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Kevin Millwood can often be seen on the golf course, but the right-hander has also found a new hobby this offseason -- kickboxing.
"I started out doing it for fun, but it's an unbelievable workout," Millwood told texasrangers.com. "I really enjoy it."
Millwood wants to rebound from what for him was a disappointing season. He finished 10-14 with a 5.16 ERA. He also missed much of May due to a strained left hamstring.
"I just want to be in the best possible shape I can be so nobody can say that I wasn't in shape," Millwood said. "If I stink, then I stink, but I don't want people to say that I wasn't in shape."
Texas manager Ron Washington has seen a difference in Millwood this offseason.
"He looks strong," Washington said. "He looks very strong. His demeanor is different. He has a look about him. He's working hard."
John Smoltz has a plan: Since returning to the rotation in 2005, John Smoltz has topped the 200-inning mark all three seasons. Yet, he's tinkering with his Spring Training routine.
"I've got a plan, as usual, going into Spring Training," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Things I want to work on. There might be a lot of behind-the-scenes work, rather than pitching in games. I want to take it slow. It might not follow protocol.
"I want to execute this plan, hopefully have a longer year."
Smoltz hopes the new plan, which he will clear with pitching coach Roger McDowell and manager Bobby Cox, will lead to a return to the postseason.
"I'm not a 'glass' player, I'm not fragile," said Smoltz, who pitched 205 2/3 innings last season, but also had his first DL stint since 2003 (inflamed shoulder) after he slipped while making a warm-up pitch in an early season game.
"But at the same time, if I make some adjustments -- I can't avoid a slip, but I can be economical in my work," Smoltz said.
Former MVP Juan Gonzalez signs with Cardinals: Former AL MVP Juan Gonzalez, anxious to prove he still has something left, has signed a Minor League contract with St. Louis and hopes to make the Major League club as a reserve or platoon outfielder.
"There's not a great deal of risk involved, but there is the potential for significant upside," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's something we've been talking about for a while with Juan. I think everybody is intrigued by what he can offer."
Eduardo Perez, a former Cardinals player who supervised Gonzalez's workouts at the MLB-sponsored Winter Training Program in San Juan, Puerto Rico, recommended that the team give him a look.
"You're going to see a very humble guy. It's a lot different than before," said Perez. "He just wants to prove he can still play. He has a desire. It's not about the money. He just wanted the opportunity.
"I know there are going to be a lot of skeptics," said Perez. "There has to be. He hasn't played in a number of years. But his body is in great shape. If he stays healthy the whole season, he's the comeback player of the year."
Five more years for Granderson: Curtis Granderson won't allow his new contract to change him.
Granderson, who batted .302 while becoming just the second player in history to have at least 30 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season, has agreed to a five-year contract that will provide some security.
But it won't take away his edge on the field nor will it affect the way he handles himself off the field.
"I don't see a change too much in terms of being flashy," Granderson told the Detroit Free Press. "I blend in easily. A lot of people don't recognize who I am until I've left.
Granderson's agent, Matt Brown, says that his client deserves the contract he received. "Those guys don't come around very often," said Brown. "He's such a good human being."
Morgan hopes to start like he finished last season: Nyjer Morgan knows he has a chance to win the Pirates' center field job, but also knows that there will definitely be plenty of friendly competition between he and Nate McLouth for the job.
"[McLouth has] helped me out ever since I came up with the Pirates and since I came into the Major Leagues," Morgan told MLB.com. "He's definitely helped me out, and competing with a guy like that, I can't ask for anything more."
In September of last season, Morgan started 25 games and batted .299 in 107 at-bats. He believes he can reproduce that type of success in 2008.
"My thoughts are just that I am going in with the same attitude that I had when I came up," said Morgan, who also stole seven bases in that stretch. "A lot of people try to tell me, 'Yeah, you're a lock', but I don't see it as that. I have a heck of a player that I'm battling against."
Rios agrees to one-year contract with Blue Jays: The Toronto Blue Jays, who avoided an arbitration hearing with outfielder Alex Rios by signing him to a one-year contract, would still like to negotiate a long-term contract.
"We've got all of Spring Training to continue to talk and we've got the course of the year to continue to talk," general manager J.P. Ricciardi told bluejays.com. "But we don't like to talk to a player during the year and I'm sure a player doesn't really want to talk about it during the year.
"We've got all of February and all of March to try to work a long-term deal out and, if it doesn't come to fruition, we've got him for the next two years and we can continue to try to work on it. We're putting our best foot forward."
Rios, 27, hit .297 last season with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs to go along with 43 doubles. An All-Star, he also finished second in the Home Run Derby contest.
Tracy dealt setback after surgery: Chad Tracy's return to the Diamondbacks' lineup following micro-fracture surgery in September may be slowed because of a blood clot that developed in November, manager Bob Melvin said.
"He's been swinging the bat," Melvin told dbacks.com. "The big thing will be when he starts running, probably right before we go to camp. Not that speed was a big part of his game, but the key will be if he can run without pain. The odds are probably against him being ready for Opening Day, but we'll see when we get to Spring Training how he progresses."
Jesse Litsch aims for spot in rotation: Several pitchers will be competing for the fifth starting spot in the Toronto rotation this spring. One of those pitchers is Jesse Litsch, who impressed the Blue Jays as a rookie last season after being recalled from the Minors.
Litsch will likely compete with Casey Janssen and Gustavo Chacin for the fifth starter's spot. Janssen was solid coming out the bullpen last year, while Chacin is returning from left shoulder surgery.
"We like our club," Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi told bluejays.com. "But there are some questions that have to be answered going into Spring Training and by the time we break camp."
Litsch, who made 20 starts last season, was 7-9 with a 3.81 ERA after starting the season at Double-A last year.
"Litsch made a big impression on me last year and on the team," manager John Gibbons said. "He was up there and he pitched good, struggled a little bit, and then came back and pitched great. I think he's earned the right to claim that spot."
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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© 2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Glavine, Reyes soaking up the scene
Unable to play, they're happy to help represent the Mets
By Tom Singer / MLB.com
PITTSBURGH -- Some places have a Wall of Fame. The Westin Hotel ballroom in which the National League All-Stars met the media on Monday afternoon had a Wall of Mets. Players sat on raised platforms for interviews throughout the cavernous hall. But sitting in a row along one section were exclusively reps of the NL's reigning powers: Paul Lo Duca, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Tom Glavine and Carlos Beltran. "I've been to All-Star Games by myself," said Glavine, an All-Star for the 10th time, "and it's not as much fun as bringing four, five other guys with you. It makes for a much nicer time when you have your buddies here." Glavine and his buddies have been having a nice time since early April, which is why so many of them are here. With 53 wins and a 12-game lead in an NL East division in which no other team is playing .500 ball, the Mets are enjoying this break. For Glavine and Reyes, it's a midsummer vacation, not a Midsummer Classic. Both are out of the game -- as is another member of the original six-man Mets All-Star contingent, Pedro Martinez -- but didn't want to be left out of the picture. Reyes, chosen by fans as the starting shortstop, was scratched by a seven-stitch cut he suffered on his pinky in a basepath mishap. Glavine, voted onto the staff by players, was replaced because his Sunday start rendered him unavailable for the Tuesday night game. (Martinez, also chosen by players, recently went on the disabled list with a sore hip.) However, unlike other chosen then replaced All-Stars, Reyes and Glavine insisted on making the scene. "I'm not going to play but, oh yeah, I'm enjoying this a lot," Reyes said. "I'd like to play, but that's how it is sometimes. It's part of the game." "I had a good half," said Glavine, perhaps understating his 11-2 performance, "and I was chosen to be here, so I wanted to come and represent myself and my organization. "Those are my feelings ... it's the same thing as the whole argument over whether we're role models. Some guys don't think we are. It's a personal viewpoint. For me ... I enjoy being here, so I wanted to come and have fun." Both intend to make memories, even if they won't make the box score. "I'm gonna be down there, on the field, no doubt about it," said Reyes, who will be in uniform and on the NL's bench for the game.
