text:
South Lenoir�s JV volleyball team finished 18-0 this season.
DEEP RUN � South Lenoir volleyball coaches never fail to remind the girls that they are a family.
Over the past five years, the premise led the junior varsity volleyball team to four conference titles � only the Blue Devils performed perfectly this season to win a second consecutive championship.
South Lenoir JV�s squad finished 18-0, losing only two sets throughout its 2013 campaign.
�They�ve done a great job, and I�m very proud of them,� coach Mishella Craine said. �Our middle school feeder program has done a great job. They come in and they work hard. We push their buttons when we need to, and then we set goals at the beginning of the season.�
Twenty-three girls tried out this year and the coaching staff kept 19. Caine said JV programs usually have about 12 girls.
Last season, the JV team was 20-2. Its record is 54-4 over the last three years.
�They never quit,� Caine said. �When we had a couple of bad games, you go out and talk to them, and they just go out and work even harder.�
Meet the team
It was the end to a perfect season.
South Lenoir travelled to Kinston on Oct. 15, where both JV and varsity defeated the Vikings for the Eastern Carolina 2A conference title.
For JV, the leading hitters were Lynn Marie Grady and Hailey west with three kills apiece. The pair combined for 23 service points in the final game of the season, which made the Blue Devils 18-0.
�I feel great about it,� sophomore Anna Wetherington said of the perfect record. �We worked really hard for it, and I�m proud to be part of this team.�
Though their record was spotless on the season, the Blue Devils unanimously agreed their greatest competition was cross-county rival North Lenoir because the nature of the match.
Playing the Hawks was one of the only two sets the Blue Devils allowed this season. They won both times they played NL� having to go three sets in one of the meetings � although they were strangely nervous.
�The game is a lot louder and crazier,� freshman Laura Jenkins said as she juxtaposed middle school and high school volleyball. �We lost the first (set against North Lenoir), and we had to really pull together and work hard as a team.�
Most of the girls have played club and recreation league volleyball, with Grady, a freshman, playing six years, the longest of the group.
�I just like being part of the team, and I love volleyball,� she said. �We have really good coaches; I love my coaches. They know your potential and they push you to do your best.�
The girls said when they first arrived in the gym, the coaches stressed the idea of family. Throughout their perfect season, the JV Blue Devils received a lot of support from their big sisters on varsity, and they reciprocated when it was varsity�s turn to take the court. The elder Devils went 16-2 overall and 10-0 in the EC2A this season, earning home court in the first round of NCHSAA playoffs.
�We�re a family and to have (the varsity team�s) support helps in every way, especially when you get down on yourself,� Grady said. �They�re there to give you a pat on the back.�
Moving up
Wetherington will likely play on varsity next year, and she and four other JV members will play with varsity in the post season. The freshmen on the team will work out in clubs, hoping to repeat a stellar season.
�I feel like it�s important that we get noticed, too, not just varsity,� Grady said. �We�ve worked hard all season.�
The girls said because of their effort, they�ll be better prepared when it�s time to play varsity ball.
Craine said throughout the unblemished 2013 season, opposing coaches would put their varsity juniors in games to compete against the JV Blue Devils.
�They earned their 18-0 season,� Craine said, �and I�m looking for big things next year.�
The girls said they understand there is an adjustment, as varsity opponents are clearly more competitive, but they have no concerns about the transition after being funneled through South Lenoir�s strong JV program.
�It�s a big step from JV to varsity,� freshman Janna Dawson said. �We�ll be ready for it.�
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.


