text:
BERLIN – School systems across Maryland are expected to get a fiscal shot in the arm with Governor Martin O'Malley's announcement late last week of $720 million in federal stimulus package funding for public education in the state, but just how much trickles down to Worcester County remains uncertain.
Last Friday, O'Malley announced an investment of $720 million in funding for Maryland's public education system from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus package, approved last week by the U.S. Congress. Under the governor's plan for the federal stimulus funds, "every school district in Maryland will be made whole," but it remains to be seen if the injection of the federal funding stream will assist Worcester County Public Schools, whose leaders are currently scrambling to come up with an roughly $1.6 million in additional cuts in their proposed fiscal year 2010 budget.
Under the governor's plan, roughly $176 million of the additional federal funding will be directed at fully funding the Geographic Cost of Education Index (GCEI), a formula that provides extra funding to counties where the cost of living is higher. However, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jon Andes, Worcester County will not share in that windfall because it is not eligible for any funding under the GCEI formula to begin with.
Under a somewhat perverse formula, Worcester is considered one of the wealthiest counties in the state based on the value of real estate in the county. However, Worcester is not eligible for any GCEI funding because the cost of living in the county is relatively low compared to other jurisdictions. In a sense, Worcester is considered a wealthy county because of the concentration of high-end real estate in the resort areas, but is not considered to have a high cost of living necessary to be considered for GCEI funds.
To add insult to injury, nearly 34 percent of county students live in households at or below poverty level and are eligible for free and reduced meals. The state average is just over 31 percent. Because of the statistical anomalies, Worcester County schools are not eligible for much of the federal stimulus money directed at public education in Maryland announced by O'Malley last week, according to Andes.
"The governor's announcement last Friday provides no additional state money for Worcester County," he said this week. "Since we don't receive any GCEI funding, there will be no supplemental grant for Worcester County from the state. The governor's announcement last Friday will not change our situation in Worcester County."
However, the governor's plan to direct federal stimulus money at public education in Maryland includes several components beyond the GCEI formula and another formula that would provide funds for the non-public placement of students, a program in which Worcester does not participate. For example, O'Malley's plan includes provisions to restore cuts to state aid to the school systems proposed before the stimulus funding became available.
According to the governor, the plan includes the restoration of proposed reductions in supplemental grants to local school systems. The restoration of those funds will complement the nearly $400 million in direct aid that local school systems will receive from the federal government as a result of the approved stimulus package, a pool of money from which Worcester might benefit.
Much of the remaining $400 million will be directed at fully funding all of the elements of the Thornton education funding formula with a large percentage directed at Title I schools and programs related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), for which Worcester schools are eligible.
While Worcester will not be eligible for supplemental funding under the GCEI formula, Andes acknowledged the county will likely see some additional money from the trickle-down of federal stimulus money.
"We will receive some additional funding because the federal stimulus package money is targeted in two funding streams, special education, or IDEA, and Title I," he said. "At this point in time, were targeted to receive IDEA and Title I money, but we have no idea how much we will get, when we will get it, or even how we are able to spend it."
Andes also cautioned the anticipated federal funding is only expected to be made available for two years, which could complicate how it is expended because school officials would not want to enhance existing programs or create new ones if the funding stream is expected to dry up in two years. It's a similar situation the school system is dealing with now with state grants for programs drying up and the local funds not in place to continue them.
"The federal stimulus money is for two years only," he said. "Consequently, we have to be very careful in how we allocate those funds. They can't be allocated for just anything."
While some funding assistance is expected to reach Worcester, county school officials are not planning for it as they continue to struggle with their current budget.
"Right now, were waiting for some direction in terms of how much money we can expect and what the rules will be for spending it," said Andes.


text:
© 2007 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
Rockies getting good at celebrating
Improbable run to World Series culminates in sweep
By C.J. Moore / MLB.com
DENVER -- Rockies manager Clint Hurdle jogged off the field Monday night, admiring the "Go Rockies!" towels and brooms waving in the background when he spotted an old teammate out of the corner of his eye. Hurdle redirected his path to the clubhouse celebration of the Rockies first World Series berth, and gave his old teammate, Royals great George Brett, a hug. "Who'd a thunk it?" Hurdle shouted to Brett over the 50,213 screaming fans who remained in their seats nearly 30 minutes after Eric Byrnes grounded out to give the Rockies a 6-4 victory and series sweep that set off a Mile High celebration 15 years in the waiting. Who'd a thunk these Rockies -- who dropped two-out-of-three to Brett's old club in mid-May, who were 18-27 and in last place May 21 and who sat 4 1/2 games back in the National League Wild Card after their third straight loss Sept. 15 -- would win an unthinkable 21 out of 22 and sweep and streak their way to the World Series? Well, Hurdle maybe. "Clint and I have been together all the way back to his first managerial job in 1988 and coming here five years ago, we weren't very good and they said we would struggle. And he said, 'Just stay aboard. Just stay aboard. It's going to get better. It's fixing to get better,'" Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca said as he stood away from the champagne spraying with his arm around his wife, Deborah, with tears in his eyes. "He said we're going to be something to be reckoned with this year, and he's a man of his word and that's why I'm here. And darn it if he wasn't prophetic. He's a man of his word." And now the Rockies are a team of destiny -- at least it seems that way. This is fairy-tale, you-can't-make-it-up-any-better stuff. Take Hurdle, who made it to his first World Series in 1980 with the Royals as a 23-year-old, what he thought was the first of many more to come. It took 27 years, but he's finally going back after five straight losing seasons as the Rockies manager. Take first baseman Todd Helton, who put up Hall of Fame numbers for 10 seasons that went relatively unnoticed beyond Colorado. This season, his 11th, as he reached milestone after milestone, he finally has reached where he wanted to go all along. "I don't have too many other skills," Helton said. "So I'm very grateful of them for letting me play in this league. I don't deserve any of this." Take Rockies 37-year-old reliever Matt Herges, who didn't even know if he'd pitch in the Major Leagues this season. Nobody wanted him after he struggled last season with the Marlins. But the Rockies gave Herges a Minor League contract, and in the NLCS he threw five shutout innings, including two in Monday night's series clincher.
Home | News | Multimedia | Photos
"Just to think I was sitting by a heater in the Colorado Springs bullpen freezing four months ago," Herges said. "And now, I'm going to the World Series."Go up and down the roster. The stories are all there. But the Rockies weren't about telling stories Monday night. They were about celebrating. After a trophy presentation on the field and lots of hugs and high-fives, they headed to the clubhouse, where 1,200 cans of Coors Light and 60 bottles of Domaine St. Michelle champagne awaited them, their third such celebration in 15 days. "They're getting better," Game 3 starter Josh Fogg said as outfielder Cory Sullivan poured a Coors Light over his head. "My eyes are starting to hurt more, but the further you go, the more fun you have." No one has had more fun than the Rockies, who through all the winning have barely had a chance to catch their breath. "I have a sad feeling I'm going to wake up tomorrow and this has gone so fast, I'm not going to remember enough," right fielder Brad Hawpe said. "This kind of situation you don't want to forget anything that's happening, and you want to soak it all in." The Rockies now have eight days to soak it all in before their fairy-tale run continues in the World Series. Who'd a thunk it?
C.J. Moore is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In advance of its Military Appreciation Night on May 24, the Crew joined forces with Operation Buckeye to help prepare care packages that will be sent to servicemen and women overseas. Defender Michael Parkhurst, Goalkeeper Brad Stuver and members of the Crew front office spent Monday afternoon filling boxes with food, toiletries and letters of encouragement to help brighten soldiers' spirits while they serve the United States Military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
To date, Operation Buckeye has sent over 21,000 boxes to troops stationed overseas. For more information, visit OperationBuckeye.org.


text:
He was born Aug. 1, 1997, in Russellville to Michael Travis and Summer Nyle Proctor Laymon. He loved building with his Legos and making things with his hands. He enjoyed reading and spending time in the outdoors, camping and swimming with his family. He was an eighth grade student at Dover Middle School.
He was preceded in death by his paternal great-grandparents, John Smith and Strawberry and Dorothy Laymon and his maternal great-grandparents, Luther Proctor and Inez Troutman.
Survivors include his parents, Travis and Summer Laymon of Dover; a brother, Austin Wayne Laymon of Dover; a sister, Carrie Alura Laymon of Dover; his paternal grandparents, Jack Laymon of Dover and Diane Smith of Lindsay, Calif.; his maternal grandparents, Dalas Proctor of Dover and Jean and Bob Fraser of Dardanelle; his paternal great-grandmother, Marie Felkins of Lexus; numerous uncles, aunts and cousins; and other relatives and friends.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, April 20, 2012, at First Baptist Church of Dover with Mr. Micah Williams officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery north of Dover under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Active pallbearers will be Zach Standridge, Austin Laymon, John Laymon, Marty Standridge, Shannon Laymon and Justin Banks. Honorary pallbearers will be Rodney Laymon, Bob Fraser, Jack Laymon, Clayton Laymon, Matthew Laymon and Jeff Ashcraft.
Memorials may be made to the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 3016 E. 16th St., Russellville, AR 72802.
The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnfuneral.com.
Paid obituary


