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Planning commission members in Bristol drew a line in the sand with their revised town plan, and voters boldly stepped over it.
By rejecting the town plan and the gravel extraction zoning ordinance by almost a 2-1 margin, town residents finally got their say on an issue that has dominated discussion for the past four years. The vote totals tell the story: Bristol residents voted 598-364 against the proposed town plan, and 627-349 against the gravel extraction zoning ordinance. That is overwhelming.


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I just got a big package in the mail today from the Orange County Genealogical Society. Because of the problems I had not getting access to their reference library during my research trip in September, their volunteers have kindly been looking for anything having to do with Gillespie or Greer. It's all wonderful, but everything they sent falls into two categories: a) the Gillespie or Greer name they refer me to is somebody I have already eliminated or b) there's no telling - like a transcribed passenger list that simply says "James Greer" doesn't tell me anything. Big heavy sigh.
But then at the bottom of papers they sent (I think they purposely saved the best for last) was this: An Aliens Report with Intention Declarations. On 6 Sep 1821, James Greer listed his family this way: James Greer, 35, Jane Greer 35, John Greer 14, Eliza Greer 12. Birthplace of all is listed as County Armagh, Ireland. Their intended place of residence is Dutchess County, New York. It was filed and recorded in Newburgh, Orange County, NY (why not in Dutchess County, I'm not sure). And if you ask me, it sure looks like it has the signature of James Greer followed by "for self and family".
Wow - don't know about you, but I have chills. After all this time and effort, I haven't been able to find one primary source of documentation that this branch of the family really did live and breathe (and have kids!) in New York before coming to Michigan. And now here it is. I can hardly believe it.
So this document gives us several new pieces of information. First is that up to this point I don't believe we had any primary source that said the Greer's came from County Armagh. I pretty much know that the Gillespie's were from Armagh, but from my studies of these families on the Ireland side, the Greer's might have been located in a different county. This says they were all born in County Armagh. Thank you!
Second, we did not yet have any idea about whether Eliza was born in Ireland or NY, and since the next child of James and Jane that we know about was Mary Greer, born in NY in 1812, we knew that James and Jane came some time AFTER John's birth in 1806 and BEFORE Mary's birth in 1812. Now this new document says Eliza was born in Armagh and she was 12 years old in 1821, making her approximate birth year 1809. So NOW, we know this family came to NY between 1809 and 1812, which is a much narrower window when I'm looking through passenger lists. Thank you!
We might as well note that the Greer family had had at least three other children in the years between coming to America and filing this declaration of intent, those being Mary, James, and Joseph. Those names were not included in this document because they were born in America and thus citizens. And we can further note that at the time this document was signed, Jane was pregnant with her last child: Robert M. Greer who was born in March, 1822.
Finally, I wonder what we can presume from what was NOT in this package of information. I am assuming if there was any other GREER names in that index of declarations, the OCGS volunteers would have sent it to me. Sooooo, what about Nancy whose first husband was a Greer (thought to be Robert), and second husband was Thomas Gillespie? It seems to me, we could have at least two and maybe more scenarios for Nancy. Maybe Nancy came later, some time after James and Jane, and perhaps she was already remarried by the time she did come. Or maybe both Robert and Nancy came at the same time as James and Jane, but Robert served in the war and was killed? Or maybe Robert and/or his family was deported as enemy aliens and then Nancy made her way back again with Thomas? This family has been complicated from the get-go, I'll say that!
In the mean time, I can't even begin to imagine coming to a land (hardly a country at that point) which was in the middle of open warfare with the country you just left, finding a place to live and a way to feed a growing family, and wondering probably every second of the day and night whether you will survive at all, never mind be better off for the journey made. The more I learn about the place and times they found themselves in, the more I have to admire. And so my own declaration of intent becomes reaffirmed. I'll probably always keep wanting to know and tell this family's story.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mayor Michael Bloomberg told The New Yorker he might reconsider his stubborn defense of stop-and-frisk tactics, if he had a son.
(Bloomberg has two adult daughters, Georgina and Emma.)
From The New Yorker:
"If I had a son who was stopped, I might feel differently about it, but nevertheless," Bloomberg said. "Maybe I was inelegant, but I don't think anybody thinks I am anything but—I hope not, anyway—supportive of trying to help all people. With my own money as well as time, thank you very much. I've spent s of my life doing this."
Black and Latino men account for an overwhelming majority of those stopped and frisked by the NYPD so, as New York's Joe Coscarelli points out, "for Bloomberg to have a son that would be stopped, odds are he'd have to at least appear to be a man of color."
In 2011 alone, more young black men were stopped by the NYPD than there are young black men in the entire city.
Bloomberg also emphasized his support for the stop-and-frisk program to The New Yorker.
"I would suggest to the next mayor, whoever it is, that saving lives is the most important thing, more so than pandering," Bloomberg said. "Stop and frisk has been shown to be—not the only, but the most effective, tool in getting guns out of the hands of kids."
Last week, a federal judge declared that thousands of NYPD stops were racially motivated and unconstitutional. Judge Shira Scheindlin called for a federal monitor to oversee the police department.
Bloomberg has since angrily criticized both the ruling and Judge Scheindlin.
"What does she know about policing? Absolutely zero," Bloomberg said after the ruling. "Your safety and the safety of your kids is now in the hands of some woman who does not have the expertise to do it."
The city formerlyappealed the stop-and-frisk ruling on Friday.


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By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — Town officials in Middlebury have abandoned the notion of establishing a local mosquito control program this year and will instead survey residents next Town Meeting Day to determine whether there is enough interest to pursue the idea in 2007.
Selectmen made that decision on Tuesday after learning it could cost the town $50,000 to $100,000 to run an effective mosquito control program this year — and that's with the summer well under way, and with the prime insect hatching period just about over.
"I would not expect we would be able to do this, this year," Middlebury Town Manager Bill Finger said.
An increasing number of residents in town have asked selectmen to look into ways of putting a dent in the mosquito population, which they say has soared with recent wet weather. The county already includes two insect control districts — the Brandon-Leicester-Salisbury-Goshen district and the Lemon Fair district (covering Bridport and Cornwall). Weybridge voters on July 25 will decide whether they want to contract for mosquito control services.
Download Plan
MIDDLEBURY — In a grassroots effort to help reduce global warming a citizens' group has asked Middlebury selectmen to endorse a plan aimed at reducing the community's greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent by the year 2012.
The Middlebury Area Global Warming Action Committee (MAGWAC) on Tuesday presented selectmen with a 43-page report on the extent to which Middlebury, its residents and commuters are generating greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide), and how those gases could be reduced.
MAGWAC members Steve Maier and Peg Martin urged selectmen to adopt four major recommendations within the Middlebury Area Climate Action Plan, including:
• That the town set an example in reducing greenhouse gases on a municipal level by using biodiesel and other alternative fuels for its vehicles and heating; by encouraging public transportation, walking and less driving; by considering "building efficiency standards" for new construction; and by developing a plan to reduce town government-related greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2012.
MIDDLEBURY — After 15 years of service as Vermont's lone representative in the U.S. House, independent Bernard Sanders hopes voters this November will give him a new role in Washington, D.C. — as a United States senator.
Sanders, 64, is seeking to fill the spot being vacated by longtime Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt. The fiery progressive congressman and former Burlington mayor faces competition from IDX Systems founder Richard Tarrant, a Colchester Republican.
During a far-ranging interview on July 7 at the Addison Independent, Sanders shared his views on such issues as the war in Iraq, farming, job creation, the federal deficit and health care.
As usual, he did not mince words.
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The new pipeline shipping college head coaches to the NFL could be transporting another college head coach with fairly extensive NFL experience.
According to Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times, the Chargers have contacted UCLA coach Jim Mora regarding the possibility of replacing Norv Turner in San Diego.
But it's not believed that Mora is interested. Instead, it's expected that the Chargers' interest will result in increased pay for Mora's assistants and improvements to the football facilities.
Mora also could end up with a little more moolah for Mora, too.
"Rest assured that I, along with Chancellor [Gene] Block and the university, share that dedication to Jim and the team, and together we are committed to, step-by-step, reaching new heights in UCLA football," Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said in an email to UCLA boosters, via Foster.
Mora has spent only one year at UCLA. His contract has a $3 million buyout if he leaves before January 16; after that, the number drops to $2.5 million.
Mora coached the Falcons for three years, taking the team to the 2004 NFC title game. He was surprisingly fired by the Seahawks after only one season as head coach.


