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While in Liberia last month, I met a wonderful man named Prince Kondoh. He goes by Pastor Kondoh, and he has dedicated his life to serving those who can not help themselves, and teaching the children in his community. During the recent civil war in Liberia, he was basically a prisoner in his own home for 14 years. Not able to go outside without risking his life. Now that peace has returned to Liberia, he works harder than anyone I have ever met with the hope he might be able to make up for lost time. No minute is wasted, and no challenge is too great. He has started multiple schools in Buchanan, one of which is called Chariot Daycare and Elementary School. We were asked to visit the school one morning before we headed out to one of the villages where the wells were being built. Because of the economic situation, there are many children who's families are not able to pay for school, and I was asked if I would take a few pictures of the students needing sponsorship.
I was thinking I would take a few snapshots and it would be a quick thing. But then I realized I didn't pack all of these lights half way around the world to take snapshots, even if this wasn't in the plan. So all of the gear was taken out of the truck and we set up the lights. As I was finessing the lights into place, something caused me to slow down and look around. I wasn't thrilled with how the portrait was turning out, and then I had a realization. The natural light was near perfect. I struggled with this idea for a few minutes, trying to convince myself it wasn't possible. Natural light never does exactly what I am looking for, especially in the middle of the day. The picture won't turn out. But finally after a few tests, I decided to shoot this one with just my Hasselblad and nothing else. It was very freeing to say the least. For some reason, I had it in my head that it wasn't possible to shoot a picture in my style with only natural light. Natural light never seems to have the pop to it I am looking for, or if it does, the light isn't at the right angle etc. Most of the time natural light isn't what I am looking for, but this instance proved to be an exception. It wasn't until we were back at our house that night, and I loaded the images on my laptop, that I was hit in the face with the detail and clarity of this portrait and the others I shot that day. It was a great lesson for me to be aware of what is going on and to be open to improvising or even deviating from a plan.
But enough about lighting for now. If you can't tell already, this is one of my favorite pictures from the trip. His name is Zachariah and he is a student at Chariot. I could stare at this image for hours and continue to find new things I like about it. Zachariah is one of the students in need of sponsorship, and I figured the very least I could do was provide a link to sponsor him or any of the other children who need support. The cost is $15 a month and that covers clothing and food, as well as education. If you decide you would like to sponsor Zachariah, please write me after you have done so, and I will send you a free print.
The Child Sponsorship Program is run by the Well Done Organization which is the organization building the wells in Liberia that my client MiiR Bottles partnered with. I can personally vouch for the people working for WDO, as well as the organization itself. Some really great things are happening in Liberia with the support of WDO.
Here are the links one more time. I know not everyone is able to help in this way, but hopefully this might plant the seed in just one person who has the means and desire to help.
Info About The Child Sponsorship Program
Children Still In Need Of Sponsorship
It feels good to start posting images from this trip, and as promised there will be more in the days and weeks to come. My developer just showed me round one of the revisions to my website tonight, and once it is finished I will have a new portfolio section with pictures from Liberia.


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After Nadia Cho, a junior at UC Berkeley, wrote in her college newspaper about having sex in the library stacks, her face was plastered on London's Daily Mail and the New York Daily News. A Taiwanese news station produced a two-minute digital animation - liberally interpreted with extra kink - re-creating the campus tryst. One of the first terms that comes up when you search "Nadio Cho" on Google is "sexcapade."
Her reaction to it all? A shrug. "Unless one day I'm going to work for Christians Against Masturbation, I think I'm fine."
At Caffe Strada in Berkeley on a recent weekday morning, the petite Cho - wearing Ugg boots and a white cable-knit sweater - is not what one might expect from the Huffington Post's new sex columnist, a woman who's causing an international brouhaha.
The 20-year-old firebrand doesn't sneak in any lewd comments or dirty jokes and definitely doesn't show much skin. In person, Cho's brand of sex exhibitionism is less raunch-culture, and she sounds more like a health-center brochure - "I'm trying to foster open, sex-positive dialogue" - than the saucy Daily Cal writer who sent international media outlets into a tizzy.
Cho's unwitting international splash started with her final college column, which was about a sex tour on campus with an unidentified male partner. She sought to have loud sex in a variety of haunts, from the library's European Union section to the classrooms of Moffitt and Wurster - which "gives you an idea of how fantastic it would be if your hot (graduate student instructor) pounded you on the front desk every time you forgot to turn in a homework assignment."
In an era where educators and HR representatives constantly caution young people to monitor their Google history and Facebook tags, Cho has shown remarkable nonchalance.
"Having sex in the library is just not that controversial. I mean, like, who doesn't have sex on campus?" she says. "In the context of Berkeley, this is not one of the craziest things. It's just like everyone is so worried about what's on Facebook or what's on Google, and I'm just not really that concerned. I think it's generational."
After applying to the Daily Cal last summer, Cho was thrilled to be chosen as the newspaper's "Sex on Tuesdays" columnist for the fall semester. Her columns - on threesomes, bisexuality and race - didn't generate major attention on campus. The media storm came only after her farewell installment - and from afar.
The Daily Mail wrote: "Cho writes that she and an unnamed male student started their romp in Berkeley's library, Main Stacks, the day before Thanksgiving when the campus was 'empty.' "
The New York Daily News recounted, breathlessly: "They almost got caught twice when two people walked past."
The Taiwanese news animation added multiple Cal-T-shirt-clad partners (there was only one man in the story) and sex props (there were none, according to Cho).
Cho was confused, even somewhat amused, about the sudden attention - her article had been out on campus for more than a week, and she'd gotten few e-mails from students about it.
Yet although most of the online barbs against her have come from foreign countries, there has been no shortage of criticism in the comments section of the Daily Cal's website:
"My biggest problem with this column is that it isn't actually a column about sex; it's a column about Nadia Cho."
"She is not a journalist, she's an exhibitionist."
"I know you would like your sex life to be more exciting, but do you know what is also exciting? Getting to work and thinking, 'There won't be people f- in the library today.' Now that is liberating."
Playful, exhibitionist
Throughout the semester, Cho's column was at times playfully exhibitionist and occasionally political. Her writing treated sex in the kind of matter-of-fact way that someone raised with "Our Bodies, Ourselves" would.
"There isn't anything unnatural or anything to be ashamed of in watching porn," she wrote in September. "Whenever I have convenient breaks in my schedule, I'll come home after class, eat a snack, watch some porn, rub one out and go back to campus."
When she writes about threesomes, she cautions that no one should feel "self-conscious" if they're left out for a few minutes and that there's proper etiquette for breakfast (the couple should treat the guest). She wrote one column about Mitt Romney's plans to defund Planned Parenthood (Cho did not think this was a good idea). Her entire Oct. 2 column was, simply, about being sex-positive. She uses terms like vagina-tarian and procras-turbation.
Born and raised in Hawaii, Cho identifies as a bisexual woman of color. She declined to provide details about her parents, other than to say that she hasn't revealed to them yet that she's been writing sex columns. She does suspect, though, that her father has heard about her columns by now.
"Because, you know, he reads the news," she says. "I'm not sure any parent expects this. But I mean, what can you do? I just don't talk to my parents about sex."
Psychology major
A psychology major, Cho wants to go into academic research. She works part time at a campus cafe and has never considered writing a career option.
"I don't want to be a sex columnist for my whole life. It has a time and a place," she says. "I don't regret publishing the piece. I intended to do it. I don't really mind that people know I'm having sex. And who cares if it's online - what isn't?"
Cho is mostly concerned that this whole thing happened during a busy study time.
"It probably will stay on my Google forever. I can't wait till I'm like 30 and 40 and can be like, remember that one finals week when this f- happened to me and I was like 20?"
But for today, Cho's just worrying about her biology exam.
Nellie Bowles is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Twitter: @NellieBowles

subset: commoncrawl


text: This webring connects sites by and for Asatru resp. Heathens. We trust in the Aesir and Vanir, the Scandinavian, Norse, Germanic and Anglo-Saxon Gods and Goddesses. Also welcome are sites about the Viking Ages, Germanic mythology, history, language, literature, culture, archeology, and art. Please note that sites which display racism or intolerance towards others' ways of life or religion, will not be included in this webring. Welcome and wassail!


