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Theodor Osterkamp
|Given Name
|15 Apr 1892
|2 Jan 1975
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseTheodor Osterkamp was born in DĂĽren, Rhineland, Germany. He joined the German Navy Air Corps (Marinefliegerkorps) on 14 Aug 1914 and entered WW1 as an air observer; in this role he was the first German pilot to fly a land-based aircraft to England, United Kingdom on a reconnaissance mission. In Mar 1917, he enrolled in an aerial combat school and became a fighter pilot. On 15 Oct 1917, at the rank of lieutenant, he took command of the naval fighter squadron Marine-Jagdstaffel 2 and scored 32 victories during WW1. For his WW1 service, he was awarded the Prussian military order Pour le MĂ©rite on 2 Sep 1918; he was the last individual to receive the award.
ww2dbaseIn the inter-war years, Osterkamp was involved in the formation of the new German Air Force (Luftwaffe). In 1930, he placed 11th in the fourth FAI International Tourist Plane Contest Challenge. In 1932 and 1934, he entered the same contest again, placing 12th and 5th, respectively.
ww2dbaseWhen WW2 began, Colonel Osterkamp was named the commanding officer of the fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51). During the German invasion of France, he claimed four victories, with the first claimed on 12 May 1940. During the Battle of Britain, he claimed two victories. On 23 July 1940, he was relieved as the commander of JG 51 by Werner Mölders. He was promoted to the rank of Major General and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 22 Aug 1940, and took command of all fighters of Air Fleet 2 (Luftflotte 2). On 1 Aug 1942, he was transferred to North Africa, and on 5 Apr 1943 to Sicily, Italy, returning to Germany in late Jul 1943. In 1944, he was appointed the Inspector of Luftwaffe ground units. He was removed from service on 21 Dec 1944 after criticism from the High Command.
ww2dbaseOsterkamp passed away in 1975 and left the legacy of being one of the few pilots who scored victories in both World Wars.
ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.
Last Major Revision: Jul 2009
Theodor Osterkamp Timeline
|15 Apr 1892
|Theodor Osterkamp was born.
|20 Aug 1940
|Theodor Osterkamp, the commanding officer of Jagdgeschwader 51, was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz). Forty-eight year old Osterkamp was one of only a handful of aviators to see combat in both World Wars. During the Great War he had been awarded both the Knight's Cross of the Royal Hohenzollern House Order with Swords and the Pour le MĂ©rite, and finished the war with thirty kills to his name. In 1940 he added six more victories before his superiors insisted that his further career should be chairbound.
|5 Apr 1943
|Theo Osterkemp was appointed the commanding officer of JagdfliegerfĂĽhrer Sizilien and charged with safeguarding Axis flights between Sicily, Italy and Tunisia, Italian North Africa.
|31 Dec 1944
|Theodor Osterkamp retired from the German Luftwaffe with the rank of Generalleutnant (equivalent to Air Vice Marshal in the British RAF).
|2 Jan 1975
|Theodor Osterkamp passed away.
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Visitor Submitted Comments
11 Nov 2010 07:58:18 AM
There are other pictures of Osterkamp outside these 14 presented. Some are simply in the books he wrote. I am ready to send them to you, but I need an e-mail adress.
Please advise
15 Nov 2010 04:10:53 AM
Regarding the picture of Osterkamp & Sachsenberg, I have some doubts about th date (sept 1917)due the various uniforms.
It looks more like a picture of the Sachsenberg Freikorps.
Any informations on this from the Bundesarchiv ?
21 Mar 2018 08:10:09 AM
1 June he claim that he shot down a Bristol Blenheim over Dunkirk , my father was the navigator in that plane and survived the crash landing into the sea. The pilot and rear gunner were killed.
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.
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Justin Brossman is a typical Atlanta third-grader with tousled brown hair and freckles.
Typical, except that he has a near-regulation- sized roller-hockey rink in his basement and has already worn out four pairs of skates in his short life.
Few youths here can match his devotion, but Justin's enthusiasm is a growing phenomenon in the Southeast and a demographic that makes the National Hockey League eager to expand into the region.
Despite hockey's troubled past in Atlanta, the NHL is encouraged by a growing national television audience - witness the stellar ratings of the Stanley Cup series won by the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. Later this month, the 26-team league plans to announce four new franchises, including Atlanta and Nashville. In addition, Raleigh, N.C., has lured the Hartford Whalers south this year. Now reincarnated as the Carolina Hurricanes, they will begin play next season. Add to that the Dallas Stars, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Florida Panthers in Miami, and it's clear that hockey in the South is rising again.
"The NHL is interested in expanding in the South because there aren't teams there already," says Bernadette Mansur, an NHL spokeswoman. "Take Atlanta, it's is a wonderful sports town and we'd like to be there."
But in a region where almost no one was raised with an ash stick in hand, where college basketball reigns supreme and college football games are all-day family events, will spectators embrace a cold-weather sport that mostly displays the skills of Canadian or European stars?
If hockey succeeds here, some say, it would become as much a symbol of the changing South as the recent influx of foreign cars and high-tech industries.
But many harbor doubts. "Hockey just doesn't interest me," says Arthur Jones, an Atlantan sporting a Cleveland Indians jersey. "I wasn't raised up on hockey, I was raised up on basketball, football, even baseball. But where I grew up, nobody was like, 'Let's go play some hockey.' "
Even fans of media-magnate Ted Turner's bid for an Atlanta hockey team are unsure of the support hockey will get in Georgia Tech and Atlanta Braves country. "An awful lot of people didn't go to the Knights games," says Angela Ryer, referring to Atlanta's minor-league team that lasted only three seasons.
History is certainly not on hockey's side. In 1980, the city's first NHL team, the Flames, headed north when the owner couldn't turn a profit or sell the team locally. That move turned out to be the kiss of death for all hockey in the region at the time.
The 1970s had seen an unprecedented boom in the sport down South. The region had its own Southern Hockey League, with minor-league teams spread from Tulsa, Okla., to Houston to Birmingham, Ala. But with the departure of the Flames, those teams folded too. The 1990s have seen another Southern growth spurt in the sport, but Atlanta fans were left with no team to cheer in 1995 when its minor-league team, the Knights, departed for Canada.
The NHL and Southern hockey supporters, however, say much has changed in the South and in the sport of hockey since the '70s that makes hockey more likely to succeed here this time around.
The South, first of all, now has more Northerners than ever before. It's also more populous. The Raleigh metro area, for instance, has doubled to 1.5 million residents since 1980.
And the South is younger - which is key for hockey given that roller hockey and ice hockey were the No. 1 and 2 growth sports for kids last year, according to the NHL. Again, Justin Brossman is a case in point. Do his classmates and friends tease him for being so into hockey? "No," he says. "They play too. They're not all on a team, but they play in the streets."
Finally, a long-held truth in the South has been proved to be less absolute than once thought. For decades, college ball alone held the hearts of Southerners. It was believed that there was no room left for professional sports.
But the following of the Charlotte Hornet pro-basketball team and the Carolina Panther football team has shown there is plenty of love and ticket money to go around. "The pro teams' success has certainly disproved that old thinking," says Chris Brown with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Hockey has changed as well. In-line skating has made the game accessible to people in warm climates. Pro-hockey gets more exposure on television. And the sport is successfully building teams in California, Arizona, and Florida. There are more teams in the Sun Belt now than in Canada.
"You don't have to be from the North to like hockey," says Harvey Schiller, president of Turner Sports and point man for securing an Atlanta hockey team. "A lot of people live inland and like to swim."


text: Process Engineering Technician provides technical support to engineers to ensure production goals of the organization are met. Provides assistance related to the review of existing and design of new manufacturing equipment, processes, and plants. Being a Process Engineering Technician may suggest or implement equipment purchases, modifications or calibration changes that could result in improved productivity or reduced costs related to production. Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent. Additionally, Process Engineering Technician typically reports to a supervisor or manager. The Process Engineering Technician may require 0-1 year of general work experience. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. (Copyright 2022 Salary.com)


