, in the center of Putney. Learn simple self healing exercises to improve health. Benefit from group healing energy. Tuesdays. Fee. Information or to register: email@example.com.
Congregate Breakfast: 7:45-8:15 a.m., Brattleboro Senior Center, 207 Main St., Brattleboro. Menu: French toast, home fries, sausage, fruit, yogurt, juice. Suggested donation for seniors over 60, $3.50. All others, $6. Information: 802-257-1236.
Rotary Christmas Trees: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., in front of Brattleboro Bowl, Putney Road, Brattleboro. 48th Annual Brattleboro Rotary Club Christmas Tree Fundraiser. Vermont-grown trees of all shapes and sizes.
School Health Advisory Council: 3:30-4:30 p.m., Leland & Gray Union High School, Room A14, Townshend. Windham Central Supervisory Union School Health Advisory Council to meet. Focus on rewriting the WCSU Nutrition and Physical Activity policies. Community members welcome. Information, questions, suggestions: Arlene Hanson at firstname.lastname@example.com.
German Lesson/Conversation: Community Room, Dover Free Library. Weekly German Club hosted by the Library. 6:30 p.m., beginners' lesson. 7 p.m., Fluent speakers and beginners participate in social conversational German. Information: 802-348-7488.
Ongoing Events
Meditation Sittings: Vermont Insight Meditation Center, 7-7:45 a.m., in the Neighbor's Hall at Solar Hill, 229 Western Ave., Brattleboro. Information: Rose, 802-246-1244.
Bellows Falls Drop-In Center: Open Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Our Place Drop-In Center, 4 Island St., Bellows Falls. 9-10:30 a.m., free breakfast; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., food pantry open, except during lunch; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., free lunch. Day shelter, shower, fax, phone, food pantry. Information: 802-463-2217.
Strength Training for Seniors: 9:30 a.m., Brattleboro Senior Center, 207 Main St., Brattleboro. Cost: $3 per class; $5 for two. Instructor: Cyndy Gray. Works on building strength on all major muscle groups followed by stretch and relaxation. Information: 802-257-7570.
Hospice Thrift Shop: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Experienced Goods Thrift Shop for Brattleboro Area Hospice, 77 Flat St., Brattleboro. Selling quality clothing, books, housewares, furniture and more. Seeking donations, 802-254-5200.
Scrapbooking Club: Noon-1:30 p.m., Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St., Bellows Falls. Bring own project and supplies. Every Tuesday. Information and to sign up: Kim Paligo, 802-463-9799 or 802-376-8671.
Al-Anon: Noon, Retreat Healthcare, conference room of Starting Now, Anna Marsh Lane, Brattleboro. Open meeting with flexible format.
Recovery Chat: 2-3 p.m., Turning Point of Windham County, 112 Hardwood Way, Brattleboro. Less formal group, conversation, games, sharing. Information: 802-257-5600.
Bereavement Support: Brattleboro Area Hospice, Brattleboro. For anyone grieving the death of a loved one. Information: 802-257-0775.
Knit Wits: 5 p.m., Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St., Bellows Falls. For knitters and crochet enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Knit Wits, social knitting group. Bring project. Coffee and conversation. Information: 802-463-4270.
Brattleboro Walk-In Clinic: 5:30-7 p.m., 81 Belmont Ave. Free health care to those without health insurance.
Food Shelf Open: 6-7 p.m., Putney Community Center, Christian Square, Putney. Information or to donate: 802-387-8551.
Healing Meditation Group: 6 p.m., Jamaica Healing Arts & Wellness Center, West Jamaica. Bi-weekly on Tuesdays. Sitting at 6:30 p.m. Free. Led by Margaret Miller. Information or directions: email@example.com or 802-874-7201.
Overeaters Anonymous: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Brew Barry Conference Center 2, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro. Information: Jain, 802-251-0331.
Paths to Recovery Al-Anon: 6:30-7:30 p.m., every Tuesday, Deerfield Valley Health Center, junction Rt. 9 West and Rt. 100 South, Wilmington.
Meditation: 7-8 p.m., Putney Friends Meeting House, Route 5, Putney. Awakening Through Love, weekly mediation group. Teaching followed by guided meditation. All welcome. Led by Julie Forsythe, a Guiding Teacher in the Foundation for Active Compassion. Handicapped accessible. Every Tuesday.
Augustine (SLAA) Fellowship: Tuesdays 7-8:30 p.m., Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Tyler Conference Room. Information: 802-236-0096 or email@example.com.
Nar-Anon Family Groups: 7-8:30 p.m., Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 17 Belmont Ave., Meeting Room B in the Cafeteria, Brattleboro. For friends and loved ones of drug abusers. Meets every other Tuesday. Information: Susan, 802-257-6915.
AA Hotline: Toll free, 1-877-851-0181.
Brattleboro Channel 8: 7 a.m., St. Michael's Catholic Church Mass; 8 a.m., Democracy Now! Live; 9 a.m., Athens Community Christian Church; 9:50 a.m., BCTV Telethon; 10:30 a.m., Riverbank Church: Money; 11:30 a.m., Tribute to George Stoney: How Film Can Change Lives; 2 p.m., Words of Peace: Peace is Already There; 2:30 p.m., St. Michael's Catholic Church Mass; 3:30 p.m., BCTV Open Studio: Project Feed the Thousands 2012; 4 p.m., Community Medical School: Get to the point, Childhood Immunization; 5:30 p.m., Community Calendar; 5:45 p.m., 5:45 Live: Midweek Report; 6 p.m., BUHS TV News; 6:30 p.m., Marijuana Resolve: Matt Simon, Marijuana Policy Project; 7 p.m., Let's Talk About Mental Health; 7:30 p.m., BCTV Open Studio: Putney Craft Tour, Fall 2012; 8 p.m., Democracy Now!; 9 p.m., Al Jezeera News; 9:30 p.m., BCTV Telethon; 10:15 p.m., The Retreat's Keep Talking: Dr. White & Kane; 11 p.m., Things You Can't Talk About.
