text:
Monday, June 10, 2013

Deanna and Ozymandias

Welcome to the annual blog post. J It’s slowly turning out that way, isn’t it?

We’ve lost several celebrities and stars so far this year, notably Esther Williams, Annette Funicello and George Beverly Shea, who at age 107 now holds the record for longest-lived celebrity that I know about. (The record was previously shared by Bob Hope and George Burns, who each died at 100.) A lesser-known Christian music artist named Buryl Red passed away earlier this year as well. As the leader of the Centurymen singing group, Red helped create some of their classic recordings, including the “People to People” album, which is one of my favorites. It’s around the top of my “preserve this one no matter what” list. Not to mention my “Re-release this one!” list.

But we also lost one of the most interesting celebrities of the past century – her career is a good example of how unusual fame can be. Deanna Durbin was one of the most popular movie and singing stars of her time. Like her contemporary Judy Garland, she enjoyed incredible success and is credited with helping “save” Universal Studios back in the day. She “had it all” – beauty, great talent and a successful career. But as the years went by, realizing that she wanted a different life, she eventually left Hollywood and lived out the rest of her days overseas with her family.

And when she passed away this year – hardly anyone knew who she was. She isn’t the “household name” that she used to be. Her music is rarely played on the radio, musical tastes having shifted so far downhill in many ways. (When was the last time you heard an operatic voice such as hers?) Her movies are rarely shown; even TCM has not yet done a movie tribute day for her. (Yes, I know they don’t own the rights to her films, but you see my point). I myself probably wouldn’t have heard of her had I not read about her in a movie star book that my family owned.

What does it say about society when someone as successful as Deanna was can pass away with (relatively speaking) few people taking notice? I know it was a long time ago, but one might think that such great success would be remembered. It reminds one of the famous poem “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley – which sadly is something else many don’t know about! It’s definitely worth reading, so here it is:

I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Fame is fading. I think Deanna knew that, and decided that she needed to do what was most important to her rather than try to keep her fame alive forever – as so many of us vainly try to do.
Cemented in history: Read about Deanna’s penny at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood here:

FAME ISN’T EVERYTHING, PART TWO: A few weeks ago I came upon this very interesting article about another favorite female celebrity (sigh, I can see a pattern forming here) of mine – Ally Sheedy. Please read the article, then come back and we’ll talk about it.

There are many good parts, but my favorite has to be this excerpt from an article by Josh Rottenberg from “Us” magazine in 1998.

As a turning point, Sheedy recalls a bike ride (with Demi Moore) in Sycamore Canyon, north of Malibu, in the spring of 1986. Moore had recently visited [Sean] Penn and Madonna, who had married the previous summer, at their home in Malibu. "Demi was talking about Madonna, and she said, 'That's what I want. I want that,"' says Sheedy "I said, `What do you mean? You want all that money?' Demi said, 'It's not just the money It's the power. She has power, and I want power.' It was an illuminating moment for me. I thought I knew her, and I realized I didn't at all. [...]

"The quickest route to power for an actress in Hollywood is to hook yourself up with someone who can put you in a good position and make yourself into a sex object," she says bitterly. The fact that many hold up Moore, like Madonna, as a feminist icon for the way she has pursued and consolidated her power seems to make little difference to Sheedy.

Also, please note, “a very fun punk club that is no more.” J

IN A RUT: Just what you wanted, yet another post about an actress that I like. This post is being written on Paulette Goddard’s birthday, and to celebrate, let’s take a look back at my blog post about “Modern Times”, one of my favorite films:

I’m afraid there won’t be too many more “TCM highlights” posts because (for the moment) I can’t watch TCM. Life has taken me to a new town with some new friends. But I will keep an eye on the schedule just in case something really cool comes on. I think “Mad Monster Party” will be on at one point this month. You don’t want to miss that one.

FORCE TO COME: Speaking of things you don’t want to miss, the Star Wars fan world (I can’t get off of their mailing list) is abuzz with the news of a new trilogy of movies being produced now and set to be released starting in 2015. I “sort of” predicted it. I always felt that the Star Wars franchise was so powerful and lucrative that the lure of money would eventually lead to more films, even without creator George Lucas’ consent. Thankfully, George is still with us and will therefore have a small role in the next few films to be produced. But the “lucrative” part was certainly accurate, with Lucas selling Lucasfilm to the Disney company for more than 4 billion dollars. Frankly, George could have probably held out for more! But like certain people mentioned above, George knows that there are more important things in life than fame and money. I understand that after many years, he is settling down with a new wife.

I admire the Disney company in many ways, but frankly I wish they would not feel the need to buy anything and everything that they think will make money. It makes Disney look greedy, and in a way it “cheapens” the product. There’s room for a lot of talented people in the world, and Disney shouldn’t feel threatened by that.

I look forward to the new Star Wars films, but with an adult’s heart. I only hope they’re pretty good & can do justice to the other two trilogies. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing the old cast again, if only briefly. I’m trying very hard not to mention Carrie (whoops).

Read more of my thoughts on Star Wars here:

BY THE BOOK: Aside from all the moving, my current writing project is taking away just about all of my free blogging time. I’m proud of what I have so far & am actually looking forward to sharing it at some point, but a lot more work needs to be done. Like most beginning authors, I thought the first draft was perfect. But now it has to be written more “for the reader” than just for myself. In these days of Facebook, I think many “personal blogs” like this are kept up for old time’s sake. That’s perfectly fine. If nothing else, we can look back and say, “Did I really write that?”

Monday, October 01, 2012

Linda Bove on TCM

I was watching Turner Classic Movies this morning and happened to catch the last part of a promo for a series of films focusing on "A history of disability in film". Linda Bove was being interviewed in the clip! Who is Linda Bove? Sigh. I keep forgetting that not everyone has old-school Sesame Street clips running through their veins. Linda was Bob's girlfriend on Sesame Street for many years She may still be, I'm not sure! She's no longer a regular cast member, but that doesn't mean "Linda" doesn't live on the street any more. Perhaps she's now living in the same building as Roosevelt Franklin & all those other "used-to-be-on-Sesame-Street" characters. The list gets bigger every year.

Linda is also the official "owner" of Barkley, the big Muppet dog who used to be seen in Sesame Street's closing credits. Linda also had a role on "Happy Days" as one of Fonzie's many love interests. On video, she can be seen in "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street" and the classic episode where Maria and Luis get married, which (I think) can be downloaded from iTunes.
Alas, I can't find any information about a full-length interview with Linda during the TCM film series (airing Tuesday nights in October), but I'm hoping that the promo will be re-shown a few more times during the month so that her fans can catch it.

Here's a YouTube clip of one of the TCM promos with Linda:

Here's the link to the website about the series:

TCM HIGHLIGHTS FOR OCTOBER: Sigh. I'm not TRYING to become the TCM guru, here. :) It just keeps happening naturally. I like to check the monthly schedule to see what will be playing on the channel. If something catches my eye, I list it here so that hopefully others can tune in and enjoy it. So while you're keeping an eye out for Linda, you may want to watch these films as well.

This is by no means a complete list of all the “good” TCM films this month. I haven’t necessarily seen all of these yet myself. These are just the ones that stood out for me. Please check your local listings for the exact time and day in your area, and keep in mind that the schedule is subject to change.

October 5: Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger
October 6: The Front
October 7: The Heart is a lonely hunter
October 8: Queen Christina
October 11: Whatever happened to Baby Jane?
October 12: On Borrowed Time
October 17: The Mummy (Christopher Lee & Peter Cushing version)
October 21: Gulliver's Travels (animated)
October 23: A guy named Joe
October 25: It happened one night; North by Northwest
October 28: Phantom of the Opera (Silent version)
October 29: Inherit the Wind; It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world

Saturday, September 01, 2012

The altered moon landing photo

First Sally Ride a few weeks ago, now legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong has left this planet for a much better place. His skills and bravery are an inspiration to everyone.

I grew up looking at the iconic photos that Neil took on the moon’s surface on July 20, 1969. But I clearly didn’t know the whole story, particularly the story about one of the most iconic photos of all time. Guess what? NASA altered it! (Not by much, but kind of interesting nonetheless). Please check out this link from Charles Apple, who fills us in on how a certain classic photo was partially filled in with black space by NASA. It also features some rare photos of Neil on the moon taken by Buzz Aldrin.

And here's the story from NASA:

THE FUTURE OF BOOKS: We live in a very exciting age for authors and book publishers. There are a lot of fun things that are possible today that were impossible just a few years ago. As I think about future plans, I've been looking into how publishing has been changing. For those who are interested in the new technologies out there, especially as they relate to ebooks, I wanted to share this link about “literal” self publishing.

This is by no means a complete list of all the “good” TCM films this month. I haven’t necessarily seen all of these yet myself. These are just the ones that stood out for me. Please check your local listings for the exact time and day in your area, and keep in mind that the schedule is subject to change.

September 1: 2010
September 2: The Black Stallion
September 3: Chuck Jones: Memories of childhood ;The Tramp and the Dictator
September 7: A Streetcar named Desire
September 13: It happened one night
September 15: The Fortune Cookie; Sunrise
September 18: Greta Garbo films
September 22: The Time Machine
September 23: Murder by Death
September 24: Diary of Anne Frank; Fiddler on the Roof
September 29: It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Sammy the Snake speaks on Jerry Nelson

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following message has been translated from Sammyspeak into regular English. This has been done to avoid the constant hissing noise ("SSSSSSsay hey! It’s sssweet to sssee you. Ssssorry if I ssscared you. I’m Sssammy the Ssssnake.")

Say hey! It’s sweet to see you. Sorry if I scared you. I’m Sammy the Snake. It seems that a lot of people are scared of me. I can’t say that I blame them. I am kind of funky, you know. But the only reason I leave such an impact with people is the magic of puppetry, and a very talented person named Jerry Nelson.

Jerry Nelson passed away on  August 23, 2012. Yours truly, Sammy the Snake, was only one of the muppet characters he brought to life. A long list of his characters includes Count Von Count, Herry Monster, Herbert Birdsfoot, Sam the Robot, The Amazing Mumford, Simon the Soundman, Sgt. Floyd Pepper and Robin the Frog (Kermit’s nephew). He was the original performer and voice of Snuffleupagus before Martin Robinson took over the role. He also voiced a certain guy unfortunately named "fat blue." That’s really just a nickname for "Mr. Johnson," the customer that Grover the waiter waited on in so many skits. You know, the one who ordered the big hamburger. Poor guy.

