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CONCORD, N.H.-- On the eve of the Republican National Convention this August, real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump will accept an accolade of his own just an hour south of Tampa as he receives the 2012 "Statesman of the Year" award from the Sarasota Republican Party.
An invitation to the event, which serves as a fundraiser for the Sarasota GOP, shows ticket prices ranging from $150 for general admission to $1,000 for a private meeting with the outspoken Trump at the Ritz Carlton in Sarasota.
Trump spokesman Michael Cohen says Trump is "honored to be the recipient of this prestigious award," which was bestowed in 2011 on former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Then-presidential candidate Herman Cain delivered the keynote address at that ceremony.
Despite controversy surrounding his persistent questioning of President Barack Obama's American citizenship, Trump has emerged as a prominent surrogate for presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney; recording robo-calls and conducting interviews for Romney's in early primary states, and raising money on the candidate's behalf.
In May, Trump hosted a fundraiser for Romney at Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, and on June 28 he attended another fundraising event for the former Massachusetts governor in New York City. A heavily promoted "Dine with the Donald" event, in which donors could win a contest to have a meal with Trump and Romney, was rescheduled, according to aides to both men.
Despite all this, the two have not campaigned together -- or even been seen in public together -- since Romney accepted Trump's endorsement in February, fueling speculation that the Romney campaign would prefer to keep its distance from its supporter's more controversial remarks.
Trump's presence just an hour down Interstate 75 from the Tampa convention, set to begin the following Monday, could put an unwanted spotlight on his birtherism at a time when most Republicans would rather talk about almost anything else.
Cohen, however, said he expected Trump to take an active and visible role in the convention.
"It would seem obvious that Donald Trump will play a role in the Tampa convention, as his massive popularity, reflected in this recent award, shows what an asset he would be in making the convention into an even greater success."


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Bacon & mushroom risotto
Nutrition and extra info
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal452
- fat13g
- saturates4g
- carbs62g
- sugars3g
- fibre3g
- protein21g
- salt1.9g
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Olive oilol-iv oyl
Probably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives. It's…
- 1 onion, chopped
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 8 rashers streaky bacon, chopped
- 250g chestnut mushroom, sliced
- 300g risotto rice
Risotto rice
To create an authentic creamy Italian risotto, the use of specialist rice is imperative. It…
- 1l hot chicken stock
- grated parmesan, to serve
Parmesan is a straw-coloured hard cheese with a natural yellow rind and rich, fruity flavour. It…
Heat the oil in a deep frying pan and cook the onion and bacon for 5 mins to soften. Add the mushrooms and cook for a further 5 mins until they start to release their juices. Stir in the rice and cook until all the juices have been absorbed.
Add the stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring well and waiting for most of the stock to be absorbed before adding the next ladleful – it will take about 20 mins for all the stock to be added. Once the rice is cooked, season and serve with the grated Parmesan.

subset: commoncrawl


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Next week the Minnesota SQL Server User Group is having a special meeting on Wednesday, December 5. The presentation will be on Big Data. Be sure to register so that your name badge will be available for you at the Microsoft Technology Center when you arrive.
The sponsor for this special meeting is Microsoft Technology Communities.
Location: 3601 West 76th Street, Suite 600 Edina, MN 55437
Date/Time: Wednesday, December 5 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
- 5:30 – 5:45 : Registration / hospitality / networking / food!
- 5:45 – 6:45 : Hadoop's Role in a Big Data Architecture
- 6:45 – 7:00 : Announcements / Networking
Please click here for meeting details and to RSVP for the event
Jim Walker talks Hadoop, Big Data and Microsoft Tools
Jim Walker, Hortonworks, is a recovering developer, professional marketer and amateur photographer with nearly twenty years experience building products and developing emerging technologies. During his career, he has brought multiple products to market in a variety of fields, including data loss prevention, master data management and now big data. At Hortonworks, Jim is focused on accelerating the development and adoption of Apache Hadoop.
And don't forget, the SQL Lunch that was scheduled for October was rescheduled and will be next month for Friday, December 14 from 11:30 to 1:30 with me as the host – SQLFriends Lunch–Dec 14.


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What are the Patterns of a Conservation Economy?
The Royal British Columbia Museum is a place of discovery. Through three unique galleries, the Museum showcases the human and natural history of British Columbia.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
« Previous Pattern | Next Pattern »
A Conservation Economy
Social Capital
Fundamental Needs
Subsistence Rights
Shelter For All
Access To Knowledge
Social Equity
Cultural Diversity
Cultural Preservation
Sense Of Place
Beauty And Play
Just Transitions
Civic Society
Natural Capital
Ecological Land-Use
Connected Wildlands
Core Reserves
Wildlife Corridors
Buffer Zones
Productive Rural Areas
Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable Forestry
Sustainable Fisheries
Compact Towns And Cities
Human-Scale Neighborhoods
Green Building
Transit Access
Ecological Infrastructure
Urban Growth Boundaries
Ecosystem Services
Watershed Services
Soil Services
Climate Services
Economic Capital
Household Economies
Green Business
Long-Term Profitability
Community Benefit
Green Procurement
Renewable Energy
Sustainable Materials Cycles
Resource Efficiency
Waste As Resource
Product As Service
Local Economies
Value-Added Production
Rural-Urban Linkages
Local Assets
Bioregional Economies
Fair Trade
True Cost Pricing
Product Labeling


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There's no denying the similarities between Ed Helms' characters in "Cedar Rapids" and "The Hangover." Both films find Helms playing an uptight square swallowed by the bright lights of the big city, where he gets charmed by a prostitute, reaches heretofore unknown levels of inebriation and suffers a pretty serious beating. Still, it's a credit to Helms and director Miguel Arteta that the film doesn't feel like "The Hangover 1.5."
Helms plays Tim Lippe, a straight shooting insurance rep from Wisconsin who gets sent to a conference in Cedar Rapids to represent his company in what amounts to the Super Bowl for Midwestern insurers. Tim's boss, Bill Krogstad (Stephen Root) sends him with explicit instructions to avoid Dean Ziegler (John C. Reilly) and stick close to Ronald Wilkes (Isiah Whitlock Jr.). Naturally, Lippe ends up sharing a room with both of them.
Zeigler is a man so vulgar in his tastes, words and actions as to render the word meaningless. Reilly puts on an 86-minute clinic being as offensive as humanly possible, it's a magnificent performance littered with a litany of cringe-inducing one-liners unfit for a family website. The joke he tells during the credits is enough all by itself to warrant the film's R rating.
Anne Heche is a pleasant surprise as the "O-Fox," a woman ground down by the rigors of family life who treats the annual convection as her personal Vegas—"What happens in Cedar Rapids…" That you even notice Heche working alongside Helms and Reilly in full-on over-the-top mode is a testament to her presence.
Arteta has a long history of taking audiences to the edge of their comfort zone and then giving them a light hip-check, and he does it again here. Here he crafts a pretty simple, straightforward story of redemption and make it feel like a carnival funhouse of mirrors where none of the archetypes quite conform to your expectations.
For all its disgusting jokes, sex, meth-smoking and "teat" squeezing, "Cedar Rapids" manages ultimately to be a sweet story about the value friendship and honesty. But because the message is packaged within in such an unapologetic bacchanal—it's like the inverse of a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.
"Cedar Rapids" goes into limited release on Friday, Feb. 11. You can read our coverage of the film at Sundace here.


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Summary of China's Supply-Side Structural Reforms
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- Comprehensive
- Analytical
- Eye Opening
As the world's second largest economy, China continues its ascent despite troubling challenges. Its leaders' efforts to continue the country's dynamic growth, while transitioning the Asian giant toward a more consumer-centric economic model, depend on instituting comprehensive "supply-side structural reforms" (SSSR). In this thorough analysis, the Economist Intelligence Unit offers insight and perspective on SSSR and its components. getAbstract recommends this authoritative offering to executives, investors and policy experts interested in China's economic development.
About the Author
The Economist Intelligence Unit is an independent research and analysis organization.


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The Los Angeles Times hates the Boy Scouts. In their relentless attempt to drive the Boy Scouts out of existence, they have published one of the most biased articles in the history of "news" reporting. Article authors Jason Felch and Kim Christensen have broken almost every rule of news reporting in their article "Boy Scout files reveal repeat child abuse by sexual predators."
First, the article isn't "news" at all, since all the events occurred over two decades ago. The implication that the Boys Scouts are still allowing sexual predators to serve in their ranks is false.
Second, the emphasis of the article is on some secret Boy Scout list from the 1970's that was supposed to keep repeat homosexual predators out of scouting. The list failed to keep some predators from repeating their perversions, probably because it was not consistently checked when new leaders signed up. However, this list has not been the primary means of screening sexual predators for decades!
Having been the adult leader of a Cub Scout Pack, I was involved in leader selection and screening from 1998 to 2007. We never checked any secret Boy Scout list to screen our leaders. We went to the police department, who ran the screening to search for registered sex offenders. Nowadays, this can be done online. However, this was not the only method the Boy Scouts used to prevent of sexual abuse. Following the abuse outlined in the LA Times article, the Boy Scouts implemented youth protection training in 1990. The training was required for all leaders, Scouts and Scouting parents. One of the key provisions of youth protection was that a leader was never allowed to be one on one with any Scout at any time. Two-deep leadership prevented all the abuse that had occurred in previous decades, which is why the LA Times article could not report abuse after 1991. The LA Times article does not mention any of this information, but just left the impression that abuse of Boy Scout youth was an ongoing problem. Shame on them!


