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Community Education

Community Education

Community Education

Columbia College Community Education provides opportunities for education, enrichment, and adventure.  The courses are not-for-credit ranging from cooking to fitness boot camp and from kid’s camps to art.  Community Education is a self-supporting department, which doesn't require resources from the College's general fund rather it sustains itself through registration fees. Classes are offered to all ages.
 Fall 2016 Community Education brochure

Click on  the Register Now button to view and register for classes.

What is Community Education?
- Short classes and activities
- Not-for-credit
- No tests or grades
- Easy registration
- Low fees
- Outstanding instructors

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Do you have an idea for a Community Education course?  What types of courses, bus trips, and other activities would you like to see included in future Community Education offerings?  Send your suggestions to Tiffany Moore at

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We are now accepting proposals for Spring 2017. Please turn them in before December 1, 2016 to Tiffany Moore at Click here for more information.


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Food for the Poor Godspy.com: Faith at the Edge

Angelo Matera | 02.15.08

The Joy of Nada—Doing Nothing for Lent

Pascal said “the sole cause of man’s unhappiness” is that he doesn’t know “how to stay quietly in his room.”

That suggests something you can do for Lent—nothing. It’s not too late. If you’ve forgotten how, “All Nothing, All the Time,” a travel article in today’s New York Times, can help.

“Aggressive inactivity,” says the article’s author, is an ”art form… that deserves a guide every bit as detailed as a Fodor’s or Bradt.” He’s right about that (see the links within this post).
The article, though, seems to suggest that the only place to experience nothingness is in an expensive room in a cozy inn located near a scenic ski slope or quaint village, Why not a nearby YMCA, or even a Starbucks? The fact that the article appears in the Times’ “Escapes” travel section probably has something to do with why.

Still, the tradition of getting away from it all—to a monastery or a retreat house, for instance—is well-established, and you have to admire the Times for slipping deep thoughts into what could have been a straightforward sop to travel advertisers. And to its credit, the article does contain more than a little wisdom about a form of penance that’s not only more difficult than it seems, but is the perfect antidote to the workaholism that’s become epidemic.

One reason we’re addicted to activity is that it takes our mind off questions we don’t like to ask—What’s the meaning of life? What happens when we die? Why does God allow evil? These are the questions that Pascal said gave rise to distractions like fox hunting—and today, monster truck shows. Being a Christian doesn’t settle these questions, otherwise theologians would be out of work. And the spiritual growth that comes from grappling with the answers is a life-long process.

But I don’t want to get too lofty. What’s good about the article’s simple spiritual program is that it’s realistic. Sure, you can aim higher for Lent, and read a spiritual classic by one of the great mystics, like St. Teresa of Avila or Jean Pierre de Caussade, or the book with the best all-time mystical title—The Cloud of Unknowing. If you’d rather watch than read, you could rent Into Great Silence on dvd,  the acclaimed documentary that makes you feel like you’ve actually joined a Carthusian monastery (I’m not kidding). If you’re ready for them these works are fantastic, especially if you have a spiritual director to guide you. But for most of us, it’s best to heed what Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete said when I asked him about St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul: Don’t try this at home.

Instead, start with the article’s sensible plan. For some reasonable period of time, do…

…Nothing that involves spending money.
…Nothing that requires strapping something to your feet.
…Nothing done with a device that can be purchased at Best Buy.

You can avoid the second one fairly easily if you’re not near snow. But the first and the third will obviously be tough, although the coming recession (partly caused by a binge of having and doing too much) will make them easier to tackle.

What’s the point of doing nothing? To commune with God? That’s reason enough. But can’t you commune with him while doing something like feeding the poor, visiting the sick, or some other act of love? Sure. But often time, we don’t have the spiritual strength to take on such charitable works—or just show compassion to the person closest to us—because we haven’t connected with the source of that strength, through silence, solitude and prayer.

An innkeeper’s observation about the transformation she often sees in her guests sums it up:

“They come almost irritated, some of them, with this angry edge to them,” she said. “And when they’re ready to leave on Sunday, they’re some of the nicest people you’ll meet.”

That’s just after a weekend. Imagine what an entire Lent of periodic nothingness could do?

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TOPICS:    lent | nothing | travel

By Marty AT 02.16.08 02:30PM Not Rated

I have so many grand plans every Lent, but this is what I really need to do.  Sometimes, it is even hard to go a car ride alone, and keep the radio off.  Silence is hard.

By star AT 02.18.09 07:03PM Not Rated

It really takes lots of ” will power ” to get away from this electronically ” messy ” world, to find precious time for solitude, time with God alone, in order for us to hear clearly His voice especially during this holiest time of the year. Distractions are all over us ! It takes prayer and the decision to really set a date and time to respond to Jesus’ invitation , a call to love Him. Have a blessed Lent everyone!

By chassup AT 02.19.09 10:27AM Not Rated

Very timely piece, Angelo.  Every time man invents, promises of freedom follow, freeing up time… old hours-long chores are now made simpler, quicker, automated.  Unfortunately, we have filled all this “extra” time with noise, confusion, mind-candy and busyness.  The current angst only adds to the mental distractions, further crowding out quiet time with God.

I guess I’m fortunate in this regard, I’ve always been a bit of a loner.  I like being alone in quiet solitude.  One of my favorite times is being in a church before the Blessed Sacrament when no one else is present, especially at night with only the sanctuary candle for light.  The Gospel stories of Jesus frequently going off alone to pray all night make sense to me… but I have to work for a living, aloneness seems a luxury.  My family thinks I’m anti-social.

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Today's Devotional

Right and Wrong Words
Is your tongue quick to criticize but slow to apologize?

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JOHN CROWDER New False Teacher/Prophet

antioch7 on Youtube posted this so visit him also.

John Crowder Benjamin Dunn of the new mystics along with other NEW Appostle/Prophets have taken false doctrine and teacherings to a new level. This series puts it in perspective. Roman Catholicism, Occultism, New Age is just the begining of what you get with these guys. More spiritual poison to pollute the pre-existant cesspool of Neo Christianity.

Just when you thought Benny, Kenny, