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Padres relieve GM Byrnes of duties
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
SAN DIEGO -- Ron Fowler, executive chairman of the Padres, bristled a bit Sunday when he was asked if the dismissal of Josh Byrnes as general manager was a step back for the organization.
"This is a reset," Fowler said. "This is not a step back. We're doing this so that we could move forward. We expect continuous improvement from the organization. We're getting it in other areas. We are not getting it on the baseball field."
The Padres, who dropped to 32-44 following a loss to the Dodgers, dismissed Byrnes following two-plus seasons as general manager of the team shortly before first pitch on Sunday.
Only the D-backs trail the Padres in the National League West, with the first-place Giants 13 1/2 games up on San Diego. There are 10 teams ahead of the Padres in the NL Wild-Card race.
Byrnes wasn't immediately available for comment Sunday.
The Padres have scored the fewest runs in baseball. They have scored 225 runs this season -- or 42 fewer than the 29th ranked team (Braves). They also rank last in the big leagues in batting average (.214), on-base percentage (.274), and slugging (.339).
There had been rumblings and rumors locally that the team was considering changes, either up top with Byrnes or possibly manager Bud Black. Mike Dee, team president and CEO of the Padres, said the Padres will keep Black at least through the end of the season.
"This was a decision that was not made in a day or two or a week or two. The last couple months, we've seen a team we had high expectations for. Those expectations have not been reached," said Dee.
Assistant general managers A.J. Hinch and Fred Uhlman Jr. and Omar Minaya, the senior vice president of baseball operations, will oversee the general manager duties on an interim basis.
Dee said the search for a new general manager "begins immediately." And while Hinch and Minaya will certainly merit consideration, there seems to be a sentiment that the hire will come from the outside -- and, quite possibly, could occur soon.
"I think this is a pretty juicy job for someone who wants to be a general manager," Dee said. "… It will be someone with a near-, mid- and long-term vision of what we want to be as an organization."
Boston assistant general manager Mike Hazen, who has a history with Dee, will likely figure prominently on the Padres' wish list. He's been a farm director and has a wide base of front-office experience going back to his days working with the Indians.
Billy Eppler, assistant general manager of the Yankees and a San Diego native, fits the bill of someone who could be a name of interest.
When he was hired in October 2011, Byrnes was the third GM in a three-year span. His tenure with the Padres rates as more favorable in terms of his trade history than any free agents or contract extensions that he helped broker.
Byrnes was hired by the Padres as their vice president of baseball operations on Dec. 3, 2010, reuniting him with Padres executive chairman Jeff Moorad, the former CEO of the Diamondbacks.
Byrnes was hired by Moorad in Arizona in October 2005 and was later given an eight-year contract extension that would have taken him through 2015. But Byrnes was dismissed by the D-backs in July 2010.
On Oct. 26, 2011, the Padres promoted Byrnes to general manager, a move that saw Jed Hoyer, then general manager of the Padres, head to Chicago to serve in the same role with the Cubs. His deal was reported to be for five years with an option, running through 2017.
Lauded by his peers for being methodical, creative and also for his baseball acumen, Byrnes traded for pitcher Tyson Ross after the 2012 season and needed only to give the A's two Minor League players, Andrew Werner and Andy Parrino. In 51 games, including 32 starts, Ross has a 1.6 WAR with a 9-15 record and 3.19 ERA.
The Padres acquired closer Huston Street at the 2011 Winter Meetings from the Rockies for Minor League pitcher Nick Schmidt. Street has become one of the most dependable closers in the big leagues, compiling a 3.7 WAR with 94 saves with the highest save percentage (96.2 percent) in the game since 2012.
Under Byrnes, the Padres swapped popular first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the Cubs for starting pitcher Andrew Cashner, who looks the part of a frontline starting pitcher.
This past winter, Byrnes dealt another popular player, reliever Luke Gregerson, to the A's for outfielder Seth Smith, who has become the most reliable bat in the Padres lineup.
There have been deals that haven't worked out, too.
The five-player deal with the Reds in December 2011, one that saw the Padres ship pitcher Mat Latos to the Reds for four players, hasn't provided enough of a return. Catcher Yasmani Grandal, an important piece to the deal, was suspended for 50 games a year ago after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone.
A handful of extensions done by Byrnes haven't paid off, as the team inked outfielder Carlos Quentin to a $27 million extension in July 2012 after trading for him on Dec. 31, 2011. Quentin has had three knee surgeries since he joined the organization and hasn't played in more than 86 games in his first two seasons with the team.
During Spring Training 2012, Byrnes agreed to pre-arbitration deals with three players -- pitcher Cory Luebke, outfielder Cameron Maybin and catcher Nick Hundley.
Since then, Luebke has had Tommy John surgery twice, Hundley was traded to the Orioles last month and Maybin played in just 13 games a year ago and has failed to match the offensive success he had in 2011, his first season with the team.
The Padres have also been plagued by a number of injuries to their top players; Chase Headley, Quentin, Jedd Gyorko, Yonder Alonso and Maybin have all missed time the last few years due to injury. The arms have been hit hard by injury as well, as Luebke, Josh Johnson, Casey Kelly and Joe Wieland have had Tommy John surgery.
This past winter, Byrnes rolled the dice and signed Johnson to a one-year deal for $8 million. Johnson, who had health issues last season with the Jays, suffered an elbow injury in Spring Training and later needed Tommy John surgery, the second in his career.
"It's tough when this happens," said Padres pitcher Ian Kennedy, who Byrnes traded for twice. "... The players are the reason we aren't performing up to our standards. Josh assembled the team, but we've still got to go out and play."
The Padres raised their payroll from $68 million to $90 million this season and the team signed off on a $35 million contract extension in April for Gyorko.
"You expect better performance. We gave baseball ops [operations] a clean slate as far as what they want and what they want to do," Fowler said. "We're standing here as a result of that not working."
As is the case with others in his line of work, some of Byrnes' deals and trades worked out. Some didn't.
Now the Padres will embark on finding another general manager to help lead the baseball side of the organization.
"We will hire great baseball people. We want baseball people with baseball experience to make baseball decisions for this organization. We want someone who wants to be in San Diego," Dee said.
"We are going to look forward, not back."
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. Keep track of @FollowThePadres on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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New Amish Communities Being Founded at high rate
A new census of the Amish population in the United States estimates that a new Amish community is founded, on average, about every 3 ½ weeks, and shows that more than 60 percent of all existing Amish settlements have been founded since 1990.
This pattern suggests the Amish are growing more rapidly than most other religions in the United States, researchers say. Unlike other religious groups, however, the growth is not driven by converts joining the faith, but instead can be attributed to large families and high rates of baptism.
In all, the census counts almost 251,000 Amish in the United States and Ontario, Canada, dispersed among 456 settlements, the communities in which members live and worship. The 1990 census estimated that there were 179 settlements in the United States.
If the growth of the Amish population continues at its current rate, the Ohio State University researchers predict that the census could exceed 1 million Amish and 1,000 settlements shortly after 2050, and these numbers will bring economic, cultural, social and religious change to the rural areas that attract Amish settlement.
Among the changes the researchers predict: Amish will buy up land vacated by farmers in rural areas close to community services, but the availability of farmland might not keep pace with population growth. This means many Amish men will likely look for nonfarm jobs such as woodworking and construction trades, which could affect land prices and potentially enhance local economies through the establishment of business startups.
The census restricts the count to Amish among the "Old Orders," those who maintain a horse-and-buggy lifestyle and avoid or limit their use of most modern technologies.
Amish man loading groceries via Shutterstock.
Read more at Ohio State University.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Berks County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association (PSAA) will be presenting a check for $14,575 to the Berks THON organization at their meeting on Feb. 16, 2011, at 8 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Perkins Student Center.
Most of the funds were generated during Reading Royals Night, an event sponsored by the PSAA and the Reading Royals on Saturday, Jan. 29. Five dollars from every ticket sold through the event Web site was donated and the Royals' players all wore special Penn State football themed jerseys that were autographed and auctioned off after the game, raising $11,000 of the chapter's contribution.
"As a chapter we strongly feel that we are a service organization. We are here to serve our fellow alumni and the University, as well as our Berks County community," said Shawn Hinkle, chapter president.
From Friday, Feb.18 to Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, Penn State students from every campus will gather at the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus, for THON, the 46-hour dance marathon to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund supporting families battling pediatric cancer.
For more information or to make a donation to THON, contact the Campus Life Office at 610-396-6076 or visit http://www.thon.org/ online. For online donations, go to the drop-down window labeled "Please give the following organization credit for my gift" select "Berks."


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Two weeks ago, I did some comparisons of the key players involved in the two championship games. Today, I am going to do a Panini style rehash of those posts with some new commentary on which team has the edge in terms of the hobby. Last time I was 1-1 in picking the games, but this time im out for BLOOD. Not really, just theoretically.
