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Norris the new No. 1 on Blue Jays' updated Top 20 list
With the passing of the Draft signing deadline, teams have had a recent influx of talent into their farm systems, and with that, we've updated the Top 20 Prospects lists of all 30 teams.
To be on a list, a player must have rookie eligibility. To qualify for rookie status, a player must not have exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues, or accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the 25-player limit period, excluding time on the disabled list or in military service.
With the passing of the Draft signing deadline, teams have had a recent influx of talent into their farm systems, and with that, we've updated the Top 20 Prospects lists of all 30 teams.
To be on a list, a player must have rookie eligibility. To qualify for rookie status, a player must not have exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues, or accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the 25-player limit period, excluding time on the disabled list or in military service.
Players are graded on a 20-80 scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average.
Check out all 30 team Top 20 lists and the Top 100 on Prospect Watch.
1. Daniel Norris, LHP
Preseason rank: 4
MLB Top 100 rank: 29 (Preseason: NA)
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 60
Though the Blue Jays didn't sign 2011 first rounder Tyler Beede, grabbing Norris, another high-ceiling prep pitcher, helped make up for it. His transition to the Minor Leagues was rough at times, but he turned a corner in 2013 and broke out the next season.
Norris has worked through several adjustments to his delivery, which is now much more consistent. With improved command, his already impressive stuff plays even better. He throws his low-90s fastball from a sharp downhill angle, creating a lot of groundballs. He has a good mix of offspeed pitches, all of which are at least average offerings.
Norris has continued to improve this season, earning a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire and a spot on the U.S. team in the Futures Game. More than ever, he's looking like the top-of-the-rotation starter the Blue Jays hoped they were getting when they drafted him.
2. Aaron Sanchez, RHP
Preaseason rank: 1
MLB Top 100 rank: 40 (Preseason: 23)
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 65 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 55
The Blue Jays selected four high school pitchers -- Sanchez, Noah Syndergaard, Griffin Murphy and Justin Nicolino -- in the first 80 picks of the 2010 Draft. Three years later, Syndergaard and Nicolino have been traded and Sanchez has ascended to become the Blue Jays' top prospect and one of the best pitchers in the Minor Leagues.
Sanchez throws his fastball in the mid- to upper 90s with good, late movement that generates lots of ground balls. When paired with his sharp, power curveball, he has one of the best fastball-breaking ball combinations in the Minor Leagues. His changeup isn't as advanced as his other two pitches, but has the potential to be another solid offering.
Sanchez missed about a month with shoulder soreness in 2013, but returned to the mound and finished the year with a phenomenal performance in the Arizona Fall League. He profiles as a frontline starter in the Major Leagues. But, like Marcus Stroman, his first ticket to Toronto came as a reliever, and his power arm could help shore up the Blue Jays' bullpen.
3. Dalton Pompey, OF
Preseason rank: 19
MLB Top 100 rank: 95 (Preaseason: NA)
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55
A broken hand limited Pompey in 2012, but he bounced back well while making his full-season debut in 2013. The Ontario native took an even bigger step forward this season, with a breakout first half that landed him a spot in the Futures Game and a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire.
Pompey has always had an advanced approach at the plate and he's become more adept at working the count and drawing walks, important qualities for a top-of-the-order hitter. He is a plus runner and knows how to use his speed on the base paths. It also helps him cover a lot of ground in center field.
Pompey has been one of the breakout stars of the Minor Leagues this year and has established himself as the Blue Jays top position player prospect. But he's still just 21 and has room for even more refinement in his game.
4. Jeff Hoffman, RHP
Preseason rank: None (2014 Draft)
MLB Top 100 rank: 95 (Preaseason: NA)
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 65 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55
After a strong showing in the Cape Cod League in 2013, Hoffman was well on his way to being a top-five pick in the 2014 Draft before undergoing Tommy John surgery in May. Despite his injury, he didn't fall far on Draft day, as the Blue Jays grabbed him ninth overall.
Hoffman hasn't fully grown into his lanky 6-foot-4 frame, yet at times he works in the mid 90s and hits 98 mph with his fastball. His big-breaking curveball can be equally devastating and his changeup can be a plus pitch at times. He throws a decent amount of strikes but will need to refine his command to become a frontline starter in the big leagues.
As long as he's healthy, Hoffman gives the Blue Jays farm system another impact arm. He'll have a chance to prove that when he makes his professional debut in 2015.
5. Robert Osuna, RHP
Preseason rank: 3
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 60 | Overall: 55
Osuna was pitching in the Mexican League as a 16-year-old when the Blue Jays signed him in 2011. He had no trouble adjusting to pitching in the U.S. and was the youngest player in the Midwest League on Opening Day in 2013.
Osuna throws his fastball in the low- to mid-90s with good movement. His slider is his best offspeed pitch, and his changeup shows promise. He is the nephew of former Major League reliever Antonio Osuna, and his bloodlines seem to have helped. He has better command and more pitchability than most teenagers.
Osuna underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2013 and returned to the mound this July, a little less than a year later. Though he missed most of the 2014 season, he won't turn 20 until Spring Training 2015, so he has time on his side and the stuff to get back on track.
6. Max Pentecost, C
Preseason rank: None (2014 Draft)
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
Pentecost was named MVP of the Cape Cod League in 2013 and then led Kennesaw State to Super Regionals in the NCAA Tournament this spring. All that helped make him the first college catcher drafted when the Blue Jays selected him 11th overall.
Pentecost, a rare catcher who could have average or better tools across the board, has a chance to hit for solid average and power. He has a quick right-handed bat, and while his hitting skills were more evident than his pop as an amateur, he did hit six homers on the Cape with wood bats.
His receiving skills still need work, though Pentecost should be able to remain behind the plate. He has the requisite arm strength for a catcher, though he can improve his accuracy. He runs better than most backstops and has average speed overall.
7. Mitch Nay, 3B
Preaseason rank: 6
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50
A broken foot delayed Nay's professional debut until 2013, but it proved to be worth the wait. He led the Appalachian League in RBIs and was then promoted to short-season Vancouver, where he was named the MVP of the Northwest League playoffs.
Nay has big raw power and can be a physical presence in the middle of the lineup. He's not just a masher, however. His quick hands help him make consistent, hard contact and he has an advanced approach at the plate.
Nay has a strong arm and despite his fringy range, has a chance to stay at third base. No matter where he plays defensively, his bat will be the main attraction.
8. Franklin Barreto, SS
Preseason rank: 8
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Barreto was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the 2012 international free agent class by MLB.com after a storied amateur career in Venezuela. He made his professional debut the next year in the Gulf Coast League, which he led in slugging percentage as a 17-year old.
Barreto's compact swing and quick hands allow him to barrel up balls well. He isn't physically imposing, but is solidly built and has some raw power. He is very athletic and has above-average speed.
Barreto isn't as advanced defensively and scouts think he will need to move off of shortstop. But he's just a teenager and the Blue Jays will give him every opportunity to prove he can stick there.
9. D.J. Davis, OF
Preseason rank: 5
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 80 | Arm: 50 | Field: 60 | Overall: 50
Davis was one of the youngest players in the 2012 Draft class and perhaps its best athlete. He was certainly its fastest member and some scouts even believe his speed is comparable to fellow Mississippi native Billy Hamilton.
Davis' speed is truly elite, but he is more than a track star. If he can refine his aggressive approach at the plate, he has the tools to be a solid all-around hitter. He even has the raw strength to eventually hit for some power. Thanks to his speed, he covers a lot of ground in center field and should be an above-average defender in time.
While Davis remains raw and needs to refine nearly every aspect of his game, he is one of the system's most exciting players.
10. Sean Reid-Foley, RHP
Preseason rank: None (2014 Draft)
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Reid-Foley starred at the first major event of last summer's high school showcase circuit, striking out all six batters he faced at the Perfect Game National in June. He continued that level of performance through his senior season and the Blue Jays made him their second round pick.
Reid-Foley combines polish and stuff. He throws somewhat across his body, which allows him to run his fastball inside against left-handers. He usually works at 91-93 mph and tops out at 95.
Reid-Foley does a good job of throwing four pitches for strikes. His low-80s slider is his best secondary offering, and he also will mix in a curveball and a sinking changeup. His athleticism helps him to repeat his delivery with consistency.
11. Sean Nolin, LHP
Preseason rank: 10
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45
A myriad of trades in recent years has seen the Blue Jays deal away many of their upper level pitching prospects, but not Nolin. He has made steady progress through the Minor Leagues since the Blue Jays drafted him out of San Jacinto College in 2010.
Nolin's stuff isn't overpowering, but plays up thanks to his pitchability and control. He throws his fastball around 90 mph and uses his height to create a sharp downhill angle. He commands all of his pitches well, consistently filling up the strike zone.
Nolin was nagged by a groin injury in the first half, forcing him to spend some time on the disabled list. Though his ceiling doesn't match that of the Blue Jays top pitching prospects, he showed before his injury that he is nearly ready for the big leagues.
12. Dawel Lugo, SS
Preseason rank: 9
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45
Lugo was regarded as one of the best hitters in the international signing class of 2011 and the Blue Jays have pushed him aggressively so far. He's responded well and led short-season Bluefield in home runs as an 18-year old in 2013.
Lugo is a natural hitter with a knack for putting the bat on the ball. His exceptional feel for the barrel makes him a good bad-ball hitter and difficult to strike out. He creates good bat speed and has a surprising amount of raw power in his small frame.
Defensively, Lugo has good hands and is a capable shortstop. He's a below-average runner, however, leading some scouts to think he is destined to move to third base. His bat looks like it'll be good enough to profile no matter what position he plays.
13. Matt Dean, 1B
Preseason rank: None
Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
The Blue Jays selected Dean in the 13th round in 2011 and went well above slot to sign him away from his Texas commitment. Physical and projectable as an amateur, he led the Appalachian League in hitting in 2013 and has carried that success over to the 2014 season.
Part of Dean's breakout came as a result of a mechanical change he made in his swing and improving his approach at the plate. Those changes allowed him to hit more line drives and better tap into his substantial raw power.
A shortstop in high school, Dean initially moved to third base and has now settled at first base, partially in deference to Mitch Nay. Dean can be an above-average defender at his new position, though it puts more pressure on his bat.
14. A.J. Jimenez, C
Preseason rank: 11
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 30 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
Jimenez missed much of the 2012 and 2013 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He has played well since returning to action - appearing in back-to-back Futures Games - and his longterm outlook hasn't be negatively affected by the injury.
Jimenez is a defensive-oriented catcher. His strong arm has helped him to throw out more than 40 percent of would-be basestealers in his career. He is athletic behind the plate and blocks balls well.
Though Jimenez's bat isn't as well regarded, he has a solid offensive skillset. He is an aggressive hitter, but doesn't give away at bats. He drives balls to the gaps with his line-drive swing and strength. His defense is enough to get him to the big leagues as a backup and if he proves he can hit a bit, he could become something more.
15. Alberto Tirado, RHP
Preseason rank: 7
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
One of the many international free agents the Blue Jays signed in 2011, Tirado has pitched well since making his professional debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2012. He excites scouts both with his projectability and present three-pitch arsenal.
Tirado's fastball sits in the low- to mid-90s and reaches 98 mph. He has improved both his changeup and slider and both could be true weapons with a little more refinement. He doesn't have great command yet, but that should improve as he gets more comfortable with his delivery.
Tirado will be 19 for all of 2014 and, while he isn't overly physical, should be able to add enough strength to his wiry frame to eliminate any lingering fears about his durability.
16. Jairo Labourt, LHP
Preseason rank: 12
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45
Big Dominican left-handers don't come around very often, but the Blue Jays have found a good one in Labourt. He has made significant strides since signing with the Blue Jays as a 17-year old in 2011.
Labourt pitches primarily off his fastball, which typically sits in the low-90s. Its natural sinking action is accentuated by the steep downhill angle he throws from and produces plenty of groundballs as a result. He has a good feel for his changeup, but his breaking ball is still a work in progress.
Labourt's loose, easy delivery and physical build give him the look of a durable starter. Though he is a long way from the big leagues, his tools are cause for excitement.
17. John Stilson, RHP
Preseason rank: 9
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
Stilson tore his laburm as a junior at Texas A&M, but was able to rehab the injury without requiring surgery. The Blue Jays moved him to the bullpen in 2013 and he pitched effectively in his new role.
Stilson throws his fastball in the mid-90s, touching as high as 98 mph, with good tailing action that produces plenty of groundballs. He has a short, cutting slider and a power changeup. There's a lot of effort to his delivery, hindering his command and making him a better fit as a reliever.
Stilson's stuff is good enough to pitch in the back end of the bullpen. After spending most of his first year as a reliever in Triple-A Buffalo, he is nearly ready for the Major Leagues.
18. Chase De Jong, RHP
Preseason rank: None
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45
DeJong is a product of Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif., the alma mater of former stars Bob Lemon and Bobby Grich. He began to make his own mark with an impressive showing in the Appalachian League in his first full professional season.
DeJong throws his fastball in the low-90s with some projection left in his frame. His curveball is his best secondary pitch and his changeup shows the potential to develop into a third quality offering. He has refined his delivery as a professional, eliminating some crossfire, and his control has improved as a result.
DeJong has advanced pitchability for his age, a trait which should serve him well as he advances.
19. Richard Urena, SS
Preseason rank: None
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 30 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
At the start of the 2012 international signing period, the Blue Jays signed a Venezuelan shortstop named Franklin Barreto, ranked No. 2 in the class by MLB.com. A day later, they inked Urena, a Dominican shortstop who was ranked No. 9.
Urena isn't quite as advanced as Barreto and has stayed a step behind him in the Minor Leagues. But, in the long run, he's the better bet to stay at shortstop thanks to his soft hands and good footwork. He has good range and a strong enough arm to make all the throws required of a shortstop with ease.
While he stands out for his defense, Urena has a chance to hit as well. He's more patient at the plate than most young hitters and has a natural feel for hitting. His swing is geared toward hitting line drives and he has below-average power.
20. Matthew Smoral, LHP
Preseason rank: 7
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45
Smoral was considered to be one of the top high school pitchers in the 2012 Draft class, but a broken foot ended his spring early. He slid in the Draft as a result and injuries again hampered him in his first full professional season.
Despite the slow start to his career, Smoral still offers lots of upside. He throws his fastball in the low to mid 90s and mixes it with an above-average slider. His changeup lags behind his other pitches but shows potential.
Like many young, tall pitchers, Smoral struggles with his command. As he gets more experience, his athleticism should help him learn to repeat his delivery more consistently. He still has a long way to go, but as he gets more innings under his belt, he should begin to realize some of his potential.
Teddy Cahill is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @tedcahill.


