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Many dramatic films have an unquestionable basis in reality, whether they choose to advertise it or not. Elia Kazan's seminal On the Waterfront (1954) examines Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando), a down-and-out ex-boxer who's making ends meet as a dockworker for crooked union boss Johnny Friendly (Lee Cobb). Much to Terry's surprise, he's used in the murder of co-worker Joey Doyle (Ben Wagner) before Doyle gets to testify against Friendly for some of his more unsavory actions. Terry is initially accepting of this role, both due to his current employment position and the fact that his brother Charley (Rod Steiger) is Friendly's right hand man. This position gradually changes, however, after Terry meets Edie Doyle (Eva Marie Saint), the sister of his dead co-worker, as well as supportive priest Father Barry (Karl Malden).
Much like 1957's 12 Angry Men (incidentally, also co-starring Lee J. Cobb with cinematography by Boris Kaufman), On the Waterfront spends most of its time stewing over one man's wavering conscience in the face of support and opposition. It also doubled as a substitute for director Elia Kazan's testimony for the House Un-American Activities Committee two years before the film's release, in which Kazan provided the names of eight friends who were at one time members of the Communist Party (which he was also briefly part of during the 1930s). Terry Malloy's eventual desire to follow his moral compass, whatever the cost, was never officially stated to provide the basis for Kazan's film, but such ethical similarities are almost impossible to ignore. Even if you don't buy the connection, On the Waterfront remains a gripping and accessible slice of 1950s cinema that earned every one of its twelve Academy Award nominations.
While the film's true power lies in its objectively strong construction and pitch-perfect performances by Marlon Brando, newcomer Eva Marie Saint and more, any film's subjective power hinges solely on your acceptance of its world. Filmmaker Martin Scorsese---an avid fan of On the Waterfront and co-director of A Letter to Elia with Kent Jones, both of whom appear elsewhere on this release---once admitted that this was the first film to depict characters that he saw in everyday life. I don't share this admission, but it's a testament to On the Waterfront's power that it's not my world and I still enjoy it immensely. I suppose you don't have to be a dockworker or deal with a rough union boss to understand that greed corrupts, bullying doesn't stop with adulthood and it's important to take any little stand you can.
Criterion's new Blu-Ray release highlights the film's broad appeal and lasting impact, as evidenced by a handful of new interviews, featurettes and even an assortment of extras carried over from the 2005 Sony DVD release. There's even support for the film's multiple aspect ratios, a common occurrence in the decade when television posed enough of a threat for theaters to fully enforce the widescreen format.
Presented in three different aspect ratios (1.66:1, 1.85: and 1.33:1, for reasons detailed in both the accompanying booklet and a featurette on the first disc), On the Waterfront looks absolutely perfect in every conceivable way. Boris Kaufman's impeccable black-and-white cinematography retains a healthy amount of film grain, black levels and shadow detail are superb, textures are crisp and contrast has not been artificially boosted. The transfer was taken from a recent 4K restoration and represents the best home video presentation of On the Waterfront to date. Fans will be extremely pleased with Criterion's efforts, both for the immaculate presentation of the image and the choice of multiple aspect ratios.
Two audio options are available: the original LPCM 1.0 mono mix and a newer DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio remix. The latter is tastefully done and broadens Leonard Bernstein's music cues while adding some mild depth and general ambiance to background effects. Purists will undoubtedly stick with the original, which is obviously thinner in comparison; in both cases, dialogue and music are always crisp and well-defined, free from glaring instances of hiss, pop and crackle. Both are quality efforts and, once again, it's good that viewers get a choice. Optional English SDH subtitles are available during the main feature only.
A number of brand new, exclusive extras have been created for this Criterion release as well. Leading off is an Interview with filmmaker Martin Scorsese and film critic Kent Jones, who share their thoughts and reflections on Kazan's film. Scorsese has long been a fan of Kazan's work, citing him as a major influence in his cinematic development, which makes this brief but fascinating interview a worthwhile inclusion.
Two more cast-specific Interviews are also included, as we hear from Eva Marie Saint (who made her film debut with On the Waterfront) and Thomas Hanley, who portrayed young Tommy Collins. These separate interviews are invaluable for obvious reasons, as it's always nice to hear from those who were part of a film as it unfolded. A like-minded Documentary entitled "I'm Standin' Over Here Now" provides a general overview of the film's production and influence in the form of author and biographer interviews.
The behind-the-scenes extras continue with "Who is Mr. Big?", an interview with author James Fisher which details the period that On the Waterfront depicts, as well as New York City businessman William "Mr. Big" McCormack. The film's music is also analyzed in "Leonard Bertstein's Score" (above right), in which author and critic Jon Burlingame pays tribute to the prolific composer, conductor and pianist.
"On the Aspect Ratio", is a dissection of the film's presentation in three separate aspect ratios for this release, which supports the alternate theatrical framing of Kazan's film and the home video presentation. It goes without saying, but this level of detail will undoubtedly please fans of the film; though the 1.66:1 framing is considered the "default" as presented here, it's great that we're finally getting a choice.
Disc Two, of course, presents On the Waterfront in alternate 1.33:1 and 1.85:1 aspect ratios. These supplements are presented in a mixture of 480p and 1080p; unfortunately, only the main feature includes optional subtitles. It's baffling that Criterion continues this practice, especially at their high price points.
Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront is essential American cinema, whether you enjoy it for the performances, the stunning visuals or the social message. It's a highly entertaining and accessible slice of drama, and the controversial actions of director Elia Kazan during that decade only make On the Waterfront more subversively interesting. Criterion's two-disc Blu-Ray release serves up a flawless technical presentation and a generous assortment of vintage and new bonus features, many of which make their debut here. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to On the Waterfront, this is a pricey but invaluable release that will undoubtedly be on many "Best of 2013" lists. A DVD Talk Collector's Series title, hands down.
Randy Miller III is an affable office monkey from Harrisburg, PA. He also does freelance graphic design projects, teaches art classes and runs a website or two. In his limited free time, Randy also enjoys slacking off, juggling HD DVDs and writing in third person.


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USC's Shaw jumps from second floor to save nephew from drowning
Senior cornerback injured ankles in leap from balcony
Southern California senior cornerback Josh Shaw injured both ankles after leaping from a second-story balcony to save his 7-year-old nephew, Carter, from drowning in a pool.
Shaw was named a team captain on Saturday and later that night was attending a family function at a cousin's apartment in his hometown of Palmdale when he saw his nephew, who can't swim, struggling in the pool.
With no one around, Shaw told USC's website that he instinctively jumped from the balcony onto the concrete below and crawled to the pool, where he pulled Carter to safety. Unable to step out of the pool because of the pain in his ankles, Shaw lifted himself up the ladder with his upper body.
"I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew," Shaw told the team website. "My ankles really hurt, but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world. I am taking my rehab one day at a time, and I hope to be back on the field as soon as possible."
Shaw was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with two high ankle sprains and will be out indefinitely. He said Carter was traumatized, but physically in good shape.
"That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside," Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian said. "But that's the kind of person he is. It is unfortunate that he'll be sidelined for a while and we will miss his leadership and play, but I know he'll be working hard to get back on the field as soon as possible."

subset: commoncrawl


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These are my current favorite bar plugs. They even replaced the Velox plugs on my Pass Hunter. They are made of polished and anodized aluminum alloy and have a resin expanding wedge thing, so they lock securely into the bar. I like the low profile look and smooth dome shape, clean, simple, and durable.
They are easily removed so they can be replaced after you re-wrap the bars, or moved to you new bike. At $9 a pair the price is right, especially so since they'll probably last forever.
We currently have them in silver, black, and brown. If they sell well we'll probably add some primary colors. We can have them made in any color, but the minimum production run is pretty high. Any ideas for new colors? The model we stock now is for 23.8mm (road-diameter) bars, but we might get some for 22.2mm bars in the future. Never thought I could write this much about bar plugs.


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ANTLR is a tool for generating lexers and parsers for a specific set of languages. It can be used to create programs which need an interpreter, or even to write a compiler for an existing or new language.
In the short time that I've used ANTLR I can't say I'm ready to provide a full tutorial for ANTLR (nor do I currently have the time). However, someone already has taken their time to provide video tutorials for ANTLR 3 (as well as written tutorials for ANTLR 2). These tutorials focus on using ANTLR, as well as a plugin for Eclipse to allow someone to easily write and test ANTLR generated code.
Disclaimer: I didn't make these videos, nor have I watched all of them yet. However, I have seen many of them and I believe that they are well done and a valuable source of information.
Here's a link to these video tutorials: ANTLR 3.x Tutorial videos on Vimeo
Here are also links to the main ANTLR website: ANTLR Parser Generator
In this tip I'm posting some useful rules for matching various common literals.
Difficulty: Medium-hard. The realm of defining a grammar is different to conventional programming, and takes some time to get use to. Also, an in-depth understanding of all the information provided in all 9 of these video tutorials is required if you want to create a complex language. However, if you follow through just a few of these tutorials you can already perform some powerful tasks and these are not too difficult.
Integer rule
This rule will match java-style integers entered in decimal notation (base 10). This is slightly different from the rule presented in the video tutorials because a number such as 00001239 in Java technically should be treated as an octal number (base 8). This rule will match a plain 0, or a non-zero digit followed by any digit.
/** * Any integer literal */ IntegerLiteral : ('0') | (('1'..'9') Digit+);
Note: this rule doesn't match negative integers. It's easier to parse the negative as a negation operator and handle negative integers this way.
Float rule
Here's a rule for matching Java style floating point number literals. A similar notation is used in other languages. A java float literal can be defined either in decimal notation (1.23), via exponential (1453e-4), or with an f at the end (132f). This notation builds off of the above IntegerLiteral rule which is used to match valid exponents.
/** * Any floating point literal */ FloatLiteral : ((('0.' Digit* ) | (('1'..'9') Digit* ('.' Digit*)? )) ('e' '-'? Digit+)?) | (IntegerLiteral 'f') ;
Note: As with the integer rule, this rule won't directly match negative numbers (negative exponents are parsed, though). It's much easier to deal with these in the semantics by matching the negative as the negation operator.
C-style string and character literals rules
Here is a rule I've found effective for finding C-style strings. This notation is used by Java, C#, and a wide variety of programming languages. A nearly identical rule can be used for parsing character literals.
STRING: '"' ( ( '\\' ~('\r' | '\n')) | ( ~('\\' | '"' | '\r' | '\n')))+ '"' ; CHAR: '\'' ( ( '\\' ~('\r' | '\n')) | ( ~('\\' | '"' | '\r' | '\n')))+ '\'' ;
Notes: with this rule, I've defined it to accept all characters after an escape character (the backslash) as allowed. However, there is only a limited set of escape characters which are actually allowed. I've found that by accepting all characters after an escape character works better and doing semantic error handling later is a better alternative than hard-coding which escape characters are allowed. Additionally, the character literal rule allows matches to any length character literal. i.e., something like this would result in a positive match:
Again, this is something that can be better handled in the semantics rather than in the lexer rule definition.'abcdef abd'
Secondly, these rules leave on the surrounding single quotes and double quotes. It's possible to immediately trim these out, and this information is provided in video tutorial #6 (about 1/3 the way in).
Lastly, I'm not quite sure why these rules work. In my opinion the middle section should require a * (zero or more) rather than a + (one or more). I haven't figures out why this will only work with the +, perhaps at some point in time I will figure this out and update the information here.