Starter: Peyton Manning
Team: Saints
Rookie Year: 2001 (Chargers)
Best Rookie Card: 2001 Bowman Chrome Auto, 2001 Playoff Contenders Auto (tie)
Avg Sell Value For That Card: $400
Autos Usually Sell For: $70
Commentary: Brees has the advantage because he has autographed rookie cards. However, outside of his rookies, his auto can sell for as little as 36 bucks. I think he is one of the more undervalued players in the league, but a win on Sunday could vault his values into a higher value bracket.
Starter: Joseph Addai
Team: Saints
Rookie Year: 2006
Best Rookie Card: 2006 Exquisite Collection
Avg Sell Value For That Card: $600
Autos Usually Sell For: $40
Commentary: Bush was one of the most hyped up players coming out of college, and his cards reflected that. They still hold a ton of value in the rookies, but other than that, he has nothing. He has underperformed on the field as well, but a good game on Sunday can be huge for his values.
Starter: Reggie Wayne
Team: Saints
Rookie Year: 2006
Best Rookie Card: 2006 Exquisite Collection
Avg Sell Value For That Card: $75
Autos Usually Sell For: Under $10
Commentary: Colston is a good receiver on the field, but doesn't have much of a following in the hobby. Like many good wide receivers, he is very underappreciated, and a good game probably wouldn't help much.
Starter: Dallas Clark
Starter: Jeremy Shockey
Team: Saints
Rookie Year: 2002 (Giants)
Best Rookie Card: 2002 Playoff Contenders
Avg Sell Value For That Card: $42
Autos Usually Sell For: $15
Commentary: Shockey's mouth gained him a following as a Giant, but his performance forced him to a position with New Orleans. He has had somewhat of a resurgence, but not much. I hated this guy when he was a Giant, and I have a feeling I will hate him that much more on Sunday.


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Free Bloomberg Aptitude Test Scheduled for November 6
October 29, 2013
Cheyney University students - especially business administration majors - are encouraged to take the Bloomberg Aptitude Test (BAT) on November 6 in 216 Logan Hall. Doors open at 9 am and the test runs from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Preregistration is required and can be done online.
The free 2-hour multiple-choice test is designed to assess aptitude for business and finance. Every BAT test-taker is anonymously entered into the Bloomberg Talent Search Database. Available to more than 20,000 top firms, the Talent Search allows employers to contact a test-taker for an internship, or full-time position.
The BAT was built to measure the aptitude, not technical knowledge, of all test takers, finance and non-finance alike. The test is recommended for any individual who is considering an opportunity to work in business or finance. Click the link below to try sample questions, and if you feel confident, register for an upcoming session. The sample test is available at talentsearch.bloomberginstitute.com/sign_up
To find out more about the BAT and pre-register, visit talentsearch.bloomberginstitute.com/sign_up
The program at Cheyney University is sponsored by CU's Center for Career & Professional Development. For further information contact firstname.lastname@example.com


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Kinsler's homer stands after crew-chief review
By Alec Shirkey / MLB.com
CLEVELAND -- Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler's seventh-inning home run stood after a crew-chief review during Detroit's 5-4 win over Cleveland on Saturday night.
With one out and a one-run lead over the Tribe, Kinsler saw a 1-0 fastball from starting pitcher Trevor Bauer and belted it to the left-field wall. The ball bounced off the railing and back onto the field. It was initially ruled a home run. After approximately 44 seconds of review, the call stood, giving the Tigers a 4-2 lead.
The blast was Kinsler's eighth home run of the season and gave Detroit back-to-back home runs after outfielder Rajai Davis hit a solo shot in the previous at-bat. The play also chased Bauer, who ended the night charged with four runs on eight hits, including three homers, over 6 1/3 innings.
"I felt like I maintained my stuff all night," Bauer said. "I think the one that Kinsler hit was 96 [mph], so it wasn't a lack of stuff. It was a lack of execution."
The last time the Tigers had back-to-back homers from the 9 and 1 spots in the order was May 10, 2006 at Baltimore (Inge/Granderson).
- Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) June 22, 2014
The last time the Tigers' lineup managed homers in consecutive at-bats was June 5, when Torii Hunter and Kinsler went back-to-back against the Red Sox.
Alec Shirkey is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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If you are unable to bring your mortgage current, you can choose to get help from a mediator who works for the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. To choose mediation, you must return the enclosed Mediation Election Form (Form – FM2), the Loss Mitigation Application (Form FM -1LM), and pay the $50 fee, by [8] .
IMPORTANT: If you choose mediation, a foreclosure cannot be commenced until the mediation is concluded
[PDF] This document is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF). A PDF reader is required for viewing. Download a PDF Reader or learn more about PDFs.


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Created by Texas-based RestoringFreedom.Org, Inc. and supported by the Goldwater Institute, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the NDRA, if added to the Constitution, would limit attempts by Congress to raise the debt ceiling by giving to the states the final say as to whether or not to increase the debt limit.
The proposed NDRA reads as follows: "An increase in the federal debt requires approval from a majority of the legislatures of the separate States."
With a soaring national debt well over $14 trillion and speculation in Washington of voting to raise the national debt ceiling to $15 trillion or more, a recent push has been made in several state legislatures, in conjunction with RestoringFreedom.Org and the Goldwater Institute, to pass the NDRA by way of a constitutional convention, pursuant to Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which reads:
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislature of three fourths of the several States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by Congress.
Postulating Positive Outcomes
Proponents of the NDRA at RestoringFreedom.Org claim that their proposed amendment is beneficial for the following reasons:
• It creates a national consensus prior to allowing Congress to incur additional debt.
• It returns prudence and fiscal responsibility to -Washington.
• It improves government transparency and accountability.
• It protects all Americans from a runaway Congress.
• It places a restraint on Congress by balancing power.
• It is fair for everyone.
If this amendment is as beneficial as is advocated, with regard to the debt and curbing the power of Washington, then why not propose it in Congress, using the same proven amendment process that has given us all 27 of our present amendments, rather than taking a chance on the never-before-tried amendments convention provision of Article V?
Rather than calling for Congress to adopt the proposed NDRA, advocates at RestoringFreedom.Org and the Goldwater Institute urge that the states call upon Congress to convene an Article V convention to add the amendment to the Constitution.
If enough applications are made to Congress — a total of 34 is needed — and such a convention is convened, it would be the first one since the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 that produced the current U.S. Constitution.
For over three decades The New American magazine and its predecessor American Opinion magazine have warned against having a second convention and the potential ramifications a modern convention would likely unleash, such as its penetration by special-interest elements that would likely alter the Constitution to include "second generation" or socialist rights.
Eager advocates of this convention process include North Dakota state Senator Curtis Olafson (R-Edinburg), who first introduced and sponsored SCR 4007.
In a speech to the North Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee last January 19, Sen. Olafson argued in favor of his resolution by placing blame for the country's woes on the system of government. "The problem is not based on people and it is not based on party. The problem is systemic and the system and the ground rules need to be changed," he urged.
Rather than place the blame on the elected officials who have failed to obey their oath of office to enforce the Constitution, Sen. Olafson blamed the "system," citing a need to "change" the "ground rules" — undoubtedly referring to the U.S. Constitution.
The Senator does not seem to understand that the problem lies not in the Constitution or in the system of government, as prescribed by the framers of the Constitution, but rather in the lack of adherence to the rule of law and a disregard for the Constitution.
Further making his case for the NDRA bill, Sen. Olafson reassured those present at the committee hearing that a modern convention would not result in a "runaway convention," commenting, "Note that in the text of the resolution beginning on line 18 that the resolution requires that the convention be strictly limited to the consideration of this one proposed amendment."
Pondering Possible Problems
Despite Sen. Olafson's ability to correctly read the text of his resolution, it would do him and likeminded individuals a great deal of good if they would reread Article V of the Constitution.
Article V specifically states that Congress, "on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of theseveral States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments." (Emphasis added.) That is, Article V refers to "Amendments" in the plural, not just to the consideration of only one amendment.
Although the end result of a constitutional convention may be the adoption of one amendment, the Constitution authorizes the consideration of more than one amendment at such a convention. Thus the convention process cannot be limited to the consideration of only one amendment; to do so would be unconstitutional.
To forcefully limit a convention would be an affront to the sovereign right of the people to alter or change the existing form of government, if the unforeseeable need to do so should become necessary, such as providing a peaceful pathway to fundamental changes in our system of government without requiring the people to resort to insurrection or armed revolution. For this reason, the framers of the Constitution inserted Article V.
Intended as an emergency fallback, the framers provided ample warning against calling a new convention. In a letter to George Lee Turberville, dated November 2, 1788, James Madison, regarded as the "father of the Constitution," wrote the following warning against a new constitutional convention:
If a General Convention were to take place for the avowed and sole purpose of revising the Constitution, it would naturally consider itself as having a greater latitude than the Congress.... It would consequently give greater agitation to the public mind; an election into it would be courted by the most violent partisans on both sides … [and] would no doubt contain individuals of insidious views, who, under the mask of seeking alterations popular in some parts … might have the dangerous opportunity of sapping the very foundations of the fabric.... Having witnessed the difficulties and dangers experienced by the first Convention, which assembled under every propitious circumstance, I should tremble for the result of a second meeting in the present temper in America.