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Nine months ago, I rebranded my Twitter and Instagram to match the YouTube channel I was launching: MargaretTheWordN3rd. (Have you checked it out yet? You should check it out.) Since then, I've watched videos and read blogs posts, trying to figure out what makes Instagram tick. As far I can tell, no one really knows the answer (including the company themselves, to all appearances).
I was tired of the lackluster response I was getting to my photos, so I wanted to know what I could do to grow my following and increase engagement. The answer, for me, was two-pronged: I need to take better pictures and I needed to be better at Instagram. I'm still working on both of those, but I wanted to share some of the things I've discovered.
Today, I'll be sharing five things that I think have helped me jump out of the rut I was stuck in and grown my average likes from the mid-twenties to nearly sixty.
Tip #1: Pick a theme
When I first started arranging my pictures, I tried to theme the entire picture -- from props to backdrop -- to the book I was photographing. Because I don't have a lot of bookish props, that ended up making my feed look messy and inconsistent. And building each photo took forever. So I decided to choose a theme for each month. For me, that means choosing a color scheme each month (purple for May, yellow and orange for June) and buying flowers and props that fit into that spectrum. It allows me to add in other props if I have them while maintaining a cohesive feed. This is probably one of the biggest factors in the increase I've seen in engagement. My photos just look better now.
|Behold how sad my pics used to be
|Voila! Much better!
Whether you take photos every day or you knock a whole week's worth in one go, I think you'll agree choosing which books to feature is the hardest part of bookstagram is figuring out which books to take a pic (or, restraining yourself from posting twelve pictures of the same book). Themed days help me narrow down my choices. For example, I turned Fridays into #freshreadsfridays (an original hashtag thank you very much), for books I read recently and loved. Some Wednesdays I take advantage of the already established #writerwednesday to talk about some of my favorite writers. When I'm not doing a challenge (we're getting there), having themed days are invaluable to planning my feed.
Tip #3: Find your hashtags
I am not a big brand, so hashtags are the main way other bookstagrammers can find me. For each type of photo I do (reading or writing), I have a list of twenty hashtags saved on my phone's clipboard. It hits all the big points but leaves room for me adding specific hashtags for whichever book or quote I'm posting. I do include a few big ones (#amreading, #amwriting, #yabookstagram), but those tags are far too crowded to be of much use. So I find tags where I have a shot at landing (and staying) in the top posts. I did this by searching the larger hashtags and then checking all the related tags until I found a good few that met my criteria.
Tip #4: Interact with people
Hashtags are great, but they only get me so far. I've found the more I engage in the hashtags I'm using, the better response I tend to get. So I always take a few minutes to pull up my most recent post and scroll through a tag or two, liking and commenting as I go. I try to make each comment meaningful. I answer questions if they ask them. Compliment the photo. Gush about the book. I try to dish out the kind of engagement I'm looking for. I also switch over from top posts to recent posts. Partly because I know I'm more likely to have meaningful interactions with bookstagrammers closer to me level. And partly because it's easy to feel unseen when you're smaller (like me), so I make sure to support the little guy.
Tip #5: Join a challenge
Bookstagram challenges provide prompts for each day of the month, making scheduling your feed easier and boosting your engagement. If you're curious what this looks like, check out #BookQueensJune18 and #AllTheBooksJune18. Those are just two of the challenges I'm participating in. I look for between four and six challenges to participate in because I don't do every day for each challenge. Sometimes it's because I don't find a prompt inspiring. Sometimes because I don't have a book that matches that prompt. Either way, don't feel you have to participate in every day to reap the benefits. And once I've posted, I make sure to use Tip #4, it's probably the other big factor in my account's growth over the last month or so.
There you go. That is everything I have learned recently about upping my bookstagram game. It really helped be get out of the rut and improve my engagement with my followers, which is what Instagram is ALL about. Below, you'll find some YouTube videos about this subject that helped me and please, if you've found any tips that work, drop them down in the comments. I'm always looking for ways to improve my feed.
Resources that helped me:
General info- Bookstagram on a Budget
On recent algorithm changes- Bookstagram Beware
Finding hashtags- Instagram Hashtags
Getting followers- 25 Tips to Get More Instagram Followers


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Grab code here.
It's that time of the week when I share some of my favorite links from last weeks Anything Goes linky. Just in case you didn't know it yet, you are all awesome! As the saying goes, "the proof is in the pudding" so lets dig into those featured links:
Daffodil pops shared by The Seven Year Cottage.
Crochet Peep shared by Hannicraft.
Little girls room reveal shared by Totally Lauren Amber.
Carrot napkin holders shared by Nifty Thrifty Things.
Easter egg hot chocolate dippers shared by Jellyfish Jelly.
One minute Easter craft shared by Silo Hill Farm.
Thank you to everyone that linked up last week. Hope to see you all again this Friday for another fantastic party.


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Retro Dog and Cat Pet Lover Gifts
Gifts for pet lovers can be retro, too! Celebrate your favorite dog breed with colorful metal signs and adorable ceramic salt and pepper shakers, or keep track of time with a cool black cat wall clock. Retro pets have inspired all kinds of unique gift ideas with cat and dog themes.


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Tennessee tops No. 11 South Carolina on final play
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Michael Palardy made a 19-yard field goal as time expired Saturday to give Tennessee a 23-21 victory over No. 11 South Carolina that ended the Volunteers' 19-game losing streak against ranked opponents.
South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw left the game after being sacked by Marlon Walls and Daniel McCullers with less than five minutes remaining. Coach Steve Spurrier said Shaw had a sprained knee.
Tennessee got into field-goal range on a spectacular 39-yard catch by freshman Marquez North, who snared the ball with his left hand at the South Carolina 26 while being closely covered by cornerback Ahmad Christian down the left sideline. Four consecutive runs by Marlin Lane got the Vols to the South Carolina 2 and set up the field goal.
Palardy celebrated his game-winning kick by racing to join his teammates on the sideline closest to the Tennessee locker room, where they gathered to celebrate at about the 15-yard line. Tennessee coach Butch Jones chest-bumped athletic director Dave Hart on his way off the field.
Mike Davis rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown for South Carolina (5-2, 3-2), which erased a 17-7 halftime deficit before having its four-game winning streak snapped. Shaw had a touchdown run and a touchdown pass, though he also was 7 of 21 and threw his first interception of the season.
Tennessee (4-3, 1-2 SEC) hadn't beaten a ranked foe since a 31-13 victory over No. 21 South Carolina on Oct. 31, 2009. The Vols also had lost 16 of their last 18 SEC games.
But on a day when hundreds of former Volunteers joined the team Saturday in running onto Neyland Stadium, Tennessee finally started playing like the Vols of old.
About 250 former Tennessee players, including All-Pro selections Al Wilson and Jamal Lewis, joined the team in going through the "T'' and onto the playing field before the game.
That seemed to inspire the Vols early.
Tennessee took a 3-0 lead on a 37-yard field goal that was set up by a targeting penalty on South Carolina safety Kadetrix Marcus that resulted in his ejection. Marcus had hit Alton "Pig" Howard at the end of a 12-yard reception on a third-and-5 play.
On the first play of the second quarter, Shaw hit a wide-open Damiere Byrd in stride for a 76-yard touchdown that put South Carolina ahead 7-3.
Tennessee answered by reaching the end zone on its next two series. Justin Worley's 6-yard touchdown pass to Howard put the Vols ahead, then Rajion Neal added a 5-yard touchdown run.
South Carolina regained the momentum and the lead after a gutsy fourth-down call.
Facing fourth-and-8 from the Tennessee 45, Spurrier decided to go for it rather than punting. The gamble paid off when Shaw scrambled 9 yards for the first down.
Shaw capped the drive by pitching right to Mike Davis on third-and-6 for a 21-yard touchdown. After Palardy's 46-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left on Tennessee's next possession, South Carolina drove down the field again and scored on Shaw's 1-yard touchdown run with 2:50 left in the third quarter.
Tennessee cut the lead to 21-20 with 10:11 remaining on Palardy's 33-yard field goal, which was set up by North's leaping 48-yard reception. But the Vols stalled after reaching South Carolina territory on their next two possessions.
That merely set the stage for a more dramatic rally later.


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Insights into the French way of life and European travels by an Australian living in the Loire ValleyHeader photo: Blois in spring, 2016. All photos on website copyright by Rosemary Kneipp unless specified otherwise. All rights reserved.
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Sorting out the vines – Visiting some of the major champagne houses: Taittinger, Pommery and Moet & Chandon –
This Wednesday's blog round-up introduces a new blog from a fellow Australian living in the Loire Valley, Susan, author of Days on the Claise, explaining how to recognise the different grape varieties in the Loire. Thanks to her post, I … Continue reading
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Caseys General Stores (Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis)
Improve your investment analysis with the Caseys General Stores's Comparative Multiple analysis, Caseys General Stores's Warren Buffet analysis, and Caseys General Stores's Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) Analysis.
Notes on the DCF Analysis of Caseys General Stores
All numbers are in millions of US dollars. For valuation purposes, the currency and stock price do not matter, because potential is a relative figure. The higher the investment potential the better. Caseys General Stores's WACC calculation can be found on the WACC analysis tab found at the top of the page.
Caseys General Stores's comparative multiple analysis, a second type of valuation approach that's popular on Wall Street, is found on the comparative tab found at the top. This approach uses comparisons of characteristics to determine company value.
See Caseys General Stores's equity research report for the complete valuation analysis.
Helpful Information for Caseys General Stores's DCF Analysis
How does this work? The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) investment analysis computes a value based on the present value of all future cash flows generated by Caseys General Stores. Caseys General Stores's DCF analysis incorporates information from financial news and share data to stock price and growth rates.
Value Investing Importance?
Many investment professionals charge hundred of dollars just to see the results from this approach, but WikiWealth allows everyone to view and experiment with this analysis freely. The DCF analysis is one of the most important elements of WikiWealth's three Wall Street approaches used to determine the correct fair value of an investment for stock research purposes.


