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Point Park students from a variety of majors hosted and entertained 73 fourth-grade students in December for an interactive poetry reading and luncheon.
"For our students, it provided an opportunity to talk about what we've been studying and to share (with a VERY appreciative audience!) their work," said P.K. Weston, Ed.D., professor of composition and literature and director of the English program at Point Park University.
The elementary students traveled from Environmental Charter School on a field trip organized by fourth-grade literacy teacher Alex Duffy. As part of their study of poetry, Duffy wanted to show her class that many types of people use this form of writing to express ideas about topics and issues that interest them.
Point Park students were invited to volunteer and 20 offered to read their own and other writers' poetry. After each poem, they answered questions about their experiences as writers and University students. While most read their pieces from the auditorium stage, others combined the reading with music, song, dance or audience participation.
"My favorite part of the event was being able to interact with the fourth-grade students and share their interest in poetry. It was such a great experience overall. It provided a unique opportunity for us to interact with younger children and, more importantly, act as role models," said Brenna Fritz, a sophomore English/Creative writing major.
Fritz read her original poem "The Loneliest Strawberry" to the students.
"I liked that we college students were showing that poetry and the arts don't really go away even after you graduate high school. It is a part of life and not only English majors can have an appreciation of words/poetry," said McKenna Adams, a sophomore psychology major with a minor in intelligence and national security.
She also appreciated the opportunity to practice her public speaking skills in a low-stress setting. Adams read "Maybe Dats Your Pwoblem Too," a poem from the perspective of Spiderman written by James W. Hall.
Adams chose Point Park because it offers an intelligence and national security program but also because she wanted to experience life in the city. "I plan to go to law school after my undergraduate study, then apply to the FBI academy and, I hope, to one day be part of a behavior science unit," she added.
After lunch with the Point Park students, the fourth-graders practiced their own public speaking skills.
"The Point Park students really seemed to inspire ours and may have even given some the courage they needed to share their words with those around them," remarked Duffy.
Because the poetry was so varied, each elementary student had the chance to hear something that would appeal to him or her.
"My favorite part of the event was seeing the dancers perform to the poem because I am a dancer," said a student named Spencer, while Milly explained that "I play piano and really enjoyed the poetry reading with the piano."
Kira stated that she "liked hearing all of the poems!"
"As we waited for our bus, two students told me that they hoped they would be accepted to Point Park University when they were old enough! P.K.'s students kept ours engaged, and the fact that so many were willing to volunteer their time says a lot about the culture of the University," said Duffy.
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|General Discussion
|« Previous MessageNext Message »
|Peter Brawley
|April 27 2005 3:38pm
|Re: why NOT NULL in PRIMARY key??
|View as plain text
Jigal, I think MS-SQL and Oracle provide switches for treating NULLs as values, which is what your proposal amounts to. It seems to me that much of the performance advantage you are counting on from PKs would go away if PKs could have NULLs and if NULL were a value. IAC I hope MySQL doesn't go that way. PB ----- Jigal van Hemert wrote: >From: "Peter Brawley" > >Peter, > > > >> >Anyway, I gues it's just a question of following a standard and >> >> >optimizing > > >> >the engine according to that standard. >> >>Your proposal would permit dupe primary keys. It's a question of >>preventing them. >> >> > >Sorry, but I disagree. >If NULL handling is not done by the table engine but by the rest of MySQL >then MySQL can compare two NULLs and can act in different ways depending on >the situation (UNIQUE index in BDB can only have a single NULL entry, but >MySQL allows multiple NULLs in other table types) > >So, if we would define that the key entry "0-NULL-Whatever" equals >"0-NULL-Whatever" (which MySQL is capable of if you look at the definition >of UNIQUE indexes with BDB tables) then allowing NULLs as part of a key >entry would not permit duplicate entries. At least not more than allowing >other values. > >Because there is a considerable performance difference between primary and >secudary keys in InnoDB it would enable more flexible primary keys that can >also be used for searching. > >It would mean breaking with the standard (PRIMARY = UNIQUE + NOT NULL), so >it's not likely that it will ever be introduced ;-) > >Anyway, I need NULLs in the db (for various reasons which we haven't been >able to solve in other ways) but I need fast searching on name/value. So I >have to figure out a different method. > >Thanks for thinking about this! > >Regards, Jigal. > > > > > > Attachment: [text/html]
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I'm writing a function that combines first, middle, and last names into another array. Using strcat and strcpy in the following code, everything works fine (they obviously don't take the integer in the middle). Also, the definitions in the main program are:
char First[15], Middle[15], Last[15];
Here's the function that's giving me problems:
I'm really swimming on the integer to put in there. I tried smaller ones and got error messages (or crashes), and these were just my last experimental values before turning to you guys. The message I get when I run the program goes something like: "application wrote to memory after end of heap buffer" and it gives a buffer location, too.Code:
char * combineNames(const char *First, const char *Middle, const char *Last)
char *FullName = new char[46];
strcpy_s(FullName, 15*4, Last);
strcat_s(FullName, 15*4, ", ");
strcat_s(FullName, 15*4, First);
strcat_s(FullName, 15*4, " ");
strcat_s(FullName, 15*4, Middle);
return FullName;
I also think the number in the middle is supposed to be a number of bytes rather than number of places in the array.
As I say, using strcpy and strcat with no integer, the whole thing works fine, but it looks like those are deprecated according to warnings in MS suggesting using strcpy_s instead.