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Ever since I uploaded that lesson on girl Mario people have been asking me to make a tutorial on "how to draw girl Luigi", step by step so here it is. As you can see from the image girl Luigi is taller and slender then her sister girl Mario. I can see that for some odd reason girl Mario made it to the top 50. I mean I knew people where going to like the lesson, but I did't think it was going to be a tut that made it to the top 50. I don't know if girl Luigi will follow in girl Mario's footsteps because Mario has always been more popular then his green colored brother. Anyways I do hope you have fun with this tut. I will be back a bit later with more lessons because there is still four more that needs to be submitted. So if you want to stick around go ahead, or you can come back later. The choice is yours and yours alone.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!

subset: commoncrawl


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The organisers of the Jim Clark Rally have confirmed that the memorial competition will be run in 2019, following a four-year hiatus.
The rally was run on closed public roads around the Scottish Borders, close to the F1 champion's birthplace of Duns, from 1970 until 2014, when three spectators were killed.
Following those deaths and another at the Snowman Rally in 2013, the rally and other closed road motorsport events were cancelled while the Scottish Government investigated how to allow such events to run safely.
It has now passed new regulations which bring Scotland into line with England and Wales and mean local authorities can authorise the closure of roads and suspension of traffic regulations.
Changed dates
The rally was previously held in late May on the roads around Duns but organisers have decided to move it to later in the year to avoid clashes with other motorsport events.
They have now announced November 8 and 9 as the planned dates for the rally, following discussions with Police Scotland and Scottish Borders Council.
In previous years the rally has been run on a number of stages close to Duns in the eastern Scottish Borders. Organisers have not release details of the planned stages for this year, saying they are still finalising details.
In a statement, they said: "A number of options with regard to route and timetable have been evolving at Rally HQ and once final plans have been completed, more details will be revealed in due course."


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GOP Politicos Ponder Party's Future on Gay Marriage
With support for redefining marriage to include same-sex couples appearing to grow, Republican operatives are debating whether the party's position could shift on the issue.
When asked if a future Republican presidential candidate could support same-sex marriage, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) answered that it is "inevitable." "There will be one. And I think he'll receive Republican support, or she will," Flake said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
When asked a similar question last week, Republican strategist Karl Rove said that a gay marriage supporter could capture the Republican nomination in 2016.
Flake said he is a supporter of traditional marriage, though. He also noted that he has supported gay rights in other areas, such as repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule and voting in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would ban employment discrimination for gays and lesbians.
On "Fox News Sunday," former Republican National Committee Chair Ed Gillespie said he believes that the Republican platform will never support redefining marriage, but it may abandon its call for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The reason, Gillespie believes, is that Republicans may be moving toward more of a federalist view of the issue, in which each state decides how to define marriage, especially in light of the recent Supreme Court arguments over gay marriage.
"A lot of conservatives found themselves arguing in this instance that the court should not impose a federal mandate that [gay marriage] is legal. So there has been a little bit of a shift, I think, in terms of Republicans saying we should allow this to be worked out through the states, not by courts and not imposed federally," Gillespie said.
ABC News Senior Washington Correspondent Jeff Zeleny believes that Republican donors will provide one indication of whether or not a pro-gay marriage Republican can capture the 2016 presidential nomination.
"I'm looking at the donor class," Zeleny said on ABC's "This Week." There are more and more donors, [wealthy Republican donor] Sheldon Adelson said he doesn't care about same-sex marriage. Some other super PAC contributors are supportive of [gay marriage] on the Republican side."


