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Review: Thompson Square is a country act on the rise
Loved this moment during Thompson Square's Friday concert at the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den: singer Keifer Thompson asked who in the crowd was there just because it was a free show and didn't really have any idea who Thompson Square was.
Some folks raised their hands.
Thompson then did something rather smart. He gave a few of the country duo's CDs to the uninitiated so they could learn more about Thompson Square. Nothing like creating good will — and new fans.
Chances are, he won't have to do that much longer because Thompson Square seems bound to become more and more famous. This husband-and-wife team of Keifer and Shawna Thompson is a country act on the rise.
Their music is, honestly, more pop than country. But so many Nashville artists have strayed from the strict confines of old-school C&W that that is no longer a sin.
What makes Thompson Square such a force is, simply, that they're really good. Their harmonies flow like honey, and their songs bump with a fresh liveliness. Man, their tunes know from catchy; the choruses on "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not," "Everything I Shouldn't Be Thinking About" and "Testing the Water" are irresistible sing-along material.
It's not just that Thompson Square's songs betray a pop-rock influence, by the way. They slipped songs from that genre right into the midst of their own on Friday. They worked a bit of Great Big World's "Say Something" into "I Can't Outrun You." While singing "You Don't Get Lucky," they segued into U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Keifer's best vocals of the night were when he hit notes and runs on that U2 cover that even Bono hasn't tried.
As for Shawna's pinnacle, her crystalline voice proved particularly stunning and pure on the emotional ballad "Glass."
Keifer and Shawna share a comfortable rapport — as they should, considering they've been married for 15 years. She playfully grabbed his shoulder during "I Got You." They sang "If I Didn't Have You" directly to each other, ending it with a kiss.
It did take the duo a while to really win over the crowd. Part of that was a function of a show's natural momentum, but part, too, was that they need to project and connect better with concert-goers, all the way to the last row — which, in the case of the Wolf Den, means the folks ringing the venue's perimeter.
And for those audience members who got a free Thompson Square CD? Lucky you. Listen and enjoy.
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Shutdown reaches Day 28 as Trump, Pelosi feud heats up again


text: Louie is a 4 month old Estrela we were lucky enough to witness being born. After waiting 10 months for our gorgeous boy we have a very bright, wonderfully calm and willful puppy... and he is growing tremendously fast! He loves to talk and will let you know everything he is feeling with a series of huffs, puffs and grumps. His favourite toy in the whole world is his rubber piggie and he loves cuddles- but only on his own terms!

subset: commoncrawl


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Mobile World Congress is the largest mobile technology trade show in the world and traditionally it's been the place where phone companies show off new releases.
However this year HTC and Sony revealed their latest smartphones a few weeks in advance of MWC, while Samsung kept the Galaxy S4 for a separate event in New York. What's the point, critics said, of spending all this time and money on a huge event if the block-busting hardware has already been unveiled?
But MWC is about more than a few headline superphones. There were hundreds of exhibitors demonstrating all kinds of interesting new mobile technology, and focusing solely on the big players could mean missing out on some really important advancements, like P2i and its water-repelling nanotechnology.
Plenty of mobile phones offer water-proofing, but in most cases this involves wrapping the phone in a thick layer of rubber and sealing up all the ports. This is effective but it's not usually attractive.
The P2i solution is far more elegant. The firm can take any mobile phone (or indeed almost any solid object) and coat it with a water-repelling coating.
No doubt, this was one of the most impressive demonstrations at Mobile World Congress.
It helped that the P2i stand had an attention grabbing setup: immersed in a tray of water was a Samsung Galaxy S3, powered on and running normally. Even more surprising, the rear cover of the S3 had been removed so the battery was fully exposed. You can see the full demonstration by P2i on the Broadband Genie blog.
The S3 had been treated with Dunkable™, the latest form of P2i's technology. This protects handsets to IPx7 standards, which requires devices to survive a metre of water for 30 minutes, though the timer on the S3 suggested it had been underwater for a lot longer than that.
As the phone was lifted out, the water droplets just slid off, and once the screen had been dried, it functioned as normal.
Unfortunately, as it's a new development Dunkable™ is not yet available on any hardware. So what could P2i do for us smartphone users right now?
The answer is its first commercial splash-proof product. This offers protection against splashes and spills, and like Dunkable™, water simply slides off treated surfaces. While you can't leave a handset immersed for a long period, it can survive everyday incidents that would kill unprotected devices.
The splash-proof coating is already used on recent Motorola RAZR smartphones. Like the RAZR i which I'd been carrying around for the last few months; turns out I was already a splash-proof user and hadn't even realised.
P2i can make a real difference to both manufacturers and end-users. We get water-resistant phones without the ugly bulk of typical ruggedised handsets, while manufacturers are free to design phones without having to worry about needing to adapt the design to "build in" liquid protection.
The challenge at the moment is getting the technology onto handsets, and in this, P2i could learn from the likes of Corning.
Gorilla Glass is now the standard for toughened phone displays, and it's become a selling point. Consumers are becoming increasingly aware that a smartphone with Corning Gorilla Glass means it's well protected against scratches and falls.
If P2i is able to build its brand awareness to the point where consumers base their buying decisions on its inclusion, they'll be able to attract more manufacturers and we'll get to a point where technologies like the splash-proof coating and Dunkable™ are used as a matter of course. Then we won't need to worry as much when our smartphones take a swim in the toilet bowl.