Brattleboro Channel 10: 7:08 a.m., BUHS Board Mtg.; 8 a.m., Guilford Special Town Mtg.; 10 a.m., 5:45 Live: Weekend Report; 10:15 a.m., BUHS TV Live; 11 a.m., Townshend Selectboard Mtg.; 1:30 p.m., Vermont State Board of Education; 5:30 p.m., Organic Politics: The Road Ahead; 6 p.m., Vernon Selectboard Mtg.; 8 p.m., Pop Warner Superbowl 2012: Brattleboro; 9:30 p.m., BUHS Board Mtg.; 10:30 p.m., Rep. Peter Welch, Priorities for Lame Duck Session; 11:02 p.m., Sen. Sanders: Budget Deficit Deals; 11:30 p.m., Organic Politics: The Road Ahead.
BMC Celtic Music Sessions: 5:30-6:30 p.m., Advanced. 7-8 p.m., Intermediate. Learn traditional jigs and reels, and other dance music of Scotland, Ireland and New England. Wednesdays. Fee. Instructors: Keith Murphy, Becky Tracy. Information: Brattleboro Music Center, 802-257-4523 or bmcvt.org.
Drum Class: 6-7 p.m., Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St., Brattleboro. Taught by Namory Keita from Guinea. For all levels. Cost: $10. Presented by African Dance Vermont. Each Wednesday. Information: www.namorykeita.com or 603-654-6042.
Irish Music: 6:30-9:30 p.m., J.D. McCliment's Pub, Route 5, north of Putney Village. Hosted by Roger Kahle, Lissa Schneckenburger and Ethan Hazzard-Watkins. Bring instrument to join in or just listen. Information: 802-257-9234.
West African Dance Class: 7-8:30 p.m., The Stone Church, 210 Main St., Brattleboro. Instructor: Pape Ba of Senegal, West Africa. For all levels. Presented by African Dance Vermont. Sliding scale $12-$15. Wear comfortable, loose clothes, bring water. Accompanied by live drumming. Information: 802-258-6475 or www.africandancevermont.com.
Community Jazz Jam Session: 8-10 p.m., Vermont Jazz Center, 72 Cotton Mill Hill, Studio 222, Brattleboro. Every Wednesday. Run by pianist Eugene Uman. For all musicians and instruments. $3 donation requested from players and listeners. Information: 802-254-9088, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Preschool Playgroup: 9:30-11 a.m., at Early Education Services, 130 Birge St., Brattleboro. For children 0-5 years old with parent or childcare provider. Led by Amanda Hiouas. Sponsored by Early Education Services. Information: 802-368-7872.
Preschool Playgroup: 9:30-11 a.m., Bellows Falls Baptist Church. Birth to age 5. For children and their parents or caregivers. Snacks, stories and seasonally-themed activities. Information: Tracy Binet-Perrin, 603-762-5069.
Preschool Storytime: 10:15 a.m., Walpole, N.H., Town Library, Ages 2 1/2 to 5. Crafts and stories. Information: 603-756-9806.
Little Peoples Program: 10:30-11:45 a.m., Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department, Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St. For ages 3-5. Register by phone, 802-254-5808, www.brattleboro.org.
Rhyme Time: 10:30-11 a.m., in the Meeting Room next to Children's Room, Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main St., Brattleboro. For children under 5. Stories, songs, and fun. Information: 802-254-5290 ext. 110.
Boys & Girls Club: Noon-6 p.m., 17 Flat St., Brattleboro. Programs, activities, special events and use of facilities available for ages 10 to 18. Information: 802-254-5990.
Making Change: 4-5 p.m., Turning Point of Windham County, 112 Hardwood Way, Brattleboro. Support group for youth dealing with substance abuse issues. Sponsored by Turning Point and HCRS. Snacks provided. Information: 802-257-5600.
Fitness at the Rec: Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St., Brattleboro. 10:15-11:45 a.m., Gentle yoga. 11 a.m.-noon, Walking for Seniors. 12:10-1:10 p.m., Ongoing Yoga. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Kickbox and Conditioning; 7-9 p.m., Men's League basketball pickp games. Information: Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Dept., 802-254-5808, www.brattleboro.org.
Open Gym and Game Room: Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department, Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St. 3-4:45 p.m., Grades K-6. Information: 802-254-5808, www.brattleboro.org.
Souper Wednesday: Noon-2 p.m., First Congregational Church of Westminster, Route 5, Westminster. Freewill donation appreciated, not necessary. Proceeds benefit the Women's Fellowship and the Church.
Dummerston Senior Meal: Noon, Evening Star Grange, Dummerston Center. Menu: Stuffed cabbage, golumpki, either meat-filled or vegetarian, glazed carrots and green bean casserole, with condiments and Cherry Delight. Sponsored by Senior Solutions and the Grange. Suggested donations: Seniors over 60, $3; under 60 $4. Take-outs available, call 802-254-1138. Library books available.
Bellows Falls Drop-In Center: Open Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Our Place Drop-In Center, 4 Island St., Bellows Falls. 9-10:30 a.m., free breakfast; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., food pantry open, except during lunch; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., free lunch. Day shelter, shower, fax, phone, food pantry. Information: 802-463-2217.
Blood Pressure Clinic: 11:15 a.m.-noon, Melrose Terrace Community Room, West Brattleboro. Sponsored by the Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of Vt. & N.H.
Rotary Christmas Trees: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., in front of Brattleboro Bowl, Putney Road, Brattleboro. 48th Annual Brattleboro Rotary Club Christmas Tree Fundraiser. Vermont-grown trees of all shapes and sizes.
BCTV Board Meeting: 6 p.m., Brattleboro Community Television, Inc. Studio, Municipal Center, 230 Main St. Board of directors, monthly meeting. Public welcome. Information: 802-257-0888.
Local Voices: 7-8:30 p.m., Moore Free Library, 23 West St., Newfane. A group of local writers who meet the last Wednesday each month. Writers welcome to read their new unpublished works of fiction and poetry. Information: Meris Morrison, Librarian, 802-365-7948 Tues.-Fri., 1-5 p.m., or moorefreelibrary.org.