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If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
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2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Philips Hue Connected Bulb Starter Pack
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Smart Home, Techies, Under $250, Under $500,
Lighting should be highly personal. Overhead fluorescents most definitely aren't. Hue helps you create just the right ambiance with this ultra-customizable system, our next entry in our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide. You can tinker with the color and brightness of every HUE LED in your home through a smartphone app, allowing you to set the color to match any part of the rainbox on demand, at any time.
You can pick up the Philips Hue Connected Bulb Starter Pack now from Amazon for $180.
Read More | Philips Hue Connected Bulb Starter Pack
Gallery: 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Philips Hue Connected Bulb Starter Pack
5 Unique Gadgets to Trick Out Your Home Bar
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Features, Smart Home, Science,
There are few things in a home that say "sophisticated class" like a home bar when it's done right. Rather than meeting at the local bar, invite some guests over to your place for drinks, and show them that there's more to it then the simple choice of shaken or stirred. Each of these items is sure to impress at your next cocktail party.
Izola Measurements Cocktail Shaker
When upgrading your at-home cocktail setup from "dive bar" to "high-roller club," remember that a well-prepared drink is what matters more than anything. We'll get to the other cool stuff in a moment, but we had to start off with the Izola Measurements Cocktail Shaker. Izola's vessel has a list of the most common drink measurements engraved into the steel, so your Vespers are sure to be Bond-worthy every time. $36 -
Click to continue reading 5 Unique Gadgets to Trick Out Your Home Bar
Gallery: 5 Unique Gadgets to Trick Out Your Home Bar
Deal of the Day: 57% off BACtrack S35 Breathalyzer
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Hot Deals, Smart Home, Science,
Today in the Gear Live Deals Shop we're hooking you up with an awesome 57% discount on the BACtrack S35 Breathalyzer. This Deal of the Day is a portable breathalyzer that you can keep on your keychain to have with you anytime you need it. Now you have a way to seeing what your blood alcohol content happens to be after happy hour or a night out, allowing you to make a much more informed decision about what to do next. Goodbye DUIs. Typically selling for $70, this deal gets it to you for $29.99 with free shipping. Here's a list of the top features of the BACtrack S35:
- Advanced semiconductor sensor provides trusted results
- Learn how your body processes alcohol and always make smart, informed decisions
- Ultra-portable design and unmistakable, palm-of-hand feel
- Three optional mouthpieces also included for multiple users
- Results displayed range from 0.00-0.40% BAC
Save 57% on the BACtrack S35 Breathalyzer
Don't forget, if you're looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals.
Gallery: Deal of the Day: 57% off BACtrack S35 Breathalyzer
5 kitchen gadgets to up your cooking game
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Design, Features, Smart Home,
When most people think about gadgets in the home, they focus on the living room. The thing is, while that 4K UHD TV may look great, there is a lot of fun you can have in the kitchen with the right high-tech tools. I wanted to bring you a look at a few kitchen gadgets that I'm a fan of that will add a flair of fashionable tech to this often-neglected room. Be forewarned--just like other gadgets, kitchen appliances can have a hefty price tag!
Click to continue reading 5 kitchen gadgets to up your cooking game
Gallery: 5 kitchen gadgets to up your cooking game
Deal of the Day: 60% off the Bluetooth Shower Speaker
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Smartphones, Hot Deals, Smart Home, Wireless / WiFi,
Today in the Gear Live Deals Shop we're offering a 60% discount on the Bluetooth Shower Speaker. If you're one who likes to jam out in the shower, belting out the hits, then you'll wanna grab our Deal of the Day! It'll stream music from any Bluetooth device, so your smartphone and tablet are covered as long as they're no more than 10 meters away. Of course, this thing is showerproof, and is also great around the pool. Even better? There is a buit-in microphone, so you can even take calls on this thing. From the shower.
Save 60% on the Bluetooth Shower Speaker
Don't forget, if you're looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals.
Gallery: Deal of the Day: 60% off the Bluetooth Shower Speaker
92% of fast food jobs to be performed by machines by 2034
Posted by Ariel Levin-Waldman Categories: Smart Home, Science,
Would you like fries with that, puny human?
Don't laugh, it is a question you might be hearing more of in the near future as more and more industries mull over replacing their workstaff with robots. And it isn't in the far future either. It's already happening.
Every time I walk into a Walmart or a Wegmans I see automated registers. I use them too. Gear Live recently looked at how the modern consumer would prefer to use an app rather than speaking with sales representatives. And a San Francisco company (Momentum Machines) invented an automated burger maker.
According to an Oxford University study, there is a 92 percent chance that fast food jobs will be done by machines within two decades.
When I head news like this, I start preparing my bug-out-bag because robots and apocalypse seem to fit together all to often. But it isn't as grim as it could be if you ask the folks over at CNN. According to them, mechanization of services will only knock a maximum of 10 percent off the workforce.
Wait, 10 percent? Isn't that about one and a half times the current unemployment number? As in the current recession?
Maybe we should have learned something from Terminator. I'll rest easy knowing I have a few decades until a drone with a sorting algorithm can perform field reporting.
Gallery: 92% of fast food jobs to be performed by machines by 2034
Krups ZB500E52 Infinity Slow Juicer makes juices and smoothies silently
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smart Home,
The Krups ZB500E52 Infinity Slow Juicer is all about choice. Do you want some juice, or some sort of delicious breakfast cocktail? No problem. Oh, a smoothie is more along the lines of what you're feeling? Or maybe a sauce? It can handle that, too. You see, the Infinity Slow Juicer boasts two separate stainless steel baskets--one fine mesh for juice, and one with a more coarse grid for thicker smoothies and sauces. The motor is said to be near silent as well, so you can throw together your superfood beverage early in the morning without worry of waking the kids.
You can pick up the Krups Infinity Slow Juicer on Amazon for $279.
Gallery: Krups ZB500E52 Infinity Slow Juicer makes juices and smoothies silently
Withings introduces Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor for iOS and Android
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, CES, CES 2014, Wearables, Smart Home, Wireless / WiFi,
We were big fans of the original Withings Blood Pressure Monitor, but the new model introduced at CES 2014 is a vast improvement since it works wirelessly. No longer requiring to be tethered, the Withings Wireless Blood Pressure model works with the iPhone, as well as Android devices (the previous version only worked with older iOS device that used the 30-pin connector.) You launch the app after applying the cuff, and you get your blood pressure and heart rate, which can be archived so you can refer to the data later, and view trends. You'll be able to get it soon for $129.95.
Peep a video demo after the break.
Click to continue reading Withings introduces Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor for iOS and Android
Read More | Withings
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Google to acquire Nest for $3.2 billion
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Smart Home,
Google just announced that it will acquire Nest, the company that sells the popular and impressive connected Smart Thermostat and Protect smoke alarm devices, for $3.2 billion. With the deal, Nest founders Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers will join Google, bringing the two men who pretty much brought the iPod to life into Google's clutches.
"They're already delivering amazing products you can buy right now–thermostats that save energy and smoke/CO alarms that can help keep your family safe," said Google CEO Larry Page in a statement. "We are excited to bring great experiences to more homes in more countries and fulfill their dreams!"
Google says that Nest will continue to operate independently, and Nest says that the customer data will be kept separate from the rest of Google data mining. We've seen similar promises from other companies Google has purchased in the past, and many of them were broken. We'll see how this one pans out. The acquisition is now pending regulatory review, and will likely take a few months to close.
Gallery: Google to acquire Nest for $3.2 billion
2013 Holiday Gift Guide: Kid Puzzle Dinner Tray
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smart Home, Kids, Under $100, Under $250, Under $50, Under $500,
We've all been told not to play without food as youngsters, but no one ever said anything about the plates and cutlery, did they (maybe I wasn't paying attention)? Whatever the case, this plastic dinner set is meant to teach the little ones some very basic geometry while simultaneously getting them to keep their table setting organized, so we're featuring it in our 2013 Holiday Gift Guide. The rubber padding on the bottom keeps everything in place nicely, minimizing spillage.
You can pick up the Kid Puzzle Dinner Tray now from Amazon for $49.99.
Read More | Kid Puzzle Dinner Tray
Gallery: 2013 Holiday Gift Guide: Kid Puzzle Dinner Tray
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Guy Lacelle
Management and staff at Arc'teryx are deeply saddened by the news of Guy Lacelle's death at the Bozeman Ice Festival December 10, 2009. We send our sincere condolences to Guy's family and friends. A pillar in the climbing community, he will be missed by many. Read more...
Guy Lacelle's dedication to climbing really focused on pure first ascents and solos on Ice. He worked in the spring/summer in B.C's forestry sector and spent his 5 months off during the winter to climb ice.
Guy had many historical ascents such as; the first solo link of the Terminator/Sea of Vapors and the Replicant in 5 hours, Weeping Pillar and Polar Circus in a day, French Maid, Curtain Call, La Pomme D'or in Quebec, and Hydnefossen in Norway.
Guy received the prestigious Summit of Excellence Award, and was a regular on the Ice Festival circuit who always lent a hand teaching clinics and competing in the comps. He won the Festiglace Competition in Quebec in 2004, as well as the pure Ice Competition in Ouray in 2000 and 2001.


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IRONMAN Lake Placid
2012 IRONMAN Lake Placid Recap
As expected, Potts led all competitors out of Mirror Lake on a beautiful sunny morning in the Village of Lake Placid. In the process he also set the new swim course record of 45:10, trimming the previous record (45:28) held by Canadian Tom Evans from 2006. Australia's Peter Jacobs trailed Potts out of the water by 2:10, while Frenchman Romain Guillaume faced a five-minute deficit.
Despite some stomach issues on the marathon which forced her to eat and drink only cola after the four-mile mark, Donavan ran a controlled race and was still able to extend her lead on everyone except her QT2 teammate and friend Jennie Hansen. Upon conclusion of the first lap of the run and with Hansen chipping away at her lead, her coach told her that she needed to go to the "dark place," and she pushed it hard for the second lap to keep Hansen at bay with a 3:13:39 run, earning her first career IRONMAN win with a time of 9:47:39. Hansen ran just a tad faster (3:12:25) for the top run of the day to take second (9:56:40), and Gordon picked up third with a 10:08:28 clocking.
Read more here.