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Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Feodora Mocca's Dark and Milk
I'm traveling again, which means I've got a hankering for portable coffee. I know that coffee flavored chocolates don't have the same caffeinated kick as actual coffee, but a little snacking on some coffee-ish candy probably has some sort of placebo effect.
I've written about Feodora Moccas before. When I was in Germany I actually visited the factory where Feodora and Hachez chocolate is made and picked up both versions of their chocolate coffee beans. Even at the factory store, they're still not cheap, though certainly less expensive than the prices I pay in the United States.
The Feodora Moccals Zart-Bitter is the most common version, but I was eager to try their Feodora Mocca's Vollmilch because Feodora is so well known for their extremely smooth milk chocolate. The Feodora website had a product page for them in English:
The previous review of these holds up, as I still feel the same way about the slightly grainy texture. They're quite strong in flavor, on the bitter side but not too acidic. They're very woodsy but also sweet and have a note of cinnamon to them.
The pieces are excellently detailed, larger than a real coffee bean but with the little crease down the middle. They fit well in the mouth, and one is actually a great portion. There chocolate is mixed with 3% coffee beans ... I don't know what that means for caffeine content, but I'd probably put it at least than 20 mg per portion.
I was a little disappointed by the Vollmilch variety (called Superior Milk Chocolate with Coffee on the back of the box in English). The Feodora chocolate is extremely smooth and milky, slick and cool on the tongue. However, the Moccas lack that smoothness, probably because of the addition of the actual coffee beans. It's a little bit grainy, bitter and the milky flavors are more toffee and almost molasses.
Much to my surprise though, I went through the milk chocolate variety much quicker than the dark chocolate. It really shouldn't surprise me, I prefer my coffee with a bit of milk in its liquid form. My favorite coffee flavored chocolate lentil is still the Meiji Coffee Beat from Japan, but this one does have an authentic coffee kick to it.
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POSTED BY Cybele AT 10:26 am All Natural • Candy • Review • Hachez • Caffeinated • Chocolate • Coffee • 7-Worth It • Germany •
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Christmas Bars: Hershey's, Niederegger, Ghirardelli & Hachez
Here's a small selection of what I'd call Christmas chocolate bars. I've got to eat them up before the holidays - it may be too late for you to get them by Christmas, but there are some special ones that are worth picking up at the after-Christmas sales.
Hershey's introduced their Golden Almond Bar in 1977. It's a thick bar and clocks in at 2.8 ounces. The bar design and packaging has changed little over the past thirty five years. It's still wrapped in gold foil with a gold sleeve. Bars are sold either singly or in gold gift boxes of five bars (see a 1984 ad here). They're not that easy to find, I usually see them at the official Hershey's stores at Chocolate World or the Times Square shop.
The bar is simple, it's just milk chocolate with lots of whole roasted almonds in it. It differs from the Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds bar as it's supposed to be better quality chocolate. The ingredients do not differ from the Hershey's standard milk chocolate which includes PGPR but is at least made in the United States and not Mexico as the other supposedly upscale Pot of Gold line is.
The bar is wonderful looking, it's thick and has a great snap. It's about 1.7 inches wide, 4.75 inches long and a beefy half inch high. There are some almonds in there though not as many as I feel are promised but they look like they're fresh and of good quality. The chocolate looks a little darker than the standard Hershey's but smells like I'd expect. It's sweet with a slight yogurty tang to it.
The texture is smooth and fudgy, with a sticky melt and a light caramel and woodsy chocolate flavor. It's not complex and it's not extraordinary. But if you like Hershey's chocolate and enjoy the decadence of a thicker piece, this is a good bar to choose. I liked the nostalgia of an actual foil wrapped bar, which is so rare these days. If there's someone on your list that loves Hershey's, this is a little bit more elegant way to give them what they desire.
Size: 2.8 ounces
I'll have more about my German adventures, including a tour of the Niederegger Factory in Lubeck in the coming weeks.
I found this seasonal bar called Niederegger Marzipan Weihnachtsschokolade at the Niederegger cafe at Marktplatz in Lubeck. The front of the package says Saftiges gewurz marzipan mit vollmilch-schokolade. So it's a spiced marzipan in milk chocolate. The image shows almonds, cinnamon sticks and star anise. The ingredients don't specifically list anise, just "spices" though cinnamon is a separate item.
Inside the paper wrapper there's a stiff card (advertising the company and their website) and the foil wrapped bar.
The packaging did a great job of protecting the bar. It was glossy and unscuffed.
The milk chocolate is very light in color (33% cocoa solids and 14% milk solids). The bar smells like milky chai, a little spicy and very sweet. The marzipan is moist and a bit like eating Snickerdoodle cookie dough. The chocolate is smooth, but doesn't contribute much in the way of cocoa to this, it just nicely encases the marzipan. The texture of the marzipan is a little more rustic than the French style fondant type that's used for creating figures and shapes. Niederegger is meant for eating and enjoying.
The ratios on the 100 gram bars from Niederegger favor the chocolate more than the enrobed little classic loaves. (I'll get into that more in my master post.) If you're looking for a starter marzipan that's more about the texture and celebrates almonds as the source ingredient, Niederegger really can't be beat. It's not too sweet and doesn't have any fake amaretto flavors to it.
I would prefer a version of this with dark chocolate, but I can't argue with the traditional recipe they have. It's a great balance of subtle spice, sweetness, milk and almonds.
Size: 3.5 ounces
I'm no stranger to the Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark. They've been making it for years and it comes in a clever little square that's perfect for some afternoon tea or coffee.
I found this set of bars at Target last month on sale for $2 each. They're heralded as limited edition and come in milk chocolate and dark chocolate.
I'm not actually a fan of barks. I like my inclusions fully immersed in the chocolate. So the bar version of Peppermint Bark is perfect for my strange fondness for things being hidden in the chocolate.
Unlike most Peppermint Barks, which combine white chocolate with crushed peppermint candies (like candy canes or starlight mints), the Ghiradelli version uses minty, artificially colored corn flakes. I haven't the foggiest why they did it that way, but honestly, they created something unique enough to be a new genre.
The milk and dark vary a little bit in their coloring. The milk version is sweet and has a lot of dairy notes to it from both the milk chocolate base and the white chocolate top (made with real cocoa butter). The mint is clean and bright, the little cereal bits are crunchy and a little salty and keep it all from being too cloying.
The dark version has two kinds of bits, the red bits and some little dark brown bits, which I think are little chocolate cookie pieces. The dark chocolate has a little smoky note to it which overshadowed the minty layer a bit, which I enjoyed. There's a definite difference between the Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark and the Dove Peppermint Bark, which can also be found for comparable prices at similar stores. Personally, I prefer the Dove version, because it's a bit butterier. This one is about the crunch, a grown up sort of crunch.
Size: 3 ounces
The last item I have is not quite a full review. The Hachez Weihnachts Knusper Bar (Christmas Crunchy Bar) is a darling looking bar. The soft white paper wrapper has a classically illustrated scene of a child ice skating on a pond.
Feine Vollmilch-Chocolade mit Zimt, Mandeln und Nussen
My German was getting pretty good, even though I'd only been listening to German podcasts for a week and was only there for a day. The front of the package said Fine milk chocolate with cinnamon, almonds and nuts. The little image also showed all of the above -cinnamon sticks, milk chocolate blocks, almonds and a hazelnut in its shell.
So I was very excited when I got it home and put at the top of my list to photograph and review before Christmas. I took it out of the wrapper, snapped it in half ... it looked and smelled so good:
The bar was glossy and showed no ill effects from the long journey (about 750 more miles on a bus at that point then the 5,700 mile plane ride).
I broke off a little piece of it to try after the photo, I was greeted by wonderfully smooth and milky chocolate and amazingly fresh, crunchy and crushed nuts and a hint of cinnamon. I could taste the hazelnuts and something else ... it wasn't pecans, it was walnuts. What I didn't realize was that while Nussen might be a generic word for nuts, it usually meant walnuts. (Walnusse is the more specific word.) So technically, I didn't eat any of the bar. I had to spit it out and rinse out my mouth (I still ended up itchy and with a sore throat all evening - my allergy has not developed beyond this irritation stage). But I'm going to go out on a limb after eating many of the other Hachez products in the past week (which I'll have reviews for) and say that this really is a good bar.
Size: 3.5 ounces
Do you have a favorite winter flavor combination? Anything regional or something from long ago that they don't make any longer?
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POSTED BY Cybele AT 12:49 pm All Natural • Candy • Review • Christmas • Ghirardelli • Hachez • Hershey's • Niederegger • Chocolate • Cookie • Kosher • Limited Edition • Mints • Nuts • White Chocolate • 5-Pleasant • 7-Worth It • 8-Tasty • Germany • United States • Target •
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Hachez Edel Vollmilch Nuss (Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts)
I've had a few Hachez chocolate products over the years, though I haven't written much about them (just this one review). They're a German chocolate maker (though they have Belgian roots).
My boss was traveling in Europe recently and returned with a stack of candy, and this bar was definitely blog-worthy (all others were tummy-worthy).
The Edel Vollmilch Nuss is a dark milk chocolate bar studded with hazelnuts.
The wrapper is odd in that it doesn't look like the other Hachez products I've seen, which are long narrow bars. However, the classic shield and seal that accompanies the logo is the same. The wrapper here is a heavy and glossy paper wrap with a light drawing of a squirrel holding a nut and some nuts growing on a limb. (And of course the little image of the chocolate bar itself.)
It's a thick bar, and even so the nuts protrude from the bottom of it in a cobblestone look.
The bar smells smoky and woodsy with a strong grassy hazelnut scent and a slight hint of dairy.
The texture I've experience with Hachez before is extremely smooth with no grit and this was no exception. The melt is slick and silky and the twang of the dairy notes were spot on perfect. The notes have a toasted flavor to them that echoes some of the darker notes of the rather dark milk chocolate (37% ... but remember that 24% of the mass of this bar is just hazelnuts).
It's a wonderful eating bar. The hazelnuts are a little small, but then again there were a lot of them. Every one was roasted to perfection so it was crunchy with just a slight sweet note to it. I enjoyed it simply as a hearty snack and a decadent little treat after dinner. And now it's gone and I'm going to have to find a way to get them in the United States.
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POSTED BY Cybele AT 11:00 am
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Hachez Chocolates
Name: Bits 'n Fits and Bits 'n Mints
I got a wondeful package last week from a reader, Michal, in Israel. (I sent her some stuff too, but sadly it has not arrived yet.) It was a huge box of all sorts of goodies that will take me about a month to savor properly (and photograph & review, fear not!).
The first grouping I have is from Hachez, which is a German chocolate company that's been around since 1880. These (except for the dark chocolate one) are from their Cocoa de Maracaibo line. It's an exceptionally rich milk chocolate that boasts 55% cacao from Venezuela. In the States the government says that you only need to have 10% cocoa solids to call your concoction Milk Chocolate. In Europe that standard is at least 25% cocoa solids. Even most semi-sweet chocolates don't have 55% cocoa solids in them!
The most amazingly cool things are their "Bits" tins. The tin shape might be a bit familiar to some folks as it seems to be identical to those that hold "Hint Mints" that can be found at places like Cost Plus World Market and coffee shops everwhere. The neat thing about the Hint Mints is that the curved tin makes it easy to keep in a pocket. You don't really wanna do that with a tin full of chocolate. But it's a really elegant way to be social with your chocolate when you pull one of these out and offer a little chocolate nibble to a friend or someone you want to impress.
The dense milk chocolate for the Bits 'n Mints is a little different. I wouldn't call it waxy, but it doesn't yield immediately. It sits on the tongue as it warms than then suddenly melts into a consistent puddle. It's probably because there's less fat in it than I'm used to in a milk chocolate. It takes a moment for it to come to body temperature, then it's very smooth. I mean, really smooth. It's literally like butter with a wonderful rich chocolate taste (very little milk taste to it) and a good cooling mint essence.
The Bits 'n Fits are unlike anything else I've had before and pure little pebbles of delight. The outside is the same milk chocolate but the center is a mix of amazing roasted flavors. Inside is what I can only call a hazelnut toffee with a huge boost of coffee flavor. A warning though, the package says that not only does it have 1% espresso powder, it also contains 1% guarana, which is a cousin of caffeine except more expensive. I don't know what that makes the "speed" content of this candy but at a little more than 1 ounce, you probably can't go too wrong. They're sweet and have a combination of textures that makes me wish they sold them around here.
Name: Longs - Cocoa de Maracaibo Classic & Espresso and Cocoa d'Arriba Orange
Cocoa de Maracaibo Classic - like the Bits 'n Mints, this bar was incredibly buttery without being oily. The first ingredient for Hachez's milk chocolate is not sugar, not butter and not milk solids, it's Cocoa Butter. My favorite butter! The milk solids come in at 18% so there's very little room for sugar in there. The milk flavors are much more evident in this bar than the Mints or the Espresso bar below. The milky flavor is very European like a much smoother, refined version of a Cadbury.
Cocoa de Maracaibo Espresso - similarly smooth and slick tasting, this bar has an intense burst of espresso flavor. Actually, don't think of it as flavor as in something that comes out of a bottle, it tastes like freshly ground coffee smells.
Cocoa d'Arriba Orange - This particular Longs falls under the Cocoa d'Arriba line, which is 77% cacao chocolate from Ecuador. The bar smells like a combination of orange rinds and dark cocoa. With all the cocoa solids in this bar, there's very little room for sugar. The bar is certainly chocolate with a substantial bitter bite but no real acidity or dryness that some bars have. It has woodsy flavors and of course the intense orange essence. I really liked this bar but probably couldn't eat as much of it as I could with the Cocoa de Maracaibo bars.
I've seen some of the Hachez product in stores before and I hope they make a bigger run at the American market. I think this Cocoa de Maracaibo is unlike most other mid-density chocolate available right now. It's rich without being too dense and retains all the wonderful qualities of the cocoa butter that so many high-end chocolate seem to sacrafice for that high cacao percentage.
I also have to commend Hachez for their website. Though it doesn't break out info on all their products individually, they do have an English version and the photography and additional pages are really wonderful.
Ratings: Bits 'n Mints and Bits 'n Fits - 9 out of 10
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Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.


