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Raiders break camp after 4 weeks in Napa
After four weeks of training camp in wine country, the Oakland Raiders have packed up and headed home with hopes that their work here will translate to the playing field when the season starts Sept. 8.
The Raiders held their final practice in Napa on Wednesday before moving back to their full-time headquarters in Alameda. They play their third exhibition game on Friday night against the Chicago Bears.
Coach Dennis Allen said he thought it was a successful camp that allowed him to evaluate the players he wants to keep for the regular season.
The Raiders endured a few injuries in the past month, with the most significant being a torn left triceps that is expected to sideline left tackle Jared Veldheer for at least half the season.
But despite that blow, the Raiders are leaving Napa with confidence.
''We're a different team now than we were at the start of camp on Day 1,'' quarterback Matt Flynn said. ''We've made a lot of improvements, gotten used to each other, we've developed a lot of chemistry and I learned that there's a big passion for the game from everyone, from the top to the bottom. I like this team, and I like the work ethic and I have big expectations for us.''
The Raiders got a little boost when second-round offensive tackle Menelik Watson went through his first complete practice in training camp. Watson had missed virtually all of camp because of a calf injury and is needed now more than ever with Veldheer out.
Watson first injured the calf in July and opened camp on the non-football injury list. He was cleared to practice on Aug. 7, but lasted less than 30 minutes before re-injuring the calf. That sidelined him for two more weeks, cutting short valuable learning time for Watson.
''It's been a long process,'' Watson said. ''It took longer than I thought but it was good to get out there and get a couple of reps. It's been good though. I've been able to get into the playbook, get my head around that. Confident in all that stuff now. Just have to put a couple of days together and keep building on that.''
Watson said it will take a few days to get back up to speed and he is expected to get significant playing time in the exhibition finale against Seattle on Aug. 29.
The Raiders drafted Watson in the second round in April knowing he was a bit raw having played just two years of football. A former basketball player from England, Watson played one year in junior college and one year at Florida State before being drafted.
He was supposed to challenge Khalif Barnes for the starting right tackle job but now might be needed on the more important left side with Veldheer injured.
Alex Barron, who has not played in the NFL the past two years, has replaced Veldheer but the Raiders are still figuring out who the starting five will be when the season starts.
''Every day we get a little closer to being able to sort it out,'' Allen said. ''It's like having a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle and you're trying to fit those pieces together, and the longer you work at it, the longer you look at it, the easier it is to put those pieces into place. I think we're getting closer to figuring that out and I think the offensive line has responded positively.''
Veldheer is a candidate to be placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, which would require him to miss at least the first eight weeks. The Raiders can place Veldheer on that list starting Sept. 3. He would be required to sit for six weeks and then could practice for two more before being eligible to be activated in time for the team's eighth game on Nov. 3 against Philadelphia.
He said he hurt the arm in a pass protection drill and tried to play through the injury before deciding to have surgery. So now instead of protecting Flynn's blindside, Veldheer can only watch for the next few months.
''The guys are working hard and I have great faith in that unit and trust in that unit,'' he said. ''Those guys are going to do awesome. I wish I could be out there with them but, like I said, I got to get this thing better.''
NOTES: QB Terrelle Pryor switched jersey numbers from No. 6 to the No. 2 he wore in college at Ohio State. Pryor wasn't allowed to wear No. 2 when he arrived in Oakland in August 2011 by then-coach Hue Jackson as the Raiders didn't want to draw any comparisons to bust JaMarcus Russell. ''I did a double-take, though,'' said Flynn, who played with Russell at LSU. ''His jersey was a little big for him.'' ... RB Latavius Murray had arthroscopic surgery on his injured ankle this week.
AP NFL Website: www.pro32.ap.org


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There are many high-profile families whose names we are all quite familiar with, from the Clintons to the Kardashians. But there's another family flying a bit below the radar that you have probably been enjoying for many years without giving much thought to their sweet and sour stronghold on the candy corner. Yes, they have been earning devoted fans and followers, making enough fuss to get noticed, but keeping things scandal-free to avoid the paparazzi. What is this fiercely powerful family, you ask? The Sour Patch family of treats, of course!
We don't hear too much about the Sour Patch parents, but those Sour Patch Kids are quite popular! Yet, while they may be the stars of the sour show, they alone do not run the Sour Patch family. Here's a few other power players in the Patch…
Sour Patch Blue Raspberry: There's nothing these bumpy, berry-flavored candies love more than a good party! If anyone is going to get the Sour Patch family on the cover of the tabloids, it's probably Blue Raspberries. But they aren't too concerned about this wild child, because just like all the others, they're as sweet as they are sour.
Sour Patch Watermelons: If the 'Kids' were kept out of the competition, these would be the strongest contender for 'Most Popular'. Wedge-shaped watermelon-flavored wonderfuls, they're my personal Sour Patch top pick.
Sour Patch Cherries: These 'pop 'em in your mouth' sour cherry gummies are as tasty as cherry candy gets, with a fresh, fruity flavor that lasts from sour beginning to oh-so-sweet finish. Even people who aren't big fans of cherry candy keep coming back for these, as their flavor isn't overpowering in the least.
Sour Patch Fruit Salad: These are the crowd-pleaser of the Sour Patch family, with a little something for everyone! Flavors include orange, cherry, lemon, lime, watermelon and grape. Eat two at a time for fun flavor combos, or let each shine on its own. There's no wrong way to eat this marvelous mix!

subset: commoncrawl


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Chicago travel, Chicago tourism, Chicago, things to see, things to do, Illinois, travel, tourism, family fun, outings, stock photography, stock photos, travel photos, travel photography, photos, photography, photographer, Chicago skyline, skyline of Chicago, recent photo Chicago skyline, card, quote, pano


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March 15th, 2013
Country hitmaker Jack Greene dies
Country singer Jack Greene, whose hits include "There Goes My Everything," has died from complications related to Alzheimer's disease. He was 83.
According to a statement, Greene died in his sleep at his home in Nashville on Thursday.
A native of Maryville, Tennessee, Greene started out in the industry at 17 with jobs in radio. By 1964, he'd recorded and released his first solo single, "The Last Letter." His first Top 40 hit, "Ever Since My Baby Went Away," followed in 1966.
That year was kind to Greene, as it also boasted his No. 1 cut "There Goes My Everything," which stayed atop the country chart for seven weeks. The album bearing the same title cruised at No. 1 on the chart for an entire year, the statement says.
In 1967, the same year he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Greene was a big winner at the first Country Music Association Awards. He picked up honors for the Album, Song and Single of the Year with "There Goes My Everything," which also won him the title of Male Vocalist of the Year.
Greene's most recent album was a 2010 compilation of duets called "Precious Memories, Treasured Friends."
The crooner's fellow Opry member Blake Shelton recalled performing with Greene at the music institution.
"Very sad to hear about the passing of Jack Green," Shelton wrote on Twitter. "He and I performed his song 'Statue of a Fool' at the Opry years ago.. True hero."
Added singer Gene Watson, "So sorry to hear that country music legend Jack Greene has died. He was a great singer, and an even better friend."
Details regarding funeral arrangements are still to come.
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Transcript: Emergency radio communications from Pa. school stabbing
The following is a transcript of emergency radio communications after a stabbing at Franklin Regional High School on April 9, 2014.
7:09 a.m.
"I don't know what I've got going on down at the school here, but I need some units here ASAP."
"Alright, we're getting a call reporting one individual has a knife."
"230 and additional units, the actor with the knife is in room 213."
"Alright, correction on that. There is a victim down in room 115."
7:10 a.m.
"Murrysville units, the actor is (suspect's name removed). They're not sure of his location right now."
7:11 a.m.
"Station 610 bravo response, Franklin Regional High School, multiple stab victims."
"Station 610, sir, we're trying to see three stab victims, there is bleeding."
"10-4, we're still obtaining additional information. We're not sure how many people are involved at this time."
7:13 a.m.
"Hey, 14, a description on that actor, I'd appreciate it, maybe a vehicle he drives if he has one."
7:14 a.m.
"I was just going to recommend that also. Police are advising scene's not secure. They do have multiple victims, 225's unavailable. Do you want 952?"
7:15 a.m.
"Chief, location and description on the actor?"
"I'm at the front door, to the first hallway on the right, halfway down. I've got multiple victims here. We need ambulances here as soon as possible."
"Be advised the suspect is in custody, only one suspect."
"About, about 14 patients right now."
"I need ambulances around the side."
7:16 a.m.
"One stab wound to the back, one to the arm."
"Make that three ambulances, another stab wound to the back."
"OK, be advised, inside the school we have multiple stab victims, OK? So just bring in EMS from wherever you can get 'em. Get us some local officers here also and, again, the suspect is in custody, but we need some help here."
"Also, police are requesting EMS into the scene, actor is in custody, still don't have an exact count on victims at this time."
7:17 a.m.
"OK, 187, we have multiple stab victims inside the school and outside the school. The actor is in custody, but can you go to the rear of the senior high school and assist in any way you can? We have victims all over the grounds."
7:18 a.m.
"Can you have Monroeville set up the exterior perimeter? School Road and Old William Penn Highway to try and prevent anyone from coming onto the grounds, parents, etc?"
"01, when you can, if you can give me an accurate patient count, I have a whole bunch of ambulances coming. I just need to get a count, so I know if we have enough."
"27 heads, 3 are on the side of the building, above the stadium, two to the back, one to the right."
"10-4, I have your units coming to you, 27."
7:19 a.m.
"OK, county, as far as I know, we have several inside the building, uh victims, and I believe we have several outside also. I'm helping a victim it's hard to get a count right now."
"OK, if you could just help us with, you know, crowd or parent control somehow. I know it's going to be difficult, but we don't want anybody getting in toward the building here, so just help out with traffic any way you can."
"OK, thank you, just so all you guys know, the actor is in custody. We have him secured, but we have victims everywhere and we need a little crowd control, probably on the outside."
7:20 a.m.
"If you see any medical unit, we need medical assistance in room 113, quickly."
7:21 a.m.
"All four helicopters in the air. Uh, I believe we can land them in a field here."
7:23 a.m.
"I got two that are going to be flown out at the nurse's office."
"Move all the injured to the main lobby, we'll start to transport from there."
"County, can you also notify Presby, Mercy, Allegheny General and Forbes. We're probably going to be floating patients up."
7:29 a.m.
"I have a victim in room 108, stomach wound, needs tended to."
7:30 a.m.
"I don't know if you have contact with any of the medics out there, but we need someone with a stretcher to room 114, ASAP."
"OK, I'll see what I can do."
"Still doing searches now."
7:31 a.m.
"I say we're at the east side of the building. I also just had another medic show up. Where do you need that medic response here, chief?"
"Room 114, ASAP."
7:33 a.m.
"OK, all the facilities were notified. Forbes can take 3-5 level one, as many walking wounded. East can take the walking wounded. I have Children's, Presby, Mercy, AGH and West Penn all on alert."