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By Edwin C. Darden
Legally speaking, public school boards and superintendents have a daunting responsibility to protect students from harm -- regardless of the source.
Environmental hazards should be high on the school safety list yet the much-overlooked, silent, sometimes odorless and colorless enemy too often thrives and can impose lifelong health effects. It therefore behooves school leaders to be both intentional and vigilant in monitoring the air, water, land, and chemicals that come in contact with students, employees, and visitors.
Common wisdom applies: Better safe than sorry.
This column focuses on the air people breathe, a particularly vexing subject.
In December 2008, USA TODAY published a series of articles about industrial hazards and schools. The eight-month, groundbreaking investigation was called "The Smokestack Effect: Toxic Air and America's Schools." It concluded that many children in the United States attend school buildings near environmental hazards and regularly inhale tainted air.
The legal consequences for school boards range from personal injury lawsuits to the prospect of government demands for costly building cleanup for public health reasons. However, those and other hassles can be avoided by school boards that exercise the Three Cs -- care, caution, and common sense.
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Copyright © 2018, National School Boards Association. American School Board Journal is an editorially independent publication of the National School Boards Association. Opinions expressed by this magazine or any of its authors do not necessarily reflect positions of the National School Boards Association. Within the parameters of fair use, this article may be printed out and photocopied for individual use, provided this copyright notice appears on each copy. This article may not be otherwise, linked, transmitted, or reproduced in print or electronic form without the consent of the Publisher. For more information, call (703) 838-6739.
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9/11 Truthers
Confront Alan 'Mengele' Dershowitz
Activists from the Philly 9/11 Truth organization confronted arch-Neo-Con and torture advocate Alan 'Mengele' Dershowitz at a speaking event last week, causing his fake Christian Israeli-first vulture audience to boo and throw their toys out of the pram, shortly before security were called to drag the dissenters out of the building for the crime of asking a question.
Dershowitz was top of the bill for the kool-aid drinkers who attended the "Global Terrorism: The New World War" event at the University of Pennsylvania.
The video begins with Dershowitz pimping for more wars for Israel, to which a brainwashed woman, most probably indoctrinated and terrified by the phantom menace of 'Islamofascism', slavishly repeats the word "amen" like she's at a Heaven's Gate cult seminar.
Watch the clip below.
What follows is a perfect example of how people who don't have the truth on their side resort to bullying and intimidation to shut down reasoned debate, as the speaker is cat-called, harangued and booed for simply pointing out that governments throughout history have engaged in false flag terror events to realize political agendas. The audience grow shrill at the temerity of having their warped orthodoxy challenged and revert to toddler tactics by engaging in screaming fits and demanding security thugs eject this thought criminal.
After stuttering through a garbled ramble about the vaunted authority of the 9/11 Commission, appointed by Bush and staffed by compromised whitewash aficionados, Dershowitz caves to the clamor of his maniacal devotees and orders security to intervene.
The kind of people who attend these events, where media darling Neo-Cons are paid obscene amounts of cash to projectile vomit their establishment propaganda during extra-curricular hours, if not because they are forced to or they are protesting the aforementioned war whores, are fake Christians and Israeli-firsters who believe they're all going to be raptured up into heaven when the Islamic hordes descend to destroy the earth.
In reality, they have about as much in common with Jesus as with Charlie Manson, and their putrid act of cheerleading for the architects of empire makes them complicit in the global genocide that goes with it.
They associate their power with ideologues like Dershowitz, so anyone daring to de-throne their monkey king, as is witnessed in this video, receives a decidedly hostile response.
Dershowitz is no stranger to advocating "tough tactics" in fighting his political enemies, for it was the Harvard law professor himself who was perhaps the first public figure after 9/11 to call for the torture of terrorism suspects. We can thank Dershowitz for being the trailblazer of a legacy that led to Abu Ghraib, the policy of raping and torturing children to make their parents talk, and the farce of military tribunals and Guantanamo Bay.
Dershowitz's stance was crystallized at a January 2002 event in New York, when he advocated the insertion of a sterilized needle under the fingernails to produce "excruciating pain." Thanks Alan! You were a real torch bearer for liberty and justice back in those difficult post-9/11days!
Dershowitz's other noble standpoints include amending international law to allow a pre-emptive strike on Iran and advocating the deliberate killing of Lebanese civilians.
Dershowitz is just one of a cadre of political prostitutes who make a living by traversing up and down the country to reinforce the conditioning of the dwindling numbers of pro-war zealots who still support the march towards world war three.
We need to form more of these "truth squads" as Webster Tarpley calls them to travel the country and stand up to the evil that resides within people like 'Mengele' Dershowitz and his fellow Neo-Fascist usurpers. A good tactic is to get together a group of about ten or fifteen individuals and sit in different parts of the lecture hall. Once the security goons start dragging out one individual, have another stand up at the opposite end of the room and let that pattern continue until the entire event is taken over by 9/11 truth.
Let them know we are out here, make them lose sleep at night and force these simpering fake Neo-Con Christians and Israeli-firsters into understanding that the political dynamic is changing and their best attempts to run defense for mass murdering dictators are going to fail.
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" Address: St Nicholas Cliff / Scarborough / North Yorkshire / YO11 2EU / Tel: 0871 984 6430 "
Firstly, I will start by saying - we have stayed at this Travelodge twice. Once back in 2011, when it was still fairly new and fresh, and then again recently at the end of April.
A little bit of information about the Travelodge firstly. It is in a lovely location in Scarborough, situated on St Nicholas Cliff on the South Bay. It is directly opposite The Grand, and a short walk from both the town and the Cliff Lift down to the sea front. It has 140 rooms across 5 floors, with disabled access rooms also. There are 2 lifts servicing the different floors. There is a bar/cafe, which provides drinks and standard pub-style food, and there is also a large breakfast room. Breakfast is provided for a charge (which is cheaper if previously booked online), and 2 children can eat free per paying adult. Breakfast is buffet style, with a range of cereals available, toast and preserves, as well as cooked breakfasts. Something to suit all. Also you are able to check in from 3pm and check out is at 12pm the morning after. Early check-in / late check-out is available in some hotels for an additional fee.
Right, our experiences. I will start with our first trip back in May 2011. This was our first short trip away with our daughter - then aged 11 months. We have stayed at numerous Travelodges over the years, with mixed experiences. We booked the Scarborough one simply because it was cheap and cheerful - we paid £44 for 2 nights (midweek) which, when teamed with very cheap train travel, worked out at a good budget break for the price. We arrived to a warm welcome, shortly after check-in time of 3pm, by excellent front of house staff - they were pleasant and professional, and quickly dealt us our keycards (we got 2, just in case!). We made our way to the lift (which you needed a keycard to activate operation for from the ground floor), which was very very small. We were crammed in - 2 adults, 1 small child, a small case and a folded pushchair - they are not big lifts at all. But it worked and it got us to where we needed to be.
Upon arriving at our room, we were thrilled. It was huge, clean and very well maintained. It had the usual desk area with kettle and tea/coffee sachets. There was a wall-mounted television, and the hanger area for clothes. There was a small neat bathroom, with a 3/4 sized bath (great for our daughter, but we were far too tall for it!) and a overhead shower. But the best feature of the room had to be the massive bay window, with the sea view. We could see over the bay beautifully, and our daughter was particularly enthralled by this, as the sofabed made it an ideal viewing point! We were very impressed with our room - everything worked (if you've stayed in a travelodge before, you'll know how rare this is!), and we had hot water. The room made our stay a very enjoyable experience, and we encountered no problems during this stay - it made for a very pleasant first break with our little one!
I will not comment on meals for that stay, as we didn't opt for breakfast on that occasion - preferring to go local instead. But overall, we were impressed, and it certainly influenced us into booking again at a later point.
However, having recently been back in late April (2013), I can safely say we will not be returning again at any point soon. How things change...
Upon our second stay, we were again greeted well by the front of house staff. But that was about the best experience. It's safe to say that the St. Nicholas Travelodge is in need of some maintenance work - upon having a drink in the bar, peeling wallpaper and mildew is visible on the walls. The room itself, although clean, was pretty much up in the attic this time - no bay window, although you could just about see the sea still. The bathroom was as big as the actual bedroom, but could easily have been in a hostel - again needing some maintenance. We had no hot water on the evening - nothing from the hot tap, the bath or even the shower. After a busy day though, we were too shattered to trail back downstairs to complain (on the 4th floor, right at the side of the hotel), so made-do. Fortunately we did have hot water the morning after - almost like they'd paid the meter! The large curtain in our room was also half hanging down too, which made it tricky (although not impossible) to close it fully, not helped by the sheer height of the windows.
We did book breakfast for this stay - the standard cooked breakfast was cooked to order because the hotel was so quiet (rather than be sat out for hours on end) - we must have only seen a handful of others during our stay. The breakfast and range of cereals etc, was of decent standard. It pleased my husband and daughter, so must have been okay.
But after seeing the maintenance issues, I won't be hurrying back. It's a shame, so much potential for this hotel with it's ideal location, but if it continues to fall into disrepair, the Premier Inn around the corner may reap the benefits.
I have been visiting Scarborough pretty much every year since I was a little girl, and have stayed in various places over the years, from the four star Crown Spa Hotel, to grotty camp sites! This year, we decided to stay in the Travelodge. I first stayed here two years ago, only a couple of months after it had opened. Whilst the stay had been OK, I did have some issues with cleanliness, as the cups in the room had not been changed, and empty coffee and sugar packets had been put back into the bowl by the previous occupants, something which had obviously been missed by the staff. Not only that, but when we had arrived, dirty sheets and plates were filling the hallways, presumably taken out of the rooms by the cleaners to be changed, but it did not create a good first impression. I was interested to see if things had improved.
We booked online, this is a simple process and the website is pretty much self explanatory. As this particular Travelodge offers food, you can choose to add a breakfast onto your booking at this point. We didn't do this, instead choosing to go out for our meals instead.
The location of the hotel is actually pretty good. It's right on the sea front, just behind the Grand Hotel, which is pretty iconic and a well known landmark in Scarborough. It is a 5-10 minute walk down to the beach (the South Bay) and a 5-10 minute walk to the town centre.
As it is on the sea front some of the rooms do have a sea view, although it states on the website, they can't guarantee you will get this, so I think it is just pot luck as to whether or not you get one. It is no surprise to me that I've never been one of the lucky ones to get a sea view either of the times I've stayed here. We actually had a view of a rooftop which appeared to have an old tin bath on it. Lovely.
On my previous stay I had travelled by train, but this time we took the car. You can park directly outside the hotel but it costs around £2.50 for 3 hours, which is not practical at all, not to mention it would work out blooming expensive! The staff recommended a local NCP car park, where you can leave your car at a cost of £7 for 24 hours, so we decided to do this. So whilst still expensive, it's not quite as pricey as parking directly outside of the hotel. Given the amount we must have spent on petrol and parking over our three day stay, I think next time it'll be cheaper to get the train! The receptionists can give you a map with the car park postcode written on in case you want to use sat nav.
~Checking in~
Check in is from 3pm and is a simple process. The receptionist was friendly enough and asked if we wanted a key card each or just the one. I was quite pleased that we were asked that, as often they don't and I hate having to share a card.
~The room~
Our room was on the first floor and one thing I noticed was that the floors in the corridors are very uneven. Walking on them is quite bizarre, it's almost like being drunk, as you feel like you're falling into the walls at times. I can confirm that when you are actually drunk, walking on them is even worse...but you won't care, you'll think it's the most fun you've ever had!
I should note, that even though there are lifts up to the first floor, there are also several steps once you're on the first floor (I think about seven at a maximum), as the floors are uneven and it is a pain in the neck if you have heavy cases to lug up there. I suppose it is also something you need to keep in mind if you have mobility problems, but I did notice that disabled rooms are available on the ground floor.
Once we got to the room, I must admit I was not overly impressed. Most Travelodge's are very similar in style, this one no exception. There were, however a few things about this particular room that I didn't like...
Firstly the TV was on the desk rather than wall mounted. Coupled with the kettle and mugs (this time clean, I should add), this didn't leave a whole lot of space on the desk. Not that I was planning on writing any lengthy letters home or anything like that, but I would have just liked to have had a bit more space!
The second thing I wasn't pleased with was that the walls were very grubby. I think the positioning of the bed must have meant people had been scraping the walls with their cases as they went past, and there were lots of dirty marks, which simply made the room look shabby. I felt that it could have done with a good rub down or at least a coat of paint.
I was quite surprised to find that the room had a bath. This is the first time I've had a room with a bath in a Travelodge, although the last time I stayed in this hotel the room only had a shower, so a bath isn't something you should expect if you stay here. There was however, also a shower over the bath, and the bathroom seemed cleaner than the bedroom.
The bed was comfortable and three pillows were provided - two on the bed and one spare, which I find is standard for Travelodge's. Usually if you do want more you can go down to reception and ask.
~Other Facilities~
There are two computers at reception which you can use the internet on, but you have to pay.
There is a little café area to the right of reception and I believe there is also a bar there. We didn't use either of these so I can't comment on how good they were, but there were menus left in our room, and they did seem to offer a reasonable choice of different things - the standard stuff, such as burgers.
Prices vary depending on what day you book and how far in advance you book. We booked about three weeks in advance, and stayed two nights. I think we paid about £75 for a double room for two nights on a weekday in May. Book at www.travelodge.co.uk
The Travelodge offers a reasonably cheap place to stay in an excellent central location. I go to Scarborough every year, and whilst I would consider staying here again, in all honesty I don't think it would be my first choice for next years trip. Whilst it's in an excellent location and offers a comfortable bed, I'm still not 100% happy with the level of cleanliness. Whilst it isn't so grubby you leave feeling like you need a good wash, I still feel it needs to be more thoroughly cleaned, and the parking was an issue too, so I can only give this a very average three stars.