As you can hear by my scintillating vocal abilities, Jerry had an awesome voice as well. Besides my theme song (it’s on the "Do the Alphabet" Sesame Street CD, for those of you who want to slither out and buy a copy),  he sang Robin’s classic "Halfway Down the Stairs", Floyd’s version of "New York State of Mind",  and "Something’s Missing," a favorite long-lost track from the Muppet Show.  As the Count, there were several awesome songs, such as "Song of the Count," "Count up to nine" and "Eight little notes."  You can see Jerry’s work on several classic Sesame Street clips. Some are on Youtube and Sesame, others are available on VHS and DVD. Notably, my immortal performance is on the "Alphabet Game" tape and DVD. In fact, Jerry was such a fine singer that he even got to sing as himself on an album called "Truro Daydreams."

My friend Jerry had been sick for some time. In the last few years, he was not physically performing the characters on Sesame Street, but through the magic of technology he was recording their voices. At this point, there’s some question as to if the Count will continue with another person’s voice. I hope so, but time will tell. Regardless of whether the Count’s days are numbered (sorry about that, folks), Jerry’s contributions to Sesame Street have been many and numerable. He certainly was part of the magic behind the early days of the show.

Now Jerry and I didn't work together very often, so I can't claim to be as close to him as some of the other characters around here. (You'll have to talk to the Count or Herry Monster if you want a scoop.) I'm one of the many muppets who spends most of his time curled up in the bottom of a file drawer while the others smile for stage and screen. I knew Elmo before he was a star. But these days, I usually hang out with Herbert Birdsfoot and the Beautiful Day monster at the bar down the street. We do karaoke together once in a while. But I digress.

So I can't tell you any deep secrets about Jerry Nelson. (You must understand that the muppet performers usually prefer not to be seen. Part of their job, you see.) The art needs to speak louder than the artist. The best I can do is say something like this. Jerry, Jim, Caroll, Fran, Richard and Frank (and today many others) set a standard for puppetry that is not easy to live up to. I think if they were re-doing my song today, I'd just be a computer graphic, like Jar Jar Binks or something. The art of puppetry shone in many of those early Sesame Street skits, including the one with yours truly. Jerry's puppetry stands with strong with the other guys' as some of the best in the history of television. And I like to think that my performance is a good example of that. Still freaking out kids after all these years.

So long, Jerry.

ON YOUTUBE: GROVER AND THE BIG HAMBURGER. Let's test out this new blogging technology here (well, new for me) and re-post the classic clip of Grover (performed by Frank Oz) trying to serve "fat blue" (performed by Jerry Nelson) a hamburger. It's a fun example of the silliness and fun of the show.

Friday, August 10, 2012

New Loch Ness Monster photo

When I first heard that there was a new supposed picture of the Loch Ness Monster, I went online and tried to find it. And I thought I found it. The picture I found accompanied an article online. It was a picture of the famous Urquhart Castle and the choppy waters of the Loch behind it. There was just one thing missing - Nessie! I must have stared at that photo for five minutes trying to find wherever the heck Nessie was. Well, I realized later that Nessie was (apparently) not in the photo at all. The people who put up the article about the new photo didn’t bother to include the new photo. To be fair, it looks like a few other news sites haven’t put up the photo either. Maybe they’re just respecting Nessie’s privacy.

Looking at the real photo (assuming it is a real photo and not a manipulation), it does look like the classic “hump” sightings we’ve heard about. Just about every news site I’ve seen has dismissed the photo as likely a hoax, which (sorry about that again) it probably is. But the kid in me is always going to enjoy news like this, and it’s fun to add another picture to the growing collection of photos. The photo was taken by Nessie hunter George Edwards.

Here are some sites with more information:|main5|dl2|sec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D188060#photo=3

OUTSHINED: One final note (I hope) about that Google Earth photo that some believed was Nessie, but was actually a white boat with wakes along the sides. There was something about this story that bugged me, and I finally tracked it down. It has to do with a gentleman named Adrian Shine. Mr. Shine is an expert on Loch Ness who has appeared in many different documentaries. A John Muir lookalike, he is one of the people who took part in “Operation Deep Scan,” which mapped the bottom of the loch. He appeared in that Loch Ness Monster Toyota ad years ago, as well as the film “Incident at Loch Ness” (which is a lot of fun for Nessie fans who have a sense of humor).

Mr. Shine has been studying the loch for years. He’s very good at determining if something is a hoax. But apparently the boat picture fooled even him! Here’s a quote from an article:

"Researcher Adrian Shine, of the Loch Ness Project, told the newspaper (the Sun): 'This is really intriguing. It needs further study.'"

Apparently Mr. Shine nearly fell for the trick! But to be fair, like me, I suppose he just doesn’t go flying too often. It’s comforting to know that even the experts can be mistaken sometimes.

Read my first post about Nessie here:

Friday, August 03, 2012

TCM highlights for August

Now for something kind of helpful (I hope). Here’s a list of some of the films that will be shown on the Turner Classic Movies network this month. I don’t work for them, I just like some old movies.

It’s interesting to note that when you watch TCM, you’re not only getting a look at what old movies are like, but you’re getting a look at what old TV was like. Back when it first began, older movies pretty much ruled on local television stations. Let’s face it, there wasn’t much else to show! That’s sort of why the old Popeye and Bugs Bunny cartoons were shown so much in the early days. Today, there is so much more television programming to choose from that showing old movies (and cartoons) has become old hat. As an old movie fan, I’m glad TCM is around, and I’m glad we live in an age where I can "peek ahead" to see what will be shown.

This is by no means a complete list of all the "good" TCM films this month. I haven’t necessarily seen all of these yet myself. These are just the ones that stood out for me. Please check your local listings for the exact time and day in your area, and keep in mind that the schedule is subject to change.

August 4- Some Like it Hot
August 8 - Lady from Shanghai
August 10- Mata Hari; Grand Hotel
August 11- Lolita
August 14- G-Men
August 15- The Scarlet Letter (silent version)
August 17- Live a little, Love a little
August 19- North by Northwest
August 22- The Great Race
August 24- Inherit the Wind; A Guy named Joe
August 27- The Fountainhead
August 29- Casablanca

Friday, July 27, 2012

Sally's greatest ride

I was saddened to hear of the death of astronaut Sally Ride. She certainly went far beyond the "glass ceiling," becoming the first U.S. woman in space. Here’s her Sesame Street appearance on YouTube, as posted on a friend’s site:

And now she’s on the greatest mission of all. We’ll miss you, Sally.

NOT SO "MISERABLES": I fulfilled a "theater bucket list" item recently and finally got to see the complete musical "Les Miserables." I know there are a few punctuation marks missing in that title, but it seems that the Google typeface for blogger is quite limited. You know the musical I mean.

And it was fabulous. As with "Phantom," it was easy to understand why "Miserables" is such a popular show. It’s a very moving story filled with equally moving music. I got to watch it with some dear friends from the theater, who filled me in on a few backstage notes - notably, the difficulty in staging a certain death scene. Thanks to strobe lighting and good acting, the effect came off quite well. The scene ended with applause, and my friend whispering to me, "Now it’s like we’re clapping because he’s dead!"  But it was a great show, and I certainly felt less miserable after seeing it. Definitely worth seeing.

AGING QUICKLY (or) THE SPIRIT OF 72: On Wednesday, I added the Mister Rogers “Garden of Your Mind” video to my favorites folder on my YouTube page. Later, I clicked on my YouTube page link on the blog, only to find that my YouTube page was not there. They had put up an empty page for me. There was a little space on my "blank" YouTube page that gave my age as 72 years old. Talk about adding insult to injury! I’m not quite 72 yet. That’s about 30 years away for me (I hope). I have no idea where they got 72 from. Now, 72 is a fine number. 72 is 12 multiplied by 6. I was actually alive in 1972. I’m not against 72. Lord willing, I’ll be 72 one day. It’s just not my age yet.

The bad link has been removed, and I’m debating whether or not to fix the link. It may just be easier to post the links to the videos here on the blog, rather than forcing you to scroll through my favorites folder to find the video you want. I can keep the YouTube account for my own sake (none of my personal videos are there yet, just links to other people’s videos) and as a way of keeping track of the videos I link to from the blog. That may be the way it rolls from now on. We’ll see.


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Type: response

text:
View Single Post
11-13-2012, 04:10 PM
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: TO
Country: Canada
Posts: 996
vCash: 500
Originally Posted by Fugu View Post
You're moving goalposts, Hankie.

We have moved past the need for some economic changes. The PA accepted that on their own, and even got the league to up its RS and add a special targeted assistance fund.

What more is needed? I said addressing the variance issue should resolve anything and everything that all teams need right now to have a good footing. You don't need to restrict player rights. They should get some ability to control their own destinies above and beyond the league's required economic changes.
What goalposts have been moved?

The end result is still aimed economic success for the league and its owners.

Contract terms are a part of that.

You didn't address my concerns with long term deals at all. How is paying Joe Blow $7M a year for 15 years good for the game, and the revenue of the league? What happens when Joe Blow busts his knee and can't play at that high level again, yet doesn't retire. Is paying him $7M a year for the next 14 years good for anybody, besides that player?

You want no restrictions on contract length, then you have to get rid of guaranteed contracts.

Hanklite* is offline   Reply With Quote

warcinfo:
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2016-36
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for August 2016
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf


text:
View Single Post
11-03-2013, 11:45 PM
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,061
vCash: 500
I can't help wondering if the Oilers will end Eakins NHL coaching career.

The more this **** continues, the more it looks like they should have let Krueger do his thing for more than a shortened season. At least the team was in the play-off hunt until late in the season and it looked like they took a major step forward. Now it looks like we are back in 2010-2011 season, because even under Renney the team was winning games and only injuries to Hall, Hemsky, RNH in the second half of the season put them into a position to draft Yakupov. Now it looks like even with a healthy line-up, they will be strong contenders for the 1st overall.

tiger_80 is offline


text:
Higher Innovation Podcast – "Computer Science Education Week"

Every year, on the week of December 9th, we celebrate Computer Science Education and the impact of computing on our lives and our future.