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Harrisburg, Pa.—Oct. 12
Tori Colvin, Tori Colvin, Tori Colvin. I know it seems like all we do is write about Tori Colvin. Is she really that good?
Yes, yes she is.
As we began our interview on Friday, Colvin was on a quest to find a towel. Her hands were full of pulverized apple, thanks to Inclusive's antics during the awards ceremonies, and she wanted to clean off her gloves. Champions were gifted with bags full of apples, and Inclusive, who topped the large junior, 15 and under, section, had sussed out the situation right away, mobbing Colvin for some. Ovation had done the same when collecting his own championship, in the small junior, 15 and under, division.
Colvin was happy to oblige. You see, if you watch Colvin ride or read all about her in the Chronicle, you might get the impression that she's a little bit of a winning robot. She turns in flawless round after flawless round, making it all look so easy. A reserved girl, she's not prone to huge smiles or celebrations in public. But you know what? She loves the horses she rides as much as any teenager. She spends time with them, listens to them, and is happy to get her gloves sopping wet feeding them apples.
She's not just a freakishly talented rider; she's also a soft-hearted animal lover. In fact, her goal is to someday open an animal rescue, like Danny and Ron's Rescue.
Colvin's empathy for her horses is part of what makes them want to perform for her. Not everything goes right for her all the time. On the first day of the junior hunter classes, Colvin cantered from fence 1 to fence 2 on Way Cool, who was the large junior hunter, 15 and under, champion here last year. As they turned to the oxer, Way Cool balked and spun, being quite naughty. Colvin didn't lose her cool.
She quietly patted Way Cool on the neck, eased him back into a canter, and made a sweeping, wide turn to the jump again. Way Cool dig in his toes again on the turn. Did Colvin lose her temper? Hit him, or dig her spurs in? No, she didn't. She just subtly urged him forward and tried again. This time, Way Cool cantered out of the turn without incident and went on to finish the course beautifully. He came right back and won the handy class an hour later.
"That's just him. He's kind of quirky. There's nothing I can do about it; he just does that kind of thing sometimes," Colvin said without a hunt of frustration. She accepts that some days Way Cool might throw a wrench in the works. "I just pat him on the neck and get him confident again."
Way Cool was out of the running to defend his title, but Colvin won it anyway, on Inclusive. She wrapped up the small junior, 15 and under, and grand junior titles on Ovation, too.
Good Rides
Hasbrouck Donovan has a similar soft, fluid style to Colvin's, and she put it to good measure riding Confidential to the top of the small junior hunter, 16-17, division. They claimed two blues and a red ribbon on the way to the tricolor, and Hasbrouck also earned good ribbons on the 19-year-old Lyle.
It was in the stake class that Donovan ceded the win, to Jacob Pope on Kid Rock, who ended up in the reserve champion spot. Pope, the previously little-known rider who has rocketed to a different stratosphere in the past year, had just ridden Kid Rock for a few weeks before guiding him to the reserve title. And the whole point of showing him had been to get Pope comfortable in the ring before he makes a bid for the Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals on Oct. 14.
"It really is like a dream," Pope told me of the last 12 months. Last November, he won the USHJA Emerging Athletes National Training Session, earning him a spot at January's George Morris Horsemastership Clinic.
While riding in the clinic, he caught the eye of Kent Farrington. In 1998, Farrington himself was an unknown junior taken under the wing of trainer Andre Dignelli, and he went on to win the Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals. Farrington mentioned to Pope and Dignelli that perhaps a similar situation would work for them. So, Pope started as a working student at Dignelli's Heritage Farm.
"Andre says that [trainer] Streett Moore gave me all my basics and skills, but Andre is just giving me the horses I need to do it," Pope said. The partnership has worked, as Pope captured a convincing win in the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Final-East on Oct. 5-7.
Like A Cartoon Character
The most heated battle of the junior hunter divisions was waged in the large junior, 16-17, section. In the end, Alexandra Crown emerged with the tricolor attached to Garfield's bridle by virtue of winning the stake class.
The most difficult part of the performance might have been the awards ceremony—Garfield almost knocked Crown over looking for treats and trying to eat the flower bouquet. "He's kind of like Garfield the cat—he's orange and gets into all kinds of things!" Crown said.
She's been riding Garfield for a year and a half and felt pressure to live up to his legacy, as Garfield had two Pennsylvania National tricolors to his résumé. He won in 2009 and 2010 with former owner Samantha Schaefer. "It's nice to get it done and keep his record," Crown said.
Today was marathon day at the Pennsylvania National. Between the junior hunters, the pony hunters and the junior jumper Prix des States team competition, almost 400 trips went in the Farm Show Arena. Add in some awards ceremonies, and you've got a solid 15 consecutive hours of competition.
I'm worn out, and all I do is take pictures and do interviews. There are junior riders who rode first thing today, and came back at 9 p.m. to show in the junior jumpers. And as I was walking out of the building at 11:30 p.m., hordes of equitation horses were gathered in the schooling rings, waiting to school in the show ring. The middle of the night is the only time the ring isn't busy with classes, so that's when the equitation horses have a chance to get in there. It makes for long nights for trainers and riders!
You can find all of the Pennsylvania National coverage here. Check back tomorrow for pony hunter action, and all the news from the Randolph College/USEF Junior Jumper Individual Championship. Then on Sunday, it's the Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals!


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All McLean reproduction lights are intricately recreated from detailed patterns made from original lights from our own collection of antique European and American lights. Every light is handmade in the the tradition of years past using the same techniques and methods but with updated tools and equipment. All lights are recreated in wood, brass, copper, and/or tin, and are either updated with electrical or gas fittings for today's functional applications. Hand rubbed patina finishes insure an antique look of every light upon delivery, and these finishes will continue to age and oxidize naturally over time for an even more authentic feel.


