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It started me thinking, "How many bloggers out there are working in an entirely different field but expressing their passion for interior design by blogging?" So, this post is a shout out for bloggers who love interior design but whose work is in an entirely different field to let us know more about you and what motivates you.
Leave a comment with a link - tell us about your "day job", your passion for design and any plans/dreams you have for the future when it comes to design, even it it's just to keep blogging! After a week or so, I'll do a summary post capturing all the blogs and their links. Looking forward to hearing from you!
And since tomorrow is Halloween...
if you haven't already seen Eddie Ross's HGTV Halloween Block Party it's airing one more time, tonight Oct. 30th, 6 pm/5 c. Happy Halloween!


text: Category can include subcategories and articles that have copyright implications. See also Category:Policy. All items (1) # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other C Beethoven Wiki:Copyrights Retrieved from "https://beethoven.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Copyright?oldid=3104" Categories: Organization Add category Cancel Save

subset: commoncrawl


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text:
Big-spending former wrestling executive Linda McMahon was smacked down again in her bid for a U.S. Senate seat Tuesday, losing on a night when sports and politics met in the same arena.
McMahon, a Republican who once ran World Wrestling Entertainment with blustery and better-known husband Vince McMahon, was beaten by Democrat Chris Murphy. She also lost in 2010 in a bid for the Senate. McMahon spent more than $42 million of her own wealth in the race for retiring independent Sen. Joe Lieberman's seat.
In another Senate race, the great-grandson of one of baseball's most august figures lost his Senate race in Florida. Connie Mack IV, a Republican, is a descendant of Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack. He was defeated by Democrat Bill Nelson, who won a third term.
This was hardly an All-Star night for sports. Long gone are the days when the likes of basketball's Bill Bradley served in the Senate. More recently, football's J.C. Watts and track's Jim Ryun were in Congress.
Two years ago, Hall of Fame pitcher and Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning retired. This year, sports lost more of its sizzle in Congress: Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl, the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, retired, and North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler, a one-time NFL quarterback, chose not to run again after his district was redrawn.
Murphy, a three-term congressman, made an issue of the 64-year-old McMahon's wrestling roots, dismissing the enterprise as a vulgar and violent spectacle that belittled women.
``I think that not every CEO is qualified to be a United States senator,'' he said.
WWE, as the wrestling extravaganza is now known, tried to clean up its image during the Senate campaign in an attempt to make itself more presentable as family fare. Still, Democrats found ways to remind the electorate of an online scene featuring a wrestler simulating sex with a corpse in a casket.
Mack has made much of his baseball lineage. On his web page, the ``O'' in his first name is replaced with a baseball. The congressman's great-grandfather managed the Philadelphia Athletics for 50 years, starting in 1901, and with his suit and straw hat was always an impeccable presence in the dugout. He retired when he was 88.
The younger Mack's reputation was hit hard in TV ads. Nelson depicted Mack as a bar brawling party-boy. In 1992, Mack was involved in a barroom brawl with then-Atlanta Braves outfielder Ron Gant. Mack insisted he was sober and minding his own business.
Mack, however, was not the only loser on the ballot with a strong baseball heritage. U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler of Kentucky is the grandson of former baseball commissioner Happy Chandler. He was commissioner from 1945-51, a period when Jackie Robinson broke the game's racial barrier when he joined the Dodgers. Ben Chandler, a Blue Dog Democrat, lost to Republican Andy Barr, who linked his opponent to the president in a state where Barack Obama is decidedly weak.
Others with family ties on election night were two candidates with NFL connections: George Allen and Tom Rooney.
Allen was turned back by Tim Kaine in his attempt to win a U.S. Senate seat in Virginia. He is the brother of Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen and the son of former Redskins coach George Allen. Rooney, a nephew of Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, easily won re-election to his U.S. House seat from Florida.
In Nevada, Danny Tarkanian was running for a House seat in Congress. He was the star point guard in the early `80s at UNLV, where he was coached by his celebrated towel-chomping father, Jerry Tarkanian.
Also from college basketball: Jim Tedisco, a Union College star in the early `70s, was on his way to victory in the New York Legislature; Al Lawson, once a Florida A&M star and assistant coach to Hugh Durham at Florida State, was beaten in a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida.
Four ex-NFL players were in the mix: Jon Runyan, a lineman who spent most of his 14 NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, held his New Jersey seat in Congress; Clint Didier, once a star tight end for the Redskins, lost his race to become public lands commissioner in the state of Washington; Phil Hansen, a defensive end who played on three Super Bowl teams for the Bills, was in a tight race for the Minnesota Legislature; and Jimmy Farris (Falcons, Redskins) was eyeing a U.S. House seat from Idaho.
In a U.S. House race in Ohio, former Arena Football League owner Jim Renacci was re-elected.
A one-time Harlem Globetrotter provided some razzle-dazzle in Arkansas. Fred Smith, of the Green Party, was elected to the Legislature when a judge said no votes would be counted for his opponent because of a felony conviction.
In a sports-related ballot measure, Glendale, Ariz., voters rejected a sales tax enacted this summer, but it's still uncertain what this does to the proposed sale of the Phoenix Coyotes.
Associated Press writers Susan Haigh in Hartford, Conn., and Gary Fineout and Brendan Farrington in Florida contributed to this report.


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Add the Packers to the list of teams knocking out first-round deals.
According to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Packers agreed to a deal with defensive end Datone Jones.
He's expected to sign his contract Thursday after taking his physical. The Packers' first practice is Friday morning, and now they have all their picks taken care of.
Of course, as McGinn points out, their last two holdouts were defensive tackle B.J. Raji in 2009 and quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2005. So maybe being on time isn't that big a deal.


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Am holding out for Windows 8, myself. Have downloaded the developer preview and will be installing it onto my HP Touchsmart tablet/laptop convertible over the weekend. People seem to be quite enthusiastic about it and it'll be nice to have the same METRO interface on my laptop/tablet as on my phone. Consumer BETA is out at the end of the month.
Android is looking better nowadays but the prospect of having a broadly similar user experience across phone, desktop, laptop, tablet and XBox is too good to miss and is something no other company offers.


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A Wellesley Republican visited Taunton on Monday to talk to local business owners and meet with city residents as he runs for the office of state treasurer.
TAUNTON — A Wellesley Republican visited Taunton on Monday to talk to local business owners and meet with city residents as he runs for the office of state treasurer.
Mike Heffernan, a businessman who worked nearly 20 years as an executive at Citigroup before co-founding a mobile technology company, visited several Main Street establishments to hear what people had to say about the biggest problems they face.
"Sometimes it's better to be a listener than a talker," said Heffernan, 53, who has never run for public office prior to this. "For here, it's parking in downtown Taunton that's an issue. But across the state it's too much regulation, and a very, very high level of taxation."
The political newcomer said that as a treasurer, he wouldn't have a direct impact on regulation, but he would work "across the aisle with Republicans and Democrats" as they try to cut red tape and stimulate jobs.
Heffernan said what he will have a direct impact on as state treasurer is the management of the Massachusetts Lottery, which is the sole source of unrestricted aid, he added. Heffernan said that he would make the $5 billion state lottery operation more efficient so that it produces even more than the nearly $1 billion in local aid it already provides each year. One idea Heffernan has is to convene a study group to figure out how the lottery can be made less regressive and more profitable.
"Coming from a business background, there is always ways to get more efficiencies," said Heffernan, while sipping a cold drink inside Coffee Milano during his fourth trip to Taunton after announcing his candidacy in January. "You look at, one, how it's managed and how can you save it on the top line. And, two, you've got 7,400 retail establishments that sell it. What else can we put in that distribution pipeline that we have in the lottery to actually bring more money to the state? Let's think outside the box."
Heffernan will run against the winner of a Democratic primary to be held in early Septemeber. Deb Goldberg, of Brookline, state Sen. Barry Finegold, of Andover, and state Rep. Tom Conroy, of Wayland, are all running on the Democratic ticket for state treasurer. Current Treasurer Steve Grossman is running for governor.
Another major focus for Heffernan is improving the state's pension system and how to help the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board, and he discussed ideas to improve its efficacy. Heffernan said the pension system has double digit returns, but is underfunded, which reduces the dividends that are possible. Heffernan said his father is a retired teacher, so the subject hits home.
"The returns are fine, but it's underfunded," Heffernan said. "We're leaving money on the table by not putting money into the pension system. We are little over 60 percent funding. The average is in the 70s. Second, working on performance. That's coming. And, third, is fees. Mass PRIM has made some strides in that area, but the system itself is working to reduce its fees, but they are small numbers that repeat every year."
As the state treasurer, Heffernan would also be the head of the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Heffernan said that improving schools is not just about unions, teachers or students, but about the community coming together. He also said equality for communities is important when it comes to public school resources.
"We have some of the best schools in the globe in Massachusetts," he said. "We need to make sure we are helping the schools that are the most needy so that everyone in the state is getting the same level of education."


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Kanye West Named Felony Suspect in Paparazzi Fight
Kanye West is facing the music after his fight with a photographer while leaving LAX airport Friday (July 19).
TMZ shares that Ye is being named a felony suspect for attempting to take the photographer's camera during the skirmish.
The site reports that the Robbery Homicide Unit of the LAPD are working on putting the case together now.
The photog has been interviewed by cops and they've determined he suffered injuries at the hands of the rapper. He wants to press charges against West, according to law enforcement sources.


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Slate's mistakes.
In a Nov. 21 Bad Astronomy post, Phil Plait misstated that the maximum velocity of Comet ISON when it passed the sun was 600 km/sec. The maximum velocity is 360 km/sec. He wrote a follow-up post to explain the math and physics of this.
Due to a production error, the caption for the photo in a Nov. 21 Billion to One misstated the owner of an $88 million apartment. It is Ekaterina Rybolovlev, not her father.
In a Nov. 21 Brow Beat post, Miriam Krule misstated that Finnick Odair won the 75th Hunger Games. He won the 65th Hunger Games and competed in the 75th. She also also misstated that Wiress carried a big spool of wires. It was Beetee who carried the wires
In a Nov. 21 Explainer, Mark Joseph Stern misidentified Rep. Gary Condit as a Republican. He is a Democrat.
Due to a photo provider error, the caption on the photo in a Nov. 21 Future Tense misidentified Pablo Chavez, Google director of public policy, as Richard Salgado's assistant.
In a Nov. 20 Double X, Rachel Simmons misstated that four women completed the Marine infantry combat training. Three women finished, and a fourth completed most of the hurdles but was injured before she could complete some of the final tests.
In a Nov. 20 Moneybox blog post, Matthew Yglesias based his premise that Instagram from Windows Phone app doesn't support taking photos inside the app itself on an incorrect post on the Verge. The Verge has since updated their post explaining that "Instagram claims the app does not support in-app photo-taking, but we found that it works just fine." The incorrect post remains with a correction.
In a Nov. 20 XX Factor blog post, Amanda Hess misspelled Madeleine Davies' first name.
In a Nov. 19 Brow Beat post, Kriston Capps misspelled the name of Kanye West's company. It is DONDA, not Donde.
In a Nov. 19 History, a panel excerpted from Jonathan Hennessey and Aaron McConnell's The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation misstated that the Hartford Convention of 1814–15 occurred during Thomas Jefferson's presidency. It occurred during James Madison's presidency. The original panel remains.
In a Nov. 19 Weigel, Emma Roller misstated that a Wisconsin voter ID law is being challenged at the state Supreme Court. The law is being charged in federal court.
In a Nov. 18 Billion to One interactive, Ben Blatt and Nicholas Duchesne mislabeled the Koch brothers as Jewish. Although they are reported to have Jewish roots, they are Christian. Additionally, Luis Carlos Sarmiento's country of origin was listed as Columbia. He is from Colombia. The article also incorrectly referred to Forbes' World's Billionaires List as the Forbes 500.
In a Nov. 18 Culturebox, Ben Blatt mispelled the surname of Where's Waldo author Martin Handford, and misstated the date of the book's debut. The first Where's Waldo was published in 1987, not two deacdes ago.
In a Nov. 18 Explainer, Brian Palmer misstated that Nicholas Mevoli was attempting to break a world record in freediving when he died. In fact, he was attempting to break an American record.
In a Nov. 18 Future Tense blog post, Derek Khanna misstated the contents of the U.S. proposal to the Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty regarding cellphone unlocking. The legislation wouldn't ban unlocking outright, but would ban any attempts to make it legal in all cases. Permission would have to be granted on a case-by-case basis. Khanna also failed to mention that the campaign to permit cellphone unlocking that he worked on was co-led by Sina Khanifar. Finally, he defined "jailbreaking" as installing a new operating system on a cellphone, e-reader, or tablet. Jailbreaking also can refer to altering an existing operating system.
In a Nov. 18 Television, Willa Paskin misspelled the actor Tom Mison's last name. She also misstated that Nicole Beharie is the second African-American woman, after Scandal's Kerry Washington, to topline a network drama since the mid-'70s. Meagan Goode toplined NBC's short-lived drama Deception in early 2013. Additionally, though Beharie is a co-lead in Sleepy Hollow, she receives second billing.
In a Nov. 17 Education, L.V. Anderson misstated that Margaret Mary Vojtko suffered a heart attack on Aug. 16. She suffered a cardiac arrest.
In a Nov. 14 History, Fred Kaplan misstated Lee Harvey Oswald's place of employment. He worked at the Texas School Book Depository, not the Texas Bookstore Depository. He also misstated that the recording revealing that four gun shots had been fired came from an audio tape Dictaphone belt worn by a Dallas policeman. The recording transmissions were recorded at the Dallas Police headquarters from a microphone worn by an officer at the scene.
Due to a photo provider error, the photo caption of a Nov. 12 Future Tense misidentified Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice John Paul Stevens.
Slate strives to correct all errors of fact. If you've seen an error in our pages, let us know at email@example.com. General comments should be posted in our Comments sections at the bottom of each article.


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Ceremonies Set For Memorial Day In Victoria
Victoria is getting ready to honor veteran's that paid the ultimate price for our freedom this Memorial Day.
The Victoria County Veterans Council is busy organizing Monday's Memorial Day ceremonies, aimed to honor and remember military servicemen and women.
Beginning at 7:30 a.m. on the steps of the Victoria Courthouse, 21 flags will be distributed to volunteers and blessed, said Veterans Council Secretary Marvin Lockhart. "We're going to drive them around to the cemeteries and put them up," Lockhart said to the Victoria Advocate, mentioning 21 area cemeteries that will be decorated with American flags. When the flags are erected, volunteers will return downtown to DeLeon Plaza for the 11 a.m. Memorial Day ceremonies. Gary Moses will serve as the master of ceremonies. The Rev. Stan Deboe, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, will give the invocation. About 100 names of Victoria soldiers who died in the past year will be read aloud three times, Lockhart said. After 10 names are read, the bell of remembrance will be rung and saluted. Each of the county's veterans organizations will lay a wreath at 11:30 a.m. on the steps of the band stand.
The Memorial Day address will be given by Army Col. Michael Petrash, followed by a benediction from Army military chaplain, Lt. Col. Michael Couchman. Catholic War Veterans will provide a firing squad. Trumpeter Charles Hauboldt III will play taps. At the end of the day, volunteers will return to the cemeteries to pick up the flags and courthouse flags will return to full staff.


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Home // News // Decline in Hospital Readmission Rate and ER Hospital Admissions // lower-hospital-readmission-rate
Tom Prose
CEO at General Medicine, P.C.
As founder and CEO of General Medicine PC, the nation's premier post-hospitalist care company,Tom Prose leads an exceptional team of internal medicine, geriatrics and healthcare administration specialists.
Latest posts by Tom Prose (see all)
- How Post-Hospitalists Decrease Health Care Spending - 06-24-2015
- Top Reasons for Hospital Readmissions from SNFs - 06-03-2015
- The Real Cost of Hospital Readmission Rates - 05-20-2015


text:
|index by Group
|index by Distribution
|index by Vendor
|index by creation date
|index by Name
|Name: aget
|Distribution: Mandriva Linux
|Version: 0.4
|Vendor: Mandriva
|Release: 1mdv2008.0
|Build date: Tue Aug 7 20:29:28 2007
|Group: Networking/File transfer
|Build host: seggie.mandriva.com
|Size: 29039
|Source RPM: aget-0.4-1mdv2008.0.src.rpm
|Packager: Nicolas Vigier <email@example.com>
|Url: http://www.enderunix.org/aget/
|Summary: Multithreaded HTTP Download Accelerator
Aget is a multithreaded HTTP download accelerator. Tests show that Aget is successfull in realizing its objectives. A file of size 36.347.010 bytes was downloaded in 14 minutes 28 secs via wget; whereas it was downloaded in 3 minutes and 15 seconds via aget. Aget is an acronym for two Turkish words "Acele Getir". (Eng.: Get it fast!) WARNING: use with care. Some people do not appreciate that you open more than one connection to download a file from their server.
* Wed Aug 08 2007 Nicolas Vigier <firstname.lastname@example.com> 0.4-1mdv2008.0 + Revision: 59969 - Import aget
/usr/bin/aget /usr/share/doc/aget /usr/share/doc/aget/AUTHORS /usr/share/doc/aget/COPYING /usr/share/doc/aget/ChangeLog /usr/share/doc/aget/INSTALL /usr/share/doc/aget/README /usr/share/doc/aget/README-Developer /usr/share/doc/aget/THANKS /usr/share/doc/aget/TODO
Generated by rpm2html 1.8.1
Fabrice Bellet, Sat May 18 18:55:19 2019


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Memory Eternal! + Khouria Joanne Bitar
Memory Eternal! Prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God, Kh. Joanne Bitar, wife of Archpriest Elias Bitar (retired) of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Little Falls, NJ. Khouria Joanne fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday morning, December 30, 2012, after a long battle with cancer.
A long time volunteer at Antiochian Village, and a beloved mother to Katrina, Sister Ignatia, Martha, Michael, and Antony, Kh. Joanne will be laid to rest at St. Nina's Monastery in Union Bridge, Maryland.
The service times at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 237 Long Hill Rd., Little Falls, NJ, are as follows:
Wednesday, January 2: Viewing and Trisagion service, 5-9pm
Thursday January 3, Funeral at 9:00 a.m.
May Kh. Joanne's memory be eternal!


text:
About Integrative Medicine
Meet Kim Evans
Kim's Full Story
About Holistic Health
Practitioners at 205 Townepark Circle
Angie Megibben, M ED., RYT-200
Betty Greaver, RN, LMT
Bob & Nancy Langan
Cynthia Bowling, MSSW, LCSW
Jerry Scott
Kimberly May
Melanie Tinsley
Dorothy Henning
Yvonne McCoy
Our New Location as of 10/10/10
Services Offered
Advanced Integrative Therapy
APO E Genetic Testing
Introduction to the APO E Gene
How Your APO E Genotype Affects Your Health
The Apo E Gene Diet
Impacts of Stress
How The System Works
Scientific Principles Behind The Technology
Breast Health
CranioSacral Therapy
Lab Testing
Advanced Lipid Profile Testing
Heart Math
Herbal Supplements
Hot Stone Massage
Individual Family and Couples Counseling
Infared Hot Sauna Sessions
Massage Therapy
Betty Greaver
Nancy & Bob Langan
Nutrition & Diet
Item to Avoid at ALL times
Go For It! Healthy Foods
Spiritual Healing
Teeth Whitening with White by Light
Vibe Sessions
Yamuna Body Rolling
I.I.M.'s Pricing
Lab Pricing
Contact Information
February 2017 Health Tips Video
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January 2016 Health Video Link
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Back row:
Cynthia Bowling
, Cynthia Goff,
Jerry Scott
Kim Evans
Nancy Langan
Front Row:
Kimberly May
Betty Greaver
Angie Megibben
While our businesses are separate, we greatly appreciate sharing our location and working with one another!
205 Townepark Circle • Suite 100 • Louisville, KY 40243 • p: 502.253.4554 • f: 877.273.4414


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It's in the 'Bag
When we started on our Hot Rod Hauler, a 1973 Ford F-350, some of our goals were to lower the rear slightly, improve the ride when empty, and still maintain all of its load carrying capacity. We concluded the only practical way to get everything we wanted was with auxiliary air springs, so we turned to Joe Morrow and the crew at Chassis Tech.
Chassis Tech offers two kits for installing airbags for towing applications, the Basic Kit uses 6-inch 'bags that mount to the springs and the Heavy Duty kit that uses either 7.25-inch or 8.5-inch 'bags that mount inside the frame above the axle. For this application we choose the Heavy Duty kit with the smaller 'bags, but because of the tight confines between the 'rails, we mounted them to the outside of the frame directly above the axle. Space was the primary consideration, but we also felt that placing the 'bags as far apart as possible would help stability. We should point out that in many cases these towing kits simply bolt on, but for some applications, particularly on older trucks, some fabrication may be necessary.
While it was a tight squeeze to get the 'bags between the inside of the tires and the bedsides, they do have adequate clearance throughout the suspension's range in travel. The 'bags we used expand very little under pressure, and in most cases, ½-inch clearance all around is adequate, though we allowed for 1-inch in all directions.
As they would no longer be needed, we removed the helper springs from each side, which also lowered the truck by ½-inch. Since the helpers didn't come into play unless the truck was loaded we decided to remove two additional leaves from the spring pack to try and soften the ride when empty.
Disassembling the spring pack was easy enough; ironically it was something that had nothing to do with the suspension that took most of our time. Evidently the original owner had installed a trailer hitch that was subsequently removed before we got the truck. Unfortunately, remnants of the hitch were still welded to the frame right where the airbag brackets needed to be. Held in place by extremely ugly "bubble gum" welds we figured the brackets would pop right off—we were wrong. Those welds were ugly but strong and it took much longer to remove the old brackets than it did to install the new pair.
While air springs were first used in the '20s, today most commercial trucks with gross vehicle weights of 80,000 pounds or more are equipped with them, yet there are still those who are concerned about their reliability. The fact is that unless the 'bag is allowed to rub against something, failures are virtually unheard of. Add to that the ability to adjust ride height and load carrying capacity and it's no wonder that many high-end cars are equipped with them. Certainly they're perfect for our purposes.
When selecting an air spring, Morrow advises that the diameter of an air spring is directly related to the pressure required to attain ride height. A small diameter 'bag will take more air pressure to support the same amount as a larger 'bag. The best bet is to always use the largest 'bag you can fit into the available space. If you do not have enough room, you should do whatever it takes to make room, even if it means redesigning the control arms or trimming the frame.
Check out the following photos on the installation of our rear air-bags and stick around, as next time around we'll deal with the front suspension and the air management system. CCT


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Kate Middleton's pregnancy will undoubtedly go down as the most closely watched in history. The Duchess of Cambridge can't eat a single morsel without the British media and the American celebrity rags turning it into international news.
And this week Middleton took a huge "newsworthy" step toward motherhood: She bought a stroller. While reports have trickled out about her other baby purchases, such as a wicker Moses basket, this is much bigger "news" because a mom's stroller choice makes a statement.
"Kate, now six months' pregnant, is said to have told a group of Army wives at a recent drinks reception in Aldershot that she has bought a Bugaboo in light blue — which some have taken as a clue to her unborn baby's gender," according to the British Daily Mail.
And what kind of statement does a Bugaboo make? Well, Kate certainly didn't pick an affordable, practical option. The Bugaboo is known as one of the most expensive, flashy rides (think of it as the Lamborghini of the stroller world), running from about $700 to $1800 for a pram. While the high-priced wheels have a reputation for being well-made and sleek in style, the stroller is bulky, making it too big for the trunk in a small car and difficult to maneuver through a bus aisle (something Middleton doesn't need to worry about). What's more, many complain that the Bugaboos are difficult to fold down and open up.
Bugaboo first made it big when Cynthia Nixon rolled out the company's Frog on Sex in the City. Many balked at the $700 price tag, but more women clamored to get their hands on the slinky stroller. Bugaboo quickly achieved a status not unlike a pair of Manolo Blahnik stilettos. Gwyneth Paltrow, Elton John, Victoria Beckham, Sienna Miller, Jon Stewart, Kate Hudson and Amy Poehler are all A-list celebs who've been spotted pushing a pimped-out Bugaboo.
But celebs aren't the only ones forking over the money to join the Bugaboo brigade. When the Dutch company unveiled its Donkey at a red-carpet event in New York in 2011, the $1500 stroller sold out before it even hit stories. "Mimicking the clamor for the Porsche Cayenne, thousands of excited parents have ordered the convertible stroller and been placed on wait lists," the New York Daily News reported. "Even with the high price tag, it's selling faster than Tickle Me Elmo."
And now that Middleton has bought a Bugaboo, the luxury baby company's sales are expected to sky-rocket yet again. "The Duchess is the ultimate endorsement. An hour after wearing a polka-dot dress from Topshop to the Harry Potter film studios in Hertfordshire on Friday, the £20 frock had sold out online," the Daily Mail reports.
Since Kate Middleton is proving herself to have a taste for luxury, here are a few other high-end (outrageously priced) baby products for her to consider.


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Shopping is an activity in which a customer browses the available goods or services presented by one or more retailers with the potential intent to purchase a suitable selection of them. A Retail#Shopper profiles has been developed by scholars which identifies one group of shoppers as recreational shoppers,Durvasula, S., Lysonski, S. and Andrews, J.C. (1993), "Cross-cultural Generalizability of a Scale for Profiling Consumers' Decision-making Styles", ''The Journal of Consumer Affairs'', Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 55–65; Sproles, G.B. (1985), "From Perfectionism to Fadism: Measuring Consumers' Decision-making Styles", in Schnittgrund, K.P. (Ed.), ''American Council on Consumer Interests (ACCI), Conference Proceedings'', Columbia, MO, pp. 79–85; Sproles, G. B.. "Conceptualisation and Measurement of Optimal Consumer Decision making," ''Journal of Consumer Affairs'', Vol. 17 No. 2, 1983, pp. 421–38; Mishra, A., "Consumer Innovativeness and Consumer Decision Styles: A Confirmatory and Segmentation Analysis," ''The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research'', Vol. 25, no. 1, 2015 Online: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09593969.2014.911199; Jain, R. and Sharma, A., "A Review on Sproles & Kendall's Consumer Style Inventory (CSI) for Analyzing Decision Making Styles of Consumers," ''Indian Journal of Marketing'', Vol. 43, no. 3, 2013; Sproles, G. B., & Kendall, E. L., "A Methodology for Profiling Consumers' Decision-making Styles," ''Journal of Consumer Affairs'', Vol., 20 No. 2, 1986, pp. 267–79 that is, those who enjoy shopping and view it as a leisure activity.Jones, C. and Spang, R., "Sans Culottes, Sans Café, Sans Tabac: Shifting Realms of Luxury and Necessity in Eighteenth-Century France," Chapter 2 in ''Consumers and Luxury: Consumer Culture in Europe, 1650-1850'' Berg, M. and Clifford, H., Manchester University Pres, 1999; Berg, M., "New Commodities, Luxuries and Their Consumers in Nineteenth-Century England," Chapter 3 in ''Consumers and Luxury: Consumer Culture in Europe, 1650-1850'' Berg, M. and Clifford, H., Manchester University Pres, 1999
Online shopping has become a major disruptor in the retail industry.Dennis, D., "Retail's Single Biggest Disruptor," ''Forbes, 12 June 2017; Online: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevendennis/2017/06/12/retails-single-biggest-disruptor-spoiler-alert-its-not-e-commerce/#af35a92227b6; IbisWorld, "E-commerce Disruptors," 23 February 2015; Online: https://www.ibisworld.com/media/2015/02/23/ecommercedistruptors; "Disruptor of the Year 2016: Amazon," ''Campaign Live, 15 December 2015, https://www.campaignlive.com/article/disruptor-year-2016-amazon/1418737; Nielsen, "What's in-Store for Online Grocery Shopping," [Report], January, 2017, Online: http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/nielsenglobal/de/docs/Nielsen%20Global%20Connected%20Commerce%20Report%20January%202017.pdf Consumers can now search for product information and place product orders across different regions while online retailers deliver their products directly to the consumers' home, offices or wherever they want. The B2C (business to consumer) process has made it easy for consumers to select any product online from a retailer's website and to have it delivered relatively quickly. Using online shopping methods, consumers do not need to consume energy by physically visiting physical stores, but save time and the cost of travelling. A retailer or a shop is a business that presents a selection of goods and offers to trade or sell them to customers for money or other goods.
Shoppers' shopping user experiences may vary, based on a variety of factors including how the customer is treated, convenience, the type of goods being purchased, and mood.
According to a 2000 report, in New York (state), women purchase 80% of all consumer goods.
Ancient Rome utilized a similar marketplace known as the forum (Roman). Rome had two forums; the Roman forum and Trajan's Forum. Trajan's Market at Trajan's forum, built around 100-110CE, was a vast expanse, comprising multiple buildings with tabernae that served as retail shops, situated on four levels.Coleman, P., ''Shopping Environments,'' Elsevier, Oxford, 2006, p. 28 The Roman forum was arguably the earliest example of a permanent retail shopfront. In the Roman world, the central market primarily served the local peasantry. Those who lived on the great estates were sufficiently attractive for merchants to call directly at their farm-gates, obviating their need to attend local markets.Bintliff, J., "Going to Market in Antiquity," In ''Stuttgarter Kolloquium zur Historischen Geographie des Altertums,'' Eckart Olshausen and Holger Sonnabend (eds), Stuttgart, Franz Steiner, 2002, p. 229
Shopping lists are known to have been used by Romans. One such list was discovered near Hadrian's wall dated back to 75–125 Common Era and written for a soldier.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the British engaged in minimal shopping in the early Middle Ages. Instead, they provided for their basic needs through subsistence farming practices and a system of localised personal exchanges.Schofield, J. and Vince, A.G., ''Medieval Towns: The Archaeology of British Towns in Their European Setting,''A&C Black, 2003, p.151 However, by the late Middle Ages, consumers turned to markets for the purchase of fresh produce, meat and fish and the periodic fairs where non-perishables and luxury goods could be obtained.Dye, C., ''Everyday Life in Medieval England,'' A & C Black, 2001, p.257 Women were responsible for everyday household purchases, but most of their purchasing was of a mundane nature. For the main part, shopping was seen as a chore rather than a pleasure.By Jane Whittle, Elizabeth GriffithsConsumption and Gender in the Early Seventeenth-Century Household: The World of Alice Le Strange,'' Oxford University Press, 2012, pp 9- 11
Relatively few permanent shops were to be found outside the most populous cities. Instead customers walked into the tradesman's workshops where they discussed purchasing options directly with tradesmen.Thrupp, S.L., ''The Merchant Class of Medieval London, 1300–1500,'' pp. 7–8 Itinerant vendors such as costermongers, hucksters and peddlers operated alongside markets, providing the convenience of home delivery to households, and especially to geographically isolated communities.Jones, P.T.A., "Redressing Reform Narratives: Victorian London's Street Markets and the Informal Supply Lines of Urban Modernity," ''The London Journal'', Vol 41, No. 1, 2006, pp 64–65
In the more populous European cities, a small number of shops were beginning to emerge by the 13th century. Specialist retailers such as mercers and haberdashers were known to exist in London, while grocers sold "miscellaneous small wares as well as spices and medicines." However, these shops were primitive. As late as the 16th century, London's shops were described as little more than "rude booths." Knight, C., ''London,'' Vol. 5, 1841, Knight & Co, London, p. 132
The Medieval shopper's experience was very different from that of the contemporary shopper. Interiors were dark and shoppers had relatively few opportunities to inspect the merchandise prior to consumption. Glazed windows in retail environments, were virtually unknown during the medieval period. Goods were rarely out on display; instead retailers kept the merchandise at the rear of the store and would only bring out items on request. The service counter was virtually unknown and instead, many stores had openings onto the street from which they served customers.Cox, N.C. and Dannehl, K., ''Perceptions of Retailing in Early Modern England,'' Aldershot, Hampshire, Ashgate, 2007, p. 155
In Britain, medieval attitudes to retailing and shopping were negative. Retailers were no better than hucksters, because they simply resold goods, by buying cheaper and selling dearer, without adding value of national accounts. Added to this were concerns about the self-interest of retailers and some of their more unethical practices. Attitudes to spending on luxury goods also attracted criticism, since it involved importing goods which did little to stimulate national accounts, and interfered with the growth of worthy local manufacturers.Cox, N., "'Beggary of the Nation': Moral, Economic and Political Attitudes to the Retail Sector in the Early Modern Period", in: John Benson and Laura Ugolini, ''A Nation of Shopkeepers: Five Centuries of British Retailing'', London, I.B. Taurus, 2003, pp 25-51
The modern phenomenon of shopping for pleasure is closely linked to the emergence of a middle class in the 17th and 18th-century Europe. As standards of living improved in the 17th century, consumers from a broad range of social backgrounds began to purchase goods that were in excess of basic necessities. An emergent middle class or bourgeosie stimulated demand for luxury goods and began to purchase a wider range of luxury goods and imported goods, including: Indian cotton and calico; silk, tea and porcelain from China, spices from India and South-East Asia and tobacco, sugar, rum and coffee from the New World.Braudel, F. and Reynold, S., ''The Wheels of Commerce: Civilization and Capitalism, 15th to 18th Century,'' Berkely, CA, University of California Press, 1992 The act of shopping came to be seen as a pleasurable pass-time or form of entertainment.
By the 17th-century, produce markets gradually gave way to shops and shopping centres; which changed the consumer's shopping experience.Cox, N.C. and Dannehl, K., ''Perceptions of Retailing in Early Modern England,'' Aldershot, Hampshire, Ashgate, 2007, p,. 129 The New Exchange, opened in 1609 by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury in the Strand, London was one such example of a planned shopping centre. Shops started to become important as places for Londoners to meet and socialise and became popular destinations alongside the theatre. English Restoration London also saw the growth of luxury buildings as advertisements for social position with speculative architects like Nicholas Barbon and Lionel Cranfield, 1st Earl of Middlesex.
Much pamphleteering of the time was devoted to justifying conspicuous consumption and private vice for luxury goods for the greater public good. This then scandalous line of thought caused great controversy with the publication of Bernard Mandeville's influential work ''Fable of the Bees'' in 1714, in which he argued that a country's prosperity ultimately lay in the self-interest of the consumer.Peck, Linda, "Consuming Splendor: Society and Culture in Seventeenth-Century England", Cambridge Press, 2005; Gunor, B., "A Research Regarding the Importance of Bernard Mandeville's Article: The Fable of Bees," ''Journal of Art and Language," Vol. 5, pp 521-536, 10.7816/idil-05-22-01
These trends gathered momentum in the 18th century, as rising prosperity and social mobility increased the number of people with disposable income for consumption. Important shifts included the marketing of goods for individuals as opposed to items for the household, and the new status of goods as status symbols, related to changes in fashion and desired for aesthetic appeal, as opposed to just their utility. The pottery inventor and entrepreneur, Josiah Wedgewood, pioneered the use of marketing techniques to influence and manipulate the direction of the prevailing tastes.
Retailers designed attractive shop fronts to entice patronage, using bright lights, advertisements and attractively arranged goods. The goods on offer were in a constant state of change, due to the frenetic change in fashions. A foreign visitor commented that London was "a world of gold and silver plate, then pearls and gems shedding their dazzling lustre, home manufactures of the most exquisite taste, an ocean of rings, watches, chains, bracelets, perfumes, ready-dresses, ribbons, lace, bonnets, and fruits from all the zones of the habitable world".
In the second half of the 19th-century, shops transitioned from 'single-function' shops selling one type of good, to the department store where a large variety of goods were sold. As economic growth, fueled by the Industrial Revolution at the turn of the 19th-century, steadily expanded, the affluent bourgeois middle-class grew in size and wealth. This urbanized social group was the catalyst for the emergence of the retail revolution of the period.
The term, "department store," originated in America. In 19th century England, these stores were known as emporia or warehouse shops.Koot, G.M.,"Shops and Shopping in Britain: from market stalls to chain stores," University of Dartmouth, 2011, <Online: https://www1.umassd.edu/ir/resources/consumption/shopping.pdf> A number of major department stores opened across the USA, Britain and Europe from the mid nineteenth century including; Harrod's of London in 1834; Kendall's in Manchester in 1836; Selfridges of London in 1909; Macy's of New York in 1858; Bloomingdale's in 1861; Sak's Fifth Avenue in 1867; J.C. Penney in 1902; Le Bon Marché of France in 1852 and Galeries Lafayette of France in 1905.
The first reliably dated department store to be established, was Harding, Howell & Co, which opened in 1796 on Pall Mall, London, London. This venture was described as being a public retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different departments. This pioneering shop was closed down in 1820 when the business partnership was dissolved. Department stores were established on a large scale from the 1840s and 50s, in France, the United Kingdom and the US. French retailer, Le Bon Marche, is an example of a department store that has survived into current times Originally founded in 1838 as a lace and haberdashery store, it was revamped mid-century and opened as a department store in 1852.Jacques Marseille,"Naissance des grands magasins: Le Bon Marché," Ministry of Culture of France, <Online: http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/actualites/celebrations2002/bonmarche.htm (in French)
Many of the early department stores were more than just a retail emporium; rather they were venues where shoppers could spend their leisure time and be entertained. Some department stores offered reading rooms, art galleries and concerts. Most department stores had tea-rooms or dining rooms and offered treatment areas where ladies could indulge in a manicure. The fashion show, which originated in the US in around 1907, became a staple feature event for many department stores and celebrity appearances were also used to great effect. Themed events featured wares from foreign shores, exposing shoppers to the exotic cultures of the Orient and Middle-East.Howard Moss, M., ''Shopping as an Entertainment Experience,'' Plymouth, Lexington Books, pp. 35–39
The modern shopping centre is now different from its antecedents, the stores are commonly in individual buildings or compressed into one large structure (Mall).
The first modern shopping mall in the US was The Country Club Plaza in Kansas City which opened in 1922, from there the first enclosed mall was designed by Victor [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-GruenVic.html Gruen] and opened in 1956 as Southdale Center in Edina, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. Malls peaked in America in the 1980s-1990s when many larger malls (more than 37,000 sq m in size) were built, attracting consumers from within a 32 km radius with their luxurious department stores.
Different types of malls can be found around the world. ''Super-regional mall'' are very large malls that contain at least five department stores and 300 shops. This type of mall attracts consumers from a broad radius (up to a 160-km). A ''regional mall'' can contain at least two department stores or "anchor stores". The smaller malls are often called open-air strip centres or mini-marts and are typically attached to a grocery store or supermarket. The smaller malls are less likely to include the same features of a large mall such as an indoor concourse, but are beginning to evolve to become enclosed to comply with all weather and customer preferences.
Some shops sell secondhand goods. Often the public can also sell goods to such shops. In other cases, especially in the case of a nonprofit shop, the public donates goods to these shops, commonly known as thrift stores in the United States, charity shops in the United Kingdom, or op shops in Australia and New Zealand. In give-away shops goods can be taken for free. In antique shops, the public can find goods that are older and harder to find. Sometimes people are broke and borrow money from a pawn shop using an item of value as Collateral (finance). College students are known to resell books back through college textbook bookstores. Old used items are often distributed through surplus stores.
Various types of retail stores that specialize in the selling of goods related to a theme include bookstores, boutiques, confectionery stores, liquor stores, gift shops, hardware stores, hobby stores, pet stores, pharmacy, sex shops and supermarkets.
Other stores such as big-box stores, hypermarkets, convenience stores, department stores, general stores, dollar stores sell a wider variety of products not horizontal market related to each other.
Neighbourhood shopping areas and retailers give value to a community by providing various social and community services (like a library), and a social place to meet. Neighbourhood retailing differs from other types of retailers such as destination retailers because of the difference in offered products and services, location and popularity. Neighbourhood retailers include stores such as; Food shops/marts, dairies, Pharmacy, Dry cleaning, Hairdressers/barbers, Liquor store, Coffeehouse and Take-out shops . Destination retailers include stores such as; Gift shops, Antique shops, Pet groomers, Engraving, Tattoo artist, Local bike shop, Herbal dispensary clinics, Art museum, Office Supplies and framers. The neighbourhood retailers sell essential goods and services to the residential area they are located in. There can be many groups of neighbourhood retailers in different areas of a region or city, but destination retailers are often part of shopping malls where the numbers of consumers is higher than that of a neighbourhood retail area. The destination retailers are becoming more prevalent as they can provide a community with more than the essentials, they offer an experience, and a wider scope of goods and services.
Some religions regard such spending seasons as being against their faith and dismiss the practice. Many contest the over-commercialization and the response by stores that downplay the shopping season often cited in the Christmas controversy.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) also highlights the importance of back-to-school shopping for retailers which comes second behind holiday shopping, when buyers often buy clothing and school supplies for their children. The end-of-season sales usually last a few weeks with prices lowering further towards the closing of the sale. During sales items can be discounted from 10% up to as much as 50%, with the biggest reduction sales occurring at the end of the season. Holiday shopping periods are extending their sales further and further with holidays such as Black Friday (shopping) becoming a month-long event stretching promotions across November . These days shopping doesn't stop once the mall closes, as people have more access to stores and their sales than ever before with the help of the internet and apps. Shoppers are now spending more time consulting different sources before making a final purchasing decision. Shoppers once used an average of five sources for information before making a purchase, but numbers have risen to as high as 12 sources in 2014.
Historically, prices were established through a system of barter or negotiation. The first retailer to adopt fixed prices is thought to be the retailers operating out of the Palais-Royal complex in the 18th-century. These retailers adopted a system of high price maintenance in order to cultivate images of luxury. For their upper class clientele, fixed prices spared them from hassle of bartering.Byrne-Paquet, L., ''The Urge to Splurge: A Social History of Shopping,'' ECW Press, Toronto, Canada, pp. 90–93
The pricing technique used by most retailers is ''cost-plus pricing''. This involves adding a markup (business) amount (or percentage) to the retailers' cost. Another common technique is ''suggested retail price'' pricing. This simply involves charging the amount suggested by the manufacturer and usually printed on the product (business) by the manufacturer.
In retail settings, ''psychological pricing'' or ''odd-number pricing'' are both widely used. Psychological pricing which refers to a range of tactics, designed to have a positive psychological impact. For example, price tags using the terminal digit "9" (e.g., 9.99, 19.99, or 199.99) can be used to signal price points and bring an item in at just under the consumer's reservation price.Poundstone, W., ''Priceless: The Myth of Fair Value (and How to Take Advantage of It),'' NY, Hill and Wang, 2011, pp. 184–200 However, in Chinese societies, prices are generally either a round number or sometimes some lucky number. This creates price points.
In a fixed-price system, consumers may still use bargaining or ''haggling''; a negotiation about the price. Economists see this as determining how the transaction's total economic surplus will be divided between consumers and producers. Neither party has a clear advantage because the threat of no sale exists, in which case the surplus would vanish for both.
When online shopping, it can be more difficult to negotiate price given that you are not directly interacting with a sales. Some consumers use price comparison services to locate the best price and/or to make a decision about who or where to buy from to save money.


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When you look at Duck Tape, you might not think Tron, but you will now. I'm a sucker for clever ads, and this one is pretty clever, but not annoyingly so. Stick around for the end. (GEDDIT?)
Not that you'd, you know, walk out on a thirty-seven second commercial. Who does that?!
Tron Gets Sticky In New Commercial [Bleeding Cool]
You can contact Brian Ashcraft, the author of this post, at firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.


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Update:Kuroda resigns with Yankees.
Update: R.A. Dickey wins NL Cy Young Award, Kershaw finishes second, 113 points back.
Let's start a new thread for personnel speculation and anything else which gets our attention.
From the comments in the last thread we learn that the Dodgers have spoken to Torii Hunter about a two-year deal, or so says Mark Saxon at ESPN LA, citing an unnamed source.
Well, maybe. I can't see a need for him. The Dodgers have Ethier in right, Kemp in center, and Crawford in left, with Hairston and possibly Tony Gwynn as backups. Why would they need a relatively expensive 37-year old, even one who just had an excellent year?
Saxon also reports that the Dodgers have paid $25.7M for the right to offer a contract to a 25-year-old Korean pitcher named Ryu Hyun-jin.
Who? Well . . .
Ryu was 98-52 with a 2.80 career ERA during seven seasons in South Korea. He pitched for his country on teams that won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and reached the championship game of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
The $25.7 million fee will be paid to the Eagles only if Ryu signs with the major league team.
The Dodgers have 30 days to get a deal done with the young man and his agent, who happens to be Scott Boras.


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First I finished up a card and bookmark (which I will post at another time as I really like how it turned out!) for the wonderful Sue, aka Mrs.Micawber, as a little (very little!) thank you for the wonderful package she sent
when I won a giveaway on her blog :) Inside the small surprise package were these wonderful earrings
Which I love. She has a really great tutorial on her blog if you'd like to make your own (*click here*)!
After that it was a little jewelry making of my own :) I chose to do some of the beady and crochet cotton variety
Then I finished up this long-neglected hat that has been shoved aside for want of a button
And to finish off the day, I made some cupcakes to send to work with hubby. I guess the guys there are still in a state of disbelief that I can make them with a box of mix and a can of soda! Yep, one box of cake mix mixed with one can (355mL) of soda, bake as package directs! Can't get any easier than that!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Monday! Please check my side bar to see all the blogs I am trying to link up to today :)


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WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBSNewYork) — Marc Staal made the call to miss Game 4 at Madison Square Garden after suffering yet another setback.
On Friday, a downbeat Staal told reporters he'll miss Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals in Washington and is unsure when he'll return to the Rangers' lineup. It's entirely possible that he will miss the remainder of the series against the Capitals.
Staal took a puck to the face in early March. Since returning in Game 3, lingering eye issues have resurfaced. Steve Eminger has taken Staal's spot in the meantime.
"You get excited to get in that one, and to have to sit and watch the next is certainly not easy," Staal stated to Andrew Gross of The Record.
Staal said there wasn't much improvement in his vision between days.
"Not much. I'll wake up tomorrow and go at it again," he explained.
Staal is unable to come up with an estimation on when he'll return to the lineup.
"I wake up in the morning and take it from there. I couldn't speculate one way or another."
Rangers fans are hoping his return will come sooner rather than later, because Staal is a key member of their blue line when healthy.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories


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NEW HAVEN, Conn.- While most Yale students are still at home enjoying the winter recess, the men's swimming and diving team is on campus, working through some of its toughest practices of the season. This week, the Bulldogs hope to see their hard work pay off in two home meets against Ivy League opponents. Yale will face Cornell on Jan. 7-8, and Dartmouth and Penn on Jan. 11. The Elis ended 2013 with wins at the Bucknell Invitational and a dual meet at Boston University. They will try to claim their first Ivy League victory at Tuesday's meet against Cornell.
The Big Red battled through a front-loaded schedule earlier this season. After a win in its opening meet against Boston College, the team lost to Harvard, Dartmouth, Penn and Princeton. In its most recent meet, Cornell ended its losing streak with a victory at the Bomber Invitational at Ithaca College on Dec. 6.
Dartmouth fell to Harvard in its opening meet, but has defeated Cornell, Brown and Columbia this season. The Big Green is led by senior Nejc Zupan, the Phil Moriarty High Point Swimmer at the 2013 Ivy League Championship Meet. He holds the conference record in the 200-yard breaststroke.
Penn wrapped up 2013 with a first place finish at the Total Performance Invitational, hosted by Kenyon College. The Quakers already have two conference wins to their name, over Cornell and Columbia. They have only lost to Princeton, the five-time defending champion of the Ivy League.
"The team has been training hard during the winter recess. We're excited to return to competition this week against some talented Ivy League teams. I'm confident that we will continue to improve as the championship meet draws closer," said Tim Wise, the Robert J. H. Kiphuth Director of Men's Swimming.
The meet against Cornell begins at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday with the diving competition. The swimming races will start at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday. The meet against Dartmouth and Penn starts on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Both meets will be held at the Robert J. H. Kiphuth Exhibition Pool.
Report by Josh Mandell '16