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Thanks to our Olympic success so far, I've collected a lot of requests for Made in the USA products and deals. Today patriotism, price drops and a Valentine's Day promotion all work in tandem to help you save.
While mattresses are generally a great purchase on Presidents' Day, several manufacturers launch comparable or better incentives on Valentine's Day. In my more than a decade hunting down deals, one of the best mattress deals I've ever seen is online right now.
Forget plain old memory foam! Memory Foam mattresses are one of my most requested deals but after a few summer sleeps, that hot memory foam gets in the way. After more than a year of testing, the Arctic Dreams Cooling Gel Mattress utilizes an advanced cool touch memory foam brings comfort and support.
Complete with 10-year warranty, free delivery and countless sleep benefits, the incredibly well-rated Dream Foam mattresses are Made in the USA and up to $600 off today.
Click the play button to see this sale up close!
- 10-year warranty.
- Lowest-recorded prices.
- One of the most comfortable mattresses we've ever tested.
- Does not get hot like memory foam.
- Provides additional support compared to your typical mattresses
- The foams are performance-tested, durability-tested, emissions-tested, and content-tested by independent, accredited testing laboratories.
- Made without ozone depleters.
- Product fully regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Up To $600 Off Artic Dreams 10" Cooling Gel Made In USA Mattresses + Free Delivery
Was: $599 - $999
Now: $167 - $329
***Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King and California King available
Matt Granite is a freelance consumer reporter who produces stories and video for this station, Amazon Live and others. Neither Matt nor this station are compensated by the brands featured here. Prices are subject to change at any time and products are expected to sell out.


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Oct. 17, 2008
VILLANOVA, PA., Oct. 17, 2008 – Forgiveness, one of the most longed for but elusive virtues, has become an increasingly important topic in public dialogue. Learning to forgive can heal a host of personal and societal ills from broken friendships to genocide. The Theology Institute at Villanova University explores the varied aspects of forgiveness as the theme of its annual one-day conference to be held October 28 at the Connelly Center on the University's campus. Open to the public free of charge, the conference will explore the multi-faceted subject of forgiveness from an interdisciplinary and Christian perspective.
Topics addressed at the event will include: forgiveness in family life, law and art; the psychology of forgiveness; social and political conflicts involving forgiveness; self-forgiveness; the Jewish-Christian dialogue and learning lessons from history. As part of the conference, the prestigious Adela Dwyer/St. Thomas of Villanova Peace Award will be conferred upon the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP) with Jane Golden, executive director of MAP, accepting the award. The concluding session features Dr. Bontrager, secretary for the National Committee for Amish Religious Freedom and spokesman for the Nickel Mines Amish community, who explores how the Nickel Mines Amish were able to express forgiveness following the shooting of 10 of their daughters at their local schoolhouse in May 2006.
"Forgiveness is important for interpersonal relationships, and in social and political life," Darlene Weaver, Ph.D., director of The Theology Institute said. "Our audience will learn from scholars and practitioners about the dynamics of forgiveness and the distinctive insights into forgiveness that Christian faith yields," she added.
Exploring the topic of forgiveness is an on-going initiative of Villanova's Office for Mission Effectiveness, which instituted The Forgiveness Project in 2005. The Forgiveness Project is an interdisciplinary and multi-faceted program whose purpose is to address the topic of forgiveness from personal, professional, spiritual and intellectual contexts. The Theology Institute will sponsor additional programs on forgiveness throughout the academic year. These events will further explore the practical significance of forgiveness focusing on Christian-Jewish relations, criminal justice and the arts.
The Adela Dwyer/St. Thomas of Villanova Peace Award, established in 1990, recognizes an individual or group for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the meaning and conditions of justice and peace in human communities. Selected by Villanova's Center for Peace and Education, the winner of the Peace Award receives $1,000 and a plaque highlighting the honor. Former recipients include social justice luminaries such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Daniel J. Berrigan, S.J., civil rights activist Congressman John Lewis and Habitat for Humanity.
To register for the conference visit: http://www.villanova.edu/artsci/theology/centers/institute/conference/
The conference schedule includes:
10:00 a.m. (Opening Lecture)
11:30 a.m. (Concurrent Sessions)
2:30-3:45 p.m.
4:00-5:15 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
Villanova University, a co-educational Roman Catholic institution, was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842. A premier institution of higher education, Villanova provides a comprehensive education rooted in the liberal arts; a shared commitment to the Augustinian ideals of truth, unity and love; and a community dedicated to service to others. A wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered through the University's four colleges: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering and the College of Nursing, as well as the Villanova School of Law. With a total enrollment that surpasses 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students, Villanova is the oldest and largest Catholic university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.


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The English literary critic Terry Eagleton will present the address "The Death of Criticism?" on Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 4 p.m. in the Fried-Hemenway Auditorium of the Martha Miller Center for Global Communication as this year's De Graaf lecture at HopeCollege.
The English literary critic Terry Eagleton will present the address "The Death of Criticism?" on Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 4 p.m. in the Fried-Hemenway Auditorium of the Martha Miller Center for Global Communication as this year's De Graaf lecture at HopeCollege.
A reception will follow in the rotunda.
The public is invited to both the address and the reception. Admission is free.
Eagleton is the John Edward Taylor Professor of Cultural Theory at the University of Manchester. He began his career as a scholar of Victorian literature and now specializes in literary and cultural theory and the English-language literature and culture of Ireland.
A prolific writer within and without the academic world, Eagleton is the author of more than 40 books, including, most recently, "How To Read A Poem," "Jesus Christ: The Gospels" and "The Meaning of Life." He is, perhaps, best known as the author of "Literary Theory: An Introduction."
Eagleton is often at the center of international literary quarrels. His recent and widely read review of "The God Delusion," the atheistic treatise by Richard Dawkins, begins with this barb: "Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology."
Eagleton is no gentler on the subject of his own academic specialty, writing in his landmark 2003 book "After Theory," that "cultural theory as we have it promises to grapple with some fundamental problems, but on the whole fails to deliver. It has been shamefaced about morality and metaphysics, embarrassed about love, biology, religion and revolution, largely silent about evil, reticent about death and suffering, dogmatic about essences, universals and foundations, and superficial about truth, objectivity and disinterestedness. This, on any estimate, is rather a large slice of human existence to fall down on. It is also rather an awkward moment in history to find oneself with little or nothing to say about such fundamental questions."
The Clarence De Graaf Lectureship was established in 1988 by the family of Dr. Clarence De Graaf in memory of his service on the faculty of Hope College. De Graaf, who died in 1986, taught in the department of English for 44 years, from 1928 until his retirement in 1972, and served as department chair for 25 of those years.
The Martha Miller Center for Global Communication is located at 257 Columbia Ave., at the corner of Columbia Avenue and 10th Street.


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Tailored from 100% luxurious cashmere, this long coat will keep you warm in classic style. A winter wardrobe staple, it's cut to fit over your professional or casual wear favorites.
Shell: 100% Cashmere; lining: Cupro, Bemberg Straight fitModel height: 185cm / 5.9ft; size L Dry cleanMade in Mongolia
Mongolian Hircus goats are famous for producing high quality rarest cashmere fiber in the world. Unlike the other countries, it is the dramatic fluctuation in temperature. Throughout the year, rising to above 40˚C in summer and dropping to below -40˚C in winter that helps the goats to grow their beautifully downy under-fleece. The natural crimp of cashmere fibers helps them to interlock during manufacturing process and allows the fibers to be spun into very fine, lightweight fabrics.
GOBI Cashmere is pridefully source the raw materials and produce high- end cashmere products right in the heartland of the most valuable rarest cashmere fiber.
Traditional herders in Mongolia are one of the last nomadic cultures. They still form the majority of the population and their way of life has changed little in centuries. Harvesting cashmere from their goats has long been one of the traditional lifestyles of Nomadic Mongolian people. Each spring, as the weather warms and the undercoat naturally begins to shed, nomadic herders with generations of expertise skillfully and carefully comb out the extra fine down by hand. It is great when people make a purchase from Gobi Cashmere they will be supporting local Mongolian herders and our shared vision for the environmentally conscious and sustainable production of the finest cashmere in the world.
Gobi, already a part of Mongolian culture, has always been synonymous with quality and comfort. By the joint effort of Mongolian and Japanese government, Gobi was established over three decades ago, founding a legacy of fine craft and exquisite fabric.
We are the only manufacturer in Mongolia to maintain the capability to take natural fibers from their raw state, through every stage of the process, to perfectly finished products without any intermediaries that add additional charges.
Quality, efficiency, and productivity are important. So are human and ethical values. Gobi Cashmere has a strong sense of responsibility with respect to fairer, ethically correct manufacturing conditions. Products from Gobi Cashmere not only is a popular product but also guarantees ethically correct goods, fair business dealings for all participants, sustainable pricing, and humane conditions throughout the production chain.
Quality is built in to every stage of the Gobi production process. There are multiple stages to our production process and at every stage, we check that the highest standards are consistently being met for thorough quality assurance.
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text: Green Pastures Housing, charity number 1131468, a company limited by guarantee 06835266, Green Pastures CBS, an industrial and provident society and exempt charity number XT27103, registered number 31116R. Registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.Registered Office: 9 Mornington Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0TS. Green Pastures is the working title of Green Pastures CBS Limited and other Green Pastures companies.


