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Monastery of the Glorious Ascension (Resaca, Georgia)
The Monastery of the Glorious Ascension is a cenobitic institution under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The Monastery, popularly known as 'Ascension Monastery', is located in Resaca, Georgia, about sixty miles northwest of Atlanta along I75. The Monastery was founded in 1966 and was received into the Orthodox Church in August 1977. In 2002, the Brotherhood was received into the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and made part of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, which is the Brotherhood from Saint Savvas' Monastery in the Judean Desert that is responsible for maintaining and protecting the Holy Sepulchre and other Holy Sites and Shrines in the Holy Land.
The Monastery, also, supports the Saint Andry Rublev Guild that conducts iconography workshops at the Monastery.
External links
Categories > Church History
Categories > OrthodoxWiki > Articles in a series
Categories > Places > Monasteries
Categories > Places > Monasteries
Categories > Places > Orthodoxy by country > Orthodoxy in America > American Monasteries
Categories > Spirituality > Asceticism
Categories > Spirituality > Asceticism


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St. Peter, Minn. – Like two teams playing a game of tug-of-war, the Gustavus and St. Thomas football teams battled back-and-forth on Saturday afternoon at Hollingsworth Field. In the end, it was a 20-12 win for St. Thomas.
After the Tommies scored a touchdown late in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead, the Gusties responded with a touchdown of their own early in the second to cut the lead to 7-6. St. Thomas found the end zone again midway through the third quarter, but Gustavus answered with more of the same in the fourth to bring the score to 13-12. After the Tommies scored midway through the final frame to go up 20-12, the Gusties drove the ball all the way down to the St. Thomas 20-yard line on the ensuing possession. The Tommie defense dug in its heels at that point and forced Gustavus to turn the ball over on downs after three straight incompletions, securing the eight point victory.
With the loss, Gustavus drops to 3-2 overall (2-2 MIAC), while St. Thomas improves to 4-1 (2-1 MIAC).
"St. Thomas is a great team," said senior linebacker Joe Haas (Mission, Kan.), "We knew that coming in, and we knew that it would be a battle all day. They capitalized on a few of their chances and we missed some of ours, which was the bottom line of the game."
Following a sloppy start to the game that featured three turnovers in the first four possessions, the Tommies took advantage of a 10-play, 45-yard drive that led to a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. The drive was capped off by a one-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak by Matt O'Connell with :48 seconds remaining in the opening frame. The drive encompassed most of the offensive production in the quarter as St. Thomas gained 69 yards of total offense compared to a meager three yards for the Gustavus offense.
However, the Gusties responded on the ensuing possession with a 12-play, 61-yard drive that found the end zone at the 10:30 mark of the second quarter. Quarterback Mitch Hendricks (So., Laporte, Minn.) kept the ball off left tackle and over the goal line to bring his team within one point with a score of 7-6, where it would remain following a missed point-after-attempt. The Gusties converted on three third downs on the drive.
"Early in the game, we struggled offensively," mentioned Hendricks. "After the first quarter, we started to find ways to attack their defense. We moved the ball and made some plays."
St. Thomas began the scoring again in the third quarter. The Tommies marched 50 yards in six plays to take a 13-6 lead on a touchdown pass from Alex Fenske, who replaced injured starting quarterback Matt O'Connell, to Nick Waldvogel. The pass was a 19-yard strike 5:57 into the second half.
Gustavus had the answer once again early in the fourth quarter. The Gusties took over at the St. Thomas 35-yard line following a Lucas Kleinschrodt (Sr., Alden, Minn.) interception at the 13:56 mark. From there, the Gustavus offense needed just three plays for Hendricks to connect with sophomore tight end Jake Douglas (Montevideo, Minn.) down the seam off a play action fake to cut the deficit to 13-12. Again the Gusties could not convert the extra point and the score remained a one-point Tommie lead.
Later in the fourth, St. Thomas tacked on what would give itself some breathing room when it caught a favorable break in the end zone. On third down and six yards to go on the Gustavus 11-yard line, quarterback Alex Fenske rolled out to the right and threw to the end zone where defensive back Zach Dilger (Jr., South St. Paul, Minn.) went up and deflected the ball away from its intended receiver. However, rather than flying out of play, the ball instead fell into the arms of Cole Kelly for the 11-yard touchdown. Following the extra point, the Tommies held an eight-point lead with 5:48 remaining.
Trailing 20-12, the Gusties would not go quietly. Facing a fourth-and-four at the his own 37-yard line and the pocket collapsing on him, quarterback Mitch Hendricks extended the play by rolling out to his right and finding Matt Boyce (So., Excelsior, Minn.) on the sideline for a 10-yard gain on the key fourth-down conversion. The pair hooked up again on the next play, a 17-yard completion to the St. Thomas 36-yard line. With the momentum on their side, the Gusties went for the homerun with a halfback pass from Jeffrey Dubose (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.)to Boyce, a play that resulted in a 15-yard pass interference penalty and placed the ball at the Tommie 21-yard line. After a one-yard pick up on first down, the St. Thomas defense dug in and got the stop it needed, forcing three consecutive incompletions, and hanging on for the eight-point win.
"It's just one of those gut-wrenching losses," said Head Coach Peter Haugen. "Our kids played really well. I can't say enough about our defense, they did some really good things today, and our offense made some really key drives when we needed to. On the last drive, we put ourselves in a position to tie the game, which is what you want to do, we just have to finish it. They are a good football team, it's what our league is built on, and it's a tough loss to take, but we will bounce back."
Defense and field position proved to be the differences in the game. With an average starting field position of their own 42-yard line, the Tommies did not score on any drive longer than 50 yards. Comparatively, the Gusties averaged starting on their own 25-yard line.
In the game, the St. Thomas defense showed its teeth, holding Gustavus to 170 yards of total offense (20 rushing, 150 passing), while the Gustavus defense put forth its best performance of the season. The Gusties held St. Thomas' MIAC second-ranked rushing offense to 142 yards and also held the Tommies to 113 yards passing for a season-low 255 yards. Gustavus also forced three turnovers on the afternoon. Joe Haas led the way with 13 tackles (7 solo), three of which went for losses, and forced a fumble. Lucas Kleinschrodt also had a big day on defense, racking up seven tackles (4 solo) to go along with two fumble recoveries and an interception. The last time a Gustie defender came away with three turnovers in a game was all the way back on Nov. 15th, 2008 when Mike Fabel '09 intercepted three passes against Concordia.
"They've been playing well for four weeks," said Haugen of his defense. "They have been building some confidence over that period of time, and we have defended the run really well, which was the case again today. We got a bad bounce there at the end of the game when we make a nice play on the ball and it ends up getting tipped into their guy's hands, but that's football. There's no question that our guys played their tails off."
Offensively, quarterback Mitch Hendricks completed 17-of-37 passes for 150 yards with a touchdown as well as an interception. His favorite target was once again Matt Boyce, who caught six balls for 65 yards. The MIAC's second-leading rusher coming into the day, Jeffrey Dubose, was held in check on the ground. The senior was held to just 48 yards on 21 carries for an average of 2.3 yards per carry. His 48-yard total is the lowest since last season when he was held to 18 yards rushing on seven carries before being injured in a 28-14 loss at St. Thomas.
The Gusties will travel to Valley City, N.D. next Saturday, Oct. 19th, for a non-conference match up with Valley City State University, the 16th-ranked team in NAIA. Kick off for that game is set for 1:00 p.m.
"It's been a mantra of our team this year to take one snap at a time and win every down," finished Haas. "This is a tough loss, but it doesn't change the way we are going to play the rest of the season. Every snap is a new play. We are going to keep working hard to get ready for Valley City next week."
"Well you need to stay consistent," agreed Haugen. "That's what you have to do. You have to keep fighting. We talk about consistency in everything we do; how we prepare, how we practice, and how we play. That's what good football teams do and that's what we will expect heading into next week."

subset: commoncrawl


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Ever since she landed in New York City in 2007 at age 17, signing with Jay Z's Roc Nation label in 2008, British pop singer Rita Ora's eclectic, look-at-me style has made her an instant "It" girl. With her signature peroxide blond hair, cherry-red lips and pinup sex appeal, Ora serves up a haute-meets-hip-hop look. She rocked dresses with sneakers long before it became atrend, yet she can transform into a siren by night, as she did in a red silk, slit-up-to-there Donna Karan gown at the MTV Video Music Awards last month.
Rita Ora: In the Sept. 14 Image section, an article about British pop singer Rita Ora said that...


