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Pleasant visit to Pine Tree Lodge in LaBelle
"Pleasant" is the very first word that comes to mind when you have an enjoyable visit and delicious meal with the Millers at Pine Tree Lodge in LaBelle. First fun thing that happened on our recent visit was that the lady's voice in our GPS kept repeating "label" for the word "LaBelle," but we arrived just the same after checking the various directions given for the scenic restaurant along the banks of Taylor Bayou in Southeast Texas. Ken and Norma Miller have been the owners of Pine Tree Lodge since 1984 and have built a faithful following of customers from far and near.
Regulars do not even have to ask for the menu to place orders for scrumptious fried catfish, either whole or done in tender fillets, or for a really good steak. Many travel to Pine Tree just for the gumbo and potato salad or any one of the other dozens of home cooked recipes offered by the family and their staff. The seafood platter, offering tastes of several specialties, is a favorite of many. It comes loaded with the famous catfish, fried oysters, gator bites, a delicious crab cake filled with loads of fresh crabmeat, shrimp, and your choice of two side dishes. My husband, Ted, bragged on the hushpuppies, and he is getting to be a connoisseur of those delicacies here in Texas.
We did have to teach him the story of how hushpuppies came into existence. It has been written by many that in the older days of plantations and ranches, the hunting dogs would gather around the back doorstep or porch and whine for food. As the cooks would be preparing big evening meals, they would make cornbread or corn fritters to be served with heaping bowls of fresh vegetables or game shot on the land. As the dogs got louder, the cooks would fry up small bits of the batter or have small portions left over in the pan from the frying fritters, and would spoon them up and throw them out to the door with the cry, "Hush, puppy, this food ain't for you." Thus, hushpuppies were born and soon became a fine tradition.
While visiting with the Millers, we found that sadly Ken passed away in 1995 but that Miss Norma has been joined by son Mike and his personable wife, Sandy, who have been on board since Hurricane Ike. It is really a family affair, and we discovered that Mike and Sandy's son Ryan now works in the kitchen. The quality, quantity and taste of the food has not changed one iota, and if anything, is better than I remembered from earlier visits.
Mike said that Pine Tree Lodge is a fun, family oriented business where people of all ages can come and enjoy some of the best seafood, steaks and burgers in Southeast Texas. "We have our followers," he said with a smile. "Some of our customers drive for miles to get here to eat, and many others are more local. We enjoy them all."
The location for the restaurant couldn't be more perfect. You are likely to see big turtles sunning on the jutting rocks or along the edges of the bayou, and it is not uncommon to spot a big gator or two while fish jump and splash. The Millers are proud of the new and improved patio that offers customers a waterfront view and a great place for the live music offered there. Sundays are big entertainment days, and the patio is usually full all afternoon and into the evening. The Millers choose to feature local bands including Curtis Breaux and the Cadillacs, Billy Poullard and the Zydeco Combo, and Eazy with Steve Champagne, among others. You can check the Pine Tree Lodge FaceBook page to determine what group is playing next on the patio.
When asked what was the most ordered food on the big menu, all of the Millers said in unison, "Fried whole catfish." "Some people drive here just for that," said Mike. "We pride ourselves on having good food consistently." When asked what made the catfish so special, he smiled and said, "I think the secret lies with the cook. They know what they are doing in the back, and it shows. It also has to do with the quality of food we buy, the special blend of spices and seasoning, and the way it is fried. Best thing to do is just to taste it for yourself." Miller said they buy local seafood that is guaranteed fresh and delivered directly to the restaurant.
The restaurant is closed on Monday but is available for private parties with notice. "We've had wedding receptions, an actual wedding, birthdays, corporate gatherings, showers, engagement, and graduation parties here," said Mike. "And Thursdays are our prime rib specials. You'll have to come and try one of those." The restaurant offers a full menu of wine and beer and a lunch special from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day, Tuesday through Friday.
"We believe our customers have made Pine Tree Lodge such a well-known destination for great family dining and relaxation, and for that, we are grateful," said the Millers. "We thank you for your patronage and friendship and look forward to serving you for many years to come."
The restaurant is at 3296 Pinetree Road in LaBelle. You can reach the Millers or a member of the staff at (409) 796-1600.
Pine Tree is open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It is open from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday, from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at brendacannonhenley [at] yahoo [dot] com.


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BERNALILLO, N.M.—Former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez tried to commit the perfect murder when he shot his wife in 2007 with his department-issued handgun and made it look like suicide, prosecutors said Monday.
"What is the perfect murder?" prosecutor Bryan McKay asked during opening statements in Chavez's trial. "It's one in which people are convinced it's not a murder."
Chavez is accused of killing his 26-year-old wife in the couple's home in Los Lunas, about 25 miles south of Albuquerque. He is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
Tera Chavez died from a single gunshot wound to the mouth. Jurors on Monday saw crime scene photos, including one that showed the woman slumped in bed, the handgun that was found next to her and one of her husband's police uniforms in the bedroom armoire.
Defense attorney David Serna disputed the prosecution's claims, challenging the credibility of their witnesses and the investigation done by the Valencia County Sheriff's Office. He also said the autopsy evidence was consistent with suicide.
"The truth is Levi Chavez is innocent," Serna told jurors.
But prosecutors said Levi Chavez, 32, had the motive and opportunity to commit the crime.
Chavez and his estranged wife both were having extramarital affairs, prosecutors said. And they were arguing about divorce and Tera Chavez's discovery that her husband had allegedly staged the theft of their truck for insurance money. Levi Chavez was never charged in the theft.
"It all comes together on that weekend when the defendant comes home and puts the gun he has with him in Tera's mouth and pulls the trigger," McKay said.
Serna argued Tera Chavez was having a difficult time with the troubled marriage and had left dozens of voice and text messages on her husband's phone in the days leading up to her death.
Prosecutors questioned why Levi Chavez had deleted all the messages except for one in which his wife said she was sad and afraid that she might hurt herself. They also pointed to Tera Chavez's journal, in which she said in the last entries that she had turned the corner and was ready to move on with her life.
Serna told jurors they would get to hear the 911 call Levi Chavez made after the October 2007 shooting.
"It is very difficult to listen to," Serna said. "But it is the sound of a man who is in anguish."
Chavez sat quietly in the courtroom and wiped his eyes as Serna recalled that night for jurors.
The trial is expected to last for several weeks and bring attention to alleged abuses in the Albuquerque Police Department, which is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for an increase in police shootings.
Chavez had been an Albuquerque police officer for nine months when the Valencia County Sheriff's Office started investigating him a month after his wife's death.
He remained with the department and collected around $155,000 in salary in 3 1/2 years while on administrative leave, desk duty and working for Albuquerque's Animal Welfare Department. He also received two contract-required raises.
Chavez was fired after a Valencia County grand jury indicted him on a murder charge in April 2011.
Serna vowed again Monday to counter "point-by-point" what he says are false allegations and lies made about his client.

subset: commoncrawl


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sigh...I can't believe I'm about to say this...But I kind of feel bad for Michelle...when she was sitting in HOH with Keesha, she was saying "You can talk to me...You can stay up here...You can sleep in my bed until I go back down"...all the while, Keesha just kept going on and on and on...Michelle just wants a friend...lol
I am REALLY considering getting the live feeds free for 2 weeks because I want to SEEEEEEE!!!! But I did that before and tried to cancel and it was a big pain and they ended up charging me for 8 months!
I am dying to see if Libra really only washed her dishes, silverware, and glasses. That is what it looked like. And if she did, did she put them in the SR too- because we heard doors, but didn't see anything on the feeds. Or if she left her clean place setting on the kitchen counter?I think it is kind-of strnge for her to do that. Even if she didn't want to do all the dishes, maybe she could have put them in to soak and maybe cover the leftovers? I just wonder what the others will think of it?I am not sayng it is a big deal- but it shows she is looking out for only herself.
Well after last night -- I have definitely decided that Libra, Keesha, April and Michelle all need to go. One right after another. None of them deserve a dime. What a bunch of idiots. I just couldn't stop laughing and I wasn't even going to stay up and watch last night but it was to unbelievable to turn the TV off. way to BB -- give them some more to drink and lets see what else happens.
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23-Year-Old Math Teacher With No Clothes On Gets Fired After Posting Half-Naked Photos Of Herself On Twitter & Calling Students Jail Bait!
"Carly McKinney was fired from her job as a high school math teacher after the 23-year-old wrote posts on her Twitter about students being "jail bait" and posting half naked photos of herself. According to 9 News, Carly McKinney was fired from her job as a high school math teacher at Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado for posting half-naked photos of herself on her Twitter while also writing postings about using drugs at school and calling students jail bait. While the Twitter page has been taken down, the damage has been done as the 23-year-old as placed on paid administrative leave on Tuesday for her explicit Twitter posts." - americanlivewire.com
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Gun Control Background Check Law Explained
Why is there a gun show loop hole in the background check law? Would making the checks "universal" prevent crime and death? Jason Bellini has "The Short Answer."
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... according to recent polls the vast majority of American voters now support universal background checks for people can find out ... what ... wire background checks done on all sales ... the Brady Act requires federally licensed firearms dealers ... background checks on prospective gun for servers use a database called the nationalistic criminal background check system ... but the background check required doesn't apply to people who sell their bonds from private collections often at gun shows ... how many guns are sold by unlicensed parties ... according to data cited by present Obama about forty percent of sales happened without background checks ... but critics say that number is weighted and flawed because it comes from small sample survey nearly two decades ago ... one reason why the statistics are available ... was disclosed the so called gun show loophole ... that's what Pres Obama wants Congress to ... go for most of the estimated three hundred million by the guns in America are registered in any way analysts have recently ... discovered our ... nation ... private sales with the ... house ... those who support background checks on all gun sales argues that so ... gun shows ... would be to work from doing all full transactions ... so it's going to start doing background checks it might help prevent some criminals from buying guns ... but is unlikely to squash the blackboard ... would universal background checks help police track guns found at crime scenes and promised a lot changes to the Pritzker we have no central database they used ... because the Brady bill expressly prohibits the creation of a gun registry ... based on the gun background checks ... Allstate shares in the background check system ... yes members federal law that licensed dealers just ... get some states are using more than others to Kentucky in two thousand twelve to more background checks than any other state ... over two a half million ... California was second with one point three million checks ... that means one Kentucky are buying more guns than anywhere else ... not necessarily ... his numbers are probably inflated because it's just routine checks on anyone holding a concealed weapons ... what are the numbers tell us about how many guns are being sold ... but in two thousand and six to eight point five million background checks ... that number more than double the last decades nearly twenty million in two thousand twelve ... we don't know how good daunting sold in America ... because it's not one background check ... system ... so there's a lot we still don't know about who's buying guns ... at how effective background checks really our ... for us ...


