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Lions Score Only Goal Midway Through First Half
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The formula for success for the Columbia men's soccer team has been simple this season. If Will Stamatis scores, the Lions are likely to win. That was the case again on Sunday against Yale. Stamatis scored the only goal of the game midway through the first half, and Columbia held on for a 1-0 victory on a cold afternoon.
It was the fifth game-winning goal of the season for Stamatis, who leads the team with six goals overall.
Nick Scott started the winning play by sending a cross into the box. Henning Sauerbier deflected it to Stamatis, who finished from right in front at 32:28.
The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed a day because of the freak snow that hit the city.
"It was difficult for us to find a rhythm in the first half," said Yale head coach Brian Tompkins. "We were much sharper in the second half, but being down a goal meant we had to chase the game."
The Bulldogs (7-6-2, 3-2 Ivy) did have opportunities to tie. The best came in the 70th minute. With Columbia's goalkeeper out of position, Brad Rose got off a shot that was headed away by Lion defender Jesse Vella.
Milan Tica got his head on the ensuing corner kick but it went wide.
Yale had a 6-4 edge in corner kicks in the game but was outshot 10-5.
Goalkeeper Bobby Thalman made three saves for the Bulldogs.
Despite the loss, Yale remains within striking distance of first place. The Bulldogs sit one point behind both Brown and Dartmouth and two in back of first-place Cornell.
Yale has two games remaining – at home next Saturday against Brown and at Princeton on Nov. 12.
"The good news is we are still alive in the Ivy race," Tompkins said. "We learned from today and know what we need to make right for next week."
Next Saturday's game with Brown kicks off at 5:30 p.m.
Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity


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Politics & Government
California state Sen. Ron Calderon accepted $88,000 in bribes, FBI affidavit alleges
State Sen. Ron Calderon accepted about $88,000 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent posing as a film studio owner and a Southern California hospital executive during a wide-ranging probe into his conduct as a legislator, according to a 124-page affidavit published online Wednesday by cable news network Al Jazeera America.
No charges have been filed against Calderon, a Democrat from Montebello. His attorney, Mark Geragos, did not return calls Wednesday.
The federal affidavit, filed as the FBI sought a search warrant for Calderon's office, alleges that he worked with interest groups in a pay-to-play fashion, accepting money in exchange for promises to carry or amend legislation to their benefit.
It details an arrangement to funnel money for the Calderon family's later use through a nonprofit organization run by his brother Tom Calderon. It describes an instance in which Calderon hired a female undercover agent as a staff member as a favor to another undercover agent despite her apparent lack of qualifications for the job. It says that as Calderon steered legislation, he asked those he thought would benefit to secure jobs for his children, Jessica and Zachary.
"One way you could be a real help to (my daughter) is, you got any work?" Calderon said to an undercover agent posing as the film studio owner during a June 2012 dinner in Pico Rivera, according to the affidavit.
"I told you, man, anything you can do, any help you could do for my kids is, is – you know that's, that's diamonds for me. That's diamonds."
The agent was asking Calderon to change California's tax credit program for filmmakers so that smaller productions would qualify for the credit. Under a bill Calderon carried in 2009 and an extension passed in 2012, productions that cost at least $1 million and are shot in California can enter a lottery to get a tax break. The affidavit describes Calderon talking to the undercover agent about getting the threshold lowered to $750,000.
In August 2012, the agent told Calderon at a meeting that he had put Jessica Calderon on the payroll of his film studio to help the senator and that he hoped Calderon could help him in return by trying to alter the bill.
Calderon said he could be helpful, and reminded the agent that Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg supported lowering the threshold.
"That is why it is all about relationships," Calderon told the undercover agent, according to the affidavit.
"Just the fact that (Steinberg) is behind pushing lowering the threshold, is huge. It's huge. And he did it because of our relationship. And, I helped him, he helped me."
At a meeting in September, Calderon told the agent about purchasing two VIP tickets to a Giants baseball game for Steinberg the week before. He said he also gave two tickets to oil industry executives so they could meet Steinberg at the game and support his campaign.
A Steinberg spokesman said he was not yet prepared to respond to that section of the affidavit.
The affidavit also suggests that Calderon's daughter didn't work for her pay. On Oct. 24, 2012, at another meeting between the Calderon and the fake studio owner, Calderon asked the undercover agent if he could give Jessica a task, "just so that she had something to do."
"The (agent) reminded (Calderon) that he did not hire Jessica Calderon to do work and had hired her for the tax credit legislation …" the document says. "Ronald Calderon asked the (agent) if she could just do something for the purpose of 'legitimizing the whole thing.' Ronald Calderon said he was feeling guilty and that just having her run something across town would be enough, just so something was on record."
Eventually, Ron Calderon's older brother Tom entered the picture. He is a former assemblyman who works as a consultant for businesses that lobby the Legislature. Ron Calderon said his brother's presence was not essential but would smooth the tax credit bill's movement through the Capitol, according to the affidavit.
They cut Tom Calderon in, according to the affidavit, bringing the agent's monthly contribution to $10,000, including $2,000 to cover taxes, $3,000 for Jessica Calderon's "job" and $5,000 for Tom Calderon's consulting fees. Those were to be paid through the nonprofit he runs, called Californians for Diversity. Later, Ron Calderon and the agent discussed skirting suspicion by passing money into the Calderon Group, Tom Calderon's consulting company.
After the undercover agent boasted to Ron Calderon about securing $50,000 a year from a three-picture deal, the two discussed what to do with the windfall.
"I mean, if there is something that you think that I can do to help you out with that fifty each year, you tell me. And, I will set it up," the agent said, to which Ron Calderon, according to the affidavit, replied, "Right."
Over time, Calderon drew down the $50,000 by asking for a $3,900 deposit into the Ron Calderon for Controller 2014 committee; a $25,000 infusion for his brother's nonprofit, Californians for Diversity; and money to cover Calderon's airfare to Miami, the affidavit states.
In discussing the nonprofit donation, it says, Calderon told the undercover agent: "And then, Tom and I, down the road, we build that up, we can pay ourselves. Just kind of make, you know, part of a living. So that's something we're probably going to do."
Calderon allegedly asked for money to help pay for his son Zachary's college tuition. At a subsequent restaurant meeting, the affidavit states, the agent produced a $5,000 check for Zachary's tuition with the payee field left blank.
Calderon also agreed to hire the supposed girlfriend of one undercover agent – a woman who was an undercover agent herself – in exchange for Jessica securing work, the affidavit states.
The female agent "had no public service experience and her last three jobs were modeling, working for the (undercover agent's) studio, and working at a fashion studio in New Orleans," according to the affidavit. She got the job anyway.
"In return for the bribe payments, Ronald Calderon did, in fact, hire (the female agent) as an employee of the state of California," the affidavit says.
The affidavit also relates how Sen. Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, brokered a deal with Calderon following a tiff within the Latino caucus over who would serve as its chairman. Ron Calderon had been in line to become caucus chairman in December of last year. But Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, had the position and wanted to hang on to it.
In exchange for Calderon backing away from the chairmanship and allowing Lara to keep it, the affidavit says Calderon told the undercover agent that de León told Calderon he would give him a paid appointment after he left the Senate and $25,000 in "seed money" from one of the caucus accounts to "hire consultants and do presentations."
Campaign finance records show that a fundraising committee connected to the Latino caucus gave Californians for Diversity $25,000 on Jan. 2, a month after Lara was elected to remain chairman.
The affidavit also alleges Tom and Ron Calderon were involved in a bribery scheme with Michael Drobot, owner of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, which specializes in spinal surgery for injured workers. The FBI said it believed Drobot was involved "in large-scale health care fraud," including paying kickbacks to surgeons who performed spinal fusion surgeries.
The alleged arrangement was that Ron Calderon would limit or kill workers' compensation legislation that would restrict profitable spinal surgeries at the hospital, and Drobot would pay him $28,000 in bribes, "disguised" as payments for a job to Ron Calderon's son, Zachary. The affidavit also notes that Drobot paid Tom Calderon $10,000 a month as a consultant.
Drobot, through an attorney categorically, denied the allegations.
"Any allegation that Mr. Drobot engaged in wrongdoing is baseless," Jeffrey H. Rutherford said.
The affidavit lists three bills the FBI alleges were influenced by Ron Calderon on behalf of Drobot. It said de León amended one bill at Calderon's request so it would have less impact on Drobot's business.
The FBI affidavit also alleges that Ron and Tom Calderon had a meeting with Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, and persuaded him to drop a second bill that "would have disrupted Drobot's health care fraud scheme." The Calderons' brother Charles Calderon, then an assemblyman, made the August 2012 motion to have the bill sent to the inactive file, according to the affidavit.
A third bill, carried in 2012 by de León, allowed separate reimbursements for spinal devices to continue through 2013. The bill passed overwhelmingly, and Ron Calderon was one of the few lawmakers to oppose it. But he allegedly told the FBI undercover agent that he and Tom Calderon had been influential in getting language inserted that was more advantageous to Drobot.
Ultimately, Ron Calderon asked the undercover agent to make a political contribution to de Leon at a fundraiser, scheduled in conjunction with a prize fight in Las Vegas. According to the agent, Calderon made the suggestion because de León had complained that he had not been rewarded for dropping the implant legislation. "I don't mind helping, but I haven't seen any help," Calderon quoted de León as saying, according to the affidavit.
"That's false and the investigation will bear that out," de León's chief of staff Dan Reeves told The Sacramento Bee. He said the U.S. attorney has "made clear" that de León is not a target of the investigation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Meteorite that fell last year contains surprising molecules
Compounds in space rocks like the one that broke up over California may have helped seed life on Earth
Kevin Heider/Wikimedia Commons
A space rock that lit up the California sky last year has given scientists an unprecedented look at the complex chemistry that probably took place during the solar system's infancy. Meteorites similar to this one likely delivered the raw materials to Earth that assembled into the molecules of life.
Scientists have been analyzing pieces of the Sutter's Mill meteorite since it burst apart over northern California on April 22, 2012 (SN: 1/26/13, p. 5). When Arizona State University chemist Sandra Pizzarello and colleagues melted away some minerals with acid, a plethora of sulfur- and oxygen-containing organic compounds were left behind, several of which have never been identified in meteorites before. They detail their findings September 9 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The molecules likely formed several billion years ago in