Later that year, on December 12, Madison again warned of a new convention, writing of the need for Congress to "secur[e] the Constitution against the hazardous experiment of a Second Convention."
Even if Congress could authorize a limited convention to consider proposing one specific amendment, there is no reason to believe that the delegates might not go beyond their originally mandated purview, especially since a constitutional convention would consider itself above the jurisdiction of Congress once convened.
Phyllis Schlafly, founder and president of Eagle Forum, in warning against the notion that a convention can be limited, noted the following from personal experience:
I have been to 15 national Republican conventions plus numerous state, local, and district conventions and I have seen every type of rule broken. The guy wielding the gavel has the power.
I've seen them cut off the mic[rophone]s; I've seen them only recognize the people they want to recognize; I've seen them adjourn early in order to prevent things they don't want to come to the floor; I've seen them throw out duly elected delegates. In other words, the guy with the gavel controls the convention — not the people who wrote any rules ahead of time. I've seen all the rules broken.
In a final attempt to dispel fears of a runaway convention, Sen. Olafson explained that in the event that the convention did become a runaway, receiving the backing of Congress and the courts, there would still be no reason for concern, explaining that "the ultimate protection is that 38 states must ratify the proposal agreed to in a convention."
Nick Dranias of the Goldwater Institute has made the same remark. In an article entitled "The Myth of the Runaway Convention," Dranias wrote: "There is no reason to worry about a 'runaway' convention because three-fourths of the states — 38 states — would have to ratify whatever amendment might be proposed. Moreover, nothing in the nation's history justifies fear of a 'runaway' convention."
As to the claim that the provision for ratification by three-fourths of the states guarantees that no harmful amendments will be ratified, history suggests otherwise.
When Congress passed the 16th Amendment (the individual income tax), the 17th Amendment (direct election of U.S. Senators), and the 18th Amendment (prohibition of alcohol), all three of these amendments were detrimental to the Republic, and yet all three were ratified by three-fourths of the states.
Even in the event that there was clear opposition from the various state legislatures to any newly proposed amendment or new constitution resulting from a constitutional convention, Congress has the power under Article V to circumvent the state legislatures by authorizing special state conventions to ratify the new amendments or new constitution. Such was the case in 1933, when Congress authorized state conventions to ratify the 21st Amendment (repeal of prohibition) knowing that the legislatures of many states, such as Utah, staunchly opposed the 21st Amendment.
Although the Utah state legislature was adamantly opposed to the then-proposed 21st Amendment, the Utah state convention passed it overwhelmingly, resulting in its ratification and addition to the U.S. Constitution.
The passage of the 16th, 17th, and 18th Amendments and the process by which the 21st Amendment was passed serve as testimonies as to why states cannot and should not be regarded as "the ultimate protection."
If a runaway convention would propose a radical or socialist constitution, the convention delegates would likely pre-conscribe a new ratification method that would enhance its chances for ratification, following the precedent of our first constitutional convention. In 1787, the delegates knew that ratification of the new Constitution by state legislatures would be difficult, so they provided a different method for ratification, state conventions, to enhance chances for ratification. Needless to say, both the Confederation Congress and the 13 states accepted this unconstitutional (under the Articles of Confederation) ratification process, and the rest is history.
Although the NDRA might ease the United States' deficit problems, forcing Congress to slash spending and adopt fiscal policies to address the debt — a big "might" because Congress can still raise taxes, use off-budget spending, or simply ignore the law — its enactment by way of a constitutional convention would subject our nation to the very real risk of putting an end to the United States' constitutional republican form of government.
The true myth lies not in false fears of a "runaway convention," as Sen. Olafson and his friends at the Goldwater Institute and RestoringFreedom.Org would have one believe. Instead it lies in the widely accepted notion that an Article V constitutional convention could be limited to the consideration of a specific amendment without any chance that such a convention could become a runaway convention that could propose a major revamp of our current Constitution.
Defying the wisdom of the 2001 North Dakota legislature that rightfully understood the risky ramifications of a modern-day constitutional convention and voted then to rescind all their previous calls for such a convention, the 2011 North Dakota legislature has made the first step in the opposite direction by passing its NDRA bill calling on Congress to convene an Article V amendments convention.
In addition to North Dakota, at least 12 other states have introduced NDRA constitutional convention bills: Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Utah.
The NDRA convention calls have been either defeated or killed in committee in Arizona, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Utah.
A new constitutional convention is not the route that should be taken to address the nation's problems. Rather, instead of trying to fix what is not broken — the Constitution of the United States — elected officials should have a greater regard for the document and the wisdom of the Founding Fathers by enforcing the Constitution through a strict interpretation of it. Congress is the key; through it amendments, such as NDRA, can best be proposed without risking the loss of liberty and fundamental change of government that could result from a modern-day constitutional convention.


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New Hampshire, as you may have heard, has five seasons, not four. Tucked between Winter (which can be long) and Spring (which, by law, cannot be) there is Mud Season, that dreary time when any remaining snow is grey or brown with smoke, ash, or tire-spray, and not even the bravest of crocuses has dared yet to emerge.
I have noticed, though, another weather and behavioral anomaly in the Granite State. This one is a quadrennial pattern; I suspect it has something to do with sunspots.
Every four years, predictably, like a genetically modified fungus crossed with a species of locust, strange organisms appear. Some seem to be the fruiting bodies of some mushroom, brightly colored, rectangular, and on one or two thin stalks. They show up by the dozens on the sides of highways, by ones and twos in people's yards, and by the hundreds near particular buildings. Some folks seem to collect them, although I have never seen recipes, nor any reason to suspect they are not toxic. We know what bright colors mean in nature.
Whether connected to these organisms or not (I have not ruled out the possibility of airborne spores), the behavior of the locals inhabitants is also changed, and there seems to be a bizarre attraction of new people (I'd say "like bees to honey", but the influx appears to be not attraction so much as compulsion; these people are not happy, but apoplectic with poorly directed anger). People tend to gather in small and large groups, often simply to yell incomprehensible things at one another. Many of them will carry one or more samples of the fungus.
There is some reason to suspect that the spores (if indeed that is the explanation) attack the frontal lobes of the afflicted. Critical reasoning appears to be absent, or severely attenuated, in individuals holding the fungi. They may revert to a primitive fight-or-flight mentality, often joining one another to attack, or at least denounce, groups that are perceived to be less powerful (women, homosexuals, the poor, etc.)
The bad news is, the affliction appears to be permanent. The best predictor of who will succumb in a given cycle appears to be past affliction. The good news is, for most individuals the flare-ups appear to be temporary (weeks or months at most), with few or no side effects noticed in the intervening years. Occasionally, in the more strongly hit, flare-ups may continue, especially in confined spaces (diners, classrooms) on a chronic basis. (Note to self–if such a location is identified, will bleach help?)
This is all conjecture, of course. Why, I hadn't made all the connections, as early as four years ago when I last saw it. Here, for instance, is my verse from January 1st of 2008. At the time, same sex Civil Union had just become the law. Since then, New Hampshire has accepted full-fledged marriage equality, although the quadrennial madness now has invasive individuals attacking that institution. Anyway, the verse:
I had insufficient warning
When I stumbled out this morning
Past a half a dozen candidates, each stumping for my vote;
When I looked, the morning paper
Had a headline of some caper
Or the record-breaking snowfall—really, nothing there of note.
So I grabbed my trusty shovel
To plow out my "home sweet hovel"
When I noticed something different—something didn't quite feel right.
There was snow, and politicians,
But some change in the conditions
Made me wonder if my marriage had the sanctity it might.
So I checked the sanctitometer
And struggled not to vomit—her
"Conventional morality in danger" light was on!
Now a grim new dawn was breaking
And I couldn't stop my shaking
'Cos the morally upstanding world I trusted now was gone!
I considered seeking shelter
As I watched the helter-skelter
Of the politicians canvassing the noble Granite State;
I heard one of them disparage
Civil Unions, or Gay Marriage
As the reason for the panic—then I thought, more clearly, "wait!"
All this rattling of sabers
Is about my friends and neighbors;
These are people whom I know, and who have lived here all along
If these folks are who they're blaming
It's just pre-election gaming
And between the politicians and my friends, I know who's wrong.
If our morals are declining
As the candidates keep whining
I propose a different theory to explain why this is so:
An invasive mass of liars
With their speeches, signs, and flyers,
Slinging mud and kissing babies in a dog-and-pony show.
Soon the voting will be over
And the state, from Keene to Dover,
And from Lancaster to Nashua, will heave a weary sigh;
With the moral issue buried
Now my neighbors can get married
And the Granite State will mean it when it says "Live Free or Die!"