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Well they have the Scandinavian look to me. What are the bottoms like?
Your images are rather large and they use up bandwidth - can you just provide links?
They look quite modern to me, not sure if they're Scandi. :? Much base wear?
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I'm so excited that I'm featured in Little Ones Magazine this month with tips on planning a magical vacation to Walt Disney World! If you get a chance, please head on over to Little Ones Magazine to check out the article online or pick up a copy for FREE at your local grocery store, library or newsstand.
I am honored to be a part of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel and help families plan their trip to Walt Disney World! It is truly the most magical place on earth and there are so many special ways to enjoy quality family time while visiting Disney. The best part is that there is something for everyone to experience, whether your kids are babies, toddlers, big kids, teenagers or adults. It is a vacation that the entire family to enjoy! I've been every single year, and three times this past year, since my kids were toddlers and we find something new to experience each time we visit! I'll be visiting Disney for my 9th time this September for the Tower of Terror run and the 10th time with my family over Thanksgiving Break this year.
Are you on a budget? You can visit Walt Disney World on a shoestring budget and still have an amazing time. Do you like to run? runDisney has many events throughout the year so you can partner a race with a family vacation! Are you a foodie? Come during the Wine and Dine Festival to enjoy delicious foods from countries around the world while exploring Epcot. There is truly something for everyone!
Please come visit me at the Walt Disney World Moms Panel to ask me any of your questions about Walt Disney World! It is my pleasure to help! You can ask me a question directly by clicking on "Meet the Moms" then scroll down to "Stacy C." Then just click on "Ask Stacy a Question." Please come visit me today!


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Ok so I know that I promised bacon cheddar cornbread muffins but in my attempt to get home and out of the cold quickly, I forgot to pick up cheddar cheese... and bacon. As I am missing two of the main tasty-making ingredients and I have no desire to go back out, I figured I would whip up another recipe with things I have around the house.
I look in the fridge, eggs, bok choy, feta cheese, lemons, blueberries... thinking, thinking... I've got it! Pound Cake! A summer treat on a wet, cold winter's night never hurt anyone, right?
Lately I have been experimenting with another flour mixture for lighter pastries, something that would serve to replace your traditional cake flour. The difficult part of getting this mix right has been getting it fine enough without creating paste. Rice flour lends a nice light texture but is too fine to be used on it's own and many of the others are too course and create a grainy texture. Through trial and error I think I have come up with a pretty great alternative.
Gluten Free Cake Flour (yield 1 cup, multiply as needed)
1/2 cup Fine White Rice Flour
1/4 cup Sorghum Flour
1/4 cup Potato Starch
1 tsp Xanthan Gum
For the pound cake, you won't need to use this flour exclusively but adding it into the mix lends a lovely fine texture. Using a combination of cake flour and the Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour that you already have in your pantry is just about perfect.
Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Pound Cake
· 1/2 cup gluten free all-purpose flour
· 1 cup gluten free cake flour
· 1 1/2 cups white sugar
· 1/2 cup butter
· 1/2 cup sour cream
· 3 eggs
· 1 pinch baking soda
· juice and zest of 1 large lemon
· 1 cup blueberries
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease and a 8x4 inch loaf pan
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add sour cream, lemon juice, zest and eggs, mix to combine
- Add flours and pinch of soda, mix well. Fold in blueberries and pour into prepared pan
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean
The result is a beautiful, tart loaf with a moist and creamy texture.
Very soon I promise to pick up some bacon and cheese for the corn muffins! And be prepared, after that is my new addiction, fresh gluten free pasta.
Gluten free confession: Ok. Today was rough and like every good junkie, I like to justify why I DESERVE something that I know isn't good for me. At lunch I met my wonderful friend Heather at Hero Burger because I have recently discovered that they offer GF buns! Very Exciting! While scanning the menu board, the world froze for a moment as my eyes met "Onion Rings"... my decision was made. For some dumb reason I still had a GF bun though and I thought that it would make a difference. Anyway, I am not feeling so hot tonight but I can't say it wasn't worth it. My friend insisted that I confess my sins to my readers. Everyone slips up, everyone cheats on their diets, the trick is to get right back on track and not fall back into the cycle of feeling terrible.


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To those of you that stayed in town....Anyone looking to hit this weekend?
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I maybe in the area sunday evening.
Just shoot me a text if you are 562.208.1448
My back decided to spasm 2 hours after I posted this. :(
I will hit you guys up once Im fully mobile again. Todd
Tony, i'll shoot you a text if you're up to hitting this evening
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The highest court in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday convicted 30 Islamists of establishing an "international branch" of the banned Muslim Brotherhood in the wealthy Persian Gulf federation, a case slammed by rights advocates as politically motivated and marred by a catalog of legal abuses.
Ten Emiratis and 20 Egyptians were given sentences ranging from three months to five years. There is no right to appeal.
Charges included allegations that the men stole classified documents, operated a secret organization and collected aid and donations without government permission, according to the charge list and sentencing details published by Gulf News.
The Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist political party that brought former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to power for one turbulent year, is banned in the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Those gulf countries have lavished billions in aid on Egypt's interim, military-backed rulers since Morsi was ousted in July after months of social unrest.
The case brought against the alleged Brotherhood activists in the UAE was part of a broader, gulf-wide crackdown on Islamists seen to be challenging entrenched Western-backed rulers, Al Jazeera news channel reported.
Amnesty International and the London-based Emirates Center for Human Rights sharply criticized the prosecutions as targeting people for their political beliefs and slammed the trials as unfair.
Said Boumedouha, Amnesty's deputy director for Middle East and North Africa programs, called the list of judicial failings "astonishing."
"Arrests without judicial warrants, allegedly falsified arrest dates in court documents; months of secret detention and solitary confinement with no access to a lawyer; show that the fundamental rights of the defendants have been completely disregarded," Boumedouha said in a statement posted on the rights group's website.
The Emirates Center for Human Rights also criticized the convictions as the result of "ambiguous charges" and accused the UAE rulers of persecuting political opponents.
"Unfair and unjust political trials are becoming the norm in the UAE, with defendants having their fundamental rights violated and courts failing to uphold international fair trial standards," said the center's director, Rori Donaghy.
"In the absence of a proper legal process and an investigation into credible allegations of torture, these convictions lack all credibility," he said.
The rights advocates accused the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi of relying on "flimsy evidence" and coerced confessions, and said the defendants had been held in secret detention without access to lawyers during interrogation. Some reported having been tortured while in custody.
"The downward cycle of unfair political trials in the UAE must end," Amnesty's Boumedouha said. "The authorities must conduct a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into any allegations of torture or ill-treatment committed without delay."
Twitter: @cjwilliamslat


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Books are available for pick up from the Washington Public Library for those wishing to take part in a book discussion next month as part of the All Iowa Reads program. Library Director Debbie Stanton says this year's book titled Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder is a novel about a young doctor from Burundi in Africa who survives genocide and ends up homeless in America.
She says they have the books in regular print, large print and as an audio CD. Stanton notes the library will also be hosting a discussion about the book on March 27th in the second floor reading room as well. To learn more about the All Iowa Reads program, look here.