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Now that we're in the depths of the drought, LADWP is offering $3 per square foot for turf replacement. Since some 50% of our water goes to landscaping, ripping out your lawn is one of the best ways you can conserve water.
How do you go about killing your lawn? Well, the easiest and best way to reduce your turf is sheet mulching. With sheet mulching, your yard can go from a water-thirsty, outdated green shag carpet to a sustainable garden with about as much effort as it takes to mow the lawn.… Read more >>


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|2007-11-19, 21:28
|Link #41
Gazer of Cosmos
(note: while PaniPoni Dash is getting a release somehoworother, we still don't have TSR despite already having the first two Furumeta series so I have major doubts about any KadoUSA title getting here anytime soon)
|2007-11-19, 22:06
|Link #42
One PUNCH!
Join Date: Dec 2005
|2007-11-19, 22:58
|Link #43
Hot under these lights...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: On the computer. Duh.
Age: 27
Now that I think about it, if the US thought PaniPoni Dash was good enough to be licensed, I no longer find it surprising that Lucky Star was too. After all, if the mainstream audience fails, we always have the hardcore US fanbase to shovel their money into it (myself included ).
Oh, and by the way Tokkan, I totally agree with you on the Melissa Fahn thing. I've actually been thinking about that since I first started watching Lucky Star way back in April.
But I'm okay with Wendee Lee (for consistency reasons), but I still wish there was some way they could use someone else without killing the in-jokes.
Last edited by The Timotei Teller; 2007-11-20 at 21:17.
|2007-12-07, 02:50
|Link #44
Kona (coffee) Junkie
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Age: 29
I hope they do a good job. Sure it probably won't be as good as the original, but for people who are seeing the series for the first time, and for people who are new to anime, it should be pretty good. Changing a language is never better for anything (movies, tv shows, etc.) but they can certainly be tolerable and still decent at least. Even the German version of Blade was good. Who's to say Lucky Star won't be?
|2007-12-07, 03:00
|Link #45
Senior Member
Lucky Star, by contrast, is a very Japanese show. It's hard for an English dub to feel right with it. Nonetheless, that does not harm its marketability to Americans *points to all the Monty Python example posts*.
|2007-12-07, 03:02
|Link #46
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 61
I always suggest to people to watch, say, Das Boot in the original German after seeing the English dub.... that *usually* gets my point across that most dubs are mere echoes of the original even if a lot of money is spent.
|2007-12-09, 13:00
|Link #47
Senior Member
Cast list and release info for Lucky Star has been revealed!
|2007-12-09, 18:06
|Link #49
Senior Member
I'm really confused by the amount of people who think they're going to change all the jokes. It's an otaku show, if they change anything then hell will be raised. Kadokawa and Bandai fully know that. I'm expecting the dub to be far less Americanised than a.f.k.'s subs.
|2007-12-09, 19:43
|Link #51
Command of the Revenants
Wendee Lee doing Kona is a no brainer. I think she can do it, actually.
But Michelle "Alicia" Ruff doing Tsukasa? PRINCESS ALICIA? Oh hell yes, that's perfect there. I may actually have to get this now.
Sheh should be fine as Akira, though can she do a "I want to rip your head off" voice? Drill drill...
Sam Regal's a no brainer, considering who Sebastian plays. I'm liking him anyway. He can do both characters like Taniguchi and Silabus well.
Shame they're not doing the songs. I kinda wanted to hear what they'd do. Especially if they redid the live-action ones for Sam.
Strange how knowledge of casts actually get me into buying a series...
|2007-12-12, 14:28
|Link #56
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 61
I always give a dub a chance... simply because if they get it right it expands the audience willing to give a series a shot. I'm just usually disappointed because it ends up sounding like people locked in separate rooms in a studio reading their lines for the first time. O wait.....
|2007-12-13, 15:17
|Link #57
Last Engage
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Florida
At least Wendee Lee as both Konata and Haruhi keeps all the Haruhi jokes still working on some dub level. Some of the smaller throwaways (such as Konata getting the Galaxy Angel CD in 23), still are "Aya Hirano-level" only, though.
|Thread Tools


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Of editorial writing & critical thinking
Clippings article published Oct. 23, 2008Let's talk about editorials and this newspaper's perspective over the past eight years. Since 2000, this editor has been roundly criticized — and applauded — by readers reacting to editorials on the national or international scene. Many of those editorials have been about the elections with George W., about the invasion of Iraq, the economy, and what I have considered to be the misguided policies of the Bush administration. Contrary to some publications, editorials are written with the premise of the piece clearly stated and one side of the issue boldly supported. Very few editorials are middle-of-the-road essays that point out both sides of the issue and let the reader decide which group of facts has the most validity. Picking one side of the issue and defending that point of view is precisely what editorials should do. And, yes, that means the editorials are biased. Of course they are. They reflect my research and my point of view. That doesn't mean, however, they are not supported by facts or credible evidence that counters an opposing agenda.But why write about those issues when that's the purview of national publications, some critics ask, then suggest we write solely about local and state issues.It's a good point, and frankly, I would do my job better if I made it a priority to always include a local editorial to accompany any editorial on the world or national scene. Two shorter editorials would almost always be preferable. But when the issues get mixed up with people's emotional framework, rational discussion often falls by the wayside and partisan politics enters the fray. The strategic reasons for invading Iraq or not, for example, get lost within the emotional context of patriotism, God and country, and supporting the troops. Defining the rhetoric that is couched in such thinking, then defending a rational argument against the war is difficult to nail down in half a column. I should be so lucky to have the full day to write such a piece and a staff of researchers as do the editorial writers at the New York Times. Like Tevye in the song"If I Were a Rich Man," there are many things I'd do differently given an ideal circumstance.But why cover national issues at all? Because national decisions make a difference locally. Because adding a voice of opposition — particularly when it is in the minority — gives others the courage to also speak out. Because the challenge of the day — particularly leading up to the election in 2000, the invasion of Iraq, and the election of 2004 — was to correct the record and the national dialogue; to refute the lies being told; to focus on the rational, and to point out how the public's fears were being exploited. We opposed Bush's election in 2000 because his record was full of failure. We supported the invasion of Afghanistan, but opposed the invasion of Iraq from the start. We've attempted to point out the ills of policies that widen the gap between rich and poor, supported the scientific community's overwhelming assessment that global warming is real and that mankind can play a role in reducing the carbon dioxide that is making it worse, railed against corporate malfeasance in military contracts and advocated for more government regulation of all kinds for the past decade.For those views, we've been called a left-wing publication with radical views. No doubt, many conservatives have felt we were anti-American because we dared object to the Iraqi invasion; that we were socialist because we advocate for higher taxes on the wealthy (just back to pre-Bush years would be sufficient, nothing onerous); that we were arrogant to think we had insights where others did not.Today, we look back and wonder what those readers who were so harsh in their earlier assessments might think.But no matter. The hope is that readers can simply accept the role of an editorial. It is to make readers think critically; to encourage readers to question that which is being pushed on them by others who have an obvious agenda; to consider other alternatives that just might be in the nation's or the community's better interest.We have no claim to clairvoyance or wisdom. But it is the job of an independent press to point out the weaknesses in our government when we see them, and to praise its strengths as well. For the past eight years, we admit that we have found far more weaknesses than strengths to note, but we argue that has less to do with our bias than it does with the Bush administration's many shortcomings. History has already supported this papers' perspective on many of these issues, and will be a far harsher critic of this president than we ever were. For our part, we're grateful to see the Bush era come to an end, and are eager for a more balanced debate on the issues that will move this country forward.


