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© 2009 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
One game at a time for Reds
Cincinnati perseveres through tough first month
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
CINCINNATI -- Rare is the time that one April victory can carry so much weight. But it certainly did for the Reds on Wednesday. A 3-0 win over the Astros meant finishing April at 11-10. Being one game over .500 is certainly better than the alternative, especially when you consider the wacky month this club had. Cincinnati's team batting average is .235, which is ranked 15 out of 16 National League teams. At one point, it was a Major League-low .210. Their 78 runs scored is ranked 14th in the NL. Joey Votto, hitting .346 after playing in all 21 games, has been the lone constant in the lineup. Although a tremendous effort was made to shore up defensively, the Reds' 18 errors are third most in the league and their .977 fielding percentage is 14th. "We've played good baseball at times and at times, we've been inconsistent," Reds infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. said. "I think the biggest thing we're trying to correct is our defense. We have a lot of guys that can get to a lot more balls and make more plays so the chance for errors goes up. It's something we know we can correct and make our team stronger." While the Reds went 7-3 on a 10-game road trip with three series wins at Milwaukee, Houston and Chicago, they are 4-7 at Great American Ball Park after just completing a 2-4 homestand. The home series record is 0-3-1. Last year after the first month, the Reds were 12-17 after the first month and 9-12 after the first 21 games, which incidentally was when former GM Wayne Krivsky was let go. The club went 15-12 last May, which was one of only two months when it was over .500 in 2008. This April was a shorter month than usual because of a later start to the schedule and more off-days. "I think everybody is relatively pleased with the record, based on how bad our batting average is and how many errors we've made," Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo said. "Our team ERA is higher than it should be too. We have found a way to win games early on with timely hits and just fortunate things have happened to pull out 4-3 games." Pitching has been the Reds' main savior to this point. The team ERA of 4.11 is fifth in the NL, but the key stat focuses on how valuable starting pitching has been. Cincinnati is 8-1 when it gets a quality start and 3-9 when it doesn't. In the standings, the Reds are tied for second place in the NL Central with three teams and sit 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Cardinals. It's not a bad place to be for a team filled with young players going through their first seasons as front-and-center players. "It's satisfactory because you really have no choice," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "It's done now. We [have] 11 wins in a short month. Ideally, I like to win 15 games a month, and that's 90 games. That puts [a team] in position, most times, to be pretty good." Finishing above .500 in April was also important because it provided some momentum, as the schedule only gets tougher in May. Friday's series opener vs. the Pirates begins a stretch of 25 games in 27 days. The Reds will be on the road for 14 games over the next month, including seven games on the West Coast where they've often had trouble in recent years. "Coming up will be a little difficult," Hairston said. "We go from the East Coast, back home and then out to the West Coast. That's Major League Baseball and the grind. There are no excuses. If you want to contend, you have to make sure you win the majority of those games. We feel we have a team capable of doing that." There are signs of improvement that have the Reds feeling optimistic. Hitters like Jay Bruce and Ramon Hernandez seemed to have found their way out of funks. Others, including Brandon Phillips and Alex Gonzalez, have started to show some improvement. Edinson Volquez had been lackluster over his four starts, but broke out with eight scoreless innings and one hit allowed in Wednesday's win over Houston. Ace Aaron Harang has a 3.09 ERA in five starts and Johnny Cueto has been fantastic with a 2.19 ERA over his four starts. Micah Owings is coming off of his first good outing. The bullpen, especially the back end, has been sensational. Francisco Cordero is 7-for-7 in save chances and setup men David Weathers and Arthur Rhodes have yet to allow a run over a combined 14 1/3 innings. If the Reds can sustain their plus-.500 ways, they could achieve their first winning record since the 2000 season. Of course, it's still early. "One thing I like about this team is we don't get down," Hairston said. "We let things go. If we lose, we let it go and move on and get ready for the next day. We have a lot of positive guys in this clubhouse. It's a great thing. We have guys with experience and maybe the younger guys don't know any better, which is good. I think it will bode well for us."
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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5454 cars produced in the 2nd quarter!!
5454 cars produced in the 2nd quarter!!
That's great news. It means that they again produced more than they thought they would.
Yes, there's definitely going to be a discrepancy between "cars sold" and "cars produced." Since, per Elon, demand isn't nearly as big a problem as production capacity is, I suspect the smart analysts should pay more attention to the latter number rather than the former.
Much better than Motor Trend's use of Autodata projection of 4181!!!
I think quite a few the cars are for Europe. The sales are going to be delayed for the shipping time, so while they may have made a lot, they can't book all of them. Then again, Europe production may have started more in July, so the hit will not occur until Q3 is done.
That could be the real number but Tesla could also be playing some game with the Shorters, with WallStreeters in general....would not be surprised if the number is only for domestic sales....
These are not "sales" numbers, but production numbers. I think it is good assumption that "sales" exceeded the 4500 guidance.
Production and sales will be pretty much identical because there is excess inventory as indicated by abouy 4 weeks of waiting time for each order.
meant to say there is NO excess inventory......
European in-transit inventory is not non-negligible.
or maybe that should be non-negligible...
@jjaeger. Please explain what you mean by that?
That is a good assumption that 1Q and 2Q open deals are about the same and a wash. Big unknown is how many cars are actually on the boat to Europe... 500, 600, 700,...?
Even slightly exceeding guidance plus we are making 500+ cars now (Elon already hinted) will have an effect on the stock market. Best news is the quick selling of the loaners, these added customers could be the difference... especially for the bottom line (Gerome hinted that at Tesla live).
jjaeger meant that cars produced late in the quarter which are being shipped to Europe cannot be counted as sales yet since they haven't actually been delivered to the customer yet. This may or may not impact 2Q sales numbers. So sometime this year (probably 3Q) there will be an artificially low sales number for a quarter followed by an artificially higher number in the next quarter as the shipping delay works its way through.
All hedge funds need is a weapon to hit the shorts hard. The "surprise" whether it's 100 or 500 above expectation will provide just such a weapon. Good luck longs and make sure you hold on to what you own.
I expect the bump to come in Q3; some European cars were being made in June for July shipment, I think. Wonder how soon the Asian flow will start.
Brian H - don't forget us right hand drive types! That will also produce a large price hike on the market!
But do your plugs have to be reversed?
Brian - yes, in the RH world the electron flow the other way. I was always wondering in my young years why the old English sports cars had the plus pole of the battery connected to the chassis.
@Kleist - you should go into standup comedy. NOT.
@Brian H - I'd think so. Having the charger connect on the rear on the passenger side would be rather... odd.
I think the good part of the story is they likely produced/sold 4,900 1st quarter and at least produced 5,400+ second quarter. So their production output is ramping up. Don't know how much of that is increased efficiency and how much is due to a second shift (confirmed on tour, M-F only).
Dirkhh. Don't all your USA Japanese cars have the fuel filler on the left rear? My Merc has its fuel filler on the right rear. So, it seems the fuel filler is on the opposite side to the drivers position depending on country of origin and the side of the road driven on.
@dirkhh - sorry, you forgot to pay your admission.
Recall, we just learned at Teslive, 300 cars were produced and delivered to service centers as loaners. Subtract those from the production number to get closer to "sales" or "delivered."
...except that they sell the service loaners as fast as they get delivered to the SC. I was at the Fremont SC this morning and they had 1 loaner available (and had sold/lost one yesterday). The service advisor lamented the problem and said he continually took flak from owners about it.
@dborn - no, fuel filler access (as in where you put stinky gasoline or diesel) side is brand (and sometimes even model) specific; there are, for example, some Fords with filler left and others with filler right.
But the story is different with an electric car; I usually got gas maybe twice a month, but I plug my Tesla in every day, sometimes more than once.
What the Leaf does (plug in in front) is annoying if you have a rather tight garage as you now need to leave space in front of the car so you can access the plug. The Volt has it right by the driver side A column. And the Tesla Model S by the driver side B column. I'd find it very odd to have those on the passenger side...
Here is my prediction just looking at the Vin numbers from buyers.... will just prove to u we r more accurate than these so called experts.....the so called experts have projected 4,100 sales which is below guidance. I am projecting 5,400 to 5,700 just by looking at reported Vin#s of sold cars........write it down...don't forget it!
Did you subtract EU cars?
This includes EU cars.......I believe the European number is negligible since they came on line late in the quarter. If U want to look the US only, take off about 300 cars from the projection.
For those worried about nuclear waste, consider this... The nuclear fuel in the environment is a present danger where it sits, and creates places named for that danger, such as Poison Canyon. The natural radioactive sources leak into wells, and poison the Oceans. Just like gold and other minerals, the natural ocean cycles cause these poisons to be concentrated, stored in sequestered deposits for millions of years, only to be exposed by erosion and washed back into the ocean. This cycle has been going on for a long time. What Man has done is accelerate the erosion process, concentrate the poisons into a usable form, then produce waste in need of sequestration. We have not created a new problem, we are only aware of a problem that has existed since the birth of life on this planet. The problem isn't that we don't know what to do, the problem is that we have political problems preventing us from doing it right. And even if we ARE able to do it right, there is a stigma attached because of past mistakes, as well as politics.
I think nuclear power is an excellent source of energy, but the governments of the earth are too immature to deal with it, or any other form of energy. We are too immature to survive as a species, given where we are in consuming our resources, and progressing our society. Hopefully we can slow our damage to the planet long enough to mature as a global society while we are still viable. As an "advanced" space faring society, we have many challenges if we are to win out over our eventual extinction. And our energy culture is one of the first challenges, one of many. Cars like the Tesla are part of the solution, but only if the other parts of the solution are developed.
The Author of the article has his numbers wrong, and his logic can be questioned. But there is a thread of truth to some of the issues, and those issues need continual support to be successfully addressed.
Sorry, posted to the wrong thread by accident.
Read up on the Hormesis Hypothesis. Radioactivity was much higher in the past, and we're adapted to that.

subset: commoncrawl


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Brain Teasers
No Good Water!
Fun: (2.64) Difficulty: (2.4) Puzzle ID: #25149
Submitted By: iLuVcOwS_00 Corrected By: apod43
Submitted By: iLuVcOwS_00 Corrected By: apod43
Science Science brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.
You are lost in the desert. You are out of water. You can see a spring on the horizon. You run over and touch the cool water. Your mom has told you never to drink water straight out of the ground. All you have is two clean plastic cups, and no way to make a fire to sterilize the water. How do you drink the water?
AnswerYou should fill one of the cups with the spring water and hold the filled cup over the other cup and gently shake it. This is because the cool spring water will create condensation on the outside of the cup, which will drip into the other cup. You should drink from the cup on the bottom.
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|A new parliamentary effort to create a stability pact in the South Caucasus
|Council of Europe: Parliamentary Assembly
|Latchezar Toshev
|Publication Date
|18 February 2013
|Armenia | Azerbaijan
|Border conflict | Conflict resolution
|Citation / Document Symbol
|Doc. 13135
|Cite as
|Council of Europe: Parliamentary Assembly, A new parliamentary effort to create a stability pact in the South Caucasus, 18 February 2013, Doc. 13135, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/5138566d2.html [accessed 21 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.


