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Tag Archives: West Sacramento
Nguyen: 'average' district can improve
News-Ledger's interviews with candidates in the March 5 special school board election continue this week with local businessman Linh Nguyen —
By Steve Marschke
News-Ledger Editor
With a background in computer engineering and in business, Southport's Linh Nguyen believes one of the best ways to start attacking any problem is to measure it. And he believes the measurements are clear for Washington Unified School District:
"Statistically, we are average," Nguyen told the News-Ledger.
Student test scores often have a strong link to a community's economic level. Look at them both if you want to judge how a school district is doing, he said.
"If we can say that economically, we're a '5,' but what we're achieving is a '7' or '8' out of 10, then that's excellent. But if we're economically a '5' and we're achieving at a '5,' that's just okay."
West Sacramento's school district is scoring at about 760 on the API tests, he said, which is about "average" for a place with an "average" socioeconomic level.
Nguyen (pronounced with the "ng" sound followed by "wen," in one syllable) hopes to earn a seat on the local school board next month and help change that.
"That reflection is on the board – that's where the buck stops," he said. "City-wise, you can see there are a lot of successful projects that have been implemented – whether it's (new developments like) the River Cats, Nugget, Home Depot or Ikea. They didn't let the 'average' or 'below average' hold them back. The school district needs to do the same."
"As a person who runs my own company, I understand what you need to do when you govern a multi-million dollar entity. We need to define a clear vision. We need to lay out a clear plan of what we're going to do. We need to always follow up on the plan."
Nguyen, 40, currently works at home, managing his investment portfolio. His wife is a part-time pharmacist, and the couple has three young kids – the oldest two of which are at Bridgeway Island Elementary School.
"I graduated from UC Davis in computer science engineering," he explained. "I went back to Silicon Valley and my first job was at Genentech. I worked mostly in high-tech. After we saved some money, we started our own consulting company. But running a company is very intensive, and we were having our first kid. We decided to move to West Sacramento, which is a very good place to raise kids."
Having two children in the public elementary school and another headed that way has generated some concerns, said Nguyen.
"I think I'm in the same shoes as a lot of parents," he said. "My kids are in first and third grade. I can see the future coming for them. High school is coming."
One friend typifies his concern:
"When I told him I was running for the board, the first thing he said is, 'Great, I'll support you.' The second thing he said was, 'At this point, I wouldn't let my kid go to River City High School.' The sad fact is that (the friend himself) went to River City High School, and his wife went to River City High School – not the new campus, but the old one. Something like that speaks volumes about how people perceive the high school."
Nguyen is concerned by the numbers – and RCHS is higher than the state in some statistics, like expulsion rates, he said.
Between that and issues like bullying and campus security, "I don't feel my kid is safe to go to this high school" right now, said Nguyen.
How do you fix that?
Nguyen believes that the first step is to identify the problems facing WUSD, whether they be test scores or campus safety.
"I would like the (school) board to acknowledge the problems," he said. "That's the first step in solving a problem. Secondly, I would like to know how we are going to measure the issues – for example, what percentage of the kids are leaving the district (to go to school elsewhere)? If we can first do a measurement on that, we can improve it. We don't (now) have a way to measure that. Just anecdotal evidence."
Nguyen says he has been to several school board meetings and seen others on cable TV.
"I see a lot of positive coming from the board we now have," he said. "We could do much better. We have 7.000-plus students in the district. We have an obligation to help these 7,000-plus kids to achieve, to reach their full potential."
He added that, fiscally, the board is "doing okay with what we have." And with Proposition 30 passing and bringing more stability to school funding, and with the economy finally improving, he expected the school's financial climate to start getting better.
How does he feel about charter schools?
Nguyen said he would examine them on a "case by case" basis.
"I'm not encumbered by a political agenda. . . If someone comes to me and asks about a charter school for our district, I would say, 'show me the empirical evidence.' When we make a change like that, there's going to be a financial cost. The research has to support (a need for the charter school)."
Nguyen thinks that voters should look at the time commitment of being a school board member when they weigh their decision of whom to elect.
"One of the basic elements (of the job) is that you have to be willing to put in the time," he said. "If you look at our city council, they have 22 subcommittees, reaching out to the schools, the River Cats, the port, to Sacramento County. Board-wise, we're not reaching out to other districts around us. We're not reaching out to resources we have. We're not reaching out to UC Davis or Sacramento State."
"If the board was functioning at an excellent level, we would have a direct path where Sacramento State and Davis and vocational programs would come here and work with the kids, and explain why some subject is important. We want to engage a kid, whether they are going to be a mechanic or an engineer or something."
With a background in management and in science, Nguyen believes he can help the board do this.
What does he see as a board member's job duties?
"One of the requirements is that we need a board that's passionate," he answered. "Statistically and empirical data-wise, we're average. That's a result of our economics. To be successful, we have to be innovative."
Has Nguyen been endorsed by the mayor or by school board members?
"Purposely, I've tried not to coincide with the political side," he answered. "I call it the political machine. I don't want to reach out there, because I want to be independent. The first thing is that the school board is for the kids. The second thing is, it's for the kids. And the third thing is, it's for the kids."
Nguyen's prior involvement in the community include helping to coach youth soccer, baseball and basketball in the elementary school and city leagues. He also helps with the local Cub Scout troop.
The candidate said he is funding his school board campaign with "mostly my own money," and is also walking precincts.
[Editor's note: after this interview was published, the candidate notified the News-Ledger that he had picked up endorsements from former WUSD school board members Ardeene Westvik, Dave Farmer and Ed Hocking.]
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Copyright News-Ledger 2013
Southport: the trouble with beavers
City's trapper has so far caught five of the pesky mammals
By Steve Marschke
News-Ledger Editor
"It comes in waves," reports Dena Kirtley, the City of West Sacramento's urban forest manager. "It has probably been about three years."
But now, they're back:
"About a month ago, one of my crew noticed some trees that he thought were chopped down with an axe. On further inspection, we discovered it had been beavers."
The animals have been active "for probably six or eight weeks" in the Bridgeway Lakes area of Southport, chopping down trees. Their preferred species is willow. The animals – perhaps a family – probably came in from the Sacramento River.
"There's a canal that belongs to Reclamation District 900, just east of Otis Road, south of Marshall," said Kirtley, who is managing the city's response. "That's pretty much where Bridgeway Lakes begins. That canal runs under the road."
"They've taken out several trees at Cherokee in Bridgeway Lakes, and gone around the corner behind some houses and taken out some more."
Why do the beavers want to gnaw down willow trees in particular?
"They eat the bark and leaves off the portion that falls into the lake," answered Kirtley. "Their intent is to make the trees reachable so they can get to the bark and leaves."
The felled trees aren't immediately being removed by the city.
"We leave the trees where they are, so the beavers don't down more trees," said Kirtley.
You might call that an official policy of "Leave it to Beaver."
If the animals can't get at willow trees, they will settle for other species, like live oak, she added.
How many animals are there?
"We're hoping less than 10," she said. "They move in from the river through the ag canals. It's like a little highway."
So far, there has been no problem with beaver dams as a threat to drainage.
The city's response to the beaver infestation was to show the state Department of Fish and Game that it was taking adequate tree-protection measures, and then get a permit to hire a trapper. Parks workers have tried to protect over 100 area trees with chicken wire – a questionable strategy, allowed Kirtley, because the beavers can always just "move on down the line" to unprotected trees.
A trapper has thus far caught five of the animals. When pressed, Kirtley admitted delicately that the animals are not live-caught. They're killed by the traps.
"It's illegal to transport them," she said. "Nobody else wants them. They would just be somebody else's problem, and we are in an urban area. It's a delicate subject. I've had people ask me what happens to the beavers."
Kirtley said the animals can build aquatic lodges, but they also burrow into riverbanks – and "we think we found one of their nests." The trapping doesn't seem to be over.
The good news is that the downed trees will probably rise again.
"Once we think we've alleviated the beaver problem, we will remove the felled trees," said Kirtley. "We'll make a nice, clean cut below the damage, and the trees will re-sprout and we'll have new trees."
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Copyright News-Ledger 2013
Latest News-Ledger 'Police Log'
News items below are collected from police dispatchers' notes and arrest reports. The information in them has often not been verified beyond the initial reports. The News-Ledger publishes this feature weekly in our print edition. Look for the special offer at the bottom to subscribe.
Jan., 30, 5:09 a.m.
Staff at a Woodland crisis shelter said a man who told them he lived at a particular West Capitol Avenue motel had phoned them several times, becoming upset. The man said "he had a gun and was going to go to Woodland and shoot (the caller)."
Jan. 30, 6:01 a.m.
A woman said her boyfriend had left his '69 Chevy pickup truck warming up in her Madrone Avenue driveway with the keys in it. The pickup left without him.
Jan. 30, 11:55 a.m.
Copper parts were stolen from two air conditioning units at Alyce Norman Elementary School. The loss was valued at $6,000.
Jan. 30, 12:16 p.m.
A resident of West Capitol discovered the theft of "hundreds worth of old records" from a backyard shed. It was unknown when the theft occurred.
Jan. 30, 12:58 p.m.
A witness reported a beating happening at a Stone Blvd. park: "a subject with a metal bat or pipe in the parking lot (was) beating on on somebody in the lot. . . the subject was down."
Jan. 30, 3:31 p.m.
During a vehicle burglary on Jan., 15, someone took a checkbook and some shoes – leaving behind a laptop and other valuables, during an incident at a Harbor Blvd. restaurant parking lot. The victim has learned that a stolen check made out for $60 had since been digitally altered and cashed for $2,500. The person whose name was on the check was not currently on scene.