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Thursday, March 17, 2011
Getting to know me...
I am legally a Senior Citizen - which doesn't hold much glamor, but would occasionally get me a 10% discount on meals, though I rarely eat out. I have all the attributes of a Senior Citizen: gray hair, arthritis, forgetfulness, a big lap and a big bosom to cuddle grandchildren. My body is totally aware that we have attained a venerable old age, but my mind is in constant rebellion! The body wins as far as what I can physically do - but the mind is way ahead with the possibilities of what I can think, and say, and write.
So I write...
I write about all kinds of things, but my favorites are family - from ancestors to descendants (read grandchildren.) So it follows that I have a passion for Genealogy! Additionally I write about 'current events'. So, I have a passion for politics. After that I write about all kinds of topics - it's my computer and I'll write anything that I want to! If your going to read my blog you'll have to be prepared to encounter subjects from A to Z - oh, and before I forget, you should know that I don't write like a machine, everyday at the same time. I am a writer, not a newspaper.
I think that's about enough for you to know about me here. If I'm good at writing a blog, and you're good about reading it, you'll surely end up knowing far more about me than you ever wanted!
Because I have a passion for Genealogy, and because I am a Senior Citizen I have one or two (or more) objectives for this blog - the main one being writing about my own family history, in the hopes that one or more members of my very large family (realizing that senior citizens don't have a very good shelf life) will get bitten by the bug and be prepared to pick up for me one day. I have a few candidates in mind - they don't know who they are - but I haven't seen the light that points me to the "chosen one." If you are a genealogist you know exactly what that means. And you know that the choice is not mine, and it is not the privilege of any of my descendants ~ it is only the Ancestors who make the decision, who pick "The Chosen One."
16 comments:
Hello there!ReplyDelete
You've got a great genealogy blog and we've added it to the list of over 1,800 genealogy blogs at GeneaBloggers (http://www.geneabloggers.com).
We will announce your blog in our weekly New Genealogy Blogs on Saturday, March 19, 2011. In the meantime, please visit the About ( http://www.geneabloggers.com/about/) section at GeneaBloggers to learn how you can display your GeneaBloggers badge on your blog and also how you can participate in activities such as the Daily Blogging Prompts.
If you need technical assistance, please check out Bootcamp for GeneaBloggers (http://fbbootcamp.blogspot.com).
This is a great start Kate! I look forward to hearing about the overturning of your stones, to find your family tree! No one wants brickwalls!ReplyDelete
Good luck!
Nice to see a new genealogy blog. Are your Foote ancestors from New England? We might be cousins!ReplyDelete
Heather Rojo
I like the idea of the "chosen one." I have two ancestors that were family historians and I like to think that they are looking down on me and thinking I am The Chosen One. I'll have to live up to their expectations. Thanks for sharing and welcome to the genealogy blogging community!ReplyDelete
I also like that idea of a "chosen one". I hope that you figure out who it is. :)ReplyDelete
Welcome to the geneablogging community.
Thanks to GeneaBloggers for including this blog in their announcements today! And to all the brave people who have signed up to follow along - I do hope I will deserve your interest.ReplyDelete
To Heather, yes, my Foote ancestors trace back to Nathaniel "The Settler." Along with the Footes I have many early New England ancestors, and I will be blogging about them in the future.
Please know that the idea of a "chosen one" did not originate with me. It has been a long held belief among many genealogists - and I agree, it's a very 'moving' concept, and part of the "Serendipity" that so often accompanies our research!
Again, thank you all for your comments (they will be an incentive to keep at it) and Welcome!
Kate Dahling! Welcome to the wonderful World of Geneabloggers! I am so looking forward to reading all about you and your adventures.ReplyDelete
Welcome to the Geneabloggers family. Hope you find the association fruitful; I sure do. I have found it most stimulating, especially some of the Daily Themes.ReplyDelete
May you keep sharing your ancestor stories!
Dr. Bill ;-)
Author of "Back to the Homeplace"
and "13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories"
Welcome Kate! I'll enjoy following your discoveries. I haven't found the "chosen one" yet either but in the mean time I am sharing with as many cousins as possible in the hope that one of them will find a "chosen one". Good Luck!ReplyDelete
Keep on writing! Welcome to the Geneabloggers community!ReplyDelete
Welcome to the geneabloggers family. It is a great group that provides loads of inspiration to keep blogging and researching your family history.ReplyDelete
Theresa (Tangled Trees)
Welcome! I love your writing style and am looking forward to reading more.ReplyDelete
Welcome to the Geneabloggers community! I am so looking forward to reading more from you, I can tell already.ReplyDelete
I am also still waiting for the "chosen one" for this family. I am afraid it is going to skip a generation. I hope it only skips one.
Thanks, Kate, I have two Foote lines, but one is Nathaniel (my line goes Nathaniel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel and then Eunice where it daughters out). My other is Pasco Foote of Salem, Massachusetts. It's confusing to have two Footes! I look forward to seeing your posts!ReplyDelete
Hi Kate,ReplyDelete
Welcome to the "Senior" world, and of blogging. I have the Foote line out of Connecticut, so am also wondering if we have a connection. Have fun writing about your research, and I look forward in reading it.
Hi Kate-ReplyDelete
Just found your blog. We are cousins through Nathaniel Foote :-)
My lines are:
Nathaniel-Nathaniel-Nathaniel-Ephraim-Irene (who married Abraham Day)
and also:
Nathaiel-Frances (who married John Dickinson)
I'll be following you (in your foote-steps, so to speak)


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"Don't leave yet! I'll do better!" Drop Line No. 19
- (Oranges photo: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos, GNU Free Documentation License)
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Jugglers depicted in Beni Hasan tomb — 4,000 years ago
The history of juggling goes way, way back. Case in point: the picture used in the header image is a depiction of hieroglyphs found in a tomb at an Ancient Egyptian cemetery site. The cemetery — called Beni Hasan (also … Continue reading


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Has British retailer HMV beaten Activision to the punch, revealing the name for Bizarre Creations new James Bond racing game to be James Bond: Bloodstone?
Strategy Informer stumbled across this listing on High Street retailer HMV's website for James Bond: Bloodstone, a driving/racing game for the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation 3. Could this be the official name of Bizarre Creations' latest creation?
I'd say it's likely. The delayed title isn't tied to any of the Bond movies, to the point where the company hired a completely new actor - UK soap star Adam Croasdell - the play the part of the titular secret agent.
Plus, retailers are known for making up release dates, but generally don't make up video game titles.
We've pinged Activision for comment on the name, and will update should we receive a response.
Whatever the name, we expect to see more of the new James Bond racing game come E3 in June.
Rumour: Acti and Bizarre's James Bond racer called 'Bloodstone'? [Strategy Informer]