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became a fan today though like Umer Gul he also seems like a rhythm bowler.
became a fan today though like Umer Gul he also seems like a rhythm bowler.
Points for using his nickname in the title. I've tried to spread it here before with little success.
No points for the actual post content. O'Brien FTW.
Broad V Saffa was the best bowling performance of the cup and I'm not willing to negotiate on that
Originally Posted by Axl Rose
RIP Craigos. A true CW legend. You will be missed.
Got pelters from Pak fans on here to suggest he not Shoaib should be playing in this WC... Riaz is expensive, wayward, swings the ball on ad-hoc basis but he takes wickets, bowls at a good lick and has a good tank. Pak's Mitchell Johnson.
Didn't just take wickets but beat the outside edge of Kohli, Sachin and Dhoni's bat an insane number of times as well. Bowled quite superbly. Commentators said he was bowling 92 mph+.
He was quick and frighteningly accurate for the most part.
*Official* Pakistan v South Africa in Dubai
Which was before NZ.
I still don't think he's a genuine match winner and is a very one dimensional bowler who had a great day yesterday.I would be pleasantly surprised if he proves me wrong in the long run.
As an ODI bowler, He reminds me of an early 00s Waqar. Fast, Can bowl ****e but has a knack for taking wickets and taking more than one wicket in the same spell. Also, can swing the ball Irish consistently - unlike Mitchell. Definitely thought he had similarities to Mitchell Johnson as a test bowler though right from Dubai even though I reckon Wahab has potential to become a much better test bowler than Johners ever will be. It's easy to miss how seriously fast he is too. Looks a serious talent and I now really wish the jacket incident did not happen as I quite like the guy otherwise. He looks pretty awesome too.
will always be a bowler who will combine gun games with utter direness thats how his domestic career has been.
So the Mitchell Johnson comparison gains even more validity? Just needs one random series in SA where he manages to swing the ball into the right-hander and one home ground where he guns it once a year in Tests for people to start wondering when cloning was invented without anyone realizing.
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Gov. Rod Blagojevich waited until state lawmakers left town Thursday, without voting on his budget proposal, then lowered the boom.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich waited until state lawmakers left town Thursday, without voting on his budget proposal, then lowered the boom.
He approved most of what legislators wanted to restore in order to prevent a first round of deep budget cuts, but then signaled that some spending – to keep state parks from closing, for example – won't necessarily be saved.
Another chunk was cut entirely, putting historic sites and personnel in the offices of several statewide officials in peril. And more bad news is on the horizon.
It's just another sordid chapter in the ongoing state budget drama. Here are some questions and answers about the mess and what could happen next:
Q: How bad is the budget situation right now?
A: Bleak, by just about any measure.
Lawmakers tried to prevent about $230 million in cuts, including closings of state parks and historic sites and layoffs of hundreds of state workers Nov. 30. But the governor said some of the funding the legislature approved can't be used, so he trimmed $55 million out of that package.
Now historic sites will close, and personnel lines for the state treasurer, attorney general, secretary of state and lieutenant governor will not be spared.
Other areas are in limbo because the administration says the revenue picture is just too uncertain. Child care workers and four state parks were spared by the governor, but the administration says human services workers still will be laid off and seven parks will still be closed.
And the governor already is warning cuts will need to go much deeper in the not-so-distant future to deal with a budget hole of at least $2 billion.
Q: Why has the situation gotten so bad?
A: A combination of factors, including more political games.
Lawmakers and Blagojevich have pointed fingers at each other since last summer, when the governor said the budget legislators sent him was $2 billion out of whack. He made cuts, they tried to restore them, and neither side has found a solution.
The national economy continues to slide, causing a big hole in tax revenue the state was counting on. So, even as officials try to deal with the initial budget problem from months ago, it continues to grow and make their jobs more difficult.
And then there's the question of the record $4 billion in unpaid state bills, leaving the comptroller's office far short of cash to pay hospitals, day care centers and other service providers. That growing backlog threatens to create major problems early next year.
Q: What is the governor doing to address the problem?
A: Mostly, he's in cutting mode. He made $1.4 billion in budget cuts last summer, including the $230 million lawmakers tried to restore.
But the governor doesn't want to be the only bad guy. Last week, he proposed a "budget-saving" plan to close the gap by getting billions of dollars more from the federal government and asking state lawmakers to give him greater authority to make cuts throughout state government.
However, legislators have balked at giving Blagojevich authority to cut or hold back up to 8 percent of spending in areas such as pensions, schools and even local government aid. They want to limit how much cutting he can do and where he can cut.
"Whether you agree or disagree with the concept, the bottom line is that everyone agrees we're in a very difficult fiscal mess," said Rep. Jay Hoffman, a Collinsville Democrat and Blagojevich's top legislative ally.
Q: How about lawmakers' role in all this?
A: They've mostly reacted to what the governor does. He proposes cuts, they try to restore them. He asks for more budget-cutting power, they look for ways to limit that.
Unlike some of his previous ideas, though, legislators say they are working with the administration on his budget plan. But they've gone home until January, unless there are more special sessions, and aren't expected to return to Springfield short of a deal.
"Unless you have an agreement, I'm not certain that coming back serves any real purpose," said Rep. Gary Hannig, D-Litchfield.
Q: Is there any hope for good news?
A: That depends on your priorities. The governor did spare many areas from cuts, at least initially. Substance abuse treatment centers are getting the $55 million they were owed, most of the child welfare workers on the chopping block were spared, and some other areas will be protected.
"Difficult decisions are being made this year, but we have to do so while maintaining core services," Blagojevich spokeswoman Katie Ridgway said.
Q: When will this get resolved?
A: Expect more back-and-forth and few answers in the coming months.
A new legislature takes over in January. Blagojevich could call the present General Assembly back into special session before then, but both sides seem willing to sort out their next moves over the holiday season and deal with the problem in 2009.
By then, though, almost everything will be worse.
Blagojevich's office isn't talking about what cuts could happen next, and when.
Real solutions are scarce. Blagojevich won't discuss tax increases. Other revenue sources have little support in the legislature. More cuts only cause more pain and anger from affected interest groups.
A breakthrough will take compromise and sacrifice from both legislators and the governor. That message hasn't truly hit home at the Capitol.
"We're going to have make adjustments in the budget, just like a lot of people will, and they're probably going to be painful," Hannig said. "But we have to recognize the reality that we're in a recession."
Ryan Keith can be reached at (217) 788-1518 or email@example.com.


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Nothing (and we mean nothing) is worse than arriving at an event or your favorite bar, only to find some gal's copped your look. It drains the confidence out of you quicker than you can say, "Dirty martini, stat!". We, however, haven't experienced this feeling in what seems like eons, thanks to our stock of vintage wares. Old-school styles guarantee that your look will not only be unique, but totally stand out in a sea of predictable ensembles.
So, we'll be adding to our collection of one-of-a-kind creations this weekend, thanks to the rad pop-up hosted by HiStyley and Sainte-Marie Vintage. The L.A.-based blog and vintage shop have joined forces to showcase some wild pieces that we'd love to wear from a house party in Los Feliz to a birthday bash in Hollywood. Our fave picks are in the slideshow, but head on over to HiStyley to see the whole selection. The online event ends Monday, so get shopping!
Photo: EvaLotta Fredén


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Steven Dengler has money, and he wants to spend it on cool stuff.
Dengler is the co-founder of universal currency converter website XE.com, an early Internet success and an entrepreneurial endeavour that made him rather comfortable financially, and allows him to use his money in a way that most of us might only dream of.
You know, like funding the PC port of Costume Quest and Mac version of Psychonauts.
"I've seen a lot of people become very unhappy as they got financially successful because the money goes to their head," said Dengler to me last year. "It changes who they are. Their whole existence starts to be about the accumulation of things. [...] I really didn't want to do that, I really did not want to become that person."
I spoke with Dengler in early November, not long after the first two Double Fine projects he'd been involved in had launched.
In moments, it became clear he's an enormously passionate fan, just one who also happens to be the day-to-day CEO at a seriously focused web enterprise like XE.com. Unfortunately, not long after our Skype call had ended, the busy holiday review season arrived in force, and I never had a chance to write anything about our conversation.
In light of Minecraft creator Markus Persson making an offer to help bankroll Psychonauts 2 and Double Fine launching a $400,000 Kickstarter project to possibly develop a brand-new adventure game, it made sense to revisit my time with Dengler. It's not like Double Fine is opposed to funding for otherwise impossible projects in crazy ways.
Double Fine founder Tim Schafer made a jokey comment on Twitter in March 2011 about how much money the studio would need to port some of its existing games onto other platforms. Dengler took notice of this, and joked back about what that number might be. Schafer responded with a number, which may or may not have been real. Schafer then pointed Dengler in the direction of Double Fine's business manager. The whole exchange was tongue-in-cheek.
And this is where most stories like this would reach their logical end--joke's over! Instead, Dengler really did email Zach Karlsson, Double Fine's VP of business development at the time. Karlsson has since moved on to Capcom.
"The early couple of exchanges, they were just humoring me," he said, "but in a couple of emails, I was asking relevant business questions and we were talking about specific numbers for specific things and suddenly it became clear that we were actually having a real conversation about this."
From start to finish, transitioning from jokes over Twitter to actually writing a check, the process took just 18 days.
This is not charity, however. Sure, it comes from a place of passion, but this was (and is) a very real thing.
"This is something that's an actual commercial, business deal, where there's money involved and I do expect to get my money back and then some," explained Dengler, "but quite frankly, I'm not a video game publisher, I'm not looking for obscene amounts of long-term ownership or profit or anything like that. I asked them to pitch me a proposal and I accepted what they pitched me--I didn't negotiate it. That's what I wanted to do. 'You tell me, because I'm a stranger to your industry, you tell me what an ideal situation would be like for you, that would let you accomplish your goals.'"
Ironically, Dengler and Schafer initially joked about the idea of more Psychonauts, as well, but it was just that: a joke. When the parties involved actually talking, it morphed into ports of Costume Quest and Psychonauts.
Dengler has spent his money on many other personal interests, all collected under the Dracogen Strategic Investments banner. He contributed $5,000 to help make Fallout fan film Fallout: Nuka Break happen, and decided to bankroll his sister's artistic aspirations with the webcomic MegaCynics. He's active on Kickstarter and IndieGoGo.
"In the worst case scenario, we have fun for a couple of years," he said.
Even though Dengler had no real involvement past the investment stage, his financial contribution meant he was credited at the start of the versions of the game he helped make possible. When he started to talk about the animated Dracogen logo that appears when you boot Costume Quest on PC, his voice elevated in both pitch and speed. For a moment, it's almost squeaky. He was so, so excited.
"You go from something that's just an idea in your head, or a joke on Twitter, and then you think 'Yeah, I can make this happen.'" he said. "I find that immensely satisfying, and that's where I get my kick out of it. Maybe in the fullness of time this will be proved to be a really good business decision or a really bad business decision or a break-even business decision. Well, okay, we'll see how that goes. I have my expectations, but in many ways, my goals have already been met just by making it happen--helping it happen."
During our conversation, Dengler mentioned that he'd be willing to work with Double Fine again, if the stars happened to align--and they did. The reason Stacking exists on the PC is because of Dengler.
With that in mind, maybe the idea of Notch helping make Psychonauts 2 a possibility isn't that far fetched, after all. And when I asked Dengler about Psychonauts 2, he expressed the optimism you'd expect from a big fan.
"It's been such a pleasure to work with Double Fine," he said in an email last night. "I'm really happy to see Markus interested in helping out now. It looks like Markus will be a very positive force in this as well. My fingers are crossed, as are those of many, many gamers, I suspect."
You can follow Dengler on Twitter, and keep tabs on where his money goes next at Dracogen Strategic Investments.