Jan. 30, 4:11 p.m.
A two-vehicle accident was reported at Jefferson and Lake Washington boulevards. A baby was injured.
Jan. 30, 4:20 a.m.
A car parked on Summerfield Drive was found burglarized and ransacked.
Jan. 31, 4:55 a.m.
A woman reported she was in an argument with a Cummins Way neighbor. The argument was sparked after the second woman's dog was found chasing the first woman's chickens, which were roaming loose outside.
Jan. 31, 8:31 a.m.
A parent came to the police lobby. A son's bike had been stolen from the River City High School campus, and the suspect was caught on video.
Jan. 31, 8:43 a.m.
The police school resource officer was requested by a parent whose son was being bullied at Westmore Oaks.
Jan. 31, 9:16 a.m.
A car on Teal Drive was found burglarized. Gone was $5,000 worth of jewelry donated toward a fundraising walk against cancer.
Jan. 31, 9:19 a.m.
Gas was discovered stolen from a car on Clarendon Street.
Jan. 31, 9:52 a.m.
A citizen came to the police lobby to ask "how to legally put up campaign signs."
Jan. 31, 10:21 a.m.
A witness said a man was now hiding in some bushes near a Riverpoint Court store. The suspect "was trying to open car doors earlier, and pretended to be on the phone when (the caller) asked him to leave."
Jan. 31, 6:51 p.m.
A caller reported a case of road rage. The caller "was cut off, and followed home by a man in an unknown-color sedan."
Feb. 1, 2:46 a.m.
A drunk driver drove up onto a sidewalk on Topaz Road.
Feb. 1, 4:16 a.m.
A man and a woman just walked out of a Harbor Boulevard restaurant without paying their $30 tab. The caller "is the only one at the restaurant, and can't leave" to follow them on foot.
Feb. 1, 5:20 a.m.
An injured kitten was found near the staff entrance to an Embarcadero Drive business. The county animal services division was requested.
Feb. 1, 8:23 a.m.
An auto parts store on Jefferson Boulevard reported that a man in his 20s, possibly homeless, had tried to buy merchandise with a counterfeit $20 bill. He left on bike.
Feb. 1, 9:03 a.m.
A car was found burglarized on Janet Drive. Gone were a GPS system and registration papers.
Feb. 1, 10:13 a.m.
A man in his 30s was reported to have tried to pass a fake $20 bill at a store on the 3000-block of West Capitol. The suspect was now standing outside the establishment.
Feb. 1, 3:50 p.m.
A citizen said there were "100 juveniles in a standoff" that might turn into a fight near Glide and West Capitol.
Feb. 1, 5:49 p.m.
A Tortola Road man said he was in an argument with his landlady. He "is moving out in the morning and has paid his rent in full, (but) the landlady wants him out tonight and has put his belongings in the trunk of her car." An officer was requested to mediate.
Feb. 1, 6:54 p.m.
A witness said there men were taking things from a Sandypoint Court construction lot, and putting them into the trunk of a beige Chevy Malibu.
Feb. 1, 11:09 p.m.
A citizen reported that a "bunch of vehicles (are) doing burnouts in the street and driving recklessly" near Park Boulevard and Lakeview Drive. The cars included a black Mustang and a blue and white Ford pickup.
Feb. 2, 1:45 a.m.
A neighbor reported that three men had arrived in two cars on Carolina Avenue – and had urinated on the sidewalk. They were also smoking marijuana, and were now heading to a nearby house.
Feb. 2, 2:25 a.m.
A woman on Michigan Blvd. reported the "strong smell of something burning or melting," but she refused to evacuate because she was "unable to get her husband out of the bedroom." Police and fire were dispatched.
Feb. 2, 6:37 a.m.
A Chevy Silverado was repossessed from Twitchell Island Road.
Feb. 2, 8:53 a.m.
A security camera was stolen from a mobilehome park on West Capitol during the night. The thief might have been caught on video.
Feb. 2, 10:24 a.m.
A Sacramento Avenue mobile home resident reported being in a verbal dispute with a plumber. The plumber was now "yelling and threatening" the resident.
Feb. 2, 11:49 a.m.
A citizen told police that there was a man around 60 years old near Riverbank Road, who "appears to be setting up camp on the levee."
Feb. 2, 3:23 p.m.
An Acura hit a cyclist at West Capitol and Merkley avenues.
Feb. 2, 3:54 p.m.
A Casselman Drive resident reported that someone stole a dog about 30 minutes earlier.
Feb. 2, 6:55 p.m.
A caller reported that he just bought a Chevrolet Trailblazer from a Westacre Road man for $4,700.
But when driving the Chevy away, its axle started coming off.
The man returned to get a refund, but the seller refused.
Feb. 2, 8:43 p.m.
A 6th Street man said his children, age 49 and 21, were trying to break into his car because he wouldn't give them the keys.
Feb. 2, 10:16 p.m.
A fire with 10-foot flames was reported at 4th and C streets.
An Ikea Court restaurant said a couple of men dining at the place were "acting weird (and) really antsy." The caller "thinks they are getting ready to do a 'dine and dash.' (fleeing without paying their bill)."
Feb. 2, 9:44 p.m.
An officer stopped a car for a code violation on Bryte Avenue. In the driver's seat was a 19-year old Water Street man who appeared drunk and had a suspended license. There was an open bottle of Hennesey whiskey on the floor.
The driver measured legally drunk with 0.8 percent blood alcohol. He was arrested.
Feb. 2, 11:44 a.m.
An officer pulled a 24-year old driver over at Maple Street and Michigan Blvd. The man had two arrest warrants. While searching him during the arrest, the officer located "two fixed blade knives concealed on his belt and metal knuckles," and also some marijuana in the man's pants pocket.
Feb. 2, 4:09 p.m.
An officer saw a man in a Jefferson Blvd. parking lot whom he recognized as a subject with a felony theft warrant.
With other police, the officer detained the suspect and searched him.
"I discovered a small metal container in his right coin pocket," reported the officer. "Upon opening this container I noted there was approximately six small plastic baggies and three contained a white crystal-like substance inside. Per training and experience, I could tell this was methamphetamine."
The substance later tested positive as meth. The man was also found with two glass pipes he admitted having used to smoke the drug, and a six-inch knife in his backpack. He went to jail.
Feb. 3, 12:03 a.m.
A citizen reported "seven teenage boys walking up and down Venice, banging on things as they walk by."
Feb. 3, 3:30 a.m.
A Twitchell Island Road resident said two subjects had just tried to break into the house. A screen door was found off.
The resident saw one subject – a man in black pants and a 'hoodie' – and heard a second suspect.
Feb. 3, 4:18 a.m.
A man reported that after eating in a Harbor Boulevard restaurant, he went outside "he saw his silver Mercedes keyed all over." He had a possible suspect in mind.
Feb. 3, 8:52 a.m.
A caller reported an incident the prior night at a C Street market:
A car pulled up and a man got out and "hit him two times in the head with his fist and took (the victim's) phone and his wallet."
Feb. 3, 10:17 a.m.
A domestic violence incident was reported on Rockrose Road.
Feb. 3, 12:26 p.m.
A "brindle pit bull" dog was seen "limping and wandering in and out of the street." It was unknown if the dog was aggressive.
Feb. 3, 1:19 p.m.
A suicide threat was reported in the north part of the city.
Feb. 3, 2:24 p.m.
Someone stole a washer and dryer from the side of a house on Bonaire Road.
Feb. 3, 5:08 p.m.
A citizen reported that there was a bicyclist down in the street at West Capitol and Walnut, unconscious.
It was "unknown what happened — no one hit the bicyclist."
Feb. 3, 7:42 p.m.
A man reported that two suspects shot at his car as he drove past West Capitol and Harbor.
Feb. 3, 7:58 p.m.
Police received several reports of fireworks being set off near Golden Gate Drive and Oakland bay Drive. They also received one report of several rifle and handgun shots being heard near Ballena Bay Road.
Feb. 3, 9:52 p.m.
A witness said there were about four or five drunk people at 6th Street and the railroad tracks, and "they keep jumping in front of the trains as they pass by. . . They have already dodged two trains."
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You can even try it for free for two months if you live in West Sacramento. Just send your name and mailing address to email@example.com (offer open to new subscribers in West Sacramento ZIP codes 95691 & 95605).
Copyright News-Ledger 2013
Tryouts for youth soccer team
Tryouts for West Sac Soccer, a competitive program, are scheduled for Saturdays Feb. 23 and March 9. Tryouts will be held at River City High School.
Copyright News-Ledger


text: Heres my only question. If Phoenix was such a success, then why is D'Antoni coaching the Knicks? So when Kurt Thomas was here (He actually played Defence) you really thing that David Lee would excel at the 5? Wow that might be the single most stupid thing I've ever skimmed over on this site. Lee does not have a jumper. He also does not take contact well (Last 2 years injured at the end of the seasons). Lee is Shaq or D.Howard were can physically dominate down low. Your Line up is also extremely small.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Baby Bounce 5:15 p.m.
Event Type: Story Time
Age Group(s): Babies
Date: 2/13/2014
Start Time: 5:15 PM
End Time: 5:35 PM
20 minutes of short stories, action rhymes, songs and play time. For parent/caregiver and child together. Limit 10 parent/caregiver & baby pairs. Registration begins Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. on-line, by phone (320-650-2500) or at the Children's Help Desk in the St. Cloud Public Library.Library: Great River Regional Library - Saint Cloud Map
Location: Discovery Cove Programming Room 123
Registration Ends: 2/13/2014 at 5:00 PM
Status: Closed
|Please Note


text:
Nothing happened
Well that was a load of old tosh. Thankfully we can get back to talking about transfers now. Wayne Rooney completed the full, painful 90 minutes for Manchester United and was probably their most dangerous attacker, which isn't saying much. Chelsea showed very little ambition and seemed happy with the point. David Moyes avoids a defeat. I leave you with this poem from a man called mAtuRe OnE. Not sure if it works, especially as I've lived in west London all my life.