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Judge denies new murder trial for Martin MacNeill
08/30/2014 9:45amA judge has ruled Martin MacNeill won't get a new trial but will be given a sentencing date next week for murdering his wife.
Experts explain how to spot child abuse
08/30/2014 11:22amA day after a Utah man was arrested for child abuse homicide, and a Utah woman arrested for the attempted murder of her baby, experts explain how to spot the signs of abuse early.
Former Vol Gray makes return to Knoxville wearing Aggie blue
08/30/2014 12:52pmWhen Utah State takes to the field Sunday against Tennessee, it will mark the program's first-ever game at historic Neyland Stadium. But it won't be the first time on that grass for one player.
5 Things to know about the 2014 Utah election
08/30/2014 3:18pmUtah's statewide and national races haven't the same drama and punch since a highly anticipated rematch in Utah's 4th Congressional District between Republican Mia Love and U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson deflated in December when the Democratic incumbent decided against seeking re-election.
Salt Lake Comic Con adds Ron Perlman to guest list
08/30/2014 3:52pmRon Perlman — best known for his title roles in the "Hellboy" films, the 1987-90 TV series "Beauty and the Beast," and the FX series "Sons of Anarchy" — joins the list of celebrity guests for Salt Lake Comic Con, which gets underway Thursday.
Thousands of library cards to be issued to students
08/30/2014 4:38pmA new partnership between the Salt Lake City Public Library and the Salt Lake City School District has resulted in roughly 14,000 students signing up for city library cards.
Beehives atop City Library produce pounds of honey
08/30/2014 6:20pmHoney is harvested from hives kept on top of Salt Lake's City Library. The hives are maintained by the city's officially designated beekeeper.
FAA looks at the future of drones
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Lawmaker wants criminal investigation into UTA development deal
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Utah's public lands war with federal government continues
08/30/2014 8:20pmAs Utah continues on the path of its goal to gain control of lands from the federal government, a wide array of strategies loom as possibilities. A meeting of the Commission on the Stewardship of Public Lands on Wednesday detailed a few options.
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08/30/2014 9:04pmThe Zions Bank Utah Consumer Attitude Index increased 2.0 points to 106.9 from July to August as Utahns continue feeling confident about business conditions and employment. The national Consumer Confidence Index increased 2.1 points to 92.4.
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08/30/2014 11:00pmPolice are looking for a male suspect who attempted to rob a Subway and a Family Dollar before leaving both businesses without any money, police said.
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Colour: White (please contact me if you want this catsuit in another colour).
Material: lycra and chiffon.
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Decoration: rhinestones.
Note: This item will be custom made to your measurements and other requests. After receiving your payment we will send order form to your email box with instruction to take measurements or to note your size, also for other information.


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Oct. 8, 2008
By Wheaton College Sports Information
NORTON, Mass. – The MIT women's volleyball team held off a formidable Wheaton College squad, 25-22, 21-25, 26-24, 22-25, 15-8, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) match on Tuesday night. The Engineers improved to 13-11 overall and 4-1 in league play while the Lyons slipped to 5-16 overall and 0-5 in the NEWMAC.
During the opening set, the teams traded early points, but the Engineers used a 4-1 run to break out of a 7-7 tie before Miranda Howitt's kill brought the hosts within two (14-12). MIT scored nine of the next 12 points to forge ahead, 23-15, on Jenny Li's ace, but Wheaton crept back thanks to a 7-1 run that made it 24-22 before an error sealed the win for MIT.
Set two was also a close affair, as the Lyons narrowly led by a 13-12 count before eventually going up, 18-13 on Becca Rose's ace. Wheaton maintained a minimum of a three-point cushion for the remainder of the frame. Alex May landed a kill to close the gap to 24-21, but Lauren Kraus blocked an attack at set point to knot the match.
The Engineers took a 6-1 advantage in the third set behind a pair of aces from Lindsay Hunting and consecutive kills by May, but Wheaton tallied a 6-0 run to capture the lead thanks to the service of Liana Merrill. Following the Lyons' 7-6 lead, the teams played through five more ties before Wheaton twice went up by as many as four points, last at 22-18 on Lauren McGrath's kill. The visitors rallied with a 6-1 run to go up, 24-23 on a May kill, and the Lyons forced a short-lived tie at 24 before MIT notched back-to-back kills, with another May kill clinching the set.
When MIT edged ahead, 11-8 in the fourth set, it was the first time either team led by more than two points, but Wheaton scored four straight thanks to consecutive Kraus blocks to put the hosts on top, 12-11. Four ties ensued, as neither squad led by more than three points again until the Lyons broke out of a 20-all set with four straight points while Merrill served, as Kraus recorded a key kill. Consecutive May kills made it 24-22, but Howitt's ensuing kill forced a fifth set.
Kraus and Kaitlyn Stokes blocked an MIT attack to give Wheaton the first point in the final frame, and a Rose ace had the home team on top, 5-3 before the Engineers rallied for 12 of the final 15 points in the match. After MIT had surged ahead, Stokes' kills brought the Lyons to within 9-7 and 11-8 before a Hunting ace ended the match.
May led MIT with 24 kills and 18 digs, Li turned in 13 kills, and Katrina Ellison had 11 kills and 19 digs. Cathy Melnikow tallied 53 assists, while Hunting ended up with 20 digs and three aces.
Kraus finished the match with 17 kills, seven blocks and three aces, Howitt tallied 14 kills, 14 digs and three aces, while Merrill notched 10 kills. Rose turned in 43 assists and three aces, while Stokes recorded four blocks. Emily Davisson and Kristen Hunt contributed 25 and 11 digs, respectively.


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Matheny welcomes new collision rule
JUPITER, Fla. -- Major League Baseball and the Players' Association announced on Monday that they will adopt an experimental rule in 2014 to "prohibit the most egregious collisions at home plate."
There was certainly compromise made on this issue, as Rule 7.13 does not altogether prohibit the catcher from blocking the plate and the runner from subsequently making contact. But it is written to protect catchers who do provide a running lane, and the Cardinals will continue to instruct their catchers as if this is a must.
JUPITER, Fla. -- Major League Baseball and the Players' Association announced on Monday that they will adopt an experimental rule in 2014 to "prohibit the most egregious collisions at home plate."
There was certainly compromise made on this issue, as Rule 7.13 does not altogether prohibit the catcher from blocking the plate and the runner from subsequently making contact. But it is written to protect catchers who do provide a running lane, and the Cardinals will continue to instruct their catchers as if this is a must.
"Not only will we practice that from the Major League level, but that's what we will begin teaching from the bottom to top," general manager John Mozeliak explained. "From an organizational philosophy, that's what we'll do."
Manager Mike Matheny, who estimates that he endured about 25-30 collisions as a catcher and had his career cut short due to concussions, has been among the most outspoken in advocating for completely abolishing home-plate collisions. This rule change does not go that far, but it is evidence that awareness about the risk of head trauma has created a healthy discussion.
"I'm not on a mission here to try to do anything except do what's right," Matheny said on Monday afternoon. "First of all, make people aware that the concussion thing is real and not just in football and hockey. It's real in baseball, and I did a real poor job of communicating that early on. And the other thing is, let's take a risk-reward analysis of this thing. What is the risk of the good of the game, let alone the individual, and the long-term repercussions? And what's the reward?"
Under this new rule, a runner "may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher." If a runner does so, in the judgment of the umpire, he will be ruled out.
Additionally, a catcher cannot block the plate unless he has possession of the ball. Again, the umpire can use his discretion to call the runner safe if the catcher does not leave a running lane.
A catcher with possession of the ball, however, will still be permitted to block the plate, if he chooses. And if he does, the runner will not be required to slide. That leaves open the opportunity for collisions, and also puts the onus on the home-plate umpire to determine whether either player failed to react properly.
"I don't know just how exactly it's going to be enforced, the idea that if you're not blocking the plate you can't take a run at them," Matheny said. "If that's going to be upheld, I think we're going to be in pretty good shape. I would just hope that if a guy does go out of his way to get somebody, that he's made an example of. I hope the league comes down hard on him."
The Cardinals intend to eliminate any gray area on their end by instructing their baserunners to slide feet first and their catchers to tag, not block. Of particular interest is protecting Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina, who can now avoid having players barrel into him if he adjusts his positioning.
Matheny has already, several times during Spring Training, had his catchers practice receiving throws while standing on the corner of home plate nearest the first-base line. From there, the catcher can make a swipe tag to protect the whole plate.
"I've had all kinds of different organizations calling me, asking me to explain what it is that we're doing," Matheny said. "Not that we have this foolproof method, but we're making it very, very clear to everybody in the league -- we're giving the plate. And we're making it clear for a purpose, because if they start taking runs at us, this new rule should protect our guys to some degree and then the repercussions are going to hopefully be held in the league's hands at some point.
"I don't know how it's all going to play how except for the fact that we think it's the right thing. And the right thing is to try to keep our guys on the field."
MLB plans to give teams material during Spring Training that better outlines the new rules and will hold additional meetings with managers. There are also plans of forming a committee of players and managers to revisit the rule during and after the season.
Given his involvement in making this a topic of discussion over the past year, Matheny will likely be among those asked to assess the pros and cons of how the rule is written and then applied.
"I think it will be interesting to see how things go this year," Matheny said. "I'll be instructing our guys to slide. You can't demand it. The league doesn't. … There are still going to be some train wrecks at home plate. I'm just encouraging my guys to do what they can to avoid it if it's avoidable."
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, By Gosh, It's Langosch, and follow her on Twitter @LangoschMLB.