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Game Info
Harvard vs. Yale
Game Info
Harvard vs. Brown
The Storyline
Head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith looks to become the all-time winningest coach in the Ivy League with her 515th career victory this weekend as Harvard women's basketball takes on Yale and Brown at Lavietes Pavilion this weekend. The final weekend of the regular season, both games can be seen on the Ivy League Digital Network. Friday's game against the Bulldogs will start at 7 p.m., while Saturday's tip is set for 6 p.m. The Crimson will be honoring four seniors – Christine Clark, Jasmine Evans, Elise Gordon and Melissa Mullins – on Saturday.
Milestone Watch
The winningest coach in Ivy League women's basketball history with 514 career victories, head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith stands tied with Princeton's legendary coach Pete Carril (514) for wins by an Ancient Eight coach on either the men's or women's side and can pass him this weekend. Delaney-Smith also eclipsed 304 career wins in the conference with her 300th coming against Yale Feb. 8.
Delaney-Smith, in her 32nd season at the helm of the Crimson, earned her 500th win at Colgate Nov. 23, joining a group of 28 active coaches in Division I with at least 500 wins. She is also one of six active Division I head coaches to spend 32 years at one institution.
Last Time Out
The Crimson went 2-0 last weekend at Cornell and Columbia as Delaney-Smith earned career win No. 514 on Saturday evening. Junior forward Temi Fagbenle registered a career high against the Lions with 31 points and 18 rebounds. She became the first Crimson player since 2009 to reach the 30-plus plateau and it marked her 10th double-double – the most since 2003-04. Against Cornell, Harvard erased an early 15-point deficit, the largest comeback since Feb. 20, 2009, to defeat the Big Red, 70-66.
First to 600
Harvard recorded the 600th win in program history on Feb. 7, 2014 against Brown. Harvard was the first Ivy League school and first Division I program in Massachusetts to accomplish the feat. The Crimson was also the first Ivy program to 500 wins (Jan. 30, 2009 against Penn). The Crimson currently sits at 605-439.
The Hunt For #12
Through 11-plus games of the Ivy League season, Harvard sits in third overall (9-3) in the Ivy standings. Princeton and Penn are tied for first with 9-2 records. Harvard needs to win its final two games and would need both the Quakers and Tigers to lose one of their remaining three games to force a three-team playoff. Princeton and Penn play the final game of the Ivy League schedule on Tuesday, March 11.
Just Keep Winning
The Crimson recorded a 21-game home winning streak from March 2, 2012 through Feb. 15, 2014, marking the second-longest run all-time for Harvard at Lavietes. From 1996-98, the Crimson ripped off 22-straight wins at Lavietes – the record for the Crimson. Harvard posted a perfect 11-0 record at home in 2012-13 and sits at 7-2 this season.
Scouting Yale
2013-14 RECORD: 12-14, 6-6 Ivy League
SERIES HISTORY: Harvard leads, 45-30
LAST MEETING: W, 58-57 (Feb. 8, 2014)
LAST WIN: Same
Streak: W4
• Yale has lost four of the last six games, dropping two games apiece to Penn and Princeton and defeating Cornell and Columbia, to stand tied for fourth overall in the Ivy League standings.
• Junior guard Sarah Halejian paces the Bulldogs with 15.9 points per game, adding 3.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds. Sophomore forward Meredith Boardman pulls down a team-best 5.8 boards per game, adding 5.3 points.
• In her ninth season at Yale, head coach Chris Gobrecht holds an overall career record of 528-457 with prior stops at Cal State Fullerton, Washington, Florida State and Southern California. Gobrecht led the Bulldogs to 56 wins over the last four seasons, the most for Yale since the Class of 1980.
• Junior forward Erin McDonnell exploded in the second half, posting her first career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to lift Harvard past Yale, 58-57, earlier this season at John J. Lee Amphitheater. Harvard has won four-straight in the series. All-time, the Crimson owns a 45-30 advantage over the Bulldogs.
Scouting Brown
2013-14 RECORD: 9-17, 3-9 Ivy League
SERIES HISTORY: Harvard leads, 44-44
LAST MEETING: W, 91-71 (Feb. 7, 2014)
LAST WIN: Same
Streak: W3
• Brown snapped a five-game losing streak on Senior Night, upsetting Princeton, 61-58, behind 24 points from Lauren Clarke and 12 points from Sophie Beutel.
• Clarke leads the Bears with 16.2 points per game, adding 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Junior guard Sophie Bikofsky chips in 13.3 points and a team-high 4.2 rebounds.
• Head coach Jean Marie Burr, in her 26th season with the Bears, ranks third all-time in Ivy League history with 323 wins. Last winning the Ancient Eight title in 2006, Burr has compiled 15 winning Ivy seasons and four championships.
• The Crimson is on a three-game winning streak against the Bears, including a 91-71 win earlier this season in Providence, R.I. The victory marked the 600th in program history for Harvard, as Christine Clark dropped 19 points. The Crimson shot 63.8 percent from the field, including 10-of-16 from behind the arc. All-time, Harvard owns a 44-33 mark against Brown.
Crimson Colored Ivy
Since women's basketball joined the Ivy League in 1974-75, the Crimson owns a 603-437 record, tops of all Ancient Eight schools. Harvard is the only Ivy League school with a winning record against all other Ivies.
School Overall Wins Harvard vs.
Brown 485 44-33
Columbia 226 56-2
Cornell 373 60-11
Dartmouth 545 43-32
Penn 454 49-24
Princeton 577 40-34
Yale 463 45-30
20 Times 10
At 19-7, the Crimson could record its 11th 20-win season in program history with a win this weekend. All 10 of the previous 20-win seasons have come under the guidance of Kathy Delaney-Smith.
Double Trouble
Averaging 12.7 points and 9.5 rebounds, Temi Fagbenle has already recorded 10 double-doubles through 26 games this season (including eight in the last 18 games), the most since Hana Peljto (15) in 2003-04. Fagbenle posted five-straight games with 10-plus in points and rebounds (Dec. 7-Dec. 30), recording the longest consecutive streak of double-doubles since Peljto in 2003-04 (nine).
Fagbenle's first career double-double came opening weekend at North Dakota, making her the first Crimson rookie to record a double-double in her first weekend of action since Peljto went for 21 points and 10 rebounds in the season opener against Saint Peter's on Nov. 17, 2000.
Clark Rises
Shooting up the scoring list, Christine Clark sits at No. 4 in program history with 1,653 points over her three-plus year career. She is 210 points from the No. 3 spot, Reka Cserny '05. Clark became the 18th member of Harvard's 1,000 point club Jan. 2, 2012, as she scored 19 points against UMass.
Clark reached the milestone in just her 71st career game, making her the fastest Crimson to reach 1,000 points since Reka Cserny '05 did so in her 60th career appearance.
What a Start
For the second-straight year, Harvard started the season 7-3 record through the first 10 games of the season. It matched the second-best start for the Crimson all-time through 10 games. Harvard has gone 8-2 three times, most recently in 1997-98 en route to a 23-5 overall record and an Ivy League title.
Ivy Openers
Harvard improved to 23-17 all-time in Ivy League openers and 20-12 under head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith with its 73-63 victory over Dartmouth on Jan. 11. It marked the 14th-straight season that the Crimson and Big Green met in the first game of the Ivy League schedule, with Harvard holding a 9-5 edge in those contests.
You Can Count on Clark
Christine Clark has started 111-straight games that she has appeared in over the last three-plus years. Clark ranks first in the Ivy League in most consecutive career games started.
Clark has scored in double-digits 94 times, including 21 times this season. The senior from Tucson, Ariz., is on a run of 14-straight double-digit games. Clark put on a streak of 21 consecutive 10-plus point performances (March 5, 2011-Feb. 4, 2012) and has had 20 games in which she has scored at least 20 (last vs. Princeton). Clark has posted 20-plus points in 10 games in 2013-14.
Ivy League Digital Network
For the first time ever, all of Harvard's home games and road Ivy League contests will be streamed in HD quality featuring a live scoreboard, new graphics package and play-by-play commentary through the Ivy League Digital Network. Subscribers to the network can watch games both live and On-Demand on their computers, tablets or smart phones, and will have access to live and On-Demand content for all Harvard events throughout the duration of their subscription.
Follow Harvard Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay connected with all the breaking news from around Cambridge and to get inside access to your favorite Crimson programs.
Ancient Eight Accolades
Two Crimson student-athletes have earned four Ivy League Player of the Week accolades thus far this season.
Christine Clark earned the honor after pacing the Crimson with 21.0 points per game for the week ending Nov. 18. Temi Fagbenle was tabbed player of the week three times in 2013-14, most recently for her efforts last weekend.
Clark now owns eight conference weekly honors for her career, which stands good for seventh in Ancient Eight history. After tying for the most Ivy Rookie of the Week honors a season ago, Fagbenle has been selected for best player over a seven-day stretch five times.
Better and Better
Through 26 games this season, 11 Crimson student-athletes have matched or bested their career highs in points and/or rebounds. The athletes include: Christine Clark (28 points), Erin McDonnell (19 points, 11 rebounds), Temi Fagbenle (31 points, 18 rebounds), Ali Curtis (16 points, 5 rebounds), AnnMarie Healy (17 points, 10 rebounds), Jasmine Evans (21 points, 13 rebounds), Melissa Mullins (12 rebounds), Shilpa Tummala (14 points), Kit Metoyer (17 points, 3 rebounds), Maggie Hartman (nine points), Taylor Finley (six points, 3 rebounds) and Kaitlyn Dinkins (3 points).
November Numbers
The Crimson was 6-1 in the month of November, setting a new program record for wins before December. Last season, Harvard won five of seven games, which had been a program best.
Winning January
Harvard did not lose in the month of January, posting a 4-0 record. The Crimson last accomplished that feat in 2002-03, recording a 4-0 mark in the first month of the year. Teams led by head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith have gone undefeated in January play four times.
Double Dip
The 60-41 win over Hofstra served as part of a doubleheader, as the men's team downed Vermont, 74-68. It marked the third-straight year Harvard has played a men's and women's doubleheader. Last year, the women defeated BYU (71-65) and the men downed Manhattan (79-45). Prior to 2011-12 the last time Harvard played a men's and women's doubleheader was January 5, 2008 when the women lost to Dartmouth, 52-47, before the men took down the Big Green, 82-56. Harvard owns a 5-1 record when playing at Lavietes in the same day.
You're in Good Hands
Junior captain Kaitlyn Dinkins was nominated for the 2014 Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams®. The award recognizes a select group of college basketball student-athletes who have made significant contributions to the greater good of their communities through volunteerism and civic service.
Dinkins has become very involved with Athletes in Action at Harvard, co-leading the group this year. Last year, the Atlanta, Ga., product was a member of the Servant team, an organization that plans events and leads a weekly, freshmen bible study.
Head of the Class
The Crimson sits atop many Ivy League categories, both as a team and individually. As a unit, Harvard holds the No. 1 spot in rebounding offense (43.4), offensive rebounding percentage (40.0) and overall winning percentage. Individually, Christine Clark ranks first in scoring (16.9) and Temi Fagbenle ranks first in rebounding (9.5) and defensive rebounds (6.7).
Sturdy Sophomores
After averaging a combined 1.63 points per game in 4.6 minutes a game, the sophomore class seems to have found its stride in 2013-14. AnnMarie Healy (17), Kit Metoyer (17) and Shilpa Tummala (14) have all bested their career highs in points and are contributing 12.2 points per game as a class.
Non-Conference Nonsense
The Crimson won 10 of its 14 non-conference matches this season, signaling the third-best nonconference record under head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith and fifth-best all-time. Harvard has earned 11 out-of-league victories twice under Delaney-Smith, turning in an 11-3 record in 1997-98 and going 11-4 in 1985-86. The 1976-77 squad owns the program record for non-conference wins at 13-4, while the 1978-79 Crimson went 12-9 away from the Ivy League.
Harvard has posted at least eight non-conference wins in six-straight seasons.
Road Tripping
Harvard sits at 9-4 in true road games and 12-5 overall when playing outside Lavietes Pavilion. The Crimson has posted winning records away from home over the last three seasons. Last year, Harvard was 10-7 in true road games, the most road victories for the Crimson since 2008-09.
• Harvard won 21-straight contests at Lavietes Pavilion from March 2, 2012 through Feb. 15, 2014.
• Christine Clark has scored 10-plus points over the last 14 games. Temi Fagbenle has registered double-digits in each of the last five contests.
• Kathy Delaney-Smith has used the same starters – Ali Curtis, Christine Clark, Temi Fagbenle, Melissa Mullins and Erin McDonnell – in 23 games this season and in 15-straight.
• Harvard's 21 wins last season were the most since winning 22 in 2001-02 and 2002-03.
• The Crimson sits at 16-3 when leading at the half.
• Harvard sits at 8-0 when allowing 59 points or fewer.
• When scoring 80-plus points, the Crimson is 7-0 this season.
Boards on Boards
Temi Fagbenle, averaging a conference-best 9.5 boards a game, has pulled down 10-plus rebounds in 13 games this season. Fagbenle has paced the Crimson in boards in 13 of the last 20 games.
Owning the Boards
Senior Melissa Mullins has paced the Crimson in rebounding in eight games this season, ranking fifth in the Ivy League with 6.5 boards per game. The swing player has grabbed 10-plus boards four times. Harvard has had a player pull down 10-plus boards in 15 games and two players tally double-digit rebounds in five contests.
Cleaning the Glass
As a team, the Crimson has outrebounded its opponent 21 times this year. Harvard owns a 17-4 mark when controlling the glass.
Opening Act
Harvard is 19-21 all-time in season openers and 16-16 under head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith. The Crimson has lost three straight season openers, including a 99-75 defeat at DePaul this year.
In 40 seasons of Ivy League play, Harvard is 23-17 in conference openers and 20-12 under head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith.
Home Court Advantage
The Harvard men's and women's basketball teams have combined for a 108-14 record at home in Lavietes Pavilion since 2009-10 while going 58-10 against the Ivy League. The Crimson women are 48-9 (.867) overall and 27-6 (.862) in conference while the men hold a 60-5 (.923) overall record and are 31-4 (.886) against the Ancient Eight. The women had won 21-straight, the second-longest streak in program history (22 games) from Feb. 11, 2012 through Feb. 15, 2014. The men's team's run of dominance includes a program record 28-game home win streak that lasted more than two calendar years between Feb. 19, 2010 and Feb. 24, 2012.
Dating back to the start of 2011-12, the Crimson is 34-2 when holding opponents to less than 60 points and 51-12 when allowing fewer than 70 points.
Comeback Kids
The Crimson overcame a 15-point deficit to defeat Cornell Feb. 28, its largest comeback since Feb. 20, 2009 (defeated Princeton, 54-50, after trailing by 22). Harvard won four games a season ago when trailing at the half. The Crimson most recently overcame a 29-26 halftime deficit to earn a 64-51 victory over Columbia March 1.
The Crimson owned a 2-1 record in overtime games last season. Harvard did not play a single overtime game in 2011-12 and had not played multiple overtime games in the same season since 2009-10. The Crimson is 12-6 in overtime under head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith and is 13-6 all-time in overtime.
It's Up, and It's Good
Harvard has made at least one three-point field goal in 154 consecutive games dating back to 2008-09, the second-longest streak in program history. The record for consecutive games with at least one three-pointer stands at 172, a streak which began during the 1989-90 season and concluded in 1996-97.