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Click Above Link For Printable Menus
TO APPLY FOR FREE OR REDUCED MEALS - CLICK HERE or contact your home school.
USD 353 is committed to excellence in its nutrition and food services programs. To help us achieve goals related to food service we are reaching out to parents, students, staff and interested community members to serve on our wellness committee. If you are interested or willing to serve on this committee please contact Stephanie Frazier - Wellness Committee Chair at USD 353 Central Office: 620-326-4300 * 221 S. Washington * Wellington, KS 67152 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Middle School & High School Paid Breakfast - $1.50
Elementary School Paid Breakfast - $1.60
All Schools Reduced Breakfast - $.30
Elementary Paid Lunch - $2.75
Middle School Paid Lunch - $2.95
High School Paid Lunch - $3.20
All Schools Reduced Lunch - $.40
Extra Milk - $.50
Please consider joining us for breakfast or lunch! Adult prices are $2.50 for breakfast and $3.85 for lunch!
For comments or questions on menu selections please contact: Cindy Daniels, Food Service Director for OPAA!
The National School Lunch Program (SLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in more than 1,500 public and private nonprofit schools and residential child care institutions in Kansas. Public schools in Kansas are required by state statute to offer the SBP in each public school building under the jurisdiction of the school district's board of education. *For more information on the SLP and SBP contact Sabrina Torneden, Food Service Representative
The At-Risk Afterschool Meals Program, formerly referred to as the Area Eligible Program, is a component of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and provides reimbursement to institutions that serve nutritious meals and snacks to children in qualified afterschool programs. All children and youth age 18 and under at the start of the school year who attend participating afterschool programs are eligible to receive free meals and snacks. *For more information on the Afterschool Meal Program contact Cindy Tracy, Afterschool Program Coordinator
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) became a permanent program as a result of The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). The FFVP provides all children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day. It is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options. The FFVP also encourages schools to develop partnerships at the State and local level for support in implementing and operating the program. *For more information on FFVP contact Kim Hefley, School Counselor
Summer Food Service Program sponsors provide free meals to a group of children at a central site, such as a school or a community center. They receive payments from USDA, through their State agencies, for the meals they serve to children at eligible sites. Locally, SFSP is run by approved sponsors, including school districts, local government agencies, camps, or private nonprofit organizations. Just as learning does not end when school lets out, neither does the need for good nutrition. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ) provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow, throughout the summer months when they are out of school. For Summer Food Service Program availability CLICK HERE
USD 353 is committed to excellence in its nutrition and food service programs. To help us achieve goals related to food service we are reaching out to parents, students, staff and interested community members to serve on our wellness committee. If you are interested or willing to serve on this committee please contact Stephanie Frazier, Wellness Committee Chair at USD 353 Central Office: 620-326-4300 * 221 S. Washington * Wellington, KS 67152 or by email at email@example.com.
Adam Hatfield
John Buckendorff
Stephanie Frazier
Holly Parkey
Wendy Goodrum
Kim Hefley
Gillian Macias
Cherity Elder
Stephanie Smith
Ann Shinliver
Melissa Meeker
Carmen Hatfield
Brandi Peterson
Cindy Daniels
View our Wellness Committee Meeting Notes
Cindy Daniels OPAA! Foods, FS Director (P) 620-326-4392 email@example.com 1700 E. 16th St. Wellington, KS 67152
Kim Hefley School Counselor (P) 620-326-4360 (F) 620-326-3273 firstname.lastname@example.com 104 South F Street Wellington, KS 67152
Kelly Adams Afterschool Program Coord. (P) 620-326-4300 (F) 620-326-4304 email@example.com 221 S. Washington Wellington, KS 67152
Wendy Goodrum Business Office Manager (P) 620-326-4300 (F) 620-326-4304 email@example.com 221 S. Washington Wellington, KS 67152
Ann Shinliver Federal Programs Director (P) 620-326-4370 (F) 620-326-6480 firstname.lastname@example.com 1100 N. Washington Wellington, KS 67152
http://www.kn-eat.org/ Child Nutrition and Wellness, KSDE
http://www.usda.gov/ United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.ksde.org Kansas State Department of Education
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) Email: firstname.lastname@example.com. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.


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FFIS Mansfield is in the heart of the DFW Metroplex! We are just minutes from AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Park, American Airlines Center, Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor, Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Downtown Fort Worth, the Cultural District, & the Stockyards. If water sports is what you're looking for, Joe Pool Lake offers fishing, boating, & swimming at nearby Lynn Creek Marina. We are the host hotel for Big League Dreams Sports Park & Hawaiian Falls Waterpark. Fat Daddy's is right down the street where you can watch your favorite Texas Country Legends & local artists play. There's plenty of golf & tennis to enjoy, too, at Walnut Creek Country Club with its 36 hole Championship Golf course & 14 lighted tennis courts. Mansfield Independent School District has some of the best high school sports facilities in the state with the new MISD Stadium & MISD Natatorium. Whether you are in town for business or pleasure, The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Dallas Mansfield is the place to be!Show More
Spacious Guest Rooms and Suites
Free hot breakfast buffet with healthy options and Bold Beginnings coffee
Heated Indoor Pool and Hot Tub


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Given the Chances' close proximity to the poverty level and their inability to take likely consequences into account when planning their next move, it seems a strange oversight that Raising Hope has never addressed their relationship to the credit industry. Virginia and Burt would be unusual Americans indeed if they were never besieged with credit-card offers when they were younger. And though it's not hard to imagine how that must have turned out, you can't help but wonder about the grisly details. Tonight, the terrible story is finally told, as an indirect result of Jimmy setting out, with $830 in hand, to purchase his dream car.
Sabrina, that temptress, tries to get Jimmy to consider the option of taking out a loan for a new car, but it turns out that Virginia and Burt have a very strong moral position toward this. "Credit is for chumps," Virginia says, citing the example of Wimpy, "the worst cartoon character," and his constant, ill-considered pleas for a hamburger that he offers to pay for at some later date. She points out the role that credit played in the financial meltdown. As Burt says, too many people borrowed more money than they could afford to pay back, and "now their houses are either under water or upside down. And while that may sound like fun for a weekend, it's no way to live."
Virginia and Burt urge Jimmy to follow their example and live by the rules that have kept them swimming in great deals: Never buy anything new, and never pay more for anything than what you have in ready cash. When Sabrina says that she doesn't think there are a lot of good cars that can be had for $830, Virginia, quite sensibly, says that they're not looking for a lot of cars, just that one "diamond in the rough." After considerable searching, Virginia and Burt find their dream car: A DeLorean, whose winged side door Martha Plimpton hangs out of in a triumphant gesture that Alexander the Great entering the kingdom of Persia couldn't improve on. They then pass their old clunker down to Jimmy. Dissatisfied with this turn of events, Sabrina drags Jimmy to a car dealership and uses a siren song of extras and new-car smell to seduce him into buying "the first new car in Chance family history."
The bubble bursts when the salesman checks Jimmy's credit history and find that he has an all-time-record-low score of 91. ("It's the hardest my manager's laughed since I showed that Internet video of guys getting kicked in the jingles.") Only then does Jimmy learn that Virginia and Burt took out a credit card in his name when he was five and used it to buy a hot tub. It was a rotten stroke of parenting, but when he confronts them about it, it's hard not to be touched by their story of a young married couple, barely out of their teens, in the throes of credit-card addiction, maxing out the cards they'd received on such delights as the George Foreman Grill, the Henry Winkler Sprinkler, and the Bret Michaels Poison Control Kit. "We spent hundreds!" wails Burt. After that, they vowed to regard credit cards as Kryptonite in the future, "but the devil had other plans!"
Sure enough, a card with Jimmy's name in it arrived in the mail. "We could have easily shredded that card with out fancy new knives, and then effortlessly cut through a tomato," says Burt, "but we were young, and we really wanted a hot tub." Also, they assumed that the Statute of Limitations on the debt would expire by the tme Jimmy was an adult. Rather than risk kicking the comedy to death by explicating how brilliantly this all works as a metaphor for the state of the global economy, I'll just mention that the man at the bank to whom the Chances turn for help is played by Christopher Lloyd. And he's still got it!
Stray observations:
- Sensing that Sabrina is feeling vulnerable about her relationship, Frank says out loud what she dare only think—that it "isn't very sexy" when a guy can't shop for a car without checking with his parents first—and then, he makes his move:
- I haven't talked to my parents in seven years," he says. "I'm a free-thinker, and I can do 25 sit-ups, over the course of a day. Just putting it out there." This is the first sign I can remember that Frank might have designs on Sabrina, and the very thought of it, and of him doing anything as skeevy as trying to cut in on Jimmy's action, grosses me out a little. But I'm grateful for any information the show can include about what it's like in his world.
- Virginia: "Sabrina, Sabrina, Sabrina! You need to think for yourself, Jimmy. And for God's sake, do what we tell you!"
- Before using the DeLorean to figuratively go back in time, by trading it to Christopher Lloyd to erase Jimmy's bad credit history, Virginia and Burt try to use it to literally go back in time, but this proves impossible. "It's probably for the best," says Virginia. "Remember that movie, The Butterfly Effect? We would have had to sit through that stupid thing twice!"