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The Talent Magnet Institute and Cloverleaf.
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See how your strengths and personality compare and compliment others on your team.
Where do you fit?
Finding a good fit in your team is hard. Finding the perfect fit that perfectly fulfills you, is even harder. Cloverleaf makes it easier.


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NH state police warn truck drivers to clear ice and snow from tops of carriers and trailers
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) � New Hampshire State Police are warning drivers of tractor-trailer trucks and motor carriers to clear snow and ice from their trailers to prevent hazardous conditions for other drivers.
Police say sheets of ice and snow flying off trucks and carriers can cause damage to nearby vehicles and cause accidents as drivers swerve to avoid being hit.
Under New Hampshire state law, drivers who do not clear snow and ice accumulations may be cited for negligent driving.
Police also advise all drivers to leave enough space when following trucks to allow enough time to react and avoid any snow or ice that flies off the truck.


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- This event has passed.
Public Hours
August 24 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 11:00 am on Friday, repeating until September 27, 2019
An event every week that begins at 11:00 am on Saturday, repeating until September 28, 2019
Visit NYC's oldest house and learn how the city's earliest immigrants lived on a guided house tour. Public tours are open to every one and led by our museum guides. They run roughly every half hour between 1pm and 4pm on Fridays and Saturdays. No reservation necessary for groups of 6 or fewer. Email or call us for larger groups. Last tour at 3:30 p.m.
Suggested donation $5/ adults, $3 students/seniors


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Rates are at an all-time low! Exclusive mortgages available through Countrywide Mortgage Services...more
Professional chartered surveyors. Uncover any potential structural faults before you buy...more
Seamless legal service helping you move as quickly as possible...more
Snap up a bargain by purchasing property at auction...more
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When selling or letting property it is a legal obligation to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate in place.
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides detailed information about a property's energy efficiency, giving a rating on a scale from A to G. The EPC also offers suggestions to improve your property's energy efficiency, potentially saving you money in the long term.
Countrywide are a trusted provider of EPCs for both residential and commercial properties. Offering sellers and landlords a fast inspection with quick turnaround times, Countrywide's panel of energy assessors use cutting edge technology to ensure accurate results every time.
When selling a property in the UK, it is now a legal requirement to have a valid EPC in place before the marketing of the property begins. Your EPC needs to be ordered before you begin to market your home, and therefore available to interested buyers as and when required.
Being a landlord, be it for a singular property or an entire portfolio, comes with many responsibilities, including making sure that all of your properties for rent are energy assessed before they are let. EPCs for your property must be made available to prospective tenants when they view your property.


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An important event like this must be recorded and a television camera is here to document the rocket launches.
The crated rockets are ready and loaded onto the APC for transportation to each weather station.
Historical Miniature Wargaming, Military History, Plastic Army Men, & slush cast soldiers. Figures from Airfix, Italeri, Giant, Revell, Pegasus, Dapol, HaT, Ykreol, Imex, Orion, Strelets, Paul Heiser Models and Roco Minitanks, Trident and Fidelis Models; as well as wargame rules. I also enjoy 54mm & 60mm Toy Soldiers from Tim Mee, Ideal, MPC, and Marx Toys! I have collected toy soldiers for over 55 years. You can eMail me at email@example.com


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Finance & Development, June 2007
- From the Editor: A Woman's Touch
- Letters to the Editor
- In Brief
- Smart Economics
- Budgeting with Women in Mind
- Getting all Girls into School
- Picture This: Globalization of Labor
- Asia Ten Years After
- Point of View: Asia's Decade of Transformation
- Point of View: Korea: In Search of a New Compact
- Underutilized Capital
- Getting Together
- Connecting Africa and Asia
- Making Remittances Work for Africa
- Back to Basics: Microfinance: Banking for the Poor
- A Government's Net Worth
- Getting Spending Right
- Book Reviews
- Country Focus: Bulgaria
Asia Ten Years After
- International Monetary Fund. External Relations Dept.
- Published Date:
- June 2007
Show Summary Details
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The Turbulence jacket from dhb (the in-house brand from on-line superstore Wiggle) is a lightweight windproof top that's an ideal outer layer for cycling on cold days, and it easily packs down small enough to stuff in your back pocket if the weather should turn balmy while you're out on your bike.
Right from the off, it's important to note that this is not a waterproof jacket. The Turbulence is designed to keep the wind out - and that's exactly what it does. But windproofing on its own is not enough. If you exert yourself when riding, you get hot, so you need breathability - and this jacket gives you that in spades.
This is because - perhaps obviously - the fabric itself is fully breathable. But there are also mesh panels under the arms to, plus an open flapped vent across the back of the jacket to further help airflow.
So this jacket's main job - keeping the wind off and letting the moisture escape - is done. Tick. But what about the other features?
Starting from the top, the collar is close fitting to keep out drafts, but not too tight to be uncomfortable. It's got a nice fleecy lining too. For night riding, there are some reflective strips across the shoulders and back.
The sleeves are plenty long enough, easily covering the arms when stretched out. The cuff are elasticated - no tabs or Velcro - and there's nothing wrong with that, but the elastic needs to be tighter. On a test ride I had to tuck the end of the sleeves inside my gloves to stop a big draught coming in - and I hardly have the daintiest of wrists.
The jacket is cut so the back is longer than the front, and it covers your rear-end nicely, although once again I found the elasticated hem a bit on the loose side. Being a bit tighter, or some more dabs of silicon gripper, would help keep the fabric snugly in place.
There's a zipped pocket at the rear of the jacket, plenty big enough for something like gloves, but anything heavier hangs uncomfortably low and bangs into the back of the saddle. There is another small pocket inside the main pocket, just big enough for a credit card or a few quid, or maybe a door key - but not a phone. All this is pretty academic anyway, as it's always easier to carry stuff in the pockets of the more substantial cycling jersey you'll be wearing underneath the windproof jacket - it's far more comfortable, and saves messing about transferring stuff if you take off the windproof layer.
The turbulence jacket is available in black or red, which may disappoint riders who prefer brighter colours - especially for winter riding.
When it comes to price, this jacket isn't an absolute bargain. You can certainly buy cheaper windproofs out there, although they may not have the venting features of the Turbulence, so at a recommended price of £45 (currently discounted to nearer £36 on the Wiggle website) it's pretty good value.
Very windproof, very breathable, great for chilly rides - and small enough to carry when the sun comes out.
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
road.cc test report
Make and model: dhb Turbulence Windproof Cycling Jacket
Size tested: Red - M
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
The wiggle website says this: 'The turbulence jacket is designed to be a lightweight slim-line jacket, which takes away cold breeze on fast, cooler, dry rides. A full-length zip baffle on the main zip prevents wind penetration. The close fleece lined collar provides a comfortable feeling around the neck and prevents unwanted intruding drafts. The durable yet very lightweight Nylon fabric is breathable and has mesh underarms to allow maximum airflow encouraging heat dissipation from the hottest body areas.'
This is all a fair claim.
The website also says: 'Generous sleeve length allows you to bend your arms with no gaps between glove and cuff. Flat and close elasticated cuffs give a tidy aesthetic and keep bulk and flapping fabric to an absolute minimum. Discretely branded elasticated hem will keep the jacket close around your backside.'
However, I found the elastic cuffs and hem a bit on the baggy side.
Construction seems very good. Stitching is generally tidy, although on our test model there were a few loose threads on the seam attaching the baffle, which might get caught in the zip. Nothing a pair of scissors couldn't sort out though.
Performance is potentially very good, with this jacket fully meeting its two key tasks - keeping the wind off and letting the moisture escape - but it's let down by the slightly baggy elastic on the cuffs and hem.
At the end of the day, this jacket is made from thin Nylon, so it isn't going to survive a hammering. But if you look after it, it should last a good few seasons.
This jacket has a light weight, making it very packable when not being worn.
As mentioned in the review, this jacket isn't an absolute bargain. You can certainly buy cheaper windproofs out there, although they may not have the venting features of the Turbulence, so at a recommended price of £45 (currently discounted to nearer £36 on the Wiggle website) it's fair value.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
This is potentially a 9 out of 10 piece of kit - very windproof, very breathable, very packable - but it gets marked down slightly due to the baggy elastic on the cuffs and hem.
Some riders may also be disappointed that it isn't available in a brighter colour.
About the tester
Age: 50 Height: 5ft 10 / 178cm Weight: 11 stone / 70kg
I usually ride: an old Marin Alp My best bike is: an old Giant Cadex
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: touring, club rides, sportives, mtb,