Ongoing Events
Worn Again Thrift Shop: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Edmunds Catholic Church, Saxtons River. Clothing for all; shoes, boots and sneakers; bedding; household articles; toys. Operated by volunteers of West River Mission of Putney and churches in Putney, Townshend, Stratton Mountain and Saxtons River.
West Townshend Thrift Shop: 9 a.m.-noon, Wed. and Sat., second floor, above, West Townshend Post Office, Route 30, West Townshend. Sponsored by The West River Community Project. Community closet with large selection of men's, women's and children's clothing, footwear; and toys.
The Artist in Each of Us: 10 a.m.-noon, Putney Cares Activities Barn, 54 Kimball Hill Road, behind Noyes House, Putney. Every Wednesday. For all interested seniors, regardless of experience. Variety of materials provided. By donation. Co-sponsored by Putney Cares and Westminster Cares. Information: 802-387-5593 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Transportation available.
Hospice Thrift Shop: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Experienced Goods Thrift Shop for Brattleboro Area Hospice, 77 Flat St., Brattleboro. Selling quality clothing, books, housewares, furniture and more. Seeking donations, 802-254-5200.
Alcoholics Anonymous: Noon, Trinity Lutheran Church, 161 Western Ave., Brattleboro.
Peer Support Group: Noon-1 p.m., Wednesdays, at Women's Freedom Center. For women addressing issues of abuse in intimate partner relationships. For directions, 802-257-7364.
Al-Anon: Noon-1 p.m., Turning Point of Windham County, 112 Hardwood Way, Brattleboro. For those affected by someone else's addiction. Information: 802-257-5600.
Recovery Chat: 2-3 p.m., Turning Point of Windham County, 112 Hardwood Way, Brattleboro. Less formal group, conversation, games, sharing. Information: 802-257-5600.
Spouse/Partner Loss Support Group: 5-6:30 p.m., Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal St., Brattleboro. Second and fourth Wednesdays. Led by Cheryl Richards. Information: 802-257-0775.
Chess Club: 6-9 p.m., Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main St., Brattleboro. Information: 802-254-5808, www.brattleboro.org.
Overeaters Anonymous: 6:30-7:30 p.m., United Church of Winchester, 97 Main St., Winchester, N.H. Meets Wednesdays. Religious Ed Room, use rear entrance. Handicapped accessible ramp at the parking lot. Door propped open (weather permitting) for easy access. Information: Ann, 603-762-6061.
Changing Tides Mental Health Support Group: 7-8:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Tyler Conference Room. Free confidential peer support for those with mental health conditions. Information: Karen, 802-579-5937.
Meditation Sitting: 7 p.m., Shambhala Meditation Center, 28 Williams St., Brattleboro. All welcome. Information: 802-257-1984. Every Wednesday.
Putney Al-Anon Group: 7 p.m., the Putney Friends Meeting House, Route 5 north of Putney village. For friends and relatives of alcoholics. Every Wednesday. Information: VT 866-972-5266 (toll free); www.vermontalanonalateen.org.
Transcendental Meditation Program: 7:30 p.m., Maharishi Invincibility Center, 24 High St., Midtown Mall, Brattleboro. Free introductory lecture on the TM Program. Every Wednesday and by appointment. Information: 802-246-1020. See www.tm.org and www.davidlynchfoundation.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.


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Chris Martin of Coldplay performs in Sydney, Australia in 2012. (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Coldplay's new album, Ghost Stories, isn't out until next month, but the band has already given fans a decent taste of what's to come with tracks like "Magic", the Bon Iver-sounding "Midnight", "Another's Arms" and "Always in My Head".
Now we can add another song to the ever-growing list.
Today (April 23), Chris Martin and the guys debuted their latest track, "Oceans", on BBC Radio 1.
The live rendition of the track has Martin on acoustic, strumming out a sparse ballad about meeting in the rain. The sad and subtle track also has the consciously uncoupled singer showing off his falsetto with lines like, "I'm ready for it all, love/I'm ready for the pain."


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With new polls showing the damage accumulating from last week's debate, President Obama took refuge in California Monday: He revved up supporters at a San Francisco rally after making a significant gesture in the Central Valley to the Latino voters he needs to win re-election.
While placing a single red rose on Cesar Chavez's grave near Bakersfield, Obama announced a new national monument to the civil rights and United Farm Workers leader whose motto "Si se puede" — or "Yes we can" — was the unifying slogan of Obama's first campaign.
"Cesar worked for 25 years without a major victory, but he never gave up," Obama told gatherers — including Chavez' widow, Helen, and son, Paul — at the property in Keene known as Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz, which served as the UFW's national headquarters and the iconic leader's home. "Our world is a better place because Cesar Chavez chose to change it."
Afterward, he flew to the Bay Area for fundraisers and a big concert-rally at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. . He planned to stay in San Francisco overnight before departing Tuesday morning for the crucial battleground state of Ohio.
The president's announcement of the Chavez monument comes at a vital time in his re-election campaign, with his edge over Republican nominee Mitt Romney eroding after what many believed to be a lackluster performance in the candidates' first debate last Wednesday. Real Clear Politics' average of seven national polls conducted in the past two weeks shows him leading Romney by only half a percentage point.
After entering the San Francisco rally to cheering applause and a blinding wall of camera flashes, Obama quickly addressed the debate.
"What was being presented (by Romney) was not leadership, it was salesmanship." he said, noting that the centerpiece of Romney's plan is a $5 trillion tax cut geared toward the wealthy.
"Suddenly a guy pretending to be Mitt Romney stood on a stage next to me a few days ago in Denver and pretended that such a tax cut isn't his plan…" Obama said. "You didn't know this but for all you moms and kids out there you should have confidence that finally, someone is cracking down on Big Bird. Elmo has been seen in a white Suburban, he's headed for the border…. Gov. Romney's plan is to let Wall Street run wild again, but he's going to bring the hammer down on Sesame Street."
The latest poll, conducted Thursday through Sunday by Pew Research, shows Obama trailing Romney by four points among likely voters — a huge swing from mid-September, when he led Romney in the same poll by eight points. The new Pew poll found Romney has made sizable gains over the past month among women voters, white non-Hispanics and those younger than 50.
