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The 1970s
In 1969, SAB relocates to rented dance studios at the Juilliard School's new Lincoln Center headquarters, placing it in close proximity to New York City Ballet's new home at the New York State Theater. With ballet thriving in New York and beyond, SAB-trained dancers now begin to fill the ranks of not only NYCB but other companies around the U.S. Former New York City Ballet dancers Suki Schorer and Richard Rapp join SAB's faculty. In addition to teaching, Schorer becomes ballet mistress for NYCB's lecture-demonstration program, traveling with SAB dancers to public schools around New York City to introduce youngsters to the art of ballet. In 1976, former Bolshoi principal dancer Andrei Kramarevsky joins the faculty as well. Notable students during this decade include Fernando Bujones, Darci Kistler, Kyra Nichols, Maria Calegari, Jock Soto, Peter Boal and Katrina Killian.


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Gene Autry's theme song was about riding down the canyon after evening chores were over to watch the desert sun go down. There is something to be said for that picture, which the King of the Cowboys said, "No artist e'er could paint."
Gene Autry's theme song was about riding down the canyon after evening chores were over to watch the desert sun go down. There is something to be said for that picture, which the King of the Cowboys said, "No artist e'er could paint."
Ask Freddie Reynolds, however, and he'll describe something he likes better.
"The most exciting thing that can happen to a man is to hear a bobwhite (quail)," he said, "then walk up to their ground cover and see a covey of 20 birds take flight out of there. That is a wonderful feeling."
Reynolds was a good high school football player, did a little coaching and later retired as principal of Cherokee County High School in Centre. You will need to look at his r�sum� to find that information because when talking with him, the conversation will be all about bird hunting.
An old football injury has forced him to have both knees replaced, so he picked a bird-hunting surgeon to do the job, setting the time right after one hunting season so he would be healthy by the next.
There are photos in the doctor's office, taken after each of the surgeries, of Reynolds on his walker with his dogs.
"Quail hunting is a way of life for bird hunters, and most wives will say they don't want to put their husbands into a situation where a choice has to be made between them and their dogs," Reynolds said. "Once the hunting season ends in March, there is plenty of time to retrain the dogs and get reacquainted with your wife."
Reynolds is a guide and a hunter, conducting about 20 hunts each year on his place near Leesburg and helping Harland Starr host hunts at Chattokee Lodge in northwest Cherokee County. He said some hunters just look forward to one good hunt a season, but others will hunt three to five days a week.
He usually will reserve a couple of weeks in January or February for himself and will get in 12 days of good hunting. He' has 19 dogs, including Dixie (Pie) that won't hunt for anyone but him. However, his other dogs will hunt for anyone.
"They just like to hunt," Reynolds explained. "When I'm conducting hunts, I never use the same dogs on successive days. I have enough dogs so I can let them rest between hunts and be fresh every time we go out."
Occasionally someone will chide Reynolds about his hunting.
"Do you like to play golf?" he will ask.
"Yes," the person will reply.
"Well, I like to hunt. By the way, you ever eat a mess of golf balls?"
"Well, quail, biscuits and gravy sure do make a good meal," he'll say, getting in the final words.
Reynolds also is into his family tree of quail hunters, pointing with pride to photos of his grandfather, father, himself and daughter with their dogs. Come fall, he is planning a fifth generation photo of his grandchild and bird dog.
Since the early 1990s, the quail population has diminished by an estimated 90 percent. There were several factors, such as the quail disease, an increase in the number of predators and a change in land practices that eliminated quail habitat around the edge of fields next to woods.
Because of the lack of wild birds, the pine plantation owners who host quail hunts will purchase quail in the fall, keep them fed and watered and then put them out the night before a hunt. It's not the same as hunting wild birds in the old days, but it does let the hunters see the dogs in action, which is what most people like best about bird hunting, anyway.
"There is nothing like seeing a dog on point," said Reynolds. "I like to watch them follow your commands and hand signs, then fetch the bird, bring it back and lay it in your hand uncrushed. And if they have to swim out to get it, they will shake off the water, thus giving you a shower in the process."
Reynolds said hunting always has been a tradition in the South, where fathers give guns to their sons at an early age and teach them to shoot. A lot of people don't understand this, especially in the cities, and the number of hunters is decreasing along with the birds.
"A lot of people may have heard their parents or grandparents talk about bird hunting, but have never even heard the bobwhite whistle, and they don't even realize that the bird is diminishing," he said. "Times change, the birds are rare, and it just breaks my heart to think that my grandsons may one day be unable to hear a bobwhite.
"I remember when I was growing up, I would sit on our back porch and listen to bobwhites whistling. I used to hunt on my grandpa's farm down around Leesburg. I still go down there and run my dogs, but we don't have bobwhites anymore. It's been five or six years since I've seen a single one down there.
"However, this spring, I did hear a bobwhite whistle back behind my house, and that gave me a little hope for the future. There is a Quail Forever organization in Cherokee County that supports a 4-H project that teaches and rewards students for quail and wildlife habitat construction. So maybe that will help bring the birds back."

subset: commoncrawl


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Fourth in a series of profiles about those in the trenches of Costa Mesa's political battles.
Each Sunday the new mayor of Costa Mesa prays to God to help him forgive others, to help him not hold a grudge, to give him guidance for the week before and the weeks ahead.
Jim Righeimer says that ritual is when he gets a chance to bring it all together. It's a time to think about what to work on, what might've gone badly that week and perhaps what he must do in the coming days. He describes it as making "an inventory count" in his mind.
Prayer, he says, is what helps him deal with the duties of an elected official that, while winning him some support for his causes, also brings the inevitable backlash of political and personal disagreement, even vitriol, with it.
When people ask him how he deals with berating public comments during City Council meetings — which sometimes go for two hours — he answers: "I go to church on Sunday. After communion, I just pray."
May God "give me wisdom," he says, "help me make the right decisions, help me do what's right, as painful as the cause may be."
Ever since Righeimer's election to City Hall in 2010, the 54-year-old Mesa Verde resident has been the central figure in Costa Mesa's political landscape. Such status, as his prayer suggests, can be painful.
The road to reform that he and his colleagues seek for the City of the Arts has been that way. They want to control city spending. Address employee pension liabilities. Reinvest in capital improvement projects. Enact a city charter to make such things happen.
These are worthy causes, Righeimer supporters say.
But what of his dissenters? Among them are grass-root types, community activists and organized labor leaders.
They disagree with his blunt governing style, disapprove of his hard-line tactics and question his decision to sound the fiscal alarm that led to proposed cuts in the first place. Some just plain don't like him.
They make such views known each Tuesday night the five council members meet, and in seemingly endless online comment streams and letters to the editor.
But there's a majority, the new mayor and his supporters say, who quietly support the policy changes. They say conservative members of the community constantly reassure them that they are doing the right thing to repair the city.
"It's not a God thing, and it's not a religious thing, but it's definitely how I was raised," Righeimer says. "Once you know, once this has been brought to you and you're here to fix it, your job isn't to just walk away and let it somehow fix itself, especially when you've been around and you realize no one else is gonna fix it.
"Maybe that's why you're here to do this. You need to do it, and you need to take responsibility for doing it."
No politics at dinner
The faint hum of passing traffic permeates Righeimer's office off MacArthur Boulevard in Newport Beach. His name is one of a few on the door to the second-story office suite.
He shares the space with Scott Baugh, chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County and a former state assemblyman for the 67th District. Busts of Ronald Reagan are on either side of the main room that's also complete with a long conference table and couches.
Righeimer owns LMC Management Group, which manages offices and retail space. And, given his political roles, he says doesn't do business in Costa Mesa.
"There's more than enough business to be done everywhere else," he says.
Righeimer's office overlooks the street. A stuffed pheasant from South Dakota hangs from the wall, but more noticeable are the many photographs of his family and him alongside GOP leaders: Mitt Romney, Dana Rohrabacher and former New York Gov. George Pataki.
Amid those is a drawing of him by Thomas Pitilli that ran alongside a 2011 article from the OC Weekly, "It's Gotten Costa Messy in Costa Mesa."
A framed copy of the Pilot hangs on the wall as well. It's a Dec. 2010 issue when he made the front page as the No. 1 entry of the "DP 103," the Pilot's annual listing of newsmakers and notables.
Righeimer may be political now, but for the Midwestern native growing up, it was more subtle.
"We were aware of it, but it wasn't like we had political discussions at the dinner table," he says. "It was nothing like that."
Righeimer's parents were Chicago-area Democrats and were involved in some party activities. Righeimer says Midwestern Democrats are similar to Orange County Republicans: They have a strong work ethic, concern for family and community issues.
Righeimer's dad, for whom he's named, was a teacher who coached football. After retiring, he became a deputy sheriff and ran a "scared straight" program. His mother was a teacher who later became a real estate broker.
Righeimer keeps the memory of them close: In addition to his wedding ring, he wears a signet ring they got for him. "Love Mom and Dad" is engraved on the inside.
They were an Irish-Catholic family in Lincolnshire, Ill., a suburban village north of Chicago with half-acre lots and a few thousand residents. Five of them were the children of the Righeimer family. "Little Jim" was the second oldest.
Righeimer gives a lot of credit to Loyola Academy, a Jesuit prep high school in Wilmette, not far from his hometown. It was an all-boys campus then.
"I got educated by the Jesuit priests, and that's really where my education came from," he says. "That affects me more today than any other education I got."
He says the campuswide philosophy of service to others has stayed with him. "What are you doing for other people?" he remembers them saying.
After high school, Righeimer attended USC as a film student. He likes to joke that he came to California, heralded as a free land of opportunity when compared with the Midwest, with a "duffel bag and a box."
But because he was paying his own way, he says, he couldn't afford to continue and had to leave SC after two years. Several years later, he earned a bachelor's from Pepperdine University.
During his time at SC, though, he got his real estate license, and after dropping out he continued on in the business world. It was there that he learned how cities work, how planning commission and council decisions could affect projects.
"At a young age, I knew pretty quickly who was who," he says.
"It's important to you how that all works out," he added. "I was 19 years old when I got in the business. [Those decisions] of whether or not you're going to close a transaction and get your $1,200 commission check mattered on how a vote happened at a city council meeting somewhere."
'Ridiculous lawsuit'
"One day it dawned on me, these political issues," Righeimer says. "I understand them. I follow them. I watch them. I know when people are being snookered."
That's how he describes his entry into politics, which for him seemed like a natural step from his business leadership roles.
Before moving to Costa Mesa in 2006, for 18 years Righeimer lived across the Santa Ana River in Fountain Valley, about a mile from his current home near the Mesa Verde Country Club. He says the manicured, upscale Costa Mesa neighborhood reminded him of his hometown Lincolnshire.
In 2000, Righeimer ran for the state Assembly's 67th District. He lost in the open primary to Tom Harman, though not without an unofficial recount.
It took a ruling from a federal judge in Sacramento to determine that Righeimer's constitutional rights weren't violated by the open-primary system enacted with the 1996 voter approval of Proposition 198. Righeimer contended that if the race counted only Republicans, he would've edged out Harman, who ended up getting voter support from Democrats and independents.
"The party is who we really are. It's what we're all about," Righeimer told the Huntington Beach Independent at the time. "And I felt that the Republican voters here had made their choice and [I] owed it to them to see the whole thing through."
Harman, however, took offense. According to the Los Angeles Times, the California GOP supported Righeimer and challenged Harman, who went on to serve the 67th District from 2000 to 2006.
"I am greatly disturbed by the fact that the California Republican Party and its state chairman, John McGraw, supported and encouraged this totally unnecessary and ridiculous lawsuit," Harman told The Times.
Loyalty to his friends
Baugh, who doesn't do business with Righeimer, only sharing the Newport office suite, met him some 18 years ago. The have been "great friends" ever since.
After returning from Sacramento during his Assembly terms, Baugh recalls a determined Righeimer meeting him on Thursday nights. They'd work 'til the wee hours to the point where "our wives would call and wonder when we were gonna finish up," Baugh says.
"There's a loyalty for his friends that is second to none, deeper than anything I've seen in people," Baugh adds. "I don't know where he gets it, but it's deep."
He says Righeimer, a real estate expert, is "the kind of friend that everybody wants. He'll bend over backwards and sacrifice to help his friends out of any situation."
There was a time when Baugh needed help with a property he had in Fort Bidwell. Getting to the remote Northern California town involved a flight to Reno, then a drive four hours north.
"He went with me," Baugh said. "We did an overnight trip ... it's just another example of a guy who sees his friend struggling with a transaction."
Righeimer is generous with his time, Baugh said. "If you had a nickel for every hour he's helped his friends, he'd be a wealthy man."
Former Daily Pilot Editor Tony Dodero met Righeimer in the early 1990s and years later made him a conservative columnist.
"I have a lot of good friends who dislike him, and I just have to agree to disagree with them," Dodero says. "I like him a lot, and I think he's a stand-up guy ... he knows that I don't share his politics. I don't think that's ever made a difference to him."
When Dodero left the Pilot, Righeimer was there to help him start his own business.
"I was trying to find work, and Jim was one of the few people out there who always did his best to help me out," he says.
Councilman Steve Mensinger, who's known Righeimer for 25 years, worked alongside Righeimer on the city's Planning Commission, on which Righeimer served for four years before being elected to the council.
"I think first and foremost, he's a great husband and father, and he's probably one of the smartest, instinctive, political people I've ever been around," Mensinger says.
He's the kind of guy who has "read it and understands it five minutes before everyone else," Mensinger added. "When I think of Jim, I think of a guy who is unflappable. He's just solid."
Adds Baugh: "He's got an amazing capacity for compassion and concern for other people, which isn't always the public image the Daily Pilot writes about ... but on a personal level, he cares deeply about people."
'Animosity and conflict'
Righeimer's political opponents, however, might claim otherwise. They contend that, especially in the past general election, he was a man who didn't listen to those who may disagree, a person prone to outrages fit for the city's heated campaign season.
One frequent critic, Perry Valantine, says he shouldn't have to spend so many of his Tuesday nights at 77 Fair Drive. The Costa Mesa resident and retired city government employee of more than 30 years has already been to far more than his fair share of council and planning meetings. He's now a regular fixture in the Council Chambers, taking his three minutes of public comment time to speak his mind on the issues.
"I'd like to think that as a citizen, I could enjoy my Tuesday nights and do what I'd rather be doing ... but when they come in here and do things for the wrong reasons or in the wrong ways, and create the kind of animosity and conflict that they did ... you just can't sit home and let that go on.
"I just kind of felt that I had to get involved and say, 'Hey, we the citizens don't agree with what you're doing here and the way you're doing it.'"
Valantine was referring to a few of the council majority's decisions since Righeimer was elected.
In March 2011, there was an attempt to lay off nearly half the city's staff, outsource some of the work and reinvest in capital improvements.
Proponents said the widespread austerity move would save Costa Mesa from financial ruin; some community activists opposed it, and the Costa Mesa City Employees Assn. filed a lawsuit in response.
The lawsuit led to a temporary injunction against Costa Mesa outsourcing to the private sector. Beyond that, it remains in the legal system. The remaining layoffs, however, have since been rescinded.
There was a 29-year-old city employee who committed suicide at City Hall after receiving his pink slip. However, he had been handling other personal issues, and it was never fully clear why he took his own life.
Then there was a man who called Costa Mesa police and claimed Righeimer was driving drunk. In addition to Righeimer passing a field sobriety test, the saga twisted after the man was identified as Chris Lanzillo, a private investigator and ex-cop hired to track Councilman Gary Monahan and Mensinger.
Now, there is a recall petition, led by math teacher and two-time council candidate, Chris McEvoy, that's circulating to unseat Righeimer. All parties admit it will be an uphill battle to get more than 9,000 signatures from resident voters to determine whether there will be a recall question on the ballot.
Many with Costa Mesans for Responsible Government, a grass-roots group of residents that includes Valantine, feel the same way he does.
The organization's president, Robin Leffler, says she doesn't know what to think of Righeimer these days, but "I'm really glad that the layoffs have been rescinded, and for some of the things he's said publicly and in council meetings that indicate a willingness to collaborate."
Righeimer and his council colleagues, excluding Councilwoman Wendy Leece, through their votes, have cost the city funds they're supposedly trying to save, dissenters say.
"We think that the whole thing about the lawsuit could've been avoided," Leffler says.
"It wasn't so much what they were doing, as it was how they were doing it," Valantine says.
Valantine says he hasn't had a lot of personal interaction with Righeimer, though of the three times he has spoken with the councilman, he says two involved yelling.
"His attitude and approach to things were very offensive to me," Valantine says. "That makes me not want to sit down and have a one-to-one conversation with him."
Leece has long known Righeimer. As a fellow conservative, he donated to her various campaigns over the years. Within the past two years, however, she's found herself on the lonely side of 4-1 council votes. Earlier this month, she hoped her colleagues would appoint her mayor or mayor pro tem, but the votes weren't there.
And while she's disagreed with the council majority's actions and echoes CM4RG beliefs that the employees' lawsuit has cost the city too much money, she says Righeimer's style shows a few similarities to her own years ago. Back then, she says, she might have been too strident in her approach, and it cost her a school board election.
Besides, there's no rush, Leece contends; it's not a "sky is falling" scenario in town.
"We need to listen to residents," she adds. "We need to do all things decently and in order."
She wrote in an email that she would "encourage the mayor to please put aside his strict agenda and any political aspirations he may have and truly listen to the heartbeat of Costa Mesa. It doesn't help when we read about our city in the headlines or hear about it on the radio all the time. We need to keep our 'family' problems in house.
"I hope Jim enjoys the honor of being the mayor and unites the community toward common goals. He has a great opportunity here to bring diverse opinions together."
Righeimer's friends, however, testify to his calmness in difficult situations. Righeimer himself admits he not may be of "Great Communicator" status like Reagan, but that he's very reasonable. Still, he says he doesn't suffer "fools" lightly.
"And when people tell me things that are just absolutely off and wrong, I won't agree with them just to be politically expedient," he says, adding, "There isn't a person in my business life of 30-plus years of ups and downs, strenuous times, hard issues that I can't meet in a room today. There's just not.
"It may be uncomfortable, but I've always been a person who works it out to figure the best that we can. And sometimes the best doesn't make people happy."
Righeimer vs. labor
Righeimer's battles with unions have gone on for years.
In 2010, when he was a planning commissioner and running for council a second time, the Costa Mesa Police Assn. bought Righeimer.com and used the website to publicize Righeimer's past troubles, particularly some liens during the 1990s and lawsuits. Association organizers also advertised the website on a billboard trailer, which they drove around town throughout the campaign.
"I'm not going to respond on the issues they are bringing up," Righeimer told the Pilot at the time. "It has nothing to do with pay, benefits and pension. This group does not want to talk about any of these issues."
All that? It's attack-style politics, Righeimer says. "And so what happens is the labor unions are clear that they have to destroy Jim Righeimer and say horrible things about him to make it about him."
Righeimer sums it up as voters who are going to believe it all, others who won't and "another chunk in the middle who goes, 'Ya know, I'm not real sure, honey, about what's happening here.' That's when a husband a wife talk. 'But gosh, when there's smoke, there's fire. There must be something here.'
"Anybody else who knows me or meets me goes, 'That's not Jim Righeimer. What are they talking about?'"
Baugh said a conversation he had with Righeimer helped spur an OCGOP policy: Don't help candidates who take money from public employee unions.
There were "too many Republicans taking money from the public employee unions, then voting to give them rich and unsustainable benefits," Baugh says. "We had to stop supporting those Republicans."
Righeimer says when lost his Assembly bid in 2000, he thought his time was up.
"They won. I never really thought I'd ever be in politics again because of being a homebuilder and having all those things happen," he says. "Yet I paid back all my debts. I never filed for bankruptcy. I got through it all, but it still looks [bad] on paper."
Trying to stifle the financial prowess of unions has long been a goal of his. He helped with Proposition 226, though the measure failed in the 1998 California primary. It would have required employee permission for employers and labor organizations to use wages or dues for political purposes.
"Unions can take money out of your union dues and spend it on politics? Even if you disagree?" Righeimer asks. "It just seemed so obviously ridiculous."
Within the past two months, though, Righeimer has toned down some of his talk and indicated he's more willing to negotiate with labor.
This has been well-received by the Orange County Employees Assn., which represents about 200 of Costa Mesa's workers.
"I hope we receive national attention for coming back from a raucous and acrimonious relationship to a relationship that fosters creativity, that fosters innovation, that fosters growth and a new way to deliver services in a more efficient way to the citizens," OCEA General Manager Nick Berardino said during the Nov. 20 council meeting, when Righeimer formally proposed rescinding the remaining 70 layoff notices.
The OCEA has certainly had its differences with Righeimer, says OCEA spokeswoman Jennifer Muir, and some of those differences are still there.
"But coming in 2013, OCEA is committed to working together and figuring out a way that we can again have a collaborative relationship that is in the best interest of Costa Mesa, its residents, the community and the city employees," she says. "We're really looking forward to that with Jim in the coming year."
Exemplary South Coast Plaza
"We got out of the ER, but we're still in the hospital."
That's how Righeimer describes his city's financial situation. In an interview, he repeatedly goes back to what he contends is an unsustainable employee pension system. "It's just please, OK. Thank you for sharing, but you're out of your mind. There's no math that makes this work."
He's proud of the five-year capital improvement budget that's been put together and points to South Coast Plaza an exemplary. The city should be maintaining itself like the top-rated shopping center does.
"Do you see anything torn up over there and not right?" Righeimer asks. "They put away money to repaint it, to fix it, to put a new roof on it every 12 years. They reseal the parking lot every five years. It's just what the rest of the world does — and cities used to do — until they ran out of money."
Those priorities can't be put off until the city has "a good year," he says.
"Those good years do or do not happen," he says. "That doesn't make any difference on what your parks are."
'Never, never give in'
Righeimer has repeatedly said he's not interested in a higher office. Rather, he says he's more apt to look to his neighbors, especially the older ones walking their dogs
"I wanna be like them. I want to be in my same neighborhood where I live now walking my dog when I'm 80," he says. "I'm not gonna want to worry about the whole 'streets weren't taken care of and things weren't done' and all that."
Righeimer is married and has three children who are receiving a religious education in a private school.
Tragedy struck, though, for Righeimer and his wife, Lene, nine years ago when their first daughter, Rebecca, suffered a cardiac arrest and died at age 4 and a half.
Righeimer's friends credit his resilience through that difficult period, and Righeimer says he is a different person today because of it. But it's an event he considers very personal and does not talk about with many people.
Though he may be mayor, he doesn't see himself as different than many other fathers.
"I'm a guy with kids, a family," he says. "I run a business and make sure that the bills are paid. I don't think I'm any different. I have the same cares and concerns and desires and wants for my kids and their future, but that once you dig into things and you know how things are, you realize that there's some tough decisions and things have to be fixed."
Through all that, he's influenced by Winston Churchill's rallying cry to "never, never give in."
"On a problem that's not gonna go away, you can't quit," he says. "It's not gonna go away. You gotta fix it."
Twitter: @bradleyzint


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Posts Tagged 'McGinnis'
Christmas Advent Calendar – Grab Bag
Sherry Stocking Kline
December 9, 2009
When I was growing up, my Grandma Maud (McGinnis) Stocking lived an hour and a half away in a little town named Cedarvale, Kansas . And though we went to see her and brought her to see us, it didn't always happen exactly on Christmas.
So Grandma Stocking would pack up a little package for our family. It was all wrapped up in brown paper with packages inside for each of us, and oh, how I looked forward to that little package!
I watched for the mail man to turn the corner and drive down our little country road and when I saw him coming, I would run down the driveway of our farm to the mail box to say hello and check and see if today was THE day.
When the package came, I would run back up to the house with it and begin badgering and begging my mom to let me open it early. Most of the time, she made me wait at least until closer to Christmas. So then it was time to shake, squeeze, and guess what the package had in it.
The present I remember best is the one she made herself.
I can't remember every present that Grandma sent, and I don't remember anything that she sent my folks, but the present I remember best is the one she made for me herself.
It was a crayon apron. It was a pretty pink, girl-y looking with colored braid stitched on it and stitched into it were slim little pockets for crayons and each pocket had a colorful crayon in it. (I think there might have been a coloring book, too) It was designed to keep my clothes clean I'm sure, but I loved that little apron.
I was thrilled with it, proud of it, and I wore it and used it for many years. Finally, one of the ties came lose, and we didn't instantly repair it. And, I was beginning to 'outgrow' the tiny little apron. For a long time, I left the crayons in the apron, and used it to organize my crayons.
I hope the little crayon apron will be there…
I'm not sure what happened to that little apron, but I hope (and pray) that when I go digging through my attic for the keepsakes I stored there many years ago that the little crayon apron will be there.


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As CFO of Logitech, Vincent Pilette is responsible for the company's financial strategies and worldwide finance organization. He manages consolidated revenues of approximately two billion dollars (U.S.), tax, treasury, accounting, financial planning and analysis, and communication with an international base of shareholders trading Logitech shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the Nasdaq Global Market.
Reporting to Logitech's President and CEO, Vincent Pilette is a member of the company's executive leadership team, responsible for shaping and directing the implementation of all aspects of the company's business strategies.
Vincent Pilette joined Logitech in September 2013, bringing 17 years of financial management experience in the U.S. and EMEA. Prior to joining Logitech, Pilette served for nearly three years as the CFO for Electronics for Imaging (EFI), a Silicon Valley public company. Prior to joining EFI, Pilette spent 14 years with Hewlett-Packard in finance positions, last serving as Vice President of Finance for HP's multi-billion dollar server, storage and networking business.
Vincent Pilette holds an M.S. degree in engineering and business from Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium and an M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago.


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L. Neil Smith's
Number 335, September 4, 2005
U.S. Out of New Orleans!
Gender Bias in Domestic Violence Treatment
Special to TLE
The oldest battered women's shelter in New England, established in 1975, is setting precedent and making many feminists nervous in the process.
Transition House not only launched a "gender-neutral" search for a new executive director but also appointed a man as its interim director. Transition House explains that it simply wants to hire the best person for the job, and interviewing men doubles the chance of success.
Feminists of my ilk, who judge individuals on merit rather than gender, are applauding. (Admittedly, a muttered "it's about time!" may also be heard.)
Feminists who believe that gender must be a deciding factor in who addresses domestic violence and how it should be addressed, are appalled. They view the very prospect of hiring a male director as violating the "mission" of the shelter movement: to assist battered women and children.
In short, the "women-only feminists" believe males should be precluded from major employment and entry at shelters. Indeed, women's shelters often deny entry to male children over 12-years-old. (The legality of doing so at tax-funded shelters is dubious, to say the least.)
Why should even male teenagers be excluded? In a protest letter to the Transition House Board, the feminist organization About Women explained that the shelter must be a space where "women could feel safe from male intrusion and could openly unburden themselves of the experiences of male violence they had undergone without fear of censure, criticism or inhibition by male presence."
One interpretation of the foregoing statement makes sense. Some female domestic violence victims have been so brutalized by the men in their lives that a mere male presence may well terrify them. For that category of domestic violence victim, a women-only shelter may be the most compassionate and effective option.
(Men-only shelters for similarly devastated male victims would be equally valid.)
Nevertheless, it is difficult to understand why a male executive director who may have no direct interaction with battered women is so objectionable. To understand this response, it is necessary to enter the realm of ideology.
The argument for a women-only space is rooted in a belief that domestic violence results from the general societal oppression of women as a class by men as a class.
The "Power and Control Wheel" that is used by every domestic violence organization I know of embodies this belief. The wheel explains the origins of domestic violence through a pie chart; one of the pie segments is labeled "Male Privilege".
In short, women-only feminists argue that women are battered not merely by an individual male abuser but by the entire male gender and, so, they must be protected from both.
This is similar to claiming that a white person who has been beaten by a black needs to be in a black-free environment because they have been battered not merely by a specific black person but by an entire race.
To carry the analogy one step farther, it is similar to demanding that blacks should not be employed or allowed on the premises of a whites-only shelter...even if those premises are tax-funded and, so, prohibited from discrimination.
The ideological argument for women-only sheltersas opposed to the practical argument that, sometimes, such shelters just make senseis class guilt. The guilty class is "male." Class guilt does not allow an individual male to demonstrate his innocence because, simply by being a member of a class, he is guilty by definition.
The concept of class guilt never ceases to anger me. As a victim of domestic violence, I know the fist that legally blinded my right eye was wielded by a specific man, not by a class. And I refuse to dilute his responsibility by extending it to men who've done me no harm.
It angers me as well because I'm the sort of domestic violence victim who needed exposure to non-abusive men, not isolation from all male presence, in order to heal. I needed to realize that decent caring men still existed and that I could interact with them in a positive way. In other words, a specific man was my problem; men as a whole were part of the solution.
As I mentioned, there are domestic violence victims who do not share my reaction.
It would be amazing if hundreds of thousands of peoplefrom different cultures, lifestyles and backgroundsresponded to a complex experience in exactly the same manner. Just as there is no one explanation for domestic violence, neither is there a one-size-fits-all remedy.
But the ideological women-only argument for domestic violence shelters is inflexible. It denies to female victims the healing presence of benevolent men with whom they can re-establish trust.
It denies the very possibility of male and female victims occupying the same shelter and, so, coming to an understanding of their differences and shared realities. Such mingling of the sexes is common in other forms of therapy and rehabilitation but it is akin to heresy to even suggest the prospect for domestic violence.
In short, women-only zealots dismiss the feminist goal of 'diversity' and insist instead upon only one explanation for domestic violence and only one organizational principle for shelters.
Women-only zealots are hurting victims. They are harming those battered women who would benefit from learning how to regain their trust and respect for male. They are harming the significant percentage of domestic violence victims who are male themselves.
Estimates vary on the prevalence of male domestic violence victims. Professor Martin Fiebert of California State University at Long Beach prepared a summary of hundreds of studies and reports which indicates that men and women are victimized at much the same rate. A recent BOJ study found that men constituted 27 percent of domestic violence victims between 1998 and 2002.
Whichever figure is correct, a significant percentage of domestic violence victims are refused admission to most shelters in North America based solely upon their gender.
The anti-male prejudice in domestic violence must cease.
The deadline for Transition House's job search is August 30, which means there may be a new executive director as you read this column. Whether it is a 'he' or 'she' is secondary. What matters most is that the individual will have been judged upon his or her merits and no longer upon genitalia.
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Kid Cudi Gets Grisly New Tattoo Depicting Slit Wrists
Rapper-turned-rocker Kid Cudi loves getting crazy tattoos but this one really takes the cake. To add to his collection of body artwork, including his Pink Floyd tat, Cudi showed off his grisly new tattoo of slit wrists. Ewww.
The artwork depicts Cudi's wrists slashed and dripping with blood. "The old Scott is dead … slit wrists," he wrote on his Tumblr blog.
The "old Scott," meaning, the wild and out-of-control persona that led him to numerous arrests and substance abuse is a thing of the past. Now clean and somber, Cudi is on a new musical path with WZRD, his rock group with producer Dot da Genius. The duo's self-titled LP is currently in stores.
In an interview with Complex, Cudi says he hopes to inspired old and new listeners with his rock-infused album. "Music is a very powerful medium, and you could really use it for some good, and affect a lot of people in a really, really positive way and save lives," he said. "I've had my share of raps and talking my s— and you're probably still going to hear me laying down raps, talking my s—. But at the end of the day, when you think of Kid Cudi, you know the basis of my s—, my whole theme is telling my tale and inspiring people and helping people."
We don't know how a tattoo of slit wrists is going to inspire anyone but we are supportive of Cudi's newfound adventures in rock 'n' roll.
What do you think of Kid Cudi's gruesome tattoo? Tell us in the comments below.


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Governments worldwide have promised to save biodiversity by 2010. While it is their responsibility to achieve this, they need the help of all stakeholders in this challenge. Countdown 2010 has united a network of almost 1,000 partners from all walks of life – including national, regional and local governments, businesses and civil society – working together towards the 2010 biodiversity target.
Biodiversity is essential for all life on Earth and its conservation is the core of IUCN work. A source of knowledge, standards and tools on this matter, IUCN offers the right frame for the Countdown 2010 initiative. The Secretariat is hosted by the IUCN Regional Office for Pan-Europe in Brussels, Belgium.
Each partner signs the Countdown 2010 Declaration and commits to taking direct action to help reduce the loss of biodiversity within their remit – be in their neighbourhood, city or at the national and corporate level. For instance, zoos might focus on environmental education, companies on how to reduce their impact on biodiversity, and non-governmental organisations could campaign for better implementation of nature legislation worldwide. Every single action by partners is important to contribute to moving closer in achieving the 2010 biodiversity target.
The Countdown 2010 Secretariat facilitates and encourages action by Partners and supports their communications efforts. An Assembly of all Partners meets annually to assess progress and strengthen cooperation within the network. Countdown 2010 is guided by an Advisory Board composed by representatives of institutions and non-governmental organizations that is elected by its partners.
- Raising awareness of the need to protect biodiversity
- Organizing events and conferences at international, national and local level, such as at the European Parliament and with EU Presidencies on crucial issues related to biodiversity conservation
- Encouraging and supporting businesses in mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into their operations
- Helping local and regional authorities protect urban biodiversity and including biodiversity in their planning
- Measuring progress made by governments towards 2010
- Celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by supporting Partners' initiatives
- Communicating biodiversity and Partners' achievements: bimonthly newsletter, website, exhibitions, communications tools, etc.
Since its creation, the Countdown 2010 network has grown exponentially and has made it possible for hundreds of actors to join together under the banner of biodiversity conservation. Their actions have helped increase biodiversity awareness and improve its protection.
"Being part of the Countdown 2010 network has helped increase the profile of my organization. It also gave me the opportunity to share experiences and practices with other Partners at different levels and was an excellent incentive to increase our efforts for biodiversity" Ignace Shops, Director of Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland and Goldman Environmental Prize.
- 70+ Governments and Government agencies
- 350+ Local and Regional Authorities
- 80+ Businesses
- 400+ Civil Society Organizations
- Full list of partners
Timeline: May 2004 – December 2010


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Tied Together: IC Connects Students with Seniors
The lights cast a low glow over the dance floor and the music stopped. The big moment had arrived: the queen and king of the senior prom were about to be named. But it wasn't the captain of the football team and the head cheerleader who bounded up to the stage. It was Jerome Van Buren, age 86, and Lana Pfann, age 71.
"My high school held a similar 'senior citizen prom,' and it was so much fun that I was inspired to do it in Ithaca," says Mary Claire Hartford '15, a clinical health studies/physical therapy major. "This is a great chance to branch out and really connect with a bunch of different people."
Hartford organized the event, which drew more than 70 seniors and about 110 students from both Ithaca College and Cornell University, through her work with a student organization called Project Generations. In partnership with the Tompkins County Office for the Aging, Project Generations aims to reduce social stigma about senior citizens and recognize their value as community members—and friends. It does this by matching IC students with older adult companions to do things like chat, drink coffee, and play chess. The pairs get together one-on-one each week, forging relationships that can last for years.
Hartford got very close to her paired senior, "Grandma" Ruth, who she began visiting as a freshman. They met regularly to drink hot cocoa, bake cookies, and talk about how much Ithaca had changed in the last 94 years. Now in her junior year, Hartford talks about how much she learned.
"My experiences with Ruth have reinforced [for me] that no matter a person's generation, background, experiences, and beliefs, we are more similar than we think we are," Hartford said.
Although Ruth has passed away, Hartford continues to have hot cocoa and cookies on Sundays in her honor and says Ruth will always be a part of her family.
"We live in such a different world than our grandparents did, and there is so much history," Hartford says. "I find this population so intriguing. You don't realize how much seniors go through."
A Growing Generation
According to the federal Administration on Aging (AoA), the population that is 65 and older increased 18 percent from 2000 to 2011 and is projected to grow to 79.7 million in 2040. AoA also estimates that, once a woman reaches 65 years of age, she'll live 20.4 more years—and a man will live an additional 19.2 years. Undoubtedly, students who are in college today will graduate into a professional world where working with older adults is a matter of course—the rule, not the exception.
"This is a growing market," says Tom Grape '80. "It's a pretty entrepreneurial field and an immature industry. Because of that, you can have new ideas."
Grape is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Benchmark Senior Living, a company that offers personalized services such as independent living, traditional assisted living, and respite stays to its residents. Benchmark has 50 locations in the Northeast and employs about 4,500 people.
"What we do here touches peoples' lives in a very personal way," says Grape, who also serves as chair of the Ithaca College Board of Trustees. "For folks who feel a calling to serve others, there are a lot of different paths one can end up following. In a field like this, where people are using not only their head but their heart, you have to have the passion for it."
Rhoda Meador, director of IC's Gerontology Institute, is instilling that passion in IC's undergraduates.
"Never in the history of the world have there been so many older people living and active. It's a completely new thing for our society," says Meador. "No matter what we do professionally, we're going to be interacting with more older people."
IC's Gerontology Institute houses the aging studies major and minor programs. It's one of the college's smaller majors, but the program plays a critical role in cultivating an array of interdisciplinary opportunities. Meador says a big aspect of the program is focused on outreach to community agencies, which takes place in the form of things like professional workshops and distinguished speaker events—all of which are open to professors and students.
Friendly Neighbors
About a half-mile south of IC on Route 96B is Longview, a residential facility that houses about 200 older adults and is one of IC's community partners. Collaborations between Longview and IC stretch back to 1998 and focus on ways to enrich the college curriculum with intergenerational social and educational experiences. This happens through internships, fieldwork, volunteer opportunities, and research projects, and activities through this partnership engage about 300 students a semester.
The experiences are mutually beneficial: IC students expand the scope of their education in a real-life setting, and senior participants benefit from lifelong learning opportunities—including the ability to audit courses at the college in almost any discipline free of charge.
"Allowing Longview residents to audit IC courses created these intergenerational learning labs for almost all of my [aging studies] classes," says Dan Gutkoski '07, who graduated with degrees in gerontology (now called aging studies) and health policy studies. "And it allowed us to have a panel of experts who could share their own experiences of aging directly with us students."
Gutkoski is now a health system specialist in the Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care Operations for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. He's been employed by the VA for nearly eight years, and before that he did his internships at IC with the organization, experiences that he says were pivotal to his education.
Angela Recchiuti '11 also earned her IC degree in aging studies. She agrees with Gutkoski—the internship experiences in addition to in-class learning gave her an edge.
"When it comes to finding an entry-level job in the field of aging, hands-on experience is crucial," Recchiuti says. "Not only did working in the field help me figure out exactly what I wanted to do, but it also gave me excellent experiences that I could apply to my current job at the Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter."
Learning from the Past
His first year teaching at IC, Associate Professor of History Michael Smith had some Longview residents in his classes.
"The insights these men and women provided were so unique, and the undergraduates in the classes seemed to really appreciate their presence," he said.
So in 2002 Smith began organizing discussion groups between students in his U.S. history courses and residents at Longview. He gave students an optional class assignment in which they met with residents at Longview on three different evenings to discuss 20th century U.S. history. The initial project was so successful, he incorporated these discussion groups into his U.S. in the Age of the Cold War course as a required assignment.
There have been five cohorts of IC students to participate in the project and roughly 40 Longview residents.
As one student wrote, "Each discussion supported a bridge connecting the old with the young. In turn, these bridges made real relationships between past and present. For example, modern welfare is easier to understand when learned about from an elderly gentleman who gained employment in Ithaca's state parks via the WPA. Women's suffrage carries greater significance when a resident tells of a pro-vote parade passing her house when she was a little girl."
One Longview resident said, "I think it's good for [the students] to get a perspective of how things change in cycles and how things go. It's good for me too because it helps me understand the younger generation and how they feel about things. And I think that's very important."
Green Seniors
Collaborative, inter-generational learning is not solely for students in the aging studies or history programs. The experience Mary McKean '15 has had proves that.
McKean is an environmental studies major. Last year, she facilitated IC's Retirees in Service of the Environment (RISE) program. RISE is a joint project of the Ithaca College Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences, the Ithaca College Natural Lands, the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute, and Longview.
"RISE struck me as something that was really unique and empowering," McKean says. "I'm passionate about the environment and about preserving it. I just think the world is so beautiful, and it's so important to have a personal relationship with it."
RISE brings together IC students and local retirees through indoor workshops and outdoor excursions. The group explores big-picture topics—energy conservation, land management, and environmental stewardship—as well as day-to-day things like gardening, bird-watching, and citizen biology. The retirees who participate are asked to spend about five hours a week on environmental projects, either on campus in the organic garden or off campus on the Ithaca College Natural Lands, 560 acres of natural lands owned by the college and located on South Hill, across Route 96B, and in neighboring Newfield, New York. Retirees may also gather at Longview during the semester to discuss their experiences in the field and delve into new topics.
Catherine Thomson, a Newfield resident, learned about the RISE program through an ad in the Ithaca Journal. Since she joined RISE, she's taken on stewardship activities on a parcel of property the college owns in Newfield. Thomson says participating in the program gives her an opportunity to get out into the woods—something she normally wouldn't do. She also enjoys the liveliness of the indoor group sessions.
"One thing sparks another—there is no 'off topic,'" Thomson says. "We have such a wealth of experience around the table that we share with one another. It's terrific."
Re-Learning Life Skills
Longview also provides a home for another IC program—the Center for Life Skills. CLS provides rehabilitation opportunities for individuals in the Ithaca-area community who have experienced a stroke or other neurological trauma. For students in IC's occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and recreational therapy programs, CLS provides experiential and service-learning opportunities.
"There are other programs that bring together students of one or two disciplines, but we are the only one in the nation that pulls together four," says Catherine Gooch, the center's director. "There's nothing else out there that is as ongoing and collaborative as our program is."
CLS started in 2000. Each spring and fall semester, three days a week, IC students and program participants gather at the center. In the early days of each semester, students work with faculty members, program participants, and sometimes participants' family members to set goals. The rest of the time is spent achieving them.
Andrea Hammer has been participating in Center for Life Skills programs for three years. She experienced a stroke, which compromised her right side and left her with aphasia, a disorder that affects the parts of the brain that control language. Her main goal when she started at CLS was straightforward: she wanted to speak again.
"That was a very clear goal, and I had a really good gal, a grad student, who helped me," says Hammer, who was a lecturer in the Department of Landscape Architecture at Cornell University before her stroke. "She worked me very hard, and I mean that in a good way. I think this program is terrific. I just can't tell you how much it's helped me. I would be lost without it."
In fall 2013, 62 students worked at the center to help about 10 community participants. Because students come from so many different programs, the opportunities for true interdisciplinary learning are many. Let's say a participant wants to decorate cookies. The physical therapist can work on goals like functional ambulation, balance, and standing tolerance by having the participant walk back and forth to gather and carry all of the items. In the same session, the occupational therapist can work on cognitive sequencing (following the recipe), visual perception (decorating the whole cookie rather than just part of it), and upper extremity coordination and strengthening (rolling out the dough and cutting the cookies).
"We're cultivating a sense of how everything works together; we are learning how to become generalists," says Ally Kass '15, a first-year graduate student in physical therapy. Kass has worked at CLS for two semesters. "For us to go out and do everything, we need to be exposed to everything."
"Flexibility is big for all of us," adds Alyssa Zonneville '14, a second-year speech therapy master's degree student. "We have to be prepared to switch things around."
From the Center for Life Skills to Project Generations to the Gerontology Institute, Ithaca College has the resources that enable students not only to follow their academic path—but also to weave in experiences that cultivate their versatility as professionals and as human beings.
"The experience of interacting with older people really enriches our students and gives them a leg up when they go out into the world," Meador says. "Our students develop and have the most important competencies for being able to succeed: the ability to interact with a variety of people, to be able to handle themselves, to be able to communicate effectively, and to be able to appreciate people's differences. In a way, aging is just one more diversity."
Read more about Mary Claire Hartford '15 and her "Grandma Ruth."


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We've got enough on tape to accurately judge this draft's top prospects. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Workouts and pro days are upon us, the time when sheer athleticism comes to the forefront to cloud our judgment
The bowl games and the postseason all-star games have provided even more clarity thanks to some matchups that allowed players to either shine or get exposed. Now comes the really silly part.
From this point forward, players will be judged mostly by what they do in their underwear. This process explains how Oregon outside linebacker/defensive end Dion Jordan got selected No. 3 overall last year while Ducks inside linebacker Kiko Alonso—the best player on the 2012 Oregon defense—fell into the second round. Guess who wound up being the much, much better rookie? That's right. The guy who actually demonstrated his skills at a high level in college. So this list will be heavy on guys who produced against good competition and light on guys whose numbers didn't match their potential.
This also isn't a mock draft. It doesn't take into account the order in which the teams will select. Positional need will supersede sheer talent in many cases. That likely will be the case for the guy who finds himself back at No. 1.
1. Jadeveon Clowney
DE; Junior; University of South Carolina; 6-6, 274
We dinged Clowney—ever so slightly—during the season for an effort that didn't measure up to his stellar sophomore year. Whether that dip was the consequence of nagging injuries or something else remains to be seen. But Clowney's decision to do everything at the combine suggests he's taking this process very seriously. On The Dan Patrick Show last week, guest host Kay Adams asked me what Clowney's biggest challenge at the combine would be. My answer? Avoiding tripping over the dangling tongues of personnel people after each drill. I was only sort of kidding. Clowney probably will get some tough questions about his production, but he'll likely leave a supremely positive impression on those evaluating him. Will it be enough to make him the No. 1 pick in the draft? Probably not as long as the Texans have the No. 1 pick. They have the best defensive end in the NFL and a glaring need at quarterback. The question is whether some team will be willing to trade up to grab Clowney.
2. Teddy Bridgewater
QB; Junior; Louisville; 6-3, 196
Central Florida's Blake Bortles has shot up most draft boards, and he did win the head-to-head matchup this past season. But Bridgewater was steadily excellent for three years. His shyness may raise some questions for coaches and general managers, but he's a different person on the field. A look at the film will show that.
3. Anthony Barr
LB; Senior; UCLA; 6-4, 245
Barr should be catnip to NFL GMs. He's demonstrated an ability to produce at a high level in college, but because he didn't play defense until his junior season, he remains well below his ceiling.
4. Johnny Manziel
QB; Redshirt Sophomore; Texas A&M; 6-1, 200
During the Super Bowl, a great-but-immobile quarterback was shut down by a defense mostly rushing four while the mobile quarterback on the winning team was ruthlessly efficient thanks to an ability to create time to throw. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson's success on the sport's biggest stage made Manziel even more intriguing. Manziel and Wilson are physically similar—between 5-11 and 6-0 but with huge hands. Both have decent arms. But on the field, Manziel looks quite a bit faster. That comparison plus the fact that Manziel succeeded in his stated goal of getting more comfortable in the pocket in 2013 should encourage NFL general managers considering him. This also should make them equally excited about Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, who will be available in the 2015 or 2016 draft.
5. Greg Robinson
OT; Redshirt Sophomore; Auburn; 6-5, 320
Auburn's run to the BCS title game gave the nation a chance to see Robinson against some of the best defenders in the nation, and he dominated. On top of that, his speed and quickness should make him a top performer in the Underwear Olympics portion of the pre-draft process.
6. Jake Matthews
OT; Senior; Texas A&M; 6-5, 305
Robinson may unseat Matthews as the presumptive first tackle taken, but Matthews won't fall far. He excelled for four years in College Station, and—barring injury—he'll anchor an NFL line for much longer.
7. Timmy Jernigan
DT; Junior; Florida State; 6-2, 298
Jernigan was a bit difficult to evaluate as the Seminoles dominated the ACC. He didn't have to play entire games because of blowouts, and the players around him were so good that it was often difficult to determine who was making the biggest impact. That changed in the BCS title game. Against an excellent Auburn offensive line, Jernigan looked like the most important player on the defense. That was even more evident when he came off the field to recharge.
8. Blake Bortles
QB; Redshirt Junior; Central Florida; 6-4, 230
It's easy to understand why Bortles has rocketed up these draft boards. He played in a pro-style offense, meaning his learning curve is shorter than his fellow quarterbacks. He has a strong arm, and just as important, he has the athleticism to buy himself more time to throw. A quarterback doesn't necessarily need the escapability of Johnny Football, but in today's game, he's got to be able to move.
9. C.J. Mosley
LB; Senior; Alabama; 6-2, 232
I've been in the tank for Mosley for a long time. In November, I tried to mount a Heisman Trophy campaign for him. To handle the Wilsons, the Kaepernicks and the RG3s, teams need linebackers who can run all day. Just as Mosley's importance to Alabama's defense increased as spread offenses invaded the SEC, his importance to an NFL defense will increase as more dual-threat quarterbacks enter the league.
10. Aaron Donald
DT; Senior; Pittsburgh; 6-0, 285
Donald won't go this high, but I have a feeling teams around this spot will wish they'd taken him. Donald is undersized, but led the nation with 28.5 tackles for loss. At practices for the Senior Bowl, he dispelled any notions that his gaudy stats were a result of inferior competition. He dominated nearly every drill. He'll drop a little because of his size, but that performance will be difficult to ignore.
11. Taylor Lewan
OT; Senior; Michigan; 6-8, 308
Though he never shoved a fan, Lewan's situation has some parallels with Oklahoma State basketball player Marcus Smart's. Lewan might have been the top pick in the draft had he left school last year. Instead, he came back, put some unflattering images on tape and generally got his game picked apart as the Wolverines bumbled their way to a 7-6 record. He's still probably going to get taken in the first round, but he likely would have gone higher last year.
12. Sammy Watkins
WR; Junior; Clemson; 6-1, 205
Watkins dominated Ohio State in the Orange Bowl with 16 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns. After a lost sophomore season, he showed as a junior why he deserves to be chosen early.
13. Mike Evans
WR; Redshirt Sophomore; Texas A&M; 6-5, 225
From a physical standpoint, Evans should probably go even higher. He's huge, strong and has breakaway speed. But watch what Texas A&M did with him. (Hint: It wasn't much beyond line-up-wide-on-the-right-side-and-be-a-better-athlete-than-that-cornerback.) Evans will have to prove himself more versatile to be the featured receiver in an offense. His physical gifts make him extremely valuable either way, but if he can expand his game, he could dominate.
14. Louis Nix III
DT; Junior; Notre Dame; 6-3, 340
Nix told the South Bend Tribune he signed with an agent in December—thus missing his final bowl trip—to get the best care possible for his surgically repaired knee cartilage. That's probably a good sign. Nix struggled with his weight throughout college, and a bum wheel plus buffets usually equals trouble. When Nix is in shape, he's an ideal 3-4 nose tackle. If he arrives in good condition as a rookie, he'll make a team very happy.
15. Marqise Lee
WR; Junior; USC; 6-0, 195
On a deeper team, Lee might not have had to play with so many nagging injuries. But NCAA sanction-depleted USC had few other options. Given time to get healthy and given teammates of similar ability, Lee should excel.
16. Eric Ebron
TE; Junior; North Carolina; 6-4, 245
Ebron emerged as the nation's most intriguing tight end prospect late last season. His combination of size and speed makes him ideal for a team that likes to flex its tight ends to create coverage mismatches.
17. Stephon Tuitt
DE; Junior; Notre Dame; 6-6, 303
Tuitt's Instagram account is a great way to track his quest to trim down to 305 pounds. If he can do that, watch out. A 3-4 team in need of a defensive end should scoop him up quickly.
18. Ryan Shazier
LB; Junior; Ohio State; 6-2, 222
Just like Mosley, Shazier's speed will make him a critical piece against offenses that favor dumping the ball to fast playmakers in space. Shazier is undersized, but there won't be another linebacker in this draft who moves as fast in pads.
19. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
S; Junior; Alabama; 6-1, 208
Clinton-Dix is the most complete safety prospect in the draft. He can run, he can cover, and he can lay the wood.
20. Zack Martin
OT; Senior; Notre Dame; 6-4, 304
Martin helped his cause at practices for the Senior Bowl. He showed he could play against top competition at left tackle, and he also proved he could handle left guard. That versatility should serve Martin well.
21. Darqueze Dennard
CB; Senior; Michigan State; 5-11, 196
Dennard was the best cornerback in college football in 2013. An NFL team can just plug him in and go.
22. Justin Gilbert
CB; Senior; Oklahoma State; 6-0, 200
I'm always a little wary of cornerbacks with huge interception totals. (Gilbert led the Big 12 with six in 2013.) The best cornerbacks usually have few picks because the receivers they cover are blanketed so tightly that quarterbacks look elsewhere. But Gilbert played in the Big 12, where quarterbacks launch with impunity. He also played in a defense that stressed creating turnovers. Gilbert also will help the team that selects him in the return game, giving him added value.
23. Will Sutton
DT; Senior; Arizona State; 6-1, 305
The chatter at the Senior Bowl involved Sutton's weight, and the truth may be that Sutton needs to play at a relatively light weight to succeed. Even though he looked heavy, Sutton's quickness and explosiveness were evident in drills. If he can maintain the best weight for him, he could be a disruptive force.
24. Khalil Mack
LB; Senior; Buffalo; 6-3, 245
Mack was one of the most productive linebackers in the country for the past four seasons. There will be no concerns about his size.
25. Kelvin Benjamin
WR; Redshirt Sophomore; Florida State; 6-5, 234
At media day for the BCS title game, I was standing next to another college football writer who has seen more than his share of great players, but he had never seen Benjamin in person. "Whoa," he said, shaking his head. That's a common occurrence. With no jersey number, Benjamin could easily be mistaken for a rangy defensive end. He knows how to use his size and strength around the goal line, as evidenced by the catch that clinched the national title for the Seminoles. But Benjamin is still pretty raw, and he had an issue with drops in 2013. Still, considering his development from signing with Florida State in 2011 to this season, it's a good bet Benjamin still hasn't found his ceiling.
26. Cyrus Kouandjio
OT; Junior; Alabama; 6-6, 310
We often remark that college players can make quite a bit of money by excelling in certain matchups, but that pendulum swings both ways. Kouandjio cost himself some money in the Sugar Bowl. Oklahoma speed rusher Eric Striker blew past Kouandjio on several occasions and wrecked Alabama's offense. Kouandjio has all the measurables NFL teams want, and he had put out a lot of good tape in two seasons as a starter. But he'll face rushers in the NFL just as fast as Striker—and they'll weigh a lot more than Striker's 220 pounds.
27. David Yankey
OG; Senior; Stanford; 6-5, 311
For teams that still prefer to run the ball, Yankey is a perfect fit. He can open holes by drive blocking, or he can pull and wipe out an end or a linebacker. He plays with a nasty streak, and his natural athleticism should give offensive coordinators a lot of options when drawing plays.
28. Kyle Van Noy
LB; Senior; BYU; 6-3, 245
The GMs who prefer combine results probably will drop Van Noy because he won't run the fastest 40 in his group or put up the most reps on the bench. The GMs who prefer game video will love Van Noy because he finds ways to produce for his team on almost every play. Like UCLA's Barr, Van Noy is the football equivalent of a basketball stat sheet stuffer. He'll offer a mix of tackles for loss, forced fumbles, quarterback hurries and interceptions. Most importantly, he'll find a way to make an impact.
29. Loucheiz Purifoy
CB; Junior; Florida; 6-1, 189
Purifoy was an excellent cover guy for most of his time at Florida—though he may want to burn all copies of his performance against Florida State's Benjamin in November. Purifoy is fast and fluid, and he also may help the NFL team that drafts him in the return game.
30. Trent Murphy
LB; Redshirt Senior; Stanford; 6-6, 261
Murphy may not run as well as some similarly sized players at the combine. That shouldn't overshadow the fact that against quality competition, he led the nation in sacks. Murphy is a relentless rusher who occasionally dabbles in steer wrestling. He's also a long, lanky player who knows how to get his hands up to block a throwing lane. (Stanford doesn't beat Washington if he doesn't.)
31. Lamarcus Joyner
CB; Senior; Florida State; 5-8, 187
Forget his height. Joyner is a lit stick of dynamite on the football field. He can cover, but his experience playing safety at Florida State should help him when he isn't on an island.
32. Michael Sam
DE; Senior; Missouri; 6-2, 255
Sam won't go anywhere near this high. That was the case before he revealed on Sunday that he is gay. Sam was always going to face questions about his size. He excelled in college as a 4-3 end, but he projects more as a 3-4 linebacker. The problem is he may just be a better 4-3 end, and The MMQB's Greg Bedard isn't so sure that's the case, either. I had Sam a little higher on my last big board, but some players played their way up. This list weighs actual production as much or more than projection or ceiling, which is why you'll see several players who won't be drafted anywhere close to where they appear on this board. The guy who got to the quarterback better than anyone else in the SEC in 2013 has demonstrated an ability that NFL teams consider very valuable. If you can get in the backfield consistently in the deepest league in college, the chances are better that you can do the same in the NFL.
33. Jason Verrett
CB; Senior; TCU; 5-10, 176
Like Joyner, Verrett plays much bigger than he is. He's fearless against larger receivers, and he's still relatively new to the position. He moved to cornerback in junior college, so much of what he showed at TCU was sheer natural ability.
34. Calvin Pryor
S; Junior; Louisville; 6-2, 208
The hunt for the next Kam Chancellor continues with Pryor, who earned a reputation at Louisville as a ferocious hitter who could knock an opposing receiver out of the game with a clean shot. Pryor has excellent instincts, and those hits usually aren't attempts at highlight-reel plays. They're usually fundamentally sound tackles that happen to rattle the ballcarrier's fillings.
35. Aaron Murray
QB; Senior; Georgia; 6-1, 208
This is the point where the draftniks will stop reading entirely. The people who watched a lot of college football the past four years, on the other hand, will nod and smile. Murray isn't getting picked close to this spot. He was already a mid-round guy even before he tore his ACL in November. But just remember this in two or three years when Murray comes off the bench to replace an injured starter and lights it up with his smarts, his mobility and a good enough arm to get the job done, and then locks down a starting job for years. Or come back and laugh at me if he doesn't.
36. Brandin Cooks
WR; Junior; Oregon State; 5-10, 186
With Markus Wheaton in the NFL, Cooks became an even more frequent target for Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion. Cooks caught 128 passes and led the nation in receiving yardage (1,730).
37. Jace Amaro
TE; Junior; Texas Tech; 6-5, 260
While in Lubbock for a story last year, I kept noticing this guy leading all the players through seven-on-seven drills. Since coaches aren't allowed to lead such drills in February, I was tempted to ask Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury if they were breaking an NCAA rule in front of me. Then I realized the "coach" I kept seeing was Amaro, who only looks like he's 36. Amaro has a great combination of size and speed. He's big enough to operate as a closed tight end but fast enough to cause some serious mismatches as a receiver.
38. Zach Mettenberger
QB; Senior; LSU; 6-5, 235
Like Murray, the hobbled Mettenberger runs the risk of getting overlooked because he's rehabbing a torn ACL. Unlike Murray, Mettenberger has ideal size for the position. The question for Mettenberger will be whether his injury made him even less mobile than he was. Still, Mettenberger's progress under longtime NFL coordinator Cam Cameron at LSU cannot be overlooked. He made a great leap playing in an offense that probably looks a lot like what he'll be asked to play in at the NFL level.
39. Jordan Matthews
WR; Senior; Vanderbilt; 6-3, 205
Matthews entered every game knowing defenses would focus on stopping him—and he rarely got stopped. He led the SEC in receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,477).
40. Davante Adams
WR; Redshirt Sophomore; Fresno State; 6-2, 212
Adams led the nation in receptions (131) and receiving touchdowns (24) in Fresno State's pass-happy attack. He's raw, but he's expected to run an excellent 40-yard dash. That combination of production and potential should excite anyone seeking a receiver.
41. Jared Abbrederis
WR; Redshirt Senior; Wisconsin; 6-2, 190
Abbrederis is not some plucky former walk-on placed here on the strength of his story. OK, he is a former walk-on. But Abbrederis is an elite athlete who gained 1,081 receiving yards in 2013 in spite of the fact that—just as with Matthews at Vanderbilt—every opposing defense knew Abbrederis was the Badgers' only legitimate threat in the passing game. When defenses have to focus on other receivers as well, Abbrederis will be even more dangerous.
42, Antonio Richardson
OT; Junior; Tennessee; 6-6, 327
Richardson is an excellent straight-line run blocker, and his sheer size makes it difficult for pass rushers to beat him off the edge. That's an excellent combination of traits, even if he isn't the best athlete of the bunch among the top tackles.
43. AJ McCarron
QB; Senior; Alabama; 6-4, 214
I had McCarron much higher for most of the year, but like Kouandjio, his Sugar Bowl performance cost him. The knock on McCarron is that the talent surrounding him at Alabama made him look better than he was. I still consider that unfair—go back and watch the BCS title game from January 2012 against a filthy LSU defense for proof—but McCarron didn't create a lot of opportunities for himself against Oklahoma. He'll have to do that at the next level.
44. Ra'Shede Hageman
DT; Senior; Minnesota; 6-6, 311
Life is always a bit tougher for extremely tall defensive tackles because staying low is a challenge, but Hageman played with excellent pad level during Senior Bowl practices. He might be the most athletic specimen among the defensive tackles, and that's going to intrigue teams that might consider Donald and Sutton too small.
45. Allen Robinson
WR; Junior; Penn State; 6-3, 210
This is a deeeeeeeep receiver class. In a lot of years, we'd be talking about Robinson as one of the first receivers off the board. Robinson won't run the fastest 40, but he knows how to use his body to get open, and he made some absolutely mind-bending catches —this one, for example—at Penn State.
46. Carlos Hyde
RB; Senior; Ohio State; 6-0, 235
We finally come to our first back. Let's face it. The position requires taking so many collisions that risking a first-round choice seems foolish unless the guy is the next Adrian Peterson. That doesn't seem to be the case with any of the backs this year, but Hyde can carry the load for an NFL team. When Ohio State's offense got bogged down in 2013, it fed Hyde and things magically began working again. Hyde gained 1,521 yards and averaged 7.3 yards a carry. He played behind a good line, but many of those yards came because of his ability to hit the hole and his unwillingness to go down on first contact.
47. De'Anthony Thomas
RB; Junior; Oregon; 5-9, 176
Thomas compares favorably to the Rams' Tavon Austin. He's going to run a blazing 40-yard dash, and tape from his freshman and sophomore seasons will show a special athlete who does wonders with the ball in space. Thomas' production dropped off in 2013 following an ankle sprain, so he'll have to show GMs he's healthy again.
48. Odell Beckham Jr.
WR; Junior; LSU; 6-0, 193
Beckham isn't as big or rangy as the other top-end receivers, but he knows how to move with the ball. He averaged 19.5 yards a catch in 2013.
49. Derek Carr
QB; Senior; Fresno State; 6-3, 218
Carr led the nation in passing yardage with 5,082 in 2013, but he'll have to prove he can pilot a more sophisticated offense. His ability to diagnose defenses from the shotgun and his accuracy on short and intermediate throws should make him attractive to teams that base their scheme on a West Coast offense.
50. Dee Ford
DE; Senior; Auburn; 6-2, 240
Ford was explosive in Senior Bowl workouts, and he also put on a show in the BCS title game. He's a weight-room rat whose size belies his strength. He's also a heck of a piano player.


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Scott Newman necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 119 diseños de 39 diseñadores freelance.
Caton Financial Group
Caton Financial Group, LLC is a new asset management company who focuses on collection efforts for our clients. Collections tends to have a rough reputation due to many companies using aggressive techniques. Caton Financial uses a different strategy of compassion to help our clients achieve the maximum return on their accounts.
Our clients look for us to be technologically advanced and extremely professional. We represent them in our dealings so our reputation is everything.
We are looking for a fresh idea that looks clean, simple and professional. We would like a vector based graphic to be delivered in formats compatible with the Adobe Creative Suite which would include Photoshop and AI.
We're open to any ideas and please bring them all to the table. We'll give plenty of feedback as we get going.
Time is most important here so we're doing a short 3 days competition so please submit your ideas sooner than later.
Thanks and good luck.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Buy Ubuntu Training
Why buy Ubuntu training? Because you might spend all afternoon trying to fix your wireless, or an entire morning fiddling with the Ubuntu terminal. As a beginner these setbacks can be extremely frustrating and obviously time consuming. This is the main reason we created a collection of Ubuntu training videos. We wanted to provide a solution that would be quick to deploy and easy for Ubuntu beginners to understand. Now you can forget spending hours waiting for responses in the forum that can be complicated to understand, just pop in the instructional Ubuntu training CD and enjoy to-the-point video clips with voice narration that walk you through common Ubuntu practices. Our Ubuntu training CD now includes over 150 training videos and has been updated for the Ubuntu 9.04 release on April 23rd, 2009. Buy It For $19.95
We've also added the Ubuntu Pack and Ubuntu Superpack which combine our most popular Ubuntu training videos with Ubuntu manuals and PDFs for added support.


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Five Scorers Reach Double Figures to Power Tigers' Victory
PRINCETON, N.J. — The Yale University women's basketball team had hopes of staking its claim to first place in the Ivy League standings in its game at Princeton on Friday night, but Princeton erased those hopes before the game reached the halftime buzzer.
Princeton had five scorers in double figures in a 73-57 win over Yale in Ivy League play at Jadwin Gymnasium.
Yale falls to 10-13, 6-3 in the Ivy League, which drops the Bulldogs to third place in the League standings, behind first-place Princeton (18-4, 7-1) and Harvard (14-8, 6-2), which downed visiting Cornell 73-68 Friday night to climb past Yale in the standings.
Megan Bowen came off the bench to lead the Tigers with 15 points. Devona Allgood scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds. Lauren Edwards scored 12 points, while Addie Micir and Lauren Polansky each added 10 points.
Senior forward Mady Gobrecht scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Bulldogs. Sophomore guard Megan Vasquez scored 12 points, while sophomore guard Aarica West scored eight of her nine points in the first half and freshman forward Janna Graf scored all eight of her points in the second half.
"It was obvious we weren't ready to play," said Chris Gobrecht, the Joel E. Smilow, Class of 1954, Head Coach of Women's Basketball. "One of these days, Princeton will have to play a Yale team that is playing well. One of these days that is going to happen. It's just a disappointment for a game to have that much significance and not do any of the things that we are capable of doing."
All of Polansky's points came in the first half, helping the Tigers dominate play early on. The Tigers used three lengthy runs in the opening half to take early control of the game. With the score tied at 6-6 with 16:34 left, Princeton scored 11 consecutive points on two layups each from Polansky and Bowen and a 3-pointer from Micir, giving the Tigers a 17-6 lead at the 13:58 mark.
Yale responded with a short 5-2 burst, but Princeton turned on the heat almost immediately, blowing the game open with a 10-0 run on a pair of layups from Allgood and a 3-pointer from both Kate Miller and Edwards to give the Tigers a 29-13 lead at the 8:58 mark.
Mady Gobrecht drained a 3-pointer to get Yale back on the board, but Princeton responded again with an 8-0 run to expand the lead to 37-16 with 6:27 left. The teams traded baskets over the final 6:27 and went into the halftime break with Princeton leading 47-23.
"When we got behind, it was the first time all year that I saw Yale give up. I felt like we gave up and that was hugely disappointing," Coach Gobrecht said.
The Bulldogs put up a fight in the second half, chipping away at the deficit throughout, cutting it down as low as 14 points, but they could not get any closer.
"If we had been behind by only 12 or 14, we could have easily battled back and had a shot at winning the game," Coach Gobrecht said. "As soon as we gave up all the easy stuff, where we just gave up, we didn't even play, that ended up being 10 or 12 points that didn't have to happen. Now your hole is too big. We competed in the second half. If we had competed in the first half, it would have been a game. We just didn't even compete."
Princeton shot a stellar 61.1 percent (22-for-36) and outrebounded Yale 24-11 in the first half, but the Bulldogs held the Tigers to just 31.3 percent shooting (10-for-32) and they also outrebounded the Tigers 29-17 in the second half.
The Tigers defense forced 19 turnovers limited the Bulldogs' offense with 14 blocked shots in the game.
Yale remains on the road for a game at Penn on Saturday. The teams will square off at the Palestra at 7 p.m.
Report filed by Jon Erickson Jr., Yale Sports Publicity


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Black Jewel Waist bead
(1) Waist beads are approximately 29-30" inches long. It is recommended to order 2 strands of beads and adjust them. Waist bead adjustment video will be posted soon. Refer to youtube to learn how to adjust waist beads.
All waist beads are handmade in Nigeria.
How to adjust your waist beads:
All waist beads come with a clasp attached. Waist beads are approximately 33" inches long. If your waist is 33" or longer you may need 2 strands of beads. (if you use 2 strands of beads you attach the 2 together and repeat the same steps below.)
1. Unscrew the clasp
2. Measure your waist (place the bead around your waist and hold the point at which you want the bead to sit on your waist). Be sure to give yourself a little room.
3. Holding the point in place with one hand, take the bead and cut directly behind the gold clasp ( be sure to set the gold clasp aside)
4.remove all the beads behind the point of which you measured your waist.
5. Take the gold clasp and place it back onto the strand (with the screw facing upwards)
6. Tie a knot in the string behind the clasp ( the knot will fall into place inside the clasp)
7. Cut the excess string off ( be sure not to cut the string too short as the knot will come loose . )
8. Place the bead around your waist and screw the clasps together.


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Battle for the Soul of Occupy
Alright you jammers, occupiers and Springtime dreamers,
First they silenced our uprising with a media blackout… then they smashed our encampments with midnight paramilitary raids… and now they're threatening to neutralize our insurgency with an insidious campaign of donor money and co-optation. This counter-strategy worked to kill off the Tea Party's outrage and turn it into a puppet of the Republican Party. Will the same happen with Occupy Wall Street? Will our insurgency turn into the Democrats' Tea Party pet?
It's up to you to decide if our movement goes the way of Paris '68, the dust bin of could-have-been-insurrections, or something more daring, more inspiring, something not yet dreamed.
Will you allow Occupy to become a project of the old left, the same cabal of old world thinkers who have blunted the possibility of revolution for decades? Will you allow MoveOn, The Nation and Ben & Jerry to put the brakes on our Spring Offensive and turn our struggle into a "99% Spring" reelection campaign for President Obama?
We are now in a battle for the soul of Occupy… a fight to the finish between the impotent old left and the new vibrant, horizontal left who launched Occupy Wall Street from the bottom-up and who dreams of real democracy and another world.
Whatever you do, don't allow our revolutionary struggle to fizzle out into another lefty whine and clicktivist campaign like has happened so many times in the past. Let's Occupy the clicktivists and crash the MoveOn party. Let's #DEFENDOCCUPY and stop the derailment of our movement that looms ahead.
for the wild,
Culture Jammers HQ
OccupyWallStreet.org / Tactical Briefing #25, #26, #27 and #28 / Check out Oakland occupier Mike King's take on MoveOn's 99% Spring


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Illustrator Gallery - David Diaz
David Diaz
David Diaz has illustrated numerous award-winning books for children, including Eve Bunting's Going Home; as well as Newbery Honor-winner, The Wanderer, by Sharon Creech. Mr. Diaz was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1995 for his work in Smoky Night by Eve Bunting, and his colorful illustrations in Margaret Wise Brown's The Little Scarecrow Boy lead to the book being named the New York Times Best Illustrated Book for 1998. Most recently, Mr. Diaz has teamed up with renowned author Joyce Carol Thomas, creating vibrant illustrations for The Gospel Cinderella, a soulful retelling of the classic Cinderella story. In addition to his career in children's books, Mr. Diaz has been an illustrator and graphic designer for more than twenty-five years. His bold, stylized work has appeared in editorials for national publications such as The New York Times, Washington Post, Business Week and The Atlantic Monthly.