This special edition Higher Innovation Podcast shares some of the top opportunities for students to create jobs and income from Computer Science Education. Moreover, the show highlights our key CS programs: Microsoft IT Academy, DreamSpark, and ImagineCup as opportunities to learn, practice, and change the world.

I hope you enjoy this special edition for Computer Science Education Week. Please leave your comments below. Stay tuned to Higher Innovation for more updates throughout the CSEdWeek.


text:
Game of the Week live chat: Join us when Jenison hosts Grand Rapids Christian

By Cory Olsen |
on February 07, 2014 5:01 PM, updated February 07, 2014 10:06 PM
  • 02/07 - 7:30 PM Boys BasketballTeam1234Final
    Grand Rapids Christian
    11 19 9 16 55
    13 12 13 13 51
Complete Box Score »

It's Pink-Out Night in Jenison. (Cory Olsen |

Fourth Quarter:

Grand Rapids Christian upped their game and intensity in the fourth, controlling the pace of the game.

The biggest challenge for Jenison was their shooting. They had plenty of opportunities to stay in the game and take the lead (they trailed by two to four points for most of the quarter) but weren't able to get anything to drop. They hit just one 3-pointer tonight (by C.J. VanTimmeren) and that was likely their downfall.

Eagles win 55-51.

Third Quarter:

The Eagles are giving it to the Wildcats like they got in the first half.

Jenison has trailed most of the third by two to four points and Grand Rapids Christian is continuing their edge with quicker play to the ball.

Eagles' big man DeRohn Scott and Jenison's Andrew Lamb must be having a blocked shot contest. They both have three or four this quarter.

Score at the end of three, Eagles 39, Wildcats 38.

Second Quarter:

The comeback begins! Grand Rapids Christian's Dwayne Barfield makes his presence known, scoring 10 points in the second quarter (14 for the game so far) and the Eagles lead because of it, 30-25.

The game continues to offer interesting happenings as GR Christian's Scott received a technical foul for hanging on the rim while dunking.

The Eagles are capitalizing on their speed and the Wildcats are struggling to maintain possession during their runs.

First Quarter:

The Wildcats came out firing away but the Eagles met their pace at the beginning of the game.

A bit of a quirky start as we saw a missed dunk by Jenison's C.J. VanTimmeren and a goal-tending called on Grand Rapids Christian's DeRohn Scott.

Both teams displayed some challenges in finishing buckets and the score reflected that. Jenison led 13-11 at the end of the first quarter.

JENISON, MI -- We've got a colorful one to chat about tonight as Jenison hosts Grand Rapids Christian in its 6th annual Pink-Out Night game.

Players and fans will be clad in pink in support of those who are fighting cancer and there will be a special program before the boys game to honor 12 individuals who have been battling the disease.

The game could prove to be a good one as things stayed close in the last meeting of these two teams before Jenison pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 57-49 victory on Jan. 17.

Grand Rapids Christian (1-5, 4-9) is attempting to turn the corner on its season right now after getting the squad's first league win Tuesday against East Grand Rapids. Jenison has strung together nine victories in a row with its last defeat coming on Dec. 27 at Detroit Consortium.

Join Steve Kaminski and I as we provide all the scoring updates, highlights and quirky banter during the game in the comments section below this story. We will answer your questions and take your comments throughout the game.

There are plenty of questions surrounding this matchup. Will the Wildcats continue on their winning ways? Will the Eagle's Christian DeLeon Brown put up another 31 points like he did Tuesday against East Grand Rapids?

Check back at 7:15 p.m. for the start of the live chat to find out

Follow Cory Olsen on Twitter  or email him at

View/Post Comments


text:
Glen Rock (1) at Tenafly (1), NJSIAA Tournament, Semifinal Round, Public B - Boys Ice Hockey

By Star-Ledger
on March 07, 2012 9:42 PM, updated August 23, 2013 3:23 AM
  • 03/07 - 12:00 AM Boys Ice HockeyTeam123OT1Final
    0 0 1 0 2
    Glen Rock
    1 0 0 0 1
Complete Box Score »

By Gerry Davidove

Eli Markowitz and Jordan Lang scored shootout goals to send Tenafly, No. 17 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, to Friday's NJSIAA/Devils Public B championship game after Tenafly and Glen Rock battled through a 1-1 overtime game in an epic semifinal battle before 900 at Mennen Arena in Morris Township.

Tenafly captured the shootout, 2-1.

Tenafly (20-2-2), the third seed, earned the right to meet No. 15 Summit, the fourth seed, in the final tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the Prudential Center in Newark.

"I went down and I knew what to do," Lang said. "I saw the left side open and I went low with a shot to the stick side. It seems like every game we’ve gone into overtime in the state tournament, so we were confident in the shootout."

Watch video of the final stop here.

Tenafly beat 19th-seeded Hanover Park in a shootout and got past 27th-seeded Montville in overtime to reach the semifinals.

Tenafly netminder Jon Winawer, solid after allowing an early goal, stopped the final four shooters in the shootout after Glen Rock’s Kevin Doyle scored on the first attempt.

Markowitz, Tenafly’s first shooter, snuck a shot over the right pad of Glen Rock’s Christopher Birdsall to net the equalizer. After Winawer rejected Brandon Rosario’s attempt at the five-hole, Lang beat Birdsall on Tenafly’s second attempt. Winawer stoned the next three shooters, including a glove save on the final attempt by Jon Spada to seal the victory.

Kevin Doyle provided Glen Rock (15-8-3) with a 1-0 lead 3:26 into the contest with a wrist shot from the right circle after Matt Gilroy delivered a crunching check and sent the puck out from the corner boards.

Tenafly, outshot 18-9 after two periods, scored the equalizer with 4:17 remaining in the third period when Markowitz flipped a shot over Birdsall’s right shoulder after taking a pass from Brandon Bernstein.

Both goaltenders were outstanding, with Winawer keeping his team in the game for the first 40 minutes. Birdsall was equally impressive, fending off numerous Tenafly opportunities in the third period and in the overtime session.

"Glen Rock is a tremendous team," Tenafly coach Andy Escala said. "We didn’t want to lose on that one goal. We were able to come up big today when we needed it. Both goalies played great, and for all our of our seniors, this is a special moment for them at a chance to win Public B."

View/Post Comments


text:
Rising Rummel junior Israel Tucker continues smooth return to running back during spring

Rising Rummel junior Israel Tucker continues smooth return to running back during spring
Rummel rising junior Israel Tucker rushed 11 times for 191 yards and two touchdowns in an intra-squad scrimmage Tuesday, May 27, 2014. (Photo by Christopher Dabe, | The Times-Picayune)
By Christopher Dabe, | The Times-Picayune
on May 27, 2014 5:25 PM, updated May 27, 2014 6:45 PM

The trophy presented to Israel Tucker after the Rummel football spring scrimmage Tuesday (May 27) mainly confirmed what his teammates already knew -- that he is the pound-for-pound strongest player on the team.

He showed as much during the 54-play intra-squad scrimmage won by the offense. For as quick as he was to burst through wide openings created by the offensive line, the 5-foot-7, 170-pound back used his leg strength to carry defenders for extra yards when necessary.

Tucker, one of seven sophomore contributors to help Rummel to a second consecutive state title in 2013, rushed 11 times for 191 yards, picking up most of those yards on touchdown runs of 65 and 70 yards.

Tucker began high school as a running back, moved to defensive back before last season and returned to offense at midseason because of injuries to other players. He appeared to be in a leading position to be a featured back as a junior this fall.

"My offensive line did most of the work," Tucker said. "I just followed my blocks. That was it."

That appeared especially so on his second touchdown run, a 70-yard sprint on the first play of the third series for the first-team offense. Tucker took the handoff and appeared to hesitate for a moment. But once he saw an opening, he was gone.

Coach Jay Roth presented to Tucker after the scrimmage a silver trophy with a figure of a powerlifter for his team-leading weight-lifting totals during off-season conditioning. Roth said Tucker has always been among the top-three lifters in his weight class. Tucker's lower-body strength helps him run through tackles, Roth said.

"We've always had some tailbacks who can pick up 1,000 yards and get some big runs, so the same will be expected of Israel," said Roth, who noted that Tucker could also play defense again in the fall if needed.

In the scrimmage, Tucker touched the ball on each of the first six plays he was on the field for the first-team offense. And in those plays, he rushed five times for 160 yards and both touchdowns. He also caught a screen pass for only 2 yards on third-and-17. Overall, he touched the ball 12 times in 27 plays the first-team offense was on the field, and he was on the sideline for a handful of those plays.

"He's starting to get relaxed with the offense, because he was on defense last year," rising junior quarterback Chase Fourcade said. "He's getting more relaxed, which is good."

Rising senior linebacker Michael Mosley said Tucker showed in the scrimmage what teammates had seen for years.

"He did the same thing when he was in eighth grade and he was at running back," Mosley said. "Now he's making the transition again.

"And the O-line … they're awesome too," Mosley said as he mentioned returning linemen Ryan Hanley and Pierce Bonck. "They just opened the holes and he ran through them."

Read more about the Rummel spring scrimmage here. See Rummel players and coaches get pies to their faces after Tuesday's Pie Bowl scrimmage in a video posted here.

View/Post Comments


text:
Despite splitting four games at heavyweight Tarkanian Classic, Constitution remains No. 1 in PennLive's Class AA rankings

Despite splitting four games at heavyweight Tarkanian Classic, Constitution remains No. 1 in PennLive's Class AA rankings
Connor Callejas, shown hugging then-teammate Josh Kosin following Holy Cross' victory over Trinity in last season's PIAA Class AA semifinals, scored his 1,000th career point in Saturday's victory over Holy Redeemer. Holy Cross is ranked No. 9.
By Michael Bullock |
on December 23, 2013 10:00 AM

Having the chance to swap elbows with some of the nation’s top high school basketball teams was one of those mixed rides for the talented youngsters from Philadelphia’s Constitution High School.

Seems Rob Moore’s Generals spent part of last week going up and the other part going down. Even going down wasn’t all bad, however, since the Generals had the chance to leave Pennsylvania’s chill behind for the warmth of Las Vegas.

Through it all — the ups and the downs — Moore’s bunch maintained their status as PennLive’s top-ranked Class AA boys’ basketball team.