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Porter watches Humber, analyzes AL West
By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- In addition to watching Philip Humber throw a simulated game during the Astros' scheduled day off Monday, manager Bo Porter took some time to begin studying his American League West opponents a little closer.
"It was the first day I started to look at how their Spring Trainings are going and the projected rosters and projected lineups and our projected rotation, lineup and all that," he said.
The one thing that jumped out to Porter was that AL West foes Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles Angels and Texas appear to be heavy on left-handed starting pitching.
"It's a competitive division, and as it stands today, you're probably going to have, out of the 20 starters in the division, eight or nine of them will be left-handed, I know that much," Porter said.
And when it comes to hitters, Porter does not need to be reminded of some of the talented sluggers in the division, especially the Angels.
"They have some guys on the back of their baseball cards that look good," he said.
Lyles focuses on advances made in rough outing
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Astros pitcher Jordan Lyles was roughed up by the Jays on Tuesday afternoon in Dunedin, Fla., allowing six runs and 10 hits -- including two home runs -- in 3 2/3 innings. It has been a rough spring for the 22-year-old, but he remains confident he will make it to where he needs to be when the season starts.
"My stat lines this spring haven't been good in any way, but at the end of the day you can't look at that," he said. "Personally, I would like to be better, but I'm working on things, and I'm going to try to be ready for April and not this month. I'm looking forward to the season. This is the best I felt in Spring Training, and the numbers aren't there for me right now. I'm not overly worried about that."
Lyles, who has allowed 36 hits and 23 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings this spring, gave up a solo homer to Melky Cabrera in the first and a two-run homer to Jose Bautista in the fourth. He said was working on spotting his slider in Tuesday's outing.
"This is probably the first time I've not thrown any cutters and working on the slider," Lyles said. "I really worked on that today, just throwing sliders, and I really like the direction we're going with that, so I can lay off the cutters more. I got some good swings out of guys in that aspect, and I like where that's headed.
"A couple guys made me pay on fastballs today. I'm not too worried about that. They were just balls over the plate, and good players making good swings. The 2-0 fastball to Bautista, that's just a good swing by a really good player."
This was the first time this spring Lyles was paired with Jason Castro, which is something the big right-hander liked.
"It was nice getting back out on the mound working with Jason again for the first time this spring," Lyles said. "It was fun to work with him again, and going into the season hopefully we can get together a couple of more times and get in sync. But like I said, it was good to get back with him today."
Said manager Bo Porter: "He just got the ball elevated and had a chance to put some hitters away and didn't make quality pitches in those situations, and those guys put some pretty good swings on them."
Crowe on bubble as season approaches
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- With a little more than a week to go before the Astros break camp and head back to Houston, it is the time of the spring when the players who are on the bubble can't help but wonder if they will be on the roster on Opening Day.
One of those battling for a roster spot is outfielder Trevor Crowe, who has made a good impression in camp. The former first-round Draft pick by the A's entered Tuesday hitting .318 with two doubles, two triples and five RBIs in 22 at-bats.
Crowe, 29, says he is trying not to focus on where he will start the season.
"That's all just part of the process of going through Spring Training and getting ready for the regular season," Crowe said. "The only thing you can really do is focus on the things you have to do to be able to succeed every day. Baseball is a funny game, and it all has a way of working itself out over time."
Crowe, a non-roster invitee this year, is no stranger to fighting for a spot during the spring. He opened the 2009 season on the Indians' roster after David Dellucci was placed on the disabled list and wound up appearing in 68 games in his big league debut.
"It's Spring Training, and in three years in the big leagues I've learned when they turn the lights on it's the same game, but it's a different game," Crowe said. "It's really important right now for you to handle your business and make sure when you're in Yankee Stadium that you're ready to go and you're confident about your routine and what you're going to be able to produce on a daily basis."
Porter among fans of Interleague Play
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- This year marks the 40th anniversary of the designated hitter in the American League, and Astros manager Bo Porter -- whose team will make its AL debut March 31 -- is a fan of having a different set of rules in both leagues.
"I think it's good for baseball," Porter said. "It kind of gives baseball a little different brand. If I were a fan, I would live for Interleague."
When it comes to the DH, Porter says AL teams can be at a disadvantage when they play in National League parks because the DH, which is often the team's best offensive player, is forced to play the field, which is not always ideal.
That is why Porter says it is vital to have a DH who can also play the field adequately. The Astros have that in Carlos Pena, who has a good glove at first base.
"I think it puts you in a position where, if that guy can't go play a position, you're stuck with him just being your DH, and you can never give one of your other regulars just a day where they don't have to play the field," Porter said. "Let's say Jose Altuve goes 4-for-4 with two triples and two stolen bases and scores five runs and he runs all over the place. I don't want to take his bat out of the lineup, but I'll say, 'I'm going to get you at DH [the following game],' and whatever position your DH plays, you put him in the field. You still have the DH in the lineup."
Worth noting
• The Astros announced Tuesday that Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Astros-Rangers season-opener at Minute Maid Park.
• Porter says he is "getting close" to being able to name a starting pitcher for the March 31 season-opener against the Rangers at Minute Maid Park. It will be between right-handers Bud Norris and Lucas Harrell, though it is worth pointing out that Harrell is following Norris in the rotation during Grapefruit League play.
• Porter said Humber looked "great" in his simulated game Monday against Minor Leaguers and hinted he was in good standing for a rotation spot.
"You don't want stand here and say anything's going to happen for sure, but I put it like this: He came in competing for a job, and he hasn't done anything to hurt his chances of being one of the guys in the rotation," Porter said. "He's done everything we've asked him to do, and he's done well every time we put him out there."
• Astros pitchers Xavier Cedeno (Puerto Rico) and Jose Veras (Dominican Republic) are both expected to return to camp Thursday after representing their respective teams in the World Baseball Classic. Puerto Rico and the Dominican meet for the title Tuesday night.
Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Retiring Sthalekar has last laugh
Lisa Sthalekar, 'the old duck' of the triumphant Australian women's World Cup cricket team, paddled serenely into international retirement on Monday, after having the last laugh on teammates and opponents.
Allrounder Sthalekar, 33, announced her retirement after taking 2-20 and scoring 12 in Australia's crushing 114-run win over the West Indies in the final in Mumbai early on Monday (AEDT).
"I feel that this is the right time for me to retire and I've been fortunate to be able to represent Australia for as long as I have," Sthalekar said.
Sthalekar leaves the game at a time when, ironically, she would probably be considered the best spinner in Australia, regardless of gender.
She is ranked the No.1 T20 allrounder and bowler in the world and holds the No.2 ranking for ODI allrounders and bowlers.
Fittingly, she had the final say in the win, taking a spectacular one-handed catch to secure the last wicket and trigger Australian celebrations.
"Everyone calls me the old duck, so I think the old duck moved alright for the last catch," Sthalekar said.
By late afternoon on Monday, many of Sthalekar's teammates - plus England and New Zealand captains Charlotte Edwards and Suzie Bates respectively - had tweeted their admiration and best wishes to the formidable NSW and Australian allrounder.
Sthalekar is a proven performer with a record her male counterparts can only drool over.
She conceded less than two runs an over in her eight Tests, averaging 20.95 for her 23 victims.
In 125 ODIs, she claimed 146 wickets at 24.97 and gave up less than four runs an over.
Her status as a run miser extends to the smash and bash of T2O, where she conceded just 5.82 an over while snaring 60 wickets from 54 matches at 19.35.
Chuck in Test and ODI batting averages of more than 30 and a T20 strike rate of almost 110 and Sthalekar has genuine claims to be one of Australian cricket's greatest allrounders.
What made Sthalekar's figures even more admirable was her ability to flight the ball and invite batters to attack, rather than the defensive tactics favoured by so many of her contemporaries, who spear the ball in at almost medium pace.
In the final, Sthalekar snuffed out a West Indies fightback, bowling captain Merrisa Aguilleira and powerful hitter Deandra Dottin.
"The girls have laughed many a time at me being smashed by Dottin and (her) clearing the boundary easily," Sthalekar said.
"To actually get her wicket was really sweet, which you probably saw in my celebrations."
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text: Hey, tennis may overtake NHL. or, what NHL??? Rogers takes over sponsorship of ATP Tennis Masters Canada event 11/02/2005 2:07:00 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TORONTO (CP) - In finally landing a new title sponsor for the ATP Tennis Masters Canada event, Tennis Canada has at long last recovered the guaranteed revenue stream it needs to develop the sport at the grassroots level. Rogers Communications Inc., acquired the naming rights for the annual men's event as part of a four-year multimillion-dollar deal announced Friday. The agreement runs from 2005 through 2008 and also extends the corporate giant's sponsorship of the country's annual WTA event. Both tournaments, which alternate between Toronto and Montreal on a yearly basis, will be called the Rogers Cup. "Corporate sponsorships, corporate activity and ticket sales at our events is where we get 90 to 95 per cent of our revenue," said Jack Graham, Tennis Canada's chairman. "So this is absolutely critical." The men's event has been without a title sponsor since 2001, when Swiss marketing firm ISL went bankrupt. That was a huge blow to Tennis Canada, particularly after 1999 Federal anti-tobacco legislation ended Imperial Tobacco's 21-year sponsorship of both the men's and women's events. "This has been a long time in coming," said Stacey Allaster, Tennis Canada's vice-president and tournament director. "We're just thrilled. "The title sponsor makes the event more profitable, so that we can give more money to tennis development." Rogers has sponsored the women's event since 2001, and its initial agreement ran through 2006. As part of that deal, Rogers had to tell Tennis Canada this year whether it wanted to extend the sponsorship. "They finally realized that if they're going to own tennis, they should own all of it and the entire company should get involved," said Allaster. The deal caps a busy two weeks of investing in sports properties for Rogers. First, it closed a $25-million Cdn deal to buy the SkyDome, renaming it the Rogers Centre, and gave the Toronto Blue Jays $210 million US to spend on payroll over the next three years. Then Rogers teamed up with rival Bell Globemedia to win the TV rights for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics for $153 million US. "I think everybody is interested in sports, all members of the family," said owner Ted Rogers. "That's important to because we're a family company." The Rogers Cup events will be promoted at the company's stores and through its various wireless, cable and Internet services. Tennis Canada hopes that helps boost ticket sales and further increase profits, which will go into its four-year strategic development plan. Funding for grassroots level tennis had become scarce in the days without a title sponsor. "It was post 9-11, it was difficult economic times," said Allaster. Under its four-year strategic plan, Tennis Canada plans to: -Give more support to top-level players; -Increase support to provincial associations; -Build more tennis development centres; -Increase number and quality of coaches; -Increase presence in parks and communities. The deal with Rogers also calls for the start of a Rookie Tour, which will build on an existing Ontario Tennis Association program. The program's goal will be expand the network of kids playing competitive tennis and feed the most talented one into the high-level development programs. It will be expanded outside the province if it succeeds. "We said, 'Let's pilot this. Let's see if this is something that's really going to work,"' said Allaster. "This is that entry-level program for kids who just want to begin playing competitive tennis. We want to make it fun and motivating and hopefully find a few diamonds in the rough." The men's Rogers Cup runs from Aug. 8 to 14 at Montreal's Stade Uniprix. The women's event takes place at Toronto's Rexall Centre the following week.