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S&P downgrades Rio outlook to negative
Ratings agency Standard & Poor's says Rio Tinto's debt is rising faster than expected and has downgraded the diversified miner's outlook to negative, while reaffirming its A-minus credit rating.
Unless Rio makes large asset sales or iron ore prices remain above $US120 a tonne, S&P warns, Rio's debt will continue to rise through 2013-14, risking a credit downgrade.
Rio reported debts of $US26.7 billion as of December 31 - up 24 per cent on the $US21.5 billion a year earlier, higher than S&P expected.
Rio shares were off 1.7 per cent to $65.04 in early trade on Tuesday.
S&P's base case assumes iron ore prices of $US120 a tonne in 2013, easing back to $US110 a tonne in 2014. Spot prices for iron ore imported into China are currently at $US151.90 a tonne.
S&P is primarily concerned about a two-thirds decline in the ratio of Rio's funds from operations to its adjusted debt, which fell from 85 per cent in 2011 to just 30 per cent in 2012, as a result of weaker cash flows due to lower commodity prices and the lagged impact of higher income tax payments levied on the previous year's profits.
S&P expected higher funds from operations (FFO) in 2013 and said if Rio could lift the ratio of FFO to debt above 40 per cent the ratings outlook would revert to stable.
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Effects of Rivastigmine and Donepezil on Brain Acetylcholine Levels in Acetylcholinesterase-Deficient Mice
Purpose. Alzheimer´s disease is characterized by a dysfunction of central cholinergic systems and is treated by inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This study tests the effect of two AChE inhibitors in therapeutic use, rivastigmine and donepezil, in mice that are devoid of AChE (AChE-/- mice). Rivastigmine is an inhibitor of both AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) whereas donepezil is a selective inhibitor of AChE. Methods. We have used in vivo microdialysis to investigate the effects of the two drugs on the extracellular concentration of acetylcholine (ACh) in the hippocampus of AChE-/- mice. Results. Extracellular ACh levels in the hippocampus were 30-fold elevated in AChE-/- mice compared to wild-type (AChE+/+) animals. Infusion of rivastigmine (1 and 10 µM) caused a further doubling of ACh levels in AChE-/- mice within 90-120 min. In contrast, infusion of donepezil (1 µM) did not affect hippocampal ACh levels in AChE-/- mice although it increased ACh levels more than twofold in wild-type mice. Conclusions. In the absence of AChE, rivastigmine enhances the levels of extracellular ACh by inhibiting BChE. This finding may be of therapeutic relevance because BChE activity is preserved, but AChE activity is strongly decreased, in late-stage Alzheimer´s disease.
Full Text:PDF
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18433/J3MK59


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Toyota RAV4
Toyota's third-generation RAV4 gained an excellent diesel engine and is fun to drive, but it doesn't feel as sophisticated as rivals. …
Like the brand's upmarket saloons, the Lexus RX is very refined: the engines are smooth and quiet, and wind and road noise are almost non-existent.
Comfort is a strong point, too, with an electrically adjustable driver's seat on all models, and decent space for five. However, the RX isn't as big inside as a BMW X5 or Land Rover Discovery and, unlike those rivals, it isn't available with seven seats.
On the road, the RX's emphasis is on comfort, especially in cars with air suspension. If you want a sporty drive, the X5 will do a much better job.
The earliest RXs (badged RX 300) were offered with a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, and while this is the least powerful option, it still responds well enough. It was replaced in 2006 by the more powerful, yet more economical RX 350.
Usually, the alternative to a petrol engine would be a diesel, but in the RX it's the RX 400h petrol-electric hybrid. This is more efficient – not to mention less polluting – than diesel rivals in town and can give fuel economy of well over 30mpg if driven gently, although a diesel will be cheaper to run if you do a lot of motorway miles.
Obtain a FREE used car valuation for any vehicle.
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Toyota's third-generation RAV4 gained an excellent diesel engine and is fun to drive, but it doesn't feel as sophisticated as rivals. …
The Nissan Qashqai was a game-changer for the entire car industry, but while the +2 version is more practical, it's no substitute for an MPV. …
The second-generation Land Rover Freelander was a vast improvement reliability-wise on its predecessor, and still stacks up well against more modern o …
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a proper off-roader, but it's beaten by most rivals on the road. …


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If Kevin Ware become the player Louisville expects him to be his sophomore season, Ray Allen will have had a little bit to do with it.
Although one of the NBA's all-time greatest shooters likely has no idea of his assist.
Cardinals coach Rick Pitino showed Ware and a few other players video of Allen's shooting form matched up against their own, according to the Courier-Journal.
"What we do basically is we show them the perfect jump shot, which is Ray Allen with his legs, with his form and technique," Pitino told the Courier-Journal. "We put it on a split screen with theirs, and the timing is the same. It shows their mistakes, and we go out and work on it."
Ware, who joined the team last December and struggled on the court as a highly touted freshman, figures to benefit from the added summer instruction. He mostly played point guard in a backup role last year, but figures to return to his more familiar shooting guard spot this season.
In just 20 games last year, the 6-foot-4 guard played just 105 minutes, shot 29.6 percent from the field and scored 20 points. He also turned the ball over 21 times while handing out just nine assists.
That was not the type of debut he had in mind when he came to Louisville from Rockdale County H.S. (Conyers, Ga.) as the 70th-best player by Rivals.com.
"I never spoke on it, but it was a lot tougher for me just coming in the second semester," he told the newspaper. "I guess the word I could use is scared to mess up instead of actually just messing up, so I was a lot more hesitant, and that caused me to turn the ball over a lot more than I normally would."
Now, with help from his head coach and a future NBA Hall of Famer, Ware believes he's becoming the player everyone expected to see.
"I'm shooting a higher percentage," Ware said. "I kind of look at me as one of the best shooters on the team now, and that's a big leap. In high school I was probably one of the poorest shooters. I was just playing off athleticism, but now I'm a pretty good shooter."