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Episode 85 - Marketing to Teens: Capturing the Elusive Generation Z with Kate Tilton
In this episode of our podcast, we interview book marketing expert Kate Tilton on how to reach the elusive teen market. Generation Z (teen) readers are those born after 1993.
I know many of you write YA and you know authors that do as well. Please share this with them. I had a lot of fun with Kate talking about teens and my experiences. She's always a fun guest with lots of wisdom to share.
Show Notes & Links:
- Why Generation Z would buy Pepsi even when they believe Coke tastes better.
- Why teens need to believe in the brands (authors) they follow.
- Reasons why Generation Z flocks to YouTube (the Four Essential Freedoms from YouTube).
- Why Instagram photos need to be visually engaging first, message second.
- Why the social part of social media is most important to teens.
- Three tips to capture teen loyalty.
- Tips on marketing to the YA crossover audience (adults that read YA).
- How to overcome the content challenge of Instagram.
- How Booktubers influence the YA market.
- The fastest way to turn off a teen audience: try to talk like a teen.
Links (click 'em, they're live):
Connect With Kate:
Instagram: k8tilton
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/K8Tilton/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/K8Tilton
Website: https://katetilton.com/author-services/
SMART Marketing For Authors Facebook Group (you'll have to answer 3 questions to get in)
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- Red, White, and Boom! begins 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at State Fair Park.
Last week, the US withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council while images of refugee children locked in cages were virtually inescapable on every media platform. So packing a picnic and passing out sparklers to commemorate living in the "land of the free" might feel funny this Fourth of July.
But there is this.
"To be an American is to have a shared commitment to an ideal," wrote President Barack Obama recently in a Facebook post, "that all of us are created equal, and all of us deserve the chance to become something better."
Maybe that ideal, that chance to be better, for which so many have fought and died and lived, is still worth celebrating.
So let's do it.
- provided
- Red, White, and Boom!, a concert by Oklahoma City Philharmonic, begins 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at State Fair Park.
Red, White, and Boom!
Join the Oklahoma City Philharmonic in remembering America's 242nd birthday with fireworks and a concert conducted by Alexander Mickelthwate and featuring the Pops Chorale and Mayor David Holt. Hear "America the Beautiful," "Stars and Stripes Forever" and more. Red, white and blue clothes are recommended, and blankets and chairs are welcome; however, pets, glass bottles and alcohol are not. The concert starts at 8:30 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 10 p.m. Tuesday at State Fair Park, 3001 General Pershing Blvd. Admission is free. Visit okcphil.org.
Liberty & Lasers
For those that like their Independence Day soundtrack with more drop-beats than John Philip Sousa could have ever imagined, Liberty & Lasers features EDM acts BoomBox, Russ Liquid, Artifakts and more. All ages are welcome. The show starts 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lost Lakes Amphitheater, 3501 N.E. 10th St. Admission is $25-$35. Visit ticketfly.com.
A Celebration in the Heartland
City of Moore hosts an all-day celebration featuring local food trucks, a volleyball tournament, kids' activities such as face painting and inflatables, and live music, culminating in a large fireworks display. No pets, glass containers or alcoholic beverages are allowed. Festivities begin 10 a.m. Wednesday, and fireworks start at dark (about 9:45 p.m.) at Buck Thomas Park, 1903 NE 12th St., in Moore. Visit cityofmoore.com.
Tribute to Liberty
Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic dinner — or purchase one from your choice of several food trucks. Listen to live music by Dr. Irv Wagner's Concert Band, and finish the evening watching a City of Midwest City-sponsored fireworks display. The event begins at 6 p.m., and fireworks are scheduled to start at dark (about 9:45 p.m.) at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park, 8700 E. Reno Ave., in Midwest City. Admission is free. Visit midwestcityok.org.
Oklahoma City Dodgers vs. Round Rock Express
Baseball is the only sport American enough to give Mom and apple pie a run for their money, so why not celebrate Independence Day with the Dodgers? A five-game series against Round Rock begins on the Fourth, and the first three nights all end in fireworks, the way Major General Abner Doubleday might well have intended if he had actually invented the sport. The game begins 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive. Tickets are $8-$26. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Norman Day
Live music, pony rides, moon bounces, food trucks and the ever-popular baby races await celebrators at this annual event that bills itself as "Norman's best fireworks show." The festivities begin at 3 p.m., and the fireworks start 9:45 p.m. Wednesday at Reaves Park, 2501 Jenkins Ave., in Norman. Admission is free. Visit normanok.gov.
Bethany Freedom Festival
Now in its 59th year, Bethany's Fourth of July celebration starts with a patriotic parade through downtown followed by a party featuring live music, pop-up shops and food trucks and, of course, ending with a fireworks display. The parade begins 10 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of NW 39th Street and College Avenue and proceeding to Rockwell Avenue before ending at Eldon Lyon Park at 7400 NW 36th St. in Bethany, where the rest of the festivities take place beginning at 4 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:55 p.m. Admission is free. Visit cityofbethany.org.
Fantasy of Fire Fireworks Show
Spend the day at Frontier City amusement park and brave the Diamondback and Silver Bullet rollercoasters. Put your kids on the Grand Carousel and ride the Tornado and the Grand Centennial Ferris Wheel as a family. Take in a show like The World of Magic, The Wild-West Gunfighter Stunt Show and Two John's Saloon Revue. Then finish out the evening with fireworks. The park opens at 10:30 a.m., and the fireworks begin around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Frontier City, 11501 N. Interstate 35 Service Road. Tickets are free-$39.99. Call 405-478-2140 or visit frontiercity.com.
Yukon Freedom Fest
This two-day celebration features two evening fireworks shows, three BMX stunt shows, a hot dog-eating contest, a car show and free ice cream and watermelon. Live musical performances by Hi-Fi Hillbillies, Irv Wagner's Concert Band, Mike Black & The Stingrays, Superfreak and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic provide the party soundtrack. Festivities begin 5 p.m. Tuesday at Chisholm Trail Park, 500 W. Vandament Ave., in Yukon, culminating in a fireworks show beginning at 10 p.m. Festivities continue 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Yukon City Park, 2200 S. Holly Ave., and then move back to Chisholm Trail Park at 5 p.m., ending in the grand finale fireworks show beginning at 10 p.m. Admission is free. Visit yukonok.gov.
Named by CNN and USA Today as one of the top 10 Independence Day celebrations in the nation, Edmond's LibertyFest draws more than 100,000 visitors each year and features a car show, a concert, a rodeo, a road rally, a kite festival, a food tasting and a parade in a weeklong schedule of events leading up to a fireworks display synchronized to music played on University of Central Oklahoma's radio station KZUC 99.3. The band concert begins 7:30 p.m. Thursday at UCO, 100 N. University Drive, in Edmond. The rodeo begins 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Carl Benne Rodeo Grounds, 300 N. Kelly Ave. Tickets are $5. The car show takes place 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Hafer Park, 1034 S. Bryant Ave. Admission is free. The Kite Festival is from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday (weather permitting) at Mitch Park, 1501 W. Covell Road. Admission is free. Registration for the Road Rally begins at 10 a.m. Sunday at Earl's Rib Palace, 212 S. Broadway. The entry fee is $10, and helicopter rides will also be available for $40. Taste of Edmond takes place 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday at Edmond Festival Market Place, 30 W. First St. Wristbands are $12 from official vendors, $14 online, or $20 at the event. The parade begins 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 4, on a 1.5-mile route through downtown Edmond beginning at the intersection of Ayers Street and University Drive. Admission is free. The fireworks begin 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 4, at Hafer Park. Visit libertyfest.org.


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The New York Times is investigating the costs associated with coronavirus testing, treatment and vaccination. You can read more about the project and submit your medical bills here.
The Biden administration is reminding doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and insurers that it is illegal to bill patients for coronavirus vaccines, a letter obtained by The Times shows.
The new warning responds to concerns among unvaccinated Americans that they could receive a bill with their shot. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that about a third of unvaccinated adults were unsure whether insurance covered the new vaccine.
"We recognize that there are costs associated with administering vaccines — from staff trainings to vaccine storage," Xavier Becerra, the Health and Human Services secretary, wrote in a letter to vaccinators and insurers. "For these expenses, providers may not bill patients but can seek reimbursement through Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance or other applicable coverage."
The letter warns that billing patients could lead to state or federal "enforcement actions," but does not specify what the penalty would be.
The federal government wrote strong consumer protections to ensure that patients do not have to pay for coronavirus vaccines.
In stimulus legislation last spring, it barred insurers from charging patients co-payments or deductibles for the vaccines. The same law also created a fund that would cover the costs of vaccinating uninsured Americans.
Layered on top of those legislative protections are the contracts that doctors and hospitals signed to receive vaccines. Those documents specify that vaccinators cannot bill patients for the service.
The stronger protections appear to have worked. While many patients have encountered coronavirus bills for testing, there have been only a handful involving vaccines.
Still, the rules are not foolproof, and some patients have faced illegal charges. In April, the Health and Human Services office of the inspector general published a letter saying it was "aware of complaints by patients about charges by providers when getting their Covid-19 vaccines."
A few patients have submitted bills showing surprise charges to a Times project collecting patient bills for testing, treatment and vaccination. The fees range from $20 to $850. If you received a bill for your coronavirus vaccine, you can submit it here.
Patients who receive bills for coronavirus vaccines can challenge the charge. Those with health insurance can reach out to their plan to ask why they received a bill when two federal laws — the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act — outlaw it.
A small subset of health plans is exempt from the laws. These "grandfathered" plans existed before the Affordable Care Act, and are not subject to requirements to fully cover the coronavirus vaccine or any other preventive service.
But even those patients are still protected by the contract that doctors signed barring any billing. The doctors can send the outstanding charges to a new Coverage Assistance Fund created by the Biden administration last month specifically to address patient coverage gaps.
Uninsured patients can direct their providers to bill the Covid-19 Uninsured Program, which was set up to cover those without coverage.
If an insurer or doctor is unwilling to reverse a bill, patients can seek help from state regulators. State departments of insurance typically deal with complaints about whether health plans are not appropriately covering medical care, while state attorneys general tend to field complaints about possible inappropriate bills from doctors and hospitals.