text: Admin 470 Posted June 17, 2005 OK here is the official press release from Bandai announcing the V2... Scroll down for some nice close-ups... ------------------------------------------------- Tamagotchi Connection Version 2 Ready for Release in the United States America's Favorite Virtual Pet Emerges as One of the Must-Have Toys of 2004 and 2005; "V.2" Features New Gotchi Points and Shopping CYPRESS, Calif., June 16, 2005 – After sell-out performances at retail over the past year, Bandai America Incorporated announced that it is ready to release Tamagotchi Connection Version 2 (V.2). Version 2, which offers more bonus features and increased interactivity, will begin hitting store shelves in mid-June – with fun and exciting new designs and colors coming in July. The egg-shaped toy simulates the life cycle of a real pet, letting kids experience the fun and responsibility of feeding, tending to and caring for their virtual pet. With Tamagotchi Connection Version 2, kids can earn "Gotchi" points to shop for special items and food – and by unlocking new secret codes, they can shop 'til they drop for even more fun treats. And, with even more new designs, colors and characters to choose from, Tamagotchi fans will be able to find the Tamagotchi that matches their personal style. New design collections include Tropical Fun, Camouflage, Makeup Fun, Sweet Candy and Spring Time. The re-launch of Tamagotchi Connection in August 2004 spurred a re-birth of the virtual pet craze. After just five months on shelf, Tamagotchi Connection sold nearly one million units – emerging as the hottest toy of the holiday season. Swift sales of Tamagotchi Connection have created high demand for the product and increased consumer anticipation for the release of V.2. "We know that fans, consumers and retailers have been anxiously awaiting the release of Tamagotchi Connection Version 2," said Bill Beebe, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Bandai America Incorporated. "With the sales successes of Tamagotchi Connection in 2004 and the first half of 2005, combined with the escalating interest in new features and interactivity, we know that Version 2 will continue as a must-have toy." New to Version 2 The new "Gotchi" points system allows owners to earn points to shop for special treats, items and food. Gotchi points are earned by playing games or getting special item awards points. Owners can also choose to feed their Tamagotchi a "Meal," "Snack" or the newly introduced "Treat" feature. A "Treat" can be purchased with Gotchi points and can raise or lower a Tamagotchi's Happy meter. In addition, owners can now choose a treat to give to their Tamagotchi friends as a gift once they connect via the infrared technology. Also new to Tamagotchi Connection Version 2 are secret codes – unlocked by pushing a special sequence of buttons – letting the player open more shopping areas to purchase a unique item not available in normal play. After collecting five secret codes, the owner can collect a special sixth unique item. All five secret codes will be revealed to fans through special events, advertising and in packaging. Tamagotchi Connection Version 2 also includes four new games. For fans wanting to purchase two Tamagotchis at once, Bandai America will also offer the new "True Friends" collection this July – a pack of two Tamagotchi Connection virtual pets together with matching designs. The True Friends collections allow best friends to show off their matching virtual pets, to have fun sharing and communicating, to play games with each other and even to buy special treats for their Tamagotchi friends. Tamagotchi Connection Version 2 still features interactive technology that allows owners to "connect," play games, give gifts and become friends with other Tamagotchi owners while storing a "friend list" of up to 50 friends. Once an adult, the Tamagotchi can connect with a compatible friend and create a second-generation Tamagotchi that the owner can care for and nurture into an adult to create more generations to come. Suggested retail price is $14.99 for Tamagotchi Connection Version 2. The True Friends collection suggested retail price is $26.99. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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If you've followed the debates about the Deepwater Wind projects off Block Island and in RI Sound for the past several years with an open mind, you can't help but to be confused at this point, just as Deepwater Wind has finally passed a big milestone: Winning the rights from the federal government through an auction bid process to develop offshore wind power.
Deepwater wants to construct a smaller pilot project off Block Island to help lower the high electric rates that Islanders have had to pay for decades and supply extra power into the land-based grid that National Grid owns. The second and larger project would see wind turbines in RI Sound, farther off our coast. Amidst all the controversies surrounding this project, the latest is the refusal of the town of Narragansett to allow the cable line to be placed under its beachfront or anywhere in town. Now Deepwater has to find another, more costly entry and cross-through point for its cable. Stay tuned on that one.
With the inception of the project going back to Governor Carcieri's first administration, the long and slow process has provided ample time for a cottage industry of sorts to develop here in the Ocean State, much like the one in the Bay State over its offshore wind project, to allow armed camps of committed supporters and opponents to drag the project through – if not the water, certainly the mud – over the critical issue of whether it will ultimately be good or bad for Rhode Island.
Nearly every aspect of the project and what it entails is being argued by everyone from harbormasters and fishermen, to politicians, environmentalists and climate change advocates, pro and con. Even the environmentalists in the Sierra Club are divided over it. What will it do for electric rates – take them artificially higher for all of us ratepayers who will be subsidizing a boondoggle, or produce lower rates once both projects are operational? Take your pick; it's being argued both ways. What will it do to the environment? What impact will it have on the marine life and sea birds? How might it affect human health?
Arguments fly back and forth, even on issues that should be settled by now, based on considerable experience with wind farms elsewhere in the U.S., like in Texas and California, and in Europe. Look at the European countries that have developed their wind power industry, both offshore and land-based. They would appear to be accepted by the public and not still be a bone of contention. Not so fast. We've been treated to the prospect of toppling towers and disintegrating blades and dead birds and destroyed ocean bottoms. And then there's the sound they make, damaging hearing and even driving people mad who happen to live near them. True or false?
One doesn't know what to believe, except for the fact that the federal government under this administration is adamant about reducing our reliance on fossil fuel use and is encouraging the development of renewable forms of energy. This push is being second-guessed even more now that natural gas – a fossil fuel but cleaner and more efficient than coal – is coming online in abundance. Plus there is a realization that for some time to come, we will have no choice but to continue to use fossil fuels along with renewable forms of energy because renewables by themselves are insufficient in supplanting the continuing need for carbon energy, supplies of which we don't seem to be running out of anytime soon.
Just build the windmills we need clean energy !!! 90's today feels like 101 f. 9/11


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UX Week 2013 - Hosted by Adaptive Path
Adaptive Path
Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 8:00 AM - Friday, August 23, 2013 at 5:00 PM (PDT)
Event Details
San Francisco | August 20 - 23, 2013
Adaptive Path's UX Week is the premier user experience conference. With a mix of inspiring talks from recognized thought leaders and hands-on workshops delivering takeaway skills, this event delivers for user experience professionals at all levels — directors, managers, and practitioners. Join us as we celebrate 11 years of UX Week. It just keeps getting better and better!
"At Adaptive Path conferences, we're all there—design practitioners and managers alike—to help move the practice of strategic design forward. I always leave the experience with a renewed sense of passion for user-centered design and the impact it can have on the businesses and communities we represent."
— Margaret Gould Stewart, Facebook
The full conference site will be up soon. In the meantime, have a look at the stellar speaker line up
And follow us on Twitter for the latest news and announcements.
Questions? Contact us at: firstname.lastname@example.com
All the UX you can handle! Oh yeah, the details:
// Two amazing days of inspirational general session talks
// Two brain-melting days of hands-on workshops
// Lunch every day – be sure to bring your appetite
// Copious amounts of caffeine (coffee, tea and high energy snacks)
// The opportunity to party down at nightly receptions and activities
// So much more, we can't even go there…
Workshops are included with your registration. You will be invited via email to choose your workshops closer to the event. Keep an eye out for that very important email.
Yes, but not until a few weeks before the conference. Single day tickets are available for the General Session. Workshop space is limited and access to workshops only comes with full conference registration.
We try to be as flexible as we can:
Sixty (60) days prior to the event you plan to attend, you may request a full refund.
Thirty (30) or more days prior to the event you plan to attend, you may request a 50% refund.
Less than thirty (30) days prior to an event, there are no refunds available.
You may always transfer your registration to another Adaptive Path workshop or conference within one (1) year of the date of cancellation, or assign another individual from your organization to go in your stead. Please contact us either way.
Please note that any refunds given will returned less the registration fee ($9.95) and the 2.4% fee PayPal charges for each registration.
Want to bring your whole team? Great idea! If you can pull together four or more employees from the same company, we'll let you in for less. Just let us know the number of folks you'd like to send.
Government Agencies
If you work for the any branch of the government (federal, state, or local), just contact us for a promotion code which will knock the price down by 25 percent. When you come to the event, show your government ID card or proof of employment on agency letterhead at registration to confirm your discount.
If you're a full-time student, we've got a discount for you, too. Contact us for a promotion code which will knock the price down by 25 percent. When you come to the event, show your student ID card at registration to confirm your discount.
When & Where
1675 Owens Street
San Francisco,
94143 - 3008
Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 8:00 AM - Friday, August 23, 2013 at 5:00 PM (PDT)
Add to my calendar
Adaptive Path
Adaptive Path is a leader in experience design, founded in 2001 and now a part of Capital One. We're experienced guides, strategic thinkers, design doers, and expert jugglers. Our mission is to inspire and enable others to help create as many great human experiences as possible.