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Jake McKee and Steve Witt of the LEGO Community Team have set up a Question and Answer session with Mike Rayhawk. Mike is a concept designer and illustrator for LEGO who has worked on the Knight's Kingdom II line.
Check out the Knights section of his website www.mikerayhawk.com. These webpages explain much of the process that created the Knight's Kingdom II artwork including rarely seen concept sketches. Certain aspects of the set design process are also mentioned.
Submit your questions about the 2004 and 2005 storylines and image design process in this thread. Specific questions about design decisions for the sets will not be answered. And of course any discussion of future products is prohibited
Mike is registered with the name "Rayhawk." He is also planning to show the different steps of the artistic process to create our Christmas Rascus and Santis image.


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By Meyers Leonard, Portland Trail Blazers
Monday, Oct. 1, 2012 — I've been in Portland for about a month straight now, and I'm almost all set in my apartment. The basketball aspect of things has been going really well. I started working with the team in early September doing voluntary workouts, on-the-court work, hitting the weight room, playing in pick-up games.
Training camp was last week, and it was great. I learned a lot and really tried to show the coaches everything I can do and prove myself out there. It was really tough, but that's the way it's supposed to be. The physical grind of it is the hardest part. We are doing two-a-days right now, and it's very grueling to constantly be on the court. On top of that, we are learning a lot of new things, especially us rookies. There's that stress of doing anything for the first time – first training camp, first practice, first game. But, I have been picking up on all the new concepts, the different plays and calls.
I like my teammates a lot. We haven't had much time to hang out off the court because we've been busy with basketball, but the guys tell me that throughout the season we will eat together on the road a lot. Right now, the chemistry is good. We have a lot of good players and just the right amount of pieces at each spot to make something happen this year.
Compared to college basketball, the experience has been very different so far. For starters, it's a completely different level of basketball and talent. From a physical perspective, you're getting hit by bigger bodies and putting in longer hours in the NBA than in college. The similarity is that being a college freshman out of high school is like coming in as an NBA rookie – you have a lot to learn. By the second year, you just understand more.
I haven't had much time to check out the city of Portland. I've been downtown a couple times and have seen a few of the suburbs. I did get a chance to go to Cannon Beach, which is about 80 miles from Portland, the weekend before training camp started. It's on the coast, and it's a very beautiful site.
Piano Man
Another thing I'm doing is learning to play the piano. I know that I will have down time during different parts of the season, so I want to keep my mind fresh and learn new things. I started taking lessons a couple weeks ago, and I'll try to go about once a week when I'm in Portland. So far, I can play different bits and pieces of some of the simple songs, like Yankee Doodle, Amazing Grace, When The Saints Go Marching In. I've also learned a good portion of Jingle Bells. I'm learning to play Wanted by Hunter Hayes, which is actually not that difficult. And I also want to learn the theme song from "The Office," but that one is really hard.
Overall, the adjustment from Illinois to Oregon has been a pretty smooth one for me, and I'm feeling happy with where I'm at right now. No complaints.
Meyers Leonard, a 7-foot-1 center from Illinois, was the 11th player taken in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Check All Ball throughout the season for more NBA Rooks: Diaries …


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Lifetime hunting and fishing license sales show dramatic increase
Playa and Ogallala. Say that five times fast.
It's more than just a tongue twister. These two distinct features of the western prairie landscape play an important role in producing our bread and beef.
Playa lakes are shallow, depressional wetlands that lie in the low places of the prairie landscape and collect rainfall from surrounding uplands. They are ephemeral, or seasonal, in nature and hold water only after rainfall, which is partially why many people don't recognize them as wetlands. These unique natural resources are scattered across Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and the Texas Panhandle.
There are several good reasons why farmers, ranchers and all individuals should learn about and maintain playa lakes, one of which is the wetlands' role in recharging the Ogallala Aquifer.
The 174,000 square-mile Ogallala formation lies beneath portions of eight states, including Oklahoma. While in 1950 the Ogallala irrigated about two million acres of farmed land, by 1997 it irrigated 14 million acres. With the recent advent of improved dry land farming, pumping of the Ogallala has decreased during the last decade, but the rate of aquifer depletion still far exceeds the natural rate of recharge.
Over the past several decades, researchers have gathered substantial evidence pointing to playas lakes as the primary source of recharge for the Ogallala. Studies indicate that natural recharge is focused through playa wetlands. When a dry playa lake receives rainfall, water flows into the playa basins and ultimately slowly seep into the Ogallala formation.
Like the aquifer, playa lakes are also a threatened resource. Of the more than 40,000 playa wetlands in the region, resource managers estimate that at least 70 percent of those have been altered from their natural state through pitting, plowing or sedimentation. Of these, sedimentation is the single largest threat to playa lakes. In tilled areas, water runoff can carry soil into the wetlands, gradually filling them, thereby decreasing water holding capacity and increasing the rate of water loss through evaporation.
Conservation practices used to protect playa lakes includes establishing native grass buffers around playa perimeters to filter out soil. In rangeland, playas can be fenced off to prevent excess trampling by livestock. There are several programs available to private landowners wanting to protect playa lakes on their land through the Farm Bill. For more information about these and other programs, contact the Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV); a conservation partnership dedicated to protecting playa lakes through cooperative and voluntary agreements with private landowners.
PLJV partners consist of representatives from non-profit and private organizations, and federal and state wildlife agencies in the western Great Plains states. The PLJV's mission is to conserve playa lakes, other wetlands and associated landscapes for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, water and people. The PLJV was established in 1989 and since then, has raised more than $50 million to conserve more than 100,000 acres of wetlands and other wildlife habitat.
For more information about the PLJV, aquifer recharge or wildlife conservation issues in this region, visit the PLJV Web site at www.pljv.org or call the Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance at (580) 735-2033. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation also has biologists who can assist private landowners in managing their properties for wildlife.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Hunter Education program recently honored Rick Walker as the "Instructor of the Year." Walker was recognized at this year's instructor conference in Stroud.
"The very first reason I do this is that I want to pass the skills to the younger generations," said Walker. "And I want to be with people like me, who have the same interests."
Walker has certified more than 750 students and taught 45 classes in his 12 years as a hunter education instructor. While four of those years were in Alaska, he got his start in Oklahoma and returned as soon as he could. He also contributes to various other wildlife education programs.
"I know that I can always count on Rick to come through with a very entertaining class," said Lance Meek, hunter education coordinator for the Department. "He doesn't want people getting bored and does everything he can to keep that from happening."
Last year, more than 14,000 students completed their hunter education certification at 376 classes throughout Oklahoma. At least two classes are held in every county in Oklahoma each year, with as many as 40 classes in Tulsa County and 50 in Oklahoma County. Classes are administered by Oklahoma game wardens and volunteers and coordinated through the Department's headquarters in Oklahoma City.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1972, upon reach 16 must have completed a hunter education class before they can buy their hunting license. That means that almost everyone who is hunting has been taught by one the Department's hunter education instructors. It is their goal to expose youngsters to safe and ethical hunting through hunter education classes and other programs.
"I see a lot of young people who don't get a chance to learn to hunt from their dads, like I did, and I want to give them a chance to learn to do it right," said Walker.
Volunteer instructors are trained to coordinate and instruct hunter education classes and other events. Classes are 10 hours in length and consist of a variety of segments including firearm safety, survival, wildlife conservation, water safety, and sometimes live fire. Hunters wishing to pass on their heritage by becoming a volunteer hunter education instructor should contact Lance Meek at (405) 522-4572.
Historic agreement signed in Jenks
A historic agreement was signed in Jenks July 7 that will greatly improve services to private landowners who want to improve fish and wildlife habitat on their property.
The cooperative agreement, the first of its kind in the nation, will partner funds from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide four full-time wildlife technicians. The employees will be responsible for providing direct technical and management assistance to landowners, as well as coordinating enrollment and oversight of a number of federal Farm Bill programs that provide cost-share funds for private lands habitat improvement.
"We already have a strong private lands habitat improvement program and these additional technicians will dramatically increase the services we provide," said Alan Peoples, wildlife chief for the ODWC. "That increase in service will be seen in better habitat on the ground, which in turn helps all outdoor enthusiasts by increasing populations of such species as bobwhite quail, wild turkey, white-tailed deer and an array of other species, particularly those associated with grasslands. We see this as a real plus for Oklahoma and are grateful that we were able to pioneer such an agreement."
Specifically, the agreement calls for the NRCS to obligate $100,000 per year and the Wildlife Department to contribute $100,000 per year. The four wildlife technicians, who will be stationed in Woodward, Lawton, Jenks and Higgins, will provide assistance to private landowners throughout their respective regions. Wildlife Department biologists currently provide technical assistance for both fisheries and wildlife-related habitat improvement and Peoples added that they would continue to do so.
"This will be additive to what we're already doing, which means we'll be able to expand the scope and reach of habitat work on private land," he said. "That's important because the state is about 97 percent privately owned and as such, conservation practices by landowners directly affect fish and wildlife populations."
The cooperative agreement was signed at the regular meeting of the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission, which oversees the Wildlife Department. The meeting was held at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, reflecting another unique partnership involving the Wildlife Department. The Department's Tulsa-area offices are housed in connection with the Aquarium's $15 million facility on the banks of the Arkansas River.
In other business, the Wildlife Conservation Commission accepted a donation of nearly 150 wildlife mounts from Norma Stone of Beggs. Stone donated the mounts on behalf of her late husband, Troy Stone. The taxidermy collection will be housed at the Department's Jenks Office, at locations in Oklahoma City, and future plans call for many of the waterfowl mounts to be on display at the Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area. Commissioner Bruce Mabrey of Okmulgee presented her with a plaque recognizing and thanking her for the generous donation.
Commissioners also voted to:
• approve an $866,000 permanent budget add-on that will address infrastructure needs including replacing vehicles and purchasing boats and equipment;
• approve a resolution establishing hunting regulations for dove, rail, gallinule, woodcock and common snipe. The only significant change from previous seasons will be a 15-bird combination limit for doves that includes all three dove species now found in Oklahoma – mourning doves, white-wing doves and Eurasian collared doves. White-wings are becoming more common in the western and southwestern part of the state and Eurasian collared doves, an exotic species, are being seen in a handful of locations across the state;
• accept a $2,500 donation from Tulsa-based NatureWorks for stream habitat restoration work on the lower Illinois River trout stream below Lake Tenkiller;
• accept a donation of eight lots in Clinton, Oklahoma, from Daniel and Peggy Hazelrigg. The property will be sold with the funds being used for fish and wildlife conservation in the state; and
• advertise by sealed bid to lease the Department's mineral interest in 18 sections of land in Atoka County. The property encompasses 6,620 acres of the Atoka Wildlife Management Area.
Sara Bales, an Oklahoma State University graduate student, presented information on a study she recently completed involving black bears in southeast Oklahoma. The study, funded in part by the Wildlife Department, tracked the movements, habitat use and reproduction of female bears in a portion of the Ouachita National Forest in LeFlore County. Bales told Commissioners that all of the study's data indicate a growing bear population in that part of the state, and suggested additional research could help in assessing the population and developing management strategies.
Following a brief executive session, Commissioners voted to direct the Department to proceed with purchase negotiations for real property in Oklahoma and McCurtain counties.
The next meeting is scheduled for August 4 in Oklahoma City at 9 a.m.
Mac Maguire, Oklahoma City, will serve as chairman; Bruce Mabrey, Okmulgee, will serve as vice-chairman; and Bill Phelps, Lawton, will serve as secretary.
Wade Brinkman, Altus, was also recognized as a new member of the Wildlife Commission. Brinkman begins an eight-year term as the district seven Commission representative. District seven encompasses much of western and southwester Oklahoma, including Ellis, Dewey, Roger Mills, Custer, Beckham, Washita, Kiowa, Greer, Jackson, Harmon and Tillman counties.
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department, and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Hunters and anglers showed up en masse this June to purchase lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. In June 2002 the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation issued 252 lifetime licenses - this June the Department issued 3,346 lifetime licenses. That's an increase of 1,327 percent! Even more amazingly, license personnel have an estimated 3,000 to 3,500 licenses yet to be processed from the final rush to beat the license fee increase that took effect July 1.
Each time a hunter or angler purchases a license they are contributing to a wide variety of conservation efforts across the state. The Wildlife Department is the sole state agency entrusted with conserving the state's unique hunting and fishing heritage. The Department does not receive any general state tax appropriations and its primary funding source is the sale of annual hunting and fishing licenses, and revenue from a special federal excise tax on hunting and fishing equipment.
"Lifetime hunting and fishing licenses are a great bargain, both in long-term savings and from a convenience standpoint," said David Warren, chief of information and education for the Wildlife Department. "Based on recent sales, it is evident that the state has a dedicated corps of hunters and anglers."
In the 2002 fiscal year, 6,997 lifetime licenses were sold generating $2.9 million. In the 2003 fiscal year, lifetime license sales have generated $4.6 million. Revenue from lifetime licenses cannot actually be spent, however. Only the interest income generated from the fund principal is eligible to be spent for Department operations and services.
Additionally, sportsmen have an impressive impact on the state's overall economy. According to a recent survey, Oklahoma is home to 648,000 anglers and fishermen in the state who spent $476 million on trip and equipment expenditures in 2001. When Oklahoma's 241,000 hunters stop to eat in rural Oklahoma after a long hunt or when they purchase the latest must have hunting gadget, their spending creates a $573 million ripple effect on the state's economy. In fact, hunting in Oklahoma supports nearly 7,000 jobs.
Warren added that he anticipates that all lifetime licenses applications will be processed within 30 days and the Department appreciates sportsman's patience.
Young hunters showcase their skills
More than 50 youths and a legion of dedicated volunteers participated in this year's final Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) at the Oklahoma City Gun Range. The event was the culmination of several YHEC events held statewide this spring.
"These events are a great way to allow young hunters to test their hunting skills and safety knowledge. It is important that we do everything we can to pass on our hunting heritage on to the next generation," said Paul Conrady, Oklahoma YHEC coordinator. "It's a good chance for young people to continue their wildlife education beyond completing a hunter education course."
At this year's championship, the events were once again divided into junior and senior competitions with both groups competing at the same level of difficulty. In the senior division, Shiloh Butts from Sulphur, took first place, Grant Doyle took second place and Garrett Doyle took third place. Both are from Belle Plaine, Kansas. In the junior division, Hawk Bledsoe from Jenks took first place, Derrick Hamand from Fairview took second place and Evan Eitzen from Fairview Oklahoma took third place.
YHEC is an event designed to give young hunters or shooters up to the age of 19 a chance to test their skills in shooting and hunting sport. Participants must be hunter education certified and may participate in shotgun, archery, and rifle events. They also are tested on their knowledge of wildlife species, knowledge of regulations and hunting ethics. Knowledge is tested on the hunter safety trail where participants are led through simulated hunting scenarios and must not only determine when it is legal to harvest game, but also must make correct decisions about whether to shoot at all.
YHEC is sponsored by Friends of the NRA through their grant program. It first came to Oklahoma in 1997.
This year Oklahoma will be well represented by three five-man teams traveling to Raton, New Mexico, to participate in the annual International YHEC event.
For more information about how to participate in next year's YHEC events contact Paul Conrady at (405) 341-6374. For more information about hunting and to find a link to the YHEC Web site, go to wildlifedepartment.com.
Nothing says summer quite like a day on the water trying to catch a lunker largemouth bass. Many Oklahoma anglers also enjoy the camaraderie and competition of bass tournaments.
A mid-summer day can be scorching hot. And just as fishermen take extra precautions such as wearing sunscreen or drinking plenty of fluids, anglers should also take extra care of their catch of the day.
Most tournament organizations have strict rules regarding the careful handling of fish, but during August and early September, warm water temperatures can create dangerous conditions for largemouth bass in a livewell.
Most anglers are very conscientious about protecting bass resources, but it is important that anglers be particularly careful during the heat of the summer, according to Gene Gilliland, senior fisheries biologist at the Wildlife Department's Oklahoma Fisheries Research Laboratory.
"Anglers and tournament directors have been very careful over the years to ensure that the fish are released in the best shape possible," Gilliland said. "However, summer fishing presents some unique conditions that can cause a potentially lethal amount of stress on fish. We can't eliminate those conditions, of course, but we can take certain steps to lessen fish mortality during tournaments."
According to Gilliland, most of the danger occurs while fish are held in livewells. On-board livewells are among the most important tools ever devised for reducing tournament bass mortality, but long-term confinement in a livewell can be hazardous for bass in the summer.
To provide optimum livewell conditions for bass, Gilliland makes the following recommendations:
Fill your livewell as soon as you launch your boat and turn on the aerator to build up dissolved oxygen levels.
Run your aerator continuously, no matter what time of year. Fish confined in livewells use oxygen faster than an aerator can replace it.
Add ice to the livewell. When water surface temperatures are higher than 75 degrees, adding ice will reduce the water temperature in a livewell by 10 degrees. One eight-pound block will cool a 30-gallon livewell for about three hours. Carry extra blocks in an ice chest to use later.
Add non-iodized salt, 1/3-cup per five gallons of livewell capacity, to help reduce stress on fish.
Re-circulate water through your aerator rather than pump in hot surface water.
Replace at least half of the livewell water two or three times daily to remove ammonia. Add additional ice and salt, and then resume re-circulation.
Commercial livewell additives help calm fish in livewells, helping reduce stress and decreasing their oxygen respiratory rates.
Gilliland added that tournament directors can also take steps to keep bass healthy. He suggested the following recommendations for holding a fish-friendly tournament.
Shortening the duration of summer tournaments to reduce the time fish stay in livewells. Ideally, weigh-ins should be conducted before noon.
Staggering weigh-in times during night tournaments can help facilitate the rapid release of fish.
Avoid scheduling tournaments in months when water surface temperatures exceed 80 degrees.
For more information about tips for handling fish in the summer, log on to the Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com or call the Oklahoma Fisheries Research Laboratory (405-325-7288) to request a free copy of the B.A.S.S. booklet "Keeping Bass Alive, A Guidebook for Anglers and Tournament Organizers."
WRP partners with landowners to protect wetlands
Applications are now being accepted for the 2003 Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). The Wetland Reserve Program's primary objective is to restore former wetlands, re-establish native wildlife habitat and retire marginal land from agricultural production. Currently, over 39,000 acres have been entered into WRP in Oklahoma. In 2002, 19 contracts were developed totaling $5 million.
"Wetlands benefit nature by providing fish and wildlife habitat, improving water quality by filtering sediment and chemicals, recharging groundwater, and by providing a host of recreational opportunities," said Kevin Norton, assistant state conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. "Restored wetlands provide critical habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife species that are dependent on wetlands and native vegetation."
Applicants may elect to participate in either permanent easements, 30-year easements, or 10 year cost–share agreements. Permanent easement contracts include the total cost of the restoration practices. For non-permanent, 30-year easements, NRCS will pay 75% of the value determined for a permanent easement and 75% of costs associated with establishing the restoration. Ten-year cost-share agreements also provide up to 75% cost-share for installation of the wetland restoration practices.
Applications for enrollment in WRP will be accepted throughout the year. An interagency review team consisting of NRCS, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will evaluate and rank each application. Applications will be evaluated periodically to consider and fund high priority applications. Successful applicants with high priority resource concerns will be contacted to develop contracts. Unfunded applications will be kept on file for future consideration.
Individuals interested in applying for the program can contact their local NRCS, or Farm Service Agency office. Additional information is also available at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.
Controlled hunt results available
Are you checking your mailbox everyday to see if you got drawn for one of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Controlled Hunt? Well, quit hiking to the mailbox and find a computer. You can log on to www.wildlifedepartment.com and find out if you were drawn. Plus, if you were fortunate enough to be drawn, you can even pay your user fees online.
The opportunity to harvest an animal from some of the best managed lands for wildlife have made the controlled hunts one of the most popular programs the Department offers. Applicants anxious to know the if they were drawn can access the Controlled Hunt drawing results through the Department's Web site www.wildlifedepartment.com. Click on the "Controlled Hunts Results" banner and enter your last name, birthday, social security or driver's license number. The service is free, easy and instantaneous and has been very popular the last three years.
Computer terminals are also available at the Department's headquarters and regional offices, but sportsmen have found that checking the results from the comfort of their home or office is very easy and is often the most efficient way to find out if you have been drawn. Successful applicants will also be notified by mail.
Practice makes perfect
New hunting regulations to hit the shelves
Does it seem like summer will never end?
Just in time, the "2003 Oklahoma Hunting Guide" has been released and you can pick up a copy at any hunting license vendor across the state.
There has been a myriad of changes to the hunting regulations designed to increase hunter opportunity and help better manage the state's fantastic natural resources. Here are a few of the highlights:
The statewide deer gun season will begin on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and run for 16 consecutive days (Nov. 22-Dec. 7). On many of the Department's wildlife management areas, however, the season will remain nine days.
A special three-day antlerless deer gun season for those under 18 years of age has also been added. The season will be held October 17-19, coinciding with many Oklahoma school systems' fall break.
Deer archery season will run continuously from Oct. 1-Jan. 15 and deer muzzleloader will run Oct. 25-Nov. 2.
Additionally, for the first time in nearly 10 years, many hunting and fishing license fees have risen.
For complete information about license costs, season dates, zones and other details about the upcoming hunting seasons log on to www.wildlifedepartment.com or consult the "2003 Oklahoma Hunting Guide," available at hunting license vendors across the state.
Shortnose gar record falls, again
Terrence Terry is no stranger to the sport of archery, or for that matter, to the sport of using a bow and arrow to land fish.
While bowfishing in the Arkansas River July 23, Terry arrowed a new state record shortnose gar weighing four pounds, 12.8-ounces. Terry's record was verified in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's unrestricted category for legal fishing methods other than rod and line.
"We go upstream by airboat from the Three Forks (confluence of the Verdigris, Arkansas and Neosho rivers near Muskogee), into areas where the gar are surfacing," said Terry.
Upon being measured by Monte Ried, state game warden stationed in Rogers/Mayes county, Terry's fish measured 31 inches long with a girth measurement of 10.25 inches.
"We typically see about 30 percent shortnosed gar compared with 70 percent of the larger long nosed gar. The recent hot weather has really made the bowfishing good, especially during the daytime," Terry said.
Terry says he took up bowfishing as a hobby some 30 years ago and it's his favorite summer pastime. To land the new record, Terry used a Zebco Brute 270 bowreel spooled with 80-pound test line, which is attached to the end of his arrow. Unlike the recurve style bow preferred by the majority of Oklahoma's bowfishermen, Terry uses an Oneida Screaming Eagle compound bow adjusted to 39 pounds for the draw weight.
"I shoot instinctively (no bowsites) with bare fingers, and my bow's let-off is adjusted so that it shoots pretty much like a recurve," Terry explained.
If recent history is any indication, Terry's record may not stand up for long. Only some 40 days earlier, the prior state record for shortnose gar in the unrestricted category was set with a 3-pound, 3.8-ounce fish taken by bowfisherman Dale Starry from the Red River June 12.
For a complete list of record fish and the procedures regarding state record fish consult the "2003 Oklahoma Fishing Guide." If you think you may have hooked a record fish it is important that you weigh the fish on a Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture certified scale and the weight is verified by a Wildlife Department employee.