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While we're still a year away from seeing any products on the shelves, the DVD Forum has laid another cornerstone for its next-generation blue-laser HD-DVD format by selecting the H.264 Advanced Video Codec (AVC) for encoding video that will be delivered on the new discs. Developed two years ago by the Moving Picture Experts Group--also responsible for DVD's MPEG-2 codec--and the International Telecommunication Union, H.264 "delivers at the same data rate as MPEG-2 high-definition instead of standard," says Frank Casanova, senior director of product marketing for Apple's interactive media group.
When H.264 first entered the scene, many MPEG-4 proponents worried that it would compete with the nascent open standard. Instead, it has gone on to become an integral part of MPEG-4. "It's a codec that's not afraid of anything," says Casanova. "Slow or high-motion, fire or smoke, all of the things that scare other codecs, H.264 says, `Bring it.' "
H.264 is one of three codecs approved by the DVD Forum that must be included in any products that want to meet the HD-DVD video specification; the other two are the ubiquitous MPEG-2 and VC-9, which is the AVC used in Microsoft's Windows Media 9 Series. The three codecs were approved in conjunction with the DVD Forum's mid-June finalization of the HD-DVD-ROM physical specification version 1.0.
The adoption of H.264 for HD-DVD (the HD stands for "high-density," referring to storage capacity, though it's so closely associated with high-definition video that it's increasingly interpreted as standing for "high-definition") brings to light again the growing conflict between the supporters of the HD-DVD format and those that subscribe to the Blu-ray vision of the future. Both formats are based on the fundamental shift from red to blue lasers, which will allow for single-sided 15GB read-only and 20GB re4cordable HD-DVD discs and single-sided 27GB Blu-ray discs.
Andy Parsons, senior VP of advanced product development at Pioneer, points to this difference in capacities "as the real reason these advanced video codecs have been looked at. They needed to have a codec that can fit a reasonable amount of time for the 15GB of HD-DDV." Pioneer is just one of a number of companies that are affiliated with the DVD Forum but support the Blu-ray format. Currently the only video codec adopted for the Blu-ray specification is the standard MPEG-2 TS. "There is a possibility that we will add one AVC," says Parsons, although that most likely won't happen in the near future. "There seems to be a race going on to see who can announce things first," he says, "but we're trying to be careful about this since the first ROM drives won't be out until the end of 2005."
"It's our opinion that H.264 is poised to replace MPEG-2," says Casanova. While the codec does have ten years of technological evolution over its predecessor (which hasn't been updated in years), Parsons doesn't see H.264 completely replacing MPEG-2 in the DVD space, just as he doesn't see blue laser ousting red laser anytime soon. "Certainly it would be nice if everyone made a simultaneous switch, but history has shown that this isn't going to happen," he says. "Plus, DVD's doing so well right now, a format of that magnitude is not displaced by a new format easily. They'll coexist for a long time."
In the battle for blue laser dominance in the entertainment space, it "comes down to the studios," says Parsons. "Content providers play a very important role in this. You need to have movies and content to create a mass market for the technology." He points to the fact that consumers could purchase DVD movies before recordable media was made available, and that the success of DVD-R (and DVD+R) is directly tied to the growth of DVD movies.
Whether or not the blue laser market will end up in the same state as that of recordable DVD has yet to be seen. "Nobody wins if you've got competing formats," Parsons says. "We're hoping that we can resolve any format issues before content arrives." This is especially important since studios will already be forced to offer both red and blue laser versions of their content for the foreseeable future. Consumer electronics manufacturers can circumvent some of these issues by offering blue laser DVD players that are compatible with both Blu-ray and HD-DVD, but those compromises usually don't come until the second or third generation of a technology. In the meantime, consumers may be hesitant to invest in new DVD players, fearful that they'll be stuck with a 21st century Betamax.
Regardless of the outcome of the Blu-ray/HD-DVD battle, H.264 will be around for a long time to come. Due to its scalability, this video codec can be used for everything from streaming low-bandwidth video to handhelds to reducing the bandwidth requirements of digital cable television. It is a major piece of the HD-DVD puzzle, but by no means does the DVD Forum's selection of H.264 indicate that the blue laser DVD standards race is over.


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Fan Freedom
0 supporters
Fan Freedom is supported by more than 150,000 live event fans, and is backed by leading consumer and business organizations such as the American Conservative Union, National Consumers League, Consumer Action, the Institute for Liberty, and the League of Fans. Fan Freedom believes that all fans have basic rights as ticket holders, and we support legislation and promote activism to protect those rights. Launched in February, 2011, Fan Freedom was founded by consumer advocate Jon Potter. Initial funding was provided by StubHub, a division of eBay.


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McDonald's is trialling table service at one of its restaurants after a drop in sales - but are customers lovin' the idea of it coming to Peterborough?
In a radical shake-up of the brand, McDonald's is testing a new concept whereby customers place their order via our new digital kiosks and then have their food brought to them.
It follows the fast-food chain's struggle to increase profits.
A spokesperson for McDonald's UK said: "To meet customers' evolving expectations we are investing in our restaurants to create an exciting new environment and improve the customer experience.
"Table service is currently on test in our Mottram restaurant in Greater Manchester, but with plans to increase the trial over the coming month."
The idea has been successfully launched in other McDonald's markets including France, Germany and Australia.
The spokesman added: "We are keen to see if it will prove as popular with customers in the UK."
> Do you want table service at your local McDonald's? Email email@example.com or let us know via Twitter @PaulFisheredit


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Grand Praetor
The Grand Praetor, one for each province, is nominated by one or more delegates elected by the undergraduate chapters in the province, and elected to a two–year term by the Grand Chapter. Grand Praetors advise chapters in their respective provinces, maintain general knowledge of their condition, and endeavor to improve their standing in scholarship, morals and discipline. They are required to visit each chapter at least once a year, and to report their observations and recommendations in writing to the Executive Committee. They are empowered to enforce the Fraternity's Governing Laws and Ritual in province chapters.
Grand Praetors appoint one or more chapter advisors for each chapter, review chapter reports and applications submitted to the General Fraternity and schedule a yearly conference of all undergraduate chapters in their province. They also ensure that each chapter administers the official pledge examination. The Grand Praetor reviews the academic average of men proposed for Initiation and ensures each man has met university and Sigma Chi requirements.
Each Grand Praetor appoints an undergraduate member from his province for representation in the Grand Council. The undergraduate chapters in each province nominate these undergraduate members.
The Grand Praetors are known officially as the "Praetorial College." At each meeting of the Grand Chapter, they elect a chairman who is known as the Dean of the Praetorial College. The Grand Consul may appoint an assistant Grand Praetor in a province, with all of the powers of the Grand Praetor except voting membership in the Grand Council.
To view a list of the Grand Praetors please click here.


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International Student Application Packet
Application Form
Complete the Application for Admission of International Students - incomplete applications will be returned to the student.
Application Fee
Submit the application fee of $20 (non-refundable) in United States currency.
A certified English translation of your high school transcripts and any post-secondary transcripts you may have. Transcripts must be originals, not photocopied.If you think you may have transfer credits from any non-U.S. institution(s) that will apply to specific requirements of the degree you are working on at Ridgewater College, you must provide an original transcript and an English translation (if applicable) for each institution to the Ridgewater Admissions office.Additionally, you must send your transcript(s) and English translation(s) to Education Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You can complete an online application or download their application for this evaluation at their website: www.ece.org or request an application form from our admissions office.When you complete the ECE application form: For Type of Evaluation – select the Catalog Match (cost $270, less than the cost of two semester credits).
For Mailing Instructions
Have them mail one copy of the evaluation to the following address: Ridgewater College Transcript Evaluator 2101 15th Avenue NWWillmar, MN 56201
English Proficiency
Provide documentation in one of the following ways: TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) and have the score sent to the Ridgewater College Admissions Office. The institutional number for the Hutchinson campus is 7630 and the Willmar campus is 6949. You must have a minimum score of 500 (paper-based total) or 173 (computer-based total) or 61(internet-based total), completion of ELS (English Language School) level 109 or successfully complete the equivalent of one semester of a Freshman English sequence with a grade of "C" or better at an accredited United States college or university. For more information on TOEFL, see their website at: http://www.toefl.org.
Financial Statement
Completion of a Financial Statement Form is required. You must furnish a certified bank statement from the student's bank, family/official sponsor or U.S. Embassy showing a minimum balance of $17,180. This amount of financial support and the account must have been in existence for six months or more. International students are charged resident tuition rates.
Provide letters of recommendation from two people: they should include a former teacher, public official, or a friend who will recommend you as a good citizen who would benefit from a college experience.
You must provide written proof of immunization against Measles, Rubella, Mumps, Diphtheria and Tetanus.
All international students and visiting scholars engaged in educational activities are required to purchase the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities international student accident and illness insurance plan, unless they can provide written verification that their government or sponsoring agency accepts full responsibility for any medical claims that might occur. Annual payment will be required. Forms can be completed upon arrival at Ridgewater College.
HousingThere is no on-campus housing available on either campus. Students are responsible for finding their own housing. Information on housing can be found on our website.
TransportationStudents must arrange for their own transportation. Public transportation is limited.
EmploymentThe U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service will not grant you permission to work off-campus unless you have successfully completed one academic year and can document an unforeseen change in your financial situation that occurred after you entered the United States. If you cannot assume full financial responsibility for your total proposed period of study, we urge you to delay coming to Ridgewater College until you can do so.
Financial Aid/AssistanceFinancial Aid is not available for international students.
EnrollmentInternational students are required to be enrolled in at least 12 credits per semester.
CommunitiesFor more information about the Hutchinson and Willmar communities, please see the following websites:
Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce
Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Additional Documents RequiredUpon arrival in the U.S., you will need to present your I-94 (usually stapled to your passport) and your most recent VISA stamp.


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Your Bethany Account
All students are provided with a campus-wide domain-level account for computer, network, and storage access. This account provides access to:
- Bethany email account (see below)
- campus computers (computer labs, library, etc.) and installed software
- Internet Access
- MyBLC
- network printing
- shared network storage drives
- 2 GB of private network storage space (the U: drive) for saving documents and course materials
- 30 GB of college-provided Google Drive storage space
- additional accounts, resources, and access as required by students' courses or other curricular and co-curricular activities
Bethany Email Account
All students are provided with an @blc.edu e-mail account. This account is the official address used by various departments of the college to distribute electronic announcements. The college will not attempt to keep track of or send messages to other accounts a user may have. It is the user's responsibility to regularly check for email.
Upon graduation or transfer from Bethany, alumni can retain their email accounts and addresses indefinitely by simply continuing to use the account.
To obtain, change, or reset your password, see Password Help.