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Almost all big stores, especially with chains, are going to have a customer service desk.
Well, that's what they call it anyhow. They really should call it the customer annoyance counter.
Why is customer service so hard? Why is it so hard for companies to find employees that will honestly try to do their jobs to the best of their abilities while remaining courteous to customers?
I have a few ideas on the subject.
The first is that good old bottom line. Most companies are not particularly concerned about the quality of employee they hire and retain, but rather how cheaply they can hire and retain someone that does what they are told. Even retention of employees isn't a huge concern for most companies anymore–it's cheaper to rehire than retain, especially if there is a possibility of having to pay for benefits or retirement somewhere down the road.
Employees who really try to do their job are even apt to be penalized for doing so. We've all seen articles about employees who did a good deed of some kind while at work, ones that didn't cost their employers a penny, and yet they were terminated for some technicality. Many of us have been the employee who was taken advantage of repeatedly by unethical co-workers and employers because we did try to do our jobs well, only to end up missing out on promotions, overworked to the point of burn out, failed to get promised raises, or had some other less-than-wonderful result from our hard work. Immediate supervisors will often even deliver disciplinary action or termination as a result of trying too hard, simply because it makes other employees or the supervisor themselves look bad.
Corporations may have a lot of power in the political world, but they are also incredibly powerful in everyday life. Everyone either works for one or is forced to do business with these large corporations because of the monopolies they have in many areas of our live in America. Telephone, natural gas, cable television & internet providers, and electric companies are all privileged to have monopolies in most communities. Other companies have apparently coordinated their needs with their so-called competitors, resulting in contracts that prevent customers from terminating service with them for a prescribed length of time, typically from 12-36 months. In these situations, the corporations have very little motivation to try and please their current customers. After all, if they don't like the service or the customer service, what can the customer do about it?
Manufacturing companies have moved many of their production facilities overseas for cheaper labor and fewer regulations, and quality control seems to have become random in how stringent it is. Companies that were once known for high quality products no longer can boast of that same quality. Unfortunately, they have also often moved their customer service centers overseas too.
Then, the American consumer is inflicted with a customer service representative that may not understand their particular dialect of American English, and it is just as likely that the customer is going to have a great deal of difficulty understanding the representative's version of English. A number of people have claimed (unverified by me) that these representatives are judged by how often they have "successfully resolved" the customer complaints, and that disconnecting the call is one way to successfully resolve the issue. I don't know if this is true, but I do know that with certain companies, disconnections are frequent as soon as it is apparent that the issue is not going to be resolved easily or if the customer asks to speak with a supervisor.
Even with American based customer service call centers, there is the "wrong department" issue. It's always that you have called the wrong department and then you will have to be transferred. These transfers usually occur after an extended wait time for a human to begin with. (I've waited as long as an hour.) Then, without a number to skip the wrong department and go to where you are supposed to call, you end up disconnected. How many hours do you want to spend on the telephone to get a warranty replacement of a $50 small appliance?
For businesses, the latest buzz has all been how to use social media to engage their customer base. It's gotten to the point of more annoyance than engagement, however, as they follow some plan dreamed up by a guy who didn't shop there to begin with. Do you really want to "like" that company or follow them on Pinterest to enter that contest or get that coupon? The end result is that customers feel like they are being coerced, and it does little to endear the company or product with their potential customers, especially if they are using the current customer disservice model that most seem to be using.
So what is the real reason that companies no longer bother with good quality customer service?
It still boils down to that bottom line, folks. It's the fault of the consumer.
Accepting crappy customer service from any company, whether they have a monopoly or not is allowing their bottom line to show that they don't have to supply customer service.
So what can you do?
Complain. Loudly. Repeatedly.
- Use the normal channels, whether it is a call to their call center or via their website. Don't scream or use profanity-that's always counter productive and provides a good reason for your call to not be taken seriously. Don't use threats either.
- Use promises. Promise that you will never, ever shut up about how unhappy you are!
- Record the calls. If you get an exceptionally bad one, post it to YouTube. Keep the calls on file–you may need them later.
- Write down names, phone numbers, dates and times. It's a great reference as your complaining becomes more prolific too.
- If you are a blogger, blog about it. Even years after I tossed my Tassimo machine, I still get hits daily on my experience with their crappy customer service. It's a great way to spread the word.
- Review the product everywhere you can, including the customer service experience. Many retailers will accept reviews on products even if you did not purchase it from them, such as Amazon and Walmart. If you are reviewing the retailer or service provider, post those reviews anywhere and everywhere you can find as well. Sure, it takes time, but what else do you have to do while you are sitting on hold? I actually put my phone on speaker and then I can type with both hands.
- Got Face Book? Twitter? Pinterest? Speak up. Tell everyone about your experience. They may not be shopping for that item or service or company now, but they will remember what you said about them later too. You may be surprised at how quickly someone from the company in question makes contact with you as well. They may try and resolve the situation, which will make you happier than if you are ignored. Some corporations often ignore social media complaints (yes, I'm talking about you, Tassimo, Microsoft & Comcast!) Smarter companies do monitor social media to engage dissatisfied customers and attempt to improve the customer service experience.
- Post reviews to review sites such as Viewpoints.com as well. For local companies and services, there are sites such as Yelp, Angie's List (they require membership with a substantial fee,) Yahoo, etc. Even lawyers, dentists, doctors, and medical facilities are reviewed!
- Write the company an email. Often, the corporate office is separated enough from customer service that they may not be aware of the type of experience you have endured. Typically, the corporate website will have a "contact" tab at the bottom of the page. Some have it in a bar at the top as well. Be polite and explain the problem(s) clearly, along with your customer service experience, using dates, times, and names when possible. Don't forget to add what you expect the company to do to resolve your complaint as part of the letter. Be reasonable with your expectations!
On the flip side of that coin is the excellent customer service experience. When you have one of these, be just as vocal about your compliments, and use the same venues that you would use for complaints to voice your positive experience. I had a terrible experience with Overstock.com once, and complained about it via Twitter. Their representative on Twitter contacted me, we resolved the situation, and since then, I have enjoyed great customer service as usual with Overstock and would not hesitate to purchase from them again. I also love shopping with Zappos.com and Penderys.com for the same reason–they provide good, dependable customer service. I wish my representative and senators to Washington were as responsive to me as they are!
Expect reasonable and efficient customer service to be delivered with courtesy, and when you don't get it–do something about it. Do not ever accept it as just the price of doing business because it is not. Make companies accountable! That's your job as a consumer!


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Since we only live an hour from the Canadian border, I'm always looking for caches in Quebec. There are a lot in the Sherbrooke area, but that would be an overnighter we haven't got around to yet. But I've noticed that there are a LOT ofd new caches in the Woburn/Megantic area, which can be done on a day trip from central Maine. Quebec is a lot of fun - many Quebecois speak English (especially in the southern part) - and I encourage you to try it.
Here's a link to the southernmost cache:


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Prepare For Your Test
* You must be over 14 to undetake any Royal Navy exercises
* You must be over 14 to undetake any Royal Navy exercises
During the competitive part of the season, which runs between October to April, the squad meets for regular match and training weekends which prepares the girls for the ultimate competition of the season, The Inter Services against the RAF and the Army.
The Open Team (1st Team) has been entered into the new Sub Regional League South for the 06/07 season which will ensure that some very high standard of Netball is guaranteed during the training weekends.
There are normally 10/11 training weekends and the occasional mid-week fixture all of which will take place at a Service establishment or a County training court. A normal training weekend will normally consist of a combination of core skill and fitness training together with matches on the Saturday and Sunday.
We welcome all players who have a reasonable grounding in the game of Netball and who are keen to improve their game and aspire to represent the Royal Navy. The idea of maintaining the Development Team is to encourage those players who may not have the experience or skill to merit a place in the Open Team but who have the potential to push for a place with better coaching and training than they would normally get. The major change to the Inter-Services for this season is the inclusion of Development Team games. The tournament will be over three days and both teams will play against the RAF and Army during that time.
The RNNA has had a number of successful tours to Netball playing countries and in recent years has visited Australia, Barbados, Malta, Belgium and most recently (2003), Trinidad and Tobago. The RNNA will tour South Africa in 2006 and arrangements are already well underway. The Tour Squad has not only selected from those players who have represented the RN at the Inter-Services but also to those who have shown commitment and potential throughout the season


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By ThinkGoat
Tuscon, Arizona I've always wondered about the stigma attached to the those who've gotten busted for drugs…wondered how they're viewed by their buddies. Is pitty taken upon these idiots: "Oh dude, you got busted? Dude, that sucks." Or is it more of, "Dude, did you talk?" Are they shunned for their remaining free time – now an outcast to the outcasts? It may work both ways for a lot of these asses who decide to run drugs but for this poor bastard, I can pretty well guarantee his bust will be viewed as one well deserved. For those of us opposed to running drugs, we'll chalk it up to another one of society's finest off the street. To any stoner on the planet, they'll view this guy as someone who not only got busted but who tried to smuggle almost a quarter of a million dollars worth of the shit – in shit. (more…)


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Editor, the Record:
Editor, the Record:
The taxpayers of Pocono Mountain School District are paying top dollar for the education of the district's children. We have a budget of $200 million with a student body now fewer than 10,000 students. The $20,000 we spend on average per student is comparable to sending a child to private school.
Freshmen at Penn State pay $16,000 annually. Superintendent Elizabeth Robison has proposed eliminating 40 teaching positions. This reduction reflects the loss of 400 more students in the past year and is in keeping with the one-to-10 teacher-to-student ratio that the district has maintained.
Pocono Mountain teachers are among the best paid in the nation, especially when factoring in the local cost of living. The average salary of teachers in the district is $60,000, with 25 percent earning more than $70,000. Add to this a guaranteed pension not subject to stock market ups and downs, a two-month vacation with oportunity for additional earning and stipends for coaching and advising clubs that reach into the thousands, as high for some as an additional $10,000.
With eye-popping buildings and facilities and low-usage rates, there is nothing "bare bones" (Record, March 24, p. A7) about our schools. Parents and teachers, including Pocono Mountain Education Association President Tom Brogan, have every reason to be proud and grateful for the unstinting efforts of taxpayers.
Candidate for school director PMSD