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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL ACTION CASE NO. CA07-1762 DIVISION 55 CHASE HOME FINANCE LLC, Plaintiff, vs. GAIL EUBANKS, et al, Defendant(s). NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Mortgage Foreclosure dated January 13, 2009 and entered in Case No. CA07-1762 of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH Judicial Circuit in and for ST. JOHNS County, Florida wherein CHASE HOME FINANCE LLC, is the Plaintiff and GAIL EUBANKS; TONY RUKAB; AIDA T. RUKAB; NATIONAL CITY BANK; are the Defendants, I will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash at FRONT DOOR OF THE ST. JOHNS JUDICIAL CENTER, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA at 12:00 Noon, on the 19th day of February, 2009, the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment: LOTS 1 AND 2, VILANO VIEW, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 33, PAGES 85 AND 86, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA. A/K/A 3481 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL 320840000 Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim within sixty (60) days after the sale. WITNESS MY HAND and the seal of this Court on January 21, 2009. Cheryl Strickland Clerk of the Circuit Court By: Melissa Dukes Deputy Clerk In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), if you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Court Administration Office at (904) 827-5617, 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, Florida 32084. If you are voice impaired, call 1-800-955-8770. L238-9 Jan 28, Feb 4, 2009
Posted from 28-Jan-09 to 4-Feb-09
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Breckenridge's Steven Fisher and Hannah Teter took the top spots in Sunday's halfpipe final. Following Fisher were Danny Kass in second and Luke Wynen in third. Kelly Clark and Anne Molin Kongsgaard rounded out the women's podium.
The judges had it easy during the men's pipe final: Steven (with a "v") Fisher put together a run no one could touch. A hero frontside air, backside five, fs nine, backside air, and corked fs seven on his first run made up the highest score of a gray Colorado morning. On his second run, Fisher turned the nine into a ten, but didn't manage the cleanliness of his first go in the best-of-two-runs format.
Gnu's Danny Kass rode to second spot with trademark style, holding grabs all the way through and making the unthinkable look easy. Luke Wynen (riding for Unity Snowboards) backed up his win at last year's event by finishing third with drifty corked spins and mad, mechanic steez.
Other notables included Andy Finch, who's back from shoulder surgery and riding with the smoothness; Joe Eddy put on a show and will finish higher when he works out kinks in his halfpipe stance/setup; Mason Aguirre (sixteen) nailed his first ten in competition; and Elijah Teter broke out the Cab 180 McTwist.
Youth will inherit the Earth, and the halfpipe. Seventeen year old Hannah Teter (Burton) added another notch to her studded-leather belt with her first Triple Crown win. After a series of girls decked out and bounced, Hannah put down a grabbed fs five and a nine to lock up a five-point lead over …
Kelly Clark is easing into form; after breaking from the halfpipe scene last year, she's back at it, riding with skill and strength. Solid runs, grabbed spins, style and power marked her two runs and landed her in second place.
Gretchen Bleiler blew her ACL after overshooting a park jump on her way to the pipe. Surgery before the holidays should have her back in action by summer. There may not be many riding shots of Gretchen this season, but at least we've got a closet full of FHMs. Did I say that out loud?
The second stop of the Vans Triple Crown is at Mammoth Mountain, January 29-February 1, 2004. You should go.
Men's Halfpipe
1. Steven Fisher 92.5
2. Danny Kass 90.5
3. Luke Wynen 88.2
4. Tommy Czeschin 86.2
5. Elijah Teter 83.6
6. Andy Finch 83.3
7. Ross Powers 83
8. Joe Eddy 79.3
9. Mason Aguirre 77.6
10. Kurt Wastell 77.2
Women's Halfpipe
1. Hannah Teter 94
2. Kelly Clark 89.2
3. Anne Molin Kongsgaard 85.3
4. Fabienne Reuteler 79.7
5. Junko Asazuma 73.7
6. Tricia Byrnes 71.2
7. Lindsey Jacobellis 70.8
8. Barrett Christy 70
9. Silli Mittermüller 64.7
10. Alisa Mokler 59.3


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Thanks Norma,I like a few things I think it is finely milled like a 00 flour. It's local in that it is locally milled from flour from the Midwest. It has just a very small amount of finely milled bran that slips though to the flour that gives it a slight whole wheat flavor and color. I think that sets my pizza just a bit apart. I've made several Tartine loaves with it that turned out fantastic so as I hope to transition to a natural leavening I think my flavor will even get better.Normal, I would love to bring you some to try some Tuesday. I think it's pretty pricey in the 2lb bags.Tony
Which Daisy flour do you use from the Daisy Organic Flours website? http://daisyflour.com/ I checked out their pizza recipes on their website before and didn't see any photos. I have liked Daisy flours on facebook and asked them if there were pictures of the pizzas made with the recipes. They wrote me back and said no, there were no photos of those pizzas. Daisy Organic Flours did say they were going to send me some sample bags of flours and asked me for my address, but I haven't received any. I did see Daisy flour at my local supermarket awhile ago, but it isn't there anymore.
Here's the mill, Norma, if you want to go right to the source...http://binged.it/15izCEp
Tony,Thanks for the photo of Daisy Mills. I had looked at Daisy's mill process before at http://daisyflour.com/annville-mill/roller-mill-process.html and thought their milling process was interesting.If I have time someday and Daisy's flours let people visit their mill I might go there. It sure isn't too far from me.
Very nice ac! How do you keep your dough from over fermenting without refrigeration when it is so damn hot?
Second impression: A little tombstone-y.
The crust looks very nice what temperature do you cook at??
I come to bury Forno Bova, not to praise him.


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John Bonnar
October 1, 2012
Without any advanced notice and under orders from City of Toronto Parks Director Richard Ubbens, workers removed all live plants and food from the five month old People's Peas Garden in Queen's Park on Friday.
When Occupy Gardens began planting on May 1, the event was reported on by multiple media and took place under the watchful eye of police.
[…] Occupy Gardens had been harvesting produce for the last four months. And thousands of passersby were free to help themselves to whatever they needed.
© Occupy Gardens Toronto
© Occupy Gardens Toronto
© Occupy Gardens Toronto


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I translated my las post but there are some things that my english doesn
t understand, but I thimk you can solve it changing some grammatical rules, please, is all what I can do.
This is the translation... Good Look
The problem started the second week of February, I could receive the updates of security but I did not enterded to the site, instead I recived them by the icon of warning that appears when they are downloading updates of security (here I already suspected that he walked something bad so that those are Windows updates but nonMicrosoft updates that are those that but interests to me), before receiving them, as 3 days before I went to Windows update and it said to me that I needed net. framework and another thing nonmemory that related to same net. framework, but then decided not to install them, on the following day I downloaded separately net framework 2.0 that had marked to the Windows update to me but other no, install it but i did not see any change, I uninstalled it but I had a problem with autocad of my father and had to reinstall it (unistalled net famework 1,0 and something whom it had to do with that I do not decide to me that something of net was but it said framework). And that was the last time that I had contact with Windows update. Returning with the previous thing, my suspicions began the week to install the ZA (16 of January) so that it did not receive any update from part of Microsoft. It waits for other 2 weeks to me and it was when I recived the updates of security of automatic and I thought way that the problem was single weather, but now I see that no, everything started with the installation of zone alarm so that with my previous firewall never I had problems (Norton). With respect to my previous post, if, that it is what it appears to me, that code of error with all those symptoms and possible solutions, obvious the first solution is not feasible, but either it deals with the others, I have added the directions that there provide, but less one so that it says to me that that page does not exist (http://download.windowsupdate.microsoft.com) or looks for the entrances of host that they could have, or deactivates firewall of ZA and activates the one of Windows, or deactivates the control of programs, or add the Microsoft IP whom to me post previous but nothing puts in. No longer that to do, and now that I think it better, the problem I do not believe that is ZA but another one program, perhaps the other component net framework that is missed me to install is who generates certain problems. I am going to try to find a page of where to obtain it, but still I want that that you give me advice of as could be the problem. Thanks. Ramipithecus
Operating System:Windows XP Home Edition
Product Name:ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite
Software Version:6.1


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I've found myself a new favorite outfit, or at least another top contender (because this one still rules hard even if the weather doesn't agree) I've basically been wearing this same thing for a few weeks now, or at least some version of it, always including the jeans, coat and hat. I think I've discussed it before but I'm ridiculously picky about jeans. I only own a few pairs and the last time I bought a pair was probably back in February or so. I just feel like they all fit strange. But I'm thinking these might be my new go-to pair, like I might want three or four pairs of them. The fit is awesome, and they're soft. But best of all they don't get weird and baggy toward the end of the day, which is literally the worst thing a pair of jeans do. I've always been skeptical of buying jeans online because I have no idea what size jeans I wear. But a few of the other reviews included their measurements so I was able to pick a pair that fit perfectly!