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The 70th Cannes Film Festival is opening Wednesday under sunny Cote D'Azur skies, heavy security and widespread unease in the movie industry.
Security was greater than ever at the French festival, with stepped up efforts to restrict access and even an anti-drone system. France remains under a state of emergency since the November 2015 Paris attacks. This is also the first festival held since the nearby Nice attack last year that killed 86 people.
Festival organizers have said everything has been done to maintain a balance of safety and the celebratory atmosphere of the world's most prestigious film festival.
U.S. & World
This year's festival has its own anxieties. Television, virtual reality and Netflix are a larger presence than ever before in the program.
Arnaud Desplechin's "Ismael's Ghosts" will open the festival Wednesday.


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'Grey's Anatomy' Scoop: Will April Finally Lose Her Virginity Tonight?
April herself, Sarah Drew, gives HollywoodLife.com the scoop on the shocking hookup.
The April 26 episode of Grey's Anatomy finds every character on high-alert — the residents are finally taking their board exams after eight years — but no one goes off the rails quite like April (Sarah Drew), who manages to punch a guy, yell at Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and hop into bed with Jackson (Jesse Williams) all in the course of the hour. But will bedding Jackson mean April will finally lose her virginity?
"They definitely hook up, but I cannot reveal whether she loses her virginity," Sarah tells HollywoodLife.com. "She gets a little action, for sure, they both do. But I think she's just super high on adrenaline, and she knows Jackson is her best friend and she's safe with him. She's like, 'I don't know what to do with myself, so I'm just going to make out with you.'"
But April's no-pants party with Jackson is merely one of the many "out-of-character" moves we'll see her make tonight.
"We'll see all the residents reacting to the stress and anxiety of their boards in all kinds of different ways," Sarah says. "April's is particularly fun and out of character for her. She's kind of jumping out of her skin, so it takes on that kind of flavor where she actually punches a guy in the face. And that leads to some other stuff that happens throughout this week's episode.
And April's not alone! It sounds like the whole Seattle Grace gang bought tickets for the crazy train.
"Cristina [Sandra Oh] becomes super-focused on succeeding and crushing her boards," Sarah says. "She focuses all her energy on her career because her personal life is in such chaos. Meredith also has something crazy happen to her that distracts her. And then there's Karev [Justin Chambers], who's torn between what's happening with little baby Tommy and also succeeding with his boards. Everyone has their own drama they're dealing with as they walk into the most stressful moments of their eight-year residency."
Sounds intense!
Watch the doctors — especially April — freaking out in a clip from tonight's episode below:


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A joint lawsuit filed in Tokyo this week offers a glimmer of hope that those responsible for the Fukushima disaster might finally face justice…
The 1,415 plaintiffs, including 38 Fukushima residents and 357 people from outsideJapan, said the manufacturers - Toshiba, GE and Hitachi - failed to make needed safety improvements to the four decade-old reactors at the Fukushima plant. They are seeking compensation of 100 yen ($1) each, saying their main goal is to raise awareness of the problem.
This is something Greenpeace has been demanding for a long time – that the companies that designed, supplied and built the reactors that melted down after the Japan's 2011 catastrophic earthquake and tsunami be held responsible.
Almost three years after the Fukushima disaster began the costs are proving to be enormous. Yet, General Electric, Toshiba and Hitachi have walked away without paying a cent towards the compensation for the many thousands of victims or the enormous cost of decontaminating the radioactivity spewed from their reactors.
The Fukushima disaster has shown us the shameful defects and human failures in a system that only requires nuclear reactor operators to pay a fraction of the costs of a disaster and doesn't require the suppliers of reactors to pay anything.
The nuclear liability system in Japan must be reformed to make nuclear operators and suppliers fully responsible for their failures.
And this could happen again anywhere in the world since the nuclear industry offers little or no help for its failures. For far too long, the nuclear industry has profited while the people pay.
(Check out our report - Fukushima Fallout: Nuclear business makes people pay and suffer – which shows how the nuclear sector evades responsibility for its failures.)
Three years of struggle is three years too many for the 150,000 Fukushima evacuees. They remain in limbo without adequate compensation and many trapped in temporary accommodation that is deteriorating.
They must be properly compensated and the companies responsible for the accident held accountable. We must get down to the inevitable job of phasing out nuclear power in favour of renewable energy, both in Japan and across the world.
Greenpeace wishes the plaintiffs in the Toshiba/GE/Hitachi lawsuit the very best of luck.
(Image: Fukushima Anniversary Protest in Tokyo. Greenpeace activists wearing "nuclear scream" masks and holding a banner with the text "They profit, you pay" next to the logos of nuclear companies Hitachi, GE and Toshiba, demonstrate in front of the Japanese parliament. © 03/07/2013 Noriko Hayashi / Greenpeace)


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Flexible Stainless-Steel Slotted Spatula
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- Summary
Ideal for turning foods without breaking them, this steel spatula has a slotted head that glides under delicate foods like potato latkes and fish fillets.
- 3"-wide steel head has a beveled edge that slips easily under foods for easy flipping and transfer.
- Flexible slotted design ensures that foods won't break.
- Dishwasher safe.
- Dimensions & More Info
- 3" wide, 11" long.
- Made in USA.
- Use & Care
- Dishwasher safe.
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Shipping Information
UPS can deliver most in-stock items within 3–5 business days. UPS is unable to deliver to P.O. boxes.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Next Day Delivery
For an additional charge of $26 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners and knife storage), please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
Made to Order and Final Sale Furniture items are non-returnable and cannot be cancelled once the order is placed.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.
Rated 2 out of 5 by kfpeters from Poorly Manufactured I returned this spatula because at the bottom of the slots were sharp points (they are not apparent in the product photos). I assume these were the result of the manufacturing process because all of them in the store had them, but for this price there needs to be better quality control.Date published: 2018-12-21Rated 5 out of 5 by Gee01 from Great for frying fish I have my mom's old spatula and this is easier to flip fish. Can't wait to use it for other cooking.Date published: 2016-08-01Rated 5 out of 5 by Linecookbabe from Fantastic Product!! I work as a line cook and I use this spatula everyday. Works beautifully for fish, but I also use it for scallops, taking cookies off hot trays, and really anything that is solid but too soft for tongs. Thin, comfortable handle fits nicely in my hand and is very durable. I would not recommend resting on the stove however. Great buy! Totally worth it.Date published: 2015-05-04Rated 4 out of 5 by WyoWindblown from Not just for fish Disclaimer: I've never used this spatula for fish. I have, however, used it for delicate baked goods with great success. It seemed totally unnecessary to buy yet a fourth type of spatula, but now I'm sold. Thin, crispy cookies do not disintegrate with this sharp-edged, thin and flexible spatula. After using it, my old standard spatulas feel large and clumsy.Date published: 2014-01-15Rated 5 out of 5 by WindyMS from Great tool! This spatula does exactly what I bought it to do. It has multiple uses, just as I expected it would. Love it!Date published: 2013-08-15Rated 4 out of 5 by TuanCanCook from Recommended with reservations Well made, nice weight, the metal spatula portion is good quality but the handle is made of a hard plastic. The handle will melt if you place it against your skillet. Learned this the hard way the first time I used it. Just be aware of this. Otherwise I like this spatula.Date published: 2013-04-12Rated 5 out of 5 by flautatejana from Excellent for Fish and Everything Else I was lucky enough to get this from Williams-Sonoma about three years ago. I have been pleasantly surprised at the great flexibility and multiple uses for this spatula. Love it!Date published: 2013-02-24Rated 5 out of 5 by Mfphotographer from Versatile item I like this so much, I have several. It is great as a spatula, but also good for stirring items in the mixing bowl.Date published: 2013-01-22


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Public Transportation: Lifeline for Older Adults in Rural America
By Jana Lynott , April 18, 2013 01:29 PM
My AARP colleagues in Nebraska recently joined efforts to improve the delivery of transportation services in that state after an AARP volunteer spoke about his frustration trying to take his wife to an evening picnic sponsored by the local Alzheimer's Association support group.
His wife was a nursing home resident who needed to use a wheelchair, but none of the three specialized transportation providers in her area could accommodate her travel requirements. Her nursing home offered only medical transportation. Aging Services closed operations after 5 pm, and the taxicab company did not own any wheelchair accessible vehicles.
See also: Poll- Aging U.S. In Denial About Long-Term Care Need
This is not an uncommon experience. Too often transportation service is unavailable in communities across America. And where it does exist, it may still fail to meet the needs of a growing population of older adults. Insufficient funding, eligibility limitations, and poor coordination among service providers in the community all hinder access.
More than 8 million adults aged 65+ do not drive , an increase of more than 1 million between 2001 and 2009. While friends and family are a mobility lifeline for this population, public transportation services also are essential. Among older non-drivers, 60% of their public transportation trips are in specialized transportation vehicles, such as the senior shuttle or dial-a-ride bus. The need is particularly acute in rural states.
A recent report by the AARP Public Policy Institute illustrates how an entrepreneurial approach to revenue generation, the ability to manage dozens of grants simultaneously, a commitment to coordination, and a passion for serving one's community, have enabled specialized transportation providers to deliver high-quality service in some communities. As Ron Baumgart, Executive Director of River Cities Public Transit of Pierre, South Dakota, notes,
"The public sector is stretched thin at all levels of government, and operators must adapt by reaching out and forming new partnerships within the community. In today's environment, those systems that attempt to rely solely on a major federal grant in combination with local general fund match support will not be able to grow."
In another rural state, AARP has prioritized work on transportation. Last summer our state office in South Dakota hosted AARP's National Policy Council to examine how the coordination and delivery of transportation services could be strengthened. The goal now is to work with partners across South Dakota to build a statewide customer information and dispatch center to enable residents to receive a ride at any time, for any need with just a click or a single call.
Meeting the growing demand for specialized transportation will not be easy. It will require increased funding from all levels of government, as well as the private sector, creativity and entrepreneurial zeal on the part of providers, and commitment on the part of local players to ensure their services are coordinated.
Also of Interest
- An Evacuation Plan at Your Parent's Nursing Home: 9 Questions to Ask
- Jonathan Winters: His 5 Most Memorable Characters
- Join AARP: Savings, resources and news for your well-being
See the AARP home page for deals, savings tips, trivia and more


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PacificPetals needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 543 designs submitted by 88 freelance designers.
Pacific Petals
We are an Asia-based startup company that delivers stylish fresh flower arrangements to our customers' homes and offices on a regular subscription basis.
Located in an urban jungle, we strive to bring some nature into people's lives in a convenient and affordable way. Our flowers come pre-arranged and pre-sized to fit into our vases so all customers need to do to replace their flowers is take out the old flowers, put in the new ones and add water. We do not need an expensive shopfront and can pass on our cost savings to customers, making it affordable enough to enjoy flowers every day.
Our style is simple and contemporary, with arrangements involving a single type of flower or one color block (see jpeg file).
Our international team has extensive commercial and creative experience, and we are focused on building this into a successful business - i.e. we are not a mom-and-pop operation.
Our website will be our main sales channel. If we like your work, we may also ask you to design our website.
Consumer business: Our customers are affluent and well-educated. They are either women (working professionals or stay-at-home-moms aged 25-50) buying for their home or office, or men (urban professionals aged 35+) buying a gift for their significant other. Our customers usually live in upscale residential districts, have a taste for luxury goods, and are interested in fashion and home decor (women), and luxury cars and watches (men).
Corporate business: The purchaser is usually the office manager or general manager, i.e. a professional audience.
We are looking for a logo to represent our subscription-based flower company, Pacific Petals. The logo should reflect the following attributes:
- Contemporary
- Fresh
- Stylish
The logo must be clear, unique, memorable, and transferable to all types of media and physical products (website, business cards, flyers, paper bags, cardboard boxes, embroidered aprons).
Icon - Icon should be bold, instantly recognizable, and able to stand on its own without the name Pacific Petals.
Name - Font should be clear and easily legible.
Color - No color preference, although the color should be vibrant. We would like the color to be one that people associate with our brand. For example, Tiffany's robin's egg blue is instantly recognizable.
The files we will require are:
Print file format - .ai (CMYK)
Web file format - .jpg and layered .psd (RGB)
Please do not use any stock images or clip art in the logo.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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An effort by deep-pocketed philanthropists to save the bankrupt city of Detroit's art treasures began with a chance meeting last year and nears a culmination today when Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder authorizes millions of dollars in state help.
However, all parties excited about the bill signing know that work could be for naught if the city's pensioners and workers, who are nearing a deadline for a historic vote on Detroit's plan to get out of bankruptcy, reject what has been dubbed "the grand bargain."
"It is really not in our hands," said Rip Rapson, president of the Kresge Foundation, which has pledged $100 million toward the plan. "We fully understand that the pensioners have to make very hard decisions as to whether this is something they can support."
The state's contribution of $195 million, along with $366 million from foundations and a $100 million pledge from the Detroit Institute of Arts, would replace hundreds of millions of dollars being cut from retiree pensions, while stopping bond insurers and other creditors from forcing the sell-off of city-owned art such as Van Gogh's "Self Portrait." The money would come over 20 years, placing the value at about $816 million.
As part of the deal, the artwork will go into a charitable trust.
Retirees and city workers have until July 11 to vote on the proposal, which is included in state-appointed emergency manager Kevyn Orr's plan for Detroit's restructuring. The city filed for the largest municipal bankruptcy in history last summer, and a trial on the restructuring is set for August. Orr has said he hopes to have Detroit out of bankruptcy by the end of this summer.
In May, Orr said early ballots showed workers and retirees supporting the plan by about 2-to-1. His spokesman, Bill Nowling, said Thursday that they cannot release detailed numbers, but "are encouraged by the voting activity."
Retiree Mary Highgate, who plans to return her ballot July 1, believes Orr's plan will proceed regardless of the vote result. "Everybody I know is voting 'no' because we don't trust them," said Highgate, 69. "I'm voting No! No! No!"
The financial contributions from the foundations, state and museum also mean little to her because Highgate doubts that concern for retirees is the true motivation. "All they care about is the art," she said. "Do you really think they care about the little people? Have they ever?"
The philanthropic support may never have played into the proceedings if Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan President Mariam Noland had not bumped into Detroit federal Judge Gerald Rosen last year at a downtown deli.
Rosen, appointed by bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes to head mediation efforts, told Noland about his task.
"And she said, probably as a throwaway line, 'Let me know if there's anything we can do to help,'" Rosen said.
Rosen said he gave Noland details of his plan. "Within three weeks we had 13 foundation leaders," he said.
The group included Kresge, the Kellogg Foundation and the New York-based Ford Foundation, which pledged $125 million.
"Serendipity was in our favor," Ford Foundation President Darren Walker said. "This is unprecedented in the history of American philanthropy that this number of major institutions would be galvanized to help solve the challenges of a once-great American city."
By comparison, foundations gave $550 million — nationally — between 2008 and 2012 to programs and causes related to America's economic crisis, said Lawrence T. McGill, vice president for research at the New York-based Foundation Center, which oversees philanthropy research.
"It's hugely significant and different from the kind of giving we usually see on a kind of one-time basis," McGill said. "Foundations have missions and they stick to their missions."
The overall well-being of the city could not be dismissed, Rapson said. "Whatever we could do to support the speedy resolution of the bankruptcy we needed to take seriously," he said.
For the Skillman Foundation, whose mission is to improve lives of Detroit's children and families, a deal billed as protecting art and pensions couldn't be justified as a compelling investment — initially. Bankruptcy mediators later approached Skillman with a new proposal. Now, Skillman's $3.5 million contribution spread over 20 years would help soften cuts to health care for the 7,372 retirees living in the city.
"Detroit and its retirees suffer from the same kind of urban ills that other major cities suffer from: retirees raising their own children, grandchildren and, in some cases, great-grandchildren," said Tonya Allen, Skillman's chief executive. "We made a contribution that would help families support their children."