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The Certificate of Achievement in CSU General Education - Breadth and the Certificate of Achievement in Intersegmental General Education Transfer (IGETC) are designed for students who intend to complete university general education requirements prior to transfer to a California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) campus.
General education (GE) is a set of courses from a variety of different subject areas that every student must complete in order to earn a degree, regardless of major. The goal is to provide a well-rounded or "liberal" education and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that together help make up an educated person. The completion of GE prior to transfer is not required for admission to most universities. However, it is usually in the students' best interest to complete an appropriate transfer GE pattern at the community college. This is because GE requirements that are not fulfilled prior to transfer must be completed later at the university, which often extends the time and expense of a university education.
The student will select courses that fulfill the CSU GE certification pattern detailed on page 113 of this catalog. CSU GE is accepted by all CSU campuses and some private / independent or out of state universities. CSU GE is not accepted by the UC system.
Total units = 39-40
The student will select courses that fulfill the IGETC certification pattern detailed on page 106 of this catalog. IGETC is accepted by all CSU campuses and most UC campuses and majors. It is also accepted by some private / independent or out of state universities.
Total units = 37-40


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Beyonce: VMAs Performance After Announcing Pregnancy!
Beyonce hits the stage to perform her song "Love On Top" at the 2011 MTV VMAs on Sunday (August 28) at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
The 29-year-old entertainer announced that she is pregnant earlier in the evening by showing off her tiny baby bump when she hit the carpet.
Beyonce's pals Britney Spears and Lady Gaga were on hand to present Bey's performance.
After she was finished performing, Bey threw down her microphone, opened up her jacket, and rubbed her baby bump while her husband Jay-Z cheered on from the audience.
FYI: Beyonce is wearing head to toe Dolce&Gabbana.
Beyonce Reveals Baby Bump After Performance


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The U.S. Treasury launched on Thursday the third phase of its plan to sell its stake in General Motors Co, the U.S. automaker that took a government bailout in 2009.
Continue Reading Below
Treasury officials offered few details of the sale in a statement on Thursday. The U.S. government currently has 101.3 million shares in GM, amounting to a 7.3 percent ownership stake in the No. 1 U.S. automaker.
The U.S. government originally took a 60.8 percent stake in GM as part of its $49.5 billion bailout. In December 2012, Treasury outlined a plan that would allow it to exit GM fully in 12 to 15 months.


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Make A Hula Hoop Hideout
Today's post is a great example of the wondrous way of the internet. I found these incredible projects quite by accident. I went in search of Dollar Store hula hoops, but came away with a ton of inspiration...
- These beautiful sheer bed canopies, seen on Vintage Villa Interiors, were made with mosquito netting, but you could use an opaque fabric to create more privacy.
- Reading spot or napping spot? You be the judge. This girly tent, seen on Craftify It, was made using a McCalls pattern, but looks fairly easy to make your own version without a pattern.
- Shannon Berry made this decorative hula hoop chandelier for party decor, but if you made your ribbon lengths longer you'd have a sweet hiding spot for little ones.
- How much fun is indoor camping? This tent, seen on Obsessively Stitching, was made with hula hoops as a structure. It is slightly above my skill level, but for those of you that are even half a whiz with a sewing machine, give it a whirl!
(Images: as linked above)


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Wednesday, February 2, 2011
You probably haven't read my recent interviews (okay, let's be honest, I'm sure you've never read any of my interviews) but if you had, you'd know that you should probably be considering some sort of internet restraining order against me.
I was late to discover Jace…er, I mean, City of Bones. It was my oldest daughter, who said: "Read it, you'll love it". But what she didn't realize, apparently, was how much I'd love it…or the author crush that would ensue. (In case it's not clear, I'm talking about you, Ms. Clare.)
So when you post things like this you must know you're only encouraging me.
Don't get me wrong, I lovelovelove the recommendation! Just be prepared for tears if I ever meet you in person.
Stalker(ish)ly yours,
Kimberly Derting
(And if you don't know what I'm talking about: CASSANDRA CLARE NAMED THE BODY FINDER AS ONE OF HER TOP 12 PICKS!!!!!!)
14 comments:
- Crystal Cook said...
I KNOW!!! I saw that and I was like WOO HOO!! Because I'm a total fan girl of hers too. :)
- February 2, 2011 at 12:23 PM
- Kelley Vitollo said...
I hear ya!! I just read the book in November for the first time and I am soooo in the same boat. I am in love with Jace and the whole series. Awesome books.
Can't wait for Desires of the Dead. I love Jay too.
- February 2, 2011 at 12:32 PM
- Avery said...
Awwww... That is so nice (on both her account and yours).
Seriously though, I feel very Cassie Clare stalkerish too (I am always debating whether or not to get a rune tattoo and I even went so far as to make some dolls of the characters http://averysbooknook.blogspot.com/2011/01/presenting-jace-wayland-from-mortal.html)!
And I will have you know that in my books Jay is just as amazing as Jace is in the way of male characters. So yeah, you totally deserve the recommendations (and if I could get a tattoo based off of your series I would- hmmmm... How would one convey an echo on their skin?)!
- February 2, 2011 at 12:41 PM
- Eleni @ La Femme Readers said...
I love Cassandra Clare too, glad to have you part of the stalker fan girl club!!
- February 2, 2011 at 1:49 PM
- Kimberly Derting said...
Seems like I'm in good (stalker-y) company. I may have just (accidentally) Tweeted that I would open-mouthed kiss her if I ever saw her. That doesn't make me crazy, does it?
Avery - I caught my youngest daughter playing "Clary and Jace" with her troll dolls one day (we were listening to the audio version of City of Ashes at the time). But, OMG, I LOVE your "censored" doll!
- February 2, 2011 at 1:55 PM
- Cari said...
Yay I'm so glad people are taking note about how awesome The Body Finder and you are!
Oh Jace and Jay how I love you so! I thought you met her at Smart Chicks?
- February 2, 2011 at 2:04 PM
- Marsha Sigman said...
This totally cracks me up. It sounds like something I would write to YOU.lol
I might draw the line at an open mouthed kiss...lol that is wayyy too funny.
I reall do love Cassandra Clare as well, congrats to you for that recommendation!
- February 2, 2011 at 2:09 PM
- Mundie Moms said...
I am so excited Cassie recommended your book, which is what made me quickly snatch it up off my book case last night and read it in one sitting. I'm in love with your story!
- February 2, 2011 at 3:26 PM
- Frankie Diane Mallis said...
Im STILL Squeeing for you. This is epic!
- February 2, 2011 at 4:04 PM
- Heather said...
That is totally awesome!! I <3 C. Clare as well. I have read all her books. You made #7 out of 12 what what!!!! :o) Go head Kimberly!!
- February 2, 2011 at 6:29 PM
- Kimberly Derting said...
Cari - Sadly, we were in different cities.
Marsha - I did specify "no tongue". I mean, I don't want to freak her out or anything. ;)
MM - I'm so glad you liked it!
Frankie - RIGHT????
Heather - For Realz!
- February 2, 2011 at 8:33 PM
- Elisha said...
I've had these books on my to-read list forever but keep putting them off....but I guess now that you love them I have to put them higher on the list!
I'm super excited for Desires of the Dead. I keep checking my mailbox for an ARC ;)
- February 3, 2011 at 6:18 PM
- Elisha said...
I've had these books on my to-read list forever but keep putting them off....but I guess now that you love them I have to put them higher on the list!
I'm super excited for Desires of the Dead. I keep checking my mailbox for an ARC ;)
- February 3, 2011 at 6:19 PM
- Heather said...
So, after watching C. Clare's video again I got to thinking. I know how much you love Stephen King but do you have a list of what your top 10 or so would be??
- February 4, 2011 at 7:13 AM


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Every so often I need a dose of peacock love.
While I've shared their iridescent beauty in the past, here is an up-to-date version that Miles Redd just worked on.
The wall is actually covered with a custom-created peacock feather wallpaper made by his crew. Lots of patience, no?
Here are a few of my past peacock favs...
An illustration from a vintage children's book
Another peacock feather wall with accompanying colored trim and ceiling
And lastly, the crème de la crème
(and unfortunately now unavailable):
What's caught your attention?


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At first, more concerned about academics, Caitlin wasn't sure if she wanted to run in college; then she said, "When I came for a running visit I really fell in love."
Jenny, on the other hand, was focused on track from the beginning.
"I visited on the suggestion of a couple of guys who were on the team," she said. "I just loved my visit and the team, and could see myself here."
With a coaching change the summer before they were supposed to arrive on campus with Bill Taylor taking over both cross country and track and field, Caitlin and Jenny were notified a week before the season started of who their new coach would be. Because of this change, they had little guidance that summer about how to train.
"Caitlin was in Nashville and knew some of the older runners, and was able to help me out," Jenny said.
Since they have been here since the beginning of coach Taylor's tenure they have been able to see the program evolve into what it is today. Both Caitlin and Jenny said they knew from the start he was the real deal.
"He talked about winning national championships," Caitlin said.
Jenny added, "He was the one who planted these ideas and goals in our heads."
Jenny and Caitlin met at Advance, and continued to talk throughout the summer. While they weren't roommates freshman year they seemed to click right away and became close friends.
"We were always in the halls talking, and were friends pretty much right away," Caitlin said.
"We listed out all of the things we had in common one time," Jenny said. "We couldn't get away from each other so we had to be friends."
Both Caitlin and Jenny agree that their friendship has had a positive influence on their performance on the track team, especially now that they're roommates.
"It's good to be able to turn to her and talk things out, and discuss different things about track," Caitlin said.
After being teammates for four years it was hard for them to come up with one favorite memory. They mentioned staying at a haunted hotel in Alabama, and a once in a lifetime trip to Oregon.
They agreed, however, that the best memories come from bus trips.
Caitlin said, "You're with all your friends, and it's just fun times and bonding."
As for this season, Jenny and Caitlin have high hopes for both the men's and women's track teams. One thing they agreed on being a sure thing: broken records.
"I think we broke 42 records last year, Jenny said. "Some of those were broken multiple times over the season." Caitlin added, "I'll be surprised if any school records that were older stand at the end of the season."
Written by Sydney Poe, student assistant in athletics media relations.


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Tennis Legend Monica Seles Discusses Her New Book
Monica Seles describes "Game On," the first novel in a series about the lives of young athletes who attend an academy designed to help them fulfill their dreams, in this excerpt from an interview with WSJ's Lee Hawkins.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... I ... the the eighth league start it while still play tennis because it's an answer weeding a lot of matches an Odyssey of traveling ... he started ... writing down ... the bits and pieces here in a couple of years ago and I said to me it ... just me and say ... maybe there's something to insulate and shopped around in awe that I got a book deal would boost for a publishing ... and a published last week my first novel out of the series ... on TV on in this year's squad Academy ... the election follows a couple of young athletes who live in this Academy and for two weeks to get into its own one is with Mike and given one is with talents ... and it's just an idea of ... the all that together they all share the same train Medicare for my aunt lives in tennis than women of character for instance ... the swimming golf and football ... okay so you really when it fits in ... with their reason you do not think ... much was that I just really hit home I take the right books on on on different parts of the not so free side of tenants for athletes and things like that ... when I get my own memoir and too late ... I've really decided what to focus on my journey with a losing my away feeling better about that bowl ... of ... we sit there and health issue we need a healthy lifestyle I really did show boosted its eager proud of ... talking badly about my competitors were the dirt on and it's something we all have that that to me kind of ... I have the respect they had once my fellow players that if I would not take it with me to the great but that's just you know


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Chiang Khong
Earth : Asia : Southeast Asia : Thailand : Northern Thailand : Chiang Rai Province : Chiang Khong
Chiang Khong (เชียงของ) is a town in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand. It is mainly visited as a stop-off point en-route to the ferry crossing to Laos.
Chiang Khong is the Thai counterpart to the Lao border town of Huay Xai, just across the Mekong. Chiang Khong is a small, sleepy town with one main road and no night life. It has a Friday market, a lot of temples, a craft village with a busy market and a temple. The best time to visit is from October to January, or on the April 18 Giant Catfish Festival when baby giant catfish are taken to the Mekong river.
Get in
From Huay Xai in Laos by a short ferry trip (10,000 Kip) across the Mekong (6am to 6pm). Thai Immigration here seems to lack both computers and the annoying cameras now installed in Bangkok's airport and, consequently, is extremely quick. However, arriving by this overland route means that you will only be given a visa-exempt entry valid for 15 days, compared with the 30 days you would get flying into Bangkok. The ferry is at the northern end of Chiang Khong: if you want to move on without stopping in the city, take a tuktuk to the bus station in town for 30 baht per person, or you can walk 3km.
From Chiang Rai local buses go regularly (mostly every half hour) from 5.00 AM to 16.00 PM. It should take about 2h but the driver may take it slow and could stop for dinner, so probably 2.30h or more. From Chiang Mai by minibus for 250 baht or by "green bus" (making many stops) for about 200 baht, by public bus is 150-270 bath. anyway the most advised way is to go by bus to Chiang Rai for 94-263 baht (3h) and then take a public bus to Chiang Khong for 65 baht (2.5-3hrs).
By bus from other major cities in Northern Thailand and Isaan. Daytime and overnight buses run directly from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Moh Chit) to Chiang Khong every day. There are also 5 overnight buses from Moh Chit which leave at 19.00 pm and arrive at Chiang Khong the next morning at 8.00 am, and one daytime bus which leaves Moh Chit at 7.00 am and arrives in Chiang Khong at 20.00 pm.
Get around
The riverfront area can be seen on foot but it's worth getting a tuk-tuk or taxi for the trip out to the bus station. Small ferries cross the river every few minutes for about 40 baht (10,000 kip). The border crossing closes at 18:00.
If you want to look around Chiang Khong the best way is rent a bike or motorbike to visit local villages and the banks of the Mekong. Motorbikes (manual & automatic) can be rented for 200 baht a day (which also includes a basic map) from the Baan Fai Guesthouse.
Chiang Khong is often passed through by hordes of tour buses from Chiang Mai on the way to Laos but seldom visited and definitely overlooked. Like many border towns it is bustling with trade yet is tourist friendly without being shamelessly commercial. The pace of life is easy going for the most part (curiously, unlike other parts of the country the tuk-tuk drivers don't hassle you) and although it could be said that there is little to do in the town itself if you are willing to rent a bike or car and travel approximately 60 km you can visit the Opium Museum in the Golden Triangle and the various towns, temples and Hill Tribe villages along the way. The interesting thing to note about Chiang Khong is ethnic diversity of the Laotian, Thai and Hill tribesman which results in three separate calenders and variety of festivals held throughout the year. Also of note are the Dragonboat competitions between the Laotians & Thais during the months of October/November & macrh/April to celebrate the end of the three month Buddhist lent and the Thai new year. If you staying close to the riverside during the preceding months you can hear the teams vigorously practising along the Mekhong river in the early morning. The H'mong also have a variety of Pagan festivals and (infrequently) hold bull fights on the weekends, which although brutal sounding the fights themselves are more of a display of strength (imagine a sumo wrestling match) and seldom last more than 15 seconds. Expect to see and hear vigorous gambling!
You can visit individually via motorcycle/car or contact 'Asian Oasis' for stays at the Lanjia Lodge inside the village and can arrange tours. The recommended time to visit is after 2pm when the villagers return from the fields.
Be aware that this is a lengthy trip to make by a small bike and it advisable to depart no later than 9am to be back before it gets dark at around 5:30pm.
There are several ATMs in the town - Kasikorn Bank, GSB, Siam Commercial Bank, Krung Thai Bank and a new machine in front of the 7/11 at the bus station. All banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday but you should be able to use the ATMs. If you are heading to Laos get your money here because in houay xai the maximum withdrawal per transaction is 700,000kip and exchange rates from baht to kip are quite ok.
Laos currency (kip) can only be officially exchanged inside Laos. Thai banks will not exchange Laos currency. Chiang Khong ATM will not disburse kip. Chiang Khong moneychangers will exchange for a fee. The Laos bank in Huay Xai and the ATM there will disburse kip. Thai baht and US dollars are readily accepted in Laos. At good rates.
Laos visas are more economical if bought with US dollars instead of baht. As of October,2012, it costs $30 USD ($31 on holidays) to enter Laos on a 30 day visa on arrival, Be sure to bring photos to avoid extra costs.
There are very few bars as such in Chiang Khong. Your best bet for evening entertainment is a Big Chang beer/Singha Beer at your guesthouse.
They also rent manual and automatic bikes for 200 baht a day and include a basic map of the surrounding area.
Although there is possibly better value for money and location inside the town the owners (an American named Don & his wife) are your best source of information in Chiang Khong and the surrounding area. Don is very affable and knowledgeable man on both Thai culture and the local hill tribes. BaanRimTaling Dorms, Single and Double Rooms, and Bungalows, all with hot shower. Guesthouse overlooks Mekong River and the view from the restaurant veranda is stunning. Popular with Europeans. 400m from bus stop/7-Eleven towards Wat Sob Som. Directions on green sign at 7/11. Free pickup at bus stop. Free ride to border in morning. Free internet and wifi.
Stay safe
There have been reports from travellers that there are wild/feral dogs which come out in this town late at night.
It seems very popular for guides on the pre booked slow boat trip to try encourage people to switch to the bus to Luang Prabang for the same price. They tell horror stories of floods, mosquito hordes, unexpected third nights spent on the slow boat and crooks in Pak Beng. Presumably this is designed so they can pocket the difference between the cheaper bus ticket and the slow boat you already paid for when you pre booked. On our trip (July 2011) around 80% of the group decided to take the bus instead. Many other groups on the slow boat commented that this was also the case in their groups. Don't Fall for it!!
Get out
Getting to the slow boat requires an exit stamp from Thailand Immigration(about 5 minutes), crossing the river (about 5 minutes), getting a Laos visa (about 20 minutes), and go upriver about 1km. Walk or tuk-tuk.
Prices for the two day slow boat to Luang Prabang vary. As of April 2012 tickets bought in Chiang Khong cost 1180 baht. However as soon as you clear immigration in Huay Xai they can be bought for 950 baht and allegedly even cheaper from the boat pier itself. Thai baht, US dollar and Lao Kip are all accepted at least as far as Luang Prabang.