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major macro economic indicators
|GDP growth (%)
|Inflation (yearly average, %)
|Budget balance (% GDP)
|Current account balance (% GDP)
|Public debt (% GDP)
(f): forecast
- Current accounts and public finances sustained by oil and gas despite fall in world prices
- Discovery of new oil fields
- Broad political consensus
- Well capitalised banking system
- Large sovereign fund
- Budget deficit excluding oil and gas revenues
- High household debt and high housing prices
- Significant wage costs
- Shortage of skilled labour in certain sectors
Growth supported by local demand
In 2018, activity would be boosted by private consumption and investment. Private consumption will benefit from the gradual decline in unemployment (4% in October 2017). Household disposable income is expected to increase due to higher wages, combined with lower income taxes and low inflation. The slight appreciation of the Norwegian krone in 2017 will help contain it, thanks to the drop in the price of imported goods. In addition, residential investment will be negatively affected by the significant indebtedness of households (221% of disposable income) and the stabilisation of real estate prices, due to the rapid increase in the housing supply and the rising rates on property loans (change of legislation). Investment outside the oil and real estate sectors should be particularly dynamic due to a higher utilization rate of production capacity, as well as loan conditions which are still very favourable (rate of interest at 0.5%). The industrial sectors will benefit greatly from this improvement, especially the pharmaceutical sector, fisheries, metallurgy and forestry. The energy sector (mainly oil and gas), which accounts for 20% of GDP, 30% of investments and 55% of total exports, will improve in 2018. The moderate rise in oil prices will encourage investment in the development of oil fields that have already been discovered, such as Johan Sverdrup, whose entry into production is planned for early 2019. On the other hand, low hydrocarbon prices would still weigh on investments in the exploration of new deposits. The dynamism of external demand, especially from the euro zone, will lead to trade having a positive contribution to growth. However, the slowdown in UK activity (23% of exports) could limit this contribution.
A very comfortable budget and external situation
Fiscal policy will remain focused on improving competitiveness and diversifying the economy, in order to reduce the country's dependence on the energy sector. Nevertheless, the 2018 budget will be less expansionary than the previous ones, making it possible to clear a very comfortable surplus. In fact, most of the exceptional measures taken in 2016, aimed at redirecting the jobs destroyed in the oil industry towards construction, will be abolished due to the low unemployment level. In addition, public investment will be limited to transportation infrastructure (roads, public transportation and rail networks). However, the government will maintain its investment attraction policy by pursuing the reduction of corporate tax (from 27% to 24% between 2015 and 2018). Remaining tax measures, including lower income tax, will be financed by an increase in VAT on transport and tourism-related activities (from 10% to 12%). The fiscal rule limiting withdrawals from the sovereign fund to 3% of its value again will be respected. Nevertheless, the non-oil deficit will amount to 7.8% of GDP in 2018, illustrating the country's dependence on oil revenues and dividends from its sovereign fund. The public debt should increase slightly, while remaining very sustainable insofar as the country has one of the largest sovereign funds in the world in terms of assets (nearly $1 trillion under management).
The current account surplus is expected to remain strong in 2018, reflecting the improvement in the balance of goods and income. The dynamism of exports will offset that of imports. The surplus of the primary revenue balance, thanks to the increase of the interest collected in connection with foreign investments, will be offset by the deficit of the transfer balance, related to the contribution of the country to the European budget, as well as to the aid granted to developing countries.
Government renewed but weakened by dissension within the coalition
After the parliamentary elections of September 2017, the centre-right coalition, in power since 2013 and composed of the Conservative Party, the Progress Party, the Christian Democrats (KrF) and the Liberals, has a sufficient number of seats to maintain a majority in Parliament (88 seats out of 169). Although the centre-left parties won the popular vote, they do not have a majority in Parliament, as the electoral system gives rural areas proportionally more seats than densely populated regions. Nevertheless, the formation of the new government was made difficult by the reluctance of the KrF and the Liberals to renew their support for the government, even though they did not already have any posts. Negotiations have therefore been postponed until early 2018, after the vote on the budget. It therefore seems likely that Erna Soldberg's government will include members of both parties in order to avoid any potential political deadlock.
Last update : January 2018
Bills of exchange and cheques are neither widely used nor recommended, as they must meet a number of formal requirements in order to be valid. In addition, creditors frequently refuse to accept cheques as a means of payment. As a rule, both instruments serve mainly to substantiate the existence of a debt.
Conversely, promissory notes (gjeldsbrev) are much more common in commercial transactions, and offer superior guarantees when associated with an unequivocal acknowledgement of the sum due that will, in case of subsequent default, allow the beneficiary to obtain a writ of execution from the competent court (Namrett).
Bank transfers are by far the most widely used means of payment. All leading Norwegian banks use the SWIFT electronic network, which offers a cheap, flexible and quick international funds transfer service.
Centralising accounts, based on a centralised local cashing system and simplified management of fund transfers, also constitute a relatively common practice.
Electronic payments, involving the execution of payment orders via the website of the client's bank, are rapidly gaining popularity.
Debt collection
Amicable phase
The collection process commences with the debtor being sent a demand for the payment of the principal amount, plus any contractually agreed interest penalties, within 14 days.
Where an agreement contains no specific penalty clause, interest starts to accrue 30 days after the creditor serves a demand for payment and, since 2004, is calculated at the Central Bank of Norway's base rate (Norges Bank) in effect as of either the 1st January or the 1st July of the relevant year, raised by seven percentage points.
In the absence of payment or an agreement, creditors may go before the Conciliation Board (Forliksrådet), a quasi-administrative body. To benefit from this procedure, creditors must submit documents authenticating their claim, which should be denominated in Norwegian kroner (NOK).
The Conciliation Board then allows the debtor a short period to respond to the claim lodged before hearing the parties, either in person or through their official representatives (stevnevitne). At this stage of proceedings, lawyers are not systematically required. The agreement therefore reached will be enforceable in the same manner as a judgement.
Legal proceedings
Ordinary proceedings
If a settlement is not forthcoming, the case is referred to the court of first instance for examination. However, for claims found to be valid, the Conciliation Board has the power to hand down a decision, which has the force of a court judgement.
A case which is referred to the higher court will commence with a summons to appear before the municipal or District Court. The summons will be served on the debtor with an order to give the court notice of intention to defend if he so wishes.
Where a defendant fails to respond to the summons in the prescribed time (about three weeks) or fails to appear at the hearing, the Board passes a ruling in default, which also has the force of a court judgement. The length of proceedings varies from one court to another.
More complex or disputed claims are heard by the court of first instance (Byret). The plenary proceedings of this court are based on oral evidence and written submissions. The court examines the arguments and hears the parties' witnesses before delivering a judgment.
Norway does not have a system of commercial courts, but the Probate Court (Skifteret) is competent to hear disposals of capital assets, estate successions, as well as insolvency proceedings.
Enforcement of a court decision
A domestic judgment is enforceable for ten years if it has become final. If the debtor does not comply with the judgment, the creditor can request compulsory enforcement of the judgment from the enforcement authorities, which will then seize the debtor's assets and funds.
Even though Norway is not part of the EU, for awards issued by EU countries, particular and advantageous enforcement mechanisms will be applied, such as EU payment orders or the European Enforcement Order, under the "Brussels Regime". For decisions rendered by non EU members, they will be enforced on a reciprocity basis, provided that the issuing country is party to a bilateral or multilateral agreement with Norway.
Insolvency proceedings
Out-of court proceedings
Private non-judicially administered reorganizations are common in Norway; even though there are not regulated by law. Debtors and creditors are free to make any kind of arrangements, but in practice the Debt Reorganization and Bankruptcy Act is often applied. A third party (a lawyer or an accountant) can handle the process if the parties wish it so.
Restructuring the debt
This procedure can only be initiated by a wiling debtor. His financial situation is assessed with a court-appointed supervisory committee and a composition proposal is prepared. If the Court agrees, a composition committee as well as a court appointed trustee will manage the debtors' operations and formulate a composition agreement. A debt settlement proceeding may result in a completed debt settlement, composition or the commencement of a bankruptcy proceedings.
Bankruptcy proceedings
Proceedings can be opened by court decision either from the debtor or creditor. The latter must guarantee for expenses related to the proceedings. The court will appoint a trustee and assess the need for a creditor committee prior to issuing a bankruptcy order and given the creditors time to file their claim (three to six weeks). All of the debtor's assets are confiscated, the debt is evaluated and a list of claims is established.