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Sources: Sigifredo Castro Diaz, 785-532-7044, firstname.lastname@example.com;
and Lea Studer, 785-532-3432, firstname.lastname@example.com
News release prepared by: Greg Tammen, 785-532-4486, email@example.com
Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012
Bioprocessing engineer named one of top scientists in Kansas
MANHATTAN -- Work by a Kansas State University bioengineer is not only recycling and reducing environmental pollutants, it is also earning him a spot as one of the state's top researchers.
Sigifredo Castro Diaz, a bioprocessing engineer with the university's Advanced Manufacturing Institute, was named by the Ad Astra Kansas Initiative as one of the top 150 scientists ever to work in Kansas throughout its 150 years of statehood.
Diaz develops and tests new bio-based products and processes.
Recently a U.S. patent was issued for a phosphorus reduction system -- called Phred for short -- that was developed by Diaz and colleagues. The system removes up to 60 percent of the phosphorus in the wastewater from cattle feedlots. As a result, it decreases water pollution in lakes and reservoirs, as well as decreasing the amount of algae blooms that result from the excess phosphate.
Similarly, Diaz is also looking at ways to decrease phosphorus in cattle feed, which will prevent excess phosphorus from entering the ecosystem.
In addition to reducing phosphorus, Diaz is also developing and studying pilot systems for phytoremediation, anaerobic bacteria, biotechnology and bioseparations -- all aimed at better waste treatment.
"Engineering and science education give you the knowledge and tools it takes to design potential solutions for a wide variety of real-world challenges," Diaz said. "In the course of my graduate work at the chemical engineering department at K-State, I developed a strong interest in the environmental management of wastewaters originated from industrial facilities and agricultural fields. I find it very exciting to discover overlooked opportunities to economically recover useful byproducts or generate energy from waste streams, while at the same time, protecting the ecosystem."
Throughout 2011, Ad Astra spotlighted 150 Kansas researchers, scientists, inventors and engineers from the past to the present who have advanced the scientific field in Kansas' 150 years of statehood. The initiative's project, "Science in Kansas: 150 Years and Counting," celebrated the state's sesquicentennial and emphasized the importance of science and the career possibilities in research and innovation to K-12 students.
Diaz is the one of the 21 active faculty researchers at K-State to be named among Kansas' top 150 scientists. He joins other historically noted state researchers on the list like George Washington Carver, Charles H. Sternberg, Clyde Cessna and Hall Livingstone Hibbard.


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Electoral Area A is the rural area surrounding the Town of Golden and includes unincorporated communities of Parson, Nicholson, Donald and Blaeberry as well as the Town of Field.
The area offers a wide range of recreational activities being located in the Glacier Mountains and along the Columbia River including fishing, skiing and hiking.
The area spans the Rogers Pass and extends to the Alberta border near Lake Louise along the Trans Canada Highway.
The area adjoins the East Kootenay Regional District along Highway 95 just south of Spillimacheen.
Local Services
- Arena
- Curling Rink
- Development & Planning
- Emergency Planning
- Golden and District Library
- Mosquito Control
- Museum
- Nicholson Fire Department
- Noxious Weed Control
- Parks & Recreation
- Recycling
- Solid Waste
- TV Rebroadcast
- Woodstove Exchange
Community Consultation Project
Interested in seeing the Comments, Observations and Issues Log from the initial community engagement sessions? The log outlines the most pressing issues facing Area A today, as identified by the residents who participated in the 2015 community consultation sessions.


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One thing is similar though, I think, and that's that everyone has a natural rhythm and way they like to move and it's quite difficult (and usually not all that enjoyable) to deviate too far from it. Recloose, then, is a bit of a specialist taste. If you're into foursquare pump-pump-pump until climax, his kind of scribbly meandering isn't going to get you very aroused.
If on the other hand you're a double sideways swoop kind of person, 'Maui's Lament' will be right up your er…something. Deceptively housey at the start with a kick-snare pattern and twinkly keys, Recloose soon overlays the odd 'broken' beat on the basic rhythm and lets loose one of those stuttering jerky basslines that's somewhere between funky and glitchy. This will layer beautifully in the mix with more standard house fare, but will sound completely different once it gets going and make about ten percent of most club crowds spastically ecstatic. And just to geek out for a second, the kick-snare here is PERFECT—with just the right smidgin of offset to make it irresistible. A classic Recloose production basically.
'Walk in Turquoise' is more lumpen in comparison—a heavy beat and more of a techno feel albeit at a slower tempo. It's a slow builder with sampled shouts and cut up tribal chants over a rhythm that wants to be simultaneously steady and erratic with a tension between the heavy kicks and the odd partial drum roll. But there's a hell of a lot of depth here. It sits right on the line between sounds and rhythms being unexpected, but also being in exactly the right place as soon as you hear them. It's not an obvious anthem, but at the right time once people have attuned themselves to the music, this would be amazing.
Overall, this is a fantastic release with Recloose toning down those broken beat influences a little to fit in with Rush Hour's aesthetic, but still delivering a delightfully tricksy musical experience. And, despite the analogy, probably best listened to in the club, not the bedroom.
Published /
Wed / 26 Mar 2008
Words /
Jacob Wright
Tracklist /
A Maui's Lament
B Walk In Turquoise


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Posted by Editoress on 06/20/12
On Tuesday the Tour de l'Abitibi's organizing committee revealed the official program for the biggest sports event in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, which will take place from July 16th to July 22nd.
This year, the city of Rouyn-Noranda will be hosting the event, which explains why most of the departures and arrivals will take place in the city. However, some of the other start/finish locations will be shared by Amos, La Sarre, Timiskaming First Nation, Lorrainville, Malartic, and Mont-Brun. The Tour de l'Abitibi will also visit the region of Temiscamingue during the week, a first in fifteen years.
The president of the Tour de l'Abitibi, Mrs. Suzanne Fortin, took this opportunity to announce a major partnership with Desjardins, which joined the team as official presenter for the next three years to come. 'It is an honour for us to be able to count on Desjardins's contribution, a company that symbolizes progress and success throughout the province' proudly announced Mrs. Fortin. Also present at the press conference, Mr. Jean Claude Loranger, general director at Desjardins, who reminded everyone the importance for the company to support an event as grand as the Tour de l'Abitibi.
During the press conference, Mrs. Fortin announced an agreement with TVGO, a television channel that will broadcast the races live during the entire week of competition. This technological breakthrough will give the Tour de l'Abitibi more exposure and will give people from all over the world a chance to be part of the action.
Sanctioned by the UCI, the Tour de l'Abitibi is the only competition of its level in North America and the most important Junior competition in the world. Over the years, this sports' challenge has gained importance inside and outside of the province of Québec. Now over 160 athletes from all over the world participate in the Tour de l'Abitibi every year.
Press release courtesy Tour de l'Abitibi
|Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top


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I work in an organization that does extensive Java development. Our group is small with a short-lived project, agile development charter. We will leverage existing QA resources of other groups, and potentially contribute code to customers and partners.
The primary arguments against Scala development have been:
- QA will need Scala experience
- Customers will need Scala experience
My experience has been that Scala is generally easier to read than Java with minimal exposure to the language, and that the ability to use existing Java tools such as Junit would minimize negative impact to existing testing strategies.
I've estimated that development in Scala could be 25%+ faster than equivalent Java development depending on the problem. This is just a finger in the wind based on my personal experience. If anyone has evidence of efficiency increase, please share.
I would also like to compile a list of major benefits to using Scala over Java. Please share your favorites.
Thanks, John


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It's the weekend! And that means you don't have to leave your house for 48 precious hours. Just order delivery. Stay home and chill in your own pod. But what should you watch all weekend? Which DVDs will keep someone happy for an entire two-day span? Name your favorites!
Please include a clip, picture or DVD cover. And please mention the name, and why it's great enough to keep a whole weekend bopping. Thanks!
Top image: Justice League Unlimited. Really, the whole DC Animated Universe, starting with Batman: The Animated Series is a dream marathon.


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Christmas fans, rejoice! Mariah Carey announced on Twitter that her holiday hit, "All I Want for Christmas is You" will be turned into a film.
"I am so thrilled!" the singer said in a tweet.
The animated film is based on Carey's song, according to the movie's Twitter account. A teaser of the movie plays Carey's song and features her sitting on a couch with a dog, while she says "I don't want a lot for Christmas, there's just one thing I need."
The film is set to come out later this year.


