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2012 Football Forecast
It was a busy and unsettling offseason in the NFL, as the Saints lost players and coaches to suspension, high-profile quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow landed in new homes, and former Chargers linebacker Junior Seau was found dead following an apparent suicide, prompting calls for further concussion vigilance.
Cigar Aficionado's gridiron guru has analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of each team, predicts how each will finish in their divisions, and calls the Super Bowl winner.
AFC East
1. New England Patriots
Classy owner Robert Kraft's players dedicated 2011 to his beloved late wife, Myra, and almost wrote a storybook ending, only to lose the Super Bowl to the Giants for the second time in four years on a last-minute touchdown. The Pats nevertheless further established themselves as the NFL's model franchise with their fifth Super Bowl appearance in 11 years. Tom Brady's arsenal of WR Wes Welker (a league best 122 receptions and 1,569 yards), and matchup nightmare TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez was strengthened with the addition of Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney and RB Joseph Addai. Bill Belichick upgraded his 31st-ranked defense with first-round draft selections Syracuse pass rusher Chandler Jones and 265-pound Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower. The Krafts never lose back-to-back Super Bowls.
2. New York Jets
The surprise trade for Tim Tebow brings a sexy QB controversy to Broadway. Judge Judy's courtroom had more harmony than Rex Ryan's locker room last season, where inmate Santonio Holmes nearly ran regressing Mark Sanchez (78.2 QB rating) out of the asylum. "We don't need Tim Tebow," tweeted CB Antonio Cromartie. "I don't think they know what they're doing," added Jet icon Joe Namath. Tebow shrugged it off.
With Plaxico Burress jettisoned, GM Mike Tannenbaum drafted Georgia Tech blazer Stephen Hill to ease the burden on the Ground-and-Pound Ryan and Tony Sparano have in store. If No. 1 pick DE Quinton Coples (North Carolina) can't upgrade the pass rush, Ryan might be forced to start Tebowing at the feet of owner Woody Johnson. For now, Ryan guarantees no more guarantees. Guaranteed that won't last.
3. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo stampeded to a first-place start before QB Ryan Fitzpatrick injured his ribs and Fred Jackson broke his leg. The offensive line allowed the fewest sacks in the league and No. 2 pick Cordy Glenn, as big as a buffalo, replaces LT Demetress Bell. A porous defense that surrendered a franchise-worst 5,938 yards doomed the Bills, which is why there is such a buzz about the signing of heralded free agent DE Mario Williams. DE Mark Anderson (Patriots) and No. 1 pick CB Stephon Gilmore will help, but Coach Chan Gailey still needs a bookend for WR Steve Johnson. Journeyman QB Vince Young won't threaten Fitzpatrick. "I think we have a legitimate chance to win the division," says Gailey, who may be watching too many Rex Ryan press conferences.
4. Miami Dolphins
The Fish (6-10) became a laughingstock after a floundering offseason of futility. First, owner Stephen Ross lost Jeff Fisher to the Rams and settled for former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who couldn't recruit QB Matt Flynn to the Sunshine State. David Garrard, who was sidelined last year with a surgically repaired back, was summoned to back up Matt Moore as Peyton Manning didn't want to take his talents to LeBron James' South Beach. Moore lost WR Brandon Marshall to the Bears, then watched the club draft Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the eighth pick. Philbin, the seventh coach for the Dolphins in 10 years, is hoping to build his offense around Reggie Bush, but if Kim Kardashian's old flame is bitten again by the injury bug, well, there's always Jeb Bush.
AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens
John Harbaugh was a dropped pass away from winning the AFC title and getting to the Super Bowl, as WR Lee Evans let QB Joe Flacco's end zone pass slip through his fingers in the closing minute against the Patriots, denying coach John Harbaugh his first Super Bowl berth. RB Ray Rice was the Ravens' standout with 2,068 rushing-receiving yards (76 receptions). Baltimore was 9-0 when he toted the mail at least 20 times.
Led by 37-year-old Ray Lewis, quarterback menace Terrell Suggs (who may miss at least half of the season with a torn ACL) and massive roadblock Haloti Ngata, the defense is still a powerhouse. Ozzie Newsome drafted OLB Courtney Upshaw (Alabama) to keep it that way.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Rebounding from an opening-day trouncing in Baltimore, the Steelers won 12 of their next 15 games to make the playoffs. They overcame a number of injuries as the defense allowed the fewest regular-season yards (4,348). QB Big Ben Roethlisberger had a big year (4,077 yards, 21 TDs) but took a big beating (40 sacks) and missed two games. He was ecstatic when Mike Tomlin made Stanford guard David DeCastro and Ohio State tackle Mike Adams his first two picks. RB Rashard Mendenhall (knee surgery) is a question mark. Rising star WR Antonio Brown became the perfect complement to Mike Wallace. Emmanuel Sanders replaces "Dancing With the Stars" star Hines Ward, who retired. ILB James Farrior also retired, but Hall of Fame defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau did not.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
The youthful Who Deys (25.7 average age) surprised as a wild card with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton (3,398 yards and 20 TDs), who replaced QB Carson Palmer and made an immediate connection with fellow rookie WR A.J. Green (65 catches, 1,057 yards). RB Cedric Benson (1,076 rushing yards) is gone, replaced by BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Pats). Mike Zimmer's defense did its part with 45 sacks, fifth in the NFL. Marvin Lewis moved swiftly to infuse new blood to the secondary with No. 1 pick CB Dre Kirkpatrick after the defection a year ago by Johnathan Joseph (Texans), and bolstered his offensive line with fellow first-round pick G Kevin Zeitler (Wisconsin).
4. Cleveland Browns
Where have you gone, Jim Brown? The Mistakes by the Lake have gone 56-105 the last 20 years. They lost all six division games and 11 of their final 12 to finish 4-12. The offense sputtered behind QB Colt McCoy (57.2 completion percentage), who was victimized by a lack of play-makers. Team president Mike Holmgren earned widespread praise for drafting Alabama RB Trent Richardson to replace Peyton Hillis (Chiefs)—except from Brown, who called him "ordinary." McCoy, who may or may not be able to throw with more velocity than owner Randy Lerner, barely had time to revel in his new toy before Holmgren pulled the rug out from beneath him by selecting 28-year-old QB Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State) with the 22nd pick.
AFC South
1. Houston Texans
Coach Gary Kubiak was a magician in winning the franchise's first division title with stars QB Matt Schaub, WR Andre Johnson and DE Mario Williams among a dozen players on injured reserve. Third-string rookie QB T.J. Yates closed out the 10-6 season, defeating Cincinnati in the wild-card playoff before being ousted 20-13 by Baltimore.
Johnson (hamstring) was limited to 33 catches as RB Arian Foster (1,224 rushing yards) couldn't carry the offense all by himself. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips hopes that No. 1 draft DE Whitney Mercilus (Illinois) is not a one-year wonder (16 sacks, nine forced fumbles) because Williams (who went to the Bills) is gone. If Mercilus turns out to be merciless? "Houston, we no longer have a problem."
2. Tennessee Titans
The Titans were a surprising 9-7 under first-year coach Mike Munchak, missing the playoffs in a tiebreaker with Cincinnati. QB Matt Hasselbeck, who will have to fend off 2011 No. 1 pick Jake Locker, enjoyed one of his best seasons (3,571 passing yards), starting 16 games for the first time since 2007 even though he was handicapped by the league's worst running attack. RB Chris Johnson had conditioning issues following his lengthy holdout and struggled to reach 1,000 yards. No. 1 draft WR Kendall Wright (Baylor) is insurance for the unreliable Kenny Britt, but owner Bud Adams is still searching for a pass rush and a cornerback to replace Cortland Finnegan (Rams).
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The ineptitude of rookie QB Blaine Gabbert cost Coach Jack Del Rio his job, which is why the Jaguars brought in QB Chad Henne. Gabbert, who finished at the bottom of the AFC passer ratings, is new head coach Mike Mularkey's biggest challenge. NFL rushing king Maurice Jones-Drew set career highs in rushing (1,606) and attempts (343). Mularkey imported ex-Dallas wideout Laurent Robinson to help, and is hopeful that No. 1 draft Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon (232 receptions the past two seasons) will remind longtime Jag-watchers of Jimmy Smith. "I think we can be a playoff contender," says GM Gene Smith. Drafting punter Bryan Anger in the third round leaves me shaking my head, but No. 2 pick DE Andre Branch (Clemson) could be a double-digit sacker.
4. Indianapolis Colts
After 13 years, 54,828 yards, and an average 10.6 wins a season, the glorious Peyton Manning Era is over. QB Andrew Luck, the first overall selection in the 2012 draft, better brace himself for growing pains. New coach Chuck Pagano needs help everywhere, especially in the secondary. The horseshoes are years away from relevance. When Manning took over in l998, the Colts went 3-13—with Marshall Faulk and Marvin Harrison. I don't see anybody like that on the Colts' roster. But Luck was grateful the Colts drafted TE Coby Fleener (Stanford), TE Dwayne Allen (Clemson) and speedy WR T.Y. Hilton (FIU). The shrimp cocktail at St. Elmo's Steak House will make Luck's eyes tear almost as much as Pagano's defense.
AFC West
1. Denver Broncos
Tebowmania electrified the Mile High city—until Manningmania displaced it before you could say God almighty! Despite a 46.5 completion percentage, Tim Tebow willed the Rocky Mountain Men to the playoffs. But Manning is John Elway's idea of a Super Bowl quarterback, and that's why Denver is now Peyton's Place.
Manning is confident he can thrive with the league's top running game, led by Willis McGahee (1,199 rushing yards) and John Fox's emerging defense, led by OLB Von Miller. He has a pair of young, promising wideouts in Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker and familiarity with ex-Colts TE Jacob Tamme and WR Brandon Stokley. Brock Osweiler (Arizona State) is the 6-foot-7 QB of the future.
2. San Diego Chargers
Considered a Super Bowl contender, Chargers GM A.J. Smith and Coach Norv Turner barely survived an 8-8 season. QB Philip Rivers floundered, but could thrive again with RB Ryan Mathews primed for a breakout year. The Bolts were electrocuted by the departure of deep threat WR Vincent Jackson (Bucs) so they imported Robert Meachem from the Saints. Now that they play Peyton Manning twice a year, the urgency to find a pass rusher compelled Smith to grab 6-foot-1, 264-pound defender Melvin Ingram (South Carolina) in the first round. Asked about Ingram's short arms, Smith responded: "I think Melvin will have the same problem Tyrannosaurus Rex had millions of years ago."
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Interim coach Romeo Crennel impressed management by spoiling the Packers' bid for a perfect season. Crennel, the defensive coordinator for five Super Bowl-winning teams, has a leader in OLB Tamba Hali (12 sacks, four forced fumbles), but needs to improve an offense that scored the second lowest in the league. Adding Peyton Hillis to pair with RB Jamaal Charles (back from an ACL injury) is a step in the right direction. But can the Chiefs win with Matt Cassel throwing to Dwayne Bowe? Nose tackle Dontari Poe was the team's No. 1 pick because no 345-pounder had such an eye-popping combine workout, but the Chiefs better keep him away from Arthur Bryant's barbecue.
4. Oakland Raiders
The Silver & Black suffered their ninth straight year without a winning record (they've had 99 losses since their 2003 Super Bowl appearance) and mourned the death of legendary owner Al Davis. An NFL-record 163 penalties and a 29th-ranked defense sabotaged the 2011 season. The Raiders dealt two high draft picks to acquire QB Carson Palmer, who went 4-5 as a starter. Electric RB Darren McFadden needs to stay on the field now that backup Michael Bush is a Bear. Palmer hopes that blazer Darrius Heyward-Bey will finally mature into his go-to guy. Dennis Allen, the seventh Raiders coach since 2003, must strengthen the linebacking and secondary.
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles
The Dream Team was a nightmare. Only a four-game winning streak in December to finish 8-8 may have saved Coach Andy Reid's job. Philly has playmaking talent in RB LeSean McCoy (1,309 rushing yards, 17 TDs), WR DeSean Jackson (961 receiving yards), and DE Jason Babin (18 sacks), but needs QB Michael Vick to rebound and Demetress Bell to effectively replace LT Jason Peters (Achilles). Reid and GM Howie Roseman enjoyed a dream defensive draft when they secured DT Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State), LB Mychal Kendricks (California) and DE Vinny Curry (Marshall). Roseman, who filled a huge hole by signing free agent MLB DeMeco Ryans, earned a much-deserved pat on the back from Reid.
2. New York Giants
Eli Manning proclaimed before last year's season that he was an elite quarterback and proved it by beating Tom Brady again in the Super Bowl. Manning threw for a career-high 4,933 yards as Tom Coughlin's bunch (9-7) became the first East champs to win fewer than 10 games. WR Victor Cruz (1,536 receiving yards) was a salsa-dancing revelation alongside dangerous Hakeem Nicks. A resilient defense that overcame injuries with sack-happy Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck sparked the Giants' epic run.
Injury-plagued RB Ahmad Bradshaw now has a new partner in crime in Virginia Tech RB David Wilson, as RB Brandon Jacobs left for San Francisco along with Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham. GM Jerry Reese was thrilled to find pro-ready LSU WR Rueben Randle still on the board in the second round, and he may have a sleeper in ex-Dallas TE Martellus Bennett. "There's a group down in Dallas who call themselves America's Team," co-owner Steve Tisch told a post-parade celebration at MetLife Stadium. "But these guys are America's dream."
3. Dallas Cowboys
Owner Jerry Jones insists that Tony Romo is as good as any quarterback. Despite one of his better seasons (4,184 yards, 31 TDs), Romo is 7-12 in December. The Cowboys (8-8) lassoed only one team that finished .500 or better. America's QB has talented targets in Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Jason Witten, and RB DeMarco Murray reminded Jones of Eric Dickerson last season. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will be more dangerous now with free agent cornerback Brandon Carr and No. 1 draft LSU CB Morris Claiborne shutting down receivers long enough for predator OLB DeMarcus Ware to eat quarterbacks in the backfield.
4. Washington Redskins
The Redskins surrendered three No. 1 picks and a No. 2 to select QB Robert Griffin III. One former Super Bowl-winning coach confessed to me that no No. 1 is worth two No. 1 picks, let alone three, but Mike Shanahan was desperate, and you would be too after watching Rex Grossman (RG minus III) and John Beck (who's been released) throw more INTs than TDs. Shanny raised more eyebrows taking QB Kirk Cousins (Michigan State) in the fourth round. With his dashing legs and dazzling arm, Griffin has a chance to be another Cam Newton. Adding ex-Colt WR Pierre Garçon, a deep threat, will be a godsend. OLBs Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan can bring the heat.
NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers
What a shocking end for a 15-1 team that was an odds-on Super Bowl favorite. MVP QB Aaron Rodgers ignited a high-octane offense that produced an NFL-high 35 points a game with one of the greatest years by a quarterback. His Herculean work with WR Jordy Nelson playing Robin to Greg Jennings' Batman was sabotaged by a defense that was last in yards allowed. Mike McCarthy's secondary surrendered a league-high record 299.6 yards a game despite pulling down the most interceptions (31).
Craving a pass rusher opposite Clay Matthews, GM Ted Thompson sacked No. 1 pick OLB Nick Perry, and drafted six straight defensive players, trading up for three of them. "That tells you that we're going to win another championship," gushed CB Charles Woodson.
2. Detroit Lions
The Lions returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 as Matthew Stafford established himself as a top-tier quarterback, throwing for 5,038 yards and 41 TDs after missing 19 games his first two years. Stafford has an unstoppable weapon in WR Calvin (Megatron) Johnson (96 catches, 1,681 yards, 16 TDs) but needs a healthy Jahvid Best (390 yards) to recharge a 29th-ranked rushing attack. No. 1 draft OT Riley Reiff will be protecting Stafford for most of the next decade. Ndamukong Suh is the king of beasts on defense, as long as he doesn't rattle Roger Goodell's cage and stomp on any offensive linemen. The next Jim Schwartz-Jim Harbaugh postgame handshake needs to be a pay-per-view event.
3. Chicago Bears
QB Jay Cutler won over his detractors before sustaining a broken thumb, and Da Bears (8-8) lost five of their last six games without him. Cutler is now reunited with ex-Miami WR Brandon Marshall, who torched secondaries for 2,590 yards in 2007 and 2008 in Denver. "I'm happy to get him," beamed Cutler. The Bears need to fortify the offensive line, which was bulldozed last season for 49 sacks. While hoping RB Matt Forte bounces back strong from a torn medial collateral ligament, the Bears prudently added ex-Raider RB Michael Bush. No. 2 draft WR Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina) gives Cutler another big target. Lovie Smith hopes he has a Monster of the Midway opposite DE Julius Peppers in No. 1 draft DE Shea McClellin (Boise State).
4. Minnesota Vikings
Viktor the Viking hasn't had much to cheer about lately, especially since those evil Saints put that bounty on old Brett Favre. The deal for Donovan McNabb was a McFlop, and Christian Ponder ended his rookie season with a 70.1 rating. WR Percy Harvin (87 receptions, 967 yards) was his only ally after RB Adrian Peterson was lost with a torn ACL. Aside from DE Jared Allen (NFL-best 22 sacks), the Purple People Eaters starved with a feeble secondary that went from a Cover 2 to a Cover No One. No. 1 draft tackle Matt Kalil (USC) will keep Ponder in one piece. Safety Harrison Smith (Notre Dame) and CB Josh Robinson (Central Florida) are needed against Rodgers, Stafford and Cutler.
NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints
Who Dat fans are undoubtedly drowning their sorrows on Bourbon Street in the wake of the Bountygate suspensions of Coach Sean Payton for a year, GM Mickey Loomis for eight and assistant Joe Vitt for six, the loss of two draft picks, a $500,000 fine and the one-year suspension of MLB Jonathan Vilma (replaced by Curtis Lofton) and a four-game penalty for DE Will Smith.
Following a flirtation with Bill Parcells, management wisely named Vitt interim coach. But every little breeze seems to whisper Drew Brees, who threw for an NFL record 5,476 yards and 46 TDs with a 70.2 completion percentage. He was fortunate that guard Ben Grubbs will replace Carl Nicks (Bucs). Expect more fireworks from TE Jimmy Graham and RB-KR Darren Sproles.
2. Atlanta Falcons
Despite their regular-season success (10-6), the Falcons have been blown out in the playoffs by the Packers and Giants the last two years. After a slow start, QB Matt Ryan had his best season statistically (4,177 yards, 29 TDs). Michael Turner led the NFL in rushing (1,340 yards) while rookie WR Julio Jones (959 yards) looks like a can't-miss star opposite Roddy White. The trenches need to be upgraded for the Birds to reach the next level, and No. 2 draft pick Peter Konz (Wisconsin) is a keeper. Coach Mike Smith strengthened the secondary by acquiring CB Asante Samuel from Philly. At least owner Arthur Blank can take solace knowing that Bobby Petrino no longer has the keys to the complex.
3. Carolina Panthers
Jerry Richardson's decision to draft swaggerlicious rookie QB Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick gave Panther fans plenty of cheer as he set rookie records (4,051 yards, 21 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing TDs while rampaging for more than 500 yards). He lifted a 2-14 sad sack team to a 6-10 mark, with three of the losses by five points. WR Steve Smith played the biggest part in Newton's success along with RB DeAngelo Williams, but Coach Ron Rivera needs to bolster a defense that was drilled for a franchise-record 6,237 yards. DE Charles Johnson still needs help from a pass-rushing sidekick, but at the very least he has a tackling machine behind him in Luke Kuechly (Boston College), who was the first linebacker drafted.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New Coach Greg Schiano (Rutgers) inherited a mess as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell from 10-6 to 4-12 last season and ended with a 10-game losing streak. QB Josh Freeman was plagued by a poor receiving corps that Schiano immediately addressed by signing ex-Charger Vincent Jackson, and the additions of all-pro guard Carl Nicks and No. 1 draft Boise State RB Doug Martin will upgrade a pedestrian ground attack. Just because 37-year-old Ronde Barber is back and CB Eric Wright was added doesn't mean the secondary issue has been solved, although No. l pick S Mark Barron (Alabama) is a stud. If Schiano can't immediately change the culture, dinner at Bern's Steak House is certain to lift his spirits.
NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers
First-year Coach Jim Harbaugh, who inherited a losing culture with maligned quarterback Alex Smith, won the West with a 13-3 record and came within a punt return of reaching the Super Bowl. Smith had his best season, but that didn't stop Harbaugh from wooing Peyton Manning. Behind one of the league's best offensive lines, RB Frank Gore rumbled for 1,211 yards.
Harbaugh, needing deep threats to complement Michael Crabtree, added Mario Manningham and Randy Moss, who sat out last year and isn't likely to impress Jerry Rice. Perhaps No. 1 pick WR A.J. Jenkins (Illinois) will. Speedy No. 2 pick RB LaMichael James (Oregon) adds a big-play dimension. The defense remains formidable.
2. Seattle Seahawks
For the second straight year, the Hawks went 7-9, but this time it wasn't good enough to win the West. Tarvaris Jackson wasn't the answer at quarterback with only 3,091 yards, which is why Pete Carroll was quick to sign ex-Packer QB Matt Flynn. RB Marshawn Lynch displayed beast mode form (1,204 yards, 12 TDs) even though No. 1 WR Sidney Rice missed almost half the season. Doug Baldwin was a pleasant surprise (51 catches, 788 yards). Carroll used the 15th pick of the draft on pass rushing DE Bruce Irvin (West Virgina), a high risk because of character concerns.
3. Arizona Cardinals
After failing to lure Peyton Manning to the desert, Coach Ken Whisenhunt needs to identify his starting quarterback. Kevin Kolb opened 2-6 last season before Fordham Flash John Skelton took over and finished 5-2. WR Larry Fitzgerald is the Lethal Weapon (1,411 yards) while RB Beanie Wells contributed 1,047 yards despite a weak offensive line that allowed 54 sacks, second worst in the NFL. Fitzgerald lobbied openly for Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd and was delighted when Whisenhunt made him his first-round draft pick. OT Bobby Massie (Mississippi), a fourth-round steal, will help.
4. St. Louis Rams
After winning 15 games in five years, the Rams received federal aid from the nation's capitol when the Redskins traded them four draft picks. They'll need more after the NFL suspended new coach Jeff Fisher's designated defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for his role in Bountygate. Trash-talking CB Cortland Finnegan bolsters the secondary, and first-round-pick DT Michael Brockers (LSU) should improve the run defense. Steven Jackson did all he could while Sam Bradford suffered through an injury-marred season as the Lambs owned the NFL's worst offense. Bradford has a new toy in rookie WR Brian Quick (Appalachian State). Fisher will have his boys Ram-tough and challenging for a Super Bowl within three years.
Super Bowl Prediction
One year later, Gisele's prayers are answered. Tom Brady will join Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana and Bill Belichick will join Chuck Noll in the exclusive club of four-time Super Bowl winners with a Big Easy shootout victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers—which won't be easy at all.
Danny Sheridan is a sports analyst for U.S.A. Today, for which he provides the daily odds on all sporting events for its website.


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Scientists Discover that Snowy River Is Flowing Once More, July 23, 2007
by Dr. Penelope Boston, director of Cave & Karst Studies Program at New Mexico Tech
Right: Photo of Snowy River by John Cochran
FT. STANTON, N.M. – Snowy River, a sparkling underground "frozen river" made of calcite crystals, has been found to be flowing with liquid water for probably the first time in 150 years.
(Additional coverage at:
- Underground 'Snowy River' Alive Again, Discovery Channel, July 2007)
- Scientists Say Snowy River Flowing Again, Scientists Say Snowy River Flowing Again, Forbes, July 2007)
Snowy River, a crystalline river over two miles in length discovered in Ft. Stanton Cave, N.M. in 2001, has already been the subject of major scientific findings. The cave was closed to the public by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in 2004, until a safer entry route could be found. That route has just been dug by BLM volunteer cavers breaking through on June 30, 2007.
New studies have revealed that the formerly dry river of crystalline minerals is now running with between one-half to one-and-one-half feet of water. The river has been studied by scientists from New Mexico Tech, the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the University of New Mexico, and the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, revealing aspects of its age, its hydrology, exotic manganese-eating microorganisms, and antibiotic producing bacteria on the walls, among other findings.
Left: Photo of Snowy River by John Ganter
This new access to the passage coupled with unprecedented flowing water will now allow scientists to study the active hydrology of the cave and its relationship to aboveground water sources, to continue to search for unique microorganisms of potential human pharmaceutical and industrial significance (e.g. antibiotics and novel enzymes), and to conduct paleoclimate studies on cave minerals and deposits which preserve the story of past climate in our region and are critical to managing our precious water resources in the face of future climate change.
Right: Photo by Mike Bilbo of BLM showing high calcite line on plunge pool
In 2001, three long-time New Mexico cavers and a teenager from Hobbs found a scientific wonder of unparalleled beauty and scientific value by digging a passage from inside Ft. Stanton Cave, near the town of Capitan in Lincoln County, N.M.
John McLean, Lloyd Swartz, Don Becker and Andy Grieco named this beautiful river of sparkling white crystalline calcite, "Snowy River."
Snowy River is unique in the world, the largest single calcite formation known anywhere, at over two miles in length and more to be found with future exploration.
Managed by the Roswell office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, several exploration trips and a science assessment trip were conducted in 2003 producing some amazing finds.
Based on limited data compiled by Dr. Victor Polyak at the University of New Mexico, it appears that the top layer of the calcite river is about 150 years old. In addition to the crystalline river itself, there are many other scientifically significant features, including black shiny crusts on the walls.
Left: Dr. Penny Boston in her native habitat
From these crusts, Dr. Penelope Boston (National Cave and Karst Research Institute in Carlsbad and New Mexico Tech in Socorro) has recovered 36 strains of unique manganese-using bacteria unknown on the surface.
Additionally, antibiotic-producing actinomycete bacteria are found dotting many of the walls.
But the route that the explorers and scientists had first used was too hazardous for further trips and the BLM closed access in 2004 until a safer route could be found.
On June 30, 2007, a safer route to Snowy River was finally achieved, the culmination of several years of monumental digging efforts. In a stroke of great good fortune, this breakthrough by a team of dedicated cave volunteers - led by long-time Ft. Stanton volunteer John Corcoran - has come at the same time as another rare event: Snowy River is actually running with water once again!
"We believe the last occurrence of water in this river may have been about 150 years ago, as shown by Dr. Polyak's dating of the calcite," says Dr. Boston. "This means we are witnessing a once-in-a-century event and an unparalleled opportunity to study the hydrology and former climate of this region of New Mexico."
Right: Snowy River
What is the significance of water running in this sparkling jewel of a mineral river? It means that cave and karst scientists like Dr. Lewis Land (National Center for Cave and Karst Research in Carlsbad, and New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources in Socorro) will be able to compare water chemistry and environmental tracers between Snowy River and water from surface streams and springs to determine what is the source and fate of the water in Snowy River.
"It is critical to understand the hydrology of such regions of our state because the quality and quantity of our precious water resources depends on such knowledge," Dr. Boston says. "And, the BLM will gain invaluable insight into how to protect and manage Ft. Stanton Cave and Snowy River and its greater catchment basin.
"Now that Snowy River can be safely reached by scientists and explorers, we can begin to tap the wealth of information about our previous climate history in New Mexico," Dr. Boston adds. "Cave decorations, like stalactites and stalagmites, and the amazing Snowy River calcite itself preserve geochemical traces of what our past climate was like as if we were reading a storybook. This insight is critical in helping us understand our present climate and predict what our statewide and global climate future may be in an era of anticipated changing world climate."
The discovery, exploration, scientific analysis, and management of Snowy River is a model example of how well very different partners can work together: a federal agency (BLM), many dedicated and knowledgeable cave volunteers over years of sustained effort, scientists at academic institutions (NMT, UNM), state institutions (NMBGMR), and a national cave and karst institute (NCKRI) have all come together to make this exciting find possible.
Finds like Snowy River can also play a major role in promoting education of our young people in science and other technical fields.
Andrew Grieco, the 16-year-old who was on the initial exploration trip, for example, has since gone on to complete his bachelor's of science degrees in both earth sciences and physics at New Mexico Tech (May 2007 graduate), with Dr. Boston as his advisor, and is now engaged in an internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
"The lure of the amazing underground environment that New Mexico possesses in so many parts of the state is an excellent tool for sparking the imagination of our young people to pursue scientific and technical careers, and Mr. Grieco has been an excellent example of this influence," Dr. Boston says.

subset: commoncrawl


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Water Research Takes Center Stage at Annual Symposium, Aug. 8, 2008
By Thomas Guengerich
SOCORRO, N.M. — Water experts from around the state and west Texas will share their research about one of the region's most vital resources next week.
New Mexico Tech is hosting the 7th Annual New Mexico Water Research Symposium on Tuesday, August 11, in Socorro.
"Water is our most precious resource in New Mexico and the desert Southwest," New Mexico Tech hydrology professor Robert Bowman said. "We needed a forum to discuss research about water, as opposed to policy and politics of water."
With each passing year, water issues become more topical in New Mexico and beyond. Scientists and researchers in the state are taking the lead in researching water issues that are important to the state and relevant to other regions and countries.
"The demand for water in the future will certainly exceed the supply," Bowman said. "There is constant tension about water use and balancing agricultural, urban and environmental needs. We're mining the groundwater and how to minimize that is a continuing issue. All projections show that water issues will become more pressing."
The symposium includes more than two dozen formal presentations about water research and 32 posters. The symposium is divided into several categories, such as remote sensing, modeling of subsurface flow, ecosystem issues and resource management.
"This symposium has proven to be a valuable forum for people who usually can't get together to discuss water research in the state," Bowman said. "The genesis of the symposium is that there's a lot of research about water by universities, government agencies and independent groups. … This symposium gives us the opportunity to share our research about the quality and quantity of water in New Mexico."
The event attracts 125 to 150 participants many of whom are presenters. Bowman said about one-third of the presenters are students. The three research universities are well represented — New Mexico Tech, New Mexico State and University of New Mexico. Also, students from the University of Texas-El Paso and students working at the water research station in Isleta, Texas, participate.
"For students, this symposium is good opportunity to get experience presenting their research in a fairly formal setting," Bowman said. "In general, the symposium helps everyone be aware of current research and helps people of similar interests make connections."
The sponsors of the symposium include Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratories, the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, the American Water Resources Association and the state universities.
Registration is $20 for the daylong conference. Call Cathy Ortega Klett at (575) 646-1195 for more information.