text:
Jackson activated from DL, Garcia sent to Triple-A
By Kelly Erickson / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Tigers activated center fielder Austin Jackson from the disabled list on Friday and optioned Avisail Garcia to Triple-A Toledo. Jackson started Friday and batted leadoff.
Jackson, who was sidelined due to a pulled left hamstring, hadn't seen action for the Tigers since May 11. Jackson played three games with Toledo as part of his rehab assignment, going 3-for-13 with an RBI, a walk and five strikeouts.
"He's back. He's playing. That's good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
In Jackson's absence, Garcia hit .288 and was on an eight-game hitting streak. Filling in for 24 games, Garcia had 19 hits in 66 plate appearances with 10 RBIs and four walks.
"He did well enough to stay up here, it's just that we don't have room for him right now unless you want to not play [Andy] Dirks, not play [Torii] Hunter or not play Jackson or somebody," Leyland said. "We're not going to sit him out there and let him sit there and wait for a left-hander, so that's just a common sense thing.
"I could keep him up here and sit him on the bench. That doesn't make much sense. This is a kid that needs to play. This is a kid that's got a high ceiling."
Leyland sticking with Valverde as closer
MINNEAPOLIS -- After his third blown save of the season on Wednesday in Kansas City, questions have cropped up about Jose Valverde's role as the Tigers' closer.
While media and fans alike have suggested several different answers, Tigers manager Jim Leyland firmly stated he will stick with Valverde for those final outs.
"We're going to do the best we can," Leyland said. "We're going to use Jose Valverde until we decide Jose Valverde can or can't do it, or we've got somebody else better. That's what we're doing.
"Basically what it boils down to is, everybody can tell me I'm bald, but no one can tell me how to grow hair."
Leyland also noted that Valverde is working on his splitter -- the pitch that has been getting him into some tough situations -- and has been pushing it lately, rather than throwing the pitch.
"He hasn't been consistent on throwing it the way you're supposed to throw it," Leyland said. "He'll get underneath it and is kind of pushing it."
Valverde has made 18 appearances this season entering play Friday against the Twins, going 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA and nine saves. He's given up 13 hits and eight earned runs in 17 1/3 innings of work.
Hunter the latest former Twin to make return
MINNEAPOLIS -- When Torii Hunter stepped up to the plate on Friday, he became the third former center fielder the Twins faced in consecutive series.
Hunter followed Denard Span, who went 4-for-9 with a triple and RBI for the Nationals, and Ben Revere, who was 8-for-14 with a triple and RBI for Philadelphia.
While Hunter joked that the trend doesn't count for him, now that he's in right field, he did say when it comes to game-time, he'll do what he can to help the Tigers win.
"I enjoy beating any team," Hunter said. "The Twins, I love them no matter what. But once I step between the lines, I'm here to win. If we lose, we lost -- but trust me in a loss, I'm trying to beat you. They're another team right now. I still love them … you'll see me smiling, but I'm trying to beat [them]. I'll run you over, I'll catch you, I'll take the second baseman out -- whatever I have to do to win."
Hunter, who last played for the Twins in 2007, went 4-for-14 with a double and an RBI the last time he played at Target Field in the season-opening series in April.
"He's always taken care of himself really well and worked really hard," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He looks as young as ever and moves around. I know he doesn't have the same speed he once had, or the arm strength, but he still really knows to play the game. He's a positive influence over there and I know that from talking to [Tigers manager] Jim [Leyland]."
Kelly Erickson is an associate reporter for MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text: I don't know anything about vintage machines, but my amazing DH found this Free-Westinghouse on Craigslist and picked it up for me. It has all the accessory feet, but no manual. The lady that sold it thought it was from the 1940's, but a quick Google search showed many of these machines listed as 1930's. I have so much to figure out before I can begin to use it. Any thoughts?


text:
- McLaren news
McLaren buoyed by end to 2012
- Teams:
- McLaren
McLaren's sporting director Sam Michael says the team's confidence will be high at the start of 2013 having ended this season with back-to-back victories.
Lewis Hamilton won in Austin before being taken out of the lead in Brazil, leaving Jenson Button to secure victory at the final race of the season. Hamilton was also set for victory in Abu Dhabi before a gearbox problem ended his race, and Michael said that the strong performances at the end of 2012 marks McLaren out as the team to beat at the start of next year.
"The car was really quick in the last two races and I think we can look forward to some really strong performances next year," he told Sky Sports News. "We have to make the normal gains you have to do over winter and Red Bull and Ferrari will be flat out doing that, as will the other teams trying to catch up - Lotus and Mercedes. But we're pretty confident we can do the right things over the winter and start off strong. We're going to Melbourne to win."
McLaren won as many races as double world champions Red Bull this season - seven in total - and Michael believes it's a fact that shouldn't be overlooked despite the failure to sustain a challenge for either championship.
"It was a fantastic year for the team. We obviously wanted to perform better in terms of end result and be there for the championship but the car was strong at the end and we're really focused on 2013 now.
"We've got a change to one of the drivers, so that's a big change for the team, and we're doing all the planning for that now, but also putting in place all the changes that we need to make sure that we're successful next year - and that means the whole lot."


text:
Macworld 2011 is finally here, and those of you lucky enough to be attending will be amongst the first to discover the coolest new software, hardware, and accessories for use with our favorite Apple devices; as well as expert advice, demonstrations, and instructions on how to get the most out of these products.
To help you survive the four days of excitement and celebration, we've compiled a great list of iOS applications that will ensure you experience the best of both the Macworld Expo, and the beautiful city of San Francisco. The applications we've selected will help you find a taxi to your accommodation when you touchdown at the airport; navigate your way around the city and discover everything there is to see; find the best places to eat, drink, catch a show, or meet friends; and lots more.
However, our list of applications isn't just for those attending the conference – for those of you stuck at home this week, we've also included some great applications that will ensure you're kept up to date with the latest news and everything that's unmissable at Macworld.
Check out our list of applications after the break, and here's to a great Macworld 2011!


text:
Gary Masners letter to the editor (Herald, Sept. 21) prompted me to add my thoughts. I believe there is a partial explanation for the lower-than-predicted number of tourists/spectators for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge weekend. On the weekdays, Wednesday through Friday, many of the New Mexico schools were already in session so neither parents nor students could come. Also, as far as housing goes, did businesses take into account that the vast majority of cyclists and their crews were housed (and fed?) at Fort Lewis College?
I agree with Masner that the event was well worth the publicity to the world about Durango.
Shelly Hartney


text:
Always good to see cutting edge research and interact with others in related fields. Many collaborations begin via interactions at this meeting.
-Joseph G.
...fundamental research presented by a diverse background of scientists (engineers, physiologists, physicists, and mathematicians).
-Erik B.
The world-wide participation is impressive.
-Roger K.
March 2013 Table of Contents