Splitting four games at the Tarkanian Classic, in a brutal 16-team bracket featuring some of the best teams the United States has to offer, Moore’s club opened with a victory over Pinnacle (Ariz.) and closed with a win over Valor (Colo.) Christian.

In between, Constitution tumbled to eventual champion Mater Dei (Cal.) and a Lone Peak (Utah) program that was ranked No. 1 for much of last season. That’s a number of quality opponents and certainly not enough to drop the Generals even one notch.

Despite their two losses.

Just one change this week, as preseason No. 9 West Middlesex has returned to the Class AA top 10 after claiming a pair of results and stretching its modest winning streak to three games. West Middlesex had opened with three straight losses.

Notre Dame-Green Pond, meanwhile, fell out of the top 10.

Short synopses of our top 10 appear below — PIAA district, overall record and record for the week are displayed in parentheses — as does a list of teams that merit watching as the 2013-14 campaign continues to play out.

1. Constitution (12, 5-2, 2-2) — previous ranking: 1 — With Raheem Liggins collecting 20 points and Ahmad Gilbert adding 10, Constitution opened Vegas by beating a Pinnacle side featuring Stanford recruit Dorian Pickens 58-45. Moore’s Generals were popped by Mater Dei 71-37 — Mater Dei featured Arizona recruit Stanley Johnson and 6-10 youngster M.J. Cage — and dropped a 62-50 decision to Lone Peak. Constitution closed out the Tarkanian by defeating Valor Christian 67-64, making the plane ride back to Philly much more palatable. Will get back at it on Friday night at Lower Merion, where the Generals will meet Milford Mill (Md.).

2. Beaver Falls (7, 6-0, 3-0) — previous ranking: 2 — Featuring plenty of balance in double-digit wins over Laurel, Riverside and Canon-McMillan, Doug Biega’s Tigers just keep motoring along. Javon Turner totaled 42 points in Beaver Falls’ first two wins — Turner bagged 23 against Laurel and 19 against Riverside — while Dan Stratton netted 25 in those two successes. Elijah Cottrill also had a productive night against Laurel, scoring 20 points. As for Saturday’s victory over Canon-McMillan, Keyan Gibson paced Beaver Falls with 17 points and Josh Creach tacked on 13. Will get another test Monday when the Tigers go across town to meet Blackhawk.

3. Greensburg Central Catholic(7, 5-0, 2-0) — previous ranking: 3 — Although Dr. Greg Bisignani’s explosive Centurions encountered less resistance than they did in their first few outings, GCC didn’t stray much from the game plan as a balanced attack keyed wins over Blackhawk (69-51) and South Allegheny (71-42). While Billy Hipp, Brian Graytock and Romano Sebastiani combined for 47 points in GCC’s win over Blackhawk, Graytok rocked South Allegheny with a 20-point salvo neatly complemented by 10 from Collin Bisignani. Will encounter some larger programs this weekend as GCC opens play at the Gateway Classic against Woodland Hills.

Omar Little (left), shown in last season's PIAA Class AA quarterfinals, totaled 28 points in two games as No. 4 Loyalsock defeated Central Columbia and Southern Columbia to remain undefeated. (Sean Simmers,

4. Loyalsock(4, 5-0, 2-0) — previous ranking: 4 — Ron Insinger’s lethal Lancers just keep churning out victories, with plenty of those successes featuring large numbers. Getting a combined 45 points from Omar Little, Mike Pastore and Ben Sosa, ‘Sock wheeled past Central Columbia 58-41. Several nights later, five players cracked double figures as Insinger’s Lancers laced Southern Columbia 92-65. Pastore led the way with 22 points, while Kyle Datres checked in with 15 and Sosa wound up with 14. Will encounter a difficult week that includes a Monday night date at Jersey Shore and a spot in State College’s rugged holiday event.

5. Seton-La Salle(7, 5-0, 2-0) — previous ranking: 5 — Putting three players in double figures in back-to-back outings, Mark Walsh’s Rebels claimed two more victims last week and kept their early-season record unblemished. Levi Masua (13), Malik White (11) and lead guard Dale Clancy (11) combined for 35 points in Seton’s 60-37 takedown of Brentwood. Several nights later, Christian DelGreco (17), Ryan Norkus (12) and Masua (10) kept the wrecking ball moving in a 52-40 victory over Fort Cherry. Up next for the Rebels is a Monday night date at South Park.

6. Lewisburg(4, 5-0, 3-0) — previous ranking: 6 — Here’s yet another successful side that eagerly distributed the offensive wealth last week in double-digit triumphs over Hughesville (50-40), Mount Carmel (65-36) and Troy (61-40). And while Will Sigl paced John Vaji’s Green Dragons in all three victories — the 6-8 Sigl registered 45 points in those wins — 6-7 soph Sam Allen totaled 38 points. Lead guard Jesse Flannery and Matt Fedorjaka each posted a pair of games with 10 points or more, adding variables to Lewisburg’s offensive equation. Will make the long trip north this weekend, opening the Wellsboro Tournament Friday against Montoursville.

7. Quaker Valley (7, 7-0, 3-0) — previous ranking: 7 — Mike Mastroianni’s Quakers continued their early season success, raising their mark to a perfect 7-0 by wheeling past Sto-Rox (58-42), Bishop Canevin (83-43) and Summit Academy (68-55). Winter Fondi’s 25 points helped QV chill Sto-Rox — John Bernard and Qadir Taylor backed Fondi with a combined 21 points — while Chris Conlan’s 21-point performance stoked the Quakers’ rout of Canevin. And in QV’s win over Summit, Jake Trovato, Conlan, Taylor and Bernard shared 49 points in that triumph. Headed for Deer Lakes on Saturday for a one-day showcase and a date with Springdale.

8. Neshannock (7, 5-1, 2-0) — previous ranking: 8 — Introduced to the Class AA top 10 last week, John Corey’s Lancers located an immediate comfort level and mashed Shenango 77-25. Neshannock encountered a tougher go several days later, but a shared 46 points from Matt McKenney, Ernie Burkes and Jimmy Medure enabled the Lancers to motor past Mohawk. Corey & Co. will get in one last game before the holiday arrives mid-week, boarding the bus Monday for a trip to Ford City.

9. Holy Cross (2, 4-1, 2-0) — previous ranking: 9 — Make that four in a row for Al Callejas’ resourceful Crusaders, who stretched their winning streak by defeating Wilkes-Barre Meyers (43-35) and Holy Redeemer (74-59). While Connor Callejas’ 16 points led a trio of double-digit scorers in the win over Meyers — Billy Trainor added 13 and Connor Jones 10 — those same three players fueled Holy Cross’ 15-point victory over Redeemer. Callejas’ 23-point burst in the win over Redeemer included career point No. 1,000. Won’t travel all that far over the holidays, visiting Lackawanna College Friday for a date with Scranton.

10. West Middlesex (10, 3-3, 2-0) — previous ranking: OTW — Back on point after starting the season with consecutive losses to West Middlesex, St. Mary’s (Md.) and Sharon, Chad Mild’s Big Reds have responded with three straight victories. The latest came last week in a 48-44 win over Kennedy Catholic and a 69-34 thumping of nearby Sharpsville. While Christian Porterfield, Isaac Williams and Trey Staunch split 30 points in the win over Kennedy, Staunch unloaded a 28-point salvo to lead the Big Reds past Sharpsville. Will spend the holidays playing a pair of games, as West Middlesex is part of Farrell’s four-team field.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Blairsville (6) 6-0, Conwell-Egan (12) 7-0, Fairview (10), 4-1, Jeannette (7) 4-2, Mercyhurst Prep (10) 3-1, Mid Valley (2) 5-0, Notre Dame-Green Pond (11) 3-2, Reynolds (10) 5-0, Riverside (2) 5-0, Tyrone (6) 5-1, Washington (7) 6-0, Wilmington (10) 4-1.

View/Post Comments


text:
Girls indoor track: West Genesee's Laura Leff third at Millrose Mile

By Donnie Webb |
on February 17, 2013 9:01 PM, updated August 23, 2013 9:14 AM

New York City -- West Genesee High School's Laura Leff finished third at the girls high school mile at the Millrose Games on Saturday at New York City's Armory Track and Field Center.

Leff ran the mile in 4 minutes, 54.71 seconds. Sabrina Southerland won the race in 4:51.91. Kristiane Width was second in 4:54.59.

West Genesee coach Jim Vermeulen said that Leff's third-place time qualifies her for the New Balance Indoor national championships on March 9 back at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York.

Also, Vermeulen reports that former Liverpool High School standout Za'Vvon Watkins ran the first leg of Penn State's winning 4X800 relay at the Millrose Games on Saturday

West Genesee's John DeLallo and Chris Buccanon of Cicero-North Syracuse ran in the relay for Albany, which finished fifth.

Former Tully runner and two-time Olympian Lopez Lamong won the men's Wanamaker Mile in 3:51.21. setting a Millrose Games record  in the final event of the evening.

Staff writer Donnie Webb can be reached at 470-2149 or

View/Post Comments


text:
Companion blog: Adventures In Stoving

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

San Gorgonio Wilderness - Vivian Creek Trail - Trip Report for 5/28 - 5/30/2016

I was out on the Vivian Creek Trail this past weekend (5/28 - 5/30/2016).  Here is a brief report of the conditions I encountered.  The position of each item that I reference is plotted via GPS waypoints on this topographic map:  Mileages between points is noted.  I will list my observations below using the waypoints on the map.