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Welcome to the latest episode of "The Ultimate Fighter 14: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller."
With the semifinal round underway, we get the round's second fight tonight.
So let's jump into the action.
On the way to the UFC Training Center, Team Miller's Dustin Pague puts together a goodie bag of food and a note of encouragement for a homeless man they pass each day. Team Miller fighters discuss how not all MMA fighters are barbarians and how Dustin is one of the best.
With Dustin slated to fight Team Bisping bantamweight T.J. Dillashaw in the second semifinal fight, head coach Jason "Mayhem" Miller says his fighter has shown marked improvement during his four weeks on the show. As he did with first-round pick Louis Gaudinot, Miller believes Dustin pulls off another upset.
Back at the fighter house, Miller and the coaches show up for a barbeque. Despite the good food, they soon issue each other challenges to eat a live cockroach. Miller, in his best "Joe Rogan-esque Fear Factor" persona, tracks down a cockroach and beetle. Sure enough, Dustin eats them both. "They taste like Pine-sol!" Dustin shouts while forcing down the nastiness. He earns a cool $60 for his efforts.
On the top of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, it's time for the annual coaches' challenge. This year's "sport?" Air hockey in a best-of-five series (seven points per game). The winner gets $10,000, and each fighter from his team gets $1,500. Neither coach looks especially polished, or as Dana White put it, "They both sucked." Bisping does most of the early scoring (even if a few scored against himself), and he becomes cocky by the third game. Miller gets it within 2-1 by winning that third game, but Bisping comes back to win the fourth game and to win the series, 3-1. After celebrating on the table, he jumps off and falls on his ass. Team Miller comes out the losers, but they were all smiles after Bisping's fall.
At a Team Bisping session, assistant coach Tiki Ghosn tells T.J. to keep a close guard and avoid Dustin's knees. Tiki thinks T.J. is the best wrestler on the show and has good power to match it. Bisping calls him the "complete packages." T.J. likes Dustin but thinks he'll exploit his limited ground game since he plans to take the fight to the mat.
At the fight's official weigh-ins, Keith Kizer conducts the ceremony. T.J. and Dustin both weigh 135 pounds.
We immediately jump into fight preparations, and it's soon fight day.
We've got Team Bisping's T.J. Dillashaw (4-0) vs. Team Miller's Dustin Pague (10-4).
The fight
UFC president Dana White does intros, and Josh Rosenthal officiates the bout.
T.J. lunges with a punch but misses and resets in the opening sequence. He again does the same before faking a shot and landing an uppercut. T.J. ducks under a hook and shoots to get the takedown. T.J. postures up to throw a punch and nearly gets his arm caught. He returns to full guard, and Dustin continues looking for a submission. T.J. lands a few punches and elbows from the top. T.J. lands another solid forearm strike. Dustin works his way to the cage, but T.J. pulls him away from it and then postures up for more punches. Dustin nearly gets to his feet, but T.J. takes him right back down. Dustin tries to create a scramble, but T.J. keeps the shots coming from the top. In the final 30 seconds, Dustin finally gets back to his feet and delivers a big knee to the chin, and then he avoids a tiring T.J.'s takedown attempt. T.J., though, gets in nice punches just as the round ends. In the first, it's all T.J., who takes it 10-9.
In the second, T.J. wings a right that's checked. He then lands a right and looks to clinch. Dustin returns fire. T.J. sets up a takedown with strikes. He lands in half guard before Dustin pulls him into full. Dustin is against the cage and tries to get back to his feet. He then tries to sweep, but T.J. takes side control. T.J. mixes in some elbows from the top. The Team Miller coaches implore Dustin to get up. T.J. mixes in some knees to the body, but Dustin pulls him back into guard. T.J. drops some elbows, a few of which land flush. Dustin looks to sweep, but T.J. continues dropping punches and elbows from the top. Dustin throws elbows from the bottom, but T.J. is far more effective from the top, and he closes out the round with more shots. It's all T.J., who takes it 10-9.
The fight goes to the scheduled third round with Dustin in a 2-0 hole. T.J. tries an uppercut from distance and nearly eats a knee. Dustin avoids the takedown, but T.J. shoots again and lifts him and takes him to the mat. T.J. drops punches, elbows and hammerfists. Dustin works butterfly guard and tries to get up, but T.J. is relentless. Both fighters are bleeding now. The fighters trade elbows, but T.J. is dangerous when he postures up. Dustin tries anything to get off his back or secure a submission, but T.J. gives no openings. T.J. moves to side control and delivers elbows to the head and knees to the body. He then moves to full guard and delivers more shots. T.J. intensifies the assault wanting to claim a bonus. Dustin pulls him back into full guard as T.J. keeps posturing up for more shots. The final round is all T.J. again, and he should easily take a 30-27 decision.
Sure enough, the scorecards are read, and T.J. takes it via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-26).
With the win, Team Miller and Team Bisping are now tied 1-1 through two of four semifinal fights.
For the latest on this season and past episode recaps, stay tuned to "The Ultimate Fighter 14" section of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
Catch new episodes of "The Ultimate Fighter 14: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller" every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Spike TV. MMAjunkie.com recaps each episode of the reality series, and full series coverage can be found on "The Ultimate Fighter 14" page.


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text: Please pardon my naive questions but this is surely the place to get an expert answer. I am enthused by the recent micrWulf built by Prof. Adoms and his student at Calvin College. That device approached a "homogeneous" parallel system with all the same core frequencies and achieved over 26 GFLOPS for about $1200. With private funds and a curious 3 yo grandson I prefer to enclose the "System" into four PC cases and an external Ethernet switch. I also want to maintain the performance I now have with a 3 GHz Toshiba Pentium 4 laptop so I prefer an "asymmetric" system with a fast Master node with a lot of frills and three slower dual core satellite PCs. About ten years ago I was able to link an HP 9000/720 running HP-UX in one building with three other SGI nodes running IRIX in another building connected by TCP/IP Ethernet. Sadly I do not recall the name of that message passing system but the link was a pretty bad mismatch between the slower HP9000/720 and the faster SGI CPUs at that time but it was something with "Theoretical Chemists ......". Was that TCP/IP? Anyway I know it is possible to link CPU/cores with different speeds and different memory-bus speeds so my question is whether "Open MPI" can handle this situation? Specifically, suppose I set up: 1. a Master box with an AMD X2 5800+ overclocked to 3.0 GHz with DDR2 800 memory (at least 4GB, maybe 8GB), 1 300 GB SATA drive; there would also be other creature comfort frills on the Master box like CD R/W, floppy drive, graphics card etc. 2. three cheaper AMD X2 4000+ (2.1 GHz) and running cheaper DDR2 667 memory; bare bones, no drives just CPU, memory and gigE switch. 3. connected by a Trendware TEG-S80TXE 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch with associated NIC switches. If all the CPU/nodes/cores were AMD X2 4000+ units this should be similar to the Calvin College microWulf and run at about 27 GFLOPS (LINPAK) due to the slightly faster 2.1 GHz AMD 4000+ CPUs compared to the microWulf AMD 3800+ 2.0 GHz units. I do not seek the ultimate (GFLOP/$) minimum, just an inexpensive system to run GAMESS for molecular calculations and a chance to learn about parallel software late in my career. So, can "Open MPI" handle different CPU/core frequencies and different memory bus frequencies over gigE. I note that the writer of GAMESS (Mike Schmidt) recommends TCP/IP for GAMESS rather than OPEN MPI and GAMESS is the overwhelming goal for my use but using UBUNTU I would like to be able to access the Internet as well from the Master box. While I have your attention, could you comment on whether Open MPI will run under LINSPIRE? I have messed around with LINSPIRE more than UBUNTU (although I have both source disks) and I like LINSPIRE because it looks more like WINDOWS. Summary: 1. Can Open MPI handle different clock speeds across several node/cores? 2. Can Open MPI handle different memory bus clock speeds across several node/cores? 3. Why not LINSPIRE instead of UBUNTU? Sorry about the dumb questions but I seem to recall that the Duke Beowulf managed to run using many different X86 PCs so what I want to do should be possible, but is Open MPI the best choice or what else? Don Shillady Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, VCU Ashland VA (working at home) Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:37:45 -0500From: peter.st.john at gmail.comTo: charliep at cs.earlham.eduSubject: Re: [Beowulf] Really efficient MPIs??CC: beowulf at beowulf.org For the sake of others as easily confused as myself, I note (now, thanks!) that OpenMP and OpenMPI are two different things: OpenMP (an alternative to the MPI method) is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenMP OpenMPI (an implementation of MPI) is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenMPI Cool. Peter On Nov 28, 2007 8:49 AM, Charlie Peck <charliep at cs.earlham.edu> wrote: On Nov 28, 2007, at 8:04 AM, Jeffrey B. Layton wrote:> If you don't want to pay money for an MPI, then go with Open-MPI.> It too can run on various networks without recompiling. Plus it's > open-source.Unless you are using a gigabit ethernet, Open-MPI is noticeably lessefficient that LAM-MPI over that fabric.I suspect at some point in the future gige will catch-up but for now my (limited) understanding is that the Open-MPI folks are focusingtheir time on higher bandwidth/lower latency fabrics than gige.charlie _______________________________________________Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf at beowulf.orgTo change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://www.beowulf.org/pipermail/beowulf/attachments/20071201/e533a182/attachment.html>


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Media, poll, to be focus in Canberra
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's "take-it-or-leave-it" push for his media reforms will dominate the last sitting week before May's budget, with crossbenchers unlikely to back the package of changes.
Senator Conroy has demanded federal parliament pass the six media bills, which include establishing a new public interest media advocate to oversee press standards and a check on big media mergers and acquisitions.
Independents Rob Oakeshott and Craig Thomson have already indicated they won't vote for the package as it stands, while the Greens, whose vote would be crucial in the Senate, say they will consult with other crossbenchers to determine if there is any "common ground" on the changes.
To add to the focus on the media reforms, two parliamentary inquiries will on Monday hear evidence about the proposed changes.
A Senate committee looking at the bills and will take evidence from media companies, academics, peak industry bodies and the Australian Press Council in Canberra on Monday and Tuesday.
A separate joint select committee is looking at other proposed reforms, including the axing of the 75 per cent broadcasting audience reach rule.
Senator Conroy said he wouldn't negotiate with crossbenchers over the proposed changes.
"You either want to protect media diversity in this country... or you don't," he told ABC TV on Sunday.
Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull said Senator Conroy's handling of the reforms had been "catastrophic".
"Is he seeking to embarrass the prime minister?" he asked on Sky TV.
The fight over media reforms has sparked renewed speculation over Julia Gillard's leadership, which will only be heightened by the release of another Nielsen poll on Monday.
The last Nielsen poll saw Labor's primary vote plummet to 30 per cent, and its two-party vote to 45 per cent.
Last week's Newspoll saw the government bounce back slightly, with its primary vote rising to 34 per cent and two-party vote to 48 per cent.
But supporters of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd are reportedly agitating for a leadership change this week, and another bad poll and a failure on media reforms could provide the triggers.
Apart from the media bills, the House of Representatives will debate changes to the aged care sector, including new funding for home care and $1.2 billion to deliver better wages and conditions for Australia's 350,000 aged care workers.
Legislation to scrap a rebate on a lifetime health cover loading for private health insurance will also be considered by MPs.
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Curse Out Your Congressman All You Want, But Never Use the Word 'Delete'
If you've taken your frustrations with the Stop Online Piracy Act to your congressman's online contact form and tried to type that famous protest cry "DELETE THE BILL! DELETE THE BILL!", then you've already discovered a dark truth: You get censored, thanks to oxymoronic "congressional rules." But don't worry, you can always curse out your congressman instead.
A blogger in China relays the story of his friend who tried to fill out the contact form on Michigan Rep. Gary Peters site with a thoughtful letter against SOPA. At some point he tried to type the word "delete" or "deleted" into the form and a nasty note popped up telling him to fuck off and use "del_ete" instead. We just tried it, as you can see above, and so can you. What the hell? Stupid Gary Peters website. Perhaps it's a technical-codey thing (I know nothing about the Internet) like if you type "delete" on a government website it launches the entire nuclear arsenal to eliminate Delaware. And that would... matter.
So then he just wrote a bunch of filthy words, which is always fun.
Have you, reader, encountered any other strange government website quirks that can make for comical screen shots? We'd love to know.
(Okay okay, for those of us who aren't all in the mood to play around with over-the-top SOPA paranoia and crappy congressional websites.)
[Image via AP]