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CHARMING KITTEN/OVERANALYZE/PALACE MALICE/REVOLUTIONARY/VERRAZANO – "We're 100% done. We'll leave well enough alone from here."
That was trainer Todd Pletcher's take on things surrounding his five Kentucky Derby (GI) entrants as they filed off the Churchill Downs racetrack Friday morning after turning in their final gallops prior to their Saturday date in America's classic.
The Pletcher quintet had taken advantage of the special Derby/Oaks training period that had been moved up to between 5:45 and 6 a.m. because of the early end of training on Oaks Day. In fact, they were among the first ones on the track and soon went about their business with a practiced precision.
Coming out of the six-furlong gap on the Churchill backside, each backtracked left to the frontside under the iconic Twin Spires, then turned and broke off at the seven-furlong pole for a full tour of the strip supplemented by two more furlongs for 10-furlong gallops that they handled nicely.
The quintet of bay colts consisted of Overanalyze, with exercise rider Obed Perez in the saddle; Palace Malice handled by Jake Nelson; Verrazano under Humberto Zamora; Revolutionary partnered by Nick Bush, and Charming Kitten steered by Patti Krotenko.
Pletcher stationed himself just inside the gap on the racetrack and used his binoculars to take in the proceedings.
Among the interested observers for the exercises was a 75-year-old gentleman wearing a bright red University of Arizona ball cap. It was J.J. Pletcher, the longtime trainer and father of Todd.
Asked about his choice of headgear, the senior Pletcher noted his connection.
"Didn't go to the university," he said. "But I paid tuition there for four years. (His son is a graduate of the school and its Racetrack Industry Program.) Liked to go visit him there; could get in some good golf. And they've got lots of fine golf courses in Tucson."
Todd Pletcher, who continues to be a big fan of the U of A sports programs, especially their high-flying basketball teams, has credited his father for many of the things he's learned about training horses, lesson that he obviously learned quite well. It isn't hard to argue that he is currently the most successful trainer in the country.
Does Todd still lean on his father for training advice?
"Oh, sure," he said. "He and I bounce ideas off each other all the time."
With all the Derby heavy lifting accomplished, the trainer was asked if he had a chance to go back, would he liked to have done anything differently with any of his colts.
"No, not really," he said. "We laid out a plan to get here with them and it's all come down pretty much like we hoped."
FALLING SKY– Newtown Anner Stud, James Covello and Joseph Bulger's Falling Sky jogged once around the Churchill Downs track under exercise rider Cassie Garcea Friday morning.
The prospect of rain Saturday doesn't concern the son of Lion Heart's connections.
"He ran on an off track as a 2-year-old, and he skips over this track," said Reynaldo Abreu, assistant to trainer John Terranova. "He never galloped like this at Palm Meadows."
By Lion Heart, who finished second behind Smarty Jones in the 2004 Kentucky Derby over a sloppy track, and out of a mare by Sea Hero, the 1993 Run for the Roses winner on a wet fast surface, Falling Sky is bred to handle mud.
Falling Sky won an allowance race over a good track at Gulfstream on Dec. 15. Luis Saez, who was aboard for that victory, will ride the winner of the Sam F. Davis (GIII) in the Derby.
FRAC DADDY/JAVA'S WAR – Magic City Thoroughbred Partners' Frac Daddy and Charles Fipke's Java's War both jogged two miles the "wrong" way Friday morning with their regular exercise riders – Hugo Garcia and Marvin Abrego, respectively.
"Nothing complicated," trainer Ken McPeek said of the exercise. "We wanted to save a little energy for tomorrow. They both had strong gallops earlier in the week and didn't need to do much."
The past performances of McPeek's Derby starters don't reveal much in the way of wet-track ability. Frac Daddy ran a solid second in his debut over a muddy Belmont Park surface, but that's the only real experience either has had with off going. McPeek, for one, isn't concerned about the rain being forecast.
"It'll make the Derby that much more wide-open," he said. "Both horses are doing well but how they handle it and what kinds of trips they get are completely out of control. They're doing good and we're pleased."
GIANT FINISH – Sunrise Stable and Partners' New York-bred colt Giant Finish went out to the track for the first time Friday at 5:45 a.m. Ray Handal, assistant to trainer Tony Dutrow, was aboard for the morning exercise.
The son of Frost Giant was the last horse added to the Derby when defections opened a spot in the starting gate. He shipped from Elkton, Md., Wednesday night and arrived at Churchill Downs Thursday.
Handal took the colt to the track when it opened for training and let him stand and look around for 10 minutes before making a couple of laps of the oval.
"He was a pro like we thought he would be," Handal said. "We jogged him a mile and galloped him a mile and a quarter, just nice and easy and let him take everything in. He was good about it. No complaints."
Giant Finish's lone race on a wet track produced his only off-the board finish, a fifth in the Damon Runyon for New York-breds on Dec. 9 at Aqueduct.
"Actually, it was his poorest performance," Handal said, "but there might have been other contributing factors: It was his first time against winners, stretching out, first time in stakes company. There were a lot of things going on there, and it was an off track. I don't know if I could base him liking or not liking a sloppy surface off the one poor performance because there were so many other factors."
GOLDENCENTS – Led to the track from his Barn 45 headquarters by assistant trainer Leandro Mora, the Santa Anita Derby (GI) hero Goldencents was among the Kentucky Derby (GI) runners who took advantage of the early (5:45-6 a.m.) Friday training period for Derby or Oaks entrants.
The bay son of Into Mischief jogged a half-mile under exercise rider Jonny Garcia, then went through a nice-and-easy gallop of a mile and a quarter, putting the final touches on his preparations for Derby 139 Saturday afternoon.
"No, we won't put him on the racetrack tomorrow morning," said trainer Doug O'Neill, who was, of course, on hand to take in the proceedings. "We didn't put I'll Have Another out there race day last year and that worked fine."
I'll Have Another captured Kentucky Derby 138 for the O'Neill barn, then went on to win the Preakness, too. His career was ended, however, prior to the Belmont Stakes when he sustained a leg injury and he subsequently was sold as a stallion.
Goldencents, a winner of four of six starts, comes into the Derby off a 2013 California campaign in which he won two stakes – the Sham (GIII) and the Santa Anita Derby – and finish fourth in another – the San Felipe (GII).
O'Neill was asked -- if he could -- would he liked to have gone back and done something differently with his colt.
"You know, I think it has all worked out for the best," he said. "Even the debacle in the San Felipe, I think that may prove to be a godsend. If he'd have won that race handily, I think we probably wouldn't have run him again; we probably would have just trained him up to this race. Then maybe he's going to be too fresh and you don't know what's going to happen.
"But when he ran like he did that day (backing up in the stretch), we made some adjustments. We trained him differently and he responded. He's really doing well and we're feeling good about his chances. We think it is our time. We think it is us."
Goldencents will break from post eight in the 20-horse Derby field and be ridden by his regular jockey, Kevin Krigger.
GOLDEN SOUL – After Charles Fipke's Golden Soul capped his training for the Derby with a jog Friday morning under exercise rider Emerson Chavez, trainer Dallas Stewart expressed satisfaction with how the colt is going into the race.
"His energy has been good," Stewart said. "He had some really strong gallops two or three days in a row. Now I feel like he's doing well. His energy is good. He's very sound.''
Stewart didn't speculate on how the race might unfold.
"I don't know,'' he said. "It's probably going to be muddy, I guess. They'll be enough speed. There always is. My horse is out of a Mr. Prospector mare, and they love the mud, so we'll just have to see if it plays out like that. That'll be the strength.
"We prepared well. We got lucky we got in the race, and that's where it's at. Let's go get 'em, baby.''
ITSMYLUCKYDAY – Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa's Itsmyluckyday galloped 1 ½ miles under Peter Shelton Friday morning at Churchill Downs.
"Pete gave him a 12 on a scale from 1-10. He's been doing that all along," trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said.
The veteran trainer was amused while watching an animated video posted on the Wall Street Journal mobile phone website. The video featured a preview of Saturday's running of the Kentucky Derby. Itsmyluckyday won the race.
"I loved the ending," Plesa said.
The track wasn't wet in the video, but forecast showers for Saturday may mean an off track for the Derby a possibility.
"From my thoughts, I think Lawyer Ron handled it well. You'd hope he'd pass it along if that were the case," Plesa said. (Lawyer Ron broke his maiden on a sloppy track and won a stakes on a good track). "I've been saying this all along: I just want everybody to have a fair chance to win."
LINES OF BATTLE – The War Front colt Lines of Battle, owned by Joseph Allen, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, completed his quarantine period and went to the track for the first time Friday morning.
The UAE Derby (GII) winner shipped from Ireland and arrived in Louisville early Wednesday morning. He was confined to Barn 48 until he cleared quarantine.
T.J. Comerford, assistant to trainer Aidan O'Brien said the colt did his exercise under Laura McInerney at about 6 a.m.
"He walked, trotted for a mile and cantered for a mile," Comerford said. "We did what we normally do at home and let him see what's happening. It was grand. No problems."
Lines of Battle has no experience training or competing on a wet dirt track.
Comerford said the Kentucky-bred has adapted well after his trip from Europe.
"We're in the same position we've been with him," Comerford said. "He's good. We're happy and we can't have him any better. We just have to hope and see what happens tomorrow."
MYLUTE – GoldMark Farm and Whisper Hill Farm's Mylute "had his regular day" with a jog and a gallop at 5:45 a.m. under regular exercise rider Maurice Sanchez, according to assistant trainer (and the exercise rider's wife), Kathy Sanchez.
Mylute hasn't raced on an off track but his pedigree suggests he could be one that wouldn't be bothered by it. His sire, Midnight Lute, dominated the 2007 Breeders' Cup Sprint (GI) over a sloppy track at Monmouth Park, winning by 4 ¾ lengths.
Mylute has two starts in 2013 and has been trained to peak in his third start off the layoff.
"Skipping the Lecomte and waiting for the Risen Star, having that break, that was all to set us up for his best effort here on the first Saturday in May," said Todd Quast, general manager of co-owner GoldMark Farm.
The past six Kentucky Derby winners all came into the race with two starts in that calendar year.
NORMANDY INVASION – Fox Hill Farms' Normandy Invasion had an easy and uneventful visit to the track Friday, the morning after speeding up and running about three furlongs faster than the normal gallop.
Trainer Chad Brown said his horse is fine and ready for the Derby.
"He's a sharp horse and he's feeling good," Brown said. "He's sound and strong. Sometimes these horses do a little more in their training than you had planned on doing. That's definitely the lesser of two evils than having a horse that is sore, doesn't want to train and is hobbling around the track.
"My horse is doing good. He trained a little more than I wanted yesterday; I compensated today and I just jogged him. He looks great. He's going to run good."
Normandy Invasion doesn't have any experience on muddy or sloppy tracks.
"There's not much you can do," he said. "I generally don't train on wet tracks. I'm of the opinion that I don't want to hurt my horses in the morning training. On behalf of my clients, I'm safe in training and just don't train on wet tracks. I'm also of the opinion that they are either going to like the wet track or they're not. I don't know if you can teach them to like it. We're going to find out with him."
Brown said he doesn't have a feel for how Normandy Invasion will handle the expected wet track for the Derby.
"He doesn't give me a feel, one way or the other," Brown said. "There are horses occasionally that will give me the feel if they would handle a wet track of not and I would have an opinion. This horse gives me no opinion. People tell me that his breeding for the mud is one of the highest in the race. Great. I love hearing that, but I don't know how much I put into that all the time as a trainer. We have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for good weather, and if it's not good weather hope he likes the mud."
ORB – Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable's Orb galloped 1 ½ miles under exercise rider Jennifer Patterson Friday morning at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Shug McGaughey had high praise for Patterson's dedication while closely working with Orb all winter and spring and her contribution to the Florida Derby winner's rapid development.
"When this whole thing started I wanted it to be all about her. She's an excellent rider; she's an excellent horsewoman; and she's an excellent person," McGaughey said. "I'm a privileged guy to have her."
McGaughey expressed a level of uncertainty how his 7-2 morning-line favorite winner would handle a wet track should forecast showers materialize Saturday.
"Well, he's never run on one. He trained on one here on morning and trained excellent. I don't think it'll be a problem," McGaughey said. "But you never know in the afternoon what you're going to get. Mud in his face isn't going to bother him, because he's gotten plenty of dirt.
"Like everybody else, I hope the track is fast and safe for everybody and nobody has any excuses and let the best horse win. We can't control the weather. They say it might rain, so if it does, it does."
OXBOW/WILL TAKE CHARGE – Trainer D. Wayne Lukas had his Derby duo -- Calumet Farm's Oxbow and Willis Horton's Will Take Charge – exercising comfortably early Friday morning
"The thing I was looking for this morning was the energy level, and I think I've got them peaking up pretty good," Lukas said. "They were sharp out there this morning. I'd like to run it today instead of tomorrow, but they're doing well."
Under exercise rider Rudy Quevedo, Oxbow jogged a mile before completing his final prerace tune-up with exercise in the mile chute.
"I didn't want him to get the full mile-and-a-half gallop, because he gets so aggressive in the last half-mile, so I did the mile, then I backed him up and took him in the chute and let him stretch his legs a little bit more there,'' Lukas said.
Will Take Charge, exercise rider Taylor Carty aboard, jogged a mile and galloped a mile.
"I just didn't want to do quite as much today. I want to get the energy level up,'' Lukas said.
Lukas, participating in his 27th Derby, said he'll be sleeping well the night before the race.
"I don't get up tight, don't get excited, don't even get excited when they go in the gate,'' Lukas said. " In fact, when we had that run of six in a row (victories in Triple Crown races), ABC came to me or NBA and they said, just be a little animated. You know, hug somebody or throw your hand in the air. They actually said this: 'You're bad TV on these races.' ''
Tabasco Cat's victory in the Preakness in 1994 started a run of six consecutive victories by Lukas-trained horses in Triple Crown races.
VYJACK – Pick Six Racing's Gotham (GIII) winner Vyjack walked the shedrow Friday morning, the day after he had a three-furlong blowout breeze under trainer Rudy Rodriguez.
"It looks like he came out of the work good. He looks sharp," Rodriguez said "That's what I was looking for and so far this morning he looks very good."
Vyjack won his first four career starts then finished third, beaten a length by Verrrazano, in the Wood Memorial (GI) at Aqueduct. After the race, the gelding was found to have a lung infection. He spent a couple of weeks at Bruce Jackson's Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center in Elkton, Md., where he spent time in the hyperbaric chamber.
Rodriguez said Vyjack appears to be fully recovered from the issue.
"We're looking forward to seeing him run again and hopefully everything is 100 percent," Rodriguez said. "We don't try to look for excuses, but that was an excuse.
"He was in the chamber in Far Hill and we've scoped him a couple of times here and, thank God, everything is very, very good."
In his one start on a wet track track, Vyjack won an overnight stake at Aqueduct on Dec. 9 by 5 3/4 lengths.
Darren Rogers
Senior Director, Communications & Media Services
Churchill Downs
700 Central Avenue
Louisville, KY 40208
(502) 636-4461 (office)
(502) 345-1030 (mobile)
(502) 636-4469 (fax)