Of course there's lots of fun stuff that I didn't way point.  Like these snow plants, a personal favorite of mine and evidently of my daughter as well.
Snow Plants near the Vivian Creek Trailhead
141 - Mill Creek Crossing.  Mill Creek is flowing with a small stream along the south bank at the point of crossing.
Mill Creek.
Don't cross if it's flooded.  A young man died here last year.  Be patient.  The water will recede.
And of course there are lots of really fun rocks to climb in and around Mill Creek.
Bouldering on the margins of Mill Creek.
165 - Both signs on the north side of Mill Creek got graffitied over the weekend.
On the way in:
Sign on N side of Mill Creek on Saturday on the way in.
On the way out:
On Monday on the way out.
Both signs got graffitied over the weekend.
161 - 164 - Four rocks got graffitied.
Graffiti on rocks.  Why?  Why destroy nature?  What did nature ever do to you?
As we ascend, we get great views of rugged Yucaipa Ridge.  Not much snow compared to a month ago.
Yucaipa Ridge
Climbing higher, we come to the wilderness boundary sign, and the trail (finally!) starts to level off.  For some reason I didn't way point this spot, but given that there's a big sign there, you're unlikely to need a GPS waypoint to find this spot.
Wilderness boundary sign on the Vivian Creek Trail.
142 - Vivian Falls Overlook.  Just past the boundary sign, look for a faint trail leading down and to the left.  This leads to a little overlook from which you can see Vivian Falls.
Vivian Falls are flowing nicely, and the canyoneers are out in force.
143 - Vivian Creek Camp.  After passing the overlook, one enters the lovely forested area that hosts Vivian Creek Camp, one of the nicest trail camps in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.  Oddly, I saw no tents here even though it was Memorial Day Weekend.
Sign pointing to Vivian Creek Camp
In terms of greenery and scenery, Vivian Creek is definitely the most beautiful of the three camps along the Vivian Creek Trail.
Meadow and spring near Vivian Creek Trail Camp
Near Vivian Creek Trail Camp.
144 - Vivian Crossing.  After passing Vivian Creek Camp, one crosses to the west bank of Vivian Creek.  The point that the trail crosses is known as Vivian Crossing.  Water was flowing reasonably well here but by no means high volume.
Vivian Crossing
145 and 146.  Three downed trees fairly close together.
First downed tree.  Approx 30" diameter.

First Downed Tree from the other side.  You can squeeze through.
Second Downed tree.  24" diameter.  Bypass on downhill side.
Bypass is destroying trail tread and causing erosion.
Third Down Tree.  Lying directly on trail.  Bypass on downhill side.
Bypass is causing some erosion.  ~24" diameter.
While fallen logs on the trail aren't much fun, fallen logs across the creek are another matter.
Crossing Vivian Creek on a large fallen log.
148.  Another downed tree.  A small one.
Downed Tree.  8" diameter.  Easy step over for most people.  No erosion problems.  Low priority.
149 - Yet another downed tree.  I forgot to take a photo of this one.  No further info.  Sorry.  But it couldn't be too bad or I'd remember it.

150 - A massive downed tree.
Massive downed tree.  40+ inch diameter.  Bypass around left.  No erosion caused.
160 - Halfway Spring.  Vivian Creek where the trail crosses the creek right before Halfway Camp is dry, but if you go 500 feet up the creek bed, you will encounter Halfway Spring.  The flow is fairly low, but it is flowing.
Halfway Spring
151 - Halfway Junction.  Note that Halfway Junction is approximately halfway between Vivian Creek Camp and High Creek Camp.  It is NOT halfway to the summit of San Gorgonio Mountain.  It's roughly 10 miles each way to San Gorgonio Mountain.  Halfway Camp is at mile 4.  Yes, some out of date sources list the mileage as 8 miles each way to San Gorgonio Mountain.  Um, no.  It's a lot further than that.  Maybe it's 9.5 miles instead of 10, but it certainly isn't 8 miles.  You've still got about 6 miles to go when you reach this junction.
Halfway Junction.  Joycie points the way:
Right to Halfway Camp; Left to High Creek Camp and San Gorgonio Mountain.
152 - Halfway Camp.  A nice place, but unfortunately there are those who have no self respect and don't give a darn about nature or anyone else.  Why they go out into the beauty of nature only to despoil it, I will never understand.  I broke up three fire circles, and dug up three others that were just on open ground.
Halfway is actually a pretty nice (and spacious) place to camp.  Unfortunately, some people are scum bags.
On the other hand, there are some really nice people in this world.  My neighbors at camp packed this junk out.
Illegal fire circle at Halfway Camp.
We lost half the wilderness last  year when a fire got out of control.  What are these people thinking!?
Unfortunately I couldn't break this one up; the rocks were too big and too embedded in the ground.
153 - Another downed tree.  This one is a serious impediment to travel.  Two logs are stacked one atop another.  You can bypass on the high side.  The bypass is causing erosion.
Top log about 30" diameter.
Bottom log about 20" diameter.
Of course if you're small of stature, you can just go under it.
When you're small, you just go under.
"Why can't you go under, daddy?"
154 - Another downed tree.  Directly across the trail.  Not much option but to climb it.  A bit of a challenge for those with a heavy overnight backpack.
About 36" diameter.
Note Joycie bypassing the downed tree with her usual aplomb.  Not recommended for adults.
155 - Illegal campsite and fire circle.  I removed the fire circle.

156 - a small washout, but it's going to get worse.  The tread is narrow here if you look closely.  Just trimming back the manzanita would help.
Small washout leaving the tread fairly narrow.

157 - Junction with use trail to High Creek Falls.
The junction with the use trail to High Creek Falls is just past this dead snag.
Plenty of water going over High Creek Falls
High Creek Falls.
It's a bit of a trick to get a good shot of High Creek Falls, but despite the poor quality of my photos, I assure you that it's worth the short trip down the side trail to visit.  And there's a something of a nice view from the top of the falls.
Taking in the the view from the top of High Creek Falls
If ever you have trouble finding water at High Creek Camp, just go into the stream bed immediately above the falls.  Water is forced up by the bedrock.  There's nearly always water here.
High Creek, just above High Creek Falls.  Plenty of water.
158 - E. Fork High Creek.  Oddly, it is the E Fork of High Creek that typically has water even though the W Fork drains a larger area.  It was flowing very nicely indeed on Memorial Day weekend.  If the first drainage that you come to is dry, the one where the tent sites are, panic not.  The next drainage to the east is where the water typically is.  Even if the E Fork were dry, there should be water just above High Creek Falls.
E. Fork High Creek, 5/29/2016.

159 - High Creek Camp.  The camp area at High Creek is most known as a jumping off spot for assaults on San Gorgonio Mountain and for its good water supply.  It's not nearly as nice as Vivian Creek Camp or Halfway Camp.  It's a bit exposed, and it's quite rocky.
Tent site at High Creek Camp
To only make matters worse, there are people who don't know how to use the bathroom in the woods.  You need to bring a potty trowel or the equivalent and dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep and bury all human solid waste in the hole.  Pack out or bury your toilet paper.  Putting a rock over your toilet paper is NOT burying it.
Improper disposal of toilet tissue.  Toilet tissue should be buried 6 to 8" deep or packed out.  Do NOT burn!
You need to be at least 100 feet and preferably 200 feet away from creek beds -- even if they're dry at the time.  Creek beds should not be used as a latrine!  The next rain will flush all the human waste into the water supply.  Wildlife can be decimated by human disease introduced through poor hygiene.
W Fork High Creek.  Note toilet paper.  People are using the creek bed as a latrine.
Feminine products should be placed in a zip lock bag and packed out.  They will not bio-degrade.  Come back 50 or 100 years later, and they'll still be there.
Uh, just put it in a ziplock and pack it out, OK?  I mean, how hard is it?  If it's really gross, just double bag it.
And here's our "loser of the week" entry:  An illegal fire pit and trash in an illegal camp site.  And why, if you can pack in a water bottle that weighs 2 lbs when full, can't you pack out a bottle that weighs 1 oz now that it's empty?  I just don't get it.
Illegal fire pit at an illegal camp site with trash dumped.  You just won "loser of the week."
I hate to be so negative, but really, why come to the wilderness just to trash it?  What?
Trash collected and bagged.  This is just what I carried out.  Thank you to the other two groups that also packed out trash.
I looked like a junk peddler with so much trash lashed to the back of my pack, lol.
And lots more fire circles.  All fires are illegal in the San Gorgonio Wilderness all the time, in all four seasons, all year round.
Before.  The fire circle is over Joycie's left shoulder and is filled in with rocks (as if that would hide it).
Clean up.  Fortunately I have an assistant to help me dig up fire circles.
There was a bit of snow across the switchbacks above High Creek.  Nothing serious but some people were using that as an excuse to cut the trail.  I had a small shovel along, so I cut some trail through the snow.
I cut some trail over a snow bank.  Hopefully that makes travel a little easier.
I also piled up a bunch of wood at the place where people were cutting the trail.
I suspect that people who cut the trail probably have never done trail work. Trails are HARD WORK and cutting the trail can wipe out a trail.  People who have done trail work know just how much effort is involved and I don't think they'll do destructive things.

But let's not focus on the negative.  This is a great area, and there's fun things to do,
Bouldering near Halfway Camp
 and great scenery to view.
Yucaipa Ridge seen from hear High Creek Camp.
There's my trip report for the Vivian Creek Trail.  Hope it's instructive, and I hope I'm not too much of a downer harping on trash and stuff.  Most people love the wilderness and work to preserve it.  I'm sure the people who read a blog like this aren't the ones who try to trash the wilderness and light fires.  Please, enjoy and care for the wilderness – and stay safe out there.

Thanks for joining me,

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

The MSR Dragonfly -- A Brief Overview

It's been a while since I've posted anything.

Here's a quick video on a stove that's stood the test of time, the MSR Dragonfly.  Notice that during the priming of the stove, there is no "fireball".  It takes some practice, but it is possible to prime a white gas stove without a fireball, particularly on a nice stove like the Dragon fly with it's really fine valve control.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Updated Lake Fire Closure Map

I haven't posted an update on the Lake Fire lately.  The fire has been quietly smoldering, within it's borders, and there hasn't been much in the way of specific news.

However, the Forest Service issued some good news:  They've lifted the blanket closure and opened up many parts of the San Gorgonio Wilderness that were heretofore closed.
High Creek Falls, just off the Vivian Creek Trail in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
This area is now OPEN to hiking as of 7/16/2015
The Forest Service has issued a map, showing the closure area (see below) and what "recreational opportunities" are currently open (open trails are shown with red dashed lines).  The map is a little hard to read, and it's a little hard to tell what's in and what's out of the closure area.
Official USFS Lake Fire Closure Area map as of 16 July 2015.  The red dashed lines are trails that are open.
Because the above map from the USFS is a little hard to read, I've gone ahead and drawn out the boundaries of the updated Lake Fire closure area on a topo map (immediately below), or you can open the updated Lake Fire closure area map in a separate window.  Hopefully, with my map, you can tell which of your favorite peaks and places are in vs. out of the fire closure.
Note that the boundaries I have drawn are approximate.  I say approximate because I've drawn the boundaries free hand just based on the USFS map  I haven't followed any detailed written legal descriptions of the closure.  That said, I think the boundaries I've drawn convey the sense of the closure.  If you're on a trail I've shown outside the closure, I don't think you have to worry about getting hassled by the authorities.  I have however placed the text of the closure order in Appendix II, below, if there is any question as to what is or is not within the closure area.