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Posted 9 years ago
(1 item)
This is my vintage 1977 USA Telecaster fender Guitar. All is original!
I love the sound of the vintage tele's! Nothing like them in the world.
What a beautiful sound! I keep it all orginal, and in near mint condition.
The case is not original, but when I bought it, I didnt care about the case, even though its a nice case, I cared about the tele!
Please see pictures of my tele. I used to play this for hours, until my arthrtis kicked in. Now I have it on a stand to show case it.
If your a vintage telecaster fender fan? Im sure you will enjoy my pictures and my show and tell item. :)


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One of the biggest events in a long time for the search marketing world began last week with the New York Times article on bad linking practices undertaken by JCPenney's search engine optimization (SEO) firm, SearchDex.
Google's penalization wasn't a big surprise to seasoned SEO veterans, considered their identified linking practices.
However, this can be seen as a wake-up call to the rest of the online world — especially large corporations that have yet to understand the severity of allowing SEO companies to engage in unhealthy linking practices.
It's safe to say that most large companies wouldn't let a child sit in their headquarters and play with a book of matches. Letting your search firm execute paid linking schemes is like playing with fire when it comes to your brand and search engine visibility.
Let's take a look at how not to link your site throughout the web, as well as how you can avoid search engine ranking suicide.
What are Paid Links and Linking Schemes?
Most people become easily confused with the concept of paid linking. There are good paid links, bad paid links, and a fine gray area.
Google explicitly states how you should link your site to others on the web.
Natural Link Building
Google's webmaster guidelines on link building state: "The best way to get other sites to create relevant links to yours is to create unique, relevant content that can quickly gain popularity in the Internet community."
Google's philosophy is that websites should link to other websites when it adds value for its users. The linked site should be of topical relevance and the linked content should provide additional context in relation to a certain topic.
This form on non-paid or "natural" link building may take longer to accrue links to your site, but in no way poses a threat of penalty.
Good Paid Linking
All paid links aren't bad. Some authoritative directories on the web (including the Yahoo Directory, Business.com, and Best of the Web) require a payment for a listing.
These sites allow you to include your link within a category relevant to your site. There are few paid inclusion sites, so just play it safe by engaging only with the previously mentioned sites.
The Gray Area
It's essential for many sites to engage in banner advertising and other paid placement promotions on the web. This is a "gray" area because technically you're buying link placement on sites outside of the safe paid link sites mentioned above, but you aren't doing it for link value gains.
Google acknowledges this issue and yet again provides instruction in their guidelines to prevent any penalties. This includes either ensuring that the link features a rel="nofollow" command to negate any link value being passed or to have the linking page included in the robots.txt file, out of the view of search engines.
Paid Linking and Linking Schemes
Paid linking at its core is rather self-explanatory. It is the exchange of money with another site for link placement.
Google denounces this practice: "Buying or selling links that pass PageRank is in violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines and can negatively impact a site's ranking in search results."
This is rather cut and dry. Basically, at no time (other than the "gray area") should you approach other sites and offer payment for the placement of a link.
So how do many try to get around paid linking? As the search marketing industry has evolved, so have the tricksters who try to get ahead with unethical linking practices.
These linking schemes/techniques include:
Reciprocal linking: Basically, two sites agree to link back to each other. For the most part, this is ineffective due to Google's efforts to detect this practice. Link networks: These are executed via a network of controlled sites, registered and hosted separately to present a non-unified relationship. Links can quickly be added to all point to a given site. Triangular linking: This is basically non-linear reciprocal linking. Site A links to Site B if Site B will link to Site C, which is usually controlled by Site A.
Google has definitely done a better job over the last few years with identifying reciprocating and triangular link relationships and to some extent the link networks as well. Google advancements, however, leave the bad guys to lean more heavily on standard paid links that don't show a reciprocated or collective web of links directing to sites.
So, Where did JCPenney Go Wrong?
JCPenney should have known what their SEO company was doing. You need a solid understanding of what your SEO firm is doing to "help" you, and how you can monitor SEO campaigns involving your brand.
Big corporations and bad linking is nothing new. This won't be the last time big companies participate in linking schemes or a well-known sites sells links — Forbes was just caught again last week.
A review of the SEOMoz Competitive Link Finder shows many similarities between JCPenney links and other SearchDex clients such as Old Navy and Best Buy to name a few. I imagine it will only be a matter of time before the hammer drops on these other companies.
The simple fact is that if you want to play on Google's property, you have to play by the rules. Google doesn't adhere to ignorance and doesn't issue warnings.
Comments such as this from JCPenney executive Darcie Brossart, don't cut it: "We have no record of ever having received a violation notification from Google before last week when the unauthorized links came to our attention. If we had, we would have worked quickly to remedy the situation, as we are doing now."
Wondering if you're adhering to Google's guidelines and assuming you'll get a fair warning will leave you cold and lonely when the lights go out on your search marketing campaign. There are no excuses when they provide all of their rules in print.
How to Stay in the Know
Ask your SEO provider how they plan on building links to your site if you plan to engage in a link building campaign:
Do you buy links and if so what type or from what sites? Do you participate in artificial linking or in other words a network of sites that you own where you would place links to my site?
Monitor the link profile for your site. Use tools such as Open Site Explorer, Google Webmaster Tools, and Majestic SEO. This will help you to gain a better perspective on the types of sites your site receives links from as well as the anchor text associated with the link and link acquisition volume trends.
Are the instances of link anchor text identical? Link anchor text should vary between links. Linking the exact way from site to site can raise a red flag to spam authorities. Is there a common relevance between the anchor text of the link and the page the link is on? Several links to your site with link anchor text that is non-related to the linked pages content shows a lack of relevance and the use of link building for unethical gain. How many unique domains link to your site? Having many links from very few domains insinuates Run-of-Site linking, which shows a lack of relevance between a site and the linking site. Are links gained slowly over time or are there large accruals of links in a short amount of time? Massive link gains without a viral explanation can indicate that paid linking is taking place.
The Way I See It
Had JCPenney taken a more concerned approach with the efforts of their SEO firm and paid attention, they would likely not be in the limelight right now. If you are willing to let the reputation of your brand lie in the hands of an unethical link building partner then you will eventually gain notoriety for all the wrong reasons.
I believe several well-known companies are playing in this minefield, whether knowingly or not, and I'd venture to say we'll see more of these large scale penalties to big brands in the near future.
Before you engage with an SEO firm, it's paramount that you ask the very important questions above to help guide you in your pursuit of an ethical SEO company. You should continue to monitor your search marketing vendor during the campaign to assess your on-going link profile as well.
There will probably be a lot more algorithmic changes coming our way that will be better at spotting linking schemes. I predict that bursts of links accrued without some form of a social vehicle will be suspect to penalty.
I'm thrilled with the events of late. This is a learning process for many.
I don't practice sketchy link-building techniques. While sometimes I may not build enough links fast enough to keep my clients happy, knowing that I've done it right and that my patient clients who sit at the top of the search rankings aren't going anywhere anytime soon, allows me to sleep a little better at night.


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Summit Double Glazing offer a range of Sliding Doors suitable for the architectural, commercial, public, new build and retail markets. The doors available are commercial hinged, commercial swing, patio, tilt and slide, slide folding, multi-track slide and automatic. Our doors are designed for use as open out or open in, single or double doors, internally or externally beaded with sidelight options for domestic and/or commercial applications. Doliding
Our Sliding Doors are available with polyamide thermal barrier or as aluminium/PVC-U composite frames for high performance thermal efficiency.
High security glazing, locking mechanism including security deadlock and hook bolts, dual colour options, excellent weather performance (BS6375 Pt 1) are some of the many special features of our door systems.
Our doors are compatible with a range of furniture and locking mechanisms and are available in a wide range of colours and finishes that comply with all relevant British and/or European standards. Compliance with Document L for thermal transmittance applies.
Design flexibility, durability and fitness for purpose are key factors that project managers, architects and specifiers will discover when they opt for our commercial doors whether required for refurbishment or new build projects Smart doors are designed for rigorous use and heavy traffic. Test Reports are available on request
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Which Movable Type hosting solution is best?? With so many hosting companies to choose from, it can be difficult to start your search for a host, much less find the best Movable Type hosting company.
We have tested out Movable Type blogs on a variety of hosts and found that there were a few that really shined.? We looked at the following criteria:
1.?????? Easy install. ?How easy is it to install Movable Type?
2.?????? Disk space, bandwidth, and speed. ?Does the host offer enough space and bandwidth to support to popular blog and allow to load quickly?
3.?????? Cost.? Was the cost reasonable, even for those of us not making any money from our blogs?
Based on those criteria, here is what we found:
1. HostGator
HostGator is our #1 choice because it came through in spades on all of our criteria, not to mention that they are a reputable and well-known company.
The install is as easy as it gets, with a quick and easy auto-installer for Movable Type.? With a just a few clicks and some minimal information (domain name, blog title, etc.), your blog will be up and running and ready to customize.
The space and bandwidth on all?HostGator packages is unlimited, so there is nothing to worry about there.? The page load speed was also the fastest of any of the hosts we tested.
In our opinion, these discount coupons make HostGator the easy choice for anyone looking to setup a Movable Type blog.
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BlueHost came in a close to second to HostGator.? It has many of the same features: auto-installer, unlimited disk space and bandwidth, etc.
The page load times were slightly slower than what we found with BlueHost, though not much longer.
In terms of cost, BlueHost is normally $6.95 per month, but we have a special deal for Movable Type bloggers for just $3.95 per month from our friends at CheapHostReviews.com!
3. HostMonster
HostMonster is perhaps the least known of our top 3 hosts.? We did find their service to be top-notch, as it offers everything our top 2 choices do.? However, the page load speed was significantly slower at points than either HostGator or BlueHost.? This seemed to be an intermittent problem though.? Sometimes the page would load quickly and other times it would be much slower.
The main reason HostMonster slipped to number 3 is the cost: $5.95 per month.? That is still a great deal for a quality host, but we just can't bring ourselves to pay that extra $2 every month, when you can get hosting that is just as good from HostGator for a cheaper price.


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Amazon has revealed how much you'll have to shell out for Microsoft's upcoming Zune HD media player.
Amazon's Zune HD prices
The player will be available in two flavours: a $220 (£133/€155), 16GB model and a $290 (£175/€204) version with a 32GB storage capacity, Amazon's US website states. The player hasn't been inked for release in the UK, yet.
Amazon hasn't added any technical details to its website, but Microsoft confirmed in May that Zune HD is built around a 3.5in, 480 x 272 OLED screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
The player also features an integrated "HD Radio receiver" and an HDMI port, Microsoft said. The 16GB model has a black body, while the 32GB player will ship in a platinum shell.
A shipping date hasn't been confirmed by Amazon – although it's widely thought that the Zune HD will be available in North America next month. It's worth noting that while Amazon says it's already accepting pre-orders for the player, links for both capacities were currently down at the time we went to press. ®
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Aloysius takes a communication device and puts it on.
Originally Posted by Revlid
And so it was that Zaeed, Aang, Winry, Ezio, Sadoko and Snow White all set out on their epic journey to destroy The Empire.
God I love Exalted.
Gold Dragon avatar by Serpentine
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Smaby, Matt
NHL Game Night 3/12: Lightning at LeafsSubmitted by pete on March 12, 2009 - 21:44
A crushing blow in the Tavares/Hedman Derby.
Karri Ramo allowed just 1 goal on 21 shots for the win, playing both ends of the back-to-back. Getting 3 points out of 4 in a back-to-back situation is another big step for a guy trying to win a job in Tampa next season.
First Period
03:21 TOR Stempniak (13), (Blake, Schenn)
Second Period
05:25 TB Pettinger (4), (Karsums)
17:19 TB St. Louis (25), (Stamkos, Malone)
Third Period
14:35 TB Malone (24), (Murphy, Lecavalier)(PP)
17:54 TB Szczechura (3), (unassisted)
Noah Welch was +1 with 2 hits and 2 blocked shots in 16:40.
Matt Smaby had 1 shot, 1 hit, and 1 blocked shot in 22:42.
Paul Szczechura had 1 goal on 1 shot with 3 hits and 1 blocked shot in 14:55. He was also 4-for-4 on draws.
Martins Karsums had 1 assist and was +1 with 1 shot, 1 hit, and 1 blocked shot in 14:30.
Richard Petiot was +1 with 1 shot, 6 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 15:31.
These prospect stat reports are getting as long as Smaby's arm.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
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- 1458 reads
NHL Game Night 3/11: Lightning at SenatorsSubmitted by pete on March 11, 2009 - 20:59
So, this team has some pride after all? Or, at the very least, some fear of Rick Tocchet?
Karri Ramo allowed 3 goals on 27 shots for the overtime loss. More good than bad. He made THE save all alone with an Ottawa shooter late in the third period to get the Lightning into the OT session, but he's still struggling with his rebound control, which cost the team the winning goal. I don't think anyone blamed him or McKenna for the debacle against McKenna, but it was definitely something worth monitoring going into this game. How would Ramo respond? And, he didn't respond badly.
First Period
02:37 TB Murphy (4), (Lecavalier, St. Louis)(PP)
04:53 OTT Shannon (4), (Spezza, Alfredsson)(PP)
Second Period
09:25 OTT Kelly (9), (Alfredsson, Phillips)(SH)
09:38 TB Hall (5), (Artyukhin, Krajicek)(PP)
Third Period
02:38 OTT Fisher (11), (Phillips, Volchenkov)
Noah Welch had 4 penalty minutes and 2 hits in 15:41. That's a far better number in terms of ice time for Welch to be getting.
Matt Smaby was -1 with 2 shots, 4 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 23:35.
Paul Szczechura had 1 shot and 4 hits in 11:40. He made some dumb plays coming through the neutral zone, which is uncustomary for such a smart player.
Martins Karsums had 1 shot, 3 hits, and 2 blocked shots in 11:06. The guy is just less than the sum of his parts right now.
Richard Petiot had 2 penalty minutes, 3 shots, 1 hit, and 2 blocked shots in 18:13. He looks a step slow for the NHL level, but he's fairly servicable positionally and he looks like he competes. He may be a good spare part to keep around as a #8 type guy down in the minors.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
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NHL Game Night 3/7: Hurricanes at LightningSubmitted by pete on March 7, 2009 - 22:37
The worst 40 minutes of hockey in Lightning history.
Mike McKenna allowed 3 goals on 7 shots before being pulled for Karri Ramo. Ramo was then the beneficiary of some of the worst defense in the NHL and allowed 6 goals on 22 shots (and took the back door loss to boot) before being pulled at the end of the Second Period. McKenna stopped all 8 shots he faced the rest of the way. Honestly, there was only 1 questionable goal in the lot (by Ramo, on a shot that deflected off Stamkos' stick and through his five hole). Other than that, all of the other eight goals were quality goals that were either odd man rushes or terrible defensive zone breakdowns.
First Period
07:01 CAR Staal (29), (Brind'Amour)(SH)
09:40 CAR Staal (30), (Cole, Ruutu)
10:09 CAR Babchuk (9), (Pitkanen)
12:43 TB St. Louis (24), (Stamkos, Szczechura)
Second Period
02:41 CAR Corvo (12), (Cole, Staal)
03:48 CAR Brind'Amour (9), (Samsonov (25), Cullen)(PP)
06:03 CAR Ruutu (18), (Samsonov, Corvo)(PP)
12:48 CAR Staal (31), (Larose, Ruutu)
16:45 CAR Staal (32), (Ruutu, Cole)
Third Period
3:30 TB Lecavalier (28), (Malone, Prospal)
9:12 TB Malone (23), (Prospal, Lecavalier)
Here's an FYI to Len Barrie and Oren Koules: Lightning Nation is pissed off. They're more than a bit peeved by the fact that they have to watch a defense comprised of two cast offs who couldn't even get regular ice time for the Florida Panthers, a cast off who couldn't even get out of the minors for the Carolina Hurricanes, a goon who shouldn't even be playing defense in the NHL, Charminy soft Lukas Krajicek, and Matt Smaby, who is the one guy in the bunch who doesn't deserve to be shot, stuffed, and mounted on the wall at the Bear Mountain Resort. This defense is a disgrace, and it's patently obvious that the season is being tanked from the blueline out. When the lone silver lining is, "Oh, well we picked up two points on the Isles in the Tavares/Hedman derby," that's just not acceptable. Honest to goodness, if you're going to ice a corps that bad, why not just call up Vladimir Mihalik and Ty Wishart? I'd rather give minutes to the kids than a has-been and some never-will-bes.
Noah Welch was -2 with 1 shot, 1 hit, and 2 blocked shots in an obscene 27:22 of ice time tonight. He and Cory Murphy's first period should be a warning to pregnant women of what happens if you drink while you're carrying your child. How does a guy who couldn't even get in the lineup for Florida end up here playing 27:22 two games later? I can't figure out if this movie is a comedy or a tragedy, boys and girls.
Smaby was +1 with 2 shots, 3 hits, and 2 blocked shots in 16:49. I'm kind of surprised that his ice time was so low because he was very visible in the physical game. That said, even he made his fair share of mildly stupid plays tonight.
David Koci was -2 with 4 penalty minutes and 1 hit in 11:59. If David Koci is an NHL defenseman then I'm an international playboy.
Paul Szczechura had an assist and 2 penalty minutes with 3 shots, 3 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 11:30. I haven't really been impressed with Paul since he came back from his injury, but he showed flashes again tonight, especially in garbage time in the third period.
Martins Karsums was -1 with 1 shot and 1 blocked shot in 11:27. Chad made the point on the message boards that, athletically, he's reminiscent of Ruslan Fedotenko. That's true, but unlike Fedotenko, Karsums is terrible along the wall. I don't think it's lack of want to and he seems sturdy on his skates. He just seems clueless about his body position. Oh, and he made a nice fat turnover that ended up in the back of the net on Anton Babchuk's goal. From Latvia to Russia with love.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
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NHL Game Night 3/6: Blues at LightningSubmitted by pete on March 6, 2009 - 22:21
One point further away from Tavares or Hedman?
Karri Ramo allowed 4 goals on 36 shots for the overtime loss. His rebound control needs work, but he was fairly sharp in this one.
First Period
Second Period
05:43 STL Tkachuk (19), (Boyes, McDonald)
09:25 STL McDonald (10), (Backes, Boyes)(PP)
Third Period
03:28 TB St. Louis (23), (Lecavalier, Stamkos)
06:10 STL Backes (19), (Oshie, McDonald)
12:10 TB Pettinger (3), (Halpern, Artyukhin)
19:44 TB Stamkos (14), (Murphy, St. Louis)
00:27 STL Boyes (26), (Colaiacovo, McDonald)
Noah Welch was -1 with 2 penalty minutes, 1 shot, 4 hits, and 2 blocked shots in 23:06. He's servicable, if unspectacular.
Matt Smaby was -1 with 1 shot, 5 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 23:23. He took a skate to the cheek and hardly missed a shift. You can make a very strong case that he's been the team's best d-man over the last month.
David Koci had 1 hit in 6:52.
Martins Karsums was -1 with 2 shots, 2 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 10:59. You can see the attraction from the Lightning's end: he's a good skater with decent burst and feisty for an average sized player.
Brandon Segal had 2 shots and 3 hits in 12:50. He had some good moments tonight on the forecheck but shanked a rebound off a Karsums shot that should've been his first NHL goal.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
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It took an entire summer of wrangling, but students heading to college this fall won't see dramatic student loan interest rate hikes once President Obama signs a deal on the matter, a move expected Friday.
About 11 million college students are expected to benefit from the legislation, which brings interest rates near what they were before a temporary extension expired in June.
Undergraduates will now be able to borrow at a 3.9% rate for subsidized and unsubsidized loans, according to legislation that was negotiated in July.
The previous rate for undergraduate borrowers was 3.4%.
Graduate students will be able to borrow at 5.4%; parents at 6.4%. But rates are expected to edge higher as they are tied to financial markets. The lower interest rates are in place because the government can borrow more cheaply now, but once the economy improves, borrowers can expect to see rates rise.
There is a cap, however. Interest rates for undergraduates cannot go higher than 8.25%, for instance. Congressional Budget Office estimates show that those higher rates are not expected to be reached any time in the next decade.
The bill, which Obama is expected to sign Friday, was approved by the Senate Aug. 1 -- two months after the previous extension expired and caused interest rates to double to 6.8%.
Student loan debt has ballooned in the last decade as more people went to school during the recession. There is now between $902 billion and $1 trillion in total outstanding student loan debt in the U.S, according to Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Consumer Finance Protection Bureau estimates.
Latest Business


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Update your mortgage to better align with your short and long-term goals.
Refinancing your mortgage can be a smart way to secure yourself a better deal. Maybe you want to get a lower interest rate, or to get cash out of your mortgage, or maybe you just want to work with a more personal provider. We'll take the time to understand your needs. Our local lenders will give you facts and comparisons, helping you consider the options. We make the process simple and focus on meeting your unique goals.
Conventional Refinance
A conventional refinance can help you lower your monthly payment, pay off your balance faster, or cut out costly private mortgage insurance (PMI) or FHA insurance. Even if you originally used an FHA loan, you are eligible for a conventional refinance.
Cash-out Refinance
A cash-out refinance is a specific type of refinancing, intended to—you guessed it—help get cash out of your home. Your new mortgage may be larger than your existing mortgage, with the difference between the two being given to you as cash. This can help cover anything you might need extra cash for, such as home improvements, college expenses, or consolidating higher-interest debts.


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Democrats Connie Moran in Ocean Springs and Billy Broomfield in Moss Point were mayoral victors Tuesday night. (Staff photos)
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Democrats had a strong showing in Mississippi mayoral races Tuesday, capturing an open seat in Tupelo and unseating a Republican in Meridian.
Mayor-elect Jason Shelton will be the first Democrat to lead Tupelo government in about 30 years. In Meridian, insurance agent Percy Bland, a Democrat, defeated one-term Republican Mayor Cheri Barry in a rematch of the 2009 election.
Democratic incumbents were re-elected in Ocean Springs, Oxford and Starkville. New mayors were chosen in Canton, Clarksdale, Jackson, Holly Springs, Moss Point, and Vicksburg, with the office moving from one Democrat to another.
State Democratic Party chairman Rickey Cole said Wednesday that the Republican losses were personal defeats for Gov. Phil Bryant, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and other GOP leaders who had campaigned for local candidates.
"Our success was not limited to a single region of the state," Cole said in a news release. "This is an example of what teamwork can do. We are so proud of the hundreds of local Democratic activists who put their hearts and souls into these campaigns."
State Republican Party chairman Joe Nosef had said in a mass email Sunday that some people were saying party affiliation didn't matter in mayoral races.
"The truth is that it is more important than ever to elect Republicans at the local level," Nosef wrote. "This is the case not only because these officials have important jobs and make significant decisions, but also because many times these officials move on to higher office and impact the political process for years to come."
A Republican unseated Southaven Mayor Greg Davis, who used to be in the GOP but ran this year as an independent.
Republicans incumbents were re-elected in Biloxi, Hernando and Madison. New mayors were chosen in Clinton, Gulfport and Olive Branch, with the office moving from one Republican to another.
Mayoral contests in Greenwood and Hattiesburg were tightly contested, with officials still counting votes Wednesday evening.
Mayors and municipal board members serve four-year terms that begin July 1.
In an election-night interview on WAPT-TV, Jackson Mayor-elect Chokwe Lumumba said he wants people to work with him to improve the capital city.
"We're for Jackson, but we're also for Mississippi," Lumumba said. "We're not in an island. We're in a society. And so you've got to work with all the people in the society."
Lumumba is an attorney and has served the past four years on the City Council. After defeating three-term Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. in the Democratic primary and businessman Jonathan Lee in the Democratic primary runoff, Lumumba cruised past three low-budget independent candidates on Tuesday.
Lumumba, who had been an attorney for the late rapper Tupac Shakur, also received a celebrity endorsement Tuesday. His campaign posted a brief video message online from hip-hop artist Ludacris, who said: "I need you to vote for Chokwe Lumumba. We've got to move forward in Jackson, Miss., so the only way to do that -- if you vote for my man."
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Most Mississippi cities held municipal elections Tuesday. Here's a glance at some of the mayors who take office July 1, along with a note about whether they're starting a first or subsequent term:
Biloxi: Republican A.J. Holloway, sixth term.
Brandon: Republican Butch Lee, first full term. The former alderman was appointed mayor when the former mayor stepped down in late March.
Brookhaven: Republican Joe Cox, first term.
Canton: Democrat Arnel Bolden, first term.
Clarksdale: Democrat Bill Luckett, first term.
Clinton: Republican Phil Fisher, first term.
Columbus: Democrat Robert Smith, second term.
D'Iberville: Republican Rusty Quave, sixth term.
Gautier: Republican Gordon Gollott, first term.
Gulfport: Republican former state Sen. Billy Hewes, first term.
Hernando: Republican Chip Johnson, third term.
Holly Springs: Democratic state Rep. Kelvin Buck, first term.
Jackson: Democrat Chokwe Lumumba, first term.
Laurel: Democrat Johnny Magee, first term.
Long Beach: Republican Billy Skellie, third term.
Madison: Republican Mary Hawkins Butler, ninth term.
Meridian: Democrat Percy Bland, first term.
Moss Point: Democratic state Rep. Billy Broomfield, first term.
Ocean Springs: Democrat Connie Moran, third term.
Olive Branch: Republican Scott Phillips, first term.
Oxford: Democrat George "Pat" Patterson, second term.
Pascagoula: Republican Jim Blevins, first term.
Pass Christian: Republican Leo "Chipper" McDermott, third term.
Pearl: Republican Brad Rogers, second term.
Southaven: Republican Darren Musselwhite, first term.
Starkville: Democrat Parker Wiseman, second term.
Tupelo: Democrat Jason Shelton, first term.
West Point: Democrat Harmon A. "Robbie" Robinson, first term.
Vicksburg: Democratic state Rep. George Flaggs, first term.


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Coachella 2013: See Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, 2 Chainz + More Onstage During Second Weekend
Weekend 2 of Coachella ran from April 19 through April 21, and despite the largely alt-leaning nature of the event, held in the desert of Indio, Calif., a few of your favorite pop stars found their way onto the stage, like 2 Chainz and Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz and Janelle Monae, among others.
Wentz strapped on his bass and performed with Chainz, who recently offered up his remix of FOB's "comeback" hit 'My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark.' Check out Wentz's stylish waxed jeans.
Chainz looks at home at Coachella, doesn't he? He's pretty much owning it.
Check out the size of his joint!
Petite powerhouse Miss Monae was back for more during the second weekend, dressed in all white once again. She is a tiny force to be reckoned with. Check her out. You can feel her energy popping out of this photo.
She is such a mini monster, ain't she?
The style diva wore the same outfit two weekends in a row, but it worked for her. White is right for spring, especially when it's as hot as it is in Indio.
Alex Clare and his beard were also back. Check out the English singer's roar in this photo! He's totally into performing and doesn't care who sees his dental work, which appears to be minimal, actually.
Here's Clare again, looking like a prize fighter with that towel over his head. Hey, it gets hot in the desert and artists need to mop up their brows.
DJ Paul Oakenfold was also on hand, spinning away and doing his EDM thing.
This candid shot of the onstage fun makes us sad that Coachella 2013 is over. Until next year...
Watch the Fall Out Boy 'Young Volcanoes' Video


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The business and communication (PLUS) courses introduce students to the management of science and technology. Graduates of the Professional Science Master's programs acquire competency in their technical fields as well as skills that enable them to translate this scientific knowledge into profitable products and services. These graduates provide industries with workers who bridge the gap between science and business, who have developed leadership and team building skills, who know how to lead innovations from idea to commercialization, who are aware of market and customer needs, and who are familiar with financial decisions.
Through the business curriculum students:
Students take business courses developed to meet the needs of the technical and career-oriented professional. Many of the business electives are offered online in spring, fall and summer sessions. Students choose from several courses offered by UMass campuses in Lowell, Amherst, Boston and Dartmouth.
Students should consult with faculty advisers to determine best course choice for their career advancement needs. All PSM students should include at least one course (basic or enhanced) that incorporates communication into their curriculum.


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Joe Fontana was convicted of fraud, forgery and breach of trust by a public official after Superior Court Judge Bruce Thomas rejected the former MP's attempts to ascribe a legitimate motive to altering a contract from his son's wedding to make it look like it was for a political event at the same venue.
He submitted the forged document to the House of Commons for reimbursement, but his "criminal activity" was only detected when the government cheque ended up being sent to the venue instead of Fontana personally, Thomas found. If the money had gone directly to Fontana, no one would have been the wiser, the judge said.
"While I am perplexed as to why a man of such accomplishments might choose to take these actions for $1,700, I do not find that that detracts from the strength of the Crown case," Thomas said in his decision.
"I have long ago abandoned the notion that motive results from a logical cost-benefit analysis."
Fontana sat passively as the judge pronounced his convictions on fraud, forgery and breach of trust, but looked stricken by the time he got up to hug his wife.
"I'm very surprised, shocked, devastated by obviously the verdict," Fontana said outside court.
He did not say what the convictions mean for his political future nor if he would appeal.
"I regret that all this had to happen, especially for the people of London, but I'll have something to say in the near future," he said. "I obviously need to digest what has taken place, talk to my legal team and look at what I'm going to do."
Sentencing arguments are scheduled for July 15. The penalties range from an absolute discharge to time in custody, his lawyer Gord Cudmore said outside court.
According to the Municipal Act, a member of council is disqualified if at any time during their term, they become ineligible to vote in their municipal election. Another statute strips anyone incarcerated from voting municipally.
John Mascarin, a lawyer with expertise in municipal law, said any term of imprisonment — even a day or intermittent weekend sentence — would automatically disqualify Fontana from holding office.
"That's the only way you can do it," Mascarin said.
"A conviction on its own — no matter how egregious — if it doesn't carry any prison time doesn't disqualify a member from holding office.
Fontana testified during the trial that it was "stupid" of him to alter the document, but he insisted it was no forgery.
He admitted making seven changes — including whiting out his wife's signature, replacing it with his own and writing the word original in quotation marks at the top — to an existing contract with the Marconi Club for his son's 2005 wedding to reflect an event he planned for then-finance minister Ralph Goodale at the same venue.
Other alterations on the contract included changing the date of the event from June 25, 2005 to Feb. 25, 2004, the word "wedding" to "reception" and the addition of a yellow sticky note saying "misc constituents reception."
The Goodale event didn't end up going ahead at the Marconi Club, but Fontana testified he believed the club was owed a $1,700 deposit from his MP budget.
Since he had only spoken with the club's president over the phone and didn't have any paperwork, Fontana changed several details on the wedding contract from a few months prior and submitted it, he testified.
The club received the $1,700 government of Canada cheque and credited it to Fontana's son's wedding.
Fontana, a veteran politician, sat in his home and used white-out and an eraser to make the changes, saying by way of explanation that his life was hectic due to a minority government. Yet one phone call to the Marconi Club could have produced a legitimate, original invoice that could have been forwarded for reimbursement, Thomas said.
"(Fontana) suggests that this was an expeditious way to ensure payment considering he was approaching the end of a fiscal year," Thomas said.
"I disbelieve him."
Thomas also did not believe Fontana's explanation that his "misc constituents reception" sticky note was meant to indicate the $1,700 should go to the Marconi Club for the cancelled Goodale reception.
"Mr. Fontana says that it should never have been credited against the wedding, but where else did he think it would go considering the Marconi Club could only reference it by contract 2661, his son's wedding reception contract?" Thomas said.
The president of the Marconi Club, a friend of Fontana's for more than 40 years, testified for the defence and backed up Fontana's story, but the judge pointed to various inconsistencies and said Vince Trovato's story "does not hold together."
"When he testified I got the feeling that Mr. Trovato was making it up as he went along," Thomas found.
"I come to the conclusion that he and Mr. Trovato either collectively or individually concocted a story for this court that was intended to create a reasonable doubt and in doing so allow Mr. Fontana to escape conviction. In my view any doubt raised in these circumstances would have to be far-fetched and fanciful and defy common sense."
Also on HuffPost


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I had an application before I formatted which would do something awesome: you simply slid from an active area on the screen, no matter what application you're in, and you were presented with about 12 different spots you could fill which would launch applications.
The problem is, I can't remember what this application is called. Can anyone remind me?


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Chris.mullins necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 345 diseños de 106 diseñadores freelance.
Arcuity is a value-added reseller (VAR) of technology solutions with a focus on "cloud" or service based technologies. Our clients love us because we take the time to understand their business before we make recommendations. We "diagnose before we prescribe". We seek to understand before we act, and we believe that putting the client's best interest first is ultimately in our best interest.
Our name comes from a combination of "Architect" and "Acuity". We help our clients assess, plan, and implement foundation and strategic technology solutions with a "sharpness of vision".
Our process:
1. Understand the client's business and project business drivers
2. Bring our deep technology expertise and market knowledge
3. Help the client select the best solution for their needs
4. Assist in a timely and cost-effective procurement
5. Assist in implementation
6. Support in operation
Roles: CIO, CISO, IT Director, Director of Internal Audit (Technology Influencers, Decision Makers, and budget owners) This audience tends to be heavily male dominated.
Verticals: Energy, Legal, Healthcare, Hospitality, Technology
We want to communicate that we are a technology company that is deeply knowledgable, credible, and innovative. We would like to communicate the "cloud" or software-as-a-service oriented nature of our focus, but we want to be careful not to be cliche with "cloud" elements.
One of our areas of expertise is in Security and Compliance. To trust a partner with these elements of your business, you must have confidence in their stability, ability, and reliability, much as you would your bank. Our image needs to convey this.
Guiding, but not restricting, thoughts on the aesthetic: We are looking for:
- clean
- confident
- interesting use of negative space
- translates to all black / all white well
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Integral seals
Sealed bearings are generally used for arrangements where a sufficiently effective external sealing solution cannot be provided for cost reasons or because of space limitations.
SKF supplies a wide assortment of super precision bearings fitted with a seal on each side. For details, refer to Sealing solutions in the relevant product chapter.


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Free From Bad Boy: Mase Walks In On Diddy While Getting Interviewed On Radio & Has Puff Sign His Release Papers!
Shuddup TV reports "Mase Makes Puff Release Him In The Middle of V103's Ryan Cameron Show"
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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AC/DC Autographed Tour Program Sells for $5K
In 1977 the average price of an AC/DC 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' tour book purchased at an U.K. concert was about five dollars. Fast forward 35 years and that same tour book, now autographed multiple times, could cost a collector up to $5,000 based on the status of this recent eBay sale.
This program was used in the UK during the 1976 fall and spring 1977 tours and though the auction listing notes the creasing and wear of the item, it's obviously a highly-desired piece of AC/DC memorabilia. Truth is many of AC/DC's tour books are valuable including the one that was printed (but quickly banned) in Australia during the winter of 1976.
These band signatures were reportedly obtained in March of 1977. Why the group agreed to sign the same item multiple times remains a complete mystery. Both guitarist Angus Young and vocalist Bon Scott signed the program five times, including the cover in blue ballpoint pen. The rest of the bands signatures (18 in all!) can be found throughout the program.
Aside from the signatures and dynamite photography featured, it's the actual copy that gives this tour book the dirty deeds attitude that one expects from AC/DC. For instance, Angus Young's distinguishing features are listed as "is always in school uniform; bruised knees; followed by swarms of flies." Whereas, Bon Scott's distinguishing features include: "Tattoos, film star teeth and a sirs chest."
As it appears, high voltage humor is expensive and when it's vintage, neatly bound and autographed all over -- "done dirt cheap" plays no part in the equation.


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In earlier, simpler times -- before the Internet -- we journalists worried about being guilty of "a rush to judgment." Reporters talked of the value of having the best story, not the first one.
These days, they have an adjective to describe journalists who don't rush to judgment.
U.S. & World
There's a contest on, by the second, to be the first to post, to analyze a new development, preferably in 140 characters on Twitter. Heck, analysis is routinely done before the results are known.
But in addition to all the problems inherent in this kind of instant analysis, there's a special problem with doing this in California.
While the media is digital, the methods of voting are old-fashioned. And the growing method of ballot delivery -- the U.S. mail -- is positively 18th century. More than half of California voters are believed to have voted by mail this time.
Which means the media are under pressure to judge the results before there are results.
In the mail ballot era, counting can take a couple weeks for all ballots. And when races are close, that means the winners won't be known for a couple weeks. We still don't know who has made the top two in several legislative races, and we don't have final results on Prop 29.
Of course, that didn't stop your blogger -- or any number of outlets -- from pronouncing winners and losers very late on election night, or the day after. Some of those losers (for example, those who supported Prop 29) could still come out winners.
(Here's my pre-emptive defense of emphasizing the failures of Prop 29: the collapse of support for Prop 29 was a big news story -- particularly in light of arguments made about the measure's budget policy -- but my analysis won't bother cancer research advocates if they pull out a narrow victory in the final count. They'll laugh all the way to the state treasury).
Even candidates have some trouble with this.
One of the losers your blogger pronounced was a Los Angeles-area assembly candidate named Torie Osborn, who was much touted but was in fourth place for much of election night.
Osborn was still in third the day after the election when she sent a concession-style email ("We ran a hell of a campaign" was the subject line) to her supporters thanking them for their hard work -- and congratulating the two candidates who appeared to have bested her.
By Friday, she had sent out a new email saying she still had a chance to make it into the top two with so many mail ballots being counted. ""Hang in there, folks..." was the subject line on this one.
A couple of lessons on this. In the mail ballot era, one should never concede. And journalists might do well to make a practice of taking a week off after the election -- a cooling off period to permit vote tallies before one is forced to do any instant analysis.
In the meantime, a memo to all those county registrars out there: hurry up and count. I have a bunch of blog posts already written. And I've gotta produce two of these a day. But I don't know whether to file them until I have the results!
Lead Prop Zero blogger Joe Mathews is California editor at Zocalo Public Square, a fellow at Arizona State University's Center for Social Cohesion, and co-author of California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It (University of California, 2010).
Send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.


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So what are you planning on doing this morning?
Acting like you are working while watching the US and Germany play in the World Cup?
US coach Jurgen Klinsmann is here to help. He has provided soccer fans in US a note to your boss that he signed:

How can a boss say no to this?
Here's the text of the note:

To whom it may concern:
Please excuse ____________ from work Thursday, June 26th.
I understand that this absence may reduce the productivity of your workplace, but I can assure you that it is for an important cause. The #USMNT has a critical World Cup game vs. Germany and we will need the full support of the nation if we are to advance to the next round.
By the way, you should act like a good leader and take the day off, as well. Go USA!

Think your boss will be unimpressed? Some fans are going to a higher power, petitioning the White House to make Thursday a national holiday.

On Thursday June 26th the United States faces Germany with a trip to the knockout stages of the world cup on the line. Americans all over this great country won't get to see that game, won't get to enjoy the fraternity of their fellow citizens because it is scheduled for the middle of the day.
We'll be sneaking out for long lunches, refreshing browsers, calling in sick.
You can save everybody the trouble. Make thursday a holiday. Let's do this thing right and all stop what we're doing and watch the game together.


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The world will soon get a rare glimpse into the life of one of the most controversial political figures of the past half century when the sister of Fidel Castro publishes her tell-all book next month.
Juanita Castro has lived in Miami since 1964, when she fled her native Cuba, and now her book, Fidel y Raul, Mis Hermanos (Fidel and Raul, My Brothers) will finally hit store shelves on Oct. 26,according to the Miami Herald.
The 432-page Spanish language book has been in the making for years, and will finally see the light of day.
"This is a testimonial told in the first person by someone who was there since birth, next to two influential political figures of Latin American politics -- her brothers," an ad for the book reads. "This is the story Juanita Castro owed us all, but has never told, now here it is."
Juanita Castro left Cuba within five years of Fidel taking power, disagreeing with his Communist policies. She has been living in Little Havana, keeping a low profile.
The book, co-written by Maria Antonieta Collins, is available for pre-order on Amazon.com for $19.99.
Castro will promote the book at the Miami Book Fair International in November.


text: Taipei The capital of Taiwan is a marvel in its own right. The hub of economy, finance, tourism and even fashion, life is ever-changing and ever-quickening in Taipei. The booming metropolitan embraces modernity like two peas in a pod, yet fiercely preserving its traditional values passed down through generations. The skyline is built to impress, but as you venture through the exciting city, you will find little delights in its splendid natural beauty or in the locals' charmingly warm hospitality. Top 5 Must Do's Taipei 101 The icon of Taipei, and the prominent centre of the city, the skyscraper is the tallest green building in the world. The post-modernistic structure boasts 101 floors of shopping, conference centres, offices, restaurants and both outdoor and indoor observatories. Head to the top for a stunning and unobstructed view of Taipei City! Shilin Night Market There is a plethora of night markets in Taipei, but the most famous one of all is the Shilin Night Market. Food hunters crowd over for its many food vendors and small eateries especially amongst the 539 stalls in the food court. After dinner, the many attractions such as movie theatres, video arcades, shops and karaoke stores will have you staying till the wee closing hours. Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Another famous landmark of Taipei, the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was built in memory of the former president of the Republic of China. The hall and square is now the hub for cultural events, and the National Concert Hall and National Theatre are in the vicinity as well, housing performances from the likes of Yo-yo Ma, the Vienna Boys Choir and even the late Luciano Pavarotti himself. Taroko Gorge A 2-hour train ride from Taipei is the beautiful Taroko Gorge. Located within the Taroko National Park, the gorge is known for its magnificent natural beauty and its abundant supply of marble. Visitors can get in touch with nature as they explore the many sights around, such as the Eternal Spring Shrine, Swallow Grotto, Buluowan Village and many others. Wufenpu Shopaholics will be happily satiated in Taipei's main wholesale garment market, offering the latest fashion and trends at enormous bargain prices. The shops open from morning till midnight every single day, and haggling is a gift that will be a blessing in disguise that will take you far when you're roaming the streets of Wufenpu. To and from Taoyuan International Airport Transportation To Journey Fare Bus 1819 Taipei Main Station 55 minutes NT$125 2061 CitiAir West Bus Sheraton Hotel 80 minutes NT$90 2060 CitiAir East Bus Grand Hyatt Taipei 70 minutes NT$145 High Speed Rail (via shuttle bus to THSR Taoyuan station) THSR Taipei Station 20 minutes NT$155 Taxi Taipei Main Station 40 minutes Starts from NT$1000 Your awesome getaway awaits you right here! Book now Quick Facts Currency New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) Electricity/Socket Adaptor 110V 60Hz LanguageMandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, English Time zone UTC +8 Tel code +886 Religion Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity Weather JUN - AUG Summer - hot and rainy 24°C - 38°CDrink plenty of water and bring an umbrella. SEP - NOV Autumn - warm and pleasant 19°C - 27°CTravel light and bring a camera! DEC - FEB Winter - dry and windy 13°C - 19°CIt'll get really chilly, so make sure you bring a thick winter jacket. MAR - MAY Spring - sunny and clear 15°C - 19°CBest time for sight-seeing and shopping! View how you can fly in with our interactive map! Map it out Check out these other destinations! Australia Gold Coast Melbourne Sydney Cambodia Siem Reap China Changsha Hangzhou Kunming Shanghai Wuhan Xi'An Hong Kong Hong Kong India Kochi Indonesia Bali Bandung Jakarta Solo Yogyakarta Japan Osaka Tokyo Malaysia Kota Kinabalu Kuala Lumpur Kuching Langkawi Miri Penang Myanmar Mandalay Nepal Kathmandu Singapore Singapore South Korea Busan Taiwan Taipei Thailand Bangkok Chiang Mai Krabi Phuket Surat Thani Vietnam Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City


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Robert Hagan (born May 10, 1947) Australian
Robert Hagan (artist) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Robert Hagan (Artist)) This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2012) Robert Hagan Born Robert Graeme Hagan May 10, 1947 (age 65) Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia Occupation Television personality, Impressionist artist, Author, Producer Notable credit(s) "'Splash of Color"' Website http://www.roberthagan.com/ Robert Hagan (born May 10, 1947) is an Australian television personality, author, impressionist artist, and producer. He is best known for hosting theDiscovery HD/Discovery television show Splash of Color. Early life Robert Hagan was born, 10 May 1947, in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia and is the third eldest of four children. He graduated fromNewcastle University in 1969, and is a self-taught painter and artist.[1] Painting Robert Hagan is known for his western, romantic, decorative, adventure, portraiture and maritime paintings.[2][3][4] Hagan's approach to painting is to translate scenes of everyday life into romantic, nostalgic and blissfully peaceful visions of the world.[5] His subjects include the figure in a moment of reflection, animals, children fishing on the beach with their father, sailboats, rainforest birds, cowboys [6] on horseback rounding up cattle or hunched over a campfire after
after a hard day's droving and dusty outback scenes of Australia.[7] Although self taught,[8] Hagan's style is impressionist using a limited palette of oil to impart a sense of tranquility and play on light to make the painting come alive. His brushwork is loose with final strokes of impasto.[9] Books Hagan's book publications [10] include Paintings of Australia (1987),[11] Images of Australia (1993), Romantic Oil Painting Made Easy (1995), Painting Cowboys and the Old West (1997), Cherished Moments (1999), Nostalgic Oil Painting Made Easy (2003) and My Australia (2004). Television Robert Hagan was the originator/ Executive Producer [12] and host of this 10 part travel/painting series that was licensed in 2010 to Discovery HD and shown internationally in several languages. Production commenced early 2007 and concluded 2009 with USA locations including New Orleans, Fort Worth and Yosemite while Philippines included Puerto Princessa and Banaue. There were 4 episodes filmed in Thailand's Bangkok, Pattaya, Chon Buri and Chiang Mai. The series was shown in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Poland, Brazil, India [13] and Argentina. Selected episodes were shown on international air flights