Reporting that the swelling in his finger has "gone down a bit; it's getting better," Reyes hoped to be able to rejoin the Mets' lineup during their post-break weekend series in Chicago against the Cubs. New York doesn't resume play until Friday, giving Reyes an extra day of recovery."It's a little different being here when you can't play," said Glavine, who has pitched in six of his nine prior All-Star gigs. "You always want to compete and be a part of all that, but the regular schedule takes precedence. "It's just the way it worked out, so I'll just sit down and watch these guys and have fun vicariously through them." Glavine is the dean of the 77th All-Star Game. Not in age; at 41, the AL's Kenny Rogers is a year older. But in All-Star years: Glavine's first selection was in 1991; a 15-year span between appearances is quite distinguishing. "This isn't the same as the first," he said, "but it's still fun being here. It's an honor to be here. The great thing about it is, it means I had a good first half to get here. "Now it's less about me being here and more about bringing my kids here and having a good time."
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
At ePromos, there's no branding goal we can't help you meet, and no challenge we can't help to solve. If you're stuck for ideas, our customizable games and puzzles are a fantastic way to increase awareness of your company. Have a look through our collection and take your pick! From Rubik's cubes to desktop darts, we have everything you need to promote your brand while providing your clients and staff with a bit of fun. Contact a representative from ePromos today and let's design a good time!
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The EVA Foam Promotional Jigsaw Puzzle - 4 Pieces is a simple yet fun promotional jigsaw puzzle made of super soft EVA foam in either 1 single color or mix and match colored pieces.


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text: My daughter is getting married. The "when" is fall 2013(?). The where is East coast. She's in DC and we're in Raleigh,NC. She wants a location that has outdoor elements and perhaps some vintage qualities. Any ideas on a locale that would handle 100 to 150 folks; farm, winery, pub, club or whatever. MOTB is turning into a 'zilla so I'd appreciate any suggestions. This will be a non-church wedding. The venue can be anywhere from NC to NY. Thanks. I said I would help. FOTB


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If data justifies other options, they will be presented when the Florida Department of Transportation holds a public meeting Dec. 6 to discuss its proposal for placing 10 pedestrian islands in the center turn lane of Midnight Pass Road between Beach Road and Stickney Point Road, an FDOT engineer told the Siesta Key Association Oct. 6.
Whatever treatments FDOT suggests for improving the safety of pedestrians trying to cross that 1-mile stretch of road will have to be justified by department studies, L.K. Nandam, district traffic operations engineer, told the SKA board and the approximately 20 people in the audience.
"We want to really assure you all that community input is very critical to us," he said. "Safety is our No. 1 priority … but we want to make sure the community is actually on board with what we do."
Members of the Siesta Key Condominium Association have launched an initiative to derail the islands option, saying the structures will create more danger instead of improving pedestrian safety.
In explaining the history of the project, Nandam said that when the Sarasota County Commission about six years ago asked FDOT to look at safety issues on Midnight Pass Road, a study of traffic and pedestrian data showed that only one accident in five years had involved a pedestrian crossing the road.
Nonetheless, Nandam said, the road is heavily traveled, and people use the center turn lane as a refuge to enable them to pull out into traffic. The major problem for pedestrians, as illustrated by FDOT studies, he said, was that "people have to look for (traffic) gaps in both directions and worry about what's happening in the center lane."
Therefore, he said, FDOT sought a solution "to make the decision-making process easier for the pedestrian." The result was the pedestrian islands proposal. Because no funding was available for the plan, Nandam added, nothing was done with it.
FDOT did lower the speed limit on that portion of Midnight Pass Road from 40 mph to 35 mph, however, he said, and it erected four sets of signs to warn motorists about pedestrians crossing the road.
In June, the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Commission found funding for the pedestrian islands project, Nandam continued, but subsequent to that, FDOT officials learned county officials and residents wanted them to revisit the proposal. The December public meeting will be part of that process, he said.
"My fear is that you have money to spend, and we don't want to just say, 'no,'" SKA President Catherine Luckner told Nandam.
"This is the kind of forum we would promote to get feedback," he replied. "Are there other opportunities, other solutions, that we are not seeing, but you are seeing? ... If it is an option that really is workable," he said, FDOT would evaluate it.
SKA board member Bob Waechter then asked, "Is one of the viable opportunities doing nothing? I don't see how you could improve the safety record of one accident in five years. The chances of you doing this (project) and having a better safety record are pretty slim."
"If we hear … this is something that the community doesn't want," Nandam said, FDOT probably would not pursue the project.
However, Nandam said, "If we could find one concentrated place where pedestrian crossings happen, we could focus on that one particular place."