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UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Thursday it would investigate Syria's allegations that rebel forces used chemical weapons in an attack near Aleppo, but Western countries sought a probe of all claims concerning the use of such banned arms.
"I have decided to conduct a United Nations investigation into the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The investigation will focus on "the specific incident brought to my attention by the Syrian government," he told reporters.
Syria asked Ban to investigate an alleged chemical weapons attack by "terrorist groups" near the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday, said Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari.
The deaths of 26 people in that rocket attack became the focus of competing claims on Wednesday from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's supporters and opponents, who accuse each other of firing a missile laden with chemicals.
The Syrian opposition reported a second chemical weapons attack on Tuesday near Damascus.
Ban made clear the focus of the investigation he announced would be on the Aleppo attack.
"I am of course aware that there are other allegations of similar cases involving the reported use of chemical weapons," he said, adding the United Nations would be cooperating with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the World Health Organization.
"My announcement should serve as an unequivocal reminder that the use of chemical weapons is a crime against humanity," Ban said.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said Washington wanted any serious allegations regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria to be investigated.
"The United States supports an investigation that pursues any and all credible allegations of the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, and underscores the importance of launching this investigation as swiftly as possible," Rice said in a statement.
France and Britain wrote to Ban on Thursday to draw his attention to the second alleged attack near Damascus, as well as one in Homs in late December. The rebels blame Syria's government for all three incidents
"Given the gravity of these allegations we judge it essential that all the pertinent facts concerning these allegations are swiftly investigated," France and Britain wrote. "We therefore request that you launch an urgent investigation into all allegations as expeditiously as possible."
U.S. and European officials say there is no evidence of a chemical weapons attack. If one is confirmed, it would be the first use of such weapons in the two-year Syrian conflict, which the United Nations says has killed 70,000 people.
A U.S. official went so far as to say that it increasingly appeared a chemical weapon was not used in Syria this week, although U.S. intelligence agencies have not yet reached a final conclusion.
U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said Ban was reviewing the British and French request. It was not immediately clear whether the Syrian government's permission would be required to broaden the investigation to include all three alleged attacks. One U.N. diplomat said Assad's government would have to consent to it.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on Wednesday the British and French demand for an investigation into other attacks was an attempt to delay the U.N. probe of the Aleppo incident. He praised Ban's decision to begin an investigation.
The dispute over the scope of the U.N. investigation highlights the chasm between Russia's position toward the Syrian government, its ally, and that of the Western powers that support the opposition trying to oust Assad. The deadlock on the council has left it powerless to act on Syria.
Syria is not a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international treaty that bans chemical weapons. For months, the United States, Israel and European countries have voiced concerns about the security of Syria's chemical arms stockpile.
Israel, Myanmar, Angola, Egypt, North Korea, Somalia and South Sudan are the only other states that have not joined the 1997 convention.
This is the first time the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which oversees the convention, has been asked to investigate in a conflict zone. A team of inspectors is ready to travel to Syria when it is safe to do so.
The World Health Organization said it would support the investigation as requested by Ban. "The overall mandate, mission composition and operational conditions, including safety and security, have yet to be finalized. No start date has been set," said WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl.
Ban urged the Syrian government and rebels to cooperate.
"There is much work to do and this will not happen overnight, it is obviously a difficult mission," Ban said, adding the probe would begin as soon as possible.
Additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch in Amsterdam, Stephanie Ulmer-Nebehay in Geneva, and Tabassum Zakaria and Phil Stewart in Washington; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Peter Cooney


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Got Questions?
Our Online Tax Team is ready to help! Chat Live Now
The taxback.com Japanese pension calculator is a handy online tool that can quickly tell you what you're owed. It features easy-to-use screens and is free to use. Simply enter some figures and let our clever little pension calculator do the rest.
Once you've got your pension refund estimation, you can decide if you want us to go ahead and apply for it for you. Our Japanese Pension Refund Team will be on standby to fill out all the necessary paperwork so you get your money back as quickly as possible.


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The Work and Families Act 2006, the Employment Rights Act 1996 and the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 give employed carers the right to request flexible working, such as changing hours or working from home. Where possible, flexible working can be arranged to maintain your normal income.
Requesting flexible working
To be eligible for flexible working, the person making the request must be caring for:
- their husband, wife, partner or civil partner
- a child under 17, or, if they receive Disability Living Allowance, a child under 18
- a near relative – this includes parents, parents-in-law, adult children, adopted adult children, siblings, brothers- and sisters-in-law, uncles, aunts, grandparents, step-relatives or someone who lives at the same address as the carer (excluding tenants, lodgers and employees).
Eligible carers who have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks can apply to make a permanent or temporary change to their terms and conditions. Under this legislation, they can only make one request a year. However, more requests could be made outside of the legislation. An employer can refuse a request, but must give good reasons for doing so. If this happens, an employee can appeal the decision.
The right to request flexible working could make the difference between a carer leaving or staying at work.
Flexible working arrangements
Flexible working arrangements can make it easier for you to carry on working at the same time as caring for your relative or dependant. These arrangements could include:
- working from home
- flexible starting or finishing times
- compressed working hours (where you work your normal number of hours in a shorter time, for example fitting a five-day working week into four days)
- annualised working hours (this is where the amount of hours you are contracted for per month or year are worked in a flexible way)
- job-sharing or working part-time
- flexible holidays to fit in with alternative care arrangements.


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Tree training: Become an arboreal activist!
"I wish I was a despot that I might save the noble, beautiful trees that are daily falling sacrifice to the cupidity of their owners... The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder."
As these words and the 160 native and exotic species he planted and preserved at Monticello suggest, Thomas Jefferson was a passionate advocate for the rights of trees.
We can all be thankful that the trees of Monticello and the surrounding Thomas Jefferson Parkway and Arboretum are out of harm's way-– for now. But what about their more vulnerable cousins at Pantops, near Route 29, or anywhere where (sub)urban sprawl and neglect are real and deadly threats?
Finally, those who wish to follow in Jefferson's preservation-conscious footsteps have a chance to address the plight of trees in and around Charlottesville, thanks to a brand new Tree Steward Training Course being offered at the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and co-sponsored by the Piedmont Center for Horticulture, Trees Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Forestry. Tree stewards are specially trained volunteers dedicated to the preservation and protection of trees, parks, and all public spaces in towns or cityscapes.
The course, coordinated by VCE Master Gardener Peter Warren, consists of 12 separate sessions from January 14-March 22. Classes, taught by a distinguished and varied faculty, range from "Biology, Anatomy, Life Functions" to "Diagnosing Health Problems" and "Construction Damage, Vandalism, and Invasive Plantings."
In addition to supporting the work of urban forestry, stewards also work with local neighborhoods on improvement and conservation projects. "I believe all neighborhoods in Charlottesville could benefit from tree steward volunteers," says Warren, "The idea is that we educate these volunteers and in return they do volunteer work in their home communities as educators or project leaders through their neighborhood associations."
What about those who cannot fit the course into their schedules, but still wish to increase arboreal awareness? Events such as VCE's Master Gardener Classes (next class begins in January), the Piedmont Landscape Association's Annual Seminar (February 13), the Piedmont Center for Horticulture's Newsletter and Fall Garden Fair, the Tree course at PVCC taught by Ian Robertson, and Peter Hatch's Tree Walk at Monticello are just a few ways to get involved in Charlottesville's active horticultural community.
Warren also reminds us that the VCE provides free information on trees and many other topics every day. "I would ask the general public to be educated consumers," he urges, "We will provide the answers if they will provide the questions."
Why not start 2003 by saving a tree– or two, or three?
The Tree Steward Training Course takes place in 12 sessions from January 14-March 22. All sessions will be held at the Virginia Cooperative Extension Albemarle Office at 168 Spotnap Road in Charlottesville, most on Tuesdays between 9am-noon. Because of its hands-on nature, the program is limited to 25 participants. $25 registration fee. For more information and to register, contact program coordinator Peter Warren at 984-0727 or email@example.com.