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The San Diego (previously codenamed 'Orange Santa Clara') is the first Intel powered smartphone to launch in Europe and will deliver users the latest in innovative smartphone capabilities at an affordable price point.
The handset is powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor Z2460 and supports HSPA+ with the Intel® XMM™ 6260 Platform. Together, these Intel solutions deliver users a fast and responsive browsing experience.
The San Diego features High-definition (HD) video, helping it to support a rich entertainment offering along with 1080p video capture, image stabilization and HDMI out. What's more, the handset boasts an 8 mega-pixel camera which features 'Burst' mode allowing it to take 10 pictures in under a second to ensure you capture all the action and can choose the very best pictures to keep and share. The San Diego also comes with mobile HD voice for outstanding audio quality, and features a 4.03" capacitive display, A-GPS and Bluetooth 2.1.
From the home screen, the San Diego will come with quick link access to:
- Orange Wednesdays: 2-4-1 cinema ticket app – allowing you to read reviews, watch trailers as well as redeem 2-4-1 vouchers all from your handset
- Your Orange: To help customers keep up to date and manage their Orange account
- Orange Gestures: Allowing users to draw natural and intuitive gestures on their home screen which can give one-stroke access to their favourite applications or services
The San Diego will be available for £199.99 on Orange Pay As You Go, when customers top up by £10 in Orange shops. When they take out the handset on pay as you go, they will also receive a free monthly allowance of 250Mb* of mobile data per month for 12 months. Alternatively, for launch, the handset will be free to customers who take a 24 month price plan from £15.50 a month until the 25th of July** 2012. The package includes 50 any network call minutes, 50 texts, as well as 100MB of mobile data a month.
Paul Jevons, Director of Products and Devices, Orange UK commented: "We're proud to be working with such an exciting partner as Intel, and offering our customers the first Orange Intel powered smartphone on the market."
"The San Diego is a great addition to our own-branded device portfolio, and is testament to our heritage in offering consumers great value innovation."
"We congratulate Orange on the launch of their 'San Diego' smartphone with Intel inside," said Mike Bell, Intel Vice President and General Manager of the company's Mobile and Communications Group. "Orange is truly a progressive operator who has its finger on the pulse on its customer base. The new Intel-based smartphone exemplifies Orange's focus on delivering a well executed product to its users, from the quality and feel of industrial design to the overall software and applications experience."
San Diego customers will also benefit from access to T-Mobile's signal too, meaning they can call, text and access high speed mobile internet in more places across the UK, as well as benefit from Quick Tap Treats – the UK's first mobile contactless retail reward scheme, and discount on Orange home broadband.
The handset will be supported by a multimillion pound advertising campaign, featuring the Orange ninja creative which will commence in June. The advertising campaign will feature across TV, outdoor, print and online.
The San Diego will be available from 6th June from Orange shops, Orange
Orange telesales and the Orange online shop. For more information, visit www.orange.co.uk/intel
About Orange UK
Orange is the key brand of the France Telecom Group, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators. With almost 131 million customers, the Orange brand now covers Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group operates.
In the UK, Orange provides high quality GSM coverage to 99% of the UK population, and 3G coverage to more than 93%. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Brand Services Limited.
On July 1 2010, the company became part of Everything Everywhere, one company that runs two of Britain's most famous brands – Orange UK and T-Mobile UK – with plans to transform the industry by giving customers instant access to everything, everywhere, offering them the best value, best choice and best network coverage in the country. Everything Everywhere Limited is the UK's biggest communications company, with a combined customer base of almost 28 million people and more than 720 retail stores across the country. Everything Everywhere Limited is registered at Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9BW under the registered company number 02382161.


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Ahhhh…..January 1st! A new beginning! A fresh start! For one day at least, I don't feel overwhelmed with projects and "to do" lists because, for today, the slate is wiped clean and the possibilities are endless.
Too bad that feeling won't last long!
BUT, I do have a few goals (I won't call them resolutions) or projects for 2013.
#1) My first "goal" for this year is to put a serious dent into my citations. I continue to collect information for my family tree and I've been indicating the location where the information was found, but not anywhere NEAR the citation format that 'd like to have. Right now, my footnote might say simply "Find-a-grave" or a library book call number. Time to update those sources into true citations!
#2) Project – I really do hope to create the interactive PowerPoint project for my family to enjoy. Obviously, I was unable to get that done this year, but I'm hoping for some significant changes in my job this year which could potentially give me significantly more time to work on my genealogy. It's potentially too good to even mention out loud, so this change is in the whisper stages only!
#3) Organization – I have found that I often desire to work on my genealogy, but have NO desire to search for the files I need when I only have an hour or less to work. How wonderful would it be to have a place that I look forward to being in that has fewer distractions (yes, washing machine beep, I'm talking about you!) as well as having all of my genealogy stuff in an easily accessible location? I'd love a way to display my materials on a large scale because I'm just such a visual person that I often see connections or questions only when I see everything at the same time.
I have to say that I'm one of the luckiest women in the world because I have the best husband around! We have been married for 27 years and have 4 children. Our house has 5 bedrooms but two of our children are out on their own, leaving 2 "empty" bedrooms. For Christmas this year, I've been given the go-ahead (Along with a very generous pre-paid Visa card!) to make one of those bedrooms into my very own genealogy heaven!
My plans include a fresh coat of paint, with one wall having special paint to make it a magnet board – a twelve foot magnet board! All new furniture including my ideas for the ideal genealogy file system where I can lay out a project and not have to put it away until I'm ready to move on to a different family! I plan to have a counter-height cubbie system to keep my tools, files and magazines stored in while spreading various files across the top to analyze. I will spread my papers across the top for organizing, scanning, hole punching, writing on, or whatever is needed at that time without worrying about putting it all away because my family needs the kitchen table for dinner!
Pictures of ancestors on the walls, maps and charts and colorful dry erase boards to keep reminders and plans on. I plan to have large print-outs of groups sheets and 5-gen charts displayed for quick reference. I'll have a system for easy storage and access to the rolls of newsprint that I like to use.
And everything in bright colors that I wouldn't normally have in my more traditional rooms because I won't have to please anyone but myself! My 3rd son is supplying the painting labor as his Christmas gift to me – a project which begins tomorrow! The room has no windows, so I plan to use color to make the room brighter. I'm buying the colorful canvas boxes to put in the cubbie spaces and I'm getting colorful binders for my single surname worksheets and files.
One of my Christmas gifts was a small, wireless speaker that has fantastic sound that I plan to use to listen to podcasts or music. I also got a nice flatscreen tv that won't take up much space, but which will allow me to hook my computer into to watch web videos on various genealogy subjects. I'm even planning to have an area for "refreshments". I have a small refrigerator that we got for college boys that will now be in my room and I'm planning space for making my favorite tea.
Shopping starts today! Any suggestions for my "genealogy heaven"?
Happy New Year to all my genealogy friends! Praying that you have many blessings in the coming year!


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Hello Toby & the rest of the community!
Short profile:
I was kititng on Boracay for 3 months. But in the end i was kinda menthaly "stuck" Because i WANTED to kite, but i waesnt interested in course-race & i didnt like the idea of "wake-style". First of all i dont like it at all, secondly - im kinda parranoid about the amount of people who practice their "wake-style" rotations jumps here on Boracay and who in the end just broke their legs\bones during the another "jump-rotate-fall-on-water-with-only-one-leg-inside-the-pad" session...
But happily i met Toby on the Bulabog and from that day on i realize where i want to "move" with my kiting future progression.
Right now i practice on my 14m 2010 Cabrinha SwitchBlade. Well, i got nothing bigger so far. But, i have an option to get (absolutely for free!) a barely-used kite "2012 Cabrinha X-Bow 16m" (with the bar).
Or, on the other hand i can try to _buy_ some kinda of "more apropriate" 16-18m kite for a AirStyle progression. So, what do you guys thinks of 16m X-Bow? Is it a good kite for early-level AirStyle practicing? I really like the idea that i get that kite for free (from my father, since he just buy himself a whole line of 2014 kites).
But, maybe i dont know something? Maybe the X-Bow is the "worst kite for AirStyle on Earth"?
Well, in that case i probably need to buy myself another kite?
2. Micro Loop Bar.
As i understand, a lot of tricks are nearly to impossible to make without one. Okay.
But Cabrinha bars doesn't have one.... and here comes the question:
- If i want to practice AirStyle jumps\tricks (but right now im on the newbie-level) is it better for me to have (buy?) a North bar right from the beginning (now) and use it with Cabrinha 4-line kites?
Or the ML bar is not very necessary until the real mid-level jumps\tricks?


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My shopping cart is being cached by w3 total cache. This is the expected default behaviour. The thing is I can't find an easy solution for this.
I am showing my shopping cart on almost every page, so using rejected cookies or something similar is not an option. Is it possible to tell w3 total cache not to cache a single php file like cart_widget.php? Or some other workaround?
I know there is the possibility to load the cart via ajax as the plugin does not cache GET requests with parameters (by default). Still, I would like to avoid that extra request.
EDIT: Also, w3 total cache is not regenerating the page when I edit the product, is there an easy way to tell w3 total cache to empty the cache for a single page?