Sarasota County Commission Chairwoman Nora Patterson pointed out that representatives of the condo association had suggested lowering the speed limit on that portion of Midnight Pass Road to 25 mph instead of putting in the islands.
"In season, traffic is so backed up, it is that slow," she added.
Another suggestion was for just three pedestrian crosswalks along the road, she said, but FDOT had responded that not enough people would use them. "I still wonder if that isn't a solution that people might embrace," she said.
"We are going to look at that," Nandam told her. However, FDOT has a minimum pedestrian count that dictates putting in a crosswalk, he said, and pedestrians still would have to make decisions about whether vehicles were going to stop for them in the crosswalks. The pedestrian count has to be higher to justify a crosswalk than it must be for a pedestrian island, he added.
"I do support the crosswalks," said Walt Olson, vice president of the condo association.
Nandam also said the possibility of lowering the speed limit on that portion of the road "is not off the table."
FDOT TO HOST PUBLIC meeting
The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public information meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 6, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 5394 Midnight Pass Road, to gather comments on a proposal for 10 pedestrian islands to be constructed along Midnight Pass Road between the Beach Road and Stickney Point Road intersections.


text:
All quotes tagged Sliced
(78 quotes found)
"On a number of occasions, he sliced people down. The tribe's lawyers were not able to shake my testimony."
"The girl she was playing really likes the ball in her strike zone. So Sara just kind of sliced it and hit some high balls to mix it up and get her out of position."
"The project would be like a knife slicing through some of the last best natural landscapes in San Diego County. They are some of the most beautiful lands in the county. These are the places that people like to drive through to enjoy sweeping natural vistas."
"Jenna and Amanda started out with a strong lead and held it until the end, when Pam Miller began slicing the ball in the wind."
"They have these drivers now that have weights in the toe and in the heel, so that if you're slicing the ball, you slice it in the exact right place. We didn't have that. We used a lot of lead tape, and still do."
"You can slice and dice this thing any way you want, but I still think it's politically damaging for the administration."
"The only thing you need to adjust to is the slicing and the hooking. In center field you don't get those balls that slice away from you. There are balls in the corner that are going to scoot around. I feel very pleased that he's been able to play them as well as he played them."
"The 'slicing' is a key new feature of this method. By using a fast shutter on the ion detector, we can wait until the middle of the ion cloud reaches the detector before we pulse the shutter on and off again. This way, we are looking only at the molecules that originally were moving parallel to the plane of the detector. That makes the images sharper and more accurate."
"Any way you slice it, we very easily gave up a 17-point lead. It was disappointing. We went cold. We probably didn't get enough penetration or ball movement."
"He's brought a lot to the sport. The bottom line, no matter how you slice it, is that people are watching because of him. And because of him, they're watching me and James (Cochran) and everyone else. How bad can that be?"


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When Ray Charles the golden retriever was born five months ago, he wasn't running and playing with his canine siblings. The breeder took him to the vet, who discovered the dog was born blind.
Months later, a friend texted Andrew Fales, 24, who already had three golden retrievers of his own. The breeder was thinking of putting the blind puppy down.
Fales adopted Ray in February, and the dog's already left his paw print on his new home – and the Internet.
His Facebook page, which was created by Fales in March, boasts more than 37,500 likes from fans who love to watch the cheekily named pooch grow (and, in case you were wondering, wear pajamas!).
"He definitely knows my scent," Fales tells Today of his furry friend. "When I come home, he'll run to the door and follow me around. He's very loyal."


text:
Climate Change 2001:
Synthesis Report
Other reports in this collection
Figure SPM-3:
The different socio-economic assumptions underlying the SRES scenarios result in different levels of future emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols.