"It's a surge, and it definitely is more than I thought it would be," said Samuel Popkin, a presidential campaign and polling expert at UC San Diego. "Romney is very well set up for the next debate, because if Obama comes out saying 'Liar, liar liar,' then he looks desperate and not like he has a plan."
But both Popkin and UC Berkeley political science professor Henry Brady, dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy, said Obama's next debate performance might be helped by last week's news that the nation's unemployment rate has dropped to 7.8 percent.
Citing that new figure, Obama said, "Manufacturers are coming back to America, home values are on the rise, but we are not there yet, we are not where we need to be yet.
"We have come too far to turn back now. The last thing we can afford now, California, is four years of the very same policies that led us into the mess in the first place."
Latinos are considered a vital voting bloc in several states — including Nevada, Colorado and Florida — that could decide whether Obama gets four more years.
Obama's use of the UFW's motto underscores the populist parallels he's tried to draw between his candidacies and Latinos' struggles for labor, civil and immigration rights. Service Employees International Union Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina, who worked with Chavez as a UFW board member from 1973 to 1978, said Obama's announcement of the Chavez monument "is a recognition of the fact that we are becoming a critical part of the electorate."
Medina on Monday was helping to launch a weeklong drive with the Mi Familia Vota Education Fund to register Latino voters, with events from Stockton to Los Angeles. The Chavez event will resonate with many of those potential voters, he said.
"To court the support of this demographic, you need to be aware of the history and show respect to this community," Medina said. "The president is doing that, and I hope it leads to many, many more public officials understanding that the way to win our support and our hearts and our votes is through recognition and respect rather than attacks and ignoring us."
The president had two exclusive fundraisers and one bigger event scheduled Monday afternoon and evening in San Francisco. The first was closed to the media; the second, a $20,000-per-person dinner with food prepared by celebrity chefs Alice Waters and Tyler Florence, was held at¿ the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium before the big rally and concert featuring musicians Michael Franti and John Legend.
At the fundraising dinner in the auditorium, the president noted that only 29 days remained in his campaign and urged supporters to be "almost obsessive" over the next month by talking to family and friends in battleground states.
"I am very competitive. And I very much intend to win this election," he said.
He briefly referenced the polls as he recalled a waiter who recently thanked him for the health care law that helped his ill mother get insurance and pay for her medicine.
"It reminds me that what we do is not sport, it's not simply about who's up and who's down in the polls," Obama said. "Ultimately, it's about that young man and his mom … and the belief that in this great country of ours, we're going to make sure that every single person is treated with dignity and with respect. That's why we do this. That's what these events are about."
At the rally later, Obama told the crowd that "Change takes time. We always said it would take more than one term or even one president. We said it would take more than one party. And by the way, no, it doesn't just take me. That is not the deal. The deal is, it takes all of us," as he finished speaking to thunderous applause and Bruce Springsteen's "We Take Care of Our Own."
Staff writer Joshua Melvin and White House media pool reports contributed to this report. Josh Richman covers politics. Contact him at 510-208-6428. Follow him at Twitter.com/josh_richman. Read the Political Blotter at IBAbuzz.com/politics.


text:
I'm looking for recommendations for a fanless, small PC to use as a set-top box (UK "FreeView" aka DVB-T) and PVR in the living room. I've always wanted our PVR to be Linux-based, but both times I've tried before I've run into too many hardware and software problems and run out of time for the project. So I'm looking to buy something that is likely to work without too much hassle (e.g., well-supported, known good chipsets, video drivers, sound drivers, etc.). Of course, I also want it to be cheap.
I have a Hauppauge Nova-TD USB tuner stick (for UK "FreeView") which I suspect from this page will probably work (they seem to be well-supported).
- Hardware that works with Mint out of the box or really easily -- video & audio via HDMI, MCE-like remote (I already have that) via IR built into the Hauppauge Nova-TD (ideally, although I have some cheap IR receiver lying around as a fallback)
- Only need SD playback (not HD), but it must not be jerky, even when decoding m4vs, avis, etc.
- Silent (no fans at all)
- No need for it to come with storage, I have an SSD I can put in it and plan/hope for most recording and playback to be over the network (WiFi if possible, wired if necessary); I have an HDD I can put in as fallback.
- Won't actually burn you if you touch it
- Inexpensive
- Good-looking (note this is at the bottom of the list...but it's on the list)
Would the MintBox do the trick? Or any of the pre-built Mini-ITX units out there?
Thanks in advance to anyone taking the time to reply!


text:
America Audio is one of the many sister companies of the well known American DJ, which is most popular for their incredible entertainment, lighting, and stage effects. The American Audio side of the company focuses more on the Pro Audio and Studio products such as mixers, DJ headphones, power amplifiers, DJ turntables, DJ cases, PA systems, and much more.
Being an employee of Sonic Electronix, I was lucky enough to sit in on a product training session that American Audio put on for our company earlier this week, they brought in a good number of products and provided us with some very helpful information to educate us. One of the items that American Audio focused on was the PPA-210 PA System.
The American Audio PPA-210 is a portable PA system that includes two 10" portable speakers, one 8-channel powered mixer, one dynamic microphone, and all the cables necessary to hook this system up. This entire PA system is latches together for maximum protection and convenient transport; it also features a built-in compartment that allows you to fit your microphone, the included two 20 foot power cables, and any other accessories you may use with this system. The two portable speakers may be mounted onto poles and have a 1" compression driver for the highs, and a 10" woofer for the lows.
The 8-channel mixer is equipped with a built-in 300 watt (150w + 150w) stereo power amplifier which has a dynamic distortion processor that ensures clean and crisp sound. Also, the mixer features effects send on every channel, internal digital delay effects processor with 16 selections, effects parameter adjustment, 7-band system equalizer, and two 5-segment LED meters. The features don't stop there, with the integrated USB port, this portable PA system allows you to connect a flash disc or a MP3 player to play all your favorite jams. Four XLR microphone inputs give you the option of having up to four microphones connected that make it very useful for presentations.
The American Audio PPA-210 Portable PA System is perfect for presentations, sermons, audio for events and more, and unlike most PA systems, this one was built with sound quality in mind.


text:
[Chopped & Screwed]
Dropped it. I broke it
You stole it. I know it
Who toked it? I'm smokin
Know it
Who stole my
Who stole my
Who stole my gameboy?
Gypped it who?
You stole it I know it
Who toked it? I'm smokin
U know it. who broke it?
Who stole my game?
Who stole my
[Verse 1]
Cuz the rhythm is the bass and the bass is a rebel
Makes the Earth shake. Stays getting me in trouble
Fuck a noise complaint. Keep the Five-O out my bubble
But if you could make me vibrate it's as though you said "i love you"
Reach out your hand. Dig me out the rubble
Natural fantastic, make a pass that I won't fumble
Forget past the plastic ish. Let that raw and real come through
You don't even have to say shit. Be subtle if you want to
But lemme know...
Who stole my gameboy...
[Verse 2]
What's that creeping in my shadow my negative space?
Trance dancer necromancer making dirty phantom shapes
When I feel the bass that shit puts me in my happy place
When I feel the beat that ish puts a smile up on my face
I'm plug and play so plug me in and I'm gone
Call me Mario the way I'm jumping up for my coins
I be thrashing on these planks, on these songs like I'm Donkey Kong
Going Bowser in this house and yup I'm feeling strong
Old dudes hating on me on their Livejournals and Geocites
Get your own server, hater. Buy yourself some megabytes
I'm chillin in a heated pool and twisting in the candlelight
Hit me up on Twitter if you really wanna digi-fight
You lookin like Vegeta and I'm feeling Goku
I'mma go cool on you wiggas cuz I'm so dope, fool
If you really wanna battle get your Gameboy out
And you can get your whole foot put back in your mouth
Who stole my Gameboy?
Who stole my Gameboy?
Don't you know my name, boy?
Don't you see my flame


text:
Reaction to bills mailed out this week for the city's fiscal year 2012 trash-collection fee was swift and overwhelmingly negative.
Reaction to bills mailed out this week for the city's fiscal year 2012 trash-collection fee was swift and overwhelmingly negative.
Adopted last June by the City Council during passage of the FY12 budget, the last-minute measure was inserted to fill what former Mayor Charles Crowley described as an unexpected $1.3 million fiscal gap.
The miscalculation was due to higher costs resulting from changes in federal health-insurance rules, Crowley said at the time.
By adopting the fee, which some have argued is a tax, Crowley was able to avoid laying off more than 50 police officers and firefighters. The alternative — doubling the price of curbside trash bags to $2 apiece — was never seriously considered by the council.
But it wasn't until February 2012 that an ordinance was passed allowing the fee to be enforced — an oversight that left various officials pointing fingers at one another.
The bottom line for homeowners finally arrived this week after bills were mailed out Tuesday.
The fee for a single-family dwelling is $73; for a two-family $146; a three-family $219 and a four-family $292. Payment is due May 31.
Since Wednesday, angry residents have been stopping off and leaving phone messages for Mayor Thomas Hoye at Taunton's temporary city hall (located on Oak Street in the former Maxham School building).
"It's been nonstop," said the mayor's secretary Mimi Punda.
Despite a series of stories on the subject during the past year, many people appear to be have been caught unaware.
"When I got it (the trash-fee bill) in the mail, I was like 'What the heck is this?'" said Jim Bizarro, a Taunton resident for nearly 12 years.Bizarro said he works out of town and simply had no idea he was going to get a trash-fee bill.
"I can't imagine everybody knows about it," he added.
Bizarro, 42, who lives in Taunton with his wife and daughter, also said he's unhappy that no precise explanation — other than fee amounts and an explanation of abatement/exemption requirements — is included on the bill.
"That drives me a little bit nuts," he said.
Some residents have been confused as to where to go either to pay their bill or pick up an abatement application.
Assessor Barry Cooperstein said employees in his office have had to contend with people asking for abatement applications; anyone looking for an application needs to go to the Department of Public Works on Ingell Street, he said.
The DPW, meanwhile, has at times been so inundated with disgruntled homeowners that Taunton Police Chief Edward Walsh paid a personal visit on Wednesday.
"It's a unique situation," said Walsh, who said he offered tips to DPW employees on how to handle people who are angry and upset.
Water division supervisor Cathal O'Brien said the DPW staff "has been able to treat people with respect," despite the trash fee being a "hot-button item."
Anyone who simply wants to pay their bill can do so online, by check or in person at the tax collector's office at 55 Weir St.
Abatements are available for owners who can document they spend at least six months away from their property or have owned a multifamily property with at least one vacant unit for the previous 12 months.
A hardship abatement covers anyone age 70 or older who is entitled to an exemption under a Chapter 59 Massachusetts General Law.
Cynthia Fleming, 77, drove in from Hanson, where she now lives, to get information about an abatement for the Taunton house in which she grew up that she still owns.
"I just can't believe it," Fleming said. "Paying for trash pickup for that amount is unbelievable. In all my years I've never heard of such a thing."
Fleming was advised by a DPW employee that because it will take as long as a month for her application to be assessed, she should probably pay the bill with the expectation of being reimbursed.
City Councilman David Pottier, who was absent the night the fee was adopted — but who indicated he opposed former Mayor Crowley's budget — said the city could have done a better job of informing residents.
"It was handled poorly," said Pottier, who added that he blames the former administration and its law office for not ensuring that an ordinance was passed.
Pottier also contends the city has denied homeowners ample opportunity under state law to legitimately opt out — as per the Department of Revenue's "division of local services" user fees.
The DOR states that a person paying the fee "must have the option of not utilizing the service, thus avoiding the charge."
Pottier said the months since the ordinance was adopted fly in the face of that rule.
City Solicitor Jason Buffington said any senior citizen previously qualifying for the hardship abatement automatically is eligible for the trash-fee abatement — despite the fact that application deadline date for that abatement was April 30.
Natalia Augusto said that she and her family can barely keep up with their $3,000 mortgage payment can't afford the $292 fee for their four-family house.
Augusto, 45, said her husband works construction and is often out of work for weeks and months at a time. She collects disability since undergoing triple-bypass surgery a few years ago.
