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The Right-Wing Media's Flawed Keystone XL Rejection Attacks
Right-wing media figures are slamming President Obama for the State Department's decision to reject plans to build the Keystone XL pipeline until a full assessment can be made, claiming that he is "killing jobs." But they cite industry-funded estimates of job creation that are wildly inflated. Moreover, the administration had long warned that it would be unable to complete the legally required review under the deadline imposed by a GOP-backed provision and would thus be forced to reject the project, and conservative outlets have previously attacked other Obama proposals that experts say significantly boost economic growth.
Obama Admin Had Warned That GOP Deadline Could Make It Unable To Complete Review Required To Ensure Pipeline Meets Environmental Standards
The Hill: "Obama Signs Payroll Tax Bill That Requires Speedy Decision On Keystone Pipeline." From a December 23, 2011, article in The Hill:
President Obama signed into law a broad payroll tax package Friday afternoon that includes a measure requiring him to make a speedy decision on the Keystone XL pipeline.
The GOP-backed measure requires the administration to make a decision within 60 days on the pipeline, which would carry oil sands crude from Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the Gulf Coast. In order to reject the pipeline, Obama would have to declare that the project is not in the national interest. [The Hill, 12/23/11]
State Department Spokesman: 60-Day Deadline "Would Prohibit The Department From Acting Consistently With National Environmental Policy Act Requirements." From a December 12, 2011, article in The Hill:
The State Department is warning Republicans that forcing a decision on the proposed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline within two months won't bring the project approval they're seeking.
House Republicans are including a provision in payroll tax cut legislation that would require State to issue a permit for the proposed Alberta-to-Texas pipeline within 60 days, unless the president determines that it's not in the national interest. Senate GOP leaders are also pushing the Keystone provision.
But a State spokesman said Monday that the 60-day time frame would leave the administration unable to issue the permit for TransCanada Corp.'s proposed $7 billion pipeline.
"Should Congress impose an arbitrary deadline for the permit decision, its actions would not only compromise the process, it would prohibit the Department from acting consistently with National Environmental Policy Act requirements by not allowing sufficient time for the development of this information," the spokesman said.
"In the absence of properly completing the process, the Department would be unable to make a determination to issue a permit for this project," State added. [The Hill, 12/12/11]
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney: Deadline Makes It "Very Difficult" For State Department "To Say That That Review Had Been Responsibly Achieved." From a December 22, 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek article:
An effort by Congress to prod President Barack Obama on the Keystone XL oil pipeline gives the administration insufficient time to complete a review that meets environmental laws, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
Language in a Senate bill extending the U.S. payroll-tax cut sets a 60-day deadline for a permit to be issued by the State Department, and a full review takes longer, Carney said yesterday at a White House news briefing.
"It would be very difficult, as I understand it, for the State Department to say that that review had been responsibly achieved in 60 days," Carney said. [Bloomberg Businessweek, 12/22/11]
Wash. Post: Administration Officials Have Said Timeline Makes Review "Difficult" Because Firm Won't Have Clarified Pipeline Route Before June. From a January 14 Washington Post article:
Administration officials have said that the truncated timeline makes it difficult to complete a review of whether the pipeline is in the national interest, given the fact TransCanada has yet to outline an alternate route.
TransCanada spokesman Terry Cunha said the company received guidance just last month from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality on what areas in the Sandhills were off-limits, adding that the firm will be able to have the new route's outline ready between June and September. [The Washington Post, 1/14/12]
State Department Estimated It Would Need Until "Early 2013" To Analyze Environmental Impact Of New Route Alternative. From the December 12, 2011, Congressional Research Service report "Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Key Issues" :
On November 10, 2011, in response to concerns regarding the pipeline route and actions by the Nebraska legislature applicable to pipeline siting, the State Department announced a delay in its national interest determination to gather additional information necessary to assess a new pipeline route avoiding the Sand Hills. On November 14, 2011, TransCanada announced its decision to work with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to identify an acceptable pipeline route around the Sand Hills. The State Department estimates that the preparation of supplemental environmental analysis necessary for a new route alternative may be complete in early 2013. [Congressional Research Service, "Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Key Issues," 12/12/11]
Obama, State Department Reiterated That The "Rushed And Arbitrary Deadline Insisted On By" GOP Forced Rejection Of Pipeline
State Department Assistant Secretary Jones: Decision Based "On The Fact That We Don't Have The Time To Get" Necessary Information On Alternative Routes. During a January 18 press call, Kerri Ann-Jones, assistant secretary of the Department of State's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, said:
As you know, today the Department of State recommended to President Obama that the presidential permit for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline be denied and that at this time the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline be determined to not serve the national interest. The President agreed with the Department's recommendation. This recommendation was predicated on the fact that the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act that was passed in December does not provide sufficient time to obtain the information that we think is necessary to assess whether the project, in its current state, is in the national interest.
As you -- many of you know, we made a decision on November 10th that we needed additional information regarding this project, specifically about alternative routes through Nebraska. And we base this decision now on the fact that we don't have time to get that information, information we think is essential for making a well-informed decision. So I think I'll stop there and open it up for questions.
This is a process decision that we made based on the decision that we made on November 10th and the information that we felt we needed to really inform our decision to make sure we had everything we needed to do the best, in terms of looking at this pipeline and determining whether or not it was in the national interest. So the White House made that decision. We, today, recommended to the President that the permit be denied, and also that he determine that it was not in the national interest. The legislation did not give us enough time to really do responsible evaluation of the factors. And so we continue to believe that this has to be done the right way. So from my perspective, this has not been - this decision is based on what we did November 10th, and then the legislation has not given us adequate time to carry that out. [Jones press teleconference, 1/18/12, via State.gov]
Obama: "The Rushed And Arbitrary Deadline Insisted On By Congressional Republicans Prevented A Full Assessment Of The Pipeline's Impact." From Obama's January 18 statement on the Keystone XL pipeline:
Earlier today, I received the Secretary of State's recommendation on the pending application for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. As the State Department made clear last month, the rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline's impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment. As a result, the Secretary of State has recommended that the application be denied. And after reviewing the State Department's report, I agree.
This announcement is not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but the arbitrary nature of a deadline that prevented the State Department from gathering the information necessary to approve the project and protect the American people. I'm disappointed that Republicans in Congress forced this decision, but it does not change my Administration's commitment to American-made energy that creates jobs and reduces our dependence on oil. [WhiteHouse.gov, 1/18/12]
Permit Review Process Was Established By Executive Order Signed By Bush
Executive Order Directs State Department To Review Applications For Presidential Permits When Projects Would Cross International Border. From the December 12, 2011, Congressional Research Service report "Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Key Issues" :
Ordinarily, the U.S. government does not have permit authority for oil pipelines, even interstate pipelines. This is in contrast to interstate natural gas pipelines, which, under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, must obtain a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Generally, the primary siting authority for oil pipelines would be established under applicable state law (which may vary considerably from state to state). However, the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of a pipeline that connects the United States with a foreign country requires executive permission conveyed through a Presidential Permit. Since the Keystone and proposed Keystone XL pipeline are designed for the importation of oil from Canada, their facilities require a Presidential Permit.
Executive Order 13337 delegates to the Secretary of State the President's authority to receive applications for Presidential Permits. Issuance of a Presidential Permit is dependant upon a finding that the project would serve the national interest. In the course of making that determination, the state Department is obligated to consider a host of issues related to the proposed project including its potential impacts to the environment, economy, energy security, and foreign policy, to name a few. In that capacity, the State Department is required to consult with relevant federal and state agencies and to invite public comment in arriving at its determination. Ultimately, however, the State Department has discretion in determining what factors to examine to inform its determination of whether a proposed project is in the national interest (i.e., will be granted a Presidential Permit). [Congressional Research Service, "Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Key Issues," 12/12/11]
President George W. Bush Signed Executive Order On April 30, 2004. [Archives.gov, accessed 1/18/12]
But Conservatives Nonetheless Attacked Obama For "Reject[ing]" Keystone XL Pipeline And "Killing Jobs"
Trump: Keystone Rejection Is "Disgraceful," Pipeline Would Create "Tens Of Thousands Of Jobs." From the January 18 edition of Fox News' On the Record with Greta Van Susteren:
VAN SUSTEREN: Well, there's big news today pitting the environmentalists against labor and the Republicans against the Democrats and business against anti-business and everybody else over this Keystone pipeline project. Your thought about the news that it is at least -- no permit is going to be issued at least now for the pipeline.
DONALD TRUMP (Fox News regular guest): Well I think it's disgraceful. And, frankly, we don't need Canada. We should just be able to drill our own oil. But as long as it's there we certainly should have approved it. It was jobs and it was cheaper oil. And it's just absolutely incredible. I guess President Obama took care of the environmentalists. But it is absolutely terrible, and it is not an environmental problem at all, in any way, shape, or form.
TRUMP: It's just a total mess. This is the way our country has been run. It's a laughing stock, Greta, all over the world. All over the world they laugh at us. People tell me about the Keystone from Europe and from other places and from China. And they don't even know what's going on. They can't even believe it. But you know, honestly, we're taking oil from Canada. We're paying Canada a lot of money. We don't even need Canadian oil if we did it right. The really right way is drill our own oil. We have so much of it we don't know what to do. Between natural gas and oil and lots of other things we should be doing our own. But the fact is that Keystone pipeline is a positive. You're talking about tens of thousands of jobs. You're talking about lower oil. And let's have at least the option of taking the oil from Canada, which we don't need if we would do it really right. [Fox News, On the Record with Greta Van Susteren, 1/18/12, via Media Matters]
Jonathan Hoenig: It's "Bewildering To Me" Why Obama Would "Use Force To Block A Company" That Wants To Invest In America And Create Jobs. From the January 18 edition of Fox Business' Cavuto:
NEIL CAVUTO: Alright, so I guess -- I kind of saw this coming, Jonathan, but using the words of the president here in a statement that this was something that was rushed on him by Congress and he wouldn't have it -- I don't know.