These emissions in turn change the concentration of these gases and aerosols in the atmosphere, leading to changed radiative forcing of the climate system. Radiative forcing due to the SRES scenarios results in projected increases in temperature and sea level, which in turn will cause impacts. The SRES scenarios do not include additional climate initiatives and no probabilities of occurrence are assigned. Because the SRES scenarios had only been available for a very short time prior to production of the TAR, the impacts assessments here use climate model results that tend to be based on equilibrium climate change scenarios (e.g., 2xCO
), a relatively small number of experiments using a 1% per year CO
increase transient scenario, or the scenarios used in the SAR (i.e., the IS92 series). Impacts in turn can affect socio-economic development paths through, for example, adaptation and mitigation. The highlighted boxes along the top of the figure illustrate how the various aspects relate to the integrated assessment framework for considering climate change (see
Figure SPM-1
Back to text
Table of contents
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Faux Fur Pillow Cover, Gray Owl Feather
Exotic patterns and plush textures highlight the shimmer of our luxurious pillow cover. Featuring plush faux fur on both sides, the cover displays subtle variations of color, shading and patterns that evoke natural owl feathers.
- 18" sq. or 22" sq.
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Dimensions & More Info
- 18" sq. or 22" sq.
- Made in China.
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- Machine washable; dry-clean for best results.
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Should your item arrive damaged or with a defect, please contact us at 888.922.4108 within 7 days so that we may arrange for a replacement. Frames and springs are warranted to be free of manufacturing defects for the product's life, subject to the following conditions: warranty applies only to original owner and normal residential use. Defects resulting from negligence, abuse or use in a commercial, hospitality or other non-residential setting are not covered. For warranty service, call 888.922.4108.
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12:00 - 2:00
Main Library
Koret Auditorium
100 Larkin St.
Grizzly Man
2005, 103 minutes
This shocking and illuminating film presents the found footage of grizzly bear activists Timothy Treadwelll and Amie Huguenard. The couple had lived among the grizzlies for thirteen years developing an unprecedented bond with the creatures. The couple was tragically killed by the grizzlies in October of 2003 and Herzog takes hundreds of hours of their personal footage and notes and tries to re-construct their story.


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Top India Stories From WSJ: Rape Victim's Death Stirs Outrage, Kingfisher Airlines' License Set to Lapse, HDFC Bank Cuts Base Rate
Your daily round-up of the best of Wall Street Journal's India coverage:
Indian Rape Victim's Death Stirs Outrage and Resolve: The gang rape and death of a young Indian woman has sparked an outpouring of national grief and outrage, and a question: Will the tragedy prompt change, in laws and attitudes toward women, in the world's largest democracy?
India Cash-Transfer Program to Start Tuesday: India's federal government Monday said it will transfer cash benefits for scholarships and welfare programs directly to the recipients from Tuesday onwards, but added that the system won't immediately cover subsidies on food, fuel and fertilizers.
Kingfisher Airlines' License Set to Lapse: Kingfisher Airlines Ltd.'s flying license is set to lapse Monday, with a senior aviation ministry official saying that the airline hasn't yet submitted a "convincing" plan to resume its operations.
India Seeks Clarifications From IKEA: The IKEA Group's 1.5 billion euro ($2 billion) proposal to open stores in India–one of its largest untapped markets–hit a bump Monday with the country's foreign investment board asking the Swedish retail giant for some clarifications.
HDFC Bank Cuts Base Rate by 0.1 Percentage Point: HDFC Bank Ltd. Monday lowered its base rate–or the minimum rate of interest it can charge borrowers–by 0.1 percentage point, factoring in a reduction in its funding cost.


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What's the News: Retrieving a memory in your brain is a bit like taking an old keepsake off the shelf. If you get startled while holding grandma's old vase in your hands, you could drop and break it. Memory retrieval is just as vulnerable to disruption, and scientists have tried to exploit this fact to erase PTSD-associated memories with drugs.
A new study in Science tries a different tack, using a behavioral approach to rid people of addictions to drugs. Addiction is sometimes treated with "extinction," which means showing patients drug-related images while they're off drugs, so that, for example, they stop associating needles with a high. The researchers found that retrieving drug memories right before an extinction session—basically, giving them a short exposure to drug-related stimulus, followed by a similar but longer exposure session—made the treatment more effective in both rats and humans.
How the Heck:
- The researchers got rats addicted to either cocaine or morphine and gave them a short memory-retrieval session 10 minutes, one hour, or six hours before the longer extinction session. Memory retrieval was done by giving the rats a light and sound cue they had previously learned to associate with getting high. During the extinction session, the same cues were shown (and again with no drugs given), but for a longer time.
