text:
Prosecutor outraged by Woody Allen letter
Former Litchfield State's Attorney Frank S. Maco said Monday he is considering seeking legal representation to address what he called a personal, unprovoked assault on his character by filmmaker Woody Allen in a letter published in The New York Times over the weekend.
Maco, who had investigated allegations the Oscar-winning legend had sexually molested his then-7-year-old adopted daughter more than 20 years ago, said in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media that he was particularly outraged at Allen's description of him as a district attorney "champing at the bit to prosecute a celebrity case."
"The attack upon my character was unprovoked, gratuitous, unwarranted and most importantly, unsupported by my history as a prosecutor," Maco said. "For me to sit silently in the face of this assault would do nothing less than betray the encouragement and support of so many, especially those who stood by me for the better part of five years of my career defending against Allen's disciplinary complaints -- all of which were dismissed."
Maco retired as the head prosecutor in the Litchfield Judicial District in 2003, following more than four decades of service in the state's justice system.
But he found himself drawn back into the two-decade-old controversy last week, after Dylan Farrow, the now 28-year-old daughter of Allen and actress and activist Mia Farrow, raised the sexual assault allegations against her father in her own letter, published in the New York Times on Feb. 2.
Allen responded with a lengthy op-ed piece, published in the Times on Sunday. In it, he vehemently denied the claim and accused Mia Farrow of coaching Dylan into making the charges because she was angry over their breakup and his romance, and later marriage, to another one of Farrow's children, Soon-Yi Previn, who Farrow and former husband Andre Previn had adopted years earlier.
Allen noted the Child Sexual Abuse Clinic at Yale-New Haven Hospital had concluded that Dylan hadn't been abused, a decision he said "disappointed a number of people," including a "district attorney champing at the bit to prosecute a celebrity case."
Allen also slammed the New York judge who awarded custody of Dylan and her then-4-year-old brother to Mia Farrow, who lives in Bridgewater.
Maco had announced his decision not to pursue charges against Allen in a news conference on Sept. 24, 1993, during which he said although he believed probable cause existed to prosecute Allen, he opted not to do so because of the possible traumatic impact testifying in court would have on the child.
Allen subsequently filed complaints with the Criminal Justice Commission, which appoints state prosecutors, and the Statewide Grievance Committee, which investigates allegations of misconduct by attorneys, but neither group took any disciplinary action against Maco.
Despite the subsequent fallout, Maco said his opinion remains unchanged, and cited his comments at the 1993 news conference when asked whether he regretted making them.
"Being aware that any decision other than to prosecute exposes me and my office to accusations of betraying the children of our community, in the exercise of my discretion, I cannot identify a compelling state or community interest or expectation that justifies my risking the well-being of the child by exposure to the criminal process," Maco said.
Asked whether he was concerned that by not prosecuting Allen, it might put other children in danger, Maco again referred to his 1993 statement.
"I do not find that risk to outweigh the identifiable and obvious risk of future traumatization of the fragile child witness," he said.
"I believe that those who knew me and my work prior to 1992 would agree that I was a prosecutor who took a case, tried it to conclusion, if necessary, accepted the decision of the judge or jury, remained silent and took on my next case," he said Monday. "I would only speak publicly when to do less would undermine the community's confidence in my office, the Connecticut justice system or me personally."
In short, Maco said, "My history as a prosecutor was completely opposite to the `headlines seeking' prosecutor that Allen describes."
A call to Allen's attorney, Elkan Abromowitz, seeking comment on Maco's statement wasn't returned on Monday.
Allen, in his op-ed piece, wrote that it would be the last time he would comment on the situation.
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-731-3342


text:
Potrebbe anche piacerti
Bubble CharmsBubble Charms is a fun Bubble Shooter game with a cheerful design and smooth game play. Match 3 of the colored bubbles to pop them.
Orange BubblesShoot and match the orange bubbles in the farm. Enjoy this bubble shooter game with endless fun and levels!
Farm AlarmEnjoy this farm-themed Bubble Shooter game! Gather scattered multicoloured eggs by matching them with eggs of the same colors.
BubblesClassic bubble shooter. Relax and enjoy the game with timeless fun!
Atom & Quark: Bubble FeverPeople report red noses and bloated feet. With the help of the amazing Shrink Ray and Quark, you can beat the germs and cure patients! Bubble Shooter at its best!
Fun Game Play Bubble Shooter
Rate this game
Shoot in 3 or more bubbles with same color and get high score!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Recently, on a gorgeous fall day, my family and I took a trip to a local orchard to pick apples. We had so much fun taking a hayride to the back of the property, then hopping off at the destination to start scouting out the apple variety that we wanted to pick.
Well, we got a little caught up in the fun and before we knew it, we had picked and bagged more apples than we could possibly eat.
Now with a stocked pantry overflowing with apples, I thought I'd try to use some of the apples in our meals. The October issue of Cooking Light featured a pork tenderloin recipe with apples and rosemary. Pork and apples are such a perfect fall classic pairing…about as classic as The Brady Bunch.
In fact, every time I see pork and apple paired in a recipe or on a menu, I am reminded of the Brady Bunch episode of Peter Brady doing his best Humphrey Bogart impression saying, "Pork chawpsh and appleshash, isn't that shwell".
This Apple and Rosemary Pork Roulade is very easy to make and makes a beautiful presentation on a plate- perfect if you are serving guests or just your own "Bunch".
Apple and Rosemary Pork Roulade (adapted from Cooking Light, Oct. 2012)
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 tart apples, chopped (Thierbach Orchards, Marthasville, MO)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 (about 1 pound) pork tenderloin (Todd Geisert Farms, Washington, MO)
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1/3 cup chicken stock
- 3 Tbsp. apple cider (Thierbach Orchards, Marthasville, MO)
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Heat oil in skillet; add apples, onion and garlic, saute 5 minutes. Add vinegar and rosemary, cook 1 min. more. Sprinkle in pepper.
- Slice pork lengthwise but not through, then cut each half lenghtwise but not through. Place plastic wrap over pork and pound meat with a mallet until an even thickness.
- Spread apple mixture on pork and roll up meat.
- Place meat in an oven-proof pan and cook in heated oven for 15 minutes; remove from oven, let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- In skillet, heat stock, cider, mustard to boil, cook 2 minutes, serve over pork.


text:
Some People Actually Believed That 37 People Overdosed on Pot and Died In Colorado Yesterday
I think publications like The Onion and The Daily Currant are freakin' awesome. Taking the most off the wall things you could possibly think of, and writing about them like they are real news stories. The problem is, sometimes they will write a story that is fake, like all of their other stuff, and some idiot (for lack of better terms) believes it.
First off, let's get this out of the way: Not a single person has ever died from a weed overdose... EVER!!! According to one frequently cited study, a marijuana smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times the amount of THC in a joint in order to be at risk of dying.
Now that we have that out of the way, The Daily Current website's "About" section states: "Our stories are purely fictional. However they are meant to address real-world issues through satire and often refer and link to real events happening in the world."
They are the people who wrote the article yesterday titled "Marijuana Overdoses Kill 37 in Colorado On First Day of Legalization." The article quoted fake doctors, and even used big terms, while explaining the death toll could go as high as 200, maybe 300.
So instead of reading into this possibly being a fake, I know of at least 7 or 8 of my Facebook friends alone who posted this to their pages freaking out! One guy took to YouTube, and hundreds of others wrote about their disgust on Twitter, but did I mention it was fake?!
Moral of this story: Again, no one died from smoking weed. No one is going to die from smoking weed. So, please help spread this on to your friends so they can stop looking like idiots on social media.


text:
Music Books
Quantity Discounts->
Served Worldwide
Join Jon's monthly emailing list and receive store discounts, a free MP3 download of Passages, and a chance to win tickets to Jon's major concerts.
NOTE: Absolutely not shared with others and no spam. At most, one email per month will be sent. After submission you'll be redirected to this page.
Be notified via text messaging if Jon comes to your area to perform in concert. Plus, mobile texters will have a chance during the show to win Jon's music books and CDs. You may opt-out anytime.
NOTE: Please enter YOUR 10-digit US or Canadian mobile phone number, including area code. After submission you'll be redirected to this page.