I'm going to be so sad when all the leaves are gone. Right now all but a few trees have lots all their leaves so the first few test shots from outfit pictures this day turned out really blah. Naked trees don't make the best backdrops. I feel like fall was so short this year. I mean, technically it's still fall but it really doesn't feel like it at all.
Hope you have an excellent Monday!
PS. Knitted Dove does not currently have their webstore up and running yet. You can find the coat here and the cardigan here if you're interested.


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SALT LAKE CITY The outdoor recreation industry is flexing its economic muscle about $640 billion spent annually by Americans on gear, travel and services to push for wilderness protection in Utah, threatening to pull a lucrative biannual trade show if the state doesnt change course on environmental issues.
The industry showed its resolve last week by giving Utahs governor an ultimatum: Give up on a threat to take over federal land in the state or risk losing the outdoor gear show that draws thousands of visitors and injects more than $40 million yearly into the state economy.
Empty threat or not, the outdoor industry and related services represent a sizeable chunk of Utahs income about $4 billion a year, or 5 percent of the states gross product.
And its not the first time the 4,000-member-strong Outdoor Industry Association has threatened to take its business elsewhere.
In 2003, the group threatened to pull the shows unless then-Gov. Mike Leavitt curbed an effort to seize control of dirt roads across national parks, national monuments and wilderness areas. Leavitt conceded and the shows stayed.
The group has had more cordial relationships with previous governors than with current Gov. Gary Herbert, who is a staunch supporter of mining, oil and gas development, said Tim Chambless, a political science professor at University of Utah.
The outdoor industrys latest threat has set the stage for a showdown of political will.
There has been an ongoing tension between preservation and development, Chambless said.
Herbert is vowing to help keep the shows in Utah and work through the political differences.
But he complained his position on public lands has been misconstrued, noting the state wouldnt touch Utahs five national parks, several of its national monuments and 33 wilderness areas.
I think they want to stay here, Herbert said. And I want them to stay here.
At issue is legislation signed by Herbert in March that demands the federal government relinquish control of public lands in Utah by 2014, which sets up a potential legal battle over millions of acres in the state. The governor has been warned by his own attorneys that the push will likely be found unconstitutional.
Organizers of the Outdoor Retailer show, which wrapped up its summer expo Sunday, say if Herbert doesnt change course, theyre looking at moving to Denver or Las Vegas, though none of those locations have the outdoor amenities that Salt Lake City has as the group seeks space to expand.
We are in discussions with them. Its a piece of business were certainly interested in, Visit Denver spokesman Richard Grant said.
Las Vegas also is eager to lure the show to town.
We are always happy to meet with groups that are considering moving their event, said Jeremy Handel, a spokesman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Regardless of enticements, organizers concede Denver just cant provide enough convention space in one location. Las Vegas has plenty of room, but delegates say it lacks outdoor amenities found in Salt Lake City, such as close proximity to several world-renowned ski areas and wilderness.
I think were staying or going to Vegas. Denver would be another good option if they expand their convention center theyre essentially the same size as Salt Lake, said Kenji Haroutunian, the Nielsen Expositions executive in charge of the shows, where manufacturers take orders from retailers around the world. We need to be making this decision by the end of this year.
The summer and winter trade shows, which have been in Utah since 1996, can make or break some Salt Lake City businesses.
For me, this is 20 times more business, said Pam OMara, who runs a coffee shop near the Salt Palace Convention Center where the events are held. Its amazing when theyre here.
Next door at Caffé Molise, owner Fred Moesinger said the trade shows add 10 percent to its annual revenue.
Its a big chunk of our year. It would be a huge loss if they decide to go elsewhere, he said.
While Frank Hugelmeyer, the outdoor associations president and CEO, wont say how serious the group is about leaving, he insists Utah is failing to recognize the economic impacts of protecting public lands for recreation.
Theyre stuck in the Eisenhower era, Hugelmeyer said.


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If you have a baby between the ages of 8-9 months and have already been offering them pureed baby foods it may be time to start some textures as well. Many parents are a bit "wary" of offering any food that hasn't been totally pureed, but it is important that your baby starts to experiment with foods that have different consistencies.
Of course this does not mean you hand your baby anything that they could choke on like a grape, or piece of meat etc. But instead of totally pureeing carrots, why not cook them well, chop them up a bit and put them on the high chair tray. It is fun to watch how they touch and feel the carrots, before they "smoosh and moosh" them and get them to their mouths.
There are so many foods that are easily offered to a baby to get them used to feeling different textures. This is the very beginning of experimenting with finger foods, and this doesn't just mean puffs or cheerios either. I like to encourage babies to feel cold, gooey, warm, sticky, all sorts of different textures which will ultimately help them become better and more adventuresome eaters as they get older.
Unfortunately, I see far too many little ones (and not so little ones too) continuing to eat totally pureed foods and then becoming adverse to textures as they did not get the experience at an early enough age.
It is also fun to watch your child as they begin to pick up foods that have been chopped and diced into small soft pieces. In the early stages they have to scoop and lick the food from their fingers and hands, but very quickly their pincer grasp takes over and suddenly they can pick up that well cooked green bean or pea!! Such a feat and worthy of a home video to send to the grandparents for sure.
So, put out some mushy food and let them play - I know it is messy but that is what being a kid is often about!


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I have had this ipod for a good number of years and it is still running exceptionally well! Battery life has predictably gone down since I first got it, but not been reduced drastically and I still find myself going days without needing to recharge it. I have also dropped this a few times, and it seems to've survived (though I have been lucky enough to have never dropped it on its front, as I assume that will break its screen and render it useless). Over the years it has become scratched, but no more so than any other ipod or mp3 player, and so I would advise getting a case for it to protect it if you worry about that kind of thing.
For size, this ipod is second to none! I have been unable to fill up even half of this throughout the years, even with adding a few films and shows! So I would warn anybody considering buying this, do you really need the full 64Gb? If, like me, you only have a few gigabytes of music then it may be worth buying a smaller model and saving yourself some money.
In terms of capabilities, the large screen make this ipod perfect for apps, films, viewing pictures, and you are able to download files such as PDFs onto it which make it a handy thing to carry around if you find yourself in a fix without a nearby computer! Many apps now require a more modern operating system though, and so if mobile gaming is your concern then you should perhaps look at more modern versions of this ipod.
Overall this is a very good ipod, it has lasted me a while and is able to store practically anything you want it to! I would definitely recommend this for people looking for mobile games, easy internet (if you're near a WIFI connection), pictures, and films, as well as music. But if all you are looking for is a device that plays music then save yourself some money and buy a more simple mp3 player.
For a long time I refused to get the Touch, opting instead for the classic scrollwheel model. How wrong I was.
It looks great. Sleek silver back, and single button front. Yup, it's an Apple product alright!
Out the box, and connected to my MacBook, setup took about half an hour. Software updates were needed, but this is expected with older models of new gadgets.
Getting the music on was simple. One checkbox and the iPod does it all for you. There is also the option to manually manage music and videos, in case your collection is larger than the storage size, or you want to leave room for apps.
My 15Gb did take a long time to transfer, over 4 hours, but I suspect this is more to do with the limitations of USB transfer speed than anything iPod related.
The display is gorgeous, with customisable wallpaper. The touch screen is responsive, swiping and pinching gestures on photos all work well to move and zoom.
The App store is great, you can add any number of useful programs to boost your phones capabilities.
WiFi connectivity means you don't need to connect to the Mac to buy apps or music, you can download from the device and sync two ways so you never lose anything. Calendars and contacts can also be synchronised.
No camera, but who needs one, this is a music player!
As a gaming machine, the graphics for available games display well and it's powerful: there more power in this than the first iMacs that were released! The best games are not the 3D graphics based ones, as they sap battery life rather quickly.
The interface for music is simple and easy; select by artist, by album or by song. There is a search function and you can create custom playlists.
Whilst this has all the functionality of the iPhone sans the phone or sms/mms function, it is a music player and it best used for that.
64Gb is the highest storage capacity, it would be nice to see a 128Gb version as, once music is loaded, any videos can really eat up space.
Watching movies on this is great, the screen is sharp and responsive.
Overall, it does a whole load, but to get the best out of it, use it for what it was designed for: a music player.
One word of warning: buy a cash. You WILL scratch the daylights out of the silver back, and you won't be happy.
Having previously owned a 32gb 2nd generation IPod touch, I already knew the capabilities the product was capable of. With unlimited number of apps in the ITunes store, and the great quality of the music and movie players, to go with the calendar, maps and contacts programs. They have all remained the same in this version, but the added cameras to the front and back of the device have been a great improvement to it. It's even better to see how Apple has managed to do this while designing the device to be thinner! The cameras do not take the best quality pictures, but that is pretty much expected. Although, the new Face Time application where you can video chat with fellow IPod touch users and through programs such as Skype is a very useful feature.