text:
Things are sure heating up as we head into week 5 of Xplorations Summer Science Adventures, otherwise known as summer camp, here at the Musuem. It's so exciting to have the energy of over 400 kids a day buzzing around you. It's awesome to see their creativity and excitement as they delve into their science projects.
I got jazzed when I read about the robotic grasshopper in "Science Friday" last week. It just so happens that some of the campers at the Museum make a grasshopper "robot" of sorts in our Roving Robots camp for 6 and 7 year olds. Our tiny "robot" works on solar power and he never stops shaking! Check out the video.
This is just one of the many projects they make in their fun filled week at camp. They also build circuits, experiment with gears and motors, and even program a special robot that looks like a bee!
Speaking of robots, check out the cool robo-girls in the next video. The Museum loves its science girls. They have programed their NXT Mindstorms robot to do all sorts of cool things.
In this video they are testing their robot to see if it can follow a thick black line using a light sensor. They will then go back and make corrections to the program and try again. I love seeing more and more girls sign up for our robotics and engineering classes. We have to give those boys a run for their money!
Check back to see more exciting stuff that goes on at camp. There is never a dull moment here! I would also love to hear ideas for new and super cool summer camps. Give me your 2 cents. What should our next summer camp topic be?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Cities 101
|Capital Cities, Port Cities, City Zones, Building, City manager, Claiming a City, Cities of Erfworld
Proposed Canon
Buildings are the empty structures that pop automatically as part of an Erf city. Generally, buildings are thought of as separate from the main defensive structures of a city, such as walls or towers.
While some buildings can be used as barracks or stables, many do not seem intended for use by known Erf units.
The usefulness of building varies, from the clear role played by the slaughterhouseLIAB Prologue 15 in the automated production of provisions, to an ice house that pops ice that goes unused, to the empty courthouse/jail, which could be used but isn't.
Buildings Mentioned
- Amphitheater LIAB Prologue 15
- Bank/counting house
- Smokehouse/Slaughterhouse
- Courthouse/jail
Cities apparently also pop fountains from which units can drink or in which ornamental fish can be kept.
It is possible that Signamancy is involved with the function of buildings, even ones that seem to have no obvious use. To a casual observer, many of these buildings will be useless, but a Signamancer would see underlying function of each building. The buildings may represent a physical manifestation or reference point for the various mechanics and other city rules of Erfworld and interacting with them in various ways can change their efficacy. Even if the slaughterhouse doesn't actually get used, it represents and facilitates the production of rations. Even the 'useless' buildings may represent a 'passive' bonus (a small bonus that doesn't need be checked on to work) rather than an 'active' bonus (a large bonus that does have to be checked on to work) such as that provided by a slaughterhouse. An amphitheater may influence loyalty while the melting ice of an icehouse may 'preserve' food, decreasing the cost of rations. It is possible that bonuses may stack with each other; that the extra rations produced by a slaughterhouse may stack with the preservation of an icehouse to provide particularly cheap rations.


text:
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is 20-3 in the month of November.
Coincidentally, that could be the final score of Sunday's game. With the Cowboys losing.
The Browns lead in the third quarter, 13-0. Yes, the Cowboys are driving. But it's been all Browns so far, which is good new for outgoing team president Mike Holmgren, since a loss to the lowly Browns will make it more likely that the only job he'd reportedly take will be available.


text:
Note: This topic has been unedited for 3123 days. It is considered archived - the discussion is over. Do not add to unless it really needs a response.
I just Re-Installed San Andreas and my gameplay is REALLY fast I didnt enter that cheat, but I did install San Andreas Multiplayer which requirers you to get a patch from V2.0 to V1.0 but I Re-Installed it so i dont know whats up, can someone help? Deathgiver101 20:14, 4 August 2009 (UTC)
- I'm not the admin or owner. If you check this, there are two people higher than me. Are you running on more than one core processor? Try disabling one and see if the game return to normal. And please sign your post with four tildes ~~~~.--Spaceeinstein 20:12, 4 August 2009 (UTC)
I've Ran San Andreas before without having to do anything can you get me a link for V2.0 patch?Deathgiver101 20:16, 4 August 2009 (UTC)
Have you tried turning the frame limiter on? With faster computers, it can screw up your gameplay if the frame limiter is set on off.--Thescarydude 22:18, 4 August 2009 (UTC)


text:
This weekend the Lady Bisons put their 13-match winning streak and record 11-match Atlantic Sun win string on the line in Georgia. Friday night at 6 the Lady Bisons (16-3, 11-0) will make a stop at Kennesaw State (10-8, 5-6). Saturday afternoon at 2 they will visit Mercer in Macon.
"It is tough out of the gate for us to play Kennesaw State," said Lady Bisons coach Brandon Rosenthal. "They are a tough team to play at home. They have a couple of real good players on the outside and a great right side.
"We are going to have to go in, play our best volleyball and try to cut down on our errors. Managing the flow of the game is important on the road."
Every player on the team has a role. Kaiser and Trykowski have established what they do best in their contributions to the team.
"They go about their own business and do their jobs to the best of their abilities regardless of the stats," said Rosenthal. Trykowski is a starter and Kaiser comes off the bench at selected times during each set.
"Elly is in on eight-to-10 plays in a set," said Rosenthal. "She is called upon to make some big digs in tough situations. It is quite a place for her to be in each set. In the end she realizes she has to go out and get the job done.
"Elly has really worked hard. She understands that for her to play to the best of her ability she has to remain calm. Last year she pressed a little bit too hard. She gained some confidence this spring, but came into the fall pressing. She has done a good job in relaxing and letting the game come to her."
Trykowski usually steps in to provide assistance when fellow middle hitter Alex Kelly is being pressured.
"There are only so many attempts to go around," said Rosenthal. "As of late she is doing a real nice job of making some smart plays at the net. A lot of times balls will go over short and the hitter has the chance to put the ball away or set it up.
"It is one of those things that is a risk-reward thing. If it's there we want her to bury the ball. But at the same time getting an error or getting blocked on a play like that is a huge momentum swing. She has to limit the chances of doing that and if it is there she has to take care of it. She did a fantastic job the other night. On a couple of plays she just destroyed the ball."