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Police Detain Spain Train Crash Driver As Suspect [VIDEO]
Police say they have detained the driver of a train that crashed in northwestern Spain and killed 78 people.
Galicia region National Police Chief Jaime Iglesias says driver Francisco Jose Garzon Amo was officially detained in the hospital where is recovering.
Iglesias says Garzon Amo will be questioned "as a suspect for a crime linked to the cause of the accident." He says the driver is being guarded by police and cannot yet testify because of his medical condition. Iglesias said he did not have details of the medical condition but that it could delay the driver's statement.
Police examining the remains of those killed have lowered the death count from 80 people to 78 and say the count could change again as they identify body parts and associate them with others. Seventy two bodies have been identified so far and six remain to be identified.
Investigators, meanwhile, have taken possession of the train's "black boxes." Analysts will use them to try to determine why the train was traveling far above the speed limit when it crashed near a station in Santiago de Compostela, in the northwestern Galicia.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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I love that they all think Mirna is a pain in the ass.
i really hate mirna and shirmna again, she is such a whiney biatch. i miss colin and christie. and mary you hate the bq because they are better racers than you and always will be better racers than you so stop your bitching and whining about them
Looks like I drank the Guinness and somebody else got drunk
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Review Group Week 200 - INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #21
Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
*Membership spots not really limited!
Hey you! Reader! Want to be a part of the GREATEST COMIC BOOK AND GEEK COMMUNITY on the web?! Well, they're not accepting new members, but we'll take anyone here, so why not sign up for a free acount? It's fast and it's easy, like your mom! Sign up today! Membership spots are limited!*
*Membership spots not really limited!
by Wally Brando » Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:53 am
And we've all seen how safe SHIELD and Tony's head really were in the end, didn't we?
The MU is not the real world. Super-villains always find ways around the system.
All it would take is one villain finding out a hero's identity to royally fuck his life up, and that'd be the end of that.
How far would the Registration have gone if some villain of Spidey's killed all his loved ones after he came out?
by MrBlack » Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:54 am
I always thought that it depended on how you ask the question. In the real world, superheroes should not exist. To the extent they should, Iron Man was on the right side of the debate.
In the Marvel Universe, superheroes are a given, and are a good thing. Any attempt to bring them under government control (remember, the government is frequently the bad guy in comic book land) is probably a terrible idea, no matter who is in charge. So, in comic book world, I think Captain America was right.
by MrBlack » Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:56 amI read this week's book, and will try to get a review up when I get home tonight.
by Chubbles » Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:59 am
Of course villains would have gotten around it, they always do. I just think Tony's heart was in the right place and in theory his side was more correct. In practice, obviously villains will always fuck shit up. Some bad things happened under Tony's rule (Bill Foster, Clor, using villains to catch heroes) but he was in a really tough spot of having to do what the public wanted even if it meant selling out his friends.
by Chubbles » Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:00 am
i guess i was looking at civil war more in a real world scenario so under this argument i can see where you and chris could be right.
by Wally Brando » Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:59 am
I think, at that point, he should've sided with his friends. I mean, the public doesn't know what they want. Ever.
Shit like Meet the Spartans are number one movies in theaters. The public is reactionary and stupid.
And in the end, the registration side ended up being the fucked up one.
by Notauser » Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:11 pm
Well, that's ultimately why Civil War was such an awful story. They were trying for a "real world" metaphor that absolutely falls apart under the slightest bit of scrutiny. You can't have vigilante superheroes taking the freedom side in a freedom versus security debate. Our idea of freedom is based around a system of civil rights and due process. Vigilantes, by defintion, ignore all of that.
But even in Marvel Universe context, I think that Tony was right. You take it as a given that superheroes are a good thing. I don't agree. Is it a good thing when Daredevil tortures people for information? Is it a good thing when the Fantastic Four and the X-Men operate secret prisons? Is it a good thing when the Avengers and the X-Men harbor known criminals? Is it a good thing when Spider-Man busts in on criminals without a warrant? Is it a good thing when Luke Cage never testifies in court? Let's face it, even in the Marvel Universe, superheroes do horrible things in the name of keeping people safe. Not free. Safe. Now, in the past, I'd been able to ignore this and enjoy the story. But since Marvel had to bring it all in with Civil War, it becomes important for discussion.
Which brings us back to why a lot of readers took sides with Civil War. I don't think it had much to do with politics, because the political metaphor falls apart so easily. I don't think it had much to do with Americans identifing with Captain America, because Cap isn't that popular. I think it is more about the fanboy resistance to change. Marvel knew that their characters had been vigilantes since the early 1960s, and that the fanboys wouldn't want that to change. They also gambled that, particularly in the current political climate, most of their readers would be politically progressive. They cast the vigilante as the heroic defender of civil liberties and crossed their fingers, hoping that no one would notice that it just didn't make sense in either a real world or Marvel Universe context. Sadly, it seems to have worked.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Civil War is, in my mind, the worst comic book story ever published.
by Old Man » Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:06 pmWhy so few reviews this week? I deliberately chose a book that everyone should ha ve been able to find.
by ****** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:35 am
It's always kind of slow this time of year, but yeah... SLACKERS!
by Punchy » Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:39 am
I wrote my longest review in a while.
by thefourthman » Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:20 amInvincible Iron Man #21
Written by Matt Fraction
Illustrated by Salvador Larroca
It's no big secret that I hate, hate, hate needless decompression. I've rethought my stance on the practice after falling in love with Vagabond which is a book that may go multiple volumes for a fight. There is an attention to detail there that makes the practice work.
Being that what it is, I have softened my stance on making stories longer. I am not as quick to cry foul when I see it and Fraction is not doing too bad of a job here. The issue is accessible on its own, which is one of my major problems with say, JMS's Thor run, it is so strung out that an issue is such a small piece that you can't figure it out with out reading the rest of the book. When the story is strong enough to warrant it, you can find enjoyment in that level of detail. "World's Most Wanted" was not such a story. It dragged on way too long and two issues into Dissasembled, we have not seen much happen. That being the case, it is not boring.
Sure there is an awful lot of talking, but this is a pure second act kind of like The Empire Strikes Back... there are still story strings being brought to the table, while others are being carried along and there is a certain string that is brought to rest by the end of this issue.
Fraction was always a high concept guy, and this story seems to fit him. I hate to see the true end of the Extremis era, that was one of the cooler things Ellis ever thought up in his for hire work, but the thought of Iron Man being all cranked up by Thor is pretty cool and the way that the Ghost finds out Tony's Location shows some ingenuity from the writer.
Last issue I thought the inner workings of Tony worked well, here, I am not so sure, especially given that the scenes seem to be behind the recording that Tony has walking his friends through his revival. There is also the curious title of the storyline... Tony has been disassembled, this should be the reforming of his mind and body, it makes me wonder what exactly Fraction has in store with us, especially given a reinstated Rhodey.
A solid book all in all. It has its high points and its low points like every mainstream superhero book. This one is no different.
On a side note, I really dig Larroca, could they please for the love of god get him a better colorist. D'Armata can't decide to color the book like Granov, Isanove, more run of the mill colorists or like Keith on Newuniversal, it gives Larroca's art the feeling that it is all over the place. I am guessing that he thinks he is defining the different atmospheres or settings of the comic, but all he is doing is making the penciller look bad. Let him stick to the Finchs and Quesadas that his coloring style works with, Larroca needs a more talented colorist.
Story 7
Art 6
Overall 6.5
by thefourthman » Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:22 am
Iron Man's sales have tanked because of World's Most Wanted, the hype behind this storyline picked up the interest in the title, hopefully it remains a decent seller, but when I go from selling ten shelf copies to selling out of twenty the day it goes on sale, the book may be hard to find.
by Wally Brando » Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:23 amI don't get the hate for World's Most Wanted..
It was a very long arc, yes.. but I loved it. Although I imagine it probably does read much better in trade, as I've read it. (well.. the first trade, and then just stockpiling the rest of the issues and reading them at once)
This was the same with the Mr. Fear arc of Brubaker's DD.
by thefourthman » Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:24 am
you know, fuck reviews, this has been a good thread with lots of great discussion at the end of the day that is just as important as everyone participating.
I will try to knock out my two missing reviews in the coming days. I almost have my pc at home back up to full speed after it came back from the shop. I didn't realize how much stuff I use on a daily basis had been added since my last restore point. And that Kerpasky that Jude recommended has already been invaluable, I will be upgrading to the full version in January.
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Mike London inherited gold in 2008, a University of Richmond football program that returned 17 starters from a team that reached the national playoff semifinals.
Nice gig for anyone, let alone a rookie head coach.
On Monday, London inherited dregs, a last-place University of Virginia program fresh off its worst season in 27 years.
Onerous job for anyone, even an incurably upbeat ex-cop with a national championship ring stashed in his bling drawer.
"It's OK to expect great things," London said during his introductory news conference.
The Cavaliers, 3-9 this past season, are years from even approaching greatness. But London brings a sense of optimism absent since George Welsh's coaching prime during the 1980s and '90s.
London, 49, exudes hope, from his life story — he's worked the streets of Richmond as a detective and donated bone marrow to a now-healthy daughter — to his coaching chops to his engaging manner.
He's a proven recruiter, motivator and educator, and as a first-year big whistle won the 2008 Football Championship Subdivision national title at Richmond, his alma mater.
Perhaps most important, London feels like a long-term solution rather than a temporary Band-Aid. His predecessor, Al Groh, arrived with a checkered résumé and never looked the part of potential icon, even when his teams won.
"I think it's important to have cohesion and continuity on a staff," London said.
A graduate of Bethel High, London has run the professional treadmill for two decades. Four years there, three here, two there.
"All the moves that we've made, whether it was four years, three years, eight months, it was to get to this level," said London's wife, Regina, a Newport News native. "Yes, it was a lot of moves. But we're here, and this is where we worked hard to get."
"Here" is Charlottesville, where the Londons have twice lived already — Mike served two tenures as a Groh assistant. "Here" is Virginia, the state the family calls home.
Barring an unexpected belly-flop, or a sudden urge to run an NFL franchise — London is far better suited for college — this is his destination job.
Just as it was Welsh's. He arrived from the Naval Academy in 1982 at age 48. He remained 19 seasons and guided the Cavaliers to their first 11 bowls and two shared ACC championships.
The mid- and late-80s were halcyon times for not only Virginia football but also men's basketball, where Terry Holland was coaching the Cavaliers to nine NCAA tournaments and two Final Fours. Holland lasted 16 years before exiting to administration.
Call it a hunch — cynics would say a reach — but in London and first-year basketball coach Tony Bennett, Virginia appears to have leadership capable of matching the Welsh-Holland era.
"You're thinking right," athletic director Craig Littlepage said. "There's a profile, if you will, a certain feel, a certain look. These are people whose careers are ascending."
Jon Oliver, Littlepage's top lieutenant, researched all of the basketball and football candidates.
"We really got back to the basics on both of these searches, to figure out, OK, who are the right people for this institution now, and what will it take for them to come and build the program, put their mark on it and have a long-lasting impression?" Oliver said. "I think in both of these searches, that's where we arrived."
As comfortable a fit as London may be, staff will be critical. He is a skilled delegator, and assistants will be invaluable strategists and recruiters.
Toward that end, Oliver said that Virginia has budgeted $2 million in 2010 salary for London's nine assistants, a 29-percent bump from this season's $1.55 million. According to a USA Today survey, Virginia this season ranked last among the ACC's eight public schools in staff compensation.
Given that increase, expect some high-profile hires in the coming weeks.
Absent Bowl Subdivision head-coaching experience, London is not high-profile enough to suit some fans. Those doubters also question whether the one week that transpired between Groh's firing and London's hiring was enough time to identify the best candidate.
But that's a red herring. Littlepage and Oliver knew for months that Groh was finished, and during that time they conducted background checks and inquired through intermediaries of potential interest.
"I don't think there are many people who thought we wouldn't be making a change," Oliver said. "We knew in the early fall that if things didn't work out we might be in this situation, so you can imagine when I started the process of research.
"That's not meant to be disrespectful to anybody else, but part of athletics administration is being prepared at all times and having a short list of people you would target if you have an opening. I don't think we're unique in that regard."
But Oliver and Littlepage say they hired a unique coach.
"Yes, one coach, just one, stood out among many excellent coaches as the search was in progress," Littlepage said. "This coach stood out as a leader, teacher and coach. He stood out with his insight and respect for this great institution. He stood out as a winner and as one around whom we can and must all rally."
Quite the endorsement. Time for Mike London to prove himself worthy.
David Teel can be reached at 247-4636 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com. For more from Teel, read his blog at dailypress.com/teeltime.