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Whats in a name? Morewood Bikes – 150mm travel Sukuma and 170mm travel Jabula
Whats in a name? At no time in the history of Morewood bikes has the name of our new models been more pertinent. The wait is over. They are here!
Sukuma |Zulu| [verb]
1.) To arise, get up.
2.) To awaken.
Jabula |Zulu| [verb]
1.) To be delighted.
2.) To rejoice.
The Sukuma which will be launched simultaneously with its 170mm counterpart, the Jabula, are our first series production frames to feature Dave Weagle's patented Split Pivot suspension system which with the help of Dave has allowed our engineers to independently fine-tune brake, pedal and suspension characteristics. Working with Dave to focus on the positive elements we have learned from our 14 years designing single-pivot suspension frames, we have used Split Pivot's capabilities to tap into the ride that Morewood owners and critics alike have come to love while building on the positive elements made possible by its engineering genius.
These two frame models symbolize a resurgence for the Morewood brand, a re-birth if you like, and much like the meanings behind their Zulu names Morewood is confident you will feel as excited as we are!
A word from Morewood's Makulu, Richard Carter: "We know it's been a long time coming, but we believe our customers deserve a high quality product and we strive to deliver on this. Those loyal customers who have been patient will no doubt appreciate the time spent ensuring these new models stand up to the reputation Morewood has carved out for itself."
Key Features:
- 150mm and 170mm of plush split-pivot travel respectively
- Carbon Seatstay
- Morewood's DCD (Dual Concentric Design) frame layout
- Press fit 92 BB
- Direct Mount front Derailleur
- Split Pivot Concentric rear axle with 142 mm hub spacing and Syntace X12 axle
- Adjustable seat post cable mounts
- ISCG 05 Press Fit 92mm BB
Sukuma 150mm
All Mountain – This segment in the Morewood line was previously occupied with the Shova and Mbuzi models. After a couple years hard work and development we bring the Sukuma with 150mm of travel to AM and enduro enthusiasts worldwide.
The Sukuma's optimized double chainring drivetrain, ISCG05 tabs, and direct mount derailleur give you the option to eat up trail miles with as many or as few front chainrings as you desire. The frame has been designed with weight and stiffness in mind. Carbon seatstays, internal chainstay routing, tapered headset, Split Pivot concentric rear axle with 142mm spacing, a Syntace X12 axle, custom drawn Al 6082 T6 tubeset, and a BB92 come together for a frame that weighs under 6lbs. (Medium w/Fox RP23) The Sukuma also features Morewood's DCD (Dual Concentric Design) frame layout featuring a single bolt assembly that is used to secure both the main pivot and the lower shock mount.
The Sukuma has changed a significantly from the prototype shown in North America and that was raced by Fabien "Cous Cous" Cousinie at the Megavalanche of Reunion Island. Expect the Hutchinson UnitedRide Team to benefit from the revisions at some of this year's Megavalanche and Enduro events.
Source: Lance Tueller