There once was a Steinberg from Israel
Who believed he could tell the world
To go to hell
By not doing his job
Typing juvenile puns like a slob
And ignoring the game before him.
But one day his bosses wised up
Knew 'twas time to spay the pup
But didn't have a blade handy
So they kicked his ass out the door
Readers didn't miss him for sure
Hired themselves a new, competent dandy
"Is this a joke or are you being paid for this drivel?" says the charming David Wilkinson, who would like me to know that he sent that email from his Samsung Tablet. Get him.
We are free! It's over!
90 min+4: Cesar Azpilicueta replaces Eden Hazard before the corner is taken. Van Persie curls it to the near post. It's headed on and Rooney tries an overhead kick of sorts at the far post. He can't make contact with the ball and it's cleared.
90 min+3: A break, led by Rooney, ends with Young winning a corner for United on the right. It's now or never.
90 min+2: What this game has missed is the impact of Victor Anichebe off the bench.
90 min+1: We're into Moyesie Time. Two more minutes of mediocre huffing and puffing!
90 min: Three more minutes, guys. "Isn't the Bourne Identity the one where they bump off the Guardian journalist?" says Mark Francome. Er.
88 min: Jones dashes down the right. Cahill heads it up in the air and the ball eventually comes to Van Persie. He looks certain to score but seems to get his body shape wrong as he hits his right-footed volley. It's going wide but hits Mikel and flies to Evra, whose volley from the edge of the area flashes well wide.
87 min: Mikel replaces Schurrle. And Stephen McCrossan has written a poem.
There was a young man named Mourinho
Who had often beaten Torino
To the Prem he came back
But refused to attack
So everyone turned over to watch Bourne Identity for the fifth time
85 min: It's all been worth it for this: John Obi Mikel is going to come on! The wait is nearly over. "Mr Roy would never have allowed this mediocrity to continue," says Paul Ryan. "Have you noticed that Apple devices now include the correct spelling of Mourinho in predictive text ... surely proof of his place in history?"
82 min: Wayne Rooney has done some running and some passing, and you can't ask for more than that.
81 min: "I had the well-being of Jimmy Bullard bouncing around my brain sometime in the first half," says Ben Maher.
80 min: What's Moyes got against Kagawa? Torres is booked for stopping Cleverley from taking a quick free-kick.
79 min: Ian Copestake's got a poem for us.
All in a hot and copper Guardian towers,
This bloody match, an evening kick-off, 'Right up above the mast did stand,
No bigger than the Moon.
Day after day, day after day,
We stuck with this game, no breath no motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.
78 min: Danny Welbeck is replaced by Ryan Giggs, who is making his 50th appearance against Chelsea.
77 min: Ivanovic crosses and Torres glances a header wide. Up the other end, Rooney drops the shoulder and fires a shot towards the left corner from 25 yards. Cech dives to his right to make his first real save of the match, at the expense of a corner. Which comes to nothing.
76 min: "I ended up watching the recent Margaret Thatcher movie on a date," says Henry Buckle-Loveless. "There was no snogging." That's nothing. I watched her funeral on a date.
74 min: "I walked out of the cinema once," says Joe McGrath. "We had tickets to see the last Harry Potter film, and that's not even the worst part. We went to the cinema, walking straight through to the screen because we were a little late and there was no-one checking tickets. We sat there for about ten minutes through what appeared to be the longest and most irritating of all those Orange adverts, you know the ones. Wondering what the hell was going on, I checked the time on the ticket: it was the right time. I then looked at the date: we were a full week early. We had walked into some weird rom-com by mistake."
Been there. I was supposed to see The Skin I Live In. Ended up in the wrong screen, watching a very grisly horror. After 15 minutes, I realised it wasn't the trailer.
73 min: Young produces a glorious cross from the right. It's just too high for Van Persie and Cech stretches to push it away from inside his six-yard box. He's lucky no United player is following up.
72 min: Now it's Chelsea's turn to appeal for a penalty after Cole nutmegs Jones and goes down under the lightest of brushes. That was embarrassing. He claims Jones pulled his shirt. That was a dive.
71 min: "I've only walked out one movie; Edward II by Derek Jarman," says Mistr Justin. ""It was at the peak of my Smiths days and I was under the premise that it would be kinda like his music videos. It was too highbrow for my late teen years and the theme of the movie didn't lend itself to snogging with the girlfriend. Maybe I should watch it again now that I'm much, much older?"
Snogging is such an odd word. "Darling, would you like to do some snogging?"
70 min: Wikipedia informs me that "Henrik is now retired and lives in Trelleborg Sweden".
69 min: I just found myself wondering what Henrik Pedersen is up to these days.
68 min: If you were wondering whether this has improved at all, we've just been treated to a shot of David Moyes's dad. "I've never seen more people walk out of a film than during a showing of black humoured serial killer following Belgian curiosity Man Bites Dog in 1993," says Phil Sawyer. "That one took early nineties Preston by surprise, I can tell you."
66 min: Hooray! Ashley Young is on for Antonio Valencia!
65 min: Rooney tries an ambitious volley from 25 yards out but it's straight at Cech. A look at the appeal for handball against Lampard shows Atkinson made the correct call. "Thank goodness I recorded day 4 of the 5th test against the Aussies last week," says Andrew Lockhart. "Am watching that instead, rather dramatic in comparison..."
63 min: "You're not the only one in the doldrums, Jacob," says Moyukh Purkayastha. "Manuel Pellegrini looks thoroughly depressed in the stands. In all likelihood, he's probably still smarting from a taste of yesterday's PROPER FOOTBALL™ (pump it in the mixer and bundle it home amidst a maelstrom of shirt-tugging, elbows-flailing confusion)." He gets to sit next to Mr Roy and Chris Coleman though.
62 min: Valencia's cross is headed away as far as Cleverley, whose volley is blocked by Lampard. United appeal loudly for a penalty for handball but Atkinson isn't interested.
61 min: "I was pretty close to tears of boredom during Only god forgives," says Tristan Murphy. "I should have just walked out of the cinema but I just can't bring myself to do it. I have a lot of respect for people who have the stones to do that." I've only walked out of a cinema once, during Vin Diesel's XXX.
60 min: The first change. Fernando Torres gets a charming reception from the home fans as he replaces Kevin de Bruyne. "Have been staring at the screen for 60 mins wondering why Moyes cannot wear a tracksuit while on the touchline for Utd a la his touchline days at Everton?" says David Harding. "Company policy?" He wanted to impress Mourinho.
59 min: Oh my. Schurrle cuts in from the right and sees his tame shot blocked. The ball spins away to Cahill, who catches his shot from 35 yards out so sweetly with his right foot. De Gea dives to his left to hold it comfortably though. Moments later, Schurrle is clean through on goal but he's marginally offside. He clunked his shot against the bar anyway.
58 min: Valencia speeds past Cole and passes to Cahill. What has happened to him?
57 min: "As a public service Fiorentina v. Catania is watchable," says Michael Bertin.
56 min: This is the best chance so far. Evra, who has been United's most important attacking threat at times, tussles with De Bruyne and manages to turn the ball to Rooney just outside the area. He quickly feeds a pass through to Welbeck, who stays on his feet despite a slight touch from a defender. He seems to get the ball stuck under his feet though and sidefoots over from 12 yards out.
55 min: Welbeck curls a shot miles over from 25 yards out. Have any of you ever actually wept real salty tears from boredom before?
53 min: Mourinho is smouldering on the touchline.
51 min: Up the other end, Hazard shoots straight at De Gea from 25 yards. "If the lad in China gave up ages ago, he'll surely be having a better time than we are," says Reinoud Dupan.
50 min: This is much better from United. Evra speeds through the middle from the left and knocks a pass to Welbeck. He tries to flick it back to Evra but there's Terry to clear. He's been excellent.
49 min: "Where are the guardian offices?" says Paul Rankin. "Please tell me they are in giant ivory towers or are they some sort of yurt/occupy tent type conurbation?" Haven't you seen the third Bourne film?
48 min: Carrick gives the ball away in a dangerous position and suddenly Oscar has a free run at Ferdinand and Vidic. Between them, though, they've got the situation under control. "Is it just me who is more interested if the lad in China got a stream than this game?" says Simon Jenkins. Oh he gave up ages ago.
46 min: The second half begins. Let's hope it's better. It has to be better. "Do you have to be in the guardian offices to do MBM or can you do it from the comfort of your own home?" says Rowan Shingler. You have to be in the Guardian offices, just for all the banter really.
"It's so frustrating to see hundreds of millions of pounds spent to set up two teams to play that execrable dross!" says Colin Owens. "It's like amassing a great art collection and hanging them backwards."
That was comfortably one of the worst halves I've ever seen.
That was pretty awful. To summarise, some players were on the pitch and there was a ball.
45 min+1: Jose Mourinho is already heading for the tunnel.
45 min: There will be one minute of added time. "I wish football allowed guest manager slots so Rafa can have another crack at Mourinho when Chelsea and Liverpool meet," says Ian Copestake. "Would be as bad a game as this one but Rafa would enjoy ghosting into Anfield for that one."