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The Mehrly Family's '32 Ford Coupe
Few are so lucky to have a hot rod handed down from one generation to the next. David Wehrly is one of the rare individuals to be bequeathed a true piece of hot rod history. The Wehrly legacy began way back in 1952 when twin brothers Dan and Don purchased a forlorn '32 Ford three-window coupe from Gavin's Auto Wrecking in Long Beach, California, for the pricey sum of $5. The young Wehrly brothers built the coupe in their Long Beach garage, and it was not long before they were tearing up the streets and local dragstrips with their Cadillac-powered coupe.The bright orange '32 was raced extensively from 1956 to 1960 at Lions Drag Strip and then as the factory built machines began to show their dominance on the quarter-mile, the old hot rod was put away for an extended slumber. Periodically the old car was awoken and one of David Wehrly's earliest and most vivid memories goes way back to when he was just 5 years old and his father, Dan, stirred the coupe from its hibernation. David reminisces, "As my dad laid the lead on the throttle, all I can remember is the noise and dust coming through the plywood floorboards and the rearend starting to pass the frontend as we got sideways." He also fondly remembers his father's colorful tales of dragging the coupe home from the wrecking yard, and later cruising with his brother, Don.
The next big chapter of the Wehrly tale came with the premature passing of David's father in 1996. Just as his father had done before him, David dusted off the '32 and took his own boys for a spin, literally–the rear tires would again try to outrun the fronts. At the first stop, David's sons, Christian and Spencer, fell out of the car because they were nearly overcome by the poisonous fumes pumped into the car via the deteriorated exhaust pipes. After that adventurous road trip, David decided it was time to restore the coupe to its former glory with the same soul his father and uncle had built it with left intact. David did his research and was most impressed with the quality, thoroughness, and correctness of the hot rod restorations performed by SO-CAL Speed Shop.
After dragging the well-worn warrior to Pomona, it was obvious it would take all the best talents from SO-CAL to get the Wehrly coupe back into shape, but it was a challenge SO-CAL was more than willing to undertake. The road to recovery began with a full disassembly to evaluate all of the coupe's original components. David made it clear he wanted the rebuild to retain as many of the original pieces as possible, but all agreed the original chassis had seen far too many early modifications and dragstrip action to be a good candidate for regular street duty. A new SO-CAL chassis would take its place with the same modifications, like bobbed rear horns and Model A crossmembers on both ends just like the original. More recycled hardware includes the 331ci 1950 Cadillac engine topped with an original intake and factory dual carbs flanked by a pair of Offenhauser valve covers and the restored pair of handbuilt headers found on the car. A new exhaust system to keep those annoying fumes out of the cockpit was built by Fernando Bobeda of SO-CAL.
When it came to restoring the exterior, everyone agreed the car needed to look as close as possible to the faded pictures in the Wehrly family albums. The original modifications like the channeled floor left much to be desired and, combined with its fair share of rust, the entire lower half of the body would need to be rebuilt. Bobby Walden tackled the tin work and, while he was at it, he also built a new pair of bobbed rear fenders to replace the too-far-gone originals and made the necessary repairs to the original front fenders. Many hours of priming and sanding by Abe Rodriguez from SO-CAL were required before he laid down the final coats of custom-mixed PPG bright orange paint color-matched to the original hue. After a dip in the tank at Sherm's Plating, the Wehrly modified headlight bar and original '50 Pontiac taillights were returned fore and aft.
Inside, like the outside, is much nicer today with a full black Naugahyde stitch job by Gabe's Auto Interior that still maintains the original flavor of the coupe. A modified original '40 Ford dash was part of the original build; today it's slicker than ever and filled with a trio of Moon gauges with a matching column-mounted Moon tach behind an original Covico steering wheel.
After a whirlwind rebuild under the supervision of SO-CAL shop foreman Ryan Reed and the talents of Aaron Broughton and Sean Dooley (final assembly) and Scott Howard (final assembly and wiring), a completely reborn Wehrly coupe debuted at the L.A. Roadster show in 2005, much to the delight of hot rod heritage from around the world. Now it's just a matter of time before another generation of Wehrly men pass on the tradition of a sideways-first ride the youngsters will never forget.
David and Lisa Wehrly
Manhattan Beach, California
1932 Ford Coupe
The Wehrly boys built their '32 Ford right over 50 years ago, and the 1950 Cadillac 331ci mill that served them so well back then was lovingly rebuilt to original specs by Ray Zeller (Whittier, California). Early performance goodies include original factory dual carbs rebuilt by Chuck Smith (Valley Center, California), a Du-Coil ignition, and vintage handbuilt headers. Backing the Caddy mill is a TH350 auto trans converted to hook right up to the Cad bellhousing by Dave Smith Engineering (Exeter, California).
Since the original chassis had paid its dues and seen more dragstrip duty than most, it was permanently retired in favor of a fresh step-boxed unit from SO-CAL. Modifications to replicate the originals were made and components including a Magnum 4-inch dropped axle, SO-CAL hairpins and Buick-style drums concealing disc brakes, Pete & Jake's shocks, and a Vega steering box handle the front end of the chassis. Under the rear a Model A spring suspends the same Halibrand quick-change-equipped rearend the twins installed decades ago, but it has been updated by the Hot Rod Works for open drive and use of late-model 9-inch axles and brakes. A driveshaft from Inland Driveline transmits the power from the Caddy to the quickie.
The stunning good looks the Wehrly coupe displays today are the direct result of amazing tin repair by Bobby Walden and mirror-smooth, custom-mixed PPG orange paint laid on by Abe Rodriguez. The proportions unique to the Wehrly coupe come from the body channeled the width of the frame mated with full fenders (bobbed in the rear) and the unchopped and unfilled top. A 3-inch shortened grille shell and insert finishes the look.
Wheels & Tires
The four corners are supported by the same set of "no-hole" Halibrands first bolted to the coupe nearly 50 years ago. Now fully polished to an amazing shine, the 15×6- and 15×8-inch magnesium rims require almost constant upkeep to maintain that glow. Coker 5.60×15 tires are mounted up front with the original 8.90×15 Goodyear "Blue Streak" Indy rain tires still running in the rear.
The interior had seen its best days decades ago, so a completely new black Naugahyde upholstery job by Gabe's Auto Interior was a welcome addition, completing the restoration. Held over from the original build is the modified '40 Ford dash and Covico steering wheel with new Moon gauges added to keep track of the important vital statistics.


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Defending Your Marriage From External Stressors
Part of the Defending Your Marriage From External Stressors Series
Series About:
Rebuild! As I listened to the married couples gathered at the monthly marriage fellowship, the word rebuild kept coming to my mind. While some of the couples were paragons of strength, others were floundering in troubled marriages. For some marriages, I sensed desperation in their testimonies of infidelity, loneliness, disrespect, devalued self-worth and communication failures. Still others seemed paralyzed in mediocrity and satisfaction with the status quo. The emotional wounds and disappointments had left many of these couples feeling broken, without any clear path to restoration.
As I addressed the group, I asked for their patience to examine a biblical story that on its face seems removed from the subject of marriage. It is the story of Nehemiah as recorded in Nehemiah 2-4. I started with a question. It was the same question, in fact, that the Persian king Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah, his trusted Jewish cupbearer, in Nehemiah 2:2, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart."
The king's observation was accurate. Nehemiah's heart was burdened by a call that God had placed in him to rebuild the shattered walls of Jerusalem that had been destroyed when the nation was taken into captivity. In response to Nehemiah's request, King Artaxerxes permitted Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to assess the state of the walls and eventually to begin repairs. God had obviously stirred Nehemiah's and the king's hearts to begin the difficult work of restoration. But, as Nehemiah soon learned through the mocking and ridicule of neighbors, enemy attacks to undermine his efforts, and the waning confidence of his own people, obeying God's call to rebuild was going to require remarkable perseverance, faith and obedience.
Like Nehemiah, many of you are also experiencing a great sadness of heart. And for many, this emotional state is directly connected with the struggles in your marriage. The disappointments, frustration and anger have left your own emotions in shambles, much like those broken walls of Jerusalem. My message to you is to have hope that God hears your cries just as He heard the lament of the Hebrew captives. God is calling you to rebuild the walls of your marriage. This call to rebuild is about prioritizing God's desires for your marriage over your own desires — in a pursuit of holiness. It is a call to marital intimacy that is built on selflessness, trust and respect. It is a call to extend grace as you unconditionally love the spouse to whom God has joined you. And, it is a call for an investment of time to allow strained emotions to heal.
You should be prepared, however, for attacks on your efforts to rebuild your marriage. In a culture that values individualism and self-satisfaction, your efforts to exemplify godly stewardship, humility and grace in marriage will be mocked — sometimes from your own family. With half of those around you opting for divorce, your unconditional commitment to an abundant marriage will be met with sarcasm and envy.
All of us experience attacks on our marriage — often leading to our own sadness of heart. God, however, has made provisions for you to withstand these negative influences. Fortifying the walls of your marriage is not simple, as it also requires obedience to the Lord's call to rebuild.
If God is stirring your heart to strengthen your marriage, this series of articles is for you. They are designed to provide insight, encouragement and practical advice to those seeking to protect their marriage from the external stressors that threaten it.