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Stanton Williams has won its first ever Stirling Prize with the 'elegant' Sainsbury Laboratory in Cambridge
The 11,000 m² plant science research laboratory in the University of Cambridge's Botanic Garden, saw off bookies' favourite the Hepworth Gallery by David Chipperfield Architects and the punters' frontrunner - the Olympic Stadium by Populous.
Read what people are saying about the victory here.
Building Study
'A consistent language of high quality materials and fine details snapped together with satisfying precision,' says Felix Mara
The mother of the arts has been surprisingly generous to scientists and sometimes even to research scientists. Leaving aside the great museums and heroic engineering structures such as nuclear accelerators, Louis Kahn's Richards Laboratories and the Salk Institute are great, if not entirely future-proof, architecture. Surprising indeed, when you consider the matriarch's disdain for operational drivers and typical research facility briefs.
These demand highly serviced, flexible, pragmatic and temporary responses to unpredictable futures, invariably eliciting ad hoc warrens with cheap, proprietary FF&E. This was nearly the fate of the Sainsbury Laboratory, a plant science research facility for the University of Cambridge. Project backer David Sainsbury originally envisaged a 'hugely functional' building to be demolished after 30 years. But his wife Susie, emphasising the need for architectural quality on a site at the perimeter of the university's botanic gardens, suggested Stanton Williams Architects.
Her intention aligned with others' wish to use the facility's design and quality to promote communication between staff and attract the best scientists to probe the mysterious, beautiful world of plant development whose secrets may eventually address concerns with ecology and resources.
It is easier to appreciate these architectural qualities if you forget this is a research facility. Put aside thoughts about services strategies, fume cupboards and notions of an instant coffee and Pot Noodles lifestyle. Think instead of an art gallery in a landscape, blasted by daylight.
Consider the delight of exploring its spaces, revealing internal and external vistas. The idea of a promenade lies at the origin of the gallery building type and the notion of a thinking path devised by Charles Darwin, whose mentor John Stevens Henslow played a vital role in Cambridge University's Botanic Garden's development as a research facility and public amenity, inspired Stanton Williams' L-shaped internal street - a place where scientists could stroll and reflect, like Darwin at his Kent residence, while contemplating the gardens and courtyard and interacting.
The facility is also gallery-like in its components, with a gently sloping stepped ramp like a solid-state escalator, which avoids interrupting the path, and a consistent language of high-quality materials and fine details snapped together with satisfying precision: everything, even signage and typography, designed by Stanton Williams who also collaborated worked closely with Luke Hughes and Company on the design and procurement of the office furniture which is mostly bespoke.
You could use the analogy of dialects for this language's highlights: the external colonnade, lecture room ceiling, study boxes and lab skylights. As you approach through the entrance court's grid of gingko trees, the ranks of limestone columns with broad bays reconciling the facade corners, affirm your entrance to a temple of science. This hard urban edge relaxes into a softer face to the gardens, with a tricksy, monolithic, concrete cantilevering frame, darting this way and that, and a key-pattern elevation that uncoils, pulls back like a slingshot and shelters the terraces.
The route from the entrance passes the glass-walled lecture theatre, with oblique views of its textured, interwoven frame and undulating ceiling, like an inverted Hokusai ocean, then ramps past a bank of study boxes whose foxy, twisting configurations frame informal meeting places and views, forming a slinky, three-dimensional, flickering chequerboard facade to the central court. The labs are subtly raised above the level of the internal street to enjoy views outwards and across it without being intrusively overlooked by it and, without precedent, their ceilings part to admit skylight between voluptuous GRG soffits, while services rise from below.
Like the specially-commissioned artists' reliefs, etched plates and central court water features, so much more than the satisfaction of planners' requirements, the building services and FF&E are not just integrated with the architecture but built-in and hard-wired. A gallery designed around research laboratory processes with an ambitious social agenda: the mother of the arts and her backers have indeed been munificent.
Felix Mara is the editor of AJ Specification and technical editor of The Architects' Journal
Q + A: Gavin Henderson, director, Stanton Williams
What was the initial design concept?
We were encouraged to develop the project from the inside out. The concept is based around a continuous route that functions as a space for reflection and debate, and is intended to promote interaction between the scientists, and between them and the landscape.
Did the final scheme alter from the original concept?
We started the project with an extended period of dialogue with the client team to develop a full understanding of the scientists' priorities. Only then did we develop a design concept, which remained constant throughout. The architecture, however, went through many iterations.
What was the most challenging aspect of the project and why?
Despite the technical challenges of the building type, the real issues were human and social. The challenge lay in understanding the working culture of the scientists to rethink the priorities for laboratory design: a demanding but stimulating two-way learning process for both us and the client.
Stanton Williams' work has been called 'polite Modernism'. How would you describe the building?
We think of our projects in terms of the activities of users and their physical experience of the building, rather than stylistic labels. We are interested in rethinking how buildings work: an approach that is radical in the real meaning of the word and is recognised in the RIBA judges' description of the building as 'an exciting new typology'.
How does the design enable interaction and how will you measure its success?
The internal route is configured to provide opportunities for unplanned encounters, meetings and conversations within a variety of spaces, from the intimate to the formal. Already we see these conversations and meetings taking place, but real success will be measured in scientific outcomes.
What is the most important lesson you have taken from the project?
The project reinforced the lesson that successful projects result from collaboration with visionary clients. Close collaboration with the funder and client, and their input on quality and functionality, enabled us to deliver a building of exceptional quality tailored to the users' requirements.
Where does this building sit within the evolution of the practice?
Our current projects, including the Sainsbury Laboratory and Central St Martins at King's Cross, have allowed us to explore ideas at a larger scale than our earlier work. Recent smaller projects include the current Bronze exhibition at the Royal Academy. Regardless of scale or budget, what remains important is the creative renewal brought by new challenges and the cross-fertilisation of ideas.
AJ Buildings Library
See images, drawings and details of Sainsbury Laboratory by Stanton Williams
Stanton Williams wins 2012 Stirling Prize with Sainsbury Laboratory
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When I put together my family history book, I tried to add as many photos as possible. Having all the data was great, but photos added that special touch. Most of the time I import my own digital photos or old slides that I converted to digital images. At times, however, I've turned to the Internet to locate vintage postcards or old photos. (Keep in mind that anything you find online is probably copyrighted: Be sure to e-mail the Webmaster for permission to use images in any project you'll publish).
AltaVista.com and Google.com both offer Web-wide image searches. If you go to Google, the default search category is Web. To search for specific images, click the Images tab, then enter your search term.
For example, I searched for Shelbyville, Ind., the home of some of my Hendrickson family members. The search returned 137 images, among them a postcard that depicted an old covered bridge, and another of a historic hotel. My favorite was a photo of a pioneer settler's cabin, digitized by the state library.
The Google Image search engine is quick, and there's an excellent Frequently Asked Questions section about using the Image searcher. Looking for other vintage photos? Try these resources, and if you know of one I haven't listed, please let me know. I'd like to tell others about your suggested site.
• All The Web
• AltaVista
• Historic Photo Database, Oregon State Archives
• American Civil War Photo Database
• Photos From the Great Depression to World War II
• American Environmental Photos, 1891-1936


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Jones' draft decisions boggle minds
Recommended Video:
IRVING — Dallas Cowboys first-round pick Travis Frederick doesn't plan on keeping the wooly beard he sported while playing center at Wisconsin.
"It's about time to cut that off and start anew," he said.
Many Cowboys fans would like a fresh start themselves after their team traded down 13 spots to select Frederick with the 31st pick Thursday night. In making the 60th draft-day trade of the Jerry Jones era, Dallas passed over several more heralded players at positions of need to take an underclassman given a third-round grade by some analysts.
"If the rest of the draft goes like this, we will have a top-five pick next year and be looking for a new head coach," a fan identified as Donnie told Dallas radio station KRLD-FM. "It's very sad we have to put up with this mediocrity all the time."
Referring to Jones, a fan identified as Jay from Fort Worth said, "I wish he'd sell this team and get the hell out of Texas."
Jones is taking a beating because it was a reach to take Frederick in the first round. Dallas should have stayed put and selected from a group that included defensive tackles Sharrif Floyd and Sylvester Williams, safety Eric Reid and guard Justin Pugh and then grabbed Frederick in the third round.
But Jones believes the Cowboys gained value by also picking up another third-round pick (No. 74) in the trade with the 49ers and fulfilled their goal of fortifying the offensive line. Dallas placed first-round grades on 19 players, and Frederick was 22nd on its board, a higher grade than the one assigned to Pugh.
"Bottom line, we were very true to the grading of our scouts and very true to what we were trying to accomplish," Jones said.
Fair enough. But that doesn't mean the club accurately evaluated Frederick or put together the right board.
NFL Network analyst and former Ravens coach Brian Billick said on Twitter you can't go wrong taking a Wisconsin offensive lineman. But the Cowboys should know that's not true.
Frederick is the third center from Wisconsin drafted by Dallas in the past 11 years. The other two — Al Johnson taken in the second round in 2003, and Bill Nagy selected in the seventh round in 2011 — couldn't shake the injury bug and lasted only three and one seasons, respectively, in Dallas.
Then there are Frederick's measurables. He posted subpar efforts in the 40-yard dash and bench press at the combine and his school's pro day. But the biggest concern should be what scouts say about him.
Even DallasCowboys.com's Bryan Broaddus, a former NFL scout, gave him a negative review.
"Doesn't play with much pop," Broaddus wrote in a pull-no-punches report.
And it's not like the Cowboys are experts at picking offensive linemen. Remember Steve Scifres, Jacob Rogers, James Marten and the other busts selected on Jones' watch?
Frederick, who can also play guard, shrugged off the criticism.
"The film really shows how I play," he said in a conference call.
On the plus side, Frederick was the No. 1 center in the draft, and teammates at Wisconsin described him as a "brainiac" who rarely made a bad line call.
"I play with a high football IQ," said Frederick, who has a chemical engineering degree.
Time will tell whether Jones made the right decision. But should Frederick falter while, say, Pugh shines for the Giants, who took the Syracuse product 19th, or while Floyd stars for the Vikings, who took the Florida alum with the 23rd pick?
Well, if those scenarios play out, Jones might want to grow his own beard and try for once to keep a low profile.


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MANHATTAN — When you're in the business of branding, nothing's better to brand than an upscale product.
Chris Palumbo, brand strategist for upscale women-only fitness chain Elements, can tell you that. His background is in brand development at World Gym and Crunch.
One of the first things one must do when branding is set oneself apart from the rest so Palumbo is quick to point out that his facilities are not to be confused with other women-only circuit facilities.
"It's suppose to look like a women's fitness magazine," Palumbo said of Elements, which is headquartered in New York but has a licensing facility in Miami where all of the company-owned clubs are currently located. "We use a lot of the same verbiage that they use. 'Lose 5, 10, 15 pounds!' We use that in our marketing to get them excited about it. 'Cellulite busters!' The magazines have a way to get them excited. We are trying to add some more of the style and sizzle back into it like the magazines have."
A typical Elements club is about 2,000 square feet with a stylish boutique feel, a lifestyle consultation room for diet assessment and a circuit workout area. The equipment offers Smart card technology that helps the member remember previous workouts and that can be preprogrammed to tell her how to work out each day.
"The important part of our workouts is that they are structured," said Palumbo. "A lot of women didn't know what to do when they came into a club."
Elements also has 5,000-square-foot clubs with the same stylish boutique feel, but they offer 30-35 minute classes in stretching/relaxation/yoga and cardio workouts in addition to the circuit workout and the consultation rooms.
Originally, Palumbo had planned to acquire a large chain and do the Elements concept as a sub-brand of that. Instead, he decided to launch Elements a year and a half ago and develop some company-owned clubs and license out to other clubs. The company currently owns five clubs in Miami and is developing three more. In the first year, the club plans to have 20 company owned clubs and no more than 30 licensed clubs.
"What we'd like to see is someone with a 5,000-square-foot club and then 2,000-square-foot satellite clubs around that," said Palumbo.
He is also interested in club owners who may own larger facilities but who want to open smaller facilities around the larger one, using them as feeders for the larger club.
Palumbo wants all the licensed clubs to be outside of Miami and in a market in which corporate facilities are not planned.
While the clubs have an upscale feel, the membership pricing is moderate, going for $39 a month and no sign up fee at the corporate facilities. Licensees can set their own membership prices and charge a sign up fee if they want. This pricing and the look of the clubs have reached a wide age range of women from college aged to 65, said Palumbo.
Membership varies from about 500 to 700 at the smaller clubs and 3,000 to 4,000 at the larger clubs. Usage rates are about 30 percent, he said. Some of the members come in just to use the diet facilities and never use the workout facilities, he said.
The lifestyle consultations do not include sessions with a registered dietician. Instead, lifestyle consultants show the member a common sense approach to eating and ask the members to keep a food log. Members can also purchase a session at the grocery store with the lifestyle consultant, who shows the member how to pick out healthier food while shopping.


