text:
Reports of Brig. Gen. Henry Heth, C. S. Army,
Commanding Brigade and Ambrose P. Hill's division, Respectively.
APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign.
May 25, 1863.
Maj. Gen. J. E. B. STUART,
Commanding Second Army Corps.
GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of operations of the several commands under my orders at different times in the interval between leaving the vicinity of Hamilton's Crossing, on the morning of May 1, until the termination of the operations at Chancel-lorsville, May 3, 1863:
My brigade moved from Hamilton's Crossing on the morning of May 1, on the Plank road leading to Chancellorsville. When within 3 miles of Chancellorsville, I received an order from Major General Hill to report in person to him. On doing so, I was ordered to take the brigades of McGowan, Lane, and my own, and advance by a cross-road leading from the Plank road to the old Pike, a distance of 1 miles; on reaching the old Pike, to feel my way, and advance in the direction of Chancellorsville. When I reached the old Pike, I found General McLaws, with a portion of his command, some half mile to rear of where I struck the pike. On advancing, my skirmishers became hotly engaged, and, as it had become quite dark, a farther advance was not made that night.
Early in the morning I was ordered to open with a battery, under the immediate charge of Major [W. J.] Pegram, upon the enemy's position, and continue the firing for about half an hour. Our fire was returned by the enemy. Being informed by Major Pegram that his shot were doing the enemy no damage, I directed him to cease firing. Soon after, I received orders to move with my command, crossing the Plank road and following the rest of the division. General Hill, soon after passing the old furnace, directed me to resume command of my brigade.
On reaching a position in rear of Chancellorsville, I was ordered to form line of battle on General Colston's left. General Colston advanced his line before the formation was completed, and rendered a compliance with the order impossible. I then received orders to form on General Pender's left. This was done. I also received orders to go to the support of any general officer requesting aid. After advancing in line of battle about 1 miles on the left of and parallel to the Plank road, I received a message from Brig. Gen. J. R. Jones requesting support. I put my brigade in motion and advanced, passing Melzi Chancellor's house, and entered the thick oak woods on the left of the Plank road. On entering these woods, the enemy opened upon my command a heavy fire of artillery, doing us some damage. It was now becoming quite dark. The undergrowth was so thick and entangled that it was impossible to advance in any order. I ordered the brigade to reform on the Plank road, which had scarcely been done when orders were received from General Hill to move down the road by the flank. On reaching the position in the road occupied by General Hill, he directed me to deploy two regiments, one on the right, the other on the left of the road, to check the enemy, who were then advancing. These movements had not been completed before the enemy opened heavily upon the Fifty-fifth Virginia Regiment. It was here that gallant and promising officer, Col. F. Mallory, was killed. Soon after, General Hill informed me that he was wounded, and directed me to take command of the division. General Lane's brigade at this time was in line of battle on the right of the road, occupying the breastworks from which the enemy had been driven. I directed General Pender to form his brigade in line of battle on the left of the road, occupying the deserted breastworks of the enemy. Before the remaining brigade could be placed in line of battle, the enemy, under Sickle, advanced and attacked General Lane's right. He was handsomely repulsed by the Eighteenth, Twenty-eighth, and a portion of the Thirty-third North Carolina Regiments. This attack was made by the enemy under cover of heavy shelling. These regiments behaved with commendable courage and zeal in repelling at least five times their number.
McGowan's brigade was now ordered on Lane's right, and soon after Archer's brigade on McGowan's right; Thomas' brigade was posted on the left of the road and on Pender's left; Heth's brigade was held as a reserve. In this position the division remained until just after daybreak, when Heth's brigade was ordered up. Two regiments (the Fortieth and Forty-seventh Virginia) were placed on the right of the road, supporting Lane's left, the Fifty-fifth Virginia and Twenty-second Virginia Battalion on the left, to support Pender's right.
Major-General Stuart now ordered me to prepare to advance. I ordered Generals McGowan and Archer to move forward, as the line formed by their brigades was not perpendicular to the Plank road, but inclined to the right and rear. Archer's brigade only advanced a short distance before it became hotly engaged, the enemy being strongly posted behind breastworks making an angle with the Plank road. I now gave the order for a general advance. The Light Division (A. P. Hill's), forming the front line, opened the battle of Chancellorsville. Generals Pender and Thomas, on the left, found the enemy posted behind a breastwork of logs and brush, immediately in their front, at a distance of about 150 yards. The breastworks were charged and carried, the men never hesitating for a moment, driving the enemy before them and pursuing him until a second line was reached, which was in like manner broken. A third line of the enemy was now encountered. After a desperate and prolonged fight, without supports or a piece of artillery to aid them, but on their part subjected to heavy artillery fire of from ten to twelve pieces, these gallant brigades fell back in order to the breastworks from which the enemy had been driven, and which they held until re-enforcements were brought up, when again the attack was renewed and the enemy driven from this part of the field of battle.
Lane's brigade, supported by the Fortieth and Forty-seventh Virginia Regiments (Heth's brigade), and McGowan's brigade advanced and charged the enemy behind his breastworks, who was supported by twenty-nine pieces of artillery. I cannot conceive of any body of men ever being subjected to a more galling fire than this force. The brigades of Lane, McGowan, and a portion of Heth's (Colonel [J. M.] Brockenbrough commanding), notwithstanding, drove the enemy from his works and held them for some time, but were finally compelled to fall back, which was unavoidable from the course that affairs had assumed on the right of the line.
As soon as Archer's brigade commenced to move, it became hotly engaged. General Archer was compelled to conform his line of battle to that of the enemy, which, as I before remarked, in his front was not perpendicular, but formed a considerable angle with the Plank road. McGowan's right thus became separated from Archer's left, and the interval increased as the enemy were driven before them until McGowan and Lane found that their right flanks were seriously threatened. It was not until this occurred that these two brigades fell back to the line of works from which they first commenced to advance. Many valuable officers and men were lost in the charge, and especially when falling back. It was here that General McGowan was wounded the command of his brigade devolving on Colonel [O. E.] Edwards, who was, immediately after assuming command, seriously wounded. The command of McGowan's brigade next devolved on Colonel [D. H.] Hamilton, First South Carolina Regiment [Provisional Army], who commanded the brigade (luring the remainder of the action.
General Archer advanced with his brigade. Conforming his line of battle to that of the enemy, he charged the works in his front, and, without the least halt or hesitation, carried them, driving the enemy before him, who outnumbered him five to one. General Archer succeeded in capturing a battery of four guns. By his gallant attack he secured the key to the enemy's position, clearing a hill and open space in his front, and thus gaining for our artillery a position from which they were enabled to silence the 29-gun battery of the enemy, which had inflicted so much loss upon our lines. From this position our artillery had also a raking fire on the enemy's works on our right. General Archer, after carrying the hill referred to, advanced beyond the open space and attacked the enemy on his right. He was joined by Major-General Anderson.
About this time the enemy threatened to turn Thomas' and Pender's left. Re-enforcements were ordered to them, among which McGowan's brigade (Colonel Hamilton commanding) formed a part. As soon as re-enforcements reached Pender and Thomas, a general advance took place, and, aided by our artillery, which had not been able to assist us in any previous attack, the works of the enemy were cleared; and, retreating rapidly, he fell back in the direction of United States Ford. Thus ended the battle of Chancellorsville.
Where all behaved so well it would appear like unjust discrimination in mentioning individuals. Generals Pender, Archer, and Thomas deserve, for their successful attacks, to be specially mentioned; and, under the murderous fire of artillery to which they were particularly exposed, no officers or men could have done better than Generals Lane and McGowan and Colonel [J. M.] Brockenbrough. The Light Division (A. P. Hill's), although unfortunately deprived of the presence of their gallant commander, showed on this day that the spirit with which he had inspired them by success on so many battle-fields was still present, and each and all did their duty.
A list of killed and wounded has been furnished.
I cannot close this report without adding that my personal staff--Captains [R. H.] Finney and [H. H.] Harrison, Lieutenants [Miles C.] Selden and [Stockton] Heth, and Acting Engineer Officer W. O. Slade--deserve my thanks for their gallantry and coolness on all occasions during the battle. For acts of individual gallantry, I respectfully refer you to the reports of brigade and regimental commanders.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
May 21, 1863.
Maj. A. S. PENDLETON,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Army Corps.
MAJOR: In obedience to circular of May 12, from corps headquarters, I have the honor to make the following report of standards lost and captured in this command during the late engagements near Chancellorsville, of the 2d and 3d instant:
The Twenty-second Virginia Battalion.--Lieut. Col. E. P. Tayloe reports the loss of the flag of his battalion, with the following circumstances attending it:
After standing the fire of the batteries intrenched in the front of Chancellorsville, and before which three brigades had to fall back, together with the fire of the enemy's infantry, until very nearly one-half of my command was either killed or wounded, I gave orders for the battalion to fall back across the road, under the hill. Since the time the order was given to fall back, I have heard nothing from the color-bearer, who had the colors with him. I heard that a wounded man reported him as having stopped to assist him, and, while doing so, he was taken prisoner, together with one of the color-guard, who is also missing.
The Eighteenth, North Carolina Regiment.--In regard to the loss of the flag of this regiment, Col. John D. Barry (then Major Barry) makes the following report:
On Saturday night (the 2d instant), while marching by the flank upon the Plank road under the severe shelling of the enemy, Color Sergeant [J. E.] Richardson was severely wounded and sent to the rear. Corporal [A. J.] Prophet, of the color-guard, then seized the flag, and at the beginning of the action of the 3d he bore it. During the action he was killed, and Corporal [Owen J.] Eakins, Company E, also of the color-guard, was intrusted with it. He bore it through the first charge upon the enemy's intrenched position until orders were received to fall back. This order, it appears, he did not immediately hear, and Lieutenant [Alfred] Rowland, Company D, seeing that he still remained, went to him and ordered him back. He obeyed, following In the rear of Lieutenant Rowland, and was probably the last man in the regiment to leave the field. He had gone but a few feet when he, too, was killed; but this was not observed by any of the regiment until we were reforming in the rear of the first line of the enemy's works, and they (the enemy) entering the line we had fallen back from; and the position in which the colors had fallen made it impossible to recover them; at least, very unwise to attempt it.
I beg leave to report that one standard and the flag-staff and portion of another were captured, with the following circumstances attending their capture:
Capt. N. Clark, Company E, Twenty-eighth North Carolina Regiment, reports the following in regard to the capture of the standard of the Third Maine Regiment:
I have the honor to report that our company, on the 3d instant, before day, after the repulse of the famous charge of the enemy on our lines, captured 1 officer (who told the man detailed to carry off the prisoners that he belonged to General Hays' staff), 1 lieutenant, 4 or 5 privates, the color sergeant, and standard of the Third Regiment Maine Volunteers.
Lieut. Col. J. H. Hyman, Thirteenth North Carolina Regiment, reports the following concerning the capture of a flag-staff and portion of the flag by Private Monroe Robinson, of Company A, Thirteenth North Carolina Regiment:
The regiment had routed two lines of the enemy (the first in breastworks), and were engaged with the third line, which was soon broken. The cartridges of most of the men were completely exhausted, and as Private Robinson discovered the color sergeant of the enemy tearing his flag from the staff, he rushed upon him, attempting to capture him, and, having no load in his gun to shoot him, he escaped.
I would state that the flag of the Third Maine Volunteers is now in possession of Brig. Gen. J. H. Lane, having been badly torn after its capture.
It is also believed that another standard was captured, which was carried home by Col. E.G. Haywood, of the Seventh North Carolina State troops, who has been written to for report as to the facts of the case.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.


text:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Christmas is all about tradition.
Sure, the presents are great, and I enjoy watching my kid get stoked for 20 minutes of gift opening on Christmas morning after what to her seems centuries of waiting from the time the tree goes up. But it is the pop culture tradition of holiday classics, as well as some finer performance art, that sit head and shoulders above the non-American-made junk that clutters so many homes on Christmas morn.
For me, Christmas means Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, the 1964 lemon that often appears on some of the worst movies ever made lists. Im also down with the almost-ceremonial viewing of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. There is also the audio-visual treat that is A Charlie Brown Christmas. Vince Guaraldis soundtrack is the best Christmas album youll find. Then theres The Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker will be performed four times this weekend by the State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara tonight, two shows Saturday and again Sunday afternoon.
It could be argued that The Nutcracker is the most celebrated ballet and classical score that has ever been performed. A range of musicians and bands including Duke Ellington, The Disco Biscuits and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra have all put their own twist on the familiar pieces that Tchaikovsky penned in 1892. It has also been dropped countless times into television and film; Disneys Fantasia, The Simpsons, Animaniacs and even Beavis and Butthead are just a few of the Hollywood heavies who have referenced, hummed or sung along to the music.
The Concert Hall production will feature more than 70 local dancers to augment the State Street Ballet. Concert Hall Director Charles Leslie said it is one of the biggest productions at the venue.
There are 150 costumes alone, Leslie said. Then there are sets and props, theres a lot of people in black clothes backstage you dont see, pulling on ropes, raising props, doing all kinds of things to put it together. Its a pretty active event.
It also serves as an introduction for many into a new world of high culture; think of it as the gateway drug of the fine arts.
The Nutcracker, for a lot of people, is the first time theyve ever seen ballet, and the first time theyve listened to classical music, all combined into one, Leslie said.
Its a tradition that remains important to Leslie and for the Concert Hall. The Nutcracker has been performed there for the last eight years, with State Street performing it for six of them. It fits the mission of the Concert Hall, to bring events that are not found in other venues in town. The relationship built between ballet company, venue and local performers is celebrated by all.
Whats great about the State Street Ballet is they love to work with us locally, Leslie said. It keeps growing and growing, and people are embracing it as the holiday tradition.
. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.


text:
or Mary E. Christiano, director of communication
(800) 424-4244
Fax: (888) 225-6935
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: www.pia.org/CT/
FOR RELEASE: Mar. 19, 2012
HARTFORD, Conn.-The Professional Insurance Agents of New Connecticut Inc. today named Peter Frascarelli, CPIA, Committee Chairperson of the Year. Frascarelli is chief operating officer of the Peter M. Bakker Agency in Avon, Conn. The award honors the PIACT volunteer who best demonstrates dedication and effort in chairing one of PIACTs committees. He received this honor for his work as chairperson of the Legislative Committee.
"As an active member of the association, Peters contributions to PIACT are numerous and have helped to strengthen the organization," said Immediate Past President James R. Berliner, CPCU.
In addition to the Legislative Committee, Frascarelli also serves as a member of the Executive/Budget & Finance Committee.
Active in his community, Frascarelli is a member of the Cheshire Land Trust and the Fairfield University Alumni Association.
PIACT is a trade association representing professional, independent insurance agencies and their employees throughout the state.


text:
Hey there!
It's Saturday here, and we've just been trying out the raisin bread I made in the breadmaker I got for Christmas. It's been great to start making my own bread, and I love the way the house smells when it's baking. The raisin bread worked quite well.
It's going to be a fairly quiet day today, but that's fine with me. Hopefully, we'll get a lot done.
Songbird - I've been praying for your brother. I hope he pulls through. It does sound like a bit of a messed up situation. That can't help him when he's got such a huge health problem. Hopefully they'll find the problem soon.
Sean - I hope you get some work soon, and stay warm.


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they don't care
It's obvious: they don't care about users privacy, they really can't be more clear about it.
The icy location is a big advantage for the new data centre that Facebook is planning in the northern Swedish town of Lulea. But while the frigid Arctic winds will fan the servers, it's the legal climate that could get hot. A controversial Swedish internet surveillance law passed in 2008 allows the government there to …
It's obvious: they don't care about users privacy, they really can't be more clear about it.
with their privacy.
What's the problem? The USA (through the NSA) already wire-taps everything ... except that of course, they don't talk about it. The Swedes are simply telling you that they are going to do the same thing.
Presumably this is just a simple wire tap type of filter so any comms can be intercepted without having to talk to anyone. In which case running facebook under SSL (which everyone should be doing anyway) will stop it.
If on the other hand facebook have to provide the Swedish authorities access to any data on request then it's a different matter.
Why use SSL, you are posting data to FACEBOOK. A bored 15 year old with ten minutes can get all the details of your profile.
If you want privacy, posting to the internet equivalent of the back of a toilet door is not the way to go.
It's a filter on top of cables. Which, given a court-agreed permission and various paperwork, can be used to do a search for keywords (approved keywords, hey-ho). So you're right.
Some days I think El Reg need to stay off news from countries with languages their staff can't read for themselves. Yes, FRA (actually, it's a civilian organisation) ain't a walk in the park, but there are several levels of courts and monitoring agencies that keep one or two eyes on the filters.
So, no, the government can't simply pop in and look at everything. Well. No more so than they can pop in and kill you in your bed. Technically they surely could, but there's a fine line between normal, healthy paranoia and, well, blazing insanity.
PS: Because of human nature, I am reluctantly forced to add: I do not support the Swedish Parliament in enacting this. There. That ought to take out one, or perhaps two, of the screaming hysterics.
The Swedes snooping your personal data, hardly anything to worry about. What they checking for?
How many Abba songs you liked on Facebook? Or whether you might buy a Saab next time. So sinister..
Now if it was the Americans, Russians, Chinese or British then I'd be worried
while (<MAIL>) {
if (/surprise sex/) {
Clearly you've never read any of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. Säpo are out to get you.
Wow google going on about privacy, that's rich when they have a bot that reads you email, if you dumb enough to use gmail, and chrome for everything you do on the internet.
the question isn't: "will you hand over data to a legal authority should they have the legal power to get it?"
the question is: "What do you think of the fact that the government will have a _copy_ of everything your users post of or read from your servers that are located in Sweden?"
When does it become a crime for various individuals and groups who ARE NOT YET criminals to just create tantalizing circuitous BS on their profiles. Not specifically using bellringer keywords, not falsely creating attack or mayhem plans, but just doing borderline resource-eroding stuff that compels scrutiny that ultimately wastes time because it's factually, ultimately harmless?
Example, one way to do this is to just keep endlessly posting text and photo information. At some point, even the investigators/snoops and othe... umm, criminals will become paranoid if properly carried out.
Ironically, this won't affect those of us who live in Sweden, because our data won't pass the Swedish border.
"Facebook Ireland Ltd is already compliant with European Union data protection law and acts as the data controller for these users."
'Europe vs Facebook' begs to differ.
TeliaSonera, which was formed from the Finnish Sonera and the Swedish Telia, is one of the biggest teleoperators here in Finland. They also offer e-mail services and because of the Swedish telesnooping law they had to make a public promise to never house emails of their Finnish customers on the Swedish servers. The whole telesnooping law was a pretty bad disaster for the reputation of Swedish democracy, but of course in a way the law is understandable.
The problem I see about it is that there's been some talk here up north how Sweden practically gives all their spy intel to CIA, so if that's true Facebook users can expect to have their correspondance be scanned by the Americans. Although possibly the different spy agencies do it worldwide all the time already. It's hard to trust anything to remain secret on the net anyway.
"I think the biggest danger of putting things on Facebook is Facebook. Facebook knows all of your stuff, and they sell it. It's like handing your money to a thief who says 'Nobody else will get your money.' If you want Facebook security, don't be on Facebook."
So it's alright for Echelon to snoop from wherever, UK, Australia, Canada ant others, but "unfit for a Western democracy" to snoop inside its own border ?