- Rats who were reminded of drugs 10 minutes or one hour before extinction were less likely to use drugs again, either spontaneously or when presented with drugs. After six hours, however, the memory reconsolidation window had passed and those rats remained addicted.
- To find a molecular signature, researchers looked at a protein called PMKzeta, which is associated with memory. In rats, extinction will change the expression of PMKzeta in different parts of the brain, and these changes were larger when memory retrieval came 10 minutes before extinction.
- Human trials are the real heart of this study, since it's what works in rats doesn't always translate to humans. The researchers showed videos of neutral natural scenery and heroin use to heroin addicts, who were asked to rate their cravings induced by the videos.
- Addicts who had the memory-retrieval session 10 minutes before their extinction session had lower cravings than those who had either no retrieval session or one six hours before extinction. This held true over a six-month period.
By Sarah Zhang, Discover


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Latest Stories
Top 10 Achievements of November0 Comments
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November 16, 2011
About This Game
- Summary
- Features
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Happy Feet Two is a 3D musical adventure game for the entire family inspired by the whimsical Antarctic world of the animated film. In the game, new dangers are threatening the penguin nation, and it's going to take everyone working - and dancing - together to save them from extinction. Players use dance moves to recruit penguins with unique abilities that help advance the adventure, stun opponents and enemies, as well as manipulate the environment around them to solve co-operative puzzles.
- For the ultimate experience, players can dance their Antarctic adventure in 3D. The Xbox 360 version is made specifically for stereoscopic 3D TV sets with the ability to disable 3D functionality at any time.
- All of the music in the game is composed and performed by Ozomatli, the popular, Los Angeles-based band whose music is a combination of hip-hop, salsa, dancehall, cumbia, samba, funk, merengue, Jamaican ragga, and Indian raga influences. The upbeat score, including a song with Lil' P-Nut, an eight year-old rapper also featured in the movie, will appeal to kids and parents alike.
Happy Feet TwoPublisher: Warner Bros. InteractiveRelease Date: November 8, 2011MSRP: 49.99 USD
Happy Feet TwoRelease Date: December 7, 2011
Happy Feet TwoRelease Date: November 25, 2011
Help us solve the toughest (or most puzzling) game puzzles and challenges.
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Fire service in crisis as disputes simmer
DAYS before the state's worst bush fire in a decade destroyed 53 houses and razed 46,000 hectares, the Rural Fire Service in Coonabarabran was in turmoil - torn apart by grievances, disputes and talk of legal action.
The problems were so severe a long-serving senior manager was ''moved sideways'' at the height of the crisis.
And in a sign of issues within RFS being more widespread, senior officers in the Gloucester area have spoken out against what they say is over-centralisation of decision-making and too much emphasis on training courses with a ''boy scout'' mentality.
The officers also dissented with senior RFS managers when they accused the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service of not conducting enough preventive burning, which they say is resulting in fewer but more devastating fires.
Problems in the Coonabarabran area were so pronounced that fire hero Bob Fenwick, asked in front of TV cameras by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, what she could to help after he lost his house while he was away fighting the inferno, responded that she could bring ''harmony within the RFS''.
He said: ''We have been a bit rough-trod [over] in our RFS in the last year. Get that sorted out. Get our fire control bosses all on the one foot, then it all fits together.''
The Commissioner of the Rural Fire Service, Shane Fitzsimmons, confirmed the in-fighting. ''There has been some local issues occurring in the Coonabarabran and Warrumbungles area,'' he said.
''There were a number of grievances and disputes lodged by members involving other members so there were issues between members, between volunteers, between fire fighters and senior volunteers but also staff, and we have been working with the local manager to assist him working through some of those disputes.''
Mr Fitzsimmons also confirmed the disputes had resulted in changes of personnel at the height of the fire.
''Only recently we recruited for a new manager in the area and he took up his appointment on the Monday after that significant fire ran through,'' he said.
''There was a substantive manager that had been there for a few years and he was moved sideways into a different role. I am confident that there's a settling going on, there's some work to be done. I have still got a volunteer continuing to write complaint letters to me and we will continue to address them.''
Six officers in the Gloucester area, which takes in the Barrington Tops National Park, have also given an account of an RFS hamstrung by bureaucracy.
