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NYC's First-Ever Neighborhood With Free Internet Connectivity on Streets, Parks & Plazas
BROOKLYN, NY (June 2, 2011) –DUMBO Business Improvement District (BID), Two Trees Management Company, and NYCwireless announce that DUMBO, Brooklyn's vibrant, waterfront community, is now New York City's first neighborhood to offer wireless on Streets, in its Parks and Plazas. DUMBO Wi-Fi is made possible by a public-private partnership between the neighborhood's largest real estate holder, Two Trees, and the entity most directly responsible for guiding the development of public space in the DUMBO community, the DUMBO BID.
Many wireless networks have sprung up all over NYC, but never before has an entire area been blanketed with this service. DUMBO Wi-Fi will literally "light up" the streets of DUMBO. There will also be full coverage within the parks and plazas in DUMBO, notably the northern portion of Brooklyn Bridge Park between the two Bridges, The Archway under the Manhattan Bridge and in the Pearl Street Triangle.
The Wi-Fi network is the latest example of innovation in DUMBO. Whether it be the green transformation of abandoned manufacturing buildings into a thriving residential and office district or the countless start-ups and entrepreneurial companies that were attracted by the vibrancy of the community, people with vision and creative ideas call DUMBO home. The Wi-Fi network will also give visitors to the neighborhood and Brooklyn Bridge Park a chance to maximize their experience by easily locating information about events, cultural offerings, dining and shopping information.
"We are encouraging people to step out of their offices and homes and engage with one another and the neighborhood in new and different ways," said Alexandria Sica, Executive Director of the DUMBO BID. "DUMBO is the epicenter for digital start-ups and production companies. Wi-Fi is one more way to inspire the workforce we have and help attract new talent to the Brooklyn Waterfront. In DUMBO, you can put together a proposal while gazing at the Brooklyn Bridge and all of Manhattan. Creativity can literally flow into the streets. Businesses will be born in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The next Etsy could be thought up right under the Manhattan Bridge!"
"Streets are the backbone of a community and being thoughtful about their design and function should not be limited to the physical structure," said Tucker Reed, Director of Special Projects, at Two Trees. "Today, free Wi-Fi is an essential component of public space design and we expect that DUMBO's strong workforce made up of entrepreneurial, early tech adopters, largely between the ages of 22 and 40, as well as many creative businesses, artists, cultural galleries and trendy retail shops and boutiques will take full advantage of this new neighborhood amenity. This neighborhood has always been a pioneering district, and though this initiative our creativity will now literally spill out into the streets, building community and encouraging collaboration and innovation."
The building, installation, and maintenance of the Wi-Fi network is executed by NYCwireless, a non-profit organizations that builds, supports, and advocates for free, public Wi-Fi Internet access in New York City. "NYCwireless is proud to be part of this pioneering project," said Dana Spiegel, Executive Director of NYCwireless." DUMBO has taken a position as one of the most advanced neighborhoods in New York City, with universal Wi-Fi that enables local business to grow and helps the community stay connected. This is the future of New York."
Last summer, more than 1,000 people per hour used the Brooklyn Bridge staircase in DUMBO. "With the re-opening of Brooklyn Bridge Park between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges—all of which would be covered with free Wi-Fi—and the anticipated opening of Jane's Carousel, a tremendous number of visitors are expected this summer" said Regina Myer, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park. "Visitors can log onto a free Wi-Fi network to learn about Brooklyn Bridge Park's amenities and find local restaurants and events to get the most out of their DUMBO experience."
"For the first time in New York City, an entire area has become a hot spot – a haven for bloggers, Tweeters, emailers, Facebookers and everyone else who thrives on the internet," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. "One day, mark my words, this area will rival Silicon Valley in terms of high tech ingenuity – so it's only natural that DUMBO is the first neighborhood to be truly connected 24/7."
"Bringing WiFi to public spaces throughout Dumbo is another example of the creative energy and spirit of innovation that has made this a go-to neighborhood for start-ups and small businesses," said New York City Councilmember Steve Levin. "Wi-Fi will draw more people and more businesses to the neighborhood and allow Dumbo to continue to thrive. I applaud the efforts of the BID in ensuring that Dumbo stays on the cutting edge of technology improvements."
"Across the five boroughs, New York City's 64 Business Improvement Districts are leading the way in providing innovative and valuable public services to businesses and residents," said Small Business Services Commissioner Rob Walsh. "By working with dynamic partners at Two Trees Management Company and NYCwireless to blanket the vibrant neighborhood with free Wi-Fi Internet access, the DUMBO BID is a shining example of that innovation at work. Bringing people, information, and ideas together, the DUMBO Wi-Fi network will be an important asset to its residents and small businesses."
The Dumbo Improvement District is the local Business Improvement District and provides services throughout the neighborhood including street beautification, advocacy, neighborhood marketing, support for small businesses, public events, programming and public art. The DUMBO Improvement District maintains the Pearl Street Triangle and The Archway Under the Manhattan Bridge.
Two Trees Management Co. owns most of the Brooklyn neighborhood of DUMBO ("Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass") as well as significant properties in the Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill area. The company's holdings include 13 buildings and the second largest portfolio of commercial space on the Brooklyn waterfront, which spans 3 million square feet.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, known as Brooklyn Bridge Park, is the not-for-profit entity responsible for the planning, construction, maintenance and operation of Brooklyn Bridge Park, an 85-acre sustainable waterfront park stretching 1.3 miles along Brooklyn's East River shoreline.
NYCwireless is a non-profit organization that builds, supports, and advocates for free, public Wi-Fi Internet access in New York City. Since 2001, it has lead the creation of free Wi-Fi networks in many parks, public spaces, and affordable housing residences, including Bryant Park, Madison Square Park, City Hall Park, the South Street Seaport, the Winter Garden, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Wagner Park, Jackson Square Park, and many others.


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Sunday is number 2 son's birthday. He was born exactly a year and a week after #1 son. They are not quite Irish twins but pretty close.
Bunky is a student and forest firefighter in Oregon and I neither hear from nor see him as much as I would like. The wilds of Oregon in the summer must be one of the few places in America without communications devices. I miss him terribly.
Happy birthday Bunky, be safe, come home soon. For the rest of you, have a great weekend and enjoy your holiday. I'll be back in touch Monday.
5 hours ago