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Added calendar pages to my PL 2012 album. As I view other scrapbooker's projects, I am inspired to incorporate inspired ideas into my own.
Project Life 2012 - Calendar pages added - Two Peas in a Bucket.
i'm a woman on a mission to get this project off and running and i'm happy to say it's off the ground sprinting to a well-documented 2012! Such a breakthrough for me since I've been documenting our lives in haphazzard ways since i began scrapbooking. My husband was even interested in knowing what I've been up to this week and what exactly is PROJECT LIFE? He thinks it's pretty cool. now THAT'S cool when your husband takes interest in your passion.
The general concept for my slight variation (and abridged version) of Project Life is to gather photos for the week and create a collage to print out on one letter-size sheet. The facing inserts will include journaling on mailing tags, featured photos in 4x6 sizes and other stuff gathered through the week. These filler pages will be generally letter-size (I have filler pages in different sizes that I've collected over the years from different vendors and places that I have no clue where they came from tbh.) I intend to use the inserts throughout my album inbetween the 12x12 pages that will feature the collaged photo page. Week 1 12x12 faces Week 2 12x12 and the smaller sized inserts inbetween will house all the other memos and journaling etc for the week, back to back. Here are more pics of Week 1 an 2. It's a work in process, but I've laid down the basic concepts so the rest is just icing on the cake. I love this project! It's so Do-able for me and I'm truly enjoying the process.
The fabulous trio... Sean,12 Jessica,14 & Chris,20
the youngest pair: Sean,12 and Dominic 6
journal entry - aug 3,2009... boys will be boys and I should know, i've got three sons... sidenote: jessica cries "why oh why am i cursed with brothers?!" i keep reminding her how being the only girl is a blessing. trust. (that's what your dad continues to say under his breath.) i digress once again. While John was cleaning out the garage, he came across some of his old protective-biking-gear (knee & arm pads, goggles etc. ) One thought led to another and he dresses Dominic from head to toe because every kid wants to be a warrior when he grows up, no? (except for jessica of course.) Sean peeks into the garage to see what everybody's up to and then one thing leads to another and soon there are two warriors ready to battle it out in our front yard. Pretty soon the fight becomes bigger than life and the two boys find their way to the park next door for the big "clash of the brothers" epic. Needless to say smiles of joy fade quickly to tears and anguish when the little warrior gets his butt kicked by his out-of-control zealous older brother. a mother's joy is never-ending.
jessica models her back-to-school outfits. no more uniforms!
Aug 31 - monday morning, drove sean to school - his first day of 7th grade! he was a little freaked out. just a little because he's not used to having a homeroom teacher and 7 periods with 7 different teachers. Big sis jessica starts IPoly tomorrow and came along for the ride to lend moral support. hmmm. jessica being nice to her brother? touching. Once we arrived she walked him to the assigned classroom postings. Sean was immediately distracted by his friend Matthew and they exchanged bro-hellos. Suddenly he became at ease and told his sis to get lost. nice... on the ride back home Jessica shows signs of un-ease. Now she's freaking out because tomorrow she begins highschool and is nervous about the unknown and the inevitable hard work that comes with college-prep schools. sigh. Her dad and I give her separate pep talks: every single 9th grader is feeling the same way. just like anything in life, all you can do is put one foot in front of the other... the bright side? today is not that day. and the other bright side? no more school uniform!! yay.
we find ourselves driving around California on a whim or on purpose. we've been doing this since we've met and will always be wandering around aimlessly until they take our driver's licenses away from us when, you know, the time comes. john, sean and chris found this spot in PV awhile back and on our way back into l.a. from Salvang we stopped to smell the proverbial roses and enjoy the pacific before sunset. A rocky cove awaited us at the bottom of this steep pathway. The descent was easy , and gorgeous scenery takes my breath away. And then... the ascension back up the steep pathway which literally takes my breath away. My thighs burned as I grunted in utter resentment towards my children who were skipping all the way up without strenuous effort. I was the last to reach the top, breathless and so-outta shape. My sensitve son Sean, 12, jogged back down a bit as I approached the top encouraging me to keep going "almost there..." he says. My cheerleader.
Perhaps it's because Jaws freaked me out in the '70's or I had a near-drowing experience as a kid. Not exactly sure what my deal is, but here's hard evidence that there is nothing you can do to change my mind....
my sister Patty, my mom and me in the middle going completely nutso
journal entry 6/21/09 sometimes i'm out of focus and toss and turn for ages before falling asleep. uncertain about my personal path, at a stand-still on where i'm going. then i pray on it and realize i may be out of focus temporarily; yet i am still me... growing into the person I was meant to be. into the person i have been all along... learning to embrace imperfection.
June 21,2009 - jounral entry, 1st day of summer. ran up and down a hill in Palos Verdes with my 6-year-old. he keeps me young... and i try to wear and tear all the energy out of him, yet always seem to fail as he has endless stores of it. and i'm the worn out one in the end. love these memories of my sweet little kid.
today is john's bday, he's 44. and he continues to remind me that i'm 7 months older than he is! pfffft, whatevah!
Went for a cliffside stroll in Palos Verdes yesterday. The sun finally pays us a visit after being awol for days. It's the first day of Summer for crying out loud! Jess wrote the most mind-blowing poem for her dad, and we gave him a bag full of cash (50 $1's to fill it to the rim.) The teens are missing from this picture... where are they?? In the car with the Ipod of course indifferent to the beautiful scenery.
MLK - no lab class tonight which affords me the opportunity to play with PS and combine traditional scrapbooking with digital overlays. I recently created an on-line photojournal of our weekend getaway to San Francisco last summer. I posted a photo slide-show and will upload scrapbooking/digital pages on a regular basis.
Products: Photoshop CS2, pattern paper background:Basic Grey
anonymous photography. that's my new focus this year. i am trying something new...the backdrop of the pacific ocean is always stunning especially when the sun hits the water just right. perfect timing is not always handed to one on a silver platter. cool.
Gorgeous weather beckens us to slip away from our home in the foothills and take in cool breezes and fresh views of the Pacific Ocean. We were in the mood for tacos at our favorite mexican place in seal beach. Dominic has proven himself to be a somewhat sane model citizen as of late in public places so our hesitation to be out and about with him has surely waned. Afterwards we took a brief stroll on the pier and our spur-of-the minute mentality prompts us to head over to the Aquarium of the Pacific in nearby Long Beach. There, Dominic slips back into "the crazies." He had a small lapse for some reason or another. We signed up for a one-year family membership on New Year's Day so it was nice to pay a spontaneous visit. California. Gotta love it.
Classes I am taking this quarter
marketing management
biology lab
web site development
hopefully i'll be able to keep up with the massive reading in Marketing... he hopes to cover 19 chapters in 10 weeks. GAH. This is an interesting twist in studying science: he also teaches at a Catholic private school. i agree with his sentiment: who's to say God is not the creator of evolution. His perfect plan is beyond our understanding. Finally, I hope to learn a thing or two in website development. REVELATION : I love creating web pages. somehow,someway my extremely bi-polar interests in business accounting, art and technology will converge on a path that reveals my true destiny. whatever happens i tell myself...keep moving forward.
I'm taking a different spin on Ali Edward's Week in the Life Project. I took various photos which portray scenes from our lives right now and grouping them by cattegory. Part of my daily routine right now is caring for our garden.... Just a simple layout that I intend to follow for each my cattegories. I am using an artist's wirebound field book to give it a very "journal" type feel.
our assignment last week: cover the viewfinder or lcd and take random pics. The point? to let go of inhibition and the internal judge within. For me this was a major challenge as I am a self-proclaimed p e r f e c t i o n i s t ... so Saturday morning I wandered around the neighborhood and shot some shrubbery hoping to get some cool "dew on leaves" or whatever... This was my submission for tonight's class critique. I loathe spiders but the dew on the web was kinda interesting. I knew it was a little "busy", but my instructor said it worked because part of it was out of focus. Doctored up by Picassa (LOVE that program!). I am lovin' this class. Joe is as sarcastic as they come and brutally honest which is a good thing if I am serious about becoming a better photographer. Side note: I am a business accounting major and yet ART is my passion and real love.... so my boss and others have asked the obvious question: why am I not studying art??? I retort: I can't afford to be a starving artist! Just for now, anyway.... SO in the meantime i'll weave it in somehow because what's the point of living right??? enjOy the jOurney...
... we arrived at Bolsa Chica some time after 6:30 i guess... and we are sheer out of luck as all of the bonfire pits were taken! of course they were! What were we thinking?? No worries. We sat in the parking lot and enjoyed the ocean breeze for half an hour. I snapped some pics of other people enjoying their bonfires in the meantime. The sun set pretty quickly. It was there just a minute ago, seriously...
Wife to John,Mother of 4,Journal-Keeper


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Last Thursday, at a middle school near Richmond High School (site of October's brutal gang rape) a 12 year old pupil was allegedly raped in a stairwell during school hours. But school officials are already disputing the account.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Portola Middle School in El Cerrito cornered and raped a 12-year-old seventh-grader in a stairwell during the last class of the day. Two people witnessed the attack: one physically stepped in to stop it, the other reported it to an adult. The suspect was arrested and faces a detention hearing today; the school's principal and vice principal have been suspended pending investigation into how a student could be raped on school property during school hours. Portola students are no longer allowed to take bathroom breaks unaccompanied, but the school has no immediate plans to beef up security, and existing security officers are already questioning whether a rape really occurred.
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In addition to a police officer, four paid site supervisors help provide security at Portola. One of them, Marquita Dones, says, "we monitor the hallways, the stairways, we're up and down all day long." Dones adds, "if she was being raped, why didn't she scream? Why did these students have to come up and tell us that somebody's down there?" And her fellow supervisor Mustapha Cannon informed journalists that "you're calling it a rape when it wasn't really a rape" and that "it was hormones going wild." He continued,
I know the girl and I know the guy. I know... and I know the girl's family. I know for a fact that that girl could've knocked that guy out with one hand tied behind her back.
So because a 12-year-old girl didn't scream (or at least not loud enough for school officials to hear her), and didn't fight (or least not "hard enough" for the boy to stop), she wasn't really assaulted. If the encounter was in fact consensual, then Portola Middle School still has a discipline problem if students are sneaking off to have sex during class. But if it wasn't — as police and prosecutors still assert — then Dones and Cannon are trivializing a young girl's attack for the sake of covering their own asses. Their statements are the most upsetting, but others involved in the investigation aren't saying all the right things either. El Cerrito police Chief Scott Kirkland opines,
It is interesting, the criminal mind. When a situation like this occurs, to actually do something like this ... you have to be a little sick.
The idea that "the criminal mind" is the sole cause of this assault is a little simplistic, especially given the Richmond rape not two months ago. Yes, the suspect, if guilty, did a terrible thing, and may even be "a little sick." But he also comes from a culture (that would be rape culture, which is everywhere, not just in rough neighborhoods) in which people are quick to deny or explain away a rape as soon as it's reported. He goes to a school where he was allowed to rape someone during class. To treat a fourteen-year-old like some kind of criminal mastermind is to forget that he's also a product of his time and place, and that his time and place desperately need changing.
School safety activist Michelle Jawad says it's encouraging that students reported the rape. She adds,
Maybe one of the good things that came out of (the Richmond High School rape) is that someone was brave enough to speak up. Some of the students are seeing this and thinking, 'Maybe this is not OK, and I need to report that.'
It is a step in the right direction that witnesses did the right thing. But for the twelve-year-old victim, it was probably too little, too late.
Rape During Classes At Middle School Prompts Suspension Of El Cerrito Principal [Mercury News]