"It's just another ripoff," said Augusto, who added that she is trying to organize a protest at city hall.
In addition to herself and her husband, Augusto said she rents one apartment to her son and another to woman who is legally blind and has a child.
The remaining apartment, she said, is still vacant.
"For me to pay I'll have to raise the rent. The poor thing (her tenant) says 'How am I gonna pay rent?'" said Augusto.
Gracie Sampson, 46, said that the house she and her husband, a Boston bus driver, own is already in default with their lender.
"They should have given us more time," she said.
Sampson, who has two daughters, said she doesn't keep up with local news on a daily basis — which she said is all more the reason the city should have sent out notices once the ordinance passed last February.
She said she's not optimistic that she'll be able to pay the fee in time.
"It ain't gonna happen in this household, I'll tell you that," she said.
Contact Charles Winokoor at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Jennifer Lopez Fashion and Beauty Secrets | Video
From Beauty to Fashion, Learn How Jennifer Lopez Aces Her Style
As a red-carpet staple, each and every one of Jennifer Lopez's looks is memorable. "Her style is very much her own, but like her career, it is versatile and multilayered," explains Rob Zangardi, who is one-half of the styling duo behind Jennifer's red-carpet, tour, and American Idol looks. Speaking of layers, he and stylist Mariel Haenn share the same packing secrets they use for Jennifer's travels in the video above. Plus, the two experts dish even more about Jennifer's style and beauty and a few details on her latest fragrance, when you keep reading.
With all the appearances Jennifer makes, it seems like it would be inevitable for Zangardi and Haenn to fall into a pattern with her look. But Haenn says this isn't the case. "It's no secret that Jen loves glamorous, feminine, and fearless looks," she says. "But she also has a playful side that's willing to experiment with a variety of shapes, prints, and colors, making the job a lot more fun." Jennifer's signature look, though, is always alluring. "Her style is a perfect mix of bold, feminine, and timeless," Zangardi says.
Her beauty look is also one of absolute glamour, and Haenn credits that fact to Jennifer's lifestyle. "Her famous glow is due in large part to her skin, which is the result of a happy, healthy lifestyle, and simply taking care of herself," she explains.
Her love of style doesn't stop there, though. Jennifer is releasing her latest fragrance, aptly named Forever Glowing ($39-$49), exclusively at Kohl's. With notes of saffron, white pepper, and patchouli, Haenn and Zangardi claim it is the ultimate embodiment of Jennifer's style. "It's fresh, sweet, and a little spicy. And like the fragrance, Jennifer is glamorous, warm, and fierce," Zangardi quips.
The main thing they've learned from Jennifer? "The best way to look great is to feel great. Jennifer wears everything with such confidence, which is why she always radiates," says Haeen. Yeah, we'll have what she's having.
—Additional reporting by Jaime Richards


text:
Experience Repulse's striking 3D graphics while battling enemies in the game's futuristic, dystopian setting. An arsenal of high-tech weaponry, enhanced movement abilities, and fast-paced combat make this MMOFPS a visceral experience. Repulse provides adrenaline-pumping action in a variety of hard-hitting player-versus-player (PvP) and player-versus-environment (PvE) modes. This frenetic FPS game also features full clan support, resulting in intense shootouts between rival players and clans.
Game List Statistics
Now Playing
0 Users
Wish List
1 User
Hot List
0 Users


text:
Fox News Radio Affiliate Pulls Plug on Minister's Talk Show Over Interview with LGBT Advocate
A Nevada-based Fox News Radio affiliate has reportedly canceled a talk show hosted by ordained minster Sean Savoy over an interview he conducted earlier this month with an LGBT advocate.
According to "House of Savoy" producer Eddie Floyd, KKFT-FM station manager Jerry Evans told him Savoy's August 12th interview with Will Kolb was the reason his 30-minute program was being canceled.
Savoy and the Dallas-based social commentator spent the interview discussing marriage equality, the Chick-fil-A controversy, and other topics of concern to the LGBT community.
"Mr. Evans and his company certainly have the right to control their opinion," Savoy told the website LGBTQ Nation. "But censoring any message that benefits the LGBT community is wrong and detracts from basic human rights. It means that he is gate keeping and not allowing the public to make their own informed decisions."
Savoy's show had been on the air for nearly a year. "I have conducted a variety of interviews with a wide range of people," he said, "and yet this was the topic that got my show cancelled."
In the wake of his termination, Savoy, who is a member of the International Community Of Christ, Second Advent Church, decided it was time to publicly acknowledge his own homosexuality for the first time. He had decided to come out earlier this year, but was still "living as a straight man" up until this week.
GLAAD President Herndon Graddick released the following statement addressing Savoy's sacking:
Pulling an entire show to avoid hearing anything positive about LGBT people hurts all people in Reno. By practicing such blatant discrimination, KKFT is sending a dangerous message that they believe LGBT people shouldn't be given voice or afforded basic respect.


text:
Chen caerulescens
IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern
Ian Davies
Watching huge flocks of Snow Geese swirl down from the sky, amid a cacophony of honking, is a little like standing inside a snow globe. These loud, white-and-black geese can cover the ground in a snowy blanket as they eat their way across fallow cornfields or wetlands. Among them, you might see a dark form with a white head—a color variant called the "Blue Goose." Snow Geese have skyrocketed in numbers and are now among the most abundant waterfowl on the continent.
Snow Geese breed in colonies on Canadian and Northern Alaskan tundra in the vicinity of the coast, from the high arctic to the subarctic. They choose areas near ponds, shallow lakes, coastal salt marshes, or streams (including river islands), preferring rolling terrain that loses its snow early and escapes flooding during spring thaw. Snow Geese form three separate regional populations—eastern, central, and western—distinctions that are more or less preserved as the geese migrate to their wintering grounds. After chicks hatch, families move to brood-rearing territories with a lot of grasses and bryophytes, including tidal marshes and wet areas near ponds. During spring and fall migration along all four major North American flyways, geese frequently stop in open areas like lakes, farm fields, protected freshwater and brackish marshes, sluggish rivers, and sandbars. They winter in regions on both American coasts as well as in some inland areas, frequenting open habitats like marshes, grasslands, marine inlets, freshwater ponds, and agricultural fields.