text:
Tuesday, January 23
There are no openings scheduled for this date.
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text:
Adams: First shot at postseason
Rangers reliever is looking forward to the playoff atmosphere
What I am looking forward to the most is the playoff atmosphere. This will be my first taste of it. I will be excited to get out there, see that full house and realize that there are 26 other clubs watching our game. It is going to be a great feeling to know that you are one of the top eight teams in baseball. I can't wait to experience that atmosphere first-hand.
When I get that call for the first time from the bullpen, I think I will be feeling a lot of emotions, including some nerves. I say that because there is going to be a lot of electricity in the air, and I will be thinking about what is really at stake. At the same time, I think it is going to be a whole lot of fun.
Usually you get tired toward the end of the season, but I think once the lights turn on for postseason baseball, all of that fatigue is going to go away. The adrenaline is going to kick in and help carry you through because you know this is what you play the game for. Your team plays for this sort of spotlight, and there is nothing else you can ask for.
When I got traded to Texas from San Diego, I knew this was a good possibility. Texas is also one of the destinations my family would talk about. We were all kind of hopeful that I might land here one day, and it has worked out. From here, going forward, hopefully, we can do some good things.
Texas for me is home, and I was a big Rangers fan as a kid. I have a lot of memories of the Rangers as a kid. One of those memories features being at the ballpark when Nolan Ryan was pitching, and there was a big bench-clearing brawl. It involved Steve Buschelli who got hit with the pitch. Coincidentally, Steve was with our team in our clubhouse a few weeks ago. I reminded him of it, and right away he knew what I was talking about. We joked around a little bit about it, and he told me how he was at the bottom of the pile, and when it was all over he was pretty beat up from the experience.
Walking into the Rangers clubhouse as a member of the team was a very different feeling for me. I sort of felt like a rookie again. You walk in not knowing too many people and, at the same time, you don't want to step on any toes and break up what they had going on here. You try your best at the very beginning to fit in. You do your best to try and go out there and just be a part of the big group that is here. After a week or so, I felt more comfortable, and it has been a bit of a smooth ride since. I have gotten to know the guys real well, and it is about creating great memories together.
One of the things that made things more comfortable for me right away with this team was that feeling that they wanted me. That is a great feeling. They traded for me, and I knew the situation that they were in as it relates to the standings and their goals. That really helps you and your confidence. I did bring a lot of confidence with me based off of what I have accomplished the last few years. And when I got here, it was really just trying to become part of the team. I wanted to justify their confidence in me and I, in all honesty, did not get off to the best start. But then I got my feet underneath me, and it has been great.
Looking back, I was probably putting too much pressure on myself. I probably tried a little too hard to get the job done, and sometimes when you try and do a little more than what you are used to doing that is not always a positive. In the beginning that was the case, but once I got a few good outings under my belt I got settled in, the confidence remained high, and I got comfortable. I was able to do what I do best.
Reliever Mike Adams has been rock-solid for the Rangerss this season, posting a 2.19 ERA in a setup role in 26 contests. For the year, the Texas native and veteran of nearly 300 career regular-season games has a 1.49 ERA over a career-high 74 contests for Texas and San Diego.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
By Abby Hassler
Kendrick Lamar will perform at Rihanna's third annual Diamond Ball at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City Sept. 14 and comedy icon Dave Chappelle will serve as the evening's host.
Related: Kendrick Lamar & Rihanna 'Loyalty' Footage Leaks
The Diamond Ball raises support for the Clara Lionel Foundation, which promotes global education, health, and emergency response programs. Rihanna founded the organization in 2012 in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite.
"I'm thrilled that the incomparable Dave Chappelle will kick things off as the official host of this year's Diamond Ball and Kendrick Lamar will take the stage for an unforgettable performance," Rihanna said. "I'm proud of the Clara Lionel Foundation's significant impact in the world over the years and deeply grateful for the continued support and commitment to advancing our mission."
Diamond Ball sponsorship and table reservation information is available via email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
(via NatGeo)
(Also on Sb)
A. R says
I smell Tweed and Whisky!
Catnip, Not a Polymath says
Well, that's better than Vegemite!
Olav says
Speaking of peat. This article may interest some readers: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/09/peat-and-coal-fossil-fuels-in-pre-industrial-times.html
eclectabotanics says
I should save this image for my son, Petey, to use as his profile picture.
davidnangle says
Careful now! Or Hobbits go down to join the dead ones, and light little candles of their own.
Stardrake says
A picture of a bog?
Think of the chilllldrrreeennnnn!
McCthulhu - resentful that McHastur is taller. says
AGGGGGGH!!! Someone blew into the bong and got the weed all wet!
julietdefarge says
Why all the holes in the scum? Maybe made by gas bubbles rising from rotting vegetation? Our Southern algae-covered ponds are often solidly green, and I can attest that they do emit plenty of gas.
aspidoscelis says
julietdefarge – You may want to reconsider the scale here… this isn't pond scum. It's hard to be certain of the exact scale, but those "holes" are pools of water somewhere in the vicinity of 3-10 feet across.
quoderatdemonstrandum says
Great, now all I can think about is a dram of Laphroig and it's only 14:45 in the UK.
Glen Davidson says
Well this blog is pretty much bogged down today.
generallerong says
Meanwhile, up in the shoreline muskeg of Alaska…
edwardgordon says
My review of Pharyngula is complete. You can view it at Veridican.com if you like. It's a good one.
I intend to check back frequently here and at the Freethoughts blog. Thanks for having me.
Don Quijote says
Aces of peat.
Antiochus Epiphanes says
I've been mired down all day with authoring a play on the word "Sphagnum"–I guess moss people wouldn't get it anyway.
birgerjohansson says
Anoxic peat bogs can preserve organic material for thousands of years. For instance, In the Umeå museum we have the world's oldest ski, more than 4000 years old. (I don't know if this is more or less than the Dagorlad battlefield)
And this is why I never try to lose a body in a peat bog. Peter Stormare in "Fargo" had the right idea.
DLC says
"if you value your life or your reason, never go onto the moors after dark!" — Stapleton, The Hound of the Baskervilles
Don Quijote says
Re my comment at 14:
I have done a very silly thing and made a comment at the behest of an English aquaintance without understanding the significance of it first.
I should like to apologize pofusely for it and if I could, withdraw it.
Rich Woods says
@Don Quijote #18:
I'd just be happy if you could explain it, please.
An Englishman (and certainly a little slow today)
Don Quijote says
@Rich Woods;
I will explain it although it embarrasses me to do so. Apparently it comes from either a joke, film or TV show (I'm not sure which) where a pirate has a parrot that says "aces of peat" instead of "pieces of eight" because it is dyslexic.
Normally, I would not write things that I'm not fairly sure I understand. I could plead that I was on the outside of a good lunch with some excellent wine and brandy but it is no excuse. The answer is, of course, stay away from the keyboard after drinking.
RFW says
The scale of the scene seems impossible to determine from that one photo. The vegetation could be a couple of species of moss, but it could also be grayish trees poking up above a thick canopy of lesser trees, or ditto, replacing "tree" with "shrub".
The only real clue seems to be the reflected scenery in the water, which I presume to be a backdrop of dead trees. There's a small sphagnum bog near here where you can see dead trees killed by waterlogging of the roots. (This particular bog was probably created by the road interfering with the downhill flow of water.)
So, does anyone know for sure what the scale is?
An interesting example of self-similarity in a landscape.
Xavier Ninnis says
@Glen Davidson, Antiochus Epiphanes
moss mas, for the love peat, no mas!
aspidoscelis says
RFW – If you're familiar with plants, it's not hard to have a general idea of the scale here. Mosses under magnification (and especially sphagnum) just don't look like that. Visible vegetation is mostly grasses & sedges. The vertical lines visible in some of the pools are, AFAICT, probably not reflections of dead trees, but more likely dried stems of some emergent aquatic plant.
If you're feeling bored, you can try to match up the particular pattern of pools with aerial photographs. Look about 4/5 of the way up the western side of Fraser Island, Australia.


text:
I'm using ZASS v9.0.083 and I'm getting prompted to log in to sites I've never heard of. It's just a small window which appears asking for a username and password. One of them was for ciao.net or something. When I tried to copy it to see what it was, it wouldn't let me copy so I have no idea if this is some sort of attempted exploit or not.
Anyone know anything about it?


text:
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SUPERVALU INC. (NYSE:SVU) will hold its fiscal 2013 third quarter conference call on Thursday January 10, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. Central time. The call will be webcast live online at www.supervaluinvestors.com (click on microphone icon).
A replay of the conference call will be archived on SUPERVALU's website under "Investors, Presentations and Webcasts."
About SUPERVALU INC.
SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest companies in the U.S. grocery channel with annual sales of approximately $35 billion. SUPERVALU serves customers across the United States through a network of approximately 4,400 stores composed of 1,099 traditional retail stores, including 797 in-store pharmacies; 1,341 Save-A-Lot stores, of which 943 are operated by licensee owners; and 1,950 independent stores serviced primarily by the Company's food distribution business. SUPERVALU has approximately 125,000 employees. For more information about SUPERVALU visit www.supervalu.com.