The captain of Rawdon Vale RFS, David Bignell, said: ''Now, if you want to be a captain, you have got to have done this course and that course. It's like the boy scouts. You have got to get a badge for this and a badge for that and not everyone wants to do that.''
A Gloucester area permits manager, John Hannaford, who has been issuing permits to burn for years, says fire-fighting costs are spiralling out of control with overuse of helicopters fighting fires instead of helping with preventive burns.
''This fighting fires with helicopters - I hate to think what the expense is, and misuse of funds. When you think who is paying, it all comes out of our pocket,'' he said.
Mr Fitzsimmons disputed that too much decision-making was being done in Sydney. He also dismissed claims training was like the Scouts.
''It's not about badges and patches, it's about development and competency. If you have already got experience you can be assessed on that. Our volunteers are recognised right across this country,'' he said.
The acting NPWS head, , Bob Conroy, said he was pleased at the level of preventive burning achieved in the last five years.
''When I compare what we have done in the national parks compared to private owners or land managers, we are boxing well above our weight,'' he said.
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text: I hope I don't have to jimlad this - what signs have you seen that the Mayan apocalypse might just be true? 1. I cooked Chex mix in the oven this weekend, and just made macaroni and cheese. That means I cooked twice in the same week. 2. Snowpocalypse. 3. There was a student on Duff Ave who actually went to the crosswalk to cross the street, rather than darting across through traffic.


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Drew Barrymore Opens Up About Motherhood on Chelsea Lately
Drew Barrymore Talks About Taking Time Off to Be With Her Baby
It's been a banner year for Drew Barrymore. She married longtime boyfriend Will Kopelman over the Summer and gave birth to her first child, Olive, this Fall. We haven't seen Drew on the screen in a bit, and it sounds like that is all part of her motherhood plan. Appearing on Chelsea Lately last night, she told the host that she has taken a little hiatus from acting to spend more time with her new baby. Drew talks about the joy of working from home and getting to spend more time with her little girl.


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"Arise and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time." Winston Churchill
"Proclaim Liberty throughout All the land unto All the Inhabitants Thereof." Inscription on the Liberty Bell
Monthly Archives: February 2005
Let the Democrats be Democrats
We're big fans of Andrew McCarthy. However, I'm unable to find any merit in his suggestion in today's NRO that the Bush administration consider conferring with a "bipartisan" group of Senators about judicial nominations. McCarthy notes that Senator Charles Schumer has proposed the creation of a "small, bipartisan group" of senators that "should meet with the president sometime in the next few weeks and eventually even make joint recommendations to »
Syria again
Israel says it has evidence of Syrian involvement in Friday night's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, according to the Jerusalem Post. There are two aspects to Israel's claim: (1) that the orders came from Islamic Jihad in Syria and (2) that Syrian intelligence was involved and provided logistical support. If Israel's "irrefutable proof" (which a government spokesman told Geraldo Rivera consists of transcripts of recordings) extends to the second element, »
A word to the Times from Steve Hayward
Over the weekend we took note of Jacob Heilbrunn's crude New York Times Book Review essay attacking "neoconservatives" for claiming the mantle of Winston Churchill (click here for our post). Among those lumped in with the Churchill-admiring "neoconservatives" by Heilbrunn was our friend Steve Hayward, author of books on both Ronald Reagan and Churchill as well as the forthcoming (in October) Greatness: Reagan, Churchill and the Making of Extraordinary Leaders »
Lebanese Government Resigns
Things are happening so fast in the Middle East that it's hard to stay on top of events. This morning the government of Lebanon, which has generally been regarded as pro-Syria, resigned. Outgoing Prime Minister Omar Karami said: I am keen that the government will not be a hurdle in front of those who want the good for this country. I declare the resignation of the government that I had »
The march to nowhere
La Shawn Barber on Chris Rock and his "triumph of ignorance and vulgarity" at the Oscars. I didn't watch. The last time I watched, Bob Hope was presiding, I think. Heck, with rare exceptions, I don't even watch new Hollywood movies these days. To me the Oscars represent another example of the left's march through our institutions. The left has captured nearly all of the organizations and phenomena that meant »
No One Here But Us Tolerant Folks