While I wish that the Lake Fire had never occurred, I hail this good news from the Forest Service and salute this common sense approach.  There simply was no valid reason to keep the southern portions of the San Gorgonio Wilderness closed; the fire never touched them.

I also greatly appreciate that the Forest Service has made a special "carve out" inside the closure boundaries such that San Gorgonio Mountain, one of the most popular peaks in Southern California, is now open to hikers.

Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hikers take note:  The PCT is closed throughout the entire closure area except maybe a very short section around Coon Creek Cabin.  The closure extends from one mile west of the San Gorgonio Wilderness boundary, roughly mile 237, to Onyx Summit, roughly mile 252.  See map in Appendix I, below.

Errata:  Be aware that the lower section of the Falls Creek Trail, 1E04, is shown as open on the official USFS map, shown above.  This is an error.  The trail was closed about 50 years ago during the 1960's because of private property issues.  The lower part of the trail was destroyed and no longer exists when a series of houses were built.  If you go to the Momyer Creek Trailhead looking for the lower Falls Creek Trail, you simply won't find it.  The USFS map is correct in that the trail is outside the closure area but incorrect inasmuch as it implies that the lower Falls Creek Trail exists in the position shown as an open, official trail.

Appendix I - A Second Lake Fire Closure Order Map - What is Closed.
This USFS map is the opposite of the first map.  This map shows trails and roads that are closed.

Appendix II - Text of the Revised Lake Fire Closure Order

Forest Order No.  05-12-51-15-04
Lake Fire Closure

Pursuant to 16 USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), to provide for public safety and protect natural resources, the following acts are prohibited within the Mountaintop and Front Country Ranger Districts of the San Bernardino National Forest.  This Order is effective from July 16, 2015 through July 15, 2016.
1.  Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Lake Fire Closure Area.  The Lake Fire Closure Area boundary begins at the intersection of the Santa Ana River Trail (Forest Trail No. 2E03) and State Highway (SH) 38, then continues east along SH 38 to its intersection with Jenks Lake Road, then continues west along the south side of Jenks Lake Road to its intersection with the east fork of Barton’s Creek, then continues south by southeast along the south and east side of Forest Trail Nos. 1E16 and 1E06 to its intersection with Forest Trail No. 1E04, then continues northeast to east along the north side of Forest Trail No. 1E04 to its intersection with Forest Trail No 1W07, then continues east along the north side of Forest Trail No 1W07 to its intersection with San Gogornio Mountain, then continues southeast west of  Forest Trail No 1W07 around     San Gogornio Peak, then continues south along the section line between Sections 12 and 13, Township 1 South, Range 1 East, San Bernardino Base and Meridian (SBB&M), and Sections 7 and 18, Township 1 South, Range 2 East, SBB&M, then continues east along the southern section line of Sections 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13; in Township 1 South, Range 2 East, MDB&M, to its intersection with the Forest boundary, then continues north and east along the Forest Boundary to its intersection with the southern section line of Section 34, Township 2 North, Range 3 East, SBB&M, then continues northwest along Heartbreak Ridge to its intersection with the western section line of Section 32, Township 2 North, Range 3 East, SBB&M, then continues south along the western section line of Section 32, Township 2 North, Range 3 East, and Section 5, Township 1 North, Range 3 East, SBB&M, to its intersection with Onyx Peak, then continues west along the northern section line of Section 7, Township 1 North, Range 3 East, SBB&M, to its intersection with the west side of the Pacific Crest Trail, then continues in a southerly and southwestern direction along the west side of the Pacific Crest Trail to its intersection with Forest Road No. 1N37, then continues northwesterly on the north side of Forest Road No. 1N37 to the intersection with the Santa Ana River Trail, then continues westerly along the north side of the Santa Ana River Trail back to the starting point, as shown on the attached map.  36 CFR 261.53(e).
2.  Being on any National Forest System trail within the Lake Fire Closure Area, as shown on the attached map.  36 CFR 261.55(a).
3.  Being on any National Forest System road within the Lake Fire Closure Area, as shown on the attached map.  36 CFR 261.54(e).
Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
1.   Any Federal, State or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
2.   Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
3.      Owners or lessees of private land within the Lake Fire Closure Area, to the extent necessary to gain access to their land.
These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A.
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both 16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Executed in San Bernardino, California, this 16th day of July, 2015
Forest Supervisor
San Bernardino National Forest


WARC-Truncated: length

text:
Advertise with us

1 Comment

  • SUNNY KOUL says:

    hi team,

    Would like to bring in your kind notice that i am a kashmiri migrant at present working in delhi and want to have some best advice from your team about KAS or IAS EXAM.As i want to appear for KAS or else IAS as is my dream goal and want to makes this dream comes true in my way.

    So would like to have a proper guidance from you about the procedure how to go about it..

    Thanks & Regards,
    Sunny Koul

Comments are closed.


text:
skip form

Where are you going?

Rooms Adults (18+) Children
Room 2:
Room 3:
Room 4:
Room 5:
Room 6:
Room 7:
Room 8:
Room 9:
*Best Price Guarantee | More Options Less Options
(AAA, AARP, etc)
FIND A HOTEL   Check Rooms & Rates

* ID required at check-in

Hilton Garden Inn Edison/Raritan Center

50 Raritan Center Parkway, Edison, New Jersey, 08837, USA TEL: +1-732-225-0900 FAX: +1-732-692-1561
Start Planning Your Event To begin, please tell us where and when, along with what type of room(s) you'll need. Check Availability
Already booked your event? Please sign in to manage your guest list or room specifications.
Create or Retrieve your Personalized Group web page If you have already created a web page for your event you can retrieve it.

  • At a Glance

    • Total Guest Rooms : 132
  • Room Types

    • Largest Meeting Room : 3255 Sq. Ft.
  • Group Amenities

    • Business Center
    • Fitness Center OnSite
    • Pool On Property
    • Restaurant On-Site
    • Standard In-Room and Lobby Wi-Fi
  • Local Airports

    • Newark International Airport15 min./18 mi.
    • La Guardia Airport1 hr./40 mi.
    • John F. Kennedy International Airport70 min./43 mi.
  • Convention Centers

    • NJ Convention and Expo Center: 1 mile
    • Raritan Exhibit Center: 1 mile
Reward Category: 4
Bed N Breakfast Have Breakfast On Us!

Enjoy a free freshly prepared full American breakfast each morning with our Bed 'N' Breakfast Deal.

View Package Details

Plan an Event

Plan a business meeting, conference or special event at this hotel in Edison, NJ with over 5,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and banquet space. Our extensive Edison, NJ meeting space can accommodate up to 250 guests and is ideally located just half a mile from the New Jersey Convention and Exhibition Center. Enjoy complimentary WiFi access throughout the hotel and catch up with work in the 24-hour business center, offering complimentary printing. Professional A/V equipment is also available for rental.


text:
Go Back

“Doug Aitken: SONG 1” Held Over One Week at Hirshhorn

Monday, May 14, 2012

American Institute of Architects and WorldStage, Inc. Enable Extension of 360-Degree Projection’s Run through May 20
On view nightly from sunset to midnight on the façade of the Hirshhorn building since March 22, the groundbreaking installation “SONG 1” by Doug Aitken (American, b. Redondo Beach, Calif., 1968; lives and works in Los Angeles and New York) will have its run extended by one week, through May 20.

“The American Institute of Architects is pleased to partner with the Hirshhorn and WorldStage, Inc., in extending ‘SONG 1’ by Doug Aitken,” said American Institute of Architects executive vice president and chief executive officer Robert Ivy. “When more than 10,000 architects descend on Washington, D.C., in the coming week, they will encounter a dynamic and compelling installation that combines a unique artistic vision with cutting-edge technology to produce a cinematic projection around the entire facade of the powerful drum of Gordon Bunshaft’s modernist Hirshhorn building. It’s the perfect setting for a spring evening.”

“Doug Aitken: SONG 1” is organized by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution. Artwork courtesy 303 Gallery, New York; Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zürich; Victoria Miro Gallery, London; and Regen Projects, Los Angeles. The installation was generously supported by YoungArts, the core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, and the Hirshhorn Collections Fund.

The extension of “Doug Aitken: SONG 1” was made possible by the generous support of The American Institute of Architects and WorldStage, Inc.

About the Hirshhorn
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Smithsonian Institution’s museum of international modern and contemporary art, has nearly 12,000 paintings, sculptures, photographs, mixed-media installations, works on paper and new media works in its collection. The Hirshhorn presents varied exhibitions and offers an array of public programs that explore modern and contemporary art. Located at Independence Avenue and Seventh Street S.W., the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (except Dec. 25). Admission to the galleries and special programs is free. For more information about exhibitions and events, please visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Follow the Hirshhorn on Facebook at facebook.com/hirshhorn and on Twitter at twitter.com/hirshhorn. To request accessibility services, please contact Kristy Maruca at marucak@si.edu or (202) 633-2796, preferably two weeks in advance.

# # #

This entry was posted in Press Release. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Thursday, June 21, 2007

Just Another Indentured Servant?

During most of the time I lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia many moons ago I was either hugely pregnant or I was toting a baby around. The ongoing situation was not very condusive to sightseeing in and around my temporary home while Dear Hubby was in the Navy.

There I was in a veritable hotbed of history---one location even bore my maiden name---and I, historical freak that I am, was stymied by motherhood.

Now before you get the wrong idea let me state Dear Son was welcomed with open arms and ample lap. I simply look back on those two years spent in and around the sights of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Jamestown, and can’t believe I allowed so many historical gems to slip through my fingers.

I did manage to make it to Williamsburg, but another place I toured was the Adam Thoroughgood House the subject of my wordless entry this week.