text:
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Images shown may not be an exact representation of the actual product.You may contact us if you have questions about the exact specifications of this item.
The Traverse - Semi Automatic Pistol Holster
The Traverse is an ambidestrous conceal-carry holster. This holster is very low profile and uses our new "Speed-Retainer" system to hold the pistol in the holster securely. Carry the Traverse on the left or right side in a traditional or crossdraw carry or just behind the side of the hip, its design angle is relaxed enough to accomodate easy reach from most positions. Fits most semi-auto pistols.
Express orders for items available to ship the same business day must be placed by 1 PM MST. Express orders received
after 1PM ready for immediate shipment will not be shipped until the following business day.
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text:
The Obama administration released recommendations for changing the security clearance process for government employees and contractors, including creating a system to continuously evaluate cleared personnel, as part of a review conducted in the wake of the September 2013 Navy Yard shooting.
The government identified several systemic flaws in the background investigation of Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis, an IT contractor with a topsecret security clearance.
The government plans to move to a continuous evaluation method, rather than conducting initial investigations with scheduled follow ups. The shift to a continuous evaluation model will require new IT systems to store and search through data.
As the report notes, "currently there is no government-wide capability, plan, or design present in the investigative community to collect, store, and share relevant information." The recommendations include plans to involve the CIO and the CTO in developing a long-term IT strategy to support continuous evaluation.
The government is seeking a new IT strategy for the clearance process to get a handle on costs, while promoting efficient, government-wide access. The plan is still on the drawing board, but includes offering real-time access to investigation data and electronic access to federal, state and local law enforcement records, building a continuous evaluation system to monitor cleared personnel, a new case management system, and the inclusion of new data in background checks, including social media.
The intelligence community and the Defense Department are leading the way on continuous evaluation. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence expects to have a continuous evaluation capability online in September of this year for especially sensitive posts, and a system in place across intelligence agencies by 2016. Defense has 100,000 personnel in its Automated Continuous Evaluation System, which will be ramped up to 500,000 by the end of 2016.
Continuous evaluation is a means of finding potentially adverse information about a cleared individual that takes place after the initial clearance, but before periodic reinvestigation. Officials remain vague about what they are looking for, but the military program suggests that arrests, financial troubles, domestic violence and drug abuse are among the issues that could trigger the suspension or revocation of a security clearance.
Another improvement is making sure that there is a pipeline of information from state and local law enforcement to clearance investigators. Many jurisdictions, including some metropolitan police departments, routinely refuse to share arrest records and police-report information with investigators conducting background checks. In the case of Alexis, a 2004 firearms incident reported to the Seattle authorities could have left an informational trail that might have alerted investigators to a history of violence.
The administration is also looking to reduce the number of individuals holding a secret or top secret security clearance, now at about 5.1 million. This number includes more than 1.5 million with the top secret clearance -- approximately 850,000 federal employees both civilian and military, almost 500,000 contractors and 180,000 listed as "other." Next month, the administration is expected to conclude a governmentwide review of all jobs, to see if access to classified material can be curtailed in some positions. Once that is done, a new rule defining what constitutes a "national security position" will be issued.
The government also identified the need for standards in terms of database checks to be included in background investigations, such as citizenship verification and Social Security confirmation to prevent people from perpetrating outright identity fraud, as well as the consultation of specialty databases maintained for the intelligence community, and improved military discharge records. The White House also recommends finding ways to use social media information, previously excluded from background checks, as a component of investigations.
"These are common-sense approaches and consistent with recommendations [the Professional Services Council] made over the last several months to OMB, DOD, and the intelligence community," said Stan Soloway, President and CEO of the Professional Services Council, a trade group representing government contractors. "These reviews have appropriately focused on what information is to be reviewed and how to make greater use of a risk- and analytics-based approach."
A separate report released by the Defense Department found that Alexis, a Navy veteran, did not have potentially important information entered into his Joint Personnel Adjudication System file. The report notes that adverse information about Alexis's arrests was not included in the JPAS record because he did not have access to classified information as part of his duties. "This perception is common in the department, as the existing DOD policy is not clear," report found.
The report found that Alexis could have been refused a clearance under the existing system, citing "missed opportunities for intervention that, had they been pursued, may have prevented the tragic result at the Washington Navy Yard."
About the Author
Adam Mazmanian is executive editor of FCW.
Before joining the editing team, Mazmanian was an FCW staff writer covering Congress, government-wide technology policy and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to joining FCW, Mazmanian was technology correspondent for National Journal and served in a variety of editorial roles at B2B news service SmartBrief. Mazmanian has contributed reviews and articles to the Washington Post, the Washington City Paper, Newsday, New York Press, Architect Magazine and other publications.
Click here for previous articles by Mazmanian. Connect with him on Twitter at @thisismaz.
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Check it out today!
Large parts of the federal government will shutter at least temporarily as Congress fails to enact a four-week stopgap spending bill. As agencies prepare to power down, officials say cybersecurity is being given a higher priority than it was in the 2013 shutdown.
An individual's walking gait will be the first biometric used to continuously authenticate mobile warfighters.
The former chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the lead sponsor of the IT procurement bill FITARA is calling it quits.
Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord has been replaced as the chair of the group overseeing the massive cloud initiative known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure.
Government application of the ledger technology lags behind the hype, but expect more experiments to take off in the coming months.
After a 2017 filled with uncertainty and slipped deadlines, the Census Bureau faces a critical 2018 that could make or break the constitutionally mandated count.
Cheat on spouse = cheat on country? I do not think that could be considered a factual statement. Look at Presidents for one. The whole idea is based on feel good euphmisms like the above. Systemic problem is human behavior is unpredictable. No quick fix is going to change that.
Even more disturbing is the fact that social media will also be used to identify potential risk factors. Who is going to sit down and search for the individual(s) and who pays for it? High potential to mix up John/ Jane Jones in CA when looking for potential risk flags; incriminating photos or illegal/ dangerous activities.
Very interesting. Will this eliminate the need for the 5/10 re-evaluations for TS/S clearences? What criteria will be used for this collection of data? Traffic stops, speeding tickets, arrests, credit scores, late payments? How would you capture things like adultry? Afterall, a man or woman who would cheat on their spouse would certainly cheat on their country. How will this be paid for. Of course that may not be a problem as the Defense Secretary is planning on reducing Army military levels to below pre-WWII levels. That should free up some cash. How about managing this project? Add more people or just pile it on to some other over-worked set of administrators? I know of some administrators that are trying to deal 20 or more systems.
8251 Greensboro Drive Suite 510, McLean, VA 22102 703-876-5100


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Lenox Apple Squeeze sure sign of fall's arrival
LENOX -- Fall officially begins this weekend, and in Lenox the autumnal equinox will be celebrated with the annual Lenox Apple Squeeze, which begins on Saturday.
Designed primarily for Berkshire County residents, but with activities that attract visitors, the Apple Squeeze, which continues through Sunday, combines a traditional New England small-town street fair with a showcase where merchants and area non-profits can display their offerings.
"It's a great celebration of fall," said Jim Terry, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce committee that organized the Apple Squeeze, which was founded in 1980 by a group of local merchants.
The Apple Squeeze is among several harvest bashes that are designed to launch the busy autumn season. This year, the Lenox event will co-exist with the Lee Founders Weekend Festival, which runs from tonight through Sunday.
The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority will provide shuttle bus service between the two events on Saturday, with buses leaving on the hour at no charge. This is the first time that the BRTA has provided this service.
"The Squeeze has a broad appeal," said Terry. "Berkshire residents respond the most but many second-home owners look forward to it and come back every year, along with a few tourists."
Terry measures the Apple Squeeze's success by the crowds on the streets, "whether everybody had fun and the nonprofits were able to help support themselves."
He acknowledged that there was a lively debate about scheduling this year's Apple Squeeze on the same weekend as Founder's Weekend in Lee. But he said the scheduling shouldn't affect either event.
"I think it's fine," Terry said. "It just makes for a bigger celebration of the Berkshires, so people attend both of them."
Lenox business owners welcome the Apple Squeeze.
"It's great to get everyone into town, locals, Berkshire residents, enjoying all the different treats," said Olde Heritage Tavern owner and Selectman John McNinch. "Anytime you get people into town, it's great for the community and I'd like to see it thrive."
"Lenox needs to market itself to Berkshire County and get many people coming here for these kinds of events so they'll come back on other weekends," said Ken Fowler, owner of Shear Design and Select Board chairman. "That's where the bread is buttered. Originally, the whole idea was that this is a celebration for us, and we've regained that spirit."
Among the Apple Squeeze's prime attractions are hay rides provided by River Bank Farm of Dalton that take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Rides from Lilac Park down West Street have been organized by the Morris Elementary School PTO.
The PTO will transform Lilac Park into a Kids Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Live musical acts by area young people, carnival games and rides down a giant "Big Kahuna" inflatable two-story slide will take place.
A performance stage at the corner of Church and Housatonic streets will showcase a series of local musical acts.
Food, beverages and baked goods will be sold by 19 purveyors that include restaurants, churches and nonprofits such like the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
The Apple Squeeze represents "the best example of the New England lifestyle, epitomizing the beauty and charm of a small New England village," said Ralph Petillo, executive director of the Lenox Chamber of Commerce and co-organizer of the event.
The festival is a major fundraiser for a long list of community organizations and supporters including the Lenox Library, Lenox His torical Society, the Com munity Center, the town's two schools, Shakespeare & Com pany, two humane societies and others. Petillo said.
The diverse lineup even includes a display of a classic 1966 Jaguar XKE Burgundy from Donovan Motorcar Service, and some late-model used cars from Scott Schiff's used car business at Donovan.
"Visitors get the feeling that this is 'Hometown, USA,' " Petillo declared.
To contact Clarence Fanto:
or (413) 496-6247.
On Twitter: @BE_cfanto.
Apple Squeeze highlights. . .
The 33rd annual Lenox Apple Squeeze harvest festival will be held in the downtown historic district in Lenox from 10 to 5 on Saturday and Sunday. Here is a selective listing of event highlights.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Kids Park in Lilac Park, off Main Street. Carnival games, rides down the two-story, inflatable "Big Kahuna" slide, bouncy houses, community art project, face painting. From 11-4, soundstage music performances by young artists, including The Rents and acts provided by Berkshire Rocks, including Berkshire Idol winner Christine Bile, Genie and the Barncats, Distance Shock, Mariah Lewis, Sarah Rayner, The Substitutes, Olivia Stein and Ella Sears.
11 a.m. -- Hay rides provided by River Bank Farm from Dalton.
11:30 a.m. -- Stevie Nichols & Friends (Firefly, 71 Church St.)
Noon -- The Gripweeds (Berkshire Classic, 74 Main St.)
Noon -- Mountain Breeze (Church Street Stage)
1 p.m. -- Nutshell Playhouse (Lenox Library, Main St.)
2 p.m. -- Tom Gizzi (Church Street Stage)
3 p.m. -- Terry a la Berry (Church Street Stage)
4 p.m. -- Albany Berkshire Ballet Jr. (Lilac Park)
11 a.m -- David Grover (Church Street Stage)
12:30 p.m. -- Bootleg (Church Street Stage)
1 p.m. -- Rob Zucker's Band (Berkshire Classic, 74 Main St.)
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:
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Costalita is a resort located on the Costa del Sol, between the better known towns of Marbella and Estepona. Costalita is in a perfect location for some of Spain's best beaches and golf courses, meaning there is something to do for all the family. Puerto Banus is close by and offers a stunning marina and fantastic shopping.
Looking for a holiday rental in Costalita? then please view our selection of holiday homes to rent in Costalita by using the search box below or else by choosing the type of holiday accommodation you are looking for from amongst our selection of villas, penthouses and apartments in Costalita
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text:
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sneak Peaks...
The Truth Is...
I am Iron Man. Whoa, have you seen the trailer just released? The alternate poster? No, well you should and we'll give you the scoop and some of our background research as we go. Start here, you won't be sorry http://www.ironmanmovie.com/
The Most Romantic Kiss Ever?
Speaking of research, "Anyone wanna peanut?" How about "You killed my father, prepare to die." We get commissioned frequently beyond the licensed work you see on our sites. In fact many of you have been familiar with our work for years without knowing it. Lord of the Rings, Troy, Sahara, Percy Jackson, Rocketeer to name a few. This is a sneak peek of us working on The Princess Bride swords which are licensed and will be released for the first time early next year. Hard to believe it's taken so long, but we're proud to be working on them now. The swords on the drawing table are the actual ones used on set by Cary Elwes (Dread Pirate Roberts) and Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya). Yep, damn cool.
Pictured are Bruce Brookhart, one of our guru's of historical sword design and me, Robin Chaudhuri as I'm project manager on all our licensed projects (sitting). I'm usually in the pic when a beauty shot is needed. =)
Authenticity is absolutely key and we take it very seriously. Hours go into the initial research before a single technical drawing or prototype is started. You see the beginnings here.
Discover the cult favorite at http://www.princessbrideforever.com/ or if you're like us and already fans, just enjoy some moments with your favorite characters.
Have fun storming the castle!
7 comments:
- mutantpoo said...
Holy purified crap on a cracker !
Inigo's sword !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My prediction... Best Sword Ever .
- December 17, 2009 at 11:44 AM
- Rob C said...
Could be, I don't have six fingers, but I want one.
- December 17, 2009 at 1:59 PM
- mutantpoo said...
I hope it doesn't weight a.. ton.
- December 19, 2009 at 3:15 PM
"Contact Us" forn is not working.
i have order question. please check site or teach me mail address.
- December 21, 2009 at 1:09 AM
- Rob C said...
Should be good on the weight, the same hilts were used for the fight scenes so they had to be similar to any historical counterpart rapier to make them manageable and whip quick. We've designed them to be real as they were made for the set, we know they'll go on display, but you want to know they could do all the things the actors did with them don't you? Me too.
Lastly here is another contact email firstname.lastname@example.com
- December 21, 2009 at 9:53 AM
- mutantpoo said...
Heh, sorry was going for the whole Giant rhyme thing one...ton.
Didn't mean to imply they would be awkward, lol.
- December 21, 2009 at 12:56 PM
- Rob C said...
Nicely...done, with your...ton.
- December 21, 2009 at 4:06 PM