Snow Geese are vegetarians with voracious appetites for grasses, sedges, rushes, forbs, horsetails, shrubs, and willows. They will consume nearly any part of a plant—including seeds, stems, leaves, tubers, and roots—either by grazing, shearing plants off at ground level, or ripping entire stems from the ground. In winter and during migration they also eat grains and young stems of farm crops, along with a variety of berries. Goslings may eat fruits, flowers, horsetail shoots, and fly larvae.
The female builds the nest by herself, working at any time of day. She starts with a simple scrape in the earth, but as she lays more eggs she adds fluffy down feathers plucked from her own breast (sometimes in very large amounts) and may add material like sea-lyme grass, eelgrass, leaves and twigs of willow and birch, or seaweed. The less protected the site, the heftier the nest: they range from 3 to 6.5 feet across.
Accompanied by the male, the female chooses a nest site, typically sheltered among vegetation like sea-lyme grass or willows, along with rocks or small shrubs. They build nests on dry ground when possible—although, being close to melted snow, the site is often moist. They use island sites or areas near to small ponds when those are available. The female sometimes starts several scrapes before choosing the final location. She may lay the first egg within an hour of selecting the site.
Snow Geese are strong fliers, walkers, and swimmers (even capable of diving short distances when threatened). Their main activities are feeding and resting: they forage on foot and sleep while sitting, standing on one leg, or swimming. During migration and winter, they roost mainly at night and afloat. Snow Geese stay with the same mate for life, choosing an individual of the same color morph (white or "blue") as the family members they grew up with. The female incubates the eggs and nestlings, spending 21 or more hours per day on the nest, while the male stands guard to defend females and nest sites against predators and other Snow Geese. The male may leave the female to defend the nest herself for extended periods. During the breeding season, eggs and nestlings are at risk from arctic and red foxes, Glaucous Gulls, Herring Gulls, Parasitic Jaegers, caribou, polar and black bears, gray wolves, Common Ravens, Long-tailed Jaegers, and Snowy Owls. Adults may be hunted by foxes, wolves, bears, Bald Eagles, or Golden Eagles, more so during nesting season than during migration and winter.
Snow Goose numbers have grown rapidly since the mid-twentieth century, possibly because of warming conditions in their arctic breeding grounds. Populations in the eastern and western arctic have tripled since 1973, and the central arctic population has grown by a factor of 25. These birds can be found breeding in the far north of Canada and winter principally in the U.S. and Mexico. Snow Geese are federally protected migratory game birds, and their hunting is managed on a population-by-population basis. The species is not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List. Throughout much of the twentieth century management officials restricted hunting in the interest of conservation, but by the 1970s they switched to worrying about keeping goose numbers in check. In the late 1990s both Canada and the United States began to permit extra hunting to reduce Snow Goose populations. About 400,000 Snow Geese are now hunted annually in the U.S. and Canada. Because Snow Geese nest in remote areas, their breeding colonies have suffered little impact from humans. The geese themselves may degrade their own habitat by grubbing vigorously for food during the early breeding season, not only reducing their own breeding success but also compromising nesting shorebirds. Like many waterfowl, Snow Geese can suffer from lead poisoning when they ingest fallen lead shot while foraging. This problem can be reduced by switching to steel shot or other non-toxic ammunition.
Medium-distance migrant. All populations migrate, making long flights broken up by long stopovers in staging areas. They fly quickly and at high altitudes in narrow flight lanes, heading more or less due south from the breeding grounds to a wintering site at roughly the same longitude. Some Snow Geese that winter in western North America breed in Siberia, and some that winter along the Atlantic coast breed in Greenland.
Look for Snow Geese in open fields and bodies of water in their wintering grounds across the United States, or passing high overhead during migration. During spring and fall migration, the geese will stop over in open habitats along the four major North American flyways. If the geese are around, they'll be hard to miss: a cacophony of honks accompanying a huge flock either on the ground or in the air.
Unsafe Haven: Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska. Story and photos in Living Bird magazine.
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text: The Devonshire Farm Collection contains day books and ledgers of a Sutton, Massachusetts, dairy farm owned by Harry S. Stockwell at the turn of the twentieth century. Records of household expenses from 1896 to 1913 present a detailed account of the domestic economy of a prosperous farming family. The ledgers also record cash payments over these years made to Miss M. L. Stockwell, as well as small loans she made to the farm.Peddlers hired by the farm to sell farm products in nearby towns purchased eggs, berries, and other produce for resale from farm wives along their routes. Their accounts, farm accounts, and the accounts of several individual women document women's "egg money," which was often a valuable cash supplement to subsistence farming. The egg account of Mrs. T. E. Gifford is especially complete since it includes her expenses as well as her sales, recording the purchase of grit, oyster shells, and grain for her hens.


text:
Kristin, I think you are doing a fine job. I'm more than happy with the group I have. Thank you for going above and beyond with this group.
Hi Kristin,
I think you have done a wonderful job. I'm very impressed. You're right though. You can't please everyone all of the time. I'm happy with whatever. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THIS ON. You definitely make me smile.
Georgetown CA I'd Rather Be Quilting
Kristin: you are doing a wonderful job with the group. I feel very badly because of the stress that I have caused to my group 1... I was in a family emgergency the first two weeks of January finding out my daughter was living in a very abusive and controlling relationship along with her four children...I was not on the computer much and then had a trip planned to Mexico until February 2. I didnt realize that I would be dropped from the group and was very happy to be reinstated. I am sorry to you Kristin for having to re-do lists. Barbara and Joyce your gifts are going in the mail this week, and hope you both had a wonderful birthday....Pat Harvey
Pat From Canada
Pat ,I guess you are on my list , after all, I just saw the update, LOL thanks
Kristin, thanks for re-posting the list. It's really hard for me to understand all the one-off changes that keep happening - and I've definitely not been aware of some of them, so seeing the overall list again each time there's a change is very helpful for me.