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Install Microsoft SQL Server Express and myLittleAdmin with Plesk
Your server running Plesk offers built-in tools to install both SQL Express, as well as myLittleAdmin.
- SQL Express is Microsoft's free version of SQL.
- myLittleAdmin is a web interface that lets you interact with the databases you create through SQL Express.
Install SQL Express and myLittleAdmin
- Log in to Plesk.
- Go to the Server tab.
- In the Plesk section, click Updates and Upgrades.
- Click Add/Remove Components.
- (Optional) Select that you want to install myLittleAdmin.
- Select the version of MSSQL you want to use.
- Click Continue.
After installing SQL Express, you can create databases by going to the Database tab.
If you installed myLittleAdmin, you'll want to make sure it's set as the default admin panel for MSSQL.
Set myLittleAdmin as the Default Admin Panel
- Go to the Server tab.
- In the Server Management section, click Server Components.
- Next to Microsoft SQL Webadmin, your default admin panel displays.
If myLittleAdmin displays, you're done!
If any other value displays continue to the next step.
- Click Microsoft SQL Webadmin.
- In the Microsoft SQL Webadmin section, select myLittleAdmin, and then click OK.
You can access myLittleAdmin by going to the Databases tab, and then clicking Webadmin next to the database you want to use.


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Home to some of the most spectacular wildlife and rustic camps, Kenya offers a classic East African safari experience that always takes our breath away.
Begin your journey with Africa Sky
Africa and its outstanding wildlife is our passion. That's why you know your tailor-made safari will be incredible. Luxury lodges and camps or nights under the stars. Being out in the wild or relaxing in a sundowner bar. Guided by Masai trackers or travelling by 4x4. Inspired by real experience and created from authentic insights.
Talk to our experts and we'll create your bespoke adventure. 01342 547 004
Start exploring, with inspiration from our safari experts...
An unforgettable experience where no journey is ever the same, a balloon safari is one of our favourite ways to see Africa from a new, unique angle.
Your first safari will be a life-changing experience, and it's a feeling we wish we could relive over and over again.
Often described as a world in one country, South Africa's diverse landscapes of desert, forest, beach and savannah offer the ideal sceneries for a first-time safari.
Though well-known for the incredible Serengeti wildebeest migration, we think the unique geological wonders and abundance of wildlife in Tanzania paint an even bigger picture of extraordinary...
Spotting elephants on your safari is simply spectacular. Large and majestic, they are a joy to watch meander past your safari vehicle or drink from a waterhole next to your lodge.
A walking safari is a life-changing way to make a true connection to Africa's wilderness. Seeing this unspoilt world on foot is an experience that never ceases to amaze us.
Uganda's phenomenal sceneries always leave us in awe, and the life-changing experience of meeting magnificent wild gorillas makes this verdant country even more enchanting.
Home to the largest population of elephants in Africa, Chobe National Park is our favourite place to travel alongside these magnificent giants.
Masai Mara is certainly well known for a reason - it's sweeping plains abundant in big cats will never cease to amaze us.
Untamed landscapes and adrenaline-fuelled activities make Zimbabwe one of the most exciting areas to visit, and is home to some of the friendliest and knowledgeable guides in Africa.
Watching the incredible Serengeti wildebeest migration should be on everyone's list, though Serengeti's abundance of wildlife is brilliant all year round.
Rhinos are truly great animals that take your breath away. There are five living species of rhinoceros and the black rhino and white rhino can be found in Africa.
Zambia's intimate settings abundant in incredible wildlife and verdant floodplains always have us coming back for more. You won't want to miss the chance to see this unspoilt wilderness.
Gorilla trekking never fails to take our breath away, and we can't wait to share this life-changing moment with you.
Deviating from the classic African landscapes, Namibia is an eerily beautiful sight to behold, and is full of extraordinary experiences perfect for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
A safari is the ultimate family holiday, and the incredible feeling of seeing magnificent wild animals is something we feel the whole family should experience together.
Brimming with hidden gems and the better-known pleasure of seeing magnificent wild gorillas, Rwanda paints an incredibly verdant backdrop of unspoilt wilderness that is full of extraordinary...
Home to the big five, private reserves, and some of the best game drives we've ever encountered, Greater Kruger has everything you need for a traditional African safari.
Top tips and everything you need to know when planning your safari, including the best ways to travel around, visa and health information.
From watching majestic male lion prowling their territory, to spotting a leopard about to pounce on its prey, a big cat safari is one of our most thrilling activities.
An unspoilt wilderness full of verdant wetlands, barren deserts and shimmering salt pans, Botswana is rich in diversity and home to some of our most indulgent lodges.
Lions can be spotted on most safaris and we're very confident that you will get very close to this graceful animal.


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mantis178 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 46 designs submitted by 14 freelance designers.
The logo should be recognizable to the fact that it works from a thumb drive, jump drive, usb drive, etc.
Personal. Portable. Practical.
Desired Color Scheme:
Open to ideas.
Desired Style:
Something that would fit in the "Web 2.0" style.
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
The logo should contain the word GradeDrive (all one word, caps are not required if there is a different way to distingish the words). There will be a tag line of about four words that is still being worked on. The logo should not lose detail when converted to black and white but should have enough color in the standard format.
The theme of the logo should be grade school. Think about items you would find in a grade school classroom and how this product would fit into those items.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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I am eavesdropping on a young married couple during church. When the young woman asks her newly acquired husband, "Don't you think it is time we start a family?" She crinkles her nose and bats her eyelashes. My first thought was, "Here? Now?"
But, I get a hold of myself and then a sudden nostalgia hits me and I remember back many years ago when my too kind and loving wife asked me that question.
"Don't you think it is time we start a family?"
This isn't like the "Would you like fries with that?" question. It is more like a "Did Adam have a belly button?" question. This is an important question! But my too kind and loving wife asks questions like this all the time.
In fact, my wife asks too many questions. "Don't you think the grass needs mowed?" "Would you like to help with the dishes?" "Can we just cuddle?"
Do women read these questions at the checkout line while flipping through magazines? "No, the grass doesn't need mowed." "No, I don't want to help with the dishes."
What does she think I am going to say? "You know, I would really love it if we could just cuddle tonight. I am so tired."
For heck sakes, I could have just run the Newspapers Rock 10K and had major surgery and the answer to that question is still, "No I don't want to just cuddle."
So when she asked "Don't you think it is time to start a family?" I felt like I was pretty safe, mostly because I was young and stupid like the guy sitting on the pew in front of me. I mean, who really thinks of starting a family?
Gosh of all the things I have started; starting a family certainly sounded like the least threatening or difficult. I mean up to that point in time I had started all kinds of things I never finished. I started homework, I started a new diet, I started writing in my journal, I started voting, and I even started saving money one time.
I never finished any of them, so why worry about such a little thing as starting a family?
Besides what am I supposed to say when she says, "Don't you think it is time to start a family?" and she is wearing a cute little Teddy or crinkles her nose at me.
I was 21 years old and had no rational brain cells in my entire body. What I mean by rational brain cells are brain cells that think of long term consequences. Up to that point in my life, my idea of long term was how long was Chinese food good for?
Besides, asking me if I want to start a family while dressed in a Teddy and batting her eyelashes at me is like Mrs. Praying Mantis asking Mr. Praying Mantis, "Don't you think it is time to start a family?"
Of course he knows what is going to happen. Mrs. Praying Mantis is going to eat Mr. Praying Mantis for dinner with a salad and chilled red wine. But of course, he says, "Sure. Good idea."
So when my too kind and loving wife asked me years ago, "Don't you think it is time to start a family?" Of course I said, "Sure. Great idea."
Pathetic creature that I am. How was I to know there was fine print to the contract and I would never have money again and that babies turned into teenagers?
Oh sure, for the first ten years, my wife knew all about the children. She knew about dentist appointments, soccer games, romances, best friends, favorite foods, underwear sizes, and secret fears and hopes and dreams... I was vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
So there is the poor guy sitting in the pew in front of me trying to answer the question his lovely bride had just propositioned him with, "Don't you think it is time we start a family?"
He looks a little confused and answers, "Here? Now?"
I want to slap him upside the head and scream, "No not here and now. It's a trick. Go back. Don't do it. They become teenagers and they need braces and prom dresses, and they will wreck your car, and then they go away to college and you have to borrow from your 401K."
He didn't listen. I chuckle and think, "This isn't Chinese food, man; pay attention or you'll be driving a mini-van in less time than it takes for someone to offer the closing prayer."


text:
The 30 grand 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT was sent packing to Booth Number Two by the voice of the mob, but what will the voters make of this 1979 Dodge Shag Van?
What we've got here is an original, 32,000-mile, modified-back-in-the-day 1979 Dodge van with all the right custom features. Let's run down the list: Shag carpeting on every possible surface? Check! Airbrush mural featuring science-fiction interplanetary landscapes? Check! La-Z-Boy chair? Check! Stereo with dual analog equalizers and 23-channel CB radio? Check, check, checkmate! It goes without saying that you'd need to have every Foghat 8-track every released if you owned this van… but you might have a tough time fitting all those tapes into your budget, because this fine machine ain't exactly what you'd call cheap: $15,000. That hurts, but you're going to have a tough time finding a time-capsule custom van in this kind of condition. Nice Price? Crack Pipe?
[Craigslist Dallas, go here if ad disappears. Thanks to Chris for the tip]


text:
|Seamount Catalog
The Seamount Catalog is a digital archive for bathymetric seamount maps that can be viewed and downloaded in various formats. This catalog contains morphological data, sample information, related grid and multibeam data files, as well as user-contributed files that all can be downloaded. Currently this catalog contains more than 1,800 seamounts from all the oceans.


text:
LITTLE ROCK — Unable to garner support from the Legislature this year, proponents of increasing the state minimum wage are hoping for a better response from the voting public in 2014.
LITTLE ROCK — Unable to garner support from the Legislature this year, proponents of increasing the state minimum wage are hoping for a better response from the voting public in 2014.
A group called Give Arkansas a Raise Now submitted a ballot proposal to state Attorney General Dustin McDaniel this month that would raise the state's minimum wage from $6.25 an hour to $8.50 an hour over a three-year period.
If the attorney general certifies the proposed initiated act's name and title — a decision is expected this week — the proposal would join five others that have already been cleared by McDaniel's office for supporters to begin gathering enough signatures of registered voters to qualify the measures for the November general election ballot.
Two of the other proposals would legalize marijuana for medical use, two would allow same-sex marriage in the state, and one would extend from two to four years the terms of county elected officials.
"We feel like it's time for (the minimum wage) increase so folks who are working hard, playing by the rules, can actually make their ends meet," said Stephen Copley, chairman of Give Arkansas a Raise Now, which includes Arkansas AFL-CIO President Alan Hughes and Dale Charles, president of the Arkansas chapter of the NAACP.
Under the proposal, the state minimum wage would rise to $7.50 an hour on Jan. 1, 2015, to $8 an hour on Jan. 1, 2016, and to $8.50 on Jan. 1, 2017.
Arkansas is one of four states with a minimum wage below the federal minimum of $7.25. The federal wage has to be paid except when the employing business makes less than $500,000 annually, according to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Waiters or others working in a profession where tips are common would still have to make a minimum of $3.62 an hour.
The current $6.25 an hour state rate equals $13,000 a year. Copley said bringing the state minimum wage in line with the federal minimum wage is still "not enough for people to live on," noting at $7.25 an hour equals just less than $15,100 a year.
"With $100 a week for groceries — that's probably low — that's $5,200 a year, plus $300 a month for rent, that's $3,600 and that puts you at $8,800, which is halfway through your salary, and you just have bought food and paid rent," he said.
"We think if it is on the ballot, it will pass, and we think we can get it on the ballot," he said.
Arkansas last raised its minimum wage in 2006, from $5.15 to $6.25 an hour. That measure passed the Legislature with bipartisan support. Nineteen states have a minimum wage above the federal minimum wage.
In March, a House bill that would have raised the state's minimum wage to $8.25 an hour never made it to the House floor for a vote. It failed in the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee. It needed 11 votes and received six "yes" votes and 10 "no" votes in the 20-member committee.
The Arkansas Hospitality Association and the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce-Associated Industries of Arkansas opposed the higher minimum wage proposal, arguing it would harm small businesses.
Randy Zook, executive director and CEO of the state chamber, said last week he couldn't say if the chamber would oppose a proposed initiated act to raise the minimum wage because President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are pushing a raise in the federal minimum wage that could be considered before next November that would be higher than the one being proposed in Arkansas.
"The state minimum wage only applies to a very, very small segment of the employee base," he said. "The federal wage applies to almost all businesses, so we may or may not. I don't know if we'll take a position at all because the federal minimum wage is likely to be changed before that proposal gets voted on."
Zook said he has heard that the proposed new minimum wage would be anywhere from $9 an hour to $10 an hour.
"My guess it will end up somewhere close to $9," he said.
Ballot names and titles to three proposed initiated acts and two proposed constitutional amendments have already been certified by the attorney general. Supporters of the three initiated acts and one of the proposed constitutional amendments hope to get enough signatures by the July 7 deadline to qualify them for the Nov. 4 general election.
Proposed constitutional amendments need signatures of 78,133 registered voters to qualify while initiated acts need 62,506 signatures of registered Arkansas voters to qualify.
The Arkansas Initiative for Marriage Equality, which is sponsoring the Arkansas Marriage Amendment, intends for that measure to be considered by voters in 2016. The exact number of signatures required will not be known until after the 2014 general election since the threshold is 10 percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the most recent gubernatorial race.
The Arkansas Marriage Amendment would "recognize that a marriage is legally recognized as a union of two people regardless of whether the parties to the marriage are the same sex or different sex." Members of the clergy and religious organizations would be allowed to refuse to perform ceremonies or provide facilities under the proposed amendment.
The attorney general has also certified a companion proposed constitutional amendment that would repeal Amendment 83, which defines marriage as only between one man and one woman, banning gay marriage and civil unions in Arkansas. Supporters are currently gathering signatures to get that measure on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.
Jerry Cox, president of the Family Council, the organization that led the fight for Amendment 83 in 2004, has said his group intends to campaign against any effort to legalize same-sex marriage in Arkansas.
The Family Council also plans to oppose both proposals that would legalize marijuana for medical use, Cox said.
Both proposed initiated acts, which have already been certified by the attorney general, would legalize marijuana for medical use.
One, sponsored by Arkansans for Responsible Marijuana, would prohibit people from growing their own marijuana and require it to be purchased from a regulated dispensary. The other, sponsored by Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act, would allow caregivers for those people who live more than five miles from a dispensary to grow marijuana for up to five people, but under limited conditions and state regulations and licensing.
Arkansas voters in 2012 narrowly rejected a medical marijuana proposal.


text:
Protamine Sulfate Solution for injection
What is this medicine?
PROTAMINE (PROH tuh meen) is used to treat heparin overdose.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
an unusual or allergic reaction to protamine, fish, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is for slow infusion into a vein. It is usually given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply.
What may interact with this medicine?
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medicine.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
breathing problems
chest pain or tightness
feeling faint or lightheaded, falls
flushing or feeling of warmth
nausea, vomiting
unusual bleeding or bruising
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
gum bleeding or nosebleeds
unusual tiredness
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Where should I keep my medicine?
This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.
March 21, 2017
U.S. FDA-approved Package Insert


text: I am completing a frame on restoration of a 1980 R100. I am having trouble with the front brake free play. The front wheel turn with just a little drag, as does my 1984 R100. The master cylinder cable has what I believe is the correct free play, yet I have almost no free play at the lever. The only way I can accomplish free play at the lever is to loosen the cable to the mc too much, as in the cylinder at the end of the cable isn't even touching the master cylinder lever that pushes the plunger. The mc seems to be working right as fluids exiting and returning are evident when I take off the cap and look into the reservoir. Anybody have any ideas?


text:
When we cook a turkey, we use every bit of it, including the bones to make stock, which always have lots of juicy little 'bits' of meat on them. We freeze that stock with the meat 'bits' in quart containers to pull out later in the year to combine with pasta. To make this a fast supper does require some planning, so at some point during the week, I might pull one of the quarts out of the freezer to thaw in the refrigerator for several days in order to use quickly for some night's dinner when we are pressed for time or just plain tired.
I use locally-made Al Dente pasta (the whole wheat with flaxseed variety) that I purchase in our local grocery store, which requires only 3 minutes to cook. I bring the entire 1# bag to boil in a large pot for 1-1/2 minute, strain it through a colander, do a quick rinse with warm water, and then combine the partially cooked pasta with the quart of turkey broth and meat in the same large pot, and heat to finish cooking with the broth being absorbed. Making a meal of pasta and turkey with a steamed vegetable and salad is quick, easy, and delicious.
I added a large amount (about 4 cups) of coarsely chopped kale or other vegetables during the second cooking session so the vegetables will be cooked but still brightly colored and crisp when the pasta is done cooking.
Yum, yum and easy as can be!
|(Photo: Pasta with kale and garlic scape pesto)
Where kale is more than decoration on my plate - it's in my pasta!
Diana Dyer, MS, RD