text:
major macro economic indicators
|2017 (f)
|GDP growth (%)
|Inflation (yearly average) (%)
|Budget balance (% GDP)
|Current account balance (% GDP)
|Public debt (% GDP)
(e) Estimate (f) Forecast
- Significant mining resources (molybdenum, copper, gold)
- Significant support from international organisations and the diaspora
- Member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)
- Geographically and politically isolated, aggravated by a lack of infrastructure
- Strong dependence on Russia (trade: 20% of exports, 30% of imports, FDI, loans, remittances)
- Persistently high level of unemployment
- High level of corruption
- Conflict with Azerbaijan regarding Nagorno-Karabakh
The Armenian economy has stood up to the regional environment
Unlike in Russia and Azerbaijan, growth in Armenia did not contract in 2016. In 2017, growth is expected to be driven by activity in the industrial sector. Increased mining production, particularly of copper, is expected to continue in 2017, driven by a slight uptick in global commodity prices, which had been down since 2011. A recovery, even a moderate one, in Russian economic growth should also encourage household demand thanks to remittances from expatriates. These remittances make up about 15% of the country's GDP and mainly come from Russia (more than 60% of the total). However, the Armenian economy will still suffer from major structural problems. The lack of infrastructure and competition in the domestic market, the fragility of institutions, the persistently high unemployment rate (around 18%), as well as the deteriorated business environment are some of the most significant sources of vulnerability.
In 2017, inflation is expected to return in spite of the decrease in natural gas prices seen since January. Improved domestic demand, particularly spurred by the gradual loosening of monetary policy by the central bank (key interest rate decreased from 8.75% to 6.0% between January 2016 and February 2017), as well as increased food and commodity prices are expected to put upward pressure on prices.
Budget consolidation and relative stabilisation of the current account deficit expected in 2017
The budget deficit is expected to be reduced in 2017 thanks to consolidation efforts undertaken by the government with support from the IMF. Started in 2016, these efforts are focused in particular on efficiency in the tax system. The adoption of a new Tax Code by the Parliament in 2016, including a number of measures that aim to improve tax collection, may help increase revenue in 2017.
The government also intends to limit non-priority expenditures, particularly social and infrastructure spending. The government is expected to not increase wages or retirement benefits in 2017 in order to ensure the sustainability of public debt, which is expected nonetheless to continue to increase in proportion to GDP, but at a slower pace than in the last few years.
The current account balance is likely to remain in deficit. Indeed, the rise in imports tied to the expected increase in domestic demand is likely to be only partially offset by higher export revenues, coming notably from improved copper prices (20% of total exports). Increased transfers should prevent an overly strong deepening of the deficit.
Fragile political, social, and geopolitical stability
After 2016, a year marked by various social movements, a hostage situation at a police station in which two officers were killed, and the replacement of the Prime Minister in September, the results of the parliamentary elections in April 2017 are expected to allow President Serzh Sargsyan to continue with his second term in a more favourable situation. His party (the Republican Party of Armenia, RPA) garnered 58 of 105 seats in the National Assembly. While the relative popularity of the RPA is not in question, acts of vote buying and voter intimidation were reported by international observers during this election.
Mr Sargsyan will not be able to seek a third term in the 2018 presidential election. However, he could become Prime Minister at the same time that Armenia becomes a parliamentary republic in accordance with the constitutional amendments that Mr Sargsyan had approved at the end of 2015 after a referendum.
Widespread corruption, persistent unemployment, and growing inequality and poverty are contributing to popular discontent, which could translate to new protests, particularly as the presidential election approaches.
In the region, the dispute with Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh saw an escalation of violence in April 2016, ending in a four-day confrontation. Tensions then calmed down, particularly after intervention by Turkey, which maintains strong diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan, as well as by Russia, a partner to Armenia. As there seems to be no long-term solution to resolve this conflict, the status quo is expected to continue in the coming months, with the possibility of occasional confrontations.
Last update : March 2017


text:
Frazier turning corner after breaking out of slump
By Kevin Massoth / MLB.com
MILWAUKEE -- Forgotten in the shuffle of Friday's hectic ending was Todd Frazier's big day at the plate for the Reds.
Frazier finished 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. He was in line to finish with the game-winning hit, a run-scoring single in the seventh inning, before Jonathan Lucroy's walk-off home run won it for the Brewers in the ninth.
But Frazier was not overly thrilled with his day following the sour ending to the game.
When asked if he would trade his big day for a win, Frazier responded: "Any day of the week."
Frazier was mired in a 3-for-49 slump before he broke out with two hits and two RBIs in Cincinnati's 5-0 win over the Cubs on Wednesday. With three hits and four more RBIs Friday, Reds manager Dusty Baker is optimistic his third baseman is on the upswing.
"It's the RBIs that's the big one," Baker said. "We need RBIs. We have plenty of baserunners on base. We've just got to get somebody to consistently drive them in."
Baker said he moved Frazier to the sixth spot on Friday to shake him out of his recent slump. The Reds -- who had missed Ryan Ludwick's bat in the middle of their order for most of the season -- will count on Frazier to help carry the run-producing load in their order.
Chapman's status unknown for rest of series
MILWAUKEE -- Reds manager Dusty Baker would not tip his hand Saturday on whether his closer, Aroldis Chapman, will be used in the last two games against the Brewers.
The left-hander has pitched five of the last six days and blew his fifth save of the season Friday night when Jonathan Lucroy hit a walk-off two-run home run off him in the Brewers' 7-6 win. Chapman was used three straight days from Aug. 11-13, then had an off-day before appearances in Cincinnati's first two games at Miller Park Thursday and Friday.
"That's what happens when you're a closer," Baker said. "You get a lot of work over a short period of time or you get very little work. We've monitored him and preserved him pretty well."
But will Chapman be used again against the Brewers in a save situation?
"To answer your question, I really can't tell you," Baker said. "How we use him is almost how we use all our relievers here. We try not to use them three days in a row. Sometimes you can't help it. Sometimes you've got to use a guy three days in a row."
Chapman previously pitched on three consecutive days once this season from April 14-16, but he threw just 36 pitches combined. He threw 41 pitches Aug. 11-13 and has totaled 32 pitches in his two outings in Milwaukee.
On Friday, Chapman's velocity was down 2-3 mph from Thursday, when he lit up the radar gun consistently over 100 mph.
"Well, he's no longer a secret," Baker said. "Guys are studying him. The longer you're around, you might have to come up with something a little different. Let's face it, this is the big leagues, man. You're not just going to keep getting these guys out over and over and over and over, unless you're Mariano Rivera.
"Other than the home runs, he's been very good. I mean, where would we be without Chapman? Don't forget now, most of the free world wanted us to make him a starter and then have [Jonathan] Broxton the closer and leave [Friday starter] Mike Leake by the wayside. I think most of us have forgotten about that. Where would we be without Leake as a starter, and where would we be without Chapman as the closer?"
Worth noting
• Ryan Ludwick was back in the Reds' lineup Saturday after a day off on Friday, hitting sixth and playing left field.
Ludwick missed most of the season before his return this week from a right shoulder injury.
Kevin Massoth is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Name: Isabel
Age: 14
Birthday: October 4, 1991 (because I thought it was worth mentioning, personally)
My favorite pairing is Ron/Hermione. I also enjoy a good Harry/Ginny (which excludes stories where they use pet names like 'love', eg, "Ginny, love, pass the tripe.").
I'm not a very good writer. That is, I can be a good writer if I tried, but my fanfictions tend to flop, and I'm only really any good at writing short stories and poems. Ah, well.
If you are looking for one of those fantastic reviewers who leaves in-depth reviews, advice, and constructive critisism... I am not one of them. Occasionally I may have a spurt of brilliance, or nitpickyness, or something. But usually I just say "Ahh! That was so good! Update soon!" and annoy everyone.
I have a Xanga and a Myspace, both of which are protected/private (friends only) respectively. I will, however, subscribe to and proceed to constantly comment on yours if you decide you wish to. It can actually be fun. I am an interesting person, and I leave much more helpful comments on everyday life than on fanfictions. Strange, yet true.
So... yeah. That's about it, really.