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- Coldblack finishing technology reduces heat build-up in direct sunlight and offers reliable protection from UV rays
- UPF 30+ is integrated into the fabric for UV sun protection
- 10-panel design with high compression reduces muscle fatigue and speeds up muscle recovery
- Ultra TMF Italian chamois:
- Men's specific design is anatomically shaped for long distance comfort
- Seamless Skyving technology eliminates "steps" between foam layers for superb comfort, ergonomic fit and no chafing
- 4-layer chamois construction guarantees best performance
- Air Mesh doubles shock absorption and protection around ischiatic area, plus keeps the body cool under exertion, thanks to it's unbeatable wicking properties
- Multi-density foams absorb vibrations and offer impact protection while maximizing comfort
- Carbon brushed antibacterial top sheet to eliminate odors
- Italian-made
- Comfortable elastic waistband
- Flatlock seams eliminate chafing
- Reflective heat transfer on back legs for visibility
- Wide, sublimated leg bands with lightweight printed silicone interior prevent ride up and hold the shorts in position without restricting circulation


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Cambridge, Mass. – MIT coach Dawn Dill has been named the women's swimming coach of the year in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). Dill was one of several representatives from MIT honored with NEWMAC post-season awards, announced by the conference office on Thursday, along with men's swimmers Wyatt Ubellacker and Colby Dunn.
Dill lead the MIT women's swimming and diving team to its first ever NEWMAC Championship last weekend, ending a 10-year winning streak by the Springfield Pride. Dill also coached the men's team that won its third straight conference title, crushing the field at the Zesiger Pool.
This is Dill's fourth time being tabbed NEWMAC coach of the year since joining the Engineers in 2003. She was the women's coach of the year in 2005-06 and won back to back awards on the men's side the past two seasons.
A big part of MIT's men's team's stellar season was the swimming of Wyatt Ubellacker, and the sophomore was honored with NEWMAC swimmer of the year accolades at the end of the championship meet. Ubellacker placed first and earned NCAA "B" cuts in the 50 freestyle, 400 medley relay, 200 medley relay, 100 butterfly, and 400 freestyle relay. He also captured third place in the 100 freestyle for his sixth NCAA provisional qualification.
Freshman Colby Dunn earned the third major award for the Engineers when he was named the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year. Dunn registered first-place finishes in the 400 medley relay, 200 freestyle, 800 freestyle relay, the 100 freestyle, and the 400 freestyle relay. He earned an automatic NCAA qualification standard in the 200 freestyle while provisionally qualifying four times. He also picked up points for the Engineers in the 50 freestyle courtesy of a third-place finish.
2010-11 NEWMAC Swimming and Diving Awards
Men's Swimmer of the Year - Wyatt Ubellacker, MIT
Women's Swimmer of the Year - Kellie Pennington, Springfield
Men's Diver of the Year - Brooks Farrar, Springfield
Women's Diver of the Year - Eileen Garcia, Clark
Men's Rookie of the Year - Colby Dunn, MIT
Women's Rookie of the Year - Kellie Pennington, Springfield
Men's Swimming Coach of the Year - Paul Phillips, Clark
Women's Swimming Coach of the Year - Dawn Dill, MIT
Men's Diving Coach of the Year - Peter Avdoulos, Springfield
Women's Diving Coach of the Year - Laura O'Tell, Clark
Men's Sportsmanship Award - Clark
Women's Sportsmanship Award - Mount Holyoke


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Do any of you suffer from OCD or a type of it?
I'm quite curious to how many types of OCD's there actually are..
I myself actually suffer from Dermatophagia.. which can be extremely disturbing if you don't know what that is.
Basically, I enjoy biting the skin off my fingers until I they become really red and raw. It's now to the point where I feel absolutely no pain, which makes me bite even more. In fact, I'm doing this as I type. -.-
Oh, I also bite the inside of my lips. It usually always bleeds, but it's not painful at all~
It just.. gives me a sense of satisfaction somehow..
I'm sorry but It's really hard to stop, I've tried almost everything!
Don't open if you get squirmish easily I guess. I don't think it looks too bad, but I guess you guys think I'm a freak ;~;
Lol oh well!
Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide
How do you guys deal with your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? If you don't have one, how would you deal with it?
That may give me ideas how to help mine ;~;
200% Block B/Taeil trash.
I used to.
I don't think I have it as extreme, but I usually want to keep everything in order, and if I don't get it that way I just get very irritated, but this has gone down the past years, because my mindset has changed from making everything perfect to well screw it, takes too much effort now xD -.-
what is this cr stuff
For the hands, try wearing gloves. I'm not talking work, riding or garden gloves, but they sell a light kind of glove in the pharmacy. My mother wears them and they supposedly help her hands when they get too chapped from drying out. Another option if you get really desperate is to buy this product called 'ick gel' from a pet store. It is used on pets with sores to prevent them from licking it raw. My poor neurotic dog licked the stuff up anyways, but to me it was like licking a rancid helium balloon. (don't ask)
I rearrange everything in my room to the same thing.
Like, if one thing is out of place i'll rearrange my whole room to, take things down, wipe it, and put it back the same way it was before.
Comic Books. I have thousands of comics, and I get new ones twice a month. I take out all my long boxes, read the new comics, then re-organize the entire collection. It takes most of a day to complete. But if I stray from that ritual it screws me up for weeks.
Its like a few years ago I used to wash my hands like after I did anything and I would NEVER eat without my hands washed or using hand sanitizer ( when I'm out). I only was like that for like a year but I always had to like even wash my hands before going on the computer because I didn't want to get it dirty ( from my hands) or something strange like that O.o. It lead to me getting chapped hands really easily which used to bleed sometimes since I kept using so much soap...
I guess it was at a weird point, but now I just wash my hands like when a regular person would... I don't know if I was worrying about germs or something but I also even used to clean things like ps3 controllers after someone had used it other than me...
Anyway basically I just got over it :] I realise it isn't a serious disorder like OCD which is almost irrational but it was like a strange habit...
EDIT: When I say I just got over it I mean I slowly learned to stop doing it over time until it basically stopped... ( Im not saying its easy to get over these things) I think it only started because I was at a science thing once which told people how much germs there are on things... It was probably around when I was like 9 years old though
I always have hand sanitizer around to use, people are just so germy.
smoke and mirrors
i hate when my wrists are out in the open, they have to be covered 24/7 and also if something in my house gets moved in the slightest i have to put it back in place or i will not be able to sleep...lol
Just living life
My sister is very OCD about, like, everything. One thing I know in particular is that she pulls her hair out. I don't know what it's called, though.
I don't think I have OCD, I'm just ADHD. I'm anal about a lot of things, but it doesn't mean it's OCD.
Well.... I like things symmetrical .... I kinda freak out if they are odd
i'm not just a kon I'm a sir, and also Kon
I'm a checker and counter. Used to be a hoarder but that somehow evolved into a cleaner after I got over it.
I'm in therapy and medicated for it and have been for a while.
Does over-thinking count as one?


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This is the part two of this weeks installment of Nessa's News. Click here for Part One.
We got to our hotel in San Luis Obispo just in time to fall asleep, but not before my family came to see me! I got to see them for about 20 minutes but we had an early breakfast so they let me get some sleep. Mollie Mitchell was my roommate and she was already passed out when I got back to the room. We had breakfast and then headed to the field to take on UNLV and Cal Poly. We've been playing really well and it's exciting to be a part of it. We walked away Friday with two big wins. We went and checked into a different hotel so we would feel safer and after that my family cooked a big dinner for the team and all the families that came. It was amazing to get to spend so much time with them and eat some of my favorite foods!
Saturday we didn't play until 3 and 5:30 and again we played Cal Poly and UNLV. We beat Cal Poly and that was super exciting because we played extremely well and got the clutch hits. After coming off that win we got ready for UNLV, the first time we beat them it was only a 2-1 game so we knew they were going to come out fighting. I usually don't like to blame losses on umpires because we can't control their calls but there were a few that were game changers. We fought back and did what we could but unfortunately they gave us our only loss of the weekend. That night the girls went back to Splash for dinner and I got to go out to dinner with my whole family. It was my last night to see them all and I had so much fun with them.
Sunday we had breakfast at 6:30 and got ready for our rematch with Ball State. We won that game 3-1 and I thought we played well against a good team. We went back to the hotel after the game to change, shower and head back to San Francisco. After we ate lunch we were on the road! We arrived just in time to make the ferry to Alcatraz. The night tour was awesome. Shelby and I got to go into the bottom level which is restricted to the public. That was the highlight of my trip. The guard put us in the same cell as an inmate who had hit the warden in the dining hall and had to go in there for a couple of days. Then the guard turned off the lights so we would know what that inmate saw and it was pitch black. We couldn't even see our hands in front of our faces because it was so dark. After Alcatraz we went to dinner at Wipeou. It was another long day so we were all ready to get back to the hotel and get some sleep.
When we walked out to the car Gracey Aguirre noticed all the glass on the ground. It never clicked in my head that our vans had gotten broken into. We looked in and Shelby and Brianne quickly realized they were missing their backpacks from our van and Kelsey Cartwright, Coach Heather Collins and our athletic trainer Carrie were missing stuff from the other van. They took four laptops, a Kindle, Ipod and some other valuables but the good thing was that we were all O.K. It took the cops forever to show up and after everything got sorted out we went back to the hotel. Unfortunately it was a longer night for our coaches who had to go return the vans and get new ones. They were pretty amazing through the whole thing, the way they were so calm and making the phone calls to get things taken care of and pacing to check on us to make sure we were O.K. We were all mad that someone would break windows to steal in a busy parking lot. Is it really that hard to make a life for yourself that you have to resort to stealing other people's things? I'll never understand that, but I think at the end of the day going through something like that brought us closer together and made us appreciate who we surround ourselves with.
The next morning we all just wanted to get back to Nashville so we were all ready to board that plane. I sat by Bridgette, of course, but this flight was probably the worst of all. There was a lot of turbulence and I know Bridgette isn't a good flyer so I brought up every subject I could to keep her talking and her mind off the shaking plane. She still didn't let go of my hand but hopefully I helped her a little bit! After landing in Denver we had one more flight till we got back to Nashville, and this time take off was rough but after we got through the icky air it was a smooth flight home.
We're ready for one day of practice and then we head to Florida to start conference play in Jacksonville. This is when the real season starts for us, this is what we've been working for. We're playing well and the bats are hot so our goal is to go undefeated in conference. Here's a fun fact: in one week we will have been in all four US time zones.