JONATHAN HOENIG: Well, why does he get to choose, Neil? I mean, it's not only bad policy from the White House, but it's destructive policy. The president often talks about energy independence, about making big infrastructure investments in this country. But yet for some reason -- bewildering to me -- he's willing to use force to block a company that actually wants to invest in this country. Creating the jobs, creating the energy that could actually bring gas prices down and power the economy forward. It's bewildering to me why he would stand in place of this. [Fox Business, Cavuto, 1/18/12, via Media Matters]
Fox Nation: "Obama Approves Solyndra But Rejects Keystone Pipeline." From Fox Nation:
[Fox Nation, 1/18/12]
The Daily Caller: "Obama Nixes Pipeline, 20,000 Jobs." A January 18 Daily Caller article headlined "Obama nixes pipeline, 20,000 jobs" reported:
President Barack Obama used a press release today to blame the GOP for his decision to kill the Keystone XL Pipeline, and its estimated 20,000 construction jobs. [The Daily Caller, 1/18/12]
Geller: "Obama's War On America: Obama Kills Pipeline,25,000 130,000 Jobs, Cheaper Energy." In a January 18 post on Atlas Shrugs, Pamela Geller responded to the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline by stating, "Job killer, economy killer, energy independence killer ........... instead he shooses to enrich and embolden funding Islamic supremacist nations with petrol dollars." [Atlas Shrugs, 1/18/12]
Hoft: Obama "Kills Keystone" And Is "Killing Jobs -- Playing Golf." In a January 18 post on his blog Gateway Pundit, Jim Hoft announced the State Department's plans to reject the Keystone XL pipeline and commented:
Barack Obama: Killing Jobs -- Playing Golf
With gas prices at record highs -- The Obama State Department today announced that they WILL NOT approve the Keystone Pipeline from Canada.
The Keystone Pipeline project was expected to create tens of thousands of high paying jobs in the oil industry. The project itself would create 20,000 construction jobs.
But it was just a big pipe dream. [Gateway Pundit, 1/18/12, emphasis original]
Conservatives Previously Mocked Obama's Statement That His Proposals That Would Create More Jobs Than Keystone XL
Obama: "However Many Jobs Might Be Generated By A Keystone Pipeline, They're Going To Be A Lot Fewer Than The Jobs That Are Created By Extending The Payroll Tax Cut And Extending Unemployment Insurance." From a December 8, 2011, statement by Obama:
OBAMA: Keep in mind, on the payroll tax cut, this is something that Democrats and Republicans agreed to last year with little fanfare, and it was good for the economy. And independent economists estimate that for us to not extend it right now -- to not extend payroll tax cut, not extend unemployment insurance -- would have a significant, adverse impact on our economy, right at a time when we're supposed to be growing the economy.
So when I hear the Speaker or the Senate Republican leader wanting to dicker, wanting to see what can they extract from us in order to get this done, my response to them is, just do the right thing: Focus on the American people, focus on the economy right now.
I know the suggestion right now is, is that somehow, well, this Keystone issue will create jobs. That's being determined by the State Department right now, and there is a process. But here's what I know: However many jobs might be generated by a Keystone pipeline, they're going to be a lot fewer than the jobs that are created by extending the payroll tax cut and extending unemployment insurance. [WhiteHouse.gov, 12/8/11]
To see how right-wing media figures responded by downplaying the benefits of extending unemployment insurance and payroll tax cuts, click here.
But Economists Agree That Unemployment Benefits And The Payroll Tax Cut Have A Strong Effect On Job Creation And Growth
EPI: Extending Unemployment Benefits Through 2012 Will Create Roughly 560,000 Jobs. In a November 4 report, Economic Policy Institute (EPI) President Lawrence Mishel and EPI researcher Heidi Shierholz wrote:
While it would cost an estimated $45 billion to continue the extensions, the economic boost would be much greater because this spending would have a large "multiplier" effect. Long-term unemployed workers are almost by definition cash-strapped and have very little choice but to immediately spend their unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits spent on rent, groceries, and other necessities increase economic activity, and that increased economic activity saves and creates jobs throughout the economy. For this reason, economists, including those at the Congressional Budget Office, widely recognize government spending on unemployment insurance benefits as one of the most effective things that can be done in a recession to generate jobs. Spending $45 billion on unemployment insurance extensions in 2012 would increase GDP by an estimated $72 billion, raising our $15.2 trillion GDP by roughly 0.5 percent. This increase in economic activity translates into roughly 560,000 payroll jobs. In other words, extending the federally funded unemployment insurance extensions through 2012 would not only extend a lifeline to the families of millions of long-term unemployed workers, it would also generate spending that supports well over half a million jobs. If this program is discontinued, the economy will lose these jobs.
Of the $72 billion increase in GDP related to continuing the unemployment insurance benefit extensions through 2012, some 37.4 percent, or $26.9 billion, would be recouped in higher revenues, as more people and firms pay taxes, and in lower expenditures. Consequently, the effective cost to the budget of continuing the UI benefits extension for a year is $18.1 billion instead of $45 billion. This means that the continuation of unemployment insurance benefit extensions through 2012 would save 560,000 jobs at an effective cost of around $32,000 per position. That alone is a good deal, but when we remember that these expenditures would assist millions of families of the long-term unemployed during the worst downturn in seven decades, the case for continuing the extensions could not be more clear. [EPI, 11/4/11]
CBO Scored "Increasing Aid To The Unemployed" As The Highest-Scoring Policy Proposal To Efficiently Stimulate Economy. In a November 2011 report on "Policies for Increasing Economic Growth and Employment in 2012 and 2013," the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) stated:
Policies that would have the largest effects on output and employment per dollar of budgetary cost in 2012 and 2013 are ones that would reduce the marginal cost to businesses of adding employees or that would be targeted toward people who would be most likely to spend the additional income. Such policies include reducing employers' payroll taxes (especially if limited to firms that increase their payroll), increasing aid to the unemployed, and providing additional refundable tax credits in 2012 for lower- and middle-income households. [CBO, 11/15/11]
According to a table in the report, the CBO estimated that increasing aid to the unemployed would have the greatest effect on GDP per dollar of budgetary cost and the highest cumulative effect on employment of the policy options considered.
Numerous Experts Have Promoted Payroll Tax Cut To Create Jobs And Economic Growth. Cornell University economics progessor Robert Frank, University of Delaware economics professor Laurence Seidman, University of California, Berkeley professor and former Council of Economic Advisers chairwoman Laura Tyson, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, New York University's Stern School of Business professor Nouriel Roubini, Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, and former Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag have all touted the ability of payroll tax cuts to create jobs and increase economic growth. [Media Matters, 12/9/11]
To read more about how unemployment benefits and the payroll tax cut would create jobs, click here.
By Contrast, Pipeline Could Create As Few As 2,500 Temporary Construction Jobs And 50 Permanent Jobs
TransCanada Said In 2010 That Keystone XL Pipeline "Is Expected To Create Over ... 13,000 New Jobs For American Workers." In a 2010 press release by TransCanada, the company funding the Keystone XL pipeline, touted their connection with various unions and claimed they would "create over seven million hours of labor and over 13,000 new jobs for American workers." From the press release:
TransCanada Corporation (TransCanada) (TSX, NYSE: TRP) today is pleased to announce a Project Labor Agreement for a significant portion of U.S. construction of the proposed US$7 billion Keystone Gulf Coast Expansion Pipeline Project (Keystone XL). The agreement will provide TransCanada with a capable, well-trained and ready workforce in the U.S. to construct Keystone XL. During construction, the project is expected to create over seven million hours of labor and over 13,000 new jobs for American workers. [TransCanada, 9/14/10]
Cornell University Global Labor Institute: Based On TransCanada's Numbers, "The Project Will Create No More Than 2,500-4,600 Temporary Direct Construction Jobs." From Cornell University Global Labor Institute's report:
A calculation of the direct jobs that might be created by KXL can begin with an examination of the jobs on-site to build and inspect the pipeline. The project will create no more than 2,500-4,650 temporary direct construction jobs for two years, according to TransCanada's own data supplied to the State Department. [Cornell University Global Labor Institute, September 2011]
Cornell University Global Labor Institute: "Based On The Figures Provided By TransCanada For The Canadian Section Of The Pipeline, The New Permanent US Pipeline Jobs In The US Number As Few As 50." From Cornell University Global Labor Institute's report:
[T]he potential job impacts associated with KXL construction are quite small, both absolutely and certainly relative to the employment levels estimated by the Perryman study. In comparing these results with those from the Perryman study, it is useful to keep in mind that even results based on the Perryman study would be much lower, once they are adjusted for more realistic project cost assumptions.
Starting with the Perryman study total employment estimated for project construction (119,000 person-years), the Perryman results can be adjusted for more realistic project cost assumptions. Also starting with the $6.6 billion in project costs assumed by Perryman, and adjusting for the $5.4 billion project cost for KXL in the US, the adjusted Perryman result is about 97,000 person-years. Next, instead of assuming a $4 billion KXL US project cost not yet spent, the adjusted Perryman result drops to about 72,000 person-years. And finally, assuming a $3 billion KXL US cost not yet spent or committed, the adjusted Perryman results drops again to 54,000 person-years.