text:
Thursday, November 26, 2009
A guide to judging the appropriateness of your response to the Johnny Mac signing
The vast majority of the responses that we received about the John McDonald signing yesterday were negative, but to varying degrees. (And yes, for some reason, people send their complaints to me, as though I could do something about it.)
But most people still felt somewhat conflicted, because how are you gonna hate on Johnny Mac? The Prime Minister of Defense! Come on!
To help you through this time, we offer a quick breakdown of the various subsets of reactions to the McDonald signing, and judge the appropriateness (is that a word?) of each of them.
The Oblivious "Fuck Yeah!" Happy Subset
Characterized by: A general feeling of elation. These folks are totally stoked that Johnny Mac, the heart and soul of the Blue Jays, is coming back. They may have worn their "McDonald 6" jerseys over their jackets last night. May have had "PMOD 4 EVER" tattooed on their bits yesterday.
Is this reaction appropriate? Not at all. As nice a guy as McDonald is, this is not a great moment in franchise history.
Possible treatments: A quick gander at McDonald's career offensive numbers.
The Ambivalent Subset
Characterized by: A feeling that the signing is a terrible omen, followed by a profound feeling of guilt over their unspoken disdain for such a prince of a guy. May have spent time looking at the Jays 40-man roster, identifying the other "25th men on the roster". Relieved to hear that the Jays are still looking for a starting SS.
Is this reaction appropriate? Absolutely. It's what the sane man is thinking. (Well, it's what we're thinking. If you would characterize us as sane.)
Possible treatments: Watching YouTube videos of Johnny Mac's defensive prowess. Prorating JMac's four homers over a full season.
The WTF?!! Subset
Characterized by: Angry tweeting and angry commenting. Recriminations. May have drawn a link between McDonald's salary and unsigned draft picks. Sent over the edge by the news that the deal was for two years.
Is this reaction appropriate? Probably not. There is some truth to the fact that the signing is not the happiest news ever, and the second year is shocking. But signing a utility guy to a contract worth $1.5 Mill isn't the end of the world.
Possible treatments: Looking at the alternatives. Looking at the salaries of other utility infielders. Deep breathing. Positive visualization.
The Bandwagon Jumper Subset
Characterized by: Threats to stop going to games or watching games on TV. Declarations that this is "the last straw". Threats of cheering for other teams. Threats of canceling Rogers services.
Is this reaction appropriate? Oh, please. Stop. If you don't want to stick with the team through the bad times, then fine. Go cheer for the Tigers. (And what, pray tell) will you do when they trade Miguel Cabrera?
Possible treatments: Checking yourself before you wreck yourself. Sucking it up. Ceasing to be such a whining princess drama queen.
18 comments:
- Tao of Stieb said...
Uh-oh. This was posted before I read the Alex Gonzalez news.
I think people are going to lose their minds today.
- November 26, 2009 at 11:30 AM
- The Ack said...
Nice to see you stayed out of the DJF flame war. I got sucked in. My arguments "over there" were pretty much with regards to the rationale being presented as to why this was a good thing ("he's a good team guy! he's popular with the fans! this is a non-story!")
I'm pretty much rooted in the Ambivalent subset, but there is a definite WTF element to my reaction with regards to the 2nd year.
And it may be enhanced by the signing of defense-first SS Alex Gonzalez II to play everyday.
(But I'm not gonna lose my mind over it, boss.)
- November 26, 2009 at 11:35 AM
- Darren Priest said...
I think the Jays have less to fear from the Bandwagon jumper set than a collective shrug from a much larger portion of the population.
I'm betting they can break that low attendance record in 2010.
Like I tweeted, though, I also think there is more to the Alex Gonzalez signing than meets the eye -- and no, I don't think he can transform into a Volkswagen.
Here's your rock out for Friday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLfGBKO8vOc
- November 26, 2009 at 11:42 AM
- Unknown said...
I think I'm somewhere between Option A and B on this one - I wasn't overly excited about the signing, but I wasn't going to boycott the team either.
But now that they signed A-Gonz, it changes everything.
- November 26, 2009 at 11:52 AM
- Tao of Stieb said...
Hey, no one can say that the Jays didn't sign a free agent to a major league contract this year!
- November 26, 2009 at 12:09 PM
- Peter DeMarco said...
Looks like we've got another wasted year ahead of us. I can understand this strategy if the Jays had a lot of talent in the minor leagues, but I don't see that.
Let's hope AA can start making moves to stockpile talent, rather than signing stopgap players.
- November 26, 2009 at 12:40 PM
- brainiac said...
AT least it's not the OTHER Alex Gonzales...
- November 26, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Will the Jays at least qualify Scutaro? If they don't, then they lose the Bud Selig 'compassionate gesture to reward the upwardly frugal' draft pick. I could be wrong on this.
And you guys are the best. Not only are you busy mining the psyche of young squire AA but also those of the disenfranchised, misguided, and ambivalent fan. This post made me laugh, in a good way. I suppose with the ebb and flow of the offseason coupled with the Doc uncertainty and the fact that AA is trying to usher in a sea change, by the time the opening pitch is thrown the average Jays fan my wind up being Sybil-esque.
I've responded a few times under the name Herbie Hancock in a misguided attempt to re-launch 'Rockit' for the upcoming decade, but with yesterday's sausage-fest responses I didn't want to be misconstrued as someone extolling the virtues of enthusiastic masturbation via the 'Hancock' - 'Rockit' conjunction. Hence the change.
Before I forget, 'Paperhouse!'. Or for the Johnny Mac gangsta inclined, 'Paperhizzouse'
- November 26, 2009 at 12:58 PM
- Jay Hill said...
I'm in the non-represented category. 'Hmm, Good idea.'
Jonny Mac and A-Gon (lame) make for two seasoned vets who can get us thru the shitstorm of 2010 with a platoon scenario. Then, the better of the two gets kept on as a mentor for the SS-to-be-announced-later in 2011. The SSTBAL will be either Justin Jackson if his headfromassectomy proves successful, or a prospect from the Doc's future home city.
Plus Alex Gonzalez is usually a guy that gets traded for at the deadline at +value by a contender.
Just my .02
- November 26, 2009 at 1:20 PM
The Gonzalez signing is fine. But the Jmac signing is made even more puzzling. It's not the money - it's the confidence in management that has taken a hit.
- November 26, 2009 at 2:04 PM
- Peter DeMarco said...
I have to say one thing, I like the Alex Gonzalez signing a hell of a lot better than Orlando Cabrera for 2 years and $10 million.
- November 26, 2009 at 2:26 PM
- Tao of Stieb said...
@Peter D
You're bang on there, spanky. Getting A-Gon at half the price and (possibly) half the term of O-Cab is a pretty good deal.
Of course, Orlando might not find many takers for the two-year deal.
- November 26, 2009 at 2:54 PM
- Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...
Brainiac nailed it. And if Anthop can peddle Gonzo at the deadline, this might not be such a bad deal.
$4.25 million for two guys who will suck up anything hit to them, and suck at the bottom of the order? Sure, why not.
Here's hoping Gonzalez can replicate the success he had in Boston last season. A .284 average, and a .769 OPS.
Dare to dream.
- November 26, 2009 at 3:42 PM
- Steve G. said...
I wouldn't count on the Jays being able to move A-Gonz: The Red Sox acquired him, not for a decent prospect, but to take his salary off the hands of the Reds. While these two contracts aren't bad individually, they're puzzling together. The only position either provides average value is at SS, so you don't really need both.
- November 26, 2009 at 7:14 PM
What subset do I belong in if all I can see in the J-Mac picture is his erect nipple?
- November 27, 2009 at 10:03 AM
- plain_g said...
once loverbay leaves, does blalock make sense as a 1b platoon partner?
- November 27, 2009 at 10:08 AM
- Tao of Stieb said...
Not sure if you clicked on the picture, but I actually named it "JohnnyMacsNipples.jpg". Because that's all I saw as well.
- November 27, 2009 at 11:57 AM
If anyone here truly feels fiat currency is worthless then feel free to give me all your money.
- February 24, 2010 at 12:28 PM


text:
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text:
California Cruise Night - Van Nuys Blvd.
For Some, It Was Nostalgic, For Others It Was A Brand-New Experience, Either Way, Cruising Is Back
The air in the parking lot was electric. It felt historic, optimistic, and liberating. We were staging to cruise Van Nuys Boulevard for the first time in more than a quarter century. At just a few minutes past 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, a booming voice shouted a few informal instructions and cars began to pull out from the Rydell Chevrolet (formerly Paradise Pontiac) lot, tentatively at first as if they were anticipating trouble. Finally, an old-timer rolled into the street with authority, a bit of engine revving bravado, and just the thinnest wisp of tire smoke. The ice had been broken, and cruising was back on Van Nuys.
Cars poured out into the boulevard from Rydell and from the Ralphs grocery store catty-cornered on the other side of Burbank Boulevard. The route was a loop running from Burbank Boulevard to Vanowen Street to the north, and the air was thick with V-8 rumble and the occasional whiff of race gas. Guys in the crowd estimated that about 1,500 cars turned up. Good numbers, especially considering information about the cruise traveled by word of mouth. Still, those numbers are nowhere near the crowds the boulevard would draw on Wednesday nights 30 years ago. In the cruise's heyday, there was gridlock in both lanes, each way, for several more blocks than the guys ran this night. For nearly five miles, it was bumper to chrome bumper of cars we'd pay big money for these days.
Though it was probably inevitable, the city killed cruising on Van Nuys Boulevard around 1980. Things got bad once the cops would begin to stand post in the street checking cars for illegal speed equipment. Eventually, they just blocked off the road to all traffic on Wednesdays and it was over.
Reid Stolz is the accidental founder of the Van Nuys Cruising Association and the guy responsible for bringing the cars back. Everything started because of an unwitting response to a thread he saw on the H.A.M.B. (Hokey Ass Message Board). Reid tells us, "The thread was something like 'Who remembers cruising Van Nuys in the '70s?' and I posted a response saying the Van Nuys Cruising Association was bringing cruising back on Wednesdays starting in June." It just snowballed from there. In fact, the Van Nuys Cruising Association didn't even exist until Reid replied, and he found himself having to actually form the Association. He had set the date, so all he needed was to get the word out. Friends Dennis and Myra Linan made flyers and helped distribute them at a couple of shows about a week before the cruise, and word spread like wildfire. One of the most surprising calls Reid got was from Chip Beck at Rydell Chevrolet offering up one of its car lots as a staging area.
On the night of the cruise, Reid got a call from a friend a little after 6 p.m. telling him to get to the boulevard as quickly as possible: the Rydell lot was full, and the Ralphs grocery lot was filling with spillover. "I was expecting maybe 150 cars, and there was easily double that amount an hour before the cruise was supposed to start," Reid says. "I didn't check with the city, I didn't know if I'd get arrested for this."
Reid hopes to continue cruising on Van Nuys planning to hold an event on the second Wednesday of every month. "It was a rite of passage growing up. I first went when I was 13 with a friend, then I started going regularly with my older brother when I was 15." Once he got his license, Reid started going in his own car, a '66 Ford Galaxie he bought from his parents. He was back on the boulevard this year with his '74 Corvette.