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[Name of Author]
[Name of Tutor]
Date of Submission
Excess Weight Fees in Airplanes
Paper Outline
- Introduction
- Thesis:
Although excess weight fees in airplanes are well intended and justified for some reasons, they should be banned because they are discriminative, demeaning, and unfair to passengers who have excess weight as a result of genetics.
- Arguments for excess weight fees in airplanes
- Excess human weight has similarity to excess load weight
- Charges are calculated based on weight
- Modifications have to be made to accommodate overweight passengers
- Passengers will make attempts to reduce weight and become healthy
- Arguments against excess weight fees in airplanes
- Charging excess weight fees is discriminative
- Individuals have no control over genetically caused obesity
- Absence of comparative justice for underweight and overweight passengers
- Regular travellers cannot sustain costs
- It is demeaning to compare humans to luggage
- Conclusion
- References
Excess weight fees in airplanes should be banned
The productivity and general sustainability of any nation state is highly depended on the health of its population. It cannot be disputed that healthy individuals are more productive than their unhealthy counterparts. They can engage in employment actively and perform their individual tasks with utmost ease. In the recent past, obesity has become one of the leading health problems in America and across the world. Seemingly, it is affecting all facets of the population across the age spectrum. Certainly, this is a very difficult problem that has significant negative effects on the wellbeing of an individual as well as the nation as a whole. It is because of this that many airline companies have opted to charge excess weight fees in airplanes (Paarlberg 175). Although excess weight fees in airplanes are well intended and justified for some reasons, they should be banned because they are discriminative, demeaning, and unfair to passengers who have excess weight as a result of genetics.
Arguments for excess weight fees in airplanes
Most supporters of this concept assert that the amount of fees charged on extra weights of luggage remains relatively high. In most cases, these costs carter for extra shipping fuel, loading services, and the occupation of space within the planes (Price 291). At the centre of this argument, the proponents argue that extra luggage is charger extra fees because airline companies cannot afford to ship them freely. This would mean that the companies can also not afford to pay for extra weight from passengers. Thus, charging minimal fees for extra weight would be reasonably justified (Paarlberg 179). To increase the logic in the argument, the proposers emphasize that excess weight fees charged by airlines get calculated solely by metrics of weight. This eliminates emotional and morality based approaches to the issue (Leslie 139).
Another reason worth considering is the fact that airline companies may have to make various modifications to ensure passengers with excess body weights travel comfortably. Some of these modifications include extending seat sizes, and increasing the lengths of seat belts. As explained by Price, many overweight passengers have continuously complained because of tight seat belts and being squeezed in narrow passenger seats. The only way to solve their problems is to increase the seat sizes and extend the lengths of seat belts (298). However, these have to come at a cost because they reduce the space that would accommodate more passengers and require professional modification of passenger seating structures (Leslie 134).
The last argument is based on health and the effects of obesity. It has direct negative effects to both the individual and the country. At the individual level, obesity leads to various health risks. Obese individuals are at a risk of developing health conditions such as blood pressure, cardiac diseases and diabetes. Those suffering from these diseases lead very poor quality lives because of their inability to move with ease or enjoy any form of exercise. They also incur considerable financial costs in efforts to maintain their health. Thus, most of them may consider reducing weight to avoid extra costs on planes. This will result in better health conditions and improved qualities of lives (Eckel 101).
Arguments against excess weight fees in airplanes
On the contrary, larger parts of the society still oppose the charging of excess weight fees in airplanes. The first and most outstanding reason for contrary opinions is based on discrimination. Despite being overweight, all the individuals are passengers and human. It is not fair to charge one more fees compared to others. If anything, this act is morally torturing and socially humiliating. Furthermore, Bagchi explained that a number of cases of obesity get caused by genetic processes of mutation and gene deficiency. Notably, individuals affected by such cases cannot control their weights even if they engage in active exercising. Hence, it is extremely unfair to increase their travel charges on the basis of extra body weight (401). At the same time, no airline company has the capacity to detect whether the presence of extra weight in an individual has been caused by genetics or other factors.
A review of charges for underweight individuals reveals that the act of charging for extra weight is unfair. If airlines establish a standard weight limit for everyone, passengers whose weights are below this limit should pay less than the rest and those above the limit pay more. Because underweight passengers are always more, it is worth assuming that the unjustified amounts they pay already carters for overweight individuals (Paarlberg 182). Otherwise, continuing to charge excess weight fees implies extortion of funds from those involved.
The amount of unfairness in the case of overweight individuals is so extreme that it can make an individual boycott or quit a job. Some professions require regular flights to employment and coverage locations. Examples of these include journalism, criminal investigations, and exploration. Individuals in such professions may not sustain recurrent extra costs for travelling. This is because their employers may only carter for basic requirements of their travel (Leslie 134). That would compel them to spend from personal resources. Finally, is extremely unfair and demeaning to compare humans with luggage. Passengers make optional choices to have extra luggage. Even if the weight of a passenger matched those of luggage, the two are different and must be treated differently.
In conclusion, the question as to whether excess weight fees in airplanes should be banned or not stands out as one of the most debated. Proponents of excess weight fees in airplanes compare the extra weight on individuals with that of luggage. They also claim that planes have to be modified to suit obese individuals. Lastly, they believe that such fees can initiate positive lifestyles for better health. However, opponents of this idea find it discriminative and demeaning. It is unfair for individuals whose excess weight exist as a result of genetically initiated processes. Those who have to pay excess fees recurrently may not sustain the charges. Again, to be just, underweight passengers should pay less if overweight passengers pay more. Irrespective of the reasons given for excess weight fees in airplanes, they should be banned because they are discriminative, demeaning, and unfair to passengers who have excess weight as a result of genetics.
Works Cited
Bagchi, Debasis. Global Perspectives on Childhood Obesity: Current Status, Consequences and Prevention. London: Academic, 2011. Print.
Leslie, David. Tourism Enterprise: Developments, Management and Sustainability. Oxfordshire: CABI Publishing, 2014. Print.
Eckel, Robert. Metabolic Risk for Cardiovascular Disease. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Print.
Paarlberg, Robert. The United States of Excess: Gluttony and the Dark Side of American Exceptionalism. 2015. Print.
Price, Jeffrey. Practical Aviation Security: Predicting and Preventing Future Threats. Oxford: Elsevier Science, 2013. Print.


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According to an analysis by the New York Times, CEO compensation grew at double the pace of ordinary workers' wages in 2018. Topping the list: Tesla's Elon Musk, with a $2.3 billion package, which is 40,668 times more than what the company's median worker earns in a year. Disney CEO Bob Iger's pay ratio pales in comparison, but it's still an obscene 1,424-to-1, according to Bloomberg. Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Roy Disney, sharply criticized this pay gap and lamented it as having "a corrosive effect on society."
Amidst all this, Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder, owner, and CEO of Greek yoghurt maker Chobani, proposed an "anti-CEO playbook" in his eponymous TED Talk.
Now, if you expected a rallying cry against unfair CEO compensation, you'll be disappointed: the flavor of the yoghurt maker's playbook is vanilla.
That's a pity because Ulukaya has otherwise walked the walk and exemplified many of the traits we would look for in an enlightened CEO. He generously handed out stock to all of his employees in 2016 (in fact, a reported 10 percent of his shares, which turned some of his long-time employees into millionaires). In a polarized political climate, he made a point of hiring immigrants and refugees, who, he told Inc, make up 30 percent of his staff. By all accounts, he demonstrates the qualities of a servant leader. And yet, he did not say a word about the executive pay gap--plus the irony that it's still a CEO standing on the TED stage, in front of many other CEOs, announcing the anti-CEO playbook.
He is a remarkable CEO. But an anti-CEO he is not.
The real anti-CEO leads in leaderless structures
Anti-CEOs are people who organize and lead differently, and more radically: not from the top down--based on big title and formal power--but from the bottom up, by virtue of soft power. These new leaders are people like Greta Thunberg, the 16-year old activist who inspired the Fridays for Future youth movement across the world. Or companies that forego the role of CEO altogether and instead self-organize in a decentralized way, such as software consultancy Crisp, which has no CEO (but a Board), watchmaker Richemont, content management software company Solodev, or construction company DPR.
But it's not just leaderless structures that would make an anti-CEO playbook really live up to its name--it requires a more profound cultural shift. If business were truly about people over profits, as Ulukaya proclaims, the anti-CEO would rage in the face of the inequality which is expressed and aggravated by the growing pay gap. If business were really about people, companies would create a workplace focused on joyful exploration instead of gamifying their employees into desired behaviours enhancing productivity and efficiency. If business were truly about people, companies would not reward assertiveness and competitiveness, but foster collaboration and empathy among their staff--even and especially when times get tough.
Wanted: the anti-macho CEO
Leaders have long been expected to be firm, consistent, and infallible. The good news is: Slowly but surely, our notion of leadership is changing and becoming less monolithic and more diverse, shifting from action to sensitivity, from hero to anti-hero, from superhuman to human. If not an anti-CEO, we will at least need a CEO who's anti-macho.
In a recent talk, Andreas Gall, the chief innovation officer at Red Bull Media House, pinpointed the flaws of an entrepreneurial culture obsessed with the extroverted, manifest in start-up pitch contests or corporate ideas competitions. He calls them "tribunals" at which--thumbs up or down--expert authorities judge contestants based on the degree to which they exhibit coolness and stubbornness. Gall argues that the judges often see just the tip of the iceberg, and as a result, many good ideas (and promising founders) go unnoticed.
This is why Ian McDonald, CTO-in-residence at Microsoft for Start-ups, has stopped making founders pitch as they apply to join the company's programs: "Being able to sell yourself is important, but it's far from the only thing that you need to succeed," he says. For starters, our idealized profile of the entrepreneurial leader excludes people with fear of public speaking. Moreover, we often mistake demonstrative confidence and irrefutable beliefs as evidence of entrepreneurship, when in fact, introspection and (self-)doubt may be much more critical traits.
Doubt is the new loud
Susan Cain, the author of the bestseller Quiet and founder of the Quiet Revolution, has done a remarkable job re-appraising the value of introverts in a "world that can't stop talking." She has carved out a space in business for those to be heard who do not scream the loudest, liberating a significant part of the workforce from an all-too-narrow definition of leadership.
Being quiet can be perceived as an expression of not being a hundred percent certain, of not knowing--a position that is often viewed as a leader's fatal flaw. Reinhard Ploss, the CEO of semiconductor manufacturer Infineon, could not disagree more: "Today, many people, especially in leadership positions, perceive 'not knowing' as a threat. But the ability to cope with the unknown will become more and more important." He believes that "to intentionally appreciate the unknown unleashes curiosity and creativity. There is fundamental value in 'not knowing'."
Ada Colau, the mayor of Barcelona, goes a step further. She has coined a new leadership model in politics: municipalism. It's a more cooperative brand of politics that does not pretend to have all the answers and is comfortable with admitting that it cannot always come up with solutions to complex problems. In fact, she prides herself with "non-solutions."
That sounds like a far cry from a "playbook." But even if Chobani's Hamdi Ulukaya may not go far enough with his proposal, he does represent the change that's underway. The old model of leadership is no longer working, and CEOs like him have a critical role to play in shaping the new one. They can nurture and role-model a new set of leadership qualities that break with traditional conventions.
Leading from the bottom up. Work cultures that are gardens, not machines. Doubt as the new loud. And not the least, diminish the pay gap.