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2011 was a good year for outstanding dishes in Albuquerque and in New Mexico. I have put together a list of my favorites. They are in random order. And here are a few more 2011 favorite lists:
Mina'sYamashita's list of the best dishes of 2011. Mina is cool, and her tastes are much more elegant that mine. Muna writes the column Mina's Dish for The Weekly Alibi.
Gil Garduño and friends have also weighed in with some of their favorites. They appear in a string of comments on his blog Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog, which yyou should read every few days. To see his list iand other users lists n the Comments section, you need to scroll around near the bottom of the page.
And then there is New Mexico Magazine's list for 2011.
You may also want to see my Top Ten List and Hall of Fame. The tabs on the navigation menu at the top of this page will get you there.
Orvietto Pasta—Nicky V's.
I can't rave enough about Nicky V's Orvietto pasta. Pancetta, crimini's, peas, cavatappi noodles in a beautiful reduction of sauces, and finished with pinon and fresh herbs – amazing, spectacular, and all those other superlatives. Several gastronome friends have told me that this is the best pasta dish that they have had anyplace, and they'll get no argument from me.
Cubano Sandwich—Guava Tree Café, Roast pork is the soul of a Cubano. It must be perfect. The pork prepared by Anamargarita Otero, the vivacious and effervescent chef, has been lovingly marinated and slow roasted to enhance the flavor and retain the juiciness of the pork without rendering all the fat (which dries out the pork). This, together with sweet ham, nutty tasting Swiss cheese, thin pickles, and the correct mustard is placed on delicious bread (from TLC on Osuna) and finished off in a panini press until the cheese pulls it all together. Three napkins juicy. My first bite brought tears to my eyes — I have been searching for this kind of perfection for decades, and now I have found it.
Sweetbreads—Blade's Bistro(Placitas).
The word "sweetbread" is first attested in the 16th century, but the logic behind the name is unclear. "Sweet" is perhaps used since the thymus is sweet and rich tasting, as opposed to savory tasting muscle flesh. "Bread" may come from brede 'roasted meat'.
There are many ways to cook sweetbreads, and you should read some of the sewwtbread recipes. Kevin's version is done in a rich and complex cream sauce with bits of apple that have softened during the cooking. Served with whipped potatos, carrots, and red cabbage, I could have sworn that I had been transported to the French countryside. This is an outstanding French peasant dish that you need to try after you get over the notion that you are eating the pancreas of a veal.
Carne Adovada Sruffed Sopaipilla Smothered in Red—Mary & Titos.
During our last return, Antoinette told ma about the restaurant's appearance in the New York Times article 36 Hours in Albuquerque. Yet more fine and richly deserve accolades.Read more comments on this blog.
I again had my usual Carne Adovada Stuffed Sopiapilla (turnover, she calls it) and Jane had a plate of Carne Adovada. Both with the best red in the universe.
This is New Mexico Mom and Pop at its very best. If you haven't been here, do it now.
The Wooly Pig (Mangalitsa Pork)—Jennifer James 101.
curly bristled Mangalitsa hogs are the most corpulent and unusual in a parade of breeds that has found favor among chefs for their richer taste and fuller fat content than the customarily meat-bred hogs that are the staples in American restaurants.
Wooly Pig was a special menu item (May 13-14) that we lucked into when we arrived at JJ101 for Chesapeake Bay soft shell crabs. This piece of pig had the most intense flavor of anything I have ever had from other pigs, including some of those peanut-fed porkers from Virginia. Ordered medium rare, it arrived with a slightly charred outside, very tender inside, and some of the most delicious meat fat that I have ever encountered. Superb. [BTW, the fat is more unsaturated than that from more common breeds.]
Soft Shell Crabs — Jennifer James 101.
Soft shell crabs are among the ugliest and sweetest tasting denizens of the salt water estuarine habitat. My all-time favorite seafood is simply sautéed soft shell blue crabs from the Chesapeake Bay, where I could get these treats any day during the summers while I was growing up.
I hesitantly squeezed on some drops from the orange and took a forkful. A miracle occurred. This was the best soft shell I have ever tasted. Perfectly cooked, juicy and sweet, and the sweetness of the orange complemented the sweetness on the crab meat. And then I tried the slaw, fearing that the piquancy of the jalapeños would mask the delicate sweetness of the crab. Wrong again. Second miracle. The combination was almost orgasmic.
Carnitas ala Mex—El Bruno's (4th St.).
Grilled sirloin cubes, two rolled cheese enchiladas (Christmas), beans, and a flour tortilla.
Every Carnitas plate that I have ever had until now has consisted of grilled cubed pork tenderloin, and I was somewhat hesitant about ordering sirloin Carnitas. I shouldn't have been. Perfectly grilled cubes done medium rare (yes, they ask and pay attention) were exceptionally tender, juicy, and tasty. The accompanying cheese enchiladas were also excellent, covered with Red and Green (Christmas). The red is complex and smoky, of medium piquancy, and the green was hotter, but not quite incendiary. Great chiles.
Ribeye—Monte CarloSteak House
My 14-oz ribeye was perfectly medium rare and was the tastiest hunk of beef I have had outside of Lincoln, Nebraska. Juicy and fork tender. Served with fantastic fries, this meal was among the very best of any kind I have had here. Non-yuppie salads were pretty good, too — mostly iceberg with a delicious tangy Greek house dressing. Jane had a slab of prime rib that looked and tasted fabulous (her words, as she came up for air). Her baked potato was perfectly done.
Talus Ranch Rack Of Lamb—Bien Shur at Sandia Resort.
Asiago, Mission Fig, Asparagus, Potato Terrine, Red Wine Reduction, Cherry Gastrique.
Talus Wind Ranch is a 460-acre ranch located 30 miles southeast of Santa Fe in Galisteo, New Mexico. Humanely raised, transported and processed, their animals never see a feedlot. The result? Lamb that is tender and flavorful, animals that are well cared for, and local agriculture that is supported by New Mexicans.
This small rack is better than any lamb I have had, including that we had in Iceland. Forget Australia—this is the real thing. This entrée is silky smooth and tender, and has a taste that won't stop. Perfectly done medium rare, it outshone everything else in our meal.
Sous Vide Kurobuta Pork Chop—Bien Shur.
Cheddar & Chorizo White Polenta, Haricot Verts, Roasted Garlic Demi Glace.
This is a huge pork chop, about 1¼-in thick, and nicely frenched. The presentation and plating is gorgeous. The taste? I may never go back to supermarket pork chops again. The sous vide treatment results in a chop that is uniformly done throughout, remains juicy, and is smashingly tender. The polenta is as good as it gets, and the beans are delightful. There is a subtle hint of garlic here.
Dong Bo Pork (by Su Shi: 13th century)—Budai.
Dong Bo Pork (东坡肉) instantly caught my eye. It is named after the famous scholar and poet Su Shi, alias Dong Bo, (1036-1101), who was a writer, poet, artist, calligrapher, pharmacologist, and statesman of the Song Dynasty, serving in the Court of Emperor Shen Zong.
In the highly capable and magic hands of Hsia Fang, this pork belly dish is, simply put, the best Chinese dish I have ever had. Perfectly cooked with a thick and complex red-brown sauce, it is like nothing else I have ever tasted on this planet. A new entry on my personal favorite list.
(So I can't count)
Green Chile Cheeseburger—Sparky's Burgers & BBQ (Hatch).
The World's Best Green Chile Cheeseburger. Really.
When you go to Hatch, you probably want a Green Chile Cheeseburger. Sparky's is the place where you need to get it. Anyplace else will serve you an imitation.
The beef is hand-cut, hand-ground, hand-formed, and cooked correctly to your desired degree of doneness. Add a slice of cheddar and Hatch Green (what else), embed the thing in a nondescript bun, and you have the best Green Chile Cheeseburger you are likely to get anyplace. This is not one of those designer Green Chile Cheeseburgers like many of those you'll get in the city. It is the real thing, Bubba.
Rum Bread Pudding—Lambert's(Taos).
Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce. I search the globe for the best bread pudding. I am a bread pudding freak, an affliction I share with my friend and fellow gastronome Gil Garduño. Lambert's version is currently in second place on my Bread Pudding hall of Fame. [It was first until it was edged out by Karen Todd's at The Dragonfly Cafe & Bakery. The laurels remain in Taos.] Lambert's bread pudding is almost identical to that from my mother's kitchen, and I grew up with hers as the standard. Lambert's, with its intense rum flavor and creamy texture, trumps mom's.
Carne Asada—Cafe Pasqual's(Santa Fe).
You really should treat yourself to a meal at Pasqual's. Get a reservation. Even then, you might have a long wait in the line that often stretches up the hill. It.s worth it. If you do get in, you might be seated at the communal table where you can rub elbows with locals. Or tourists. Become friends. Everybody's happy here. This place is outrageously good.
The Carne Asada here is like no other that you will find anywhere in New Mexico. Made with quality beef, is is tender and incredibly delicious. One of mu favorite dishes in santa Fe.
Menudo Rojo— La Cocina De Doña Clara (Santa Fe).
The Menudo Rojo is an excellent rendition of a classic dish. The tripe is cooked to exactly the correct texture, and absorbed the taste of the chiles nicely. The hominy is perfectly done, and the rojo is just right — neither too picante nor uninteresting. Served with chopped onion and lime wedges, this version is the best that I've ever had. Mexican oregano and ground cayenne are on every table for patrons to fine tune to their individual taste. My Chicharrón were excellent — not too fatty and not too crispy. Add a little salt and some pinches of cayenne to punch up the taste a bit. Be warned that these are *not* New Mexico style Chicharrón.
Everything —Dragonfly Café & Bakery (Taos). Yeah, I know—that's a copuot. But everything here is crazy good. The Dragonfly Café and Bakery is a European-style café and bakery located in the heart of historic Taos, New Mexico. Chef and Owner Karen Todd instinctively creates unique and inspired menu items that combine homemade flavors with exotic flair. She does it right.
The blueberry White Chocolate Bread Pudding is truly sensational. It ranks number 1 on my Bread Pudding Hall of Fame.
Posole—Plaza Café Downtown (Santa Fe).
The food ranges from very good to sensational. Posole and Menudo are excellent. Chicken Mole Enchiladas are sensational, with a rich and complex sauce that is probably better that what your Abuelita made. Try the Pumpkin Posole in the late fall–is is a real taste treat. Get the Menudo very spicy.
Plaza Cafe Downtown suffered a tragic file in 2011, and will reopen in April 2012. I'll be there.
Moroccan Chicken—Laughing Lizard Inn & Cafe(Jemez Springs).
The Moroccan Chicken at Laughing Lizard started with a half chicken stewed (slow is the key) with spices with raisins and julienned carrots (about 1 mm.) and mushroom caps had been added. Since neither rice nor couscous are yet allowed on my diet (4 pounds to go!), I had the kitchen add steamed broccoli. The chicken was falling-off-the-bone tender and had absorbed much of the flavor of the stewing liquid. The sweetness of the raisins is a delightful complement to the savoriness of the spices. This is a complex and rich tasting sauce.
Steak Quesadilla—Sugar Nymph's Bistro(Peñasco).
Grilled Skirt Steak, BBQ Sauce, Onions Cilantro, Cheddar and Jack Cheeses in Crispy Flour Tortillas, Served with Salad dressed with a superb ginger-sesame dressing. Outstanding salad. But the quesadilla was like four crispy slices from heaven. The thin-sliced skirt steak was perfectly done. There was a small dish of house-made salsa with the plate, and it was vet fresh and tasty, complementing the gently crisped flour tortillas that housed the meat and cheese. I may never have quesadillas anywhere else because they willsuffer by comparison to the Bistro's.
Green Chile Cheeseburger—The Horseman's Haven (Santa Fe).
I had been told by gastromomes whom I trust that the Haven makes a really great GCCB, so there we were one Saturday afternoon staring at two of the loveliest looking GCCB creations that I have seen. The beef is properly fatty and not dry, but quite moist without being greasy. These are hand-cut and hand0formed beef patties with a tantalizingly irregular shape. No cookie-cutter patties here, Bub. The cheese was properly gloppy (with almost stick-to-your-teeth consistency.) Bun was great, not yuppie style with some seeds baked onto the top. I ordered two small dishes of the Green for comparison and experimentation. The regular Green is very high on the piquancy scale, which may be too hot for most tourists and gringos. This I put on one half of the burger, and covered the other half with a mixture (half and half) of the regular and the legendary level 2 stuff. Both halves were fantastic, but then I am a chilehead. This, my friends, is the real stuff.
Green Chile Cheeseburger—Cowgirl Café (Santa Fe). Good live bluegrass jam on Saturday afternoons, too.
One of the best GCCB's around Santa Fe. Nicely grilled and very tasty beef (1/2 #) with whole green chiles-both picante and smoky. Medium rare results in a two-napkin-juicy creation. The hand-cut fries were cooked just right, and had gobs of taste. This is a fun place in which to eat when you get tired from walking around the Railyards.
Carne Adovada Stuffed Sopaipilla—Rancho de Chimayo.
I asked our fine server if I could go off-menu and get a Carne Adovada Stuffed Sopaipilla smothered with Red. Sure enough, it showed up sitting atop rice and some of the best pinto beans I've had. The pork cubes were tender, tasty, and fell apart under my fork. The red chile is made from locally grown Chimayó chiles, and is the very best I have encountered in Northern New Mexico. By far. Rich, complex, deep, and just a shade short of fiery, it compares favorably with the world standard served at Mary and Tito's in Albuquerque, the acknowledged best in the universe. Superb plate of food.
íBuen Provecho!]]>