text:
Community Report
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Caller Location Information
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Zip Code: 49007, 49003, 49005, & 49006
County: Kalamazoo, MI U.S.A.
TimeZone: ET (UTC -05:00)
Company: Broadvox
Phone Type: Regular Landline
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SCAMMER asking for my bank account information!
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Same thing here wants to send a check for more then the service he's asking about scammer for sure
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text:
HOUSTON - Three videos were shown in court Thursday in the felony murder trial of a former day care owner -- surveillance videos from two stores where Jessica Tata shopped the day her day care caught fire and a video of the children Tata shot hours before they died in the 2011 blaze.
Jurors got a brief glimpse into Tata's day care hours before the fatal fire. Tata shot the video on her cellphone. It showed her gathering the children for an activity.
The defense showed the video to the jury to demonstrate that Tata, 24, was a conscientious caretaker who loved the children in her care.
The video came as prosecutors questioned April Jackson, the mother of a child who was badly burned.
Jackson talked about the day that changed her son's life forever. DaJohn Ashley was 22 months old when he was burned. His mother testified about how she met Jessica Tata and that her son was only at the day care for a month. He now has permanent scars from that tragic day. She testified that she never heard from Tata after the fire.
All of the children were dropped off at Tata's home day care by 7:30 a.m. Less than half an hour, surveillance video from a nearby Walmart showed Tata walking through the store and then checking out. The store's security cameras photographed her van pulling into the store lot and parking in a fire lane.
Other cameras caught Tata shopping in the grocery department, where she bought two packages of hot dogs, a bag of grapes and a pepper.
Walmart employee Brian Smith told jurors that Tata took her time.
"She was in the building five or 10 minutes, and she was in no hurry to leave the building at all," he testified.
"How could you tell that?" a prosecutor asked.
"Her demeanor, especially at the register. She was actually asking about some other type of shopping bags that we have and she ran a price check. So, she wasn't in a hurry at all," Smith said.
None of the children were with Tata while she shopped. Investigators said they can't tell if any of the children may have been in her van.
Tata was charged with four counts of murder, three counts of abandoning a child and two counts of reckless injury to a child.
Prosecutors say Tata put the children in harm's way by leaving them alone and going shopping. While she was at a nearby Target, a fire broke out in the kitchen when oil in a frying pan on a stovetop burner ignited. Three children were also seriously injured in the blaze.
The surveillance video from Target was shown to jurors late Thursday. She was in the store for 16 minutes, four minutes before the fire started.
A Target manager is expected to testify Friday morning.
Tata's attorneys say she didn't intend to hurt the children.
The mothers of the four children who died recounted for jurors Wednesday the despair and grief they felt in the wake of the deadly fire.
The mothers told jurors they had trusted Tata, believing their children were safe with her.
Keshia Brown, whose 16-month-old son Elias Castillo died in the fire, testified she was reassured because of the day care's Christian learning environment.
"She seemed like a nice person, knew what she was doing," said Brown, 21.
Tata showed no emotion most of the day, but wiped away tears during testimony from Betty Ukera, whose 20-month-old daughter Elizabeth died in the fire. Ukera and Tata had met in church in 2007 and were friends.
Ukera cried when she told jurors about the last time she saw her daughter alive -- when dropping her off at the day care.
"They walked away from my car. (Elizabeth) turned, waved at me. She would walk a little bit and wave at me," Ukera said.
Tiffany Dickerson, 26 -- whose 3-year-old son Shomari died and 2-year-old daughter Makayla was seriously injured -- told jurors she "collapsed to the floor" after learning of the fire. Her oldest daughter, then 5-year-old Kiyanna, was at school during the blaze.
Tata's attorneys say murder charges are excessive and that when the fire broke out, she tried to save the children, who ranged in age from 16 months to 3 years old.
Tata initially told authorities she was in the home's bathroom when the fire happened. DeGeurin, Tata's attorney, attributed her lie to immaturity.
Legal experts say that if prosecutors can prove the deaths occurred because she abandoned the children to go shopping, they don't need to prove intent to harm to secure a murder conviction. Under Texas law, a person can be convicted of felony murder if he or she committed an underlying felony and that action led to the death.
After the fire, Tata fled to Nigeria but was captured after about a month, returned to the U.S. in March 2011 and has remained jailed. She was born in the U.S. but has Nigerian citizenship.
Shomari Dickerson, 3, Elizabeth Kojah, 20 months, Kendyll Stradford, 20 months, and Elias Castillo, 16 months, died in the fire at Jackie's Child Care on Crest Park at Waypark Drive shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2011. Three other children were injured. Tata is standing trial for felony murder first for the youngest of the victims -- Elias Castillo.
Tata's trial is expected to last about a month. Testimony was to resume Thursday.
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Many of the finest operators of music and games take a quiet pride in ... well, keeping quiet. Years ago, they may have taken a modest ad in the Yellow Pages. Today it might be a basic website -- that isn't aligned with social media or bolstered by a search engine optimization program.
How do these quiet guys survive? "Word of mouth," they say proudly. "Our service and equipment are the best. Eventually, locations hear about it and call us."
This may explain why typical American operators have traditionally been stronger on service than on promotions. Frankly, many operators don't even like the word "marketing"; others claim they don't know what it means.
Fresh evidence of the American operator's aversion to marketing came to light with a survey conducted earlier this year on behalf of the Amusement and Music Operators Association by Circone + Associates, a marketing firm.
Based on responses from more than 70 operators in 26 states, the picture that emerged was dispiriting at best, frightening at worst, when it came to onsite promotions by amusement operators.
Eight of 10 locations served by these operators have no active promotions, said the survey respondents. And remember, the operators who took this survey were among the industry's best.
So why aren't there any leagues, contests or other promos in place? The surveyed operators largely avoided taking the blame. The biggest proportion, 34%, said the problem was "location apathy."
This excuse won't wash. As any successful league operator can tell you, locations don't get excited about promotions all by themselves. Operators have to take the lead, get out there and sell the concept, launch the promotion and enlist the location's support.
Even then, 99% of locations won't get enthusiastic until they see the increases in traffic and revenues that result from vigorous promotional campaigns.
The next-largest group of operators represented in the survey, 31%, said their locations lack promotions because there is no dedicated staff to handle the job.
Again, locations certainly aren't going to hire league coordinators or marketing pros to administer jukebox promotions or videogame contests. Operators have to do it themselves. Sure, it's hard work. But operators have never been afraid of that.
Another 18% of responding operators said they just weren't sure how to get started running promotions. (At least they weren't blaming somebody else.)
But considering the years of seminars ... the hundreds of trade magazine columns, features and interviews ... and the countless offers of help from marketing groups like the industry's dart and pool leagues that have been offered to operators during the past 20 years ... it seems likely that any operator who isn't sure how to get started with promotions has simply not been paying attention.
The man whose company ran the national operator survey for AMOA was Brad Circone. His diplomatic comment on operator attitudes toward marketing: "Operators say they want to promote," he noted. "But it's not necessarily that we don't know how; as an industry we don't understand the importance of why."
Amusement and music operators may have good reasons for wanting to be "the quiet company" in their region ... the guys who don't blow their own horn, but somehow wind up with all the best accounts.
But we live in an age of relentless self-promotion. If you don't constantly remind your current (and potential) customers how great you are, then you don't own the crucial "mental real estate" that eventually leads to trust and sales.
Many business people probably remember the years-long ad campaign for Northwestern Mutual, which for years prided itself on being "the quiet company." Leaving aside the irony of a company paying millions for TV campaigns to call itself "the quiet company," it's worth noting that in 2011 Northwestern's chief executive told his team that their quiet days are over.
Get out there and tell your story, the chief executive said. Result: even the formerly "quiet" Northwestern is out there with an unprecedented blaze of print, Internet, TV and telemarketing promotion.
Small operators don't have millions to spend on ad campaigns, but they don't need them. One super-successful CEO of a small mom and pop, location-based, service company told me that for 20 years his most successful marketing tool was a refrigerator magnet with his company's name and phone number on it.
The good news is that AMOA is gearing up to do more operator education on the subject of marketing. Let's hope the curriculum includes some pointers on the why of it all. It is high time for the quiet operators to go loud.
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Frank Peters' three rules of cooking:
Disable all smoke alarms.
If you're cooking for three, prepare for five.
Never sauté in the nude.
Chef. Baseball star. Securities broker. Ladies' man. Dope grower. Private eye. Frank Peters has led more lives than a tangerine tomcat.
WW first profiled Peters in December 1975, when he was 32 years old and the manager of the Portland Mavericks, a rogue's gallery of knockabout ne'er-do-wells masquerading as a minor-league baseball team. Peters was troublemaker-in-chief. To protest an umpire's call during a game in Seattle, he stole first base--literally--and hid it in his hotel room. At another game, he rotated the team through the innings so every player played every position. He also hired a bodyguard--to protect himself from the players.
If that weren't enough, while Peters managed the Mavs, he was also the maestro of several of Portland's most notorious nightlife hot spots, including Peters' Inn, Peters' Habit and Satan's Disco.
WW reporter Susan Stanley tailed Peters on "a typical day," which became a testosterone-fueled odyssey including an enormous white Cadillac, a pilgrimage to Mary's Club, and copious quantities of alcohol. Peters even managed to sneak in an amorous tryst on his houseboat while Stanley made some phone calls.
"Women are a lot like dogs," he told Stanley. "The more attention you give them, the more they want. Tactile stimulation. Be sure and put that in--tactile stimulation."
"Women want my body," he added later. "Women sense my powers and seek me out."
Over the next decade, Peters' antics grew only more outlandish. He once dismissed the entire staff of Peters' Inn in the middle of a shift. Every year, he'd throw a party for all the employees he'd fired. He was 86'ed from his own bar on at least three occasions.
Which only seemed to heighten his sex appeal. "Women were just getting comfortable with birth control, empowerment and orgasm," he says now. "I just happened to be in their path."
In 1982, he mounted a quasi-serious campaign for governor as an independent; one of his ideas was to have F4 Phantom jets from the National Guard buzz Japanese boats that were trawling in Oregon waters and driving down hauls for local fishermen.
But his candidacy went nowhere, and in the ensuing years, his luck ran low. The nefarious dive Peters' Habit folded. His Seattle bar went bankrupt. Peters' Inn became the haunt of drug dealers, prostitutes and pimps. By 1986, he owed Uncle Sam $60,000 in back taxes. He needed money, and he needed it fast.
The answer was the "sea of green."
Peters cranked up a marijuana operation that ultimately spanned five houses, each growing 150 plants he harvested six times a year. He might have gotten away with it, too, if his love life had been simpler. As it was, one of his girlfriends tipped off the police after Peters gave a leather jacket, which he had initially promised her, to another girlfriend.
By the time the cops finally busted down his door in January 1989, Peters had slipped into a life of 24-hour debauchery--as detailed in WW's second major profile of him, "Sex, Lies & Videotape" by Jim Redden. Police found 800 pot plants, plus homemade videos of underage girls having sex together. Peters ranted about Hitler. He eventually pleaded guilty to four counts of third-degree rape involving a 15-year-old girl, one count of contributing to the delinquency of a 16-year-old girl, and several counts of manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. Judge Steven Gallagher sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
Today Peters, 61, sits at a table at the Grand Cafe, wearing a blue golf T-shirt, khaki shorts, black basketball shoes and a Beavers ball cap. His ponytail is speckled white and gray, and his reading glasses dangle around his neck on a blue string.
"Women don't want my body so much any more," he sighs. "In fact, they're trying to get away from my body."
Peters spent 30 months at the Oregon State Penitentiary, an experience chronicled in a quirky, self-published memoir, The Frank Peters Catalog. When he walked out the prison gates, he had to rebuild his life from scratch. He performed his community service at the Washington Park Zoo, shoveling elephant manure. He learned how to cook and earned a certificate from the American Culinary Federation. And he went into business with two partners at the Grand Cafe.
"This place has allowed me to win my reputation back," he says. "Through hard work."
Peters has also reconnected with sports. He plays on the Eastbank Saloon's amazingly successful over-the-hill basketball squad--who are now national champions 10 times over in the National Amateur Athletic Union.
At first, it is difficult to reconcile this soft-spoken restaurateur with the cocky rascal who peeks out from the old newspaper clippings--or is he just on his best behavior?
"No," he says. "Prison really jerked my chain. I didn't get to be a bad boy. And a lot of that was an act. I wasn't really ashamed of what I had done...but I don't get to be the same Frank Peters."
Or does he? Asked about his love life, he grouses that his girlfriend just left him. Her age: 23.
"I have been a bad boy," he confesses. "But I've tried not to hurt the team."
Whatever scars he still carries, Peters has hung on to his wacky brand of humor. Several months ago, the Grand Cafe held a karaoke contest judged by the Honorable Steven Gallagher--the same jurist who sent Peters to prison.
Peters says Judge Gallagher gave him the perfect sentence. "Just enough time to get into shape," he grins. "But not too much to lose my edge."
Intro | Tonya's Mob: Tonya Harding, Jeff Gillooly & Shawn Eckardt | The Crusader: Gordon Shadburne | The Meteor: Billy Ray Bates | Satan's Pilgrim: Rex Diabolos Church | The Firebrand: Ron Herndon | The Bad Boy: Frank Peters | The Broken Halo: Michael Stoops | The Crack Mother: Anita Nichols | The Veejay: Kennedy | The Girl from Electra: Treva Throneberry | The Perfect Victim: Azalea Cooley | The Grappler: Dutch Savage | Wonder Boy: Pat Gillis | The Ex-Files: Marcia & Steve Moskowitz | The Witness: Dave Mazzella | The Prankster: Igor Vamos | The Intern: Monica Lewinsky | The Runaways: Diane Walden & Peter | Top Cop: Mark Kroeker | Sprawl Kitten: Kate Schiele | Authority Figure: Rocky Balada | The Hulk: Dry Dock 4 | The Candidate: Gail Shibley | The Super: Ben Canada | The Organ Grinder: Dr. William J. Brady | Pillars of the Community: The Lovejoy Columns | The Survivor: Giles Thompson | The Contender: Andy Minsker | Space Invader: The Phantom Dialer | The Red Menace: Ma Anand Sheela