text:
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Adopts Misleading Arguments To Attack Common Core
Research ››› ››› SALVATORE COLLELUORI
A Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial mischaracterized Common Core education standards as "central planning," claiming that "a bureaucracy far removed from any school district" would now control local education. In fact, the standards were developed by states with input from local schools; moreover, no school is required to adopt them.
Tribune-Review Claims Common Core Education Standards Are "Central Planning"
Tribune-Review Described Common Core Education Standards As "Central Planning." In an editorial arguing that Common Core would dilute educational standards, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review stated that the practice would allow "a bureaucracy far removed from any school district" to control local education. It also claimed that the argument that Common Core sets "a floor of consistency" is "the same central-planning argument made by every education bureaucrat" since President Carter. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 9/18/13]
Common Core Standards Are State-Led Educations Standards
Common Core Initiative: "The Federal Government Was NOT Involved In The Development Of The Standards." According to the Common Core State Standards Initiative, the "federal government was NOT involved in the development of the standards." In fact, the website states that "[l]ocal teachers, principals, and superintendents lead the implementation of the Common Core." [Common Core State Standards Initiative, accessed 9/19/13]
Bipartisan Group Of Governors And State Commissioners Of Education Developed Common Core Standards. On its website, the National Governors Association explains that "[g]overnors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia developed a common core of state standards in English language arts and mathematics for grades k-12." [National Governors Association, accessed 9/19/13]
Common Core: "Final Standards Were Informed By 10,000 Public Comments." The Common Core State Standards Initiative explains on its website that the final standards of Common Core "were informed by 10,000 public comments and by standards in other top performing countries." [Common Core State Standards Initiative, accessed 9/19/13]
Department Of Education: "U.S. Constitution Leaves The Responsibility For Public K-12 Education With The States." As the U.S. Department Of Education notes in a fact sheet about K-12 education funding, education is a state-driven enterprise, and the federal government's role is to "provide assistance to the states and schools in an effort to supplement, not supplant, state support." [U.S. Department of Education, accessed 9/19/13]
Common Core Standards Are Not Mandatory
Foundation For Excellence In Education: Common Core Initiatives "Are At The Discretion Of State-Level Policymakers." In an attempt to counteract what it called "common misconceptions" about Common Core standards, the education nonprofit Foundation for Excellence in Education noted that "Common Core efforts are at the discretion of state-level policymakers to either join or withdraw from participation." It further noted that the "federal government was NOT involved in development of the standards." [Foundation for Excellence in Education, accessed 9/19/13]
Common Core Initiative: Standards Are Not Part Of Federal "No Child Left Behind" And Are Not Mandatory. In a "Myths vs. Facts" post, the Common Core State Standards Initiative says that the standards are not part of the "No Child Left Behind" law and are not mandatory:
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that is not part of No Child Left Behind and adoption of the Standards is in no way mandatory. States began the work to create clear, consistent standards before the Recovery Act or the Elementary and Secondary Education Act blueprint was released because this work is being driven by the needs of the states, not the federal government. [Common Core State Standards Initiative, accessed 9/19/13]
Private Schools Do Not Have To Adopt Common Core Standards. A September 16 article in the National Catholic Reporter explained that private schools -- such as Catholic schools -- are not required to adopt the state-led initiative, but that even if schools decide against adoption, they can still "tap into federal grant money." [National Catholic Reporter, 9/16/13]
- Posted In
- Education
- Network/Outlet
- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Stories/Interests
- State Media
Instructions for signing up and claiming your comment history are located here.
Updated rules for commenting are here.


text:
Syngenta Seeds enters 2011 with its largest portfolio of seed products, which includes two big firsts: the first drought-related hybrids called Agrisure Artesian and a new mode of action against corn pests called Viptera. All of this comes five years after Syngenta purchased Golden Harvest and Garst seed companies to combine with its NK brand.
"We've been in a huge transformation since 2005 . . .[when we] started a dive into a deep pool of genetic diversity," explains David Morgan, Syngenta Seeds president. "We said it would take five to six years to get products [from these purchases] to the market . . . and 2011 is the year for us to express the new genetics."
Morgan adds that Syngenta Seeds has "pulled even with the big competitors and moved ahead in some areas." Plus, its quarterly income results show growth.
On top of this, the company moved into its new headquarters in Minnetonka, MN, last fall. The headquarters boasts the latest in "green" design and earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
With all these factors coming together, Syngenta Seeds wants the industry to know that it is a major player in the corn and soybean seed markets.
Agrisure Artesian technology
Its new Agrisure Artesian technology will be available in what the company calls its water-optimized hybrids. Grant Ozipko, trait marketing manager, explains that the hybrids are not drought tolerant. Instead, the hybrids use multiple native genes to help the plant mitigate moisture stress throughout the growing season. Some of the genes help the plant maintain a robust root system, its plant and leaf sizes, and cell functions. Other genes delay how quickly the plant shuts down growth when under moisture stress. As a result, the water-optimized hybrids will provide 15% yield preservation compared to what the hybrid will do without the Artesian technology.
"The genes are inserted into our elite hybrids for testing and evaluated in managed stress environments," reports Bruce Battles, agronomy research manager. The hybrids must maintain yields under full water conditions, too.
The initial markets for Agrisure Artesian hybrids are in areas with a greater than 30% chance of drought stress. "It will not enable us to turn Nevada into Iowa," states Tracy Mader, product marketing. "It will help stabilize yields on dryland and limited irrigation acres. We also believe it will help hold yield in sand."
Agrisure Viptera trait
The company's new Agrisure Viptera trait offers a new mode of action against lepidopteran corn pests like black cutworm, corn earworm, fall armyworm and stalk borer. Roger Kemble, head of technology, explains, "A whole class of Vip [vegetative insecticidal proteins] is initiated during the vegetative growth stage of Bt. [The proteins] can then be used for other modes of action. . . . Even though we started with the same thing, we now have a new mode of action."
The company reports that the Agrisure Viptera trait also can reduce the development of molds and mycotoxins.
Pooling genetics from three seed companies has allowed Syngenta Seeds to develop hybrids across many different maturities and geographies.
"The need for very localized hybrids has really come forward," Morgan says. "We make sure we have the right hybrid for the right locale." As a result, 140 new hybrids will be on the market in 2011.
About 80% of the new hybrids are triple stacks, and many will have the Viptera trait, according to Morgan. He reports that, in early 2010 field trials, many Syngenta Seeds triple stacks were outperforming larger stacks sold by competitors.


text:
.What is it about Ash Wednesday? What calls so many people into church? Is it the desire to show off our marked foreheads? If so, that runs in contradiction to today's Gospel.
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
But I got my ashes, shouldn't people know? I mean, how can they not know?
I thought that I was announcing the Good News via the smudge on my forehead! Hey! Look! I went to church today and I am sorry for my sins! Can't you see that?
We are an odd people, aren't we? We like to go public with our ashes, which is unavoidable, but when it comes to discussing sin, we think that is too private. Many of us won't even go to Confession. That's between God and me, we allow ourselves to think. It is my private business! I'm not suggesting that we detail our sins, but it might help to admit that we have sinned. (Note: I stink at this.)
Perhaps we have this backwards?
In the booklet "Living Your Penance, Reconciliation and Renewal," Michelle Francl-Donnay writes about a vase that she meant to put away, but did not. Subsequently, it was knocked over, leaving glass all over her kitchen floor, providing an apt metaphor for sin. She writes:
"Sin is a messy business, like the broken vase. Its effects extend beyond our lives, into the lives of those we love. Our assigned penance is a way to clean up the mess that sin has left in our world. Even when we think our sin is private, the effects of our personal sins can be felt in the larger world."
So, should we should forego our ashes, and start publicly proclaiming our sins? No, it might mean that we are continually invited by God to see ourselves, and to see the world in a different way.
The prophet Joel in today's first reading offers some insight to seeing differently.
Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
As we begin Lent, we are invited to repent, and to be transformed. The ashes are important, but our acknowledgment of our sin is essential. God asks, with the clear implication of "no matter what," with Joel saying, "even now." Even now, after so much, no matter what, return to me, "with your whole heart."
"Do I have to? My whole heart? What about the parts I don't want to show you? Like the broken vase of sin on the floor of my heart? You know, the one I haven't cleaned up after yet."
God says to "rend our hearts," or to tear them, which in this case means to open them to God. In my opinion, this may be the hardest part. And God knows this and wants to help. We are told not to show off in public. Should we avoid church or ashes? No. But remember, our heart trumps what we are doing on the outside.
What about our sin, which feels like our private business? As Francl-Donnay wrote, our sin is like shards of glass on the floor. We might not the glass, but if we walk on it, we get hurt. The cuts might seem so small, the shards of glass so tiny, we barely felt a pinprick. Then, a few hours or days later, an irritation develops from a splinter of glass that we don't even remember stepping on.
Today – please think about going to church and getting your ashes.
Don't wipe or wash them off, even if are tempted to do so. Don't worry about it being too dark or smudgy, or maybe, not dark enough. Today, consider accepting the invitation to tear your heart, exposing those shards of broken glass that have never been cleaned up. May this act inspire the beginning of our acknowledgement of our sin, the rending of our hearts, turning towards God, and with that, the beginning of the transformation we can only know through Christ.
May we find our way to God this Lent, because, it seems as obvious as ashes on a forehead, God wants us back.