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Detox and Beautify Your Skin and Hair with Activated Charcoal
This blog has not been approved by your local health department and is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice.
Activated charcoal has numerous benefits for the body. Plus, it can be used to improve the health and beauty of hair and skin.
The Benefits of Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is an incredibly strong detoxifying agent. Its standout superpower is that it absorbs toxins and chemicals that are bad for human consumption. Never confuse activated charcoal with charcoal that's used for starting fires. Activated charcoal is comprised of woods like boxwood, pine and willow woods. Often, coconut shells are used in activated charcoal as well. Many people might look at activated charcoal and genuinely wonder how much this black powder can do. Truthfully, it can be used in many ways to pull out toxins.
When it's time to wash fruits and vegetables, many people might think to just use a produce cleansing solution. Instead, add activated charcoal to warm water and douse the produce inside. This process must be done in a glass or a wooden bowl. If this process is done in the sink, activated charcoal is so powerful that it will pull out metals from the sink. If activated charcoal has the power to pull out metallic compounds from a sink, imagine what it can do to detox a person.
When it comes to detoxification, activated charcoal can be taken in various forms. Some people like to ingest it in pill form. Others like to add a little bit of activated charcoal powder to water and quickly drink it. Some naturopaths suggest a topical application of activated charcoal to the throat when a person is dealing with illness. Many companies are discovering the detox properties of activated charcoal. As a result, individuals can find many cleansers that use activated charcoal as the main ingredient in their detox products.
Detoxing With Activated Charcoal
A really good practice to employ is that of detoxification. From a physical standpoint, the body comes in contact with many toxins on a consistent basis. From environmental factors to food consumption, it can be very difficult to keep up with keeping the body clean and toxin-free.
The inclusion of activated charcoal is a gentle yet powerful way to gradually rid the body of toxins. When used appropriately, activated charcoal has the power to detoxify and breathe new life into some of the places that receive the least tender, loving care both internally and externally. When a person consumes healthy nutrients like vitamins and lots of water, the body distributes it to all the major internal organs first. The skin, hair and nails are the last to receive any nutrients. The hair, skin and nails will suffer when they're not taken care of. From a beauty standpoint, these three elements are considered beacons of good health. In order to beautify and detoxify the skin and hair with activated charcoal, there are a few ways to approach the process.
Skin Health and the Benefits of Using Activated Charcoal
In the age of selfies and social media, many long for clear, glowing skin. There are two ways to approach the process of gaining healthy skin: internal and external.
Internal Approaches and Benefits for Skin
Gut health is a major component of skin health. Many researchers are showing that the gut-skin connection is complex yet direct. If a person is dealing with skin issues such as rosacea, acne or dryness, it's best to launch an attack on anything that's hindering gut health. If there are bodily symptoms such as constipation or bloating, this is a sign that something is off in the gut.
One option involves taking 500 milligrams of activated charcoal an hour before a meal. Activated charcoal is incredibly helpful for avoiding gut issues. Some experts have suggested that people take a heaping teaspoon of activated charcoal and combine it with enough water to dilute it and drink the combination immediately. This type of process can directly impact the issues that start in the gut, such as gas and fermentation.
External Approaches and Benefits for Skin
To experience the detoxifying properties of activated charcoal from a topical perspective, there are plenty of beauty products that come with activated charcoal as the main ingredient. Activated charcoal has the power to draw out the impurities that are on the top layers of the skin.
In addition to the cleansing daily, it's a great idea to use a more potent solution for a facial mask application two to three times a week. After washing the face, use steam to open up the pores. Once the pores are open, apply a mask to the skin and let it sit for several minutes. Rinse off with warm water and a washcloth. Follow up this treatment with a moisturizing agent. For drawing out excess oil and impurities, many beauty products contain clay. A combination mask of clay and activated charcoal has a powerful ability to pull out toxins.
Homemade Activated Charcoal Face Mask
- 2 Tbs. Activated Coconut Charcoal Powder
- 2 Tbs. Bentonite Clay Powder
- 1 Tbs. Raw Honey
- Essential oils (optional)
- Combine the powders in a bowl containing 4 tablespoons of water to create a paste.
- Mix in the honey.
- Add a few drops of essential oils. Tea tree, lavender and bergamot essential oils are excellent options to consider.
- Mix until the mask is creamy and consistent.
- Apply the mask to a freshly washed face. It's wise to make sure the pores are open, so make sure to steam the skin first.
- Add the mask and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Hair Health and Activated Charcoal
Hair can also benefit from activated charcoal. When it comes to the external approach, there are many ways to include activated charcoal in the hair routine. Activated charcoal is used in Ayurvedic regimens that have been practiced for centuries. The average person uses pomades, gels, hair sprays and other styling products in the hair. This typically happens on a daily basis. Over time, these products can build up. Even though regular shampooing is good, an additional agent that intentionally detoxifies is helpful. It's a good idea to add 1 teaspoon of activated charcoal to shampoo. Massage the scalp with the mixture and scrub the roots first. Run the water and let it move the mixture down the strands. As the activated charcoal mix moves down the hair follicle, run fingers through the hair to make sure it completely saturates every strand. Once this process is completed, the hair will be fully cleaned and detoxified.
Activated charcoal is a powerful detoxifying agent. With consistent use of this agent, a person may receive long-lasting benefits for the hair and the skin. It's also important to consult the advice of a medical professional to make sure there are no unique exceptions or reasons why it would work against any other medicine or treatments an individual is using.