subset: commoncrawl


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South African Journal of Science
On-line version ISSN 1996-7489
Print version ISSN 0038-2353
S. Afr. j. sci. vol.104 n.5-6 Pretoria May./Jun. 2008
The contexts of discovery of Australopithecus bahrelghazali (Abel) and of Sahelanthropus tchadensis (Toumaï): unearthed, embedded in sandstone, or surface collected?
Alain Beauvilain
UFR SSA, Université de Paris X Nanterre, 220, rue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France. E-mail: email@example.com
The stratigraphic contexts of two important fossil hominid specimens from Chad have been repeatedly reported as being precisely known on the basis of their supposed in situ discovery. It is here demonstrated that neither of the fossils, the holotypes of Australopithecus bahrelghazali and Sahelanthropus tchadensis, was in situ at the time of discovery.
In July 2002, the Mission Paléontologique Franco-Tchadienne (MPFT) declared that the skull known as Toumaï, Sahelanthropus tchadensis, was found embedded in a sediment horizon. In the first announcement of the fossil, its context was given as: 'The middle part of the section (about 2 m thick) is informally named the anthracotheriid unit (AU). This unit yielded the hominid cranium and all the terrestrial vertebrate remains. The hominid was embedded‡ in a poorly cemented sandstone in the lowest metre of the unit' (ref. 1, p. 153). This declaration has subsequently been repeated in various scientific publications and by other authors to such an extent that it has taken on the air of established truth.
A recently published article which claims to settle definitively the matter of the age of Toumaï, using a radiometric approach, reinforces the same idea. The authors of this article wrote: 'The focus of this study was the Toros-Menalla (TM) fossiliferous area, where Sahelanthropus tchadensis (Toumaï) was unearthed' (ref. 2). In this article, the word 'unearthed' is applied three times to Toumaï. The same usage occurs in the press release in French: 'les auteurs ont concentré leurs efforts sur la zone fossilifère dont a été extrait le crâne sub-complet de Toumaï', an expression implying the in situ discovery of the skull, a phrase reiterated on the web site of the University of Poitiers and in diverse media.
The mandible fragment, popularly known as Abel, holotype of Australopithecus bahrelghazali is treated similarly: 'at Koro Toro, the level sampled for this study is within the level from which the fauna and the Australopithecus bahrelghazali holotype were unearthed' (ref. 2, p. 3229). A second article3 employs the same expression (incorrectly reporting that Abel was unearthed in 1994 instead of 1995).
From January 1994 to July 2002, the author of the present note was in charge of every palaeontological field expedition that took place in the Chadian desert. In the interests of scientific accuracy, he is compelled to state formally that neither of these fossils was found in situ. The most appropriate word to employ for the two fossils would be that they were 'collected' from their respective localities, which are the sites TM 266 in Toros Menalla and KT 12 in Koro Toro for S. tchadensis and A. bahrelghazali, respectively. The published geological sections of the two discovery sites are reproduced in Fig. 1.
Toumaï was picked up from a land surface comprised of loose sand, which is constantly reworked by the wind. Day after day, the wind-driven sand abraded the right side of the skull, in particular its maxilla, and deeply eroded its mandible. The surface of the ground at the site is constituted of four to five centimetres of detrital deposits, from which the wind produces a deflation lag by removal of fine particles, a lag which protects the underlying deposits from further erosion until its surface is disturbed, as is frequently the case in desert terrain. If this lag surface is disturbed by sweeping or other activity, within a few hours the wind creates a rough surface, removing the underlying soft deposits and leaving the hard clasts, including fossils, in relief.
The photograph taken by the author at the moment of discovery has been widely published but never with a proper explanation. He thought that the image was sufficiently evocative to indicate the lack of stratigraphical context of the fossil (Fig. 2). It is time to correct this omission. In the image, the hollow in the sand to the right of the skull is the exact spot at which Toumaï was found. Almost all the fossils from TM 266 were in similar situations with respect to the substrate. By a curious choice, the photographs of Toumaï published by the MPFT as representing its field context are in reality those of a darkened resin cast, posed in the desert on a ridge of sand created by the northeast winds in February 2004.
As for Abel, the jaw fragment was found at the edge of a shallow gully exposing a mixture of coarse sand, gravel and small fragments of ironstone, as shown in the image taken at the time of the discovery (Fig. 3). The ground surface at the site is constituted of 5 cm of detrital deposits washed down slope by flowing water and then subjected to the action of wind. At KT 12, the slope of the land and the occurrence of violent rain storms at irregular intervals result in severe fluvial erosion (Fig. 4). Abel was not extracted from the argillaceous grit as was written in the PNAS.2 The white grit that underlies the unconsolidated detrital surface deposits is very hard when dry, but becomes soft when wet after the rain, as the author experienced in July 2000, a difference most likely due to the presence of salt in the deposits.
No other fossil was found in situ close to, or even at the same topographic level as, Abel. A few fossils were found with fragments of ferruginous crust adhering to them, indicating the former presence of such a crust somewhere in the sequence. Down slope and several dozen metres west of the precise spot where Abel was discovered, there are well-exposed outcrops of a similar ferruginous crust.
In the circumstances, determining the precise positions of Toumaï and Abel in the stratigraphic sections at TM 266 and KT 12 is impossible. At present, the slope of the ground at both of the sites favours erosion by rainwater, which in this part of the desert falls in rare but violent storms. Abel was collected at the foot of the shoreline of the last episode of Lake Megachad, which is only a few thousand years old. Prior to that it lay on the edge of the lake bed, perhaps even near an intermittent river mouth, as is suggested by a bend in the ancient shoreline deposits at this precise spot; prior to that, it lay on an eroded land surface which extends eastwards of the shoreline. The recent context of Toumaï is different. As is well known in desert areas, lateral movements of hard objects lying on loose sand can occur when wind removes the sand from one side of the object, creating a depression into which the hard object rolls. Repeated many times, such a process can move objects many metres in a few years. Soldiers know this phenomenon well as it can result in lateral and vertical shift of land mines. Considering the length of time that the fossils may have been exposed, it is considerably more likely that they have moved both laterally and vertically as a result of the combined action of oft-repeated aeolian undercutting and deflation and less common but more active displacement by flowing water, than that they did not suffer either vertical or lateral movement.
It should also be noted that most of the Djourab is affected by pastoral activity, as is attested by the presence of large herds of camels which can trample fossils into the soft substrate, and can scuff them over the surface, further complicating their contextual history (Fig. 5).
Toumaï was found loose on the land surface but almost entirely englobed in a ferruginous crust on which a well-developed desert varnish formed a patina that also occurs on the bone beneath the ferruginous crust. How many times was it exposed and reburied by shifting sands before being picked up by the expedition that the author organized and led in July 2001? As for Abel, the stratigraphic section of the site where it was found, published by the MPFT in the PNAS,2 shows two unconformable surfaces. What happened to the fossils during these two erosion cycles?
At a larger scale, vertical displacements of hard objects lying on ground comprised of loose soil occurs when aerodynamic conditions cause turbulence on the lee side of dunes, which exposes grits at the foot of the dunes. For this reason, the author systematically re-examined the foot of every dune during every new expedition in Djourab. This was how he found the first fragment of the hominid mandible TM 292, which led to his colleagues finding the other fossils. Furthermore, wind action in the vicinity of certain kinds of dunes can excavate veritable trenches at the foot of the dunes (Fig. 6). There are examples of this kind of landform more than 5 metres deep less than 20 kilometres from TM 266. From these depressions, aeolian erosion can proceed extremely rapidly, creating a new base level over a wide area. We observed just how fast such processes can occur in the Djourab, where a dune advanced rapidly on site TM 267, immediately east of TM 266. A little further away, an exposed block of sediment of more than 30 cubic metres was completely eroded away in a few weeks.
It should be noted that since the discovery of the two hominid fossils discussed in this article, the gritty lag surfaces of sites KT 12 and TM 266 have been swept and re-swept and even excavated in order to find microfossils, with success as it happens. In contrast, abundant fossils were brought to light in situ at TM 254 and in KB (Kossom Bougoudi) and KL (Kollé).
The article published in PNAS merits further observations. The first is that the famous sediment unit named the Anthracotheriid Unit (AU), which was about 2 metres thick in the 2002 Nature article, attains a thickness of 4.2 metres in the PNAS paper. In addition, the Toumaï cranium, said in 2002 to have been extracted from the lowest metre of this unit, appears in the 2008 paper to be positioned near the middle of this unit, 2.5 metres from its base. How is it possible to justify such a difference unless it is accepted that the skull was collected from an aeolian lag surface and that the base of the AU is not clearly discernible in the field, just as its top is non-existent due to its removal by erosion?
The second observation is related to the density of samples made for radioisotopic dating of site TM 266. The importance of this site resulted in 14 age determinations scattered through a thickness of 3.6 metres of section, corresponding to an age determination for every 25 cm on average. Curiously, the 'precise level' at which Toumaï was collected did not yield any results ('not applicable', it is explained in the paper). Even more surprising, no results are provided for a thickness of 1.1 metres either side of the 'precise location' of the hominid fossil. This remark is perhaps of little importance because the deposits at 5.4 metres yielded an age of 7.18 ± 0.69 Myr and those at 9 metres yielded an age of 7.14 ± 1.42 Myr, the two extreme dates being 8.24 ± 1.81 Myr (level 24 in Fig. 1) and 5.92 ± 1.14 Myr (level 25 in Fig. 1).
In addition, the caption for Table 2 in the PNAS paper indicates that the altitude of the base of the sections for TM 254, TM 266, KT 12, KL and KB 1 (the 0 base level), is that of the section at TM 266, whereas in Fig. 1 in the PNAS paper a thick horizontal line links the 5-metre level at TM 254 to the 5-metre level at TM 266, giving the impression that it is the same altitude. Therein lies an ambiguity, which needs attention because the altitude of site KT 12 (16°00'21"N; 18°52'34"E) is 322 m, that of KL (16°20'N; 18°58'E) is between 318 and 323 m, that of KB 1 (16°22'; 18°42'26"E) is 288 m and those of the two sites at TM 254 (16°17'18"N; 17°19'48"E) and TM 266 (16°15'12"N; 17°29'29"E) are 216 and 261 m, respectively (altitudes obtained from Google Earth, respectively given as 215 m and 257 m by NASA SRTM3 and SRTM30). Even though the difference in altitude is of the order of 40 m over a distance of 18 km, it is explained that the sediments were deposed synchronously and instantaneously on the basis of analyses 'well documented at 20 intervening sections'. The topography confirms the presence of small-scale tectonic movements in the area, which the author evoked in a previous article in this journal,4 activity that has since been accepted by the MPFT. All this renders the figure caption confusing at the very least.
Turning to the dating of the deposits, it is astonishing that for the sites KT 12, KB 1 and KL the samples were obtained from pelites, siltites and diatomites to the exclusion of the clayey grits, which are shown in Figs 1 and 2 in the PNAS paper to be the lithology from which all the terrestrial vertebrate fossils were collected. Finally, with the exception of the dating of KT 12 and the supposed 'precise position' of Abel in the section, the dated samples were collected only from the upper metre and a half of the sedimentary deposits. At KL, all the fossiliferous levels are topographically beneath the dated levels, and are thus older than them, as was already revealed by the biochronological analysis carried out as soon as the fossils were found in the field. At KB 1, the date samples were taken between an upper fossiliferous level and all the other topographically lower levels. The published section of this site, which is not extensive and forms a small basin, does not reveal whether it includes the top of the edge of the basin. Under the pelites and diatomites at KB 1, the fossiliferous layer is topographically lower than the dated samples, and thus older, which was also already evident from the biochronological analysis.
This is hardly surprising, because in the methodology section of the paper, it is explained that: 'Après avoir validé leur démarche et calibré leur nouvelle méthode en comparant les âges obtenus par cette dernière avec ceux estimés pour tous les niveaux fossilifères biochronologiquement contraints découverts dans l'erg du Djourab, les auteurs ont concentré leurs efforts sur la zone fossilifère dont a été extrait le crâne sub-complet de Toumaï.' (After having validated their approach and calibrated the new method by comparing the ages obtained with those estimated for all the fossiliferous levels in the Djourab Erg, the authors concentrated their efforts on the fossiliferous area where the incomplete skull of Toumaï was extracted.) One should perhaps be pleased that having calibrated their method on the basis of the biochronological aspect of the faunas from the same sites, these same ages appear as the results of the study.
Finally, it should be noted that site KB 1, which yielded only a handful of fossils, is located more than 4 km north of a fossiliferous area that yielded thousands of fossils, not counting the micromammals, from 25 contiguous sites located along the lower slopes of a long ridge. Topographically, KB 1 is also 7 metres lower. This important fossiliferous zone at KB merits its own dating programme, like that at KL, and not just on a peripheral site of little valueunless there was an error in the numbering of the KB localities.
As for the precise geographic positions of the localities, whereas the PNAS article pretends to indicate their precise locations within the sections, it does not provide the coordinates of sites KB, KL, nor of TM 254, and the authors provide only rounded-down coordinates for TM 266 and KT 12. For the latter two sites, the rounding down results in identifying a spot almost 1 km from the discovery site of Toumaï and more than 1 km for KT 12, thereby locating the site in the Holocene shoreline deposits of Lake Megachad. A glance at Google Earth will reveal how significant this difference in location is.
The answer to the question raised in the title of this article is that the hominid fossils from the Djourab in Chad were collected from surface lags, and were not as has often been written, found embedded in sediment with precise stratigraphic positions from which they were unearthed. As experienced palaeontologists well know, there can be a world of difference between the age of the substrate and that of a fossil found as lag on its surface.
In conclusion, there are two possibilities regarding the stratigraphic context of a fossil, in situ or not in situ. When found, neither Abel nor Toumaï was in situ.
1.Vignaud P. et al. (2002). Geology and palaeontology of the Upper Miocene Toros-Menalla hominid locality, Chad. Nature 418, 152155. [ Links ]
2. Lebatard A.-E. et al. (2008). Cosmogenic nuclide dating of Sahelanthropus tchadensis and Australopithecus bahrelghazali: Mio-Pliocene hominids from Chad. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 105(9), 32263231. [ Links ]
3. Guy F. et al. (2008). Symphyseal shape variation in extant and fossil hominoids, and the symphysis of Australopithecus bahrelghazali. J. Hum. Evol. 55, 3747. [ Links ]
4. Beauvilain A. and Leguellec Y. (2005). Further details concerning fossils attributed to Sahel- anthropus tchadensis. S. Afr. J. Sci. 100, 142144. [ Links ]