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On April 3, Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly signed legislation that allows $2.3 million from the Undesignated Unreserved Fund Balance to go towards the continuation of the due diligence investigation of the Navajo Mine – prior to any acquisition the tribe will make.
The Navajo Nation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BHP Navajo Coal Company (BNCC) on December 18 that would transfer ownership of the mine to the Nation – scheduled for completion by June. (Related story: Navajo Nation Taking Control of Coal Mining on Reservation)
Since the MOU was signed, the Nation has been investigating the mine focusing on Shelly's main concerns – long-term investment of the mine and how eventual repairs to the equipment, buildings, railroads and other infrastructure would be paid. (Related story: Negotiations For Navajo Mine Will Continue Between Navajo Nation and BHP Billiton)
"I signed this legislation because we need to know whether acquire this mine is beneficial for the Navajo Nation. We are in times unlike any other with federal budget cuts, reduced revenue and taxes. We must consider investments that could help sustain critical programs that help our people. The due diligence investigation will help us learn all we need to know to make an informed decision about acquiring Navajo Mine," Shelly said.
The mine currently employs more than 400 people with about 85 percent of them being American Indian and is the sole source of coal for the nearby Four Corners Power Plant.
President Shelly added that the Navajo Nation hasn't decided to buy Navajo Mine yet.
"At this point, I need to know more information about the entire operation of the mine. I also want to know how are we going to pay for the mine, if we decide we want to buy it. And, I want us to think far into the future and consider other technologies for clean coal. We need to look ahead and see how we can make use of our resources," Shelly said.
This legislation will be used to support the second phase of the due diligence investigation. The potential ownership change started when the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine owners could not agree on a coal price
The legislation was signed today. The investigation is the second phase into a due diligence investigation that started last fall.
The proposal for Navajo Nation to acquire Navajo Mine came after the owners of Four Corners Power Plant, Arizona Public Service (APS) and the owners of Navajo Mine, BHP Billiton, could not agree upon a coal price. The Navajo Nation stepped in to essentially keep either facility from closing the doors and creating more unemployment on the reservation.
"We have to keep in mind that we have about 800 Navajo people working at the mine and the power plant. We have to protect their jobs too. If acquiring Navajo Mine can protect those existing jobs, it is my duty as president to ensure that we at least consider the proposal. We have to protect jobs," Shelly added.
If the acquisition happens, the transfer of ownership would take three years, and the Nation would buy all shares of BHP Navajo Coal Company then merge it with a Navajo company yet to be determined. The Navajo company would receive all equipment, improvements, workforce, tangible and intangible intellectual property rights, and permits.
APS has estimated that it requires about six to eight million tons of coal per year to maintain operations beyond 2016 – when full ownership would transfer. Navajo Mine last year supplied approximately 8.1 million tons, generating more than $40 million for the Navajo Nation.


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Innovations in Early Life Course Transitions (ICPSR 34408)
Principal Investigator(s): Choe, Minja Kim, East-West Center
The goal of this project was to advance understanding of the forces and mechanisms leading to broadscale change and realignment in family and fertility behavior, as well as in related values, norms, roles, and institutions. The multi-year study focused on the interplay of structural societal change, individual behavior and attitudes, and the emergence of an altered family institution in Japanese society.
Access Notes
These data are not available from DSDR. Users should consult the data owners directly for details on obtaining these resources.
Study Description
This study was funded by:
- United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Scope of Study
Subject Terms: families, family history, family relationships, fertility, household composition, social change
Geographic Coverage: Asia, Global, Japan
These data are not available from DSDR or ICPSR. Researchers should consult the principal investigator directly for details on obtaining access to the data and documentation:
Dr. Minja Kim Choe
East-West Center
1601 East-West Road
Honolulu, Hawaii 96848
email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Adirondacks > Upper Wolf Jaw Mountain > Climber's Log
Upper Wolf Jaw Mountain Climber's Log
[ Sign the Climber's Log ]
|6 peaks 1 day
|From the Rooster Comb parking area to Basin and down to Slant Rock along the Gothic Ridge.
|Posted Sep 17, 2010 5:16 pm
|Bennies Brook
|Still looking for that Bennies Brook slide ....
|Posted Sep 7, 2010 10:33 pm
|Brian Pierz
|Great Range Traverse (Almost)
Date Climbed: Jun 18, 2010
|This was the first stop on a long day hike, followed by Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, and Haystack.
I was joined on this adventure by Mr. Steve and Mr. Baio.
|Posted Jun 22, 2010 1:03 pm
|Most of Lower Great Range Traverse
Date Climbed: May 29, 2010
|Climbed on the way from Sawteeth to LWJ.. the knob from Upper to Lower Wolf Jaw was most disheartening.. NOt great views.. kind of peak only baggers want to climb.. Stick to Armstrong or Gothics for great views
|Posted May 30, 2010 10:26 am
|With Gothics and Armstrong from JBL
Date Climbed: Jan 6, 2010
|Did as part of a loop with Gothics and Armstrong while staying at Peggy O' in January 2010. Also completed as part of a Great Range Traverse in August 1995.
|Posted May 24, 2010 7:19 pm
|Great range triumph
Date Climbed: Feb 6, 2010
|This was part of the lower Great Range hike I did with some friends.The weather was perfect and the veiw from the summit was superb!
|Posted Feb 13, 2010 9:56 pm
Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2009
|went up the notch, wasn't a bad hike until we reached the false summit and thought it was upper! NO VIEWS. then we finally got to the upper summit sign 20yds then it got better..there was great views when the clouds blew over. then kelly and i headed to armstrong to finish up the 5 on the loop. 38 to go!
|Posted Sep 26, 2009 9:16 am
|Almost the end of a long day!
Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2009
|After Gothics, almost Armstrong, no vis and alot of rain, I was really in the mood for this day to end. However, I was right there and I figured "what the hell?" Nice wooded, rocky summit, and I'm sure there was a view out there somewhere, but as I said, no visibility at all!
|Posted Jul 15, 2009 2:59 pm
|in 70s
|Alaway as part of Range.
|Posted Dec 31, 2008 5:21 pm
|U. Wolf Jaw
|Hiked with friends from Rooster comb trailhead. Not much of a view. good hike though
|Posted Dec 21, 2008 11:37 am
|Upper and Lower
Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2005
|First time to the Adirondacks. Enjoyed the area very much - came back the next year to do a couple more.
|Posted Nov 14, 2008 4:39 pm
|Wolf Jaw Lean-to -> Gothics -> Armstrong -> U. Wolfjaw -> Wolf Jaw Lean-to
Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2008
|Part of a three day camping trip. Left my full pack at the lean-to and day hiked these three. Lots of people on top of all three since it was Columbus Day weekend. Beautiful day and great views though. High Peak #12.
|Posted Oct 16, 2008 11:24 am
|Upper Wolf Jaw Mountain
Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2005
|Climbed with Lower Wolf Jaw via Range Trail from the Ausable Club. Blueberries dotted the trailside for most of the way. A good interductory hike to New York's most rugged range. Excellent views from the summit.
|Posted Aug 11, 2008 1:33 pm
|Sam Page
|Nice views
Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2008
|This was part of an 18+ mile loop that included Upper Wolf Jaw, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, and Basin.
|Posted Jul 31, 2008 11:17 am
|From Sawteeth, Gothics, & Armstrong
Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2007
|Nice hike in the fall. Some rain and wind, but we lucked out for the most part. Mud, leaves, and slippery roots, but that's part of hiking this time of year. Scenic though. : ) Headed to Lower Wolf Jaw then back out via the road. 10/46
|Posted Oct 24, 2007 4:46 pm
|Gothics, Armostrong, Upper Wolf-Jaw
|Hit this one en route to John's Brook Lodge coming from Gothics.
|Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:49 pm
|Ridge trail
|Not a bad summit, could be a lot better or worse. Little hot for october.
|Posted Oct 7, 2007 8:16 pm
|Bark Eater
|Range Traverse
Date Climbed: Jul 21, 1977
|Last one before heading down to JBL. Tired and wet.
|Posted Aug 26, 2007 7:00 pm
|after Armstrong
Date Climbed: Aug 19, 2007
|After having climbed Armstrong, me and a woman backpacker took the Range trail over to Upper Wolf Jaw, where we still had a view on a mostly cloudy day.
|Posted Aug 21, 2007 8:18 am
Date Climbed: Sep 19, 1997
|Hiked with brother Bob. Nice!
|Posted Jun 27, 2007 9:24 am


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In 1986, Sarasota County permanently closed one lane of north Beach Road, as the street continued to crumble under the threat of erosion and residents complained about white stakes placed in the middle of the street.
But Nov. 19, Fred Derr & Co. workers began tearing away the remaining asphalt on the same stretch of road to prepare it for a $250,000 repair, so residents and tenants can reach the adjacent properties.
County Administrator Randall Reid authorized funding for the work using the emergency procurement procedure.
County engineer Jim Harriott began preparing a permanent solution that would have to be included in the capital improvement-program budget at an estimated cost of $2 million. That got more complicated after the County Commission asked for a comprehensive assessment of the area during a November board meeting.
The outcome could determine whether the county will do a long-term fix.
"The county wants to spend taxpayer money to see if we're doing it wrong," said Derr said. "I'm certainly opposed to it because it's like reinventing the wheel."
The company installed a similar structure on Casey Key of what is proposed for Beach Road. The Casey Key fix has protected and improved the amount of sand in the targeted area.
But, County Coastal Resources Manager Laird Wreford said in a prior phone interview that it's difficult to determine if an erosion solution will work in a certain location.
"I just don't want to jump into a design-build approach to fix the road, without somebody totally independent looking at this, with no horse in the race," said Commissioner Joe Barbetta.
Commissioners also asked for a legal analysis of the situation to determine the county's obligations regarding public access to the site and a report on the possibility of reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"I don't know if that road can ever be fixed properly," Barbetta said. "I don't want to keep pouring money into a black hole."
In 1986, Sarasota County permanently closed one lane of north Beach Road, as the street continued to crumble under the threat of erosion and residents complained about white stakes placed in the middle of the street.


text:
Sgt. Daniel Grubbs said in a news release that officers checking the home Thursday found Michael Shook dead in a bed with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Grubbs says Shook's former son-in-law — Michael Ray Underwood — was found in a chair in the living room of the home with a gunshot wound to the head and a pistol between his legs.
Grubbs said Underwood is hospitalized in critical condition.
Grubbs said Underwood's ex-wife — Angela Underwood — had recently obtained a protective order against Underwood.
It wasn't clear where Angela Underwood was and police did not immediately return a phone call for further comment.


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All quotes tagged Participants
(956 quotes found)
"Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work."
"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."
"A meeting moves at the speed of the slowest mind in the room. (In other words, all but one participant will be bored, all but one mind underused.)"
"To further the appreciation of culture among all the people, to increase respect for the creative individual, to widen participation by all the processes and fulfillments of art - this is one of the fascinating challenges of these days"
"Such happiness as life is capable of comes from the full participation of all our powers in the endeavor to wrest from each changing situations of experience its own full and unique meaning."
"Look at market fluctuations as your friend rather than your enemy; profit from folly rather than participate in it."
"But of course, what the eagle does not realize is that it is participating in a very crude form of natural selection.
One day a tortoise will learn how to fly."
"Citizen participation is a device whereby public officials induce nonpublic individuals to act in a way the officials desire."


text:
S.D. Regional Jail Project Applies for FEMA Approval
PIERRE, S.D. – A report from the Federal Emergency Management Administration has stalled a regional jail project, but a new solution may get construction back on track.
Part of the selected prison site, near the Pierre police station and the women's prison, lies in the 100-year flood plain, according to FEMA. To prevent damage from potential flooding, FEMA is requiring that a drainage ditch be dug, but in order to dig it, critical utility lines would have to be moved. The city will not issue a building permit unless the project complies with FEMA regulations.
Rather than complete the ditch before starting construction on the rest of the jail, county commissioners plan to apply to FEMA for a Conditional Letter of Map Revision, which will demonstrate that the project will eventually dig the required ditch. If FEMA accepts the letter, the city can issue a building permit and construction can proceed, with bids being opened in November or December.
The delays may mean that the jail project, originally expected to cost $7 million, may instead cost $8 million.


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Immune System
Immunosenescence: What Owners of Old Horses Need to Know
Take a look at how immunosenescence and its effects impact the way owners and veterinarians care for senior horses.
Photo by iStock
How Does Transport Impact Senior Horse Immune Function?
Decreased Immune function following transport could take more than a month to return to normal, researchers found.
Photo by Amanda A. Adams, PhD
Special Report
12 Facts About Vaccinations and the Equine Immune System
Download this special report to learn more about equine vaccines and the immunity they induce.
Immunosenescence: What Owners of Old Horses Need to Know
December 08, 2017
Take a look at how immunosenescence and its effects impact the way owners and veterinarians care for senior horses.... Read More
UK Graduate Student Spotlight: Dr. Fernanda Cesar
October 29, 2017
Cesar is studying neonatal immunology with a focus on R. equi and young foals' immune responses to it.... Read More
Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome Test Available From Gluck
September 24, 2017
About 30% of Fell Ponies and 18% of Dales Ponies are mutation carriers. The syndrome is also found in Gypsy Horses.... Read More
How Does Transport Impact Senior Horse Immune Function?
July 25, 2017
Decreased Immune function following transport could take more than a month to return to normal, researchers found.... Read More
Can Nutrition Boost the Equine Immune System?
July 09, 2017
Researchers are looking at how diet might influence how horses respond to stress and disease.... Read More
Equine Vaccination Q&A
March 07, 2017
Confused by the various vaccine types, schedules, and administration routes for horses? Here's what you need to know. ... Read More
Understanding Foal Immunity In Utero and Beyond
February 15, 2017
The science behind immunity is complex, but many aspects are useful in everyday mare and foal management.... Read More
2017 Mid-Atlantic Nutrition Conference Takes Place April 5-6
February 10, 2017
Equine lecture topics will include feeding endocrine-challenged horses, allergies, equine aging, supplements, and more.... Read More
UK Graduate Student Spotlight: Ashton Miller
November 25, 2016
Miller is studying the immune system of geriatric horses, particularly those with PPID, or equine Cushing's disease.... Read More
What We're Learning About Senior Horses
August 26, 2016
Hot topics include digestion, metabolism, soft tissue injuries, and inflamm-aging.... Read More
Vitamin C: Does it Help Horses With Inflammation?
August 15, 2016
A horse owner wonders if a vitamin C supplement will help her horse with swollen legs.... Read More
A Look at Serum-Based Proteins for Horses
July 20, 2016
Researchers are evaluating the impact of these proteins in combating performance-induced physiologic stress in horses.... Read More
UK Graduate Student Spotlight: Melissa Siard
April 23, 2016
Siard is studying inflamm-aging in senior horses, polyphenols as anti-inflammatory treatments, and more.... Read More
Temperature and Equine Inflammation: Is There a Link?
March 25, 2016
A vet student shares her experience studying equine neutrophil function at various incubation temperatures.... Read More
Researchers Break Down Horses' IBH Reactions
March 11, 2016
Some horses respond to insect bites with inflammation and itching; others react with cellular-level defense mechanisms.... Read More
Understanding the Equine Immune System
December 16, 2015
This important protective system is extremely complex. Here's a rundown of how your horse's immune responses function.... Read More
Superheroes in a Syringe: How Vaccines Work
September 08, 2015
A behind-the-scenes look at how your horse's immune system is best primed for battle. ... Read More
Does Season Impact Old Horses' Immune Function?
May 19, 2015
Senior horses' inflammation levels increased in the spring, while lymphocyte proliferation increased in the fall.... Read More
Infographic: Vaccinating Your Horse
December 15, 2014
Learn how vaccines can protect horses, why they're important, and which ones your horse needs in our visual guide.... Read More
Infographic: Understanding Endotoxemia
October 31, 2014
Endotoxemia is a serious condition with a range of causes, including retained placentas, colic, and skin infections.... Read More
Young Horse Health Threats
June 02, 2014
Protect your foal from three important causes of young horse illness.... Read More
Infographic: Equine Allergies
May 15, 2014
Learn more about allergic reactions in horses with this step-by-step visual guide. ... Read More
Colostrum for Foals
April 14, 2014
To a newborn foal, colostrum can mean the difference between life and death.... Read More
Gluck Foundation Releases Fifth Research Report
March 28, 2014
The report focuses on research accomplishments and scientific publications during the 2013 calendar year.... Read More
Understanding Immunosenescence in Horses
January 27, 2014
Researchers are still working to fully understand what impact aging has on the equine immune system.... Read More
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Spleen Problems
Q. I remember reading that a horse's spleen is unique, but my friend said that horses don't even have a spleen. What's the truth?


text:
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Both Boil Water Advisories have been lifted and Sewerage and Water Board crews continue to work around the clock to find and repair leaks throughout New Orleans to strengthen the City's water pressure.
Visit NOLA Ready
eGov Services • 1300 Perdido St, New Orleans, LA 70112 • (504) 658-4000
Home » Mayor's Office » Press Releases » 2013 » 20130115 Seminar will offer hands-on training in film industry technical trades
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NEW ORLEANS, LA –The Mayor's Office of Cultural Economy, in partnership with Jefferson Parish, New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 478 will host a free two-day weekend seminar in the grip and electric trades for the film industry on February 16 and 17, 2013.
The seminar, called "Ready Set Film," will target 40 regional workers with an interest in working in the city's growing film industry. NOVAC is currently seeking applicants for this program, particularly those with some experience in electrical, construction or comparable trades.
"As the film industry in New Orleans continues to grow, so does the demand for skilled workers," said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. "This seminar is an extraordinary opportunity for our local residents to get hands-on training and an opportunity to work on the feature films, television or commercial projects filming in our city."
The two-day intensive training will be taught by film industry veterans and union department heads. The seminar will include instruction on safety requirements, technical terms, use of lighting and rigging equipment which are skills required to work in grip and electric departments on feature films and television sets. The training will also fulfill two days of a thirty day "on set" requirement for entry into the local film industry trade union, IATSE Local 478.
In 2013 New Orleans hosted a total of 61 tax credit film projects with local estimated spending of $669 million. "The increase in the number of productions filming in New Orleans has resulted in an increased demand for skilled workers to fill those jobs. The City is hosting this grip and electric training to provide locals with the opportunity to obtain the requisite skills for an entry-level position for anyone interested in working in tradecraft for the film industry," said Scott Hutcheson, the Mayor's Advisor for Cultural Economy.
The February training will be held at Spectrum FX, a special effects studio, in Harahan, La.
Applicants must be 18 years old or older and must send a current resume and cover letter to firstname.lastname@example.com. For more information about the training, visit novacvideo.org or call 504-940-5780. The deadline to apply is January 25 at 5:00 p.m. Phone interviews will be scheduled for January 29 to February 1 and those accepteds will be notified on February 5. For more information about the training, visit http://novacvideo.org or contact the NOVAC offices at 504-940-5780.
Last updated: 5/18/2016 2:16:24 PM