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Most of us wouldn't even think of travelling in a car without fastening our seatbelt, and for good reason. In a crash, at just 30 miles per hour (48.3 kilometers per hour), an unrestrained passenger is thrown forward with a force thirty to sixty times their body weight. What if that unrestrained passenger were a small child? The child would almost certainly be hurled about inside the vehicle, injuring themselves and other passengers. Worse still, they're likely to be thrown from the vehicle through one of the windows.
It's not even safe to hold a child on your lap while driving. In a crash, the child could be crushed between your body and part of the interior of the car. Even if you were held in by a seatbelt the child would be pulled from your arms by the force of the collision. You simply wouldn't be able to hold on to the child, no matter how hard you tried.
The bottom line is that the safest way for children to travel by car is in a child seat that is suitable for their weight and size, and is fitted correctly. In this article, we'll examine the technology at work and find out how to choose the best child seat.
Why do I need a child car seat?
When a vehicle collides with another object - a tree, a wall or another moving vehicle, for example - it is stopped suddenly by the impact. However, anything not held down inside the vehicle will keep moving, and that includes the passengers. This happens because of inertia. Inertia is an object's tendency to keep moving until something else works against this motion.
Imagine that you're coasting at a steady 50 miles per hour (80.5 kilometers per hour). Your speed and the car's speed are pretty much equal, so you feel like you and the car are moving as a single unit.
But if the car were to crash into a telephone pole, it would be obvious that your inertia and the car's were absolutely independent. The force of the pole would bring the car to an abrupt stop, but your speed would remain the same. Your face might hit the windshield, the steering wheel or the back of the seat in front of you. Your ribcage might hit the dashboard. You could even be thrown from the vehicle. Your internal organs, too, will keep moving. Your brain would be compressed towards the front of your skull, and your heart, lungs and kidneys could smash into each other or into bone. It sounds horrific, and that's why we wear seatbelts. Seatbelts are designed to hold you into the car and spread the destructive force of the impact over the more resilient parts of your body, increasing your chances of avoiding death or serious injury in a crash by up to 50 percent.
However, seatbelts are designed for adults. They go across your middle and over the shoulder, applying most of the stopping force to your ribcage and pelvis. For a seatbelt to do this effectively it must fit correctly, and on a small child the seatbelt is simply the wrong size to do the job. Instead, a specifically designed child car seat should be used.
There are three basic types of child car seats, each designed for different ages (and sizes) of children:
- Rear-facing infant seats and convertible seats
- Forward-facing child seats
- Booster seats and backless boosters
First, let's take a closer look at rear-facing infant seats and convertible seats.
Rear-facing Infant Seats and Convertible Seats
Rear-facing infant seats are generally suitable for babies up to 22lbs (about 10 kilograms), roughly from birth to 12 months. Although they can be fitted in the front if absolutely necessary, it is much safer to install all child car seats in the back seat of the car. This is especially important if there is a passenger side air bag in the front seat. Were anything to cause the air bag to deploy, the force of the deployment would be enough to cause serious injury to a child in the front seat. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) all children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat.
The rear-facing design of these seats provides greater protection for the baby's head, neck and spine than forward-facing seats, and it really is best to keep your baby in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible. Of course, once the child has exceeded the maximum weight of the baby seat, it no longer offers adequate protection. The same is true if your child's head has become higher than the top of the seat, when it will no longer be properly cushioned against an impact. At this point, replacement with a seat specifically designed for toddlers is necessary.
Some infant seats come with additional features that may increase safety or simply make using them more convenient. Some models have detachable bases that attach to the car, to remain in place until the seat is no longer necessary. The actual safety seat simply snaps onto the base and locks in place, allowing you to use the seat as a baby carrier. This way your baby can be carried in and out of the car without having to re-install the entire seat each time. In some models, the base may be adjusted for comfort, or to give more room for growing babies.
If you're finding it difficult to locate a seat to fit your child's height and weight then shop around - some manufacturers offer convertible seats with higher weight and height limits. A convertible seat is bigger and heavier than an infant-only seat, and can be used longer and for larger children. Once your child reaches the appropriate weight or height, a convertible seat can be turned around and, by following the manufacturer's instructions, used as a forward-facing child seat.
Infant and convertible seats are fastened into the car using the vehicle's seatbelt and/or LATCH system (discussed later in this article), and the child is secured to the seat with one of the following harness styles:
- The three-point harness has straps that cross over the shoulders and fasten to a buckle near the bottom of the seat.
- The five-point harness has five straps: two at the shoulders, two at the hips and one at the crotch.
- The overhead shield features a padded shield that swings down around the child, similar to the restraints often found on fairground rides.
- A t-shield consists of a padded t-shaped or triangular shield attached to shoulder straps. Rather than swinging over the child, this shield is attached to the front of the unit.
If you're thinking about purchasing a convertible seat rather than a dedicated rear-facing model, bear in mind that an overhead shield or t-shield may not be suitable for small children. In fact, the five-point harness is considered to be the best option because it is easily adjusted to perfectly fit your child.
Now, let's take a look at forward-facing child car seats.
Forward-facing Child Seats
As your child grows they will quickly exceed the manufacturer's recommendations for using a rear-facing infant seat. For children older than 1 year and heavier than around 20lbs (9.1 kilograms) a forward-facing seat becomes suitable. If you have purchased a convertible infant seat, then by following the manufacturer's instructions, you will be able to turn your infant seat around and continue to use it. Alternately, you may choose to purchase a dedicated forward-facing child seat.
A forward-facing seat is best used in the rear of the car, where the seatbelt or LATCH system is used to secure the seat itself and integral restraints are used to secure the child. Although it can be installed in the front of the vehicle if necessary (maybe you're driving a truck with no back seat), this must never be done when a passenger air bag is installed. Some more recent model trucks have on/off switches for the passenger side air bags. If you must travel with a child in the front seat of a truck, and you do have an on/off switch, turn the air bag off.
Booster Seats
When a child is too big for a harnessed car seat, it's time to use a booster seat. A child is to be considered "too big" if he/she exceeds the manufacturer's weight limit or the top of his/her head is higher than the top of the seat. Usually a child will need a booster seat between the ages of four and six.
We found out earlier that a seatbelt is designed to sit across the pelvis and ribcage, spreading the force of an impact over the strongest parts of our skeleton. A booster seat works by raising the child so that the adult seatbelt fits across these areas. Since the car's built-in seatbelt is being used, booster seats do not have an integral harness to hold the child in place; instead, the seatbelt holds in both the child and the seat. This means that it is extremely important to ensure the belt is correctly adjusted.
You want to make certain that:
- The belt is fastened securely and is as tight as possible.
- The belt should go over the pelvic region, not the stomach.
- The diagonal strap should rest over the shoulder, not the neck.
Usually by the age of six, or when a child can sit up straight on their own, without slumping or slouching, he/she can graduate from a full booster seat to a backless booster seat. A backless booster seat is simply a standard booster seat without the backrest. As with other car seats, you can find convertible booster seats that transition from a backrest-inclusive model to backless. It's important to remember that, when sitting in a backless booster seat, your child should sit up straight so that the diagonal strap of the seatbelt rests on your child's shoulder and not across his/her neck.
A child is not ready to use a regular seat belt until:
- He/she is tall enough so that his/her legs bend at the knees against the edge of the seat.
- He/she is mature enough to remain seated with his/her back flat on the seat, not slouching.
- The lap belt sits high on the thighs or low on the hips, not on the stomach.
- The shoulder belt crosses the shoulder and chest, avoiding the arms and the neck.
A child ready to use an adult seat belt without the aid of a booster seat will be around 4 feet, 9 inches (about 1 1/2 meters) tall and roughly eight years old. Please keep in mind that, because children do vary in size by age, some children could still need a booster seat at the age of 10 or 11.
Buying a Car Seat
What you'll be looking for when you go to buy a car seat will depend on several factors, including the age of your child and the type of vehicle you drive. There is no 'best' car seat; the best seat is one that is suitable for both the weight and size of your child. All current car seats on the market pass necessary safety standards. Select the one that best fits your child and your vehicle. Some models have different features; choose the one that helps you use it correctly every trip and don't be tempted to assume that a higher price means a higher level of safety.
Make sure that the harness fits your child snugly, that the car seat is well fitted and that your vehicle seatbelts are in good condition. If you can't try the car seat out before buying it, then make sure there is some sort of return policy. If the seat doesn't fit your child or vehicle, or you decide it's just not the right seat for your child, you'll want to be able to return it for a refund or store credit.
It is tempting to purchase second hand car seats. If you are considering a second-hand model, pay particular attention to the age of the seat. Try to avoid car seats over six years old or those which may have been in a crash, and look carefully for cracks or signs of wear on the seat and restraints. Whether you're purchasing something new or second-hand, pay attention to recall notices. For more information regarding child car seat recalls, check out the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site or the NHTSA Web site.
When looking for car seats you may see references to LATCH. This is a new system developed to make car seats easier to use safely. LATCH stands for "Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children" and eliminates the need to use seat belts to secure the child car seat to the vehicle. However, your vehicle must be fitted with the anchor system. Starting in the year 2002, most new vehicles began to be manufactured with the LATCH system installed. LATCH is not necessarily safer than using seat belts to secure a car seat, though it may make it easier to achieve a safe installation. Your child car seat retailer will be able to advise you on suitability for your vehicle. Many of today's child car seats can be used with both the LATCH system and regular seatbelts. So if you have two cars, one with the LATCH system and one without, but only have one car seat, you'll want to find a seat that works with both restraint mechanisms.
Buying-time Checklist
Infant Car Seat
Here's what to look for when buying an infant car seat:
- Use a rear-facing seat, rated for up to 20 pounds (9.07 kilograms). You will be able to find models that go to 22, 30 or 35 pounds (9.8, 13.6 or 15.9 kilograms), if necessary.
- A 5-point harness is preferred.
- A front adjuster to tighten the harness makes it easier to use.
- Newborn babies and infants should have a maximum recline of 45 degrees. Some car seats have built in angle indicators and adjusters to help get the correct recline.
- Most models with a handle will require that the handle be lowered when traveling.
- A rear-facing tether, impact foam and rebound bar may improve safety.
- Dedicated infant seats may fit your child better than convertible models.
- Some models may include a complete base system and stroller, while others may just have a convenient base. Select the system that is most suitable for you.
Convertible Car Seat
When looking for a convertible car seat, you'll want to keep the following in mind:
- A rear-facing seat is safer. Select a model with a 30 or 35 pound (13.6 or 15.9 kilogram) rear-facing weight limit and keep your child rear-facing as long as possible.
- Your seat should be converted to front facing when the top of your child's head reaches the top of the seat, or when the child reaches the 30 or 35 pound (13.6 or 15.9 kilogram) rear-facing limit.
- Try to find a model with a 5-point harness and a front harness adjuster.
- Some models feature tethers that can be used rear-facing and have impact foam for added safety. And, some models may also have built-in locking clips.
Booster Seats
When buying a booster seat, consider this:
- A booster seat is best used after your child reaches 40 pounds (18.1 kilograms), and is used with a lap and shoulder belt.
- Use the booster seat until the manufacturer's weight limit is met or until your child can wear a seatbelt properly.
- Use a high backed model if your vehicle has low seat backs with no head rests. A backless model is fine if your vehicle has headrests.
- Many booster seats have adjustable head supports and extra padding for comfort.
Getting It Right
We've seen that children are safer in the back of the car and should be placed in an appropriate car seat or booster until they can be seated properly using the seat belt. We also know that for a car seat to be effective it has to be fitted correctly.
Sadly, many people buy and install their car seats but fail to ensure it is securely fastened and properly installed. You should always use the correct harness slots and make sure they are snug; all seats are different but the instructions will offer guidance on the correct route for the seat belt. The seat should be tightly secured - pulling on it as a check before each journey is a good habit to get into. The seat should not move easily from side to side or towards the front of the car. Your seatbelt might have a locking system built in, but if not you'll need to invest in one.
When your child is in the seat, it is important to have the harness chest clip in the right place - the child's mid-chest or at armpit level. Straight harnesses with the straps positioned at or slightly above the child's shoulders are a must. If your child needs a blanket or another covering, place it over the top of the harness rather than trying to stretch the straps of the harness over the covering.
Of course, all seats come with a full set of instructions and it's well worth double-checking to make sure you've installed your car seat as safely as possible. Remember, following the instructions is vital to ensuring the safety of your child.
For more information on child car seats and related topics, check out the links on the next page.