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Batista y Zaldívar, Fulgencio
Batista y Zaldívar, Fulgencio fo͞olhĕn´sēō bätē´stä ē säldē´vär [key], 1901–73, president of Cuba (1940–44, 1952–59). An army sergeant, Batista took part in the overthrow of Gerardo Machado in 1933 and subsequently headed the military and student junta that ousted Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and installed Ramón Grau San Martín. Made chief of staff of the army, he increased its size and power and soon became de facto ruler, launching a three-year plan of economic and social rehabilitation. In 1940, with centrist support, he was elected president and sponsored several reforms that spurred economic growth. After being defeated in 1944, however, he left for the United States. He returned to Cuba in 1949, and in 1952 he seized power through a coup. His second term as president was marked by brutal repression, which led to several uprisings, notably that of Fidel Castro. Pressed by the rebels and after a mock election (1958) had failed to calm the populace, Batista fled Cuba (Jan., 1959) for the Dominican Republic and thence to Portugal and Madeira. He died in Spain.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Cuban History: Biographies


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We thank you for your support and impact in the fight against breast cancer. Your generosity will help us reach those in need in our communities, as well as support breakthrough research. Thank you for being More Than Pink™.
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Little Current Yacht Club
The Little Current Yacht Club was founded in 2003 by Manitoulin Island boaters in Little Current, Ontario. The original impetus was to sponsor an International Yacht Race, the "Macman Challenge", with Little Current as its destination and to start a "Youth Sailing Program" to educate youngsters in the ways of the lakes, the lifeblood of Little Current since the town was established. Those humble beginnings started one of the most dynamic clubs on the Great Lakes. In addition, we sponsor a number of programs that are boater-friendly and very popular.
Our "CANSail Program" started as an extension of the "Canadian Yachting Association" program with their instructors coming to town to teach a one week program for Level One, Two, and Three. In 2009, we took a big step towards expanding our program by hiring our own instructor, who tailored the program to our needs and expanded the number of weeks. Since then, we have acquired 6 Pico boats and a dinghy chase boat. In 2015 we were able to provide an Introduction to Sailing, Taste of Sailing, CANSail 1, CANSail 2, CANSail 3 and individual instructions to both youth and adult students. We also introduced a racing night for the participating students that proved to be very successful.
The "MacMan Challenge" now has a ten year history behind it and became one of the premier events to take place in the North Channel. It started on Mackinac Island with a registration and cocktail party at the Mackinac Island Yacht Club and ended with the Awards Party in Little Current. It was a race that took the participants through beautiful North Channel islands with an imtermediate stop in Gore Bay, another Manitoulin port. The MacMan boasted a number of sailors who had been in the race since the start either on their own boat or a friend's yacht.
The "North Channel Race Week" was created in 2014 by the Algoma Sailing Club, partnering with the North Channel Yacht Club, and the Little Current Yacht Club. This race includes 5 days of racing that takes sailors through the picturesque North Channel from Hilton Beach to Little Current with port stop-overs in Thessalon, Blind River, Spragge and Gore Bay. This race has expanded to include the Blind River Yacht Club.
In 2004, the Anchor Inn provided equipment and space for Roy Eaton to initiate the Little Current Cruisers' Net. It is broadcast to the cruising community throughout the North Channel on VHF radio channel 71, each morning in July and August starting at 9:00 am. The daily broadcast includes extensive weather information, headline news, sports, and human interest stories. The broadcast also tries to help boaters in distress and locates boats that are being sought by family or friends for a variety of reasons. The broadcast has become so effective that it is recognized and used by both the Canadian and US Coast Guard to locate boats in emergency situations. The broadcast ends by asking boaters to call in and give their locations.
"WD 40 for the Mind" grew out of the "Cruisers' Net" broadcast and offers boaters in the area a variety of entertaining and informative lectures on subjects from favorite harbors to astronomy. The dates and location of the lectures are announced on the broadcast. Attendance has helped get the cruisers get together while passing along a little knowledge.
Our "Club Racing Program" boasts four races that take the boats on a variety of courses, depending on the weather conditions of the day. The series boasts a goodly number of participants who vie for a race flag and bragging rights at the dinner party that follows each race. The boat that has the best performance in 3 out of 4 races wins the coveted Manitoulin Island "Boat of the Year" award.
Our first "Dingy Poker Run" was started in 2009. This event provided its participates with a wet and wild time. This fun activity promotes friendship amongst our visitors and local boaters alike.
We welcome all boaters who think they would like to be part of this growing club to fill out a membership form online and submit payment by Paypal or print the application form and mail with your cheque to LCYC, Box 167, Little Current, ON, Canada, P0P 1K0.
Commodore: Jeffrey Marsh
Vice Commodore: Alistair Stephen
Past Commodore: O. H. Rodgers
Treasurer: Rod MacLeod
Secretary: vacant
Rear Commodore - Local Racing: Mike Arthur
Rear Commodore - Website: Bruce McKenzie
Rear Commodore - Membership&Media: Bruce O'Hare
Rear Commodore - Cruisers' Net: Roy Eaton
Little Current Yacht Club Box 167 Little Current ON Canada P0P 1K0


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Thank you for your interest in our villas. We look forward to speaking with you!
The Central Province of Sri Lanka is home to the towns of Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Dambulla and Hatton, to name a few. Kandy, capital of the province, is also widely regarded at the cultural capital of the country - thanks to its renowned cultural sites and nature attractions. Further down south lies Nuwara Eliya, a picturesque town with an emerald landscape and refreshing Springtime climate. Till today, the town retains remnants of its colonial heritage, and serves as a great base for day trips out to nature sites like Horton Plains.
Your hill country villa will take you to a different era with its grand colonial architecture and beautifully preserved interiors. A sprawling estate, complete with large living spaces, lush gardens and a full range of modern amenities are all yours. Impeccable hospitality and housekeeping service help round out your stay at the luxury property of your choice.
Kandy throws out plentiful options for sightseeing. The most popular attraction is undoubtedly the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - a Buddhist temple that houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha. Sri Mahabodhi Maha Viharaya, a monastery with a striking white Buddha statue is another must-see site for culture lovers.
Soak up the beauty of nature with a stroll through the well-manicured grounds of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, or a hike through the forest reserve of Udawattakele Royal Forest Sanctuary. These attractions are located within close proximity (with a seven to 20-minute ride) from the town center, and your villa manager will readily assist with all transportation arrangements.
Dining out at Helga's Folly is highly recommended during your stay in Kandy. The restaurant is atmospheric and eclectic, and creates an unordinary dining experience with its ornate interiors, curious collection of antiques and ornaments and exquisite silverware. For post-dinner relaxation, chill out at Slightly Chilled Lounge Bar, a bar with views over the town and Kandy Lake or at Royal Bar & Hotel Restaurant, where you'll enjoy jazz tunes in a retro setting.
Hakgala Botanic Gardens and Single Tree Hill are sites within Nuwara Eliya where villa travellers may enjoy a leisurely stroll or hike. The vibrantly coloured Seetha Amman Temple offers many opportunities for photo taking, and tea lovers will appreciate the guided tour and tea tasting session at Pedro Tea Factory. With a car and driver (your villa manager will assist with rental), you'll easily get around as these attractions are located within a seven to 30-minute drive from the town center.
Our favourite places for dining and drinking in Nuwara Eliya are Tusker Restaurant (it's known for dishing out scrumptious seafood fare), Coffee Bar (great for coffee and dessert) and Lake View Pub (as its name suggests, the pub overlooks a scenic lake). Or dine in at your villa, where a team of professional staff will take care of all your dining needs - from grocery shopping, to cooking and cleaning.
Planning for family day trips is a breeze as both Kandy and Nuwara Eliya make great bases for exploring the surrounding attractions. From Nuwara Eliya, we recommend visiting Adam's Peak (two and a half hours by car), Horton Plains National Park (an hour by car) and World's End, Uda Walawe National Park (four hours by car) and Maha Saman Devalaya (four hours by car).
From Kandy, head out to Knuckles Mountain Range (one hour and 45 minutes by car), Wasgamuwa National Park (three hours by car) or Kitulgala (two hours by car), a site known for its exceptional scenery and white water rafting.


text: Find quintessential styles in officially licensed Michael Dickson Seahawks jerseys here at the official online store of the Seattle Seahawks! Our collection offers authentic Michael Dickson Seattle Seahawks home and away jerseys, so every fan finds a team jersey for their favorite NFL team. Give the best of the best authentic Michael Dickson Seahawks jerseys when you give your significant other a custom jersey from proshop.seahawks.com. Whoever you're shopping for, men, women or kids, a unique jersey from the official online store of the Seahawks is stocked with all the most popular designs to help you show off your die-hard Michael Dickson Seattle Seahawks pride. Our Michael Dickson Seahawks jerseys come from brands including Nike and Mitchell & Ness so that you can count on their quality. Look out for Michael Dickson Seattle Seahawks player jerseys so you can show your support while displaying their official jersey. Our Authentic and Replica Michael Dickson Seahawks jerseys feature your favorite team's logos and colors so you can be proud to rep your Michael Dickson Seahawks wherever you go.


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First it was on, then it was off. Then on, then off. Then it had a little wobble. Now, SpaceX has finally launched, making its NASA's first successful involvement with the world of private space flight. This is a momentous day for science, engineering and space travel.
After launching at 3:44:38 ET, the Falcon 9 rocket booster and SpaceX Dragon capsule finally made their way into space. So far, Falcon 9 and the Dragon are in orbit, and the Dragon has successfully deployed its solar arrays.
Over the next few days, the Dragon will orbit Earth and then begin its approach to the International Space Station. The craft will then undergo intensive sensor and flight system testing and, if that goes well, it will approach the ISS on Thursday for final tests. The big day comes Friday when, if absolutely everything has gone to plan, Dragon will dock with the ISS.
You can find out when you might be able to see the Dragon pass over your city here.
Image by NASA


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Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, and the standard.
This week's stylish image by Melanie Greenwood made me think I should write a technical manual.
But, as I know nothing about aeroplanes, I didn't.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture, below.
Christmas Eve.
The airport is packed with people desperate to fly south.
The blizzard still prohibits any take-offs.
Outside the streets are gridlocked.
No one is going anywhere.
There is no sign of a break in the weather.
We watch the news anxiously.
Almost everyone has a cell phone pressed to an ear.
What is happening elsewhere?
I get a call from my son, only fifty miles north of here.
Did you get away yet, he asks.
I can barely hear him above the background chaos.
You've got an hour, he says.
These things are indestructible.
We can't stop th…


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Remember that time when you asked Siri about the nearest place to find hookers? Or perhaps the time you wanted to know where to find the best burritos at 3am? Whatever you've been asking Siri since its launch in late 2011 is likely still on record with Apple, as revealed by a report by our friends at Wired on Friday. Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller told Wired that Apple stores Siri queries on its servers for "up to two years," though the company says it makes efforts to anonymize the data.
"Apple may keep anonymized Siri data for up to two years," Muller said. "Our customers' privacy is very important to us."
Why does Apple have your Siri queries on record in the first place? Remember, Siri doesn't just operate locally on your iPhone or iPad—when you ask it a question, your voice query is sent to Apple's servers for processing before the answer—a Google search, an answer from Wolfram alpha, a Yelp result, etc.—is sent back. That's why an Internet connection is required in order to use Siri; if you have no Wi-Fi or cellular signal, you can't use Siri to perform any actions.
According to Wired, Apple generates "random numbers to represent the user and it associates the voice files with that number" when your Siri data is sent to the server. This string of numbers isn't associated with your Apple ID or e-mail, but it does represent your device when Apple is processing the query. "Once the voice recording is six months old, Apple 'disassociates' your user number from the clip, deleting the number from the voice file. But it keeps these disassociated files for up to 18 more months for testing and product improvement purposes," Wired wrote.
The question came up thanks to pressure from American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Nicole Ozer, who thinks Apple needs to post its Siri privacy policy online so users are fully informed about what's happening to their information. Indeed, although most iOS users are likely only using Siri to set up reminders or send tweets, people should be cautious about using Siri to send or dictate any sensitive information.
Many have been aware of this since Siri first came out thanks to the Internet connection requirement, but Apple's acknowledgment that it keeps the data is a new reminder about the potential privacy risks. After all, our last poll on whether Ars readers would use Siri on OS X showed that 52 percent would at least give it a shot—people tend to conduct even more sensitive business on their computers than their mobile devices, so the data retention aspect is an important one to keep in mind.
Muller pointed out, however, that the identifiers are deleted immediately—"along with any associated data"—when a user turns Siri off on his or her device. (You can do this by going to Settings > General > Siri on a supported iOS device.)


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One of Deer Park's most unique tourist attractions is the Park and Recreation Department's Art Park Players. They are a true treasure to Deer Park as they offer one of the only remaining dinner theaters in the State of Texas. With four major shows per season, affordable ticket prices and a wide array of small events throughout the year, this attraction draws many visitors to Deer Park.
Art Park Player productions are held in the Deer Park Municipal Court and Theater Building, located at 1302 Center Street.
Last season, the Art Park Players performed Guys and Dolls, Forever Plaid, Steel Magnolias and Mamma Mia!
This season, the Art Park Players will perform Sweet Charity, Little Shop of Horrors, and Footloose the Musical!
Learn more about the Art Park Players' 2020 season!
For more information about the Art Park Players, visit their website or call 281-478-7288.


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When Michelle and Jon Christy bought their 1980s-era home in North Tustin, much of the residence already was remodeled.
Except for the kitchen. It was dated. And it was olive green.
"I wanted to lighten up the kitchen, because the kitchen had been dark," Michelle Christy said. "I thought white cabinets would give it a nice, clean, crisp look."
They didn't stop there. Today, with a demolition behind them, and new Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances along with a spacious island, the couple's kitchen is not just brighter; it also reflects several current trends in culinary design.
Nearly half of new homeowners undertaking a home improvement project within three months of buying a residence set their sights on a kitchen overhaul, according to a recent report from the National Association of Realtors.
The array of choices for big-ticket appliances to even a simple backsplash can be daunting. But people should consider what will appeal to a broad range of future homebuyers. Even a minor remodel can recoup most of the cost when the owners resell, according to Remodeling magazine's 2013 Cost vs. Value report.
"You may have a hard time selling your house if it (the kitchen) is really 'out there,"' said Debbie Nassetta, co-owner of Roomscapes, a home design firm in Newport Beach.
So what's trendy, but at the same time, has some staying power?
Consider a survey released by Houzz, a popular home design and remodeling website based in Palo Alto. The site's Fall Kitchen Trends study gathered responses from 7,812 homeowners either planning renovations or in the midst of them. Earlier this year, the National Kitchen & Bath Association came out with survey results from 300 of its member-designers.
The list below includes seven trends from the Houzz survey followed by three from the association. Some Orange County kitchen designers also weighed in, as well as local residents who've managed to wrap up their renovations, as it turns out, just in time for the holidays.
Here's what's hot.
1. Chef's stoves. A professional-grade range – a stove with options such as a flat griddle or a cooktop to accommodate a searing pan or a wok – topped kitchen wish lists in the Houzz survey; 32 percent of respondents selected them as their dream appliance.
"What a consumer looks at, even if they don't cook, is it looks cool," Nassetta said.
Double ovens garnered 18 percent. Other high-end features such as induction cooktops, wine refrigerators and convection ovens seemed to matter far less. Only 4 percent of respondents considered warming drawers a priority.
2. Eco-friendly features. Nearly half of those surveyed – 49 percent – said using eco-friendly appliances and materials in their kitchens is important.
While a variety of Energy Star-recommended appliances and green-certified building products are on the market, eco-friendly changes also can be as simple as using cloth rather than paper towels, replacing plastic containers with glass, or using non-toxic cleaners, Houzz contributors note.
3. Granite and quartz countertops. Most respondents – 94 percent – said they're changing their countertops. Granite still rocks, topping the list at 50 percent, but quartz is a rising star, coming in at 36 percent. Marble only drew 10 percent. Tile got a paltry 2 percent.
Quartz countertops are resistant to stains and scratches and are easy to take care of, kitchen designers say. "They're pretty bulletproof," said Mike Close, president of Spinnaker Development in Newport Beach, which designs, builds and remodels custom homes.
David and Apryl Imboden went with Caesarstone, a quartz product, for the countertops as part of an extensive kitchen remodel on an Orange house they bought in June. "With granite you've got to seal it and take care of it and can't put certain things on the countertop," David Imboden said. "I just wanted a countertop that you don't have to think about."
Michelle Christy, however, chose marble for her island top when she remodeled her kitchen this summer. "I like the veining in the marble," she said. "I just love the clean look. It's a little care. I had a couple of people say, 'Don't do it!' But I did it and I love it."
4. Tile backsplashes. Tile, however, was the top choice for backsplash accents. Half of respondents preferred it, with marble, stone slab and other materials trailing far behind. "A lot of people are using the backsplash as sort of the jewelry of the kitchen," said Sheila Schmitz, Houzz.com editor. "That's where they'll put that splash of color, because it won't be overwhelming."
David Imboden said he found the backsplash the toughest decision of all. "There's just so many choices," he said. "The backsplash probably dates your kitchen more than anything."
5. Floors. Hardwood floors led the list of choices, but here's another area where tiles made a strong showing, coming in second. Remember good old linoleum? It garnered only 3 percent. Concrete did worse – 2 percent.
6. Stainless steel. A majority of respondents – 65 percent – favor stainless steel appliances. Some homeowners are combining appliance finishes or integrating stainless steel into cabinetry, and 12 percent are choosing white or color appliances.
7. Islands. They're popular but not a must. While 61 percent said they're incorporating an island, for some others, it would be the wrong choice, either because the room is too small or the configuration wouldn't work.
"A kitchen has to be large enough for an island," Nassetta said. "If you squeeze one in and it's not the right width or too tight, the client won't be happy in the end. If you're constantly walking around an island just to have one … it will feel bad."
David Imboden did much of the remodeling himself on his 300-square-foot kitchen, complete with a breakfast nook. He consulted a designer, but in the end Imboden realized that an island wasn't the way to go. "It really didn't fit right," he said. "It would have blocked the nook."
8. Transitional style. This look – a blend of traditional and contemporary – has grown in popularity, up from 59 percent to 69 percent by the end of 2012, according to the kitchen and bath association.
9. White cabinets. Whites and off whites are the top choice for color schemes, at 73 percent, an increase of 6 percent over the previous year. The popularity of white cabinetry jumped from 59 percent in 2012 to 67 percent this year.
"They (clients) say, 'I want my kitchen to be light and bright,"' Close said.
10. Gray color schemes. Grays are coming on strong, according to the survey and local designers. "In kitchens, shades of gray have noticeably jumped in use over the past three years," the association said in its summary, noting an increase from 9 percent in 2010 to "a remarkable" 55 percent in the last three months of 2012.
"If you put in a classic white kitchen, very few people don't like that," said Nassetta, who designed the Christys' kitchen. But, she confirmed, "Gray is really hot. It has been for the past couple of years and it's still trending that way."
The takeaway from all this?
"People really want easy, clean, unfussy kitchens," Schmitz said.
And remember, don't get carried away.
"Always try to keep in mind you're doing the work for yourself, but at some point, somebody else will be in the house," Close said. "Don't do something so radical, so edgy, that in five years you'll look at each other and say, 'What were we thinking?'"
Related: Fancy a custom stove or a wine dispenser?
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com