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• Johnathon Cowen, 25, delivery of a controlled substance — $7,500.
Over the last year, agents with the 5th Judicial Drug Task Force (DTF) met once with Cowen through the use of a confidential informant and allegedly purchased about a quarter-pound of marijuana from Cowen.
• Shawn D. Douthit, 36, two counts delivery of a controlled substance — $100,000.
Over the last six months, DTF agents met twice with Douthit through the use of a confidential informant, allegedly purchasing from him a total of over three grams of methamphetamine.
Douthit, who is on parole for child pornography-related charges from five years ago, has allegedly failed to report to his parole officer recently.
• Ronald D. Esserman, 37, aggravated assault, terroristic threatening — $50,000.
Deputies with the Pope County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence on Esserman Lane Tuesday where they made contact with a woman who claimed Esserman was walking outside her residence and picked up a shovel, and then went inside, pointed the shovel at her and told her he was going to kill her. Esserman, who lives up the road from the residence, then said he was going to return "when the lights go oout" and kill her and his father with a shotgun, according to the report.
Esserman is currently on parole for methamphetamine-related charges.


text: A lecture course introducing the major texts of the Taoist philosophical tradition and the history and structure of the Taoist religion, China's only indigenous higher religion. Readings include primary and secondary works. This course attends to the full range of Taoist ideas and practices, including revealed scriptures, social and communal structures, meditative and other self-cultivational techniques (dietary, sexual, alchemical, monastic practices), rituals and festivals. Film and slide materials form an integral part of the course. Requirements include: tests and short papers. This course carries COAS Culture Studies Credit.


text: View Blog Post On Our Site Here Extending the life of your diamond blades can be tiring and sometimes annoying. When youre out on the job, you want to get started as fast as you can and get on to the next project. Time is money, and that is exactly why you should follow these 3 steps to ensure you are getting the absolute most out of your diamond blade investment. 1. Use Water can it be a pain? Yes. Is it worth it? DEFINITELY! Using water limits the dust making it safer and cleaner cutting. Also, it keeps the diamond blade cool which can increase blade life up to 30% 2. Use the correct diamond blade for your application I hear it all the time, my guys wont change the blade off of the Husqvarna when we go from cutting concrete to asphalt My response is always the same, be prepared to spend more on your blades. It is well worth the blade change out if you cut both materials frequently. Also, you can get a combo blade like the Sidewinder which can cut both asphalt and concrete equally well. 3. Make sure your equipment is tuned up and working properly- Look, if you dont maintain your saws and equipment, it can easily damage or warp a blade. You need to check and make sure the diamond blade is aligned properly on the saw and that the flanges are clean and secure. Following these simple steps can go a long way. Many times, two different customers get the same blade but have completely different feedback. After more fact finding, I always find out that the customer who had a problem, was not following any of the steps I mentioned above. If you have any questions on any of these, please reach out to me and I can go into them in more detail.


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By Staff Writer | March 1, 2008
U.S. Army aviation faces tough times ahead, and must face them without key proven leaders. The branch has prevailed in tough slogging, engaged as it has been in an intense level of combat operations in southwest Asia and in the global war on terror since 2001. Those battles will continue, but will be joined by ones of a different — and nearly as dangerous kind. The branch must fight for survival in the bureaucratic arenas of Washington.
Army aviation has lived for the last several years on a dedicated stream of funding: the $14 billion plus freed up by the 2004 cancelation of the RAH-66 Comanche. A White House-approved plan set that amount aside for modernization of Army vertical-lift capability and led to the Bell Helicopter armed reconnaissance ARH-70A, the EADS North America utility UH-72A, and increased production and upgrades of Boeing's AH-64D Apache and CH-47 Chinook and Sikorsky Aircraft's UH-60, as well as new unmanned and fixed-wing platforms.
But that funding stream is coming to an end. Army aviation will have to fight to pay for its substantial sustainment and upgrade needs (given ongoing combat operations) against all other Army branches, as well as other military and national-security agencies and federal departments in what is widely expected to be a more stringent federal budget environment. It will have to undertake those fights without key advocates, Army insiders say.
Gen. Richard A. Cody, the first Army aviator to have served as Army vice chief of staff, is retiring from that position and the service this year. (Cody is shown above with Army Secretary Pete Geren.) He will be succeeded by Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, now the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq, in running the Army's day-to-day operations.
Maj. Gen. Virgil Packett, Army Aviation branch chief and the commanding general of the Army Aviation Warfighting Center and Fort Rucker, Ala., also is retiring within the year, these sources said, as is Brig. Gen. Stephen Mundt, director of Army Aviation. Their successors will help determine the fate of Army aviation for years to come.


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With the threat of bad weather looming over M.J. Hickey Park, the Lady Cyclones (17-7) needed to put the game out of reach early. Russellville steadily added runs until its spread was enough to invoke the AAA's mercy rule in after five innings.
"We got something good out of tonight," Lady Cyclones head coach Harley Sisson said after the game. "Anytime you play someone you should beat on paper, you are always trying to get better and keep from playing down. We didn't do that. We got something good out of tonight."
From there, it was up to the Lady Cyclones defense to close out the game. Sophomore pitcher Andrea Kindrick struck out the final three batters to set the final score at 10-0.
Kindrick, who has struck out 231 batters and only allowed one earned run so far this season, threw a perfect game and added 12 more strikeouts to her tally.
"I don't think she ever got behind on pitching," Sisson said. "When you're pitching you always want to stay ahead on strikes against walks, and she didn't just go out there and throw nothing but fastballs. She worked all her pitchers and had good control of them. It doesn't matter how good a team is, throwing a perfect game is doing something right. She's just an amazing young lady."
Meanwhile, the Lady Cyclones moved through their batting lineup twice in two innings.
After Kindrick struck out the first three Fillies batters in the first inning, the Lady Cyclones went to work. Pine Bluff walked Kayla Sisco to start things out. Jocelyn Brown's RBI single put Russellville on the scoreboard and a few batters later Ashley Pizzolato's sacrifice moved Brown across the plate.
In the bottom of the second inning, Pine Bluff hit a line drive but Russellville shortstop Haley Frost made a diving catch to save Kindrick's perfect game.
The Lady Cyclones added two more in the bottom of the second. Dianna Hale crossed the plate first when she stole home on a wild pitch, and Victoria Teague added the other run moments later. Kindrick hit a line drive deep to centerfield, but on the next play Kindrick's replacement runner was gunned down trying to steal second to close out the inning.
Russellville went up 8-0, two of which came on a two-RBI ground ball by Hale, which scored Pizzolato and Frost. Teague's RBI scored Purtscher, who raced home as Pine Bluff kicked the ball around near third base.
Pizzolato's RBI double scored Sydney Tolliver and made it 9-0 in the bottom of the fourth and Jacey Neagles scored Teague on a single to threaten the mercy rule.
"Jacey works so diligently on being a good hitter," Sisson said. "And that's what she does for us. She comes in and gets hits like that. It's nice to have someone like her on the bench who can come in when you need her."
The Lady Cyclones proceeded to load the bases, but a double play halted Russellville's progress and took the game into the fifth inning, where Kindrick put the game away.
Russellville will face the winner between Lake Hamilton and Jonesboro at 7:30 p.m. today at M.J. Hickey Park.
Cyclones 3, Pine Bluff 1
BENTON — The Russellville Cyclones scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to edge past the Pine Bluff Zebras, 3-1 Thursday in the Class 6A state playoffs.
Russellville (12-13) head coach Matt Long said Mark Moyer's pitching was a key to the game. Moyer struck out nine in six innings and only allowed five hits.
"Moyer has always been good," Long said. "But we've finally started finding ways to score and playing some defense to help him out."
Cody Underhill's two-RBI single set the final score, but Cody Campbell started things off with a single, and a race to third on an error at centerfield. Andrew Elam scored Campbell on the next at bat.
Russellville hit well early in the game, but was unable to score until Elam's RBI. Andy Campbell was 2-for-3 batting and Mitch Mullen was 1-for-3 with a double.
The Cyclones will take on No.1 Benton at 2:30 p.m. Today. Long said that the challenge would be handled like any other.
"We'll take it one pitch at a time," he said.