text:
Posted 10/16/13 (Wed)
By Kate Ruggles
Farmer Staff Writer
Taking care of McKenzie County's roads has become an increasing concern for the McKenzie County Commissioners, especially since the county pays millions each year to repair damages made to county roads by heavy oilfield truck traffic.
That is why, following the heavy rains last Friday, the McKenzie County Commissioners decided to enforce a load restriction on county roads until the rains had stopped and the roads were deemed suitable for heavier traffic.
According to Ron Anderson, McKenzie County commissioner, a slow rain, like last Friday's, damages the county roads. And damaged county roads are not only unsafe, they are becoming expensive to repair.
"Too much rain can cause the roads to get sloppy and soft. And it becomes a safety issue" states Jerry Samuelson, McKenzie County Emergency manager. "We have even had people go into the ditch. The point is to save our county's roads, but we are trying to avoid accidents as well."
Anderson states that he had met with oil companies recently at which time he gave a presentation about the county's road problems. He talked with them about how expensive the county roads are to repair each year and how much damage can occur when heavy traffic is present on soft roadways. He also talked with them about the fact that damaged roads are not good for county residents, much as they are not good for the oil industry.
"They were not as opposed as they could have been to the idea of road limits when the ground is soft," states Anderson. "But they requested that we divide the county into zones, because McKenzie County covers a large area. It could be raining near Sidney and roads in the Keene area would not be affected."
Though the commissioners agreed into dividing the county into four zones for emergency management purposes, on Friday, Oct. 11, when 1½ inches of rainfall had accumulated by 4 p.m. and the rain was still falling, the county decided to restrict all zones.
Every county road in McKenzie County was restricted to a six-ton gross limit, or 12,000 pounds total load capacity. That restriction was kept in place until Saturday at noon. But according to Samuelson, that was too soon for the roads to completely dry out, especially since it began raining again in McKenzie County early Monday morning.
"We reinstated the load restriction for all zones in McKenzie County on Monday at 7:30 a.m. because the roads were still in bad shape," states Samuelson. "Some school bus drivers called and said they could not get through to pick up some of the students on their routes."
All-in-all, it began raining late on Thursday night with the rains continuing throughout Friday and into the early morning on Saturday. Samuelson states that he heard reports of as much as three inches of rainfall in the Grassy Butte area, which is why when the rain began again early Monday morning, the county closed the roads to heavy truck traffic again.
"It just does not look good," states Samuelson. "It does not look like we will be able to get these roads to dry out in one day."
According to Samuelson, the county commissioners were going to reevaluate the road situation on Tuesday. But whether or not the commissioners decide to lift the restrictions depends on the road conditions after the rains end.


text: « Return to Search January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month January 07, 2011 Don't Let Glaucoma Leave You in the Dark Contact: Public Affairs 617-573-3340 Boston – (Jan. 7, 2011) – The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary reminds everyone that January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Anyone who may be categorized as high-risk should contact their doctor for a screening test of the disease. Glaucoma is a group of disorders which are characterized by vision loss caused by damage to the optic nerve due to high fluid pressure in the eye. When discovered early and managed appropriately, the damaging effects of glaucoma can be addressed and total blindness may be prevented. There is no cure for glaucoma but there are treatment options available to control the affects of the disease. There are medication options, including eye drops, laser surgery, and more traditional types of surgical interventions. Options should always be addressed with your doctor. Dr. Louis R. Pasquale, Director of the Glaucoma Service and Associate Director of Telemedicine at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary states, "Early detection and treatment is an important step in saving sight from glaucoma. So please have an eye exam to rule out glaucoma particularly if you are in one of the following high risk groups: African Americans, Hispanics, people with a family history of glaucoma, people over the age of 60, steroid users, people with prior ocular trauma, and Asians, who are particular risk for the angle closure variant of glaucoma." He continues, "Remember, you don't know if you have glaucoma unless you have been seen by a qualified eye doctor." Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. Although glaucoma can affect individuals of all ages and backgrounds, if you fall into a high risk category, you are urged to contact your doctor and get your eye pressure checked. Early detection and treatment is essential to preserving sight as long as possible. Visit the Glaucoma Service pages at www.MassEyeandEar.org for information about glaucoma treatment and management, or for information about how to make an appointment. Founded in 1824, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is an independent specialty hospital providing patient care for disorders of the eye, ear, nose, throat, head and neck. Mass. Eye and Ear is an international leader in Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology research and a teaching partner of Harvard Medical School. For more information, call 617-523-7900 or visit http://www.masseyeandear.org/. ###