text: Ryan Lochte won the first gold of what should be many more in the London Olympic games, but China came away as the golden nation of the first day with gold medals in swimming, weightlifting and shooting. Italy dominated women's fencing as always while also picking up a surprising gold medal in archery. More


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WWE has made some goofy decisions when it fills out its Hall of Fame — Johnny Rodz, Refrigerator Perry and Pete Rose among them. But Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon, who will enter the Hall of Fame on March 27, is about as good as they come ... a guy with as much bark as bite.
Now 80, Vachon competed at the 1948 Olympics as an 18-year-old amateur wrestler, first meeting a guy he would later become a bitter rival of in the ring —
Verne Gagne.
Vachon became a bouncer in Montreal before giving pro wrestling a try in 1954. He bulked up a bit, shaved his head and grew a goatee. He looked south of the border and found success. He was soon transformed into Mad Dog, becoming a despised heel, at one time living in Winnipeg, an important stop on the AWA circuit.
He had a leg amputated in 1987 after being struck in a hit-and-run accident. That would be exploited in a 1996 WWE storyline when Diesel ripped the artificial leg off Vachon, who was being honoured at an In Your House pay-per-view. The leg was then taken by Shawn Michaels, who clocked Diesel and got the pin.
Around the ring
TNA's Impact begins its head-to-head run against RAW Monday on Spike TV. It's expected Rob Van Dam will make his TNA debut ... Angelo Poffo, father of Macho Man Randy Savage and Leaping Lanny Poffo (The Genius) died at the age of 84 Thursday ... Ken Anderson (Mr. Kennedy) told fanhouse.com he believes John Cena and Randy Orton played a role in his WWE release ... Criss Angel is the guest host of Monday's RAW, with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Pete Rose taking over the following two weeks. Last week's hosts, Cheech and Chong, are still tripping after too many Lucky Charms ... And, Bret Hart has his match against Vince McMahon at Wrestlemania.


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Paul Picerni
Prolific character actor
Paul Picerni, 88, a prolific character actor who costarred in the television series "The Untouchables" and was featured in the 1953 horror movie "House of Wax," died Jan. 12 of a heart attack at his home in the Antelope Valley community of Llano, said his daughter, Maria Atkinson-Bates. He was pronounced dead at Palmdale Regional Medical Center.
Picerni portrayed Agent Lee Hobson, sidekick to Eliot Ness, played by series star Robert Stack. "The Untouchables" ran on ABC from 1959 to 1963. Picerni joined the cast in its second season.
He was a familiar presence on television with appearances on such series as "Kojak," "Barnaby Jones," "Mannix" and "Perry Mason."
Picerni was born Dec. 1, 1922, in Corona, N.Y. He was a bombardier during World War II and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Loyola University in Los Angeles in 1950, having acted in several campus productions.
which starred Vincent Price, was the first 3-D feature produced by a major studio, said writer Tom Weaver, who collaborated with Picerni on the 2007 book "Steps to Stardom: My Story." Picerni played Scott Andrews, a young sculptor who was the boyfriend of Sue Allen, played by Phyllis Kirk.
Picerni's other films included "The Scalphunters" in 1968 and "Airport" in 1970. Picerni was the halftime master of ceremonies at Los Angeles Rams games at the Coliseum for 30 years.
Guy Greengard
Owner of men's luxury clothing store
Guy Greengard, 91, who owned Mr. Guy, a luxury men's clothing store that was a longtime fixture on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, died Jan. 7 of complications from aging at Ocean House, a retirement home in Santa Monica, said Valerie Reynolds Mueller, a longtime friend and former employee.
Mr. Guy specialized in European men's wear and clothes that carried the Mr. Guy label, Reynolds Mueller said. "Whatever I sell represents my fashion outlook alone, no one else's," Greengard told the New York Times in 1981.
It was one of the first clothing stores on Rodeo Drive when it opened in 1969, Reynolds Mueller said. "Rodeo Drive was a sleepy little street" then, Greengard told the Daily News Record, a fashion industry publication, in 1990.
He moved from Rodeo Drive to another Beverly Hills location at the end of his 20-year lease. He retired in the early 1990s.
Greengard was born July 3, 1919, in Canada and grew up in International Falls, Minn. His father was a clothing retailer, as was an older brother. Greengard served in the Army during World War II and moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1940s to study advertising and public relations at UCLA.
He worked for the May Co. department store on the Miracle Mile before starting his own business. "After five or six years I became merchandising manager. I got tired of that and decided to start working for myself," he told Rodeo Drive magazine in 1984.
In 1953, Greengard opened his first store in Los Angeles, which included sports shirts he designed, Reynolds Mueller said.
Romulus Linney
Playwright, father of actress
Romulus Linney, 80, a prolific playwright whose work ranged from stories set in Appalachia to those dramatizing the lives of historic figures, died of lung cancer Saturday at his home in Germantown, N.Y., said his wife, Laura Callanan.
Linney, father of actress Laura Linney, wrote more than 30 plays that covered a number of subjects. Some of his works were set in Appalachia, which he was familiar with from growing up in the South. Others were historical dramas that examined moments in time such as the Nuremberg trials or the Vietnam War, and others were taken from the lives of public figures such as the poet Lord Byron in "Childe Byron" or a Prussian king in "The Sorrows of Frederick."
His dramas about life in the South included "Holy Ghosts," "True Crimes" and "Tennessee."
Most of Linney's work appeared in regional theater (including the Mark Taper Forum and South Coast Repertory) and off-Broadway, with one production on Broadway.
A novelist as well as a playwright, Linney also adapted other writers' novels for the stage, including Tim O'Brien's Vietnam story "Going After Cacciato" and Ernest J. Gaines' "A Lesson Before Dying," about a teacher helping a wrongfully accused young man prepare to face a murder sentence in the Deep South.
Born in Philadelphia in 1930, Linney spent most of his childhood in North Carolina and Tennessee. He was 13 when his father died, and he moved to Washington, D.C., with his mother.
Linney served in the Army and earned a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College and a master of fine arts from the Yale School of Drama.
-- Los Angeles Times staff and wire reports


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Some Final Stats On The Humble Indie Bundle
from the slice-the-humble-pie dept
The other interesting tidbit, as many noted, is that despite suggestions from some that the "open source" world are folks who "just want stuff for free," the average amount paid by Linux users ($14.52) was significantly higher than those paid by Mac ($10.18) or Windows ($8.05) users. Obviously, averages are only so useful, given that they can be skewed by outliers (anyone got the medians? standard deviations?) but it's still information worth pointing out. All in all, a very interesting experiment, with some great results for those who participated.


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Weymouth's Rob Corddry and the Hingham-based reality TV show "Wahlburgers" passed over for Emmy Awards this weekend.
President Barack Obama thwarted Weymouth's Rob Corddry from securing an Emmy three-peat Saturday night when the 66th annual Creative Arts Emmy Awards were handed out at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.
Zach Galifianakis' interview with Obama last March on the actor-comedian's "Between Two Ferns" show on the Funny or Die website won the Emmy for best short-format, live-action entertainment program. Corddry took home the trophy in 2012 and 2013 for "Childrens Hospital," the medical show parody he stars in, produces and created.
In July, Corddry, a 1989 graduate of Weymouth North High School, hosted a panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego to promote the new Adult Swim show "Mike Tyson Mysteries." He can also be seen in the comedy "Sex Tape," which is in theaters.
In the unstructured reality program category, the A&E series "Wahlburgers," about the Hingham burger restaurant run by chef Paul Wahlberg and his celebrity brothers, Mark and Donnie, lost to Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch."
"Life According to Sam," the documentary from Sean Fine and Andrea Nix that featured the inspiring story of late Foxboro teen Sam Berns, won for best documentary film. Berns died Jan. 10 after a fight with progeria syndrome. He was 17.
Awards in other acting, writing and directing categories will be given out at the Aug. 25 ceremony airing on NBC.
The Creative Arts Emmys will be broadcast at 8 p.m., Aug. 24 on FXM.
Other winners at the creative arts Emmys included:
Guest actress in a comedy series: Uzo Aduba, "Orange Is the New Black"
Guest actor in a comedy series: Jimmy Fallon, "Saturday Night Live."
Guest actor in a drama series: Joe Morton, "Scandal"
Guest actress in a drama series: Allison Janney, "Masters of Sex"
Host for a reality or reality-competition program: Jane Lynch, "Hollywood Game Night," NBC.
Voice-over performance: Harry Shearer, "The Simpsons: Four Regrettings and a Funeral," Fox.
Commercial: "Misunderstood," Apple.
Animated Program: "Bob's Burgers: Mazel Tina," Fox.
Documentary or nonfiction series (possibility of more than one award): "American Masters," PBS; "Years of Living Dangerously," Showtime.
Writing for a variety series: "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central.
Music composition for a series (original dramatic score): "Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey: Standing Up in the Milky Way," Fox and NatGeo.
Music composition for a miniseries, movie or special: "Sherlock: His Last Vow (Masterpiece)," PBS.
Choreography: "So You Think You Can Dance," Fox.
Casting for a drama series: "True Detective," HBO.
Casting for a miniseries, movie or a special: "Fargo," FX Networks.
Casting for a comedy series: "Orange is the New Black," Netflix.
Costumes for a miniseries, movie or a special: "American Horror Story: Coven," FX Networks.
Costumes for a variety-music program or a special (more than one award possible): "Saturday Night Live, host: Jimmy Fallon," NBC; "So You Think You Can Dance: Episode 1008," Fox.
Costumes for a series: "Game of Thrones: The Lion And The Rose," HBO.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.