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Perez, Cuthbert homer in intrasquad game
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- There was no winner or loser in the first game at Royals camp. The USA and the World teams played to a 6 1/2-inning, 5-5 tie in an intrasquad game on Tuesday.
Catcher Salvador Perez hit a solo home run in his only at-bat and Minor League third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert belted a two-run homer, both for the World team.
Cuthbert, the ninth-ranked prospect in MLB.com's Top 20 Royals Prospects, connected against left-hander Chris Dwyer after Christian Colon singled to start the fourth inning.
Colon, ranked 10th among Royals prospects, also delivered a two-run single off right-hander Blaine Boyer in the fifth inning to make it 5-5.
"Very good clutch hit with two outs," bench coach Chino Cadahia said. "Those are hard to come by and he came through."
And, in the sixth, Colon made a diving stop at shortstop and got a force out to deprive David Lough of a hit.
"Miguel Tejada has been giving me a few tips, taking me out there and how to set up pre-pitch and get to a lot of balls that are kind of off," Colon said. "For me, I need to be able to get some range at short, so he just told me to set up differently. I tried it and I was able to get to that ball and make the play."
The USA team had eight hits, including doubles by Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer that produced a first-inning run off left-hander Bruce Chen. The World's seven hits included Perez's leadoff home run against lefty Tim Collins in the second inning and a double by Willy Taveras.
"I'm kind of surprised that the hitters did so well," Cadahia said. "It's kind of early and I always expect the hitters to be a little behind this time of year, but they came out swinging the bats pretty good."
"They swung the bats and had a lot of ground balls that got through, but that's Arizona for you," pitching coach Dave Eiland said. "It's kind of what I expected because it was the first game action and they're leaving the rubber a little bit early because they're a little excited. But that's why you do these things, so they can get their feet underneath them and get the jitters out early, especially these young kids because, for the most part, that's who pitched today."
Each pitcher worked one inning and USA starter Nate Adcock pitched a perfect first, getting three ground-ball outs.
"He's a sinker guy and he kept the ball down, so we were pleased to see that," Eiland said.
World pitchers Guillermo Moscoso and Noel Arguelles each pitched one perfect inning. Luis Mendoza was touched for three singles and three runs by USA but a missed bouncer by second baseman Irving Falu let in the last two runs.
USA second baseman Johnny Giavotella, battling Chris Getz for the starting job, made a diving stop of Yem Prades' ground ball.
"We played a pretty good game. We had a lot of fun and it was good for this time of year," Cadahia said.


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Section 1194.22 Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications
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RapidIdentity does not use client-side image maps.
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|Kyla Ross competes on floor exercise at the 2013 P&G Gymnastics
Championships on Aug. 17, 2013 in Hartford. Conn.
After winning the team gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Kyla Ross and her "Fierce Five" became overnight A-list celebrities, making appearances at the MTV Video Music Awards, meeting President Obama at the White House, throwing out first pitches at baseball games and appearing on TV shows up and down the dial.
There was one important distinction, though: Ross was the only one who wasn't able to cash in on the success.
Ross, who at 15 last summer was the youngest member of the "Fierce Five," looked at the numbers. She could have gone professional, she found, but she calculated her potential earnings would have equaled about the same amount as a college scholarship. So with all things being equal, she decided she would rather go to college as an amateur. That way she could compete in college gymnastics, too.
"I know that college is really expensive, so sometimes going pro and then going to college you don't really gain very much," said Ross, who will compete in the FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships this week in Antwerp, Belgium. "So I wanted to keep that. And everyone says competing in college gymnastics is a lot of fun, so I'm looking forward to that, too."
Ross was always subtly different from her "Fierce Five" teammates. In boy band terms, she was "the quiet one," always appearing happily in the background as Gabrielle Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber took turns in the spotlight.
That showed in the widely distributed first photo of the "Fierce Five," having just been introduced as the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, which captured four sobbing teenage faces. And then there was Ross, smiling politely.
After the Games, the U.S. gymnasts embarked on a 40-city celebration tour. Most of the Olympians took part in all or most of the tour; Ross stuck to the West Coast stops only so as to minimize disruption to her sophomore year at Aliso Niguel High.
When asked about a post-Olympic break from gymnastics, Ross giggled, almost embarrassed, as she admitted it was no more than two or three weeks.
"I was really anxious to be able to get back into the gym," she said.
The quiet approach has paid off. Ross and her childhood friend Maroney were the only "Fierce Five" members to return to competition in 2013, so by default they were the star attractions at the P&G Gymnastics Championships in August in Hartford, Conn.
The duo also by default leads the U.S. contingent into the world championships, which begin Monday and run through Oct. 6 in Antwerp, Belgium, although newcomer Simone Biles edged Ross for the U.S. all-around title in Hartford and Maroney was limited to two events due to injury.
Expectations on the outside tend for the U.S. women. A U.S. gymnast has won the world all-around title after the past two Olympic Games (Chellsie Memmel in 2005 and Bridget Sloan in 2009). Ross, Biles and Maroney are all entered in the all-around competition in Antwerp. (There is no team competition and only two gymnasts per country can compete in the all-around final.)
For Ross, who turns 17 on Oct. 24, her expectations for her first world championships are typically measured. Her stated goals are simply to make the finals for the all-around and uneven bars.
"Going into any meet I don't really like saying I want to win gold, but I really do want to be able to compete at world championships for the individual all-around and also the bars," she said.
In addition to growing from her Olympic experience, Ross also has grown in the past year — literally: She added two inches since London.
She's also visibly more confident in her second year as a senior: No longer in the background, she has a newfound presence with her improved artistry and long lines.
"Kyla Ross is a very classic gymnast," said Martha Karolyi, the U.S. national team coordinator. "She is an extremely good technician, has excellent lines and is a beautiful girl."
The question going into world championships is how aggressive Ross will be. For example, she has done the Amanar vault — the famously difficult 2.5 twisting Yurchenko that helped propel Team USA to victory in London — but elected to go more conservative at the P&G Championships.
"She is a four-event gymnast," Karolyi said. "She doesn't have any event which is weak, and … she is a little perfectionist, so she doesn't include anything in her routine that she cannot handle."
That approach has helped Ross earn a reputation for consistency. To take the next step in Antwerp, however, she will likely have to ramp up her routines, something Karolyi expected after the P&G Championships.
"She has some extra skills that she doesn't feel yet confident in them," Karolyi said in Hartford.
Ross' best gymnastics years still might be ahead of her. And like her "Fierce Five" teammates, Ross said she hopes to compete through the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.
Making a second Olympic team in women's gymnastics is no easy task, though, as all six members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic squad found out in 2012. At the P&G Championships, Ross proved to be candidly aware.
After the competition, which to some extent was framed as the start of the next generation, Ross was asked about a potential rivalry with Biles in 2016.
"Maybe. I'm not sure," she said. "Three years is a really long time, and you never know what can happen, and a lot can change with gymnastics. Everyone keeps on improving."
Importantly, so does Ross.
Chrös McDougall has been a writer and editor for TeamUSA.org since 2009 on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc. He is based in Minneapolis-St. Paul.


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I have a picture
punctured and ironed inside,
a tale of twin sisters,
rising above your waist
with a pastel grey voice of mind.
The coherence of mute environment,
is like a prayer to me now.
A green straw up in the sky sucking
the chambers to drink nectar of white life.
I have arrived here,
here in the painted head of open mouths.
mouths that utter olive seas.
Here, I gather & loose myself,
a percolating fly doused in a tea stain.
Too many arms now
up in the sky
breaking a blurb of dark howl,
A new slippery existence
a new machanism of conjunction of elements.


text:
Frontside 2016
Classic Frontside skiers typically look for narrower waist widths than the true All-Mountain crowd—generally less than 85mm. This season expect to see revamped cores, lightweight modifications and vibration control technologies in most manufacturers' lineups. Frontside skis are upping the ante in performance, resulting in more aggressive boards built to rip and carve the hard-pack. A … More »


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Why is it that Americans overwhelmingly now believe that the federal government is a threat to citizens' rights???
Washington (CNN) — A majority of Americans think the federal government poses a threat to the rights of Americans, according to a new national poll.
Fifty-six percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday say they think the federal government has become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens. Forty-four percent of those polled disagree.
If ObamaCare is so wonderful and so popular as the Democrats claim, then why is it that the most Democrat state in the nation voted for a Republican who promised to be the 41st vote blocking the ObamaCare boondoggle, and why is it that nearly 70% of the states are trying to protect themselves from it's abuses of citizens' rights?
Va OKs 1st bill banning mandated health coverage
By BOB LEWIS (AP)
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia's General Assembly is the first in the nation to approve legislation that bucks any attempt by President Barack Obama and Congress to implement the national health care overhaul in states like Virginia.
Without debate, the House of Delegates voted 80-17 Wednesday to accept Senate amendments to a bill that supporters say preserves Virginia's prerogatives as a state.
Thirty-four other legislatures have filed or proposed similar measures rejecting health insurance mandates.
But Virginia's legislature, scheduled to adjourn Saturday, is the first to finish work on a bill. The measure goes to Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, who plans to sign it.
The measures are advancing nationally as Republicans capitalize on voter discontent over Democratic-backed federal health care reform efforts in Congress.
The Democrats are going to make it a federal crime to live and breathe without buying their health insurance, like mobsters who break your windows and destroy your store if you don't buy their "insurance."
It is amazing. Democrats in Congress and the Obama White House have spent a full year trying to push a massively expensive bill that will destroy our health care system even as states feverishly work to protect themselves from that very same ObamaCare.
States realize that the accounting gimmicks that deceitfully produce a "deficit neutral" bill end up creating the mother of all unfunded mandates for the states to pay. That means vastly higher state taxes and fees for you.
There's also a fair chance that you may lose the insurance plan you have as you are shoved into the inferior care provided by Medicaid. ObamaCare promises to "nudge" approximately one in five Americans who presently aren't in the Medicaid system into that system (see also here).
For the record, Medicaid is the system for individuals and families with low income and resources. It is not the best quality care, and it is certainly not the care that the Congress that is forcing this monstrosity down our throats will have. Republicans offered 11 amendments that would have required Congress to enroll themselves and their families in the plan they were trying to force on everyone else. The Democrats voted every single one of them down.
Democrat politicians believe they're better than everyone else. Their children are better than your children. Their attitude toward you as regards ObamaCare is "Let them eat dirt."
Their families are going to continue to get the very best of care, while you and your family find yourselves getting shoved into a health care system designed for the poorest Americans.
The Democrats are playing every imaginable game with the Constitution and the political process to shove this 2,700 page boondoggle down the country's collective throat. It looks like the only thing that will protect Americans from the worst White House and Congress in our national history will be the states.