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If you love vintage/grunge this is perfect, I only bought one sheet, and am kicking myself. Wish I could rate a 10!
Delightful! Light weight, yet heavier than an old dictionary. Nice quality.
I love this stuff! It's not as thick as regular paper. It's sort of like "newsprint"...great for mod podge, tearing, die cutting etc....
Paper was thinner than I expected. Thicker than tissue but not as thick as patterned paper. I'm sure it will be fine in my project.
I bought this paper with the intention to use with the Prima Dolls, but this paper is almost tissue thin. I wouldn't even use it as a scrapbook page unless I back it. You could use it on an Art Journal page because it is that thin. Very disappointing because once I saw it in person, I really liked it and knew I could use it for the dolls, but it won't be thick enough to support them. I wish I would have read some of the reviews, but just assumed it was normal scrapbook paper, duh!! Wish it would have been in the description.


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Fuzion 002368 Touring 235/60R16 100H BSW
This listing is for new Fuzion Touring 235/60R16 100H BSW Tires. Manufacturer part number: 002368. Fuzion Touring tires are all-seasonal tires made for cars, mini-vans, and small crossover vehicles for year round reliability. Fuzion touring tires provide quiet ride, all season traction in wet and dry road conditions and also light snow conditions. They come in H and V speed ratings. Four circumferential grooves evacuate water for good wet traction while multiple notches and sipes provide biting edges to enhance traction in light snow. The Fuzion Touring molds a silica-enhanced all-season tread compound into a symmetric design with notched shoulders, intermediate ribs and center ribs to reduce noise and promote smooth, even tire wear. Built with twin, high tensile steel belts reinforced with spirally wrapped nylon on top of a polyester casing to deliver strength, quality and handling.
Fuzion Tire critique
These are wonderful tires I can feel the difference when I'm turning corners and accelerating very very nice
Vanessa Smith
Good service
Fast reliable
Bought tire to match a set.
Can't beat the price.
Milt Nobles
Great price, good miles
Awesome tires,great price
Nice tired
Great tire for great price. They ride awesome and quite. Thanks
Tires are awesome
Great in all weather
Shop With Confidence! Tires –easy is a BBB Accredited business since 2014. We have won the Biz Rate Circle of Excellence Platinum Award two years in a row.
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February 10, 2009 - Xavier de le Rue has won the 2009 Swatch O'Neill Big Mountain Pro after being voted best snowboarder as well as the overall winner of the competition with his signature dynamic and fluid riding.
"I thought coming into this competition that Cody Townsend was going to win the overall competition," said Xavier. "But when we were watching the videos it was so cool that everyone was cheering after my runs. Then I started to think that maybe I could win it."
For taking both prizes, French snowboarder Xavier walks away with $20,000 which he says he will "spend on a nice holiday with my family."
Last year's winner Jeremy Jones who was voted in second place, was happy to see his friend take victory: "It's been an amazing week," said Jeremy. "Xavier's riding is always incredible to watch."
After an intense judging session, the riders are now off to celebrate the end of a successful week of near-perfect riding conditions and incredible snow at "Gosstall" in Saalbach Hinterglem with DJ Gitta Saxx and the Urban Knights from London.
Earlier this morning, the final day of competition was cancelled as the clouds came in earlier than predicted.
"This morning was off because the early morning window closed and the risk of having flat light was too big to hold the contest on that face," said event director Nicolas Hale Woods.
However with four very different competition faces completed in good weather and on amazing snow, this year's Big Mountain Pro has been the best yet for Nicolas and the riders.
"For me it's been the best edition of the Big Mountain Pro for the main reason that we've had very good snow conditions," said Nicolas. "We've been able to make it work with the weather, and we haven't had to drive too much," he said. "We were so welcomed in Austria. And very simply riders are smiling and that is the key."
For Fredrik Evensen it was his first Big Mountain Pro and his first venture into a freeriding competition.
"It's been fun," he said. "I've learnt a lot. It's been a great experience for me."
"The funniest thing has been having to pick a line before I drop in. It's the first time I've ever planned where I'm going. What surprised me the first time dropping in is instead of being four turns as I had thought, it was one. I had to improvise a bit," he said.
"When I do freeestyle riding I don't worry about safety precautions. It's been good to get a reality check," Fredrik said. "My understanding of the mountain has really improved."
"I want to continue freeriding. Freestyle riding is what I do, but I hope it will change. I'm tired of doing the same jump for the last ten years. I want to try something new. I'm not sure I want to do anything too crazy. The tree runs were what I loved. That's my thing."
Watch all the highlights from the 2009 Swatch O'Neill Big Mountain Pro on www.oneilltv.com.
Jeremy Jones
Fredrik Evensen
Mitch Toelderer
Xavier de le Rue
Eric Themel
Thomas Eberharter
What: The most original and innovative freeride contest on the planet
When: February 3 - February 10, 2009
Where: The Alps
Start location: St. Anton, Arlberg range, Austria
Finish location: Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria
Who: 12 of the best freeriders in the world - 6 skiers and 6 snowboarders
Prizemoney: $ 60.000


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Sails & Ales Featuring Harpoon Brewery
6:30pm to 8:30pm Tue, Jul 7, 2015
Venue: Classic Harbor Line - Boston - Adirondack III
60 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110Contact:
Susan Greer
2 people saved this
Join us for an exciting sunset sail and beer tasting with a local favorite, Harpoon brewery! This is not just sailing with a couple of cold brews in the ice chest, we are taking that one step further by partnering exclusively with Harpoon to bring you a full tasting experience. Whether you're joining us to decompress after a long day at the office, celebrating a milestone with friends, Sails and Ales aboard the Schooner Adirondack III with Harpoon Brewery is sure to bring a noteworthy flare to your evening. To participate in the tasting you must purchase "A tasting" in the extras of the purchase page. Included with the tasting: Five of Harpoon Brewery's flagship beers and/or seasonal beers will be tasted and guided by a Harpoon Brewery Representative. Learn about the intricate processes involved in brewing, the historical significance of each brew and how Harpoon Brewery began. Light bites will be available aboard, however you are welcome to bring a picnic with you. A complimentary tour at the Harpoon Brewery that you can redeem in the future In addition to the tasting: Enjoy the perfect photo opportunities and the thrill of sailing as the sun sets behind the City of Boston. Gather some light commentary from the captain and crew about historical sites and points of interest on the waterfront such as: Independence Fort, the U.S.S Constitution "Old Ironsides", Spectacle Island, and Harpoon Brewery - That's right, we sail by the brewery! Your knowledgeable captain, crew, and Harpoon Brewery representative are always ready to answer your questions about the sights and history of Boston Harbor and its surrounding areas. From interesting facts to old-time legends, the maritime world of Boston has many great stories to offer. Ask them anything you'd like to know! Come see the sites and enjoy a beer tasting while sailing! Feel free to join us on the sail even if you do not wish to participate in the tasting. Please let us know if you are not interested in the beer pairings when purchasing tickets.
MA Spotlight on Carole Copeland Thomas
Enriching Multicultural Tourism in Massachusetts Carole Copeland Thomas is a thought leader and public speaker...
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Environmental Economics
The Impact of Wind Turbines on Property Values
The siting of new wind energy facilities is very controversial. Wind turbines are often perceived to have substantial negative impacts on local residents, and new research by Clarkson School of Business Assistant Professor Martin Heintzelman and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Ph.D. candidate Carrie Tuttle shows that, in some communities, these impacts translate into declines in property values.
In a study recently accepted for publication in the journal Land Economics, Heintzelman and Tuttle find that property values declined following the development of new wind facilities in Clinton and Franklin Counties in Northern New York, but that, in Lewis County, property values were unaffected, and possibly increased.
The study used a large dataset of more than 11,000 real estate transactions in a hedonic analysis. Hedonic analysis is a type of regression analysis that uses transaction details, including the price as well as the characteristics of the transacted properties to estimate how individual parcel characteristics, like the distance to wind turbines, affect the transaction price.
One implication, according to Heintzelman, is that existing schemes to compensate residents local to wind project may be inadequate. "Communities facing the prospect of a wind development should be careful to ensure that all affected residents are being compensated for any harms that are caused, including reductions in property values."
In the recent past, Heintzelman has used similar analyses to measure the impact of the mix of local land-uses on property values and to look at specific policies which encourage local preservation of open space, as well as fund historic preservation projects. This work has been published in the journals Land Economics and The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy.
In on-going work with Ms. Tuttle, he is looking at how environmental amenities, including lake water quality and ecological integrity, as well as land-use restrictions, are valued in the Adirondack Park. Preliminary analysis suggests that property owners do value environmental quality and that certain indicators, like the presence of the Common Loon on a nearby lake, have a substantial impact on property values.
Heintzelman is assistant professor, Economics and Financial Studies, and the Fredric C. Menz Scholar of Environmental Economics. He is also director of the Clarkson University Center for Canadian Studies
Professor Martin Heintzelman and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Ph.D. candidate Carrie Tuttle.


text:
Harrods Amber Perfume
By Bond No. 9 for Women
Harrods Amber Perfume by Bond No . 9, Yet another incredible creation by bond no. 9, harrods amber perfume was released in 2011. It is the 5th addition to the collection and its exquisite notes will leave you wanting more. This unisex fragrance opens with bergamot, nutmeg, saffron and white pepper. The middle notes are jasmine, osmanthus and rose. The fragrance closes with amber, benzoin, musk, myrrh, oud and sandalwood. All products are original, authentic name brands. We do not sell knockoffs or imitations. ... Read More
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His mother was a teacher, and his brother is a preacher.
Craig Hunter became a cop.
He wanted to serve. And recently, more than 300 family members, friends and colleagues celebrated his 34 years of service to the Anaheim Police Department.
Take a close look and you'll see Hunter's fingerprints on many of the police department's most successful problem-solving programs.
Hunter, who recently retired as deputy police chief, represents the first generation of the post-modern police leader – part crime fighter, part criminologist, part sociologist and part community organizer.
Today's most effective police officers combine old-school detective skills, great decision-making under pressure and physical agility with the ability to use technology, maintain deep community relationships and strategy to predict, prevent and solve crime.
Hunter did it all. He helped solve big dope cases in the '80s, served as the department's first sergeant focused on gangs in the '90s and helped move the department toward a more strategic leadership and planning model in the 2000s.
"Three words come immediately to mind when I think of Craig Hunter's impact," says Police Chief John Welter. "Leadership. Vision. Partnership."
In Anaheim, police for decades have focused on getting to young children before they join gangs – and Cops4Kids, the Junior Cadet and the Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership programs were born.
Police officials established relationships with hotel owners to prevent tourists from being victimized, which helped the city become an international vacation and sports destination.
They identified the big issues and developed short- and long-term strategies to combat them. The APD approach has made a difference. Anaheim's gang membership is down from a high of 5,000 in the mid-1990s to 2,200 today. There were 17 gang killings in 1993; there were six last year.
The department is in good hands, Hunter says, noting the sophistication of the command staff, and the passion of the officers and other personnel. Throw in Hunter's legacy of forward thinking and community engagement, and that's service worth celebrating.
– Bill Rams is a former Orange County Register reporter who owns a boutique communications company. Anaheim P.D. is a client. Email Rams at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Gibbs personnel stand near one of the first production Quadski amphibians. From left to right: Neil Jenkins, chairman; Alan Gibbs, founder; Tina Shaheen, COO.
Gibbs begins production of Quadski amphibious ATV
November 12, 2012
During our test of the Gibbs Quadski, a high-speed amphibious ATV manufactured by Gibbs Sports Amphibians Inc., representatives stated that the first production vehicles would be ready for sale by mid-November.
The company seems to have made good on that promise. According to a statement, the first production Quadskis were completed earlier today at an Auburn Hills, Mich., factory. These units are part of a 1,000-vehicle run that will be constructed over the next year.
Early buyers will pay $40,000 to get on their own high-speed amphibian. Initially, sales will be handled through existing powersports-equipment dealers. The Great Lakes, Gulf Coast, Midwest and the eastern United States will be the first to get access to the Quadski, with the rest of the United States to follow.


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This is the all-season cardigan that has a detachable hood and sleeves to convert from a hooded sweater to a vest. Ideal for travelers visiting more than one climate, this two-in-one garment has a soft 100% cotton knitted sweater exterior and cozy 100% polyester fleece lining. A front zipper seals out drafts and is concealed by four wooden toggles, which combine with the thick cable weave to evoke the heavy sweaters worn by generations of maritimers. With the hood raised, the sweater provides warmth and wind protection, while the breathable 2/20 yarn prevents overheating. On balmier days, the hood and sleeves can be unzipped and detached, creating a vest with wide armholes that slips comfortably over a shirt for layering. The garment has two zippered front pockets and ribbing at the mock turtleneck collar, cuffs, and hem. Charcoal. (6 lbs.)
Lifetime Guarantee
The Convertible Hooded Cardigan comes with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee. If this product ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return your Hammacher Schlemmer purchase for exchange, credit, or refund.
Should you have any questions, we are available seven days a week (8:00 am – midnight EST). Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a specialist or email us at email@example.com to receive a response within three business hours or less.
May we recommend:
COPYRIGHT © 2018 HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER & COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. W104147 E. 57th ST • NEW YORK, NY • 10022 • 1-800-_321-1484


text: I'm restoring a 1974 R90/6. It's had a couple of upgrades over the years before I became the owner. Ignition, rear shocks, and dual plugs. Somewhere along the way, it was tapped for dual plugs, but nothing else was done. No coil, etc. Right now the bike runs just fine with spark plugs in the bottom of each cylinder hooked up to nothing. Any kind of plug I can put in there and remove the bottom spark plugs. Don't think I'll ever consider finishing the dual plug thing. Seems to be a debate as to if it improves anything.


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Tigers acquire Cabrera, give Oliver fresh start
By Jason Beck / MLB.com
Instead of a Triple Crown winner, the Tigers acquired a switch-hitting catching prospect in their deal Wednesday afternoon, sending Andy Oliver to Pittsburgh for Ramon Cabrera. They'll take it.
In the process, the Tigers' first -- and perhaps only -- deal of these Winter Meetings closed Oliver's roller-coaster Tigers tenure and gives him what they hope is a fresh start in another organization.
"We thought that perhaps a change of scenery would not be a bad thing," team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said.
The Tigers drafted Oliver with a second-round pick in 2009. A year later, he was pitching in Detroit's rotation, making a handful of starts as a replacement for Rick Porcello. He struggled before being sent to Triple-A Toledo after the All-Star break, but he showed the power-lefty potential that the Tigers saw in him.
He was on the doorstep of the big leagues, but after two more starts in a brief stint with the Tigers in 2011, his career seemingly turned. He had solid numbers at Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo in 2010, but went 13-22 with a 4.79 ERA over the next two years as a Mud Hen, walking 168 batters over 265 innings with 255 strikeouts.
And yet, with his talent, he put himself in a solid position to compete for the Tigers' open rotation spot last spring with an impressive opening stretch of camp. That bid fell apart in the second half of camp as his walk total rose, landing him back at Toledo for a third season.
"We couldn't get him to throw strikes on a consistent basis," Dombrowski said. "And if he does, with his arm, he has a chance to be a very fine pitcher."
By the end, Oliver was pitching out of the Mud Hens' bullpen. If he was going to compete for a job with the Tigers next spring, it would've been as a reliever.
Instead, he'll go to camp with the Pirates with a chance at a few different roles.
"He seems capable of doing a lot of roles for us," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "We like the arm, like the fastball, the breaking ball, like how he does things. And as tough as is to give up young switch-hitting catcher that we like, a lot, we felt Andrew was a good addition to our club."
Said Dombrowski: "I think it's a good gamble on their part, and I hope it works out."
The 23-year-old Cabrera was a Florida State League batting champion at Class A Bradenton in 2011 before batting .276 with three home runs and 50 RBIs between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis this past season. The 5-foot-8, 195-pounder owns a .292 batting average in his five-year minor league career, but just a .400 slugging percentage.
Cabrera will not compete for the Tigers' backup catcher role, even if Detroit doesn't add another backstop. He'll begin the season at either Erie or Toledo, depending on if fellow catching prospect Bryan Holaday wins the backup job in Detroit.
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Efforts to increase HIV testing in urban areas—where the U.S. epidemic remains concentrated and roughly one in six people living with the virus are unaware they're infected—are showing signs of success, notably in New York City's Bronx borough, according to telephone survey results published online ahead of print by the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS).
In June 2008, NYC launched The Bronx Knows, a three-year initiative with dual goals of testing every Bronx resident who had never been screened for HIV and linking those who tested positive to HIV care and services. The Bronx was selected for its high HIV prevalence and death rate—nearly 3 percent of residents of some Bronx neighborhoods are estimated to be living with the virus—and in response to requests from community leaders that NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene launch an HIV testing initiative.
A formal evaluation of the program has not yet been published or presented. What the JAIDS paper makes available are results from an annual telephone survey representative of NYC adults to compare 2005 and 2009 estimates of HIV testing prevalence among Bronx residents. Along with these findings, Julie Myers, MD, MPH, of the city health department's Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and her fellow authors used NYC HIV surveillance data to evaluate changes in the percentage of people being diagnosed with HIV and AIDS at the same time, an indicator of delayed HIV testing.
The proportion of the Bronx population reporting HIV testing increased significantly during the five-year period included in the analysis.
In 2005, 69.3 percent of those surveyed reported having ever been tested for HIV. In 2009, 79.1 percent of those surveyed reporting having been tested at least once, representing a relative increase of 32.2 percent. This difference was statistically significant, meaning it was too great to have occurred by chance.
Of note, the proportion of Bronx residents who have ever tested for HIV is substantially higher than those documented nationwide. According to national estimates, only 40 to 45 percent of all people residing in the United States in 2008 had ever been tested for HIV at any point.
In 2005, 36.9 percent of survey respondents said they had been tested—either for the first time or again—within the 12 months preceding the telephone interview. In 2009, 48.8 percent had been tested within the 12 months preceding the telephone interview, representing a 32.2 percent increase over the 2005 data. Here, too, the difference between the two years was statistically significant.
Looking specifically at those who were tested within the 12 months leading up to the interview, rates between 2005 and 2009 increased significantly among those between 24 and 44 years old, men, blacks, Latinos, those living under or near the poverty level, those with less than a high school education, those who identified as heterosexual or bisexual, those with a primary health care provider and those with private insurance.
The only significant decrease in testing rates in the 12 months leading up to the interview was among whites.
Across the board, the proportion of people being diagnosed concurrently with HIV and AIDS fell from 30.1 percent in 2005 to 23.6 percent in 2009—a 21.8 percent relative decrease. The proportion of concurrent diagnoses fell among all age groups, men and women, all race/ethnicities (except for Asian/Pacific Islanders or other race), and all transmission risk categories.
However, Myers and her colleagues noted that some groups still had very high rates of concurrent diagnoses in 2009. For example, 44 percent of those between 45 and 64 years old were being diagnosed with HIV and AIDS at the same time. Among those who reported heterosexual sex or "other" as their HIV risk category, concurrent diagnoses were documented in about 28 percent.
Other groups had relatively low proportions of concurrent diagnoses in 2009, including those between 18 and 24 years old (7.9 percent), whites (13.8 percent), and men who have sex with men (12.6 percent).
While the authors acknowledge that telephone surveys come with numerous challenges that can dilute a study's accuracy, they conclude that their findings "underscore the potential effectiveness of large-scale efforts to impact HIV testing, care and treatment."
HIV Testing Initiatives Work: The Bronx Experience
Efforts to increase HIV testing in urban areas—where the U.S. epidemic remains concentrated and roughly one in six people living with the virus are unaware they're infected—are showing signs of success, notably in New York City's Bronx borough, according to telephone survey results published online ahead of print by the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS).


text: 3 cr. hrs. P: SPEA V517. This course evaluates a broad range of contemporary resource policies, cases, and controversies, using bioeconomic resource management models as an intuitive aid, wherever possible. Topics include fishery management, forestry policy, tropical deforestation, water management policy, nature preservation/endangered species, sustainable development, and national income accounting.


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High schooler Taillon has mix on the mound
Youngster has four pitches, has been clocked in upper-90s
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
Sure, there's the summer showcase circuit and, for some, the ability to travel a bit with Team USA. But the primary focus is always the game, and while that produces more advanced prep talent than what used to come out annually, it's easy to wonder if the baseball blinders are detrimental when it comes to being prepared for the next level. Is it possible that so narrow a focus makes it more likely that everything that gets thrown at a professional athlete can become overwhelming?
That's one thing teams will not have to worry about when they consider Texas high school pitcher Jameson Taillon. The right-hander some think could be the No. 1 overall pick in this June's Draft is not all baseball, all the time. His dedication to academics is apparent with his choice of Rice University for a college commitment. His three siblings have gone on to a PhD program, medical school and law school. His passport has been stamped all over Europe and Canada.
This week's Draft Reports
|Kyle Blair
|San Diego
|Gary Brown
|Cal State Fullerton
|Christian Colon
|Cal State Fullerton
|Brett Eibner
|Deck McGuire
|Georgia Tech
|Mike Olt
|Sammy Solis
|San Diego
|Jordan Swagerty
|Arizona State
|Jameson Taillon
|The Woodlands HS
|Karsten Whitson
|Chipley HS
"That's really important," said Taillon, a senior at The Woodlands High School. "With pitchers' arms, you never know what can happen. It's nice to have academics and know what the world has to offer, to see the world."
The baseball world is about to see what Taillon (pronounced Tie-yon; his father is French Canadian) has to offer on the mound. Let's be honest: A high schooler who is smart and has traveled and plays a little baseball is nice, but when that player throws in the upper-90s, has two plus breaking balls and is 6-foot-7, it makes for a much better story.
"When you put those together, it's pretty special," said Ron Eastman, who is in his 10th season at the helm of The Woodlands' baseball program. "He's a pretty special young man. We knew that coming in. He's a hard thrower and a great kid. He's continued to grow and mature, not just as a player."
Taillon the player started coming into his own last year and took off last summer as he made the showcase circuit tour and played for Team USA in the fall. He threw two innings, striking out four, in the AFLAC All-American Game at PETCO Park. He was the Team One MVP in the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field when he struck out the side in the first inning. He received the first USA Baseball International Performance of the Year Award for beating Cuba (and striking out 16 over 7 2/3 IP) in the gold medal game during the COPABE Pan American Championships. All of that, with the attention that comes along with it, has really prepared Taillon for the increased spotlight that invariably comes along with Draft season.
"When I went to the Perfect Game Nationals in Minneapolis, I was nervous for that," Taillon admitted. "From that point on, it never really fazed me. At Wrigley, PETCO, I just tried to go out and have fun, to take advantage of [the opportunity] and not pay attention to that other stuff.
"You definitely get an adrenaline rush. I've been eased into it by playing with who I've played with at the summer showcases, getting used to the guns going up every time I lifted my leg."
Taillon, known simply as "Jamo" to teammates and friends, worked out in the Houston area during the offseason in the same center used by Major Leaguers such as James Loney, Adam Dunn and Chad Qualls. And as good as his stuff is, it's that work ethic that separates him from other talented arms. If anything, Eastman and his staff have to make sure he doesn't go too overboard in his diligence.
"He does a ton of work on his own away from here," Eastman said. "We have to be careful to make sure he doesn't overdo it. We try to work along with that to make sure he's ready to go. It's a nice problem to have."
Eastman and his staff are also able to help Taillon deal with all of the Draft-related pressures, because they've been through it before. Back in 2006, The Woodlands' ace was Kyle Drabek, who ended up going No. 18 overall to the Philadelphia Phillies. They are much different as people, but they have similar goals which helped Drabek, and should help Taillon, stay focused as things heat up.
"Though he's a different personality, they have the same approach," said Eastman, who has other players who have Draft potential as well this year. "Jameson's goals were to pitch in AFLAC and pitch for Team USA. His third goal is to win a state championship and he's pretty focused on that. In 2006, we were concerned with the teammates. Kyle handled, and now Jameson handles, that pressure from the scouts [that can affect the entire team] really well. His attitude has a calming effect on his teammates as well."
Eastman hopes the lessons he's learned from 2006 will help keep Taillon and his teammates calm as well. He's already been much more open than he was four years ago. With Drabek, they were initially reluctant to let everyone know when and where Drabek was pitching, though eventually they embraced that. Now with Jameson, everyone has an idea of what to expect and it should make it easier to manage in the long run.
"Hopefully the way I handle it, I don't make a big deal out of it," Eastman said. "I know it's there, face it and handle it. We knew it was going to be a circus, and hopefully we prepared the kids for it.
"We've told Jameson, 'This is it, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Enjoy it, embrace the moment.' So far, he's managed to do that."
And he's managed to pitch exceptionally well, all while finding time to pick up a new hobby, playing acoustic guitar. It's an activity that's best performed with nuance, something that seems to fit Taillon's personality perfectly. He would, after all, garner plenty of attention on the mound just by the way he lights up the radar gun. But that's not enough. He doesn't just want to strum on the mound, he wants to be a true artist.
"The thing I take pride in is having that stuff and being able to pitch with it," Taillon said. "You can't just rely on a fastball here. You have to mix it up. You have to have the velocity to impress scouts, but mixing in the other stuff is important."
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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The most dedicated Xbox Live members are in for a treat this holiday season.
Microsoft's Larry Hyrb, also known as Major Nelson, announced via his Twitter yesterday that the company has built another custom-designed Xbox 360 console to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Xbox Live.
Users who have been on Live for the longest will be receiving the new dark-grey version that you see to the right.
I can confirm we're surprising some of the #Xbox LIVE members that have been with us the longest with one of these http://t.co/isIVEdmP
— Larry Hryb ? (@majornelson) November 13, 2012
For those who love the new look, Major Nelson will be Tweeting out details Thursday morning for how to get your hands on the new-look Xbox console.
I've got a special #XboxLIVEis10 contest for my twitter followers tomorrow. Not following me? You should fix that now http://t.co/jUmHJ12z
— Larry Hryb ? (@majornelson) November 14, 2012
According to IGN, the consoles were created for special promotion and will not be sold at retail locations. The console's logo in the bottom corner of the left side has a "Xbox Live: A Decade of Entertainment" logo with imagery from the original Xbox, Kinect and more from Xbox's history.
Numbers out last week from the NPD Group research firm showed Microsoft selling 270,000 Xbox 360 units in October, which topped Sony's PS3 and Nintendo's Wii yet again. That's 22 consecutive months as the top-selling console.
Previously on GeekWire: Xbox 360 marks 22 months atop U.S. console market


text:
Fiber optic connectors are a substantial fragment of the global telecommunication industry. Optical fibers are joined using fiber optic connectors, which allow the light conduction between two consecutive optical fibers. An additional im…
Sales, means the sales volume of Incoloy Alloy MA 956
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- Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (The Netherlands)
- AMG Aluminum (US)
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- Alcoa Howmet Castings (US)
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- Aperam SA (Luxembourg)
- Carpenter Technology Corporation (US)
- Doncasters Group Limited (UK)
- Eramet Group (France)
- Fort Wayne Metals (US)
- Glencore Plc. (Switzerland)
- Haynes International Inc. (US)
- H.C. Starck GmbH (Germany)
- High Performance Alloys Inc. (US)
- Hitachi Metals Ltd. (Japan)
- JSC VSMPO-AVISMA Corp. (Russia)
- Mattco Forge, Inc. (US)
- Metallurgical Plant "Electrostal" JSC (Russia)
- Nippon Yakin Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Japan)
- Olin Brass Corporation (US)
- Precision Castparts Corp.(US)
- Titanium Metals Corporation (TIMET) (US)
- Special Metals Corporation (US)
- QuesTek Innovations, LLC (US)
- Sandvik Coromant Co. (Sweden)
- VDM Metals (Germany)
Split by product Types, with sales, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided into
- Type I
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Split by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Incoloy Alloy MA 956 in each application, can be divided into
- Pharma & Healthcare
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Results 1 to 7 of 7
Thread: Weighing Differences?
10-01-2013, 10:41 AM #1Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2009
- Location
- South Bend, IN
- Posts
- 199
Weighing Differences?
I know weighing the back corner makes the wave taller and putting more weight in the ski locker or bow makes the wave longer and the wake plate cleans everything up. What effect does weighing down the opposite ski locker have?? Also with the 1100's do those with XLV's still have to add additional support to the engine walls?2009 Moomba XLV
On some models, Mojo for example, the off side weight helps to beef up the wave, imo. You may find the same for the XLV. Some folks with pre '13 LSV's say its' improves, some not.
I haven't added the supports, but many others have.
I have not needed any additional supports in my XLV for the 1100 in the v drive locker.
I find that offside weight works in my XLV but I have to keep it below the point of washing the wave out.2010 Moomba XLV
340hp cat
Gravity 3, wake plate
I have a love for ballast and large wakes.
1100 v-drive lockers
1180 under the playpen
+ lead and a collection of other ballast bags
I added supports to the flip Down panel, just 3/4 box aluminum mounted in the engine compartment in a v shape.
So I can still acces the engine exactly the same.
I'd I'd not Go the full frame rout, so far so goodA Day at the Lake...Priceless
A Day in Powder...Endless
Joe V
2012 Möbius XLV~ Loaded & Exiled
2007 Outback V ~ sold
I don't know about the XLV, but in my LSV the off side weight just makes the wake less clean. I even try to stand on the surf side while driving just to make the boat list as much as possible. Curious if on bigger boats it's different, but I would almost think it's worse since I would assume more weight to one side would be required to make the boat list due to a wider beam.Boats previously owned - 2000 Supra Launch, 2003 Outback, 2006 Mobius LSV
10-03-2013, 03:56 PM #6Senior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Posts
- 233
Obviously it depends on the specific boat, as well as how much weight you're talking about, but in general the following will hold true for any boat:
Front-Rear Weight Distribution
More weight in the rear of the boat leads to a taller, shorter wake with more push. That's why we always start with weight in the rear of the boat.
More weight in the front of the boat gives you a longer pocket, but will remove some of the height and push. The longer the wake the better, so get as much weight forward in the boat as you can without removing too much push.
Side-to-Side Weight Distribution
More weight on the surf side will clean that face up, which is why we load the surf side of the boat more than the non-surf side. As you continue adding weight to the surf side you'll get a steeper face.
Weight on the non-surf side has the opposite effect on the wake.
The important thing to keep in mind here is any time we add weight to the boat that will increase the displacement of the hull, which will make the wake bigger, but where/ that weight is placed will impact the shape of the wake, and shape and size combined are what determines the quality of the wake.
So the answer to your original question is, try putting some weight on the non-surf side and see what happens. If you have enough weight on the surf side you'll see a bigger wake (with possibly a slightly less steep face), but the it will still be nice and clean. If you don't have enough weight on the surf side, the wake will get washy and the quality will suffer, which means that for your specific configuration, you shouldn't run any weight on the non-surf side.


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SEATTLE — Jack Zduriencik stepped onto an elevator full of reporters, and aware of the company he was in, the Mariners general manager put his cell phone to his ear and jokingly shouted, "No, we're not trading Felix."
No, the Mariners did not move ace pitcher Felix Hernandez before baseball's trading deadline, and on an August afternoon that was almost as perfect as the pitching performance, we can all say, thank goodness for that.
Hernandez, the face of a franchise and quite possibly the best thing the Seattle sports scene has going for it these days, added another indelible moment to an already stellar career on Wednesday, throwing the first perfect game in Mariners history in a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
And when it was over, when Hernandez was done being mobbed by teammates, when he had not one, but two water jugs dumped on him, the Seattle sports star who actually wants to be a Seattle sports star, picked up a microphone to share the moment with the only fans he has known in a career that already includes three All-Star games and a Cy Young award.
Hernandez, who somehow manages to be humble and likeable, while also exuding a ton of confidence, has never been shy about his desire to achieve baseball immortality. Hernandez did that Wednesday while striking out 12 in the 23rd perfect game in major-league history, then he dedicated the moment to a fan base that has pulled so hard for him while suffering through so much losing over the last decade.
"I've been working so hard to throw one," Hernandez told the Safeco Field crowd, which was listed as 21,889, but seemed significantly bigger in the final innings. "And there it is, for you guys."
For Seattle sports fans, for Mariners fans, and particularly for the rowdy King's Court section in the left field corner, this was a welcome moment of joy in a year — no, an era — that has produced far too few moments worth celebrating.
And as completely and totally cliche as it is to say, it couldn't have happened to a better guy. In a city that has witnessed so many of its best athletes leave, Hernandez is one of the few who made the decision to stay. He could have waited for free agency, he could have demanded a trade, but instead Hernandez signed a contract extension in 2010, and every time trade rumors have come up since, he insists that Seattle is his home; where he wants to be now and in the future.
"This is his home, he doesn't hide that," said shortstop Brendan Ryan, who scored the game's only run on a Jesus Montero single. "I don't mean to say anything about other stars in the game, but he's just so humble and down to earth, that's what fans can relate to. He's approachable and looks you in the eye and all that stuff, and he goes about things the right way. It's easy to pull for somebody like that. Then for him to be as talented as he is and be our captain, you're kind of fighting back tears as it came to a close there at the end."
If any Mariners pitcher had thrown a perfect game, Safeco Field would have been electric. But for it to have been Hernandez, the phenom who signed with the Mariners as an Everett AquaSox player when he was 16, then eventually managed to live up to the "King Felix" nickname that was unfairly hung on him before he reached the major leagues, well this was a special day at the ballpark.
"It was unbelievable," said left fielder Trayvon Robinson, who for nine innings was the closest player to the raucous King's Court. "The energy, it was priceless. Priceless, man."
One of the many things that makes Hernandez' perfecto so remarkable is that he almost seemed due. Now, it is ridiculous to assume a pitcher is ever going to throw a no-hitter, let alone a perfect game. But Hernandez has been so good, particularly of late — this was his fourth complete-game shutout since June 28 — it seemed inevitable that he would accomplish the feat some day.
Well some day was Wednesday, when Hernandez knew almost from the get-go that he had special stuff, even by his standards.
"When I was warming up in the bullpen, I thought I had pretty good stuff," he said. "In the third, I was like, 'There's something going on right now.' We threw like five breaking balls in a row and they couldn't hit them."
Hernandez was so good, and Rays hitters so hopeless, that in the seventh inning Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon decided to try some stall tactics. Maddon got himself ejected for arguing balls and strikes, then taking his time while having a heated discussion with home plate umpire Rob Drake.
"I'm sure he was (stalling), but Felix overcame it," said Mariners manager Eric Wedge. "I was just yelling at Joe to just get his ass out of there so he could go back to pitching."
Hernandez, unfazed, got out of that inning, then struck out five of the final six batters he faced, including Sean Rodriguez on a called third strike to end the game.
And that final pitch to Rodriguez, a 92 mph changeup — yes, you read that right — was the perfect example of how nasty Hernandez was on this afternoon.
"Whatever that pitch is that he throws — that 92, fastball, changeup thing, I'm glad he's on my team," said M's outfielder Eric Thames.
When Hernandez finally took a break from his celebration, he walked into Safeco Field's interview room, an area usually reserved for big press conferences, not postgame interviews, and deadpanned, "Why are we doing the interview in here? Something big happen?"
In fact, something monumental happened. So often sports, and Seattle teams in particular, can let us down. But for one day, one sun-drenched afternoon, Hernandez reminded us all why we keep coming back.
It was, well, perfect.
Herald Writer John Boyle: firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: I own a 1995 R100RT Classic. There seems to be ghost in the electrical system: I have a new battery, replaced last fall along with a check of the charging system, a mechanic recently replaced the diode board with a Thunderchild unit. All was well. Running great, charging well. Went for a ride Friday, Saturday morning the battery was completely drained. Ignition switch was off, other than the clock that runs when ignition is off, and grip heaters, I have no other farkles on board to account for a power drain. Is there an open circuit or bad relay somewhere in the system that is causing this problem? Perhaps the new diode board is faulty. Suggestions?