Frumteacher correctly identified the location while The Tour Marm finally linked the house and my hints to a news story concerning the height of Americans. When I heard the story I began to wonder how it could be used with students. Then I remembered my visit to the Thoroughgood house. I was the tourist that asked the stupid question regarding how small the furniture in the house was. I think my question was, “Did ya’ll cut this stuff down? It looks like doll furniture?”

It did. I’m only slightly over five feet and I towered over the table and chairs. The docent informed us that during the early colonial period people were much shorter and the furniture would have been normal to people living in the 17th Century.

Now let’s take a look at the news story from Good Morning America yesterday.

A study completed by the University of Munich and Princeton University found the U.S. had the shortest population in the industrialized world and the reason may have to do with way people live.

From the Daily Kent Stater back in March:

In the United States, the current average height of an adult man is 5 feet, 9 inches, and for an adult woman, it is 5 feet, 3 inches, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In the Netherlands, though, men average 6 feet tall while the average woman is 5 feet, 7 inches, according to the Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands.

What’s that you say? So what? Well…….

What if I shared pictures of colonial furniture from the 17th century and discussed why things appear so low to the ground?

What if I then shared the news story?

This could possibly be an interesting way to pose an ongoing mystery for students to work on for several weeks. Why were early colonists so short? How did Americans get the distinction of being the tallest? All year long we could refer back to the story and analyze new information in relation to the growing height of Americans. Finally….how did America loose their title? Again, another mystery would be posed.

Ok….if that doesn’t float your instructional boat Adam Thoroughgood is a great early colonist for students to learn about. Many of my students tend to think about indentured servants as no better than slaves themselves. Thoroughgood’s story was common of many young men in England during the late 1600s and early 1700s. Since he was the seventh son of an Anglican vicar he was not the first born son and had no hope of an inheritance even though his family was very prominent in Kings Lyn, Norfolk, England, so at age 18 he sailed for the colonies as an indentured servant.

Once he worked his contract he was able to own land and he became very involved by serving in the House of Burgesses, Governor’s Council, and Justice of the Court. Records indicate he was also a captain in the milita. After Virginia became a royal colony many places were renamed or named for the first time. Thoroughgood is given credit for naming New Norfolk County (later the city of Norfolk) in 1624 after his home in England.

Thoroughgood increased his land holdings when he returned to England and persuaded 105 new colonists to sail back to Virginia with him. For his trouble he received 5,000 acreas and his actions insured George Washingon would be born as one of the new colonists was Augustine Warner, Washington’s early ancestor. The ancestor of George Mason, another important Patriot, was also in that colonist group.

Thoroughgood died at an early age (36). The Adam Thoroughgood House…though it bears his name…was not a place where he ever lived. It is believed it belonged to his son. Unfortunately Thoroughgood’s grave along with others from the time period is now submerged in the water and mud of the Lynnhaven River. Some unconfirmed stories state swimmers in the early 1800s could still feel the tombstones with their toes.

The house itself is a symbol of upward mobility in early American society and shows how architecture did change over time. While there were some alterations to the structure during restoration in 1957 the brick is a common building material used in Virginia at the time the house was built. The chimney on the north side is set within the wall in order to warm the house again north winds while the chimney on the south end of the house is on the exterior.

So, I'm going to print out those articles about Americans getting shorter and I'm going to head to the basement and stuff the copies in my Early Colonization unit book. You never know....they might come in handy.

The Tour Marm said...

Firstly, I apologize for being so dogged in my pursuit of the answer.

I'm a bit skeptical about statistics; I don't dispute the findings, just the reasons.

Here is my theory:

My former roommate is marrying Kuinert, a lovely fellow from the Netherlands, this coming August. And yes, he is tall, and so is she. In fact, everyone in his family is over six feet tall! He was attracted by her height, amongst her other fine qualities.

My roommate will be the first non-Dutch person in his family. According to him. the Dutch tend to marry Dutch, despite the influx of immigrants to the Netherlands. It is a relatively small, insular-like country with a culture that is much different from her neighbors. So there is an argument of something akin to inbreeding

In colonial days, the British tended to marry the British. The great families of Virginia plantation owners intermarried. (I'm related to several people in the Kinsale area, in at least two ways! (My own father ( over 6 feet tall, first married outside the family (my mother) and then his second marriage was to his second cousin!)

The United States has in the past 50 years accepted so many immigrants from Asia and Central and South America, which have had historically, shorter populations. After a generation or two, these new Americans start to assimilate and intermarry. These unions, once deemed unacceptable, are now commonplace.

I believe this is a more feasible explanation.

Frumteacher said...

Thank you for this wonderful lesson idea, it really is an interesting way to look at history in a modern perspective. I love the detail about the chimneys.

Tour marm's idea does sound feasible. It would be interesting though to find out more about the lengths of Scandinavian and German people. I don't think their approach to 'intermarriage' is very different and they do tend to have the same looks.
BTW, I am 5"8 and most people around me here, including women, are even taller.

Thanks for linking to my blog in your post! ;)

Mister Teacher said...

One of the reasons I LOVED my trip over to the Netherlands...
The women over there are all tall, thin, blonde, and GORGEOUS!!


text:
Desegregation with a Wink

Fact & Fiction

Mr. Small is the author of The Presidency of Richard Nixon, which will appear this spring in paperback.

 Whether its Military, History, War tactics and strategies or weaponry Military book club covers it all.

Reacting to the furious assault on the Republican Party's alleged racism inspired by Trent Lott's foot-in-mouth disease, George Shultz, Richard Nixon's first secretary of labor, contended in a recent New York Times op-ed piece that his party has gotten a bum rap. He pointed with pride to his leadership of the Cabinet Committee on Education that helped to end, once and for all, de jure segregation in Southern schools. And he correctly highlighted Nixon's support of his activities.

In 1969, 68 percent of black children in the South attended all-black schools. By the time Nixon left office, that number had fallen to 8 percent. And it is true, that the approach his administration adopted to enforce the 1954 Brown decision, involving schmoozing with white and black leaders in state desegregation committees, did the trick with relatively little resistance from hardliners. Indeed, although the Nixon administration moved with more than "all deliberate speed" to facilitate the ending of de jure segregation in the South, his party not only held onto its gains in that region but just about completed the trend that had begun in the Eisenhower years to make the once solid Democratic South the most important Republican stronghold in the nation. According to Nixon's Southern strategist, Harry Dent, to desegregate the South and still hold on to the loyalties of Southerners was the "miracle of this age."

In 1969, the issue had reached a major crisis point with HEW, under the approach adopted by the Johnson administration, poised to deny funds to laggard southern school districts that were resisting court-ordered desegregation. Nixon, who did believe that it was time to get the issue behind him and the nation, cleverly decided to alter that approach by moving the matter of the districts that were in non-compliance from HEW to the federal judiciary.

When, in August 1969, he announced a delay in the implementation of HEW's previously announced "punishment" for thirty-three school districts in Mississippi, sixty-five of the seventy-four line officers in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department publicly protested the new approach. But now the wrath of the Southerners would be directed against the federal judiciary, not Nixon's HEW, headed by his friend, the moderate Robert Finch.

As Shultz pointed out, Nixon did meet periodically with Southern leaders to urge them to accept desegregation plans, but one reason why the former labor secretary's account may have come as something of a surprise is that the spotlight-loving president played those activities in a low key. He ordered that "our people have got to quit bragging about school desegregation. We do what the law requires-nothing more." He agreed with an advisor in 1971 who wrote that "if we can keep liberal writers convinced that we are doing what the Court requires, and our conservative Southern friends convinced that we are not doing any more than the Court requires, I think we can walk this tightrope until November 1972."

Furthermore, many Southerners took heart when Nixon tried to appoint two of their number to the Supreme Court, who, according to him, were "distinguished jurists" who "had the misfortune of being born in the South." They were pleased as well when the administration tried to eviscerate the Voting Rights Act when it came up for renewal in 1969. And they were elated when he threatened to support a constitutional amendment against cross-district busing, even though he commented privately that "I know it's not a good idea, but it'll make those bastards [in the Democratic Party] take a stand and it's a political plus for us."

If one accepts the notion that presidents can take the credit for all the progressive legislation and social and economic progress that occur during their administrations even if they were not enthusiastic about them, then Shultz has a point; the Republican Party, which ran the country when de jure segregation finally ended in the South, deserves its props. After all, Clinton Democrats proudly celebrated "their" Welfare Reform legislation.

Nonetheless, Nixon helped to desegregate the South with a wink, in effect telling his emerging new base that he sympathized with them but there was little else he could do given those expletive deleted liberal judges. He would, of course, support their concerns in other ways, as he certainly did on the way to creating the new Republican majority that won five of the next eight presidential elections, including his second run in 1972.

comments powered by Disqus

More Comments:

Brett Kottmann - 7/7/2003

Since 1960:

Democrat "southern white males" who ran for President as a party nominee:

Lyndon Johnson
Jimmy Carter
Bill Clinton
Al Gore

Democrats who ran as a third party candidate:

George Wallace.

Repblican "southern white males" who ran for President as a party nominee:

George W. Bush (and that is in debate as liberal southerners called him a carpetbagger!)

Liberals simply assert that Republicans are racists and offer little proof. One of their standard assumptions is that southern white males are racists.

How incredibly biased, racist and ignorant!

Just check the results from Presidential elections. The south isn't any more "solid" for Republicans than any other part of the country, and it has been the Democrats running "southern white males", not Republicans.

Hope this helps!

jade - 2/7/2003

everyone in American politics seems to just want to make there own face look better and to make what they are doing look better.
Well, why not actually make things better and step up and disarm, set an example for the rest of the world?

Richard Dyke - 1/23/2003

I did not read in Small's article that Nixon alone created the new Republican majority, as Mr. Chamberlain appears to claim. In fact, Small clearly points out that the South's (indeed, the country's) turn toward the Republican party began with Eisenhower. Like Nixon, Eisenhower was a reluctant civil rights participant. In Eisenhower's case, he reluctantly intervened in Little Rock's Central High School desegregation.