text:
Something uncomfortable usually happens at my church. Somewhere in the day, I will be praying a third time for an injury to be healed and wait as they check to see if the pain is gone; or be perplexed by a testimony that is almost too good to be true; or be left in a somewhat confused conversation with God about what I have seen or heard—and I am one of the leaders.
Being in a healing/revival environment can be uncomfortable for pastors. We tend to operate in our strengths of bringing comfort and care, order and answers, and connection and protection. Uncomfortable stuff makes people feel, well, uncomfortable; so we usually try to keep it at a minimum.
But if—and when—the community catches the kingdom mentality that anything is possible with God and sets its collective heart on worldwide transformation and the healing goodness of the heavenly Father, we're all regularly drawn into experiences for which we have no grid and, perhaps, even little inclination.
We celebrate testimonies of people being raised from the dead. We love to read them in the Bible. I ministered to the family of one of our people who had died in an accident. I have experienced grieving with families, helping them with a memorial and inviting God's grace to move them forward.
What I had not experienced before was the family and church's intention to faithfully pray for his resurrection. The leadership had been talking about raising the dead and now the people wanted to do it and were looking for the go-ahead. I authentically prayed with them while talking to the Lord, "God I have faith for this. I can see it happening. It would be awesome! But I don't know how to handle this. When and how do I move the family toward a service since there has been no miracle yet?"
As I preached the memorial, people were standing at the coffin praying for him, and we invited those attending to pray as well. No miracle. So we ministered to the family and community who grieved the loss and the lack of a miracle they truly believed would come. I was privileged to walk with mireacle-believing believers come what may, but it was not comfortable.
Around here we have a phrase "pastoring wildfire," and by that we mean we won't have expectant, advancing Christians unless people are empowered to humbly listen to God and take risks. It is wild, passionate faith that steps beyond reason and leads to places way outside "my box."
Healing the sick, casting out demons, prophesying, creating justice and even loving the unlovely is risky business. People will attempt some very great and some very "not so great" things in the name of God if you tell them they can. Sometimes you don't know which is which until it is over, so it makes no sense to try to control it from the beginning.
In some awkward situations, the Lord checks me, and where I used to charge right in to manage things so everybody else would feel safe, I now wait. Lord, I hope you know what You're doing, I think. Other times, I can sense I need to intercept it right away, which leads to uncomfortable conversations:
"Hey there! Great faith, bad plan. You're not in trouble. How can we do it differently?"
"Hi. Love the risk-taking, but please don't do that here. It might be God, but it is too far outside my box at this point. Thanks."
"Yes, we want you empowered, but that was too much power too soon, and not very humble; that's why we are talking. It's OK. These sorts of talks are normal."
One of the blessings of this environment is that we are a team, and we share the load with the whole congregation. We all attempt to live the supernatural life together in all its spectacular successes and awkward failures. We are amazed together and perplexed together. And we laugh together. A lot. Especially when it gets uncomfortable.
Dann Farrelly has been a part of the senior leadership team at Bethel Church in Redding, Calif., for the past 20 years. He also serves as the dean of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry.
Improve your life and ministry by learning something new. Our Ministry Leadership Bundle includes 3 Books: Amplified Leadership, Breaking Intimidation and The Power of Humility. View Offer!
Get our BEST DEAL on Ministry Today magazine. Get a full year for only $12! Yes-I want this deal.


text: I just bought a Western Digital My Book World 2TB HD, which is a network drive. It connects fine when I disable Zone Alarm (ZoneAlarm version:9.2.044.000) on my Windows XP Sp3 Machine, but it disconnects and can't be accessed and can't be mapped when Zone Alarm is activated. This is true if the drive is connected to the route or directly to the computer's ethernet port. WD support said to try to add an exception then contact Zone Alarm, so I am posting here because I entered the IP address in the trusted zone and still could not connect. Thanks for your help.


text:
Support Group Has
Faith In Process
Fully Involved S.T.A.F.F. (Standing Tall Around Firefighters) would like to take this opportunity to thank The Dispatch newspaper for your article, "OC Fire Department Embroiled In Turmoil."
After many years of ongoing issues within the Ocean City Fire Department including the witnessing of deteriorating morale, strong arm management, fear of retaliation, negative attacks in the press and other items reported in the story, we decided to form a group in support of the Fire/EMS Division. The press found our concerns credible and newsworthy as part of an ongoing investigation by this newspaper dating back to November 2012. We knew that this decision would come with quite a bit of comments both good and bad. We welcome any and all comments including those online from a responsible, knowledgeable and mature public.
We want to make it fully clear that we do not take these issues lightly. These incidents/complaints reported are very real, very serious and deserve prompt attention. We realize that much of the public had no idea of the situation within this department and this would certainly warrant some skeptics. However, as the story reports, the City Manager has heard the concerns and stresses of so many of the Fire/EMS Division personnel that he has now organized meetings with the members, without the presence of the Command Staff, to learn more about the issues.
These issues never had anything to do with contract negotiations between the union and the Town of Ocean City. We are not privy to contract information and we do not speak for everyone, but as a whole the Fire/EMS Division is quite satisfied with the relationship between the Mayor and Council, City Manager, volunteers and the union.
We put faith in the process that is taking place. It remains our hope that all issues at hand will be addressed and resolved. We remain committed to our mission as stated in the initial article and look forward to a positive outcome.
Fully Involved S.T.A.F.F.
MDE Clears Air
Recent news coverage of the consent order agreed to by the Worcester County Commissioners to resolve pollution violations at the Mystic Harbour wastewater and drinking water treatment plants ("Commissioner Alleges MDE's $25K Fine 'A Money Grab,'" The Dispatch, March 1) might have left readers confused about the manner in which Maryland enforces the laws that protect public health and the environment.
As required by their discharge permit, which is designed to prevent water pollution, Worcester County reported that discharges from its facilities exceeded its permit limits for various pollutants. The agreement reached between the County Commissioners and the Maryland Department of the Environment is similar to others between the Department and permit holders that own and operate facilities that violate the laws that protect our groundwater and waterways. The agreement requires upgrades that will ensure the County's facilities meet discharge limits in their permits at all times. It includes interim performance standards for the construction and start-up periods, and it sets a time frame for the upgrade to be complete to bring the facilities into compliance with the permit. The agreement also provides for financial penalties – with amounts agreed to by the Commissioners – if the upgrade schedules are not met. The work by the County required in this agreement will ensure that water quality and public health is protected.
State law also provides for financial penalties in cases where permit violations have occurred to deter future violations and remove any economic benefit from failing to comply with environmental laws. In this case, the State initially sought a penalty of $50,000 – and not $75,000, as has been reported – and later reached agreement with the County on a $25,000 penalty. Without penalties, violators would not have an incentive to maintain their treatment systems to prevent pollution if they can simply wait until an inspector discovers the violation before taking action to fix the problem.
The Maryland Department of the Environment is committed to an effective and fair enforcement program that ensures violations are corrected quickly and that everyone takes their environmental responsibilities seriously. The work done by the majority of Maryland citizens and businesses that comply with environmental laws cannot be negated by violations by the few that do not. A strong enforcement program protects the environment, health and quality of life of all Maryland residents.
Robert M. Summers, Ph.D.
(The writer is the Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment.)
Bars Should Post
Safety Messages
Editor: I am requesting on behalf of the greater good of this our fine city, Ocean City, Md., that a proposal, plan and required posting of bylaws governing responsible consumption of alcohol be presented to, for and by the Mayor and City Council to and for all bars and restaurants to post such bylaws for the benefit of all patrons, businesses and the overall prosperity of all who visit and live here in Ocean City.
A posting that the city is supporting and requiring the bars and restaurants to require all patrons to post and to abide by such basic behavioral bylaws, which will assist in providing such the good experience for all its customers. The bylaws will also help each establishment to avert very possible, probable and potential hazards of adding people and alcohol together. Ethyl ain't no lady.
This is a present reality that the Mayor and City Council must and should spearhead in order to promote a safe and clean environment. Please help Ocean City move toward a safe family and vacationing place to live.
Al "Pop" Wendling
Ocean City
Obama's Scare Tactics
Now that we have survived the first week of Frankenquestser, those who pay attention know that the President and his abettors, including the cabinet secretaries, have been grossly exaggerating, if not outright lying about, the effects of the President's sequester tactic. Keep in mind here that we are not talking actual cuts here, but decreases in future spending increases.
Included in the liars are the Secretary of Education claiming teachers were already receiving pink slips; Secretary of Transportation warning layoffs of air traffic controllers; the President's claim that Capitol janitorial staff would be laid off; and, worst of off, Secretary of Homeland Security actually authorizing the release from detention of thousands of illegal immigrants.
To add insult to injury, the President cancelled White House tours. Whose House is it, Mr. President?
That said, the citizens of the First Congressional District of Maryland are blessed to have Dr. Andy Harris as our Congressman. In a hearing on Capitol Hill last week, Dr. Harris questioned the Director of the Centers for Disease Control regarding its memo which claimed that "Republican" sequester cuts would deny vaccinations to children, including 2,000 Md. children. Can you believe that the Director did not know who in his department was responsible for the memo? Dr. Harris pointed out that the President's proposed 2013 budget called for a cut of $58M to the subject vaccination program, double the sequester decrease. The Director claimed that the CDC could have maintained the level of vaccinations with a $58M cut, but would somehow not be able to do so with a cut of half that size.
Apparently, these high-level Federal employees must believe they swore an oath to protect and defend the President, rather than the Constitution of the United States of America.
Gwen L. Cordner
Finnegan's Wake A Success
On behalf of the members of the Friends of WCDC, I would like to thank all those who played a part in the success of our first Finnegan's Wake last Saturday.
D.J. Shirk at Seacrets was a joy to work with. He gave us the benefit of his experience but allowed us a lot of freedom to do what we wanted to do to put on our show. Rico and his crew were very helpful to us unloading and setting up and even figuring out last minute fixes for our sets. The wait staff and bartenders were friendly and efficient. Thanks, too, to Bulldog who got us on his show to promote the event. The Seacrets organization made the planning and execution so easy.
Patrick McAllorum, our featured entertainer, filled Morley Hall with singing and laughter. His good-natured humor and smooth vocals delighted the audience. He is a consummate performer who really loves what he does. We were so fortunate to have his talents for our wake. He even donated half of the money he made selling his CD's back to the Friends. Patrick is a pot o' gold himself.
Another Patrick, Patrick Harmon, brought the Ocean City Pipes and Drums to the celebration. They were incredible. They led the funeral procession from outside the building to the inside and paraded around the inside to start the evening. You usually don't hear too many songs from a pipe band, but this group performed an extended set later in the evening that gave the audience goose bumps. They were powerful and moving.
It's not many people who will volunteer to be a corpse, but Jack Ferry, Sr., Lee Gerachis and Cecil Tull gladly laid in state for this benefit. They are really good sports.
Thank you to the DelmarvaLife TV show and to all the local press for supporting us and helping us get the word out not only about Finnegan's Wake but more importantly about WCDC and the support it provides people who live with an intellectual disability.
We had a very large turnout, so thank you to the community for coming out to see our show and support our cause. A special thanks to the members of Friends of WCDC who put a lot of time and energy in to the planning and execution. Special kudos to Bill Davis who constructed a beautiful coffin and John Rafter who built a stand to hold it.
Lastly, I want to thank all our families and friends who supported the night. People travelled from far distances and jumped in with both feet to become a part of the festivities. The Gallagher family was a mighty throng who brought a lot of life to the party. The Joy family, the Bengermino's, Doberlstein's and Ferry's were also instrumental in making the night a rousing success. Look for us next year the week before St. Patrick's Day.
Cathy Gallagher
(The writer is the president of the Friends of WCDC.)
Pet Horses Or Eat Them?
Last week, food safety officials in United Kingdom, France, and Sweden found traces of horse meat in ground beef sold across Europe. Massive recalls and lawsuits are ensuing.
Can it happen here? Horse slaughter for human consumption was banned in the U.S. between 2007 and 2011. But now, a New Mexico slaughterhouse is getting approved by U.S. authorities to slaughter horses for human consumption, and a Philadelphia restaurant has already announced plans to serve horse meat.
I marvel at our hypocrisy of rejecting the notion of horse or dog meat on our dinner plates, while condemning cows, pigs, and chickens to the same fate. Obviously, we have established special relationships with horses and dogs as our companions, protectors, and sports protagonists, rather than as food. But where is the ethical and logical distinction, given that all these animals are endowed by individuality, sentience, and an ability to experience the same feelings of joy, affection, sadness, and fear that we do?
Fortunately, our health food industry has spared us from having to choose which animals to pet and which ones to eat. Their delicious soy and grain-based meat alternatives are available in every supermarket.
Owen Mast
Ocean City