So far, I'm on top of my game for groups 1 and 3. 3 packages already received and 2 more going out this weekend. :) Adding Pat back to my list.
Apparently, there's a whole lot of life going on out there. Hopefully everyone in now is in for the year (It's already February!).
Hi Pat, seems we both are in group 1 so would you mind sending me a friend request. I think I sent you one but it is still pending. Welcome and thanks.
hi kristin i think you are doing a fine job.. keep up the work.. sorry i havent been online in awhile been having issues. so hopefully now things have calmed down. and i can get caught up on everything. have a great weekend.
Lisa Fenner
Lisa Fenner
i sent you one too....
This is a difficult swap to be a hostess of; there is so much out of your control, like if the members of the groups follow thru or not. I think that was the biggest complaint last time and there was nothing our hostess could do about it! You're doing a great job of organizing things, though, and I appreciate it very much! There's only so much you can do, however---the rest is up to us. ;-)
Renton Washington
I am happy with all the hard work you've done for the 2013 Birthday Surprises. I appreciate you!
Thank you,
Candace Weiss
Thank you for posting the updated groups. I'm glad to see you put yourself back in. And very happy you are in one of my groups!
Has anybody seen or heard from Deloris Beck?
There appears to be no activity from her anywhere on QCA since December.
I sent her another PM today but if you haven't already sent something, please hold off on doing so to Deloris unless we hear from her.
If anybody has already sent something to Deloris, please PM me so I can keep track of no-shows.
A friendly reminder to all Mailbox Surprise 2013 group members. I'm not singling anybody out, just simply sending a gentle reminder .......
One of the rules that comes along with signing up for Mailbox Surprises is you MUST ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR GIFT. Use the "I got my 2013 Mailbox Surprise" thread to thank your fellow mailbox surprisers.
All involved members MUST keep me posted of progress and complications. As we all know life happens to us all. The most important thing in the Mailbox Surprise Group, and in life is open COMMUNICATION. If you're going to be late in sending a birthday surprise please let ME know. We need to try to keep on schedule to avoid frustration. Remember your group is counting on you to put as much love, care and thought into the birthday surprise as they did with theirs. BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS, Do unto others applies well here!! PLEASE post to discussion board when you receive a birthday surprise. I reserve the right to remove somebody from the Mailbox Surprise group if they do not play by the rules.
Beginning today (02.21.2013) I am starting a new list. At least a month before your birthday I will look on QCA to see if there is any activity from you anywhere on QCA. If I don't see anything, I will post something here, and I will PM you to find out your status. If I don't hear anything from you I will assume you are no longer active with Mailbox Surprises and I will remove your name from the group.
I realize this may be a little harsh, but we all need to be respectful here. If you receive a gift, it MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED. Not doing so is grounds for being dropped from this group for 2013 and going forward into 2014.
THank you for your cooperation.
Kristin - that's not harsh, just reminding people to be respectful, which is a shame we have to remind people.
Thank you for taking this on...
"I'm just a poor soul who's intentions are good. Oh, Lord, Please don't let me be misunderstood."
Debbie (dear1953)
Thank you for the reminder to keep in touch. I sometimes see messages on the Mailbox Surprise 2013 about 2-4 days after they are posted. I am not sure why. I look most days, so haven't a clue as to why that happens. I am touched with the person I have sent a Mailbox Surprise to so far. She posted pretty quickly and said thank you. My next wont be until June, I think. I would really be happy with adding me to more than one group, especially if you would like need another person in a group. But, if not-no worries.
Candace Weiss.


text:
You are here
: Government
: City Departments and Services
: Police
The Renton Police Department is a full service law enforcement agency with 148 personnel comprised of 120 sworn and 28 non-sworn. The Renton Police Department is accredited by Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC). Accreditation is a significant accomplishment and demonstrates a commitment to excellence. Our officers work very diligently to protect life and property, assist in the suppression of crime, apprehend criminals and enforce laws.
The Police Department in cooperation with private vendor, CrimeReports.com will be making available a crime mapping tool for public view and search. Effective October 2009, citizens may view police activity in the city based upon reported crime. The search parameters may be city-wide, by patrol district, neighborhood, date range and crime type. The interactive tool will be used to enhance the public's knowledge about crime activity. Additionally, the Police Department is hoping to enhance our partnerships with the community and is asking the public to provide the department with any information that would assist in solving crimes. Read the Frequently Asked Questions/Terms and Conditions.
Emergencies: Dial 9-1-1
Non-Emergencies: Dial 425-235-2121
Not sure? Dial 9-1-1
For police business and questions that don't require an officer response, call our business line at 425-430-7500.
Email the Police Chief
Renton Police Department1055 South Grady WayRenton, WA 98057Phone: (425) 430-7500
File an Incident Report
We'd love to hear from you on our performance! Please click here to access the Renton Police Department Citizen Survey. Information on submitting the survey to the Administrative Services Commander is at the bottom of the survey page.
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911 Information
Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)
Animal Control
Bicycle Patrol
Block Watch
Business Watch
Citizens Academy
Crime Maps
Crime Prevention-Safety tips
Domestic Violence Information
Electronic Home Detention
False Alarm Reduction Program
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Gun Safety
Home Security System Information
Identity Theft Information
LOJACK Vehicle Recovery System
Narcotics Enforcement
Personal Safety Information
Police Patrol District Contact Map
Renton's Most Wanted
Scam and/or Fraud Information
Sexual Assault Resource Center (King County)
Sex Offenders FAQs
Sex Offender Information (WASPC)
Sex Offender Search (King County)
Speed Monitoring Awareness Radar Trailer
Traffic Laws and Unusual Vehicles
Traffic FAQs
Vacation House Check Program
Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET)
Volunteer Program
What To Do When You Are Stopped by the Police


text: I need some help understanding the situation. The Bucks signed Teague and clearly have moved on from the Jennings-Ellis era. He was a restricted FA and he didn't sign any offer sheets because Milwaukee said they would match anything. Atlanta said no to a Jennings for Teague s&t, I have no clue why?!?! So what happens now? I dont know what happens after RFA. Since its past July 10 is he now with the Bucks on contract for one more year? Is he now a UFA?