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World premiere of 'The Trail' features struggle and survival at Breckenridge Festival of Film
The Trail
Date: Today
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Colorado Mountain College, 107 Dennison Placer Road, Breckenridge
For more information about the film and to watch the trailer, visit http://www.breckfilmfest.com
There is a scene in "The Trail" where the main character, Amelia, plays a piano in the middle of a snowy forest. It's a strange and haunting shot, intriguing in its contrast between the symbol of civilization and the beautiful yet harsh surrounding wilderness.
The scene is representative of much of the film, from external physical challenges to the internal struggle and development of the protagonist.
"The main concept was to fortify the survival genre," said director and writer William Parker. "Every (similar) movie has been male focused, … so I thought, how can we reimagine the survival story with a female character?"
"The Trail" pits Amelia, a young pioneer woman, against the harsh realities of life along the Oregon Trail during the 1840s. When disaster strikes, Amelia is left on her own in the wilderness and must find within herself the desire and strength to survive.
It was the concept of the strong pioneer woman that drew lead actress Jasmin Jandreau to the role.
"I was honestly praying for a part like this," she said. She has a passion for historical film and period pieces, which she's had difficulty finding in Los Angeles.
"That's why it was literally sent from heaven," she said. "I couldn't believe that I found such an amazing pioneer 1840s American historic film that was independently made."
She immediately set up an audition and afterward nervously awaited the results.
"We saw 150 girls," said Parker of the casting process. "She was literally the second-to-last one to come in, and it was just a no-brainer."
Two weeks later, Jandreau was on set and filming. Already a fan of the "Little House on the Prairie" books, she drew on Laura Ingalls Wilder for inspiration in portraying a tough pioneer woman.
The film's set itself provided insight — it was shot in the same mountains where the ill-fated Donner Party perished.
"It's such a rugged, harsh landscape that we thought it would be the perfect location," Parker said. "It makes the story more real, a connection to the past."
Weather played a challenging role in the filming, he added. In the script, snow doesn't appear until the second half of the film, whereas in real life, snow fell often and without warning.
The physical challenge of filming in the elements helped Jandreau to identify even further with her character as she cut her feet while walking barefoot in the snow and her lips turned blue while filming a scene in a river.
"It was intense," she said, but her laughter as she described the freezing water and icy snow revealed her that her enthusiasm for the film, its subject and her character, made the discomfort worth it.
Jandreau particularly fell in love with Amelia and her transformation.
"This person, this girl, is so special, because I felt like in the beginning she's very meek," Jandreau said, referring to Amelia's controlling husband and the norms of society at that time. "A woman's part there is very meek, very quiet, and you can absolutely see that in the beginning. She's a mouse. … I love that arc of her, as an actor you love that. She gets a little more wild, more primal; she becomes a fighter and you see that at the end, that she woke up and she's aware of herself, and she sees how much power and self-worth that she has afterward."
Parker, who wrote the story, said it wasn't difficult for him to create a strong central female character. As a native of Southern California, he grew up learning about the Oregon Trail, the Gold Rush and the history of the West. When he started writing, he researched firsthand accounts of women traveling west in covered wagons.
"I just borrowed upon their experiences. I tried as best as possible to put myself in the mind-set of that," he said. Imagining the struggles in the wilderness wasn't hard either. "To be honest, I'm not an adventure man. I would experience some of the same experiences that Amelia would," he said. "I think Amelia's experiences mirror (what a man's experience would be). It transcends gender."
Breckenridge marks the world premiere of "The Trail," which will make the rounds at other festivals this year, including the Raindance Festival in London. The film was also awarded the Breck "Best Of" award for the spiritual category. The honor was an unexpected and "amazing" surprise, Parker said. "The Trail" is his first film.
Spirituality is an important aspect of the story line, as Amelia not only struggles against the harshness of the wilderness but her own faith.
"There's a gap between ritual and faith, and we explore that," Parker said. "She's very ritual oriented — she goes to church, she reads the Bible, … but through the movie she kind of gives up on it."
Amelia struggles with loss of faith, feeling she's been abandoned by God and is completely on her own, Parker said. Then she is transformed by her experiences, and Jandreau offered her explanation of the result.
"In the end, she realizes that not only does she actually find her faith, she actually really believes, genuinely, 'This is what I was looking for,'" she said. "She realizes, through another connection in the film that comes along, that God was with her the whole time, and God was communicating with her the whole time."
The film is filled with symbolic moments, but Parker's favorite is a simple one.
"We used her hair to represent her letting go and being open to new ideas," he said. "So there's a point where she takes it down and enjoys the beauty that's around her, and didn't notice until this point."
"The Trail" will be shown among the other "Best Of" selections today at the Colorado Mountain College campus in Breckenridge.
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Hey, Ari: Hope You're Enjoying That Power-Breakfast Bagel!
Behold the splendor that is Mark "The Cobrasnake" Hunter, splayed in nothing but skivvies and white loafers across the fabled Endeavor conference table. (40-foot long Corian, white laminated glass, stainless steel, hand-carved by an ancient order of Unicorn Panda craftsmen—you know the one.)And how did the ubiquitous hipster documentarian penetrate the inner sanctum of Hollywood's Wormhole to the White House™? We're not entirely sure, but we know partner Tom Strickler signed off on it, and even answered some interview questions left for him on a whiteboard. (Cobrasnake: "What is the best advice you can offer someone starting in the mail room at Endeavor?" Strickler: "Work work work work work work.") There's also some great shots of life behind the scenes at the Hollywood power-brokerage—everything from 189-line telephones to bedraggled assistants to Strickler and his team of hardworking baby-devourers themselves. Ari Emanuel, however, is nowhere to be found. Nice work, Cobrasnake! Now put some pants on. More photos:
[Photo credits: Mark "The Cobrasnake" Hunter] [Except the one of Lloyd. That's just a joke.]


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Woman accused of hitting husband on head with frying pan
Maria Zapeta claims she hit husband in self-defense
A Fort Pierce woman was arrested Sunday night after she hit her husband on the head with a frying pan, police said.
Maria Zapeta, also known as Maria Guerrero, 29, was arrested on a domestic battery charge.
MUGSHOTS: Death Row's Female Faces On WPBF.com
Fort Pierce police said officers were called to a domestic disturbance at the home and found Zapeta sitting outside on the ground.
Zapeta told officers she hit her husband in self-defense because he pulled her hair, police said.
She claimed they were drinking when she told her husband that she wanted to go to bed, so he grabbed her by the hair, smacked her across the face and threw her to the ground.
However, Zapeta's husband told police he was sleeping on the sofa when his wife came into the living room and hit him over the head with a frying pan because he was "not in the bed with her," the report stated.
Police said Zapeta's husband didn't want to go to the hospital because it would take too much time and he had to go to work in the morning, so he just wanted to go to sleep.
More From WPBF: Email alerts | Mobile | Social


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A family friend phoned this morning to announce the birth of a baby girl. So welcome to the world, baby girl! Here's how Hollywood expects your life to unfold. Ready set shoes, tiny girl friend!
- You Are Born: Congrats! You've already done this. I haven't talked to your mother yet, but if the movies are to be believed, she spent most of your birth yelling, "Give me the druuuuugs!" while your adorably befuddled father freaked out and cried a bit. Your grandmother said something sassy to your stuffy grandfather in the waiting room, and at least one of your family members passed out in the waiting room, either from excitement, exhaustion, joy, or the icky grossness of the word "placenta." Someone will make a joke about your giant head fitting through your mother's vagina! Congrats! You're a woman in the world now, and everyone around you is embarrassed about female anatomy in general.
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- Elementary School: You're walking, talking, and sassy as all get out, baby girl! Believe it or not, this is the time of your life where you'll meet your soul mate or develop a chip on your shoulder that will take about 20-25 years to remove. No, really! In like, 3rd grade! I know! I can't believe it, either, but the movies never, ever lie, sweet child o' someone else's, and I'm just trying to prepare you for the future. Someone will scar you for life with a 3rd grade break-up or by calling you a doo-doo head. And things don't get any better for you in high school, either, I'm afraid.
- High School Oh man, you are going to be such a geek in high school. It's not your fault, really. Everyone knows that you have to be a geek in high school in order to qualify for the life-changing makeover that will secure you a Prince Charming in your mid to late 20's. And if there's one thing we've learned from romantic comedies, it's that your entire life should really revolve around finding the perfect man. Sadly, this thing called "a career" is going to try and stand in your way!
- Your Career: By your 20s, due to your childhood heartbreak and your high school geekdom, you've become a cold hearted bitch with only one thing on her mind: success! Of course, in the Romantic Comedy world, in order to be successful, you also need to be an uptight manhater who buries her "true" feelings under piles of very important paperwork. You might even score a lame boyfriend or fiance, who you don't love at all, but use to fill the hole that your 3rd grade boyfriend left behind. And you might not even know you're capable of love at all (because successful women are like, totally incapable of having romantic feelings, DUH!) until the dude you loved before you "sold out" and became a success falls in love with a perky young gal who just wants babies and walks on the beach, like "real" women do. When this happens, you'll realize your career was totally a sham and was ruining your chances of happiness with a man. And remember: that's what it's all about. See those little blobs with the blue blankets lying next to you? Hitch your wagon to one of those stars, baby friend!
- Your Life After 35 Oh, wait, I'm sorry, this period isn't covered by romantic comedies, unless you plan on being someone's mom, sassy friend who never gets any, sassy slutty friend, shoe addict, or "cougar." Oh, and it helps to be upper class and living in a big city. If you're over 35, not-upper class, and living in a flyover state, you don't exist! Dream big, little one!
- Your Life After 65 If you're one of the lucky few who escapes the plague of invisibility that will inevitably sweep over the women of your generation as well, get ready to be the wacky grandma who drinks too much and enjoys sexual innuendo and "keeping it real" by rapping and using sassy modern lingo. You are so wacky, Grandma! Your sexuality has been watered down to sassy quips and hilarious dance moves, because god forbid a post-menopausal woman actually have a sex life as opposed to a "hot date with Pat Sajak!"
So just to recap, here's your romantic comedy life in a nutshell:
- You're born in wacky circumstances
- Your life sucks for approximately 25 years, mostly because of a man
- You meet another man (maybe even the heartbreaker!) who will help you see that your life sucks because you've spent too much time working and achieving things, and that is like, so boring
- You will fall madly in love before the age of 35
- You will then disappear, only to make sporadic appearances in cameo roles as "Mom" or "Wacky Granny"- a completion of the "women are wacky!" circle of life
- Bonus: You will sing into a hairbrush at least 487 times.
I'm sorry to be such a Debbie Downer on your birthday, kid, but with any luck, everything I've typed here will be false by the time you're old enough to read it, though I highly doubt it, as Forbes recently noted that romantic comedies are, sadly enough, "box office gold." Call me up in 21 years and we'll cry over it together while drinking some dumb cocktail named after the hottest television show of 2030. For as long as these dumb cliches remain, if nothing else, we'll have something to make fun of together. Hilarity, for better or worse, will ensue. And that's pretty much what life is all about.
Something For The Ladies [Forbes]