text:
Ventura promotes freedom, communication
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
"I don't want these guys to play tight," Ventura said. "I want them to play hard enough that they can feel free to make a mistake and it sounds odd to be able to say that. But to play well, you have to have the freedom to also make a mistake."
There also needs to be a true open line of communication. Veteran hurler Jake Peavy appreciates that aspect of Ventura and his staff in regard to pitchers admitting when they might need a little break.
"As long as you trust the people you're speaking with, that you can tell them the truth and you can talk through things, you can certainly do that," Peavy said. "If you leave it up to the player, a lot of times the player is going to push through stuff that maybe you shouldn't push through. But if you had a player who didn't do that, you'd also question that player's makeup.
"So there's not a whole lot of winning there. I was in that boat the last few years. If you're out there and you do OK, you're tough and you're a gamer. But if you get hurt while you're out there doing that, you should have been smart and said something about it. If you're out there hurt and just not doing well, you shouldn't be out there.
"It's a tough spot to be in," Peavy said. "At the same time, the White Sox are in such a good position with the coaching staff to the front office to us players. There's an open line, and all of us can be an open book and talk through things. You watch the way John Danks was handled, you watch the way [Jose] Quintana and Sale have been handled, and myself. It has been nice to see because that certainly hasn't been the case at times, probably in most organizations."
Five-man rotation sends Humber to 'pen
CHICAGO -- With the White Sox returning to a five-man rotation, Philip Humber will be pitching out of the bullpen for the foreseeable future.
But don't try to tell the right-hander that this move is some kind of demotion.
"That's disrespectful to the guys who are in the bullpen to say, 'I'm good enough to start,'" said Humber. "Well, I'm hoping I'm good enough to be in the bullpen. That's the attitude I take as far as whatever role I'm given, whenever they give me the ball, I'm going to do the best I can with it.
"Like I told [White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper] the other day, 'If this is something that you guys think is best for the team, then I want to do it because I think our team is really good.' Every day I see something else that's, 'Man, that's another sign of a really good team.' I want to be a part of it in any way that they allow me to be because I think we're going a long way this year."
In order to give first-year starter Chris Sale and rookie Jose Quintana extended rest between starts, the White Sox briefly employed a six-man rotation after acquiring Francisco Liriano from the Twins on July 28. Sale worked Monday with nine days between starts, while Quintana will have eight days when he takes the mound on Wednesday.
Those long rest periods might become a thing of the past as the White Sox go to the whip over the season's final two months. Humber will be able to spot start, while Hector Santiago also is being stretched out at Triple-A Charlotte, getting his second start at Indianapolis on Wednesday.
"Listen, every role is important. There are no [garbage] innings," Cooper said. "We want them all filled with as much quality as we can get. We're lucky to have six starters. We're lucky to put one of those guys in the bullpen right now because we got a guy who can give us innings and it's going to take a bit of the load off somebody."
Playing close games, with the last seven contests decided by no more than two runs, have put more wear and tear on the bullpen than going with one less reliever in the six-man setup. Humber, who threw a perfect game on April 21 in Seattle but has allowed 59 earned runs in his last 73 2/3 innings pitched, will provide bullpen assistance.
"With having Phil down in the bullpen, you do have flexibility that if you need to he can start any time in case that you need a Major League arm," manager Robin Ventura said. "He's the best guy for it. It helps us a lot in the flexibility."
"Mentally, there have been some things I've come along out of the ordinary, and the results I've gotten on the field at times have been very frustrating to me," Humber said. "But nobody cares more than I do and wants to succeed when I go out there. I put as much effort as I possibly can to be good at what I'm doing."
Peavy not alone in Comeback category
CHICAGO -- Jake Peavy didn't really know how to respond Monday when he was mentioned along with teammates Adam Dunn and Alex Rios as top candidates for Comeback Player of the Year. But Tuesday's starter for the White Sox knows what consideration for such an honor means about your most recent performance.
"I don't think anybody wants to be in that category because if you're in the category of Comeback Player of the Year, you obviously had a major injury or had a disappointing year," Peavy said. "I know me, Alex and Adam have talked about that and it's an honor when you're being talked about to win the award."
Peavy takes a 9-7 record and 3.04 ERA into Tuesday's contest with the Royals, and admits that these three White Sox veterans had to pick things up for the South Siders to have a playoff chance in 2012.
"Hopefully, I was healthy enough to be able to do what I can do and Adam was going to have to have a year like he's had for 10 of his 11 years and Alex was going to have to do the same," Peavy said. "And we all just kind of took it upon ourselves. We've been a great supportive unit for each other. Whichever way that shakes out as far as the award goes, I can promise you this: None of us are worried about that award."
Third to first
Center fielder and leadoff hitter Alejandro De Aza was scratched from Monday's starting lineup with tightness in his back. Jordan Danks replaced De Aza, who was 12-for-27 over his last six games and had 99 starts this season.
Francisco Liriano has a bruise above his right knee after being struck by Maicer Izturis' fifth-inning grounder during Sunday's 4-2 victory over the Angels. But manager Robin Ventura said the left-hander is fine to make his start on Saturday.
Major League Baseball announced Monday that Joe Torre, executive vice president for baseball operations, denied the formal protest filed by the Angels over Friday's game at U.S. Cellular Field. The play in question was Paul Konerko's first-inning grounder to third baseman Alberto Callaspo with the bases loaded and nobody out, which turned into a force out at the plate.
Catcher Chris Iannetta's ensuing throw to first pulled Albert Pujols off the bag to keep the bases loaded with one out. Angels manager Mike Scioscia argued that Konerko ran inside the baseline during his last 45 feet to first and should have been ruled out for interference. The White Sox are 25-17 against the American League Central, 51-14 when scoring four runs or more and 52-25 when hitting at least one home run. White Sox pitchers have limited opponents to a .151 average with runners in scoring position over their last 12 games. Relievers have a 1.15 ERA over the last 14 games. Paul Konerko is tied with Darrell Evans for 46th place on the all-time list with 414 home runs.
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
|Around Africa June 2008
|Article 19
|Publication Date
|4 July 2008
|Cameroon | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Kenya | Nigeria | Sudan | Senegal | Somalia | Zimbabwe
|Arbitrary arrest and detention | Elections | Extrajudicial executions | Freedom of expression | Rule of law / Due process / Procedural fairness
|Cite as
|Article 19, Around Africa June 2008, 4 July 2008, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/487782612.html [accessed 18 January 2018]
|This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.