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University of Sussex to help developing economies move towards low carbon energy
University of Sussex academics are helping the Government to launch a new network to link British energy experts to those in developing economies.
Several universities are involved in the initiative, funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
The Low Carbon Energy for Development Network (LCEDN) will ensure the UK's world-class expertise in sustainable energy solutions helps developing countries achieve their low carbon goals.
LCEDN, which has been made possible by a £100k grant from DECC, will identify UK-based skills and knowledge that could help developing economies achieve low carbon development.
Alongside Sussex, Durham University Energy Institute (DEI), the Midlands Energy Consortium (comprising Loughborough, Birmingham, and Nottingham universities), Imperial College and UKERC (UK Energy Research Centre) are involved in the LCEDN initiative.
Professor Jim Watson, Dr David Ockwell and Dr Rob Byrne from the University of Sussex will contribute the knowledge and experience of low carbon development that they have gained from research and practice in China, India and Africa.
The grant will be used by LCEDN to examine the use of new technologies in different developing economies to assess their potential in the creation of low carbon energy.
The research will aid in the transition to low carbon economies, as well as help to tackle the chronic problem of energy poverty.
The network will pinpoint UK strengths, identify where they could be deployed and highlight areas where expertise needs to be further developed, particularly in relation to UK policymakers. It will also identify opportunities for enhancing research collaborations between UK experts and those in other parts of the globe.
Professor Watson, who is Director of the University's Sussex Energy Group, says: "We are delighted to be involved in this new low carbon energy network. This year [2012] is the UN year of sustainable energy access for all, and the network will provide a further mechanism for the UK research community to contribute to this overall goal.
"Working with partners in the developing world, we will focus on opportunities to improve energy access through low carbon technologies and, perhaps more importantly, on the policy and institutional changes that are needed to deploy these technologies successfully."
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker says: "International collaboration on energy research is vital to support low carbon options for developing countries and help tackle climate change. Through this initiative we can offer our world-leading expertise in sustainable energy solutions and learn valuable lessons from countries that are undergoing rapid change."
Notes for Editors
The Sussex Energy Group undertakes academically rigorous, inter-disciplinary research that engages with policy-makers and practitioners. The aim of its research is to identify ways of achieving the transition to sustainable, low carbon energy systems while addressing other important policy objectives such as energy security.
University of Sussex Press office contacts: Maggie Clune and Jacqui Bealing. Tel: 01273 678 888. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
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"Paul's Surgery," Friend, Nov. 2012, 8
Paul's Surgery
Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray (Children's Songbook, 96–97).
What could help Paul feel less nervous?
After Paul got ready for bed, he sat on Mommy's lap in the rocking chair in his room. Mommy held Paul close as she told him the news. "The doctor says you need to have another surgery on your ears," she said. "He thinks your ears will be all better after that."
Paul fiddled with the buttons on his pajamas. He had had surgery before. The medicine made him feel sick, and he had to wear a big, white bandage around his ears until they healed. With his head bandaged, he couldn't ride his bike or play on the swings. Paul started to worry, but then he had an idea.
"Mommy, can we ask Heavenly Father to bless me?" Paul asked.
"That's a good idea," Mommy said.
They knelt on the floor and Mommy prayed, "Heavenly Father, please bless Paul that he will be comforted during his surgery. Please guide the doctor's hands so he can help heal Paul. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
A warm, peaceful feeling filled Paul up inside. He was still a little nervous, but he knew that he would be safe.
A few days later, Paul went to the hospital for his surgery. He put on a hospital gown and talked to the doctor. Paul liked the way the doctor told him what was going to happen so he wouldn't be as scared. He liked to think of Heavenly Father guiding the doctor's hands to make his ears better. Paul and Mommy said another prayer, and Paul felt the same warm feeling inside. Mommy still looked a little worried.
"It's OK," Paul told her. He gave Mommy a hug. "Remember, we said a prayer."
Mommy smiled at Paul. "You are right. Heavenly Father will bless you."
When Paul woke up from his surgery, Mommy was sitting beside his bed.
"Hello, Mommy," he said sleepily.
Mommy smiled. "Hello, Paul! How do you feel?"
"Pretty good," Paul said. "Are my ears OK?"
"Yes," Mommy said. "Our prayers were answered. The doctor said that everything went well, and your ears will get better."
Paul smiled. "I knew it, Mommy," he said. "Heavenly Father answered our prayers."


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Bundle home and auto to save
Bundle home and auto and save.
home > boat insurance
Or call 1-866-455-1980.
(Daily, 5 a.m.–9 p.m., PT)
Boat insurance through Esurance covers:
Hitting the open water is a perfect way to take a break from everyday life and relax with family, friends, or by yourself. But costly accidents, injuries, and theft don't take a break just because you do. You never know when mishaps will occur — that's why boat insurance is one of the most important accessories you can have on your watercraft. More [+]
Although Esurance doesn't offer boat insurance, you can get a free quote on our site and connect to one of our trusted partners. You'll be able to customize a flexible policy right online for everything from Jet Skis® to cabin cruisers.
While boat insurance isn't required by law in most states, we recommend checking with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles for requirements in your neck of the woods.
Apart from your state, other interested parties may require you to have boat insurance. If you take out a loan to buy a boat, for example, your lender may require you to insure it to protect itself from the risk of loss or damage. And many marinas require proof of coverage before allowing you to dock.
Boat insurance through Esurance can protect a wide variety of watercraft, including:
Before getting your free quote, gather as much of the following information as you can:
While you may be able to get partial protection for your boat or PWC through your homeowners insurance, this only provides basic liability coverage and won't guard your savings from most risks.
If, for example, your boat is totaled by a storm or your expensive navigation equipment is stolen, the hit to your wallet could be pretty big.
Luckily, boat insurance typically comes with a slew of specialized coverages to help provide emergency towing, replace your pricey boat accessories, and reimburse an agreed value for your boat if it's ever totaled (just to name a few possibilities).
Find out what else boat insurance covers.
If you need to get in touch about an existing boat policy bought through Esurance, you can do so here.
Boat insurance quotes are provided by Answer Financial, Inc. Esurance does not underwrite, provide customer service, or pay claims for any boat policies sold by Answer Financial. Coverage availability varies by state and individual risk situation. Insurance quotes are not available in D.C.


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With increasing numbers of people starting to consider vegetarianism, or at least a reduction in meat consumption, for health, ethical and environmental reasons, the fourth annual Vegetarian Food Festival in Cricklewood couldn't be more timely.
Held at the Sadhu Vaswani Centre, the festival aims to show how well you can eat without meat by providing a variety of vegetarian and vegan foods – wrap your taste buds around north and south Indian cuisine, Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, Italian (with egg-free pasta) and Lebanese as well as eggless cakes, smoothies and yoghurt drinks.
There will also be clothes, jewellery and book stalls for you to browse, and games, face-painting and henna, and a raffle, making the festival not only an awareness-raising exercise but also a great day out for the whole family.
Entry is free and all monies raised from the stalls and activities will go towards supporting the homeless in London and providing cataract operations and replacement limbs in India.
The Vegetarian Food Festival takes place at Sadhu Vaswani Centre, Cricklewood Lane, Cricklewood on Sunday, July 15 from 11.30am to 6pm. Details: www.sadhuvaswaniuk.com


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RENTON, Wash. (AP) The distances the Seattle Seahawks offense needed to cover late in regulation and then again in overtime left plenty of opportunity, as Pete Carroll put it, to ``really screw it up.''
Not with Russell Wilson at the controls. Not with the way this rookie is playing.
``There's really nothing to hold us back with what we can do and ask the quarterback to do with the system and all of that now. He can really handle the package,'' Carroll said. ``We're trying to benefit from that.''
With two drives on Sunday - one at the end of regulation and the other in overtime - Wilson kept Seattle firmly in control of the final playoff spot in the NFC with a 23-17 overtime win over Chicago. He led the Seahawks to touchdowns the final two times they touched the ball.
And they weren't short drives. Seattle went 97 yards on its final possession of regulation to take the lead, then another 80 yards in overtime to pull out the victory. Wilson accounted for 56 of Seattle's 80 yards on its overtime touchdown drive, including 28 yards rushing. Three times he converted third downs and capped Seattle's victory by hitting Sidney Rice on a 13-yard TD.
Combined over Seattle's final two possessions, the first of which was capped by Golden Tate sliding off tacklers for a 14-yard TD with 24 seconds left in regulation, Wilson accounted for 115 yards passing and 47 yards rushing.
His 71 total yards rushing turned out to be the most in Seahawks history for a quarterback. Most of those running yards came on designed zone-read plays where Wilson would fake the handoff to Marshawn Lynch, then dash around end for gains that gashed the Bears defense.
``He just has a tremendous level of awareness and poise and it's just surprising that anybody could be like that, not just a rookie or a young guy in his first shot playing in Chicago or what not,'' Carroll said. ``He just continues to be impressive in all of those ways.''
Closing out games has lingered as a significant problem for the Seahawks on the road. And lately because of their defense.
It started in Detroit, when the Lions scored with 20 seconds left after driving 80 yards to pull out a 28-24 win. Last week in Miami, the Seahawks gave up 17 fourth-quarter points and Dan Carpenter's field goal on the final play gave the Dolphins a 24-21 win.
And on Sunday, the Seahawks defense again let down when Jay Cutler scrambled free from pressure to find Brandon Marshall for 56 yards, setting up Robbie Gould's 46-yard field goal on the final play of regulation to force overtime. Carroll said when Cutler scrambled, Seattle's secondary briefly lost contain on Marshall and allowed him to come back toward the ball and make the play.
``We got a little out of whack. That's like playing in the park then, everything goes and Jay, that was a marvelous move to get free, a great throw, a great adjustment on the catch to get that done and it took all of that. That was a shocking play that it occurred like that. We thought we had it nailed,'' Carroll said. ``That gave them a great chance to come back in it, which just happened to set up a great chance for overtime and see a young kid win it all.''
For all the excitement about the Seahawks victory, there are injury concerns going forward. Rice was hammered on the game-winning touchdown at the goal line by Major Wright and was down on the field for a few minutes. He tweeted Sunday night that he was cleared by doctors but Carroll said Monday that Rice was going through concussion protocols in part because of his history with head injuries.
``It's based off the occurrence of it and his history, so it's a little bit of everything I guess,'' Carroll said. ``He feels good, he's not in bad shape at this point so we think he has a chance.''
Seattle is also unsure of the status of offensive lineman James Carpenter, who felt a sharp pain in his surgically reconstructed left knee and didn't play after the first quarter. Carroll said Carpenter was getting X-rays and an MRI, but was unsure of the results. He was also pessimistic about nickel cornerback Marcus Trufant, who has a hamstring pull.
Defensive end Red Bryant was in on 33 defensive plays despite a foot injury, but Carroll said he was sore Monday. He's also hopeful of getting back linebacker Leroy Hill, who did not play after being unable to make it through pregame warm ups with an ankle injury.
Online:http://pro32.ap.org/poll andhttp://twitter.com/AP-NFL