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I've got a 2011 North X-Ride I have abused in some very shallow waters with barnicles and broken shells on the base. Many big gouges in the plastic material. After extensive research on the net I still cannot confirm what the base material is and if clear P-Tex candles will work to fill the gouges. Has anyone had first hand experience repairing this?
It rides just fine but looks like crap. I wouldnt mind restoring it to a resellable condition if possible.
Thanks for your experience here.


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My Knowledge of Wichita Falls' Water Situation Is Running on Empty
Just saw a link on Facebook to a news story about how the water/drought situation here is getting worse and worse. We're already in a water "emergency, but we're now precariously close to being in what City categorizes as a water "disaster."
Besides assuming that a "disaster" is something really, really bad, I can only wonder what a water disaster declaration would mean. I seriously don't have a clue. And that bothers me. I feel like it's something I should know. I mean, I'm a pretty informed guy, yet I couldn't tell you if a water disaster means more slightly-burdensome water restrictions or if my family is going to be limited to 10 minutes of shower time per day.
Why don't I know this? And whose fault is it that I don't? Of course, the first scapegoat that came to mind was the City. Why haven't they told me, personally, how to stave off disaster, what to do in case of disaster, and what they were doing to mitigate future disasters??
Of course, the fact is the City is doing something. I just don't know what that something is. Or if it's the right thing. Or enough of the right thing. I, literally, do not know and have no basis for criticizing, praising or planning. And while my family and I are extremely conscious of our water use, we're still part of the problem by not being adequately informed.
I know it's exhausting and frustrating and often a complete waste of time to try to stay informed about such matters. And I know people in general – and myself in particular – tend to rely on the belief that things will eventually work out for the best. But the prospect of a city of 100,000 simply running out of water cannot be left up to such arms-length involvement. And yet, I've spent WAY more time and energy researching what local bars carry The Longhorn Network than I have determining whether water will still be coming out of my kitchen faucet in a few months.
And that's my fault. And it's unacceptable.
So, speaking for myself, I'm going to commit to gaining as complete an understanding of our situation and our options as is possible. Who knows? Maybe I'll learn that things are going to work out for the best. Or maybe I'll be so shocked by what I learn that I immediately rent a U-Haul and get my family the hell out of this desert wasteland. I'll keep you posted.
Whatever I do, it's only going to come after I pull my own head of the sand.


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The Duke Blue Devils rode a 31 point effort from Kyrie Irving to take out pesky Michigan State 84-79 in a jam packed Cameron Indoor Stadium. With the win the Blue Devils go to 7-0 on the season and next entertain Butler in a rematch of last seasons national championship game. BDN takes a look at the win with our post game report.
Kyrie, Kyrie and Kyrie
Almost every question posed from the media was about Kyrie Irving no matter who they were talking to. I followed Irving on the AAU trail and saw him play 20 plus games before he set foot on campus so tonight's 31 point career high effort is no surprise to me. Irving blew up in the eyes of the national media tonight and the freshman made an early statement as the conferences best newcomer. Heck, he may be the best freshman in the nation. Irving was in short sensational ... wait I stole that from Krzyzewski. Irving's 13 made free throws is tops of any freshman in Duke history. His two blocked shots were a season high. Irving had been sick earlier in the week on Monday but returned to practice on Tuesday.
Sensational, superb, scintillating
When asked by media members to describe Irving's game Krzyzewski joked with the media member who asked him to use adjectives which you will hear in the post game audio below. Krzyzewski borrowed some from Dick Vitale but hey, they sounded original. Krzyzewski's mood was as expected good after beating a solid Spartans team.
Stars warm up just in time
After slow starts Kyle Singler and fellow senior Nolan Smith warmed up and both finished strong. Singler knocked down two three pointers after going 2 of 11 early on finishing with 15 points to go with 7 rebounds. Smith had a team high 5 assists to go with 17 points and he had back to back baskets during a key stretch run.
Mason Plumlee was a man
Mason had a double-double sure. But it was his 5 steals which really impressed and that earned him glowing comments from Krzyzewski. Plumlee has turned the corner of late and was an iron man in the game but he did not participate in post game interviews. The reason is he was immediately treated for a sprained ankle. Duke would not have won this game had Mason not played as well as he did. It's a game he can really build on.
Duke forces 20 turnovers
The Duke defense was especially good during a second half run an they forced the Spartans into 20 turnovers and scored a whopping 28 points. Michigan State forced Duke into 15 but scored just 14 off of theirs.
More notes - Duke moves to 11-1 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and their streak of home wins goes to 81. Duke has now won 17 straight games going back to last season. Duke has recorded ten or more steals in 5 of 7 games to date. Duke has trailed a grand total of three total minutes in all games this season. Duke has started 7-0 for the 12th time. Mason Plumlee now has three career double-doubles. Nolan Smith leads the ACC with 18 straight double figure scoring games.
Coach K left the podium at 12:20 and here are his comments verbatim -
Just press play -


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Kennesaw Chiropractor Dr. Kerith Powell
Hi I'm Dr. Powell your Kennesaw Chiropractor,
I would like to thank you for the privilege of meeting you this way and sincerely hope that we will meet in person one day soon. I am not just saying that I truly mean it. You see I am certain that you and I have something in common, an interest in finding ways to release our full potential. I am committed to helping you reach your health goals. I am also committed to sharing the truth about spinal decay, it's effects, and how it can be stopped.
Chiropractors seek to release the inborn power that resides in all of us. This power animates, coordinates and maintains us. It functions to instruct us on a cellular, molecular, and organic level the best ways to adapt to the forces we face daily. These forces include physical forces like, gravity, inertia, entropy, chemical forces like, air quality at work, poor diet choices and other chemicals ingested or injected, as well as emotional stresses like retirement, disappointment, and feelings of despair. This inborn power is always at full capacity; however, there are times when one or more of these types of stresses cause the flow of this power to be reduced like a light bulb on a dimmer switch. There is light, just not as much as there could be if there was full power.
No matter how your health is right now, it is a great asset to have full power surging through your body. You know innately that this is true and I am just reminding you. We know that health does not come in the form of a pill, a potion, or a lotion, it comes from within.
Thank you for allowing me to serve in this way. I hope we meet soon in my office or at one of the events held around town.
Dr. Kerith Powell
Your Kennesaw Chiropractor
Dr. Kerith Powell has been practicing chiropractic in Atlanta since 2006. His chiropractic practice has evolved from the "bone-out-of-place-impinging-on-a-nerve" to "how gait, bone structure and disc placement effect the tension of the nervous system." Currently Dr. Powell is focused on optimizing the brain-body connection of his chiropractic clients here in Kennesaw Georgia. Dr. Kerith Powell is also a chiropractic instructor at Life University, the largest and most respected Chiropractic College. He uses all of his 14 years of his hands-on clinical chiropractic experience of structure, function, tone, congenital abnormalities, and connective tissue involvement for every client he accepts. His goal is to produce astounding results in very little time. His chiropractic peers describe him as having "great hands."
You have found the Kennesaw chiropractor to see in Kennesaw Georgia. Call (678) 744-6015 to schedule today.