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Study Finds Aspirin May Reduce Prostate Cancer Deaths
Blood-thinning, anti-inflammatory effect could be key
En español | Men who use aspirin or other blood thinners after treatment for prostate cancer have a substantially lower risk of dying or seeing the cancer spread to another organ, new research shows.
Blood thinners interfere with blood-clotting mechanisms, said Kevin Choe, M.D., a radiation oncologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and lead author of the study.
"There is good evidence from laboratory studies which suggests that these clotting mechanisms play an important role in cancer growth and spread as well," Choe said.
Because prostate cancer patients tend to be older, many are already taking these medications for cardiovascular problems. Choe's team wanted to see whether they were receiving an additional health benefit.
The study, presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, drew on the national Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urological Research (CaPSURE) database, which included medical records for thousands of prostate cancer patients.
Next: Can coffee help, too? >>
Most of the nearly 2,000 men studied were taking aspirin, and some took warfarin (Coumadin), other blood thinners or a combination of medications.
"We found that prostate cancer mortality was significantly lower if you were on one of these medications," Choe said. "When we looked further at which of these medications was most important for this reduction, we found that it was aspirin that seemed to have the biggest benefit."
Christopher Logothetis, M.D., a medical oncologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, said the study is in line with others that suggest aspirin's blood-thinning and anti-inflammatory properties reduce the risk of many kinds of cancer.
Such studies tend to look at existing patient records and can only determine associations, not explain why aspirin might help beat prostate cancer, he notes. He concedes there haven't been any studies where some men received aspirin and others a placebo to see what the differences might be.
But Logothetis says based on the evidence, it is "reasonable" for doctors to recommend a small daily dose of aspirin to their prostate cancer patients, except for those patients who are allergic to the medication, suffer from ulcers or have bleeding problems.
Choe was a little more cautious, saying further studies should be done before making routine recommendations to give aspirin to prostate cancer patients, but if you are already taking aspirin "then you may have additional benefit for your prostate cancer as well."
Michael Haederle is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in People, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.
You may also like: 9 meds older adults should use with caution. >>


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PERSONALISED Fulham Dream Team Football Print
WOW! Absolutey love my print. Great communication via email. Well packaged and will definately be buying more. - Darren Read via Feefo£21.50
If you had the chance to pick the greatest ever Fulham team, who would you choose? Would it be Dempsey in Midfield? Van Der Sar in goal? Of course, you'd have Saha up front, wouldn't you?
Now's your chance to do just that with your very own personalised print either to hang on your wall or give as a very special gift.
It doesn't have to be your Fulham dream team, you can personalise your print for anything you want, maybe to commemorate your first ever live match or to mark a very special game.
Each player you pick will be represented by one of our very own digitally illustrated classic jerseys, exclusive to Good Team on Paper.
Ordering Help
Product Details
Delivery Information
It's really easy:1. Choose whether you want your personalised print framed or not from the size selector.2. In the box, please include the eleven players that will make up your personalised team and a manager. From this we can then select an iconic shirt to represent each player or if you prefer you can choose them yourself, just put the year the kit was used next to the name. We can also design away strips.
Please don't forget to add your own personal message, but please bear in mind that space is limited. As a rule of thumb keep it to around 4-6 words, for example 'Dave's Dream Team'.3. Tick the box if you require a proof before we print4. Choose your quantity5. Add your print to cart & proceed to checkout.6. Let us do the magic & wait for the postman... It won't be too long.
A3 Unframed Print - 30cm x 42cmA4 Unframed Print - 21cm x 30cmWe also offer various framing options.Please note, we can not ship framed prints outside of the UK, for overseas orders please choose one of the unframed options.A3 Black Framed Print - 40cm x 50cm (UK Only)A3 White Framed Print - 40cm x 50cm (UK Only)A4 Black Framed Print - 31cm x 38.5cm (UK Only)A4 White Framed Print - 31cm x 38.5cm (UK Only)All of our prints are printed on 290gsm premium pearl paper stock.Frames come with ivory mount & clear perspex front protection.
Can I stipulate the exact kits I would like to use on the print?
Sure - just leave the date of the kit you would like the player represented by next to their name. If you don't leave a date, we will select a kit they have worn in their career.
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A man named Pilgrim discovers a book, and the more he reads it, the more he is convicted of sin and judgment and a burden begins to develop on his back. Obsessed with discovering the truth and escaping his town, the City of Destruction, Pilgrim ventures outside the forbidden borders and begins his journey to find a Celestial City ruled by a good and noble King, meeting friends and foes along the way.
Detective Travis (Todd Terry, Breaking Bad) has spent 15 years solving cases while serving the small town of East Bank, Texas. Each new case brings unique twists, turns, and surprises he must address.
Dr. Michael Heiser explores the unexpected intersection between UFOs, alien abductions, the world of angels and demons, and the ancient texts that speak of them.
Filmed entirely in Romania, including in the very prison where Pastor Wurmbrand endured torture and solitary confinement, this powerful film uniquely presents the story with live action rather than interviews.
This Changed Everything: 500 Years of the Reformation celebrates the fruits of the Reformation while exploring difficult questions about the cost of division: Could schism have been avoided? Is there hope for reunification? What did Jesus really mean when He prayed for His followers to be "one"?
Some prayers are best left unanswered. This light-hearted romp will make you laugh and touch your heart as Betsy learns the truth about unanswered prayers and her own perception of God.
This 2-DVD Collector's Edition of Dale Evans: Beyond the Happy Trails interviews family and friends who celebrate the life of Dale Evans and Roy Rogers and their influence on American culture. Movies are Lights of Old Santa Fe and My Pal Trigger
The fiery monk whose 95 Theses sparked the Reformation. In a world ruled by the church, all it took was one little nail, one well-written scroll, and one sharp-tongued monk to turn everything upside-down! Martin Luther didn't mean to spark the Reformation with his 95 Theses, but his realization that salvation comes through faith and not works ignited the revolution that changed the world.
John Wesley is well known as the spiritual father of Methodism. His heartfelt struggles, his passion for authentic faith expressing itself through meaningful kingdom work, and his message of saving grace resonate with audiences of all ages and denominations.
This set includes three titles in the Reflections series with Ken Curtis: Reflections on Psalm 23, Reflections on the Lord's Prayer, and Reflections on the Beatitudes.
Until Forever is a powerful account of one young man's courageous battle with cancer and his spiritual journey throughout the ordeal. Based on the true story of Michael and Michelle Boyum, Until Forever illustrates the strength of faith in the midst of the unknown.
J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and George MacDonald were the pioneers of the fantasy genre, and their impact is unmistakable. Faith in Imagination: The Fantasy Makers examines the spiritual influences of these fantasy pioneers and the lasting impact their works have on our present-day culture.
From the Emmy Award-winning Bible Collection featuring the critically acclaimed movies, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and Paul the Apostle comes a production starring Richard Harris as the Apostle John in The Apocalypse. Detailing John's visions against the backdrop of the severe persecution of Christians in the first century, this biblically based film will inspire viewers.
Paul in Asia Minor is a brilliant and illuminating production. Beginning with his conversion, it reenacts Paul's missionary journeys on Anatolian soil (modern Turkey).
Explore the process of archaeology with the top experts digging in Israel today. Join New Testament scholar Dr. Craig Evans as he reveals groundbreaking finds that illuminate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Using C.S. Lewis's own words, award-winning actor Max McLean inhabits Lewis to take us on his rigorous journey from hard-boiled atheist to "the most reluctant convert in all England." Discover how the "Hound of Heaven" pursued Lewis relentlessly until he finally "gave in"…only to become the most influential Christian writer of the 20th century.
Can we trust the Bible? Our faith is based on the New Testament–but can we really trust the Bible? Skeptics say no, arguing that the Gospel manuscripts have been doctored to push a theological agenda.
A true story, God's Outlaw is about international politics, church intrigue, cold-blooded betrayal, and false justice ending in a criminal's death. But it's also about victorious faith and spiritual triumph over some of the greatest political and religious forces known in the 16th century.
"John Wycliffe" is a dramatic biography of the life of the 14th century scholar and cleric who translated the Bible into English for the first time. John Wycliffe found himself in the middle of religious, political and social conflicts. An Oxford scholar, one of Europe's most renowned philosophers, John Wycliffe was a defender of English nationalism against the power of the pope and a champion of the poor against the injustices of the rich.
The touching story of Father Damien, who went to the island of Molokai to minister to the lepers who had been exiled there.
This 5-DVD pack includes John Wycliffe: The Morning Star, God's Outlaw, Martin Luther, The Radicals, and John Hus.
Everybody knows the story of Santa Claus, the red–suited figure who lives at the North Pole and distributes gifts to good children every Christmas eve. But is there any historical evidence on which this jolly old character is based? Was there a real Santa Claus? To answer that question, host Mark Wilson, a distinguished historian and archeologist travels not to the North Pole but to modern day Turkey and Italy. There he uncovers clues that lead to the truth about the man behind the legend.
They started out as average, unexceptional men of their time: fishermen, farmers, local magistrates. But their dedication to a prophetic Jewish preacher in the backwaters of the Roman Empire transformed them into revolutionaries and, in the process, changed the world itself in ways that would reverberate across time for two thousand years.
In this colorful, award-winning PBS documentary, Mennonite historian John Ruth takes us sympathetically into the Amish mindset. An updated look at Amish origins, beliefs, farm life, childhood, school, worship, recreation, courtship, horse transportation, barn-raising, land pressures and cottage industry.