text: As the classroom rhyme goes, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and discovered America. But there is more to the story of the explorer we celebrate with a federal holiday on the second Monday of every October. As historians have continued to learn and write more about the real life of Christopher Columbus, controversy has arisen over the validity of honoring the explorer as a hero.


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Get your daily dose of celebrity news here. We've got the scoop on which new stars are sporting baby bumps. We're in the know on the latest Hollywood parenting trends. And we have the inside track on the celebrity baby names everyone is buzzing about.
Celebrity News
Michelle Duggar, the mom of 19 kids, shares three simple, but... more
Rumors are flying that British actress Keira Knightley is... more
By Samantha McIntyre
From her formfitting black Hatch dress to her vibrant purple... more
Reality show will focus on New Kids on the Block's famous... more
Alyssa Milano responds to backlash against her breastfeeding... more
Kourtney Kardashian swears popping placenta pills from her third... more
What's hot in hollywood
|By Bonnie Gibbs Vengrow
They may be rich and famous, but these A-list moms and dads are also guilty of some seriously cringe-worthy moments. ... more
For better or for worse, we're living in the age of the celebrity. But, the good news is, with platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, celebrities don't have to come in the traditional sense of the word. More than ever,... more
|By Ellen Sturm Niz
These celebs have proclaimed pride in their post-baby bodies—stretch marks, curves, saggy bits, and all. ... more
Haven't been keeping up with the Kardashians? Well, with one momager, five daughters, and four kiddies, this celebrity family knows a thing or two about parenting. ... more
Celebrity custody battles range from the incredibly contentious to the unusually amicable and everything in between. Here's how the rich and famous do it. ... more
Just because they're moms, doesn't mean they're square. Check out our favorite celebrity tattoos—and the sweet meanings behind them—on these cool mamas who clearly are still a little wild. Who said celebrity tattoos... more
The last year has been a big one for celebrity dads. So many of the famous men we adore welcomed sweet little bundles into the world—and of course, that only made them all the more adorable. These celebrity dads have a new big (... more
These awesome celebrity mamas brought their sweet babes into the world via C-section—and they've spilled all the details. From supermom Angelina Jolie to "too posh to push" Victoria Beckham, here are 12 celebrity moms... more
Actress Tammin Sursok shares her experiences as a new mom and as part of the Johnson's Baby video series "Moms with Strollers." ... more
Danica McKellar has come a long way since her days as Winnie Cooper on "The Wonder Years." She appeared on "Dancing with the Stars," is the author of several math books and recently partnered with Colgate to launch the... more
Minnie Driver, Academy Award nominated actress and star of hit NBC series "About a Boy," chatted with us about being a single mom to Henry and her involvement with the partnership between Merck Consumer Care, the makers of... more
Mrs. America 2011, Shelley Carbone, dishes about the pageant world, her new show and how she spends time with her family. ... more
Courtney Hansen gave birth to her first child in July. She tells us how she's adjusting to motherhood and going to make her daughter a fellow car girl. ... more
Rosie Pope dishes about work, kids and the top five "musts" for marriage ... more
Whether it's at the beach or at home hanging out with their families, these pregnant celebrities are embracing motherhood in fun ways this summer. ... more
Kourtney Kardashian's news was revealed in a trailer of "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" ... more


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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Sixty suspected members of an Iraqi drug-trafficking organization were arrested in California, with authorities seizing cash, drugs and guns.
The arrests in El Cajon pulled in nearly 2 tons of marijuana and $630,000 in cash, along with explosives and high-powered weapons, law enforcement officials told the Los Angeles Times Thursday.
The suspects operated out of a social club that allegedly had links to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and an Iraqi organized crime syndicate in Detroit, investigators said.
The social club was a "hub of criminal activity conducted by Iraqi organized crime," said El Cajon Police Chief Pat Sprecco.
The Sinaloa Cartel, a powerful crime organization, provided the El Cajon traffickers with the marijuana, which was sold in Detroit for three times the purchase price, said Drug Enforcement Agency spokeswoman Eileen Zeidler.
"That's a typical drug-trafficking pattern," Zeidler told the Times.
The arrests followed a months-long investigation by local, state and federal officials. Investigators said the club has also been the center of a variety of other illegal activities, including car theft and gun smuggling.
The suspects caught in the crackdown, called "Operation Shadowbox," face a variety of charges, including conspiracy, distribution of narcotics and possession and distribution of automatic weapons.