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4 Tips for Reaching Out to Seniors with Your Online Marketing
If you're running your company's internet marketing efforts, you've probably become intimately familiar with your target audience. And, no doubt, that target audience is the millennial generation.
It seems everything is about the millennials today. Ask any marketing expert and they'll tell you the millennials are the only demographic that matters anymore. No matter what business you're in, you better be perpetually chasing the millennials or you're going to miss out on the bounty that is their income.
Unfortunately, it's easy to get tunnel vision as you plan your internet marketing strategies.… Read More >>
Get Mega-Returns from Facebook with these 4 Simple Tips
With over a billion users, Facebook is still the hottest thing going for business when it comes to social media. Sure, there's lots of other highly effective outlets, like Twitter and Instagram, but Facebook is still number one. At least right now, anyway.
Even with the recent changes, it's still more than cost effective and worth every penny your brand puts into it. Don't discount Facebook because it requires a little more thought and effort these days.
You can still leverage it to tremendously impact your brand's bottom. Here are some ideas on how to really make your Facebook pay off.… Read More >>
Keep an Eye on the Competition to stay Ahead in Social Media
You no doubt spend a lot of time pouring over the analytics of your company's social media. How else are you really going to know what's working and what's not? But have you ever considered how useful it might be to research your competitors' social media strategies as well?
Not only does it give you a look at the exact audience you are trying to target, but it gives you an idea about what kinds of posts that audience is engaging with. This by no means you should run out and start copying every move your competition makes.… Read More >>
5 Reasons Social Ads are Awesome for Your Business
When it comes to your marketing strategies, social media ads are becoming more effective than traditional advertisements found through online searches.
Your company's social media advertisements also build a solid foundation for long term relationships that translate to long term sales.
This is because your social media ads make emotional connections with your followers that simple search ads just aren't capable of. Social media is where more and more companies and brands are concentrating their efforts.
The ability to connect with potentially life long customers on social media is invaluable.
Here's why your brand should get involved.… Read More >>
How to Get Your Content Through Information Density
Information density. It basically means the internet is so filled with chatter about every single imaginable subject that it's going to get more and more difficult for companies to get their message out. It's tough now, and it's only going to get tougher.
Imagine the amount of information available on the internet in ten years. How about twenty years? It's why having good quality content and optimizing your web site for search engines is so vital. If you can't get your content seen, it doesn't matter how good it is.
Information density has already caused some huge shifts this year for internet marketers.… Read More >>
Tips for Keeping Your Internet Marketing Relevant
Marketing is harder than ever today. That might sound counterintuitive, but think about all the amazing technological advances made in just the last twenty years. How we communicate and access information is faster than ever, and this lightning fast pace has changed how the average consumer interacts with marketing.
The average attention span hovers at around seven seconds. That's about the same as your average goldfish. That means unless you're really drawing them in with something meaningful and interesting, your viewers are clicking away in mere seconds.
So unless you want your internet marketing strategies to become irrelevant and ineffective in the blink of an eye, you better start taking your game to the next level.… Read More >>
6 Marketing Mistakes to Avoid on Social Media
Every day, more and more companies are discovering social media marketing as a way to expand their business and make connections with potential clients.
It's clear now that passing on social media is a bad idea, and companies of all kinds are finding new ways to use it all the time.
Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms are perfect for businesses where images, videos, and conversation are key. Companies are also getting into social media advertising as they discover they have to spend a little to get their posts seen by their followers.… Read More >>
Welcome To Our Community Of Internet Marketing Enthusiasts. Join the Conversation and Discover Killer Strategies, Awesome Marketing, and Kick Ass Systems For The "New School" Entrepreneur
Loud Media worked magic on our website and all of our social media profiles. They helped us grow our fan base and we have been getting more referrals than ever before, thanks guys!
Your team is awesome! With the stuff you guys showed me I was able to get 17 out of 20 videos on the first page of YouTube, I am completely dominating my niche and have a steady stream of new customers contacting me regularly. My business is way up!
Really got great content, access to resources, and an opportunity to work with a category leading company. Look forward to implementing the system to lead people to information that they are looking for. Thank you sharing your talents!!!
At first I was confused, I thought I had a pretty good grasp of online marketing, but I wasn't getting any traction. After meeting with the Loud Media I was able to streamline everything and refocus my time, money, and energy in the right places. I launched my online campaign 8 months ago and I already have a large database of followers (customers) who purchase from me regularly!
These guys are the Real Deal. They set us up with an automated online sales system, now we are getting leads on a regular basis and we have a process in place to convert those leads to customers… all on auto-pilot
Loud Media: helpful, timely, and professional. These guys get it done, and they get results. I look forward to continuing my relationship with them.
Thank you guys so much, the videos that we did with your team are all on the first page of YouTube! We get calls regularly from people wanting to get a quote from our office… and the best part is, because they have seen our videos they are already sold when they call!
My old website wasn't very good. After giving it an amazing facelift the team at Loud Media helped me plan out the best way to market the site. Now I have a great looking website that ACTUALLY GETS TRAFFIC. Now we are working on different ways to monetize the site and increase conversions.
So grateful for what you guys were able to do, I just tried some of the free marketing strategies you showed me and made a bunch of quick cash, thanks again!
Loud media Solutions, unlike any other social media company I've used in the past, really knows the complexity how to achieve results and increase sales. The technical aspect of their knowledge is impressive, not to mention the personal touch and attention they devote to their clients. A must try!


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Where To Find The Best Interest Rate On A Payday Cash Loan
The demand for a payday cash loan is rising which means that there are many peoplethat are trying to find out more about where to find the best interest rate on a payday cash loan. The more that you understand about where you can obtain the most attractive interest rates on such forms of credit, the more likely it is that you will get the best deal.
It can be quite hard finding the best payday cash loan lenders because there are many options available and also because there is a lot of competition among all the different lenders. This form of credit is also sometimes called a cash advance loan which in turn refers to credit that is available on a short term basis and which usually involves a small sum of money that is lent out at certain interest rates.
The need for such credit arises on account of the fact that some people are badly in need of money to meet certain financial obligations. They can use such credit because it is easy to obtain and it is also given out very quickly.
It makes sense to do your research well as only then you can get the best deal. The first thing that you will need to do is find a good lender that offers the best rates. These rates tend to vary from lender to lender and so it makes sense to compare them before making up your mind.
However, you need to also realize that the interest rate is but one important facet to obtaining the best payday cash loan. You also need to check the fees that the lender is going to charge you and so make sure that you obtain a list of all fees that the lender will be charging you.
It is also important for you to find out what the terms of repayment are and so it makes sense to get the lender to provide you with details in this regard. It is important that before choosing a lender that you factor in the rates, fees and also the terms of repayment.
Once you have identified a lender, you must then check them with the Better Business Bureau and only if you get a positive report from them, you should proceed with obtaining credit from the lender.
You should also check that the lender can provide you with the amount of money that you wish to borrow. Online lenders are a good bet because their interest rates are lower. Also, the less you borrow, the less you will have to pay in terms of interest.
ACE Cash Express is a good lender and one that can provide you with the best payday cash loan. All that you need to do is qualify for the loan. For that, you will have to show that you have a regular source of income and you need to have a checking account which should have been operated for at least thirty days.
You need to be at least eighteen years old and citizen of the country where you want to borrow the money. Your gross income should be more than 1000 dollars per month and you also should not have been involved in bankruptcy and you also need to reside in the state where you plan on applying for a payday cash loan.
by: Gerald Arnold


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Open Enrollment and Waiver Policy
Idaho law allows a parent or guardian to determine whether it is in their child's best interest to attend another school within the district or within another district. To attend a school other than the one the child is zoned to attend, the parent or guardian must apply for a waiver.
Board Policy Section 1003.0 - Students Admissions
Open Enrollment:
Residence, for the purpose of this policy, is defined as ―The domicile that is used by the parent/guardian that is secured by a signed purchase agreement, deed of trust, or rental agreement as the address for mail, telephone, registration for voting, and attendance zone for other school-aged family members.
Students whose parents or legal guardians request a transfer to a school outside the attendance area where the parents or guardian of the student reside, must annually complete an enrollment application which will be originated through the following offices:
- Elementary: District Office or Elementary School.
- Middle and High Schools: Student's home school. Both the sending and receiving principals must approve of all transfers.
Transfers will be accepted with the following conditions:
- Resident elementary student waiver requests from one school to another may be made providing class loads remain reasonably equal or when a student moves from a population of high enrollment to lower enrollment. Nonresident students may only waiver into elementary classes that are at or below the district class size average.
- Open enrollment for District #91 Middle and High Schools will begin April 1st and close on the second Wednesday in May for fall trimester, on the third Wednesday in November for the second trimester, and on the third Wednesday in February for the third trimester. Available spaces will be awarded first to District #91 students and then to nonresident students set forth in AP1003.3 Grade Placement. Waiver requests will be responded to in writing within sixty days of the above noted deadlines. (Please note: State law requires all waivers to be renewed annually).
A student may be denied a transfer or a transfer may be revoked at the end of the grading term if his/her disciplinary and/or attendance record is excessive or if academic performance is unacceptable.
- Transfers must occur during the designated times except for disciplinary or trauma reasons as determined by the district administration.
- All students on a waiver must be living at home or with a legal guardian, unless of legal age and living alone.
- In the event that a student's residence changes from being within the school's attendance area to being out of the attendance area, continued enrollment will be permitted through the conclusion of the school year.
- Students whose parents are in the process of building a residence, have a signed construction contract, or an earnest money/sales contract for the purchase of a home at the beginning of a school term will be considered a resident of that school's attendance area.
- Transportation remains the responsibility of the parent or emancipated student.
- Enrollment at Emerson High School is open to all students regardless of residence.
- Students who move to District #91 who have been expelled from another school in the previous 12 months are not eligible for enrollment.
- A nonresident student who is granted a zone waiver after the high school senior year has started may earn credits that can be transferred to his/her home high school, but may not graduate from Idaho Falls or Skyline High Schools.
NCLB School Choice
According to federal law and State Board of Education rules, students who are enrolled in an accredited traditional or charter public school are eligible to transfer to another school if their school has been identified as in school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring.
- Parents of children attending these schools will be informed by letter of their opportunity to choose another school as early as possible. Notification will include choice options, priority rankings, timelines, and transportation information.
- If an eligible student exercises the option to transfer to another school they will be permitted to remain in that school until he or she has completed the highest grade in the school. However, the district is not obligated to provide transportation for the student after the end of the school year in which the student's school of origin is no longer identified for school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring.
- Students in grades 9-12 who transfer under the NCLB School Choice Option are subject to Policy 1003.4.3.C regarding athletic eligibility.


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This is a constant factor used in calculating the spatial step size. For each radial zone, the size of the next zone is chosen to be
where emult is defined below, and is the maximum opacity from the previous step calculation. is only calculated from energies where the optical depth to the illuminated face of the cloud is less than taumax, where taumax is defined below. The default value for nsteps is 2. The default value of emult is 0.5, and values outside the range 0.1 - 1 are unlikely to be of any practical value.


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Customer information provided in order to set up this appointment
will not be used to update any customer records and this information
will only be used to service this appointment.
Banking products are provided by Regions Bank,
1900 5th Avenue North,
Birmingham, AL 35203 © 2013 Regions Bank |
Housing Lender |
Member FDIC | 1-800-REGIONS
Looking for banks in Arkansas? Whether you're new to the area or ready for a much needed change, you've come to the right place.
When it comes to your financial health and well-being, a bank that's "just okay" is no longer enough, not for you and your family. It's time to raise your expectations.
Regions offers personal banking the way it should be; a full spectrum of banking solutions including savings, checking products and bank services designed to maximize your banking potential while simplifying your life. Welcome to Regions' banks in Arkansas.
We've made it easier than ever before to switch to Regions Arkansas banking solutions. Download our "It's So Easy to Switch" kit now. We've taken the hassle out of moving your checking account from your old bank with step-by-step instructions and simple-to-complete forms.


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Comedic opera to appear in McPherson
Wichita Grand Opera will present Gaetano Donizetti's comedic opera "Don Pasquale" on May 17 at the McPherson Opera House.
"As far as is known, this is the first time that a full-scale opera has been presented at the McPherson Opera House, despite its name," executive director John Holecek said.
The 1843 Italian opera has been translated into English and adapted to be set in contemporary Wichita.
Tickets are available at the McPherson Opera House, by calling (620) 241-1952, or online at http://mcphersonoperahouse.org.


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In CNET's lists of the best 2012 televisions, no lineup dominates like Panasonic's plasmas. No matter whether you pay $700 for a U50 or $3,700 for a VT50, our tests and observations have demonstrated that models across the entire range are the televisions to buy at their respective prices. But cracks had to appear somewhere, and in the Panasonic X5, they have. This is the only Panasonic plasma I don't recommend. In fact, much like many of the company's LCD and LED TVs, I encourage you to actively avoid it.
The X5 smacks of an effort to simply fill in a price point, and quality has ultimately suffered. While there are no features to speak of -- this is to be expected at the entry level -- it's the picture quality that lets it down. Black levels are fairly average, but shadow detail would be good if shadows weren't so green. There is a green cast to everything that makes skin tones in particular look very sickly. This TV is unfortunately the opposite of accurate -- if you only watch rain forest documentaries, it might be fine, but for everyone else this is a pretty disappointing TV compared with other cheap alternatives like the Samsung PNE450.
Series information: I performed a hands-on evaluation of the 50-inch Panasonic TC-P50X5, but this review also applies to the 42-inch screen size. The two sizes have identical specs and according to the manufacturer should provide very similar picture quality.
|Models in series (details)
|Panasonic TC-P42X5
|42 inches
|Panasonic TC-P50X5 (reviewed)
|50 inches
The Panasonic X5 follows the family line pretty closely in terms of design. The only difference between it and the U50 is the lack of a silver strip along the bottom. Otherwise what you get is a TV with a glossy black bezel and a rectangular, nonswiveling stand. If you're wall-mounting the TV, you may notice it is noticeably thicker than its competition -- 3 inches versus 2.5 for the LG PA4500, for example.
The remote control that ships with the unit is a good size and reasonably ergonomic with enlarged volume and channel buttons.
The menu system may look like the typical Panasonic offering but with one major flaw -- the first option in the Picture submenu is "Reset to defaults," and it's incredibly easy to accidentally click. I did so seven or more so times during calibration, resetting all my changes to zero, and found it infuriating.
|Key TV features
|Display technology
|LED backlight
|Screen finish
|Smart TV
|Internet connection
|3D technology
|3D glasses included
|Refresh rate(s)
|Dejudder (smooth) processing
|Other: SD card slot
The X5 is Panasonic's cheapest TV and doesn't have any of what I'd consider "modern" features like smart TV or even 3D. This is a 720p set, as most of the entry-level plasmas are, and so features a resolution of 1,024x768 pixels. The TV also has a 600Hz subfield drive, and while most plasmas have it these days, I bring it up in the absence of any other significant features.
However, Panasonic is one of the few companies to include an SD card slot on its TVs, and does so here, to make it easy to look at photos and videos from cameras.
Picture settings: Want to make a dirt-cheap plasma TV? You gotta make cuts somewhere, and in the case of Panasonic, it's in the number of advanced picture controls. Though you get a lot of presets -- including a Game mode -- there is no way for calibrators such as ourselves to correct any grievous problems with color or grayscale. In the case of this TV, that's an issue given its poor initial color; in addition, Samsung and LG do offer advanced color controls on their low-end plasmas.
Connectivity: The TV includes a bare minimum of inputs: two HDMI ports, a shared component/composite port, and a USB input.
Picture quality
After hogging the headlines of our plasma TV reviews all year, the company's luck had to end somehere, and that's here. When summing up a TV's picture quality the two most important elements are black levels and color. When a TV isn't able to compete on those two things, it doesn't really matter how good its picture processor is, or how many features it has. The Panasonic, unfortunately, is mediocre. After good performance from the U50 I was curious to see how deep the rabbit hole went, and it seems in this case not that far -- it's more of a pothole here in Panasonic's "X" series.
While competing companies have been able to engineer good value-for-money televisions at a sub-$500 price, this is seemingly beyond Panasonic's capabilities. The X5 is a cheap TV and it performs like one, but that's no longer good enough. Black levels were passable and shadow detail was good, but the TV's main problem can be summed up in one word: green. Green skin tones and green shadows. No, it doesn't look like the old CRT screens when they died (all green, all the time!), this is a more insidious green cast to objects. No matter its other attributes, this issue alone was enough to spoil the X5's picture.
Click the image at the right to see the picture settings used in the review and to read more about how this TV's picture controls worked during calibration.
|Comparison models (details)
|Samsung PN51E550
|51-inch plasma
|Panasonic TC-P50U50
|50-inch plasma
|Sony KDL-46EX640
|46-inch, LCD
|50-inch plasma
|42-inch plasma
|Samsung PN51E450
|51-inch plasma


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Wingert Recognition Event Presentation
On Friday evening, September 15, 2017, during CBAI's 43rd annual convention in Springfield, a special event was held to recognize the 43-year career of Bob Wingert as the association's only president. Wingert will be succeeded by Kraig Lounsberry on January 1, 2018.
Nearly 400 attendees enjoyed cocktails, dinner, and live entertainment throughout the evening. A brief presentation included comments from CBAI's first chairman (1974-75), Art Murray of Milford; CBAI's current chairman (2016-17), Tom Marantz of Springfield; and Wingert.
Chairman Marantz, who emceed the event, reminisced about years long ago when his father Jack drove Bob to see the association's first office in 1975 and noted that the Marantz family has been part of Bob's career from the beginning to the end. Jack later served as association Chairman in 1981, and Tom is the first second-generation chairman of the association. Tom also reflected on the early days with amusement when both he and Bob were young and single and burning both ends of the candle.


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By John Goralski
Sports Writer
With six minutes left in the game, one senior co-captain fouled out. With 1:32 remaining, a second senior fell to the floor clutching her leg. A five point lead shrank to one possession and vanished as time expired in the fourth quarter.
On Friday, Jan. 4, the Lady Knights were headed to overtime against NW Catholic with just one tired senior remaining on the court.
Was this the end for the Lady Knight winning streak?
"Even though the people on the court were young—we had two sophomores, a freshman, and a junior—they really stepped up in this game," said senior co-captain Maeghan Chapman. "I think we just wanted it more in the end. That's why we came out with a victory."
Sarah Mongillo, a junior, led the fast break with back-to-back layups. Freshman Natalie Wadolowski (6 points) and Mongillo held a future division one forward to just one basket in the extra period, and a fatigued Chapman did the rest.
The senior co-captain drained seven of eight free throws down the stretch, and the Knights won their fourth straight game with a 48-41 win over the Indians.
"I couldn't be more proud of the whole team," said Lady Knight coach Mike Forgione. "At the end of the day, you just have to want it more than they do. We battled all game. Sarah Mongillo was big in overtime, and she's getting better every day. Sometimes it's easy to forget that Natalie Wadolowski is only a freshman out there with the way she handles the pressure. Both of those kids really had to step up when our seniors went out, and they did a great job."
The win came on the heels of two lopsided victories over Maloney and Conard. The Knights have one four in a row to secure a 7-2 record. With more than half the season ahead of them, Southington needs just one more win to clinch a postseason berth.
Forgione said that he was happy with his team's maturity during the streak, but that the win over NW Catholic showed his team's true potential.
"I kind of lump together Monday and Wednesday because we kind of took care of business," said the coach. "I think we were a little bit more athletic than those teams. We attacked them. We went at them, but we knew that NW Catholic would be a different story. We just wanted it more."
In a New Year's Eve matinee, the Knights rolled over Maloney, 52-36. Charamut paced the attack with 17 points. O'Keefe (11 points) converted a trio of three pointers. Kaitlin Paterson and Mongillo scored seven points apiece, and Chapman added six.
The momentum carried into Wednesday's conference game against Conard. Chapman, Charamut, and O'Keefe combined for 15 points in the first quarter as the Knights opened a 26-12 lead at the half.
O'Keefe finished with 13 points. Chapman added 11, and Paterson scored eight. Charamut (7) and Mongillo (6) contributed but just five Knights scored in the 45-28 victory.
That's why the NW Catholic victory was so important to Forgione. It proved that the team could rise above adversity, overcome the loss of two starters, and win with their bench.
"They have a division one center (Alyssa Reaves) going to University of Hartford on a full scholarship. Their other post is athletic, and their guards are quick," said Forgione. "We knew that they were going to make runs, but the big question was whether we were going to be able to respond to those runs. The kids never backed down. They played tough to the end."
NW Catholic's big men held Charamut to just six points before she fouled out at the start of the fourth quarter. O'Keefe led all scorers with 15 points and three from long range. Wadolowski (6) and Paterson (5) contributed, and it was the team defense that forced the win.
NW Catholic managed just seven points in the fourth quarter and just four points in the overtime period. Reaves was held to just two baskets after the first quarter of play.
"We went back to those three words—Want it more," said Forgione. "At the end of the day, you've got to dig down deep. We knew it was going to be tough, but you have to try to answer. The kids really responded."
According to Chapman, the victory raises the bar for the Knights. "This is a very good team," she said. "By stepping up and winning this game, we showed that we have every opportunity to win the rest of the way."
To comment on this story or to contact sports writer John Goralski, email him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Nectar Sports Fuel Cell Energy Gel Sachets are carbohydrate-based energy gels from the people behind For Goodness Shakes recovery drinks. Like many gels these days, it's a mix of glucose and fructose, designed to deliver as much energy as possible. For some riders, though, it won't last long enough.
Previously on road.cc we've reviewed Nectar Sports Fuel; looking for all the world like a 2 litre can of bike wash, it's a syrup that which you mix with water to create a drink of the required strength. But the Fuel Cell under review here is a 'ready to go' gel, served up in small sachets to be eaten on the bike.
Each 40g sachet contains 20g of carbohydrate. Most cyclists, after an hour or two of fairly hard riding, need carbs to keep going, but the body can absorb a maximum of around 50g to 90g per hour (depending on exertion levels, body mass and the nature of the carb itself). So the 20g of carb in each Fuel Cell is enough for between about 15 and 30 minutes.
The main ingredients, according to the packaging, are simply water, maltodextrin and fructose. The packaging also highlights the 'dual-carb' formula – the combination of glucose and fructose – which is a more efficient way for the body to take on energy than via glucose alone.
We're testing the orange and lemon-lime flavours. The taste is light and not sticky, but with a bit of zing from the citrus which makes it pleasant on the taste-buds. Compared to gels from some other brands, the consistency is very 'thin' – more like a drink than a gel - which is not surprising, given that about half the content of a Fuel Cell is water. The blurb on the Nectar website dubs it a 'LiquiGel'.
On price, a box of 24 sachets costs £36 at Nectar's own Athlete Store on-line shop, which works out at £1.50 per sachet (although it's currently reduced to £33 with free shipping). On a crude carbs-per-quid basis the Fuel Cell (40g gel delivering 20g of carb for £1.50) does not compare well against similar products such as Bike Food Pure Energy (40g gel delivering almost 30g of carb for about £1.45), ZipVit (60g gel, 51g of carb, £1.50) or Sponser Liquid Energy Long (40g gel, 23g of carb, £1).
As with all energy products, a lot comes down to personal experience and preference. Based on our tests, if you're the type of cyclist that wants more bang for your buck and don't mind a gel that's a bit chewy, then Fuel Cells may not be the product for you. On the other hand, if you're the type of cyclist that finds other gels too 'thick' to stomach in one go, and you're looking for something with a nice non-sticky taste, then we'd recommend giving Fuel Cells a try.
Zingy-flavoured energy gel. Easy on the stomach, but not so easy on the wallet.
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test report
Make and model: Nectar Sports Fuel Cell Energy Gel Sachets
Size tested: x
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
This product is a carbohydrate-based energy gel. Nectar's own Athlete Store website says this: 'NECTAR Fuel Cell is the first compact LiquiGel that is easy to carry & easy to drink. When selecting your energy gels you have to choose between: 1. easy to drink, but big and bulky or 2. small & compact but sticky and hard to consume. However the NECTAR Fuel Cell combines the best of both worlds, compact AND easy to drink. The 2:1 dual carb source delivers up to 40% more energy to muscles and with its B-vitamin energy complex supports your energy metabolism helping to sustain energy for longer.'
Performance was good, in that on a couple of long rides I used some of these gels and they kept me going for a while. But not really long enough; personally, I prefer a gel with a higher carb content.
Each sachet weighs 40g, of which 20g is carb. The other 20g is water. The advantage of this is you need drink slightly less from your bottles. The disadvantage is you're carrying sachets half-full of water in your back pocket.
When compared to other gels on a crude carbs-per-quid basis, Nectar Fuel Cells are not good value. Even compared against gels from other brands with a similar carb:water ratio they're still not especailly good value.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Taste. Easy on the stomach.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Low carb content. Personally, I prefer a gel with a higher carb content.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes on taste. No on carb content.
Would you consider buying the product? No.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, if they were looking for a nice-tasting gel that was easy to consume.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
The taste is good, and the relatively low amount of carbs in Fuel Cells (20g in a 40g gel) will be a plus for some riders (because the consistency is easy to consume) but a minus for other riders (who just want as many carbs as possible packed in), so a score of 8 would be fair. Either way, though, the value is not good, so this gets a point knocked off, giving an overall score of 7.
About the tester
Age: 51 Height: 5ft 10 / 178cm Weight: 11 stone / 70kg
I usually ride: an old Marin Alp, or an old steel classic My best bike is: an old Giant Cadex (can you see a theme here?)
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,


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Mental health isn't a simple matter but we're making strides in rugby and beyond
Irupa's work with current and ex-players provides an outlet for when times are tough
Former New Zealand great John Kirwan, the current coach of the Auckland Blues was open regarding his own mental health issues in his book. Photograph: Getty Images.
Retirement is a strange thing. Coming to terms with the fact that what you do and love is gone is a tough experience no matter how far ahead you've seen it coming. I had it on my radar for about two years before I finished up but I still spent the first year of retirement feeling a bit lost and not really sure what I was doing or where I was going. After 14 or 15 years in the game, that's only natural.
There's a void in your life. You have to adapt and change accordingly. You have to find yourself a routine and come to terms with a lack of structure in your life. As a professional rugby player, you come to rely on structure a lot, being told where to go and what to do, when to train and even what to eat. Then you wake up one morning and all those decisions are yours and yours alone. That feeling of being looked after is gone.
It can feel surreal. It definitely felt a bit surreal for me. First and foremost, I missed my team-mates and I missed being part of something that we were all trying to do together. I remember when I heard that the lads were going back into pre-season that summer after I retired, I was hugely jealous. I was pining to be going back with them.
That's how odd an experience it is – I was jealous of fellas going into pre-season training, which is without doubt the worst part of any season. Talk about it messing with your head!
It comes down to being fearful. People looking in from the outside must be thinking, "Sure, pity about you – what have you got to fear? Didn't you get well paid to have sport as a job for 15 years?"
But when you're used to something for so long – in any walk of life – the loss of it has to bring a certain amount of fear. You don't know what's next. You don't know how you're going to handle it. You don't know if you're going to be any good at it.
As the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (Irupa) has become more established over the past decade, this side of things has been a big part of their role. The importance of that transition period is massive, helping guys come to terms with getting back to a normal life. That can come in many forms – helping them meet businesspeople, pointing them towards college courses – but one of the most vital of them is in the field of mental health.
This is obviously an area of interest to me because I've had those issues myself and I've spoken about them a fair bit. The work that Irupa do for all players – current and past – is hugely valuable.
They have a members' 24-hour helpline for anyone who wants to speak to a counsellor at any stage. If you're depressed or down or just in a tough place, that facility is there for you. It can happen to anyone in any job, so there's obviously no reason it can't happen to a rugby player.
I don't worry as much anymore as I used to. I try to look after my mental health much better nowadays. I try to take away the pressure that I sometimes brought upon myself as a professional rugby player and not transfer that same pressure across into normal everyday life. I try to live in the present as much as I can and not panic about what the future holds. That's important for everyone, no matter what walk of life they're in.
But I know better than most people that it can be hard to take a step back and see that. Rugby players spend their lives setting goals and meeting them, busting their ass to get that edge over the opposition, focussing down on the next session, the next game, the next contract. You go from a situation as a full-time player where you don't think you have the time to sit back and think things out to being a retired player with all the time in the world but no experience of knowing how to do it.
Depression is definitely something that rugby has to keep an eye out for. We can't ignore the stories that keep coming from America about ex-NFL players suffering with depression. Now, there are different factors at play there obviously – NFL players earn a lot more money than rugby players and consequently lose a lot more when things go wrong.
It's clear that some of the mental health problems in that sport have to do with the financial chaos some players find themselves in after they finish up playing. I read a statistic that said something mad like 78 per cent of NFL players go bankrupt within three years of retirement. I'm not aware of it happening on anything like that scale in rugby.
Concussion problem
But beyond money, the concussion problem is a major one that is common to both sports. There is more and more evidence every year that certain forms of mental illness in later life are connected to the hits to the head that players have taken during their career.
You have seen some of the suicides of ex-NFL players in recent years take the form of players shooting themselves in the chest so that their brain can be preserved for doctors to examine afterwards. Again, this is a world away from what we're used to in rugby but I think it's important that we see the warning signs now that the NFL never had the chance to see.
To be honest though, mental health problems generally aren't those big ones that make the news. They're small, internal things that get you down in a quiet way that nobody but those closest to you notice.
It's the longing you feel to be on the pitch in Thomond Park or the Aviva, or at not heading off to Europe with your friends to take on the best teams from England or France. You can't replace those feelings and you have to learn to deal with the fact that they're gone and they're not coming back.
The best way you can do that is to work at your mental health the same way you would work at your physical health. You've got to become aware of what way you think, what way you feel. Think about what makes you anxious and what makes you happy and don't just let it wash over you. It's that knowledge that you can do some actual thinking and reframing of your mindset that helps you. It makes you realise that you're not powerless, that you can take control of your feelings.
Rugby is a macho sport where these things have never really been spoken about to any great extent. That's why the mental health side of Irupa's work is so important. I was so nervous when I started talking about my mental health as couple of years ago because I didn't know what way it would be received.
In the end, I was amazed at how many players came up to me and wanted to talk about their own issues. It wasn't just that they were so sympathetic, it was that so many wanted to say that they felt some of the same things as well. They could relate to what I was saying, which I didn't expect.
Our view of mental health is changing, not just in rugby but in society as a whole. There is a broad acceptance now that wasn't there five or 10 years ago. A lot of it comes from natural emotions – people in every walk of life are affected by pressure, anxiety and stress and they're willing to talk about it more.
Sport can't exist apart from the rest of life and professional sportspeople have to take care of themselves. Fitness isn't just being physically fit, it's being mentally fit. You can give years in the gym to get your body into the shape required for the game but if you don't look after your mental health, you won't do yourself justice and be happy.
I didn't always grasp that. It's hard to think that way when you're in the middle of your career. When I read John Kirwan 's book on his own mental health problems, I recognised a lot in what he was saying. In one part, he explains that it was like an injury upstairs that he had to take care of just like he would an injury to the rest of his body. It sounds so simple when he put it that way.
Mental health isn't a simple matter but it can be managed and you can work at it. Irupa are expanding their programme for current and ex-players all the time. I think in years to come, this side of their operation will be seen as one of the most important.


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Blackhawks honored at the White Houseby Dan Rosen / Chicago Blackhawks
|Getty Images
Washington, D.C. -- Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews and a handful of his teammates, as well as one ex-teammate, now have more in common than just being Stanley Cup champions.
They can say they were called out by the President of the United States at the White House. Not too shabby.
President Barack Obama honored his hometown hockey team Monday for its 2013 Stanley Cup championship in front of a standing-room only crowd in the East Room. During his remarks, President Obama referenced Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Bryan Bickell, Dave Bolland, Andrew Shaw and Corey Crawford in various forms of praise and comedy.
It was part of a celebration that the Blackhawks will never forget.
"Since I took office we've hosted a lot of championship teams -- from Boston and New York, Pittsburgh and Miami," President Obama said in his opening remarks. "But since I've been President only one team has brought a world championship to my hometown of Chicago. And now the Blackhawks have done it twice."
Upon arrival at the White House the Blackhawks were feted with an exclusive opportunity to mingle through several rooms in the East Wing, including a few that look out onto the South Lawn and one that has a view of the Rose Garden. They took pictures and marveled at the history.
The President greeted the Blackhawks, shook their hands and received a Stanley Cup replica popcorn maker as a gift prior to delivering his remarks.
"Some of the guys were laughing at me because he was moving pretty quick down the line and I was next to [Blackhawks Chairman] Rocky Wirtz and he shook his hand pretty quick," Kane said. "I put my hand out too quick while he was still talking to Rocky so my hand was out there waiting for him to shake my hand. It was a pretty funny moment."
During his speech President Obama praised Toews for being the captain of a team that has won the Stanley Cup twice despite his age.
"He's still only, by the way, 25 years old," President Obama said. "Now I don't remember everything I was doing when I was 25, but I wasn't doing that. That I'm pretty certain of. Incredible leadership on his part."
Toews presented the President with a white Blackhawks' jersey with the number 13 and OBAMA stitched on the back.
"Everyone knows the President is a huge sports fan and he's a proud Chicagoan as well," Toews said. "We had his support in the Cup run and it's nice to be here at the White House and spend the day with him."
President Obama went on to credit Kane for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy and sending the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Final with his double-overtime winner in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Los Angeles Kings.
"I will say some of the games were just stressful, though," President Obama said. "I was getting a little tense."
President Obama told the story of how Keith had to leave the team after Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals to be at his wife's bedside when she gave birth to their son Colton.
"Then he flew back to Minneapolis the same day, arrived two hours before the drop of the puck, helped lead the team to a win that put them up 3-1 in the series," President Obama said. "And about six weeks later Colton may have become the youngest person ever to be hoisted by the Cup. That hadn't happened before."
Keith said he's hoping to be able to return to the White House with his teammates before President Obama leaves office.
"He exemplifies what the people of Chicago are about," Keith told NHL.com. "He's a good person, down to earth."
President Obama pointed out that Bickell and Bolland, who now is with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was not in attendance Tuesday, scored the game-tying and Cup-clinching goals 17 seconds apart late in Game 6 against the Boston Bruins.
"That's the kind of clutch performance that would make [Michael] Jordan proud, which is why the statue was wearing a Blackhawks jersey during the playoffs," President Obama said, referencing the Jordan statue outside United Center.
The President even praised Shaw for auctioning off the stitches he received for being hit in the face by the puck during Game 6 of the Cup Final.
"That does raise the question, like, who's buying sutures?" President Obama said. "Somebody bid on this stuff. He raised almost $20,000 for the V Foundation to help cancer research."
The President thanked the Blackhawks for visiting the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., earlier Monday and pointed out that he met with four of the wounded warriors that the Blackhawks brought with them to the White House prior to making his remarks.
President Obama winked at the four wounded warriors sitting in the crowd. Marine Cpl. Patrick Brown and Army Capt. Mark Little are double-amputees, Army Sgt. First Class Joseph Bowser is a single amputee and Army Sgt. First Class Michael Davis has had double hip replacement surgeries.
"We're certainly appreciative of what they've done for us," coach Joel Quenneville said, "and President Obama said it best, that's the team that really keeps us going."
Before closing, President Obama got in one shot at Crawford for the expletive-laced speech he gave in Grant Park following the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup championship parade through the streets of Chicago in June.
"These are not just good hockey players, they're good guys and that helps explain why 2 million Chicago fans came out to Grant Park to celebrate bringing home the Cup," President Obama said. "Speaking of Grant Park, we were originally going to let Corey Crawford say a few words today, but we thought we'd keep this family event family-friendly."
Everyone in the room broke out in laughter. Crawford, standing on the top riser, smiled and nodded in the President's direction.
"I thought he hit it right out of the park on that one," Quenneville said. "Corey had a fun day that day; we all did."
The fun continued Monday, only this time they were wearing suits and ties and standing behind the President of the United States.
"To me this is the one moment where you really can reflect back and say, 'Wow, it was a heck of a year we had,'" Quenneville said. "We'll walk together forever with that group."


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Reviewed by Jesus H (age 9)
I thought the book was interesting because the book said lots of great information about wolves. The most interesting part was that two male wolves fight and if the wolf wins the fight he gets to be the leader.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO A KID OR ADULT THAT LIKES WOLVES SO MUCH THAT THEY WANT TO DISCOVER WOLVES IN THE WILD. If they want to learn new information about wolves it is in this book. I wouldn't recommend this book to people who don't like wolves so much they want to discover them in the wild because it might make them scared.