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Re: Re: LeastSquares using LinearProgramming?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg89085] Re: [mg89032] Re: [mg88986] LeastSquares using LinearProgramming?
- From: "Gregory Duncan" <gmduncan at gmail.com>
- Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 03:23:07 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <email@example.com>
- Reply-to: gmduncan at econ.berkeley.edu
Beyond that, the L1 norm is preferred to L2 for statistical problems because of resistance to outliers. If one wants to do a restricted least squares, one can do a quadratic program, but one can also reparameterize x =Exp[y] and perform a non-constrained optimization. One can also use a penalty function and do an unconstrained regression. Alternatively one can do k^2 regressions, starting with no restrictions, then setting each coefficient equal to zero and regressing on the rest, then setting each pair of coefficients to zero and regressing on the rest, etc until n regressions on each variable, keeping for each regression the sum of squared residuals(SSR), then pick the regression with the smallest SSR. Greg Duncan Dept Economics U California, Berkeley On Sat, May 24, 2008 at 12:53 AM, Daniel Lichtblau <danl at wolfram.com> wrote: > Gareth Russell wrote: > > Hi, > > > > Is it possible to specify a least-squares minimization through the > > LinearProgramming function? In other words, exactly the same as > > LeastSquares, with the extra constraint that all x>=0? > > > > Presumably it comes down to specifying the input c correctly in the > > LinearProgramming function. But I can't see how to do that such that > > what is being minimized is the standard least-squares function > > ||m.x-b||^2 > > > > Thanks, > > > > Gareth > > That objective function would be quadratic, so no, LinearProgramming > will not like that. > > You could instead try > > FindMinimum[{objective,constraints}, vars, > Method->"QuadraticProgramming"] > > This method is, alas, not documented, and I'd imagine it could disappear > (which would be a shame, because it works really well, bordering on > magic, for some problems). A documented alternative that might work well > is "InteriorPoint";, as it also can handle e.g. nonnegativity constraints. > > If you can settle for an L_1 norm (so it's no longer least squares), you > can minimize a new variable abs, with new constraints -abs<=m.x-b<=abs. > > Daniel Lichtblau > Wolfram Research > >
- References:
- LeastSquares using LinearProgramming?
- From: Gareth Russell <firstname.lastname@example.com>
- LeastSquares using LinearProgramming?


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Ask a Sommelier: The Best Holiday Gifts for Wine Lovers
We ask top somms across the country for their wine-related advice.
Sure, there are terrible cheesy gifts out there for golfers and gardeners and barbecue fanatics, but it seems like wine lovers get the worst of the bunch. How many guitar-shaped wine racks does one person need? How many ties that say 'NAPA ROCKS' will one sommelier wear? None. The answer is none.
But what should you buy your favorite wine lover this holiday season? We asked sommeliers from around the country for their advice.
Here's what they had to say.
"I have received all sorts of wine paraphernalia over the years from wine glass charms to a pink baseball cap with "Wine Diva" bedazzled on it. Please don't do this to someone you love! Buy them a bottle of your favorite wine, or go to a wine store and ask for a recommendation. You cannot go wrong with Champagne or even a gift certificate to a local wine savvy restaurant, just please no candles in the scents of 'Grapevine and Oak' or 'Napa Valley Sun.'"—Chris Baggetta (Quince)
"If you have a wine geek in your life, look no further than Jancis Robison's tome Wine Grapes. It's packed with 1280 pages of the latest genetic research into the history and origins of nearly every known variety. If someone in your life has ever pondered whether Gruner Veltliner and Roter Veltliner are truly related or just share a name, there's no better place to turn. Or maybe they want to trace the history of Zinfandel through Puglia, Italy and to its roots in Czech Republic. Either way, expect dinnertime wine discourses to reach a whole new level."—Steve Bowman (Fairsted Kitchen)
"My favorite wine tool to give right now is the Ah-So, a German-made wine opener used for removing fragile corks."—Pedro Goncalves (Oceana)
"The two hottest items out in the market right now (I want one for myself) are a book called The Essential Scratch N' Sniff Guide To Becoming A Wine Expert by Richard Betts, MS. It's a genius concept that make it easy and fun to learn about wine. The other is a wine preservation system called Coravin. It's a gadget that seems to come straight out of a James Bond movie. The way it works is you put the Coravin in place as you would with a corkscrew and punch a thin needle through the cork, the bottle is pressurized with argon gas and the wine flows through the needle. Once you finish pouring you pull out the needle and the cork reseals itself. The remaining wine will last for months."—Bank Atcharawan (Chada Thai & Wine)
"A subscription to a wine magazine is always great. In the fun side, wine charms can be useful for someone who entertains a lot—something handmade from Etsy maybe."—Swati Bose (Flight Wine Bar)
"I love to get new wine books every year. There are so many great wine books out there these days. For example: The New California Wine by Jon Bonne. A great new book about the changing wine scene in California. Focuses on young new producers who are making wines in a new and exciting way. Also: Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch. One of my favorite importers talks about his experiences in France. He sources some of the best wines from small producers who are making some very unique wines."—Joshua Pauley (BlackSalt)
"As far as tools, I personally don't care for the most prestigious wine key or any gadgets like the aerator whatever it's called that sprays the wine to oxygenate it. But a very nice crystal decanter is a great idea. It looks great in the living room and is really useful. If you can afford it, the wine cave or wine fridge is brilliant. Different sizes are available. In general, I think a gift certificate in a restaurant can be nice. If you're a wine lover, you're also a food lover so the restaurant is the best place to have fun. Of course, pick a place where the wine list is interesting."—Edouard Bourgeois (Cafe Boulud)
"A gift certificate to buy wine books on Amazon. A year subscription to the Guild of Sommeliers website. For something more personal, if you know their taste, I would check on Wine Commune, where I can normally find rare bottles at good pricing.—Brent Kroll (Iron Gate)
"When it comes to gifts for the wine lovers in the family, you cannot go wrong with books that focus on regional specifics, such as Vino Italiano by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch or Sherry, Manzanilla, and Montilla by Peter Liem and Jesus Barquin. The more we learn about wine in general, the more we realize there is endless variety out there."—Kristen Capella (TBD)
"I think the best gifts for wine lovers are ones that they will use over and over. A nice decanter for them to use at home or Champagne saber are great to show off to their friends, have a great story, and are memorable. Every time they have guests over they will use the saber you gave them, and tell the story of who gave it to them."—Jeff Kellogg (Maialino)
"Bottles. Always bottles. Once you buy a book, or tools, etc, you have it forever. But wine only lasts until you drink it, and then...you need another! Other ideas that could be very fun are small side projects from some of the more famous producers. For example, Arianna Occhipinti in Sicily makes olive oil. Araujo in Napa Valley makes soap. Jean-Marc Roulot in Meursault makes apricot liqueur and pear brandy."—Joe Camper (DB Bistro Moderne)
"A surefire gift for a wine lover is a framed map. Find a beautiful detailed wine map of a region you know they love and frame it. I don't know of a single wine lover that doesn't love a really nice map. It's a reminder of the terroir, the tie in to from bottle to place."—Jeremy Dennis (Dio Deka)
"My new favorite gift to give my wine-loving friends is a three-bottle gift box from The Bounty Hunter. The Bounty Hunter has been finding incredible wines for years, and has a unique selection of wines and great customer service. I would avoid getting a wine lover any new wine glasses. Most wine lovers are very particular about the glass they use, and likely have a TON of glasses at home already.—Angela Roman Aspito (The Signature Room at the 95th)
"For someone who is seriously into wine, I think a temperature-controlled fridge is essential—otherwise, how can you safely store your goodies? You can get a reasonably-priced 12-bottle fridge at a whole host of places these days (I got my first one at Target!), and for those in tiny apartments, there are compact models made to fit into tight spaces. If the wine lover in question is into the academic side of wine as well, Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson just released the 7th Edition of the World Atlas of Wine; it is one of the most essential texts for any serious student."—Mia Van de Water (North End Grill)
"Wine lovers really want wine. But more so, I think they'd love a membership in a wine club—the gift that gives all year round! Lots of people look to wineries for this, but don't overlook retailers. With a specialty retailer the wine lover can receive a range of wines, in a range of prices, from a range of places. Monthly, quarterly, twice-annually. CorksCru offers 6 different clubs to suit a range of budgets and desires."—Dan Beekley (Remedy Wine Bar)
"Glass decanters. The simple kind; nothing sideways and nothing with metal attached to it. Beautiful glassware from the likes of Riedel and Schott Zwiesel is your best bet. To find it, head to high-end design stores or museum stores. I love Cooper Hewitt or the MOMA. As a rule of thumb, don't buy plastic things. Stick with glass for drinking and decanting gifts."—Liz Vilardi (Belly, Central Bottle, The Blue Room)
What's on your holiday wishlist? Tell us on Twitter or Facebook.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Category: Dailies
Hey Joe
Yes, I'm talking to you, Joe Blanton.
I was kind of hoping that in your second start of the season, against the Nationals, you might bounce back a bit from that less than stellar game against the Mets last week.
Silly me.
Instead, you gave up 5 earned runs in 6 innings, and after two starts, your ERA is an unattractive 10.45. Yes, I know it's still early in the season, so there's plenty of time to turn it around. I suggest you start rectifying this situation during your next start, on Sunday afternoon.
I'll be watching.
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In what is becoming a curious trend, the Phillies dropped the first game of their series against Washington, and then came back to win the next two.
This time, it was Joe Blanton who was not sharp in game one (see above). Additionally, he gave up a home run to ex-Phillie Jayson Werth, resulting in my breakfast the next morning being disturbed by the sight of Werth on the front page of the newspaper. Echh.
Roy Halladay took the mound for game two, and had the Nationals shut out through eight innings (yay!). He flirted with disaster in the ninth, giving up two runs, but managed to escape intact for the complete game victory, as the Phils prevailed 3-2.
Also in this game, Washington starter John Lannan faced Ryan Howard with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, and proceeded to hit Howard on the wrist, driving in a run. Lannan, if you recall, was the pitcher who hit Chase Utley a few years ago, giving him a broken hand.
Yo, John Lannan, stop hitting my Phillies!
For his career, Lannan has faced the Phillies 12 times, going 0-9 with a 5.80 ERA. The Nationals have lost 11 of those 12 games. So bring him on some more! Just let me wrap the players in bubble wrap first. 🙂
Not to be outdone, Cliff Lee finished off a complete game of his own the next night, as the Phils won 4-0.
I think I could get used to this whole "Four Aces" thing. 🙂
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I often find myself wondering about some of the photos MLB chooses to use in the slideshows for each game. For example, why use this one?
The caption states that "The Nationals' Jayson Werth gestures to teammates on the field during the ninth inning."
Gesturing about what? Trying to cue the musical accompaniment for a dramatic ninth inning rally? The size of the proverbial "one that got away"? Or maybe the size of his wallet now that the Nationals have grossly overpaid for his services?
I'm sure you readers can come up with something good! Leave a comment if you have an inspired caption to share.
Two Out of Three (x 2) Ain't Bad
No, taking two out of three from both the Mets and the Braves ain't bad at all; in fact, I'd say it's very good.
(and darn it, now there's another song stuck in my head! Last week, it was AC/DC, now it's Meat Loaf)
In both series, the Phillies dropped the first game when one of the four aces wasn't very ace-like. Cole Hamels stunk it up against the Mets last Tuesday (Note to Cole: Giving up two hits to the opposing pitcher in the same inning is never a good idea) as the Phillies lost 7-1. Cliff Lee obviously did not have his best stuff in a 6-3 loss to the Braves.
Cole was able to redeem himself yesterday, going seven strong innings against the Braves as the Phillies won, 3-0.
In the second game against the Mets, Joe Blanton very nearly managed to lose the game after blowing a seven-run lead (Note to Joe: Please don't do that again. Ever.). Joe was saved from a loss by four scoreless innings from the bullpen, and some timely hitting from the offense for a 10-7 win.
Both series also featured the stress-relieving blowout, courtesy of the Roys. Well, stress-relieving for me, not fans of the opposition. Roy Halladay pitched the Phils to a 11-0 rout of the Mets, and Roy Oswalt got his first-ever regular season win over Atlanta in a 10-2 butt-whuppin'.
Let's hope the Phils can maintain that momentum, as they head to Washington following today's off-day.
Funny Photo of the Week
Brad Emaus looks like he's trying to do a little dance last Thursday (Note to Brad: don't try out for Riverdance anytime soon).
Don't know if he made a little love and got down that night.
Aack! More 70's music is getting stuck in my head! Must…make it…stop!
He's Got Big Balls
Well, a big ball.
Saw this photo about a week or so ago, and for the rest of the day had that old 70's-era AC/DC song stuck in my head. Did you know that none of their songs are available for purchase on iTunes? Annoying but true. They apparently believe that their albums are works of art meant to be heard in their entirety, and that if they allowed them to be sold on iTunes, people would pick and choose just the songs they wanted. Well, duh! Of course we would! There are some artists I could understand that argument from, but AC/DC is not one of them.
But back to the ball.
I didn't even know Rawlings made them this big. I suppose the larger size does confer certain benefits – more room for autographs, easier to sign a really long name like Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
But how do you display it? It won't fit in those little plastic cubes. And it's not exactly the handiest thing to carry around with you – it would be a bit difficult to stow that baby in your pocket.
After yesterday's off day, the Phils host the Mets tonight, so tomorrow I should (hopefully) have something more substantive to ramble about. 🙂
Opening Weekend – Home Sweep Home
OK, so I borrowed that little cliche from the Philadelphia Inquirer, who informed us this morning that the Phils' sweep of the Astros marked the first time since 1970 that the team has begun a season with three home wins.
What a great way to start off a highly anticipated season of Phillies baseball!
Last Friday, though, I was feeling more apprehension than anticipation. First, it was April Fool's Day, which just doesn't strike me as a good day to begin the baseball season. Second, upon awakening that morning, I was greeted not with warmth and sunshine, but with the sight of snowflakes falling outside. Not just any snowflakes – giant, mutant snowflakes that began sticking to things. Third, the Phillies were facing the Astros, who are – get this! – the only NL team with a winning record against the Phils since 2004, and owners of a gaudy 16-7 record at Citizens Bank Park during that span (!). OK, so now it's 16-10, but still…
But we had Roy Halladay on the mound, while they countered with Brett Myers. This seemed like a good thing. Roy is the reigning NL Cy Young winner, and Brett Myers is, well, Brett Myers.
Halladay breezed through the first eight Astros batters, but then Brett Myers – Brett Myers! – singled for the first Astros hit of the game. Myers would get another hit in the fifth, so of the five hits Halladay surrendered, two of them were to the opposing pitcher.
As if that weren't painful enough for me to stomach, Myers was the one who looked more ace-like, needing only 85 pitches though 7 innings, while Halladay threw 101 in 6. Still, Halladay had given up only one run.
Then the bullpen got into the game, and promptly gave up three more runs. With the Astros up 4-0 in the seventh, some of those watching at home may have given in to the urge to turn off the TV, thus saving themselves from further distress.
O ye of little faith.
Make that me. Yes, it pains me to admit that I turned it off. I couldn't bear to watch anymore! I later found out that the Phillies cut the lead in half in the bottom of the seventh, and then staged a ninth inning comeback with a barrage of singles to end up winning 5-4.
Thankfully, the next two games of the series were much less stressful to watch. 🙂 Cliff Lee struck out 11 as the Phils won, 9-4; Roy Oswalt was victorious over his old team in a 7-3 win for the Phils.
Today is an off day, and tomorrow the Mets come to town, facing fourth ace Cole Hamels to start off a three-game set. C'mon, Cole, let's keep that momentum going!!
Be Gone, Damn Bug!
The Phillies closed out their Grapefruit League play today with a 7-6 win over the Astros, and will now head north to prepare for Friday's season opener against those same Astros. In addition to leaving behind sun and warmth (both of which seem to be in short supply around these parts), let's hope they also leave behind the proverbial injury bug.
The Phils' spring clubhouse seems to have suffered a heavy infestation – Domonic Brown is out following surgery on a broken bone in his hand; Chase Utley was sidelined the entire spring with a creaky knee, with no timetable for his return to action; and Brad Lidge is likely to go on the DL with pain in his shoulder.
Additionally, Jose Contreras missed a couple days with a scratched cornea, Placido Polanco hyperextended his elbow, and Shane Victorino and Roy Oswalt luckily avoided serious injury after running into Raul Ibanez, and being hit in the back of the neck with a line drive, respectively.
Enough already! Be gone, damn bug!
But "bug" is a vague word. Is the injury bug an insect-bug?
Or a bacteria-bug?
Do we need to call in an exterminator?
Or a vaccinator?
At the moment, I don't care which it is, I just want this team healthy! Right now!
Everybody Wants One
I want one too.
I'll ignore the blatant typo ("choocing"? doesn't anyone proofread before they send this stuff out en masse to untold numbers of email subscribers?). I'll also ignore the fact that the artist's rendering doesn't really look like an owl – maybe more like a feathered werewolf-Ruiz.
Speaking of feathers, here is how it is described in the email I received earlier today:
Ruiz, who has become a staple in the Phillies lineup, and one of the most popular players over the years, will look like an owl and will "Chooch" at the push of a button. The "Chooching Owl" will feature the face of Carlos Ruiz on an owl, complete with feathers, and the number 51 on its back. Normally, owls "Hoot", but perhaps the best part of the giveaway is the fact that the "Chooching Owl" will say the word "Chooch" – Ruiz's familiar nickname.
It's goofy. It's quirky. It's kind of strange-looking. I must have it!
Note that this giveaway is not until August 2, and here they are, over 4 months in advance, already enticing us to buy tickets.
The Reading Phillies (or as they like to refer to themselves, the R-Phils) tempted me like this last year, with the Ryan Howard Garden Gnome. You may recall that my gnome-quest turned into a bit of a fiasco (for me, not the R-Phils).
[If you don't feel like clicking on the link to read about that particular experience, suffice it to say that my family left gnomeless that night.]
Will the Chooching Owl be this year's version of the Ryan Howard Garden Gnome? Check back in August, and I'll let you know how we fared.
The Pains of Being Kyle Kendrick
First came the elaborate prank in Spring Training of 2008, when Kyle was fooled into believing that he'd been traded to a team in Japan.
Then came trips to the minors, trips to the bullpen, and being left off the postseason roster.
Most recently, he was the odd man out when the Phils signed Cliff Lee, giving them six starters to fill five rotation spots.
Now comes this indignity:
Really, Inquirer, you couldn't find a picture of Kendrick that didn't have the ball over his face?
Trying To Remain Calm / Not Who You Think It Is, Part 3
Just a couple of posts ago, at the start of Spring Training, I was, well, calm about the state of the Phillies. Of course, then I was blissfully ignorant of events that would transpire, and conspire to make me potentially lose my calm.
Then, Chase Utley was taking it easy because of some vague reports of "soreness". Now, Utley has been diagnosed with patellar tendinitis in his right knee, has received a cortisone shot in said knee, and has yet to appear in a Spring Training game.
Then, Domonic Brown was simply looking for his first hit of Spring Training. Now, although Brown finally got a hit over the past weekend, he broke a bone in his right hand in the process, something called the hook of the hamate bone.
A tiny bone, to be sure. Surgery was performed this morning to remove the bone, and the expected recovery time is 4-6 weeks.
[OK, if this bone can be totally removed, what possible purpose does it serve? Why do we have it? Must be about as useful as an appendix, tonsils, and wisdom teeth.]
I don't even want to get into the fact that yesterday, the offense appeared to still be trying to awaken from winter hibernation, and Roy Oswalt allowed two home runs in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Yes, I know, it's still early, sometimes pitchers are "working on things" and "getting their work in", and hitters are still trying to get their timing down and working out the kinks, yada, yada. So I will take a deep breath, and try to remain calm.
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For the final installment (for now) of "Not Who You Think It Is", did you know that the Phillies have had not one, but two legends of rock on their roster? Well, not really, just in name only.
Phil Collins the rock star rose to fame first as the drummer for Genesis, followed by a very successful solo career. But being British, he likely never played baseball.
Phil Collins the ballplayer pitched for the Phillies from 1929-1935. The Phils of this span were mediocre at best, just scraping above .500 once (78-76 in 1932), and really stinky at their worst (52-102 in 1930). Collins himself was 72-79 with a 4.67 ERA during his stint with the Phils.
Jim Morrison the rock star was the frontman for The Doors from their inception in 1965, through 1971, when he died of a supposed drug overdose in Paris. There are some who believe that Morrison never actually died, and that he faked his death.
Jim Morrison the ballplayer debuted with the Phillies in 1977, and during his two seasons in Philadelphia compiled a .174 batting average while appearing in 58 games. In 1979, he went to the White Sox as the "player to be named later" in a deal that brought the Phillies Jack Kucek.
Jim Morrison the ballplayer was last spotted managing the Charlotte Stone Crabs, a minor-league affiliate of the Rays.
Jim Morrison the rock star was last spotted with Elvis, buying Slurpees at a 7-Eleven in rural Georgia.
Not Who You Think It Is, Part 2
Programming Note: I tried to post this blog entry last night, but was prevented from doing so by "technical difficulties" (i.e., MLBlogs' platform was being ornery, and wouldn't let me upload any images. I can't blog without visual aids!)
In my first installment of "Not Who You Think It Is", I apparently jumped the gun a bit when I mentioned there were no Phillies injuries to worry about (yet). Note I did use that disclaimer "yet". Because now it appears that Chase Utley has been hampered so far this spring by what has been diagnosed as patellar tendinitis.
Patellar tendinitis is also known as "jumper's knee", which begs the question as to what Chase has been doing this offseason, hmm? Turns out it can be caused by many activities that don't involve jumping, so I guess we can stop wondering what Chase was spending all his time jumping over, or on.
So to distract my thoughts from Chase's knee, let's get on with the next entry in the possible mistaken identity sweepstakes, Buster Brown.
If you're of a certain generation, the first thought that pops into your head when you hear the name "Buster Brown" is probably a pair of shoes you had (or wish you had) as a child.
[an aside: is this not the creepiest looking dog in advertising history? How on earth did they plan to appeal to children with a psycho dog that looks like it's about to shred you apart with a huge mouthful of piranha teeth??]
But just like Ethan Allen, there was no Buster Brown heading up Buster Brown shoes. There was, though, a George Brown, who started the Brown Shoe Company in 1878. In 1904, the Brown Shoe Company purchased the rights to the name Buster Brown, which was a popular comic strip that had debuted in 1902.
Blues fans may remember a different Buster Brown, who cracked the pop Top 40 and hit #1 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1960 with his song "Fannie Mae", presumably not about affordable housing.
Finally, we have Buster Brown the baseball player. A major league pitcher from 1905 to 1913, he appeared in 31 games for the Phillies from 1907 to 1909, compiling a 9-6 record with a 2.56 ERA.
His career totals would be less than stellar at 51-103, which would probably be why we think of shoes first, and not him.
Next time, rock icons that played for the Phillies?
Not Who You Think It Is
It's been almost two weeks since my last entry, and there just really hasn't been much going on to motivate me to blog. This is a good thing, I suppose, because it means there isn't any controversy in the Phils' camp at the moment, and no injuries to worry about (yet).
So today I was idly browsing through a list of the all-time Phillies roster, and was struck by some of the names that made me do a double-take, thinking to myself "Huh, I didn't know he was a Phillie".
And that's because they weren't, at least not the person I first thought of.
Take, for example, Ethan Allen.
Most of us will probably think of the furniture company. Ethan Allen the furniture company was not founded by anyone named Ethan Allen, though. It was started by two New Yorkers who bought an old furniture factory in Vermont, and named it after an actual Ethan Allen.
That would be Ethan Allen, the Revolutionary War hero, who was from Vermont, and led the Green Mountain Boys in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga.
Ethan Allen the baseball player was not from Vermont, but rather hailed from Ohio. This Ethan Allen was an outfielder for six different major league teams during his 13-year big-league career, including a stint with the Phillies from 1934-36.
Over the course of his Phillies career, he batted .316, and led the league in doubles with 42 in 1934. His time as a Phillie came to an end in 1936, when he was part of a trade with the Cubs that brought future Hall-of-Famer Chuck Klein to the Phillies.
Next up: Buster Brown – shoe maven, bluesman, or ballplayer?