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I published a new In the Frame piece at Escapist Magazine this evening. The big news this past week has been that Zack Snyder has been given $30m to finish his cut of Justice League.
This is quite a complicated matter. There's a lot of discussion and debate around it, about what this means for the future of Hollywood. However, the news about the release of The Snyder Cut is down to a number of unique factors aligning in completely unpredictable ways, meaning that a project like this one went from being the last thing that Warners would want to being exactly what they needed. In the course of a few months, the Snyder Cut morphed from seeming impossibility to inevitability. That is an incredible turnaround.
You can read the piece here, or click the picture below.
Filed under: On Second Thought | Tagged: comic books, fandom, HBO Max, justice league, Movies, the snyder cut, zack snyder |


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A Few Offbeat Ways to Stretch Your Money
Sep 03, 09
Welcome to the number one recession survival blog! Sign up for our RSS feed and follow us on Twitter to get the most out of the information provided here. Thanks for joining us! Tweet We are always looking for ways to save money. Having a few extra dollars at the end of...read more


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West Seattle, Washington
Thanks to Travis for the photo and the report from tonight's biggest event on Pigeon Point, a yearly tradition: "This is just a handful of the over 50 pumpkins carved at the annual Pathfinder K-8 Pumpkin Carving Night. Special thanks to our principal David Dockendorf and to the school for giving such a great forum to get together and for being wonderful people."
(What's next as Halloween approaches? Check out our guide – where Friday fun starts with all West Seattle kids 5 and under invited to trick-or-treat at Holy Rosary!)
Photos by Leda Costa for West Seattle Blog
(Dominique Salinas [Jicarilla Apache/Navajo] and Marcos Arellano Martinez [Mexivo, Otomi] performing a Deer Dance, with Diana Romero [far left] on drums.)
Neighboring Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School have the largest Native population of any school in Seattle Public Schools, according to Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer, who hosted the schools' first Indigenous Peoples' Day assembly today.
Leda Costa was there for WSB – more of her photos, ahead: Read More
5:14 PM: Just under way in The Hall at Fauntleroy (west side, not the side closest to the street) – Washington State Ferries officials, including the woman at the top – WSDOT Assistant Secretary Lynne Griffith – are gathered to listen to concerns about the "triangle route," Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth.
"We are not here with a predetermined solution in mind," Griffith says – they are hoping to hear ideas for solving some of the route's problems, including the massive traffic backups that happened multiple times this past summer. After opening remarks (update: low-res video added, above), the staffers are taking up positions around the room so that participants can circulate. You're welcome to stop in any time before 6:30 pm; The Hall is at 9131 California SW, not far from the Fauntleroy dock. WSF already has had two meetings near the other terminals on the route, so this is the third of three. Whatever they hear at this meeting will be transcribed and published on the WSF website as a first step; then a task force "blend(ed) across the three communities" will be formed as a second step "to work through the problems," according to Griffith.
5:21 PM: We counted 22 people here for starters; more are trickling in.
34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (photo added above) is also here, as is a representative for 34th District State Sen. Sharon Nelson.
3:59 PM: That's the new notice that you'll find soon in the bus shelters on the west end of the south side of SW Alaska in the Junction transit hub, just east of 44th SW – if it's not posted already. The notice offers a more-detailed explanation of the plan to remove the two westernmost shelters on that side of the street, and invites comments, with a deadline of November 18th.
The shelter-removal plan first came to light when notices went up last weekend; as we reported on Saturday, it was the first major result of a walking tour/meeting on October 6th, following concerns about those shelters being magnets for loitering, drinking, and other illegal behavior. In our Monday followup, West Seattle Junction Association director Lora Swift detailed other steps that are being taken to try to improve safety and security in the area, and Metro promised it would "press 'pause'" on the removal plan so there could be a formal comment process, and that's what's starting today.
Metro also has answered a couple remaining questions we asked earlier this week. First, about the decisionmaking process on shelter removal and who has the final say:
Metro regularly evaluates issues with Metro bus shelters and makes decisions on the installation and removal of bus shelters, as ridership and circumstances change at bus stops. The Transit Route Facilities group within the Service Development section, takes the lead on evaluating these issues and makes the decision on installation or removal of bus shelters.
We also asked if other hubs in the Metro system had had shelters removed for similar issues: "Shelters have been removed from other high ridership bus stops due to chronic security issues that are unresolvable despite Metro's best efforts. One example, is 2nd Avenue S & S Washington Street where the Metro bus shelter was removed due to chronic misuse of the shelter."
Meantime, if you have something to say about the prospective removal of these shelters, e-mail email@example.com or call 206-553-3000.
4:30 PM UPDATE: Our crew just went to The Junction to check, and verified that the new notice IS up:
(High Point Library photo by Architectsea via Wikimedia)
We recently noticed a building-permit application for unspecified work at High Point Library and asked SPL what's planned. Today, we finally have the official word of the remodeling plan, which will require some closure time later this fall – read on for details plus announcement of an open house for your Q&A in a week and a half:
The High Point Branch, 3411 SW Raymond St., 206-684-7454, is tentatively set to temporarily close effective Monday, Dec. 5 for refurbishing. The book drop also will close.
During the closure, the Library plans to hold several programs at alternate locations and to open the nearby Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way SW, 206-733-9125, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays. Alternate services will be confirmed after a firm closure date is set.
The 7,200-square-foot High Point Branch opened in June 2004, thanks to the 1998 voter-approved "Libraries for All" bond measure that renewed and revitalized libraries across the city.
After 12 years of use, the branch needs new carpet. While the branch is closed for that work, the Library also will add seating and electrical outlets, expand the holds area, and expand the children's area to provide a more welcoming space for families. Acoustical panels in the meeting room will be added to reduce the sound of street traffic. Improvements are based on branch usage and projected service needs.
Patrons are invited to learn more about the improvements at an open house at the branch from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7. City Librarian Marcellus Turner and other Library staff members will be on hand to answer questions and explain alternate services.
While the branch is closed, patrons may choose any other Library location as a pickup location for items placed on hold and may return materials to any branch. If patrons don't select an alternate branch by Friday, Nov. 25, their holds will be sent to the Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. SW, 206-684-7455.
The construction project is currently out to bid. The Library expects to confirm the closing date in mid-November after bids have been reviewed. The refurbished branch is expected to reopen in January; a reopening date will be set once construction work is underway.
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
CAR STOLEN TODAY: This white 1985 IROC was stolen from the 9400 block of 8th SW early this morning:
Washington plates ALW8548. Please call 911 if you see it.
CAR STOLEN LAST WEEKEND: Ford F150 truck, red, 2006. Stolen from 55th SW between Charlestown and Dakota. We don't have the plate on this, but if you see this type of truck seemingly abandoned, please call 911 in case it's the one.
VANDAL ON CAMERA: At 10 pm last Sunday night, a resident in the 3000 block of SW Avalon Way caught surveillance video of someone "bending walkway rails in front of our home for no good reason." The actual bending is a little distant in their front-door-camera video but the vandal then walked past the door – we asked for a frame grab:
The vandal had a shaved-sides haircut and was wearing a blue jacket and black jeans. This too has been reported to police, who told the victim that "these crimes typically have a pattern," so if anything similar happened to you, please be sure to file a report.
David Hutchinson from Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network sends the photo and this request/reminder:
Each year, Seal Sitters' "Share the Shore" banners are installed along Alki Avenue SW. This is timed to correspond with our busiest months of responses to harbor-seal pups using our West Seattle beaches – September & October. Unfortunately, during our recent windstorm, two of the banners blew down and have not been found. If anyone comes across one of these banners, please give our hotline a call and we will arrange to pick it up.
Just a reminder – young harbor seals are still in the area and use our local beaches throughout the year. If you see one – or any marine mammal – on the beach, please keep back, keep people and pets away, and call Seal Sitters' hotline at 206-905-7325.
You can read the Seal Sitters' latest update on responses, from this past weekend, here.
Family and friends are sharing this remembrance of Marcia M. Chesterfield, 79:
Marcia Mage (Chesterfield), beloved daughter of Max and Adele Mage, died at home with her family beside her on Tuesday, October 11, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Born in Seattle in 1937, she attended West Seattle High School, where she met her future husband of 62 years. They raised their family in West Seattle and later became longtime residents of the Shelter Bay community in La Conner.
Marcia was beloved for her cheerfulness and kindness and she devoted herself to a life of service and caring for others. She is survived by her husband John Chesterfield, sons Bob (Diana) and Paul, daughter Leanne (Stephen) Chesterfield Pike, grandchildren, Shanah Pike Walter, Robert Pike, Sarah Pike, Jacob Chesterfield and siblings, Mark (Barbara), Mage, Julia (Terry) Gangon and Merritt Mage.
Services are tomorrow (Friday, October 28) at West Side Presbyterian Church in West Seattle, at 1 pm.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to Hospice of the Northwest.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to email@example.com)
First, from the WSB West Seattle Halloween (etc.) Guide, which has dozens of events happening between now and next Tuesday:
(WSB photo from a past Pumpkinpalooza)
TODDLER PUMPKINPALOOZA: At High Point Community Center, 10 am–noon. "Join the High Point Community Center staff and enjoy age-appropriate Halloween games, booths, face painting, arts and crafts activities, and snacks." $5. (6920 34th SW)
HPES DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: "Please join the Highland Park community for our Dia de los Muertos Celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 in the Highland Park Elementary School Cafeteria. This is a potluck event, so bring your favorite dish to share. There will be music, food, dancing, arts and crafts, and many more fun activities." (1012 SW Trenton)
GLOW IN THE DARK PARTY: Tonight at Delridge Community Center, 6-7:30 pm. Free! "For ages 12 and under: Come dressed in your best glow-in-the-dark costume, or any costume, and try the glow-in-the-dark ring toss, tic-tac-toe, bowling, and other fun games." (4501 Delridge Way SW)
LIGHT SHOW BEGINS:: First night of the Halloween Light Show by the folks who bring you West Seattle Yuletide. 5-10 pm nightly through Halloween (probably a little later on October 29th and 31st). New zombies this year: "Larry and Skully will be joining the Wicked Witch of the West, our dancing skeleton, Skelington. And this year our talking pumpkin will be joined by a trio of back-up singers." (38th SW between Genesee and Dakota)
DESSERT THEATER: First of five nights to see The Cabiri in "Ghost Game X: For Life Eternal" dessert-theater cabaret at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 7:30 pm. Tickets, showtimes, details in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
And non-Halloween (etc.) events from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
STATE FERRIES MEETING: Something to say or ask about the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route of Washington State Ferries? Tonight is your chance, 5-6:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. (9131 California SW)
ADMIRAL REZONING: Tonight's Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda Focus Group meeting at City Hall involves the group looking at "medium-density urban villages," including Admiral – this group's first meeting since the draft maps for potential Mandatory Housing Affordability rezoning were released last week (WSB coverage here). Public welcome, with a comment period toward meeting's end – 6-8 pm. (600 4th Ave. downtown)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House's High Point Center, with an agenda including a presentation about the city's "Drive Clean" and electric-vehicle initiatives as well as discussions of ongoing issues including the planned bus-shelter removals on the southeast corner of 44th/Alaska in The Junction. All welcome. (6400 Sylvan Way)
WSHS PLAY'S OPENING NIGHT: The West Seattle High School Drama Club's "Bright Room Called Day" opens at 7:30 pm in the WSHS Theater – here's a photo from dress rehearsal:
Full details, including ticket info, in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)
MUCH MORE FOR TODAY/TONIGHT/BEYOND – just take a quick look at our complete calendar.
8:07 AM: Breaking this out from morning traffic watch: A motorcycle-minivan crash on the west side of the 35th/Juneau intersection has sent the rider to the hospital with serious injuries. Juneau is blocked west of 35th. A woman and baby in the minivan were unhurt. A Good Samaritan stayed with the rider until help arrived and, we're told, became a victim herself when someone ran off with her backpack.
8:46 AM: Just went past the scene again on the way back to HQ from checking out something else. Juneau is no longer closed west of 35th. The minivan had not yet been towed, so that might cause some delays on the southbound side of 35th at some point soon. We will be contacting Harborview this morning to see if we can find out how the rider is doing.
1:39 PM: So far we haven't been able to get information from Harborview (without the rider's name), but I SFD spokesperson Capt. Shata Stephenson tells us the rider is "approximately 19 years old) and that her injuries were NOT life-threatening.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the 'low bridge' closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:03 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle right now. Though the rain finally stopped, you might still find some standing water, such as "under the Delridge onramp" per a text we just received.
Alerts for tonight:
SOUNDERS FC MATCH & EXTENDED WATER TAXI SERVICE: As announced earlier this week, the West Seattle Water Taxi will be on an extended schedule this evening for the Sounders FC playoff match (7 pm at CenturyLink vs. Sporting KC).
FERRY MEETING: 5-6:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), Washington State Ferries continues its weeklong series of meetings to listen to concerns about the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route. (Added midmorning) Format: The meeting will start with Assistant Transportation Secretary Lynne Griffith, who leads WSF, speaking for several minutes "recognizing the issues on the route and the need for public input," and then, WSF tells us, "The following hour will be open house-format listening sessions. During this time, members of our executive team will host three listening stations, where attendees can post ideas, concerns, and questions on maps of each terminal. These notes are what we will collect, assemble, and report back, from the meetings. We'll close out the meeting with a group Q&A so folks can ask questions or share insights about what they've heard from neighbors."
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House's High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way), WSTC's agenda includes the city's Drive Clean and Electric Vehicle initiatives, as well as the plan to remove two Junction bus shelters, the city budget, and the newest SODO arena proposal.
Special-event reminders (from the WSB West Seattle Halloween [etc.] Guide):
ADMIRAL TRICK-OR-TREATING FRIDAY: Take extra care in The Admiral District 3-6 pm tomorrow, when hundreds of kids and their families will be trick-or-treating in the business district.
JUNCTION HARVEST FESTIVAL SUNDAY: 10 am-2 pm Sunday, the usual street closures expand for this year's Harvest Festival – California between Edmunds and Oregon, Alaska between 42nd and 44th.
7:48 AM: Just got word of a crash at 35th/Juneau. Car/motorcycle. We are approaching – looks like it's on the southbound side, blocking outside lane.
8:08 AM: We have published a separate story about the crash and are now on the way to check out the water under the Delridge intersection.
8:25 AM: That appears to be clear now.
8:43 AM: Downtown note – we've received Metro alerts about delays downtown because of a crash at 3rd and James (all we know is that it was a "heavy rescue" call). Also, Juneau has reopened west of 35th – we went by that crash scene again on the way back to HQ; the minivan had not yet been towed.