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Personal Perspective: Rediscovering Life
It was the summer of 1982 and I was watching the evening news at a friend's home in the Bronx. The anchorman, with some alarm in his voice, walked us through some disturbing images of intravenous drug users and gay white men who were believed to be the primary carriers of some new disease. There was no shortage of "expert" opinions from men in lab coats trying hard to disguise their lack of real understanding of what all this meant. We then witnessed a resurgence of every sexphobic and homophobic belief that permeates this post-Victorian culture.
At the same time, HIV/AIDS was promoted, perhaps for public health purposes, as a standard medical condition when in reality it is anything but. From my vantage point it's more akin to a modern-day oddity: a disease for which there is no known cure being treated as a thesis on sexual morality (or is it immorality?). The end result is "scientific" dogma competing with genuine scientific inquiry, and a pharmaceutical industry gone amok with greed, co-existing with institutionalized cultural blindness, especially towards minorities.
As a bicultural and bilingual Latino from Panama, of West Indian and African descent, I found myself detached from this crisis since I was neither an intravenous drug user nor a White male homosexual. But I instinctively knew I needed to be equipped with cultural weaponry that would help me navigate what was ahead. I had never felt welcome in Latino communities, although I did have Latino friends. People always seemed surprised that I spoke Spanish fluently or that I identified as Black first. And there was an assumption of unquestioning cultural allegiance because of a shared language. I was not prepared to make that concession. I simply grew weary of negotiating identity politics.
My reality is that, at the end of the day, I'm judged by the color of my skin and not the content of my character. I'm guilty until proven innocent. I'm a walking crime waiting to happen. HIV/AIDS facilitated this soul-searching for me. In a society where skin color is the primary standard by which character is judged, I offered no apologies for seeking refuge within the African-American community that, while not devoid of biases, at least provided me with a safer space for my psychosocial, cultural and spiritual integration. It seemed less tiring than trying to find a space within the larger Latino culture that to this day struggles to recognize the contributions of African-Americans to the life and history of this continent. The African-American LGBT community was wide and diverse enough for me to find my niche. It was critical at this time to have my African ancestry affirmed, particularly when racism morphed into a less ugly monster, but an even deadlier one.
Like many same-sex-loving African Americans, I found refuge in the assurance that HIV would never come knocking at our doors. But it eventually did. HIV and AIDS swept through our communities like hurricane Katrina, leaving a trail of drowned hopes, shattered lives, and homeless dreams. Single-handedly, AIDS forced us to ask questions that for the most part remained securely hidden in the dungeons and attics of our minds. Were we being punished because of our sexual immorality? Was it time to consider "changing"? Was AIDS a modern-day divine retribution a la Sodom and Gomorrah?
That wasn't the time of air-brushed glossy photos of happy models climbing mountains peddling wonder drugs. Death paraded around like a paralyzing nightmare. I lived through that dreadful decade witnessing what was euphemistically described as "the look": the sunken eyes, the emaciated face, the swollen nymph nodes, the wasting, the AZT-induced hair thinning. We mourned our dead before they died. We learned to normalize the pain. We accepted the loss as irremediable. We taught ourselves to grieve to the beat of really loud house music and mind-fogging drugs. We even ritualized burials, making them less about a loss and more about celebrating a life. Many of us continued having the same kind of sex we'd always had, aware that according to public health officials we could be putting the nails in our own coffins. We were force-fed fear-based messages that were designed to police our bodies and our sex.
What many failed to acknowledge was that HIV/AIDS simply didn't have the power to suddenly redirect the natural flow of human sexuality that had been in place since the beginning of time. Neither could the "pathologizing" of sex or the notion of dying because of AIDS adequately substitute for the biological mandate of procreation. It was a knee-jerk reaction to the newness of publicly talking about sex as opposed to talking around it. To this day, HIV prevention messages targeted to "minority" men fail to differentiate between behavior and identity. No matter how well intentioned, messages targeting behavior will always be experienced as personal assaults, thus reinforcing resistance and psychological numbing.
While I am not HIV positive, I've always said that HIV chose me. I've been working in this field for at least 15 years, despite witnessing the AIDS-related deaths of friends, co-workers, patients and acquaintances. It's helped me appreciate my own humanity and that of others. I find myself battling judgmental attitudes and challenging myself to be more authentic, particularly when it comes to my Christian faith, which requires me to love even my enemies.
I've dated and had sex with several men who were living with HIV. But it was my first experience that really helped me mature emotionally and socially. I found out he was living with HIV after discovering a bottle of AZT in his medicine cabinet. I panicked and ran away. Only after the fact did I understand his struggle with disclosing this to me and why he avoided sex. I felt embarrassed and ashamed, particularly since I was employed by the NYC Department of Health as a Senior Public Health Educator. It was a very dear friend who was living with HIV that helped me sort through my feelings of anger and betrayal. It finally hit me why anyone would fear making this type of self-disclosure. The risks are high, and to have to live with yet another rejection is too great a burden for people who may be on the verge of emotional collapse
That experience helped me to rethink my attitude toward HIV and those living with it. I made a decision that I would not allow fear to control my decisions or determine whom I would be intimate with. I would not collude with popular culture that would have us believe that people living with HIV were to be segregated, pitied or treated with any less dignity. I would not compartmentalize my loving and deprive myself of connecting with another human being because of some artificial and cruel bias.
My rebellion and self-examination were greatly fueled by the advent of the so-called "moral majority" -- a religious-political movement that would institute "ethnic cleansing" of all homosexuals if that were possible. Politicians, clergy, and scientists alike, forming an abhorrent coalition, cried out for quarantine, and tried to legislate abstinence and other behavior change methodologies in the hopes that AIDS would go away, and with it authentic discussions about sex and sexuality. We could then return confidently to the hypocrisy of sexploitation that under the guise of "free speech" has effectively polluted mainstream marketing. Our society would never have to confront the inherited and recurring dysfunction that has blocked real efforts to embrace sex and sexuality as wonderfully embedded traits of our humanity.
The greatest "contribution" of AIDS has been to place a magnifying glass to society, revealing the hypocrisy of moralists whose mission in life appears to be creating a world ruled by monolithic, monochromatic thinking. AIDS has given us enough evidence to take these enemies of humanity and diversity to the high courts of heaven where they will have to give an account for the many lives they've ruined. They will have to explain how eliminating homosexuals would solve world hunger, end domestic violence, end the abuse and neglect of children, save heterosexual marriages, bring world peace, eliminate race wars and institute social justice for all.
Finally, AIDS has encouraged a different and more significant examination of our lives. We're rediscovering the principles of self-determination and of transparent collaborations. While not all will see this as relevant, there's a hunger for alternatives to simply reducing our lives to serial orgasms. For those who choose, there's an intellectual arsenal rich in information that will help inform paradigm shifts and the sowing of seeds that are guaranteed to yield healthy fruit. We have to love each other through the pain, and experience each other's touch as reinforcement of a bond that not even HIV/AIDS can sever.
Victor Pond is Development Director of the South Side Help Center in Chicago, Illinois.


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Adobe has issued a security advisory highlighting a critical vulnerability in its Flash multimedia platform technology that the company says can potentially be used to take control of a compromised machine. The company is urging developers and users alike to download and implement this 'out-of-band' update for Reader and Acrobat V9 and Acrobat X immediately.
Adobe points to activities such as infected Flash files embedded in Excel spreadsheets as a possible means of malicious attack, although Adobe says it is not aware of attacks targeting Adobe Reader and Acrobat at this stage.
The advisory reads, "A critical vulnerability exists in Adobe Flash Player 10.2.152.33 and earlier versions (Adobe Flash Player 10.2.154.18 and earlier for Chrome users) for Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and Solaris operating systems, Adobe Flash Player 10.1.106.16 and earlier versions for Android, and the Authplay.dll component that ships with Adobe Reader and Acrobat X (10.0.1) and earlier 10.x and 9.x versions of Reader and Acrobat for Windows and Macintosh operating systems."
In answer to this alert Wolfgang Kandek, CTO of security risk and compliance-management software Qualys, Inc., has said that users of Adobe Reader X are not vulnerable to the exploit, because the sandboxing technology included in Reader X prevents the code from executing. "We recommend installing/updating your installations of Adobe Reader to this newest version, as this occurrence highlights the increased robustness gained from the sandboxing."


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Back to My Mac* uses these security methods:
- IPSec and SSL encrypt and secure communication between your Mac and the Back to My Mac servers, which protects anything that you transfer between your Mac computers.
- Kerberos with digital certificates provides secure and trusted authentication to help verify identity. (And with Kerberos, you won't need to enter your user name and password every time you connect to another Mac in your Back to My Mac network.)
* Back to My Mac isn't available on macOS Mojave. Explore alternatives for file access, screen sharing, and remote desktop access.
Make your network even more secure with these optional settings
Here are some extra settings that you can use to make your network even more secure.
Use strong passwords for user accounts
Set strong passwords for your Apple ID account and Mac macOS user account, and keep those passwords safe. Anyone who knows your user names and passwords might be able to access Mac computers that are signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
Require a password after sleep or screen saver begins
On every Mac in your Back to My Mac network, turn on the option to require a password. Then, anyone who wants to access your Mac needs your password before they can start or wake your Mac, or exit the screen saver.
Here's how to require a password:
- Choose System Preferences from the Apple () menu, then click Security & Privacy.
- Select "Require password immediately after sleep or screen saver begins."
Lock your screen
On every Mac in your Back to My Mac network, set the Lock-screen option to appear on the desktop. When you share your screen with a remote Mac, you can lock your screen manually before you end the session. Then, no one can access your remote Mac before the screen saver comes on.
Here's how you set the Lock screen to show on the desktop:
- Open Keychain Access from the Utilities folder in your Applications folder.
- Choose Preferences from the Keychain Access menu, then click the General tab.
- Select "Show keychain status in menu bar." A lock icon appears in the menu bar.
- To lock your screen manually, click the padlock icon and choose Lock Screen.
Turn off automatic login
When you turn off automatic login, anyone who tries to log in to your user account on your Mac needs your password. To turn off automatic login, follow these steps:
- Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu (), then click Users & Groups.
- Click the lock icon at the bottom of the window.
- Enter your administrator name and password, then click Unlock.
- Click Login Options (located above the lock icon), then turn off Automatic login.
- Click the lock icon again and close the window.


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Radio frequency identification is creating big changes in the way companies handle product tracking, security, authentication, and more. Find out how the technology works and why screen-printing shops are in a great position to stake claims in RFID manufacturing.
By Wim Zoomer
One of the most contested pieces of sky during World War II was the airspace above the British Channel, which separates the UK and France by a mere 30 kilometers. The British, Americans, and Germans all used radar to screen for aircraft, but the technology couldn't identify which planes belonged to the enemy and which were friendly planes returning from a mission.
To overcome this obstacle, British physicist Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt headed a secret project to develop the first active friend or foe system, which involved putting a transmitter on each British plane. When the transmitter received radar signals from radar stations, it began broadcasting a signal back that identified the aircraft as friendly.
Contemporary radio-frequency identification (RFID) works in the same way. A transponder, attached to an object, receives a radio signal and wakes up. Then it either reflects back a signal or broadcasts a signal that identifies the object. RFID technology enables wireless and unique identification of people, animals, and products using radio signals. It is becoming an essential tool for making processes—such as logistic transport, retail inventory control, and security—more efficient and more intelligent.
The growing use of RFID technology is creating opportunities for a range of businesses, including screen-printing shops. This overview of how RFID systems work and the methods that can be used to manufacture their antennas can help you decide whether RFID production is a good fit for your business .
RFID technology
RFID systems are frequently produced as adhesive tags or labels, but they also may be incorporated as permanent components of products—for example, they my be imbedded in credit cards or other smart cards. They are seen as an ideal replacement for barcode labels, which must be scanned independently with an optical reader to identify the product to which they're attached. RFID tags, on the other hand, require no line-of-sight contact with the reading device—they must simply be within range of the radio signal it emits. Furthermore, multiple RFID tags can be read simultaneously, meaning a whole shopping cart of goods or a pallet of manufactured products can be identified nearly instantaneously. RFID tags can serve a variety of functions, from anti-theft protection and proof of ownership to authentication and inventory control.
Did you enjoy this article? Click here to subscribe to the magazine.


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Sundial and Stardial Pendants
Who needs a watch when we have the sun?
- Pewter sundial & stardial ring pendants
- Tell the time without electricity, gears, or other technology
- Approximately 1.3 inches (3.3 cm) in diameter
Technology is awesome, but can we trust it? How can we be sure that our cell phones aren't recording our brain waves and transmitting our ideas to evil corporations? How can we be sure that our watches aren't silently recording our pulses and sending the data to Big Food so they know when to advertise those juicy bacon cheeseburgers on TV and ruin our diet plans? Yeah, see, now you're paranoid too. We've taken the mirrors out of our bathrooms to avoid that classic horror movie moment, too. We recommend you do the same. Preventative paranoia is the key to success.
Part of our plan is eschewing traditional watches for the sundial. Inspired by designs from Babylonia, Egypt, the Celts of Northern Europe, the Mayans and Incas and Aztecs, we've found the most imaginative and accurate wearable sundials anywhere. Instructions for reading your new sundial are included. Batteries, however, are not. They're not needed! Who needs batteries to sense the rhythms of the solar system? Guaranteed to work as long as the sun rises... and we don't want to think about the day that stops happening.
How the Sundial works...
On a sunny day, suspend the sundial by its black satin cord. Through a tiny hole, a thin ray of sunshine will illuminate a number on the inside of the dial showing the time of day. This Aquitaine sundial was named after Eleanor of Aquitaine, who gave one to King Henry II of England so Henry would know when to return from the hunt for their love trysts. (One must always be timely for love trysts. Tryst us on that one.)
How the Stardial works...
Set the middle wheel to the month, hold the dial upside down, and sight the North Star through the center hole. Move the top of the dial's arm to align with the uppermost stars of the Big Dipper, and read the time on the inner dial where the arm crosses the hour mark! Star dials were first used in the 15th century by navigators and are extremely accurate because they are based on the North Star.
Product Features
- Pewter sundial & stardial ring pendants
- Tell the time without electricity, gears, or other technology
- Modeled after historical timepieces
- Approximately 1.3 inches (3.3 cm) in diameter
- Comes with a 30" black silk cord (or supply your own chain)


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Tom Jicha grew up in New York City and worked with John Pricci at the short-lived revival of the New York Daily Mirror. Tom moved to Miami in 1972 for a position in the sports department at the now defunct Miami News.
Tom became the TV critic in 1980 and moved to the South Florida Sun Sentinel in 1988. All the while he has kept his hand in sports, including horse racing. He has covered two Super Bowls, a World Series and the Breeders Cup at Gulfstream Park.
He's been the Sun Sentinels horse racing writer since 2007 as a staff member, and continues to this day as a free-lancer.


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Leslie Nolen leads The Radial Group, which provides sales, marketing and business planning know-how for health and wellness businesses. Join thousands of health and wellness leaders who get free weekly business tips at http://www.radialgroup.com.
Results matter. But how employees get results—their personality and behavior—matters more.
Here's our guide to four common types of employees:
1. Royalty. Picture your fitness director. She sees challenge and opportunity where others see obstacles. She is launching programs, handling customer issues flawlessly and recruiting great staff.
Business risk: A good employee may leave. She feels under appreciated, taken advantage of or bored.
Common mistakes: Taking them for granted. Ignoring their interest in career growth and learning new things. Failing to express appreciation for their accomplishments.
The approach: Treat them like royalty. Good performers want positive and specific feedback. They value new challenges and soft rewards, such as public praise and unexpected appreciation in the form of extra paid vacation or a fruit basket delivered to their home with an appreciative note.
2. Ticking Bombs. This is the personal trainer who has good rapport with the clients he likes but rushes the clients he doesn't enjoy, treats the front desk staff like peasants, ignores club policies and leaves the dirty work for everyone else. He leaves a trail of "broken glass," such as hurt feelings from other staff, ticked-off clients, and he wastes your time smoothing ruffled feathers.
Business risk: Failure to confront this behavior demoralizes other staff by giving the impression that this person is untouchable and his behavior is acceptable. You'll lose customers who have bad experiences with him, too.
Common mistakes: Managers often avoid confronting these employees. Perhaps you're afraid he will leave and take certain clients, or you cringe at how you think he will react. Perhaps you've raised these issues with him repeatedly, only to allow the problem to continue without consequences.
The approach: These employees cost the business far more than they contribute. They hurt your personal productivity and upset other employees and customers.
Initiate a performance improvement plan so that the individual either rapidly improves or rapidly exits the business. Don't let the behavior drag on indefinitely. If you don't see consistent and prompt progress, move through progressive discipline to termination, generally in no more than 30 days.
If this person is in a key role, start identifying possible replacements before you initiate the performance discussion. You'll probably end up replacing him or her sooner rather than later.
3. Question marks. Picture your nutritional consultant. He is super-enthusiastic and knowledgeable. But his interpersonal skills are terrible. Clients complain that he acts like the "food police," and his technical jargon confuses them.
Or perhaps your yoga instructor is empathetic, knowledgeable, and gets along great with staff and members. However, she's frequently tardy and gets dozens of personal phone calls at work.
Business risk: Always remember that your business needs results from every employee. If they don't deliver, you or other staff members start doing some of their work. Good employees feel put upon and taken advantage of. The customer experience suffers, and the company pays for results it's not getting.
Common mistakes: Dawdling on addressing performance issues while you and other employees pick up the shortfall.
The approach: Determine whether this is a knowledge issue, a time management issue or a boundary issue.
If it's knowledge, identify the missing skills and assess how quickly they can be learned and at what cost to the business. Then, decide whether those trade-offs are acceptable.
If it's time management, give hands-on help in developing prioritization and planning skills. Hold them accountable for developing the ability to plan their work. Don't let your teaching role slide into upwards delegation to you.
If personal issues cross the boundary into work performance, make it clear that the employee must address personal matters outside the workplace.
4. End of the road. This is the billing manager who's rude, error prone and blames everyone else when things go wrong. She's got a lousy attitude and poor quality of work.
Business risk: These employees don't deliver, and they don't play well with others. That's a toxic combination. You'll lose both employees and customers.
Common mistakes: While termination seems like the obvious answer, managers often avoid these difficult discussions, resulting in prolonged tolerance of clearly bad performance.
The approach: Take prompt action to protect your business. Identify potential replacements, document the performance problems, meet with the employee, and explain the difference between your expectations and their performance. Have her write a specific performance improvement plan and follow up within a week to monitor progress. If she doesn't improve quickly, promptly move through progressive discipline to termination.
Remember, when dealing with difficult situations, consult with your company's employment attorney about applicable state and federal laws, including U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission protections, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
One size doesn't fit all. Adapt your management style to your employees for the best business results.