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Tram necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 18 diseños de 2 diseñadores freelance.
Club Initiés Affaires internationales
Our agency has been hired by are a select business networking group for international businesses. (ie Bankers, lawers, importer etc) They are one group that is part of a larger organisation that includes over 20 networking groups. (http://www.fciq.com)
Two important thing from this website the clean look of white and the images slider to show upcoming events and news
The use of color and imagery
The homepage introduces the group and shows a list of upcoming events and new items.
The group doen't have a logo simply use the name in the header. The "parent" networking association does have a logo (http://fciq.com/images/dynamic/dyna…ts/10a.jpg) but it should only be show in reference to the site in the footer.
The home page should have the image slider (see inspiration) , a small paragraph describing the group, box for upcoming events and a box for news items.
There will be 3 sponsor ads on the home page: 1 (238px x 175px ) and 2 (238x85)
The menu is as follows (I've put the English translation in parenthesis for your benefit as final site is in french)
Accueil (Home page)
À propos (about us)
Évènements (Events)
Répertoires (Member directory)
Nouvelles (news and articles)
Contactez-nous (Contact us)
As said above they really liked the clean look of the white design but it would need color as an accent. They need a very professional clean design


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Jain Farm Fresh Foods, Inc. Dehydrated Ingredients Division
Formerly known as Cascade Specialties, Inc.
"Jain Farm Fresh Foods, Inc Dehydrated Ingredients Division is the Premier Manufacturer & Supplier of naturally grown, extra-low bacteria conventional & organic dehydrated onion products worldwide."
Since our founding in 1993 we have been committed to producing quality dehydrated onions. Now under Jain Irrigation Systems ownership, we continue to produce the same high quality products from seed to harvest. We accomplish this by:
Working with local growers.
Monitoring crop development.
Using optimum harvesting & production techniques.
Building cutting-edge, climate-controlled storage facilities.
Our work is concluded only upon satisfactory delivery of our products to our customers.
Employing this hands-on philosophy at our facilities in the state of Oregon, aided by the latest technology, we can trace our products to the very field from which they were grown.


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The Google Music service has finally been opened up to UK customers.
Google had announced that it would be expanding the Google Music service to countries outside the US during its announcement of the Google Nexus 4 and Google Nexus 10 back in October.
For UK users, it represents the last part of the Google and Android ecosystem, with movies, books and apps already available from the tech giant. Music has now joined the roster in the Google Play store (you may need to restart your phone to see it in the Google Play app, as we did).
The MP3 purchasing service is also available through the Google Play website on your computer. Tracks cost 79p each, and album prices seem to be competitively pitched against the service's main rivals, iTunes and Amazon MP3.
The ability to upload music tracks is available across the board. The service is accessible through a downloadable desktop Music Manager program, and also requires the free Google Play Music app on the Google Play store. This has been the default Android music player for some time now, but isn't included with every Android device as standard.
Google Music's headline feature is its ability to upload 20,000 of your music tracks to the cloud at no charge through the Music Manager tool. You can then access these tracks from your Android phone at any time, or any computer logged in to your Google account.
Will you be using Google Music, or are you happy with iTunes and/or Amazon MP3? Is there anything missing from Google's service? Let us know in the comments box below.
More Software News >


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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I know these are not smileys but I couldn't help myself... I just wish the 2nd picture it had dark hairEdit: I didn't realize how big that second picture would show up... it is much bigger (and uglier) than when I viewed it on my computer
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BOSTON — James "Whitey" Bulger's lawyers tried to put the government itself on trial during closing arguments Monday, accusing federal prosecutors of making sweetheart deals with ruthless killers to put the reputed Boston crime boss behind bars.
A prosecutor, meanwhile, summed up the government's case by calling Bulger "one of the most vicious, violent and calculating criminals ever to walk the streets of Boston," and urged the jury to convict him of charges that include 19 killings committed during the 1970s and '80s.
The jury is expected to begin deliberating Tuesday in the racketeering case against the 83-year-old Bulger, whose 16 years on the run embarrassed the FBI and exposed the bureau's corrupt relationship with its underworld informants.
Bulger's lawyers attacked the credibility of three key government witnesses: former hit man John Martorano, one-time Bulger protege Kevin Weeks and mobster Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi.
Defense attorney J.W. Carney Jr. said the three former Bulger loyalists decided to "add a little Bulger to the mix" to almost every crime they were questioned about so they could get time shaved off their sentences.
Carney argued that their testimony was bought and paid for by prosecutors.
"The witnesses are selling their testimony to the government," Carney said. "The currency that's used here: How much freedom is the person going to get? The currency is the power of the government to keep someone locked up in a cell, surrounded by four concrete walls topped by barbed wires."
Martorano and Weeks have completed their prison sentences and are free. Flemmi struck a deal to avoid the death penalty and is serving a life sentence.
The defense went after Flemmi in particular, saying Flemmi, not Bulger, had a motive to kill the two women who are among the 19 murder victims. According to testimony, Flemmi had been sexually abusing one of the women — his own stepdaughter — for years.
"He killed his stepdaughter so she wouldn't say what he had been doing to her," Carney said.
Bulger fled Boston in 1994 after being tipped off by a retired FBI agent about his indictment. He was one of the FBI's most-wanted fugitives until he was captured with his longtime girlfriend in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2011.
Prosecutors say Bulger was secretly working as an FBI informant while the bodies piled up over the years — a claim his lawyers have strongly disputed.
During the government's closing argument, prosecutor Fred Wyshak recounted grisly details of the killings Bulger is accused of committing or orchestrating.
Among the victims, he told the jury, were two men who were chained to chairs for hours, interrogated, then shot in the head, two women who were strangled, and two men who died in a hail of gunfire as they left a South Boston restaurant.
Wyshak said Bulger, as the boss of the Winter Hill Gang, South Boston's Irish mob, was a hands-on killer who carried out many of the slayings himself.
He described the gang's array of guns, knives, a souped-up "hit car" and walkie-talkies used when the group decided to kill someone.
"They hunted their targets," Wyshak said. "These men didn't hunt animals, ladies and gentlemen, they hunted people."
In addition to the killings, Bulger is accused of numerous instances of extortion, money laundering and hoarding of guns.
Wyshak reminded the jury that witness after witness testified that Bulger was the boss, that he ran the gang and oversaw all its activities.
"It's humorous to have them stand up here and say these crimes were committed by Weeks, Flemmi and Martorano, not by Bulger, that he was just thrown in," Wyshak said.
Prosecution witnesses and Bulger's own lawyers said that Bulger gave payoffs to a half-dozen FBI agents, at least one state trooper and Boston police officers to get information on search warrants, wiretaps and investigations so he could stay one step ahead of indictments.
But Wyshak suggested that Bulger's lawyers were trying to divert attention away from Bulger by focusing on FBI corruption. Wyshak noted that Carney, in his closing argument, never said his client was not guilty.
During the trial, Bulger's lawyers spent much of their time disputing allegations he was a "rat" who informed on the rival Italian mob and people in his own gang.
In addition, the defense tried to counter allegations Bulger strangled women — something he also apparently considered a violation of his underworld code of honor.
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Emanuel Augustus Highlights "The Drunken Master" (Most Entertaining Pro Boxer?) [Comedy]
Emanuel Augustus fight footage. Courtesy of Sin City Sports & Entertainment
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Oct. 7, 2011
BOSTON, Mass. – With a strong effort on both sides of the net, the 17th ranked Beacons (16-2) notched their fourth straight 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-11) decision as they defeated RIT (10-13) as part of the 2011 Beacons Invitational Friday evening in the Clark Athletic Center.
Friday's meeting was only the second-time that the two teams have shared the same hardwood. In their first meeting it was the Tigers that earned the 3-0 decision.
For UMass Shannon Thompson (Moorpark, CA) and Corrine Porter (Huntington Beach, CA) fueled the Beacons offense with a combined 26 kills respectively. Setter Cassy Hanneman totaled 38 assists on 70 attempts (.543) and also had a pair of aces as well.
Hanneman, Porter, and Kayla Wilson (San Jose, CA) each recorded 10 digs in the win. Thompson and Kirsten Morrison (North Reading, MA) both had one solo block, while Molly Rattigan (Dartmouth, MA) came-up with a pair of block-assists.
For the Tigers, Kyra Wilson-Houck totaled a team-high seven kills on 20 attempts (.350). Rebecca Moore tallied six kills for RIT. Bethany Davis totaled 12 digs in the match, and Christina Worth had nine assists.
Volleyball returns to action tomorrow when they take on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Start time of that match has been changed to 3 p.m. RIT will face Western Connecticut State University at 1:30 p.m. and the final match of the day, between Coast Guard and Western Connecticut has been moved to a 5:30 p.m. start.