So even if it is assumed the Perryman study provides a reasonable estimate of job impacts per dollar spent on pipeline construction (i.e. 18 person-years per $1 million), total job impact will be much lower than the Perryman results once a more realistic budget is assumed for project construction. And whatever is estimated for total employment impacts, it must be spread over the relevant period in order to meaningfully estimate annual impacts. For KXL construction, the relevant period is at least two and perhaps more likely three years.
In this context, it is also important to consider that almost all of the jobs (direct, indirect and induced) associated with Keystone XL will, of course, also be temporary. The operating costs for KXL are very minimal, and based on the figures provided by TransCanada for the Canadian section of the pipeline, the new permanent US pipeline jobs in the US number as few as 50. [Cornell University Global Labor Institute, September 2011]
For more information about Keystone XL pipeline's potential impact on job creation, click here.


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'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' Star: Twitter Is the New Word of Mouth
My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the second highest-grossing independent film ever, depended on an organic groundswell of praise in 2002 to become a sleeper box office hit. Lead actress Nia Vardalos believes the flick could have found similar — if not greater — success in today's social media-stimulated market.
"What happened to the movie was because of good old fashion word-of-mouth, and that's what Twitter is now," Vardalos tells Mashable, touting the social network's reach, but admitting hit independent films are still rare.
"What happened to the movie was because of good old fashion word-of-mouth, and that's what Twitter is now."
"We caught a wave. ... Just like now, there was no way to begin a meme," she adds. "People decide what's trending."
The movie celebrates its 10th anniversary this month with a special edition Blu-ray release of My Big Fat Greek Wedding from HBO Home Entertainment, which includes a 30-minute retrospective with Vardalos and John Corbett (see teaser video below), audio commentary and deleted scenes.
Exclusive Teaser of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' Anniversary DVD Retrospective
"It feels like 20 minutes," Vardalos says, since My Big Fat Greek Wedding came out, surged and eventually garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay as well as two Golden Globe nods for Best Comedy and Best Actress in a Comedy.
The movie tells the story of Toula Portokalos (played by Vardalos), a 30-year-old daughter of Greek immigrants who are pressuring her to marry a Greek man and spawn children. MBFGW's new Blu-ray edition also comes with comes with DVD version, a digital copy of the movie and extras, as teased in the above clip.
Would 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' Be Different If Released Today Instead of 2002?
Much has evolved in the tech and social web landscape since MBFGW's debut, and Vardalos has latched onto those changes using a zippy attitude and desire to keep pace with her digitally savvy adopted child.
"The idiot-proof devices work for me," she says after listing off the iPad, iPhone and other Apple products. "With a daughter, I have to know this stuff because she can take my phone and download an app so quickly."
Aside from Twitter and Facebook, Vardalos toys with Yelp ("I use it to pieces"), WhoSay, iBooks, Dragon Dictation ("It's amazing"), Shazam, Zillow, Urban Spoon, WannaBeWell and, most recently, Instagram.
"Let's start a Twitter rumor. ... Say Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and Sofia Coppola are fighting over me."
Had Vardalos written MBFGW or a sequel to it this year, she says newer technologies and apps "wouldn't have been infused into the screenplay." However, the soundtrack for the film would include Pink, Adele, Jewel, Adam Lambert, Alanis Morissette and "a showtune in there somewhere."
Vardalos is currently writing Leftovers, an anti-romantic comedy she'll star in and produce with Paramount. She had previously co-written the 2011 romantic comedy Larry Crowne with Tom Hanks. In April 2013, Vardalos will release Instant Mom, a book about her and husband Ian Gomez's 10-year struggle to become parents. But after all this, what else does Vardalos want to do now?
"Let's start a Twitter rumor," she says, jokingly. "Tell your readers (Martin) Scorsese and I are working together and let's see if it comes true. Say Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and Sofia Coppola are fighting over me."
Photo via Jemal Countess/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Thumbnail via HBO Home Entertainment

subset: commoncrawl


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Eleh LP Record Jacket Sleeve - Letterpress
The good folks at
sent this sleeve design for letterpress printing last year. They are two color letterpress printed on a 100% PCW 160lb stock from Smart Genesis. They sold through all 500 copies in a month and we are now working on letterpress printing of another new album to be completed early this June. All of their records are pressed on 200 gram virgin vinyl. Andrew at Taiga asked us to spread the word about one of the artists on the label performing in Minneapolis.
will be performing on Tuesday, May 19 at the
gallery, 3506 Nicollet Avenue S. He is from Lisbon, Portugal and hasn't performed in mpls since 1999. The event starts at 8:00pm, there is a suggested donation of $5 and byob.


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The Acoustic Storm
The Acoustic Storm is hosted every Saturday from 6 a.m. – 9 a.m. This show is a nationally syndicated radio program, featuring the best variety of acoustic-based rock. With an emphasis on acoustic guitar-driven songs, Jeff Parets presents the full spectrum of acoustic rock, including rarely heard "unplugged" versions of classic tunes in their purest form.
Each week, the show spotlights an artist in "The Eye of The Acoustic Storm" with music, bio information and sound bites.


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What is this page?
This is a collection guide. It is a description of archival material held in the Special Collections Division,
J.Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University. The materials described here are physically available in our
reading room. To see what's been digitized in this collection, click on the thumbnail at the top right of this page
or look for hyperlinks in the container list and/or the preliminary inventory.
Topics relating to the Methodist Protestant Church (United Methodist after 1939) bulk large in these papers. A letter dated June, 1956, comments on the current-day Methodist Church. Arminius Gray Dixon, a prominent Methodist Protestant minister, comments on his ministerial career in Halifax County, especially Whitakers' Chapel Methodist Protestant Church, the preservation of which he urges; the Methodist Union and the beginnings of the Methodist Protestant Church; the impact of modern technological advances on the Church; Methodist Church doctrine and government; and the publication of a pamphlet chronicling his life (1960). Other topics discussed by Dixon include Rocky Mount, N.C., in 1901 and unsuccessful attempts to establish a Methodist Protestant ministry there, his activities as president of the Methodist Protestant Conference, conditions in early Methodist churches, and his struggle to obtain an education (1960). A later letter (Jan., 1961) gives impressions of his career.
Other letters concerning Methodism comment on semantic difficulties in the names of the two divisions of the Methodist church: Methodist Protestant and Methodist Episcopal (Sept., 1960); life of Methodist Protestant minister, J.E. Pritchard (April, 1966); the unwillingness of former Methodist Episcopalians to award former Methodist Protestants their rightful credit for accomplishments; and the existence of petty prejudice among members (Jan., 1974).
Letters (1960, 1970) from Dr. Llewellyn J. Coppedge comment on events leading to his appointment as a missionary to the Belgian Congo at the turn of the century, living conditions and health risks in the Congo, activities of Reverend H. Morrison, the death of Morrison's wife by fever, and attempts by Coppedge to save her. Other information concerns the activities of missionary Motte Martin and his wife; later events in the life of Coppedge; the relative ease of conditions for modern missionaries; and suicides among current-day Congo missionaries (1970). Other letters by Coppedge comment on events in his life and career as a physician; describe Montreat, N.C., in the spring and fall; provide impressions of Mexico where he served as a physician (Feb., 1960); comment on Littleton Female College; and mention problems and health conditions relating to the hard water of the Carlsbad, New Mexico, region (March, 1960).
Topics relating to farm life include discussion of fall shopping in Richmond, Virginia (1939) and farm routine (1940, 1946). Letters mention fear of infantile paralysis in N.C. (1935) and comment on the "wonderful new cure" for pneumonia (1940). Travel-related topics include comments on the purchase of an automobile and taking trips with it (Oct., 1940). Writer Catherine Marshall comments on travel in the South and the warmth of Southerners (May, 1959) and a North Carolina native comments on Paris, France (July, 1968).
Early letters in the Rives Papers discuss Christmas activities, dances, and "rushing" (dating) (1905). A Halifax County soldier comments on his role in World War I (Nov., 1918). Other letters mention a chautauqua and Charles Ross Taggart passing through N.C. (June, 1923); a church (MP) convention in Weaverville, N.C. (Aug., 1923); "movies" worth watching (Jan., 1940); a shortage of meat; hard times in Richmond, Virginia; Christmas packages to soldiers (Dec., 1942); and a pageant produced for the Halifax County Bicentennial (Jan., 1958).
Recent letters comment on unwarranted criticism of President Richard Nixon (1973) and the election of the first woman city council member in Rocky Mount (1973). Other letters comment on death (1942, 1961), trials of the elderly (1967), and a nursing center (1968). Several letters contain amateur verse (Feb., 1942; May, 1966; 1968), titles of which include "The Missionary," and "The Silent Courtship."
North Carolina Home Demonstration Clubs correspondence consists of announcements and policy letters concerning projects, activities, and issues. A secretary's notebook for the Halifax County Home Demonstration Club (1937-1940, 1943) mentions county projects, district meetings and food for the county jail. Reports pertain to the community-wide testing of cows for tuberculosis and a project for the erection of "sanitary toilets" and for a safer water supply (1937). Speeches (1938) pertain to Home Demonstration achievements, philosophy toward home demonstration, and a history of home demonstration work in Halifax County (1969). Other material includes publications, yearbooks, programs, clippings, and miscellaneous (1938-1975).