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This large fly (about 2 cm long) landed on a pine tree in our garden (near Madrid). It stayed there a long time.
As can be seen it has a marked pattern on the wings, a yellow head and a black and yellow body. I suspect it is some sort of hover fly but I can't find it in my book nor anything like it by means of an on-line search. It doesn't appear to have any antennae for which reason I am not thinking bee, wasp or hornet.
Can anyone identify it and what was it doing on the tree?
I think this is a female Volucella inanis.
Thanks Florin. This is in my book but only the male is illustrated. It does look like the one in the link.
I've just seen one of these on my buddleia this morning. Glad to find out what it is.


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New sanctions threat to Russia
Western leaders have warned Russia that it faces a fresh round of sanctions after failing to implement a deal to defuse the Ukraine crisis.
The need for further action was agreed in a conference call between Prime Minister David Cameron, US president Barack Obama, German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Francois Hollande and Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi.
A Downing Street spokesman said: " They condemned the absence of any efforts on the part of Russia to support the implementation of the Geneva agreement, and the further efforts to destabilise Ukraine and to undermine the 25 May elections.
"While they continued to hold open the door to a diplomatic resolution of this crisis, based on the Geneva agreement, the five leaders agreed that in the light of Russia's refusal to support the process, an extension of the current targeted sanctions would need to be implemented, in conjunction with other G7 leaders and with European partners."
According to a readout of the call issued by the White House, the leaders criticised Russia for "not publicly supporting the Geneva accord, nor calling on armed militant groups to lay down their arms and leave the government buildings they've occupied".
Moscow had "in fact continued to escalate the situation through its increasingly concerning rhetoric and threatening military exercises on Ukraine's border".
In increasingly bitter diplomatic exchanges, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the West of plotting to control Ukraine.
He said pro-Moscow insurgents in the south east of the country would lay down their arms only if the Ukrainian government cleared the Maidan protest camp in the capital Kiev.
"The West wants - and this is how it all began - to seize control of Ukraine because of their own political ambitions, not in the interests of the Ukrainian people," Mr Lavrov said.
But US secretary of state John Kerry said: "For seven days, Russia has refused to take a single concrete step in the right direction.
"Not a single Russian official, not one, has publicly gone on television in Ukraine and called on the separatists to support the Geneva agreement, to support the stand-down, to give up their weapons, and get out of the Ukrainian buildings."
Ukrainian prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has accused Russia of wanting to start "a third world war".
There are reports that a Ukrainian military helicopter in the eastern town of Kramatorsk has been shot down by Russian supporting insurgents.
The agreement struck between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva last week was hailed as a breakthrough, and called for all parties to down arms and vacate public buildings.
Pro-Russian militia have been occupying government buildings in more than 10 cities in the eastern Ukraine while the nationalist Right Sector movement is still in control of two public buildings in Kiev.


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Sequestration was conceived as a big stick to convince lawmakers to get serious about solving the nation's fiscal woes. It is not, itself, fiscal policy; it is intended to provoke careful deliberation, not replace it. Inflict a moderate amount of pain, the theory was, and Americans would push their elected officials to devise a better plan that might, over the long term, result in more responsible spending.
One possibility was that Americans simply wouldn't care, or possibly would care but not believe they could push Congress to do better.
A second was that citizens would decide, consciously, that the cuts were good ones that could be sustained, at least over the short term.
A combination of those two results seems to have come to pass. Although some of the cuts have been ill-advised, they have not proven to be so draconian that Americans have risen up en masse to demand their legislators abandoning the ideology that got them elected and do something practical. Some people have grumbled, most have largely ignored the cuts, and not much progress has been made.The full force of sequestration also has not been felt yet. From a budget-cutting perspective, that plan is brilliant: Allow Americans to grow accustomed to one change before imposing another. Individually, most changes are manageable, at least over the short term. What the nation needs, though, is a better bottom line over the long term.A third path, and the one most likely to accomplish permanent results, was that some cuts would raise enough eyebrows to make a difference.
For example, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has told Congress that the sequester will involve furloughing ag inspectors, at a time when China's bird flu outbreak is growing. Chicken farms reportedly are the source.
Forced spending cuts to the Air Force will cut 44,000 flying hours between now and September, grounding some combat air squadrons. (Source: DefenseNews) At the same time, North Korea continues to threaten American allies, a fight almost the entire world hopes can be conducted with combat planes and not with nuclear missiles.
The truth is that the cuts aren't holding. Last month, Congress approved legislation restoring tuition assistance for military personnel and requiring the Pentagon to make the cuts elsewhere. Tuition assistance is a well-deserved investment in the lives of men and women who have volunteered to serve their country, and it will pay dividends far into the future, but it's not an immediately essential component of military readiness.
And the political brinksmanship - or the game of political chicken - currently taking place regarding Social Security is hardly the best way to reach a decision that will have such far-reaching consequences.
Good government is not driven only by squeaky wheels. Legislators who cling to rigid positions until they are knocked off balance by public pressure are not really responding to constituents; they are responding to threats.
Better to admit that cuts both must and can be made, and then skip the posturing and get to work. That's the American way, and it's significantly better than North Korean-style politics.


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"Rod's nearer 60 than 50 now, the right age to tackle such venerable classics, and he's clearly given plenty of consideration to the phrasing and delivery of songs such as 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' and 'It Had to Be You'.
demonstrating that doing standards isn't just a matter of wanting to emulate Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett
but of having developed a voice with a singular enough character of its own to breathe new life into the material. Rod's singing here has a pleasing, smoky quality and a sly worldliness that animates these songs in his own distinctive manner
. Surprisingly agreeable."The Independent


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Yasumi Matsuno — who worked on Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, and Final Fantasy XII for Square (and Square Enix) before joining Level-5 — is leaving the Professor Layton developer.
Matsuno returned to Square Enix to advise on the PSP remake of Tactics Ogre, but he only created Crimson Shroud for Level-5. It's one of four games compiled in Guild01, which has yet to release for 3DS in North America.
The designer recently tweeted, "I'd like to formally announce my departure from Level-5, effective last month. With my work done on the domestic and overseas version of my latest 3DSWare game, it was good timing for me to step down and take a short break in order to recharge for my next project. My deepest thanks to everyone at Level-5 and everyone playing our games for your continued support."
His new plans are "a secret," he told a follower on Twitter.
Follow @wita on Twitter.


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Oxidative stress reduces nitric oxide, a naturally occurring chemical that blood vessels need to relax, dilate and allow adequate blood flow. Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, lipoic acid and the polyphenols in vegetables, chocolate and tea, help control oxidative stress, doctors said, and are calling for more study.
The researchers believe further study is important not only for infertility. Infertility often precedes degenerative diseases such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and congestive heart failure, and nutritional therapies that treat infertility may also alleviate these problems.


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Empowering deserving military families with educational support and opportunities.
Taking a buddy out for a round tomorrow for his birthday, anyone else swinging the sticks this weekend?
I've heard its National Golf Liberation Day... therefore I must play right? :)
Of course I'm playing this weekend! Isn't everyone?
Got the City of Detroit Tournament this weekend. Lost in a playoff last year, hoping for a better result this year.
Playing an old Donald Ross course --- Rackham Golf Club...don't know if anyone has ever heard of it, but for a city course it's actually pretty nice.
Playing Friday, Sat. Sun, Mon. & Tues. It is nice to be retired.
I'm having trouble remembering a weekend that has passed and I haven't played.
Is not playing an option? I'm getting dangerously close to cold weather here in OH, so I can't miss a nice weekend!
I played last evening.... and of course I will be out on Sunday enjoying the start of fall in SW Michigan.
Playing in about 4 hours today, tomorrow I might get out but I have some college football to watch and Sunday I will get out in the morning. School really hinders golf though. Exams... who needs them?
I guess I practiced this morning at 6AM, so that still works.
Does not look like it. Football game comes on at noon tomorrow. So that will eat up about 3 hours. I know I will have something to do around the house either before or after.
OH NO Fairway, you're kidding us aren't you...you've got to figure out a way to get out and play...don't let us down -- lol
I've heard its National Golf Liberation Day... therefore I must play right? :)
of course, you aren't a communist!