text:
We live in what is affectionately known as "The Natural State", so it is no wonder that many Arkansas communities are proud to lay claim to a "swimming hole". These lakes and streams have been used for generations to beat the summer heat and many of us can say that we have swum in the same waters as our grandparents. A summer getaway to The Empress of Little Rock is the perfect time to seek out some of the nearby swimming holes.
Many of us have heard of or been to Blanchard Springs Recreation Area. Located just to the north of Mountain View, most people go for the caverns, but if you haven't been to the recreation area for swimming, fishing and picnicing you are missing out on a great time. Combine the caverns and the swimming hole for a fun summer day trip from Little Rock. Forty-acre Lake Bennett at Woolly Hollow State Park is even closer to Little Rock and has a sandy beach (with lifeguards during the summer month) for the kids to enjoy. In this part of the state you aren't far from Petit Jean Mountain. Hike the scenic mountain trails and then drive a few miles to frolic on a beach!
These are only a couple of the "swimming holes" that the Natural State has to offer. The Arkansas State Parks website has other offerings in its lakes and rivers section. Now is the perfect time to pack a picnic (or get the Empress to pack its Champagne Picnic for you) and head to your nearest (or dearest) swimming hole for some good old-fashioned Arkansas fun!
Tags: Blanchard Springs, Lake Bennet, lakes and beaches in Arkansas, outdoor activity in Arkansas, Petit Jean State Park, summer fun in Arkansas, swimming hole


text:
Mike Catalano, chairman of the mathematics department at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., discusses the odds of winning in lottery games with his students to show how unlikely it is. He calculates winning a huge lottery to be roughly 1 in 176 million - and gets worse the more tickets are purchased. "You're about 50 times as likely to get struck by lightening as to win the lottery, based on the 90 people a year getting struck by lightening," Catalano said. "Of course, if you buy 50 tickets, you've equalized your chances of winning the jackpot with getting struck by lightning." Interesting. I couldn't help wonder what else might be more likely than winning the lottery. The answers were amusing and even a little alarming. Related: What you could do with $310 million? Here's a guide'
You're 2,285,714 times more likely to die in a transportation accident. Utahans driving to Idaho might want to take note.
Odds: 77 to 1
You're 13 times more likely to pick a perfect NCAA bracket. My recommendation is to go with the cutest mascots.
Odds: 13,460,000 to 1
You're 1,526 times more likely to visit the ER due to an injury from a pogo stick. Just say no to the pogo. Unless you're Jeremy Evans.
The Utah Jazz's Jeremy "The Human Pogo Stick" Evans, 2012 winner of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Odds: 115,300 to 1
You're 35,200 times more likely to get a hole in one. What are the odds that I'm the only one in my golf party to have never gotten a hole in one? Or perhaps the better question is, what are the odds they're all lying?
Odds: 5,000 to 1
You're almost 9 times more likely to be canonized. A boy can dream.
Odds: 20,000,000 to 1
You're 266 times more likely to win an Olympic gold medal. That explains the Jamaican bobsled team.
Odds: 662,000 to 1
You're 2,000 times more likely to be currently dating a supermodel. So you're saying I have a chance?
Odds: 88,000 to 1
You're 9,777 times more likely to be murdered. But the odds even out A LOT if you know a guy with an old hockey mask and a machete. Oh... And if you live anywhere near Crystal Lake.
Odds: 18,000 to 1
You're 1 million times more likely to be audited by the IRS. And whatever you do, don't talk about Timothy Geithner. Right Glenn?
Odds: 175 to 1
You're 704,000 times more likely to find out your child is a genius. And to think, I have four of them!
Odds: 250 to 1
You're 8,000 times more likely to become a pro athlete for most people. It's more like 176 million times more likely for your typical High School superstar.
Odds: 22,000 to 1
You're 176,000 times more likely to find a four leaf clover on your first try. If you were wondering what the exact definition was for "luck of the Irish," here you go.
Odds:10,000 to 1
You're 15,000 times more likely to win an academy award. Odds they like you? They really like you? Much, much worse.
Odds: 11,500 to 1
You're 48,587 times more likely to injure yourself mowing the lawn. Unless you've pimped your lawn mower. Then it's slightly higher.
Odds: 3,623 to 1
You're 35,000 times more likely to be living on the earth when a catastrophic asteroid hits. Cue the Aerosmith.
Odds: 5,000 to 1
You're 123,000,000 times more likely to get married after the age of 40. Utah mothers everywhere can breath a sigh of relief. And Jen, just relax. It'll come.
Odds: 2.5 to 1
You're 818,600 times more likely to date a millionaire. And millions of college students wondering how they're going to pay off their student loans breath a sigh of relief.
Odds: 215 to 1
You're 26,727 times more likely to cut yourself shaving. Seriously? Why does it happen to me every morning?
Odds: 6,585 to 1
You're 39,426 times more likely to be seriously injured by a chainsaw. I keep writing my congressman about those outdated chainsaw control laws. When will they ever listen?
Odds: 4,464 to 1
The good news is you're 1,034,880 times MORE likely to win the lottery than to have a meteor land on your house. I knew I should have entered the office pool.
Odds: 182,138,880,000,000 to 1


text:
Story highlights
- A train hauling fuel from Mandalay, Myanmar, overturned near Kanbalu township
- Three cars caught fire, killing 25 people
- The injured were take to area hospitals
A train hauling fuel in northwest Myanmar derailed and caught fire, killing at least 25 people and injuring 62, goverment officials said Saturday.
The accident occurred Friday morning when a train traveling from Mandalay overturned near the Chet-gyi rail station in the Kanbalu township, near the Myanmar-India border, the Ministry of Information said. The train was hauling seven cars containing gasoline and two cars containing diesel.
When the cars overturned, several began to leak. The 25 people killed were "fetching petrol" from the derailed train cars when three of them caught fire, state-run New Light of Myanmar reported.
Those killed were all from the village of Chet-gyi, though it was unclear whether they were civilians, rescue personnel or a mix of both.
The injured were take to area hospitals in Kanbalu and Kyunhla townships, according to the news agency.
The incident was under investigation.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, only recently emerged out from under nearly 50 years of a brutal military dictatorship.


text:
Keeping your finger on the pulse of member satisfaction is essential for every organization. What better way to keep that pulse beating than by performing annual membership surveys?
Unfortunately, most clubs do not perform member surveys at all, let alone do them on an annual basis, says Rick Caro, owner of Management Vision and its sister company, Club Market Vision, which designs membership surveys for health clubs. However, Caro says clubs should perform annual membership surveys at the same time of year (preferably not the holiday season or the slowest or busiest time of the year) for comparative purposes.
A regular schedule for membership surveys leads to a wealth of comparative data. It also could signal where a club needs to perform a mini survey on an area that members noted on the membership survey was an area of concern to them.
Clubs that perform membership surveys often do them poorly, says Caro, usually because they develop, conduct and interpret the survey on their own or with a company that doesn't have experience in the health club industry. A poorly conducted survey can lead to misleading or biased answers and the implementation of wrong solutions.
The purpose of surveys and research is to gain a return like any other return on investment, says Caro. So, if the club ownership and management cannot take clear and decisive action as a result of the survey, then the research effort was wasted, he says.
"Part of the reason you do a survey is not just to get a calibration of how you are doing, but to anticipate what you could be doing," says Caro. That could include gauging members' interest in program direction, new tenant services, and plant thrust."
Unless a club owner has had success in developing surveys in the past, then the best bet is to hire a professional to design the survey. A club expert who is well versed in market surveys can create a report from the survey results and provide implementable recommendations for the club.
"This is an investment of time, effort and money," says Elliott Brown, principal at Elliott Brown & Associates, a San Francisco-based company that designs customer and employee surveys. "Don't do it if you aren't going to do it right."
A club owner can use several different methods of survey delivery: telephone, mail, e-mail, or Web site. In Caro's opinion, the best method for members is mailed surveys with possible in-club follow up if not enough members return their survey.
Mailed surveys often are more welcomed than phone surveys. They can offer the anonymity respondents may need to more comfortably offer criticisms. Mailed surveys allow the entire chosen population an opportunity to respond to the survey while phone surveys generally require a smaller sample.
Written surveys also allow for greater complexity in the questions because the recipients can respond at their convenience, giving them more time to answer if needed. In addition, a mailed survey prevents possible distortion by the interviewer who might ask leading questions or change the words a bit when performing a phone survey.
On the down side, mailed surveys could yield a low response rate and the surveyor has no control over who responds. In addition, it may be more difficult to get people to respond to open-ended questions.
"On the phone you ask them the question and they respond," says Brown. "On paper, far fewer are going to take the time to write in an answer. Similarly, they can choose which questions to respond to."
Telephone surveys, while generally the most expensive to conduct because they require trained individuals to make the calls, often can yield the greatest response rate, says Brown. Phone surveys also could provide a better sample of membership since the club is selecting whom to call rather than letting the member decide whether to complete the survey. However, Caro points out that the number of questions that can be asked in a phone survey is limited because it's tough to keep an individual on the phone for long. In addition, phone surveys offer an individual's immediate response rather than the contemplated response a member may give to a mailed survey.
With the federal and several state no call lists, telephone surveys are becoming more difficult to perform.
"People are really, really unhappy with telemarketers now," Brown says. "As a result, telephone surveys have to be done very carefully."
Brown generally mails the customer a postcard a week in advance telling them that they will be receiving a call on a certain day.
"That way when we do call them, most of them are aware that they were going to be called and they don't react like we are telemarketers," says Brown.
Phone surveys are best if done anonymously and if not aimed at existing members, Caro says. Because phone surveys are normally anonymous, the club doesn't get the PR benefit by doing an anonymous survey.
E-mail can be the cheapest way to survey members, particularly if surveying a large number of people. The problem with e-mailed surveys is that the responses are limited to only those members with e-mail and only to the members whose e-mail addresses the club possesses.
"That may or may not be a problem," says Brown. "The question is always…are there other characteristics of those who don't have e-mail that would make them a separate segment of your customer base?"
For example, Brown recently completed a credit union survey analysis that found that 30 percent of the respondents 65 years old and older had used the credit union's Web site while 70 percent of customers 18 to 24 years old had used the Web site. For that reason, an older member demographic might not be the best demographic to reach via e-mailed surveys.
Offering a Web site link is another way to allow people to provide feedback, says Brown, but this method allows little control over who responds to the survey and could leave out individuals without access to the Internet.
However, Brown suggests giving members as many ways as possible to communicate.
"What it is about is getting information that is going to help you provide a satisfying experience to your members so that they will stay and bring in referral business," says Brown.
With that communication comes responsibility.
"When you start to measure satisfaction by providing a means for people to communicate, you raise their expectation that you are going to take them seriously and do something about it," says Brown. That doesn't mean that every time a customer has a complaint the club owner should jump to change something, but it does mean acknowledging the suggestion and informing the member about the response — even if it is to reject that suggestion.
"That's the cheapest way to bring in new business," says Brown. "If you can keep your members happy, they are going to be the ones to bring in the business for you."
Even though a club owner may hire a professional to design, perform and analyze the survey, that club owner still must understand the basics about survey design and implementation. Here are some tips about what to look for in a good survey.
Keep surveys short. Many surveys should take no more than five to seven minutes to complete, says Brown. Others can take as long as 12 to 15 minutes. If a survey takes longer than 15 minutes, the club owner should consider offering an incentive.
"You are going to the trouble and expense, so you might as well get as much useful, actionable information as you can," says Brown. Asking questions that allow you to gather essential information rather than just interesting information means you can take action to fix a problem or make something better.
Use a variety of question types. A survey generally includes several types of questions. Some of the questions may be statements with which members mark their agreement or disagreement on a scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree or excellent to poor. The survey may also include questions about services that members may have used, such as spa services. If they've used those services, they can rate their satisfaction level. If they haven't used them, they can skip the question.
At the end of each section, an open-ended question can allow a member to expand on that area. Some companies prefer to list at the end of the survey open-ended questions, such as what do you feel we do well, what suggestions do you have that would improve your level of satisfaction, and what additional comments do you have. If you list a lot of open-ended questions in a row, people will stall and won't fill out the survey.
Ask the right questions. Sometimes, a club might ask the wrong questions. For example, the question "Why did you join the club?" may be a useful question except that the person may have joined the club 10 years ago and the answer may not be relevant today, says Caro. Instead, the question should be redrafted to ask, "Why do you think most members join the club today?"
Ask the questions in the right order. Surveys should ask informational questions first. That way when the member gets to the open-ended questions, they have invested enough time and effort in the survey that they'll be more likely to finish it.
"When you ask general questions about background or behavior first, it's less threatening," says Caro. "If you ask them right off to criticize, they are less likely to answer. If you ask that last, they've already invested time in the survey so they are more likely to actually fill that in."
Offer responses with gradation options. Few questions can be answered with a yes or no. For example, if you ask, "Do you think the front desk is satisfactory?" most people would answer, "Kind of." You should have a six-point scale starting at excellent and going down to poor. You should also have a follow-up question to find out where the area is lacking.
Get a good sample size. The sample size for a survey should be no less than 20 percent, Caro says. If you don't get 20 percent on the first try, then pass out the surveys at the club at different times and at different areas of the club. Caro also suggests printing the mailed surveys on different colored paper than the surveys handed out in the club. The two colors will differentiate between in-house handouts an mailed surveys, which will help confirm that the staff did not fill out surveys or influence surveys while handing them out.
Offer a mail-back option on printed pieces. Mailed surveys should allow for two types of returns: a drop box within the facility and a return envelope. The mailing option ensures infrequent club attendees or lapsed members aren't excluded from the results.
Give members a deadline for returning the survey. If you don't give a deadline, chances are members won't see urgency in returning the survey and they'll never "get around" to filling it out.
Offer an incentive. An incentive can help boost your response rate, particularly if your survey is a little long.
Time the survey right. Clubs should avoid performing membership surveys during slow months, during the heaviest part of the busy season and during a holiday period.
Use the club's newsletter or Web site to alert members about the surveys. Club owners should use their communication vehicles to inform members about the survey prior to its mailing and the results afterward. Club owners also should address any steps that are being taken as a result of the survey findings.
Use survey results constructively. While surveys may point out weaknesses in some areas, the results should be used to make changes not to badger staff about their performance. If need be, staff retraining may need to occur or systems may need to change.
- Created by non-professional but well-meaning club personnel.
- Improper questions leading to biased or erroneous conclusions.
- Lack of relevant questions focusing on current issues important to members.
- Inadequate sample size — not clear what the results really represent.
- Inadequate variety of respondents so conclusions may be based on biased results.
- Distributing surveys in a manner that encourages members to provide favorable view of club or to praise staff.
- Inappropriate timing of survey (when club is most or least busy) so that results are not representative of "business as usual."
- Predominance of rating scale, checklist-type questions without the proper balance of open-ended questions that provide more powerful "volunteered" responses.
- Analysis of results by non-professional (even if the survey is well-designed with adequate sample and numbers of responses), so that there is no comparison with club norms and no real in-depth interpretation.
- Haphazard scheduling of survey so that it is not done at the same time every year.
List compiled by Management Vision Inc.
In this day and age, survey "experts" can be found by using high-tech methods. WOW! Work Out World logs onto Surveymonkey.com to help design its surveys using online question options. The Web service also tabulates the results. The cost is $20 a month for unlimited surveying, says Stephen P. Roma, chief executive WOW!zer at WOW!, of Brick, NJ.
WOW! conducts a survey on a quarterly basis. (Managers and secret shoppers also conduct twice weekly perception and cleanliness surveys). The survey has nine questions with subcategories under several of the questions. WOW! e-mails the quarterly survey to members to gather their opinions about five areas of the club: front desk, housekeeping, group fitness, personal training and customer service. Members rate these areas based on friendliness, professionalism and efficiency.
WOW! began performing the quarterly survey about a year and a half ago.
"It became a necessity," says Roma. At one time WOW! consisted of three clubs, which meant it was easier to keep tabs on member satisfaction by talking to members. However, the group has expanded to seven clubs, and Roma felt a survey was the best way to go.
The results have been used to justify a few changes, particularly the hiring of a housekeeping manager for the group and a housekeeper in each club. Also, comments about worn carpet led the club to change the carpeting to rubber flooring.
Not everyone is a fan of online survey services. Rick Caro owner of Management Vision and its sister company, membership survey company Club Market Vision, says that online survey companies such as this can't offer club owners the analysis and recommendations that they need to put together actionable plans.
However, Roma says this type of survey works for his clubs as a way to gather members' perceptions.
"It is the perception of the member," Roma says. "It may not be reality, but it is their perception of reality."


text:
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Andy Murray has beaten Roger Federer for the first time in a Grand Slam event to advance to the Australian Open final against top-ranked Novak Djokovic.
Murray, who became the first British man to win a major in 76 years when he beat Djokovic in last year's U.S. Open final, missed a chance to serve for the match in the fourth set before beating Federer 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-2 in a tense semifinal Friday.
The No. 3-ranked Murray, who lost Australian finals in 2010 and 2011, will be playing his third consecutive major final when he takes on two-time defending champion Djokovic on Sunday.
Murray lost the Wimbledon final to Federer – their third meeting in a major – before his career breakthrough in New York.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.


text:
This boot was designed by a former Nike Shoe designer and tested by the National Guide Dogs for the blind. It has a stronger, non-skid sole (as compared to our Healers bootie) and the upper is a shoe mesh so it dries quickly. Even though the sole is thicker it is still flexible providing your pet a natural feel and movement as they walk or run. The wrap around design enables a great fit so the boot stays on. The hook and loop applied is high tensile strength hook that creates a firm hold even in snowy conditions. All Bowserwear products are produced in Portland, Oregon with the highest quality material. No other boot on the market compares.
Urban Walkers were created to protect your pet from everyday paw injuries. An ounce of prevention can go a long way to save your pet from injury. They are great for hardwood floors, boating, hunting, and outdoor terrains. A Healthy Paw Pad is essential to a dogs well being. They serve as a shock absorber, provide surface traction and insulate the dog from extreme hot and cold temperatures. Even though their pads are tough, they can still be injured.
Size Chart:
Depending on Breed, the back paws maybe one size smaller than front paws.


text:
Our products are stamped with "Absolutely Tested on Animals" (in our case that's a good thing!) That's because every product has been designed to provide hours of safe and entertaining fun for people and their pets! Just to make sure, all of our stuff is put through a rigorous testing process by our team of Test Dogs and Cats. If they don't like it, we don't make it!
At Fat Cat - "We make people and pets laugh!"


text:
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
Advancement is the process by which youth members of the Boy Scouts of America progress from rank to rank (or to specific awards) in the Scouting program. Advancement opportunities are avaliable to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers.
Advancement occurs when a youth member in a Scouting program completes a set of requirements and is recognized with a rank badge or an award designated as part of an advancement path.
Advancement may be a linear trail through ranks and awards (for Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting and Sea Scouting) or may be paths that branch into areas of specialties (Varsity Scouting and Venturing). Earning ranks or advancement awards involves fulfilling various requirements which may include earning badges, pins, emblems or other recognition awards.
Advancement is one of the methods used to achieve the aims of Scouting in all four phases of the Scouting program (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing). The Aims and Methods of Scouting are character building, citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness.
Advancement is simply a means to an end, not an end in itself. Everything done to earn advancement, from joining until leaving the program, should be designed to help the youth member have an exciting and meaningful experience.
Education and fun are functions of the Scouting movement, and they must be the basis of the advancement program.
A fundamental principle of advancement in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing is the growth a young person achieves as a result of his/her participation in his/her unit program.
In Scouting, recognition is gained through leadership in the unit; attending and participating in the activities; living the ideals of Scouting; and developing a proficiency in outdoor life, useful skills, and career exploration.
Advancement in the Four Scouting Program Phases
Advancement is one of the methods used to achieve the aims of Scouting in all four phases of the Scouting program (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing). The aims of Scouting are character building, citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness.
Cub Scouts
The Cub Scout program in the den and pack is the basis for the Cub Scout's advancement. The steps in Cub Scout and Webelos Scout advancement procedures are preparation, qualification, and recognition.
Cub Scouts earn the Bobcat badge and then progress towards advancement starting at their age-appropriate den rank.
- Bobcat badge - For all new youth members.
- Tiger Cub - For first grade-aged boys
- Wolf Cub Scout - For second grade-aged boys
- Bear Cub Scout - For third grade-aged boys
- Webelos Scout badge - For fourth and fifth grade-aged boys
- Arrow of Light Award - Cub Scouting's highest award.
The Arrow of Light is the only rank patch that a Cub Scout can wear on a uniform of the other BSA programs.
Boy Scouts
The Boy Scout requirements for rank are the basis for a Boy Scout's advancement. There are four steps in the Boy Scout advancement procedure: learning, testing, reviewing, and recognition.
Boy Scout Advancement is for boys 11 years and older and younger than 18 earn the Scout Badge upon joining and progress along the Eagle trail. Unless stated otherwise, requirements may be completed at any time, but ranks are received in sequence and according to time and leadership requirements.
- 1. Scout badge - Boy Scout joining requirements.
- 2. Tenderfoot
- 3. Second Class
- 4. First Class
- 5. Star Scout
- 6. Life Scout
- 7. Eagle Scout Award - Boy Scouting's highest award.
- 8. Eagle Palms - Recognition for further service, growth, and tenure.
The Eagle Scout Award may be worn on a uniform of Venturers and Sea Scouts. The Star, Life and Eagle patch may be worn on the uniform of Venturers.
Varsity Scouts
The Varsity Scout advancement follows the same rank requirements to Eagle and Eagle Palms as those for Boy Scouts. Supplementing this Eagle trail, a Varsity Scouts is also eligible for the additional advancement opportunity of earning the Denali Award. To do this he must earn at least one Varsity Letter, and serve as Program Manager (a position of responsibility), acting as primary leader in at least two of the fields of emphasis and participating in the remaining three fields.
The Program Manager for advancement (one of the five fields of emphasis) is responsible for planning and encouraging team advancement activities. The youth Program Manager is assisted by an adult Program Advisor who is a member of the team committee.
Varsity Scouts 14 years and older and younger than 18 follow the same rank requirements as Boy Scouts; team members frequently have previous service or are dual registered in a Boy Scout troop. Varsity Letter and Denali Award requirements may be earned immediately upon joining the team, but members must advance at least one rank toward Eagle or earn an Eagle Palm.
Boy Scouting advancement
- 1. Scout badge - Boy Scout joining requirements.
- 2. Tenderfoot
- 3. Second Class
- 4. First Class
- 5. Star Scout
- 6. Life Scout
- 7. Eagle Scout
- 8. Eagle Palms
Varsity Scouting advancement
- 1. Varsity Letter
- 2. Denali Award - Varsity Scouting's highest award.
The Denali Award may be worn on a uniform of Venturers and Sea Scouts.
Venturers/Sea Scouts who have completed eight grade 14 years and older and younger than 21 may begin work toward a Bronze Award or Apprentice Sea Scout rank upon joining. Sea Scouts in a ship may work earn Venturing basic advancement and expert-level award, but Venturers in a crew cannot earn Sea Scout ranks outside of a ship.
A male Venturer or Sea Scout is eligible for Eagle rank before his 18th birthday, providing he has previously achieved Star or Life in a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team.
The basic advancement system
- 1. Venturing Bronze Award
- 2. Venturing Gold Award
- 3. Venturing Silver Award - Venturing's highest award.
Expert-level awards
- Quest Award - Venturing sports and fitness award.
- TRUST Award - Venturing religious and community life award.
- Ranger Award - Venturing outdoor skill proficiency award.
Sea Scouts
Sea Scout ranks - Apprentice, Ordinary, Able, and the Quartermaster Award may be earned by all Sea Scouts who meet certain requirements. Details on Sea Scouting advancement can be found in the Sea Exploring Manual.
Sea Scouting ranks
- Apprentice rank
- Ordinary rank
- Able rank
- Quartermaster Award - Sea Scouting's highest award.


text:
Judge Rejects Apple's Request for Permanent Ban of Samsung Smartphones
Judge Lucy Koh has denied Apple's request for a permanent injunction against Samsung smartphones, Reuters reported.
Apple had been awarded $1.05 billion in damages in an August verdict. The trial's jury found that Samsung willfully copied features of Apple's iPhone and iPad.
The Cupertino, Calif. company also sought a permanent sales ban on the smartphones in question — a formidable list of 26 devices.
Judge Koh decided against the ban, claiming that the features Samsung had infringed upon were only "a small fraction" of the phones' features.
"Though Apple does have some interest in retaining certain features as exclusive to Apple, it does not follow that entire products must be forever banned from the market because they incorporate, among their myriad features, a few narrow protected functions," Koh wrote in her Monday verdict.
But there was also good news for Apple on Monday. Judge Koh decided against Samsung's request for a new trial due to an alleged jury bias, meaning that the $1.05 billion verdict still stands.
Image courtesy of Samsung


text:
NYPD stop-and-frisk case returned to lower court
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court returned litigation over the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy to a lower court Friday for a potential settlement between civil liberties groups and the city.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to let police unions replace the city to continue the appeal over a judge's finding that police sometimes discriminate against minorities with the crime reduction tactic.
The appeals court's decision was issued weeks after the city withdrew its challenge to a court-appointed monitor and other steps in order to rewrite the stop-and-frisk policy, with new Mayor Bill de Blasio saying the city wanted to ensure there was no discrimination.
In a statement, the city's law department said: "The court of appeals recognized the city's interest in resolving the case, which we now intend to do in the district court."
Christopher Dunn, associate legal director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said the decision "clears away the last hurdle to our being able to move forward with the de Blasio administration to settle the litigation and start the important task of reforming stop-and-frisk."
He added: "With this ruling, the appeals court has made clear that it does not intend to stand in the way of this reform process."
Police unions had asked to take over the appeal, saying the finding of discrimination by U.S. District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin unfairly tainted the 35,000-person police force, the nation's largest. Scheindlin was removed from the case last year after the appeals court said she ran afoul of the code of conduct for U.S. judges by misapplying a ruling that allowed her to take the case and by giving media interviews during a trial last year.
The appeals court refused to let the unions replace the city and continue the appeal. The court said the unions could try to intervene in place of the city before a district judge first and then could appeal any rejection.
In its decision, the 2nd Circuit said the appropriateness of letting police unions continue the appeal "could well bear on settlement negotiations." It said the lower court was "better positioned to deal with the complexities that might arise during multifaceted settlement negotiations in which a variety of interests must be accommodated."
The ruling seemed to sit well with the police unions.
"Our mission has always been to gain a seat at the table in order to protect our members' rights and reputations," said Patrick J. Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.
Stop and frisk has been around for decades, but recorded stops increased dramatically in the past decade to an all-time high in 2011 of 684,330, mostly of black and Hispanic men. To make a stop, police must have reasonable suspicion that a crime is about to occur or has occurred, a standard lower than the probable cause needed to justify an arrest. Only about 10 percent of the stops result in arrests or summonses, and weapons are found about 2 percent of the time.
Baher Azmy, legal director of the civil liberties group Center for Constitutional Rights, which had argued on behalf of those challenging the stop-and-frisk tactics, said the 2nd Circuit's action meant that the litigation "has largely concluded."
"We look forward to working with affected communities and the city toward achieving lasting reforms to the NYPD's stop and frisk practices," he said. "This city will be a better place for it."
Associated Press Writer Tom Hays contributed to this report.
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.


text:
I am writing this post to gain some insight into the teaching of "samsara without discoverable beginning." I have tried searching the forum for a direct discussion on this subject but have not found one. If there is something I have overlooked please point me in the right direction.
What I would like to ask is how have you understood this teaching? And how has it shaped your understanding of the Dhamma? And by extension your understanding of the nature of reality?
Below are two passages from the Samyutta-nikaya translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi to illustrate the teachings of "samsara without discoverable beginning."
(I especially like the stone mountain simile because of its delicate choice of words. The man is said to "stroke" the mountain with a piece of fine cloth, as if to say that were he to "strike" the mountain the length of time it would take this action to erode the mountain would not be sufficient enough to validate a comparison to the eon.)
The Blessed One said this:
- "Monks, this samsara is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving. Suppose, monks, a man would cut up whatever grass, sticks, branches, and foliage there are in this Jambudipa and collect them together into a single heap. Having done so, he would put them down, saying for each one: 'This is my mother, this my mother's mother.' The sequence of that man's mothers and grandmothers would not come to an end, yet the grass, sticks, branches, and foliage in this Jambudipa would be used up and exhausted. For what reason? Because, monks, this samsara is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving. For such a long time, monks, you have experienced suffering, anguish, and disaster, and swelled the cemetery. It is enough to become disenchanted with all formations, enough to become dispassionate toward them, enough to be liberated from them." (SN 15:1)
"Suppose, monk, there was a great stone mountain a yojana long, a yojana wide, and a yojana high, without holes or crevices, one solid mass of rock. At the end of every hundred years a man would stroke it once with a piece of fine cloth. That great stone mountain might by this effort be worn away and eliminated but the eon would still not have come to an end. So long is an eon, monk. And of eons of such length, we have wandered through so many eons, so many hundreds of eons, so many thousands of eons, so many hundreds of thousands of eons. For what reason? Because, monk, this samsara is without discoverable beginning… It is enough to be liberated from them." (SN 15:5)


text:
California Department of Transportation
Date: October 2, 2013
District: 3 - Marysville, www.dot.ca.gov/dist3
Jody Jones, District Director
Contact: Rochelle Jenkins Email: email@example.com
Phone: (530) 634-7640
MARYSVILLE – Caltrans announced today that it has finished rebuilding 90 miles of Interstate 80 between Auburn and the Nevada state line, infrastructure improvements that included rebuilding seven bridges, improving lighting and drainage and adding new traffic monitoring systems.
"In years past, people visiting our state were greeted with a rough, worn out roadway," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. "We now have a smooth, safe, world-class highway that will benefit our residents, our businesses, and millions of tourists who visit California."
Interstate 80 is a critical economic artery for California and the nation because it is one of only three continuous coast-to-coast highways, and it has served motorists well since the 1960s.
The massive construction venture ("Get Across 80") consisted of 15 separate projects featuring a wide range of improvements. In addition to rebuilding the highway:
- Caltrans rebuilt seven bridges and the Donner Summit and Gold Run rest areas.
- Several chain on/off areas were upgraded.
- New freeway cameras were installed, which Caltrans will use to monitor traffic incidents and weather conditions.
- New electronic highway message signs on I-80 will provide motorists real-time traffic and weather information.
- Caltrans enhanced safety for motorists by boosting the lighting around key interchanges.
- Drainage systems were improved and highway shoulders were widened to modern standards.
Proposition 1B, a 2006 voter-approved transportation bond, provided $76 million in funding. To date, nearly $17 billion in Proposition 1B funds have been put to work
# # # #


text:
New paddlefish management program already increasing fishing opportunities
for anglers
An agreement between the City of Miami and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will mean better and cheaper fishing for paddlefish anglers in Miami's Riverview City Park.
At a recent meeting, the Miami City Council unanimously approved a proposal from the Wildlife Department to eliminate the City of
"This agreement comes as a result of the Wildlife Department's new paddlefish program," said Keith Green, paddlefish program coordinator for the Wildlife Department. "This is a major increase in opportunity for
Mike Johnson, City of
"It's a win-win situation," Johnson said.
Green emphasized, however, that voluntary angler participation is important for the agreement to stay in place and for the paddlefish program to prosper.
"The City of
The paddlefish management pilot program was established recently near the Twin Bridges area of the Neosho River and, as evidenced by the agreement between the Department and the City of Miami, is playing an important role in paddlefish management. The primary functions of the paddlefish research center are to collect important data for the Department's paddlefish management plan, process paddlefish meat for anglers and salvage paddlefish eggs. Funds derived from the program go back to the resource, which means better fishing in the future, along with projects such as improved fishing access, paddlefish management, angler education and more.
The Department's paddlefish management program has involved an extensive process of netting, weighing, measuring and marking paddlefish with metal tags on the front of the jaw before releasing them to be caught by anglers by way of snagging. Anglers who snag a tagged paddlefish are encouraged to report their catch to the Wildlife Department to not only help in the management of paddlefish in
The center is open during prime paddlefish snagging months (approximately Feb. 15 – May 15), and anglers can bring their catch to the center for cleaning and processing. Additionally, anglers such as those at
The paddlefish research center is seasonally staffed by employees trained in proper handling and processing of fish products, and other research centers may be set up at future locations.
Paddlefish anglers are required to obtain a free paddlefish permit before fishing for paddlefish in
For more information about paddlefish angling, including regulations and hot fishing locations, consult the current "Oklahoma Fishing Guide" or log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
Meeting to focus on wind power policy for wildlife management areas
A public meeting will be held in Woodward to gather input from hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts about possible wind power development on areas owned by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The meeting will still be held Wed., March 12, at 6 p.m. at the
"The Commission is looking at this issue closely because it is a policy decision that could impact several areas in western
For people who are interested in voicing their opinion but will be unable to attend the meeting in Woodward, they can go to Department's Web site and email in their comments. The Wildlife Department's Web site can be accessed at www.wildlifedepartment.com.
Applications available for Wildlife Department Youth Camp
Youth interested in wildlife, fisheries and law enforcement can apply now to attend the 10th annual Oklahoma Wildlife Department Youth Camp scheduled for June 2-6, 2008. This camp is free, and youth get a chance to learn about careers in wildlife conservation.
Held at OU Biological Station near
The camp is free of charge, but will be limited to 35 youth. Applicants should be interested in fish and wildlife management or law enforcement and must submit a 75-word essay explaining why they want to attend the camp, why they believe they should be selected and what they expect to learn while attending. They must also submit a letter of recommendation from a person of their choice other than a family member and a photograph of a recent outdoor-related event or activity.
Applications will be accepted Feb. 1 – April 18, and applicants must turn 14 prior to June 2, 2008. Obtain applications by logging on to the Wildlife Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com. Simply print off the application, fill it out and mail it in with the essay, letter of recommendation and photograph to: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Law Enforcement Division Youth Camp,
hunting opportunities expanded with new regulations
The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission passed several hunting and fishing regulation changes at its regular meeting Monday, particularly some deer hunting regulation changes aimed at improving Oklahoma's deer herd while providing additional hunting opportunities for antlerless deer.
Specific deer hunting regulation changes include the following:
* Archery hunters will be allowed to harvest a deer of either sex during the period of Jan. 1 to Jan. 15.
* The bag limit for archery season was increased from four to six deer.
* Legal firearms for muzzleloading season were redefined by allowing the current technology of electronic ignition and future technological changes for muzzleloading firearms to be legal for deer, provided the firearm is loaded from the muzzle and uses a powder and bullet set-up.
* Deer gun season on Honobia Creek,
The Commission voted 5-2 to reject one item in the list of hunting-related proposals, which would have allowed those persons certified to use crossbows to use a device that permits a regular bow to be held mechanically at full or partial draw.
"These changes expand deer hunting opportunities in many ways, but they also serve to help manage the state's deer herd," said Alan Peoples, chief of wildlife for the Wildlife Department.
Other changes that were approved affect fisherman and several popular fishing spots. The new rule amendments are as follows:
* Paddlefish anglers will be required to attach their paddlefish permit number to their fish, and it will be a requirement for paddlefish viscera to be removed before leaving the state. Additionally, paddlefish anglers will be required to have a free annual paddlefish permit. These paddlefish rules are currently in effect under emergency rules.
* The
* The boundaries on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System were clarified.
* Spotted bass were exempted from length limits statewide except for certain streams.
* Spotted bass bag limits were removed statewide except for certain streams.
* Alligator gar rules were modified after public hearings to define the closed area, shorten the period of closure and restrict all angling methods.
* The use of non-metallic materials will be allowed where natural materials do not exist for attaching limblines.
"I am confident these changes will benefit the fisheries in
The Commission approved several other items at the regular meeting regarding nuisance wildlife control and feral hog nuisance and depredation rules. Approved amendments are as follows:
* An existing emergency rule regarding the poisoning of prairie dogs on public land was made permanent.
* Prior to shooting beavers at night, it will be a requirement that the game warden for that county be notified.
* Rules were established for issuing permits to landowners, lessees or their designated agents and to any entity of local government to control nuisance wildlife or feral hogs as authorized in statute (29:4-135.). The issuance of the permit was streamlined by allowing the area game warden or wildlife employee to immediately respond to a complaint and, upon verification of the problem, issue a permit immediately for an appropriate time period up to one year. The change also allows for the person doing the authorized control work to sell coyotes and beaver with proper documentation.
* Restrictions were tightened on the possession, importation, culture, sale or use of invasive Asian carp and blueback herring.
* The Commission will be allowed to add or delete aquatic plants from the "Species to Watch" list.
In addition to wildlife changes, oil and gas rules were updated to reflect industry technology and procedure changes.
The new regulations must now pass through the legislative process and be signed by the governor. Look for complete details in the next Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing Guides.
In other business, the Commission recognized Gene Pester, game warden supervisor, and Arthur Joe Young, also a game warden supervisor, for 35 years of service to the Wildlife Department. Additionally, Jimmy Foster, communications manager, and Steve Webber, information specialist, were both recognized for 20 years of service.
The Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife Commission establishes state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department, and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities. Commission members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
The next scheduled Commission meeting is set for 9 a.m. April 1 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation headquarters (auditorium), at the southwest corner of 18th and
New Kaw lake record flathead hooked
If Lesley B. Carson-McNeff of Mustang had caught her 78 lb. flathead catfish from Kaw Lake this time last year, she may have been the only one to cherish the sweet memory, but since she caught it March 8 of this year, the big cat will go down in the record books.
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation initiated its Lake Record Fish Program in February, 2008, to recognize the biggest fish from a number of lakes across the state, as well as the anglers who reel them in.
McNeff's catfish goes down as the first lake record flathead catfish and the third lake record caught since the inception of the program. It was caught on a trotline baited with whole shad, and McNeff, 25, and her father braved cold weather to bring home the fish.
"It was really cold," McNeff said. "It was 19 degrees when we got on the water."
The pair checked her father's trotline first, coming up with three nice-sized flatheads, then switched to check Lesley's trotline. There was only one fish on the trotline, but neither of them expected to find a Kaw lake record — weighing an even 78 lbs with a length of 51 inches and a girth of 34.25 inches.
"I was not disappointed that it was the only fish on the line!" McNeff said.
McNeff enjoys running trotlines this time of year with her father, who learned the art of successful trotline fishing from his father.
"My dad's the best trotline fisherman I know," McNeff said. "He knows how and where to set them, how to run them."
And McNeff's father has been showing her the ropes since she was just a youngster. Her flathead catfish comes after two other lake records were set in late February. One was a 14 lb., 8 oz. largemouth bass caught by Allen Gifford,
Besides Kaw Lake, there are currently 12 other major lakes included in the Lake Record Fish pilot program, including Arbuckle, Broken Bow, Canton, Eufaula, Ft. Cobb, Grand, Keystone, Sardis, Skiatook, Tenkiller, Texoma and Thunderbird.
Species eligible for spots in the lake records book include flathead, blue and channel catfish and largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass in addition to crappie, paddlefish, striped bass, striped bass hybrids, sunfish (combined) walleye/saugeye and white bass. Minimum weights are set for each species and are detailed on the Wildlife Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.
Anglers who catch a potential record fish from a participating lake should contact designated business locations around the lake that are enrolled as lake record keepers. A listing of official lake record keepers is available on wildlifedepartment.com.
Once it has been determined that an angler has landed a record fish, the media is notified and the public will be able to view information about the catch on the Wildlife Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.
An easily-operated search feature is available on the Web site that allows those interested to view a wealth of lake record fish information, ranging from the size of record fish caught to what kind of bait or rod and reel was used to catch them.
All past and current state record fish are registered in the Lake Record Fish Program as records for their respective lakes.
For more information about the new Lake Record Fish Program, or for more on bass fishing in
Editor's note: Below is a link for an accompanying photo that is 300 DPI and intended for newspaper publication. The ending link is .jpg for the photo. The photo will open in your browser. If you have a pc you should be able to right click, save picture as, choose the file type you want to save as and click save. The other way is on file in toolbar, save picture as, choosing the file type you want to save as and click save. Images can be viewed with the article
Lake Record Fish weekly tracker now provided to Wildlife News subscribers
With prime fishing season underway across the state, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's new Lake Record Fish Program is exploding with action. Nearly a dozen lake records have been caught and certified since the program's Feb. 1 kick-off, and some records have been broken twice in just a matter of days.
"New lake records just keep coming in," said Greg Summers, fisheries research lab supervisor for the Wildlife Department.
And though the Lake Record Fish program is brand new, Summers said it is no coincidence that this time of year is yielding so many records at lakes across the state.
"If there is any time of year for the fishing to be good, it's now through the next several weeks," Summers said. "The
To keep sportsmen informed, the Wildlife Department is providing a weekly Lake Record Fish program update in its weekly news release, showing all record fish caught and certified during the previous week. This resource is provided in addition to an extensive online database showing all lake record fish information on the Wildlife Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.
To see the complete database of all lake record fish caught, or to learn more about the Lake Record Fish program, log on to the Wildlife Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.
Canton Lake
Weight: 8.8 lbs.
Angler: Flynn King
Date: March 9
Bait: Hard baits/plugs
Photo link: http://lake-record.ou.edu/fishsite/public/fishView.php?id=385
Canton Lake
Weight: 9.2 lbs.
Angler: Jim Sweetwood
Date: March 14
Bait: Hard baits/plugs
Photo link: http://lake-record.ou.edu/fishsite/public/fishView.php?id=403
Weight: 2.3 lbs.
Angler: Mark Payne
Date: March 10
Bait: Jig
Photo link: http://lake-record.ou.edu/fishsite/public/fishView.php?id=387
Texoma Lake
Weight: 2.6 lbs.
Angler: Michael Roger
Date: March 8
Bait: Jig
Photo link: http://lake-record.ou.edu/fishsite/public/fishView.php?id=389
Wildlife Department Youth Camp exposes teens to career opportunities
Youth interested in attending the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's annual Wildlife Youth Camp still have time to apply, and those that attend may just discover a future career.
Held at OU Biological Station near
The free camp is slated this year for June 2-6 and offers teenagers a unique glimpse of what it is like to be a wildlife professional, but perhaps the most appealing part is the experience they get in a number of activities ranging from rifle and shotgun training to wildlife identification, wildlife law enforcement, wildlife and fisheries biology, wildlife management, self-defense, ropes and rappelling. Just ask Grace or Pugh, and they will tell you the same thing. In fact, when asked what their favorite part of the camp was 10 years ago, they both said it was the hands-on learning opportunities and time spent with game wardens. Not only that, but attending the camp helped confirm their already growing interest in wildlife-related professions.
"Getting hands-on experience in the field helped solidify my desire for a career in law enforcement," Pugh said.
Pugh, who currently is stationed in Tillman County, had already spent the majority of her life around the outdoors and was leaning toward pursuing a career as a game warden, but getting to work with professionals in resolving various staged outdoor scenarios and being encouraged to discuss how situations should be handled in a day in the life of a game warden helped her choose a career path.
Grace, now stationed in Osage County, agrees, saying the Youth Camp "creates a desire to want to learn more" about various careers the Wildlife Department offers, and if nothing else, it's just plain fun to participate in all the activities available at the camp, whether it is shooting or another outdoor activity.
"What kid would not enjoy that?" Grace asked.
Pugh, who learned about the Youth Camp when her parents read about it in the newspaper, said the weeklong event has a way of opening the eyes of youth to how diverse the game warden position can be, and it also lets participants see just how many other job options there are in wildlife fields. She said if a youth is at all interested in wildlife, the camp is for them.
"It's free, and you are going to find out exactly what's out there," she said. "It's a fun week out of the summer."
The camp will be limited to 35 youth. Applicants should be interested in fish and wildlife management or law enforcement and must submit a 75-word essay explaining why they want to attend the camp, why they believe they should be selected and what they expect to learn while attending. They must also submit a letter of recommendation from a person of their choice other than a family member and a photograph of a recent outdoor-related event or activity.
Applications will be accepted until April 18, and applicants must turn 14 prior to June 2, 2008. Tell a youth they can get an application by logging on to the Wildlife Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com
They simply
need to print off the application, fill it out and mail it in with the
essay, letter of recommendation and photograph to: Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation, Law Enforcement Division Youth Camp,
For Pugh and Grace, the Youth Camp was fun, but it helped them gain a better understanding of conservation and a clearer vision for their futures. And for Pugh, the experience has come full circle, as she is signed up to help with this year's youth camp for her first time. She expects the camp to be very rewarding, and who knows, she might be just the right person to inspire a future wildlife professional.
Time running out to submit images to Outdoor Oklahoma
Oklahomans with a digital camera and an interest in the outdoors may just see their work published in this years Annual Reader's Photography Showcase edition of Outdoor Oklahoma magazine but they better act fast. Submissions will no longer be accepted by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation after March 31.
Last year's competition marked the first all digital Reader's Photography Showcase.
"We are encouraging everybody who enjoys the outdoors in
Although the editors of Outdoor Oklahoma encourage readers to submit images including a variety of outdoor-related subjects, the magazine has been focusing on "faces in the outdoors" to show hunters, anglers, kids and other outdoor enthusiasts enjoying the outdoors.
Each participant may submit up to five digital images. Each submission must include a description of the photo, including the location taken, names and hometowns of subjects and what it took to get just the right shot. Photos should be in sharp focus, and images should be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). The canvas size should be about 8 inches by 11 inches. Slides and print images will not be accepted.
Hopeful photographers can mail a disk to: "Outdoor Oklahoma" magazine, Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation,
Individuals can subscribe to "Outdoor Oklahoma" by calling 1-800-777-0019. Subscriptions are just $10 for one year, $18 for two years, or $25 for three years. You can also subscribe over the Internet by logging on to the Department's Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.


text:
Cabinetry and furnishings define both the style and functionality of any home or building. This is why an experienced joiner is an integral part of any construction or home renovation crew.
Also referred to as cabinet or furniture makers, joiners use a variety of woods and laminates to design, build, repair and re-style wooden cabinets, fixtures, doors, windows, stairs, wall units, tables, millwork, bookshelves, and more.
UFV's Joinery program prepares you to enter the trade with a high level of technical skills and craftsmanship. Under the guidance of committed instructors, you learn how to use CAD drafting software to design cabinets and furniture, operate computer numerical control (CNC) routers to cut wood panels, and read drawings to assemble complex designs according to specifications.
You apply what you learn in our well-equipped shop, which is fully outfitted both with traditional tools and the advanced woodworking technology used in today's cabinet making and furniture design industry.
When you successfully complete the program, you may enter into the provincial apprenticeship program with full credit for Level 1 and 2. You are fully prepared to work both in small shops with basic equipment or industrial facilities with the latest woodworking technology.
In addition to designing, manufacturing, and installing, cabinets, furniture, and various fixtures, joiners can also work in interior design, restoration, renovation, sales, or even ship building.
As the industry seeks to boost productivity and reduce costs in a competitive market, trained joiners who can operate advanced computer-based woodworking technology for design, estimating and cost control are in highest demand.
Self-employment is a popular option for cabinet makers who do custom renos or high end woodwork. In fact, according to census data, the proportion of self-employed joiners is more than two and a half higher than that of other occupations. Those seeking to enhance their self-employment prospects may wish to pursue business training.
Opportunities may also arise for joiners in the shipbuilding industry, following the federal government's decision to award an eight-year, $8-billion contract to build non-combat vessels in BC.


text:
Yankton Schools No Longer Used as Polling Stations
YANKTON - Election officials in Yankton have decided to no longer use Yankton schools as polling stations.
The Press & Dakotan reports that election officials decided to remove Yankton Middle School and Lincoln Elementary School from the list of polling stations due to security and logistical concerns.
Officials say there is not enough parking and little access to restrooms. Safety concerns have also become an issue following the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut in December.
Yankton School District business manager Jason Bietz says e-polling and voting centers are eliminating the need for precincts.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Note: This article has done its job, and will be retiring soon. To prevent "Page not found" woes, we're removing links we know about. If you've created links to this page, please remove them, and together we'll keep the web connected.
When working with a SharePoint Foundation 2010site, you can perform most tasks by using accessibility features such as keyboard shortcuts. In addition to the accessibility features and utilities in Microsoft Windows, the features described in this article make sites more accessible for people with disabilities.
Note: The information in this topic applies only to users who license Microsoft products in the United States. If you obtained this product outside the United States, your package contains a subsidiary information card listing Microsoft support services telephone numbers and addresses. You can contact your subsidiary to find out whether the type of products and services described here are available in your area. For more information that is available in other languages, including Japanese and French, see http://www.microsoft.com/enable/worldwide/.
In this article
More Accessible Mode
In a SharePoint site, most user interface (UI) elements, such as links, form controls, and buttons, are designed to use Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA). MSAA enables people with disabilities to interact with content by using assistive technologies such as screen readers, which are devices that provide a synthesized speech or Braille description of what a blind or low-vision user is unable to see on a computer screen or Web site. Because some custom UI elements do not use MSAA properties, you can turn on More Accessible Mode. This mode renders custom controls as an equivalent standard HTML controls. This rendering ensures that users of assistive technologies are able to interact with the custom controls.
Note: More Accessible Mode does not enable alternate versions of every UI element. For example, if someone in your organization customizes a SharePoint site by adding a custom control, enabling More Accessible Mode does not automatically create an alternate version of that control.
You turn More Accessible Mode on or off by pressing the TAB key immediately after placing focus on the page in a browser. Press the TAB key until you reach the Turn on more accessible mode or Turn off more accessible mode link, and then press ENTER. Even though the link to turn on More Accessible Mode is the first element in the tab order — which means that it is the first option that you interact with on the page — you may need to press the TAB key more than once to activate the feature. This is because the browser menus or toolbars may initially have the active focus. More Accessible Mode changes the way that the page renders for you, not for other users of the site. Because this is a local setting, no one besides you knows that you enabled this setting. More Accessible Mode remains enabled until you turn it off or close your browser. More Accessible Mode enables the following items to be rendered in a way that optimizes them to work better with assistive technologies such as screen readers:
Menus Instead of displaying a drop-down menu of options for files in a document library, a new browser window is opened that contains all of the menu items as hyperlinks. This format is easier for assistive technologies to interpret.
Optimized fields Some fields are difficult for assistive technologies to interpret. When More Accessible Mode is enabled, these fields are replaced with fields that are optimized for assistive technologies. For example, some SharePoint lists support enhanced text fields that enable users to add formatted text, images, tables, and hyperlinks. Because of the way these fields are rendered in a browser, some assistive technologies cannot read them. When More Accessible Mode is enabled, such fields are replaced with standard plain text fields that are compliant with assistive technologies.
In addition to enhanced text fields, several other types of fields are replaced with alternate fields in More Accessible Mode.
List of fields and alternate fields in More Accessible Mode
Field in standard mode
Alternate field in More Accessible Mode
Enhanced text field
Multiple line text field
Graphical summary charts (for surveys)
Table with table headers
Gantt chart (in a project list)
Table with table headers
A table with table headers also appears below a Gantt chart in standard mode.
Contact selector
Text field
Note: More Accessible Mode does not limit functionality, but instead enables alternate rendering methods for page elements so that they are compatible with assistive technologies.
Keyboard shortcuts
Many features and commands are available directly by using the keyboard. You can press the TAB key and SHIFT+TAB to move back and forth between elements on any page. You can also find keyboard shortcuts for many commands. For more information, see Keyboard shortcuts.
The page and navigation elements on a site, including the ribbon, follow a logical and intuitive tab order. The tab order is the order in which you move the focus from one UI element to another by pressing the TAB key. In addition, three important options — the Turn on more accessible mode, Skip Ribbon Commands, and Skip to main content links — are the first three options in the tab order. If you want to turn on More Accessible Mode, you can do so by pressing the TAB key when the page in the browser has active focus, and then pressing ENTER to activate the command. In addition, if you want to skip the ribbon and go directly to the navigation links, or skip the navigation links and go directly to the main content area of the page, you can do so by pressing the TAB key until you reach the Skip Ribbon Commands or Skip to main content links, respectively, and then pressing ENTER to activate either command.
In addition, the pages in a SharePoint site have a page location menu, activated when you click the Navigate Up button on the ribbon, to show where you are in the hierarchy of the site or site collection. The Navigate Up button appears near the top of most pages, next to the Site Actions menu. For example, if you browse to a folder named Reports in the Shared Documents library for the Contoso site, the location menu may display Contoso at the top, with Shared Documents on the next line, and Reports on the next line after that.
Table headings For tabular data tables, table header cells are used (TH tags). For example, on the Announcements page, in the default All Items view, the column headers Title and Modified are contained in table header cells. Table header cells help users to understand the structure of a table and improve the reading experience for people who use assistive technologies.
Heading tags Tags are used on sites to help convey the structure of the page to users of assistive technologies. The heading tags (H1, H2, H3, and H4) build a logical outline of the content on a page. If you use an accessibility tool such as a screen reader, you can configure it to read only the heading tags on a page. This virtual outline of heading tags helps to improve the clarity of the page content. For example, the home page for a site contains one H1 tag that contains the site title, one H2 tag that contains the page title, an H3 tag around the View All Site Content link, and H3 tags around the title of each Web Part. Users of certain assistive technologies can retrieve an outline based on these tags and use it to easily understand the layout of the page and skip to the heading that they want.
Images, alternative text, and display settings
Alternative text and titles for images People with visual disabilities cannot see images (such as files in JPEG, GIF, or PNG formats), and rely on the use of alternative text for images on a site. Alternative text for images is set with the ALT attribute inside the IMG tag. Without well-written and informative alternative text visually impaired users have no way to understand the meaning of the images on a page. The alternative text also appears in visual browsers if the image does not load or if the rendering of images is not enabled for a browser. SharePoint sites use descriptive ALT text for images that convey meaning or important information to users. Images that are considered spacer images or have no informational value contained in them have ALT="". which tells assistive technologies that the images do not convey content or information.
In addition, when you upload an image file to a site, you can add alternative text to that image, which is fundamental to creating an accessible site. For example, the Site Image Web Part contains a field in which you can type custom ALT text when you add an image. When you add pictures to a picture library, you can define custom ALT text for the pictures.
Occasionally, clicking an element opens a new browser window. The ALT text for images that open new windows, and title attributes for hyperlinks that do so, contain additional information to help the user understand that a new window will open. For example, the title attribute of a hyperlink that opens a new window contains (new window).
Support for High Contrast color schemes The pages in a SharePoint site are designed to display correctly if you apply a High Contrast color scheme to your computer.
Using assistive technologies
Some assistive technologies may not work well with certain elements on the pages in a site. If you experience problems, refer to the following information and resources for possible solutions.
Note: It is recommended that users with assistive technologies activate More Accessible Mode. This mode enables users to interact with the elements of a SharePoint site by using assistive technologies such as screen readers.
Working with Windows Speech Recognition in Windows Vista and Windows 7
Windows Speech Recognition is a speech based accessibility tool that is available in Windows Vista. Windows Speech Recognition enables users to perform actions by speaking instead of using a keyboard or mouse.
There are known issues related to the use of Windows Speech Recognition with some menus on a SharePoint page, including the menus for New, Upload, Welcome User and the drop-down menu of options that are available for files in a document library.
To access these menus by using Windows Speech Recognition, activate More Accessible Mode by doing the following:
Open the site home page in a browser, and then say, "Press TAB" until the Turn on more accessible mode link appears.
Say, "Press ENTER."
To use a split button menu such as the New or Upload button on a list toolbar, or to use the menu of options for a document in a document library, bring the active focus to the element first by saying, "Press TAB," and then say, "Press ALT DOWN ARROW."
A new browser window that contains links from the menu will open.
Note: For menus that have more than one command, say, "Press ALT DOWN ARROW."
Using Help
Some assistive technologies such as screen readers may not work with the expandable links in online Help. If you experience problems, try installing Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8. For more information, visit the Internet Explorer Web site.
Note: The hyperlinks in this topic go to the Web. You can switch back to Help at any time.
Features provided by your Web browser
Your Web browser has features that improve the readability of pages. For information about the accessibility features provided by your Web browser, look for information in the Help for the browser about how to customize your browser to display the fonts and colors that you prefer. If your browser is Internet Explorer, look for Accessibility in the Help table of contents.
Getting more accessibility information
The Microsoft Accessibility Web site at Microsoft Accessibility provides information about assistive technology for improving the lives of people with disabilities. The information on this site benefits people with disabilities and their friends and family members, people in outreach organizations, educators, and advocates.
A free monthly electronic newsletter is available to help you keep up to date with accessibility topics about Microsoft products. To subscribe, visit Free Subscription to the Accessibility Update Newsletter.
To learn about creating accessible content for your Web pages, refer to the accessibility standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium.


text:
Disney rebuts Markey on privacy
The happiest place on earth is not very happy with Ed Markey.
Disney sent a scathing letter to the Massachusetts lawmaker's office Monday in response to privacy concerns he raised last week about a new technology being implemented at the company's theme parks. The Senate hopeful was inquiring about Disney's new MyMagic+ program that streamlines visitors' interactions, allowing them to use a bracelet as a credit card, room key and parking ticket — but also allows Disney to track visitor movements, like what rides someone goes on.
Story Continued Below
CEO Bob Iger pushed back candidly against Markey's implicit allegations, calling the letter "unfortunate and extremely disappointing."
"We are offended by the ludicrous and utterly ill-informed assertion in your letter dated Jan. 24, 2013, that we would in any way haphazardly or recklessly introduce a program that manipulates children, or wantonly puts their safety at risk," Iger writes in the letter dated Monday. "Had you or your staff made the slightest effort, you would have found most of the answers to your questions already existed and were publicly available online."
Markey is one of the House's top consumer privacy advocates — especially when it comes to kids — and took to the issue after The New York Times published a highly read article earlier this month that detailed the new program. The Democrat wrote to the company Thursday with concerns that the program could be harmful to children or generate data the company could use for marketing purposes.
Just five days later, Disney delivered its frank response. A Markey spokesman said Monday afternoon the congressman has received it and "we are reviewing their letter."
Iger's response outlines the program's privacy considerations and "reiterate[s] the basic facts" that a Disney representative outlined to reporters last Friday. The program is completely optional, for example, and parents have full control over their child's participation, Iger writes. And Disney doesn't use personal information to market to kids under 13, nor does it share the data with third parties for marketing purposes, he added.
In an attachment to the letter, Disney outlines how guests can control how their data is used and request the information be deleted. The company also tempers concerns over location-based information.
"Guest's personal data is not stored in the MagicBand," the attachment states. "The MagicBand is not GPS-based and does not enable collection of continuous location signals. The long-range readers which detect the MagicBands will be in specific locations for the purpose of providing better service to our guests."
This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 2:19 p.m. on January 28, 2013.


text:
MICHAEL Appleton reserved special praise for Josh Ashby after the teenager finished off an impressive week by scoring the winner for Oxford United on Saturday.
The highly-rated midfielder, who signed his first professional contract in February, scored with a free-kick as the U's began their pre-season fixtures with a 2-1 win at Farnborough.
It was Appleton's first game in charge and the head coach admitted Ashby, 18, had immediately caught the eye when he took over last Monday.
He said: "I've been really impressed with the kid since I walked through the door.
"From day one my first thought was 'who is that? Tell me about him'.
He added: "The kid's a talent.
"He sees a pass and that's a talent in itself.
"Obviously you've got to deliver the pass, but he's getting better all the time.
"You can see with a couple of years' development and hopefully being around the first-team, we might have a player."
Ashby, who struck the woodwork with an earlier free-kick but cleared the stand with a third attempt, was thrilled to find the net.
He said: "It was good to get a goal, especially a free-kick.
"I actually don't practice them a lot. Last year I was on free-kicks towards the end and didn't score.
"I haven't really practised them, I do need to – did you see the third one?"
Farnborough's goal came virtually from the kick-off following Ashby's goal.
It was a sensational 60-yard effort from Lucas Enrique, catching out triallist goalkeeper Liam Roberts.
- Highlights of the match, courtesy of Farnborough's YouTube channel
Appleton said: "It was a fantastic strike and you won't see me pointing any fingers at Liam.
"He's a 19-year-old who has probably only had 12 months coaching and I think he got caught in two minds with what he was going to do with it."
The U's boss was just happy to get through the game without picking up any new injuries.
Five senior players, including new signing Danny Hylton, David Hunt and Josh Ruffels, did not make the trip to Hampshire.
It is not cause for alarm, though, and all are expected to feature either at Oxford City tomorrow night or against Didcot Town on Saturday.
United should have a couple of new faces by then, with both Appleton and chief executive Mark Ashton saying on Saturday they were confident of sealing at least one deal before the City game.
Depending on progress made yesterday, the club may be in a position to unveil a new signing today.
Appleton also revealed the U's were looking into taking the squad away for a short training break later this month, but acknowledged it might be too late to arrange.
Latest United news:
- Oxford United 'settle Firoka debt' - but still heading for court
- Ex-Oxford United defender Canice Carroll receives first Ireland under 21 call-up
- Aaron McCreadie and Aaron Heap sign Oxford United contracts
- Oxford United sign Kevin Berkoe after Wolverhampton Wanderers exit
- Oxford United pair called into Northern Ireland training camp


text:
For The Record supports SchedulesDirect
For The Record, the advanced rule-based scheduling system to intelligently record your TV programs now also supports the import of Tv Guide data from SchedulesDirect.
For The Record can be used together with Mediaportals TV Server, Dvb dream and GB-PVR. For The Record can stream live TV, has support for single-seat/multiseat, Web Access, an IM chat-bot, full priority/conflict management, standby with wake-on-lan, postprocessing possiblities, transcoding and many things more... Check out our site and forum !


text:
Cast of THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW to Reunite on Sirius/XM
Sirius XM Radio announced today that legendary entertainer Carol Burnett-joined by her longtime co-stars Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence-will sit down for a rare Q&A session with an audience of SiriusXM listeners to celebrate the DVD release of THE Carol Burnett SHOW, the 25-time Emmy® Award-winning series considered by many to be the greatest comedy-variety show ever produced."SiriusXM's Town Hall with Carol Burnett" will feature Burnett, Conway and Lawrence answering questions from a live studio audience about their lives, career and history-making turn on one most beloved and acclaimed series in the history of television. The special event will be hosted by comedian Amy Schumer, star of her own Comedy Central show that will air next year."SiriusXM's Town Hall with Carol Burnett" will air on SiriusXM's Raw Dog Comedy channel 99 on Thursday, September 27 at 6:00 pm ET. Encore presentations will air on Raw Dog Comedy on September 28 at 2:00 pm, September 29 at 12:00 pm and September 30 at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm (all times ET). "SiriusXM's Town Hall with Carol Burnett" will also air on September 28 at 7:00 pm and September 29 at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm (all times ET) on SiriusXM Stars channel 107. "I always loved when we opened 'The Carol Burnett Show' by talking with the audience, so this is a wonderful way for us to revisit this tradition so many years later," said Carol Burnett. "I look forward to sitting down with Tim, Vicki and Amy on SiriusXM to hear from our fans, answer their questions and have a little fun.""Carol Burnett and her co-stars are comedic legends who have brought laughter and joy to generations of fans," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SiriusXM. "With our special 'Town Hall' series, fans and listeners nationwide will now be able to hear personally from these comic geniuses how they were able make us laugh over the years and the stories behind a show cherished by so many.""Carol Burnett is beyond an inspiration to me. She's probably the reason that I got into comedy, and definitely the reason that I have a television show of my own now," said Amy Schumer. "She has made me laugh probably harder than anyone I've ever seen in my life. Because of her openness and willingness to share herself and be giving not only with her making people laugh, but with her laughter as well, she's definitely paved the way for me and most other female comedians that I know." "SiriusXM's Town Hall with Carol Burnett" coincides with the release of "The Carol Burnett Show" in several DVD configurations from TimeLife, including: "The Carol Burnett Show" 22-DVD boxed set with 50 episodes and 20 hours of never-before-seen bonus features, including a personal tribute from the cast honoring the much-beloved fellow cast member Harvey Korman, the genesis of key characters and sketches, and the influence Carol and the show have had on several generations of comedians and television hosts; and "The Carol Burnett Show: Carol's Favorites," a 6-DVD set with seventeen unedited episodes featuring hilarious, popular sketches and characters such as "Went with the Wind," The Family, Tudball & Wiggins and The Oldest Man, plus guest appearances by Carl Reiner, Steve Martin, Betty White, George Carlin, Shirley MacLaine and The Jackson 5."The Carol Burnett Show" debuted on CBS in 1967 and ran for 11 years, receiving 25 Emmy Awards and five Golden Globes, making it one of the most honored shows in television history. Time named "The Carol Burnett Show" one of the "100 Best Television Shows of all Time," and Carol Burnett has been honored with more People's Choice Awards than any other actress. "SiriusXM's Town Hall with Carol Burnett" is part of SiriusXM's "Town Hall" series-intimate gatherings with iconic entertainers sitting down with a studio audience of SiriusXM listeners. Previous SiriusXM "Town Hall" specials have featured Bruce Springsteen, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Tom Petty, Coldplay, Ringo Starr, Roger Waters, the surviving members of Nirvana, Renee Fleming, Gregg Allman, Usher, Ronnie Dunn, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and Tony Hawk."SiriusXM's Town Hall with Carol Burnett" will be available on SiriusXM On Demand after it airs on Raw Dog Comedy for subscribers listening via the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smartphones and other mobile devices, or online at SiriusXM.com. Visit https://www.siriusxm.com/ondemand for more information.For more information, visit www.siriusxm.com.About Sirius XM RadioSirius XM Radio Inc. is the world's largest radio broadcaster measured by revenue and has 22.9 million subscribers. SiriusXM creates and broadcasts commercial-free music; premier sports talk and live events; comedy; news; exclusive talk and entertainment; and the most comprehensive Latin music, sports and talk programming in radio. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company in the U.S., from retailers nationwide, and online at siriusxm.com. SiriusXM programming is also available through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for Android, Apple, and BlackBerry smartphones and other connected devices. SiriusXM also holds a minority interest in SiriusXM Canada which has more than 2 million subscribers. This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services; and other statements identified by words such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimated," "believe," "intend," "plan," "projection," "outlook" or words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: our competitive position versus other forms of audio entertainment; our dependence upon automakers; general economic conditions; failure of our satellites, which, in most cases, are not insured; our ability to attract and retain subscribers at a profitable level; royalties we pay for music rights; the unfavorable outcome of pending or future litigation; failure of third parties to perform; and our substantial indebtedness. Additional factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this communication.


text:
An author or illustrator visit can be a great way to connect children - and their families - with the magic of books and reading.
- ALSC's Guide to Arranging an Author Visit
Includes tips and resources to help ensure a successful visit.
- ALA's division, the Association for Library Service to Children, has prepared this guide specifically on author visits for children: Tips from the Maureen Hayes Award Selection Committee on planning an author or illustrator appearance