Howard Dean was in Lawrence, Kansas, yesterday, taking his message to the party faithful. It doesn't sound as though his new status as DNC Chairman will tone down Dean's rhetoric any; here are a few quotes from the Lawrence fundraiser: "The issue is not abortion. The issue is whether women can make up their own mind instead of some right-wing pastor, some right-wing politician telling them what to do. "Moderate »
Deadly Bombing in Iraq
Earlier today, a suicide car bomber ignited an explosion that reportedly killed at least 110 Iraqis at Hillah, Iraq. The explosion took place outside a medical clinic where recruits for Iraq's police and national guard were waiting to take physicals. A group of people believed to be Sudanese were arrested following the blast. The explosives packed into the vehicle appear to have been unusually powerful; the photo below depicts the »
The baby looks good but we deplore the labor pains
Please don't miss Noemie Emery's column in the Weekly Standard called "Election Shock Treatment." Noemie airs this question: can the Democrats find a way to talk about the Iraqi elections that isn't madness personified? So far, the answer is no. Instead, the Democrats are serving up "nuance" as embodied in this distillation of the utterances of Harry Reid, Tina Brown, Hendrik Hertzberg, et al: The elections succeeded in spite of »
In Hviezdoslavovo Square
The White House has posted the moving speech President Bush gave last Thursday in Bratislava's Hviezdoslavovo Square: "President addresses and thanks citizens of Slovakia." In the photo below by White House photographer Eric Draper, President Bush gives his thumbs up as he leaves the stage with Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda of Slovakia after the speech. In his Washington Times column today, Lawrence Kudlow locates the common themes in President Bush's »
The migration of the paranoid style
The late Columbia University historian Richard Hofstadter was the author of the influential 1964 essay "The Paranoid Style in American Politics." At the time it was published Hofstadter's essay seemed to apply mostly to the denizens of the fever swamps on the right who thought that municipal water fluoridation was a Communist conspiracy. To whom does Hofstadter's thesis apply today? I'm not naming any names, so to speak, but you »
Dead man walking?
We've been following with great interest the clash between Mark Steyn and Austin Bay over the future of Europe. I first commented about it here. Rocket Man linked to the latest installments earlier today. My general take is that Steyn has the better sense of how profound Europe's problems are and how little we now have in common with the Europeans. Indeed, my comment on MSNBC last week that the »
I Changed My Mind
I don't like the Academy Awards much, and hadn't planned on watching, although my three daughters are already glued to pre-event coverage of the "red carpet." Among other things, the last thing I need to hear is moronic anti-Bush commentary by "comedians" and actors. But, cruising Yahoo News photos as I often do, I ran across this photo, hot off the press (so to speak), of Beyonce Knowles, who will »
Where Do You Go for Commentary?
There are many excellent sources in the mainstream media, of course, including, frequently, bloggers like us. But the interactivity of the blogosphere gives it an edge that conventional media just can't duplicate, certainly not with the same speed or verve. A case in point: Mark Steyn argued in a Daily Telegraph column a few days ago on the future of Europe that the the idea of "the West" is dead. »
Feeling the Heat
The beneficent effects of the administration's Iraq policy continue to be felt. Municipal elections have taken place in Saudi Arabia; Lebanese citizens march for self-rule; Egypt announces a plan for competitive elections, which, the International Herald Tribune says, responds to "stepped-up pressure from the United States," but also to the fact that the Arab world is "bubbling with expectations for political reform." These steps are, of course, halting and imperfect, »
A fashion note on Mrs. World
Reader Cassandra Shore supplements our coverage of the Mrs. World competition last night with an informative fashion note: I am a regular reader of Powerline, although my profession is teaching Arabic dance, a world very far removed from the world you folks inhabit (a world far removed from most everyone's daily life for that matter!). I teach said dances as an art form that has been given to the world »
In which the Times plays with matches
Last year's election coverage in the New York Times was dominated by a succession of bogus Bush administration scandals, including stories touted by Paul O'Neill, Richard Clarke, Dan Rather, and the Times's own special late al-Qaqaagate hit. But the granddaddy of these bogus scandals was 2003's "outing" of CIA official Valerie Plame in response to the dishonest New York Times op-ed column by Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson. In July 2003 »
On Deacon's beat
Mark Steyn's Chicago Sun-Times column today comments on President Bush's trip to Europe and on the future of Europe: "U.S. can sit back and watch Europe implode." It is full of interesting observations. »