The screen is lovely showing bright colours and very crisp detail throughout apps and while browsing the internet using Safari. The touch screen is no different, being as smooth and sensitive as ever. The multitasking feature is pretty effective where you can easily switch between apps without quitting, but can get a little annoying when you think you have exited a program only to realize that it has been left on in the background, while they can be shut down through a process of double tapping the home button then holding down on an app then touching the 'x' button. If they are left running the devices battery does drain a lot quicker. Compared to my last IPod I do feel that the battery does not tend to last as long, where I have to charge it nearly every night.
The device does not have any real draw backs to go against all of its great features, where it performs everything that you need a portable audio player to do plus some. It's interesting to think how Apple can improve on the next IPod touch.
I bought my ipod touch 2 months ago with much umming and ahhing about whether to buy the 32GB or the 64GB one. In the end I settled on the 64GB which I'm very pleased about now as there is such a vast amount of apps available, on top of the music that I have stored, that I can now see just how anyone could max out the storage space! The navigation is easy although I occasionally find that, when typing, it is difficult to go back and correct things so constant vigilance is best. Also, the cameras, front and back, are not as good as I expected. The images are often grainy and the front-facing camera flips the image so the resulting picture is not the same as what is seen on the screen whilst you're trying to take it. However, as an mp3 player, I cannot fault it. I love that speakers and headphones are no longer required as I often like to play the music out loud. If you want an mp3 player which has all the extras of a smartphone whilst having that sleek, Apple look (and the brand power behind it) this is the one for you.
The iPod Touch is a device I could not see myself without. I take it with me wherever I go, be it the shops, a library or work. The device itself is wonderfully simplistic to use and has so many features that it is easy to lose yourself whilst marvelling over the creation by Apple.
I could not see myself with a smaller version, for I have always battled to choose which songs I would like to sync to a mobile media player, yet now most of my music fits all onto the device, it currently holds 14 517 songs and around 5 gig's of video, all of which is perfect high quality. The video playback is easy to work and you can also fast forward or rewind smoothly and without it pausing whilst it does.
The App store holds many thousands of applications to make your life more simple as well as many games which you can enjoy. Whilst some of the games can be simplistic others are quite in depth and more challenging. I myself found that I enjoy Guitar Hero on my iPod Touch the most out of the other applications that I have which includes the Harry Potter Spells game which was to quick and easy for my liking.
The slim design of the iPod touch makes it easy to carry with you where ever you go. I have myself had experiences where I thought I left my iPod Touch in my office or at a table and run back to find that it is not there but in my pocket, for when i padded my pockets to feel for it I could not actual feel it. It is also light and the perfect size for a device such as itself for it fits perfectly into the palm of your hand and is easily operated in that position.
All in all it is by far one of my most cherished possessions and I do not know what I would do without it.
All in all it is by far one of my most cherished possessions and I do not know what I would do without it.
The iPod Touch is probably the best Touch Screen Portable Media Player, but is it the best. In a word, yes.
People buy apple products because they are simple, yet powerful, and the iPod Touch 64GB definitely lives up to this expectation.
The App Store is simply amazing, you can find pretty much any app you want. Even though there are restrictions for the app store, most people probably want have a problem with this, and it prevents the iPod Touch from getting viruses or apps that, you pay for, then they don't work.
Obviously the Touch, is an iPod, so therefore, a much forgotten feature is that it can play music! There are probably Media Players that have better sound quality, but the iPod app looks good, it's simple, and most people probably won't mind that the sound quality isn't the best, the rest of the device makes up for that small problem. I would though recommend that you buy some better headphones as the included ones aren't the best.
The iPod Touch, in my eyes, is without a doubt the best overall PMP, and it is the one I would recommend.
I bought this product from currys in april as it was a birthday present, it was the best choice i have ever made. It keeps me entertained for hours, i have so much space on the ipod that i have got 70 full lengh films on it that only takes up 35gb and the quality is absolutely stunning!! The size of the ipod touch is good because it can slip into your pocket easily and it feels great in your hand. The battery life is really good if you watch films or listen to music, but when you start using the internet and using loads of apps, the battery life can go down to 20% in a matter of 2 hours, from fully charged. The processer is soo fast, i mean i compared it to my 1st generation ipod touch and you could see the difference immediately by just opening simple applications like the app store ect. The sound quality is really great, but i do not listen to music as much as other applications, and it shows there are such other great parts to this revolutionary product.
This is definately a great buy and i got mine on special offer from currys for £306 with a £25 itunes card (which was really useful for buying great applications) and a small golf ball sized speaker.
Hope this helps and comment so that i can improve :D
This little gadget is quite handy to have, its use can be directed to such a diverse criteria of lifestyles, needs and requirements. This for example can be used for its leisure applications and business alike. I find it very handy on the go as all your favourite music can easily be carried, beats the old days of all those CD's weighing your car glove compartment down. This feature coupled with the ipod docks which are an inexpensive accessory (~£25) make it handy at home as well, virtually all your music collection can be played and stored replacing the old stacks of the hi-fi cluttering the room. As for its popularity with Apps, I have found this to be not so great as some Apps after installing I find inhibits its advertised ease of functionality and even can cause other Apps to stop working forcing you to restore the device losing all the data of Apps stored, e.g. Saved games, notes, voice recordings, etc. Also on a downer I find the compatibility with some PC's can be questionable, in my experience using it to store photos causes my acer laptop (ASPIE 5601 AWMLI) to crash.
Overall I believe it is a brilliant device to have given all compatibility issues possible are covered, simply due to its ease of use and its functionality to many given tasks, best being its easy wifi Internet access eliminating the hassle of a computer. I do however believe it is a little over priced compared with its competitors such as the various android devices, you basically pay for the brand name. If you just want an ipod for music, no Apps, Internet etc. I would stick to the ipod classic.
For years I had been content with my iPod Classic - I had the 80GB one and only ever used 10GB of it. Then my friend got an iPhone and whilst I wouldn't want the phone, the iPod qualities of it keep teasing me more and more until I decided to buy one! I had a trip to the States recently and bought one from Best Buy over there. I bought the 64GB version as although I don't have much music, I knew I'd be adding films and tv shows and apps to this so went for the biggest available. They could do with having a 125GB option actually as it does get filled up quite fast! This cos me $360 which worked out at £240 saving me £60 on UK prices which I was pleased with!
With the iPod Touch you get a USB cable for syncing with iTunes, earphones with a microphone (although I believe you only get these in the States, and that in the UK the headphones that come with the iPod Touch have no microphone) and instruction book and an adapter for a docking station (I have one but not made by Apple so it's of no use to me!). If you already have an iPod, just plug this into your computer and follow the instructions for swapping your music to a new iPod its pretty straightforward. If not you plug it in and it'll ask you to download iTunes which takes a little while but unfortunately it's a must with an iPod.
The Touch is exactly that - touch screen. I find this easier on an iPod than navigating with the clicker which to be honest gets annoying after a while when you are scrolling through things. It doesn't have a sim card so you can only connect to the internet by Wifi - but that's very fast I have to say and I have used a few different Wifi connections on this already. You have iTunes on your iPod as well, so you can download music direct to your device and then it automatically backs it up to your iTunes library so next time you open iTunes on your computer and sync your iPod they will be on there. On iTunes you can buy music, films, tv shows, you can even rent things if you only want something for a trip away. You can sync photos from your computer to your itunes as well as videos, and you can also get apps for the Touch on iTunes.
Obviously you can buy apps or applications through the App Store which is already loaded on your Touch. Some of these are free, some are cheap and some are a little more pricey (I'm taking £2.99 prices here for pricey!). There are some some very addictive games available as well as handy things like Facebook, Twitter, weather apps, news apps, Sky Plus apps (yes you can set your Sky Plus to record when you're out - brilliant). I have also downloaded Skype which will be handy next time I go to the States and have free Wifi as I can load money onto my Skype account and call actual numbers in the UK very very cheaply! Also already loaded on your Touch are things like Email which you can just set your account up with, you can sync your Outlook or Hotmail contacts to the address book as well. There is one weather app already on there, a calculator, a calendar etc.
The Touch really does look very nice - its silver and shiny on the back and the screen is very clear and the touch facility works very well. I was sceptical about emailing and typing on a touch screen but it hasn't been too bad. I still wouldn't get an iPhone though - couldn't imagine typing everything on a touchscreen - besides I like my Blackberry far too much! Its easy to navigate the internet, you can zoon in on pages by double clicking or by putting two fingers in the middle of the screen and then dragging them apart. Its all very quick as well - quicker than using my Blackberry on Wifi I have to say. You can surf the net etc all whilst listening to music as well - this is definitely a device for people who get bored on journeys! Music wise all your playlists are synced so you can search by playlist or artist or song etc. Much the same as other iPods just on touch screen and much much clearer! Sound quality is much the same as my other iPod but for some reason it seems more exciting using this compared to a normal iPod. The Touch does have a loudspeaker which isn't all that loud but handy if you are sat at home playing apps by yourself (obviously not for use in public places where it would cause annoyance!). The volume for both can be controlled by buttons on the left hand side of the device.