44 min: Oscar wakes David De Gea up. Lampard and De Bruyne attempt to play Hazard in behind United's defence but Phil Jones's is alive to the danger. His challenge sends the ball to Oscar but his snapshot from 18 yards out is straight at De Gea again.
42 min: This hasn't been the greatest advert for the Barclays Premier League.
40 min: "Can you see, so far, what Mourinho sees in De Bruyne over Mata?" says Oliver Pattenden. No.
38 min: It's not long before Jones is back in the swing of things. He swooshes down the right flank and sends in a low cross. Terry clears from inside the six-yard box and Cleverley charges forward to blast one over from 25 yards.
37 min: Phil Jones has hurt his hip, or maybe his shoulder, after a heavy fall. I don't know. I'm not a doctor. "Mourinho is box-office, there's no doubt about that," says Simon McMahon. "But then so was Fast & Furious 6."
36 min: This half is not going to live long in the memory.
34 min: It wasn't really an elbow by Van Persie but he did catch De Bruyne with a flailing arm.
32 min: Now Atkinson has had enough. De Bruyne is the first player to be shown a yellow card after fouling Van Persie on the left. He's incandescent though, claiming that Van Persie elbowed him. The blood pouring out of his lip is handy evidence.
30 min: Antonio Valencia sends Oscar flying with a poorly-timed challenge. Martin Atkinson keeps his cards in his pocket again.
29 min: Cleverley slides a pass to Rooney on the edge of the area. He evades Cahill and tries to guide one past Cech, going for accuracy rather than power. The ball arrives at Cech at a pace of 1mph.
28 min: It's sometimes forgotten that Mourinho is often more entertaining than his teams.
26 min: Rooney is hailed by the United fans as he goes over to swing in a corner from the left. It's cleared. Chelsea are defending well. United need to quicken the pace. "You said earlier that you didn't think Mata suited the high-octane/pressing style of play, do you mean tonight or under Mourinho in general?" says Kevin Comber. "Please tell me that you don't think he's leaving Jacob! A league without Mata is a less beautiful league (both physically and in footballing terms)." I wouldn't be shocked if he leaves Chelsea. They have too many players in that position and Mourinho has said one will go.
24 min: Evra pings a cross into the Chelsea area from the left. Van Persie peels away from Terry but the ball is a touch too high and he heads it well wide.
23 min: Van Persie plucks a high ball out of the sky and manages to hold off a couple of Chelsea defenders at the same time. He seems to be going away from goal but he's always dangerous, always looking to get a shot away. It seems like there's no way through but he still finds a way to thump a fierce effort into the side-netting from the left. A few United fans thought it was in.
22 min: This is promising from Chelsea. Hazard saunters down the left flank before backheeling the ball to Schurrle. He spots De Bruyne to his right and finds the Belgian, who instantly lays the ball into the path of the onrushing Oscar, who sashays forward before cutting across the shot with his right foot and sending it a few yards wide.
21 min: Van Persie pirouettes past Ivanovic on the right but Rooney can't return the ball into his path on the edge of the area.
19 min: "The match in China is apparently on Guangdong Sports Channel," says Neil Hicks. "Not sure that will help the guy in Fuzhou."
17 min: Branislav Ivanovic's attempt to score from 35 yards out does not go well. I am in shock.
16 min: Van Persie slithers through the challenges and moves the ball out to Rooney on the right. He's got loads of space to attack but Terry foils his plans by standing in the way of his cross. "Thanks to Rob Coughlin (2 minutes) for putting my problems in perspective," says Travis Giblin. "I'm at a local sports bar watching the game on the big screen tv but without audio, so I'm having to listen to the game on an internet radio stream which is 50 seconds behind the game. I have to make do with all of this by drinking a big schooner of beer and a regular beer server stopping by. Poor me..."
15 min: Ashley Cole scythes through the back of Van Persie on the halfway line but Martin Atkinson elects not to book him. Strange.
14 min: This is not a thriller yet. "Will Rooney show some respect if he scores tonight by not celebrating against his future club?" says Des O'Brien. I'm struggling to think of anything that could be a more moral act.
13 min: "Anyone know what channel the match is on in China???" says Rob Coughlin. Someone help him.
12 min: Oscar inadvertently deflects a pass from Rooney to Welbeck. He tries to exchange passes with Van Persie but Ivanovic reads the danger, steaming across from right-back to concede a corner on the right. Van Persie trots across to take it but Terry heads it away with his head.
10 min: The first shot comes from Chelsea. Schurrle drifts over to the right and drills a low cross into the United area. Ferdinand's clearance is poor, only as far as Oscar, who slams a first-time shot straight at De Gea from the edge of the area. He might feel he should have scored or at least given De Gea a bit more to think about.
9 min: Chelsea are sitting back and challenging United to break them down. It's just like chess. Ferdinand pumps a long ball out for a goal-kick. Chelsea's fans jeer. "By your reckoning then Mata hasn't run anywhere fast enough or tracked back enough to warrant a rest," says David Flynn.
7 min: There's not been much to write about so far, as you can probably tell. Both sides are feeling each other out right now, although United are maybe just about shading it. "Sad to hear that Brian Greenhoff died in May," says Ian Copestake. "I did not know that. But I remember him as one (along with his brother) that even Liverpool fans like myself (quietly) admired."
5 min: Rooney is up for this, then. He hounds Cole deep on Chelsea's left, refusing to give up the chase. Cole plays it back to Terry and Rooney charges down his clearance. The ball spoons up in the air and Rooney clatters into Terry, conceding a free-kick. "FFS Jacob, everybody knows the Chosen One is Anakin Skywalker!!" says Ryan Dunne. "Save the controversy-stirring click-bait for Comment is Free!"
4 min: Valencia feeds a pass from the right through to Rooney, who's popped up in a pocket of space. He tries to burst past Cahill and through on goal but he doesn't quite have enough pace to get round the Chelsea defender. He was chugging a bit there.
2 min: There's a cracking atmosphere inside Old Trafford. Yes, really. Rooney gets on the ball for the first time. He doesn't score an own goal on purpose. "I'm in Fuzhou China on a business trip but I'm staying up to watch me Blues (03.00) only to find the match is not televised here," says Rob Coughlin. "To make it worse, porn is illegal so I have nothing. Man I wish I didn't quit smoking."
And, finally, we are off. Chelsea kick off, attacking from right to left in the first half. They're in blue and United are in red. But you knew that already. "Young ahead of Zaha for the bench," says Daniel Harris. "Nice touch that, real nice."
Moyes and Mourinho have a quick exchange. Mourinho forgets to poke Neville in the eye.
Here come the teams. They perform the ceremonial shaking of hands. And then the man enters the arena. That's right. Phil Neville is back at Old Trafford. What a reception he gets. Oh, and there's David Moyes. He gets a high-five from Fred the Red, a real nerve-settler. A banner in the Stretford End reads: "The Chosen One". I thought that was Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
"Two managers tonight still in the market for creative midfield players, two of the leagues most creative midfielders on their respective benches not getting a look in," says David Flynn. "Mata ran Chelsea last season and Kagawa deserves a prolonged run in the team, he scored a hat trick at the tail end of the last campaign and got dropped for two games. Madness."
One way of looking at it is that both played in the Confederations Cup this summer. But I kind of get why Mourinho might not fancy Mata. I'm not sure if he's suited to a quick tempo or to closing down.
My Chewsee mate has just sent me a message bemoaning the absence of David Luiz and the inclusion of Gary Cahill. He's worried what Van Persie will do to him. It's ok, he's no Kenny Miller.
"Jose's mind games with rival managers aren't as much about Moyes or Guardiola as they are about you, Jacob," says Philip Podolsky. "Making himself the focal point of the headline-hungry media helps take the pressure off his players. If Ashley Cole could wrap his head around this concept then nobody has an excuse not to."
Specifically me? I feel so special.
"Make everything simpler and quicker," says Matt Dony. "The winner tonight gets to keep Wayne. Sorted. The Rooney Cup."
Do they have to get on a podium and lift him up in the sky?
Everyone sing.
We're playing those mind games together,
Pushing barriers, planting seeds,
Playing the mind guerilla,
Chanting the Mantra peace on earth,
We all been playing mind games forever,
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil.
Doing the mind guerilla,
Some call it the search for the grail,
Love is the answer and you know that for sure,
Love is flower you got to let it, you got to let it grow,
So keep on playing those mind games together,
Faith in the future outta the now,
You just can't beat on those mind guerillas,
Absolute elsewhere in the stones of your mind,
Yeah we're playing those mind games forever,
Projecting our images in space and in time,
Yes is the answer and you know that for sure,
Yes is the surrender you got to let it, you got to let it go,
So keep on playing those mind games together,
Doing the ritual dance inn the sun,
Millions of mind guerrillas,
Putting their soul power to the karmic wheel,
Keep on playing those mind games forever,
Raising the spirit of peace and love, not war,
(I want you to make love, not war, I know you've heard it before)
Here's what David Moyes has to say about Wayne Rooney: "He's a Manchester United player and he'll prove that tonight."
Jose Mourinho speaks.
Can he explain his team selection? "I can't. Because I think David is in his room listening to this interview.
Can he explain his team selection? "I go for mobility. I want to try to win the game. I don't come with a defensive team. But instead of one target man I play with four attacking players. In the end, the result will make the judgement. We worked well in the week with this system." Poor Torres.
Is he surprised that Rooney is playing? "No. Not really. Fantastic player for them. They have him. Why not play him? I was ready for this. I was ready for Giggs and not Wayne. Let's see if we can cope with it. We need to control him. He can score in the box, he can score outside the box."
Juan Mata and Shinji Kagawa both on the bench, though. I'm off for a cry.