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As I mentioned in my previous post, I was stuck on a book. Despite all the reasons I thought I would like that mystery set in Georgian England, it just wasn't grabbing me and it seemed like the best way to restart my reading was to switch books. Normally, to get on-track with my reading again, I like turn to a book by a favorite author, a known quantity. But, much to my folly, I went with an author I hadn't read before.
The premise of Hooked on Murder by Betty Hechtman appealed to me for a couple reasons. It was set in a bookstore and it involved a crochet group–two things I love. Not only that, but because this author was published by Berkley Prime Crime, I had a feeling I knew what to expect from the book in terms style and the quality of writing.
Berkley Prime Crime tends to specialize in "cozies", mysteries in the tradition of Agatha Christie where things happen in a set location with an established cast of characters. These books focus more on the mystery of figuring out "who-done-it" than on vividly gruesome crime description, overt violence, or action. And the Prime Crime books seem to be aimed at women because so many of the authors and protagonists are female. But while Hooked on Murder was generally true to what I have come to expect from Berkley Prime Crime, it just didn't do it for me.
The story. Molly Pink, a recent widow in her late 40s, has fought to get her life back to a new normal after the early death of her husband Charlie, a partner in a small public relations firm. But Molly's plans for her new normal are thrown when she discovers the dead body of Ellen, her husband's business partner. Now Molly is scrambling to figure out who would kill Ellen because a jealous female police detective seems convinced Molly is guilty, a development that would free up Molly's boyfriend for this detective. In her efforts to learn more about the deceased and find an outlet for the nervous energy being the prime suspect of a murder investigation can cause, Molly joins the crochet group that Ellen ran and learns that there were a variety of people who benefited from Ellen's death far more than Molly did. In order to prove her innocence, Molly is going to have to find out who really killed Ellen–all while learning to crochet the perfect granny square.
What I liked. As a protagonist, Molly is likeable. She's been through tough times with the early death of her husband, but she's rebuilding her life on her own and struggles to maintain the independence she's discovered in the wake of tragedy. Not only is Molly herself likeable, but so is her best friend Dinah, a community college English teacher who refuses to disclose her age. I enjoyed this story the most when it stayed with Molly and Dinah.
The other characters. Other than Molly and Dinah, almost none of the characters were likeable. Molly had two grown sons, Peter and Samuel, and neither of them seemed worthy of her. Peter came across as coldly self-centered that even as his mother worried about being arrested. Samuel fares no better, coming across as a complete wuss. Molly's boyfriend Barry was remarkably obtuse for a police detective, never realizing that "Detective Heather" was crushing on him and trying to get Molly out of the way, even if that meant charging Molly with a murder she didn't commit. Adele, a fellow bookstore employee, is so over-the-top rude to Molly that I cringed each time she appeared in the story. An aging star, CeeCee, attempting to become the crochet group's new leader is entertaining in her vain way, but the other group members are kind of flat. The owners of the bookstore where Molly works are only present to heap pressure on Molly for things she can't control, and it felt odd that small business owners would be in their shop so seldom. Perhaps the only other likeable character was Jeffrey, Barry's son. Thirteen-year-old Jeffrey, despite his father's consternation, wants to be an actor and wants to know all about Molly's experience finding a dead body. I can go along with a lot in a story so long as I like the characters in it, but with Hooked on Murder I mostly felt sorry for Molly, Dinah, and Jeffrey that they were surrounded by so many jerks.
The writing. Despite the drought of likeable characters, Betty Hechtman writes a clear, understandable story. Through the action and the revelation of the mystery, there weren't any times in the story when it was unclear who had done what. I appreciate that because it gives me the feeling that I'm getting the information I need to figure out the mystery. However, that wasn't quite the case with this book. Not unlike Agatha Christie, there was a whole lot of red herring and very little that would allow the reader to figure out the mystery.
I really wanted to like this mystery, but I don't think I will read anymore books in this series. My affection for crocheting isn't enough to overcome my dislike for so many of the characters. However, the good thing this book this did was it compelled me to start a new crochet project. If I like how it turns out, I'll share it here.
Until then, I wish you better reads than I've been reading. A book that you think is going to be good and doesn't deliver, well, that feels like a broken promise.


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For some people, "road trip" means a vintage convertible zooming past the towering mesas of Monument Valley. For others, it's a comfy little rental car meandering amid the autumnal vistas of New Hampshire's White Mountains. For some, the only genuine road trip is made on a motorcycle. In truth, the only defining factor of a road trip is the road. Vehicle, route, tempo and purpose are all up to each traveler, which means the real adventure begins in the mind.
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Lords of the gourd compete for Punkin Chunkin honors
With teams using more than 100 unique apparatuses to launch globular projectiles a half-mile or more, the 27th annual World Championship Punkin Chunkin event is our pick as November's Weird Festival of the Month.
- Airports, airlines work hard to return your lost items
- Expert: Tourist hordes threaten Sistine Chapel's art
- MGM Grand wants Las Vegas guests to Stay Well
- Report: Airlines collecting $36.1B in fees this year
- Lords of the gourd compete for Punkin Chunkin honors
So, what image pops up when you hear "road trip"? While the possibilities are as endless as the twists and turns of the road, the following five questions will help you determine your own road trip style.
1. Are you looking for a fun-filled escape, maybe for a way to turn that duty trip to your nephew's wedding into a vacation? (The Jaunt)
2. Are you seeking spiritual enlightenment, answers to philosophical questions or the meaning of life, the universe and everything? (The Quest)
3. Is a trip worthwhile only if you acquire a teaspoon from every state, photograph yourself on the spot where James Dean died or manage to place a different body part in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona — all at the same time? (The Challenge)
4. Do you need itineraries and motel reservations when you travel, or is a tank of gas enough? (The Risk Factor)
5. MINI Cooper or Big Honkin' Truck? Is the journey only as much fun as your ride? (The Vehicle Is King)
The Jaunt
The main appeal of a jaunt is the fun; its purpose is to escape the daily grind of rules, supervision and other mundane restrictions. Most jaunts have time-related limits like the end of vacation or the completion of an event like a wedding or a NASCAR race. Jaunts have no higher calling than fun and relaxation, and there's no reason they can't be short. With the right attitude, a two-hour road trip can offer as much of a break from routine as a weeklong odyssey.
The Quest
The Quest, on the other hand, is often open-ended. Time is seldom of the essence when the goal is spiritual enlightenment, discovering your roots or writing the great American travelogue. Think about those youngest sons in fairy tales who set out with their belongings tied up in a bandana to "seek their fortune." That's the feel of a quest.
If your attitude is, "I'll let the universe be my guide," your road trip profile leans more to Siddhartha than to Chevy Chase, and your planning will differ accordingly. Curiously, quests sometimes look like jaunts. This is because not everyone has the luxury of stepping "off the grid" for extended periods of time. Questers with day jobs often think of the Quest as their "real work"; time spent at the day job is "time off," even if that leaves only weekends for road tripping.
The Challenge
Key chains, refrigerator magnets, soil samples -- don't you just love them? If your answer is "You betcha!", you may find yourself embarking on road trips that give you a challenge. These kinds of trips appeal to people who like to collect things or set records for "bagging" destinations or attractions.
If you enjoy car rallies, television shows like "The Amazing Race" or just plain bragging, consider working a challenge into your next road trip. Whether you decide to visit every county seat in Texas (all 254 of them!) or fill up your National Park passport with as many stamps as possible, the challenge will give shape and meaning to your road trip. Inspiration is only a click away, too, because challenge road trippers love to share.
The Risk Factor
Consider for a moment the idea of hitting the road with no itinerary and no motel reservations for the first night -– or the second or the third.
How does your stomach feel? Does the lack of plan and pillow make you start to sweat, or does it give you a delicious feeling of freedom? The question is really just a form of risk assessment. The challenge here is finding a comfortable place between serendipity and a forced march, and that sweet spot is different for each of us. In fact, whether to obtain reservations is one of the biggest debates among road trippers.
The Vehicle is King
Do you drive to be noticed or do you seek anonymity when you travel? Would you ever be caught driving an Excursion-sized SUV jacked up with a 12-inch lift kit? How about a 42-foot-long RV or a Harley-Davidson motorcycle? Do you love that classic Edsel so much that you won't mind when it breaks down outside Kingman and the mercury's well into triple digits? If you answer "Yes" to any of these questions, your road tip is as much about your vehicle as your destination.
Cars don't always define road trips, but they are the single most important piece of equipment you will choose. It pays to consider each one's strengths and drawbacks and to make sure the ride you choose fits the purpose of the trip –- as well as your personality and priorities.
Once you recognize the kind of road trip that suits you best, your only limitation is your imagination -- unless you're traveling with friends, of course, because they'll have their own ideas of what a road trip should be. If you are sharing your road trip with others, take my Road Trip Compatibility Quiz before you pile into the car or, believe me, the road will get bumpy.
Tripso wants to take you on a cruise for a cause! See how far New Orleans and Cozumel have come since Katrina and Wilma. Join us October 26, 2006, for four nights on Carnival's Fantasy, one of the vessels that Carnival offered for hurricane relief. Chat with your favorite Tripso columnist and contribute to a worthy Gulf Coast relief organization. Space is very limited. For more information, e-mail us or check out our cruise page.
Mark Sedenquist is the publisher of RoadTrip America, a Web site providing expert planning, advice and suggested itineraries for road trips. He's spent 30 years and a half-million miles on the road in North America. E-mail Mark or visit his Web site.