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Five Things You Need to Know: Laying the Groundwork for Nationalization of GSE's
It's government-enabled expansion of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that led to a situation where there are "few alternative mortgage channels available today" in the first place.
Kevin Depew's daily Five Things You Need to Know to stay ahead of the pack on Wall Street:
1. Bernanke's Speech Lays Groundwork for Nationalization of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, in a speech this morning in Orlando, FL on "Reducing Preventable Mortgage Foreclosures," reportedly urged lenders to forgive portions of mortgages held by homeowners at risk of defaulting, according to mainstream media reports. That's one way to look at it, but it actually misses the entire point of his speech.
In the speech Bernanke outlines the grim path ahead for individuals besieged by declining home values and rising mortgage payment resets. This year about 1.5 million loans, representing more than 40 percent of the outstanding stock of subprime Adjustable Rate Mortgages, are scheduled to reset. According to the Federal Reserve, the estimated payment adjustments upon reset will result in an average monthly payment of $1,500, a 10% increase. The fear, a very real fear, is a cascade of defaults that puts additional downward pressure on home prices and forces continued risk aversion on the part of mortgage lenders.
"This situation calls for a vigorous response," Bernanke said. "With low or negative equity, as I have mentioned, a stressed borrower has less ability (because there is no home equity to tap) and less financial incentive to try to remain in the home."
Consequently, according to Bernanke, principal reductions that restore some equity for the homeowner may be a relatively more effective means of avoiding delinquency and foreclosure. In other words, adjust the mortgage principal downward to reflect the declining home value.
Wait a minute, wouldn't that put yet more pressure on home prices in areas where a significant number of homeowners seek and receive principal writedowns? It sure would. Moreover, as Bernanke notes, "Lenders tell us that they are reluctant to write down principal. They say that if they were to write down the principal and house prices were to fall further, they could feel pressured to write down principal again." And of course, on the off chance home prices rise the lender would not share in the gains.
So what is this speech about? Is it really about urging principal writedowns that even Bernanke himself admits probably won't work, or is something else going on? We're going to go out on a limb and say, "something else." The real conclusion is reached at the very end of Bernanke's speech:
"The government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE), likewise could do a great deal to address the current problems in housing and the mortgage market," Bernanke said. "New capital-raising by the GSEs, together with congressional action to strengthen the supervision of these companies, would allow Fannie and Freddie to expand significantly the number of new mortgages that they securitize."
That almost sounds like it would be a good thing. In at least one sense, it would be a good thing, but only by default. Bernanke concludes; "With few alternative mortgage channels available today, such action would be highly beneficial to the economy." That's certainly true, but only in a grimly ironic sense. It's government-enabled expansion of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that led to a situation where there are "few alternative mortgage channels available today" in the first place.
So Bernanke's ultimate conclusion is this: "I urge the Congress and the GSEs to take the steps necessary to allow more potential homebuyers access to mortgage credit at reasonable terms. " It takes either a massive degree of denial or a broad imagination to accept that sentence at face value. What Bernanke is really urging is the full-scale nationalization of the GSE's.
We can continue to pretend that these companies are going to be just fine, but the reality is it is impossible to fit together the pieces - raising massive amounts of new capital in the face of a yet-to-peak-wave of mortgage resets and housing price declines while simultaneously expanding their mortgage securitizations - without taking what Bernanke calls "congressional action to strengthen the supervision of these companies" to mean,essentially, nationalization of the housing market.
Fannie and Freddie stocks are down about 6% so far today. Perhaps the reality is now setting in that nationalization doesn't benefit shareholders.
2. Personal Bankruptcy Filings Jump
Meanwhile, add this to the wave of mortgage resets about to crest in 2008. Consumer bankruptcy filings jumped 15% in February compared to January, the largest monthly increase since 2005 when bankruptcy reform laws were passed, according to data from the American Bankruptcy Institute. They were also 37% higher than a year ago.
The institute is forecasting more than 1 million consumer bankruptcies in 2008, compared with about 800,000 in 2007, due mostly to heavy household debt, Reuters reported.
3. Speaking of Financial Stress...
Signs of financial stress are increasingly showing up in city budgets and financial plans as the debt crisis continues to chew away at both confidence and capital.
The city of Cleveland has been using auction rate securities to fund projects ranging from Cleveland Public Power to the city's airport. But a lack of buyers for the securities is forcing the city to pay higher rates. Cleveland has five outstanding auction-rate securities accounting for $437 million in debt.
Worst case, the city faces up to $5 million in higher rates over the next month, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Best case, $1.5 million.
4. Another Kind of Staples
Staples (SPLS), the world's largest office-supplies retailer, this morning reported fourth-quarter profits lower than anticipated due to weak retail sales to North American small businesses and consumers. The company also cut its full-year forecast.
Michael Miles, President and Chief Operating Officer, said on the conference call that the poor results were driven by weaker customer traffic. At the end of the third quarter last year, the company was expecting a turnaround by mid 2008, but that has now changed. According to CFO John Mahoney It now looks like it could take a little longer. "We expect negative comps could continue well into 2008," he said.
Staples is considered a pretty good barometer for the overall health of the economy. Joe Doody, Staples President of North American Delivery noted that, "Just like I think we're an early indicator going into the recession, I believe that we're going to be an early indicator coming out of the recession. But at this point we are feeling less confident about our ability to forecast demand and that's why we revised our guidance for the short-term."
5. Socionomics of Corporate Cash
The typical American corporation has increased its savings so sharply that it probably has enough cash on hand to completely pay off its debts, the New York Times says.
According to Jason DeSena Trennert, managing partner and chief investment strategist at Strategas Research Partners, cash, as a percent of total assets on corporate balance sheets, is as high as it's been since the 1960s.
What interested us in this story was the lead in, however:
"At least someone knows how to fill a piggy bank. Unlike most American consumers, whose failure to save has exasperated economists for years, the typical American corporation has increased its savings so sharply that it probably has enough cash on hand to completely pay off its debts."
It's an interesting juxtaposition, holding up the cash-strapped American consumer next to the cash-rich corporation, and one that we can expect to see with greater frequency as social mood continues to darken. The war between haves and have-nots has many fronts and the combatants were many different uniforms.
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Last week, Sterling Alderwoman Amy Viering attended her last meeting as a city official. She offered the praise that's common at such departures. But one compliment stuck out.
At the end of her speech, she turned to City Manager Scott Shumard and said, "You're awesome."
That's pretty much the consensus on the City Council. Members don't shy away from saying Shumard is doing a good job.
That hasn't been the case with Morrison City Administrator Jim Wise.
Wise had the firm support of Mayor Roger Drey and council members Pat Zuidema and Guy Hayenga. Unfortunately for Wise, all three left office, having not run for re-election.
At his first meeting Monday, newly seated Mayor Everett Pannier announced that he would not renew Wise's contract, which the mayor has the power to do.
Last year, when Drey extended Wise's contract, the city manager received few ringing endorsements.
Some of the other council members declined to express their opinions on Wise's performance – probably figuring that if they had nothing good to say, don't say it.
One member never minced her words throughout much of Wise's 2-year reign. Marti Wood, who joined the council in 2011, has long said that residents wanted Wise out.
Privately, many contended that Wise, a former Army lieutenant colonel, wasn't diplomatic. They blamed his military background, saying he understood how to give orders but not to work with others in a democracy.
But that's not entirely fair – to the military. Two of our greatest presidents – George Washington and Dwight Eisenhower – were generals who transitioned well into civilian leadership, understanding the nuances of forming coalitions to get things done.
Let's be clear, though: Wise has his pluses. He is a smart guy who is fast learner. I was amazed how quickly he picked up on the nuances of city government, even though he hadn't run one before.
To his credit, he had a vision for an improved downtown. And he made strides in the effort to get a federal historic designation for that area.
He also seemed to keep the city's finances under control.
But Wise also got into his share of controversies. A few months after taking his job, Wise had a city police officer escort one of his critics out of a city committee meeting, even though the resident had not been disruptive. He accused the resident of being rude to a city employee earlier in the day, but he never gave details.
The attorney general later determined that Wise had violated the state's Open Meetings Act by removing a nondisruptive citizen from a meeting.
Wise also received criticism for requiring Alderwoman Wood, who has asked to see bills from the city attorney, to go to a basement meeting room to review the records, while an employee watched. She was barred from taking notes.
Another bad moment for Wise occurred last year. After proposing the city put a proposed tax on the ballot, some council members questioned the idea. The mild-mannered Alderman Michael Blean asked the obvious: How much would the tax raise?
Wise said he wouldn't tell him until members voted on the tax proposal. Audience members then heckled Wise, and the usually supportive Drey asked Wise to give the information.
Wise did.
Such incidents chipped away at Wise's support. And it was understandably hard for the council to continue backing a guy who had snubbed its own members. In the end, Pannier decided it was time for fresh leadership.
David Giuliani is a reporter for Sauk Valley Media. He can be reached at dgiuliani@saukvalley or at 800-798-4085, ext. 525.


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JEFFERSON CITY (AP) � The Missouri House has approved legislation requiring employers to use a federal system for checking potential employees' legal resident status.
Missouri already requires public and private employers that receive loans, contracts or grants from the state to participate in a federal work authorization program. The bill would extend the requirement to all Missouri employers.
The legislation also increases penalties for businesses found guilty of employing people residing in the United States illegally. Businesses could have their licenses suspended for up to 30 days on the first offense. Current law requires a 14-day suspension.
The House voted 104-50 yesterday to send the measure to the Senate.


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Krishna V. Subbarao
Krishna V. Subbarao received his Ph.D. degree in plant pathology from Louisiana State University in 1989. He held postdoctoral positions at LSU and the University of California at Berkeley, and in 1992 he joined the faculty of the University of California at Davis, where he is a full professor. Dr. Subbarao has developed a highly visible research program that is known for its innovation as well as practical application. He is recognized for his versatile ability to identify research needs and make thorough progress not only in our basic understanding of the system but also in transforming this knowledge into successful disease management tactics. His much-heralded contributions have come from his work on Sclerotinia species and Verticillium dahliae, both significant pathogens of a variety of hosts.
Dr. Subbarao is perhaps best known for his work on the innovative use of a broccoli rotation to suppress Verticillium wilt of cauliflower. Through incorporation of broccoli residue after harvest, populations of V. dahliae were reduced, wilt on cauliflower was suppressed, and significantly lower populations of microsclerotia were added to the soil. The combination of the ID–DI relationship and the root and shoot growth dynamics of cauliflower at different inoculum densities helped determine the length of rotations. Dr. Subbarao further studied root colonization by V. dahliae in cauliflower and broccoli. Despite ephemeral cortical infections, no vascular infection was observed in broccoli, which is regarded as the basis of its immunity. These studies have contributed to the successful management of Verticillium wilt in many crops. Dr. Subbarao is regarded as an important spokesperson in the area of soilborne diseases.