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NBC Renews Parks and Recreation for Season 6
It's time to "Treat Yo Self!" because NBC has renewed Parks and Recreation for a sixth season, TVGuide.com has learned.
The NBC comedy, which stars Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, saw a 15 percent uptick over the previous week in its Season 5 finale, drawing 2.9 million and a 1.5 in the adults 18-to-49 demographic.
Fall TV Scorecard: Renewed or canceled?
The season ended with Leslie Knope (Poehler) facing her biggest political battle to date as residents of Pawnee banded together to see her thrown off the city council. The infallible Ron Swanson (Offerman) will also have an interesting battle next season as it was revealed that his girlfriend Diane (Lucy Lawless) is pregnant.
Parks and Recreation joins the previously renewed Parenthood, Grimm, Law & Order: SVU and freshmen series Chicago Fire and Revolution. Earlier Thursday, the network gave series orders toJason Katims' About a Boy, J.J. Abrams' Believe, Crisis, The Family Guide starring Parker Posey, and Sean Hayes' Sean Saves the World. On Wednesday, NBC also canceled the low-rated Deception.
Are you excited for Parks and Recreation's sixth season?
View original NBC Renews Parks and Recreation for Season 6 at TVGuide.com
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Other Links From TVGuide.com


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VANCOUVER — Teenager Alphonso Davies scored one goal and set up three others as the Vancouver Whitecaps defeated Orlando City SC 5-2 Saturday to win their first game on home turf in over a month.
Davies three assists sets a Whitecaps record.
Striker Kei Kamara scored twice for Vancouver, once on a penalty kick in the 85th minute, to break out of a scoring drought. Yordy Reyna and Nicolas Mezquida scored the other Whitecaps goals.
Forward Sacha Kljestan scored for Orlando when the Lions were playing with just 10 men. Mohamed El-Munir was sent off after receiving his second yellow card in the 58th minute. Dominic Dwyer scored Orlando's other goal four minutes into injury time.
Davies, who doesn't turn 18 until November, snapped a 1-1 draw in the 76th minute. Midfielder Jordon Mutch took a shot that goalkeeper Joe Bendik stopped with a diving save. Davies scored on the rebound.
Davies also made a pretty run to set up Kamara's goal in the 36th minute. He stole the ball near midfield, made several nifty moves to get past three Orlando players, then dished off a pass to Kamara.
We are not worthy.
What. A. Goal.#VANvORL pic.twitter.com/BYGha5OYCH
— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) June 9, 2018
It was the veteran striker's first goal from the run of play in seven games, although he did score on a penalty kick May 19 against Dallas.
Kamara scored on a penalty kick after Reyna was knocked down the box.
Davies also made pretty passes to set up goals by Reyna in the 87th minute and Mezquida in the 90th.
Midfielder Tony Rocha set up Kljestan's third goal of the season in the 64th minute. He dribbled the ball to the side of the net, then sent a pass into the box were Kljestan was left unmarked.
The Whitecaps (6-5-5) won back-to-back games for the first time since the opening two matches of the season. Vancouver heads into a two-week World Cup break undefeated in six games (2-0-4). A sellout crowd of 22,120 also watched Vancouver win at home for the first time since April 27.
Orlando City (6-7-1) lost its fifth consecutive MLS match.
Reyna now had three goals and three assists in the last five.
Vancouver goalkeeper Brian Rowe had to make a big save in the 21st minute. Orlando's Will Johnson pounced on a loose ball in the centre of the box and blasted a left-footed shot toward the corner of the net. A leaping Rowe was able to get a hand on the ball and steer it over the net.
NOTES: Referee Jose Carlos Rivero handed out seven yellow cards, five to Orlando. … Whitecaps midfielder Felipe made his 200th MLS start, 208th regular season appearance. … Vancouver midfielder Efrain Juarez and his wife Carlotta celebrated the birth of their second child Saturday, a 7.5-pound girl. …Defender Doneil Henry of Brampton, Ont., played his first home game since the Whitecaps acquired him in December. … Orlando will travel over 12,800 kilometres and play three games in a 10-day stretch. The Lions beat Miami Wednesday night in a U.S. Open Cup fourth-round match and play the Impact in Montreal Wednesday.
Jim Morris, The Canadian Press