It seems to me that it might be profitably argued that both Nixon and Eisenhower (and Reagan and the two Bushes) have won the hearts of the South less because of reluctant support for desegregation and much more for their overall approach about allowing the states maximum flexibility in internal decisions vis-a-vis the Democrats' emphasis on the federal government and the courts as prime social movers in our society. With the new concept of revenue sharing, Nixon especially gave the states a greater role in state and local planning for social programs than had heretofore been the case. Southerners especially appreciated the autonomy that this afforded their states. The desegregation controversy has largely passed, but it can be argued that Nixon's new emphasis on the states--expanded during the Reagan years through growing use of "block grants"--won over the South to a new appreciation for Republicanism, which meshed more closely with the South's old "states rights" philosophy than with the federal social activism of the Democrats.

Oscar Chamberlain - 1/21/2003

There's some interesting material here, more than enough to get me to look at George Schultz's essay.

I am puzzled by one statement of Small's. He states that "the Republican Party . . . ran the country when de jure segregation finally ended in the South."

I don't think so. The Democrats had majorities in Congress. To be sure, the power of that majority was limited by Southern Democrats, who often worked with conservatie Republicans, but that is a very different thing.

Nor did Nixon "create the new Republican majority."

Nixon's opportunity, and challenge, was that Americans had begun to shift away from liberalism but they did not have a clear destination in mind. Southern whites, and ethnic whites in the North, could be appealed to because of their disaffection over forced desegregation. But outside of that issue, the conservative appeal was still limited.

When Nixon discredited himself (and dragged down other republicans with him) in Watergate, voters returned to the Democrats and seemed willing to support a moderate Democratic vision from Jimmy Carter.

Carter's mistakes, and a world situation that might have swamped anyone, led to the election of Reagan and a Republican Senate. But it was Reagan's perceived success (I didn't perceive it but a lot of Americans disagreed) that began to make conservatism a dominant--but never all powerful--force, and made voting Republican a respectable option for the majority of voters.


text:
From Hitchwiki
Jump to: navigation, search

Castletown is a village in southern Isle of Man. Ballasalla is a village just to the north, and between them is Ronaldsway Airport.

Hitchhiking out

The A5 Douglas-Port Erin road bypasses Castletown. Most traffic is here.

East towards Douglas

From the village centre, follow the main road east, round the castle, past the harbour and onto the A5. Hitchhike from the petrol station, or stand on the small junctions just before the petrol station. Waiting time 5-20 minutes.

North towards St. John's, Peel, Ramsey

Get to the A5 bypass, and walk until you find the traffic lights. This is the start of the A3 to Ramsey. Head north (towards the mountains) and find a wide enough spot that you like. Don't walk too far, because it is a straight road, there is no official speed limit and cars will go VERY fast.

West towards Port Erin, Port St. Mary

From the village centre, follow the main road wast, away from the castle and get to the junction with the A5 bypass. Hitchhike from this junction with a sign saying whatever you like. Waiting time 0-5 minutes.

By sea towards England, Wales, Ireland

The harbour in Castletown is not very busy, but there are a few small private boats that come and every day. Popular destinations include Barrow-in-Furness, Fleetwood, Liverpool, Llandudno, Holyhead, Dundalk, Bangor and Belfast. Stick around for a while and don't be afraid to ask if anyone needs help...

By air

Ronaldsway Airport is very close. It wouldn't be easy to hitchhike a plane from here, but you never know.

Public Transport

The number 1 bus travels between Douglas and the Calf Sound, and passes through Castletown every 30 minutes in each direction.

There is a steam railway that travels between Douglas and Port Erin. It's slower and more expensive than the bus, but it's a lot more fun.

Places to Visit

Castle Rushen is a very smart and well-restored medieval castle, and was for a long time the main castle on the Isle of Man, while Castletown was the Island's capital city. The inner rooms are decorated to recreate 15th- and 18th-century life. In the 19th century the castle was used as the Island's prison. From the roof of the castle you can see across the whole southern coastline of the Island.

The Southern 100 motorcycle races start on the A5 bypass.

Places to Avoid

Castletown pubs are maybe the roughest places on the Isle of Man at night.

Accommodation and Sleep

The King William's College provides hostel accommodation with prices starting at £14 per night, but you may have to deal with loads of screaming rich kids.


text:
Sunday, January 18, 2015

70s Music Artist Watch: T.Rex

T.Rex, were originally named after the prehistoric monster Tyrannosauruses Rex in the 1960s, and fronted by Marc Bolan,, who had there first album as T.Rex in 1970 with "T.Rex", and he really did change 70s music with his GLAM style..
The first single hit of the seventies got as high as number two in 1970 called "Ride A White Swan" and came from Marc's own writing ability, with a little help from his wife.

Marc was born in 1947  as Mark Feld, and died in a car crash at the top of his game in 1977, and along with David Bowie, he is the true king of the Glam Rock phase, in fact Marc actually played on Bowie's 1970 hit "Prettiest Star".

Into 1971 and T.Rex were on a roll , as there very next single release "Hot Love" charted at No1 for six weeks , and only got to No 72 in the US. Marc had said that this record was inspired by "Hey Jude".
The breakthrough hit in America was "Bang A Gong( Get It On)", called "Get It On" in the rest of the world because there was already a hit called "Get It On " in the US by a group called Chase. Marc's version came from the album "Electric Warrior" which also included the hit "Jeepster" , which Marc originally did not want released, but it became the very next hit. This time it was Chuck Berry who inspired this song with his hit "Little Queenie"

Now 70s music  moved into 1972 and the US is losing interest, but  in the UK the next single "Telegram Sam", from the album "The Slider", which was recorded in Paris to avoid some UK tax problems, and this single was the first on Marc's new label that he owned.
Already with two Number One singles from  1971, "Telegram Sam", gave him his first in 1972 along with his next two singles, that also reached No1.
"Metal Guru", from the "Slider"  and  a favourite of mine "Children Of The Revolution" about teen anx no less,.

The last hit of 1972 was "Solid Gold Easy Action" from the album "Tanx" which was a much deeper and darker album from most of the others.

1973 the hits did not chart as high, that is apart from the first single that year , which still got to number one in Ireland and number three in the UK, called "20TH Century Boy again from "Tanx", the follow up  hits "The Groover" and "Truck On (Tyke)" were OK hits, but the bubble seemd to have burst.
1974 saw T.Rex chart with "Teenage Dream" from the album "Light Of Love", which was a minor single hit in itself, along with  "Zip Gun Boogie", but for me the hit  from 1975 was "New York City".
Other smaller hits like "Dreamy Lady","London Boys","I Love To Boogie" and "Laser Love" followed in 1975 and 1976, with nothing really charting after that.

Band member Mickey Finn joined the group in 1970 and died in 2003 from liver problems caused by alcohol.

Band member Steve Currie also joined in 1970 and died in  1981 in Portugal in a car crash.

Band member Dino Dines died in 2004.

Interesting to note that Herbie Flowers was a member of T.Rex for a short while in the 1970s too.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for visiting the Hits of the 70s
Please come back soon, we aim to post new material every few days. Thank you.


text:
Paper Chase

Neuroscience: Updating views of visual updating.

Nature. Mar 27, 2014;507(7493):434-5.
Assad JA.

Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto 38068, Italy, and the Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.


text:
Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

'American Idol' Finalist Elise Testone: I Wasn't Rude To J. Lo

andy-swift-115x115 Thu, April 19, 2012 2:21pm EDT by Andy Swift 21 Comments

Elise defends her attack on the ‘Idol’ judges. Will her bad attitude get her booted from the competition?

Viewers were stunned when Elise Testone talked back to Jennifer Lopez on the April 18 episode of American Idol, but the controversial contestant doesn’t think she did anything wrong. “I don’t feel like I was being rude,” she told and other outlets immediately after the episode aired. “The thing that compelled me to do it was [J. Lo] said I wasn’t … connecting with my song, and I didn’t want to stand there and smile.”

“I wanted to engage … and I didn’t discredit anything [the judges] said,” Elise continued. “I just felt like I needed to explain that I am always approaching my songs for an emotional standpoint, but maybe they brought to my attention that this competition is making me forget.”

We respect Elise for standing her ground, but we have a feeling her decision to challenge J. Lo may have also sealed her fate in the competition. We wouldn’t be surprised to see her voted off tonight. Would you?

— Written by Andy Swift, Reporting by Russ Weakland


text:
Daily Horoscopes, Monthly Horoscopes, 2013 Horoscopes, Love Horoscopes And Zodiac Sign Compatibilit. Powered by Blogger.

Monday, 4 February 2013

Libra Horoscope 2013 In Urdu

Venus is the lord of your sign. You have attractive personality. Morally you are good. By nature you have sharpness and respect for others. You have far view of life and with this you are realistic and idealistic.by nature you are balanced and treat everyone equally. You can be notorious too.Feeling of satisfaction is in your behavior.

READ MORE : Libra Horoscope 2013 In Urdu

  © Blogger templates The Professional Template by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP


text:
Home | Tag Archives: Ian Charleson

Tag Archives: Ian Charleson

Film Review: Opera (1987)

SYNOPSIS: When the leading diva of Verdi’s “Macbeth” is run over by a car, her understudy, Betty (Cristina Marsillach), takes over the role. Things go from bad to worse when the madman begins to kill other members of the cast — and forces Betty to watch. The finale in this exercise in baroque horror from the mind of frightmeister Dario …

Read More »


text:
Leave a comment

Chris Brown

For once we’re on Team Breezy’s side! We think this is simply a matter of Chris’s neighbors hoping if they continuously give him enough troubles he’ll pick up and move! According to TMZ, Brown’s neighbors called the police on him last week at 3 am for talking too loud. Yes, talking too loud is what we said!

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ that cops responded after neighbors complained that he and his friends were outside speaking at decibels above their comfort level.

Allegedly the po-po’s had a discussion with Chris about the noise and Chris was super cooperative and ushered everyone inside the house immediately!

Often times Breezy does things that result in him getting in his own way but we really don’t think this is one of those times.

Hang in there Chris, hopefully they will get bored and leave you alone.

Charlamagne Compared Miley Cyrus To Vera De Milo

[Breaking News] Tim Tebow Dropped By The New England Patriots

Jay Z’s “Made In America” Documentary Directed By Ron Howard [TRAILER]

Racist Big Brother Contestant Finally Voted Out Of Big Brother House

SNL’s Jay Pharoah Releases Hilarious Kanye West Parody Video “I Am A Dog” [VIDEO]

Like TheUrbanDaily.com on Facebook to stay updated with the latest entertainment news and original interviews!

comments – Add Yours

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 547 other followers