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Following Apple's lead, Google and Microsoft will add "kill switches" to their next smartphone operating systems — a measure that has apparently led to a sharp drop in thefts of iPhones.
The announcement was made Thursday by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, who head a Secure Our Smartphones Initiative that has steamrolled initial opposition from the wireless industry with a campaign backed by law enforcement.
"This is very significant and validates everything we have been trying to do legislatively in Sacramento this past year," said State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who has introduced a bill requiring every smartphone maker to have a kill switch.
A kill switch lets an owner remotely deactivate a stolen smartphone, rendering it useless until it is reactivated by its owner.
The move means that next year, the new versions of operating systems used by 97 percent of smartphones in the U.S. will have the anti-theft technology. About 3.1 million smartphone-related thefts were reported last year in the U.S., double the number in 2012, according to Consumer Reports.
In the first five months of this year, thefts of Apple devices fell by 17 percent in New York City while thefts of Samsung devices — without a switch — increased 51 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to new crime statistics in a report released with the announcement.
In San Francisco, thefts of Apple devices fell 38 percent, the report said.
But the battle is not over. The next step, according to the report, will be to make the anti-theft software part of the default operating system so the user doesn't have to choose to activate it. Apple's kill switch requires the user to activate it. A spokesperson for Gascon said the same will be true for Google's and Microsoft's.
"Because kill switches are only available on an opt-in basis, not enough consumers are signing up," according to the report. "This underscores the urgency of (our) call to make kill switches a standard opt-out function on all phones."
There are sharp divisions over which is best among proponents of some form of kill switch. Some say opt-out is best because most users will go with the default mode; others say users should be free to choose whether they want to use the feature.
Leno's bill would require opt-out and has met opposition from some industry and advocacy groups. It has passed the Senate and has been working its way through various Assembly committees.
Leno said opt-out is necessary because "the deterrent, to be fully effective, must be ubiquitous. If it's something you have to do as a consumer, the criminal is going to say my chances are 50-50" of getting a phone without a kill switch, he said.
Adi Kamdar of the Electronic Frontier Foundation disagreed.
"We think opt out isn't the best way to approach any technological solution," he said.
Apple's kill switch, called an Activation Lock, works after the user turns on the operating system's Find-My-iPhone feature. Mountain View-based Google, whose Android operating system runs on more than half of all smartphones in the U.S., said it would soon release details of its switch.
Microsoft, of Redmond, Wash., said its anti-theft feature will be offered as an update for phones running Windows Phone 8.0 and newer. Nokia phones run on Microsoft's operating system.
Microsoft vice president for government affairs Fred Humphries said in a blog that Microsoft's kill switch will include the ability to remotely erase personal data, render the smartphone inoperable by unauthorized users and prevent reactivation or setup without the authorized user's permission.
Kill switches "make a lot of sense," said Ken Dulaney, a mobile analyst with Gartner. "We have to stop people stealing phones. But if it's not done well and causes a lot of support calls to carriers, it's not going to help. If it's done properly, it's a great thing to have."
The announcement is a big win for the initiative led by Schneiderman and Gascon, which has been racking up successes lately.
In September, three months after the initiative kicked off, Apple introduced its Activation Lock. Earlier this year, federal legislation was introduced requiring carriers and manufacturers to add anti-theft capabilities to smartphones. In April, CTIA, the wireless industry trade group, abandoned its opposition to the proposal.
Contact Pete Carey at 408-920-5419 Follow him on Twitter.com/petecarey.