text:
The Back Space Theatre
(1120 Main Ave., 259-7940)
Wild Horse, Wild Ride. (No Ebert rating.) A documentary on the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge: 100 people are tasked with adopting and taming a wild horse thats never been touched by human hands.
Gaslight Cinema
(102 Fifth St. Next to the railroad depot, 247-8133)
The Master. HH½ Set in the years after World War II, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays an L. Ron Hubbard-like character and Joaquin Phoenix is an alcoholic who becomes his ardent follower. Rated R.
To Rome with Love. HHH Woody Allens latest has high-profile Americans mixing with Europeans and provincials in the Eternal City. Rated R.
For a Good Time Call. HH A movie about two college grads who go into the phone-sex business. I cant say it any better than Mr. Ebert: Im not objecting to the movie on grounds of taste but because it is stupid, vulgar, crass and mercilessly formulaic. On second thought, maybe I am objecting on grounds of taste. Rated R.
Durango Stadium 9
(Next to Durango Mall, 247-9799)
Neil Young Journeys. HHH (Wednesday only) Mostly concert footage from a show in Youngs home town of Toronto, but he also spends some time revisiting his old stomping grounds. Rated PG.
Taken 2. HHH Liam Neeson returns as a retired spy who must rescue himself from kidnappers this time around. (See review this page.) Rated PG-13.
Frankenweenie. HHH (In standard format and digital 3-D with surcharge.) Tim Burton morphs Frankenstein and Pet Sematary in this animated feature about a boy trying to reanimate his beloved dog. Rated PG.
Pitch Perfect. HH An all-girl college singing group takes on their rival male counterparts in yet another formulaic and predictable romp. Rated PG-13.
Hotel Transylvania. (No Ebert rating; in standard format and digital 3-D with surcharge.) An animated movie with Adam Sandler voicing Dracula as the owner of a high-end resort. Ive heard worse premises, unfortunately. Rated PG.
Looper. HHH½ In the year 2074, when the mob wants to put a hit on someone they do it right, sending a hitman back 30 years in the past to kill em at the root, so to speak. Rated PG-13.
Wont Back Down. HH Two mothers work tirelessly to reform their kids failing inner-city school. Rated PG.
End of Watch. HHHH Two cops are added to a Mexican cartels hit list after a routine traffic stop. Rated R.
The House at the End of the Street. (No Ebert rating) Heres my guess, sight unseen: Something bad happened in the house and may again. Rated PG-13.
Trouble with the Curve. HHH Clint Eastwood is an aging baseball scout and Amy Adams is his daughter who does what she can to help him stay in the biz. Rated PG-13.
Ted holteen and roger ebert


text:
The conference finals are set after a wild conclusion to the semifinals. This is again a two-leg series, with the higher seed hosting the second match. The first matches are both this Sunday. Houston hosts DC United at 3 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Network. LA Galaxy hosts Seattle at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Here are the FCDallas.com staff picks and a chance for you to vote on who will win each Leg One match:
Scott Brown: HOU 2, DC 1; LA 2, SEA 2
Robert Casner: HOU 2, DC 1; LA 1, SEA 1
Mark Norris: HOU 1, DC 0; LA 2, SEA 1


text:
Sasha Grey: An Early Retirement
Earlier this year, adult film star, Sasha Grey announced her retirement from the porn biz on her Facebook page. Don't worry, the twenty-three year old actress isn't moving to Florida and spend her days at all-you-can-eat buffets and bingo parlors. We're still going to see a lot more of Sasha because she's going mainstream. After successful roles in TV's Entourage and big screen roles in The Girlfriend Experience and Smash Cut she's going to stick to gigs where she can keep her clothes on most of the time. Also, like most attractive women with a little bit of celebrity, Sasha is also exploring a music career. Even if she can't sing, all she has to do is put her face on the album cover to sell a million records.


text:
(David Becker/ Getty Images)
By Alisha Jackson
We're not sure what sparked Rihanna's latest Instagram post, but the Barbadian singer wants the world to know that her past failed relationships had nothing to do with her.
Related: Did Rihanna Get Inked for Drake?
Over the weekend, Rihanna took down all of her exes in one fell swoop when she posted 20 words, an "lol," and a trophy emoji to her Instagram account. "None of my exes are married or in happy relationships so it's safe to say that I wasn't da problem lol," Rihanna shared with her 44.8 million followers.
Check out RiRi's post below.


text:
Here at FC Dallas, we take social media very seriously, as you can see from our social media recaps! We hit a huge milestone yesterday becoming the 10th team in MLS to pass the 100,000 fan mark on Facebook!
In celebration, we've got a huge giveaway on our Facebook page that we want to make sure everyone knows about!
Get your tix now for FCD vs San Jose, Saturday, August 24 8:00PM
Simply LIKE us on Facebook and share this post to your Facebook wall to be entered!
We are giving away a once-in-a-lifetime special lunch for you and a friend with Hunt Sports Group VP Dan Hunt and FC Dallas Technical Director Fernando Clavijo as well as a field side table for four to our game on Saturday, August 24 against San Jose. In addition, you'll get an FC Dallas team signed ball! The winner will be announced at noon on Wednesday, August 14.
A sincere thanks to all our #DTID fans!


text:
No Hidden Fees - No Credit Card Surcharges - Low Shipping Rates
Images shown may not be an exact representation of the actual product.You may contact us if you have questions about the exact specifications of this item.
Machined from Billet Aircraft aluminum two up at a time, in our American made Fadal Machining center where we bore the holes to 30mm +.0014 / -0. When we machine the profiles of the ring we build in a .030 radius on all outside edges.
Next we machine a 45 degree bevel around the entire ring and clamp to match.
We clamp the pair on a 30mm mandrill with a 1/8 pin to locate the pair exactly together. Thread form the tap holes in the ring thread forming is 40% stronger than cut threads.
The rings are serial engraved before they are separated one ring and cap has a period in front of the number so the caps match exactly. .0040 and 0040
The cross bolt is made from Chrome Molly steel in our turning centers, roll threaded and heat treated in house and blued locally.
The ring nut is beveled on both ends, an inset washer is used to keep nut from scoring the finish on the clamp.
The threads are roll formed for strength, fit (class 2a) and finish. The clamp is machined from billet. Complete with radius and bevels and anodized to match Rings are tumbled in house.
Blasted for matte finish, anodized in eastern Pennsylvania in the good old USA. Available in 3 heights .850 inches high, .990 inches high, and 1.275" high. 1 Inch machined polymer inserts available.
Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. We offer a wide selection of firearms, including: handguns, shotguns, rifles, ammunition, rifle scopes and optics, as well as collectible machine guns and other NFA/Class 3 guns. Impact also services the needs of law enforcement and military with our wide variety of tactical weapons and accessories. Shop online through our 256-bit Secure Sockets Layer encrypted online gun store 24 hours a day!


text:
Odd Couples: The Most Bizarre, Unexpected And Flat-Out Gross Celebrity Chop Downs Of All Time
Most Random Celebrity Hook-Ups
Celebrities like to hook up with each other like cats and dogs. It's what they do. And while we imagine it being just good-looking stars and starlets giving each other the beeswax, there are plenty of awkward and sort of creepy chop downs to go around.
So let's look at some of the weirdest hook-ups of all time. Hide your eyes!
Lisa Raye and Al Sharpton – His old self was giving Diamond the goods? How in the hell did this happen?
Q-Tip and Nicole Kidman – When Nicole Kidman and Tom Hanks broke up, she wanted a replacement and Q-Tip of all people was there. Go figure.
Bill Maher and Superhead – This just didn't compute for us but apparently she was in love and he put it down. Or whatever. Ew. Let's move along.


text:
Ribbons Of HeartSong by Ribbons10 on Etsy.
I found pretty pretty jewelry on Etsy 🙂
100% Organic Beauty Products
Dream while you're living
a vegan recipe blog
Perth - Beauty and Lifestyle Blogger
Tales of whimsy, humor and courgettes
Music, Film and Life
''Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies'' -Proverbs 31:10 KJV
love poetry
Food, drinks, style, and humor
Creative Non-Fiction Short Stories. :) Travel, Oldsters, Love, and Compassion.
A Lifestyle Blog
Not a diet change, but a lifestyle change.
This Vegan Foodie's Getting Fit
ma vie de mère
Phabulous Phinds to Share with Phabulous Minds


text:
Tasting Notes: Gluten-Free Beer Shootout
A fair amount of people in this country drink gluten-free by necessity, and that's not even counting those who do it by choice. But when you tinker with malt, one of the four main ingredients in beer and the one that activates the autoimmune response in those with celiac disease, does the resulting product still taste like beer? And if so, how does it hold up against more traditional counterparts? To find out, we put ten gluten-free beers to a blind taste test.