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OTTAWA — The federal government will unveil its much-awaited austerity budget on March 29, although Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said those expecting a detailed schedule of spending cuts may be disappointed.
Flaherty said Wednesday the budget will not lay out in specifics where the government plans to find between $4 billion and $8 billion in annual savings over the next three years.
"There's not going to be intricate detail," he told reporters in Ottawa.
"But there'll be enough information that it'll be comprehensible, that it will describe what we're doing in terms of the deficit reduction action plan, and much more than that, this is a jobs and growth budget."
The end of March date is later than usual for a federal budget, but Flaherty had long signalled he wanted a clearer picture of how the European debt crisis might impact Canada's economy before tabling the blueprint for the upcoming fiscal year.
As well, the Harper government has been battling a constant barrage of criticism over its plans to cut programs and tackle Old Age Security in an effort to limit the cost of elderly benefits as the baby boomer generation moves to retirement.
Public sector unions have scheduled a "day of action" for Thursday to protest what they warn could be the elimination of 100,000 jobs across the country.
"Some of the numbers I've read from some of the public service unions are outrageous," Flaherty responded.
However, he added that the public sector had been "protected" during the recession, so it was "realistic … that we ask the public service to participate in the belt-tightening."
On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird told an Ottawa newspaper that estimates of as many as 25,000 public service jobs vanishing in the capital region due to austerity were a "gross, gross, gross exaggeration."
Reports in Ottawa suggests the budget will call for spending cuts of about $5 billion fully phased in within three years.
Flaherty would not say what he has in mind, but called the cuts modest in relation to a $265 billion budget.
"We're talking about relatively small spending reductions. If you want to look at big austerity programs, you go to the United Kingdom today, you go to Canada in 1995, 1996. This is not in that order of magnitude."
The 2012-13 budget comes amid a recent flurry of mildly encouraging economic news, suggesting that the gloom that permeated November's fall update with the doubling of a risk premium for downside surprises in Europe has abated somewhat.
Flaherty has invited the country's leading economists to Ottawa in the first week of March to give him the most recent outlook for the economy.
Recent interviews with several suggest their outlook won't be much different from November's 2.1 per cent growth projection for 2012, but that they will turn down the temperature on risk.
They will likely also tell Flaherty that government revenues may be bigger than expected given the continued strength of commodity prices, including oil, which is again well over US$100 a barrel. High commodity prices improve Canada's terms of trade and give a net boost to corporate profits.
Flaherty got some good news last week when the Finance Department reported the monthly deficit fell to $353 million in December, from $1.35 billion a year earlier.
The December data put Ottawa about $10 billion ahead of pace for the first nine months of the fiscal year compared to the previous year.
Some analysts calculate this year's fiscal deficit could come in as low as $26 billion — or $5 billion below the fall update's estimate — putting Ottawa in position to get back to balance one year earlier than projected, in 2014-15.
Flaherty said he believes the government books are still essentially in the same position as they was in November, although he added "it's possible we'll do a bit better."


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More like being in the spirit and speaking in tongues than being realistic – President Jonathan had said in his inaugural lecture on Thursday that: human 'greed' is the devil preventing Nigeria's development instead of the widely-believed 'corruption' horror.
Jonathan asked rhetorically: "How can one man amass wealth which even his great grandchildren cannot exhaust at the expense of the entire nation?"
But the president is lonely in his make-believe that greed is a more worrisome palaver in Nigeria than corruption. An interview from today's Vanguard shows that Jonathan is caught up in his own hype. Those interviewed by the Vanguard weren't impressed by the president's argument in amplifying greed and putting it ahead of corruption in Nigeria.
In the interview, respondents were asked to list what they want the incoming government of Jonathan to accomplish. Stating categorically that corruption supersedes all other vices holding Nigeria to ransom.
Alhaji Balarabe Musa of the CNPP said: "There is nothing he can mention that he has done except for the level of corruption that has continued to increase by the day which is not going to reduce. So, we don't expect anything good from any of them".
And Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of Trinity House added his voice of his expectation from him "If Jonathan lives above corruption and he is transparent and sets example and chooses ministers who will do the same, Nigerians would be proud of him. If you cannot bribe the President and at least 80 to 90 percent of his minsters refuse to be corrupted, then the civil servants will not be corrupt and bit by bit, the message will cut across to everybody.
The president might choose to deceive a handful of fantasist with his incoherent inaugural tutorials but most Nigerians are ahead of time and could differential propaganda, mis-education, folly and outright dumbness of a leader.
It's not just now that one realised that Jonathan is seriously handicapped and challenged when it comes to calling 'CORRUPTION' by its rightful name? He can't mention or define corruption correctly without corrupting, mutilating, misapplying and underscoring it. Pretending corruption doesn't exist in Nigeria whatsoever.
When he was the governor of his native Bayelsa State, he once argued that corruption committed by lower people in Nigeria is deadlier to the health of the Nigerian state than the sleaze done by higher-ups. This view is a lifelong perception held by Jonathan of which he has no scruple airing it in the public even if it's damningly screwed to one side. 'To hell with it!' There's no doubt that this kind of shady mindset makes the president one of the most dangerous occupants that ever lived in Aso Rock.
Mr Jonathan should refrain from living in denial of the existence of corruption in Nigeria. Underplaying this evil can only magnify our already injurious state of the nation. This kind of signal where the president pampers corruption and those doing it is some reasons why the already compromised Farida Waziri and other law-enforcers find it uninteresting to take on the big men. Going after corrupt ogas would be like writing your own obituary or pre-empting the president after he has commented that corruption is a lesser evil to greed. The EFCC knows better not to arrest Dimeji Bankole who's billed to partake in tomorrow's presidential inauguration after he refused to honour their invitation over the 10 million Naira scam. It's all about the EFCC keeping it real with the president's encouragement of corruption: see no evil and hear no evil about corruption. Till corruption kill Nigeria beyond repairs.
Jonathan should be well-studied and calculative each time he's making public statements so as not to disgrace us further before the world. For now, the president should be schooled properly that corruption is a crime worldwide but not greed. Everyone is somewhat greedy by nature but not all of us are corrupt or want to be. We all yearn to gain the whole world to our private greed but not everyone would do that to lose their soul. You can arrest a person who corruptly enriched himself but not the one who greedily thought of enriching oneself.
Greed is the overmuch desire to have everything to oneself while corruption is the foulness of immorally taking something that doesn't belong to you via bribery.
And conclusively, corruption is blameworthy for the untold woes that is bedevilling Nigeria.
Who could now see the second term re-election greed of burning desire in President Jonathan Goodluck's mind? And who can indict or blame him for that which is in his chest that's yet unknown and un-manifested? But, we saw the corruption and damaging trend of how OBJ used our money to bribe lawmakers to change the constitution in his favour to do third term tenure elongation. Corruption is our woe and not mere human greed that's almost normal until developed into corruption. The president goofed plenty!
Sunday Njokede writes form the European Union


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UT Theatre & Film Department 2009-2010 Season: Style & SubstanceCelebrating 100 years of ARTS and Sciences
Fall Theatre Auditions
Wednesday/Thursday, August 26 & 27
6 – 10 p.m.
Documentary Film Series
The Corporation
Provoking, witty, stylish and sweepingly informative, this film explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time – the "corporation".
Friday, August 28
Lab Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Why We Fight
Filmmaker Jarecki explores Eisenhower's warning about the rise of the military industrial complex, and finds that the answer to the film's title is not as clear to Americans as it used to be.
Friday, Sept. 11
Lab Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Michael Moore's scathing examination of the US health care system and how it compares to other countries' systems. Shown with Glass Jaw, a short piece documenting a filmmaker's struggle with the health care system after he is assaulted.
Friday, Sept. 25
Lab Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Yes Men
Changing the world one prank at a time, anti-corporate activists travel from conference to conference, impersonating member of the World Trade Organization. Shown with Freedom of Expression: Resistance and Repression in the Age of Intellectual Property.
October 23
Lab, 7:30
University, Inc.
Filmmaker Kyle Henry will be in residence for a screening of his newly re-released documentary on the corporatization of the academy. Shown with Laura Dunn's short piece, The Subtext of a Yale Education.
Friday, Nov. 6
Lab Theatre, 7:30
The Doctor in Spite of Himself(Visit the Photo Gallery)
Written by Moliere, Directed by Cornel Gabara
A simple woodcutter is mistaken for a learned doctor in this satirical farce.
October 12 – 18
Center Theatre, Monday – Saturday 7:30 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Machinal(Visit the Photo Gallery)
Written by Sophie Treadwell, Directed by Irene Alby
Loosely based on a scandalous 1927 murder trial, this expressionist work examines the circumstances that could drive a young woman to murder.
Nov. 13 – 15 & 18 – 22
Center Theatre, Wednesday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Spring Theatre Auditions
Tuesday/Wednesday, Dec. 1 & 2
6 – 10 p.m.
24 Hour Plays
24 hours from conception to performance - our fifth annual evening of short plays
created, rehearsed and performed in one wild and crazy day.
Saturday, December 5
Studio Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Bob Fosse Film Retrospective Screenings
Sweet Charity (1969)
Taxi Dancer Charity continues to have faith in people despite endless disappointment. Fosse's directorial debut, the film is based on the Broadway musical, which itself was based on Federico Fellini's Nights of Cabiria. (Adult content.)
Friday, January 15, 2010
Lab Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Cabaret (1972)
Cabaret follows the exploits of American singer Sally Bowles in decadent 1930's Berlin. Both the original Broadway musical and the film were based on Christopher Isherwood's Goodbye to Berlin. (Adult content)
Friday, January 29, 2010
Lab Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Lenny (1974)
The life of '60's comedian Lenny Bruce, known equally well for his comic brilliance and his self-destruction. (Adult content)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Lab, 7:30 p.m.
All That Jazz (1979)
Although presented as fiction, this film clearly presents a self-portrait of the director and eerily foreshadows Fosse's premature death. (Adult content)
Friday, March 19, 2010
Lab Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Star 80 (1983)
An unsettling film about murdered Playboy centerfold Dorothy Stratten and the men who wanted to make her a star. (Adult content)
Friday, April 9, 2010
Lab Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Bald Soprano & The Lesson(Visit the Photo Gallery)
Written by Eugene Ionesco, Directed by Cornel Gabara
These two classic absurdist "anti-plays" reflect the comedy of a universe based entirely on chance.
Feb. 19 – 21 and 24 – 28, 2010
Center Theatre, Wednesday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Creation/Doomsday: Selections from the Chester Mystery Cycle(Visit the Photo Gallery)
Director – Ed Lingan
Creation/Doomsday is drawn from the cycle of biblical plays that were regularly performed in the English town of Chester during the medieval era. The production will re-examine and re-shape the Chester Mystery Cycle by combining medieval and contemporary theatrical techniques.
April 16 – 18 and 21 – 25, 2010
Center Theatre, Wednesday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Senior Film Student Showcases
Graduating film/video seniors present overviews of their work.
Throughout April
Lab Theatre – watch for specific dates and times
F/V Showcase
Our annual celebration of representative student work from all levels of film/video
production classes.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Lab Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Theatre & Film Department 45th Anniversary Reunion Dinner (reservations required)
Alums and former students save this weekend now! The dinner is just one of many special
things we are planning to make this weekend great. We are also developing a historical
photo and memorabilia display in conjunction with Carlson Library's Canaday Center.
If you have items you would like to include in the display, or for more information
contact Angela at 419.530.2452.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Student Union – Ingman Room, 5:30 p.m.
Theatre Showcase
New celebration of representative student work from all levels of theatre production
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Studio Theatre, 7:30 p.m.


