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2018-19 UNCG Men's Basketball Group Ticket Packages
Group tickets are where the fun is at! A UNCG basketball game is the perfect outing for your group. There are opportunities for youth organizations, corporate gatherings, scouts, churches, dance and cheer teams, school bands and choirs, military groups and more! Custom build your own group experience today!
All group packages are personalized to fit your specific needs and provide a fun experience.
Contact a group sales representative today!
Group Package Benefits
• A personal account representative to help you plan your event.
Group Experience Packages
|Company Outing
|Show your appreciation to your employees. Companies receive recognition on the videoboard and an announcement for their support.
|Fan High-Five Tunnel
|You and your friends can welcome the team on the court.
|Halftime Performance
|The spot light is on your group as you take the floor.
|Post-Game Layups
|Take the floor after the game and do layups on the same court as the Spartans!
|Birthday Parties
|Celebrate your day, Spartan style! For more information, click here!
|Raise money for your organization with group tickets that you can sell for face value to earn the profits. For more information, click here!
Seating availability:
• Block seating
• Suite access
• Spartan Spot
Group tickets are subject to availability on a per game basis! Contact a group sales representative today.
To contact a group sales representative, please call the UNCG Ticket Office at 336-334-3250.
To download a group tickets order form, click here.


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Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The Decision to Move Delino DeShields
DeShields played in 18 games in the 2010 season, thanks to the late signing deadline (he didn't sign until August 5). He got two games for the GCL Astros, and then spent the last three weeks of the season at Rookie-Level Greeneville. Over those 18 games, he hit .289/.337/.395 and made two errors in 31 chances in 15 games in CF for Greeneville.
Already at 2B in the Astros system in 2010 were:
*2009 6th Round pick Enrique Hernandez (.280/.322/.398 for Tri-City)
*Jimmy Paredes, who was acquired the week before DeShields signed from New York in the Lance Berkman trade. Paredes was finishing up a 2010 in which he hit .287/.317/.417 across Charleston (New York's SAL team) and Lexington. He would also play in the outfield and third base, trying to find one that would stick.
*A funny little guy named Jose Altuve, who was finishing 2010 as a 20-year old 2B, hitting .308/.364/.445 in 94 games for Low-A Lexington before hitting .276/.333/.457 in a 31-game stint in High-A Lancaster.
*German Duran, who played 57 games at 2B for Corpus, hitting .284/.336/.383.
*Drew Meyer, who got 60 games at 2B for Round Rock, hitting .257/.341/.364.
Meanwhile, Jeff Keppinger was wrapping up a .288/.351/.393 season in Houston. No one was really standing out. If you were to look at the list and pick the guy to be the future of the Astros at 2B, you would probably look at Altuve, see he was 5'5" and then move on (something the National Media has only recently stopped doing) to Jimmy Paredes. Scouting the SAL's Mike Newman said (after ranking Paredes ahead of Altuve):
One of the best baseball players I've seen at the level, Altuve's small stature had to weigh into my rankings or he would have had a legitimate shot at the top spot. Listed at 5'5″, there's simply very little precedent for a player of his size becoming a successful pro.
So when the Astros announced that DeShields was moving to second base, it made sense. Put your best athletes in positions of weakness (and this is nothing against any of the aforementioned second basemen).
2011 happened, though. DeShields "hit" .220/.305/.322. He stole 30 bases, but was caught stealing eleven times. He struck out 118 times in 541 plate appearances. Lexington manager Rodney Linares (now DeShields' manager at Lancaster) said not to worry in May, and again in August when he struck out in 34% of his ABs that month. FanGraphs called him the Astros' "most disappointing prospect" of 2011.
2011 also happened for Jose Altuve. He started one level up from DeShields, at Lancaster, and in 52 games hit .408/.451/.606. The Astros promoted him to Corpus at the end of May to see if he was suffering from Engorged Lancasteritis (Baseball America thought so). And then Altuve hit .361/.388/.569 there. But still, nobody could get past his size. Regard:
Baseball America's Jim Callis said that now-Brewer Jean Segura was better than Jose Altuve and it was "not close, despite the little guy's numbers." They also said after the Futures Game that Altuve "looks more like a trophy model than a top prospect."
A week after the 2011 Futures Game, the Astros traded Jeff Keppinger to the Giants, and Jose Altuve was called up. FanGraphs' Eno Sarris put up a post entitled "Jose Altuve's Size: Boon or Bane?" Even when Altuve was hitting .310/.327/.393 at the end of August for Houston, Jim Callis said Altuve "isn't an elite prospect." Rany Jazayerli wrote in September 2011 that Altuve was "your basic David Eckstein starter kit."
2012 started with Altuve in Houston and Delino DeShields repeating Lexington, and he of course exploded. He hit .298/.401/.439 for Lexington, still struck out a bunch (20.7%), but also stole ramped up his walk rate (13.4%) and stole 83 bases in 97 attempts in 111 games. He was promoted to Lancaster to help with the Cal League championship push, and he while he hit .237/.336/.381, he stole 18 more bases to give him 101 on the year. And if it wasn't for Billy Hamilton stealing 6,842 bases last season, he would have been known as the Great Speedster.
Meanwhile, Altuve went from playing in the Futures Game in 2011 to being the Astros' lone All-Star in 2012. He hit .290/.340/.399, stole 33 bases, and became a cult hero in the process.
In five games this season, DeShields is hitting .333/.364/.476. Altuve is the Astros' best hitter so far (.353/.389/.500) and still the media can't get over what a cute little guy he is.
It's hard to project where the Astros go from here. At this rate, you could see DeShields in Corpus at some point this season, and maybe (?) Oklahoma City. So we're likely looking at 2014 before DeShields even sniffs the Majors. An Altuve-esque meteoric rise is unlikely because there wasn't anyone blocking Altuve. The Astros gave Altuve a shot because, well, they were 31-65 when they traded Keppinger and there wasn't any reason not to give Altuve a shot.
There's no reason to make any moves with DeShields, because he's still three levels away from the Majors. There certainly isn't a reason to do anything with Jose Altuve, because he won't be arbitration-eligible until 2015, and won't be a free agent until 2018. He's my candidate for "Most Likely To Get a Long-Term Contract Before Arbitration," but again, there's no really good reason to even make that move.
Should the Astros trade Altuve when his value is incredibly high, they'll get a huge haul, but Fan Disenchantment will reach Epic levels, given his popularity. And everyone will probably get their banana-hammocks in a twist if they do so, because it proves there's NO INTEGRITY in the organization. Altuve is exactly what the Astros have been looking for: Young, Good, and Cheap.
The last 12 months have been great for Delino DeShields, but he's only 26 months younger than Altuve. Nobody predicted Altuve's Major-League success. Hell, nobody predicted that his minor-league success was anything short of a height-induced anomaly - the baseball equivalent of Sideshow Bob. But it makes me wonder if there isn't regret about moving DeShields to second base, at all.
5 comments:
- Trevor Harris said...
It is articles like this that make me come back daily to AC. It will be interesting to see what we do with DDJ, but one must keep in mind how far away he is from the major league level. The best case scenario is that he climbs the levels and makes the Astros decide what to do with him and 'tuve.
Also, I am okay with the stripping down of the team, and I know that once the prospects get here it will be better, but trading Jose now would be the end of it for a lot of fans. We have him under such a good contract that it would be beyond crazy to try and trade him for "pieces" without the guarantee that DDJ will succeed.
- April 10, 2013 at 4:56 PM
- Seth said...
Trading Jose would not just be a slap in the face to fans, it would be completely illogical.
Jose Altuve is only 2 years and some change older than DDJ. His best comparison through age 22 is Rod Carew according to baseball-reference. Do I think Jose will hit .380 like Carew did? No. Do I think he will be a .300 hitter in his career with 10-15 HRs, 30 SBs, and plus defense. Yes. That is a 4 WAR player at 2nd base
So many people on other blogs and discussion websites just inherently believe that DDJ will supplant Jose at 2nd and Jose will be traded. That is the definition of prospect worship. That is a road that leads to Kansas City Royals or Pittsburg Pirate "type" rebuilding efforts.
- April 12, 2013 at 9:30 AM
- Astros County said...
Whoa whoa....the point wasn't to say Let's Trade Altuve, but rather to question the decision to move DDJ to 2B, precisely because Altuve is firmly entrenched there.
- April 12, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Love AC, read everything you write but this is my first comment. Who knows, maybe it'll become a habit. (who am I kidding, that takes "effort")
To the point now... there's no way there's any regret re: moving DDJ. Development is all about maximizing value and what he's doing as a 2B is way more valuable than if he were in CF. The fact that he's proven he can do it is huge. There's way too many contingencies when talking 2+ years down the road, but let's assume he's major league ready and for whatever reason Altuve isn't going anywhere... and assuming Springer actually puts his tools into practice...
1) Springer has been described as "maybe able to stick in CF, but would be a plus RF" type. If Luhnow thinks DDJ can move back to CF it would probably make the overall defense better.
2) If Luhnow doesn't think he can switch back, and is locked in on Altuve, then the trade market for DDJ will be that much stronger if he's being sold as a 2B.
You just always keep players in their most valuable position as long as possible. Profar is clearly never going to play SS with the Nolans, but he's staying there until it's absolutely necessary he move somewhere else. Andrus could get hurt or the Marlins could offer Stanton or whatever, but SS > 2B > CF.
The regret would only have come if they moved him to 2B and he fell on his face, leaving them to wonder if development would have been better if they left him in CF. It's safe to sit back and enjoy the bucket-of-win that is DeShields Jr.
- April 15, 2013 at 12:41 PM
- Bob Hulsey said...
I don't have a problem with it at all for the reasons stated above. DDJ can always move back to CF with relative ease IF his offense makes him worth putting out there.
The confounding thing about Altuve is that he rarely draws walks at 5-5. He should be taking advantage of his lack of size but he doesn't. If his OBP stays in the low 3s, Jose's not going to be a productive leadoff hitter despite his high average. And, unlike DDJ, there's no position to realistically move Jose to if he can't be a starting second baseman.
I don't think it hurts DDJ to be at 2B because he met yet be the future at that position but his offense needs to be big-league ready before we can pencil him in anywhere.
- July 15, 2013 at 10:57 PM

subset: commoncrawl


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The Nationals, officially, have known they'll be competing in the postseason for two full weeks now, so they've had plenty of time to consider their 25-man October roster.
Major League Baseball, however, doesn't require teams to actually submit their roster until the morning of Game 1 of a particular series, so Mike Rizzo and Davey Johnson don't need to finalize anything until Sunday morning.
Which gives those two men ample opportunity to run through every possible scenario while also waiting to find out the identity of their opponent for the National League Division Series.
The answer to that question -- Braves or Cardinals? -- could play a big role in deciding the last couple of spots on the Nationals' roster. Johnson isn't hiding his desire to have more left-handed pitchers for a series against Atlanta than St. Louis, given the composition of each club's lineup.
Would that be enough to convince Rizzo and Johnson to use John Lannan as their No. 4 starter against the Braves while relegating 10-game winner Edwin Jackson to the role of spectator? Based on Rizzo's answer earlier this week to a more generic question about postseason roster construction, it didn't sound that way.
"I don't think going into that first round of playoffs ... we're going to dance with who brung us," the GM said. "We're going to go with the team that we've had this season out there. As we have throughout the season, we feel good about who we've got on our roster, the way it's created."
Jackson made 31 starts, going 10-11 with a 4.03 ERA. He's also the only starter in the organization with postseason experience.
Lannan made only six starts (four of them in September after Stephen Strasburg was shut down), going 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA. He does, however, own a 9-5 record and 3.20 ERA in 16 career starts against the Braves.
There are other down-to-the-wire considerations for Rizzo and Johnson...
-- Should they carry a seven-man or an eight-man bullpen? And if they carry the extra man, who should fill that spot: Christian Garcia? Zach Duke? Lannan?
-- If they chose to stick with a seven-man relief corps, who gets the last spot on the bench: Mark DeRosa? Eury Perez? Corey Brown?
With all that in mind, here's an educated guess for the NLDS roster, regardless of the opponent. (One key point to remember: The roster can be reset before each round of the postseason.) ...
1. LHP Gio Gonzalez
2. RHP Jordan Zimmermann
3. LHP Ross Detwiler
4. RHP Edwin Jackson
1. RHP Drew Storen
2. RHP Tyler Clippard
3. LHP Sean Burnett
4. RHP Craig Stammen
5. RHP Ryan Mattheus
6. LHP Michael Gonzalez
7. LHP Tom Gorzelanny
8. RHP Christian Garcia
1. RF Jayson Werth
2. CF Bryce Harper
3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman
4. 1B Adam LaRoche
5. LF Michael Morse
6. SS Ian Desmond
7. 2B Danny Espinosa
8. C Kurt Suzuki
1. C Jesus Flores
2. IF Steve Lombardozzi
3. IF Chad Tracy
4. OF Roger Bernadina
5. OF Tyler Moore


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Apple revamps look of iPhone, iPad software
Apple is throwing out most of the real-world graphical cues from its iPhone and iPad software in what it calls the biggest update since the iPhone's launch in 2007.
The new operating system, called iOS 7, strives for a clean, simple, translucent look. Apple is redesigning all its applications and icons to conform, driven by long-time hardware design chief Jony Ive.
Apple demonstrated the new software at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on Monday. The new design direction was widely expected and will show up on iPhones, iPad and iPod Touches this year, the company said.
The overhaul comes at a time when rivals such as Samsung Electronics and Google are trying to get people to defect by developing their own lines of elegant and often less expensive products.
The stiffer competition has slowed Apple's growth in the increasingly important mobile device market, contributing to a 38 percent decline in the company's stock price since the shares peaked at $705.07 in September.
Wall Street didn't seem impressed with Apple's new software approach. Apple's stock dipped $2.92 to close Monday at $438.89.
The redesigned software uses simple graphical elements in neon and pastel colors. Gone is the effort to make the icons look like three-dimensional, embossed objects _ a tactic known as "`skeuomorphism," that was favored by Apple's late CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs.
While design modifications could help Apple distinguish its devices from rival phones and tablets, they risk alienating longtime users.
Raluca Budiu, a senior researcher specializing in usability at the Nielsen Norman Group, said the so-called "flat" design can confuse users because it can offer fewer signals about where to tap or click. That's been the case, she said, with Windows 8, which has a very "flat" design. Budiu said it's too early to say if it will be an issue with iOS.
Budiu noted that iOS users seem quite happy with the current iOS, which is easier to use than Google Inc.'s Android, its only big competitor.
Microsoft's radical makeover of the Windows operating system in October was meant to give the company a stronger presence on tablet computers, but it ended up confusing many people who had become accustomed to using the old operating system on traditional desktops and laptops. Research firm IDC blamed Windows 8 for accelerating a decline in PC sales.
Among other changes, Apple's new iOS system will update apps automatically. It will store Web passwords online in Apple's syncing service, iCloud, making them available across devices. The AirDrop feature will allow sharing of big files with Apple-equipped people in the same room.
Apple took a jab at its rival, Samsung Electronics Co., which had been touting its Galaxy phones as better than iPhones because they sport near-field communication chips that allow people to share files by bumping phones together.
"No need to wander around the room bumping your phone with others," said Craig Federighi, senior vice president for software engineering.
The company also stepped up its rivalry with Google, maker of the Android software on Samsung and other phones. Apple said the Siri virtual assistant will use searches from Microsoft's Bing, Google's rival. Apple also is bringing its mapping service to desktops and laptops to compete with Google Maps and others.
The company is also launching a Pandora-like Internet radio service, iTunes Radio. It will be built into the Music app and stream music for free. There will be advertising, except for people who pay $25 a year for the iTunes Match online music storage.
Apple was a pioneer of online music sales and is still a leader in that field, but streaming services such as Pandora and Spotify have emerged as popular alternatives to buying. Pandora relies on its users being connected to the Internet at all times and plays songs at random within certain genres for free.
Last month, rival Google Inc. started an on-demand subscription music service called All Access that gives subscribers the ability to pick and choose specific songs and albums from a catalog of millions for playback on computers, tablets and smartphones in exchange for a monthly fee.
Apple updates its iOS operating system every year and doesn't charge for the updates. The new operating system will be available for the iPhone 4 and later models, and on the iPad 2 and later models, including the Mini. The launch of the new software traditionally coincides roughly with the launch of the year's new iPhone model.
Also at the conference, which runs through Friday, Apple revealed that it's switching from its more than decade-long practice of naming its Mac operating system updates after big cats. Instead, it's paying homage to the geography of its home state. Federighi says the next version of Mac OS X will be called Mavericks, after an undersea rock formation that produces big waves near Half Moon Bay, California.
The new operating system will extend battery life and shorten boot-up times, Federighi told the audience of software developers. The system improves support for multiple displays and imports the tab concept from Web browsers to the Finder file-organizer.
The software update will include iBooks for the first time, giving people who buy e-books from Apple a way to display them on the computer screen in addition to the iPhone and iPad. Competing e-book vendors such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble have cross-platform applications already.
Federighi said the new software will be out in the fall.
Apple also revealed a complete revamp of the Mac Pro, the boxy desktop model that's the work horse of graphics and film professionals. The new model is a black cylinder, one eighth the volume of the old box.
The current Mac Pro is the only Mac with internal hardware that can easily be modified and expanded by the user, but that possibility disappears with the new model. The company is adopting the same compact, one-piece design present in the Mac Mini and iMac.
The new Mac Pro will be the first Mac to be assembled in the U.S. in many years. CEO Tim Cook promised last year that the company would start a production line in the U.S., but didn't say where. Apple said the new computer will launch later this year.
Peter Svensson reported from New York.


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Question. What is the first thing you thing about when you hear creme brulee? Is it, fancy dessert? Is it, caloric assault? Cholesterol overload? Impossible to make at home? The thought that goes through my mind when contemplating making this dessert is whether I should buy a mini flame torch. The reason I never do is I am convinced that once I get it, it will remained packed up at the back of a cupboard somewhere, next to my mini chopper, my crepe pan and my condiment spoons, only to be found if, and when, we move.
Now, having actually made the dessert for the first time, I have found that possibly the mini torch would have caramelized the sugar more evenly than under the broiler. That being said, the broiler is a good alternative.
The two main ingredients in creme brulee are heavy cream and egg yolks, typically six to eight yolks for a recipe yielding four servings. Here, I used two yolks and, in place of heavy cream, I substituted low fat evaporated milk. For the rich velvety texture characteristic of this dessert, using butternut squash puree was ideal. It has both body and a creamy texture; exactly what was needed here. You will notice the oven temperature starts out at 400 degrees fahrenheit and is then lowered to 350. This is crucial because the high temperature sets the dessert while the lower one allows it to continue cooking with being grainy.
Have a happy and healthy thanksgiving!
Butternut Squash Creme Brulee
Serves four
12 oz low fat evaporated milk
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp dry milk
1/2 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butternut squash puree*
2 egg yolks
1. Set oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Dissolve the milk, sugar, and dry milk in a sauce pan over medium heat. Add the freshly grated nutmeg and cook for 10 minutes. Do not bring to a boil. Remove 1/4 cup of mixture and set aside. To the remaining mixture, whisk in the butternut squash. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly so that when the eggs are added they will not scramble immediately.
3. Meanwhile, whisk egg yolks with reserved milk and return to pumpkin milk mixture. Whisk thoroughly.
4. Pass mixture through a sieve to remove any lumps and divide among four 4"ramekins. Bake in a water bath at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Once cooked, the custard can be refrigerated over night before caramelizing the sugar crust. To do so, sprinkle approximately half teaspoon (or more) of sugar on the top of each custard. Using the back of a spoon spread to completely cover the top. Caramelize using a blow torch or under the broiler for less than two minutes, monitoring closely to prevent charring. Chill before serving.
*To make butternut squash puree, peel, seed, and cut a squash into cubes. Add to a large pot with about an inch or two of water. Cover with lid and steam over medium high heat for 15 to 20 minutes until easily pierced with a knife. Puree in blender or food processor.


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YES! Thank you! my reference frame was off, I was considering cant to be the angular measure of the fin from the flat board position. (effective cant) but in practice, the cant is established relative to the finbox. so a vee bottom board or a board built with the finboxes already canted would still get board lift with a FIN at 0 cant as the assembly would be canted when the board is ridden flat. . This is actually a much nicer design as it makes the fins interchangable from side to side and opens you (and the manufacturer) up to a world of off the shelf windsurfing finslobodomar wrote:Wouldn't a 2dg (for example) V-shaped bottom at the front fins station have the same effect on the fins angle as canting them by 2dg at their base?
Space monkey: To answer your question (intelligently this time), I would eat my hat if the North design doesn't either have an angled bottom or have canted finboxes giving an effective cant angle of the fins when ridden flat.


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Bulldogs With Back-To-Back Honorees
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A strong performance in the two matches at the Yale Invitational has earned senior Haley Wessels the Ivy League Player of the Week award. Wessels hit .558, averaged 3.25 kills per set and was named to the all-tournament team as the Bulldogs beat Big East foe Villanova and fell to Northwestern of the Big Ten.
Wessels, the team captain, had 13 kills, hit .440 and added three block assists in a 3-1 win over Villanova. Trailing 12-3 to start the fourth set, she capped a rally with consecutive kills to tie the set at 23. Yale went on to win 26-24. The next night Wessels struck for 13 kills without an attack error and hit .722 with four solo blocks against Northwestern.
"Haley was outstanding last weekend," Yale head coach Erin Appleman said. "To have the numbers she had against some of the toughest competition we are facing this year was incredible. She has always worked very hard."
Through five matches, Wessels leads the Bulldogs with a .387 hitting percentage.
Kendall Polan earned Player of the Week honors last week. It is the first time since last October that Yale has had back-to-back winners.
In addition, freshman Jesse Ebner was named to the Honor Roll. Ebner was named to the all-tournament team after hitting .423 with 3.5 kills per set and four service aces.
The Bulldogs travel to California for San Diego's Tournament this weekend. Yale faces UC Santa Barbara on Friday and San Diego and Fresno State on Saturday.
Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity


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What we've learned after nine NBC/WSJ/Marist battleground polls… Campaigns play the debate expectations game… But here's the only expectation you need to know: Romney needs a game-changer… Examining the early voting that began yesterday in Iowa… Krauthammer to Romney: Go big… Romney stumps in Pennsylvania, while Biden is in Florida… Akin says McCaskill isn't acting "ladylike"… And "Meet" has Chris Christie.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd talks about the polls and what they mean for the Romney campaign.
*** After nine battleground polls: We've now released nine battleground state NBC/WSJ/Marist polls in the last three weeks, and what have we learned? President Obama is ahead of Mitt Romney in all nine, with his biggest leads being 7 and 8 points (in Ohio, New Hampshire, and Iowa) and his smallest edge at 2 points (in Nevada and North Carolina). Obama's average percentage in these polls is 49.5% and Romney's is 44% -- which is consistent with the national polls (see below). Our state surveys also show a slight improvement in voters who believe that the nation is headed in the right direction. And they find Obama and Romney essentially tied on who would better handle the economy, while Obama mostly enjoys double-digit leads on foreign policy.
Slideshow: On the campaign trail
*** Placing the states into three buckets: Here's another way to look at our nine polls -- dividing them into three buckets. The first bucket: The states where Obama's job-approval rating is at 49% or higher, and those states are Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Virginia. The second bucket: The states where Obama leads on the economy, and those are Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Ohio. And the third and final bucket: The states where Romney's favorability is underwater, and those are Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Wisconsin. There are three states that apply to all three buckets, and you can consider those Romney's most problematic states right now: Iowa, New Hampshire, and Ohio. As for where Romney's in the best shape: North Carolina; it's the only state where Obama's job is under 49%, where Romney leads him on the economy, and where Romney's favorable rating is right side up.
*** The debate expectations game: Both campaigns are now fully engaged in lowering expectations for Wednesday's debate. Yesterday afternoon, we got our hands on a Romney memo by senior adviser Beth Myers, who wrote: "President Obama is a uniquely gifted speaker, and is widely regarded as one of the most talented political communicators in modern history. This will be the eighth one-on-one presidential debate of his political career. For Mitt Romney, it will be his first." Meanwhile, the Obama camp countered with its own memo by David Axelrod: "[W]e expect Mitt Romney to be a prepared, disciplined and aggressive debater. Gov. Pawlenty said Romney 'is as good as it gets in debating. He is poised, prepared, smart, strategic.' We expect that Mitt Romney to show up in Denver. Second, debates—and particularly the first debate—generally favor challengers." But here's the truth about Obama and Romney: Neither has been a stellar debater. Obama never shined during the Democratic primary debates of '08, and candidate Obama had a tendency to ramble (something he improved upon in his general-election debates against John McCain). And while Romney performed well at most of this season's GOP primary debates, he had some rough performances (the $10,000 bet, the debates in South Carolina). Romney's one-on-one performances in '94 and '02 (for SEN and GOV) were uneven, and his biggest weakness is unspoken body language. The bottom line: Ivy League debate coaches will enjoy Biden v. Ryan a heckuva lot more.
*** Romney needs a game-changer: But here's the only expectation you need to know: Romney needs a game-changer, while Obama needs a split decision. That's what happens when one person is behind and the other is ahead. And in his weekly National Journal column, Charlie Cook appears to agree. "If the presidential race stays on its current course for another week or 10 days, Romney faces the very real prospect that Republican donors, super PACs, and other parts of the GOP support structure will begin to shift resources away from helping him and toward a last-ditch effort to win a Senate majority—which once seemed very likely—and to protect the party's House majority." Essentially, Charlie is warning of political Darwinism kicking in with the rest of the GOP. Bottom line: With less than 40 days until Election Day and with votes already being cast, Romney needs to change the dynamics of this race -- ASAP -- if he is going to win. And his clearest opportunity is at next week's debate in Denver.
*** Examining the early vote in Iowa: Speaking of early voting, NBC's Jamie Novogrod was reporting yesterday from Iowa, where early voting had begun on Thursday. In downtown Des Moines, voters had already lined up at 9:00 am ET as the Polk County elections office opened, and many of the voters were Obama supporters, and some wore stickers bearing the words "Be the First" -- the slogan for the Obama campaign's early-vote push. Polk County Elections Commissioner Jamie Fitzgerald told NBC that this was the busiest opening day he had observed during 10 years working in that office. Novogrod also reported that Polk County had 30,615 absentee ballots ready to ship out yesterday -- 20,810 requested by Democrats, 4,024 by Republicans, 5,739 listed as "no party," and 42 registered as "other." How well has Obama supporters communicated their preference to get folks to the polls early? Check out these numbers in our Nevada and North Carolina NBC/WSJ/Marist surveys. In Nevada, Obama leads Romney 53%-43% among folks who tell us they will vote early, while Romney leads 57%-39% among Election Day voters. And Obama's lead is even bigger in North Carolina among early voters (57%-41%).
*** Krauthammer to Romney: go big: Another day, another conservative trying to give advice to Mitt Romney and his campaign. Today's example: The Washington Post's Charles Krauthammer. And his advice: Go big. "His unwillingness to go big, to go for the larger argument, is simply astonishing. For six months, he's been matching Obama small ball for small ball... When you're behind, however, safe is fatal." More Krauthammer: "Make the case. Go large. About a foreign policy in ruins. About an archaic, 20th-century welfare state model that guarantees 21st-century insolvency. And about an alternate vision of an unapologetically assertive America abroad unafraid of fundamental structural change at home. It might just work. And it's not too late."
Steve Helber / AP
President Barack Obama gestures during a rally in Virginia Beach, Va., Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012.
*** Poll round-up: Here are the latest polls:
National: Fox: Obama 48%-43%; Gallup: Obama 50%-44%
State: NBC/WSJ polls in New Hampshire: Obama 51%-44%, Nevada: Obama 49%-47%, North Carolina; Obama 48%-46%; Suffolk in Virginia: Obama 46%-44%; Iowa: TIR-Voter/Consumer Research (R): Romney 47%-46%.
Downballot: NBC/WSJ/Marist: Dean Heller leads Shelley Berkley in Nevada 49-43%; NBC/WSJ/Marist: Maggie Hassan leads Ovide LaMontagne 47-45%; NBC/WSJ/Marist: Pat McCrory leads Walter Dalton, 52-39%.
*** On the trail: Romney holds a rally in Wayne, PA at 12:05 pm ET… Joe Biden stumps in Florida… And First Lady Michelle Obama campaigns in Cedar Rapids, IA and Appleton, WI…. Over the weekend, Biden remains in Florida on Saturday, and Paul Ryan campaigns in New Hampshire… And on Sunday, Obama visits Las Vegas. By the way, the Obama camp says that Biden will make this charge on Romney while in Florida: "Biden will explain to voters how Mitt Romney's tax plan could raise taxes on Social Security benefits by $460 per year to pay for tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires."
*** Akin says McCaskill not acting "ladylike": The Kansas City Star: "Comments by Republican Todd Akin once again are stirring controversy, this time with a claim that U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill was not acting 'ladylike' during their recent debate. Akin said Thursday that McCaskill's demeanor during last week's debate differed vastly from her 2006 campaign against Jim Talent, which he contends demonstrates she thinks he's going to win this fall. 'I think we have a very clear path to victory, and apparently Claire McCaskill thinks we do, too, because she was very aggressive at the debate, which was quite different than it was when she ran against Jim Talent,' Akin said at a news conference in the state Capitol. 'She had a confidence and was much more ladylike (in 2006), but in the debate on Friday she came out swinging, and I think that's because she feels threatened.'"
*** On "Meet" this Sunday: NBC's David Gregory interviews New Jersey Gov. Christie.
Countdown to 1st presidential debate: 5 days
Countdown to VP debate: 13 days
Countdown to 2nd presidential debate: 18 days
Countdown to 3rd presidential debate: 24 days
Countdown to Election Day: 39 days
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It takes a lot for a band to make up for a "farewell tour" that ended up not being a farewell after all. But on its new studio album, Judas Priest has redeemed itself nicely.
Simply put, "Redeemer of Souls" is the best album this band has done in more than 20 years. Powerful, fierce, captivating and clever, this could be the hard rock/heavy metal album of the year.
It opens with a roar with "Dragonaut" and the melodic but still rocking title track.
But things really get interesting on "Halls of Valhalla." Priest's one concession to age is that Rob Halford's air-raid siren vocals have given way to mid-register singing. The wails of "Painkiller" or "The Sentinel" are few and far between here, but they do surface in a glorious way on "Valhalla."
And "March of the Damned" has the same bottom-heavy groove as "Metal Gods." It even has similar sound effects of heavy items bashing against each other and scraping on the floor.
So, if you thought Judas Priest was done — like the band briefly said it was — you've got another thing coming. And that's just fine.


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94 N. Main Street, Jasper, GA - (706) 253-2457
Lloyd Grizzle
Lloyd Dean Grizzle, age 68 of Jasper, Ga. and formerly of Marietta, Ga., passed away on Monday, July 19, 2010 after an extended illness.
He was retired from Lockheed Martin Company where he worked as a senior aircraft design engineer for 30 years and was a member of the Mount Paran North Church of God and was also an ordained deacon.
Mr. Grizzle was the son of the late B.G. Grizzle of Dahlonega, Ga. and Bonnell Stevens of Marietta, Ga. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Roy G. Grizzle and Milton Grizzle; and one sister, Dorothy Jenkins.
Survived include his wife of 49 years, Delona Kaye Grizzle; sons, Darrell Lloyd Grizzle, Marietta, Dr. Daniel Craig Grizzle and Beverly, Dacula, Ga. and Jason Charles Grizzle and Janet of Gainesville, Ga.; grandchildren, Aaron Daniel,, Shane Matthew and Katie Elizabeth Grizzle; brothers, Arnold Grizzle and Joyce of Woodstock, Ga.; and sisters, Jean Patterson and Jarrell of Marietta and Lorene Lincoln of Montgomery, Al. Aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews also survive.
The funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 22 from Banister Funeral Home Chapel in Dahlonega. Interment followed in Yahoola Baptist Church Cemetery in Lumpkin County.
Martha Woodward
Martha Elizabeth Woodward, age 84 of Loganville, Ga. passed away July 22, 2010.
Mrs. Woodward was a member and president of the last graduating class at Nelson High School in 1942 before it burned down. She donated several items of high school memorabilia to the Nelson City Hall which still hangs there today. Martha enjoyed crochet and knitting items for any charitable organization. She and Will volunteered for AID Gwinnett INC and was very active at Loganville UMC and Grayson UMC.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Will V. (Bill) Woodward; sister-in-law, Martha Woodward Davis, Florence, Ms.; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral service was held Monday, July 26 at 10 a.m. at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel with Drs. Phil Schrader and Gary Wetstone and Rev. Lisa Derick officiating. Interment followed at Floral Hills Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Masters Masonic Lodge #295, Grayson Masonic Lodge #549 or Lawrenceville Daylight Lodge #744 in memory of www.wagesfuneralhome. com
Ellen Bennett
Dr. Ellen M. Bennett, age 64 of Bent Tree, passed way Sunday, July 18, 2010 at her residence. She was assistant professor at the University of Georgia.
Survivors include her mother, Marion Bennett, Bent Tree; brothers and sister-in-law, Bill Bennett, Bent Tree, and Roger and Heidi Bennett, Jasper; and brother-in-law, Bruce Luchs, Bent Tree.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 23 from the Chapel of Cagle Funeral Home with the Rev. Max Caylor officiating. Interment of the cremains will be at Jasper City Cemetery at a later date. The family will accept flowers or donate to the American Cancer Society or Jimmy V. Foundation.
Rhonda Scherer
Rhonda Scherer, age 45 of Talking Rock, passed away Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at North Georgia Medical Center.
Mrs. Scherer was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Allen Eugene and Elouise Monroe Childers; and brother, Ricky Childers.
Survivors include her husband. Robert Scherer, Jr.; brother, Randy Childers, Jasper; Regina Cox, Talking Rock; and nieces and nephews, Carrie Childers, Timothy and Stephen Cox, Ashton Childers and Kaden and Alexia Jordan. Several aunts, uncles and cousins also survive.
The funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 24 from Bethesda Baptist Church with the Revs. Jimmy Chester, Mike Byess and Greg Long officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Sosebee Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
www.sosebeefuneralhome. com
James Jackson, Sr.
Mr. James William Jackson, Sr., age 59 of Ellijay, Ga., died Thursday July 22, 2010.
Mr. Jackson was born Feb. 14, 1951 to parents Johnny and Ruby Posey Jackson in Fulton County. He was an auto mechanics teacher at Gilmer High School, attended East Ellijay Baptist Church and was a veteran of the US Army.
Survivors include his wife, Susan Jackson of the home; son and daughter-in-law, James Jr. and Brandie Jackson, Ellijay; daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Doug Garland, Talking Rock; sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Rodney Watson, Resaca; step-mother, Edith Jackson Pendergrass, Calhoun; step-brother, Jackie Swafford, Calhoun; grandchildren, Jesse, Clay, Hanna and Levi Garland and Marissa and Amelia Jackson. Several nephews and nieces also survive.
The funeral service was held Sunday, July 25 at 3 p.m. from the Chapel of Bernhardt Funeral Home in Ellijay, Ga. with the Rev. Leonard Hunter and Minister Jimmy Faix officiating. Music was by Kathy Allen. Pallbearers were: Ronnie Prater Michael Sapp, Joel and Josh Watson, Charlie Needham, Eddie Bowen, Mitchell Hughes and Zach Low. Interment was in the Yukon Cemetery in Ellijay with military rites by the North Georgia Honor Guard followed by a white dove release.
Jim Ingram
Mr. James C. (Jim) Ingram, age 78 of Nelson, Ga., passed at his residence early Thursday morning, July 22, 2010.
Mr. Ingram was a member of Nelson City Council, member of Nelson Baptist Church, member of the Masonic Order and a retired employee of Lockheed Aircraft where he was the tooling inspector.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Ingram, Nelson; son, David Ingram, Nelson; daughters and sons-in-law, Carol and Jerry Biddy, Jasper, and Martha and John Tipton, Nelson; and grandchildren, Justin Biddy and Caleb and Landon Tipton. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
The funeral service was held Saturday, July 24 at 2 p.m. from Nelson Baptist Church with the Revs. Steve Chadwick, Leroy Kelly and John Holloway officiating. Interment followed in Cherokee Memorial Park with Marble Hill Masonic Lodge #207 in charge of Masonic graveside rites. Pallbearers were: Gary Cochran, Lamar Kellett, Tomm Teague, Evan Howell, Johnny Garrison, James Densmore, Larry Cowart and Tommy Wigington. Cagle Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Ora Padgett
Mrs. Ora Lee Padgett, age 89 of Jasper, Ga., passed early Saturday morning, July 24, 2010 at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital.
Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Teresa Padgett, Jasper, Larry and Janice Padgett, Greenwood, S.C., Jerry and Brenda Padgett and Joe and Neal Padgett, all of Jasper; daughter and son-in-law, Wilma and James Barnhill, Trustville, Al.; sister, Cora Lee Pearson, Tate; and sister-in-law, Margie Reece, Jasper. Eighteen grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive. Mrs. Padgett was preceded in death by her husband, William Olie Padgett; sons, Grady and Claude Padgett; and daughter, Frances Posey.
The funeral service was held Monday, July 26 at 2 p.m. from Sharptop Baptist Church with the Revs. Autry Dean, Matt Foster and Harold Cantrell officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery with Shane, Dolphus, Clay, Andy, Edwin and Steven Padgett, Michael Holmes and Jimmy Barnhill serving as pallbearers. Cagle Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Roger Allen
Mr. Roger A. (Tony) Allen, age 61 of Calhoun, passed away Friday, July 23, 2010 at Gordon Hospital.
He was born in Walker County on August 16, 1948, son of the late Clarence Eugene and Martha Opal Spivey Allen. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, James A. and Bertie Wilson; and a brother-in-law, Johnny Wilson.
Prior to his retirement, Mr. Allen was a lab technician with Mannington Mills. He was an avid bass fisherman and belonged to the Gordon County Bass Club. He was a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church at Ryo.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Sandra Fay Wilson Allen; sons and daughters-in-law, Cain and Mandy Allen and Jason and Tonya Parker, all of Calhoun; sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Mike Lyle of Dalton; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Carly and Vickey Hamsley and Jimmy and Carol Wilson, all of Calhoun; and Barbara Wilson; grandchildren, Josh, Cheyenne, Brodey and Brook-Lynn Allen, Haley and Hunter Parker and McKayla, Mackenzie and Macee Hall. Nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends also survive.
The funeral service was held Monday, July 26 at 2 p.m. from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church at Ryo with the Revs. Harold Owens and Ronnie Howard officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Music was arranged by family and friends. Pallbearers were: Billy and Michael Wilson, Bodey Holbert, Keith Lyle and Tony and Josh West. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Gordon County Bass Club.
www.maxbrannonandsons. com
Elizabeth Roper
Mrs. E.A. Elizabeth Morrison Roper, age 91 of Jasper, passed Monday, July 26, 2010 at Grandview Health Care Center.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, E.A., Jr., MD, and Dale Roper, Seattle, Wa.; daughters and sons-in-law, Kathryn Roper Costello and Beth R. and Jack Watson, all of Atlanta, and Jan R. and Don Elliott, Menlo Park, Ca.; and sister-in-law, Adele Roper Mercier, Blue Ridge. Nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews also survive.
Visitation with the family will be Thursday, July 29 from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 30 from Jasper First Baptist Church with Dr. Jimmy Lewis officiating. Interment will follow in Jasper City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: G. William Glazebrook, MD, Don Elliott, Jack Watson, Mark Preisinger, John and Henry White, Kenneth Caudill, Spencer, Logan and Clay Elliott and Alex, Matt and Will Roper. The family will accept flowers but prefer donations to Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center in memory of Dr. E.A. and Elizabeth M. Roper, 175 Samaritan Dr., Jasper, Ga. 30143. Cagle Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Elmo Young
Mr. Elmer (Elmo) Young, age 49 of Ranger, passed away Saturday, July 24, 2010 as the result of a motorcycle accident.
Survivors include his wife, Diane Young, Ranger; mother and step-father, Louise and Gary Holbrook, Ranger; mother-in-law, Ada Mae Buttrum, Ranger; son, Jason Young and Sara Hamrick, Ranger; daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and Jeff Young, Ranger; brothers, Delmer Young, Ranger, and Ralph Young, Ball Ground; sisters, Barbara Turner, Hinton Community, Hazel Buchanan, Ball Ground, Patricia Padgett, Hill City, and Imogene Timms, Ranger; and grandchildren, Tyler, Katelin and Marilyn Young.
The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 27 from Friendship Baptist Church with the Rev. Herman Mulkey officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were: Davy Chastain, Nakeia McPherson, Dustin and Timothy Young, Tony Turner and Jeff Crook. Honorary pallbearers were Michael Young and Jerry Wyman. The family did accept flowers but prefer donations be made to Cagle Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses.
Rosene Fraker
Mrs. Rosene Couch Fraker, age 85 of Big Canoe and formerly of Dalton, died Sunday, July 25, 2010, at Quinton Memorial Health Care Center.
Mrs. Fraker was born June 19, 1925 in Gordon County. She resided most of her life in Whitfield County before moving to Ocala, Fl. in 1987 and Big Canoe in 1998. Mrs. Fraker was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church and most recently of Big Canoe Chapel. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Mrs. Fraker was preceded in death by her father, Theodore Couch; and parents, Malvia and John E. Walraven.
Rosene is survived by her husband of 68 years, William ?Bill? H. Fraker, Big Canoe; son and daughter-in-law, Jon H. and Deanna Fraker, Big Canoe; daughter and son-in-law, Lynne and Jeff Dodson, Big Canoe; granddaughter and her husband, Melissa and Brent Schofield, Suwanee; grandson, William ?Will? Dodson, Big Canoe; great-grandchildren, Bonnie Kate and Jake Schofield, Suwanee; nieces, Karen Brown, Carolyn Cleveland and Nancy Cochran; several great-nieces and great-nephews also survive; and special caregiver, Freda Boring, Chatsworth.
The funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday from the Chapel of Love Funeral Home with burial in Whitfield Memorial Gardens. Flowers were accepted or memorials may be made to the Alzheimer?s Association of Northwest Georgia, 922 E Morris St., Dalton, Ga. 30721.
www.lovefuneralhomega. com
Robert Broome
Mr. Robert Broome, age 84 of Jasper, passed away Saturday, July 24, 2010 at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital.
He was a retired bus driver for Trailway.
Survivors include his sons, William Robert Brooms, Jr., Austell, and Danny A. Broome, Jasper. Four grandchildren also survive.
The funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 27 from Sosebee Memorial Chapel. Interment followed in Ryo Baptist Church Cemetery.


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I used to use MSGTAG (http://www.msgtag.com/products/) successfully last year probably on Pocomail v3.
It no longer works under PocoMail v4 and Pocomail Support is not answering my emails re the reason!
Does anyone else use MSGTAG with PocoMail who can give me an educated guess as to why Pocomail does not handle the tags when MS Outlook and Thunderbird work fine?
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
~ Moved to General ... Eric ~


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Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Immunizations (also called shots or vaccines) help prevent dangerous and sometimes deadly diseases. Immunization isn't just for kids – to stay protected against serious illnesses like the flu, measles, and pneumonia, adults need to get vaccinated, too.
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National Immunization Awareness Month – Get your shots
For more information and materials, contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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There's no way that anything could suppress the joy that comes with winning the Super Bowl, but a serious injury to a key player in the game would come closer than just about anything else.
It's a good thing that defensive tackle Haloti Ngata didn't suffer a serious injury against the 49ers, then. Ngata was forced out of the 34-31 win with a knee injury and he had an MRI on the knee Thursday even though initial reports were that he only sprained his MCL. John Harbaugh relayed the results of that MRI on Thursday and confirmed that Ngata avoided a serious injury.
"Nothing serious with Haloti," Harbaugh said, via the team's website. "There are some things in there we'll just have to see. It won't be anything that should keep him out of training camp or anything like that."
Watching the 49ers run the ball after Ngata's injury was a reminder of how important he is to the Ravens defense. Should Ed Reed follow Ray Lewis out the door in Baltimore, Ngata will join Terrell Suggs as the veteran leaders of the defense next season. That makes it all the better that there doesn't seem to be much chance that Ngata will be leading from anywhere but the field.


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Height is about 15 cm.
Tiny chip from his wing, see last picture.
The shipping costs are for the buyer, or you can pick it up in our store in Gouda:
Deja Vu
Doelenstraat 31
2801 PW Gouda
Shipping costs as indicated are for a registered traceable package till 2 kg. insured till € 100.
I also gladly combine shipping, so if you're interested in multiple items in my shop, please contact me, so I can be of any assistance to you.
Any questions? Please ask !
1-2 business days
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Generally, I do not accept returns. All sales are final. If a return is accepted by me, shipping costs will not be refunded.


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Tissue and towel manufacturers are constantly striving to improve the physical properties of their products. Softness, strength and absorbency are all key attributes in producing quality tissue products that meet consumer demands.
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With unparalleled expertise and cutting-edge technology, we partner with customers to deliver world-class results and optimized operations. Contact us to learn how we can help you.
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At this point I started working on computers, and realized that this was the direction I had been looking for - and now that they are becoming powerful enough; I can actual start producing the images I have been feeling inside me for years. Though I had started out in the more traditional lines of 3D graphics and manipulated 2D photorealism, I have again migrated towards exploring the underlying elements of the image (and computer potential). What I am trying to do now is manipulate an image until I discover a 'seed' area of color or form, and through layering, repetition and compositing, arrive at a new image devoid of reference to the existing world from which it came. This can also be seen in my image titles which (rather than evoke the direction of the artist's intent), often only reflect the reference or filename of the digital image.
I guess if I was to summarize my intent or style, it would be to say: In a time of digital photorealism, when many artists are layering images to build up complex forms to provide the context in their works, I have been attempting to find the key (or 'kernel') set of elements in the image to which through levels of repetition and composition I can remove as much context as possible - so that the viewers must draw on their own experience to provide the context needed to relate to the work.
I am not a storyteller (in the sense of representational artists), but I strive (as a non-representational artist) to create a work that is strong enough to evoke an inner story from within the viewer.
Site created and maintained by Brian D. McMillan
This site was last modified; Dec. 31/95.


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The pictured paperweight was bought by mum about 50 years ago.
There is a chance that the weight was made after 1956 but without checking with ultraviolet light (shortwave rather than standard longwave), it cannot be proven. However I think 98% likelihood of pre-1956 and therefore "Ysart Brothers" would be ok. The overall look of the weight, the style and positioning of the millefiori canes, the amount of air bubbles in the clear glass and the "wreathing" (streaky lines swirling around the top part of the clear dome), all point towards the Ysart Brothers company.
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As a developer, there are a few things you get used to pretty quickly: the long hours, the demanding customers, the low pay, the lack of a social life. However, if you're anything like most developers, there's one thing that probably never fails to get your goat, no matter how long you've been writing code.
It's sad but true – error-free code is still largely a Utopian dream. No matter how careful you are, no matter how deep your knowledge or how good your IDE, you're bound to slip up sooner or later. And when you do, and your routines decide to go AWOL, you need to take remedial action.
Most programming languages – including DTML – come with built-in exception handling capabilities. These exception handlers make it possible to catch errors and resolve them sensibly, thereby insulating the user from complex decisions and incomprehensible technical information. As a professional developer, you should always wrap your code in exception handling routines, if only to avoid embarrassing flameouts in front of your customers.
That's where this article comes in. Over the next few pages, I'm going to be looking at exception handling, with a special focus on exceptions in the Zope and DTML universe. I'll be explaining the most common error types you'll encounter, together with the DTML constructs you can use to catch and resolve them, and I'll include lots of examples so that you can see how it works in practice. So come on in, and let's get started.{mospagebreak title=Anatomy Class} Now, since I've been talking so much about errors, how about introducing you to one? Take a look at the following code, which deliberately introduces an exception in a DTML script,
and then take a look at the output, which might awaken some unpleasant memories.
<dtml-var CheckThisOut>
Before you start screaming, you should know that this is one of the more common errors Zope developers see. It's ugly, it's loud, it'll really spoil your morning, but it can be fixed fairly easily. I'll be showing you how shortly, but first, let's dissect this baby a little.
In the example above, Zope tries to access the value of the variable "CheckThisOut". Now, this variable does not exist in the Zope variable namespace. What does Zope do? Rather than quietly packing up and moving to a new neighbourhood, Zope decides to generate a KeyError exception. You can see this from the first few lines of the output, which describe the exception, together with the variable that caused it.
There are also a couple of useful suggestions as to why the error might have occurred:
Zope Error Zope has encountered an error while publishing this resource. Error Type: KeyError Error Value: CheckThisOut
Troubleshooting Suggestions * This resource may be trying to reference a nonexistent object or variable CheckThisOut. * The URL may be incorrect. * The parameters passed to this resource may be incorrect. * A resource that this resource relies on may be encountering an error.
From the above suggestions, it's pretty clear that Zope's analysis is not totally incorrect – the error occurred because the "CheckThisOut" variable doesn't exist. And Zope also provides a "traceback" of the error, which gives developers with detailed debugging information on the steps that led to the error. A little analysis of this traceback data, and you'll quickly be able to identify the scripts involved in the error (this feature is particularly useful when dealing with complex errors that you can't locate in the first code pass-through).
{mospagebreak title=Playing Catch}
So that's what an error looks like. And now that you've seen what makes it tick, how about writing something to handle it?
Zope allows you to trap errors using the standard "try-catch" exception-handling combination…or, in the DTML world, <dtml-try> and <dtml-catch>. Here's what it looks like:
Take a look at this rewrite of the previous example, which incorporates a simple exception handler.
<dtml-try> execute this block <dtml-except err> execute this block if exception "err" is raised </dtml-try>
Now, view this DTML Document and you'll see that the ugly error screen has disappeared; it's been replaced by a simpler (though not very useful) error message.
<dtml-try> <dtml-var CheckThisOut> <dtml-except> Something bad happened </dtml-try>
The first part of the code introduces you to the <dtml-try> block; this tag instructs Zope to try – literally – to execute the statements within the enclosing block.
The <dtml-except> tag sets up the exception handler, in the event that one is generated. This tag does the hard work of trapping the exception and suggesting an alternative path for Zope to proceed with.
<dtml-try> <dtml-var CheckThisOut> … </dtml-try>
If an exception is generated, the <dtml-except> segment of the code will be triggered, and Zope's default error handling mechanism will be overridden by the instructions in that code segment – in this case, displaying the text "Something bad happened".{mospagebreak title=Being Verbose} Now, what you just saw was a very primitive exception handler, albeit one which isn't very useful on a production site. Ideally, you'd want the message generated by the exception handler to be a little more descriptive, and to contain some information on the source of the error.
<dtml-except> Something bad happened
DTML satisfies this requirement via two special, pre-defined variables – the "error_name" and "error_type" variables. Take a look:
Here's the output:
<dtml-try> <dtml-var CheckThisOut> <dtml-except> Something's wrong here! But what?
 This might help:
 Error type – <dtml-var error_type>
 Error value – <dtml-var error_value> </dtml-try>
And if you flip back a couple of pages to the very first code snippet in this article, you'll notice a remarkable similarity between the default Zope error output, and that of the script above…not surprising, considering that Zope's default error screen also uses the same two variables.{mospagebreak title=All For One…} You can also write specific exception handlers for different types of exceptions, by noting the exception type within the
Something's wrong here! But what? This might help: Error type – KeyError Error value – CheckThisOut
Here's the output:
<dtml-try> <dtml-var CheckThisOut> <dtml-except KeyError> Undefined variable – <dtml-var error_value> </dtml-try>
Of course, this handler will now only restrict its activities to KeyError exceptions. All other errors will be routed via the default Zope error handler.
Undefined variable – CheckThisOut
You can trap more than one exception, and handle each one in a different way, by using multiple <dtml-except> statements within a single <dtml-try> block.
If an exception is encountered while running the code within the <dtml-try> block, Zope stops execution of the <dtml-try> block at that point and begins checking each <dtml-except> block to see if there is a handler for the exception. If a handler is found, the code within the appropriate <dtml-except> block is executed; if not, control either moves to the parent <dtml-try> block, if one exists, or to the default handler.
<dtml-try> execute this block <dtml-except err1> execute this block if exception "err1" is raised <dtml-except err2> execute this block if exception "err2" is raised … and so on … <dtml-else> execute this block if no exceptions are raised </dtml-try>
Once the <dtml-try> block has been executed and assuming that the program has not been terminated, the lines following the <dtml-try> block are executed.
In case you're wondering, the <dtml-else> branch in the block above is executed only if no exceptions are raised. It's optional, though, so only include it if you need to.
Take a look at the next example, which demonstrates how this works:
Save this code in a DTML Document named "ExceptionallyYours", and test it by passing it values for the variables "alpha" and "beta" on the URL string, via the GET method (you can also use a form and submit values for these variables via POST). For example, if you access the URL
<dtml-try> <dtml-var alpha> divided by <dtml-var beta> is <dtml-var expr="_.int(alpha)/_.int(beta)" >.
 <dtml-except KeyError> No value assigned to the variable: <dtml-var error_value> <dtml-except ZeroDivisionError> Division by zero <dtml-except ValueError> Illegal value: <dtml-var error_value> <dtml-else> No errors encountered. </dtml-try>
you'll see
But look what happens when you try
12 divided by 1 is 12. No errors encountered.
Since no values have been passed for the variables, Zope barfs with a KeyError, which is caught by the exception handler, and the following message is displayed:
What about if you pass an illegal value, like a very large integer? Try the following URL,
No value assigned to the variable: alpha
and then see what Zope says:
Finally, try attempting division by zero,
Illegal value: int() literal too large: 12732132132
and watch as Zope generates a ZeroDivisionError, and an appropriate message.
If you'd like to save yourself some keystrokes, you also have the option of handling multiple exceptions within a single <dtml-except> block, by specifying a list of exception types separated by spaces. Consider the following rewrite of the previous example, which uses the same exception handler for both ZeroDivisionError and ValueError exceptions:
Division by zero
{mospagebreak title=…And One For All} Now, the <dtml-try> statement can only deal with exceptions that it knows about. What about the ones the developer can't predict?
<dtml-try> <dtml-var alpha> divided by <dtml-var beta> is <dtml-var expr="_.int(alpha)/_.int(beta)" >.
 <dtml-except KeyError> No value assigned to the variable: <dtml-var error_value> <dtml-except ValueError ZeroDivisionError> Illegal value: <dtml-var error_value> <dtml-else> No errors encountered. </dtml-try>
DTML also allows you to specify a catch-all exception handler, one which handles *any* type of exception generated – simply omit the exception name from the <dtml-except> statement. The following code snippet illustrates this technique:
You can even combine this with exception handlers for specific exceptions.
<dtml-try> <dtml-var alpha> divided by <dtml-var beta> is <dtml-var expr="_.int(alpha)/_.int(beta)" >.
 <dtml-except> Something bad happened. Call 911. </dtml-try>
This way, when an exception occurs, Zope will first check to see if an exception handler has been defined for that exception type. If so, the appropriate handler is invoked; if not, the exception is routed to the catch-all handler, which displays a generic error message.{mospagebreak title=The Final Solution} Most of what you've just learned also applies to DTML's other exception-handling construct, the "try-finally" statement. The "try-finally" statement block differs from "try-except-else" in that it merely detects errors; it does not provide for a mechanism to resolve them. It is typically used to ensure that certain statements are always executed when an error (regardless of type) is encountered.
<dtml-try> <dtml-var alpha> divided by <dtml-var beta> is <dtml-var expr="_.int(alpha)/_.int(beta)" >.
 <dtml-except KeyError> Missing variable. <dtml-except ValueError> Illegal value. <dtml-except> Something bad happened. Call 911. </dtml-try>
Here's what it looks like:
If an exception is encountered when running the code within the <dtml-try> block, Zope will stop execution at that point; jump to the <dtml-finally> block; execute the statements within it; and then pass the exception upwards, to the parent <dtml-try> block, if one exists, or to the default handler, which terminates the program.
<dtml-try> execute this block <dtml-finally> execute this block if exceptions are generated </dtml-try>
Take a look at the next example to see how this works:
Here's the output:
<dtml-try> <dtml-try> <dtml-var CheckThisOut> <dtml-except KeyError> No value assigned to the variable: <dtml-var error_value>
 </dtml-try> <dtml-finally> Goodbye! </dtml-try>
It's important to note that the code in the <dtml-finally> block – actually part of the outer <dtml-try> block – will be executed even if errors are encountered in the inner <dtml-try> block.{mospagebreak title=Raising The Bar} Thus far, you've been working with DTML's built-in exceptions, which can handle most logical or syntactical expressions. However, DTML also allows you to get creative with exceptions, by generating your own custom exceptions if the need arises.
No value assigned to the variable: CheckThisOut Goodbye!
This is accomplished via the <dtml-raise> tag, used to raise errors which can be detected and resolved by the <dtml-try> family of exception handlers. The <dtml-raise> tag needs to be passed an exception name, and an optional descriptive string. When the exception is raised, this exception name and description will be made available to the defined exception handler.
Consider the following script, which demonstrates:
In this case, Zope will raise the user-defined exception, AccessError, whenever the conditional expression specified evaluates as false. This exception may be caught by a <dtml-try> block, or by the default error handler (as demonstrated in the output screenshot below).
<dtml-let name="'John Doe'"></dtml-let> <dtml-if expr="name != 'neo'"> <dtml-raise type="AccessError"> Intruder detected. Closing all portals. </dtml-raise> </dtml-if>
{mospagebreak title=Pre-Packaged Python} There are a number of standard exceptions are built into Python (and, therefore, Zope and DTML). Here they are:
IOError – generated when an I/O operation fails;
ImportError – generated when a module import fails;
IndexError – generated when an attempt is made to access a non-existent element index;
KeyError – generated when an attempt is made to access a non-existent dictionary key;
MemoryError – generated when an out-of-memory error occurs;
NameError – generated when an attempt is made to access a non-existent variable;
SyntaxError – generated when the interpreter finds a syntax error;
TypeError – generated when an attempt is made to run an operation on an incompatible object type;
ZeroDivisionError – generated when an attempt is made to divide by zero.
For a complete list, take a look at http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/module-exceptions.html{mospagebreak title=Endzone} And that just about covers it. In this article, I took you on a guided tour of exception handling in DTML, demonstrating how the
I also explained a variant, the <dtml-finally> statement, and demonstrated how it could be nested within a set of <dtml-try> blocks to trigger specific code segments whenever an exception occurs. Finally, I showed you how to create your own custom exceptions via <dtml-raise>, and provided you with a quick look at some of the built-in exceptions that come with Zope.
In case you'd like to learn more about these topics, you should consider visiting the following links:
Exception handling in Zope, at http://www.zope.org/Documentation/ZopeBook/AdvDTML.stx
Reference material for the various exception handling tags, at http://www.zope.org/Documentation/ZopeBook/AppendixA.stx
A complete list of Python exceptions, at http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/module-exceptions.html
Until next time…be good!
Note: All examples in this article have been tested on Linux/i586 with Zope 2.5.0. Examples are illustrative only, and are not meant for a production environment. Melonfire provides no warranties or support for the source code described in this article. YMMV!


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According to reports, yesterday's tremendous tempest dumped the heaviest rainfall on Metro Manila and nearby provinces in more than four decades!
I was stuck in our office in Alabang, Muntinlupà City for hours after my shift. But the downpour never ceased. I was supposed to attend a kid cousin's birthday, but I thought it best not too.
Seeing that it was hopeless to wait for the rain to cease, I just barged outside using my dilapidated umbrella. And I was disgusted by what I saw — stranded motorists! It reminded me of my college days getting stuck in the same situation. I remember one time when I had to walk from Adamson University in Manila all the way to Parañaque City! It was a scary flashback because yesterday, I didn't plan of walking from Alabang all the way to San Pedro, La Laguna.
Little did I know that a tragedy was already happening all over the metropolis and its surrounding provinces.
I waited for almost an hour under the Alabang viaduct. And underneath the viaduct, traffic was hell. Counterflows where virtually everywhere, and many commuters were already soaking wet. Whenever empty jeepneys pass by slowly, exhausted commuters surround them, like vultures waiting for their prey to die. Luckily I was able to catch an apprehensive jeepney driver (I saw the look on his face; he was still undecisive whether or not he should just drive home or still pick up motorists). I ran as fast as I could (the veteran that I am from all these flooded moments), getting the choicest jeepney seat — the front seat.
In just a few seconds, the jeepney was filled. Initially, the driver decided to drive us only up to Muntinlupà (the población), but no one seemed to care. We all had one thing in mind: to go back to our respective homes as close as we can get.
The driver chose the old National Road (Mahárlika Highway) instead of the South Luzón Tollway because the traffic flow in the said expressway was almost immobile. But it was even worse in the national road. Many parts were flooded. I was surprised. This was no ordinary rain. I've never seen Muntinlupà flooded that way before.
I started sending text messages to friends, asking them their situation. I learned that even in Manila, it was flooded. It was no surprise because floods in many parts of Manila is almost "normal" (no thanks to litterbugs).
Surprisingly, we noticed that there was no more traffic jam in the población. So the driver decided to drive us all the way to San Pedro, La Laguna (which is supposed to be a couple of minutes away). I wondered why there was no more traffic jam. I found out minutes later.
When our jeep drove past Susana Heights, it started to rain heavier again (I already threw my useless umbrella in the garbage bin; anyway, I was already prepared to get wet myself). I got the shock of my life to see that the highway in front of me turned into a virtual sea of flood!
So that's why there were no more vehicles! And the few vehicles that remained were those whose engines were flooded already. Poor owners! And there were people everywhere, braving the rains and the waist-high floods.
Our driver was still apprehensive: should he drive through the waters or not? I egged him to "go for it, dude!" The guy was cheerful all throughout the trip, and was very thoughtful of his passengers (may God bless his career). And yes, he did decide to drive on. The secret to it was not to remove his foot onto the pedal. He must continue driving through the flooded road without stopping or else the waters will enter and engulf the engines.
And so he drove, turning his rickety public utility vehicle into an amphibian-jeep, creating waves along the way, splashing commuters who decided to walk through the floods. And other vehicles who were coming from La Laguna made more ripples and waves in the flood. Some of the flood waters even entered where I was seated.
For some odd reason, the sight excited me. And I was very, very disappointed for not having with me my wife's Motorola v3i (the only "digital" camera we have). I should've taken pictures of the flooded scene for this website and for ALAS FILIPINAS.
When our jeep neared San Pedro, La Laguna, the floods got worse. All esteros overflowed, destroying the shanties along its coast. The boundary between Muntinlupà City / Metro Manila and La Laguna province has become water world. I suddenly thought of San Pedro's mayor, Calixto Catáquiz, who is a family friend. His home in Barrio Sto. Niño lies is near Laguna de Bay and is not in an elevated place. I hope he's OK.
Driving through the boundary is the most difficult drive we encountered. The flood was much higher, and there were so many standed people who were blocking the way, slowing us even more (I wasn't ready yet to "dive" into the murky, garbage-filled flood). But luckily, we went through. I was confident that as soon as we get to the San Pedro bridge, we'll be OK because the bridge was built very high above the river.
Although the river didn't overflow on top of the bridge, the place has been converted into a "parking lot". I've never seen the bridge filled with so much vehicles! There were so many parked cars, jeepneys, and even buses that I feared we might not get to the other side). But we did.
When we got to the other side, I dropped off because our apartment was just near. It was no longer raining heavily, but it was still drizzling enough to soak me. But I never got the chance to walk to our home which is what I usually do — the road was flooded with almost-knee-high waters. I had to take a trike. Luckily our apartment is situated in an elevated place. And even if it gets flooded there, we're on the second floor. I later learned today that others who have two-storey homes, such as sexy actress Cristine Reyes, were not so lucky:
Funny thing is that after breakfast I was just reading a copy of FHM Philippines 100 Sexiest Women for 2009 where she won the number one spot, hehehe! I wasn't able to watch TV news because we still have no cable (and no internet connection yet; I'm now at our neighbor's internet shop). F*ck, we even lost our water supply. Yesterday was even worse: when I got home, there were both no electricity and water supplies.
Now that I'm online, I just realized the magnitude of yesterday's massive downpour:
'Ondoy' leaves 72 dead and missing
'Ondoy' like 'Katrina'
Tropical Storm Ketsana 2009
Typhoon Ondoy, Emergency Disaster Relief Numbers
Typhoon Ondoy displaces 153 families
And here's a really scary video of Marikina River uploaded by INITIATE360 in YouTube. Typhoon Ondoy turned the river into a mammoth killing machine:
Below is INITIATE360's account of the above video:
"I just got back from the river's edge 5 minutes ago. A 10-15 feet height differential between the Marikina River and the embankment has now been reduced to the point that water is splashing against the high-rises of Eastwood, Metro Manila. A security guard for this sealed off area approaches me and covers me with his umbrella while I snap pictures from my phone. "Where are the police or firemen?" I asked. He first points at a speck in the middle of the river 300-400 meters out to my right. "That was a woman with her 2 year old infant clinging on to her. She passed through here in the middle of the river – waving at us for help. There was nothing we could do – she had passed though within 5 seconds. We've been seeing other people washed away." We watched helplessly at the 20+ people 200 meters away that are now sitting on top of their corrugated roof-tops as the river rages beneath them on their submerged homes… waiting for emergency personnel yet to come."
Marikina River, as well as other rivers in Metro Manila, overflows from time to time during typhoons. But not like this. And according to Reyes herself, she has lived in Provident Village, Marikina City for many years. This is the first time her home was inundated.
In other news, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has his hands busy working with the National Disaster Coordinating Council with all rescue and relief operations. According to him, this is the worst typhoon tragedy he has ever encountered. Even the Philippine Navy claimed that this was the first time that they had received so many calls for help at the same time.
Since Gibô Teodoro is at the helm of all rescue and relief operations, I'm afraid that this tragedy might be given a "political color" to it because this is actually the best time for Gibô to up the ante with regard to his presidential aspirations. He might win (or try to win) the hearts (and votes) of thousands of Filipinos who were affected by the typhoon. Nevertheless, may his rescue team be successful with their endeavors.
It's past 4:00 PM in the afternoon. The rains have slowed down, but hasn't stopped yet. Malacañang Palace has already declared a state of calamity in Metro Manila and other 25 affected provinces. Close to a hundred people lost their lives. And thousands have been displaced. Eighty percent of the capital is underwater.
May this serve as a GLOBAL WARNING to all those who disrespect Mother Nature (such as litterbugs, smoke belchers, illegal loggers, etc.). Like countless others, I am mighty sure that climate change has something to do with this.
Click here for more photos of the tragedy (culled from various Facebookers).


text:
How Crowdfunded Hardware Makers Hit It Big In 2012
Crowdfunding pioneers Indiegogo and Kickstarter opened up their fundraising platforms in 2008 and 2009 respectively, but 2012 may be the first year that tech investors and entrepreneurs took crowdfunding very seriously.
Hardware projects especially grew into full-fledged businesses after humble beginnings.
Some hardware entrepreneurs raised huge amounts via crowdfunding this year, notably Pebble Technology which raised $10.27 million in July on Kickstarter. The company is still developing and manufacturing its signature "smartwatch," a time piece that also alerts its wearer with vibrations when a call, email or message comes through their smartphone.
Before crowdfunding, consumer electronics companies had to be more mature to attract investors. One example: Skullcandy raised $2 million in 2007, in a Series B funding round to make more of its signature products, like headphones and earbuds for snowboarders. By the time the company raised that money, Skullcandy already sold 35 different products.
A San Francisco-based incubator for early-stage hardware startups, Lemnos Labs, reports that today a majority of its portfolio companies use crowdfunding to make money. More importantly, they use crowdfunding to see if there's real demand for the products they've imagined and prototyped, says Lemnos founding partner Jeremy Conrad.
On Thursday, in lieu of a traditional holiday party, Lemnos is hosting executives and investors to discuss the future of hardware, including in light of crowdfunding trends.
Bia Sport, a Lemnos company, raised over $400,000 on Kickstarter this year to make "sport watches for women" that use GPS technology to track a wearer's activity levels.
In 2013, Conrad expects a new wave of sites and services to crop up to help "makers" navigate their way through from crowdfunding pitch to prototype and production.
"Vetting projects will become important in 2013 for crowdfunding communities," he says. "Nobody wants to see people pitch bum projects, then fail to deliver, or possibly worse, deliver bad technology to their backers. That could cause consumer fatigue and a backlash," he explains.
Overall, though, the market for independently made hardware looks strong to Conrad. Projects that started on crowdfunding sites but grew up in 2012 support his view.
These were four of the most memorable:
Roominate Toy
Founded by graduate engineering students at Stanford University, Alice Brooks and Bettina Chen, Roominate Toy makes dollhouses with electrical components that safely can be assembled by kids. The "dollhouse kits" encourage girls, ages six to 10, to explore science, tech, engineering and math.
Roominate originally raised $86,000 via Kickstarter, but locked in outside angel funding in the early fall of 2012. (The founders are not talking about who backed them or how much they put in, but confirmed that 10 investors were involved in the deal.)
Roominate Toy plans to launch new product extensions in 2013 after shipping its first dollhouse building kits this winter holiday. They cost $59 for the Original Roominate to $225 for the four-room, Chateau De Roominate.
Windowfarms (as we previously reported) makes vertical gardens for people who live in an urban environment without yards or arable land of their own. Their customers can cultivate vegetables, herbs or other plants in their homes, without a lot of mess and energy-efficiently. The company raised $155,000 in angel funding after initially stirring up $257,000 in supportive capital from Kickstarter. Windowfarms products are now sold online and in museum stores.
The makers of an iPhone-driven, programmable robot, Romotive, turned a one-time Kickstarter project into a venture-backed business this year. The company drew a $5 million investment from Sequoia Capital, Crunchfund, SV Angel and individual investors Chris Dixon and Aydin Senkut. And (as we reported in October) their bot, the Romo, hit the pages of the Neiman Marcus holiday catalog. Has the company stopped crowdfunding? Nope. In November 2011 it raised $114, 796 for its brand new concept, and in November 2012, it raised $170,034 more--again on Kickstarter--to make a second-generation of Romo bots.
Edison Junior Design Laboratory
A new startup from serial tech entrepreneur Jamie Siminoff--his previous ventures included Unsubscribe (sold to TrustedID) and PhoneTag--Edison Junior raised $139,170 on Kickstarter in September to make a portable charger for multiple mobile devices.
Something like an octopus, the POP portable power system features retractable cords that connect it to iPads, iPhones, Android devices and more. (It can charge four mobile devices at once.) The company attained outside funding from angel Joanne Wilson and others.
Following his first crowdfunding experience, Siminoff observed:
"VCs have been looking for excuses to get out of investing in companies that they don't believe in since the beginning of time. They say no to startups for a million reasons. When you raise a good amount of money and interest [through crowdfunding] you can show them, and yourself, immediate validation that you are doing the right thing."
Today, Edison Junior launched a crowdfunding platform of its own, called Christie Street, for inventors, only. (Read more about that on All Things D.)
Write to Lora Kolodny at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter at @lorakolodny
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"In the end, more than freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all – security, comfort, and freedom. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free and was never free again."
That quote by the English historian Edward Gibbon was a favorite of my Grandfather. So much so that he printed it out, framed it, and hung it in the family room. It was only years later that we noticed a spelling error (responsibility sans the b, a funny reminder of the man years later) and now it hangs in my apartment above a shorter set of bookcases.
I've been thinking about that quote since I read Anthony Molaro's post, "Libraries Gave Up Control" last week. His self-described rant talks about the lack of control within the public library and his points should give the reader pause whether you agree with this overall premise or not. Personally, I think the issue is twofold: how much control over content, tools, and services do we have and is there a will to reclaim it?
As to the former, I can see the nucleus of a culture of complacency (or, for the cynical, laziness) argument. Why work towards the development of a better ILS or better databases presentation platforms or expanding rights over library content when we can pull out a catalog or get a vendor proposal or basically have someone else do it so we can use our time to complain about the lack of choices, services, or bureaucracy? If we can't get it pre-packaged, ready to go from day one, then I guess it's not worth having or doing. This is the kind of mindset that sends people to fast food places every night rather than cooking at home. Given the related obesity rates, we can guess how that's going to work out in the long run. I sometimes wonder how many librarians go to work with the idea of a good day being one in which no one challenges them on how the library is run or the order of things. Not a good thought to contemplate given the current fluid nature of the profession.
In addressing the latter, I'd like to imagine there is a will to reclaim it (mainly because I'm an obnoxious optimist). Barbara Fister's recent post about taking back librarian professional literature from publishing companies who would be all too happy to sell it back to us certainly warms my heart. Given the course of eBooks, perhaps it is a good thing that the majority of publishers are pulling out. To me, it signals a chance for libraries to assert their terms if publishers want to deal with us again in the future. (First term: no taking your ball home on whims.) In looking to reclaim our content and services, it's going to be a fight, one which I suspect will be a marathon over the course of decades and generations of library professionals (as is always the case in a change in culture).
In returning to Gibbons, this will mean forgoing the security of packaged solutions and prefabricated services to reclaim the responsibility as cultural curators and information educators. This is not a wholesale rejection of library vendors, but a call to rethink how solutions to library problems are reached. I don't think there is a better time to be a librarian, given this communication and information digital age that is coming into being. But, to me, I'd like to see less complacency and more agitation when it comes to our current practices.


text:
You'll grin from ear to ear while enjoying our marvelous sweet corn, picked fresh daily! It's sweet, tender, and oh-so-delicious! We got about 3″ of much-needed rain here in Hart over the past few days, which will really help the later corn develop to maximum potential! Sweet corn and pumpkins are two of the only crops that we do not have trickle irrigation on, so the rain was essential for us.
Tags: Hart, sweet corn