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Cyber Talk Radio: San Antonio Cyber City, USA
San Antonio, Cyber City USA - Week 11 of Cyber Talk Radio
Our guest this week was Jim Perschbach, EVP of Biz Development at Port San Antonio.
Show Summary
This past Saturday, December 3, the eleventh episode of Cyber Talk Radio hit the airwaves on 1200 WOAI and iHeartRadio streaming.
Jim Perschbach, EVP of Biz Development at Port San Antonio joined the show to discuss San Antonio as a leading Cyber City in the USA.
In the first half of the show, Jim joins the show to discuss San Antonio's cybersecurity history and what is going on at Port San Antonio. Jim dives into how and why Port San Antonio was created, goals of its cybersecurity efforts and what's to come over the next decade. San Antonio is well positioned to be a leader within the cybersecurity space and needs to continue to evolve with the rapidly moving technology industry.
In the second half of the show, we discuss the career transition moving from private sector to public sector and the talent and skills gap in the cybersecurity industry. Jim walks the listeners through several different programs available to the local community to help identify needs of companies hiring, provide training and facilitate certification. These programs are especially beneficial for anyone coming out of the private sector. Some of the programs recommended are:
We encourage anyone interested in getting into the cybersecurity space to visit the links above and get involved in the training and certification programs. Lots of exciting things going on in Cyber City San Antonio!
Listen to a replay of this episode or past episodes on a Cyber Talk Radio Podcast stream.
We're live on Pocket Casts and iTunes so please subscribe to stay up to speed on the latest episodes. Past episodes are also posted on our YouTube channel.
Recent episodes – available to stream from our YouTube channel -
- Healthcare Data Privacy & HIPAA Security with David Schulz, executive director at Cyber Risk Associates
- Authentication and Identity Security with Paul Querna at ScaleFT
- Application Security aka AppSec with John Dickson and Dan Cornell at Denim Group
- Security is a Team Sport with Omar Quimbaya at Def Logix
- Incident Management and Response with Robert Autenrieth at J. Nels Consulting, LLC
Upcoming episodes – Saturday nights from 11:00 p.m. to Midnight -
- Episode 12, December 10, 2016: Accelerating Cybersecurity Innovation in San Antonio with Will Garrett at Build Sec Foundry
- Episode 13, December 17, 2016: Cyber Workforce and Economic Development in San Antonio with Joe Sanchez at CyberTexas Foundation
- Episode 14, December 24, 2016: Securing Cloud Data Services with Kenny Gorman at eventador.io
Have an idea for a topic or want to be a guest?
Contact Cyber Talk Radio via our request a topic or be a guest form.


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No one growing produce wants to inadvertently make people ill because of poor food safety practices.
Two training sessions will be held in New Mexico to help fruit and vegetable growers meet the regulatory requirements included in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule.
New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service and the Southwest Border Food Protection and Emergency Preparedness Center, housed at NMSU, are offering produce safety rule training in Las Cruces on Wednesday, March 4; and Albuquerque on Thursday, March 19.
The Product Safety Rule requires at least one supervisor or person responsible for the farm to have successfully completed food safety training in accordance with the annual monetary value of produce the farm sold during the previous three years.
"This is a one-day event that is intended for fruit and vegetable producers and importers who grow, harvest, pack or hold produce and fruit that is usually consumed raw, and who sell more than $25,000 per year," said Bob Silver with the Southwest Border Food Protection and Emergency Preparedness Center.
Participants who complete the course receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials that verifies they have completed the training. The certificate is also useful for meeting buyer requirements for food safety.
Participants receive a course manual that is a useful reference for farm safety practices and to develop a farm safety plan.
The Product Safety Alliance grower training in New Mexico will be:
- March 4: Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Avenue, Las Cruces. Online registration payment due by Feb. 28
- March 19: NMSU Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension Service, 1510 Menaul Blvd, Albuquerque. Online registration payment due by March 13.
All training sessions are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online registration cost is $35. At-the-door registration is $50, which includes training manual and certification of course completion.
To register online visit https://aces.nmsu.edu/preparedness/psa-training.html. For more information, visit the website or call Janet Witte, 575-646-5949.
The trainings are sponsored by NMSU's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and New Mexico Department of Agriculture.
NMSU Extension to host two food safety trainings for produce growers
No one growing produce wants to inadvertently make people ill because of poor food safety practices.


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Allison has been practicing pediatric physical therapy in the Issaquah area since 2000, and is Board Certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a Pediatric Clinical Specialist. She received her Master's in Physical Therapy from Pacific University in 1995, and after five years of clinical experience, continued her education and received her Doctor of Science degree in Pediatric Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2003.
Allison has worked in a wide variety of pediatric settings including hospitals, NICU, schools, early intervention, home care, and private practice. She opened Waypoint Pediatric Therapies in 2011, driven by the desire to provide uniquely personal and attentive pediatric physical therapy services. Allison works tirelessly at thinking outside the box, finding new ways to bring the community into Waypoint and vice versa, hiring an exceptional team of therapists who are equally committed to this vision. Each therapist brings a unique perspective and talent creating a phenomenal "Team Waypoint".
Allison has been very active in pediatric research since earning her doctorate in 2003. She served as the Northwest Regional Coordinator for the Move and PLAY (Participation in Life Activities of Young children) and On Track research studies, two multi-site research studies that recruited over 700 children with cerebral palsy from across the United States and Canada. She also recently completed a 3 year commitment to provide the intervention for the Start Play infant study. Research is a great way to ensure Waypoint and its therapists are providing the most up to date, evidence-based therapy for your child.
Outside of Waypoint, Allison loves exploring all the PNW has to offer with her 2 boys, Quinn and Griffin and husband/Waypoint enabler, Dennis. They are avid RVers, exploring everything from Alaska to the Grand Canyon!


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NHL Free Agency Preview: 30 teams, who needs what?
With July 1 just a day away, we take a look at what each team is looking for heading into the free agent frenzy. Depending on who you ask, there's either not much to choose from or a buffet of talent available.
Regardless, there's always something for every club...
Anaheim: The Ducks are convinced they have the real deal in soon-to-be 21-year-old goalie John Gibson and he's ready for the NHL, so they can let Jonas Hiller walk. Frederik Andersen showed this season he's at least a capable backup, if not more. Gibson and Andersen make less than $2 million combined for the next two seasons, meaning Anaheim can divert more capital to adding another top-four defenseman and skilled forward. Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu coming off the books frees up another $4.5 million. Anaheim would like to keep defender Stephane Robidas, but he's 37 and makes a healthy $3.3 million.
Arizona: Radim Vrbata was a bargain signing in 2011 when the Coyotes retained him for $9 million over three seasons. Since then, the 32-year-old Czech has been a top-line player and scored at an 82-game pace of 29 goals and 60 points. That should earn him north of $5 million on the open market if the Coyotes are unable to keep him. The team was very happy with the way Thomas Greiss filled in as backup and injury replacement to Mike Smith. The 28-year-old German posted a superior GAA and SP to Smith's. Because Greiss is young and a UFA, the Coyotes will have to pay dearly to keep him.
Boston: If Jarome Iginla is going to stay in Boston, it will be on a deal that is almost a carbon copy of the one he signed this season, a one-year deal with a low base salary laced with easily achievable incentives. His base salary is $1.8 million, but with his bonuses, Iginla's cap hit this season is $5.5 million, which will increase by $250,000 if the Bruins win the Eastern Conference and another $250,000 if they win the Stanley Cup. Much of that will be carried over to next season. The Bruins are so close to the cap that a similar deal is the only one they'll be able to do with Iginla next season.
Buffalo: The Sabres may want to keep Henrik Tallinder around, if for no other reason than he's been a boost to Tyler Myers. Tallinder was Myers' defense partner when Myers won the Calder Trophy in 2009-10. Tallinder signed with New Jersey and Myers struggled mightily for the next three seasons until last season when Tallinder returned. The Sabres won't face much of a free agent problem with their roster this summer, with Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and Cory Conacher the notable RFAs. Buffalo will have to spend just to get up to the salary floor, which leaves room to pursue UFAs.
Calgary: It's still puzzling why acting-GM Brian Burke didn't peddle Mike Cammalleri at the NHL trade deadline for even a draft pick of some nature. The chance of Cammalleri signing to stay in Calgary is low and there had to be some interest for the spring sniper (Cammalleri had 12 goals and 23 points in 19 games after the trade deadline). New GM Brad Treliving will have to do some spending for the Flames to make the salary floor, even if Calgary does the improbable and manage to sign Cammalleri. The Flames may pursue Calgary native and UFA Dany Heatley for a short-term deal to reach the floor.
Carolina: The Hurricanes are a budget team, so re-signing Jiri Tlusty, a 16-goal scorer and RFA, will be challenging but necessary. He's 26 and the Canes can ill afford to lose him. Four of their UFAs are defensemen, but the big question is the health of Joni Pitkanen. He didn't play this season and is on the open market. That creates a hole and $4.5 million a year in salary to spend. Manny Malhotra also is a UFA, but he'll likely return at an affordable salary.
Chicago: Antti Raanta delivered on the promise that made Chicago sign him last spring. The "best goalie outside the NHL" tag often drags unfair expectations with it, but Raanta flashed the ability that won him the MVP in the Finnish League regular season and playoffs a year ago. Detractors will point to his ugly second half, when he posted an .864 SP in three consecutive months. But those efforts were in spot duty. The more important stats came in December, when Raanta started 11 games spelling an injured Corey Crawford and went 8-1-3 with a 2.23 GAA and .912 SP. That stretch suggests Raanta is an apt long-term safety net. Getting any big names to augment the roster will be tough with the Hawks cap situation.
Colorado: Paul Stastny is the belle of the ball among free agent centers. Entering 2013-14, he was overpaid at a cap hit of $6.6 million. Then he delivered 25 goals, his most since his 2006-07 rookie campaign, and 60 points, his most since 2009-10. More importantly, he was dynamite in the playoffs with 10 points in seven games centering Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon. The Avs aren't rolling in cash with Ryan O'Reilly to re-sign, but Stastny would be a big loss. Stastny is in a pickle, too. Will he stay now that the Avs are a rising juggernaut or hit the open market knowing some team will reward him handsomely?
Columbus: The majority of the Jackets' core is locked up for 2014-15, leaving GM Jarmo Kekalainen to focus on the futures of footsoldiers such as Derek MacKenzie and Blake Comeau. Kekalainen's main issue will be what to do with Ryan Johansen. The 21-year-old has finished his entry-level contract and now has to decide between a short-term bridge contract or a long-term pact. If any emerging young star is ripe to receive an offer sheet, it's Johansen. The Jackets would surely match any offer and want to get a deal done before any other franchise can get involved and ratchet up the cost of doing business.
Dallas: Jaromir Jagr, 42, will return to New Jersey after a great season. Teemu Selanne, 43, made headlines again with his will-he-or-won't-he routine. What about Ray Whitney? It's a natural assumption the 42-year-old will retire after his production plummeted in Dallas, and he was a healthy scratch for the Stars' last playoff game. Whitney doesn't see it that way, however. He believes he still has the legs to contribute in the NHL and suggested his limited ice time was the reason for his unproductive season. Whitney thus may return, albeit not with Dallas. He'll have to accept a big pay cut from the $4.5 million he averaged over his two-year deal.
Detroit: The Red Wings' move to clean house at forward will almost certainly not extend to Daniel Alfredsson, who had a terrific season and has a spot in Detroit if he still wants to play. But there will likely be a full-scale housecleaning of veterans with Todd Bertuzzi, Daniel Cleary, Mikael Samuelsson and David Legwand moving on. That's because the Red Wings have 11 returning forwards with only Tomas Jurco eligible to be sent to the minors without clearing waivers.
Edmonton: The Oilers spent $8.6 million on five players this season who were either traded (salary retained on Ales Hemsky, Devan Dubnyk and Nick Schultz) or buried (Ben Eager and Denis Grebeshkov), so July 1 can't come soon enough. The big question is whether the Oilers attempt to re-sign defenseman Justin Schultz to a multi-year deal like the ones given to Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle or will we see a two-year bridge deal that is cost effective and allows Edmonton to spend elsewhere. The Oilers have just two proven rearguards under contract next season and will attempt to sign or trade for one or two more.
Florida: The Panthers chase for other teams' free agents this summer should be a lot more compelling than what they do with their own. On the unrestricted front, the only notable players are Scott Gomez, Krys Barch, Jesse Winchester and Tom Gilbert. And as should be expected with an organization that has so many young players, the Panthers have a boatload of RFAs in forwards Jimmy Hayes and Brandon Pirri and defensemen Erik Gudbranson, Dylan Olsen and Dmitry Kulikov. All should be signed without much trouble, but GM Dale Tallon is also setting his sights on adding veteran players, at least two of them defensemen.
Los Angeles: Not much to see here, and when you're the defending Cup champs and look to be a contender for many years to come, why would there be? GM Dean Lombardi has done a nice job locking in his core stars to long-term deals. Depth defenseman Willie Mitchell will be the focus of attention. Mitchell is 37 and rebounded well after losing all of 2012-13 with knee issues, but he's best suited to the third pair.
Minnesota: Dany Heatley's six-year, $45-million contract epitomized "albatross." He spent the second half of that deal with Minnesota, where his offense declined to the point where the two-time 50-goal man scored just 12 times in the final season. Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said the team will "see" about a new Heatley deal with a cap hit significantly lower than $7.5 million he made per year in the last one. Heatley was an unmitigated disaster on a Wild team that will spend its cap space on Nino Niederreiter. Bringing back Matt Moulson or pursuing a high-profile scorer like University of Minnesota alum Thomas Vanek would also take priority.
Montreal: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin will be one of the busier executives over the summer. After P.K. Subban's playoff performance, the only thing left to determine is how big of a Brinks truck he should back up to the Bell Centre. As far as UFAs are concerned, Brian Gionta will have options, but he has found a home in Montreal and a team that would like to have him back. Thomas Vanek has stated numerous times he wants to see what is out there come July 1, and it's difficult to fathom he would do anything that would deviate from that plan now.
Nashville: It was a year to forget for Michael Del Zotto. The dynamic offensive D-man, once a big part of the New York Rangers' plans, was shipped to Nashville for Kevin Klein. Del Zotto had five points in 25 games in Music City. Quite a fall for someone two years removed from 41 points as a 21-year-old. That said, Del Zotto is too tantalizing a talent to quit on. New coach Peter Laviolette deploys a more aggressive offensive scheme than Barry Trotz did, so Del Zotto's game will rebound. His new deal won't be anything close to what he envisioned two years ago. He shouldn't expect a raise on the $2.6 million he made in 2013-14.
New Jersey: The Devils signed Jaromir Jagr to a one-year deal after the season ended, which means all of their key forwards are under contract. However, they've got a key veteran blueliner in Mark Fayne who will attract interest in a defense-thin market. Fayne has never had more than four goals and 17 points in a season, but he's a big (6-foot-3) body who'll see his salary increase. The team's most prominent RFAs include Swedes Josef Jacobson and Adam Larsson.
Islanders: The Islanders have plenty of RFAs to sign, including defenseman Calvin de Haan, forwards Casey Cizikas and Anders Lee and backup netminder Anders Nilsson. The cash-strapped Isles have long attempted to lure an elite veteran to complement their collection of young talent (see Dan Boyle and Thomas Vanek), but it appears the best they can hope for is bringing back former franchise fixture Matt Moulson or signing a veteran who has few other alternatives to a one-year deal.
Rangers: Forget about adding anyone new. The Rangers were in cap trouble and required moves by GM Glen Sather to allow them to attempt to retain RFAs Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello, John Moore and Justin Falk and bring back veterans Brian Boyle, Benoit Pouliot and Dominic Moore and Anton Stralman. Even with Brad Richards gone via an amnesty buyout, they'll still be hard pressed to get everyone back and remain under the cap. Brassard and Zuccarello are both 26, but the former made $3.2 million last year, while Zuccarello, who led the team in points, earned $1.15 million.
Ottawa: Ales Hemsky meshed well with Jason Spezza after coming over at the trade deadline, but with Spezza's name in play in terms of an off-season trade, there's no sense of urgency to re-sign Hemsky. Aside from Spezza and Bobby Ryan, who each have one more year on their contracts, the Senators have most of their core players signed to long-term deals. One player who needs to be signed is Robin Lehner, who is ready to challenge for the No. 1 goaltending job with Craig Anderson. The Senators will also have to make a decision on Milan Michalek, who is coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons.
Philadelphia: The Flyers are completely cap crushed. After cornerstone defenseman Kimmo Timonen and crucial center Brayden Schenn received new (bargain) contracts, there's next to no room remaining. But they do have to make decisions on RFA forwards Tye McGinn and Jason Akeson and blueliner Erik Gustafsson. And then there's UFA forward Steve Downie and backup goalie Ray Emery). New GM Ron Hextall can't escape the financial crossroads the franchise is in. Any move they make will require another to make it work.
Pittsburgh: After the James Neal trade, the Penguins have just seven forwards and five defensemen signed for 2014-15 and around $15 million in cap space. Their RFAs (Brandon Sutter and Simon Despres) aren't going to be a major hurdle to overcome, but their UFAs are another story. Pens GM Jim Rutherford needs to lock up or replace wingers Jussi Jokinen and Lee Stempniak and a pair of veteran defensemen in Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen. Niskanen in particular will be a major priority, as the 27-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in 2013-14 and will be in demand.
St. Louis: RFA Vladimir Sobotka is a "good" problem for Blues GM Doug Armstrong. St. Louis has enough contracts to figure out between its goaltenders, Patrik Berglund and Jaden Schwartz, and it wouldn't have expected a year ago Sobotka would command a major bump from his $1.3-million cap hit, but things changed. He played a robust physical game, won an NHL-best 61.9 percent of his draws and set career highs in goals, assists and points despite missing 21 games. He posted the 11th-best Corsi Close among NHL centers. Armstrong must face the fact Sobotka is now a premier checking center and pay him accordingly.
San Jose: How much of an overhaul does GM Doug Wilson want to make? Does Joe Thornton get dealt? Does he make a play for Ryan Miller? Those are the big questions. A smaller, but important one, is how much to pay RFA James Sheppard? He made a compelling case for himself late in a season that ended in disappointment for the Sharks. The ninth overall draft selection by Minnesota in 2006 had an offensive outburst in the final quarter of the season and carried it into the playoffs. Sheppard had three goals and 14 points in an 18-game stretch through March, then added two goals and six points in San Jose's seven-game setback to Los Angeles.
Tampa Bay: GM Steve Yzerman did well to get contracts for Calder Trophy finalists Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat and a number of other young players who had breakout seasons in Alex Killorn, J.T. Brown, and Mark Barberio. Richard Panik and Andrej Sustr are the only ones who remain. Ryan Callahan, who came over from the Rangers at the trade deadline but couldn't help push the team out of the first round and had six goals and 11 points in 24 games with the Lightning, got six years at $5.8 million each. But there's still work to be done for Yzerman. He freed up space by dealing Teddy Purcell, Nate Thompson and B.J. Crombeen. Is he preparing for a big-name pitch?
Toronto: After striking a disastrous deal with David Clarkson last year, Maple Leafs GM David Nonis will have to avoid doing the same with David Bolland. Bolland will argue the Leafs would have stood a much better chance of making the playoffs had he not missed 59 games. But the fact is he did miss 59 games, which would make him an enormous risk for the Leafs if they were to give him the long-term deal at $5 million a season he reportedly seeks. Mason Raymond will be looking to at least double his bargain stipend of $1 million after playing all 82 games and bouncing back with 19 goals and 45 points.
Vancouver: Ryan Kesler is gone, as is Jason Garrison. Cap space isn't an issue, but what direction are the Canucks going? Regardless, Zack Kassian continued making strides this season and looks close to establishing himself as a top-six power forward with a touch around the net. The question is will Vancouver offer the RFA a modest raise on the $870,000 he earned this season or try to ink him to a longer deal? Kassian is big, plays an aggressive game and may only now be realizing his offensive potential. He had three goals and 10 points in his final 10 games of the season, including a four-point effort against Buffalo. Fellow RFA Chris Tanev was second on the Canucks in plus-minus and averaged 20:44 of ice time. He'll get a hike from the $1.5 million he earned.
Washington: Compared to other teams, the Capitals don't have a lot of in-house work to do with their free agents. They've got a few RFAs and notable UFAs in forwards Mikhail Grabovski and Dustin Penner to sign. Grabovski is the key free agent out of both groups. The 30-year-old center had a decent season and was a nice fit on Washington's power play, but he'll be seeking a raise on the $3 million he earned in '13-14. As well, with the trade of Jaroslav Halak to the Islanders, the Caps need to acquire a co-No. 1 or backup goalie behind Braden Holtby.
Winnipeg: What must Al Montoya do to start permanently over Ondrej Pavelec? Montoya appeared in 28 games and went 13-8-3 with a 2.30 GAA and .920 SP. The sparkling stats didn't come out of nowhere given his pedigree as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2004 draft with the Rangers. Meanwhile, Pavelec's .901 SP tied him for 45th in the NHL. Montoya said he wants to remain with the Jets, but he deserves a lot more than the $601,000 he made this season. His breakout gives Winnipeg just one more reason to move Pavelec, who carries a $3.9-million cap hit for three more years.