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In this Ask the Expert column we will review some key tips on how to optimize microwave antenna systems for 4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. The correct and optimal selection of antennas can be the most cost effective way to improve network performance at these now commonly used frequencies.
There are four basic styles or types of antennas utilized for the 4 and 5 GHz bands. The sector (hub) antenna is designed to provide segmented coverage over a selected area. They typically provide a wider beamwidth than parabolic antennas and are commonly manufactured in a range of beamwidths. The flat panel antenna is ideal when aesthetics are critical and performance is not. They are light in weight and visually appealing allowing for easy concealment. They are generally available in several sizes and for all broadband wireless bands. The user should be aware that parabolic antennas will have more gain for the same size flat panel due to the inherent higher efficiency of the parabolic antenna design. The standard in microwave antennas is the parabolic or "dish" antenna. The parabolic antenna consists of a parabolic shaped reflector, which focuses energy at the feed point of the antenna. They have a very narrow beamwidth that focuses energy at a specific point, making them ideal for point-to-point communications. There are also high performance versions that utilize a shroud and absorber material to improve side lobe performance and the front-to-back ratio of the antenna. At lower frequencies, below 5 GHz, a parabolic reflector can be simulated by a "grid" of reflective elements. This arrangement reduces wind loading, but does not provide as good pattern performance or gain as a solid reflector. Additionally, grid antennas are limited to a single polarization.
Different system applications each require a different antenna type to ensure optimum network performance. A point-to-point application requires an antenna with a narrow beamwidth in both planes and high gain. Thus allows for longer paths, as well as minimizing interference issues. Thus a parabolic is the best choice. Where interference may be present and for the best possible communications path a high performance (HP) parabolic should be utilized. Due to the crowded nature of spectrum these days, we are seeing more and more users utilize HP dishes on microwave links even in both the 4 and 5 GHz bands. These HP dishes allow more links to co-exist in the same geographic area. Dual polarized antennas may be utilized to offer system capacity enhancement with a radio such as Motorola's Canopy Backhaul PTP400 and PTP600 series or polarization diversity to enhance the link performance. In the case of the radio produced by Exalt Communications, the polarization can actually be switched remotely with a software controlled rf switch. Either of these radios would ideally be matched with an antenna such as the HPD4-5.2, which is a high-performance, 4' dual-polarized parabolic dish. By utilizing the combination of one of these radios and a high-performance dual-polarized antenna, network performance is thus greatly enhanced and susceptibility to interference greatly reduced. The more each user deploys HP antennas, the more we conserve spectrum for all operators to deploy more networks in the future.
Users should also always consider the use of radomes to protect their investment for years to come from the elements. A relatively simple technique to minimize interference is to utilize larger diameter antennas. The larger the antenna, the lower the back lobe and side lobes will be. Thus by utilizing a larger antenna, the interfering signals will be at a lower level. Additionally, the larger the antenna the higher the gain provided by the antenna will be. This will lead to a higher received level for the desired signal. When you consider the cost of a microwave link, the "delta" cost to go to larger diameter antenna provides for a relatively low cost method to improve network performance. It's also important to consider side struts in high wind areas. The cost to add a side strut at initial installation is low compared to paying for a re-alignment after a major wind storm.
A point-to-multipoint hub (base station) application requires an antenna with a wide horizontal beamwidth and high gain to properly illuminate the coverage area and this best provided by a sector antenna. A point-to-multipoint subscriber application requires a small antenna that can be easily installed and is aesthetically pleasing. This can best be accomplished with a small 1' or 2' parabolic. When selecting the beamwidth for the hub (base) antenna users should consider 90 degree horizontal beamwidth antennas as the optimum choice with at least 16 dBi of gain or more. While it may seem that since you are covering 360 degrees you would want three 120 degree antennas, this is actually inefficient. If you "overlay" three 120 degree antennas, there is significant overlap in the three beam patterns. By utilizing three 90 degree antennas, the area is fully covered, there is less wasted overlap and the higher gain of the 90 degree antennas helps the system to work over longer distances. Thus 90 degree sectors are the ideal choice for most hub antenna applications in this frequency range. The user also needs to be careful if selecting sector antennas that make use of PC board material for the radiating elements or feed system. Typically, low-cost antennas have poor or unreliable performance characteristics such as high loss and interference as well as inappropriate beam widths. All too common in low cost PCB antennas is the usage of lower quality board material that has higher losses. Thus as the RF signal travels through the board, more energy is converted to heat and less energy passed through the circuit to eventually be radiated as energy from the antenna system. A higher quality board material will lower the losses and have higher antenna efficiency ultimately providing more energy that is radiated out of the antenna system as true gain. There is no industry or government organization that review manufacturers gain specifications. An antenna manufacturer can claim anything they want. We have seen numerous cases where someone has replaced a "cheap" sector antenna with one of our sectors and the coverage improves dramatically due to our antenna having the gain specified, but the "cheap" antennas actually performing well below the manufacturers advertised specifications.
There are some OEMs and others that have recommended broad band antennas that cover part of the 4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band such as 4.9 to 5.85 GHz. Antennas this broad are not an optimal solution for most applications. While many antenna manufacturers will not inform customers, the gain of these antennas drops off on the band edges. In some cases the drop can be significant. While these broadband antennas make it easier to stock the antennas, they do not provide optimal network performance due to the gain drop one or both band edges.
Keep in mind that the antenna is the most cost effective tool for system optimization. Choosing an antenna that focuses energy in the most useful area is key as well as assuring the antenna selected can minimize interference. Higher gain (larger diameter) antennas have narrower beamwidths that help to reduce interference from unwanted sources and maximize desired signal. Choosing an antenna with good efficiency is also key for assuring optimized performance. When selecting antennas, one should also be careful of "paper specs" in a catalog, as there is no agency or industry organization that assures data in a manufacturers catalog is correct. Users should also carefully check the manufacturers warranty and if they don't offer at least five years, ask them why not. As the most significant performance improvements are achieved by optimizing performance of antenna systems, it is imperative that designers consider the choice of antennas carefully. Radio Waves provide an arsenal of antennas to solve complexities facing designers in optimizing their networks.


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If you've ever watched the Transformers and wished you had one -- not a manual toy but an actual transforming model -- then stop reading and watch the video above. Done freaking out over the rolling out? Good. Here are the details, courtesy of Christina Bonnington at Wired:
Brave Robotics developed a 1/12 scale Autobot transformer using a custom 3D printer, and it will be on display at Maker Faire Tokyo next week. Once fully morphed out of its initial automobile form, it takes the shape of a bipedal robot that moves about much like two-legged soccer-playing robots we've seen at Robocup and Robogames. This robot also has the ability to shoot some sort of dart from each of its arms.
Having an Autobot mini prowling iMore HQ, reporting suspicious activity back to my iPad mini, would pretty much be a geek dream come true. So, I guess it's time to learn autocad, robotic and automotive engineering, 3D printing, and alien AI programming. Back in a bit...
Source: Wired


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Fuller Grab Hire offers a fast and reliable grab hire service in Mannings Heath. We operate 6-wheel and 8-wheel grab lorries which are capable of carrying 12 or 16 tonnes once fully loaded.
We are known for our reliable service and our "can-do" attitude. All of our grab truck drivers in Mannings Heath are experienced and fully trained and qualified to operate our grab machinery and can collect your waste or deliver your material to those not so easy to reach places. Our machinery are completely versatile and are cost efficient as an option when compared to the more conventional skip hire. All difficult areas can be accessed and fences and walls are not a problem. Also if you need aggregates delivered to a particular point, our vehicles can do this. They can deliver aggregate from 5 tonnes to 16 tonnes.
They can also collect;
- Mixed soils
- Bricks
- Rubbish
- Mixed loads building site waste
- Green and garden waste
- Concrete
- Full or part loads
By choosing us for your grab hire in Mannings Heath, you will be provided with a reliable and cost-effective solution for the transferal and disposal of waste from your property or site. As the vehicles can carry large quantities of waste, you can be sure of a bulk clearance.
Fuller Grab Hire has worked with many building companies and on construction sites, so we understand the importance of timeframes and deadlines and will do our bit by providing a dependable service.
Our vehicles are equipped with cranes which allow waste to be collected and placed into the vehicles with ease. If there are any restrictions in place, these cranes will allow access over any walls or fences.
Once your waste has been collected, you can be assured that it will only be disposed of at a certified waste transfer station or appropriate landfill facility. We are happy to provide details of our waste management and waste carriers licences. For more information about our grab hire services in Mannings Heath, please call us.


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12:00 pm
Sesame Street "Baby Bear Comes Clean" Baby Bear is ready to go to Granny's house with Papa Bear. He has a nice, white shirt on that Papa Bear tells him to keep clean while he gets his sister dressed. While Baby Bear waits for them to get ready, Telly passes by with a bright purple ice cream cone in his hand. D
1:00 pm
Dinosaur Train "Confuciusornis Says/Tiny's Tiny Doll" Confuciusornis Says - The next stop on the World Tour takes the Pteranodons to Confuciusornis Gardens to visit a very wise, old dinosaur. They try some new foods, and learn to meditate, leaving them with their own enlightening mountain-top experience. Tiny's Tiny Doll - During the Pteranodons' World Tour, Tiny mistakenly leaves her favorite Tiny-Doll behind at Velociraptor Valley. D
1:30 pm
Super Why! "The Swiss Family Robinson" Little Boy Blue is stuck on a little island in Storybrook Pond and can't get back to shore. Super Why and his friends head into the story of The Swiss Family Robinson to meet a family who is just as stranded as Little Boy Blue. They'll need to use what's around them to survive in this do-it-yourself island adventure! Educational Objectives: To learn to think creatively in tricky situations. D
2:00 pm
Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! "Jumping on the Moon/Sneezy Riders" Jumping on the Moon - Nick and Sally are trying to jump high enough to touch the moon, but "what goes up must come down" says the Cat. That's gravity! And to show them just what gravity is, that means a trip to the moon! That's where they meet Astronaut Audrey who takes them for a space walk to learn all about gravity. Sneezy Riders - Sally and Nick are playing hide and seek, but Nick keeps sneezing! How can they stop it from happening? Good thing Cat's friend Cluey Looey will be able to help them! At Muddyfeet Waterhole they discover that Louie is having the same problem! Nothing a trip inside Louie's nose can't solve! Inside a super shrunken Thingamajigger, Nick, Sally and Cat discover what causes sneezing and what they can do to avoid it from happening!. D
2:30 pm
Wild Kratts "Elephant in the Room" The brothers come across a lone baby elephant and bring him back to the Tortuga HQ for safety until they can find his mom. But they learn how mischievous baby elephants can be and get more than they bargained for when it almost destroys the Tortuga! As they rush to get the baby elephant home, the WildKratts team realizes that animals have different structures that serve various functions in growth and survival. And an elephant's trunk is like the multipurpose tool of "creature features" with hundreds of uses, including: showering, blasting water, grabbing, lifting, communicating, "hearing", pushing and pulling. D
3:00 pm
Sara's Weeknight Meals "Carnivores Unite!" We get it: most of America runs on beef, pork and chicken. So today, Sara's got meat and lots of it. Sara marries the juicy burger marries with Korean barbecue for her special Korean Burgers. D
3:30 pm
Rick Steves' Europe "Little Europe: San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City, Liechtenstein, and Andorra" Don't blink as Rick blitzes through Europe's tiniest countries. Vatican City, the world's smallest country, comes with the planet's biggest church. He also visits the fairytale princedom of Monaco, Italy's last independent hill town of San Marino, castle-guarded principality of Liechtenstein, and tiny Andorra.G
4:00 pm
Song of the Mountains Country Classics; Sweet Potato Pie; Tone Blazers. D
5:00 pm
PBS NewsHour NULL
6:00 pm
My Hero "Time & Time Again" George time travels to stop seven-year-old Janet from breaking her arm, only to find out she is no longer his wife upon his return.G
6:30 pm
Are You Being Served? "Apartment" Mrs. Slocombe is moving but finds her new address occupied by squatters. So, she sets up in a vacant unit and is joined by Mr. Humphries.G
7:00 pm
As Time Goes By "Future Imperfect" To ease Lionel's financial situation, Alistair suggests the country house be sold.G
7:30 pm
Ladies of Letters Damon takes Irene's tablets and thinks he is a dingo. Irene and Karen give him the slip and get to Lesley's house. Lesley and Karen get along famously and Karen gives birth to a boy, two months earlier than expected.G
8:00 pm
The Red Green Show "The Dandruff Foundation" The men find a charity for the Lodge to affiliate with as a way of avoiding tax and receiving government grants. Red makes a device to automatically clear snow from a driveway.G
8:30 pm
Keeping Up Appearances - The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket "Country Retreat" Hyacinth wants to convince Richard that they should buy a small cottage in the country as a retreat, but Richard learns her idea of small differs from his.G
9:00 pm
The Thin Blue Line "The Honey Trap" Dawkins is furiously jealous of Fowler's admiration for Habib, albeit as star of his pub quiz team. That worsens when CID needs her as sexy, secret bait for a "honey trap." Alas for Fowler, that part proves incompatible with the quiz.G
9:30 pm
Outnumbered Karen recreates "Britain's Got Talent." Ben takes a close interest in Dad's medical tests. Mum thinks Jake's healthy interest in girls is becoming unhealthy.G
10:00 pm
My Family "Cards on the Table" Ben's poker school is costing him a fortune, while Susan's visit to fortuneteller Zelda Nobbs reveals that something far more deadly is in the cards.G
10:30 pm
My Hero "Time & Time Again" George time travels to stop seven-year-old Janet from breaking her arm, only to find out she is no longer his wife upon his return.G
11:00 pm
Are You Being Served? "Apartment" Mrs. Slocombe is moving but finds her new address occupied by squatters. So, she sets up in a vacant unit and is joined by Mr. Humphries.G
11:30 pm
As Time Goes By "Future Imperfect" To ease Lionel's financial situation, Alistair suggests the country house be sold.G