text:
My first story, a poem called Little Yellow Birds, has been validated!
All the information about me is on my website!
Read my quizilla stories!
The Marauder Inside of You
Lily Evans - You are the righteous crusader. You are a moral person who wants to see justice in the world, even on those you do not care for. You would sacrifice yourself for another person without a second thought. You are confident in yourself and in your abilities, but you possess the intelligence to keep yourself grounded. You do not lose sight of who you really are. Your bravery and persistence sets you apart from other people, as you are not one to fade into the background.Take this quiz!
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Which HP Kid Are You?
discover your jack-o-lantern face @ quiz me
Your Harry Potter Alter Ego Is...?
created with QuizFarm.com
Who is Megan???
Your Hogwars Rep!!(pic of you included)
^^This is what you look like.^^Name: Nicole(Nikki)Snape(yes, you're Snape's daughter)House: RavenclawYear: Same as TrioRep: Sad girl, Emo Girl, Harry's Girl, Snape's daughterYour BF:^^Harry^^What they think....Harry: I.Love.Her. She is my life. I don't know what I would do without her. She keeps me strong when I want to give up. She is my everything. Even if she IS Snape's daughter...she's nothing like him.Ron: Love her. HATE her dad. She always seems kind of sad though. But she cheers up a little when Harry's around. They go so perfectly together.Hermione: She is my best friend! She's so smart but not rude like most other Ravenclaws. I actually let Harry sneak her into the Gryffindor common room because she's so great!Ginny: I was a little sour after she took Harry but I got over it. She always seems so sad though...and her dad! ick!(me: obviously she hasn't gotten over it...)YES I HAVE *sobs*(me:riiiight)Fred: Almost don't wanna prank her she looks so sad.George: Not to mention her dad might fry our arses....but she really is a nice girl. And its good to see her smile when she sees our pranks.Fred: *nods*Cho: I don't really like her. She's never happy. And she doesn't like to talk about clothes or make-up or anything like that...Luna: She's very nice. I do like her very much. She says I not crazy...but who would think that? I do wish she would smile a bit more though...*sigh*Draco: Oh emo girl? She's pretty hot. But always sad... we grew up together, her being professor Snape's daughter and all, shes always been that way. But seriously Pothead? Why the hell is she going out with him? She could have me!Pansy: I hate her...Draco talks about her all the time....Crabbe: Sad Girl preetyGoyle: Like cupcake.Oliver: Who?Seamus: She's always sad...cept when she's around HarryDean: *nods*Neville: She makes me so sad...and her dad scares me...*eyes shift*Dumbledore: is dead*tear* but he thoguht you were a very good witch.McGonagal: She is an amazing Witch. But I daresay she needs to cheer up.Snape: She is my daughter. She keeps me going. But she's been ever so sad since her mother's death...I wish I could make her happy. And I'm not so thrilled about her and Potter.Sirius:(came out of the curtain) Snivelly's daughter? She's always so sad...but she great with Harry. He always makes her smile.Jocelyn(me):I love her! She's a great friend. Really smart too. I'm glad Harry can make her smile. I can too sometimes...Voldy: Yes...the little Snape...well I must say she is always quite...down...but going out with Harry Potter you say? Oh I MUST ask Severus about this...it could be to my advantage*evil grin*Well there you go!! rate and/or message me PLEASE!!!Take this quiz!
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Yay! I get to date Harry!


text:
Many social events are planned in Club 99 through out the semester. The bar is open, the pool table, Foosball table, and darts are always in use, and the social scene is buzzing. We also encourage student organizations to reserve the space and plan events for students. See the contact page about who to speak to for planning programs in Club 99.
A schedule of events for the spring semester will be posted soon.
Everyone is welcome at Club 99 but you have to be 21 to drink alcoholic beverages.
Soda, juice, coffee, hot chocolate, popcorn and more are also available.


text: Got to get out yesterday out of Hillsboro. We put out our spread within 20 min we get our first fish in the box nice dolphin in a 150ft. Then we decided to go depper in anout 400 we ened up getting some more dinner. We got to see a nice sword on the surface what an amazing sight never seen that before in 350ft of water


text:
The Taunton Daily Gazette saluted the talents of young people in the community Thursday, celebrating nine local high school students as "The Best & The Brightest" of Greater Taunton.
The Taunton Daily Gazette saluted the talents of young people in the community Thursday, celebrating nine local high school students as "The Best & The Brightest" of Greater Taunton.
"We at the Taunton Daily Gazette identified a need in the community, a need to recognize the next generation of community leaders," Publisher Sean Burke said.
The first installment of what is intended to become an annual tradition, The Best & The Brightest awards ceremony was held Thursday night at Elizabeth Pole Elementary School.
"Each of the students we've profiled and chosen for The Best & The Brightest are an inspiration, and we'd like to do everything we can to make sure our readers know these compelling youngsters are working hard to ensure we all have a brighter future," Gazette City Editor Rory Schuler said.
The awards were given out to honor local young people's accomplishments in academics, athletics, the arts and community involvement. The nine recipients were chosen from a field of 46 nominees.
"I'm very honored to be here and praise God for bringing me this far," award recipient Jasmine Payne said. "I'm just in awe, and I'm proud of all the other recipients."
A recent Taunton High School graduate, Payne, 18, has been involved in a multitude of school and community activities. She has volunteered for several charitable organizations, including Camp Sunshine, a summer camp for children with leukemia.
Her classmate, Taylor Johnson, 18, has also participated in a number of school and community activities. She said her most rewarding work has been going to Hopewell Elementary School on Saturdays to tutor younger children for the MCAS exams.
"When I got the award, I was really excited," Johnson said. "It's exciting to see how far the Taunton Public School system can go."
Tyler Medeiros, 18, who recently graduated from Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School, is a budding carpenter, teaches CCD, is an adult Eagle Scout leader and is a member of the Dighton Junior Firefighters, holding the rank of captain since 2008. He said he was shocked to be recognized.
"It's kind of surreal," he said. "With all the bad in the world, I'm happy to see that people still want to recognize the good."
Danielle Brodeur, 16, also a student at Dighton-Rehoboth, is interested in early childhood education. She participates in a number of activities, works as a first-grade teaching assistant during her elective classes, volunteers with her church youth group and is a Girl Scout summer camp program assistant.
Brittney Furtado, 18, a recent Taunton High graduate, volunteers her time with several charities and the Taunton Animal Shelter. She hopes to pursue a career in animal rehabilitation. She was a multi-sport athlete and a member of the National Honor Society.
Emily St. Laurent, 18, of Lakeville, despite battling a number of serious health issues, recently earned her Coyle and Cassidy High School diploma. She works with the Bridge Center, a nonprofit organization that provides recreational activities for children and adults with special needs. She hopes to one day be a music therapist in a children's hospital.
Laura Martin, 17, a Taunton High student, enjoys the liberal arts and has volunteered with a number of community organizations, such as My Brother's Keeper and the Pan-Mass Challenge. She took advanced placement and honors courses and plans to study film.
Danielle Waldron, 17, a recent Taunton High graduate, has completed more than 50 hours of community service, won third place in the state science fair and captained the school softball team. An honors student, she plans to study medicine.
Alyson Warr, 18, of East Freetown, graduated first in her class at Apponequet High School, captained the field hockey team, volunteers with Special Olympics and plans to pursue a career in science. She worked for Sea Lab last summer and has won numerous academic awards. She was recently named the recipient of the Hawthorn Medical Scholarship.
In a video message to the students, Taunton native Sarah Doherty, who lost her leg to a drunken driver at age 13 before going on to be the first amputee to summit Mt. McKinely, said that people are shaped by where they're from, where they go and the choices they make along the way. It is important, she said, to not only learn from successes, but also from failures.
"Don't be afraid to dream big," she said.
Contact Gerry Tuoti at email@example.com.


text:
BOX 222212 222212 Corrugated Box
Internal Dimensions: 22" Length x 22" Width x 12" Depth - Kraft - 10 / Pack
Item #: BOX222212
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Retail/List price: $119.25$83.48 for Pack
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Special Order This item is a special order item. It may ship from the manufacturer so delivery times can be longer than normal. Special orders are non-returnable unless damaged during shipping.
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text:
How Bad Do You Want Bad Design to Be Good?
New York commuters are likely familiar with this year's round of ads for the School of Visual Arts. "How Bad Do You Want to Be Good?" is the theme, with various posters and subway-car ceiling ads taking the theme in strange new directions. After the jump, the Williamsburger reaction, as sent in by a reader from Lorimer Street, "the second (or perhaps first) hippest subway stop in New York."
Everyone's a critic. Our suggestion: bigger headlines.