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Under the 2006 Masha Law, Masha Allen can sue the 14 jailed men, which includes her adoptive father
By Maryclaire Dale
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — A child pornography victim from Pennsylvania is using a law that carries her name to seek at least $150,000 each from her father and 13 other jailed men.
The 2006 "Masha's Law" is named for Masha Allen, a Russian orphan adopted at age 5 by divorced Pittsburgh millionaire Matthew Mancuso. He's in prison for making pornographic images of her that were widely distributed online.
The FBI sought the identity of the child known as the "Internet Girl" or "Disney World Girl" and located Masha in 2003, when she was 10.
She is now 20 and has changed her name to regain some measure of privacy after testifying in Congress. She filed the federal lawsuit Friday in Philadelphia under the name Jane Doe.
The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported on the case Tuesday.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press
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- Legal


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Cook County sheriff seeks probe into chief prosecutor for possible inappropriate relationship with minor
DULUTH - Because Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell prosecutes people who commit sex crimes with minors, and because he is accused of having an inappropriate romantic relationship with a 17-year-old girl, Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk has asked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate Scannell.
Jill Oliveira, public information officer for the BCA, said Tuesday that the agency wouldn't comment on the nature or subject of the investigation.
Later Tuesday, Falk explained the reason he requested the investigation.
Falk said his office "didn't understand the gravity" of the situation until a judge signed an order for Scannell to stay away from the teenager and her parents. The court found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Scannell had harassed the girl by following, pursuing or stalking her and by making harassing phone calls. The restraining order remains in effect until Dec. 4, 2014.
According to the petition that sought the restraining order, signed by both of the girl's parents, Scannell, 46, is known to the victim and her family as a friend, coach, mentor and volunteer. He gave the girl guitar lessons and coached her in a summer tennis program.
On Dec. 15 of last year, Daniel Schlienz went to Scannell's office in the Cook County Courthouse with a loaded handgun, minutes after he was convicted of criminal sexual conduct with a teenage girl. Schlienz shot and wounded Gregory Thompson of Grand Marais, a witness subpoenaed to testify in the trial, and then went for Scannell. The county attorney was shot once in the chest below his heart and twice in the right thigh.
"I just think that the public is going to perceive a correlation of the relationships; looking at what Dan Schlienz was accused of and convicted of, rightfully so, and looking at the country attorney apparently being involved in a relationship with a 17-year-old, and when did that start?''
Falk said it would have been a conflict of interest for his office to investigate the prosecutor with whom it works so closely. He consulted with a prosecutor and a sheriff from outside Cook County before deciding to ask for the
BCA investigation.
Scannell was described in a February Minnesota Public Radio story discussing the pattern of older men pursuing teenage girls that many residents say has occurred for decades in Grand Marais.
Scannell told reporter Dan Kraker that he only began to understand that historic pattern after he was shot. "Before the trial, he didn't think Grand Marais was different than anywhere else," Kraker wrote. "He thought older men targeted younger girls everywhere."
He quoted Scannell as saying: "What I've learned is that Dan Schlienz was sort of brought into that approach with girls by some other adult males. So I think it is a longer-term problem than I realized on the front end."
In the MPR story, Scannell discussed earlier Cook County attempts to prosecute Schlienz for violating a restraining order against a underage teen, but the girl backed out of testifying against Schlienz.
Scannell expressed sympathy toward the girl's unwillingness to be a prosecution witness, Kraker said.
"You are shining a bright light on yourself, and you're putting yourself in a position where you're incredibly vulnerable, after already being victimized," Scannell was quoted as saying. "So it's no small thing."
No petition filed
A woman in Scannell's office said Tuesday that he is out of the office this week. Scannell's Minneapolis attorney, Joe Tamburino, said last week that his client has not committed a crime or any act of harassment. He also said that the incident did not involve his position as the Cook County attorney, nor was he in any position of authority during any of the alleged events.
The 17-year-old girl's mother said that Scannell came to her place of employment on Sept. 25 and told her he loved her daughter and that his relationship with her became physical over the summer with "kissing and touching, but nothing illegal." The age of consent in Minnesota is 16.
There have been media reports this week that a petition has been filed to remove Scannell from office. No such petition had been filed as of late Tuesday.
Patricia Turgeon, assistant director of communications/press secretary for the Minnesota Secretary of State, provided a brief synopsis of the requirements to remove a county official from office:
- A petition must be submitted to the county auditor with the signatures of registered county voters equivalent to 25 percent of the vote for that office at the last election.
- The petition must allege facts that, if proven, constitute malfeasance or nonfeasance of official duties. If it fails to do so, the petition may be dismissed by the chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
- Those facts must be proven by a special master to be appointed by the chief justice.
- Only if the factual allegations are proven by clear and convincing evidence at a public hearing and those facts constitute malfeasance or nonfeasance of official duties, or the named officials waive their rights, shall a removal election be held.
Cook County Auditor Braidy Powers said his office had not received such a petition as of late Tuesday afternoon. Powers attended the Cook County Board meeting earlier Tuesday and said a member of the public said they were considering filing such a petition against Scannell.
Cook County Board Chairwoman Janice Hall didn't return a phone call seeking comment.


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IMO, Lin killed the fluidity of the game today. Key word "today"
Also foul trouble.
IMO, Lin killed the fluidity of the game today. Key word "today"
Also foul trouble.
Real Talk
Seems like the refs are controlling the momentum of the game, i think they're trying to help us comeback only so they can screw us over in the 4th
We need some leadership from our stars Melo lacks that quality idk why he doesn't command our team.
This is exactly what I was talking about, we've mastered the art of blowing the lead in Boston games.
They can still win this game.
Signature created by AmareforPresident
Keys to Victory:
1.Baron needs to stay as our PG to finish the game.
2.Carmelo needs to wake the f*ck up and score some points.
3.Amare honestly isnt too bad today but THATS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR 100mil
it's only an 8 point lead, that's 2 quick Novak three's and we're back.
there has to be a way to stop Rondo, where's Girafferies when you need him?
have there been any patented flops today? wtf? what's worse is Rondo getting another triple-double at the expense of my fantasy team, damn Rondo you beasting tard!
Signature created by AmareforPresident


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KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Osceola County's clerk of court has issued a detailed dress code for courthouse workers in Osceola County.
The new dress code provides exact examples and pictures of what is appropriate to wear for men and women.
[READ: New dress code | Old dress code]
According to officials with Clerk of Court Armando Ramirez, Ramirez believed the current dress code was not specific enough in that it allowed too much room for interpretation. Officials said that some employees took advantage of the loopholes and lack of specificity.
"Employees have taken advantage of loopholes and ambiguities, and the new policy is simply a guideline to help them make better professional choices," said Marvin Cortner, the clerk's spokesperson.
"The policy will ensure that employees always dress professionally and appropriately and that they will now have better guidelines when buying clothes intended to be worn to work," according to a statement from Ramirez's office.
Among the banned clothes are leggings, shirts with "excessive sequins," ankle high boots or "club shoes." According to the policy, a doctor's note is needed to wear solid white or black athletic shoes and sandals must have more than one strap.
The new policy, which runs 6 pages, was formed through senior and mid-level management, with most of the work involved performed by our special projects team whose members looked at dress codes in private business and other clerk of court offices, according to the statement.
One of the most interesting additions to the policy though was a quote from the 1956 film, "The Ten Commandments," which reads "So let it be written, so let it be done," above Ramirez's signature.
"It's simply for internal use only, it's a stamp, which is essentially equivalent to approved by Mr. Ramirez," Corner said.
Court officials said there are no new changes to the policy and that it's juts better defined, but Local 6 counted at least a dozen new changes between the two policies.
Courthouse employees have a little more than week to sign and date the new policy.
Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Administration proposes federal prevailing wage for state construction
HILARY NILES, VTDigger.org
Construction bids for state-funded capital construction projects could soon be subject to wage requirements that alter the way in which companies compete for the jobs.
Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan told lawmakers Wednesday that Gov. Peter Shumlin's administration is advocating a switch to the federal prevailing wage as the basis for contract requirements on state capital construction projects. The administration also suggests requiring a prevailing wage for construction workers for all state-funded capital construction projects, regardless of how much they cost.
Maintenance and construction carried out by the Agency of Transportation or the Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation would remain exempt from the regulation, as would construction projects paid for by the Education Fund. State capital construction funded by both federal and state monies already are subject to federal prevailing wage laws.
Deb Damore, purchasing and contracting director for Buildings and General Services, said Wednesday her department had not yet calculated the potential financial impact of the change, but that BGS supports the move "in principle."
Currently, state-funded capital contracts worth more than $100,000 require that construction workers be paid the state's prevailing wage, which in many cases is a lower hourly rate that does not factor fringe benefits into its calculations. The federal rate does calculate compensation such as health and dental insurance into its prevailing wage.
The issue is a point of contention between companies in the highly competitive construction industry because many unionized employees negotiate for fringe benefits as part of their overall compensation packages.
The issue was explored in a 2013 study of the state's prevailing wage laws. Noonan and Damore briefed a joint hearing of the House General, Housing and Military Affairs and Corrections and Institutions committees on the report Wednesday afternoon.
Labor and business representatives were involved in the study, along with staff from the Department of Labor and Buildings and General Services. According to the report, authored by Noonan, labor representatives had pushed for the change, while business representatives resisted it.
The labor constituency says the state prevailing wage puts unionized shops at a competitive disadvantage for large state jobs. To be eligible to bid, they have to pay the prevailing rate on top of benefits, which adds to their operating costs.
Business representatives say the state prevailing wage works fine as it is, and that collective bargaining considerations are largely irrelevant in Vermont, where only about 10 percent of contractors are unionized.
Neither side minds the suggestion to eliminate the price threshold that triggers a prevailing wage requirement, Noonan said. The administration is proposing to apply the requirement to all state-funded capital construction projects.
A related bill is under consideration in the House General, Housing and Military Affairs Committee. Lawmakers hope to finalize any proposed changes before completing the capital spending bill later this month.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


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BLACKHAWK PRODUCTS GROUP Mountain Slings w/Swivels
BlackHawk Mountain Sling w/Stainless Steel Swivel
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SPECIFICATIONS:Mfg Item Num: 73SM01BK Category: SLINGS & SWIVELS Type :SlingSwivel Size :1 1/4"Length :AdjustableWidth :1 1/4"Color :BlackMaterial :Nylon Webbing


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An alternative hypothesis was suggested to me years ago by a veteran China-watcher.
Podmore thinks them to have been unduly suggestible and offers hallucinations as an alternative hypothesis.
No alternative hypothesis prevails, mere desultory criticism of the internal intricacies being quite inadequate.
Then we proposed an alternative hypothesis, logically simpler, though more difficult from the moral point of view.
Ashley points out the difficulties involved in this theory, and suggests an alternative hypothesis.
An alternative hypothesis is given by the idea of complex ions.