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Due to weather conditions, Republican caucuses in Washington County and part of Hancock County were not held on February 11, 2012.
Despite this, the GOP powers-that-be went ahead, announced the caucus results, and said these were final results, not to be amended.
As Eric Russell reported, at least one party leader was pleased with the outcome.
"It's good news. I'm hopeful this ends Romney's little slide," Maine House Speaker Robert Nutting said shortly after the announcement. "Romney is the best candidate to beat President Obama in the fall."
Regarding Mitt Romney's three-point lead over Ron Paul,
Peter Cianchette, the Maine chairman for the Romney campaign and a former candidate for governor, said his candidate received broad support across the state despite a strong push by Paul. "This was clearly a win and I think Maine showed him tremendous support."
Is it just me, or does this seem sort of odd, particularly since last year, the Maine Republican party passed and defended a change in Maine's voting procedures (which was then rejected by voters by a 60-40 margin), that they argued was necessary to protect the integrity of the ballot? (Then again, the Republican approach to balloting involved making it harder to vote. But I digress.)
UPDATE, with comments from Washington County:
Washington County GOP Chairman Chris Gardner objected, saying he had known his county's tally wouldn't be included in Saturday's announcement but didn't realize it wouldn't be counted at all. He said he had called state party leaders and "expressed my complete and utter dismay."
Gardner, a Romney supporter, said the snowstorm had left him no choice but to postpone the caucuses.
"Refusal to reconsider under those circumstances would be extremely disheartening," he told The Associated Press. "I trust that the party will make the right decision here."
He added, "We will proceed next Saturday. We'll have our vote and we are going to submit it to the state party for them to reconsider."
Many Paul supporters were angry.
"There's a very good chance that you'll find that Washington County goes for Ron Paul," said Mark Willis, a county coordinator for the Paul campaign.
His wife, Violet, added, "We don't want to be disenfranchised."