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Who and What Drives MBA Rankings? MBA Compass Compares Businessweek, Financial Times, Economist, Forbes, and US News
Results show: External people such as corporate recruiters, deans and directors have the greatest impact in the Businessweek and US News rankings
Jan 10, 2013, 06:18 ET
MUNICH, Germany, Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MBA Rankings are used to assess the quality of programs and schools. Depending on the publisher, however, rankings follow different methodologies. The platform Master of Business Administration Compass explored internationally recognized full-time MBA rankings from Businessweek, Financial Times, Economist, Forbes, and US News using three dimensions:
Ranking criteria: Which topics are covered by the ranking?
Sources of information: Who provides the information?
Influence: Which groups and topics are given the highest weighting and have greatest impact on the ranking?
The results show that external people who are not directly associated with a specific program - corporate recruiters, deans and directors - have the greatest impact in the Businessweek and US News rankings. MBA alumni have the greatest impact in the Forbes and the Financial Times rankings. Business schools dominate the Economist ranking.
All five rankings include career-related questions, but only Forbes and Financial Times strongly emphasize the future salary (weighted by 100% and 40% respectively). Forbes assesses the salary five years after graduation and hence seems to best capture the long-term career impact. Financial Times publishes the future salary after transforming the different currencies into US Dollars according to the Purchasing Power Parity Rates (PPP Rates) and excluding full-time jobs in non-profit or education organizations. Two rankings - Financial Times and Businessweek - also include a business school's research capability in the ranking.
Please find the complete article at www.mba-compass.com/Knowledge-MBA-COMPASS/Global-MBA-Ranking-Comparis ... n-Rankings.
The new website Master of Business Administration Compass is a platform for the Master of Business Administration. It provides background information on the MBA and individual advice on finding the right MBA program. The MBA Compass belongs to the Master in Management Compass and the Doctor of Business Administration Compass family.
This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.
SOURCE MBA Compass


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Spanish is a romance language. But you don't need to be a Don Juan (or Doña Juanita) to speak it. This rhythmic language packs a poetic punch. And, harmonics aside, it's becoming ubiquitous stateside.
But Spanish is useful abroad, too. All in all, nearly 500 million people speak it. So really, it's a numbers game—speak Spanish, and you open up numerous chances for connection.
Some of the most renowned cities in the U.S. are buzzing with Spanish—Eastern and Southern Los Angeles; The Mission District, San Francisco; and Miami Beach, Florida—just to name a few. Even storing some basic phraseology in that brain of yours can pay huge dividends in neighborhoods like this. You'll gain the power to navigate restaurant menus, communicate with locals if you lose your way, and form new friendships with residents.
Beyond travel, maybe you're looking for work, or simply want to upgrade "High School Spanish" on your resume. After all, when people ask you "Do you Speak Spanish?" you're probably sick of answering "Well, sort of."
Whatever the case, Rosetta Stone Spanish has your back. With our multiple levels of learning, you can start simple, and ultimately work your way toward conversational Spanish.
Ready to take our software for a spin? Visit rosettastone.com/learn-spanish or read Rosetta Stone Spanish reviews by real customers on our website.
Find more posts about: Spanish


text: Situated on a bend of the Mississippi River 100 miles from its mouth, New Orleans has been the chief city of Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico's busiest northern port since the early 1700s. Founded by the French, ruled for 40 years by the Spanish and bought by the United States in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, New Orleans is known for its distinct Creole culture and vibrant history. Significant battles of the War of 1812 and the Civil War were fought over the city. In its last hundred years the key struggles of New Orleans have been social (poverty, racial strife) and natural (hurricanes, floods and slowly sinking land).


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Tired of sole control of the remote, living and loving through romantic characters in TV or movie land? Soon we will be sharing the results of our research on the Best Marriage Sites to help you along in the search for The One!
Finally comfortable adding an addition to your life; The Best Marriage Sites gives guidance for the serious seeker in the privacy of your own home.
The Best Marriage Sites will be the final ingredient when you're ready to create the perfect recipe for love, romance, companionship and commitment. Made for marriage minded men and women, the Best Marriage Sites is not for the faint at heart. The Best Marriage Sites will provide all the tools needed for the search that will lead to The One!
Beyond the dating scene and ready and open to commitment stay tuned for the Best Marriage Sites!
Have a story of success in online marriage! Send it to us and the site!


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Saturday Feb 11 2012
Man arrested in string of burglaries
By: Penne Usher, Special to Gold Country News Service
EL DORADO HILLS — A vehicle stop led to the arrest of a suspected burglar and a cache of property reportedly stolen from Placer, El Dorado and Sacramento counties. Jason Earl Rogers, 30, of Citrus Heights, is the only one of three suspects in custody. Rogers was arrested at his home Feb. 2 by El Dorado County deputies. Rogers is suspected of multiple burglaries in Granite Bay and El Dorado Hills. Two other suspects remain at large. Warrants have been issued for Mark Williams and Jacob Scott Mack. On Jan. 17, an El Dorado County sheriff deputy stopped a suspicious vehicle. The occupants were searched and released. Later a burglary was reported and the items stolen matched items that were in the vehicle. It wasn't until Feb. 2 that deputies did a parole search of Rogers' residence and reportedly found the stolen property. According to El Dorado County officials, several jewelry boxes, thousands of pieces of jewelry, men's and women's rings, lighters, money clips, approximately 75 men's and women's watches, four cameras, foreign paper money and collectable coins were among the stolen items recovered. The recovered items were available for viewing by theft victims Friday and Monday at the El Dorado Hills sheriff's substation at Town Center. By noon Friday, four theft victims were able to recover their stolen property. Julie Zul, of El Dorado Hills, came by Friday to see if she could locate a stolen ring. Her husband had purchased a diamond and sapphire ring for their anniversary, but it was stolen before he could give it to her. "All I have is this photo in my phone," she said. "The ring was stolen from our car before he could give it to me." Zul did not find her ring among the multitude of jewelry items at the substation, El Dorado County law enforcement, along with Rocklin, Roseville and Folsom police departments, are working to relate their unsolved burglary cases to the recovered stolen property. "The burglars focused on Placer, El Dorado, Orangevale, Fair Oaks and committed residential burglaries where the method of entry was a door kick," said Dena Erwin, spokesperson for the Placer County Sheriff's Department. "El Dorado detectives knew that Placer County detectives were looking for a residential burglar who had kicked in the front doors of dozens of homes and took jewelry." Placer County detectives joined the search of Rogers' home and found property belonging to many Granite Bay victims. Because of the large volume of cases in Placer County, Rogers was extradited to Placer County Friday and is being held without bail.


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BioWare is giving players a whole new old way to experience Dragon Age: Origins, announcing a pen and paper role-playing game based in the Dragon Age universe.
Following in the footsteps of games like EverQuest and Street Fighter, Dragon Age is making the leap from video game to pen and paper role-playing game. Green Ronin Publishing, the company behind the 2nd edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Thieves' World, Mutants and Masterminds, and Freeport, will be in charge of transferring the world of the PC game into the minds of people sitting around a table eating snacks.
"Dragon Age: Origins has been described as the spiritual successor to BioWare's Baldur's Gate™, one of the most highly-acclaimed fantasy computer RPGs in the world, so when BioWare approached us to do a pen and paper version, we had to say 'yes!'," said Green Ronin President Chris Pramas. "With our work on Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Black Company, and Thieves' World, dark fantasy is in our blood and Dragon Age: Origins is the best in its class. An opportunity to collaborate with BioWare on Dragon Age: Origins was not to be missed."
The Dragon Age pen and paper RPG will start showing up at bookstores and hobby shops this summer. They'll be kicking things off with a box set containing everything players need to get started, with addition sets and supplements released on a regular basis.
It's always interesting to see video games being turned into pen and paper role-playing games, considering that role-playing video games were so heavily influenced by those early tabletop RPGs. Such juxtapositions generally gather a pretty strong following in role-playing circles, with the possible exception of Street Fighter: The Storytelling Game, which everyone bought just to giggle at.