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The intersection of Kane Creek Boulevard and 500 West can be confusing, especially to tourists who aren't familiar with the area. Moab City Engineer Rebecca Andrus is hoping that the installation of a mini-roundabout at the intersection will help simplify things for everyone.
Andrus said earlier this month that the city plans to install the new feature as part of a $1 million road construction project scheduled to begin on 500 West in the summer of 2015.
"We went through several options for that intersection," she said. "The best is to use a mini-roundabout."
In general, Andrus said, roundabouts are not popular. However, many people are confused about what an actual roundabout entails, she said.
"Not all circular intersections are roundabouts," Andrus said.
A true roundabout features an island in the center that allows traffic to flow in a counter-clockwise direction. Each entrance and exit point features a "splitter" island that helps direct traffic, she said.
Studies have shown significant decreases in the number of collisions at intersections with roundabouts, according to Andrus.
"There is a 60 percent decrease in the number of injury crashes and over an 80 percent decrease in fatal or incapacitating crashes," she said. "Most of the crashes that occur in roundabouts are property damage only."
The mini-roundabout design under consideration features a "mountable" center island, meaning that there is no signage or landscaping on it.
"It has a 2-inch lip, and it raises up to 5 inches in the center," she said. This allows larger trucks to drive over the center island if they're too big to maneuver through the smaller roundabout.
The mini-roundabout wasn't the only option considered. The city also drew up plans for making the intersection a three-way stop, however that would require an increased city right-of-way in the area, she said.
"We'd end up in the property owned by the gas company," she said. "They'd have to move some very expensive equipment."
Moab City Manager Donna Metzler said that the right-of-way issue is a major factor in the decision.
"It's extremely important for this project after what we've gone through to get what we have," she said.
"This is less complicated than anything else," Andrus said. "It's the only design that would allow through movements without stopping."
Andrus said there will be an adjustment period while people who are used to the current configuration learn the new one, but that would be true regardless of how the intersection was changed.
She said that people tend to oppose roundabouts until they're installed.
"Once they're in, people realize how easy they are and they start to want them everywhere," she said. "This makes it a lot simpler. It makes it a lot easier. It makes it a lot safer."


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You can't beat a system you can't understand
Concerned readers want to know: How does the election process really work? We put our crack research team, the Googlamaniacs, to the task and they slaved for nanoseconds to find the answers. After sifting through 501,000 alleged explanations on the Internet, the consensus is: Nobody really knows.
According to an expert from "Your Guide to U. S. Government Info," presidential candidates are selected in the following manner: "In the summer of every presidential election year, political parties in the United States typically conduct national conventions to choose their presidential candidates. At the conventions, the presidential candidates are selected by groups of delegates from each state. The first candidate to receive a preset majority number of delegate votes becomes the party's presidential candidate. The candidate selected to run for president then selects a vice presidential candidate."
Interesting concept, wouldn't you say? However, the explanation appears to have conveniently left out information on the delegates, apparently an important part of the process. I would think voters would like to know who they are and how they are chosen. Further along in the document the questions were answered, sort of.
Again, according to "Your Guide to U.S. Government Info": "Delegates to the national conventions are selected at the state level according to rules and formulas determined by each political party's state committee. These rules and formulas can change from state to state and from year to year."
How comforting. There are no real rules.
Undaunted, the Googlamaniacs pressed on and asked the obvious, really simple question: What is a delegate? The U. S. Government answer is: "Delegates are individuals chosen to represent their states at their party conventions prior to a presidential election. The rules for selecting delegates, which are dictated by the parties, can be dizzying- the guidelines vary not only by party, but by state, and sometimes by congressional district. A party might grant additional delegates as a reward if a state has a recent history of supporting that party, for example. In other cases, delegates might simply be allocated to a state based on the percentage of votes that state is granted in the Electoral College."
I'm certainly glad they made that clear. Now we know: They have a vague idea of what a delegate is, but they have no idea of how they are chosen or exactly how many there really are.
The Googlamaniacs determined that information on delegates is highly classified and the political parties will make getting that information more difficult than getting a direct answer to "What exactly do you want to accomplish if elected to office?"
The next question that needed addressing was about a recent term added to the mix to further confuse voters: What is a superdelegate? Are these delegates that are larger than regular delegates? Are they smarter? Do the have special powers? Inquiring voters want to know.
The answer is: "The Democratic Party has superdelegates, which include elected officials, like members of Congress, and party officials. At the Democratic convention, superdelegates account for twenty percent of overall delegates and are "uncommitted and are not bound in any fashion" to any one candidate. In other words, they can throw their support to whomever they want.
Does this mean they can throw their mother's hat in the ring and give her their undying support? That's a frightening thought.
The Googlamaniacs decided to change course and concentrate on the difference between primaries and caucuses. Surely, they could come up with a definitive answer to such a simple question about two mainstays of our election process.
According to U. S. Government Info, "In states holding them, presidential primary elections are open to all registered voters. Primary elections also vary in what names appear on their ballots. Most states hold presidential preference primaries, in which the actual presidential candidates' names appear on the ballot. In other states, only the names of convention delegates appear on the ballot. Delegates may state their support for a candidate or declare themselves to be uncommitted."
Huh? Did I miss something? Am I the only person who is confused? Let's take a look at the definition of a caucus.
According to the same source, "Caucuses are simply meetings open to all registered voters of the party, at which delegates to the party's national convention are selected. Voters in attendance divide themselves into groups according to the candidate they support. The undecided voters congregate into their own group and prepare to be "courted" by supporters of other candidates. At the end of the caucus, party organizers count the voters in each candidate's group and calculate how many delegates to the county convention each candidate has won.
"As in the primaries, the caucus process can produce both pledged and unpledged convention delegates, depending on the party rules of the various states."
There's that "calculate" thing again. They won't tell us how the number of delegates is actually calculated. Could it be that each party in every state and congressional district makes up the rules as they go along? It appears that could be the case.
Now you know. This is how a president is elected in a system we can't understand.


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How Do You Display Your Faith
Everyone has a special way that they display and express their faith. Unlike many aspects in life, faith is a beautiful thing to have because it can give you the hope that you need to get through anything or give you guidance when you've lost your way. Here are a few ways people display their faith to the rest of the world.


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CRESTVIEW � The Okaloosa All-County Band will perform a public concert on Feb. 1 at the Mattie Kelley Arts Center.
CRESTVIEW � The Okaloosa All-County Band will perform a public concert on Feb. 1 at the Mattie Kelley Arts Center.
The competition from throughout Okaloosa County was fierce, but in the end, 27 members of the Big Red Machine recently were selected for the honor.
�It�s a little higher than normal,� band director Jody Dunn said of the number of his performers accepted to the county band.
Big Red Machine members had to perform before a judging panel to be selected for the all-county band, Dunn said. They were competing against students in other county bands, including the Niceville High School Eagle Pride, which performed in this year�s Macy�s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.
�Those kids audition individually,� Dunn said. �They had to play 12 major scales in less than 2 minutes, they each had two exercises they had prepared, and then they had a sight-reading exercise they had to do.�
Equally pleased was local trumpet tutor Jeremy Cadle. Six of the Big Red Machine trumpeters accepted in the all-county band are from his studio. They earned the first three and the seventh, eighth and 10th chairs in the trumpet section.
�They only took 12 trumpets in all, and six of those are mine,� Cadle said proudly.
Crestview Okaloosa All-County Band members includeCydney Terryn, Olivia Dunn, Savannah Barefield, Foster Lux, Melissa Kannapel, Elizabeth Dunn, Brandon Joseph, Nick Overton, Vishnu Sriram, Coltin Fortner, James Harrington, Chancer Teel, Jacob Anderson, Joshua Williams, Austin Boyd, Cory Saeugling, Darren Smith, Evan Stegner, Jared Gaszak, Michael Nauta, Jonathan Baughman, John Cuthriell, Jason Heiserman, Keith Holcombe, Paul Delery, Koji Tilley and Nathan Shaw.
Want to go?
The All-County Band concert will be 7 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. Admission is free.