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Use of ePSXe before 2.0 is highly discouraged. Mednafen/RetroArch is recommended for playing/testing, pSX is recommended for debugging.
Started by Zareb, April 24, 2012, 10:43:18 pm
Quote from: Solifuge on April 24, 2012, 11:54:17 pmIn the process of checking this out... looks like a lot of work went into this!After rocking through the Oribonne Monestary fight, I'm having a pretty rough time with the Gariland fight... I think it's the lack of heals and starting with a suboptimal party makeup. This seems very item-dependant, even more than vanilla FFT; in the Gariland fight, it seemed that all the NPCs all had swords/armor, and I went in with a mix of Swords/Daggers and Robes/Clothes/Armor. Since all of the Trainee skills are close to 95% failure rate due to the new equations, having caster-items really didn't do much for me. I like the universal item-use, but you could use some starting healing items, or else that first fight could be impossible if you're unlucky enough to get mostly daggers/clothes on your initial characters.I'll share more thoughts as I go. Very excited to check the rest of this out!
Quote from: Joseph Strife on April 25, 2012, 05:14:24 pmWell gonna give this a try, looks interesting, waiting ofr you to post the PPF file.
Quote from: Joseph Strife on April 25, 2012, 06:02:09 pmNo rush man, take your time.
Quote from: Zareb on April 25, 2012, 09:30:20 pmIt's up! Have fun.
Quote from: Joseph Strife on April 26, 2012, 12:30:06 pmYay!
Quote from: Joseph Strife on April 26, 2012, 04:59:29 pmI will, i'm trying to find a better emulator do run on my notebook, but i think that won't take long, will let you know what i think soon.
Quote from: The Damned on April 27, 2012, 07:40:52 pm(Okay, downloaded this, but I likely won't be able to play any time soon, especially with how my computer's been acting--again--as of late.)Hmmm, this looks interesting. I can understand why you might not want to release more detailed information about what you've changed, but I think it would best if you at least spaced what you have released so that it's easier to read, especially since you're not even using either list function.That said, I have a query or two about the universal item use and item limitation (for players):1. First and firstmost, have you noticed any glitches with these, either by themselves or used in tandem? I ask this partly because all I've heard about was problems with them, even when Razele was around to actually respond to things, hence most people's hesitance with using them as far as I'm aware.2. Secondly, when it comes to Civilian job, would you mind explaining its "purpose" more? I somewhat get why it's the way it is given the obvious connection to the small amount of abilities available to it and to available everyone, but I don't really understand why that works or is necessary. As such, if you could explain that (even if just in PMs), then I would appreciative. Additionally, need it remain open/available for job selection to accomplish its task if its stats are so abysmal? (Are we talking vanilla Calculator level here? Or even worse?) Or did you merely want to have 20 jobs around still? And give people a masochistic option if they wanted one?Thanks. Good luck with this.
Quote from: The Damned on April 27, 2012, 09:15:15 pm(No problem with the spacing tip. It wasn't a huge problem, at least to me, but something I figured would help a bit, especially since it's something I didn't think of myself when I made a thread for my patch.)Well, that was quick. Then again, I was running errands for the past hour.I see. That's somewhat I expected, but it's still...unfortunate to hear, though it shouldn't affect still having 20 jobs....I wonder about something, though. What you further define "unreachable"? Do you just mean not open? Or no longer on the job wheel at all? Having not played the patch yet and it not being all that clear in the initial post, especially since you say that it's auto-learned by everyone except for Ramza, I'm guessing Civilian is still automatically open alongside Squire/Trainee from the very beginning?Thanks for the reply.
Quote from: The Damned on April 27, 2012, 09:39:19 pm(Oh, I wasn't lost by the long-windedness. Trust me, that's not long-winded to me.)I see--outside of the position of Civilian, though that's rather unimportant.Hmmm...perhaps, solution-wise, there might be some way to inflict auto-mastery of it as with Mime so that one never has to bother with learning it manually or it being unreachable, even it's still "around" in the background. Then again, some people might like the challenge and it's not like Mime doesn't have its own annoyances with all that hard-coding....Thanks for the clarification.
QuoteNEVERMIND EDIT: It just occurred to me that Mime comes "auto-mastered" probably solely because it has no abilities, as opposed to a mere three. Oh well. Still, my idiocy aside, maybe there's some way....
Quote from: formerdeathcorps on April 30, 2012, 07:09:00 amAll right, after a few hours of playtesting:Orbonne:As easy as always, though Agrias pulling 2 100% stops was surprising. I don't want to see what Wiegraf looks like. The clerics seem to be terrible at healing or adding status effects though, but since the enemy rangers are just as bad at adding status effects, I'm not complaining. (As a side note, you probably want to change the EVTCHR so Alicia enters as a priest sprite and not a knight sprite.)Gariland:I got lucky with two consecutive instances of 6% quick going off, but besides that, this was easy. The higher evasion takes a bit to get used to, but it's not too bad.Mandalia:As long as I have Moral Support, Algus will destroy everyone. The trainees with Two Hands and Two Swords are minor pests but because the entire enemy squad is physical, I can simply station Algus and then Ramza at the chokepoint. Despite an accidental KO of one of my units, Desperate Prayer actually worked (the second time, at least). Overall, this was a good mission and I commend the maker for putting that trainee ahead of the group so that Algus would be entrapped for a second turn. That's pretty clever.Sweegy:The first somewhat difficult battle. Algus' bow wreaks havoc, but everyone else is subject to the mercy of ranged monsters (because I didn't bother with training outside of the storyline battles). I noticed Algus was pulling a heavy amount of criticals; did you change the base critical rate? Delita pulled another crit...on a bomb...which then...blew up. Thankfully, only Delita died for his stupidity, but Goblins with 5 move pulling 1HKOs seems a bit harsh when I only have trainees attacking within their counterattacking range. I managed to beat the Goblin, but only after the goblin knocked out 2 trainees.Dorter I:Despite the reputation in FFT vanilla as being hard, this was surprisingly easy. I simply used pyromania (a very fast and nice spell) to quickly eliminate the warrior. Algus' and Delita still have the old attack unit on the roof AI, but that unit thankfully is not raining death from above. HOwever, since Algus has a longbow, their detour still worked to my advantage. Anyhow, killing their warrior was the least of my troubles; the crossbowmen quickly reduced my lead attacker to critical HP. Hiding her away in a place I thought was safe, she got struck by their bolts anyhow, though it did lure the crossbowmen in. She stayed down for the rest of the match; my only remaining weapons were Algus' attacks and pyromania, which was just barely enough to avoid a permanent loss on my part.Sand Rats:This is the first actually difficult mission. The main reason is that the pistoleer with blitz, who frequently pulls 1HKOs. I personally think Blitz is broken as an attack. I did notice that you tried to give us some mercy by ensuring that his first turn would be spent gunning down one of his own allies. As noted previously, I came in minimally prepared, with only two ranged units. In theory, this was an impossible match to win head on, so I exploited the AI. While using Algus' corpse (hey, at least it's better than him as "Moral Support") to block the entrance (and placing 3 units around him), I eliminated their blitz spammer, leaving the warriors stuck looking at units they could not attack. Meanwhile, Delita dueled the trainee with the fire rod, only to miss 6 consecutive strikes. Finally, with the knights dead, I deployed Ramza to clean up Delita's fight, only to find Ramza floored by Unstable Signet. That move looked broken when I first examined it, but now realizing it can only be used while critical, it's probably fair. In any case, Delita finally got a hit in to end the match.Miluda I:My first attempt without further training was disastrous. Spirit Strike on those mystics was lethal while only Algus could match their damage output.Training:When you only have mostly trainees, facing more than 1 goblin is a death sentence! Thus, the only battle I could complete was Igros to Mandalia. Discharge proved its use as a general purpose monster slayer and sleep a useful goblin incapacitator.Miluda I (v2):With a mystic of my own and a female stentor, this battle proved too easy. Ice Strike (which is also fairly broken) did much more than my sword and bypassed P-EV (useful against the units with Parry). The Stentor, although slow and relatively immobile, was still an able striker. Once I lured Miluda into the cluster of bodies (which functioned as a large positional barrier because of low jump) that composed the middle plank of the fort, she died in 2 shots to discharge in the rain.Miluda II:There's a bug that makes this mission nearly impossible. Namely, the enemy lancers with 7 PA average 231 off Harrier's Shot because the formula is actually PA * [(PA + 15) / 2] * RN{1...5}. Needless to say, that's a 1HKO and given their mobility and relatively high SPD, I could not complete this mission. I personally suggest changing that formula to (PA + 10) * RN{1...5}. spoiler: Change formula to (PA + Y) * RN{1...X} BATTLE.BIN0x122D98CE3822A40x122DAC5912060C0x122DF8040083840000000040180300 Overall:This patch clearly has seen a lot of work. All the menus are renamed and you even changed the Zodiacs to include a chart with color. Then there's the lengthy instructions on the reward bags as well as the changes to Alazam's Intro text.However, the mechanical balance early is heavily tilted against using any kind of status magic because it can't hit. The AI doesn't know the difference and will spam spells on their clerics like protect, despite the 27% hit chance. There's also the broken skills I named above that need to be fixed.Monsters are fairly extreme right now. Chocobos are useless except for their 36 HP heal, but no one would be foolish enough to give a wounded chocobo a free turn. Their low HP makes them easy 1HKO targets for a whole host of attacks. The same is true of uribos, but they have 11 base SPD and can double/triple turn most units. Panthers are terrible and do virtually no damage or status. Meanwhile, Goblins deal crazy amounts of physical damage and have counter while skeletons have a strong (and instant) long-range attack and force me to focus fire (because of the annoying MP Switch + Move-MP Up) combo. However, only Goblin is actually broken because of how easily they pull 1HKOs.There's been some talk of removing innate 2H from stentor. To be honest, it's the only good reason right now to use a main class stentor; everything else about their skills isn't worth using due to the low hit chance.
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This is a regular feature breaking down, minute-by-minute, the content that appears on ESPN's 11 p.m. edition of SportsCenter throughout the week. Graphic by Jim Cooke.
When last we met, we were starting to see the early onset of Linsanity. What happened next? SportsCenter went and mentioned Jeremy Lin 350 times in a single week. That's nearly one mention per minute, if you're scoring at home (or even if you're not humping a Fathead poster of Jeremy Lin).
Total time: 500.5 minutes
Time (minus commercials): 378.25
NBA: 148.75 minutes (39.3%) (last week 22.8%)
College basketball: 68.25 (18%) (last week 23%)
NFL: 40.75 (10.8%) (last week 36.8%)
Golf: 19.5 (5.2%) (last week 1.9 %)
NHL: 15.75 (4.2%) (last week 2%)
MLB: 12.75 (3.4%) (last week 0.8%)
College football: 4.75 (1.3%) (last week 0%)
Other sports: 7.25 (1.9%) (last week 0.3%)
SportsCenter staples (things like the "Top 10," "Encore," "What 2 Watch 4," etc.): 60.5 (16%) (last week 12.4%)
New York Knicks (NBA): 58.5 (15.5%)
Indianapolis Colts (NFL): 21.25 minutes (5.6%)
Duke Blue Devils (college basketball): 12.75 (3.4%)
Detroit Red Wings (NHL): 5.75 (1.5%)
Penn State Nittany Lions (college football): 3.25 (0.9%)
Oakland Athletics (MLB): 1.25 (0.3%)
Rather than break down the amount of time a specific sports figure was covered, we counted how frequently names were mentioned in the transcripts from the week. The 15 most-mentioned sports people for Feb. 10-16:
Jeremy Lin: 350 mentions
LeBron James: 70
Tiger Woods: 61
Peyton Manning: 56
Phil Mickelson: 46
Kobe Bryant: 44
Blake Griffin: 42
Carmelo Anthony: 37
Amar'e Stoudemire: 32
Dwyane Wade: 30
Chris Paul: 26
Jim Irsay: 24
Rajon Rondo: 23
Tim Tebow: 22
Randy Moss: 20
Total time: 2,579.5 minutes
Time (minus commercials): 1,952.25
NFL: 617.25 minutes (31.6%)
College basketball: 316 (16.2%)
SportsCenter staples: 252 (12.9%)
College football: 100.5 (5.1%)
Other: 100 (5.1%)
It's a Linfestation!: Lin's 350 mentions destroyed the record of 154 mentions set by Tim Tebow in the first edition of Bristolmetrics. That shakes out to 0.93 Jeremy Lin mentions per minute. Jeremy Lin's name was uttered more times than "if" (132) or "but" (241); his last name alone was mentioned 291 times, more than "are" (229), "be" (216), or "what" (207). Lin was discussed so much that Carmelo Anthony moved into the ranks of the most-mentioned athletes despite not playing a game since Feb. 6—all 37 mentions of Anthony came in the context of discussing whether or not his return would ruin the Lin magic.
Let's express this another way: The NHL needed six weeks to log more than 50 minutes total of SportsCenter airtime; in a single week, the Knicks got 58.5 minutes all by themselves. The saddest thing I witnessed this week, amid the joy of Linsanity, was NHL analyst Barry Melrose giving over his meager share of airtime to talk about Jeremy Lin with Linda Cohn. Poor Barry.
It's not even overkill, really. Linsanity is a great story, and it happened to arrive during a relatively boring sports month in the biggest media market in the country. Saturation coverage was inevitable, and not at all unwarranted. A lot of people make facile comparisons to Tebowmania, but I don't see it. Tebowmania was a media event. The coverage of Tebow was primarily coverage of the coverage of Tebow. Lin is a still-unfolding surprise. Even the most reductive version of his story—guy parachutes in from the minors and plays a brilliant point guard for a team that didn't have a competent one—is the sort of thing that ESPN has all but rendered extinct. No one comes out of nowhere anymore.
You got your Tebow in my Lin: Even though the two stories have very little in common, ESPN couldn't stop themselves from trying to combine the forces of Linsanity and Tebowmania. Tebow was mentioned 22 times this week; 20 of those mentions involved Jeremy Lin. Thanks to ESPN, we now know what Lin thinks of Tebow (he's a fan), and what Tebow thinks of Lin (he's a fan, too).
The NFL has finally been dethroned: All it took was for its season to end. Yet even with the season over, ESPN still managed to talk about professional football for 40 minutes this week. Every talking point (Peyton Manning's future, whether Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III will go No. 1 in the draft, where Randy Moss will end up) was speculative in nature. The only new news we heard about Peyton Manning was that the Colts hoped to keep him and that he may have had additional surgery on his neck a few months ago. ESPN essentially manufactured its own football storylines for the week.
ESPN likes golf when Tiger and Phil are involved: With both golfers in contention at Pebble Beach last weekend, SportsCenter spent more time than normal covering the sport. Sunday's show gave 9.5 minutes to Mickelson's come-from-behind victory, along with some analysis on why Tiger was unable to stay close to Phil for most of the round. ESPN also sent national reporter Colleen Dominguez to Pebble Beach for the duration of the tournament, where she produced several lengthy stories on Saturday and Sunday. Without Tiger or Phil, the tournament probably gets a minute of highlights. With them, it gets more coverage than baseball.
We have our first Mel Kiper sighting of 2012: The NFL draft guru and his partner, Todd McShay, gave us their top quarterback and wide receiver prospects—based, no doubt, on their extensive work in the Draft Lab. This is what the Draft Lab looks like. There are beakers. The draft is more than two months away.