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"This year, we have a cast of over 100 people with 30 to 40 speaking parts," Co-Director Jason Muncy said. "The rest of the people give the city the crowded feel."
The production, a guided walk-through drama that takes about 25 minutes, revisits the story of the birth of Jesus.
"Everyone was in Bethlehem to be counted for the census, so the city was busy and there was no place to stay," Muncy said. "The audience goes through the city, stopping and talking at the shops and other places until you end at the manger. It's like you're part of the story."
The church has "super-sized" the nativity scene, Muncy said.
"It's over 13,000 square feet," he said. "It's bigger than last time. We have sheep, goats, donkeys, a camel and may have chickens and a cow. Everyone assumes because it's Hector that it's going to be small, but it's not. Every year, people tell us they've made it a tradition for their family."
In 2011, more than 3,000 people took the walk-through tour.
In addition to increasing the size of the tour, the church has added sights, smells and sounds in an effort to increase the audience's experience.
"It transports you to a different place," Muncy said. "You see it, hear it and sometimes even smell it. It's very cool."
Shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14 and are free and open to the public. The audience will be divided into groups of 15-20 people. Groups waiting to begin their tour will wait in the church sanctuary where entertainment will be provided on the screens. Attendees are encouraged to dress warmly.
Churches and community groups can make a reservation to take the tour Dec. 15 by calling Hector First Assembly of God at (479) 284-3026.


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Clarence Fanto: Cashing in on benefit concert shameful
Can someone explain why a high-profile event to aid folks in need has to be contaminated by vultures seeking to make a quick buck?
The marathon, internationally televised rock concert at New York's Madison Square Garden to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy has raised double-digit millions -- the exact amount was still being tallied by the Robin Hood Foundation at this writing. We do know that proceeds from ticket sales totaled $30 million, including corporate sponsors, but plenty more was presumably raised from donations online and by phone as well as merchandise purchased on-site.
It was inspiring to see a Who's Who of legendary performers -- Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Mick Jagger and the Stones, McCartney, Joel, the Who, Clapton, many more -- joined by younger stars like Alicia Keys and Kanye West in an uplifting display of generosity and community spirit.
New York, of course, has a tradition of marquee events like this, memorably seen at the Concert for New York in the aftermath of 9/11, and the mix of bravado, pride and compassion for those suffering from the storm's ravages certainly packs a powerful emotional wallop.
Sadly, the event was tainted by reports of widespread profiteering by scalpers who snapped up thousands of tickets (13,500 seats were available) the second they went on sale on the Web. Many of these tickets were resold by secondary marketers such as StubHub, where asking prices were astronomical, especially for prime seats near the stage (up to $48,000 apiece!).
Just hours before the Wednesday night concert, which ran from 7:30 p.m. until just after 1 a.m., several hundred ducats were still listed on StubHub for up to $6,500.
State lawmakers in Albany would do well to finally pass proposed legislation outlawing the resale of tickets for charitable events at a markup. Any such law would be thwarted by diehards, of course, but it would cut down on the volume of scalping. Previous efforts to crack down on profiteering for all concerts have failed ever since the legislature deregulated ticket sales in 2007, all in the name of a thriving free market.
For reasons perhaps not so hard to fathom, major arenas, the StubHub sites and their competitors, promoters and, of course, ticket brokers, are all in favor of letting the demand dictate the price.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York joined the chorus of outrage days ahead of the concert by urging the secondary ticket-marketers not to accept the inflated listings, to no avail.
"Every dollar spent for these concert tickets should go to help the victims of Superstorm Sandy, not to line the pockets of unscrupulous scalpers," Schumer stated. "Ticket resale Web sites have the opportunity to make it much more difficult for scalpers to make money off this charitable event, and they should seize it." At least StubHub was shamed into donating its markup (25 percent on each ticket sold) to the Robin Hood Foundation -- several hundred thousand dollars. StubHub execs argued that they allowed the profiteering to continue because the scam artists would simply turn to EBay, Craigslist and other sites which had no plans to donate proceeds.
Good for Ticketmaster, the official distributor of tickets on line, which acknowledged the scalpers' efforts to snag huge blocks of tickets by using high-speed computer programs. Ticketmaster's own techies sought to block some of those sales and also banned resales on its own subsidiaries, TicketsNow and Ticket Exchange.
In the past, I've blasted the practice of secondary ticket sales for all concerts, the polite term for sanctioned scalping, arguing that it's unfair to individual buyers without access to those superspeed computers and that the practice creates ticket inequality in favor of the rich who don't mind paying inflated prices. People I respect -- especially sports fans -- have pushed back, contending that the StubHubbers and their ilk are simply a reflection of free enterprise, the American way.
Maybe so, but when it comes to relief concerts like 12-12-12, free enterprise should take a back seat to the spirit of giving and folks at all income levels should have equal opportunity to contribute to the cause and to hear a memorable gathering of rock talent.
After tearing through "A New York State of Mind," Billy Joel stated, "We're going to get through all this. This is New York and New Jersey and Long Island, and we're just too mean to lay down and die."
That gently combative spirit suited the occasion perfectly. As for those counting their ill-gotten gains, shame on you.
Clarence Fanto can be contacted at email@example.com, or
(413) 637-2551
On Twitter, @BE_cfanto.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


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This is not your grandmother's 'rasslin.' You won't see Rick Flair, Hulk Hogan or Stone Cold Steve Austin at one of these matches. This is wrestling Greco-Roman style.
"The initial response has been really good and wrestling will come to Arkansas. The big question is when," Russellville athletic director Jim Dickerson said. "For it to be recognized by the Arkansas Activities Association ( AAA) as a championship sport, you have to have at least 16 teams competing in it. It also has to go before the AAA Board of Directors, and they have to vote on it."
The time frame is not very clear when the first AAA recognized wrestling matches will take place in Arkansas, but Dickerson says that has been the case with other sports in the past.
"It took several years for sports like soccer and swimming to be recognized by the AAA," Dickerson said. "I think wrestling is coming, but it will be 2-3 years before it gets recognized."
Of the 50 states in the country, only two do not currently have wrestling at the high school level. This point has led Dickerson to believe that Arkansas needs to take the initiative in implementing its program.
"Mississippi and Arkansas are the only states that do not have wrestling," Dickerson said. "That is what I have been told by the Arkansas Wrestling Association."
Some schools are looking at wrestling as a way to answer some Title IX issues their schools face. Title IX states that there has to be an equal amount of sports for men and women.
"Wrestling is not only a men's sport. That was the initial concern among several schools. They were concerned how it would affect their Title IX status," Dickerson said. "I would like to see both men's and women's wrestling. They (AAA) are putting together a survey to see what the interest is among both males and females."
At the local level, Terry Davis of the L.V. Williamson Boys and Girls Club has been instrumental in bringing wrestling to not only the Arkansas River Valley but to the entire state.
"Terry has been working along with Harold Taylor at the L.V. Williamson Boys and Girls Club. They have been teaching and coaching wrestling there for the past five or six years," Dickerson said. "Greg Hatcher, the president of the Arkansas Wrestling Association in Little Rock, has been an advocate in the state and has spearheaded this attempt to bring wrestling to the high school level."
Unlike football or basketball, the cost of starting wrestling is relatively minimal, according to Dickerson.
"First, we would have to have mats, and they cost around $9,000. Then we need uniforms, which would cost about $20 apiece, and then the cost of protective head gear," Dickerson said. "The head gear is very important to protect the athletes' ears. We don't want the athletes to be disfigured with cauliflower ear."
The main concern of wrestling is providing insurance that would cover the athletes. The AAA provides catastrophic insurance to protect athletes who have been severely injured during a sporting event.
"The thing right now is catastrophic insurance. With the different kinds of holds that are used, it can be dangerous if they are not executed properly," Dickerson said. "We want the athletes to be covered in case the unfortunate happens."
The acceptance of wrestling throughout the state has been mixed. Strong support for the sport lies in Northwest Arkansas with its close proximity to both Oklahoma and Missouri, two states that have strong wrestling programs. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is located in Stillwater, Okla.
"The attitude toward wrestling has really been mixed. Fayetteville, Bentonvillle and Springdale are starting wrestling programs," Dickerson said. "On the other hand, athletic directors like Conway's 'Buzz' Bolding has taken a wait-and-see approach. He wants to see what the response is to developing a wrestling program from the survey before putting out any money."
One Arkansas school has been competing in wrestling for over half a century according to Dickerson.
"Arkansas School for the Blind has been competing in wrestling for more than 60 years," Dickerson said. "Of course, they have been traveling out of state to do so."
One area that would help sell wrestling in Arkansas would be if the state colleges such as the University of Arkansas or Arkansas Tech would field a wrestling team.
"If the state colleges were offering wrestling, it would probably be easier to sell it to the kids. It would give them a chance to earn athletic scholarships without having to go so far from home," Dickerson said. "A lot of colleges that used to offer wrestling scholarships have dropped their programs because of Title IX. Wrestling has taken a hit over the past 10 years."
The process may be slow, but Dickerson is confident wrestling will be part of Arkansas' sports world in the next few years.
"We are in the discovery phase right now," Dickerson said. "We just don't want it to go the way of gymnastics. Gymnastics has a small group of schools that participate scattered across the state, and travel for them to compete is difficult, and it makes it hard to schedule an event."
While no decision has been made as of yet, Dickerson believes a decision could be reached as soon as November on whether or not Russellville will have a wrestling team.
"At the latest it should be November when we find out," Dickerson said. "It could be earlier but I really believe it will be then. I feel our chances are good."


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Jesse Holloman entered the plea Tuesday in Independence County Circuit Court and was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the November 2010 death of Harley Davidson. The Batesville Daily Guard reported Holloman was sentenced to another six years in prison after also pleading guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia.
Prosecutor Don McSpadden said he and the child's mother agreed to the plea deal because they feared Holloman might be found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Authorities said Holloman killed the child and left her body in a refrigerator — where it was later found by the girl's mother
An autopsy determined the girl died of asphyxiation.