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Molly Shannon visits Jimmy Fallon
Can former SNL stars appear on Late Night every night? Host Jimmy Fallon is rarely better than when he's gabbing with one of his old castmates about life at the sketch show — which sounds sort of like a giant, extended sleepover party for adults.
Case in point: Molly Shannon dropped by yesterday, ostensibly to talk about her children's book (Tilly the Trickster, which looks pretty dang cute) and her guest spot on HBO's Enlightened. But in the end, the plugs seemed sort of beside the point. Fallon and Shannon — whom he calls "pals" — mostly just spent 10 minutes gabbing about the dumb things they used to do to amuse each other during their SNL days. Watching the interview is sort of like eavesdropping on a private conversation, but not in a creepy way. Check the video below to see what I mean — and to learn which character Molly created just to make Jimmy laugh:
Read more:


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How Many Cans of Crab Meat Would Be Needed to Make One Pound?
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The number of cans of crab it takes to equal a pound can range anywhere from one can to four cans. It depends on the company and the can size.
For instance, Bumblebee sells canned crab in 6-ounce cans, which is the net weight. The drained weight is 4.25 ounces, so it takes a little less than four cans to equal a pound, which is 16 ounces. On the other hand, Philips sells 1-pound cans, so only one can would be needed. To figure out how many cans are needed for a recipe, the consumer should check the size of cans available for purchase.


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The Daily Telegraph, a newspaper based in London, has released its annual slideshow of cute animals.
Tag Archives: animals
Intelligent Octopuses
For the first time octopuses have been observed using tools. Researchers discovered that veined octopuses, found off the coast of Indonesia, use coconut shells to build armor for themselves. The octopuses where spotted collecting coconut shells and taking them when they moved to protect themselves from potential predators.
This marks the first time an invertebrate has been discovered to use tools.
Read more at CNN.com.
Gorilla Gives Birth
Gana, a gorilla living at the Allwetter Zoo in Germany has given birth to a daughter named Claudia. Mother and baby are reported to be doing well.
Gana was in the news last year after her baby, Claudio died at three months of age. Gana was so distraught at his death that she carried the body with her for several days trying to revive him.
She has had one other baby, a female named Mary Zwo that currently resides in a zoo in Stuttgart, Germany.
For more, visit the LA Times.
New Animal Article: Koala
Check out the latest article added to Animal Fact Guide:
Koalas have special adaptations that enable them to feast on eucalyptus leaves. Eucalyptus leaves are highly fibrous and poisonous to other animals. But koalas have bacteria in their stomachs that break down the fiber and toxic oils and allow them to absorb 25% of the nutrients.
Learn more about koalas »
New Discoveries in Platypus Research
Scientists have turned to genome sequencing to determine how to categorize the platypus. With the help of a female platypus named Glennie, scientists have found that there are reptilian, avian and mammalian genome features present. These findings help prove that the unique platypus really is in a class by itself.
For more information: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/1968300-platypus-genome-is-a-mishmash-of-reptilian-avian-and-mammalian-genomes
For more interesting facts about how the platypus is unique, visit Animal Fact Guide's article: Platypus
New Additions to Animal Fact Guide
Check out Animal Fact Guide's recently added animal articles and fun downloads!
Atlantic Puffin
Did you know that Atlantic puffins live out in the open sea most of the time and only come to land to breed for a few months a year? Also, although puffins resemble penguins in their black and white markings, they are not related to penguins at all. In stark contrast to penguins, Atlantic puffins are excellent fliers and can reach speeds up to 88 km/h (55mph)!
Learn more facts about Atlantic puffins »
Cougar (Mountain Lion)
The cougar, also commonly called the mountain lion, puma, and panther, is the largest cat in North America. However, unlike other big cats such as lions and tigers, the cougar cannot roar and instead purrs like a house cat. Furthermore, with a slender body and round head with pointed ears, the cougar's body shape closely resembles that of a house cat, only larger.
Learn more facts about cougars »
We've also added more fun FREE downloads (in PDF format) to the Fun Stuff section including animal mazes! New additions include: