text:
National Cholesterol Education Month in September serves as a reminder that its important for adults of all ages to know their cholesterol levels and take steps to prevent heart disease, says Dianna Malkowski, physician assistant, nutritionist and professional adviser for The CareGiver Partnership, a national retailer of incontinence products and other home healthcare supplies.
We know too much cholesterol is a main risk for heart disease and stroke, says Malkowski. And, although we cant do much to change some of the factors that affect cholesterol levels such as age and heredity, we can make lifestyle changes that can help lower bad cholesterol.
In addition to regular cholesterol screenings, Malkowski offers a checklist of ways to reduce LDL:
Eating a healthy diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Foods low in saturated fat include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free dairy products, fish, skinless poultry and lean meats. Seniors or caregivers who care concerned about not getting fresh, healthy meals should consider services like Moms Meals, a meal delivery service that can customize plans to meet special dietary needs.
Exercising regularly. Working up to a goal of regular moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes on most days can help raise HDL and lower LDL. Because physical activity is recommended for everyone, seniors with limited mobility may benefit from the many daily living aids available today.
Maintaining a healthy weight. Losing weight can help lower LDL, especially for those with risk factors such as high triglyceride or low HDL levels or a large waist measurement. Those who need help losing weight should consult with a doctor or registered dietitian.
Avoiding cigarette smoking. In addition to causing many types of cancer, smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the CDC and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Taking doctor-prescribed medication as directed in cases where lifestyle changes arent enough to lower LDL.
Dianna Malkowski is a Board Certified Physician Assistant and Mayo Clinic trained nutritionist specializing in diabetes, cancer, wound healing, therapeutic diets and nutrition support. She serves on the board of professional advisers for The CareGiver Partnership and enjoys working with patients and caregivers alike.
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/9/prweb11157283.htm
© 2013 PRWEB.COM Newswire


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subset: commoncrawl


text: Hi. As you know the Slayer is a new shape concept coming from Airush. This board is mainly aimed to the strapless riding but in this regard due to its weight and generous size I've found difficult to throw aerial tricks especially grabbing and flipping the board. Instead of Chinese construction I would have preferred a Cobra one. Nevertheless the little brother, the 54, should be a better choice for that kind of style! So I put on it the straps and I discovered one of the best light wind directional freestyle board out there….probably the best one. Notice that I also own the North Nugget but the light wind capabilities of the Slayer are, simply, by far better. Obviously strapless the Nugget wins. Said that, I rode the Slayer in very marginal conditions with the Naish Fly, the Ozone Edge 13 and the RRD Obsession 13,5…..what a pleasure! I turned race sessions in freestyle sessions with a lot of different low mid air tricks. The Slayer can point upwind effortlessly but It is not as fast as a pure freerace board. Jibes and tacks are easy and very smooth. In those days I had a lot of fun and I learned a couple of new moves . Here's a video showing the Slayer 60 in action.


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Chris Brown Shows Sensitive Side in New Song 'Don't Judge Me'
As the late (and recently seen as a hologram) rapper Tupac once said, "Only God can judge me."
Chris Brown shows off his sensitive side in the new song 'Don't Judge Me' from the forthcoming effort 'Fortune.' We know, unless you are a tried and true, card-carrying member of Team Breezy, you didn't know he had one. The "one" we're referencing being a sensitive side, since Brown is known for his volatile temper, which he showed to everyone from his ex-girlfriend (you know who!) to "GMA' host Robin Roberts.
But this song is a slow, sensuous romp that's a bit reminiscent of Michael Jackson and centered around Breezy's voice, which is paired with some lilting drum and bass. It demonstrates that side we don't often see.
It's Breezy, bottle battler, club brawler and Drake nemesis at his most delicate, fragile and vulnerable, which, as we said, are not qualities were associate with him. Perhaps this is the person that Rihanna fell in love with before they had their famous altercation before the 2009 Grammys.
Breezy croons, "Just let the past be the past," and we can't help but wonder if he's singing about RiRi. He sings "Please don't judge me / And I won't judge you / It can get ugly / Before it gets beautiful."
Perhaps this jam is autobiographical as Breezy steps into the light and becomes a more positive dude.
'Fortune' drops July 3. That's next week!
Listen to Chris Brown, 'Don't Judge Me'


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Sunday, December 21, 2008
Blue Blue Blue Xmas
CLICK HERE to see my latest video, made just for you!
I struggled and struggled to get a file format that would work on youtube, only to discover it looks so much better in Flash, so I've got both versions up. The advantage of youtube is you can stop it at any time, but it's only about 2 minutes long. Actually if you click the high quality button at lower right it looks ever so much better, a new feature of youtube.
Here's the back story:
Sometime in the 1980's the A.F.I. offered a grant program for music videos. I've always loved the way music and animation worked together, and was sorry I never had a chance to make a video. They offered three songs to choose from: I guess they'd gotten clearance on all three. I chose "Blue Christmas" by Elvis. I've always loved Elvis! I forget what the other two songs were.
The competition was judged on the storyboards submitted, and I did a very full and colorful storyboard, (image above from one panel). I didn't get the grant. Later I learned it was because the judges didn't think it used the particular properties of video enough. They were right. What was I thinking?
However, I was very fond of these storyboards. Last year I scanned them all, and tried making a simple animatic, (which is what they call animated storyboards.) But it looked really cheesy, just trucking in and out on still shots, like an underfunded PBS documentary. So when I came back from New Jersey last week I started animating this. It only took a week because Flash is so nifty for animating. A week! And mostly I was doing other things during that week!
14 comments:
- Namowal said...
Wow, Sally! How on earth did you get that out in a week?
Did you find it difficult to sync the action with the music?
I've been tempted to add animation to music I like, but feared I'd be in over my head. What's your secret?
- Dec 21, 2008, 4:58:00 PM
- Sally said...
It was kind of weird animating an idea I came up with maybe 20 years ago, some of the panels I'd think, "what's that about?" But because the storyboard was all done, I just had to get going.
You should just plunge in with the music. Do an animatic so you get your cuts to the music, then you can pick up the beat by trial and error.
One of the things you'll discover as you start working with music and animation, is the accidental/serendipitous sync. Your eye just wants to see things sync up. It's hard to explain.
- Dec 21, 2008, 5:23:00 PM
- Linda said...
FINALLY! Thank you for this fun movie! My very favorite parts: the duck chorus on escalator, the bear with the PENGUIN PLAYING THE TRIANGLE, Snoflake Diner, the DANCING ORNAMENTS, the wiggling heart on the plate.
p.s. When you say you didn't get the grant "because the judges didn't think it used the particular properties of video enough. They were right." ...what do you mean? Were you supposed to use a camera?
- Dec 21, 2008, 10:17:00 PM
This is wonderful. Thank you for the treat! Love the blue tree. And Linda's right: the dancing ornaments are great. At first I thought it was going to be YOU singing with Elvis, recorded at singwiththeking.com !!!!
- Dec 22, 2008, 5:27:00 AM
- Mean Jean said...
I love it! Santa on the reindeer's lap and the swan in the tunnel of love! I also like that reflection/klaidescope affect.
- Dec 22, 2008, 6:56:00 AM
- Sally said...
Glad you've enjoyed it-- glad I managed to finish it so I can get that song out of my mind.
Linda, the grant came with use of their video facility. At the time there were no portable video cameras easily available. But my project only had to do with the music part of a music video, not the video part.
- Dec 22, 2008, 9:47:00 AM
- Namowal said...
I know just what you mean about the accidental sync- as a kid I used to amuse myself by turning the volume knob down on the t.v. and playing a record. It looked like the t.v. characters were singing whatever was playing.
I guess this illusion could be my friend in animation!
- Dec 22, 2008, 2:57:00 PM
So fine, so effin fine. The heart on the plate at the diner brings laughter out and loud. Is that Quasi in the gondola tipping his hat? Yes or no, we're all tipping our hats to you Miz Sally. Elvis sends his best, and would send a Cadillac, but,you know how things are.
- Dec 22, 2008, 5:49:00 PM
- booda baby said...
They didn't name it Flash for how long it took. Ha!
This was so fun!! Which is a little odd, considering it's about a Blue Christmas. I'm thinking I shouldn't be smiling like this.
Hey. I've done everything that can possibly be done to get Flash to YouTube/Revver, so if you need any help ... say so. In the absence of CS3, it's crazy tricky. But not so crazy tricky that I was willing to give up. It's pretty satisfying, seeing it up there, getting passed all over the place.
- Dec 23, 2008, 7:15:00 AM
- RHSteeleOH said...
Thank you Sally, it was wonderful. You will always rock.
- Dec 23, 2008, 10:52:00 AM
- Sally said...
thanks for all these nifty comments... you guys are so appreciative and have such interesting observations...
Boodababy, here's the technical bread crumb trail- (others ignore!)
Created in CS3 but forgot to set frame rate at 30 fps at beginning, when I thought I was just doing an animatic.
Export from Flash as avi wouldn't play in Windows Media Player.
Export as pngs taken to After Effects-- can't get mov files to work from AE, and sync drifted in AE as avi. grr. Also various errors flashing along the way.
Finally did this- took the swf into an old program made by Flash Ants that I'd purchased a couple of years ago-- got a beautiful avi with no loss of image, but it was silent-- sound was awful.
Took that into the most basic movie maker program, the one that comes on all Windows programs now, added my track to that and got a wmv file which youtube would accept. ay yi yi!
- Dec 23, 2008, 11:15:00 AM
- booda baby said...
I like doing the Santa thang and dealing with tech issues on Christmas Eve ... :):) (If I say anything you already know/that's very obvious, I'm sorry. I'm used to giving instructions remotely. Occasionally, we use the logmein option and I waltz into their computer screens. That's SO FUN!)
In my experience, the biggest single wrench and messer up of all things is Quicktime and compatibility issues.
Once you/we know that, it's way easier to not get all frustrated (okay, speaking just for me? I've had myself plenty of frustrations ...)
So, you're on a PC.
1. Do you have Quicktime Pro ($30, one time, might solve EVERYTHING.) (I added a note below re: QT)
2. But, perhaps you don't even need it. In your export options, can you choose export as .mov?
There's no reason at all to export as avi - you'll just have to convert it.
3. Oddly, enough for short-ish animations, the frame rate doesn't matter SOOO much (unless you're doing the NTSC thing)
4. So. Assuming you get to/chose .mov as your export option, then you get to/have to choose video compression. H264 works every time and I've done tons and tons and tons of googling/trying to figure it out. Just believe me. It's the choice. Alternatively, if you're willing to have a bigger file size, 'Animation' works really good, too.
ALTERNATIVELY, if you don't have .mov option and you don't feel like investing in QT Pro (or even QT. Not sure you need pro. It just has to be compatible with CS3) ...
you can save as a Flash 5 file (yes you can.) and THAT is super easily imported as is into AE. I save lots of things with green backgrounds (animated green screen) and then remove with the key thingie. It drops BEAUTIFULLY on top of video footage. Wheee!
(There are really quite a few more easy breezy options, but I'm starting out guessing that your PC/QT issues are at the root of it all.)
- Dec 24, 2008, 12:30:00 PM
- Linda said...
Booda b. I need to speak with you if I ever get back home again. Having flash/video nightmares. And Blu-ish Xmas on top of it. But eating well.
- Dec 24, 2008, 10:00:00 PM
- Sally said...
Thanks for taking the time to write up all these tips for the elusive flash to youtube conundrum. I actually have Quicktime Pro, and I remember on one project it was useful, but now I can't remember what that was or how I used it!
I have an option of export to mov in Flash but the file is never viewable on export.
I haven't tried the flash 5 trick yet but I'm sure glad to know about it, thanks.
- Dec 28, 2008, 4:05:00 PM


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Anna Clark Mott, whose family house was at one point the closest dwelling to the Montauk Lighthouse, died on May 16 at Southampton Hospital surrounded by her family. She was 91.
Born on Nov. 20, 1919, to Gladys Marie Hedges and Wilson Glover Hedges, she grew up in a house on the north side of Montauk Point built by her grandfather, Capt. Joe Clark, who was a fisherman. Mrs. Mott's grandmother had a restaurant on the bluff between their house and the Lighthouse, and as a young woman, Mrs. Mott enjoyed working alongside her grandmother and mother in the summers. She would reminisce to her family about her time spent cartwheeling down the Lighthouse hill, roller-skating on the hilly roads, and playing basketball in the barn built by Captain Clark.
A letter on display at the Lighthouse and written by a former keeper's daughter mentions Mrs. Mott and her family.
Mrs. Mott married George Lewis Mott from East Hampton in 1937, and was later divorced. They had four daughters, Ann Sandstrom of Southampton, Geri Boyle of Sag Harbor, Patricia Mott-Intermaggio of Southampton, and Connie Mott-Hopping of Bridgehampton, who survive her, as do 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Mott always loved the ocean, a love passed down through the generations. Another grandfather, Capt. Carl Hedges, was one of the original founders of the Life Saving Stations built to help shipwrecked passengers.
Mrs. Mott raised her four daughters and spent much of her adult life as one of four generations under the same roof in a house on Narrow Lane in Bridgehampton that Captain Hedges had built. She moved in with her daughter, Mrs. Boyle, about two years ago, when she was almost 90.
In addition to raising a family, Mrs. Mott worked caring for the sick, homebound, and dying. According to Mrs. Boyle, Mrs. Mott was "a class act" and "greeted every moment of her life — be it sorrow, pain, or glee — with a loving smile and incomprehensible gratitude."
No matter what happened in life, she told her family, "Hold your head up high and put a smile on your face."
A funeral service was held at the Southampton Methodist Church on May 20.


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There are Revolutionary Land records that give 1,000 acres to Christopher Williams Brooks, "heir of Sgt. George Brooks"; This has led researchers to believe that Christopher Williams Brooks was the son of this George Brooks. However, I am trying to prove that this is not the case, that Christopher Williams Brooks is the son of Christopher Brooks and Susannah Williams (dau of Colonel Henry Williams). It is possible that C. W. Brooks was a nephew, and George and Christopher Brooks Sr were brothers. My goal is to find the original land grants to see 1) if it really says "George" and 2) if it indicates a better relationship between George and Christopher Williams Brooks.The TN archives charges $20 to photocopy and mail the land grants. I pinged the TN mailing lists and got some responses – one poster said that the records are microfilmed and are very hard to read. I would hate to pay $20 for something that I could not even read.
Continue to Part 2
Continue to Part 3
Filed under: Brooks | Tagged: American Revolution, Brooks, CaswellCoNC, ChristopherBrooks, GeorgeBrooks, Tennessee | Leave a comment »


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Although my apartment was wonderfully decorated for Christmas this year, now that I'm home for break I am really enjoying seeing our Christmas trees everyday.
Every year my aunt gets my dad a Star Trek ornament. A few years ago my mom got a slightly smaller tree dedicated to the Star Trek ornaments. A lot of them talk or light up and it's really fun to look at. It's always a big hit when people come over.
This is a shot of the whole tree. I love it!!
Here are a few of the ornaments from our other tree:
My brother brought this one back from his semester in Vienna this year.
This one is circa 1995. Oh, the backwards 's' stage.
We had our annual family cookie party over the weekend. It was a lot of fun. I had to leave a little early to get to a birthday celebration, but I always love spending time with my family. I've got a little bit of Christmas shopping left to do and am glad to have a couple of days off to get everything taken care of. I'm starting to get really excited for Christmas day!


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13 Inch See-Thru Storage Tote With Tray
by SoHo
This box provides 440 cubic inches of portable, stackable and visible storage. The one compartment lift-out tray acts as a removable attic for smaller items. Also features convenient self-locking latch and padlock tabs to secure the contents. Measures 13 in. x 7 in. x 6 1/4 in. Tray colors vary.
Ask a question about 13 Inch See-Thru Storage Tote With Tray Ask a question about this product
Average User Rating: Based on (2 Reviews)
5 2
Patricia C. from Casey, IL says:
These are great organizers, easy to lift fill and stack. The fact that they are see thru lets you know what is inside before you open. I bought ten for shelf organizers.
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APRIL DAYS OF ACTION 2013 – A National Uprising to Stop Drone Spying and Killing
CODEPINK and other national and local groups have joined to form the Network for Stopping Drone Spying and Warfare and are organizing April Days of Action 2013 to generate a public uprising across the United States to stop drone spying and drone warfare.
We urge you to select one or more of the days in April listed below to organize actions in your community to focus on drone-related activities where you live. The national coordinator for each set of days is listed. Please be in touch with that person to ask questions and to let them know the days on which you will focus.
April 4 – 6: Drone Manufacturing
Organizers around the country are encouraged to identify drone manufacturing facilities in their regions and organize demonstrations, teach-ins and other actions calling for an end to drone attacks and an end to the manufacture of weaponized and surveillance drones. Coordinator – Joe Scarry – [email protected]
April 16- 18: Drone Research/Training
Organizers around the country are encouraged to identify colleges and universities in their regions doing drone research and/or training of drone pilots and to call for an end to research and training related to drone warfare. Coordinator – Marge Van Cleef – [email protected]
April 27 – 28: Drone Bases
Organizers around the country will be encouraged to organize protests at drone bases in their regions. People will be encouraged also to participate in demonstrations planned during this period at the Reaper drone base at Hancock Air Base near Syracuse, NY.
Coordinator – Dave Soumis – [email protected]
The background material linked here provides information on drone bases in the US, and some of the drone related-research and manufacturing. (NSDSW Background File_compressed.pdf ) You can find out more about drone research in your area by Googling the names of local colleges and universities along with the words "unmanned aerial systems" or "unmanned aerial vehicles". For a list of corporations and institutions doing drone manufacturing and research see this link (from the website of the Association of Unmanned Systems International)
Please join in this unique nationwide movement, the April Days of Action 2013.


text:
These are FO notes cross-posted (edited) from Ravelry and my blogspot blog–pictures here–for the benefit of someone who wanted directions.
Blue Pomatomus "mermaid" gloves–a Christmas present for Patty. Finished 11/21/06, started maybe a week before. Size 3 DPNs, about 1/2 to 3/4 of a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Jeans.
So these gloves are essentially Knucks with the Pomatomus Chart A stitch pattern applied. I accidentally messed up two things on these: neglected the "move pattern one stitch over" instruction in the actual written instructions for Pomatomus and somehow didn't realize that I hadn't knitted the second thumb before starting the second glove… so I got to the gusset and had to do a provisional cast-on for the gusset stitches, then later pick them up and knit the thumb upwards, leading to a weird jog in the ribbing.
Here's the math and other mods:
– Pinky: 12 sts, 1×1 rib, 10 rows.
– Ring, middle, thumb, and index: 16 sts, 1×1 rib, 10 rows.
– On joining row, do not k2tog and ssk. (Actually, my mistake in not realizing the stitch count would no longer be a multiple of 12 after decreasing. Didn't seem to make a difference)
– Carefully match up ribbing on fingers when arranging on needles to join–make sure the 1×1 rib alternates on adjacent fingers.
– Knit one round of 1×1 rib to join, then start Pomatomus Chart A. (60 sts = 5 repeats)
– Work to row 18 of the chart, then join the thumb: place it on the needles with a stitch marker separating it from the main part of the hand. Continue working the chart on the hand, and work 1×1 rib on the thumb.
– While continuing to work from the chart for the hand, work 4 rows even on the thumb and then begin gusset decreases–reach first marker, k2tog tbl, 1×1 rib to last 2 sts before second marker, ssk.
– When there are two stitches remaining, k2tog.
– When there is one stitch remaining, remove marker and ssk with adjacent stitch.
– Continue knitting until row 13 of pattern (or as long as you want) and then switch to 1×1 rib for the cuff.
– Use symmetrical decreases in gusset area to reduce cuff by 4 to 6 sts (for a comfortable fit on my wrists, which are fairly small).
– Knit 10 rows on the cuff and bind off with the sewn bind-off. (For future gloves, the cuff should probably be longer. I was afraid of running out of yarn, so made it the minimum reasonable length)
– When weaving in ends, use "darning" technique to weave first horizontally, then vertically between fingers to close up the holes, and then begin weaving ends along the yarnover columns to reduce the size of the eyelets. After weaving in a bit, use the tail from the wrist bind-off to crochet a sc chain at the edge of the cuff, directly under the thumb, so you can hang up the gloves on a hook for storage.


text:
Monterey Bay Spice Company's Carrier Oils are shipped in either 1 pint or 1
gallon frosted plastic bottles with twist off tops.
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the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Monterey Bay Spice Company has been delivering premium bulk herb botanicals, spices, teas, seasonings and much more for twenty years.
Most all of our botanicals are sourced directly from the farmers and growers — this allows us to provide you with premium products at competitive prices
In addition our blending and milling services allow us to provide full-service co-packing solutions and private label contract packaging services to companies of all sizes
Sign up to receive specials, recipes, and informative herb and spice articles.


text:
Leona Lewis has announ-ced her first tour in three years following the release of her latest album – including a date in Sheffield.
I Am, the 2006 X Factor winner's fifth studio album, reached number 12 following its release in September.
And Leona is excited about taking the "special album" on the road.
"This album, I started off doing independently, so it's a special album for me," she says, having released it through Island Records after leaving X Factor mogul Simon Cowell's Syco Music label in 2014.
"I started doing it in a very different way. I made a couple of independent albums years ago, before The X Factor, and I almost went back that way.
"It's very refreshing, although it still sounds like me.
"My aim is always to have songs people can listen to in 10 years and it doesn't sound too dated."
And the 30-year-old is looking forward to sharing the songs on tour, which includes a show at Sheffield City Hall on Monday, February 22,
"I'll talk about the record a bit, the different songs, the meanings," she says.
"It will obviously include songs from my previous albums, because I know people want to hear them.
"The main thing is I want people to walk away feeling very uplifted."
Songs from previous albums include a string of UK chart-toppers, including debut track A Moment Like This, US number one Bleeding Love and her 2008 cover of Snow Patrol's Run.
And the hits have given Leona a profile she is keen to use for good.
"I have a voice that's got a bit of attention and I feel I need to use it to speak out for causes close to my heart," she says, speaking from a hotel room in New York where she was receiving a UN Women's Entrepreneurship Day music pioneer award.
"It's nice to be acknowledged for stuff like that," says the committed animal welfare campaigner, who was recognised for her drive to empower women.
"I started a campaign on social media, I Am Empowered," she says. "People shared stories with me and I shared them."
And she is keen to keep using her profile to speak out.
"The media want to highlight negative things, so when you're speaking out, sometimes, even for me, it's hard to be heard," says Leona.
"For people campaigning every day, it's even harder for them. All I can do is try my best to get it across as much as possible.
"A lot of the time, negative behaviour is highlighted, rather than positive. It's changing, but it needs to change at a quicker pace.
"I feel people in showbusiness, like I am, should be highlighting what's important. For me, with my music, I am definitely one of the lucky ones that gets to share it on a big platform."
n Leona Lewis plays Sheffield City Hall on Monday, February 22. For tickets, priced from £29.50, visit www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk


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An overnight storm has produced mushy roads throughout Central Massachusetts, and drivers are being urged to use caution. Speeds on the Massachusetts Turnpike were reduced to 40 mph overnight. Those speed limits were still in place early Thursday.
There is heavy congestion in both directions on the Mass Pike, especially through the Charlton, Auburn and Millbury stretch. Morning commuters on Interstate 290 faced slow going in both directions in Worcester. Traffic on east Interstate 290 heading toward Interstate 495 in Marlboro was also slow Thursday.
State police said a number of spinouts and minor crashes littered the turnpike between Palmer and Millbury before 7 a.m., and they expect the treacherous conditions to continue for some time. No serious injuries were reported.
In the Worcester area, snow changed to rain early this morning. Crews are out in force working to clear the slushy roads. A huge puddle blocked Shrewsbury Street near the 111 Chophouse.
It was still snowing around 8 this morning in northern Massachusetts. Towns near the New Hampshire border received more snow: Orange, Royalston, Westminster, Athol and Gardner reported approximately 6 inches. Occasional whiteout conditions were reported in the Ashby and Townsend areas and as much as 8 inches of snow fell.
Father south, Bolton and Lancaster saw 3 to 4 inches of snow this morning. A slippery Route 117 in Lancaster challenged motorists until road crews were able to treat it.
Route 9 west of Worcester was a slow commute. A number of snow-related crashes kept authorities busy, but no serious injuries were reported. Snow turned to rain in Charlton, Southbridge and Sturbridge areas by 8:15 this morning.
Though slush clogged roads in the Oxford, Webster and Dudley areas, there were not any significant weather-related problems overnight.
Temperatures in the region were in the low 30s about 7 Thursday. Rain and freezing rain are expected to continue throughout the morning and then rain likely with a chance of snow this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Snow combined with sleet and rain caused heavy tree branches to hang low, creating a potential for power outages. High winds overnight caused some limbs and branches to fall.
In Worcester, Department of Public Works crews started salting roads at 8 last night. Public works officials called for a general plowing operation of all residential streets and main lines at 11:30 last night, according to Jim Kempton, assistant director for street operations and sanitation for the city's DPW.
"Over 300 plows got mustered," Mr. Kempton said. He said it was somewhat difficult to measure the actual snowfall because of the storm's changing conditions. He estimated that the DPW yard near downtown and most of the city received about 4 inches of snow, and up to 6 inches fell on the west side of the city near the airport. Around 9:30 this morning, Mr. Kempton said, "We went from snow to freezing rain – or ice pellets – back to snow, and now we're mostly rain."
The precipitation created some street flooding in Worcester. Large puddles were reported on Shrewsbury Street and on the Belmont Street Bridge over I-290.
Snow plow crews in Worcester and other towns had begun wrapping up their snow removal operations by 9:30 this morning. Fitchburg's parking ban will expire tonight at 8.
"We'll get ready for the next one," Mr. Kempton said.
The next plowable snow is expected late Saturday night into Sunday, according to forecasters. Tomorrow looks to be bright and sunny with temperatures in the 30s.


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Real-World Review
2013 Toyota RAV4 Limited: 5 Reasons to Buy
The Toyota RAV4 invented the compact crossover segment back in the day, and it's been reinvented for 2013. With contemporary styling, better fuel economy and up-to-date features, the 2013 Toyota RAV4 is a lot of crossover for not a lot of money. Our test vehicle, a 2013 RAV4 Limited, convinced us that crossover fans will love Toyota's latest. Here are our top five reasons why it belongs on your test-drive schedule.
1. Modern Interior
By current standards, the old RAV4's cabin was getting pretty long in the tooth. Cheap plastics, blocky shapes -- you get the idea. But Toyota completely revamped the interior for 2013, and it's a vast improvement. The dashboard is downright stylish now, and the XLE and Limited models even boast French stitching. It's a pretty nice place to spend some time.
2. Simple Packaging
The old RAV4 offered three rows of seating, but Toyota already has the Highlander for that. The old RAV4 also offered a seriously fast V6, but the sales numbers said folks weren't interested in a hot-rod compact crossover. So the 2013 RAV4 keeps things simple: It's got two rows of seating and one 4-cylinder engine with a modern 6-speed automatic that gives you solid performance and up to 31 miles per gallon. Sound familiar? Yep, that's pretty much Honda's formula for the best-selling CR-V, which tells us Toyota's getting serious about challenging Honda's perennial all-star.
3. Easy Cargo Access
The outgoing RAV4's cargo door was hinged on the passenger side, so curbside loading could be a challenge. But Toyota fixed that for you -- the 2013 RAV4 has a conventional top-hinged liftgate that works well no matter where you're coming from. Plus, the Limited has a power liftgate with adjustable height settings for low-clearance areas, which is great if your garage or parking-spot ceiling is too close for comfort.
4. Fun to Drive
The RAV4 used to be a sporty little thing back in the day, and the 2013 Toyota RAV4 channels that spirit. It's about the same size as the outgoing model, but Toyota worked hard on the suspension and steering. The result is a crossover that feels nimble and responsive. It's easy to forget that the RAV4 can haul up to 73 cu ft of stuff, and that's a testament to how fun it is from behind the wheel.
5. Top-Notch Technology
As you'd expect from a new-for-2013 crossover, the RAV4 comes packed with the latest tech. Every RAV4 gets a 6.1-inch touchscreen with iPod/Bluetooth -- an excellent perk for an affordable crossover. Entune mobile-app integration with Pandora Internet radio is available as well. Practically overnight, this Toyota's tech has gone from worst to first.
With the 2013 RAV4, Toyota has focused on what consumers want. The result is one of the most likable crossovers we've driven in recent memory. Check one out and see if you agree.


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VIDEO: The Daily Zap for games played Nov. 21
Brown won't panic over Cavs' start | Dolan opens up on Woodson, Stoudemire | Pistons focus on pick-and-roll defense | 'Foreign Legion' fueling Spurs' solid start
No. 1: Brown not about to overreact to Cavs' slow start — The Cavs remade their roster in the offseason, bringing in center Andrew Bynum, stable veteran guard Jarrett Jack and versatile forward Earl Clark as the highlights of their free-agency remodel. With those moves on the dockett, plus having an All-Star guard (Kyrie Irving) in the fold and the return of rebounding maven Anderson Varejao from injury, Cleveland was thinking a playoff run was a near sure-thing. Yet the Cavs awake this morning with a 4-8 mark, second-worst in the Central Division, and haven't looked anything like a postseason contender. Despite the early struggles, coach Mike Brown isn't about to hit the panic button on the season, writes Bob Finnan of The News-Herald & Morning Journal:
Even though there's panic running rampant throughout the fan base, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown isn't about to follow suit.
His team has lost four of its last five games and is embarking on a rugged two-game trip this weekend.
The Cavs (4-8) are 1-6 on the road this season.
His biggest obstacle is getting his team to compete.
Playoff projections seem almost absurd after the way the Cavs have started the season.
But Brown isn't about to overreact.
"It's too early for that," Brown said after practice on Thursday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. "Don't get me wrong — we want to win games while we're going through this process. Nobody likes to lose. But I don't know if I'm a guy who would panic, anyway. What does panicking do for you?
"I've got a job, and my job is to help this team get better and try to win games. If I panic, they're going to panic, and it would just be chaotic. I don't care where we are. I'm not going to do that."
"There should be a lot of expectations," he said. "I didn't take this job to just say, 'I'm OK getting 10th, and that's an improvement from last year.' I took this job because I think we can get to the playoffs. Is it going to be a process? Yes. Is it going to happen overnight? No.
"I didn't take the job to hope that there wouldn't be expectations placed upon us, because that's what you play for. You play to compete. We've just got to bounce back."
After their 98-91 loss to Washington on Wednesday, Cavs guard Jarrett Jack said the coaches shouldn't have to nudge players to compete.
"There's no remedy to effort," he said. "That's the one thing you control. It's nothing Coach can do. Nobody should have to ask anybody to play hard."
"You can't buy into anything if you don't put forth the necessary effort for it to be successful. At this particular point, that's our biggest problem. One through 15, it's something we all have to get control now, or we're going to lose control of this before it's too late."
Jack said playing hard is not an acquired taste.
"We've got to grasp a hold of that concept, because playing hard is a skill," he said. "It's not anything anybody can teach you, but bringing it each and every day is a learned skill that you have to have in this league in order to be successful."
VIDEO: Mike Brown isn't about to panic over Cleveland's slow start
No. 2: Dolan gives Woodson a vote of confidence — The Knicks, much like the Cavs, haven't lived up to their lofty expectations so far this season. A 3-8 record and talk of panic from one of the team's better players are proof that things aren't going so hot in New York. When things start this slowly — especially in a media fishbowl of a town like the Big Apple — talk turns to the man leading the troops, in this case Mike Woodson, and whether or not he's lost the team. Knicks boss James Dolan, however, answered that question (and many others about the future of the Knicks) in a wide-ranging interview with the New York Post's Mike Vaccaro:
MV: I'm sure you heard the chants that have already started to fire Mike Woodson, which comes with the territory, naturally …
JD: Yeah …
MV: How patient will you be with him? He understood when he took the job the expectations that go with it. Will you give him a long rope?
JD: I have a lot of confidence in Woodson, and one thing I can say about Mike is he has the respect of all the players. They all respect him. And he treats them fairly and relatively equally, and that's part of where the respect emanates from. And those are hard things to get from a coach. When a coach loses a team … that's when a coach is kind of done.
MV: The Knicks started 18-5 last year and it didn't end the way you wanted it to; at this point I assume you'd flip that script?
JD: You know what? I wouldn't take last year's team for this year's team, because this year's team is more designed to be a playoff team, whereas last year's team was 18-5 but look who was playing: we had Rasheed Wallace who was doing everything for us, right? And we just started losing player after player … by the time we got to the playoffs that 18-5 team wasn't the team that was playing in the playoffs. If they were I think we would've beaten Indiana.
MV: So this bad start …
JD: It's going right according to plan (laughs) …
MV: Do you think you're a good owner?
JD: Yeah. I do.
MV: Why?
JD: I think I watch out for my fans. I try to give them a good product. I care for the teams. I'm emotionally involved and intellectually involved. I think an owner needs to be present. When an owner is not present that's when things tend to go awry. The players, the coaches, the fans know there's somebody in charge. They may not like what I'm doing but it's much better than having nobody there. Nobody there just leaves you in despair.
MV: For Knicks fans there's one word that riles their passion more than any other: Isiah.
JD: Amazing, isn't it?
MV: And you surely know the panic that ensues when a Glen Grunwald gets fired and people wonder, "Is Isiah coming back?"
JD: I can't control what's in other people's minds. I can tell you that he's a friend of mine. We speak, but not as often as we used to because he's really involved in other things now. We'll message back and forth once in a while. We used to talk a lot more often. He seems to be moving into another phase of his life, he's not as basketball-centric, he's doing a lot of charity work, he got his masters [in education, from Cal-Berkeley], he actually uses me to bounce business ideas off of …
MV: Do you still consult him, too, about basketball ideas?
JD: Not really. For Isiah, I don't know that he'll ever be able to work in New York. I just don't know that he'll ever get a fair shake, going forward in New York?
MV: If you could take a mulligan on the $100 million Amar'e contract …
JD: Nope.
MV: Because the first year was that important?
JD: We would not be where we are today without Amar'e. That summer, the summer of "The Decision," there were a whole bunch of free agents, and the guys put their thing together in Miami, and Amar'e agreed to come to the Knicks, gave us a launch pad by which we could convince the other guys like Tyson [Chandler] to come, and ultimately Carmelo to come play with us. Do I think Carmelo would have come if we didn't have Amar'e? No, I don't think he would've. These free agents, when you get to this level of player — the Carmelos, the LeBrons, the Durants — the first thing they want before the money or anything else is to be on a winning team. They've got to believe they have a shot.
MV: So does it sadden you to watch him in a diminished state?
JD: I still have hope. You cannot ask for a guy to be more dedicated, more disciplined, than Amar'e. He does his rehab, he does his workouts, he does everything, he's on it every day, and that's worth a lot, too. If there's justice in this world, his knee will heal up to the point where he can play more minutes and make the contribution he wants to make.
MV: What are your impressions of Mikhail Prokhorov?
JD: I don't get to see him much but he clearly wants to win, which is a good thing. He's the only guy paying more taxes than we are which is a club I wouldn't necessarily want to be part of with him (laughs). I think he wants to win, I know he wants to win, he wouldn't be putting the resources in that he is otherwise. But, I mean, he's still my competitor. As a person I kind of know him, I've had lunch with him but other than that I don't really know him well.
MV: One thing you share is that you've both expressed belief your teams can win a title this year. Do you really believe the Knicks can or was that just a usual declaration of high expectations?
JD: I think this team can win a championship.
MV: As presently constituted?
JD: I think there are a lot of teams that could win the championship this year. I think the Clippers can win. Are they going to? I hope not. I hope we win the championship. I think we have the pieces in place to do it. The skill level is there but there's so much more to the game than that, and it's really in the hands of the players. They have to believe in themselves, they have to put in the work, the effort, the discipline, they have to listen to the coach, they have to execute a strategy and put an effort in every game. And they have to get themselves to be the best team they can be at the end of March. It's OK right now not to be the best team you can be. Last year by the end of the year we were struggling. I'd rather see it go the other way. I'm not happy, believe me, about the record where it is now. But the warts that are showing up now are things you can work on, things you can fix. Now you test the character of your team to see if it's willing or able to do that, if the coach is able to do that, to make those fixes. Can they win the championship? Yes. They definitely can win the championship. There have been other championship teams that weren't nearly as talented as this one. But they had something that this team needs to develop.
No. 3: Pistons working to improve pick-and-roll defense — A quick jaunt over to the NBA.com/Stats tool reveals that the Pistons have struggled to keep opponents from scoring in the paint, which may be coming as a direct result from Detroit's problems slowing down the pick and roll. After a 93-85 loss to the Hawks in Atlanta, Detroit's big names say locking down the defense on that play has become a top priority from here on out, writes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free-Press:
Josh Smith says the Detroit Pistons need a little more physicality.Maurice Cheeks and Greg Monroe say the Pistons are physical enough.
But all three agree the Pistons must get better at guarding the pick-and-roll. That was theme yet again in the Pistons' latest loss — a 93-85 loss Wednesday to the Atlanta Hawks in Smith's return to his hometown.
The Hawks shot 50.7% from the field, and the Pistons' defense is last in the NBA in allowing opponents to shoot 48.5%.
The Hawks' very first play featured a pick-and-roll from Hawks point guard Jeff Teague and power forward Paul Millsap. Millsap set the pick and rolled to the basket without any resistance where Teague found him for an easy lay-up. Andre Drummond was way late to provide help.
"It's multiple things," Monroe said. "I think we have to guard it with more than two people.
"In this league, there will be a lot of plays where they might beat those two people, but it's the second line of defense that we're having a little bit of trouble with."
Cheeks pointed out it's tough to provide another defender when you are concerned with spot-up three-point shooters such as the Hawks' Kyle Korver.
But maybe things should be simplified. The team can try to adjust to personnel, but maybe they should just have a couple coverages to eliminate confusion.
No. 4: 'Foreign Legion' working wonders for Spurs — The Spurs, like last season, find themselves at the top of the Southwest Division thanks to the play of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, right? Well, not exactly. San Antonio has surged to the top of the division standings and is among the West's best because of that star trio most know, but moreso because of their bench play, which has affectionately been dubbed the 'Foreign Legion' by Dan McCartney of the San Antonio Express-News:
Depth has long been a Spurs hallmark, particularly during their recent ascent back among the league's elite.It isn't just a luxury. With Tim Duncan approaching 40, Manu Ginobili not far behind and Tony Parker coming off a grueling summer of international hoops, having a strong bench capable of providing an assortment of options is absolutely essential in their quest to capture another championship.
"It's something we depend on," head coach Gregg Popovich said after the Spurs beat Boston going away on Wednesday, 104-93. "We've got a good, focused second group. They play very aggressively. We look for that and we need it."
They certainly got it against the Celtics, dominating the battle of the bench 34-16 to account for the winning margin and more. It was another strong performance from a unit that ranks fourth in bench scoring (39.7 points per game), total production and production differential.
The bulk of that output is provided by the Foreign Legion of Ginobili, Boris Diaw, Marco Belinelli and Patty Mills, who have combined to break open numerous games already. Not just a collection of cool accents, they have the No. 6 plus-minus, at 16.6 points per 100 possessions, among 20 four-man lineups that have played at least 30 minutes together, and the second-best among units that do not include either Duncan or Parker. Their collective offensive rating of 117.2 points per 100 possessions is 14 points higher than the team's average.
VIDEO: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich praises the team's reserves
SOME RANDOM HEADLINES: Dirk Nowitzki is donating $20 for every 2-pointer the Mavs make this season to help fund research on a rare disease called Hunter syndrome … Mike Dunleavy is the new starter in Chicago while Jimmy Butler is on the shelf … Magic swingman Arron Afflalo may be making a quiet push for an All-Star spot …
ICYMI Of The Night: Kenneth Faried, aka "The Manimal", has always been a favorite around these parts …
VIDEO: Kenneth Faried finishes off the nice Ty Lawson alley-oop


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* Sears Holdings says it may put Sears Canada up for sale
* Sears to hire investment bank to suggest options for its stake
* Sears Canada shares up 4 percent, Sears Holdings drops 2.8 percent (Recasts, adds comments from retail consultants, analyst, HBC, updates stock price)
By Susan Taylor and Ashutosh Pandey
TORONTO, May 14 (Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp said on Wednesday it was looking at selling its 51 percent stake in Sears Canada Inc, a move that could trigger a deal for the entire Canadian operation, though a quick and easy sale was seen as unlikely.
Sears Holdings, which operates more than 2,300 stores in the United States and Canada, said it will hire an investment bank to explore options for its share of Sears Canada.
Shares of Sears Holdings, which is controlled by hedge fund billionaire Eddie Lampert, dropped nearly 6 percent on Wednesday while Sears Canada stock rose 3.4 percent.
The move comes as Sears Holdings, which operates Sears and Kmart discount stores, tries to engineer a turnaround.
Sales have declined since 2005, when Lampert merged the two U.S. chains in an $11 billion deal, and the company has closed about 300 U.S. stores since 2010, but still struggles to generate cash.
While such a large package of retail space is rarely available in Canada, industry experts said buyers may be put off by the health and composition of Sears Canada's operation, especially after the sale of leases for some of its most valuable locations.
"The pieces are likely worth more than the whole, particularly as we consider that the Sears brand has been allowed to decay," said Jim Danahy, chief executive of consultancy CustomerLAB and director of the Centre for Retail Leadership at York University's Schulich School of Business.
"This is carrion. The vultures are circling and they're not interested, no one's interested, in the whole thing."
Another Canadian retail analyst said he didn't expect a speedy deal because he didn't see an obvious single buyer for the entire company.
Potential suitors may also be chilled by the frosty reception Canada has given to Target Corp. Last year, Target reported an operating loss of nearly $1 billion in Canada after opening 124 stores and three distribution centers.
"The Target deal has taken the bloom off the Canadian rose," said Danahy.
Sears Canada, which traces its Canadian roots back to the early 1950s, has fallen on hard times in recent years as competition intensified in the department store sector.
The company, which said it would cooperate with its parent company "to achieve value for all shareholders," has already sold several of its most valuable leases over the past year, including one for its flagship store at Toronto Eaton Centre, raising about C$591 million ($541.9 million).
Sales have declined for six straight years as Sears Canada lost market share to such rivals as Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Target, which have been aggressively expanding.
Target considered acquiring Sears Canada when it studied expansion into the country, a 2012 British Columbia labor board document showed, but it decided that Zellers stores were more attractive.
Sears Canada has 176 corporate and 234 Hometown stores, 1,400 catalog and online pick-up locations, 97 Sears travel offices and a nationwide repair and service network.
Earlier this year, the company said it would have about 20,000 employees after a string of job cuts, including some 3,000 positions eliminated since November.
While the bulk of Sears Canada's stores are in smaller and suburban markets, that could still underpin a healthy retail operation, said Antony Karabus, President of Hilco Retail Consulting.
"There is full, significant business volume. Don't for a minute think that there isn't, because there is significant volume in those suburban malls," he said. "There is a real business there, for sure."
Desjardins Securities analyst Keith Howlett said potential buyers could include major landlords and pension funds that want to better use mall space occupied by Sears Canada, along with private equity and retail turnaround groups, such as Sun Capital, Hilco and Gordon Brothers.
Large-format retailers, such as Macy's Inc and Kohl's Corp, are also potential suitors, he said in a note to clients, as are Canadian operators, such as Hudson's Bay Co , that may want to expand and fend off new rivals.
A Hudson's Bay spokeswoman said the company would not comment on speculation.
$1 = 1.0906 Canadian dollars Additional reporting by Solarina Ho and Euan Rocha in Toronto; Editing by Savio D'Souza, Lisa Von Ahn, Jeffrey Hodgson and Eric Walsh


text: Updated 2016 Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam, but it's barely a blip on the overall travel scene next to its more famous neighbor 80 km to the north. But that's not to say Rotterdam doesn't have a charm of its own. Start with the Netherlands Travel Facts.


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The real problem with PCH
October 24, 2012 § 49 Comments
Another person was killed riding her bicycle on Pacific Coast Highway last week, not too far from Cher's compound. Reports say she clipped a mirror on a parked car, veered out into the lane, and got hit and dragged to death by a bus.
"It was a tragedy and a very sad event," said Malibu City Councilmember Skylar Peak. Yes. It was. As opposed to being a tragedy and, say, a happy event.
"It was a very, very sad and tragic loss of what seemingly was a wonderful young woman," said Councilmember Laura Zahn Rosenthal. Yes. And how nice of you to say "seemingly."
It was sad and tragic, just like the other sad and tragically dead cyclists who have met their end on PCH, and just like the ones who will die there in the future. What's really tragic, though, is that there's no end in sight.
What's killing cyclists on PCH?
The root causes of most bike-car accidents are twofold: Most cyclists are not particularly good bike handlers, and PCH is essentially a narrow, obstacle-filled road with speeding cars, trucks, and buses. It doesn't take much, especially when PCH cyclists are often enthusiasts who are going hard, for a biker to lose control.
It might be a mirror, an opened door, debris, a pothole, uneven surfaces, longitudinal cracking in the pavement, wide "tire traps" around manhole covers, a howling onshore wind, the air vortex from a fast passing large truck, another cyclist, a moment of inattentive wobbling, a parked car, a parked trash can, a mechanical failure, a flat tire, something getting caught in the spokes…it's an endless list. To make sure these predictably unpredictable hazards don't crash you out takes skill; it takes the skills of constant alertness, of being able to react quickly without losing control, and of being able to forecast problems and avoid them before they occur.
These are precisely the skills that most cyclists lack, and they often lack them to a shocking degree. The average cycling enthusiast is a terrible bike handler for many reasons. They tend to start later in life, when the learning curve is steeper. They tend not to have a background in moto or BMX, two-wheeled activities conducive to great bike handling skills.
They've never raced, and so don't have a lot of experience crashing and avoiding crashes. They don't train with large groups, so they're not on a state of constant high alert, or accustomed to being surrounded by reckless, unpredictable idiots who can crash them out at a moment's notice. They cycle for exercise, not for errands or commuting, so they don't have a lot of experience using a bike for transportation and learning the survival skills that go with fighting traffic in a morning and evening commute.
They don't have a skilled mentor from whom to learn.
PCH is a high-skills corridor. The deaths there prove it. And although thousands and thousands of people ride PCH every year and never get hurt, I'd hazard a guess that everyone who rides it much at all has a long string of stories about near-misses and the mishaps of others.
So that's part of the problem: High-skills corridor, low-skills users. Bam.
The other 90% of the problem
However, it's not the kooky wankers whose wheel you wouldn't want to follow on a dare who are killing themselves. They're being run over and killed by cars, trucks, and buses. And as the NRA would say, cars don't kill people. People kill people.
They're right.
Because however inept the average cycling enthusiast is, the average driver is far worse. More damning, terrible driving skills in America can't be excused from lack of practice. It seems that no matter how many years people drive, the roadways are still cluttered with terrible drivers.
The comments from idiots like "Hellwood," a Malibu type whose philosophy is that PCH is too dangerous for bikes, prove the point. Most drivers, Cher included, simply don't know what to do when they come upon a bicycle, whether it's in the lane, on the shoulder, or straddling the two. A skilled driver wouldn't even shrug: He'd see the bike far in advance, move over, pass the bike, and get back into his lane.
He might be slowed down a few seconds, if at all.
This, of course, hardly ever happens. Tottsy Dundershoot is barreling along in his restored Chevelle SS with the top down and "WHOA! What the fuck! A bike!!!"
Yikes! Hit the brakes! Or better yet, veer! Or better yet, accelerate, buzz, honk, and wave the middle finger! Get flustered!
None of these reactions is the reaction of a skilled driver. They're the reactions of an unskilled, easily unnerved, easily frightened driver. And it's no different on the freeway, where no one understands what a "passing lane" is, and where 999 drivers out of 1,000 believe that the far left lane is the "fast lane," meaning "the lane I stay in because I'm going faster than the guy I just passed."
Drive the autobahn and you'll get a quick education in real driving skills. You hit the left lane to pass, then get the hell out. Autobahn driving, if you're going fast, is a series of passes followed by returning to the slower lane until you have to pass the next person. It requires constant attentiveness, the ability to see what's going on well ahead of your own car, and the patience and skill to seamlessly pass, return, pass, return, pass, and return over and over and over again.
In Germany, that's one of many skills that make up the ability to "drive" a car.
In America, we don't drive cars. We point them.
Skilled drivers relish using their skills
Like road cyclists who enjoy a tricky descent, or mountain bikers who get a kick out of negotiating difficult terrain, skillful drivers enjoy using their skills. Driving situations that require forecasting, reaction, avoidance, coordination, and thought make driving fun.
This is the antithesis of how people drive on PCH. They point, mash the pedal, and scare the fuck out of themselves when anything unexpected happens. You know, unexpected things like bicycles, of which there are thousands every single weekend.
Frightened, inept, barely-in-control car pointers are not dangerous because their cars are big, moving fast, and weigh thousands of pounds. They're dangerous for the same reason that a clumsy, unskilled idiot is dangerous with a loaded gun: He doesn't really know how to use it.
The toxicity of "My Space"
Partnered up with a laughable set of driving skills, the PCH car pointer becomes even more deadly due to his xenophobic sense of space. The roadway is his turf. Anything that is smaller and slower than him is a foreigner without an entry visa. When his space is invaded, his cloddish driving skills combine with his outrage at something being where he thinks it doesn't belong, and cause him to freak out.
In order to make PCH safe for cyclists, it doesn't require any new studies or infrastructure or laws. It requires something even costlier and more impossible to attain: The admission that bikes in the middle of the road, even erratic and badly handled ones, are a piece of cake for anyone who pretends to be a skilled driver, and the realization that as a cyclist the biggest hazard to your health on PCH may well be the way you ride your bike.
§ 49 Responses to The real problem with PCH
Awesome piece Wankmeister, driving on the autobahn in reverse adds even more to your skills, like being a bike messenger will make you a better cyclist 😉
In the end, unfortunately, you can't outsmart stupid. Keep a rabbit's foot in your jersey pocket…..
This is a great post. I am a new cyclist and had a huge fall on the bike path this past weekend when I hit a crack in wet conditions. If I was on PCH I would surely have been hit by a car. I am getting really tired of riding that same bike path 3-4 times a week but I don't feel confident enough to ride on our congested streets…. Like PCH.
Even if you don't want to join a cycling club (yet), most clubs and many bike stores have scheduled , "open to the public", non-hammer rides several times per week.
It's a good way to start learning about bike handling, etc.
For now, best to avoid any ride in the So Bay that has the word "Pier" or "Donut" in its name 😉
You have hit the nail on the head. One corollary. Ride with people who know wtf they are doing.
I am dumbfounded & most frightened by motorist's addiction/obsession to texting, whether I'm on my bike, in my car, or walking across the street. While they are glancing down, their car has travelled hundreds of feet, and they are essentially driving while blind.
What in hell could be so important that it requires texting NOW?
I suspect most of these texts are variations on "whassup".
Texting is already illegal with substantial fines, making it "more illegal" won't likely deter motorists. Just look at DUI offenders. Even if a DUI's license is eventually revoked, they still drive anyway. Impounding their smartphone may be more of a deterrent!
A grand slam, Seth! Hits the nail right on the head!
Memorial Ride this Sunday.
In a nutshell: Dead-on.
This needs to be published for wider consumption. Specifically all who ride and drive PCH. Maybe the germ of these ideas will make it into a few brains and prevent one more catastrophe.
When my girlfriend started riding PCH, my only admonishment(s) was "remember, every time your wheel turns over, it's a whole new set of hazards", and "stay off bad wheels". Years later, I still say it, and we get to sit down and have dinner together every night.
P.s. Seth, your Sunday Big Rock ride looks well organized from across the road, just like the Big Rock rides of yesteryear. Kudos.
I rarely ride PCH anymore. I'm bummed about that but I think as I've gotten older, I've gotten more cautious.
When I do ride it, I tend to drive to Bluffs park and leave from there. I've become one of the people I used to say I'd never become! Driving to a road ride. Pathetic.
Still, doing that allows me to hit the awesome hills of Malibu without riding the dangerous and narrow sections of PCH from Temescal to Webb way.
Unfortunately, right now the worst section of PCH seems to be the section between Chers house and John Tyler Dr.
Tons of construction and trucks and parked cars. Hmm, just where that poor woman was killed.
Maybe I'll just start riding south more often and climb the switchies to the domes 2 or 3 times.
PCH…I remember when it was wonderful!
Liz, If you want to avoid that section of road when Southbound, take the side road through the colony along the beach. That massive construction site will more than likely be compromise the shoulder for several months. Ride Safe.
Thanks Seth!
Most articles are about entitlement…I like how yours is about empowerment. Thanks for such a well written article. I've shared it with many friends and family members.
Well written and spot on. I doubt the public will know the true cause of the latest death, but if anyone is interested, here is a link to one blog post suggesting that Echevaria may have been thrown into the road after her tire caught in a seam:
If the cyclists control the full lane as a driver instead of riding in the door zone (gutter and road edge) thus encouraging close passes in the same lane then this wouldn't happen. Cars would see them sooner as they see other vehicles and would change lanes to pass. If the cyclists is controlling the full lane, it would not be a matter of veering into the lane.. they are already there and riding where they are visible.
Seth. This is by far the best yet. I've been riding PCH since 1985. If you ever want to organize skill clinics let me know. The Sunday after that accident we we're on PCH and was nearly clipped by a UHaul at 6am. Goes to show ya that Grim is never to far. I'd be open to teach my first hand knowledge on survival skills. Also will add descending tips.
Here Caltrans responds to a motorist with regards to bike positioning on PCH: http://northcountycycleclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=628.msg1458#msg1458
In San Diego County we are working to put sharrows and Bikes May Use Full Lane signs to educate cyclists to position themselves down the center of the effective lane and to educate drivers to expect cyclists in the full lane which is the law. These will go in everywhere there are not bike lanes. The lanes are too narrow to share side by side. They should be in in Encinitas by the end of this year. http://www.ci.encinitas.ca.us/index.aspx?recordid=257&page=30
Here is how it was done in Hermosa Beach. Notice the BMUFL sign: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4258888881826&set=a.1230700779016.34632.1574017310&type=1&theater
"In order to make PCH safe for cyclists, it doesn't require any new studies or infrastructure or laws. It requires something even costlier and more impossible to attain: The admission that bikes in the middle of the road, even erratic and badly handled ones, are a piece of cake for anyone who pretends to be a skilled driver, and the realization that as a cyclist the biggest hazard to your health on PCH may well be the way you ride your bike."
I like that. Especially the part about getting drivers to see a few arrows are missing from their driving quivers.
So – how to do that? How do we get drivers to acknowledge their skill set is lacking if they can't safely and gracefully negotiate a bicycle in the right lane.
Based on my own experience as a PCH rider through Santa Monica, Malibu and north since the seventies, I know the primary problem is motorists who are driving waaaaay too fast for the conditions (the other traffic on the road, i.e., the bicycle up ahead) and hoping they get lucky "just one more time".
I'm sure any regular PCH bus driver has passed thousands of cyclists at speeds so great he couldn't avoid a cyclist who wobbled or fell into his path. But they've been lucky.
Maybe the insurance companies would ask drivers to acknowledge their skill gap if tickets for violation of California's basic speed law (VC 22350) started showing up on DMV records at annual premium review time.
And imagine the field day law enforcement would have if the boss told them to ticket motorists who overtook bicycle riders "…at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for…the traffic on…the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property."
"Son, what's this letter from the Malibu Courthouse?"
"Oh, dad, yeah, I got a speeding ticket…"
"But it says you were only going 42MPH?"
"Uh, yeah, I was passing a kid on a bike…"
[…] confirm their commitment to bike safety following the death of Mari Echeverria on PCH this month; Cycling in the South Bay responds with the real problem on PCH. What happens to abandoned bikes in Hermosa Beach. CLR Effect takes a […]
Not mentioned is the fact that in civilized countries, motorists are required to LEARN to drive. In Germany, one of the first financial loans a young adult takes out is for a course of driver's training, which requires both theory (you should see how thick the textbook is–it's not a tiny little picture-filled handout from the DMV!) and many, many hours of behind-the-wheel training with a trained, certified driving instructor (not your incompetent and/or drunk dad who hands you the keys once you have your permit), including minimum requirements for behind-the-wheel instruction in various conditions such as night driving, freeway driving & inclement weather.
In America, "driver's ed" is a joke, a sick joke that kills tens of thousands of people every year.


text:
The good news is that, according to Jay Glazer of FOX, the NFL and the locked-out officials will talk early this week to try (key word: try) to solve the labor dispute.
The bad news is that, according to Jay Glazer of FOX, there's a new issue between the two sides.
Per Glazer, the locked-out officials want to be paid for the weeks they missed.
With three weeks in and with the 121 officials making on average $5,500 per game, that's $665,500 per week. Which equates through three weeks to nearly $2 million.
Which means there's another $2 million between these two sides.
Which means the replacements should keep washing their uniforms every Tuesday.


text:
Oh man, do I love the internet. Among the many wonderful things the computer-telephone hybrid known as the information super-highway can give us are the exciting and always-engaging echo-chambers known as Blogs. One of my favorites for years has been Soul Sides, written and directed by Dr. Oliver Wang. In late 2007, he ran a ridiculously fascinating series called "Who Flipped It Better?" where he posted an original composition and two rap songs that sampled it, asking his readers "who flipped it better?"
Wang grew up on classic soul and has the same passion for it that I have for pop culture. Therefore, I thought I'd sample* his idea for my own entirely original series – 'Who Flopped it Better?' Today we're looking at a song near and dear to my heart, the theme from the Emmy and Nobel Peace Prize winning television show Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
The Mighty RAW (Ron Wasserman) – "Go Go Power Rangers" (1993)
Composed by Ron Wasserman and Shuki Levy (who handled the bulk of the music for Saban Entertainment's programming), the catchy anthem was just infectious enough to spearhead Morphin-Mania to the moon and be heard ad-nauseum throughout the show and outside of it, so no matter where you went, the Power Rangers would be "Go-Going" with you. The song itself is the audio equivalent of what the next decade of children's entertainment was going to become. The repetitive urgent bass subliminally gave the show's start an importance. The wonderfully obnoxious guitar solo sounds almost like a caricature of dated early-90s rock, appealing to the young audience as an overabundant pseudo-gateway into their older peers' world. Finally the call-and-response chorus of "GO GO POWER RANGERS!" giving kids all the fun of the sing-a-longs they've outgrown, allowing them to have a rallying cry and instant bonding point with the whole neighborhood. There's a science to sampling, and with nostalgia being more powerful this decade than ever it was only a matter of time before this immortal piece of music was sampled.
Juvenile – "I Got That Fire" (2000, Produced by Mannie Fresh)
1993 AD, the year "Go Go Power Rangers" hit the airwaves, was also the same year New Orleans rapper Juvenile released his debut single "Powder Bag." While it would still take another five years for him to break nationally with "Ha," it was his 2000 single "I Got That Fire" that finally brought the two worlds together. Cash Money Records in-house producer Mannie Fresh interpolated several elements of the original orchestration throughout the beat, but Juvenile's overabundant charisma made the channeling almost unnoticeable. The fact that Juvenile doesn't acknowledge the beat's source material at all aids how well the song has aged. It's not kitschy or gimmicky, just a case of a producer using a melody to help create something new.
Young Dro – "House on Me" (2008, Produced by Young Sears)
Not unlike the child who doesn't eat the crust of his pizza, Young Sears just took the part of "Go Go Power Rangers" we love the most (the opening guitars) and made an entire beat out of it. The oddly melodic Dro hook works and acts as a great balance for Grand Hustle's best rapper** to kick meticulously complex and satisfyingly re-playable verses. Dro's flow is fantastic, his writing is on point and by also not making a gimmick out of the beat allows the song to have an incredible shelf-life.
OK kids, WHO FLOPPED IT BETTA? Mannie Fresh or Young Sears? Juvenile or Young Dro? Kimberly or Trini? SO WAT'CHA WANT?!?!?!
So until next time…Let's Agree to Agree!
*and by "sample" I mean steal.
**You heard me.
This post is dedicated in loving memory of 'Ag3nt M.O.E.' Moses Malloy. 1986-2009 RIP homie.


text:
Rams Clinch Second with Win Over Bard
Farmingdale State - 2, Bard College - 0
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State women's soccer team clinched the second seed for the Skyline Conference playoffs with a 2-0 win over Bard this afternoon in Farmingdale, N.Y. Senior defender Kaitlin O'Brien (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) played in her final regular season home game for the Rams.
Freshman midfielder Brittany Williams (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) scored the first goal of the day just fifteen minutes into play, giving the Rams a 1-0 lead. Freshman forward Katrina Cerverizzo (Center Moriches, N.Y./Center Moriches) scored Farmingdale's second and final goal of the day at the 35 minute mark.
The Rams held a 2-0 lead at the half and would hold the Raptors scoreless in the second to preserve the conference victory.
Freshman goalkeeper Amanda Maass (Mastic Beach, N.Y./William Floyd) made three saves in her seventh shutout of the season, while freshman goalkeeper Jessica Philpott (Hot Springs, Va./Bath County) made six saves in defeat.
The Rams will now receive a Bye for the quarterfinal round of the playoffs and will await word of their semifinal opponent. Official seedings for the Playoffs will be posted on the Skyline website (www.skylineconference.org) at the conclusion of today's Skyline scheduled games.


text:
Latest Weather Blog
Israel accepts Egypt's Gaza cease-fire proposal
JERUSALEM - Israel has accepted an Egyptian proposal for a new 72-hour cease-fire with Gaza militants.
The move clears the way for the resumption of indirect talks on a long-term cease-fire arrangement in Hamas-ruled Gaza after a month of heavy fighting.
Egypt brokered a similar truce last week. But after the three-day window, militants resumed rocket fire on Israel and new fighting erupted.
The Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media, said they accepted Egypt's latest offer Sunday. But they said they were wary after last week's breakdown


text:
Cooking For Engineers
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need better ingredients/chicken recipe
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Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Posts: 3
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 6:45 pm
Post subject: need better ingredients/chicken recipe
The following recipe is missing something. It tastes of dried, packaged, store bought ingredients. What would improve it?
In a baking dish, layer chicken breasts, then shredded cheese, then canned mushroom soup, then dry, turkey dressing mix. Bake until done.
This is for a monthly women's card game that my wife will host in May.
Would sour cream and canned mushrooms sub for the canned soup? Use croutons instead of the dressing mix? Use some other cheese than cheddar? The cheese seals the moisture into the meat so it was great. The crunch from the dressing mix was good, it was just the flavors that were lacking. We spice heavily with garlic, chili, cumin, mustard, curry, ginger, soy sauce, and vinegar so the problem may just be our palates' reaction to Betty Crocker food.
Your opinions would be most welcome.
Thanks, Joe
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Joined: 21 Dec 2005
Posts: 108
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 1:31 am
Post subject:
I'd think your problem is the canned cream of mushroom soup -- not a good starting point. Try starting out with a veloute base by starting with some finely chopped mixed mushrooms (maybe button, shiitake and cremini) and finely chopped onions or shallots that you saute in butter. Make a roux with a little additional butter and flour and then add hot chicken broth to the mixture to form a veloute sauce. (Check any cookbook for proportions of the butter, flour and broth). You might enrich the veloute with heavy cream at the end and add some allspice or nutmeg along with some ground pepper and heat it through. Then try pouring THAT in with your casserole!
I think the key here is to try to use good, fresh ingredients and make the sauce taste good on its own -- try for subtle and flavorful instead of overwhelming.
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Joined: 03 Feb 2006
Posts: 7
Location: U.S.A.
Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:30 pm
Post subject: Bread crumbs
Have your own stuffing mix in about 5 minutes.
If you have a day old bread? Cube it into about 1 inch cubes. Take out your trusty food processor. Add fresh herbs like a teaspoon of Dill, Rosemary, and Parlsey. (everything tastes better with Parsley). Dice one celery stick. Dice 1/2 of a small white oninon. Pulse 2 to 3 times.
On the days I am too lazy to make my own soups in my crock pot. I just go down to my local deli and get theirs. :-) That way it is just as fast as using a can but much better in taste. Not to mention healthier.
You now have a much better topping for your chicken. :-)
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Domestic Goddess
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Posts: 3
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 3:58 am
Post subject:
Crockpot Swiss Chicken Casserole
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 slices Swiss Cheese
1 (10-3/4 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup milk
2 cups dry stuffing mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
Lightly grease crock pot, or spray with a cooking spray.
Place chicken breasts in pot.
Top with cheese slices.
Combine soup and milk; stirring well.
Spoon over cheese, and sprinkle on the stuffing mix.
Drizzle melted butter over stuffing mix.
Cover, and cook on low 8 to 10 hours, or on high 4 to 6 hours.
*Note: When I made this recipe, I used 4-(8 oz.) chicken breasts,
and 5 slices of Swiss Cheese. I cooked this casserole for 4 hours
on a HIGH setting, in an oval shaped crockpot, but my hubby informed
me that I should reduce the cooking time to either 3 or 3-1/2 hours,
so the chicken doesn't dry out as much. This was quite delish!!
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:25 pm
Post subject:
I have made a similar recipe, although with rice rather than stuffing mix. It is actually one of my favorites - I don't have the recipe in front of me, but as I recall I use 1 cup milk, 1 cup rice, 1 can cream mushroom soup, chicken breasts/pieces (as many as you want to fit in the casserole dish). Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes. For a crispy top, turn the oven to broil and sprinkle cheese on top.
You may have to play with the milk/rice combination, since altitude and humidity play a significant role in the final moisture content of the dish. If it comes out dry, add more milk next time. If it comes out soupy or wet, use a little less milk or a little more rice.
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text:
I am old-fashioned, I guess. I want you to leave me here inside the box, where I do my best thinking, and not try to take me to the next level.
Going forward, first of all, I want to stand my ground with my boots on the ground, where I feel well grounded. Second of all, I will not step up to the plate nor touch base with you every hour. Third of all, do not tell the gossipniks if I sometimes sneak off to my ivory tower. Fourth of all, I will have to get back to you on that.
I will pay for my own free lunch, thank you, as long as the price point is not too high for my financial profile and the food palette and taste profile suit my palate.
I insist on a subtly subdued ambience in which to experience my dining experience. I insist the d�cor be elegant but understated and the servers and wait staff be knowledgeable, seemly and decorous.
I will mull all these factors in seclusion and subsequently factor them into my review process before I make future plans to encore the gustatory experience I have experienced. I refuse to expedite this thought process just to shorten the time frame.
I have been shopping a manuscript and a few publishers have cast promising glances my way. But before I commit to being anyone's commit, I shall remain a wily holdout while I intensely observe the work process, the workflow and the work ethic of the enterprise I will be committing to. Then I will make a commitment, and honor it — unless, of course, some 11th-hour bombshell from my rap sheet should force me to decommit.
Should any of my frivolous felonies cast a shadow on my flawless (airbrushed) reputation, I will bite the bullet, grimace for the cameras, rehab, recommit and soldier on. You, as Facebook fans and Twitter followers, should expect no less from me as a role model. After all, I impact your children.
Last week I blindly engaged an awesome, really awesome, makeover landscape artist and his merry band of artisans to convert my dreary backyard into a charming outdoor room that will seamlessly meld with, complement and enhance the warmth profile of my indoor living space.
The crew will quietly dynamite the swimming pool, jackhammer the hardscape and install a tropical-themed water feature complete with blue lagoon. They will scoop up the lawn and replace it with imported, invasive ground cover. They will dig up all the flowers, shrubs and bushes and replace them with exotic and covertly cultured plant material, probably invasive.
I will not be here to oversee the magical transmogrification of my house and yard into mansion and grounds. The courts have summoned me to participate in the justice process. If I am not voted off the jury by the audience or stricken from the roster by lawyers, I will move to the next round, the next level, the jury box.
Then this panel of peers will try the case before us. The defendant will not be one of our equals accused of a crime and presumed innocent until proven guilty, but rather an attempted murderer, an alleged rapist or an accused thief.
Prosecutors will present incriminating evidence and charges of guilt in the prosecution process. Then defense lawyers will rebut the charges and present exculpatory evidence in the defense process.
The judge will give his charge. At that point in time, we, the jury, will withdraw and enter into the secret deliberation process. We, the jury, will be out. If we find the defendant guilty, the judge will sentence him in the sentencing process, after which the convict and his lawyers may begin the appeals process.
I am now engaged in the writing process on the second floor of our house where our bedroom is located. Last night at bedtime, my bride chose to continue watching telly in the den, so I kissed her goodnight and told her I was taking myself to the next level.
She looked puzzled and lifted her eyebrows as if she suspected I had enjoyed too many post-prandials. After I climbed the stairs, I did indeed feel elevated, perhaps even exalted, ready for my close-up process.
DARRELL NORMAN: The process of living at a higher level
I am old-fashioned, I guess. I want you to leave me here inside the box, where I do my best thinking, and not try to take me to the next level.


text:
Smart Growth
Collectivists use Orwellian 'doublespeak' to fool the public, with the word "smart". So-called Smart Growth is the strategy used to concentrate people into cities, and to remove them off of the land, under the banner of 'protecting' the environment.
Remember, only 5-6% of land in America is developed (buildings, roads, etc).
Smart Growth is a trick to devalue property outside of Smart Growth boundaries; this is accomplished through limiting development which affects economic growth. Heavy environmental regulations and land re-zoning on land outside the boundaries renders the land virtually worthless.
Within the Smart Growth boundaries, property prices soar, and housing becomes limited and expensive.
- Land with minimal Smart Growth regulations sells for $10 to $40 thousand dollars per lot. Land with heavy Smart Growth regulations sells for $200 to $600 thousand dollars per lot.
Are you aware that America's total land mass is only 6% developed? And only 3% of the land mass is considered urban. Yet 77% of the population lives in urban areas.
The federal government "owns" over 29% of America's land mass. And most of it is in the Western States.
The reason for this, according to the Wayne Hage, in his book Storm Over Rangelands, is because the Eastern banking and industry interests did not wish the prosperous and resource rich West to dominate their interests in the East. Environmentalism was corrupted and expanded in the 1800's to limit the wealth and resources of the West. For example, railroad magnate Ed Harriman funded John Muir (founder of the deceitful Sierra Club).
As a result, massive land use regulations were created around water rights, timber, mining, grazing rights, etc.
The overall objective of Smart Growth is control. Smart Growth communities consist of building up, not out. Stores are located at the bottom of high rise buildings where people live in the apartments above. The purpose of this is to keep people contained, so they never have to leave their Smart Growth cages.
'Urban sprawl', or spread out development, is demonized despite the fact that most people would prefer to live in a single family home, owning the land. There is far more freedom accorded to landowners than to apartment dwellers.
Another part of Smart Growth planning is the light rail system. The objective is more control over people by limiting travel (some Smart Growth developments don't even have garages). Despite the financial impracticability of the rail system, billions have been wasted on it nationwide.
Smart Growth planning has extended into the energy field. Smart Growth buildings have a centralized control mechanism for heaters, air conditioners, water heaters and appliances. Energy usage is remotely controlled.
Currently, Smart Meters are being installed on homes and apartments to monitor, up to the minute, energy and appliance usage. This has been funded by taxpayer money. Initially, the electricity companies are providing information on residents' power usage, with the ultimate goal of controlling power remotely.
Lastly, biodiversity is preserved when there are many types of development and land usage. Allowing overgrowth of nature results in old forests, as opposed to successional forests with more life forms. Further, it creates a wildfire danger. When nature is left untouched, plant overgrowth occurs, providing fuel for wildfires.
Many local government officials and city planners are ignorant about this scheme. You can educate them about the perils of Smart Growth. If they are non-responsive, vote them out. Share this information with your neighbors. Your liberty is at stake.
In 2004, Oregon passed a law, Measure 37, to justly compensate property owners who were victims of destructive Smart Growth programs.


text:
It's been more than three decades since Foster's Daily Democrat instituted its Holiday Art and Writing Contest. Over those many years, thousands of young artists and authors have submitted works — first grade through high school.
Again this year, hundreds of student artists and writers submitted entries, representing dozens of schools as well as home-schooled youngsters.
Since late November, a panel of judges has marveled at the imagination and creativity of students who wrote about everything from the true meaning of the holidays to mischievous elves to stories which brought tears. Students who chose to enter art were equal in their creativity and quality, using a wide array of media and styles.
In all, the judges chose 36 winners in the art portion of the competition and 38 on the writing side. Each entry was judged by at least three members of the panel on a scale of 1-10, for a possible score of 30. Of the 74 winning entries, 10 received perfect scores. Each entry was judged based, in part, on the grade of the artist or writer. Special kudos go to those who tallied perfect scores in art: Hannah Marsh, Gabriella Matheny, Kelly Collins, Madison Goldstein and Kunanon Chimphalee. Congratulations for perfect scores in writing go to: Griffinn Gower, Annabelle Beaton, Tyler Crews, Corinne Strader and Lily Stanwood.
Sincere thanks also go to the judges who spent countless hours helping select the winners: Rod Doherty, Sue Barry, Barbara Laskey, Melissa Petersen and Celeste Dietterle.
A special thanks also go to the young artists and authors who submitted entries — and to the parents, guardians and teachers who supported them.
A ceremony to honor this year's winners with be held Saturday, Jan. 19, at 9 a.m., in auditorium of the Idlehurst School in Somersworth. Winners will be notified by mail with full details.
Grades 1& 2 Art
Kaylea Griddine, Strafford Elementary School
Julia Tursi, Strafford Elementary School
Noah Moore, Newmarket Elementary School
Haiden Joe, Newmarket Elementary School
Kayla Hill, Garrison Elementary School, Dover
Alyson Bortz, Garrison Elementary School, Dover
Karina Jones, Newmarket Elementary School
Abigail Erickson, Hanson School, Lebanon, Maine
Grades 3 & 4 Art
Meghan Fitzgerald, Garrison Elementary School
Colin Bassett, Newmarket Elementary School
Ryan Tobin, Saint Patrick School, Portsmouth
Abigail Grace Thornton, Newmarket Elementary School
Wyatt Macklin, Portsmouth Christian Academy
Allison Howland, Moharimet Elementary School, Madbury
Lily Dube, Dover
Grade 5 & 6 Art
Hannah Marsh, Strafford School
Charlotte Hambucken, Oyster River Middle School, Durham
Kendall Lamm, Stratham Memorial School
Elena Chan, Dover Middle School
Gwyneth Crossman, Oyster River Middle School, Durham
Ann Chen, Oyster River Middle School, Durham
Grades 7 & 8 Art
Gabriella Matheny, Greenland Central School
Kelly Collins, The Derryfield School
Katelyn Frost, Home School, East Rochester
Maria Heeter, Saint Mary Academy, Dover
Abby Siagian, Dover Middle School
Sabrina Chan, Dover Middle School
Hunter St. Jean, Nottingham Elementary School
Jake Weglarz, Oyster River Middle School, Durham
High School Art
Madison Goldstein, Spaulding High School
Kunanon Chimphalee, Spaulding High School
Madison Sanborn, Farmington High School
Audrey Lane, home school
Jamie Grant, Somersworth High School
Kaitlyn Grant, Somersworth High School
Veronica Chambers-O'Bryan, Dover High School Grades 1&2 Writing
Ethan Tortorella-Lewis, Barrington Elementary School
Molly Sawyer, Maple Street Magnet School, Rochester
Jishnu Dey, Horne Street School, Dover
Kaylin Penley, Hanson School, Lebanon, Maine
Iam Kula, Barrington Elementary School
Caitlin Frost, Barrington Elementary School
Grades 3 &4 Writing
Rowin Townsend, Mast Way School, Lee
Isaac Olsen-Starke, Mast Way School, Lee
Anna Sargent, Mast Way School, Lee
Drew Hilyard, Mast Way School, Lee
Brooke Wilson, Garrison Elementary School
Robbie Follis, Mast Way School, Lee
Emma Badger, Hanson School, Lebanon, Maine
Jordan Collins, Knowlton School, Berwick, Maine
Grades 5 & 6 Writing
Emmy Goyette, Oyster River Middle School, Durham
Gwyneth Crossman, Oyster River Middle School, Durham
Hanna Tormay, Dover Middle School
Jonny Kellar, Stratham Memorial School
Tyler Johnson, Stratham Memorial School
Mark Rotering, The Derryfield School
Griffinn Gower, Lebanon (Maine) Elementary School
Annabelle Beaton, Stratham Memorial School
Grades 7 & 8 Writing
Tyler Crews, The Derryfield School
Anna Mae Murphy, The Derryfield School
Carson Lusterberger, Epping Middle School
Erika Wentz, The Derryfield School
Arianna Jones, Northwood Elementary School
Danielle McKay, Epping Middle School
Emily Colban, Epping Middle School
Nick Briccetti, The Derryfield School
Samantha Baker, Dover Middle School
High School Writing
Corinne Strader, Dover High School
Lily Stanwood, Somersworth High School
Hannah Rainier, Somersworth High School
Brittani Royer, Somersworth High School
David Lozeau, Newmarket Jr./Sr. High School
Abbigail Downer, Spaulding High School, Rochester
Rachael Azotea, Somersworth High School
Readers' note
Reproduction of art entries in this section may not match the color, size or quality of the originals. These differences may have influenced scores given by judges. Art on the cover of this edition of Showcase and the cover of this special pullout section were chosen, in part, based on their suitability for print reproduction.