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text:
Wednesday, 07 May 2014 11:05 AM EDT
The decision is bound to anger supporters of Yingluck, but the court did allow ministers not implicated in the case against her to stay in office, a decision that could take some of the sting out of any backlash on the streets.
After the ruling, the cabinet said Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan, who is also a deputy prime minister, would replace Yingluck, and the caretaker government would press ahead with plans for a July 20 election.
"The caretaker government's responsibility now is to organize an election as soon as possible," said Niwatthamrong, a former executive in a company owned by Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother and himself a former prime minister who was ousted by the military in 2006.
"I hope the political situation will not heat up after this," Niwatthamrong said of the court ruling.
Thailand's protracted political crisis broadly pits Bangkok's middle class and royalist establishment against mainly poor, rural supporters of Yingluck and Thaksin, who lives in exile to avoid a 2008 jail sentence for abuse of power.
Yingluck, who faced six months of sometimes deadly protests in the capital, Bangkok, aimed at toppling her government and ending the considerable political influence of her brother, thanked the Thai people in a televised news conference.
"Throughout my time as prime minister I have given my all to my work for the benefit of my countrymen ... I have never committed any unlawful acts as I have been accused of doing," Yingluck said, smiling and outwardly upbeat.
"From now on, no matter what situation I am in, I will walk on the path of democracy. I am sad that I will not be able to serve you after this."
Despite her removal from power, there is no obvious end in sight to the turmoil in Thailand, with protesters opposed to Yingluck and her government still pushing for political reforms before new elections.
The judge who delivered the verdict at the Constitutional Court said Yingluck had abused her position by transferring a security chief to another post in 2011 so that a relative could benefit from subsequent job moves.
The court ruled that nine ministers linked to the case should step down but others could remain, leaving Yingluck's ruling party in charge of a caretaker government.
Yingluck, a businesswoman until entering politics to lead her party to victory in a 2011 election, was not in court on Wednesday. Thaksin, based in Dubai, was unavailable for comment.
Financial markets took the ruling in their stride. The stock market had fallen as much as 1.1 percent early on as investors worried about unrest if Yingluck's whole cabinet had been forced out, but the index ended down just 0.1 percent. The baht was barely changed at 32.37 per dollar.
Yingluck's supporters accuse the Constitutional Court of bias in ruling against governments loyal to Thaksin. In 2008, the court forced two prime ministers linked to Thaksin from office.
"We were bracing ourselves for this verdict. Everything our enemies do is to cripple the democratic process," said Jatuporn Prompan, the leader of pro-Shinawatra "red shirt" activists. "The court chose a middle way today."
Asked about a vow to resist Yingluck's removal that had raised fears of violence, Jatuporn replied: "There is no reason why we should take up arms. We will rally peacefully as planned on May 10."
In Thailand, the prime minister is normally elected by the lower house of parliament, but that was dissolved in December when Yingluck called a snap election to try to defuse protests.
From that point, she headed a caretaker administration with limited powers. The election in February was disrupted and later declared void by the Constitutional Court.
Yingluck and the Election Commission agreed last week a new ballot should be held on July 20, but the date has not been formally approved and it is bound to be opposed by protesters.
Thaksin or his loyalists have won every election since 2001 and would probably win again.
The former telecoms tycoon won huge support in rural areas and among the urban poor with populist policies such as cheap healthcare and loans. But his enemies say he is a corrupt crony capitalist who buys elections and harbors republican sympathies, which he denies.
The anti-government protesters say they want to end Thaksin's hold over politics and are demanding reform of the electoral system before new polls.
The main leader of the protests, Suthep Thaugsuban, later told supporters to prepare for a big rally on Friday. "We can no longer let this illegitimate party rule this country," he said.
Ongoing turmoil would make matters worse for Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, already suffering from weak exports, a year-long slump in industrial output, a drop in tourism and a caretaker government with curtailed powers.
The army, which has staged numerous coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, has stayed out of the turmoil, as has King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The king, who is 86, has intervened to defuse previous crises but has not commented since this one blew up late last year.
The divide between the poor and what they see as the establishment elite represents a collapse of a traditional order in Thailand at a time when people have begun to broach the hitherto taboo topic of succession.
Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn does not command the same devotion as his father, the world's longest-reigning monarch.
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It is a sad observation that sometimes it takes a comedian to open our eyes to the truth. Last night, Comedy Central's two resident political comedians, Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart weighed in on the latest GOP temper tantrum over Barack Obama rightfully celebrating the anniversary of Osama bin Laden's capture and killing, using that achievement in a campaign ad and correctly pointing out that opponent Mitt Romney might not have gone after bin Laden.
One of Obama's supposed offenses is "spiking the football", gloating in an unseemly way about the bin Laden killing. Of course, the GOP would know nothing about such behavior. On The Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert punctures this myth in one dead-on comment:
Presidents don't spike the football. You do an endzone dance on an aircraft carrier even if you never found the football.
But it was Jon Stewart and his crack research team on The Daily Show who culled enough video to permanently put to rest any claim the GOP has for righteous indignation. Stewart deflates the GOP two prong attack of Obama's supposed braggadocio and the terrible offense of conjecturing what Romney might have done.Vodpod videos no longer available. Vodpod videos no longer available.
For those not wanting to watch the videos, the points are:
- Bush spiked the football before the game had even started. (Echoed by Colbert.)
- Ed Gillespie was outspoken in condemning the President for conjecturing what Romney would have done. Ed said in 2004 "If Kerry had his polices in place today Saddam would not only be in Baghdad but in Kuwait."
- A 2004 GOP campaign ad: "How can Kerry protect us when he doesn't understand the threat?"
- Obama has repeatedly given credit to those who actually did the dangerous work. "We killed Osama bin Laden."
- At the 2004 GOP convention, George Pataki, an Obama critic, kissed Bush's ass. "George Bush protected our country." Mmmm George Bush did? Or did the soldiers? Why didn't Pataki give proper credit?
- Adding to the pile on, is criticism that Obama dissed Romney in front of a foreign visitor. In 2004 Bush disses Kerry in front of Iraqi Prime Minister.
- And the bottom line truth of the matter: GOP is just pissed they couldn't run the current Obama ad.
Stewart allows for the possibility that the Obama campaign ad lacks some decorum. Fred Kaplan on Slate makes no such apology.
Two new investigative reports—a book by Peter Bergen, Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad, and an article by Graham Allison in the May 7 issue of Time—thoroughly rebut that notion. [of a no-brainer decision].
Far from the no-brainer that Romney depicts, the secret, high-level discussions leading up to the raid were fraught with intense debate and uncertainty—and Obama's final decisions, on both whether and how to attack, went against some of his top advisers' recommendations.
Vice President Joe Biden revealed a few months ago that he had urged Obama not to mount the assault. Bergen and Allison report that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates joined him in the dissent—and they explain why.
In the weeks leading up to the decision, a group of counterterrorism officials, after conducting a "red-team" exercise of what could go wrong in such an attack, estimated that there was only a 40 percent chance Osama Bin Laden was actually in the compound. The CIA put the odds at 60 percent. Bergen quotes Michael Morell, the CIA's deputy director, as telling the president that "the circumstantial case of Iraq having WMD was actually stronger than the circumstantial case that bin Laden is living in the Abbottabad compound."
Once Obama decided to attack, an equally weighty debate took place over how to go about it. Gen. James Cartwright, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (and widely known at the time as "Obama's favorite general"), recommended dropping a few dozen 2,000-pound bombs from a B-2 bomber. Others favored going in with missile-carrying drones.
Others, however, advised sending in SEAL Team Six, noting that an aerial attack might kill lots of civilians—perhaps even some in neighboring houses—and, in any case, would preclude certain knowledge that the strike had actually killed Bin Laden. Obama sided with the advocates of the far riskier raid.
Gates, still skeptical of the whole business, had been CIA director Stansfield Turner's executive assistant back in 1979, when President Carter ordered a raid to rescue American hostages in Iran—then watched the operation go down in flames, along with his presidency, when the Delta Force's helicopter crashed.
Struck by Gates' concerns, Obama ordered Adm. William McRaven, the special-operations commander organizing the raid, to throw in two additional helicopters for backup. It was a good thing he did, since one of the assault choppers crashed outside the compound. via Barack Obama's decision to go after Osama Bin Laden: how the president overruled his advisers in ordering the assassination – Slate Magazine.
Kaplan's headline puts it succinctly: Barack Obama Killed Osama Bin Laden. Period.


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Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards talks about settling down
New residents move to Ascension Parish every day. Men, women, the young and the old, come into the parish and claim it as their own.
There's nothing new about this, as Ascension is a parish on the rise. However, every so often, a new family comes into the area that brings with them a sense of celebrity.
Now is that time. The family has moved in, they're settled, and they're here to stay. So get ready to meet the Edwards clan.
Former Gov. Edwin Edwards sits at the helm, with his wife, Trina, by his side. Along with them comes Trina's two sons, Logan and Trevor. They have made a home for themselves in the Pelican Point area of the parish, and are enjoying being a part of the Ascension community.
"We moved here because it's a wonderful community," said Edwards. "This area has all of the advantages of a big city, with none of the disadvantages. It's close to the interstate, and has wonderful schools, shopping, banking and religious opportunities for everyone."
The Edwards family moved in a little over two months ago, and since that time, they have done a fair amount of traveling, as Edwards promotes his authorized biography, "Edwin Edwards: Governor of Louisiana," by Leo Honeycutt.
Now that school is in session, though, the family is fitting in with the general day-to-day life of the average Ascension Parish family.
"The boys are both students at St. Amant Middle and East Ascension High School, and are loving it," said Edwards.
"We're excited about it," said Trina Edwards. "They've settled in well, and are really enjoying their schools."
When Edwards and his newly acquired family were looking for a new home, the options were, of course, endless. With Trina's familiarity with both Baton Rouge and Alexandria, and the former governor's association with nearly every inch of Louisiana, they could have had their pick of places. So why Ascension Parish?
"I honestly know of no other area that is better served by their public officials," said Edwards. "The longevity of the people who serve this community is a testament to how much they care." He added, "Oh, and they've got a pretty great local newspaper!"
When entering the Edwards' house, it is easy to see that they are a family that is here to stay. The house has been turned into a home, and intimate, personal touches abound. Photographs adorn the walls and bookcases, and the home instantly springs forth a strong sense of family activity.
"The parish is now our home," said Trina Edwards. "We're happy to be here. We're settled here."
"I became aware of Pelican Point when it first got its genesis," said Edwards. "I was around when everyone thought Mr. Diez was a fool for using his time and his money to build this community. Well, time has proven him right, and I'm glad about that. It's a wonderful place to call home, with lots of amenities and facilities for all ages."
The former governor was shocked when he first returned to see the new, progressive Ascension Parish. He was pleasantly surprised by the multitude of improvements, additions and people.
"Unlike most growing areas in the state, and even the rest of the country, Ascension Parish has kept up with their public services, amenities and facilities," he said. "Officials should be proud of what this parish has accomplished, and continues to accomplish."
Although Edwards' stretch as a politician and official himself has come to an end, it is clear he holds a strong sense of pride for his time as a public servant.
"I run into people who remember me. They remember things I did for them," he said. "I think the hallmark of my career, or the reason I was successful is that people knew I cared. They could find me when they needed me. I had a well-deserved reputation of always returning phone calls, and that's important. The fact that people still aren't afraid to approach me is a good sign."
Edwards worries that those times of face-to-face service to constituents may be a thing of the past in most places, but doesn't feel that's the case in Ascension.
"Residents of any community need to feel they can contact those meant to serve them. I worry that the average citizen may be thinking in terms of what can they do, or where can they go. I think here, people are approachable."
Edwards' career spanned many years, and he has vivid memories of monumental moments.
"One highlight was when I introduced John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline at the Crowley Rice Festival in 1959. Jacqueline even addressed the people there in French."
One funny anecdote he tells is of a time he first spoke to then President Lyndon B. Johnson:
"A special election was called for a Congressman when our area's died in 1965," he said. "The year before had been a huge election where Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater for the presidency. I went head to head with Gary Tyler, who had been the campaign manager for Goldwater. I was a Johnson supporter. Well, I won, and the president called me. When the call was put through, and I heard his voice on the line, I stood up to speak with him. I was alone in my office, but I stood up to speak to the president. He then went on to tell me he was glad I'd won because if I hadn't he would have been embarrassed. People were viewing the race as a rerun of the presidential one."
Edwards speaks fondly of his time in Congress, and worries that those times, as well, are long gone. His fear is that the politicians who speak for our nation today are forgetting the core values of service.
"I'm fearful for my county," he said. "I thank God that I'm now 84 years old and won't live to see the disaster I know is coming. There's too much infighting, and Democrats and Republicans can't seem to work together. We used to get things done because people needed them done. People needed water or sewer, and we did it because they needed it. I don't see that happening anymore. Everyone is always fighting."
Edwards is still the passionate man he's always been famous for. He loves talking politics. He loves his family. He is happy to be able to take part in the everyday things, and looks forward to his life here in Ascension.
"We just got here two months ago, and I haven't even had the chance to play golf yet," he said. "I want to be a part of this community. I want to stay active and participate. I want to make a contribution. I've had a wonderful, productive, exciting life," he said. "Some of the things that have happened in it have been deserved, and some undeserved. Now, though, I'm just happy to be here in Ascension Parish."
For video footage and more photos of the interview with Edwards, visit www.weeklycitizen.com.


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