It's not a huge surprise that Wayne Rooney starts. It tells him he's wanted at United. And we all know he's going to score the winner. I hope you know that. Jose knows it. He'll then make his bid at 9.53pm tonight. As for Mourinho's decision to play without a recognised striker, it makes sense: Andre Schurrle, tonight's designated False Nein, is rapid and his pace could trouble United on the counter-attack. But a message has been emphatically sent to Fernando Torres, who's on the bench, and Demba Ba, who hasn't travelled with the squad. Juan Mata is also on the bench, I see. What does it all mean? Jim White must be very giddy right now.
Manchester United: De Gea; Jones, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Welbeck; Rooney, Van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard, Smalling, Buttner, Anderson, Giggs, Kagawa, Young
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Lampard; De Bruyne, Oscar, Hazard; Schurrle. Subs: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Essien, Mikel, Mata, Lukaku, Torres.
Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Note to Jamie Carragher: it is Joe-say, not Hose-A.
Sorry, that wasn't remotely excitable enough: Wayne Rooney starts for Manchester United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HEEEEEEEEE HEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wayne Rooney starts for Manchester United. Jose Mourinho has picked a team without a striker. Mind games. More team news to follow.
Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke. Drip. Drip. Drip. Prod. Prod. Prod. Poke. Poke. Poke.
And repeat ad nauseam. It gets a bit annoying after a while, a bit much, and doesn't Jose Mourinho know it. He's after David Moyes. You can be sure of that. He's probably not going to poke him in the eye tonight and he hasn't even bothered to kidnap his family. He's even tried to sound complimentary and respectful, patting Moyes on the head and playfully ruffling his hair, patronising him to within an inch of his life. But he's after him. He's watched Moyes fail to sign the players United needed this summer and he's watched Moyes give Wayne Rooney, who is still wanted by Chelsea, just enough of a reason to have been left "angry and confused" and desperate to leave Old Trafford.
Because of ethics, Mourinho said that Chelsea would wait until after tonight's match to make a third bid for Rooney, which effectively amounted to a bid. There's a plan behind everything he says. Sometimes you have to read between the lines; sometimes it's obvious. Just the other day, he was asked whether United fans will give him a heated reception tonight. A picture of innocence, he said it wasn't him who told Rooney he would be second choice at United, somehow managing to keep the butter in his mouth at an ice-cool temperature. So Moyes was to blame? "Of course." He's after him. Moyes, though, has been canny enough not to take the bait from a man who made Pep Guardiola play a three-man defence at Barcelona and sign Alexis Sanchez, before eventually fleeing to New York. Probably a wise move.
You'll have noticed there's been very little discussion about football before the football match we're all here for. It's been transfers this, transfers that. No transfers have actually happened, though. The wait goes on. Rooney is still at United and may play tonight. Juan Mata isn't going to Tottenham. But he might go somewhere. One of them will probably score the winner. Football. There's a match. What a match. David Moyes's first at Old Trafford and he's up against Jose Mourinho. What an occasion. Mourinho won here with Real Madrid last season. Chelsea won here under Rafa Benitez, albeit against Alex Buttner's Manchester United. United are terrified of Chelsea's creative geniuses. But United have Robin van Persie and Chelsea have Fernando Torres. Let battle commence.
Battle commences at: 8pm.


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This study is provided by ICPSR. ICPSR provides leadership and training in data access, curation, and methods of analysis for a diverse and expanding social science research community.
Convention Delegate Study, 1980 [United States] (ICPSR 8367)
Principal Investigator(s): Miller, Warren E.; Jennings, M. Kent; Farah, Barbara G.
These data examine the continuities and changes between 1972 and 1981 in the careers, political participation, issue preferences, and political perspectives of the group of political activists represented by delegates to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions during that period. Questions tap respondent attitudes toward the party and its nomination process, various issues and candidates, and political ideology. Information on the respondent's past political activity and attitudes toward political participation are also included.
Series: Convention Delegate Study Series
Access Notes
Data in this collection are available only to users at ICPSR member institutions. Please log in so we can determine if you are with a member institution and have access to these data files.
One or more files in this collection have special restrictions ; consult the restrictions note to learn more.
To protect respondent privacy, these data are restricted from general dissemination. Users interested in obtaining these data must complete an Agreement for the Use of Confidential Data, specify the reasons for the request, and obtain IRB approval or notice of exemption for their research. Apply for access to these data through the ICPSR Restricted Data Contract Portal, which can be accessed via the study home page.
ASCII + SAS Setup SPSS Setup
ASCII + SAS Setup SPSS Setup
Study Description
Miller, Warren E., M. Kent Jennings, and Barbara G. Farah. Convention Delegate Study, 1980 [United States]. ICPSR08367-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 198?. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR08367.v1
Persistent URL: https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR08367.v1
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Scope of Study
Subject Terms: biographical data, career expectations, Democratic National Convention, Democratic Party (USA), life history, party delegates, political affiliation, political attitudes, political conventions, political issues, political participation, presidential elections, Republican National Convention, Republican Party (USA)
Geographic Coverage: United States
- 1972--1980
Universe: Delegates to 1972, 1976 and 1980 party conventions.
A continuation of the 1972 Convention Delegate Study (ICPSR 7287).
Sample: Census of respondents to 1972 delegate study and all delegates to 1976 and 1980 Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
personal interviews, and mail questionnaires
Original ICPSR Release: 1985-12-20
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Ok, so there may not be presents, fireworks or candy to mark the occasion, but we can assure you that lexicographers across the country are certainly celebrating today. (Don't know what a "lexicographer" is? There's no better way to partake in this unofficial holiday than to break out your dictionary!)
Why? Noah Webster, otherwise known as the "father of the American dictionary," was born today in 1758. Fun fact: It took him 27 years to complete his first dictionary in the English language!
But rather than break out our dusty books in honor of the event, we thought we'd pay homage by talking about what's inside them, as that's the true impetus behind this annual observance.
See, as PR professionals, we rely on the word (both written and spoken) daily. Just as Edward Bulwer-Lytton said in 1839, "The pen is mightier than the sword," we, too, know the power of words and their ability to inform, inspire and even incite action.
Whether we're writing a pitch, press release or bylined article, we're constantly aware of the words we choose – and how their tone and meaning will be interpreted. In fact, as we're creating and circulating information on behalf of our clients, we strive to stay adept at striking a balance between keeping the messaging consistent and the language fresh.
So take a few moments today to open or click onto a dictionary, and peruse a few new words to add to your vocabulary. If you're in need of some inspiration, go to www.worldwidewords.org, or check out our infographic above, which highlights a few of our personal favorites. We'd also be remiss if we didn't include a few words from Mark Twain, a man who had a definite way with them:
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
The lesson here for us PR folks? Words are the building blocks for success, as they can help you communicate more clearly, yield better results and separate yourself and your clients from the competition. Use them wisely!


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Princeton's Mysterious Suicide Scandal: Why Was Antonio Calvo Fired?
On Thursday we reported the death of Princeton lecturer Antonio Calvo, who committed suicide in the midst of a complicated game of academic politics. In the last 48 hours, articles in the New York Times and international media outlets have pushed campus conspiracy theories to a fever pitch. But we still have no real answer as to why the popular Spanish teacher lost his job—and why he chose to take his life.
But we do know about some of Calvo's detractors' gripes about him, courtesy of NYT:
As director of the university's Spanish language program, Dr. Calvo supervised graduate students, most of whom teach undergraduates; the graduate students, his friends said, criticized his management style and singled out comments that they felt were inappropriately harsh.
In one episode earlier this academic year, Dr. Calvo told a graduate student that she deserved a slap on the face, and slapped his own hands together. In another, he jokingly referred to a male student's genitalia in an e-mail, using a common Spanish expression that implores someone to get to work.
The phrase in question was likely some variation of "Deja de tocarte los cojones y ponte a trabajar," which literally means "Stop touching your balls and get back to work." It's the rough equivalent of "Get off your ass and start working." That said, nobody knows whether these incidents played into the University's decision not to renew Spanish citizen's contract—and, friends say, his work visa.
Asked about Calvo's employment—or lack thereof—Princeton spokesperson Cass Cliatt responded:
As a policy in keeping with our commitment to preserving the privacy of our employees, the University does not violate privacy and confidentiality to speak to matters of personnel, which for employee privacy reasons are not public. Members of the press continue to ask us about rumors, and to ask us about what they have read and heard, but we will not violate privacy and confidentiality. Because of privacy concerns and respect for employees, matters of personnel simply are not public, and we cannot speak to them, whether to confirm information or correct misinformation.
With a hint of frustration, she continued:
And because we have found that some reporters are relying on other news report for information—and so to anticipate a follow-up question you might have about why our announcement did not contain information about a cause of death—our initial announcement did not contain this information because of the limited information available at the time. While we were given information about the cause of death, we didn't have independent verification. So how we approached this is consistent with how we have approached similar circumstances, and this is distinct from cases that take place on campus where our own Department of Public Safety might be involved and have access to information. We feel it's inappropriate to speak to unconfirmed information when it comes to personal or private family matters. In fact, we continue to feel that it's not the University's place to make any statements that might be taken as official determination about the cause of death.
Cliatt concludes:
That said, what we really feel is most important here is that we have tragically lost a member of our community, and our campus is mourning his death. We are heartfelt in extending our condolences to his family, and we continue to offer sympathy and provide support to the many students and faculty who knew him and admired him. We, like they, are very saddened by his death.
Meanwhile, Princeton senior Philip Rothaus—whose open letter about Calvo's "horrid treatment" helped spark the media free-for-all—doesn't want to talk about Antonio's death any longer. "I would now just like to focus on remembering and grieving for my friend," he told us by email. He described the Antonio Calvo he'd like to remember as an intellectually insatiable role model with a "superhuman" work ethic:
Antonio was an absolutely remarkable man and friend. Funny doesn't begin to cover it; we used to send each other hilarious and totally bizarre YouTube videos while G-chatting at 2am. Even when he wasn't acting as my professor or adviser, he was amazingly generous and helpful offering advice on papers, translations and other academic issues. His knowledge was unbelievably broad. He gave so freely of himself.
Calvo's family has yet to speak publicly about Antonio's death. [NYT; photos via Wikipedia and Princeton]
The Mysterious Case of a Princeton Lecturer's Suicide


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From ESPN Insider. Seems appropriate to compare the two upon Bernard Kings induction to the HOF. I know Kiya would disagree but I think Melo gets to the HOF sooner than Bernard did.
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Comparing Melo and Bernard
King was Anthony's idol, but has the new Knick surpassed the legend?
Updated: September 5, 2013, 12:52 PM ET
By [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] | ESPN Insider
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Getty ImagesHow do Carmelo Anthony and Bernard King, two New York hoops stars, stack up?
Hoops history is in the air and on the airwaves this week, with NBA legends Bernard King and Gary Payton headlining a 12-person class being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.
One current player long linked to King is fellow [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] small forward [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. Anthony has stated numerous times that King is his basketball idol, and when he was growing up, he used to study video of the fellow Brooklyn native. King, despite an [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] during last year's playoffs, has in turn spoken glowing of Anthony over the years and declared that Anthony the superior player.
If anyone out there has followed my NBA writings over the years, there are a couple of things they've probably noticed. First, I've tended to be [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] on Anthony. Another thing is that I pass up no opportunity to work a Bernard King reference into [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] I possibly can. That's because Anthony and I have something in common: King is my all-time favorite player, too. Suffice to say, all of the Anthony-King comparisons that have cropped up since Melo was traded to New York have tended to draw my scrutiny.
One thing about Anthony that has always puzzled me in reference to his admiration of King is that, if he was modeling his game after his hero, he seems to have overlooked some key things, which I'll get into.
However, comparing the two players is more than a navel-gazing exercise. With the Knicks on the cusp of what I think will be a much more challenging season than people realize, there are key lessons Anthony can still learn from King.
Stylistic tendencies and intangibles
First and foremost, King and Anthony had very different body types. King was listed as 6-foot-7, 205 pounds, but on video he looks at least an inch shorter than that. Anthony is every bit of the 6-8, 230 pounds at which he is listed. Anthony's size, strength and deceptive quickness are the traits upon which he's built his game. Before his knee injury in 1985, King had transcendent quickness and leaping ability, and he was much faster up and down the floor.
While you can especially see vestiges of King's game when Anthony goes to spin moves in the lane, he relies more on size and power in the paint than quickness. King was a blur when he caught the ball with his back to the basket, and he had an exceptionally quick release that allowed him to thrive amid the longer bodies coming over to defend him.
Both players are/were exceptional in the midrange and, in general, were off the charts when it comes to shooting touch. King didn't have Anthony's range, which is a by-product of their respective eras. Other than Larry Bird, the 3-point shot wasn't a huge part of the games of any of the golden-era small forwards of the 1980s.
[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Winslow TownsonContested jumpers have been a hallmark of Anthony's game.
While both players are/were great pure shooters, the biggest differences between them are shot selection and decision-making. While King had a terrific midrange touch, he rarely passed up an opportunity to improve his position on the floor, while Anthony's biggest weakness has always been a tendency to launch contested jumpers. Also, while Anthony still tends to pound the rock too long in isolation, undermining his ability to better those around him, King either made his moves immediately or passed it off.
Finally, there has always been something about the two that I've taken as a key symbolic difference: Whereas Anthony always plays with a kind of half-smile on his face, whether he's happy, mad or somewhere in between, when King was on the court, his brow was always crunched into an intense scowl. It was as if he were not just irritated that opponents would try to stop him, but he was angry they'd even try.
Per-game comparison
Comparing per-game averages of King and Anthony is deceptive because of how different the NBA is compared to 25-30 years ago. During King's best seasons, the average team got about 10 more possessions per game than it does now. That means that the per-game similarities between the two aren't as great as they seem on the surface.
Through 10 seasons, King averaged 22.9 points, 6.3 boards and 3.1 assists. Entering his 11th season, Anthony is at 25.0 points, 6.3 boards and 3.1 assists. The big difference is in efficiency. King shot 53.5 percent during his first 10 seasons; Anthony is at 45.6. The gap is still there even when accounting for Anthony's huge edge in 3-point shooting. King's effective field goal percentage was 53.5 percent, while the 3s edge Anthony up to 48 percent.
Tempo-free comparison
In this case, making adjustments for pace and era only echoes what we see in the traditional categories. The rebounding percentages are almost identical. Anthony has a better assist rate and a lower turnover rate. King remains the more efficient scorer. Through 10 seasons, King used 26.7 percent of his team's possessions, while Anthony's career mark is at 31.7. King had put up a .572 true shooting percentage, which incorporates free throw shooting as well as 3s, while Anthony is at .545. The league level of true shooting percentage during the years in question was nearly identical, so the verdict of King as the more efficient player holds up.
We can assume this is due to shot selection, rather than accuracy. While we don't have shooting location data on King, virtually all of his shots were 2s. Anthony's career mark inside the arc is 47.7 percent. He's hit 60 percent of his career shots at the rim, per HoopData.com, which is about 7 percent better than the NBA average. However, he's quite a bit worse than the league mark in the zones between the rim and long-2 range, and last year was really the first time Anthony de-emphasized midrange shots to the extent that it allowed him to approach King-like efficiency.
If we had access to King's shooting breakdown, we'd almost certainly see this as the chief difference between the two, with a shot chart that clustered attempts much closer to the rim.
Value metrics
Anthony's biggest edge over King is durability. King not only was injured more often and missed time because of off-court trouble, he also spent more time on the bench. Over their first 10 seasons, Anthony played 98 more games and averaged 1.6 more minutes per contest. This plays into Anthony's 72-60 edge in Basketball Reference's [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. King finished with 75 career win shares, so Anthony would have to retire before the 2013-14 season to avoid passing his idol. As for [Only registered and activated users can see links. ], King's first couple of years aren't included because the metric only covers the 3-point era. However, for the seasons we have, Anthony holds a 75-54 edge.
However, King's peak was just as spectacular as any stretch Anthony has had. From 1981 to 1985, King put up 42 WARP with an individual winning percentage of .583. Anthony's best five-year stretch is the one he's on now: He's at 43 WARP over the last five seasons, and his individual winning percentage has been .580. That's about as close as you can get. It should also be noted that at the time King blew out his knee, he was still on the ascension. His winning percentage in that fateful 1984-85 season -- .649 -- was his career best, and is better than anything Anthony has done.
Anthony already has done much more outside of his peak -- which could persist for a few more years -- than King did in his, which is why Melo stands as the better player. He's more durable, and despite his reputation, he has a better all-around game. However, it's King's edge in scoring efficiency that serves as the example Melo should be following. It's this very shortcoming that has been at the root of most of the criticism he's heard over the years, and it's not too late for him to evolve.


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CreekSide EquiCenter Stable Rules of Conduct, Safety and Courtesy
Horse Barn Rules
.PDF Version of our rules. Print out, sign and return to us. Click here for Rules download.
For the most part we adhere to Indiana 4H Rules (click here for handbook).
However, we do have a few of our own that I would like to list…
Please keep pets on leash and controlled. We want a safe environment for our horses and riders. That means excessive barking too.
Foul language, offensive hand gestures, unsportsman-like conduct… Not at Creekside. You will be asked to leave or removed from premises.
Abuse to animals won't be tolerated.
No buggy whips or whips of any kind around horse shows or crowds of other riders.
I will wear proper riding attire when riding (including boots, breeches and a helmet if under eighteen years of age). I will put my tack and equipment away clean and properly stored.
I will turn off all lights when not using, coil up all hoses/turn off water when finished, clean out any buckets used, shut all pasture gates behind me, and most importantly, be aware of the well-being of all the horses on the premises. I will alert the management in the event I notice any emergency or unusual behavior/activity with any horse.
I will discuss any feed changes with the Barn Manager and allow her to arrange for it. I will obtain the owner's permission before feeding other horses any treats or other foods.
I agree to pay for any emergency veterinarian care the management of CreekSide EquiCenter/veterinarian on call may deem necessary in my absence, understanding the management's commitment/responsibility to first attempt to locate /notify me of an emergency situation.
I will always properly walk and cool my horse before returning him to pasture or stall. I will properly groom my horse prior working him as well.
I will provide a halter of good condition, lead rope, winter blanket, summer sheet and fly mask/spray for my horse.
I will ask my visitors to please remain outside of the pastures or stalls unless prior arrangements have been made with the management. I will assist them in obtaining/signing a hold-harmless form before allowing them access to any horse on the premises.
If at any time I am displeased with another student, instructor or member of management (or policy), I will speak to them directly regarding the issue in an effort to solve it privately. If a resolution cannot be agreed upon, I will seek the help of another person in management to assist in the discussion of the problem. At no time will I confide with other boarders/instructors associated with CreekSide EquiCenter regarding the problem, unless otherwise agreed upon with management. Nothing serves to undermine a professional/respectful environment quite like "barn gossip." It is very counterproductive to the learning process. I will remember to keep my speech/conduct respectful at all times.
I will clearly label my personal equipment and belongings and keep them stored either in my personal tack trunk, area of tack room or hung on my stable door. I will not borrow another's belongings without first gaining permission and returning them when I am finished.
I will sweep clean the aisle/mats and grooming/wash-rack areas each time I use them and before riding. I will discard any hair from drain covers after each use of wash-rack and be careful to not allow any large clumps of hair or dirt to go down the drains.
I will refrain from using any foul language, smoking or consuming alcoholic beverages while on the stable premises.
I will leave my pets at home unless otherwise authorized. I will not leave my visiting pet unattended and will keep them on a leash at all times. I agree to clean up after my visiting pets.
I will park my vehicle in designated parking areas only.
I will not enter the pasture of another horse besides my own without first getting permission.
I will never enter a pasture that is housing a stallion.
I will limit my riding to the designated areas on the property, primarily the indoor and outdoor arena.
I will refrain from any running, yelling or quick movements in or around the barn/pasture areas.
I will not bring/ride bikes or motorcycles on the premises.
I will smile a lot and have a lot of fun (despite all these rules!!!)
Mind Body Spirit


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Kershaw's K's benefit pair of worthy causes
By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Strikeouts are for good causes.
That's the bottom line to a pair of promotions keyed around strikeouts for pitchers in general and, with him scheduled to start Tuesday night against the Mets, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw specifically.
The Dodgers' strikeout leader has his own fundraising pledge, "Kershaw's Challenge," in which he donates $500 for every one of his strikeouts, and his new sponsor, Muscle Milk, adds $100 for every strikeout.
In addition, Major League Baseball and Head & Shoulders have introduced the "Season of the Whiff." For every 2013 regular-season MLB strikeout, Head & Shoulders will make a $1 donation to the MLB Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) national program.
Fans are encouraged to join Kershaw's fundraising effort at www.kershawschallenge.com, as well as participate in the "Season of the Whiff" campaign. For the latter, when a pitcher from your MLB club strikes out an opposing batter, tweet: #Whiff + @ pitcher's MLB Club (i.e. #Whiff @Dodgers).
Hairston starts at third base as Cruz sits
NEW YORK -- For the second consecutive game, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly had Jerry Hairston starting at third base and Luis Cruz on the bench.
Mattingly said he still considers the 36-year-old Hairston a "four-days-a-week" player, "or you end up hurting him." Mattingly believes overplaying Hairston last year contributed to the torn labrum surgery Hairston needed in September.
"I just want to get his bat in the lineup," Mattingly said. "He knows what he's doing at the plate. He has good at-bats against righties and lefties. He can hit anywhere in the lineup."
In Tuesday's lineup, Mattingly returned Matt Kemp to the third slot, followed by Adrian Gonzalez at cleanup, then Hairston fifth and Andre Ethier sixth against left-hander Jon Niese.
But nowhere in the lineup was Cruz, whose nightmare start (.087) is fueling skeptics that didn't buy into his .297 second half last year.
"He's done it once, he can do it again," said Mattingly. "I don't think they're pitching him differently. I think he's just lost confidence. There's stuff going on with his lower half -- it's off before the swing is coming -- that's why you're seeing so many popups."
Cruz is out of options, so if the Dodgers try to send him to the Minor Leagues, he can be claimed by another club. Mattingly said Cruz is working on his mechanical flaw so he can "get back in the mix."
"Without being harsh," said Mattingly, "it's a production business. You've got to be doing something."
Homerless Kemp showing signs of breaking out
NEW YORK -- Matt Kemp had a pair of three-hit games over the weekend in Baltimore, but he still hasn't hit a homer.
Manager Don Mattingly still thinks it's bad habits, and not a lingering health issue from the shoulder surgery he had at the end of last season.
"If anything, it's probably bad habits from playing hurt," Mattingly said. "We found out it was worse than we thought. I think Matt is healthy. He keeps working on his swing to get back on track. He showed a little life in Baltimore.
"I'd worry about Matt if he wasn't working in the cage every day. He was out early again today. We'll get it worked out and it'll take off."
Dodgers to use eight starting pitchers in first 20 games
NEW YORK -- It's not like it's been a half-century since the Dodgers used eight starting pitchers in the first 20 games of a season.
Actually, it's only been 49 years.
So when Ted Lilly takes the mound Wednesday against the Mets, it will mark the first time the Dodgers have used eight different starters in their first 20 games since 1964.
The list that year (according to the Elias Sports Bureau): Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Bob Miller, Pete Richert, Nick Willhite, Joe Moeller, Johnny Podres and Phil Ortega. And the Dodgers raced through those eight in only 12 games. The Dodgers finished tied for sixth that season.
The list this year: Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley, Chris Capuano, Stephen Fife and Lilly.
"Most years you need eight to 10 starters at some point," said manager Don Mattingly. "I wouldn't think you'd need them in the first 20 days. ... It happened pretty quick."
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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We're with you right down the line, ready to help you prosper. Read more...
See the latest in our offering and talk to our experts on place at our next exhibition. Read more...
It's our mission to develop ways to help you do your job better, faster and more cost-effectively.
To get the latest first, read our latest JBT FoodTech Report, Volume 9 Issue 1.
A hospital in Scotland is to become the first in the UK to use a fleet of robots to carry out day-to-day tasks.The robots will carry clinical waste, deliver food, clean the operating theatre and dispense drugs. They are currently undergoing final tests ahead of the August opening of the new £300m Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, Stirlingshire. The robots will have their own dedicated network of corridors underneath the hospital.
Go to the full article on BBC
Charles Cannon, CEO of freshly spun-off John Bean Technologies, says international and military sales are booming at the transportation equipment and food processing systems maker, even as airlines struggle.
Watch the interview by Gregg Greenberg, TheStreet.com
The CNBC interview with Charlie Cannon, JBT Corporation Chairman and CEO, after ringing the opening bell at NYSE on August 4, 2008.
View the clip at CNBC.
The JBT AeroTech Halvorsen Loader is named for famed candy bomber Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen (Retired), who dropped more than 250,000 candy-laden parachutes to the children of West Berlin during the blockade following World War II.
The Halvorsen 25K loader is the first of a new generation of Air Force loaders developed to load and unload modern military aircraft. Replacing technology from the 1960s and 1970s, it is the first small loader that can reach cargo doors on both military and commercial aircraft.
The first Halvorsen 25K loader was delivered to the U.S. Air Force in December 2000, and it was officially placed in service in June 2001.
The loader is manufactured at the JBT AeroTech facilities in Orlando, Florida.
Watch an interview with Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen, from the CBS Morning Show.
JBT Corporation is a global technology solutions provider to the food processing and air transportation industries. Through the JBT FoodTech and JBT AeroTech segments, the company designs, manufactures, tests and services technically sophisticated systems and products.
For investor's news, please visit our IR section.
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It's been obvious for years that JTA has little interest in listing to the neighborhood's suggestions. This is just another example of that.
What I'm hearing is perhaps instead of trying to be a regional authority
On the up side it looks like JTA thinks at least the downtown to 5 Points leg is working. Hopefully that would be enough for them to see the streetcar as worthwhile (assuming it's done correctly to make it worthwhile).
JTA needs to be dismantled, and the sooner the better.
JTA did not explain why they didn't reach out to the neighborhood to discuss the service's poor performance.


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Milkweed loss to blame for declining Monarch populations
Populations of the popular Monarch butterfly have been declining in recent years and a new study is citing habitat loss on US breeding grounds as the main culprit.
The eastern North American monarch population is known not only for its iconic orange and black colors, but also for its late summer migration from the United States to Mexico, a migration covering thousands of miles. And despite the long-held belief that monarch butterflies are most vulnerable to disturbances on wintering grounds in Mexico, new research from the University of Guelph shows lack of milkweed in the US which provides breeding grounds for the species is playing more of a role for species decline.
"Our work provides the first evidence that monarch butterfly numbers in eastern North America are most sensitive to changes in the availability of milkweed on breeding grounds, particularly in the Corn Belt region of the United States," said Ryan Norris, a professor in Guelph's Department of Integrative Biology.
During the winter months, monarch butterflies congregate in Mexico. Scientists thought factors on those wintering grounds, such as climate change or deforestation, were the greatest threat to the population. So as a result, many efforts have been made to protect butterfly overwintering habitats and to curb illegal deforestation.
"The protection of overwintering habitat has no doubt gone a long way towards conserving monarchs that breed throughout eastern North America. However, our results provide evidence that there is now another imminent threat," said Tyler Flockhart, lead author of the study.
Milkweed is the only group of plants that monarch caterpillars feed upon before they develop into butterflies. Industrial farming contributed to a 21-per-cent decline in milkweed plants between 1995 and 2013, and much of this loss occurred in the central breeding region, the study said.
More than 70 per cent of milkweed in this region is located in agricultural-intensive landscapes where genetically modified crops are increasing, the study said.
"The rapid loss of milkweed projected for this region, attributable to land cover changes and shifts in agricultural practices, is a very large concern," said Flockhart. Left unchecked, milkweed loss will cause the monarch population to decline by at least another 14 per cent, the study said.
"Reducing the negative effects of milkweed loss in the breeding grounds should be the top conservation priority to slow or halt future population declines of the monarch in North America," Flockhart said.
Norris added: "Planting milkweed in the south and central United States would provide the largest immediate benefit."
The study is published today in the Journal of Animal Ecology.
Read more at the University of Guelph.
Monarch butterfly image via Shutterstock.


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More on Turtle Man in Cupertino
Posted by: Peter Kirn
Date: Wednesday, September 3rd, 2003, 09:47
Category: Archive
Date: Wednesday, September 3rd, 2003, 09:47
Category: Archive
As Apple Turns reported on Friday, a week ago a large man dressed as a turtle stood outside Apple Headquarters in Cupertino with a sign and distributing flyers that read: "Five million people fly each day. Give them a Mac experience during their flight. Turn bored passengers into switchers. United, American and Delta go face-to-face with over 100,000 passengers per day. Compare that to the number of people who shop at Apple Stores. See what we do www.deltabeta.com. Put Mac in the Sky the easy and fun way.


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MERIDIAN, MS -- Ideal Software Systems is looking to bend the cost curve for arcades and family entertainment centers wanting the benefits of a cashless payment system. The company recently introduced its Cashless Express system for smaller arcades and gamerooms, a streamlined turnkey version of Ideal's popular One Ideal Solution. Cashless Express offers all the reliability and reporting features of the more sophisticated system, without the applications that smaller facilities seldom require, such as point-of-sale, food and beverages and party-planning applications.
Ideal president David Goldman explained that the new system has its roots in the company's classic multifunction debit card solution introduced a decade ago. "It uses the same hardware and technology as our proven system, but we've repackaged it with less overhead and a focus on providing a simple, reliable cashless debit system for facilities with a limited number of games," he reported.
As a result of this advance, small facilities can cost-effectively reap the benefits of a debit card system, once limited to larger FECs and gamerooms, Goldman explained. For smaller-scale arcades or larger anchor locations like bowling alley gamerooms, debit cards are now within reach.
"Some gamerooms might not need the full Ideal POS system with cashless for fewer than 30 or 40 games," Goldman said. "But with Cashless Express, it makes sense for as few as 10 games."
Despite its simplicity, the new system is scalable and retrofittable. Large locations that already employ standalone systems for some functions, such as party planning or food and beverage applications, are good candidates for Cashless Express, the company president noted, while smaller locations can add functions to basic Cashless Express installations as they grow.
Although a barebones system when compared to the multifunctional One Ideal, Solution, Cashless Express incorporates a full range of desirable features. Players can add value to their debit cards, accumulate points -- or both. The system also can accommodate tickets, as well as ticketless play and timed play for special events.
The hardware offers much of the advanced functionality found in the full Ideal implementation. As with the original system, Cashless Express incorporates Ideal's advanced optical Flash Reader IR, which uses infrared scanning, rather than a magnetic head to read customers' cards. This optical reader is less susceptible to wear and tear than scanners with magnetic heads, Goldman explained; since there is no physical contact between the card and the scanning head, an optical system is less prone to malfunctions. "The beautiful thing about optical is that it doesn't wear out like a magnetic strip," he said. "Reliability is the key word: it always works."
Ideal's reader is designed to accept double-sided media. The card's coding is duplicated at top and bottom, so the reader will find and read the barcode when inserted with any orientation. This is particularly helpful to young players, who also are reassured by a video displayed on the reader's screen that features cartoon characters giving card-swiping instructions. The same screen shows the value left on the card and the number of tickets won in ticketed and ticketless mode.
The reader also can display full-motion video on a 3.2" TFT LCD display, as well as playing sound effects when a customer wins. According to Goldman, this is a particularly important feature in improving the guest experience. He compares the effect to the coin-dropping sound effects that casino slot machines now use, instead of relying on the sound of actual coins being paid out.
Ideal's kiosk can be used in conjunction with Cashless Express. Operators thus can opt for the cash-only station for greatest economy, or for the full cash-and-redemption system.
Goldman contends that Ideal's Cashless Express offers the smallest gamerooms the principal advantages conferred on large facilities by a comprehensive wireless debit card system. "You get better revenue control and better information on how the games are performing, on a 'real time' basis," he said, "and it reduces labor costs for collection and maintenance. Things like token jams are a thing of the past. And you get all of that with lower overhead."
For additional information, contact Ideal Software Systems at (800) 96-IDEAL or visit idealamusementsoftware.com.
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If your number is pulled, then you are in the car. When face cards are pulled, Ace gets 4 drinks, King gets 3, Queen gets 2, and Jack gets 1. Also when these cards are pulled you take out the same number of cards off the main deck as drinks. For instance if you pull a K the driver and anyone else in the car takes 3 drinks plus pull out 3 more cards from the main deck. But remember if your card is pulled while you're in the car, then you're out of the car until your number is pulled again.
Usually you'll go through the whole deck and the driver ends up being hammered. Then you switch drivers.


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10x10 fest returning to downtown
PITTSFIELD -- The 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival returns to downtown Pittsfield for the second year from Feb.14 to 24 with new theater works, dance parties, art shows and spoken word events.
Spearheaded by Barrington Stage Company and the City of Pittsfield, the 2013 festival (formerly 10x10 on North) will expand in size and geography to include more programming in venues throughout the city's newly designated Upstreet Cultural District.
Last year's debut 10x10 festival attracted more than 3,000 people for 44 performances and events featuring 120 new works including plays, songs, poems, visual art, film and dance.
"We're thrilled to see Pittsfield's vibrant Upstreet Cultural District come alive with creative art, performances and programming again this February," said Pittsfield Mayor Daniel Bianchi. "Winter is going to be a whole lot livelier in the Berkshires. I'm especially excited by all the events for youth and families this year.
The 2013 festival will include the return of Barrington Stage's New Play Festival featuring ten 10-minute plays; the TEN SPOT art show at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, including 10 billboards around Berkshire County featuring local artists; the smartphone 10-minute film festival at the Beacon Cinema featuring short films 10 minutes or less; a 10x10 art show at Gallery 25; 10 singer/songwriters at Mission Bar + Tapas; and 10 poets at y bar.
New festival programming includes 10 decades of jazz composers from Berkshires Jazz; 10 improvised mini-musicals by the Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe at the Colonial Theatre Garage space; PechaKucha at Berkshire Museum; the "One Billion Rising" WAM SLAM dance party at Spice Dragon; a 10x10 stand-up comedy show presented by Thomas Attila Lewis.; Berkshire Art Association and Storefront Artist Project's 10x10 RAP/ REAL ART PARTY at the Berkshire Museum; a visual art exhibition by Hancock Shaker Village; and an interdisciplinary spoken word and art exhibit by WAM Theatre and Alchemy Initiative.
Family programming for the 2013 10x10 Upstreet festival includes "10 Days of Play" at Berkshire Museum, 10 creative projects in 10 days at Bisque, Beads & Beyond, a Shaker music and dance program by Hancock Shaker Village, and "THE TEEN TEN: A High School Art Show" at Pittsfield City Hall, organized by Miss Hall's School students.
All 2013 Upstreet festival events and exhibits will take place in downtown Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District, that stretches from the Colonial Theatre on South Street to Barrington Stage's Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center in the North, and from First Street to Center Street.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.


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Camp-Cruising & Coastal Sailing in the XCR Trimaran
When I first corresponded with small trimaran enthusiast Kellan Hatch a couple weeks ago he shared that he was also working on a design referred to as the XCR trimaran. Kellan had written, "My current project is an 18.5 foot expedition canoe trimaran that was designed by Chris Ostlind. I have attached a photo of my wife and I sailing the XCR on a recent camping cruise on Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Chris did most of the construction and I'm making some mods and finishing up the details." (more…)


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Posted at 9:45 AM
Created on March 17, 2014
The Houston MBDA Business Center held their grand opening ceremony March 5.
The kick-off event started with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the center, followed by a roundtable discussion with local business leaders. Candace C. Shiver, Esq., MBDA's Special Advisor to the Office of the National Director and Roger Harris, Houston MBDA's Program Director, spoke with participants about local challenges minority businesses face and opportunities for enhancement and growth.
The grand opening ceremony was held later that afternoon at the Houston Community College (HCC) administration building.
"We are proud to be able to help minority businesses access procurement opportunities, markets and capital to create jobs," said Harris during the ceremony.
Harris most recently worked as the External Affairs Manager of the City of Houston's Office of Business Opportunity. Previously, he was the owner of Beta Financial Resources, LLC, and served as a Business Consultant with the Houston Business Development, Inc.
In September 2013, MBDA awarded HCC $900,000 to operate the Houston MBDA Business Center for the next three years.
For more information on the Houston MBDA Business Center, please visit http://www.mbda.gov/businesscenters/houston.


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OCEAN CITY — Due to the recent drop in temperatures, the Ocean City Fire Department would like to offer property owners simple maintenance tips to ensure that fire sprinkler and domestic pipes do not freeze and break, causing thousands of dollars in water damage as well as rendering fire sprinkler systems inoperable.
Maintaining wet pipes above freezing is a key concern. Domestic water pipes can be insulated or wrapped with an approved UL listed heat tape. In the event that a unit is unoccupied for the winter season, domestic water pipes can also be drained.
Wet sprinkler systems, however, usually cannot be wrapped with a heat tape. All sprinkled areas of a building should be checked to make sure they are above freezing. Setting a unit thermostat to keep pipes around 40 degrees Fahrenheit will help prevent these pipes from freezing.
With regard to dry sprinkler systems, auxiliary condensate drains should be drained by a licensed sprinkler company or person knowledgeable about sprinkler systems.
Finally, emergency contact numbers should be posted on the outside of the building, which can help the fire department contact responsible parties in the event of a pipe break. Also, key lock boxes, which can be purchased from the fire department headquarters at 15th Street, can allow access into a building in the event of an emergency to allow firefighters to turn off water mains and minimize damage within units.
For more information on precautionary measures to take to prevent pipe breaks, contact the Ocean City Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal at 410-289-8780.