text:
By contacting Jennings Motor group you confirm that you agree to the storing and processing of your personal data as described in our Privacy statement.
New EcoSport
Grand C-MAX
Kuga Vignale
Mondeo Vignale
S-MAX Vignale
Edge Vignale
Ceed SW
Pro Ceed
Optima SW
Leon Cupra
Leon ST
Transit Courier
Transit Connect
Tourneo Connect
Transit Custom
Tourneo Custom
Transit Van
Transit Chassis Cab
Transit Tipper
Transit Minibus
Ford Lease Deals
KIA Lease Deals
Mazda Lease Deals
Mitsubishi Lease Deals
SEAT Lease Deals
Commercial Lease Deals
Ford Motability
KIA Motability
Mazda Motability
Mitsubishi Motability
SEAT Motability
Launch gallery (14)
Play Video
See full vehicle specification
Like everything at Jennings our finance solutions are designed to be easy, stress free and tailored to meet your individual needs.
Create your own finance quote
View more about runnings costs
This car comes with a Free Ford direct warranty
All our used cars are Jennings Approved that means they are protected by one of our approved used vehicle warranty packages.
View more warranties and guarantees
Worry free motoring with Jennings Extended Warranties
Think ahead and SAVE MONEY with Jennings priority service plan's
discounted vehicle servicing for total PEACE OF MIND motoring
and protect your car against unexpected repair bills.
Find out how it can help with the cost of unexpected repairs
Back to this vehicles overview
** Terms & conditions apply, PCP rate only. Options (24 & 36 mths) 5.9% APR or 6.4% is available on Acquire (24 – 60 mths) 6.9% APR. Customer qualification is based on the Ford Direct warranty letter start date and FCE customer contract between 1st April and 30th of June 2017. Finance subject to acceptance vehicle subject to availability we reserve the right to withdraw any vehicle from sale at any time.
Our aim is to give you the lowest possible prices on all our cars while offering award winning customer service. We don't have expensive and costly showrooms in every town and City so we can pass on these savings to you. At Jennings we use distribution centres to make all our cars and vans available nationwide. However we understand some customers will wish to view and test drive a car before purchase and our fleet of 8 transporters can often make this possible.
Please contact us directly to discuss your needs.
"You have the best value and prices on the net. You saved me a fortune compared with my last dealer."
Miss K. Treacy, Woodford Green.
Supagard is the UK's market leader in professionally applied quality car
care products and is approved by most leading car manufacturers.
The whole idea behind paint sealant is to protect your vehicle's paintwork
from the harsh environment that surrounds it.
Our '100 Plus' advanced polymer sealant has been professionally applied to
vehicles throughout the UK for over 20 years. Using the most up to date
technology, it helps strengthen and protect modern day water and solvent
based paint finishes from the worst that the elements can do.
Supagard InteriorGard coats each fibre with a resin based formula which
won't wash out
This professionally applied product prevents spills of coffee, tea,
milk, soft drinks, juices, water and other similar liquids from permanently
staining your fabrics and carpets.
The dirt can be either vacuumed or wiped off with a gentle cleaning solution.
The invisible barrier helps reduce friction between the fibres
prolonging their life. This allows the Fabrics and Carpets to retain their
natural texture and appearance.
Supagard InteriorGard complies fully to COSSH and ISO 9001 regulations.
With hundreds of quality used cars in group stock at any one time, Jennings Motor Group is the smart choice when buying your next used car. As a family run business we have over 100 years of proud history offering superb customer service and quality cars at fantastic low prices.
Low price guarantee – We check our prices against other leading dealers to ensure that our prices are the lowest.
Used Car Warranty - All our cars come with a selection of warranties and guarantees. Extended warranties are also available at highly competitive prices, call 0333 414 9750 for further information.
Award winning customer service – As winner of the Ford Chairman's award 20 times in the last 21 years, Jennings Motor Group has beaten every other Ford franchise in the UK for customer service.
Flexible finance options – We offer a range of FCA approved flexible finance options that can be tailored to your individual requirements including hire purchase and PCP that provides a Guaranteed Future Value for your vehicle and credit rating protection – only a car dealer can offer this.
Free vehicle history check – Get added peace of mind knowing the past history of our cars. Before we sell any car they have been checked to ensure that they have never been stolen, written off/total insurance loss or scrapped. We also check the following:
Free used car valet – All used cars at Jennings Motor Group are fully valeted inside and out to ensure a new car feel every time.
Hundreds of Ford Direct Cars in group stock – Our like 'new' used car range backed by Ford Direct offers approved Ford cars with FREE 2 year unlimited mile warranty and 2 years roadside assistance.
We can buy your car even if you don't want ours – Contact our sales team on 0333 414 9750 to get a price for your car even if you don't want to buy a used car from Jennings Motor Group.
Comprehensive 7 day drive away Insurance - Found the car you want? Drive away today with our 7 day insurance that comes with every used car.
All used cars MOT tested – All used cars with 6 months or less valid MOT are tested free of charge.
All used cars are serviced – If the annual service falls within the next 6 months we will complete this free of charge.
Winners of the Ford Chairman's award for customer service 20 times in last 21 years
Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - Manufacturer approved Repairs and servicing:
Cars from Jennings Motor group are backed by a variety of warranty types for free along with additional upgrades and protections available.
A typical warranty for this type of vehicle is shown to the side.
Please contact our sales team on 0333 414 9750 for more information on the warranty for this vehicle.
Back to this vehicles overview
4.71 Average
1231 Reviews
P Rogers
The quality of a company is really judged when things go wrong, it's not the words they say but the actions they take to put things right that count.
As such I strongly recommend Jennings Commercial sales at Middlesbrough with a special thanks to the Sales Manager
Posted 15 hours ago
Very helpful in researching options
Posted 2 days ago
B Scott
James was helpful and professional I love my new car
Posted 3 days ago
Friendly, approachable and professional service.
Great service
Posted 4 days ago
T Edditts
Very good service, worth the effort travelling 50miles to got to ford direct.prices are very competitive and many have extras (sat nav,body styling etc)compared with usual ford dealers.good selection of cars and non pushy but well informed sales people,with unlimited coffee,nobiscuits though.
W Gowling
good service
C Martin
Supplied me with just the van I was looking for, gave me a good price for my old one and provided a professional service from start to finish.
M Ferrario
All was perfect
Posted 5 days ago
A Rowntree
I have never written a review but felt I needed to regarding my purchase of a Fiesta two weeks ago.
The customer service provided by Gethin Williams at the South Shields branch was excellent.
Went the extra mile - Thank you Gethin
C Mays
I purchased a set of alloys for my CX5 which would not fit as they were for the old model.
Jennings and Mazda UK arranged for the return of the wheels to stock via my local dealer and then refunded me the purchase price. Everyone involved was extremely helpful in sorting this out for me, thank you.
I would have no hesitation ordering future items from Jennings, very competitive prices too!
Posted 6 days ago
M Leadbitter
Great service, Can't fault the sales manger Chris!
B Mcvittie
Knowledgeable sales executive (Mark Taylor) provided fantastic advice and support in the car buying process making the experience very straight forward.
Posted 1 week ago
The process was quick
B Stobbs
Great service from Peter Nesbit. Everything went as dicussed. Cannot fault him or he company. 3rd car bought from here never had any problems.
D Gray
Love my new car
S Mansell
Fantastic service, hassle free test drive organised really quickly. Smooth transition when buying my new Kia. No pressure at all well at ease.
J Sotheran
A very warm welcome from Mark Taylor, nothing seemed to much trouble for him and I feel as if a got a fair deal.
R Clapton
I got the right car at the right price with a very fare trade in price, Great service from a friendly staff, Overall a good experience .
S Foster
we were well looked after by all the staff that we delt with
Excellent customer service from Gavin.
*Terms and conditions apply offer subject to availability finance subject to acceptance offer starts 26th January ends 28th January 2018 at all Jennings Branches used fiesta reduced by up to £1000, typical saving between £300 and £1000 depending on vehicle Part Exchange welcome and competitive finance available.
The Jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk Lowest Price Match gives you absolute peace of mind that you are getting the very best deal available. We price match against every franchised dealer within a 50 mile radius to ensure our cars are the most competitively priced.
To make a claim against our match simply enter the details in the form below and we will call you back with a more competitive offer :
Jennings Kia offers three free years' servicing at SUV event
Rugged Kia Picanto X-Line arrives at Jennings Kia
Kia Stinger named Best Performance Car 2018


text:
More than 80% of roughly 900 workers who voted turned down the proposal, local media report. Canada's Ministry of Labour supervised the vote, which took place Tuesday, Aug. 26. The strike began on July 14.
The move casts doubt on Bombardier's ability to maintain any scheduled delivery of several products, including Toronto Rocket subway cars (photo above), light rail vehicles, and streetcars to the Greater Toronto Area, and light rail vehicles to the Region of Waterloo (both in Ontario). Earlier this month Bombardier managed to deliver the first three of 420 Toronto Rocket subway cars to Canada's largest city, but labor leaders expressed confidence that few, if any, additional cars would be delivered subsequently.
"I think they were trying to drive fear into our workers," said Unifor local President Dominic Pasqualino. "But our workers stood up to that and I think they tried to intimidate them by saying that they would not get a better offer."
Pasqualino accused Bombardier of repeating a strategy it once tried to apply to its facility in La Pocatiere, Quebec. He also asserted that, by law, Bombardier is not automatically entitled to any more supervised votes.
For the company's part, Bombardier Vice President Aaron Rivers expressed disappointment, but said Bombardier would focus on getting the Thunder Bay plant work force back to work so that "Bombardier's customer contracts and commitments are met." He warned the company was ready to make "tough necessary decisions."


text:
Toggle: English / Spanish
Since the abdominal area contains many different organs it is divided in smaller areas. One division method, uses one median sagittal plane and one transverse plane that passes through the umbilicus at right angles. This method divides the abdomen into four quadrants. Medical personnel can easily refer to these quadrants when describing pain or injury regarding a victim.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch)
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2013 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.