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I've read some threads and it seems people can't log in. My problem is worse than that, though.. the game won't start, at all! I've installed it, and I don't know if it's Vista or the game is bugged, but when I try to play it, nothing happens. Screen doesn't even go blank or anything, no indication of having clicked the shortcut at all, except the computer starts making a lot of noise. Anyone know what could be causing this? I mean, even if the servers are down I should still be able to play offline or at least get to the login screen, right? Thanks in advance.
Could be a program conflict. Did you remember to uninstall the creature creator before installing spore?
Do you have the CC, they said it had a vital part that you needed to play (thats what i heard go get the trial)
Oh, how I love you I thought I'd done that already, but apparently not. It now runs with the silky precision of a crab. I've also heard of some other solutions for this, none of which worked for me, but some might be interested in. Some guy got theirs to work by creating a new user account each time he played (kind of sucks tbh). The others were pretty much mentioned on this thread already.
Sorry to spoil all the success, but I have the same problem and more . Mine also won't run, and when I went to check the "Run as an Admin" box it would not let me check it and is in grey print...come on what is up with that?
I also have XP, am the administrator on my computer, have more than adequate hardware, up to date drivers, am begrudgingly running only one GPU (what's up with THAT?), and I've tried these things so far:Starting in Safe ModeStarted the game and walked away and let it run for a whilerunning without EADM, and while signed in and out of EADMReinstalled the game 3 times, and restarted numerous timesAnd yet absolutely nothing happens when I start the game. "SporeApp.exe" runs in the background, and if I try and run it again i get error "Another instance of this game is already running [1000]" which makes sense.The *only* reaction I've gotten is when I right click on the Spore icon, go to "Run As..." and select "Current User" and leave the "Protect my computer and and data from unauthorized program activity" I get a pop-up from Spore saying "Could not write license data. Contact customer support". However, if you uncheck the program activity box, it runs the program and nothing happens as usual (except for the background task).Has anyone with XP been able to work around this? I haven't contacted EA support yet, but that'll be my next move and I'll report back if they can give me a functional workaround.
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Is there anything I can add to my computer to speed the connection up?I am on Dial up. :'( I just put 2 GB of ram in it Thank you Johnny
Living about 8 miles from town. I know the only way I going to get high speed internet is to get a satellite dish Johnny


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Project ASTRO How-To Manual: Star Party Ideas
While by no means required for a successful and rich partnership, an evening observing session, or "star party," is a fun and engaging addition to any Project ASTRO program where the expertise and equipment is available. Star parties can be done with naked eye observing, or with telescopes, as long as your site is reasonably dark enough (or can be darkened). Star parties give students the opportunity to put their observational skills to work, and to directly experience astronomy. Most students (not to mention their parents) have never looked through a telescope before, and they will enjoy learning to identify some of the constellations. Just getting students to look at and notice the sky can help them to expand their understanding and delight in astronomy.
As mentioned earlier, star parties are also great opportunities to involve families, the school, and the community. Astronomers (professional and amateur) often ask local astronomy clubs to help out so that there are enough telescopes. Some Project ASTRO star parties have drawn up to 300 people! Be sure you have enough assistance and telescopes if you are expecting a crowd (see the tips on finding an amateur club in Section 4).
Doing a Project ASTRO star party will require some advance planning. It's important to hold the star party at a convenient time in an accessible area, and to notify parents, the school, and all involved well in advance of the star party. In some cases, the school will be a good site for evening observing; in other cases, the school is not a good site due to inaccessibility or safety issues at night. If the star party is not held at school, transportation may be a problem. It's also very important to have a back-up plan-make an alternate date ahead of time in case of rain or clouds, or arrange another astronomy activity to do instead (such as a planetarium visit or an indoor hands-on project).
And remember, you can also do observing activities during the day. For example, students can observe the Moon and its phases, look at the Sun and sunspots through a safe solar filter, observe the position and colors of sunrise and sunset, and measure shadows.
Some Factors to Consider
- Location of the star party: Where can you find an open site? Will it be at school? In a park? Outside a museum? Where is the most accessible site in your area? Try to choose the darkest sight – be aware of school lights which may turn on in the evening.
- Transportation for students and families: Will families be responsible for their own transportation? Can the school rent buses? Is public transportation available and safe? Are there any insurance issues?
- Volunteers to help: Could a local amateur club help with the star party? Require parents to accompany their child to help with crowd control and to encourage family involvement. Do any parents have telescopes and the skills to use them? Are additional parents or teachers needed to supervise students?
- Permission from administrators: Is permission needed from the principal? Are there any special requirements that must be met (such as permission forms)? Who can authorize turning off the lights, if necessary? The educators are experts in knowing any school issues regarding hosting an evening event on school grounds.
- Preparing the site: Will you need keys to get into the site at night? How do lights get turned off? Are there sprinklers that might go on in the middle of the star party? In most schools, the custodian will be your best ally before and during a star party.
- Equipment: Will you use telescopes? Who can bring the telescopes? How should students be prepared to handle the telescopes? What rules should there be about the use of flashlights (flashlights covered with red cellophane are much less obtrusive that those that have bright beams of white light, which can ruin night vision).
- Refreshments and other activities: Will you have food at the star party? What other activities can you link with the star party to make it a fun and meaningful experience?
- Invitations: Will you invite other classes or the whole school to the star party? Should families attend? Should school administrators? What about calling the local paper or TV station (in advance) for some publicity.
- Ensure that students will be dressed appropriately for the colder evenings.
- Contingency plan: What will you do in case bad weather?
Management and Enhancement Tips
- The more telescopes the merrier (suggested ratio 1:15)
- Create activity stations to engage students and to reduce long lines at the telescopes.
- Begin with a common assembly before starting the activity stations. That way everyone starts at the same time and can rotate through all the stations.
- Decide how long people should spend at each station and prepare maps or some other method to guide the groups through the activities (i.e. hand everyone a program with a color coded tag attached to it. the color indicates the sequence of activities that the group would follow).
Address Telescope Etiquette with Students
- Show students how to approach the telescope with their hands behind their backs. That way, they will not be tempted to touch and accidentally adjust the telescope.
- Get assistance from an older student or a parent to stand near the telescope to ensure that the telescope remains properly focused.
Tap into the Parents as Resources
- Encourage parents to bring their telescopes and binoculars.
- Find out what astronomical skills or interests parents may have. Have them lead their own station or component of the event.
- Prepare the families for the event by sending home an astronomy activity to work on together at home prior to the star party.
Extra Fun Stuff
- Have the students dress in alien and "spacey" costumes to get the spirit going!
- Serve warm beverages and snacks.
- Have students who've learned about the night sky lead the star party by being the "teachers" for others.
- Have a pot-luck dinner before the star party.
Fun Star Party Ideas
Project ASTRO partners have come up with a range of ideas to make their star parties special and fun. Here are a few ideas you might want to try.
Do the star party as scavenger hunt. For example, ask student to find a red and a blue star, a planet, and a star cluster. Have students make star finders and tell them which objects to find before the star party.
Include food: Have a "star-b-que" around the campfire, a pizza party, or serve "spacy" food
Have a meteor shower party. (Meteor showers come at the same time each year. Lists of the best ones can be found in many astronomy text or guide books.)
Do naked eye observing (a good set of guidelines for this can be found in The Universe at Your Fingertips).
Include indoors and outside astronomy activity stations along with the telescope observing.
Give students "ASTRO Boxes" containing activities or tasks to do during the star party. Have each student decorate a shoe or shirt box and take it to the star party. Place several activities inside (for example, have students create a constellation, count the number of stars they see, or record the phase of the moon). Students do the activities with a partner or family member during the star party.
Camp out or have a sleep-over at the school.
Tell constellation myths from different cultures around a campfire. Have students create plays about the constellation myths and act them out for families or other students.
Hold the star party at a high school or community college. Invite older students to help.
Do several smaller parties throughout the year at school, or in front lawns around the neighborhood.
Take the students to a very dark site, away from city lights. For some students, this will be the first time they've seen real darkness.


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Emerise, new Singapore-based division dedicated to emerging markets
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Every year at this time the casualty reports from NFL training camps are filled with carnage.
So far, Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta, Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, Jets defensive back Aaron Berry, Dolphins wide receiver Armon Binns and Broncos center Dan Koppen were done for the year before a preseason snap was taken. Wide receivers Arrelious Benn (Eagles), Joe Morgan (Saints) and Danario Alexander (Chargers), as well as Falcons right tackle Mike Johnson were also recently lost for the year due to injuries
Playoff chances are dramatically altered as one player after another suffers a season-ending or hampering injury in early practices.
What is occurring in the first weeks of training camp that seems to precipitate such serious injuries? There is a dramatic difference between coming into camp "in shape" and being "in football shape" and the first sustained contact puts extra stress on player's bodies.
Not so long ago training camps were used to whip out-of-shape players into playing form in the sweltering heat of college campuses across the country. In the long off-season, players would stop training, revert to old eating patterns, lose stamina and gain weight. That is no longer the case.
The competitive pressure and off-season conditioning programs that teams hold, force players to a standard of fitness year round. They work with private trainers on nutrition and weight training. Teams are allowed to have "voluntary" four-day-a-week off-season workout programs for nine weeks. They may be voluntary in the Collective Bargaining Agreement but woe to the player who defies his coach's wishes that he participated.
For the safety of payers, new rules were negotiated in the 2011 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement that eliminated almost all off-season contact drills. There are new limitations on the amount of padded contact during training camp and the season. This is so players do not leave their best play on the practice field and unnecessarily incur injury risk. The effect is to send players into training camp who have not been hit in seven months.
When a group of incredibly fast, unbelievably large and strong athletes come together and have had none of the jarring impact that takes a toll on every joint in the human body for months and then dramatically does contact practices with fresh bodies — it puts shock and trauma on the body it is not prepared for. Inevitably, serious injuries occur.
Perhaps the NFL teams can design a better transition period to ramp up more slowly. Until then, the casualties will continue to pile up.
LEIGH STEINBERG is a renowned sports agent, author, advocate, speaker and humanitarian. His column appears weekly. Follow Leigh on Twitter @steinbergsports.


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The Analytics data sharing settings let you share your account data with other products and services. Learn more about data sharing.
To change your account name or data-sharing settings:
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Apr 12, 2011
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. –The Tennessee Tech softball team begins a seven-game bluegrass swing Wednesday as it heads to Eastern Kentucky.
With a 6-11 Ohio Valley Conference record, the Golden Eagles sit two wins behind EKU (8-11) for sixth place in the conference standings. Earlier this season Tech split a doubleheader at home against the Colonels, earning a 4-3 win in game one, while dropping game two 3-2.
As a team, Eastern Kentucky ranks near the top of the OVC in several offensive categories, which includes .298 team batting average and 193 RBI. The Colonels have four players with at least 25 RBI on the season, including Raquel Howes, who ranks second in the conference with 35.
The Golden Eagles offense has been led by a pair of sparkplugs at the top of the order in Melody Christian and Chanelle Spalding, who lead the team in batting average and runs scored. Christian has scored a team-high 26 runs, with a .343 batting average, while Chanelle Spalding has batted .352 on the year, with 22 runs scored.
The opening pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
The Golden Eagles come back home Thursday, for a make up game against the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers, at 5 p.m. Tech and WKU were originally scheduled to play back on March 10, but got rained out.
Fans who cannot attend the games can follow the live stats at the link here:


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Tom and Lisa Hansen of Armstrong announce the engagement of their daughter Jenna to Robi Hertrampf, son of Chris Hertrampf of Fort Atkinson and Marlin Hertrampf of Frankville.
Jenna is a 2003 graduate of Armstrong-Ringsted High School, 2005 graduate of Iowa Lakes Community College and 2007 graduate of Upper Iowa University. She is an early childhood specialist for Head Start in Richland Center, Wis.
Robi is a 2004 graduate of Decorah High School and a 2006 graduate of Hawkeye Community College. He is employed at the Wisconsin Secure Program Facility as a correctional officer in Boscobel, Wis.
Article Photos
Jenna and Robi
The couple plans a Sept. 18, 2010, wedding at the Stavanger Lutheran Church in Ossian.


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DCHHS is committed to protecting the health and welfare of the communities we serve from mosquitoes and vector-borne disease. Residents experiencing a mosquito problem may call 214-819-2115 or click here to set up a free service request. Click here to check if mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile in your zip code.
Week 44 ending November 3, 2018
West Nile Watch
West Nile Watch contains up-to-date daily information on prevention tips, positive mosquito traps and human cases. Click here for current issue
Mosquito Season
There are more than 40 mosquito species in Dallas County. While mosquitoes can be active year round, generally, mosquito season is from May to November. During the winter Culex quinquefasciatus overwinter as adults in sheltered areas while Aedes species overwinter as eggs in flood prone environments. Seasonally, with warm temperatures and proper water conditions, these species developed or emerge from their winter habitats. It is during the summer months when the risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission is greatest from July-August.
What is West Nile virus?
West Nile virus (WNV) is a disease that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on the blood from infected birds.
The infected mosquitoes can then transmit WNV to humans and animals. West Nile disease can vary in severity. People over 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.
Severe WNV infections can cause neurologic complications such as encephalitis. Milder symptoms include fever, headache and muscle aches.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about WNV
- Is it contagious?
No. WNV is not spread through contact from person to person or from animal to person.
- How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis of WNV requires a special blood test. Anyone who experiences symptoms of severe WNV illness should see a physician as soon as possible.
- What is the treatment?
There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. Patients receive supportive medical care and rehabilitation if needed.
- What if I'm not experiencing any symptoms?
Most infected people will show no symptoms. Symptoms typically develop between 3 to 14 days after a mosquito bite.
- For other FAQs about WNV
click here for English | click here for Spanish
Click here for more reports and health advisories
Download WNV educational and prevention materials:
Each file contains English & Spanish versions
DCHHS Fight the Bites flyers
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DCHHS WNV Fact Sheet in Various Languages
To report mosquito activity, request service and search past treatments: click here.More Information
DCHHS PSA: West Nile and Zika Viruses
Texas Department of State Health Services information on WNV
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Presentation - Introduction to Mosquito Biology and Key North Texas species
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Mosquitoes and Disease Newsletter
Take a virtual tour of a home with potential mosquito breeding sites at http://mosquitosafari.tamu.edu/.For the Media and News Updates


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OCG Promos - Year 12
TIP Maintain your whole card collection inventory on this site. Together with your haves, you can also manage your private card collection and keep everything in a single place.
Use the 'search' link for the card you're interested in, to find those users who have or want that card:


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The image of a sleeping baby is one that parents cherish and often, they will to anything to ensure a peaceful night. Dream on Me carries a wide assortment of cribs and mattresses designed for comfort and safety. There are numerous designs and finishes to choose from – even convertible and portable cribs!Dream on Me also has changing tables, high chairs, swings, and other accessories for every stage of growth. Since 1988, we have prided ourselves on creating the best sleep experience possible for little ones. The Dream on Me brand is so respected that it is also used in day care centers and hotels.
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BabyGiftsOutlet.com is your one stop shop for all your baby product and baby gift needs. We bring the highest quality products from trusted brands and manufacturers at affordable prices so that you can be rest assured that you get the most for your money. Feel free to browse our large selection of baby gifts by narrowing down the color, brand, and price range that fits your needs for your baby.


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"Bridging the Gap" was the first book to focus on how to read college textbooks. This college-level focus has since evolved to connect textbook readings to academic and everyday reading sources and represent three bridges of reading: text-to-text, text-to-world, and text-to-self.Smith, Brenda D. is the author of 'Bridging the Gap: College Reading - Brenda D. Smith - Paperback - 3rd ed' with ISBN 9780673382597 and ISBN 0673382591.[read more]
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Shirley and Nat Muskrat are a married couple who appeared in Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. The two muskrats performed a dance act as "Carrots the Dancing Horse" at the Waterville talent show. Shirley was the front-half and Nat was the back - however, they had a hard time keeping it together (literally).
Unfortunately, Shirley and Nat's act did not impress the judges and they lost the competition to the Riverbottom Nightmare Band.


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We all just live our lives and sometimes would never think there would be a need to know more about best mac cleaner.
So, the fact that you are here with a need to know more is just a normal thing to happen. Obviously not everything that happens is so easily explained, yet we still are curious about it and do not immediately let go of it. No matter what sparked your interest to see what is behind it all, you have your reasons somewhere in you.
Today we will talk about a few items that we know mean a lot to you, and by so doing we hope you are enriched and are a little closer to finding what you need.
Learning new tips for the Mac OS is good when you can find parts that you find interesting. There are several sites that have many cool apps, which will work for your Mac, if that is what you need. There are definitely tips that can help you understand OS X Lion quicker, to make it easier to use. Using their Mac for professional reasons, or for an online business, is not what most regular users do. There are lots of Mac OS tips, so even if you are not using it for business, you will still learn things to help you.
Many people do not realize that EPUBs can have various types of multimedia embedded within them to make them interesting. It is simple to add images and videos. Even audio! You don't have a locker room for error here. When you click the add button, and then you see the dialogue, you can embed the files of your choosing. Adding video is also possible, but special considerations must be made. Though this is not a problem in most cases, it is important that you make your video iPhone compatible so that it works with the embedding process. Yes, of course there is a ton of info out there on MacCleaners.org, and actually that made the selection process of what to include a bit interesting.
There is a limited amount of space in any one article, but of course we have written more about this which is available on our site.
But aside from that, you are engaged in your research efforts because this issue is important to your life.
Any time you can build on existing knowledge you possess, then you have done a smart and good thing for your self. There are always options, and the path to finding the best ones is through accurate content. We all have our various address books here and there, and sometimes it is nice to be able to do a little more with them. Many people will appreciate images that you have, especially when added next to your entries. Now you can do that using OS X Lion, and all you will be doing is taking your Address Book and the Faces feature in iPhoto and linking the two together. The image that you choose for your contact pic can be added using the Faces icon. You will be able to look through the iPhoto library to find the person you want. Then you simply choose the image, and you can also change the image dimensions as necessary.
We all know that copying a file or document from one location to another has been possible. You, undoubtedly, have used this function many times. Has it caused you to become aggravated from time to time? The problem lies in the fact that the file you copy stays in the original location, so you end up with dupes you may not want.
The new shortcuts using the Command C and V keys on your keyboard makes this different. The process now is that, after you copy the file, you will actually be moving it without leaving a copy behind. If you don't like taking your fingers off of your keyboard, this feature is very convenient. Don't expect to find the file in two locations after you are done because it will have been completely moved to the new location. We have really become more interested in apps-related Mac OS tips because the apps are so cool. Just learn how to use the different apps and don't let words scare you into thinking you can't do it. All you need to do is start small and work your way up. You can easily and quickly build small apps for your own use, and be careful because it can get addicting.
You have read through this article and have a better appreciation about speed up mac, hopefully. The curious thing to never forget is that what lies beyond the horizon on this topic is pretty expansive. Naturally, that is when things can begin to get a little complicated. That should give you reason enough to have the desire to branch out and explore other areas for research. That is just one of the great things about the net – there is plenty of information out there. As you proceed along that path, you must always verify sources and presentations made, as you know. Do not always be so quick to accept what you read on the net, and by this time perhaps most people realize that.more...


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Would UMass accept you today? Don't be so sure.
Party school? Safety school? Not so much anymore.
UMass Amherst may not have entirely outlived those nicknames and reputations. But it's become so surprisingly selective that the alumni magazine ran a story recently titled "Could You Still Get In?''
The answer may be no, says Kevin Kelly, the director of admissions.
Many people who once found it easy to get into UMass "would struggle to be admitted now, frankly,'' Kelly says. "It's not the UMass that it was 20 years ago. It's not the UMass that it was even 10 years ago.''
The number of applicants for the roughly 4,600 freshman seats available each year has increased from about 20,000 to more than 34,000 since just 2005, while their average GPA is up from 3.38 to 3.66 and combined SAT scores from 1143 to 1197.
The reason, in a word: price. Tuition, fees, room, and board add up to $23,167, less than half the cost of many Massachusetts private universities.
"I wanted to reduce the amount of loans I'd need to pay back,'' says Leo Sheehan, a junior from Raynham who plans to go to medical school and decided on UMass over Boston University.
"The main difference for me was that BU was $33,000 more,'' he says. "And they offer the same thing.''
Students such as Sheehan have pushed the number of applicants accepted at UMass from 80 percent 10 years ago to 63 percent now. That makes it only slightly easier to get into than BU, though much easier than Northeastern and Boston College — partly because its freshman classes are so much bigger, Kelly says.
The number of applicants from out of state has also doubled since 2005, to more than 15,400.
Inside the commonwealth, "We still have that Zoo Mass moniker,'' says Sheehan, who gives campus tours. "But outside of Massachusetts, UMass is looked upon pretty highly.''
Still, being admitted and enrolling remain two different things. Barely one out of five accepted students choose to come. In fact, the share of college-going 18-year-olds in Massachusetts who pick public universities or colleges instead of private ones is lower than in any state.
UMass is, in part, a victim of its own success. Now that it's become so selective, it has to lure admitted applicants who are also considering BU and Northeastern, the two schools with which it most commonly overlaps.
"It's this odd situation where there's such a concentration here of private institutions,'' Kelly says.
"We're on the same street, literally, as Amherst College and Hampshire College. If you keep following that road, you get to Mount Holyoke, and so on throughout the state. When you're a state system in a state like Massachusetts, you get overshadowed by the privates.''


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From the President's Office:
I hope you can join us in celebrating the 150th birthday of Center Hall. We invite you to stop by in the afternoon on Wednesday, April 11, from 3:45-4:30 p.m. for cake and punch, and a little history lesson about Center Hall.
April 11, 1857, is the day that Archivist, Beth Swift, has determined is the earliest date that she can identify when something "official" took place in Center Hall. We hope to see you on Wednesday to celebrate a grand building, a center of Wabash tradition.


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Pennsylvania struggles to chip away at bridge problem
It would cost state taxpayers billions of dollars to fix a growing number of structurally deficient bridges, but it costs money to do nothing with them, too, a top transportation official says.
Pennsylvania has the most deficient bridges in the nation — about 5,400, including state- and locally owned spans — and lawmakers in Harrisburg are grappling with proposals to boost transportation funding by at least $1.8 billion. Even with that kind of windfall, about 300 more bridges will join the list each year, adding costly detours for some.
That drives up gas consumption, business costs, emergency response times and lengths of commutes for workers, students and others, PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch said. The average detour around a closed or weight-restricted bridge is about 8 miles, he said.
Weight restrictions hinder us, Tom McElree of Robinson-based Emergency Medical Services Institute said, noting some large EMS vehicles weigh 26,000 pounds — or 13 tons — and many bridges have limits of 10 tons or less.
Randall Smith, president of the Pennsylvania School Bus Association, said school buses across the state carry more than 1.5 million children daily. Many must take longer routes because of weight restrictions, he said. All of them cross structurally deficient bridges, he said.
Bad bridges threaten business, Schoch said, noting the condition of Pennsylvania's bridges recently led a dairy farming company that routinely operates tankers weighing 94,000 pounds or more to locate its facility in Virginia instead of Pennsylvania.
"Transportation is constant maintenance. If you don't keep up with it, you're going to have problems," Gov. Tom Corbett said last week beneath the hulking Liberty Bridge, a structurally deficient span that carries 16,000 motorists a day.
Corbett and other state leaders say Pennsylvania is keeping pace with bridge deterioration, removing about as many spans from its list of structurally deficient bridges as it adds each year because of serious deterioration.
Without extra money for bridges, Schoch predicts his agency will fix only 200 troubled spans a year over the next decade.
About 1,400 bridges could be slapped with weight restrictions, on top of 1,400 now restricted, PennDOT said.
About $2 billion could reduce Pennsylvania's backlog, allowing PennDOT to fix up to 400 annually, the agency projects.
Pennsylvania senators last week passed a bill to raise $2.5 billion annually for transportation by lifting a cap on the state's oil company franchise tax and increasing driver fees and fines, including adding a $100 surcharge to traffic tickets. A $1.8 billion Corbett plan would uncap the gas tax.
Chipping away at the bridge problem could hinge on private investment of $1.5 billion to $2 billion, Schoch said. Legislators paved the way for such an investment by passing Act 88, the so-called "public-private partnership law," last summer.
One possible deal would enable repair of 1,000 small- to medium-sized bridges. Under it, a private company would finance the improvements and repair and maintain the spans for up to 30 years, acting as a general contractor while using local companies to perform work.
The general contractors would be on the hook for cost overruns.
In exchange, Schoch said PennDOT would pay the company an estimated $100 million to $150 million a year in money that would come from any boost in transportation funding.
In recent years, PennDOT used bond money and federal stimulus money to complement bridge work funded directly in its $7 billion operating budget. Under former Gov. Ed Rendell, it repaired more than 1,100 bridges with bond money and 133 bridges with stimulus money, records show.
"People should be concerned about this now, because the longer (the state) waits, the more it's going to cost to fix our bridge problems," said Martin Pietrucha, director of the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute at Penn State University.
Using a homeowner analogy, Pietrucha said it's "a whole helluva lot easier to fix a roof when it has a small leak than after it caves in."
Tom Fontaine is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7847 or [email protected].


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Exothermic ignition system
The BurndyWeld Qiklite is a battery-operated ignition system for exothermic connections that guarantees ignition 100% of the time, according to the company. The self-contained unit features a built-in battery life indicator, 6-ft igniter cord, and separate buttons for power and ignition. In addition, no starting powder is required, and the product works with standard molds and weld metal.
Circle 250
Halogen lamp
The Eco-Friendly Halogen A19 lamp is fully dimmable and available in four models. According to the company, the 29W model is equivalent in lumen output to a 40W incandescent; the 43W model is comparable to a 60W incandescent; the 53W model is equivalent to a 75W incandescent; and the 72W model is comparable to a 100W incandescent. Available in clear and soft white finishes, the lamp is for use on a 120V lighting system and features a 1,000-hr life, according to the company. The lumen output ranges from 380 lumens for the 29W soft white style to 1,490 lumens for the 72W clear-finished version.
Circle 251
Pigtail connectorsAccording to the company, Term-A-Nut pigtail connectors allow grounding that is more than three times faster than conventional pigtailing/bonding methods, as confirmed by an independent third-party testing company. To help users compute potential savings, an online calculator is available on the company's website. A downloadable version is also available on the site in standard Microsoft Excel format.
Ideal Industries
Circle 252
Lighting controller
Designed to work in conjunction with existing lighting pole controllers, the Green Spider turns off three or four individual 1,000W fixtures and leaves the remaining fixtures illuminated for local lighting codes and security reasons — and then resets itself at dawn. According to the company, by controlling a lighting pole's individual fixtures during off-peak hours, the system reduces lighting energy consumption and costs by approximately 30%, extends the life of existing lighting equipment, and pays for itself in as little as four months.
Green Spider Energy
Circle 253
Weatherproof jacketThe Defender weatherproof jacket features DuraLock Xtreme fabric. According to the company, an impenetrable outer shell protects the wearer from water, oils, and other liquids while a wind block interlining keeps wind out and provides increased warmth and air circulation. Made of 100% peached cotton canvas, the zip-up jacket is stain-resistant and lined with anti-pill, quilted micro fleece. In addition, the garment is available in men's sizes M to XXL in gunmetal, khaki, and medium denim colors.
Circle 254
Isolation transformers
This latest version of ISO-PUCK II enclosed hospital-grade isolation transformers is available in 400VA, 800VA, and 1,200VA power ratings with input and output voltages of 115V. New features include a molded polycarbonate enclosure with an imbedded IEC60320 C-13 receptacle as well as a green LED light to indicate that power is on. Designed for installation between the wall outlet and any electrical or electronic apparatus used in patient care areas, the company says the transformers comply with required maximum leakage current standards.
Bridgeport Magnetics Group
Circle 255
Rooftop pipe supports
The Caddy Pyramid product line has been expanded to include the EZ Series of adjustable-height tool-free rooftop pipe supports. Manufactured from durable, UV-stabilized EPDM rubber, the supports feature a simple snap-on installation that does not require the use of tools or fasteners. The product allows for height adjustment from 1¾ in. to 4 in., 4 in. to 6 in., or 5 in. to 7 in. In addition, they can also accommodate all pipe and conduit types up to 2-in. Sch. 40.
Circle 256
Work glovesCutMaster 7-gauge, medium weight, seamless, machine-knit gloves are manufactured using 100% DuPont Kevlar brand fiber to deliver an ANSI Cut Level 5 cut resistance. Featuring pearl-colored split leather on the palm, thumb, index finger, and fingertips for abrasion resistance and added protection from heat and incidental cuts and punctures, the company says the gloves are five times stronger than steel. Lightweight and flame-resistant, the product also features a padded inside lining that offers thermal protection and cushioned support. Available in sizes 6-9 and in size 14, all styles are packaged a dozen pair per poly bag with 6 dozen per case.
Magid Glove & Safety
Circle 257
LED lamps and luminairesThe E-Core LED Series includes a lamp line as well as a downlight line. The lamp line includes six reflector lamps in three colors and two A19 bulbs in two colors. The downlight line includes six models available in four colors, the brightest of which reaches 1250 lumens. According to the company, the LEDs operate for no less than 40,000 hr and are mercury-free.
Circle 258
Pulling eyes
These Expanding Jaw pulling eyes allow for the protected pulling of duct and innerduct conduit. The pulling eyes feature a one-piece cone design with a full sleeve to completely enclose the jaws. The expanding jaws help the pulling eyes fit firmly into conduit, while the sleeve prevents the expansion or rupturing of polyethylene conduit during installation and pulling, according to the company. Made from hardened alloy steel, the product is equipped with a swiveling-eye nut that allows for the attachment of a pulling line. In addition, they come in a variety of sizes that can accommodate the installation of 1.25-in. to 14-in.-diameter polyethylene conduit in wall sizes that range from SDR 9 to SDR 21 and Sch 40.
General Machine Products
Circle 259
Wire connector
The SlimSeal is a sealed, low-profile, single row solid-state lighting (SSL) connector for indoor and outdoor lighting applications. Featuring an IP67 seal rating, the connector can be used in traditional lighting fixtures and commercial refrigeration. Product highlights include UV-resistant wire-to-wire and wire-to-board configurations, SMT and thru-hole headers, positive integral latching, and pre-assembled seals. Available in two, three, and four positions, the polarized, RoHS-compliant connector accepts 18 AWG through 24 AWG stranded wire. Housings are manufactured with UL 94 V0-rated high temperature-resistant thermoplastic.
Tyco Electronics
Circle 260
Li-ion power toolsThe 12 Volt MAX product line includes a ¼-in. screwdriver, 3/8-in. drill/driver, ¼-in. impact driver, 3/8-in. impact wrench, LED work light, inspection camera, infrared thermometer, and two combo kits. All products feature the company's 12V MAX Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery that charges in 40 min. The battery is placed at the bottom of the handle to allow for a contoured grip.
Circle 261
Cable dispenserThe 9522 hanging cable dispenser holds a full spool of NM or MC cable (up to 75 lb) and spins to dispense the wire easily and evenly without overrunning. When not in use, the dispenser can be collapsed, folded, and stored in its included bag. Made from aluminum tubing, steel hooks and joint plates, and tough nylon straps, the product weighs 3½ lb.
Circle 262
Lighting controllers
Half-Light controllers provide independent control for multiple ballast luminaires from a single existing wall switch. The Two Stage Half Light model is designed for a 2-ballast, 4-lamp fixture where each ballast controls two lamps, while the Three Stage Half Light model is designed for a 6-lamp fixture where one ballast controls two lamps and the other ballast controls the remaining four lamps. Featuring a low-profile, the company says the controllers are compatible with a range of popular fluorescent and HID lamps and install directly into the fluorescent or HID ballast channel wherever a dual- or multi-ballast lighting configuration is present.
Functional Devices
Circle 263
Caution tape
Centritile warning tape is manufactured from high-impact recycled polyethylene. Offered in roll format, the tape is suitable for low voltage, 11kV, street lighting, telecom/fiber optic, gas, and water piping. Available sizes include 40 meters × 150 mm × 2.5 mm, 40 meters × 200 mm × 2.5 mm, 50 meters × 150 mm × 2 mm, and 50 meters × 200 mm × 2 mm. In addition, the product can be produced up to 4 mm thickness and
600 mm width.
Circle 264
Electronic plan room appMobile PlanRoom provides multi-user access to all of a given project's construction drawings, specifications, notes, contracts, and other related documents from an iPad or the Web. Drawings and other construction documents are first uploaded to the BuilditLive.com online construction document management tool, and then accessed via an iPad or the Internet.
Circle 265
Utility vehicles
This line of utility vehicles includes four models: the 3200, 3400, 3400XL, and 3450. Features range from 2-wheel drive to the 4-wheel drive, attachment-ready 3450 model. Additional options and accessories are available to customize the vehicles. Other features include 4-wheel independent suspension, lower sound levels, 2-passenger bucket seating (dealer-installed bench seat also available), a dealer-installed cab, and heat.
Circle 266
Junction boxSolarSpec junction box and cable assemblies are designed for installation on the back of mono- and polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. Providing the interface between the conductor ribbons on the panel and the DC I/O cables, the junction box features spring terminals that connect the base directly to the PV ribbon conductors, without the need for retention clamps or clips. Optional patented Solder Charge technology facilitates high-speed assembly and eliminates the need for hand-soldering of the ribbon. Optional double-sided tape removes the need for curing time on silicone when attaching the connector base to a module.
Circle 267
LED downlightsThe Halo LED H7 line of LED recessed downlights has been expanded to include the Halo LED 900 Series and Halo LED 1200 Series. Suitable for new construction or as a retrofit to existing 6-in. nominal compatible housings (via an Edison screw-base adapter included with the module), the LEDs feature 80 CRI and offers color temperatures of 2,700°K, 3,000°K, 3,500°K, and 4,000°K.
Cooper Lighting
Circle 268
Step-up transformersIntended for the wind farm turbine market, the PCT WTSU step-up transformer features round coils, a cruciform, a mitered core with heavy-duty clamping, and a pressure plate design. According to the company, the transformer's unique cooling system shortens the path that heat generated within the core and coils must take to reach the cooling fluid. The product also features a no-load tap changer with silver-plated contacts.
Pacific Crest Transformers
Circle 200
LED wallpackThe LPACK 20 LED wallpack features a 50,000-hr life, according to the company. Available in warm and cool light, the 20W product includes two high-output, 10W LED light engines that deliver 70% of their rated lumens and have a voltage-sensing driver for 120V up to 277V. Available in a bronze or white finish, the product is suitable for both commercial and residential applications as either a downlight or uplight for wet locations. In addition, they are designed for mounting heights of up to 15 ft.
RAB Lighting
Circle 201
Cable management systemOffered in vertical, horizontal, and front-to-rear options to meet comm/data cabling application demands for single bay and ganged cabinets, this configurable cable management system manages inter-cabinet patching and cross connects for structured cabling within EIA-310-D-compliant 19-in. access cabinet platforms. Designed for single-person installation, the product can span between ganged cabinets and features multiple wire lances and a twist-and-lock cable arm mounting option.
Cooper B-Line
Circle 202
T5 retrofit adapterThis T5 retrofit adapter has a built-in electronic ballast, allowing users to upgrade T12 fixtures. According to the company, in many cases, users can delamp T12 fixtures from four T12s down to two T5s, resulting in energy savings of up to 65%. The T5 lamp also produces a light that is 85% closer to natural sunlight and features a reflector that directs light downward to the source needing to be illuminated.
Energy Now
Circle 203
Power pole extenderTele-Power pole extenders are available in 5-ft sections that snap together to create a single standard pole or extend the length of an existing pole. Featuring dual compartments, the pole extenders work with the company's 25 Series Tele-Power poles to provide up to 5 ft of additional height. The product can also be cut to length. According to the company, the mounting system ensures the finished pole is as strong and durable as a single unit. Available in prewired or unwired versions, the factory-wired units include two 20A, 125V duplex receptacles. Both versions feature mounting hardware, end plate, and ceiling trim.
Circle 204
Cord reelConstructed of heavy-gauge 304L stainless steel, this cord reel is designed for applications where corrosion or sanitation is a concern. Product features includes a 4-ft to 5-ft pigtail, multi-positional guide arm, automatic on/off switch, and a spotlight suitable for Class 1 and 2 hazardous areas (device only).
Circle 205
Control panelsDesigned for irrigation pump pressure control applications up to 125 hp, VFDC-1300 Quick Ship control panels ship within 48 hr from time of order. Equipped with a variable-frequency drive in a ventilated NEMA 3R enclosure, the product feature a VFDC-1300 controller and a pressure transmitter. In addition, it is factory-tested and pre-programmed for a user's application.
Circle 206
Distribution transformersThe ET2 and ET5 Series of unshielded distribution transformers is available in 15kVA through 75kVA. For outdoor applications, the transformers can be outfitted with optional weather shields that meet UL-3R requirements. Offered in single- and 3-phase versions, the NEMA TP-1-compliant product features a UL Class 220 insulation system, terminal board connections, and stainless steel enclosures.
Circle 207
LED edge-lit backlightsThese LED edge-lit luminaires are designed to focus light into a high-performance backlight or light guide. Because the LEDs are located on the edge of the light guide, they allow for better optical control for color and uniformity, fewer LEDs, as well as enhanced repeatability, according to the company. LED backlight panel applications include egress lighting, exit signs, downlighting, under-cabinet, splash, desk task lighting, and refrigeration illumination.
Global Lighting Technologies
Circle 208
Integrated power centerThe Submetering Integrated Power Center (IPC) has been added to the company's Square D IPaCS line. Customizable, the IPC features a Square D PowerLogic E4800 series multi-circuit energy meter mounted inside its enclosure, making it suitable for multi-tenant and multi-department buildings. Real-time and status information from the meter can be accessed with EnergyView Online software and other online power monitoring software.
Schneider Electric
Circle 209
MotorsThe Quattro line-start permanent magnet motor is a hybrid model that features a 3-phase distributed winding in the stator. Operating at IEC established IE4 efficiency levels, the motor is more efficient than NEMA Premium efficiency induction motors, according to the company. In addition, the product operates at synchronous speed regardless of the load, providing no I2R losses in the aluminum cage. Other highlights include a frame size that is the same as an induction motor and a low bearing temperature. No feedback device or special protection relays are needed.
WEG Electric
Circle 210
Surface racewayAdvanceWay surface raceway satisfies the specified bends and depths of all cable and connectivity types (including
Cat. 6a) in a system that is less than 50% the size of alternative products, according to the company. Able to accommodate most power supplies and high-performance connectors, the product features multi compartments. In addition, device boxes can be positioned above and below the raceway.
Circle 211
Power warning alertThe VoltageVision R-3W-SR is a solid-on power warning alert. Featuring LEDs that illuminate three different ways (flash, shimmer, and solid) to show the presence of varying voltages, the alert detects 3-phase AC or DC voltage and operates from 40VAC to 750VAC/30VDC to 1,000VDC. C-UL-US NEMA 4X-listed, the product fits into a standard 30-mm pushbutton hole and features encapsulated construction and a redundant circuit design.
Grace Engineered Products
Circle 212
LED power modulesThe PIL300U-V Series of constant voltage LED power modules features 300W of output power and a 90VAC to 305VAC input range. The module's design incorporates high PFC, meeting the requirements for EN61000-3-2. Standard output voltages range from 12VDC to 150VDC. The IP67-rated product offers ratings are up to 94%, and its specified operating temperature range is -35°C to +70°C.
Power Partners
Circle 213
Insulation testersThe 1555 and 1550C insulation resistance testers offer digital insulation testing up to 10kV. The company says the testers can conduct the entire range of test voltages specified in IEEE 43-2000 and feature CAT III 1,000V, CAT IV 600V safety ratings. Features include measurement storage, PC interface, a warning function that alerts users that line voltage is present and gives the voltage reading up to 600VAC/VDC, 99 memory locations, and a battery that offers more than 750 tests between charges.
Circle 214
Ratcheting strain reliefSnap-In ratcheting strain relief can now be removed through insertion of standard snap ring pliers with 0.040-in. tips into the holes located on the outside of the part. The strain relief self-locks directly onto the cable and can be preassembled offline for final assembly at a later time or remote location. Available for one hole size (0.875 with 0.770 flats), the product is UL-recognized under file E15331 and installs with fingertip pressure into a standard round or double "D" hole. A wire locking ratchet allows for wire range from 0.115 in. to 0.575 in.
Circle 215
Trip unit kitThe EntelliGuard TU trip unit conversion/upgrade kit includes a Waveform Recognition Instantaneous Algorithm and Zone Selective Interlocking Instantaneous feature, which together can achieve HRC2 or better without sacrificing selectivity for available fault currents as high as 100kA, according to the company. In addition, the product includes a Reduced Energy Let Through feature (RELT) that provides enhanced arc flash protection during maintenance. Other features include flexible time current settings and curves, ground fault alarm via I/O or Modbus communications, the ability to display three phases on one screen, and 10 event log with date and time stamp.
General Electric
Circle 216
Grounding ringThe Aegis WTG wind turbine grounding ring is maintenance-free, effective at any rpm, and available for any size wind turbine generation, according to the company. The grounding ring is engineered to safety divert up to 120A of continuous shaft current at frequencies as high as 13.5 MHz and discharge up to 3,000V.
Electro Static Technology
Circle 217


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The ones who suffer from this affliction are indoctrinated students from the public education system and folks who just refuse to learn from history. They also make up part of the group I call suicide voters.
Fiscal Amnesia symptoms include the denial of past policies that created economic growth, the belief that the policies that worked in the past never worked at all and/or will not work again. Some who suffer from FA have been misinformed to believe that liberal entitlement programs are the path to prosperity, but never realize the path is never-ending. FA victims have been made to believe that higher taxes on those making more than them helps the economy. I have stated many times that liberals run on emotion and not logic. The thought of more distribution of the rich's earnings is about fairness, and liberals mistake fairness with prosperity.
With the fiscal cliff debate ongoing, you see many politicians on both sides of the aisle helping to spread Fiscal Amnesia. Of course, these politicians are progressives. Establishment progressives on both sides of the aisle want to continue their borrowing and entitlement spending in order to retain power. Our government's entire leadership is full of progressives, and we won't see real change in Washington until we vote out progressive liberals and Republicans.
There are people on the right with Fiscal Amnesia, too. Self-proclaimed conservative commentators are eager to report on the Obama administration's out of control spending; but when past Republican administrations are called out for the same madness, the pundits are quick to change the subject. It's not helpful. We have to be honest with ourselves if we want to come together to defeat the establishment; otherwise, we'll continue this spiraling tailspin into a socialist abyss.
Think about the one group of people who are being demonized by progressives on both sides of the aisle. It's a group of people with a lot of influence. The Tea Party is immune to Fiscal Amnesia. That's the reason they are being bashed by government propagandists in the mainstream media. The Tea Party is full of fiscal Conservatives and Republicans who see that our country's poor economic shape is the largest threat to its future.
I always say that one of the biggest of the many annoyances of liberals are their obsession with social issues. If there were more voters and politicians with fiscal responsibility as their number one principle, the country wouldn't be in such a shape to make us have national debates on entitlement spending, welfare, the 47 percent, and fairness. If more voters and politicians were more keen to the principle of fiscal responsibility, there'd be no arguments about fairness. There'd be no race-baiting, no class warfare, no fake war on women, no need for collective bargaining, and no talks from our President asking us to sacrifice.
I hope we cure FA and fast because we need to help people remember what policies made this country the greatest and what policies will make the country prosperous once again. The best cure is to vote for fiscally conservative public servants and stop supporting networks, politicians, and special interest groups that demonize fiscally responsible citizens. All of us need to come together and make fiscal responsibility our number one goal in order to save the republic; then everything else will fall into place.
Other oldy but goodies of mine like this gem can be seen at Western Journalism
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- What's Going On In Toronto? - May 9, 2019
- Legalizing Pot Or Anything Is A Bad Idea - May 9, 2019
- Photo Editing App by Google – Snapseed - May 1, 2019
- Top 4 Electric Beard Trimmer For Men - April 29, 2019


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On February 12, 2011, the Afro- American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. Central Maryland Chapter in partnership with the St. John Baptist Church (SJBC) Heritage Cluster, hosted an African Libation Ceremony. Libation is a ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a spirit or god or in memory of those who have died. In certain African cultures, the ritual of pouring libation is an essential ceremonial tradition and a way of giving homage to the ancestors.
|Joseph Ransom (1846-1916)
The ceremony was a tribute to our enslaved ancestors. In preparation, for the event members of the Central Maryland Chapter and SJBC Heritage Cluster were asked to submit the names, date and place of birth and death, slave owners names, and other significant information about their enslaved ancestors. The information was used to create a Slave Commemoration Scroll. The Scroll symbolized the struggles and significant sacrifice they made to their family, community and nation. In honoring them the hope is to focus the attention of the community on the importance of preserving African American heritage and on the role of slavery in American history. There were over 130 names on the scroll.
|Henry Dorsey (1844-1943)
Omo Ama Safowah performed the libation ceremony in Twi and called out the names of the ancestors on the scroll as well as recognizing the names of those we will never know. She talked about their sacrifices, and achievement despite great obstacles. It was a very moving experience as the names of our ancestors were called out.
Following the libation ceremony, a pictorial tribute titled Tribute to Enslaved Ancestors which included pictures of individuals listed on the scroll, played.
The overall program was a wonderful tribute. I am sure that our ancestors were looking down on us.


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|Young Heroes
|About Young Heroes
|Young Heroes Gallery
|Nominate a Young Hero
In partnership with
Cherokee, Alabama
Cherokee High School
A natural leader, Ashley Askins is described by band director Kyle Clements as a top notch flautist and color guard captain. He wrote, She has helped a line of ladies accomplish a high level of excellence and superiority at various competitions.
Ashleys willingness to help others was echoed by teacher Ben Renfroe: Ashley is selfless in that she eagerly helps fellow students who may be struggling. She treats all of her teachers with the utmost respect; thus, she is highly respected by the entire faculty at Cherokee High School.
A person meeting this self-assured and selfless scholar might find it difficult to believe the hardships she has already endured. When Ashley was born, her parents were young, unmarried, high school dropouts who were not prepared to raise a child. Ashleys parents have been separated practically her whole life.
As an infant, Ashley was raised by a family married into her own. She lived with this family in Michigan until the age of eight. One day, her mother decided she could try and raise her, so she packed all of Ashleys things and drove to Tennessee. Shortly after, Ashley found herself was being raised by yet another woman who was also taking care of her three younger sisters.
Ashleys mother returned two years later hoping for another chance to raise her in Mississippi. That ended two years later. Ashley and her younger sisters were put into foster care until the extended family came to take them home. Ashley went to Alabama with her grandmother, and her younger sisters went back home to Tennessee.
While was still under the care of her grandmother, Ashley was moved to live with her great-grandmother, whom she calls NeNe. Nene was in the beginning stages of Alzheimers disease and needed help. Ashley has been Nenes caregiver for the last four years. She is responsible for organizing and administering medications, the household chores, most of the outdoor chores and preparing some meals.
Ashleys grandmother stays with Nene while Ashley is at school. After school, Ashley goes straight home to resume her caretaking duties. She rarely has time to go out with friends or participate in after-school activities. The one exception to this general rule is band.
Despite these adversities, Ashley has persevered and excelled. Her nominator, Counselor Julia Gray, wrote, She has a strong moral character and is a natural leader. She has organized and been responsible for several projects that have helped others in need. She has plans to attend college and pursue a career in business and marketing.
The Young Heroes Program is made possible through the support of:
|Young Heroes
|About Young Heroes
|Young Heroes Gallery
|Nominate a Young Hero
In partnership with