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Thomas A. Ratcliffe and Paul Munter TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Abstract: Asset valuation has been discussed in the accounting and economic literature for most of the twentieth century. In the literature, discussions ranged from advocating only historical costing to the use of current value accounting ex-clusively. This paper traces the development of theoretical and pragmatic discus-sions on the topic of asset valuation.
Inflationary pressures in the developing environment of account-ing have forced accountants to begin analyzing means of reflecting the impacts of inflation on financial statements. The notion of ac-counting for the effects of inflation on financial reporting is not new. During the early years of this century, the idea of current cost accounting was being deliberated. For example, Hatfield discussed current cost accounting as far back as 1909. Further, in discussing the differences between accounting income and economic income, Canning indicated a preference for current costs as a valuation mechanism. And in 1939, MacNeal went as far as to suggest that "truth in accounting" can only be attained when financial state-ments display the current value of assets and the profits and losses resulting from changes in these asset values.
This paper represents an attempt to trace the development of theoretic and authoritative thought concerning asset valuation issues. Two tables are presented to summarize this developmental process. Table I outlines the basic asset valuation conclusions of some classic theoretical works in accounting and business. While this annotated listing is not all-inclusive, it is representative of the related substantive works of this century. Table II summarizes the asset valuation conclusions in studies performed under the auspices of authoritative organizations within accountancy.
An analysis of the development of asset valuation thought reveals the reactive nature of accounting as a discipline. Seemingly with-out regard to the theoretical works on asset valuation, authoritative bodies in the accounting profession had not, by the 1930s, made


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FREMONT — Ron Lopez will believe the NUMMI auto factory is closing only when the last Toyota rolls off the assembly line March 31, in what looms as a bitter spring for 4,700 workers at the plant.
"As long as we are still building cars in that plant, I have to think there is still hope," said Lopez, an ergonomics and truck paint shop veteran at the plant who lives in San Jose. "I always believe it's not over until it's over. But we are preparing for the worst."
Even worse, NUMMI workers must confront an additional bit of cruel fortune. Unlike other members of the United Auto Workers nationwide, the Fremont union workers have no rights to transfer to other General Motors or Toyota vehicle factories.
That's because of the status of NUMMI as a joint venture of General Motors and Toyota. NUMMI is outside the General Motors network of union plants. Toyota doesn't employ union workers, other than at NUMMI.
The UAW hopes for a transfer deal with Toyota, but it's an "uphill fight" like everything else for the workers now, said Sergio Santos, president of UAW Local 2244, which represents NUMMI's union members.
"This is one blow that's coming before the big blow when the plant closes, although the workers knew they wouldn't be part of the national agreement," Santos said.
End of an era
Amid the travails, a number of employees cling to the hope of a last-minute reprieve for the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant, due to close after a quarter-century of operation.
"A lot of other people at the plant don't have hope, but I still have hope," said Maricela Alvarez, a Ceres resident and quality control worker at NUMMI. "There is still hope until we come in one day and the doors are shut."
Nevertheless, it appears the end of the line beckons for a bold experiment in American manufacturing.
General Motors and Toyota both abandoned the factory this summer. That will force the plant's shutdown by April 1, 2010.
"I had tears in my eyes when I heard the plant was closing," said Rosemary Montiel, a NUMMI production worker and San Jose resident. "For a while, my reaction was: 'Wow, what am I going to do?' But as April gets closer and closer, it's starting to hit me harder."
The workers helped the factory become a milestone for Corporate America as the nation's first automaking joint venture. The NUMMI way was deemed cutting-edge.
General Motors hoped it could learn new tricks from Toyota and revive GM's ossified procedures. Toyota wanted a factory beachhead in America.
Now, NUMMI is an emblem of the wreckage from The Great Recession that has unleashed job cuts, foreclosures, factory shutdowns, bank failures and market meltdowns.
A series of setbacks this year coalesced into the factory's demise.
In April, General Motors announced it would terminate the Pontiac brand. In August, NUMMI halted production of the Pontiac Vibe. In July, General Motors emerged from bankruptcy and said it would exit the NUMMI venture.
At the end of August, Toyota delivered the death blow: The Japanese auto giant said it would cease making the Tacoma truck and Corolla compact car at NUMMI.
"When they told us the plant was closing, that was like a slap in the face," said Theresa Powell, a paint department worker and Pittsburg resident. "I love my job; it's a great job. I was very upset and shocked."
'It's a family'
The shutdown imperils thousands of workers. Some families will lose multiple salaries.
"My wife and I both work at the plant," said Jaime Ochoa, a Manteca resident who works in the final inspections department. "We thought our future would be in Fremont for years and years and years. This is pretty devastating. We don't know exactly what we're going to do."
Ochoa's family has a long history at the Fremont factory, which General Motors opened in 1962 and closed in 1982.
Ochoa was born and raised in Fremont and knew the factory as a youth. His father worked at the plant from 1968 to the 1982 closure. NUMMI rehired his father.
"I'm going to miss a lot of people there," said Paula Ochoa, a NUMMI stamping worker and Jaime's wife. "It's a family. We've made a lot of friends. Everybody gets along really well. I can't imagine what the final weeks will be like."
Jaime met Paula when she worked as a supplier for the factory. A few years later, she got a job at the plant.
"We're like a lot of couples who met there and wanted to spend our career there," Jaime said.
Ron Lopez and his wife, Barbara, are longtime NUMMI workers. The good wages helped the Lopezes build a comfortable life together.
"Barbara and I have a house in San Jose, in the hills near Mount Hamilton," Ron said. "We love our home. If we lose our jobs, we have to sell. We can't make that note."
The Lopezes are far from the only NUMMI employees being hammered by the multiple blows of job loss, foreclosure threats and a lack of transfer rights.
"People are losing their homes, their cars. They will lose a lot of things," Powell said. "You are used to working a well-paying job. You think you have job security. Then you wake up and there's nothing."
Looking to future
Workers have begun to ponder life after NUMMI.
"I will be taking retraining," said Powell, the paint department worker from Pittsburg. "We have a union hall that will be converted into a training facility. I will take classes and enroll in community college."
Montiel, the production worker from San Jose, has taken in younger relatives who were wards of the court and helped raise them. Montiel's interest in children is spurring her to take law classes that specialize in probation skills so she can work with teenage children.
"I want to see if there are programs to help establish teenage kids in life so they can move forward," Montiel said. "I may also take up music as a hobby, writing music, playing the piano like I used to do."
Local groups offer some help.
"NUMMI has asked us to work with Ohlone College to provide curriculum about job changes," said Dorothy Chen, executive director of the Alameda County Workforce Investment Board.
"We are setting up a career center, a transition center, for the workers," said Leta Stagnaro, an Ohlone College associate vice president.
The work force board is also arranging for stress counseling.
"We just can't imagine NUMMI being closed. It was so much of our life," Paula Ochoa said. "But there was a life before NUMMI and there will be a life after NUMMI. We'll do it."
Paula will fall back on her experience as a day care provider. Jaime's future work plans are more hazy.
The Lopezes may sell their dream home in the San Jose hills and use the proceeds to pay cash for a house in a less expensive location.
"Financially it's going to be challenging," Lopez said. "But the world is not going to come to an end."
Some workers were bitter about being shoved out the door after they expended so much effort on building vehicles for General Motors and Toyota.
"We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it," Jaime Ochoa said. "To repay us by shutting it down is pretty terrible."
He then quickly recounted the benefits of working at NUMMI.
"It's very frustrating and you want to curse them out," Jaime Ochoa said. "But we were blessed with 17 years and 14 years of employment. We can't get too upset. We got a house. We had vacations."
Despite the mixed emotions, a common attitude emerged: The workers believe they helped improve the way America makes cars.
"This car I'm making is my car and I'm going to buy this car," Montiel said. "And if it's not good enough for me, it's not good enough for my customers. We built these vehicles as if they were ours."
Reach George Avalos at 925-977-8477.


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Nearby Olathe, Kan., joins Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., as the third city to get Google's gigabit fiber network.
Less than 25 miles southwest of Kansas City, Olathe, Kan., will welcome Google's ultra-fast fiber network to its community. As reported by ArsTechnica, the City Council approved an agreement with Google at its meeting March 19. With a population of more than 125,000, Olathe is the fifth most populous city in the state.
Said to be 100 times faster than commercially available Internet service, Google will build out its gigabit network in Olathe based on the demand model employed in nearby Kansas City, the first metropolitan area to enter into this kind of partnership with the Internet giant. Individual neighborhoods will be able to pre-register their interest in Google fiber, and those areas, or "fiberhoods," meeting certain signup thresholds will receive priority when it comes time to build the network.
"Technology has influenced the way we live and work in Olathe," said Mayor Michael Copeland in a statement. "Tonight's announcement is about our future and the endless possibilities for Olathe students, businesses and entrepreneurs who will no doubt leverage this technology and connectivity to achieve things that are truly innovative and transformational."
Rachel Hack, community manager for Google Fiber, reported via a company blog post March 19 that a schedule for pre-registration and construction in Olathe is not yet available. Hack did mention that there will likely be additional communities in Kansas making similar announcements in the future.
"Hopefully, this is the first of several announcements that we'll be able to make about bringing Google Fiber to additional cities in the KC metro area; so stay tuned," Hack wrote.