You can press the button at the top of the Touch which turns the screen off and locks it - much the same what would happen if you held the play button down and then locked the device on an older iPod like the Classic or Nano. To turn it off completely you want to hold the botton down and it will turn off entirely. Battery life isn't as good as I'd hope it would be, if you are just playing music, and then locking the device and turning the screen off it could last for as much as 30 hours. But if you're like me and most other people, playing music fiddling with apps, looking on the net, with the screen always on then the battery life will dwindle to about 5 hours if you have it fully charged. It's a big, powerful, colourful screen that's why. You can help battery life by turning the screens brightness down but it doesn't help much. The Touch actually has a built in brightness tool that turns the brightness down depending on your light situation which is helpful.
So the iPod Touch isn't cheap, but it's a great gadget. Much better than my previous iPod. This keeps me entertained for hours, in fact some people may call me obsessed! This will last me a good few years, probably more than 5 if I'm lucky. I think it's a lovely device, lots of potential and useful for music and games. A great addition to your gadget family!
My nemesis! I have always been a microsoft man myself, however my Ipod touch 64GB was the key that unlocked my first macbook pro.
I'm not a big fan of the Iphone, don't ask me why, I'm just not... So when I decided to take the plunge and buy an Ipod touch I instantly thought I had just kissed away £330.
This could not have been further from the truth! I couldn't fault my ipod, infact, I liked everything about it. Apple engraved it for me, got it next working day, even the Ipod itself is shipped in a small clear understated case. The chrome finish is soft to touch and despite its size feels comfortable in the hand...
Ok so maybe I'm a bad example... my Ipod didn't work... It kept telling me to connect it to itunes, so I did, sync'd it, spent 5-6hours putting all my music and videos onto it, updated the ipod software (which it prompted me to do) and low and behold, connect to itunes logo again....
I was FUMING! I got onto the blower to Apple UK and expected a real battle! Instead the gentleman I spoke to seemed genuinely apologetic, he emailed me an image of a barcode that I printed, taped onto a jiffy bag containing my ipod and a courier picked up the Ipod the next day from my office... Still really wanting to be angry because of my initial excitement and time investment... Again the following day, I got what I think was a new Ipod (engraved) however, I turned it on and it was fully charged with all my music and video's on, I assume with my apple login details they know what music etc I had sync'd with it and had redone it for me?
But yeah, sorry about rant, all that up there basically amounts to Apple UK customer service getting an A+.
Besides this the Ipod has a huge amount of genuinely useful apps and even though everyone goes on about how good the free apps are etc etc its not long till you start buying them even though I said I never would, some of them really are worth it!
Lastly, I will note that the sound quality is amazing. I've always thought 'sound quality' was something music equipment manufacturers made up to help sell their product and the average person couldn't really tell the difference, I don't mean like crackly noise or something silly, it actually opened my eyes to real sound quality. Firstly when listening to my music I kept thinking a noise was coming from behind me, like surround sound through head phones, bloody clever stuff!
Sorry for the rant! Apple Ipod touch 64GB gets a 5* hands down and believe me, I hate giving out a top review, I'd much rather argue the flaws in something.
Apple have done it again, they have created a piece of perfectly sculpted technological genius. From the moment you pick one of these up you can't help but feel pure love for it, you almost don't want to touch the screen in case you smudge it, but touch it you must. And when you do touch it the fun begins, as you navigate the screen with a slide of your finger you feel like you have complete control.
The sheer amount of apps available is unbelievable, you can race cars, play guitar, use maps, everything is possible with an ipod touch.
However this being an iPod the sound quality is simply not great, without the ability to choose from many EQ settings you are left with a sound that just doesnt have the clarity of a Sony mp3 player for example but with a decent pair of headphones you can make it sound good enough.
I was given an Ipod Touch 64Gb as a birthday present last year to replace my ailing 60GB Ipod video. Having used it for 5 months now I feel able to give it a comprehensive review.
BUILD QUALITY: Superb. Like most apple products it feels like it is really built to last. The rear panel gets scratched easily, but I purchased a cover to protect it. The new solid-state hard drive has no moving parts, unlike the old models, and is much less prone to failure. The bundled headphones are, on the other hand, very uncomfortable and have terrible sound quality.
FEATURES: Excellent. All the apps you could ever need can be downloaded to the device over a wifi connection. The wifi signal is not as strong as that of a laptop but is generally adequate. Video is crisp and clear on the large colour screen and the contrast is also good. The touch screen is very responsive and multi-touch makes zooming in and out of websites very easy. Although many formats are supported, the lack of flash support makes viewing some websites impossible, and there is no divx support for watching videos in that format.
SOUND QUALITY: Very good, but not quite as good as my old ipod or some Sony devices. However, the difference is so slight as to be nearly imperceptible and the overall quality of the device more than makes up for it.
USABILITY: Very good. As with all apple products, the interface is easy to get to grips with and rarely crashes. Scrolling through lists of music is quick and easy and the search function makes finding anything stored on the device very speedy.
OVERALL: A great bit of kit. It has replaced my laptop is some circumstances, such as when I need to quickly look something up on the internet, and the superb video playback makes commuting much less of a chore!
The iPod touch got perhaps the least attention of any iPod in the line-up's latest revamp. Stand this model beside its predecessors and you wouldn't know the difference. Externally, it's effectively identical, with a polished-steel back, a blanking plate where the iPhone has its camera and just three buttons: power, the home button and the volume rocker switch.
It ships with iPhone OS 3.1 software, so is fully clued up for cut, copy and paste, and landscape email writing.
You also get Genius recommendations for Apps, much like the Genius feature in iTunes, which suggests tracks you might like to buy from the iTunes Store.
As you'd fully well expect, it shares some of the same standards as the rest of iPod Touch range, which includes 30 hours of music playback, six hours of video playback, and built-in Bluetooth, wifi and Nike+ support.
The user interface is quick and slick, taking advantage of the new upgraded harware. Shake to Shuffle picks the next track with seemingly no thought at all, and the difference between this and a first-generation iPhone is so pronounced as to make the iPhone feel positively sluggish when using demanding applications such as Google Earth.
Of course, there is the major downside. The 64GB iPod Touch isn't cheap - not when you can save yourself £110 and still get your hands on a 160GB classic. Despite this however, I believe it's well worth the investment. It's the iPhone for those content with the non-Apple phone they currently own.
In 2005 my husband bought me an iPod - at the time it was a top of the range, 30 GB iPod Photo - it being the first iPod to have a colour screen, and I assumed at the time that it would serve me well for several years.
I am a bit of a music junkie however and by the time I had transferred all my CDs to MP3 the thing was nearly full, and within a couple of years it was completely full.
Also, as time moved on, iPods were getting larger memories and better features, including the ability to play video, and within 4 years mine looked almost obsolete.
I decided if I ever got the opportunity I would upgrade - in fact it had been my intention to sell the iPod Photo and put the proceeds towards the cost of a more up to date model just before my husband died, however his death made me realise I wanted to keep it as a momento of him, so the idea of upgrading fell by the wayside.
Last month I won a £100 House of Fraser voucher in a competion on Ciao, and this was the impetus I needed to finally do an upgrade. Whenever I have vouchers they have invariably been spent on something for my daughter, but this time I vowed I was going to treat myself for once.
At first I had decided I would buy a new iPod Classic120 GB, but having read several reviews of the iPod Touch, I found myself drawn more towards this device - particularly the newly released 64 GB model, despite the large price difference between it and the iPod Classic.
What drew me to the Touch was the fact it has a large screen so it can be used to watch movies on the go, and its wifi capabilities, enabling internet surfing.
I will also be really shallow and say this is a far sexier piece of kit than the iPod Classic, which is ironic really considering how sexy I found my original iPod back in 2005.
~~What's in the Box?~~
The small hard plastic box holds your iPod Touch, a docking station adaptor, ubiquitous iPod earphones, instruction leaflet and USB lead.
That's it - there's no software CD-ROM or huge instruction manual for your edification.
~~Getting Started~~
This is an Apple product and it goes without saying that you need iTunes installed on your computer to use it.
I am not a huge fan of iTunes for music - they use the AAC format which I really don't like, and I also resent the fact for years any songs you purchased were copy protected and limited to 5 computers. This copy protection has been removed but it's something that stopped me downloading legally for so long until Amazon started selling MP3 downloads - and that's where I get all my music these days and will continue to buy from until the day iTunes ever get round to selling MP3s.
However the iTunes store also sells music videos, movies (you can rent films too) and the new Apple phenomena - the Application, or "App" as it is commonly known.
I digress however - to get started you need to connect your iPod Touch to your computer and let it synchronise with iTunes. Cleverly, iTunes will recognise your iPod's serial number and you can then register it with Apple.
You can then add music and other media to the iPod Touch - I found this to be a reasonably quick thing to do, but I have to say that sometimes it takes rather a long time for the iPod Touch to synchronise with iTunes - possibly due to the large amount of media I have stored on my computer.