text:
Early this spring, wheat made headlines when it jumped to $20 dollars a bushel, but no one had wheat to sell , because of a series of bad crops around the world.
The world's storage bins held less wheat than at any time in the past 60 years. So a lot of people have a keen interest in this year's wheat crop.
"Everybody is hoping it's a good crop and grain prices stabilize a little bit," says Rich Karnemaat.
Karnemaat, from Michigan, works for a grain milling company. He doesn't spend much time walking through wheat fields.
This week he's on his first wheat quality tour, getting a look at the hard red spring wheat crop.
"We sell to a lot of major food companies throughout the U.S.," he said. "They're very interested in the crop yields and where market prices trend, because it's going to be a major impact on their business."
Since Karnemaat is rookie on the wheat tour, he gets some pointers from veteran Kelly McMonigle who's on his ninth tour.
"You're going to count all of these," McMonigle said, pointing to an area of ground.
"Oh wow, ok, the whole yard, not just the foot," Karnemaat said, nodding as he understood the assignment.
There are four people on this team. They'll drive a designated route along roads in eastern North Dakota and stop in 12 fields randomly.
Each time, they'll take measurements at two spots. First a yard stick is laid along a row and the wheat plants are counted.
"And then you count the spikelets the number of spikelets per head," Karnemaat said.
Spikelets are kernals, so the average number of plants in three feet and the average number of kernels per plant are plugged into a formula that shows the expected yield from this field.
Nearly all of the hard red spring wheat in the country is grown in the upper Midwest. North Dakota accounts for nearly half.
McMonigle says over the years, the estimate has been very close to the actual harvest.
"We cover the whole state and into northern South Dakota and western Minnesota and Montana," he said. "With the number of stops we make, the the number of people on the trip, you get a pretty good idea of what's out there. "
Farmers planted less wheat than expected this year and that's evident on the tour. We drive past miles of corn before spotting the golden brown of a wheat field.
But there may be more wheat in the marketplace. That's because the U.S. crop is expected to be slightly better than last year and around the world there are reports of very good wheat harvests.
More supply means less demand for wheat, according to North Dakota Wheat Commission Marketing Director Jim Peterson.
Jim Peterson is marketing director for the North Dakota Wheat Commission. He says there will less demand for wheat this year.
"It's the India's or the China's, these big swing markets that can really influence world trade and this year it's looking those markets won't need as much wheat," he said. "Plus Europe and Russia which are export competitors, have a bigger crop. So it affects our prices in two ways."
Wheat prices are expected to stay higher than they were at harvest last year. Jim Peterson says he's not expecting record price spikes but there's still volatility in the wheat market.
It will take two or three good harvests to rebuild worldwide supplies. The world economy is also a factor. Some analysts say recession is good for wheat because people eat more bread and pasta.
Back on the wheat quality tour, Rich Karnemaat wades into another wheat field to count plants and kernels.
As he looks out over the waist high wheat, Karnemaat thinks about the connection between this wheat field and the flour his milling company makes.
"It ends up in things like cereal and snack bars and a lot of consumer items that consumers are going to notice increases or decreases based on crop quality," he said. "So it's a real important part of the process is what happens out in the field and how it's reflected in the marketplace."
The wheat quality tour ends on Thursday. The wheat harvest will start over the next two weeks.


text:
Thursday Poetry Reading by Prof. Joe Heithaus Previewed in Newspaper
February 22, 2012
"Hard work really does pay off, at least in the case of DePauw University professor and poetry writer Joe Heithaus, who was recently awarded the honor of his first published book Poison Sonnets," reports Greencastle's Banner-Graphic. The article previews Heithaus' Thursday reading at the Putnam County Public Library, describes how his book was published, and offers background on his work.
As an "Airpoet," Heithaus was invited to read at the Library of Congress, reports Lauren Boucher, and his work has been published in magazines such as Poetry and the American Poetry Journal. The professor won the prestigious 2007 Discovery/The Nation Prize for a group of ten "Poison Sonnets."
Boucher notes, "Heithaus' poems are featured all over Greencastle and Putnam County. They can be viewed on the sides of barns, at the Blue Door Café as well as the Putnam County Public Library. After years of taking baby steps, it just felt right to finally take the leap he was waiting for."
"I feel a great sense of responsibility to poetry in general to do a good job," Heithaus tells the newspaper. "The Greencastle, Putnam County and DePauw University community have always sort of believed in me. That's a pretty priceless thing."
Thursday's reading begins at 7 p.m.
Read more at the newspaper's website.
Poison Sonnets and Joseph Heithaus, University Professor and professor of English at DePauw University, were highlighted in this recent article.
Source: Greencastle Banner-GraphicBack


text:
Moving past Mitt
There is one thing that the Republican Party is really good at -- piling on.
Mitt Romney has gone from the party shaft bearer to being shafted in practically no time at all. The media recently jumped on the picture of a somber, slightly disheveled Mitt pumping gas for one of his cars as if it was the un-Rapture finally happening.
You have to admit that Mitt and his handlers brought this on themselves. He appeared each morning as if he had just been taken out of the grooved box where he was recharged every night. His hair was marcelled as if it had been petrified in the 1920s by Francois Marcell himself, his jeans were neat and his shirt seemed to have a built-in bodice. There was a smile on his face and seemingly a song in his heart as he told and retold cheering throngs that he was going to change our destinies, adding 12 million jobs, balancing the budget, reducing the deficit, keeping taxes low, saving Medicare and Social Security and just by changing a few rules, making it so uncomfortable for the Mezzicans that they would return to their homeland voluntarily.
The Democrats have laid off on Mitt since they walloped him in straight conflict, but the Republicans have taken up the blame game in full cry as they try to explain to themselves how they were so outfoxed and beaten so badly. There are no other explanations except that they were going at everything so wrong that they didn't see the edge of the cliff when they were right there standing on it.
Right now they still are able to participate in the game because the power of incumbency has given them weight in the House of Representatives, and they are able to keep protecting the inviolate 1 percent who are still willing to drop extra millions of dollars into their Velcro hands.
Romney had it tough right from the beginning because of the kooks he had to battle in the primaries. When you have to outdo Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Herman Cain all at the same time you have your work cut out for you. And when you're using your own pollsters rather than unbiased compilers, you lose a sense of needed reality. And when your mega-backers like Sheldon Adelson, Foster Friess and the indomitable Koch Brothers give you money, there are strictures that go with every dollar.
So by the time Romney made it through to the finals, all those goals of his benefactors were running through his head all the time. He went before the crowds and lied and lied and lied and either didn't know it or no longer cared. We were all listening to a talking doll.
The election loss probably hurt Anne Romney as much as anybody. This was something her lover wanted and for the first time she could be a helpmate rather than simply a candidate's adoring wife. Michelle Obama did not have all those business magnate's wife re strictions to complicate her cam paigning. Right from the start she knew what was needed and how she could contrib ute. In 2016, she's the only one who could give Hillary a fight.
So now we can settle down and see what the president will do with his sense of empowerment. His victory speech was inspirational, his handling of Hurricane Sandy a model for the ages and his position extraordinary. If the Repub licans had won, they would now be in the process of tearing things down. Obama's only goal now is to build things up.
I personally feel a sense of reassurance despite all the bombast from House Speaker Boehner, the dwindling chorus of the tea partiers and the hidden menace of Paul Ryan. Now is the time for all of us to help rather than hinder. The devil takes the hindmost.
Milton Bass is a regular Eagle
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


text:
HARRISON, N.J. – The current stoppage in MLS play for the international break means the New York Red Bulls have plenty of time to correct their, recently at least, numerous shortcomings.
Needless to say, that's something the players aren't exactly thrilled about.
With two weeks separating their home tilt on Oct. 20 against Sporting Kansas City from last Saturday's loss to the Chicago Fire, New York will have a lengthy pause in action to reflect on their recent performances and attempt to fix their inconsistent ways.
"I don't like it," Thierry Henry told reporters after the 2-0 loss to the Fire on Saturday. "I would love to have a game in three days to erase that, but obviously you cannot do that. But we're going to have to prepare ourselves well because Kansas City don't concede a lot of goals and they are the best team in the East."
Tim Cahill, Joel Lindpere and Roy Miller are the only three Red Bulls players away for international duty and head coach Hans Backe has given the rest of team the week off until Friday, when they will hold their first training session since the defeat to Chicago.
Having that many days to unwind might normally be welcomed with open arms, but New York are just champing at the bit to get back on the field and begin preparations for Sporting KC, a game that could have huge implications on the Red Bulls' postseason hopes.
Though 32 games, the club sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference on 53 points – one behind D.C. United, three ahead of Houston and four ahead of Columbus. Regardless of what their opponents do, a win against either Sporting or Philadelphia will seal their place in postseason.
But, for now, the Red Bulls must wait. And waiting, it's often said, is the hardest part.
"After a game like that you want to get back on the field right away, right your wrongs," said goalkeeper Luis Robles. "These guys got to go and make some long, international trips.
"Regardless of what happens ... we have to make sure that we take care of our business."
Franco Panizo covers the New York Red Bulls for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at email@example.com.


text:
Mathematics is not just an indispensable tool for science and business. It is a rich and beautiful field worthy of study for its own sake. A mathematics major will learn to think logically, gain an aesthetic appreciation for the subject and develop the skills to solve quantitative problems.
Graduates of our program include teachers, professors, lawyers, actuaries, business managers, computer scientists, architects, and financial advisors. Mathematics is a respected major that prepares students to enter any field where quantitative ability is valued.
Our mathematics program allows majors enough room in their schedules to either take a minor or possibly a second major in another subject. In recent years we have seen mathematics majors with second majors in biology, computer science, finance, music, economics, Spanish, psychology, and other subjects. The second major or minor is chosen based on an interest of the student, or with a particular career in mind.
Students who are planning to teach mathematics at the high school level enroll as mathematics/secondary education majors.These students take all the coursework of the mathematics majors, and additional courses from the education department. They also student-teach in a high school during their senior year.
Majors who are intending to enroll in a Ph.D. program in mathematics often take extra mathematics courses beyond what is required. A true hallmark of the program is the willingness of faculty to engage in independent study or research with students who want to study more advanced topics in preparation for graduate school. In recent years our majors have earned a Ph.D. at universities that include Notre Dame, Brown, Tufts, U.C. Santa Barbra, University of Massachusetts, and SUNY Stony Brook.
The College usually graduates between 20 and 30 mathematics majors each year. By the sophomore year, the classes for the major usually have between 15 to 20 students, and often less.
The computer science program at Providence College graduates students who have practiced solving problems--using the tools of algorithms to create solutions and using high-level programming languages to implement these solutions.
They have the knowledge of networks, databases, operating and numerical methods of solving problems, and the mathematics that underlies the field of computer science. They have the opportunity to develop mobile apps and to create internet programs. But the most important thing they have learned is to apply their problem-solving skills in new areas and using new languages.
Some Computer Science graduates have excelled in computer science graduate programs. Others have excelled in industries where they have used proprietary language as well as the languages they learned at Providence College. They often return to the College to speak to current students and they often volunteer to assist current students in their job search.
Welcome to the web pages of the mathematics and computer science department. Here you can find information about our courses and programs. You can also learn about department activities and the achievements of our students, alumni, and faculty.
Please feel free to contact me or any other member of the department if you would like more information.
Lynette J. Boos, ChairMathematics and Computer Science Department email@example.com
PC recently received its first major grant award from the Clare Boothe Luce Program at the Henry Luce Foundation. The award will support eight Clare Boothe Luce Undergraduate Scholarships in chemistry, applied physics, mathematics, or computer science for exceptional senior female students.


text:
Introduction to Corporate Giving
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 10:00 am
11:00 am
In-person | Atlanta, GA
Explore the world of corporate support and tools and resources on corporate giving.
Seeking to target companies that might fund your organization?
Finding it hard to get information?
Need to get beyond the Yellow Pages?
Join us for an introduction to the world of corporate support for nonprofits and funding research tools to help you identify corporate prospects. We'll answer such questions as:
- What are the motivations behind corporate giving?
- What is the difference between a direct corporate giving program and a company-sponsored foundation and how does it affect my approach to research?
- What are the different pathways to partnership with a company?
- How can I match my organization's needs with the interests of a corporation?
- How can I use the Foundation Center's resources to locate corporate funders?
We will include a case study illustrating a corporate-nonprofit partnership.
Prior attendance at Grantseeking Basics is strongly recommended.
Space is limited. Register online with the form below, in person, or by calling (404) 880-0095. Registrants requiring ASL signers or other disability-related services are asked to contact the Foundation Center at least two weeks in advance.
Please arrive on time or your seat may be given away to others who are waiting to attend. If you need further information, please call (404) 880-0095.


text:
All Black skipper McCaw set for 2013 break
All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw is set to sit out the first half of next year to give his body a rest and extend his longevity in the game.
McCaw's contract with the NZRU, which runs through to the 2015 World Cup, has a six-month sabbatical clause.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew says the union and McCaw's Super Rugby franchise, the Crusaders, have been in discussions with the loose forward over the past few weeks about exercising the option over the first part of 2013.
"We are still working through the detail of this, but we have already agreed that a decent break is in Richie's best interests," he said on Sunday.
Tew added that McCaw was unlikely to play any rugby until after the All Blacks' three-Test home series against France in June.
It was also possible that he would not be involved when the Super Rugby competition resumes after the June break, "but again we will be guided by what's best for him".
"Ultimately, we, and Richie, are keen to ensure we give him the best support to be able to continue performing at the highest level for as long as possible."
The 31-year-old McCaw is in Argentina for the All Blacks' upcoming Rugby Championship Test against the Pumas.
He is New Zealand's most capped player with 110 appearances in a 12-year Test career.
He made a late start to this season's Super Rugby competition after recovering from surgery for a troublesome foot injury that he played with during last year's World Cup.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen backs the move for McCaw to take up the sabbatical option.
"If we want to get him through to the next World Cup, then it would be a good idea if he uses it at some point," he told journalists in Auckland on Saturday.
Get the Morning Edition
Sign up for our daily wrap of the news you need to start your day.


text:
Writing is thinking made manifest. If students cannot think clearly, they will not write well. So in this respect, writing is tangible evidence of critical thinking—or the lack of it—and is a helpful indicator of how students construct knowledge out of information.
[WORKSHOP: Advanced Writing and Editing for the Corporate Communicator. Dates in 4 cities: Chicago, Washington, D.C., Toronto and Denver.]
When Galileo built his first good telescope, he discovered that the Milky Way was not a mush, but a collection of stars. We have tools that allow us to do the same thing, but we haven't yet made discoveries that are even remotely comparable to those of astronomy once telescopes were invented. But the hope is that these tools, by allowing us to see so much more, will also allow us to change our image of the culture.
Home | Social Media | Media Relations | Crisis | Marketing | Writing & Editing | Events | Training | Awards | Videos
Ragan.com | HealthCareCommunication.com | Ragan Consulting | RaganTraining.com | PR-University.com
About Us | Contributors | Contact Us | Host a PR Daily Event | Sponsorship | Custom Workshop | Custom Content
FAQ | RSS | Store | Privacy Policy | Site Map


text:
BAYAMÓN, Puerto Rico – The best XI stories from Wednesday's scoreless draw between the LA Galaxy and the Puerto Rico Islanders in CONCACAF Champions League play…
1. The CONCACAF website wrote the following recap on the Galaxy inching closer to qualification in the Quarterfinal stage with the scoreless draw.
2. CONCACAF's website also provided highlights of the scoreless draw.
3. The Associated Press providing this recap to Wednesday's match with thoughts from both head coaches.
4. I wrote the following sidebar to Wednesday's match focusing on the play of goalkeeper Brian Perk.
5. Meanwhile on MLSsoccer.com, Galaxy correspondent Scott French offered his own take on Perk.
6. For Spanish speakers, Gonzalo Aguirregomezcorta of ESPN Deportes LA provided a piece with his thoughts on the Galaxy's lineup selection.
7. Also for Spanish speakers, Puerto Rican tabloid newspaper Primera Hora offered this recap focusing on the Islanders being eliminated from the CCL.
8. The LA Galaxy Facebook page provided a few photos snapped of Wednesday's action.
9. On the LA Galaxy Insider Blog, Landon Donovan speaks about an Islanders side that he said played like they were in a World Cup final.
10. Also on the Insider blog, one of LA's finest players on the night, Rafael Garcia discusses the implication of the result.
11. Lastly, check out my Three Points to the match.


text:
House Speaker Davy Carter and Senate President Michael Lamoureux said the chambers will meet Monday through Saturday next week. Both chambers were off Friday for the Easter holiday.
Lamoureux said he didn't believe there was the two-thirds support the Legislature needs to extend the session beyond an April 19 deadline to recess. Lamoureux said he hoped the Legislature could wrap up work before that deadline.
Major issues lawmakers have yet to finalize include a package of tax cuts, a $125 million financing plan for a proposed steel mill and a proposal to expand health insurance to thousands of low-income residents.


text:
Gary Coleman Is a Chicken, Waffles
Coleman went on The Insider to answer questions about his alleged domestic abuse charges, and all he got were pesky questions about those charges! He can't take the heat, and storms off the set. Seriously, don't call him a waffler.
There should be a new law: If you can't take the heat and are dodging questions from the freaking Insider, then it's safe to assume you have no ground to stand on and are guilty of all charges. Whod've thunk that Gary Coleman could set the bar even lower. Zing!
The full segment airs tonight a 7 PM EST on CBS.


text:
Browser does not support script.
Subjects taught at LSE | Services and divisions (administration)
All research groups | Research subject areas
Date: Wednesday 20 October 2004
Time: 1.05pm
Venue: Old Theatre, Old Building
Speaker: Professor Lord Giddens
The Centre for Global Governance and Department of Sociology present five public lectures by Anthony Giddens, former Director of LSE and currently Emeritus Professor at the School. In the lectures, Anthony Giddens will analyse some of the major forces driving social change in the contemporary world, with an emphasis upon the policy responses that might be made to them. This first lecture will look at the topic of The Coming of the Global Age.
For details of the next lecture in this series please click here.
This event is free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first serve basis.
For further information email firstname.lastname@example.com or phone 020 7955 6043.
Transcript of The Future of World Society: the coming of the global age (pdf)
Use of this website is subject to, and implies acceptance of, its Terms of use (including Copyright and intellectual property, Privacy and data protection and Accessibility). The London School of Economics and Political Science is a School of the University of London. It is a charity and is incorporated in England as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Acts (Reg no. 70527).The registered office address of the School is: The London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, UK; Tel: +44 (0)20 7405 7686


text: Snag a NCAA Top of the World snapback from lids.com & rep this iconic headwear style! Lids has a ton of snapbacks including vintage snapbacks, cool snapback hats & custom snapbacks as well as the hottest in style fashion Top of the World snapbacks. Or, visit a Lids store for custom snapbacks. Grab a snap back today!