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Top Kanosh Legal Malpractice Lawyers - Utah
The Personal Injury Law Firm of Larson Law is dedicated to the excellent representation of our clients from both our attorne ys and staff. We practice exclusively in the area of representing people who have been injured through another's negligence....
Scalley Reading Bates Hansen & Rasmussen, P.C.
Legal Malpractice Lawyers Serving Kanosh, UT (Salt Lake City)


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Grace Becker necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 15 diseños de 8 diseñadores freelance.
Dough Raising Mom tagline: Face it, you knead the dough!
I help stay at home moms who need to earn extra income. I have developed
proven, time tested way for moms to help groups needing to do fund
raising, while earning money for themselves. It is a business that gives moms all the flexibility they want both with their time and the amount of money they want to make. I connect with stay at home and work at home moms. The website is http://www.doughraisingmom.com. We will be hosting instructional videos on baking, commentary on parenting, homemaking, business ownership and developing a professional attitude on the career of motherhood. I am a mom of twelve children, and have used this system to help groups earn tens of thousands of dollars. Now I will teach others to be able to do the samel
Stay at home moms age 20-40, women over age 20 who have interest in starting their own business. These are women who are motivated, not afraid of hard work, but are searching for a work at home business that is not a scam, and they need a trusted partner to help them. We want our site to be a place that they can enjoy and have fun, as well as to feel comfortable.
I need a logo that coordinates with the website, or at least looks cool with it.
The logo should appeal to moms & women in general with a homey feel to it.
In addition to the logo, I need an ebook cover design for an ebook I wrote on "How to Put a Licensed Commercial Kitchen in Your Home". I would like the logo integrated in the ebook design. I can provide the documents first page or you can simply design one to replace it.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Thread: Anutter noob here ...
Results 41 to 45 of 45
Those painkillers are horrible. Hopefully the doc Wednesday can change them to something less potent.
Would have been doing super if it wasn't for one really negligent physical therapist at the place where I stayed a week after the surgery. He didn't bother to see what I had done and treated me for a hip replacement instead of the knee replacement. He set me back 30 degrees in the flexion. If anyone has had knee problems, I was already at 91 degrees a week after the surgery. After this moron worked on me, I was down to a pathetic 61 degrees a few days later. I cut my stay there short a week and went home and had home health PT. The home health guy was good and got me back to 98 degrees, but I need 110 degrees to be functional, 120 degrees to be normal. I have a long, painful road ahead of me.
There's a special place for people who don't bother to read records and who do therapy without having a clue about what the problem is or even who the patient is. I commented and he went back to get my files, after he had hurt me very badly. He came back with another wrong name. I've been trying to work my way through this, very upset with this unnecessary setback.
" To the world you are just one more person, but to a rescued pet, you are the world."
"A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!"
Stay away from doctors, hon. More people die in hospitals than anywhere else.
rm -rf obama*
11-25-2011, 03:24 PM--Odysseus
Sic Hacer Pace, Para Bellum.
Before you can do things for people, you must be the kind of man who can get things done. But to get things done, you must love the doing, not the people!
" To the world you are just one more person, but to a rescued pet, you are the world."
"A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!"
|« Previous Thread | Next Thread »


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Facebook is offering free Wi-Fi in exchange for checking in at a business, but doesn't that mean users are giving away a lot of their data for a wireless connection?
The Wi-Fi is given when users check into a business, click an opt-out link and are granted wireless internet access, according to Wired. The idea came from a Facebook hackathon and first started as a small experiment in and around its Menlo Park headquarters. Apparently the free Wi-Fi is now in San Francisco and Palo Alto.
The new service is rumored to be unveiled at a special June 20 event. Facebook sent around press invitations with a coffee stain circle, which said: "A small team has been working on a big idea. Join us for coffee and learn about a new product."
Whether it's this project or not, the debate shouldn't be about if we should get free Wi-Fi, but that Facebook already is harvesting massive amounts of information on its users. So why would users want to give them more?
It's been a process for Facebook to gain more information for advertisers. It started Facebook Home, an Android skin, which is capable of logging a user's every digital move online. It has been quietly harvesting loyalty card information, grocery store receipts and data from other retailers on its users to sell to advertisers. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has even been sharing more on his Facebook page, as if to encourage users to be more forthcoming.
It's likely many will cave to free Wi-Fi and systematically update Facebook on their whereabouts. Expect the social network to log, bundle and sell that information.


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This year the Chinese New Year 2017 is on Saturday, January 28th, and the Spring Festival is celebrated from January 27th to February 2nd.
It's Your Year Roosters!
2017 is a year of the Rooster according to the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle. Other Rooster years include: …1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017… If you were born then, you're a Rooster!
Hundreds of millions of people across China have been celebrating the arrival of the New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival – the literal translation of the modern Chinese name. People from all over the world travel to China to celebrate, and it's considered the largest annual migration on a global scale. It's celebrated at the turn of the Chinese calendar, and is the longest festival of the year. It traditionally runs from Chinese New Year's Eve on the last day of the last month of the Chinese calendar to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month. The first day of the New Year falls between January 21 and February 20.
Regional customs for the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary. Usually, it's a time for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also tradition for every family to thoroughly clean the house in order to sweep away ill-fortune and make way for good luck in the coming year. Homes are decorated in red with themes representing "wealth" and "longevity". There are fireworks, dragons, lion dances, money given away in red envelopes and more!
Read more about the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rooster at the link: http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/special-report/chinese-new-year/
To learn more about the Dos and Taboos for different cultures, and the communication styles of Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East – order Gayle Cotton's bestselling book 'SAY Anything to Anyone, Anywhere! 5 Keys to Successful Cross-Cultural Communication' available on Amazon as a Book, eBook, or Audio Book
Create Rapport and Organize Strategies for Success
The CROSS of Cross-Cultural
Go to the Circles Of Excellence Blog to read about the global impact of the Chinese New Year as millions travel to China from around the world!
Circles Of Excellence Blog: www.circlesofexcellence.com/blog
Emmy Award Winner, Gayle Cotton, is the author of this blog and of the bestselling cross-cultural communication book 'SAY Anything to Anyone, Anywhere! 5 Keys to Successful Cross-Cultural Communication', which is available on Amazon as a Book, eBook, or Audio Book. She is President of Circles Of Excellence Inc. and a Professional Keynote Speaker. Contact Gayle if you need professional speakers for events, speakers on cultural diversity, conference speakers for events, or professional keynote speakers that specialize in cross-cultural communication training and cross-cultural training programs. She is a leader in the field of professional public speakers, professional motivational speakers, and international keynote speakers, She is among the best of female keynote speakers and women motivational speakers, and is a 'first choice' request for international audiences!
Circles Of Excellence provides Corporate Training, Executive Coaching, and Professional Keynote Speakers for companies of all sizes and in all industries, including over 50 Fortune 500 companies. Contact us about our customized programs for Communication Skills, Cross-Cultural Communications, Customer Service, Diversity, Leadership & Management, Presentation Skills, Sales & Negotiations, Stress Management, Team Building, and Time Management.
Gayle's Website: www.gaylecotton.com
Gayle's Blog: www.gaylecotton.com/blog
Gayle's Bestselling Book: SAY Anything to Anyone Anywhere!
Gayle's Newsroom: Media Interviews
Gayle's DVD: Speaker preview for Gayle Cotton
Circles Of Excellence Website: www.circlesofexcellence.com
Circles Of Excellence Blog: www.circlesofexcellence.com/blog
Tags: 5 Keys to successful cross-cultural communication, celebrate the Chinese new year, celebrate the year of the rooster, Chinese new year, circles of excellence, circles of excellence for corporate education, circlesofexcellence.com, communication styles of asia pacific, conference speakers, conference speakers for events, cross cultural communication book, cross cultural communication books, cross cultural communication training, cross cultural communications, cross cultural speaker, cross cultural training programs, cross-cultural communication, dos and taboos for different cultures, female keynote speakers, gayle cotton, gaylecotton.com, happy Chinese new year, intercultural communication, international keynote speakers, professional keynote speaker, professional keynote speakers, professional motivational speakers, professional public speakers, professional speakers for events, say anything to anyone anywhere, sayanythingtoanyoneanywhere.com, speakers for events, speakers on cultural diversity, women motivational speakers, year of the rooster