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NASCAR wasn't immune to the economic downturn that shook Wall Street. In addition to an attendance slump, NASCAR lost some sponsors looking to cut back spending amid the turmoil.
Continue Reading Below
But now the league and its portfolio of sponsors is back and stronger than before the recession, as the number of Fortune 500 companies like 3M (NYSE:MMM) and UPS (NYSE:UPS) that have NASCAR sponsorship deals has risen 8% since 2008.
According to NASCAR, about 23.4% of Fortune 500 brands, or 117 total, are involved as a sponsor of NASCAR's sanctioning body, teams or tracks, or as a licensee or media partner, up from 20% last year. Companies invested in the sport solely as advertisers were not included in the list.
So why do Fortune 500s flock to NASCAR? Consider that fans of the sport are widely considered to be the most loyal ones around and are more likely to care about the brands sponsoring their favorite driver.
"Fans understand the importance of sponsorship to the sport. They realize that's what makes the sport go," said Steve Phelps, NASCAR's Chief Marketing Officer. "If you're a sponsor in another sport, fans can appreciate it, but will they actively support you?"
For sponsors, NASCAR presents an opportunity to get the most out of their marketing dollar. Fans have proven to be loyal to the sport and the brands that support it.
Sponsors are looking for a return on their investment, and the old adage, "win on Sunday, sell on Monday," holds true not only for automakers but for the brands whose logos adorn the stock cars.
"Like most sports, the downturn impacted fans and the sport itself," but "the growth has been tremendous," said Brian Young, Vice President of Global Sales Operations for 3M, which has been a NASCAR sponsor for 25 years. "It's an attractive place to spend our money."
Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday
Fans of the racing league have long shown to be loyal followers of the sport, even when it comes to the companies that display their logos on cars, fire suits and elsewhere.
Independent research from firms like Turnkey Sports & Entertainment show NASCAR fans are the most brand-loyal fans out of all major U.S. sports.
A NASCAR study conducted by online research firm Toluna prior to the start of the 2013 season indicated that one out of every four fans strongly agrees that they support NASCAR sponsors more than sponsors of other sports. More than half of NASCAR fans (55%) said that when they see a company sponsoring NASCAR, they feel good about that brand.
"It translates to brands themselves getting a return on their investment," Phelps said when asked about fan loyalty to the sport and its sponsors. "It works for the brand because fans are supporting sponsors. It's what we call a cycle of success. NASCAR is the sport that works for business because of the relationship between fans and sponsors."
One of those sponsors, 3M, has a sponsorship deal with the league and with Roush Fenway Racing. The relationship with NASCAR brings 3M's logo to the front left fender -- the real estate owned by the league -- of almost every car.
3M's sponsorship deal with Roush Fenway allows the company to primarily use the #16 Ford (NYSE:F) Fusion driven by Greg Biffle. 3M also donates the car to the American Red Cross for two races each year and lends the car on occasion to Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW), one of 3M's customer partners.
Young said the benefits of 3M's relationship with NASCAR and Roush Fenway are unmistakable: the car races on Sunday, and 3M sells its products -- which include Scotch Tape and Post-it notes -- the rest of the week.
"There's no other sport where there's a stronger connection between what fans do at the track and at the store," Young said.
Young said NASCAR is a "tremendous platform" that allows 3M to share the value of the NASCAR brand by building promotions tied to the car. A sponsorship with the sport also provides opportunities to "drive demand across platforms" like social media, he added, noting that NASCAR fans are more engaged on social media than other fans.
"Unlike any other sport, the drivers' and teams' willingness to interact with fans is unmatched," said Young, who spoke highly of the relationship with Biffle, Roush Fenway and the team's "hospitality."
"If it was football, it would be like having our customers attend the team meeting, be on the field for the coin toss and in the locker room after games," he explained. "It's truly a partnership, not a cold business relationship. We never talk about the contract, only what we can do. [Roush Fenway founder and CEO] Jack Roush and Greg Biffle are great business partners."
NASCAR Racing Other Leagues
The race on the track isn't the only battle for NASCAR and its teams. There's a competition for marketing dollars, and NASCAR believes it's winning.
"Sponsorship is important to NASCAR. It's an important area for us to be winning in. It's a very competitive landscape, and we're having far more success and have traditionally," Phelps said.
For one, sponsors get plenty of exposure. About 100,000 fans on average attend each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, easily topping other sports on a per-event basis. For comparison, 71,024 people attended Super Bowl XLVII in February, and two years earlier, Super Bowl XLV attracted a near-record of 103,219 fans.
Despite seeing ratings slip in recent years, other live sporting events can't compete with NASCAR's average of about six million viewers per Sprint Cup race over a 10-month schedule. And ratings for this year's Daytona 500 were up 24% over 2012.
FOX Sports said its portion of the 2013 season, which includes the Daytona 500, was the highest-rated sport in-season for the 13th consecutive season. 21st Century Fox (NASDAQ:FOXA) is the parent company of FOX Sports and FOX Business Network.
Like other sports, NASCAR is bringing in higher fees for the right to broadcast live races. NBC recently came to a $4.4 billion, 10-year deal for the rights to broadcast the final 20 Sprint Cup races and 19 Nationwide races starting in 2015. Walt Disney's (NYSE:DIS) ESPN and Time Warner's (NYSE:TWX) Turner Sports currently hold the rights to those races and are coming up on the end of their contract, which was for eight years and $2.7 billion.
FOX, which plans to launch its new FOX Sports 1 network next month, announced last fall an eight-year extension to its deal with NASCAR. The $2.4 billion agreement reflects a 36% rate increase.
Meanwhile, the number of Fortune 500 sponsors themselves has grown steadily to surpass levels seen before the economic downturn, perhaps an indication that NASCAR has more than regained its footing.
"That speaks volumes about our success," Phelps said of the post-recession turnaround.
Phelps sees the increase in Fortune 500 sponsors and others, like Toyota (NYSE:TM) and MillerCoors, as a sign that NASCAR has rebounded in a big way, and looking ahead, he anticipates continued growth for the sport.
Just as more fans can bring in additional sponsors, more marketing activity can help NASCAR attract new fans. NASCAR is taking on other efforts to widen its fan base as well, unveiling a new website and mobile apps. UPS, another prominent Fortune 500 sponsor, is active in NASCAR's "green" platform with a solar-powered trackside services unit.
"As companies do more in the marketplace, I think we'll see an uptick in the fan base. Our fan base continues to grow after the decline," Phelps said. "The sport is in the midst of a resurgence."


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Of Sunday and Macbeth
The better of the shows in terms of script is the lesser of the shows in terms of production: Macbeth. The central problems are that the play is a hodgepodge of ideas and techniques and that Kate Fleetwood as Lady Macbeth gives a one-note performance in the key of overwrought. (Patrick Stewart's performance is, like the whole show, occasionally extraordinary and generally competent, but lacking coherence.) The director, Rupert Goold, has chosen to put the play in quasi-Stalinist dress and on a single set: a white-tiled hospital ward-asylum-torture chamber, augmented with projected imagery when necessary. It's an effective choice, giving the play a sense of unity and menace, particularly in conjunction with the choice to make the witches into three nurses. The opening scene with the bloody soldier is hilarious at first, because the actor playing the soldier performs like an epileptic animatron, but the segue into the next scene, when the witches wonder when they'll meet again, is marvelously creepy.
Indeed, many of my favorite moments in the play were the scene transitions. Talking with other people who have seen the show, many of whom liked it far more than I, the banquet scene gets mentioned as a high point, and for me it was so, but not as much for the scene itself as for the movement from the scene of Banquo's murder (on a train, staged clumsily) to the banquet -- there is a puzzling shift to the entire cast singing something as if they've briefly been beamed in from Sweeney Todd, but just because it's puzzling doesn't mean it's not effective (I'm a sucker for sudden choral impulses), and then the chorus becomes the banquet. It's a lovely bit of choreography. Banquo gets to charge in, face and chest drenched in gore, and jump on the table, and then comes the intermission (or "interval" as the announcement at BAM said -- apparently they even imported the house manager from England). The scene is repeated when the second half of the play begins, this time sans Banquo and gore, so we get to see that Macbeth is -- shock of shocks -- delusional! It's one of the dubious choices that gives this production of Shakespeare's shortest play a running time closer to that of your average production of Hamlet.
Ultimately, my favorite performances were those of actors in smaller roles, particularly Christopher Patrick Nolan as the porter, portrayed with such diabolical menace that the character seems to have little to do with Shakespeare's original, but is nonetheless captivating to behold -- many of the other actors strain for similarly overblown effects, but produce characters that are less compelling, less nuanced, more like a reanimated bag of tics and tricks than a person.
Nonetheless, this is absolutely the best production of Macbeth I've ever seen. That is faint praise, though, because for some reason, though Macbeth is the Shakespeare play I have seen most often (yes, even more than A Midsummer Night's Dream, but that's probably because I've vowed never to see that one ever again lest it reach levels of fatal toxicity in my system), I have nonetheless had the bad luck to see nothing but truly atrocious productions of it, including an utterly lifeless version at the 1995 Stratford Festival in Ontario.
(I should note that Rick Bowes said the only reason I didn't like Kate Fleetwood's performance was that I couldn't adjust to the nontraditional casting of a woman in the role.)
Sunday in the Park is an altogether better production, one with strong and thoughtful performances throughout, and a coherent style and vision. My primary complaint was with the orchestra -- well, band, really. The production began at a tiny British theatre (yes, this is another import, a fact Michael Feingold has complained about) and despite moving to very modern and expansive digs here in the U.S., the band has not been expanded, and the lack is painful to anyone who knows the original soundtrack -- excruciatingly painful at a couple of key moments, in fact. Plenty of musicals can survive just with a piano -- I once saw a perfectly good Sweeney Todd performed that way -- but the orchestrations of Sunday in the Park provide a level of meaning to the show that is simply not available without at least a few more instruments (preferably some brass) than the new production has. The final moments of Act I, with the song "Sunday", are breathtaking with an orchestra, and while they were still affecting at the Roundabout -- it's one of the best moments in all of Stephen Sondheim's work -- the emotional power was greatly reduced from what it could be.
Sunday in the Park provides a few gnarly problems to any production. First, there's the technical challenge: how do you assemble one of the most famous post-Impressionist paintings during the course of the first act, for instance? This production solves the technical challenges cleverly -- with projected animations. Even in these days of massive Broadway spectacles, the animations in Sunday in the Park are impressive because they make the stage itself into a blank piece of canvas, allowing quick and occasionally stunning transformations. Sometimes the animations are distracting, but more often they are magical, as props and set pieces that previously seemed solid evaporate into thin air.
The other problem with Sunday in the Park is the second act. Critics have, ever since the original production of 1983/84, complained about the second act, and its shallow satire of the 1980s art world has not aged well. This is, though, primarily a problem with one song, albeit a long one: "Putting It Together" (rewritten to somewhat better effect for the revue of that title, where it became about putting a show together) -- the rest of the act is, though a bit ethereal and certainly less impressive than the first act, not particularly painful. The new production does its best with "Putting It Together", but Daniel Evans makes George so unsympathetic, so much the stereotype of the bristling and bitter and whiny artist, that the emotional possibilities of the second act's conclusion are lost, and what remains feels forced and sour.
It is, though, a generally enjoyable production, though seldom transcendent in the way the material can be.