~~What's It Like?~~
Well I have already concluded that this is a sexy piece of kit - visually it really is lovely.
It's black with a highly polished silver back and a 3.5" screen. There are only two control buttons on the Touch - a locking key which also functions as the power switch at the top, and the main control button on the front. Everything else is done via the screen. The Touch is very similar to the iPhone in design and functionality.
I have been using a Samsung Tocco mobile phone for most of this year and thought the screen on that was pretty good but it's put firmly in the shade by the screen on the Touch. Everything is sharper on the iPod screen and there is a marked difference in quality. It helps that the screen is larger on the Touch but surfing the internet reveals better clarity and also better responses to touch than I get on my Tocco phone.
~~Using the Touch~~
Once you have added media to your player using it is a piece of cake - there are Apps already installed for some of the more obvious features you would need, such as Mail, Calendar, Clock and Settings. At the bottom are the four main Applications - Music, Video, App Store and Safari, which is Apple's internet browser.
Navigating from one function to another is easy using the main control button on the front of the Touch - this will always take you to "home" so to speak.
Playing Music is easy and if you are in the mood for a similar style of songs, you can choose one and touch Genius which will result in your Touch compiling a playlist for you of songs it believes are linked.
Failing that you just choose the song by either artist or title - and navigation is easy using the self-explanatory buttons on the touch screen.
The iPod also has voice control - meaning if you are so inclined you can tell the Touch what song to skip through via the microphone on the headset. I have used this function with varied results - but being taken to Girls Aloud when I requested Madonna hasn't particularly impressed me.
You can use the microphone to make voice notes, which is a useful touch and I have found this works far better than using the more temperamental voice control.
Sound quality is very good - definitely an improvement on my old iPod Photo, but as usual Apple give us a sexy little piece of kit with some really rather awful white headphones. Why they still issue the same style of headphones, which do not offer much in either the way of comfort or sound quality after all this time is a mystery - especially with a device as sleek as the Touch. They do offer ear buds with a microphone but at nearly £60 it's a step too far for me - I'd rather buy something by Sennheiser or Bose for a little more and guaranteed sound quality.
Sound quality through the loudspeaker isn't too good however - why they bother with this feature when it's so bad is a mystery to me - and it tends to only be used by young kids on public transport showing off sadly.
Surfing the internet is easy - so long as you can find a free wifi spot you can connect, and it will work on secured networks with the security key. I have used it at home and particularly like how I can use this in bed without the hassle my laptop brings.
I like how easy it is to enter a web address - a QWERTY keypad comes up on screen and as someone who can touch type and is completely familiar with QWERTY I find it easy to use. My daughter, who cannot touch type, similarly finds it easy to use.
I live in quite a large house and sadly the Touch doesn't pick up wifi at home if I am downstairs, despite a booster on my router.
I already mentioned Apps, and you can navigate directly to the Apps store from your Touch and one of the first thing I did once I had it up and running was visit the Apps store.
Applications can be anything really - a link to a website, a game, a useful device such as the IKEA catalogue - and these little devices add to the fun of the Touch.
Before you go crazy and start buying every App you see in the iTunes Store, my advice is to work your way through the free ones first. If you access the Apps Store from your phone it's easy to find the free apps in various categories and choose from there. Take your time to get used to Apps and then hit the store running.
The Touch remembers passwords and if you are a regular user of iTunes then I cannot stress enough the importance of protecting your Touch with a Passcode PIN at start up. This will protect your iTunes account if your Touch is stolen and any other sensitive information you have stored on your Touch.
At £299 this isn't a cheap toy, but it's still something I can recommend wholeheartedly.
The 64GB memory means you can easily have 5000 songs on here and room for several films and thousands of photos.
Battery life is a decent 30 hours for music and 5 hours for video - I have to say a little longer battery life for video would have been better and it's probably my only real gripe with the Touch, but it's a minor one.
I would also add that it's imperative to ensure you buy a protective case for your Touch - the silver at the back gets grimy quite easily and the touchscreen needs protection from fingerprints. I purchased one from Gear4 in HMV which protects the Touch without hiding it under a bushel.
Overall however this is such a lovely little gadget which opens up a whole new world of Apps and downloading movies as opposed to buying DVDs and internet surfing on the go which will help you pass the time on your commute, travelling on holiday or just to help you drift off to sleep. Needless to say, I love mine!
The third generation of Apple's iPod Touch is still the king of the hill when it comes to portable, Wi-Fi-wielding media players. New additions such as Voice Control, graphics enhancements, improved accessibility, higher capacity, and a faster processor help to refine and already excellent product.
I think the rough extra cost of about £70 for double the memory of the 32GB version is worth getting. Though the updates are subtle compared to the 2nd gen version, the 3rd gen iPod Touch still leaves its competitors in the dust.
It was my lifeline when i went to live in australia, with the free skype app i could call my family and my girlfriend for free, and whilst i was in thailand i used the language converter all the time.
Overall i couldnt recomend it enough, the only downside is that the headphones are realy bad. This is easily changed however and the sound quality when paird up with decent headphones is brilliant.


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The notable silence by the Republicans on the issue of same-sex marriage during the current election campaign is a sign, if one needed one, of how rapidly sentiment has shifted on this issue. In 2004 opposition to this was very potent and was used to galvanize voters to go to the polls and vote for George W. Bush. Daniel McCarthy argues in The American Conservative that it is one more sign of the retreat of religion in the face of modernity.
The gradual triumph of gay marriage is not merely due to a legal change that began 20 years ago or even to the sexual revolution of a half-century past; rather it is a consequence of a shift in the foundations of Western civilization that has been taking place over centuries—a shift from Christian to liberal foundations.
As Christianity has lost its power in public life, so too have the forms of marriage and family that it established given way to new configurations shaped by the institutions and ideologies that hold power today—specifically, liberalism and the modern state.
He argues that conservatives should embrace this new reality.
The second consistent position that conservatives can embrace, however reluctantly, would be that of providing full legal equality. This could be seen as a capitulation to liberalism; it could also be seen as an acknowledgement of reality. The trouble with this position is that it doesn't stop where most conservatives would like it to stop: the logic of legal equality certainly demands that homosexuals be allowed to serve in government, including in the military, and prima facie it demands that they be afforded equal access to the institution of marriage. Conservatives can try to draw the line before that point, but doing so requires making an exception to the principle of legal equality, and exceptions are, by their very nature, more difficult to establish than arguments that go along with general rules.
Same-sex marriage will not lead to civilizational collapse; the social atomism of which it is a symptom is more likely to do that. But there are tough questions about how nondiscrimination and public-accommodations laws will be applied against religiously affiliated institutions, even if churches themselves are exempt from having to participate in the public status of same-sex marriage. Traditionalists are right to be worried: religious liberty too is treated as an exception to liberalism, one for which powerful arguments must be made and which always faces an uphill battle. But the key problem here may not be whether or not there's gay marriage, but the reach of non-discrimination and public-accommodations law.
Social conservatives have a hard time tackling those concerns, however, because of the inherited guilt they feel over the retrograde views that many past conservatives held about legal equality for racial minorities.
Even conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly thinks that they are losing this battle and blames (of course) public education.
In England too, the writing is on the wall. An Anglican bishop Nicholas Holtam has said that his church's opposition to same-sex marriage has been a disaster and "compared bishops opposing marriage reforms to 18th century Christians who believed slavery was "God-given"." It will be interesting to see who gets nominated to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury, the titular head of the worldwide communion of Anglicans. One of the early leading contenders had been John Sentamu, an ardent opponent of same-sex marriage, but his star seems to have waned recently.
This November there are referenda on same-sex marriage in four states in the US (Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington) and it will be interesting to see how they play out. Pew surveys show a big swing nationally on this issue, with a 54-37% margin opposing it in 2009 to 48-44% favoring it in 2012, a massive swing of 21 points in just three years. A win in any one of these races will have huge symbolic value because so far the six states and the District of Columbia where same-sex marriage is legal have done so either due to court rulings or actions by the legislature. All referenda have so far failed to pass.
Interestingly, opposition to same-sex marriage is waning even in the black community, where opposition has traditionally been very strong, as can be seen in Maryland.
According to the Sun, "there's been a dramatic shift in the attitudes of black voters." The paper found that "more than half of likely black voters favor legalizing same-sex marriage, compared with a quarter who are opposed." This is huge in a state where black voters are thought to be a quarter of all Maryland voters.
Another sign of the changing times is that major labor unions, who tend to shy away from taking stands on social issues and are not always the most progressive voices on them, are backing same-sex equality.
So the votes in the four states this November will be an interesting bellwether of how far public sentiment has shifted in favor of equal rights for the LGBT community in general and same-sex marriage in particular. While opponents have lost a lot of ground in the last eight years, there is good reason to be cautious. There could be setbacks, as was seen in the surprisingly large margin of 61% to 39% by which a ban on same-sex marriage passed in May in North Carolina.