Frank M. Parker Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy materials include correspondence, programs, clippings and miscellaneous (1947-1972) reflecting the membership of Blanche Rives.
Material pertaining to the Littleton Female College includes a photograph of the faculty (ca. 1906-1908), a catalogue (1909), and a class notebook (ca. 1906-1907). The notebook also lists names and ages of students in the Hardee School (later consolidated into the Hardrawee School), a small school near her father's plantation at which she taught for a short time. A related file consists of material relating to Mrs. Rives' membership in the Littleton College Memorial Association (1963-1974). Of particular interest is a pamphlet,
A Brief History of Littleton College (1968).
A reprint and founder's day pamphlet pertain to Longwood College in Virginia (1971).
Announcements, president's letters, minutes, and budgetary material reflect Blanche Rives' membership in the Halifax County Historical Association (1967-1972).
Material pertaining to the Methodist Protestant-United Methodist churches consists of a Woman's Auxiliary breakdown of the allocation of Methodist Protestant funds (1934), a published journal of the one hundred eleventh annual conference of the Methodist Protestant Church (the last session before Episcopal and Protestant unification (1938), programs of services at Enfield and Eden Methodist churches (1970, 1971), and typescript histories of Weldon and Eden Methodist churches (undated). Other material includes an issue of the Methodist Protestant Herald (1935); a pamphlet,
A History of the Central Methodist Church of Asheboro, N.C. (1951), by J.E. Pritchard; material pertaining to services and historical designation of Whitaker's Chapel (1965-1970, undated); and founders' day material of North Carolina Wesleyan College (1966-1967).
Eden Methodist Protestant Church Ladies Aid Soc, material includes a speech entitled "What an Auxiliary or Missionary Society Should Mean to a Rural Church," (ca. 1930); roll and minute book (1919-1920); and names of members of the Society contributing to the Japanese Relief Fund (1923-1924). (This appears in the secretary's book of the Halifax Council Home Demonstration Clubs file.)
Pamphlets concern the Enfield Order of the Eastern Star (1952-1957). Clippings relate to Jesse Eli Pritchard (1932-1962), Dr. A.G. Dixon (1960-1962), Enfield Academy (1965), and North Carolina Wesleyan College (1968).
Miscellaneous materials include farm ledgers (1949-1957), poetry, and legal papers.
Blanche Hardee Rives (1887-1973), daughter of James Washington Hardee and Anna O. Lucas, resided in Enfield, Halifax County, N.C. She attended the Littleton Female College (1906-1908), after which she taught in the Hardee School, a small school near the plantation of her father. She married Ralph Cooper Rives in 1942. Throughout her life she participated in Methodist Protestant (United Methodist Church after 1939) activities. Other organizations in which she was active were the Hardrawee Home Demonstration Club, the Halifax Co. Home Demonstration Club, Order of the Eastern Star, Halifax County Historical Association, Northeastern North Carolina Branch of the English-Speaking Union, Frank M. Parker Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and Littleton College Memorial Association. Her son, Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives, is professor of English at East Carolina University. For more biographical detail, see Blanche Hardee Rives obituary newspaper clippings in this collection.
April 27, 1977, Papers (1906-1973) of Enfield, N.C. social leader, pertaining to Home Demonstration work, Littleton College, the Methodist Church, the U.D.C., and other activities. Donor: Ralph Hardee Rives, Greenville, N.C.
May 30, 1980, (unprocessed addition 1), 35 items; correspondence, clippings, and miscellaneous. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
April 7, 1982, (unprocessed addition 2), 20 items; Correspondence, programs, and miscellaneous materials. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives
December 30, 1983, (unprocessed addition 3), 50 items; Correspondence, reports, clippings, programs and home demonstration clubs publications. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives
July 2, 1984, (unprocessed addition 4), 7 items; Note book, ledger, and miscellaneous items. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives
April 30, 1986, (unprocessed addition 5), 120 items; Clippings and miscellany. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives
December 29, 1987, (unprocessed addition 6), ca. 100 items; Correspondence, clippings, programs, and miscellaneous materials. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
August 14, 2006, (unprocessed addition 7), 1 item, 0.001 cubic feet; Photographic print (ca. 1970) and brief note from her friend Ruth Townsend Ficklen taken in Jerusalem, Israel; print has a view of the Mount of Olives in the background; print is glued to a folding postcard with pressed Israeli flowers on inside of front cover. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
December 31, 1987, (unprocessed addition 8), 16 items, 0.088 cubic feet; Collection (ca. 1882-1985, n.d.) of manuscript and printed materials, including a guest register for a Home Demonstration Club tea party, in April 1942; Valentines, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas cards, ca. 1900-1944; Halifax County Historical Society architectural tour brochure, 1985; pamphlets and books. See preliminary inventory attached. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
September 19, 2006, (unprocessed addition 9), 550 items, 1.350 cubic feet; Collection (ca. 1882-1985, n.d.) of manuscripts, photographs, and printed materials, and correspondence, relating primarily to her nephew and step-son, Ralph Hardee Rives, 1945-1962; photographs of various family members; and miscellaneous materials related to friends of Mrs. Rives. See preliminary inventory attached. RESTRICTION: no use of correspondence until 9/19/2031. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
August 8, 2012, (unprocessed addition 10), 0.20 cubic feet; Photographs of relatives and friends of Blanche Hardee Rives, photocopies of clippings (1922, 1950s) related to Daniel Woodberry Hardee and a photocopy of a certificate of gift (1999) for a framed 1st Day Cover of John Wesley donated to the United Methodist Church, Southeast Jurisdiction, in memory of sisters Blanche Hardee Rives and Lossie Hardee Rives. Donor: Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives.
Gift of Dr. Ralph Hardee Rives
No restrictions except for material found in unprocessed addition #9. Access to the correspondence in addition #9 is restricted until 9/19/2031.
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
Blanche Hardee Rives Papers (#335), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Processed by D. Lawson, June 1979
Encoded by Apex Data Services
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text:
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Technical Problem With This Chapter?
Author: Elsha
Story: Distractions
Part: 1: Chances
Rating: Young Teens
Setting: Pre-HBP
Status: Completed
Reviews: 8
Words: 4,281
Updated: January 20, 2005, 3:26am
1: Chances
Disclaimer: Everything herein belongs, naturally, to JK
Rowling - with the exception of Anne, who belongs to me in theory, and
in truth to herself.
Anne Fairleigh was glad she wasn't really interested in Quidditch. Everyone else in the school became so wound up in the game, glory and competition … it just gave her a headache. Not to mention the fact that it encouraged fighting. At a time when the Sorting Hat was actually giving them advice, telling them to be united, everyone was at odds. It felt as though a good half of that was over Quidditch. Oh, sure, there were other issues that split the school - Umbridge, You Know Who's return - but Quidditch was the one thing guaranteed to start an argument.
Anne herself felt almost removed from it all. She was Muggle-born, and had only found out about any of these issues that her schoolmates considered life and death when she'd started at Hogwarts nearly four years earlier. To a great extent she still felt like an observer into another world. Then again, that was the type of person she was: an observer. She clung to quite a few things from her previous life, before Hogwarts, before magic … like her music.
Today was the Quidditch match between Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Since her House was not playing, her friends felt no need to hustle her into the stands to watch and cheer, even if they themselves went. Anne, meanwhile, was off to one of the small rooms set aside on the fourth floor for the few students who did play music. They were rarely used, and she had every chance of being able to practise her flute in peace and quiet. At least, that was the plan.
As Anne rounded a corner on the fourth floor, she walked straight into a much taller boy hurrying the other way. The flute case and folder she was clutching flew out of her hands, and Anne herself managed to skid for a few seconds before catching herself on a tapestry.
"Watch where you're going!" exclaimed an angry voice. She looked away from the wall to see a weedy Slytherin boy picking himself up from the floor. His dark hair flopped over his eyes, and he reached up to push it back. "You could hurt people, you little Hufflepuff idiot!"
"Oh, thanks, I'm quite alright," she muttered to herself, nettled by the unexpected insult. "Damn! My flute!"
Her folder had landed next to the Slytherin, and seemed to be okay, but her flute case had fallen open (the catch needed fixing) and was laying half-way across the corridor. She took a few quick steps and fell to her knees to pick it up. Anne breathed a hasty sigh of relief to see that the pieces had not fallen out of their bedding, and appeared to be unharmed. Her parents had bought it for her last summer, and she was deathly scared of breaking it.
"That's OK, then," she said, half to herself.
"It's generally considered polite to inquire if people are OK, too," commented a still rather contemptuous voice from behind her. She closed the case and rose to face him. He was holding out her folder. "This yours?"
She took it. "Thanks. Look, sorry about that. I probably wasn't looking where I was going." Now the shock was wearing off, she felt herself retreating back into her shell. "I'll just, er, just be going now."
"Hold on a minute," said the boy, curiosity apparently getting the better of Slytherin arrogance. "What's your name?"
"Anne Fairleigh. I'm a fourth year. I was just, er, going to practice my flute."
"Fairleigh? I don't recognise that name. Is your family from down South?"
The boy was sizing her up now, obviously trying to decide if she looked like anyone.
"Oh, you wouldn't know my family. My parents are Muggles. What's – what's your name, anyway?"
Anne was taken aback by the sudden change in his expression. Wary curiosity was replaced with open scorn. "Oh. A Muggle-born. No wonder you're not at the Quidditch match."
He sneered, turned on his heel, and walked away. Anne stared after him, her cheeks reddening. He had no right … he … what had she done …?
Cheeks flaming, she turned to head quickly down the corridor in the opposite direction, intent on finding that spare practice room and getting out her flute. Music was an excellent distraction from both boring Saturday afternoons and Slytherins who looked at her like she was dirt.
About half an hour later she had finished running scales on her flute and was launching into the first part of a Handel sonata when she became aware of someone watching her from behind. She broke off and wheeled around to look at the door, which was open. The Slytherin boy was lounging in the doorframe, looking at her.
"Oh, don't stop on my account." The Slytherin waved a hand. "Go on. It sounded very good."
She blinked. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I'm not all that interested in watching Quidditch, and you did mention you were off to play the flute, so I thought I'd come and see if you were any good. After all, Muggle-borns may be bad at magic, but there's nothing to stop you playing well."
Anne tightened her fingers on her flute, feeling suddenly uncertain. "You … what?" She rather wanted him to go away, but wasn't quite sure how to put it. "What's your name, anyway?"
"Theodore Nott. Fifth-year." He said it with the air of one conferring a favour.
"Right. Erm. What … what do you have against Muggle-borns, anyway?" The uncertainty and the urge to send him away were even stronger now. But she really had no idea how to do it. The way he was acting, she doubted he'd listen.
"Because you're – Muggle-born. I mean, obviously, that's not your fault, or anything," he said patronisingly. "But you're not proper wizards. Not like us, anyway. Everyone knows that marrying Muggles - and Muggle-borns - dilutes the magic. It should have been stopped centuries ago."
"You can't just … you really believe all that? Who told you - why on earth do people believe those kind of things?"
"My family told me, of course. They're right. Actually I'm quite broadminded about it. There are a lot of people in my House who think you Muggle-borns shouldn't be allowed to come here. Like Malfoy, you know him? I'm not so sure about that. My family -"
For the first time he stopped, sounding uncertain. "They're very … vehement about it all, you know. They … really dislike Muggles very much. I agreed with them, but, coming here, there are some of you who aren't so bad … you're almost like us -" He cut off very abruptly. "Anyway, what are you doing? You were playing. Go on."
Anne's patience was worn very thin by this point. He'd just come in here, insulted her, and expected her to keep playing like it was some sort of performance –
"No," she said in a very small voice.
"What?" He looked utterly taken aback. As if the question of her refusal - or even her opinion - had not crossed his mind.
"I said no." She raised her head slightly, and met his eyes. "I – I'm playing for me, and I would prefer it if – if you left. Please. I don't want to be – you to stand here and talk to me like – go. Please go, now. Or I – I won't play anymore, if you do stay." He was staring, now, but he recovered enough to eye her with a disturbing amount of disdain.
"Fine. Play for yourself, little Hufflepuff. Why should I care?"
With that he was gone. It was several minutes before Anne felt sure enough to start playing again, and then she did not stop for half an hour or more. The music was soothing, distracting. The way he'd looked at her, what he'd said …
She felt like she wasn't quite human to him. That was more than unnerving.
Theodore Nott walked away from the small practice room with a definite sense of unease. He knew he shouldn't have followed the girl, but he'd been bored, not interested in the Quidditch, and she'd been a musician. He liked music. Obviously, however, Muggle-borns weren't worth talking to. He'd known that, but … she'd almost looked like she might be worth conversing with. Then she'd had to go and speak back to him. The cheek of her! Did she know who she was talking to? He was a pureblood Slytherin, son of a Ministry official, and to be talked back to by a silly fourth-year in Hufflepuff … then, what had he expected? She was a Muggle-born. They weren't like proper wizards. They weren't really wizards at all. For so many years his father had told him that Muggle-borns and Muggles were nothing, they were not human, and they should be thrown out of the wizarding world. He had gone along with that, without question - why should he question it? Now - it was true they weren't the same, but…he had become unsure of late at whether they weren't … going a little overboard. Ever since the Dark Lord had returned, his parents had become increasingly fanatical about it, had spoken with a look that made him more than uneasy of the day when the Dark Lord would reveal himself and take rule of the wizarding world back into the hands of the purebloods, where it belonged, and the Mudbloods and Mugglelovers would be punished and destroyed…
Theodore himself wasn't sure he wanted the Dark Lord back. He knew his father had been punished – and painfully - for his failures. He knew that it meant being on the same side as Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle - the people he spent time with - because it was the appropriate thing to do. Crabbe and Goyle were idiots, but Malfoy made him more than uneasy with his total disdain of anyone who didn't meet his standards of family, his cruelty, his refusal to ignore insults. Malfoy never understood that if someone was that far below you, that what they said couldn't possibly matter: it was irrelevant. Theodore had escaped so far by being a follower; but he felt the time might be coming when he would have to be an active follower, and choose a side, the Dark Lord's side. His coming of age was only a year and a half away, now - too close. That's why he'd skipped the Quidditch match, and followed the Muggle-born. He'd needed a distraction from those thoughts. Music was a distraction. Music, and the absence of his classmates, and someone who didn't know anything about what was going on, or would have dismissed it as Harry Potter's ravings. Then he'd had to go and talk to her, and she'd had to ask questions, and he'd almost said too much. So now he was going to go back to the Quidditch match, cheer Slytherin, agree with Malfoy, and avoid thinking about anything except his schoolwork and the OWLs and being in Umbridge's good graces. Thinking was dangerous. Especially for him.
Over the next three weeks, as a chilly January slipped unnoticed into a rainy February, Anne was more than relieved to not see Theodore Nott at all. She buckled down to school and practising her flute, and fading into the background like she always did. It certainly worked. So well that her dorm-mate Gabby Hayle turned to her at breakfast one day and said "Anne, what's with you at the moment? We barely know you're there!"
The other Hufflepuff girls agreed loudly. Anne shrugged, and stirred her porridge.
"I've just been feeling quiet, that's all," she said. "I'm not really a noticeable person anyway."
"Hmmm … s'pose that's true," mused Gabby. She turned back to the others. "Hey guys, guess who asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him on Valentine's Day?" They dissolved into giggles and chatter.
Unnoticed, Anne finished her breakfast and headed off to the Owlery to check in on her owl. Gwaihir was a small grey barn owl, the pet she'd chosen when she had received her Hogwarts letter. (The name was a slightly unfortunate by-product of her then-current reading material; she had fortunately been dissuaded from her first choice, Gandalf.) The letter had also contained a note telling Anne's startled parents who to ask for help with the wizarding world: their rather eccentric neighbours, Priam and Roberta Martin. Priam Martin, it turned out, was a wizard. His wife, a Muggle who had adapted splendidly to the world, had come with Anne and her mother on their first-ever trip to Diagon Alley, to buy her school supplies. It had been Roberta who'd advised an eleven-year-old Anne to get an owl, so she could write home to her family. It had been the Martins, too, who'd come to King's Cross to show Anne how to get through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. She saw them quite a bit in the holidays. She had babysat their children, Elise, Hector and Andromache, over the summer holidays - they were fairly typical kids, talkative and apt to play up for a stranger, but on the whole well-behaved. Elise was now a first-year in Hufflepuff. Anne liked the Martins; they provided a connection between the two worlds she uneasily inhabited, and they were always there to talk to about the things her parents didn't quite get (like Muggle-born-killing monsters, escaped convicts, and Triwizard Tournaments). Plus, she was looking forward to a fairly steady source of income over the holidays, if she continued to babysit for them.
Anne didn't spend too long in the Owlery, though; she had Potions first, and absolutely no desire to be late. It wasn't one of her favourite classes, but she managed to avoid Snape's ire for the most part. If she had favourite classes, they would have to be Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts – well, not this year, but last year had been fun. She enjoyed the practical aspect more than anything, and Professor Umbridge was disappointing if not downright creepy. Anne disliked her a lot, but Umbridge, most thankfully, didn't know Anne existed. Most teachers didn't. She did the work, achieved reasonable marks, and was only remarkable for her flute playing. Since she had received permission to use the practice rooms in first year, she doubted anyone but Professor Sprout even remembered she played. Unfortunately, Herbology was the one subject hard work had never helped her in: whatever the opposite of a green thumb was, she had it.
That Valentine's Day the entire school above third year vanished to Hogsmeade. Anne vanished to a practice room. She would have a whole morning and maybe afternoon to play, and no-one to disturb her. The one thing about Hogwarts she disliked was the lack of music groups; while she knew other students played instruments, there was no orchestra or chamber group to join. She had played in a group a little when she'd started the flute, before Hogwarts, and loved it. Sharing music was the point, she felt. A pity all the girls in her year (the only people she knew well) were decidedly unmusical.
Slipping into an empty room (not that any were likely to be occupied) she cast a silencing spell around the door, to stop sound leaking out, before looking around. The practice rooms were small, and windowless, but they had seats, a small table, and in this one's case what looked like a very ancient piano. She unpacked her flute, set up the stand, tuned to the piano (it seemed to be in tune, thankfully) and started on a few scales. C Major, A Minor, E-flat Major … The door opened.
"There you are," said Nott's voice. "I figured you must be here. I had to look through all the rooms. Did you ward this one for sound?"
She turned to glare. "It's you again."
He ignored this, looking around the room with disdain. "Not cleaned very much, are they?"
"Was there – I mean, why – look, what are you doing here?" She hadn't seen him since the incident three weeks ago, and had no particular desire to.
He looked at her. "Yes, I thought – I want you to try playing something."
The unutterable gall! But instead of yelling at him, like a small part of her desperately wanted to, she just said "Oh … erm … what is it?" She felt herself going red under his gaze, before he eventually held out three pages of music.
"This. It's a flute sonata. Try it. Could I come back in an hour or so?"
She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and glared. It didn't do anything appreciable, but she forged ahead anyway. "Look. Why do you think I'll play this for you? Why do you think I want to talk to you at all? Have you ever heard words like please and thank you? And why aren't you down in Hogsmeade like everyone else? It's Valentine's Day, don't you have a girlfriend to go and see? Or are you too much of an arrogant …"
Nott's expression darkened, but he didn't reply directly, instead stepping fully into the room. "Well. It seems you can talk, after all. You did seem very quiet before."
Fuming, she snatched the music off him, and scanned it. It didn't look awfully hard. A voice in her mind whispered 'go on, you can do this, it'll only take half an hour or so to run through …' She looked up at him. "Get out. And you can come back in half an hour. Or not at all. I honestly don't care. Oh, and you'd better have something to contribute because I am not playing this for you. OK?"
continued to stare at her with that look of - well, barely controlled
irritation, for one thing, and for another…the way that made her feel
like he wasn't seeing her. Just something … lesser.
"Erm. Go. Please? I mean, that is, just – look, go."
I wish he would stop making those exits, thought Anne miserably. If only the boy would talk to her like she was on his level, it would help. Instead of looking at me like I'm a house elf, or something of the sort. But this is nice music…where'd he get it?
Putting it on the stand, and smoothing the crease she'd made when she snatched it, she began to play.
Exactly thirty-two minutes later, by her watch, there was a brisk knock on the door. She opened it, and Theodore Nott stood there, some music in his hand.
"May I come in?" he asked, with a modicum of politeness. Startled, she mumbled something, and stepped back to let him enter. He closed the door behind him.
"What's that?" she asked, pointing at the music, by way of conversation.
"My contribution," he said blandly, walking over and pulling out the piano stool. "Also known as the piano part. I thought…do you want to try playing it?" He set out the music, then turned to look at her.
Anne blinked. "You could have explained this before," she said with a touch of asperity.
The idea seemed to be new to him. "I … I suppose I could have," he allowed, looking puzzled. "I just didn't think …"
"No, you never think, do you? Do you even think I'm a person?"
Anne said it in passing, picking up her flute, but she was startled herself to find she'd spoken aloud. She often thought things like that, but saying them was not something she did often.
"No. Oh, hell." Nott went red. "That's not what I meant. I mean – no – that is – you're Muggle-born, and I always …" He struggled for a moment, before continuing. "I was brought up to think your sort was … not like us. I still … well … anyway, I was … rude. I apologise." He looked like he was swallowing something unpleasant.
"You're only saying that so I'll play the music."
"Yes, I am, aren't I?" He frowned. "Look. Sorry. Just keep reminding me if I…I don't mean to insult you, really. You're just not like me."
Possibly worse that the implied insult was the fact he meant it. He truly, really, thought that she wasn't, and that it was acceptable to think like that.
Anne shook her head. However easier it would be to send him out again, her sense of fairness - he was trying, after all - and, yes, her curiosity, would not allow it. "Oh...forget it. Have you practised this before?"
Nott seated himself on the stool. "I know it well enough, if you're ready, I have the intro, so I'll give you two bars -"
"One's fine, just make sure it's crotchet beat -"
"Ready, then? One, two, three, four -"
He was quite a good piano player: not brilliant, but competent, and Anne could see he loved the music. It had been so long since she'd played with someone else, except at home, that it felt unnatural at first, but then she slipped into the rhythm and the music. It wasn't a particularly long piece, so when they reached the end – still together – she felt rather disappointed.
"What do you think?" she asked Nott. He tapped his music with a pencil he'd found somewhere, voice enthusiastic.
"Okay, but we did get about a bar out here, I think that was my fault, so if we could try taking it from bar fifteen to get that straight -"
Anne nodded absently. "Right, and I'd like to go over that first repeat, the fingering's nasty and I missed some of the high notes."
"From fifteen, then? Three, four -"
An hour, nearly two, later Anne looked at her watch. "Oops, I think we've missed lunch …"
"We what?" Nott looked at his own. "Damn, we did too." He had loosened up a little, in the playing of the music – enough to speak to her as a person, forgetting his prejudices, because this was music and they were both players.
"We might make the last of it…probably not. I think we should stop, though. I've got homework." He scowled. "Potions."
"Hmm, so do I, big Transfiguration essay …"
Anne hesitated. Should she ask…she hadn't played with anyone else for so long. Nott had been…almost reasonable, while they were playing. The snide comments had been nearly left aside. Although why a Slytherin like him would want to ever speak to a Muggle-born…
But there was no harm in music, was there?
"Listen," she began, twisting her flute apart with more force than necessary, "do you want to…maybe…practice this again sometime? I know I have some other music with piano parts kicking around somewhere. Where'd you get this, anyway?"
"Library, there's quite a nice section up the back. No idea why, Hogwarts is terrible for music." Nott was packing up the music as he spoke. His head had jerked upwards slightly at her timid suggestion, but at least he hadn't dismissed it scornfully. "Is Saturday afternoon okay? Unless you've got something else on -"
"No, er, no, I'm fine." A flood of relief mingled with embarrassment swept over her. It had occurred to her about two seconds too late that asking to meet a boy by themselves somewhere could be misconstrued very badly. "Two-ish? In here? I don't think the other rooms have a piano."
"Oh, they don't, I always practice in here."
"Really?" Anne looked at him curiously. "I'm surprised we haven't bumped into each other before."
"We might have, but I wouldn't stop to talk to a Muggle-born Hufflepuff usually."
Anne was taken aback by the return of this topic. "You did."
"I was … thinking."
"Why does me being Muggle-born matter so much to you?" She picked up her flute and slowly began to take it apart. "I know you're Slytherin, but …"
"Slytherin, Slytherin, evil nasty Slytherin." He said it mockingly. "But of course it matters, it's how things are. It's not just me, though. It's…a family issue." For a moment he looked bleak, and much older than fifteen. "I would appreciate it if you didn't mention I …"
"No one listens to me anyway," Anne said simply, and it was true. She was the listener, not the one who talked. It was always assumed she had nothing to talk about.
"Good." Nott nodded. He walked over to the door, put his hand on the knob, and then looked back at her. "See you on Saturday, then, er, Anne." It was an attempt to talk to her as an equal, and they both knew it.
"Erm, see you then, er, Theodore." Anne smiled nervously at him as he left. Why on earth was she doing this? Arranging to play music with a Slytherin fifth-year who thought she was…not his sort? It wasn't as if he'd even been very likeable. Although he did play quite well. She had missed playing with someone. She'd definitely be silly to give up the music just because he had issues. After all, they had managed to get along well enough when they stuck to music, hadn't they?
Yes, why not?
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In this city election cycle, most of the attention so far has been devoted to the big event: the early maneuvering in the mayor's race, as the field takes shape and the leading contenders attempt to define themselves. While that's going on, though, the undercard has been largely overlooked, and there the contest for city attorney pits two of the region's better-known — and quite different — public officials against each other in what promises to be a tough and consequential bout.
In one corner is Assemblyman Mike Feuer — earnest, experienced and capable, a wiry middleweight with a solid record. This last legislative session, he carried a host of bills that made it into law, and their range is testament to Feuer's interests and ability. Among other accomplishments, he got state clearance for Los Angeles voters to consider extending the half-cent sales tax for transportation; he successfully carried a measure protecting consumers from predatory car loans; and he won approval for Californians to be able to register and vote on election day.
In the other corner is incumbent City Atty. Carmen Trutanich — tough, personable, slightly goofy, more of a ham-handed brawler. Trutanich came to office as an outsider who fought his way past City Councilman Jack Weiss and Weiss' chief supporter, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. From the start, Trutanich signaled his intention to act outside of City Hall's ruling elite, and he's been true to his word. He's blustered and threatened and boasted, all while having to absorb deep budget cuts. To his supporters, that's proof of his independence; to his critics, it's evidence of his recklessness and willingness to forgo responsible leadership in favor of headline-grabbing stunts.
The differences don't stop there. Soon after he was elected, Trutanich threatened to file charges against Councilwoman Jan Perry if she allowed downtown powerhouse AEG to erect new billboards at its L.A. Live center. Perry was being threatened, in effect, by her own lawyer, since the city attorney represents the council. So it's no surprise that the council has since hired its own attorney, a clear vote of no-confidence in Trutanich. Feuer, by contrast, draws on experience as a council member and speaks of wanting to establish a close working relationship between the city attorney's office and the mayor and council president.
There is poisonously bad blood between the Feuer and Trutanich campaigns. John Shallman was, until recently, Trutanich's campaign consultant. It was Shallman who guided Trutanich's disastrous campaign for district attorney, in which the city attorney, having broken his pledge not to run for another office during his term, failed even to make the runoff against a field of lesser-known opponents. Like many, Shallman had expected Trutanich to win, and figured he would then represent Feuer in the city attorney race. When Trutanich lost, Shallman dumped him and jumped to Feuer. Incensed, Trutanich sued Shallman, demanding an accounting of the campaign's finances. Rick Taylor, who's now running the Trutanich campaign, lashed out hard at Shallman when we spoke last week. What Shallman did, Taylor said, was "beyond despicable.... He stabbed his client in the back."
Even by the standards of politics, that's pretty rough, and it's worth pointing out that Shallman isn't the candidate, so it's also diversionary. (It's safe to say that it would be easier to run against Shallman than Feuer.) Still, it's an indication that the race is shaping up to be more than your average tussle.
As it heats up, here are some things to watch for: Taylor will work to reintroduce Trutanich to the electorate, this time drawing more heavily on Trutanich's family, and will try to brush off Feuer as a pipsqueak career politician. Shallman will lean on Feuer's long public service and commitment to the poor (before running for City Council and later Assembly, Feuer ran Bet Tzedek, which provides free legal representation to tens of thousands of people), and will challenge Trutanich's record.
There is, by the way, a third candidate in the race, lawyer Greg Smith, but he's not playing at the same level as the others. The early edge — despite Trutanich's incumbency and strengths — has to go to Feuer, if for no other reason than the loss in the district attorney's race bloodied Trutanich and revealed real weaknesses in his political standing.
Indeed, the results there were worse than most people know. Trutanich not only lost outside Los Angeles, where voters presumably knew less about him; he also lost big in the city he represents, winning fewer than one in three votes. Indeed, in 14 out of 15 council districts, he pulled less than 30%. That's a big hole to climb out of, even for a heavyweight.
Jim Newton's column appears Mondays. His latest book is "Eisenhower: The White House Years." Reach him at email@example.com or follow him on Twitter: @newton_jim.


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I'm over on the east coast, doing some family visits, and thought I'd use the occasion to post some photos from this past summer/fall, that have heretofore been unpublished. This first set is from a trip to Yellowstone – there are a few more pictures here.
The entrance sign near West Yellowstone, WY. (Which has an incredible 4th of July fireworks show!)
Mud pots! (I bet that'd make a great face mask… not that I advise trying!)
The view overlooking one of the geyser boardwalks. It was really comforting to think about so many people enjoying and learning about geology!
Spasm Geyser.
Near Prismatic Spring. (I overheard a private tour guide saying that the best viewpoint for Prismatic Spring was actually the parking lot for Fairy Falls, but we didn't get a chance to check out that tip.)
Sunset Lake.
The Old Faithful Inn's interior is spectacular! (And the ice-cream is very good also.)
Old Faithful Geyser.
Avoca Spring, possibly.
Hint: Madison campground has no showers - which means that you can frequently get a site without a reservation!
Another hint: Getting a back-country hiking/camping permit is pretty easy, but watching the Bear Country Camping video does take some time. As does buying the required bear spray and ropes for hanging food. Oh, and they like it if you research trails in advance, instead of showing up the day of and asking for whatever slots are open. We got a permit, but by the time we got to the trailhead, realized we couldn't get to camp before sunset, when the bears come out to rummage through your groceries, and the rangers require you to be off the trails.
Another hint: advance planning is probably a good idea when visiting a major tourist attraction! We had a good time, but that would have made it a great time.


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Resort Service Charge: In addition to guestroom rates and taxes, there is a daily resort service charge of $38 per night and per guest room. The resort charge includes:
- Shuttle service to Lionshead and Vail Villages
- Two complimentary bottles of water nightly
- Access to Aria Spa & Fitness Club adjacent to the hotel
- In-room coffee service
- Local telephone access, credit card and 800 access calls made from the guestroom
- Incoming faxes
- In-room high speed internet access
- On-site ski valet aside ski lift
Resort service charge and parking charge may be subject to change.
Renovations: Re-opening after a multi-million dollar renovation this fall and joining the Virtuoso program November 1st, 2017.
Only eligible Travel Professionals who are members of Virtuoso are eligible to book the Virtuoso Contracted Rate Plan at participating Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
A valid IATA, ARC, CLIA, TRUE or TIDS number must be entered at time of reservation in the GDS, Dedicated Website: www.spg.com/virtuoso or when calling our Customer Contact Centers or hotel direct.
- The Virtuoso rate equals the best unrestricted retail rate of the day in the CRS and includes the contracted amenities.
- Rates can fluctuate between checking availability and time of reservation.
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Flat mini panda of felt. For phone accessory. 5-6 cm.
The pattern includes seam allowance.
Glue the ears to the head, and legs to the body.
Glue eye patches on the face. Attach 2 beads. Stitch the nose.
Stitch the legs where glued.
Stitch around the body and legs.
Put polyester fiberfill a little.
Fold the tail and sew it to the back.
Stitch around the ears and the head.
Put the neck between the chin. Stitch them together.
Put polyester fiberfill into the head.
Attach a strap if you need.
Colorful pandas.
Ordinary panda. Panda in love. Panda drunken. Panda with jealousy. Panda surprised.
Oct 26, 2012
Mini panda
Flat mini panda of felt. For phone accessory. 5-6 cm.
ラベル: Felt, Stuffed toy
Cut of felt
Felt is convenient and cheap material. I like to make felt goods.
It may be difficult to cut a small piece.
Felt does not fray, but the edge is fragile.
I don't think there is a shortcut.
This is one of methods I do. It's rather good, but not very easy.
Draw or print all pieces of pattern on thin paper.
Cut them with margin. Make 1 or a few holes in each piece.
Stick it to felt with scotch tape.
Cut paper, tape and felt together. Remove tape and paper.
Oct 24, 2012
Small panda
A stuffed giant panda of suede cloth (polyester). 9 centimeters.
Two-tone animal needs a lot of components. It may not be fit for beginners or hasty persons to try.
When cutting, add seam allowance (3 - 5 mm).
Sew the ears. Turn inside out.
Put an ear on F-E, and sew the head and neck. (F-E-D-C)
D-C is longer than D-C´. Gather it up.
Sew the neck, foreleg, body and leg.
Sew the dart of the hip. (N-O)
Sew the right and left of the body. (H-I-M and A-B) Unsew the back. (M-N)
Sew the crown to the head. (H-F-G-A-G-F-H)
Sew the throat, inside forelegs, belly and inside legs.
Sew the belly to the body. (N-P-Q-L-K-J-C-B-C-J-K-L-Q-P-N)
Fold the tail and sew it.
Turn inside out.
Attach the tail to the hip with ladder stitch.
Stuff polyester fiberfill in it. Close the back.
Embroider the mouth.
Glue the eye patches and the nose. Attach the eyes.
If you use fur fabric, it will be fatter.
The smaller one is 50 % size.
More pandas.
Panda apron.
Panda pouch.
Panda cookies --- manufactured goods.
ラベル: Stuffed toy


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Computer Science ColloquiumIm Rahmen des Informatik-Kolloquiums, das von den Instituten des Fachbereichs Informatik, der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Informatik (ÖGI), der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Datenverarbeitung (ADV) sowie der Österreichischen Computergesellschaft (OCG) abgehalten wird, spricht
Prof. Judith Donath
Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Harvard Universityüber das Thema:
Data PortraitsZeit: Tue 13.7.2010, 11:00, 60 Minuten
Ort: MZ 112B
ZusammenfassungData portraits depict their subject?s accumulated data rather than their faces. They can be visualizations of discussion contributions, browsing histories, social networks, travel patterns, etc. They are subjective renderings that mediate between the artist?s vision, the subject?s self-presentation and the audience?s interest. Designed to evocatively depict an individual, a data portrait can be a decorative object or be used as an avatar, one?s information body for an online space. Data portraits raise questions about privacy, control, aesthetics and social cognition. Does the subject or artist control what data should be included? What should such a representation look like? How can it be designed to make intuitive sense to the viewer? These questions become increasingly important as more of our interactions occur online, where we exist as data not bodies. Aus organisatorischen Gründen bitten wir Sie um Anmeldung per E-Mail an Frau Monika Neubauer email@example.com.
VortragenderJudith Donath synthesizes knowledge from fields such as urban design, evolutionary biology and cognitive science to build innovative interfaces for on-line communities and virtual identities. A Harvard Berkman Faculty Fellow and formerly director of the Sociable Media Group at MIT Media Lab, she is known internationally for her writing on identity, interface design, and social communication. Her current research focuses on understanding the social economics underlying communication, both face to face and online. This work brings a fresh understanding of the meaning embodied in everyday phenomena, such as fashion, faces, gifts, etc. - and it provides a strong foundation for designing engaging social environments that promote cooperation and trust.
Einladender: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gabriele Kotsis, a.Univ.-Prof. Dr. Birgit Pröll
Liste aller Vorträge


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Hadopi Says French National Library Needs Unprotected Works... To Put Its Own DRM On
from the locking-up-culture deptIn the past, many have noted that proprietary formats for content almost guarantee that certain works will be lost to history. Backwards compatibility becomes a problem, and before long content that could be accessed by tons of programs may be impossible to open just a few years later. For libraries and archvists this is a huge problem -- and it's made even worse when you add DRM to the mix. It appears that even the "anti-piracy" folks in France recognize this, but only to a limited extent.
According to the French publication, Numerama, Hadopi (the agency in charge of stamping out infringement in France), has published an opinion in which it suggests that content creators give the French National Library (Bibliothèque Nationale de France or BNF) works without any DRM on them. As they quite rightly note, in order to better make sure that the culture is preserved and that future archives are accessible, a lack of DRM makes much more sense. They even note that just providing a DRM'd copy with the keys to decrypt it, or with circumvention tools, really isn't sufficient for proper archiving.
That said, the report also then appears to fret about the BNF leaking these unprotected works out into the world. The suggestion seems to be that (wait for it...) the BNF then create its own DRM to lock up the unprotected works that it needs to keep them from getting locked up. In other words, the whole plan is pretty useless anyway.
This is just an opinion, and not binding in any way. So apparently the French government is still considering what sorts of requirements it intends to put on submissions to the BNF, but once again it seems like an overly aggressive "fear of piracy" may actually lead to some bad technical decisions for the sake of "protecting" some works against infringement.
Filed Under: access, archives, copyright, drm, france, hadopi, library, locked up
Companies: bnf, hadopi


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Monday, March 23, 2009
Memory Monday: First and Second Grade
Our teacher was Miss Christian. She was young, sweet, and to us, beautiful. We regarded her with a little bit of awe (think "Little Rascals"). I started out in the second reading group but was soon moved up into the first group. It gradually began to occur to me that I could do this "school stuff."
Miss Christian got married over the summer; her married name sounded like "Rokay." It was a huge piece of news to her former students. "Former students" – hah! We felt more like abandoned children who had been kicked out of their comfortable home in first grade into the more ordinary, less thrilling world of second grade.
Mrs. Lundgren was my first teacher in second grade. She was nice enough, but she did not have that special aura that Miss Christian had. She only terrified me once, and that was when she was teaching us to sing by ear and made us sing our names exactly as she sang them.
Halfway through the second grade my family moved from San Bernardino to nearby Highland and I switched schools from Davidson to Warm Springs. My new teacher was Mrs. Leeman. That year she was teaching a combination second and third grade class and I would have her again the next year for third grade. She was a very special teacher and I will write about her in a separate post.
8 comments:
As a former preschool teacher, I enjoyed your blog. I remember Dick and Jane and the smell of those worksheets that were run off on the mimeo machine. Your blog brought back some pleasant memories for me. Now I have to sit down and see if I can remember my early teachers. Thank you for sharing, Greta.ReplyDelete
Greta - what a wonderful nostalgic post! Brings back wonderful memories of my early grade school years! Thanks for posting!ReplyDelete
I love your Memory Monday post! They bring back memories. I remember the Dick and Jane books. My Great Aunt Christian Ziegler who was a second grade teacher for 40years gave us a couple of books when we started to school. My Mom kept them for years then gave one to my brother and one to me. It is such a treasure one of the books from your early school days.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 24, 2009 at 3:16 PM
What fun memories! It takes me back to elementary school in Idaho. My biggest fear was the fire drill. But I loved spelling and Mrs. Merrill. Great post!ReplyDelete
Thank you all for your very kind comments. Isn't it amazing at how those early school memories stay with us? I look forward to reading your school memories, too!ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
If you remember mimeograph copies and Dick and Jane books, then you probably remember the magic markers that smelled like a sweet fragrance. I believe they were mostly fruity fragrances. (Smile)ReplyDelete
Oh, yes, I do remember that fragrance. And I remember an early version of Magic Markers which had a much different consistency than the ones we use now.ReplyDelete


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Arthur's Pass: Mingha - Deception route
The east-coast end of the trip leaves SH 73, five kilometres south of Arthur's Pass village, just after the Mingha bluffs.
1 / 5
Time: 2 - 3 days
Getting there
The east-coast end of the trip leaves SH 73, five kilometres south of Arthur's Pass village, just after the Mingha bluffs.
The west-coast end of the trip is also accessed from SH 73. A footbridge crosses Otira River 5 km west of the Otira township.
Bealey River - Mingha River - Goat Pass Hut
Time: 5 hr
Five kilometres south of Arthur's Pass village, cross Bealey River near its confluence with Mingha River. The rivers are constantly changing course so you will need to find the best place to cross. If Bealey River is too high to ford, postpone the trip. Do not use the Bealey rail bridge to get to the Mingha.
Once across Bealey River go up the Mingha riverbed, crossing the river as necessary for about an hour until the river narrows to a gorge. Just past a side creek on the true right, a marked track enters the bush on that (western) side. The track climbs well above the gorge on to Dudley Knob, and then makes its way back to the river close to the bush line.
Parties travelling down the Mingha should ensure they find the track—the gorge is very difficult to negotiate.) Take care above Agility Creek as the track runs close to the edge of steep drop-offs and bluffs.
Shortly after the track emerges from the bush there is small hut (Mingha Biv – 2 bunks). From here follow the marked trail, crossing Mingha River where it bends west towards Temple Col and is met by the stream running down from Goat Pass.
The marked track resumes here through subalpine scrub on the true left of Goat Pass Stream, leading onto boardwalk across the boggy sections. The track continues across sections of boardwalk through to the obvious summit of Goat Pass. Goat Pass Hut (20 bunks, no heating or cooking facilities) is in a hollow just north of the pass. Total time from the main road to the hut—about 5 hours.
Goat Pass Hut has a radio linked to Arthur's Pass Visitor Centre. Calls can be made during office hours for weather forecasts and information.
Lake Mavis - side trip
For parties with time in hand at Goat Pass, the climb to Lake Mavis is worthwhile in summer. Climb the steep tussock and scree on the spur running east from Goat Pass, then follow the cairned ridge route—perhaps the easiest access to a high-level lake in the park. The climb to the lake is about 500 metres and takes about 2 hours.
This area is subject to avalanche activity during the winter. During heavy snow conditions, we advise visitors not to travel this route unless sufficiently equipped and experienced to assess the conditions and choose a safe path through avalanche terrain.
Goat Pass Hut - Deception River - Highway 73
Time: 8 - 9 hr
Follow the marked route down a creek bed through scrub into the upper Deception River. The route now involves scrambling and boulder-hopping down the riverbed and through adjacent bush (sometimes on distinct bits of track which may be marked). Upper Deception Hut (six bunks) is reached in just over an hour, before Good Luck Creek on the true right bank. It is very easy to miss this hut on its scrub-covered river terrace.
Continue in or beside the riverbed for a further 2 hours 30 minutes until it opens out into a large flat on the true left just below Gorge Creek. Below this flat the river passes a small, warm, sulphur-smelling spring then narrows to the gates of the lower gorge. In normal conditions continue on down the lower gorge for two hours or more to the open flat where the Deception meets Otira River.
The footbridge across the Otira is just north of the confluence (i.e. on the true right bank of the Deception).
The Mingha-Deception route forms the run leg of New Zealand's most iconic multi-sport race—the Coast to Coast. It is not uncommon in spring and summer to come across people training for the event, running from west to east. Race Director, Robin Judkins,
sponsors a programme to protect blue duck/whio in these valleys. Any sightings of blue duck should be reported to staff at the DOC Visitor Centre in Arthur's Pass.
Warning: Both the Mingha and the Deception rivers (especially the latter) can be dangerous. Do not attempt this trip when these rivers are high or when bad weather is forecast. Descent of Deception River will require up to 30 compulsory river crossings.
Plan and prepare
•Experience: Suitable for fit, well- equipped people with moderate tramping experience.
•Best season: Summer, autumn and early winter.
•NZTopomap50: Otira BV20
•Note: There are no cooking or heating facilities in Goat Pass hut.
Both the Mingha and the Deception rivers (especially the latter) can be dangerous. Do not attempt this trip when these rivers are high or when bad weather is forecast. Descent of Deception River will require up to 30 compulsory river crossings.
The alternative route, out from Goat Pass via Temple Col (see Route Guide 6A), is an unmarked alpine route and should not be attempted in poor conditions, in heavy or melting snows, or by inexperienced parties. It is not a short cut!
Do not attempt this trip in bad weather or when rain is forecast. Rivers can flood at any time of year. If rivers and side streams are in flood, seek shelter and wait until water levels fall before crossing.
Safety on Arthur's Pass routes
•Allow adequate time. Note the times given for each section are guides only.
•Check snow and weather conditions. Mountain weather forecasts are available from the Arthur's Pass Visitor Centre.
•Know your ability. Arthur's Pass National Park is mountain country. Navigational skills and ability to judge weather and river conditions are essential. Be prepared to turn back if conditions are not safe.
•Never travel alone. This route is difficult.
•Tell someone where you are going. You can fill in a Search and Rescue action card at the Visitor Centre. This must be cancelled on your return.
•Take a map and compass. Topomaps for the area are available to buy or hire from the Arthur's Pass Visitor Centre.
•Cross rivers safely. Take care with river crossings especially after heavy rain. If in doubt, wait it out.
•Note: True right and true left refers to the sides of the valley when looking downstream.
What to expect on a route:
•Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking
•Track unformed and natural, rough, muddy or very steep
•Suitable for people with above average fitness. High level backcountry skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills required
•Complete self sufficiency required
•Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged stream and river crossings
•Sturdy tramping/hiking boots required


text: Just less than a month before the Yankees and the Red Sox open the 2010 baseball season, and like we did with the NBA about four months ago, we looked up the oldest players in Baseball, fossils from the early 70's and even guys born in the 1960's, when the Beatles were still together. Yes, they are that old. Oh, and a little Al Bundy song, to honor these fogies. More


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1141 APPLEWOOD Drive, Lawrence WI 54115 $57,500
Features of 1141 APPLEWOOD Drive, Lawrence, WI 54115
- Lots for Sale
- Status: Active
- Mailing City: De Pere
- County: Brown
- School Dist: West De Pere
- Property Taxes: $0
- Property Tax Year: 2016
- PIN Number: 55680
- Hot Line: 877.593.1660
- Listing Company: Shorewest - Green Bay
Property Description for 1141 APPLEWOOD Drive, Lawrence, WI 54115
1141 APPLEWOOD Drive, Lawrence, WI 54115 - New subdivision opening soon, a wide variety of lots, near Hemlock creek schools. Its minutes from Hwy 41, conveniently located between Green Bay and Appleton. It will be ready to build by August.
Land Features
- Waterfront/Access: N
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|Apr 27 2017 2:43PM
Estimated Monthly Payment
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