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MARION — The Board of Health has passed a series of new regulations making it harder for minors to buy tobacco or nicotine products.
MARION — The Board of Health has passed a series of new regulations making it harder for minors to buy tobacco or nicotine products.
As of mid-April, only customers over the age of 18 will have access to electronic cigarettes. Educational and health facilities as well as pharmacies will not be able to sell them.
A week ago, Marion's Board of Health voted to limit access to tobacco and nicotine products after listening to a presentation called Enhanced Youth Access Regulations at a public hearing.
Judith Coykendall, the program manager of the Seven Hills Behavioral Health Tobacco-Free Community Partnership said electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) had not received Food and Drug Administration approval.
"(E-cigarettes) are composed of a mouthpiece, heating element, battery and/or electronic circuits that provide a vapor of liquid nicotine to the user. We do not know what is in the vapor other than nicotine," Coykendall said in a news release.
The health board will also provide a sign with a quit smoking phone number for businesses that sell nicotine or tobacco products, Coykendall said.
Businesses that sell nicotine or tobacco products will be required to hang two additional signs according to the news release, one stating "The sale of nicotine delivery products to minors under 18 years of age is prohibited," and the other, "The use of e-cigarettes at indoor establishments may be prohibited by local law."
Finally, the board also voted that any cigar costing less than $2.50 must be sold in packages of four. It voted to end the sale of blunt wraps (flavored wrapping papers). Blunt wraps are flavored and sold in bright colorful packaging, Coykendall said.
"People buy them primarily to put marijuana in them," she said. "Kids like them primarily because they are flavored."
The new regulations will take effect on April 15.
"The aim of the enhanced regulations is to protect Marion youth from accessing tobacco (and nicotine) and becoming lifelong addicted smokers" Coykendall said in the press statement.


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Will Money Translate into Votes?
Cycle-to-date 2012
Candidates who raise lots of money say it indicates broad support. Candidates with little money point out that voters, not donors, decide elections. Here's who raised the most money in each state. Roll your cursor over a state to see the amount to the top fund-raiser and how the state's overall money splits between Democrats and Republicans.
NOTE: All the numbers on this page are for the 2012 election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data released electronically on Saturday, July 21, 2012.
Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Ryan Hemsworth might be one of the fastest rising DJs and remixers in the game. The 22 year old producer certainly has his own style and sound. As opposed to the multitudes of heavily-layered, over manipulated trap-house artists, his style lends more to the shoe-gazing, half speed beats. He redid Frank Ocean's "Thinkin' Bout You" with snappier drums and a heavier melody. And, quite excellently, redid the TFIB favorite "Open" by Rhye into a heavier, speedier club jam. And for me, his mix for Diplo & Friends has been one of the better mixes of 2013, combining ambient, ethereal, and dubtrapr™ like few can.
Yet it seems like his remix of "Genesis" by Grimes might be one of the few tracks of this year to get the idea of a remix right. Upon initial listen, the track feels like a swirling reduction of Grimes' iconic piano lines, her voice phased down to smack against the bass. But the drums kick in, then, finally, the heavy harmony in the compressed synths. Splicing the lyrics into pieces, the echo-drenched "My heart" almost never leaves the mix. It's a crystallization, a focused reinterpretation of one of the best songs of 2012. Just as good as good on the beach as it is on the dance floor.


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At Novant Health, we support the nationwide effort to ensure that patients coming into the hospital with specific conditions receive recommended care. These recommendations are based on years of research on interventions that have been proven to improve outcomes for these conditions.
Your feedback today helps shape tomorrow
Be an active partner in your care
Infection prevention refers to activities performed to reduce the risk of infections. Although infection prevention is a long-standing activity for hospitals, it does not have well-established national benchmarks to use for quality comparisons. We follow CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines for the identification and public reporting of infections. We have many focused activities aimed at reducing infections in our facilities, including:
We continually monitor our hospitals and staff performance of infection prevention tactics to look for improvement opportunities. Our goal is to have the lowest possible infection rates.
In fact, Novant Health staff and physicians dramatically lowered the methicillian-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection rate in our hospitals by 69 percent, earning Novant the national Ernest A. Codman award from the Joint Commission. We've shared our materials and knowledge with thousands of hospitals and healthcare organizations in the U.S. and 80 countries around the world through our public website, www.WashingHandsSavesLives.org.
Hand washing is the number one way to prevent the spread of illness. This is why Novant Health promotes good hand hygiene, which means care givers should wash hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after each patient contact.
Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) is a bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics and is a common cause of hospital-acquired infections.
Vancomycin-resistant enteroccocci (VRE) bacteria can cause infections in patients who are in a weakened state. This could include patients undergoing chemotherapy, patients who recently had a complicated surgery or are using invasive devices such as a catheter. Like MRSA, this bacteria has become resistant to common antibiotics.
Clostridium difficile, often called C. difficile or "C. diff," is a bacterial infection of the intestines. It can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon.


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TodoTwilightSaga — TVE entrevista a Kristen... by virgii_
Translation kristenstewartdaily via RobStenation
Magic mirror, who is the fairest of these two actresses? Before answering, we asked Snow White and her stepmother about beauty.
Do you like what you see when you look in the mirror?
"Depends on the day," says the spectacular Charlize Theron. "Yes, most of the time," answer Kristen Stewart. The first is Kristen Stewart's evil stepmother, the latter is Snow White, in the new adaptation of the story of Snow White and the legend of the Huntsman.
Two. Strengths and weaknesses in your looks:
"A good sense of humor, that's my strong point…" replied the south african – A good sense of humor is my weakness." "I like my hands because they look like my whole family's hands, we all have the same thing.. I think my ears stick out."
Three: Of all the compliments you have received, are there any you remember?
"The one I like the most is a recent one, that I am a good mother," responds Charlize. "To be chosen as Snow White was a compliment in itself."
Plus, trick to remain so radiant.
"If you want my secret I'll have to kill you," answers the blonde playfully. "Seriously, I would love to tell you that I have a special face cream that I put on at night or something like that, but it's dedication." The young 22 year old's secret is "to have a good time. That'll make you feel good. Go out all night."
Put a name to beauty
Charlize Theron says: "My mother, I think my mother is fabulous…and George Clooney and Brad Pitt, I think they fit the bill." Kristen Stewart takes the opportunity to compliment her co-stars. "Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth."


text: Driverless cars still need to 'learn' how to drive on our roads, especially at busy junctions. Shutterstock/Karsten Neglia April 12, 2017 The school of hard knocks: driverless cars should learn lessons from crashes Sean Welsh We should all learn from mistakes. Driverless cars must do the same when it comes to any accidents they've been involved in on our roads, no matter who was to blame.


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The Retro Spankees are making a name for themselves with their blend of eccentricity and melodic alternative pop music.
Charlie Wood (guitar, vocals)
Charlie Wood (guitar, vocals)
Josh Ryan (guitar)
Jo Collis (bass)
Robert Nesbitt (drums).
Live they are accompanied by Old Mac Monkey The White Sock Monkey, various duck-based cuddly toys, an ironing board and a cardboard tractor.
Their debut album 'I Know You Are But What Am I?' is out now via Kooky Records. They are currently touring and working on their follow-up album.