text:
Wireless Downloading Now Available with Digital Ally's In-Car Video System
Software Option Provides Hands-Free Method of Downloading Video Files
LEAWOOD, KS—Digital Ally, Inc. (OTCBB: DGLY), which develops, manufactures and markets advanced video surveillance products for law enforcement, homeland security and commercial security applications, today announced that a wireless software file transfer option is now available for the Company's DVM-500 Digital In-Car Video System Integrated into a Rearview Mirror. The wireless feature can be installed in new units at the factory and/or retrofitted for existing DVM-500 systems already being used by law enforcement agencies.
The wireless software option allows law enforcement officers that have computers in their vehicles to easily and inexpensively download video files to police headquarters or other remote locations. The video files can be transferred automatically upon successful connection to a wireless network. If the connection to the network is lost or the file transfer is interrupted, the files will be saved and the software will resume the transfer when the network connection is re-established. After the file transfer is completed and verified, the files will be automatically removed from the compact flash card in the DVM-500 and automatically uploaded into Digital Ally's Video Manager Software.
"This exciting new option will allow us to capture a segment of the market unavailable to the Company in the past," stated Stanton E. Ross, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Ally, Inc."The ability for law enforcement personnel to access, analyze and respond to digital video evidence can make the difference between successand failure in the prosecution of criminal activity. Many police/sheriff departments and other law enforcement agencies that currently have access to wireless networks, or will be establishing such networks soon, have indicated a desire for in-car video systems with wireless download capabilities."
"This new feature allows the DVM-500 In-Car Video System to automatically download all recorded files once the vehicle enters a wireless 'hotspot' area," added Ross. "This option is available to all current customers and to new customers. Our DVM-500, which occupies minimal space in a police cruiser by incorporating the entire system into a rearview mirror, has proven extremely popular with law enforcement agencies. Our goal is to address as many law enforcement needs as possible with the DVM-500, and a wireless download feature is the option most frequently requested by our customers."
For more information on the wireless download option, contact Digital Ally, Inc. at (800) 440-4947 or via email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
About Digital Ally, Inc.
Digital Ally, Inc. is involved in the development, manufacturing and marketing of advanced technology products for law enforcement, homeland security and commercial security applications. The Company's primary development focus involves the field of Digital Video Imaging and Storage. For additional information visit www.digitalallyinc.com.
The Company is headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, and its shares are traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "DGLY".
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, and are subject to various business risks and known and unknown uncertainties, a number of which are beyond the control of management. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. A wide variety of factors that may cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to implement its business plan; its ability to have all of its product offerings perform as planned or advertised; whether there will be a commercial market for one or more of its products; its ability to commercialize its products and production processes, increase revenues significantly and achieve profitability; whether the Company will be able to adapt its technology to new and different uses, including being able to introduce new products; competition from larger, more established companies with far greater economic and human resources; its ability to attract and retain customers and quality employees; its ability to obtain patent protection on any of its products and, if obtained, to defend such intellectual property rights; the effect of changingeconomic conditions; and changes in government regulations, tax rates and similar matters. These cautionary statements should not be construed as exhaustive or as any admission as to the adequacy of the Company's disclosures. The Company cannot always predict or determine after the fact what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements or other statements. The reader should consider statements that include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "projects", or other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends, to be uncertain and forward-looking. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


text:
Owner of closed Burger Kings in Berkshire County in default
PITTSFIELD -- The owner of the three former Berkshire Coun ty Burger King restaurants that closed in June has defaulted on the mortgage for those properties, and the bank that holds the note has initiated foreclosure proceedings against him, according to court documents.
According to papers filed in Berkshire Superior Court, restaurant owner Richard C. George of Pittsfield owes mortgage holder TD Bank $2.5 million on the note for the three former Burger Kings, which are located on Merrill Road and First Street in Pittsfield, and on Route 7 in Lenox.
Mortgage defaults result when payments on the loan are not made by a specified time period. Under that circumstance, the loan is considered to be "in default" and the holder of the note has the option of taking over the property. TD Bank granted George a mortgage on the three properties in 2005, according to court documents. The original note has been amended three times, in 2006, 2007 and 2009.
George sold the First Street restaurant for $550,000 in August to 29 First Street Pittsfield LLC, according to documents on file at the Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds. It was not clear how that sale affected the First Street restaurant's status in the foreclosure proceedings.
TD Bank initiated foreclosure proceedings on the properties last month, according to papers on file at the Middle Berkshire Registry of Deeds. The request cannot be granted until the bank files a request for default, a copy of the publication where the public notice of the default appeared, and a motion for the entry of a final decree that authorizes the foreclosure with the court by Oct. 19, Superior Court Clerk Deborah S. Capeless said.
Unlike other civil complaints, state law requires foreclosure proceedings to undergo the public notification process before the court can render a decision, Cape less said.
Attorney Emil George of Pittsfield, who represents Richard C. George, said the bank granted the mortgage on the three properties based on the operations of the business. His client defaulted on the mortgage after the three restaurants closed in late June.
"What the bank is doing is not surprising," Emil George said. "They want to make sure that these properties are sold."
Attorney Peter L. Puciloski of Great Barrington, who represents TD Bank, did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
When the three restaurants originally closed, signs left on the buildings stated that the closings would be temporary. But Burger King had removed all of its signage from the three buildings by the middle of July.
Emil George said that interest has been expressed in all three properties, but he declined to disclose any details.
"The interest [in all three] is different," he said.
Whether Burger King is interested in re-opening any of the three restaurants under new ownership could not be determined. Burger King spokeswoman Kristin Hauser was unable to obtain that information from the company. It is believed that another burger chain is interested in at least one of the properties.
Richard C. George has been associated with Burger King for more than 30 years. He opened Pittsfield's first Burger King on Merrill Road in July 1979, and the second on First Street in December 1984. He opened the Lenox Burger King in February 1987.
The Merrill Road eatery was Burger King's first franchise in Berkshire County. The only Burger King restaurant still open in Berkshire County is located in North Adams and is run by a different franchise owner.
To reach Tony Dobrowolski:
(413) 496-6224
On Twitter: @tonydobrow
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


text:
Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area agency Metrolinx awarded the contract, which calls for two parallel 21.3-foot diameter tunnels west along Eglinton Avenue, running roughly 2 miles. The contract also includes the construction of two emergency exit buildings.
"The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is a landmark transit line that will serve millions of transit users across the City of Toronto," said Aecon President and COO Teri McKibbon. "Aecon has extensive experience developing mass transit systems, and we are pleased to be awarded this significant LRT contract."
Aecon Chairman and CEO John M. Beck attended a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday to mark the event, joined by Ontario Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Glen Murray, and Metrolinx President and CEO Bruce McCuaig.
The project is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2016.
ACS Dragados Canada, Inc. is a subsidiary of Madrid, Spain-based Grupo ACS.
The Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit project to date has evaded the local political turmoil surrounding the fate of Toronto's Scarborough Line, currently slated to become an extension of the city's subway system.


text:
Obama's Afghanistan Misstep
James Carafano /
Mark McKinnon, a former Bush advisor, doesn't get it. "GOP Attacks on Obama's bin Laden Ad Misguided," declares his piece in the Daily Beast.
Of course, the President has a right to crow over getting bin Laden. But sorry, Mark—there is a difference between highlighting a decision to burnish the image of presidential leadership and a crass exploitation that demeans the office of the President.
It's true that there has been too much focus on the politics of the speech and not enough on the policy. Obama must have a speechwriter named Rosie Scenario, because his prognosis for Afghanistan seemed largely disconnected to events on the ground. According to the President, the war has been won, and the rest is just details.
But as Heritage expert Lisa Curtis has pointed out again and again, there is much work still to done that is anything but easy. In a recent study, she points out that while President Obama is drawing down U.S. troops in Afghanistan, he is attempting to negotiate with the Taliban—despite the fact that the Taliban has renounced neither terrorism nor its support for al-Qaeda. If the Taliban is able to regain influence in Afghanistan without breaking ties with international terrorism, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups could re-establish a safe haven there. Further, the U.S. can't be optimistic about cooperation with Pakistan.
According to the Associated Press, "More than 1,500 supporters from a pro-Taliban Islamic party have rallied in southwestern Pakistan to condemn the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces a year ago."
Americans should be more upset about what was left unsaid.


text:
Hamilton, Vlad honored with Silver Sluggers
Rangers outfielder wins second award; DH earns eighth
By Jane Lee / MLB.com
Hamilton, who also won the award in 2008, was selected to the AL outfield along with Carl Crawford of the Rays and Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays. Hamilton won the AL batting title with a .359 average and also led the league in slugging percentage (.633) and OPS (1.044). Hamilton hit 32 homers, drove in 100 runs and added 40 doubles, all the while missing most of September because of a sore knee and two fractured ribs.
Guerrero is also no stranger to the award, as he has now won it eight times -- the previous seven coming as an outfielder. The 35-year-old veteran hit .300 with an .841 OPS, 29 homers and 115 RBIs this season while playing in 152 games, marking his highest total since 2006.
The Silver Slugger Award winners were determined by Major League Baseball coaches and managers who vote for the players they felt were the best offensive producers at each position throughout the season in both the American and National Leagues. Selections are based on a combination of offensive statistics, including batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, as well as the coaches' and managers' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value. Managers and coaches were not allowed to vote for players on their own team.
Jane Lee is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Major Lee-ague, and follow her on Twitter @JaneMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.