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Spent the better part of the day working on the Chester McGlockton obituary for the paper. Thanks for your patience and understanding, and may God bless McGlockton, his wife Zina and two daughters.
With that said, here are some tidbits from today's proceedings, the first full practice for the Raiders in preparation for their game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Kicker Sebastian Janikowski is back on the injury report, joining the list of usual occupants. Coach Hue Jackson doesn't seem too concerned about Janikowski's left hamstring.
Why should he? Janikowski is fresh from a game in which he set a franchise record by converting all six of his field-goal attempts against the Chicago Bears in a 25-20 victory and being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
"Maybe he kicked too many field goals," Jackson said. "You never know. He did an excellent job. Hopefully we'll get him back out here soon. He'll be fine. I told you, I'm always going to be cautious with these players. We got some big games down the stretch here."
Add wide receiver Denarius Moore and defensive end Jarvis Moss to the long list of players who missed practice but weren't mentioned in an earlier post.
Moore was in full uniform at practice this morning. However, he was deemed not healthy enough to participate, Jackson said. Moss still is recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered against the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 20.
For the record, it's an ankle that is botherin Moore and not his foot, as Jackson initially reported. Hey, cut Jackson some slack trying to keep track of all the injuries and their corresponding body parts.
Moore said he was on the field Wednesday on a fact-finding misson.
"It was just to really see where I was standing at, as far as this week," Moore said. "And so we're still taking it day by day, see how it's going to go."
T.J. Houshmandzadeh fielded punts in Moore's absence.
Curious what it was like in the Raiders locker room after they beat the Bears? Here's a snippet from Jackson singlin out Janikowski and Shane Lechler for their heroics.
Jackson: "We all know they're the highest-paid kickers in football, But listen to me, listen to me. Truth be told, guys, here's the deal: the last time this place was 7-4, these two men were here (Janikowski says under his breath, "That's a long time)." These two men were here and these two guys, today, helped this team get to where (it) needed to be."
Lechler: "It's a good deal to be 7-4. Everybody's happy, but guess what — we've got a lot of football to play, men. We've got a whole lot of football to play. Some tough games coming up. Let's keep on the grind. I'm telling you, we've got keep on the grind. If you want to keep this feeling, keep grinding…"
Quarterback Carson Palmer said he can't recall a punter being asked to address the team after a victory. Then again, he added, Lechler is unlike any other punter in the league.
"No, there might not be another one in the league," Palmer said. "He's definitely the best punter in the league, but as far as a teammate, a leader, a veteran, a professional, he does everything right. He says the right things. He doesn't act like a kicker. I wouldn't put him in that mold. He is just a great teammate."
Veteran defensive tackle Richard Seymour played for a New England Patriots team that held kicker Adam Vinatieri in high regard.
Seymour said he and his Raiders teammates feel the same way toward Lechler and Janikowski, in large part because they walk the walk.
"Well, obviously, with him being the best punter in the league, that helps," Seymour said. "Guys listen to guys who get it done. And he's a combination of both, where he's a veteran leader and also he's a great player."
Palmer wasn't even with the Raiders when their five-game scoring drought in the fourth quarter started. Yet, he was just as aware of the the ignominious streak.
"I was definitely aware of it," Palmer said of a streak that ended when running back Michael Bush scored a 3-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter against the Bears. "Especially in that game, we needed that score. But we need more, and we need to find ways to generate more points in the red zone, but also just in the fourth quarter in general.
"At this point in the year, especially with some of the games we have coming up, we have to generate more points in the second half."
Cornerback Chris Johnson showed progress by returning to practice last week and being active against the Bears. However, he failed to set foot on the field once the game started.
"He just wanted me to put the pads back on, just in case," Johnson said of coach Jackson. "I was the emergency guy last week. I just went along with what coach wanted me to do."
This week?
"I'm getting back in the mix this week," Johnson said.
None of the Raiders seven victories has been by more than 10 points and the difference in those games is only 43 points.
Jackson said the short-term pain of battling through so many tension-filled games will benefit the Raiders in the long run.
"It's very important because, as you go down the stretch here these games are going to be close, going to be tough," Jackson said. "We all wish we had those blowouts where you're sitting in the fourth quarter smiling. But that's not the way it is in the NFL. Hopefully we'll have one here soon at some point in time."
The other benefit is that close games are the kind of affairs that build confidence and character. Jackson said. Maybe so, he added, but it still would be nice to be a part of a laugher.
"Nothing is going to be given to us," Jackson said. "We understand that. We know it's going to be tough. This team kind of likes it that way. I don't like it that way. They're OK with it as long as it (leads to) wins and wins."
Bush has averaged 28 carries the past three games as he absorbs the workload in Darren McFadden's absence. You would be hard pressed to know Bush has been used so much, though.
"He's been awesome," Jackson said. "I've been around guys that carry the ball like that and then they come to Wednesday practice and they can't move. Regardless of whether you gave them victory Monday off or not, because physically, it's tough. He hasn't batted an eye."
Follow me on Twitter: @corkonthenfl


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As if anyone needed confirmation about how Oprah Winfrey feels about Kitty Kelley's recently released biography about her, the talk show queen confirmed her displeasure Monday night at The New York Women in Communications Matrix Awards.
Winfrey was at the event to present pal – and rumored paramour – Gayle King with an award, according to People.com.
During the presentation Winfrey said the "so called biography" caused King quite a bit of grief because King "sometimes cares about my life more than I do."
"Gayle got herself worked out with all my new daddies coming out," Winfrey said, referring to a passage in the book that suggest Vernon Winfrey is not her biological father.
Winfrey told the audience at the event despite the book's popularity that "this too shall pass."


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And it's only one of several entrepreneurial efforts to make some green while people still feel HOPE. I also love the model we found of BHO's 757, a.k.a. Hope Force 1. And so does America.
These were custom made by the exhibitor for QVC, where they apparently sold out all 2500 of the limited edition for $199 apiece in 30 minutes, according to the dude in the booth.
Change, get it? CHAAAAANGE! With the financial crisis, this also takes on an added layer of irony.
And this was probably my favorite Barack toy: The Obama Mania Game! You use Obamabucks to navigate the campaign trail, where you can land on spaces like "Gov. Palin Proves a Liability to Her Party: GO SIX SPACES AHEAD!"
The Obama merch machine, clearly, shows no sign of stopping. [Toy Fair 2009]


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The Springheel Saga began several years ago, with the three-part series, 'The Strange Case of Springheel'd Jack'. Written by Robert Valentine and Gareth Parker, it was an exciting romp through Victorian London, combining action, humour, and penny-dreadful horror with genuine factual elements of the Springheel'd Jack mystery. The series was a complete success, enough so that old Jack has reared his fiendish head once again with a brand new series, under the banner of 'The Legend of Springheel'd Jack'....
Rather wisely, 'The Legend of Springheel'd Jack's opening episode, grandly titled 'The Terror of London', picks up seven years after the original series ended. The legend of Jack has taken England by storm, and there are accounts of his sightings all over the country. He is less a figure of out-and-out terror now, and more an interesting mystery, being depicted on stage as an icon of curiosity; in penny-dreadful horror stories; and even Punch and Judy shows! By having this gap of seven years, writers Parker and Valentine have been able to, if you will, recreate the legacy of Springheel'd Jack, reaffirming who he is, and reintroducing us to Jonah Smith, and his obsessive quest to seek out Jack. This helps to draw in new listeners who may not have had the chance to hear series one, but also to present long-term fans with a different slant to the story. It works magnificently.
'The Terror of London' begins with James M. Rymer, played with chirpy enthusiasm by John-Holden White, regailing us with his encounter of Jack. In a stroke of utter genius, Rymer just happens to be the real-life author of the classic horror stories 'Varney the Vampire' and 'Sweeney Todd'. Rymer was also a journalist, and so his love of horror, and journalistic curiosity, are used to drag the listener into the murky depths of the Victorian underworld. With Rymer as our guide through this new chapter of the Jack saga, the writers have fully embraced all the elements of the classic Victorian horror story, in a shameless love-letter to the long-distant past.
Parker and Valentine truly go to town with Rymer's narration, such glorious phrases as, "That filthy Venice of drains" and "...black blood through a diseased heart" painting a truly ghastly scene for a midnight murder – the murder of Maria Davis, in fact. Said to be Springheel'd Jack's only fatality, Maria's death kicks open the story proper, and with it, a spiralling web of intrigue and mystery, that 'The Terror of London' only begins to touch upon. This is a three-part series too, and you'll be left gasping for more at the end of this episode, I can assure you!
By leaving a gap of seven years, when we return to Jonah Smith, the hero of the original 'Jack' saga, we see a much darker, more solitary figure. Jonah Smith is obsessed with discovering, and capturing Springheel'd Jack, not just because he's a detective, but also due to a personal vendetta with the mysterious demon of the night. Actor Christopher Finney has taken care to retain the essence of Jonah Smith, but inflected him with a darker nature, and it works as a nice contrast to White's almost bumbling Rymer when they meet early on in the play. By pairing Smith and Rymer together a while later, we get a nice little double-act that carries the episode, and highlights the different elements of their characters. Rymer, the wide-eyed, excitable journalist experiencing everything for the first time; Smith, the brooding, melancholy investigator who's seen it all before.
However, Jonah's fire is truly reignited by the return of Charlotte Fitzrandolph, portrayed magnificently by Jessica Dennis. Charlotte turns up out completely out of the blue, with a huge clue as to where Springheel'd Jack might be hiding, and a reason as to why he might have been seen all over the country. This pushes the story into a very specific direction, as Jonah goes hunting for Jack, and ends up bumping once again into Rymer. It's Rymer, more than anybody else, who helps Jonah Smith to look inside himself, as much as Jonah himself might not like to admit it, and it's Rymer who starts to pull the old Jonah back into being. It doesn't last...
'The Legend of Springheel'd Jack' is all about the legacy of old Jack, and hearing him represented as the villain in Punch & Judy is both amusing and slightly unnerving. As listeners, we know that he is out there still, and beneath all the humour throughout this episode, there is a deadly undercurrent of something sinister lurking behind the laughter. But where does the darkness hide? Who is Elijah P. Hopcraft, Andrew Shepard's mysterious Punch & Judy man? Is there more to the magician Cuthbert Leach, played by the underrated and utterly charming Nicholas Parsons, and his fiery assistant Lizzie (Josephine Timmins)? The beautifully constructed script unfolds at its own pace, and the unpredictability in which it does so means that that something unexpected is always around the corner.
This is never truer than in the final ten minutes of the piece, which ramp up the tension until the final shocking moments, which completely change the direction of the series. Whether you've already heard the first series, or are a newcomer to the 'Springheel Saga', there is no denying that 'The Terror of London' packs an almighty punch right at the very end, with the mother of all cliffhangers!
Witty, funny, and immensely enjoyable, 'The Terror of London' is a perfect opener to a brand new series of adventures for Jonah Smith. Embracing all the facets of the Victorian age, from penny-dreadful writers to Punch & Judy shows, as well as combining the fact and fiction of Springheel'd Jacks' exploits, this is a must for anyone with a thirst for 19th century intrigue. With a perfect script, excellent performances, and glorious sound design, alongside a superb musical score, 'The Terror of London' is an all-out success. Not to be missed!
Follow the exploits of Springheel'd Jack:
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/TheSpringheelSaga
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/springheelWTC
AVAILABLE FROM: www.wirelesstheatre.co.uk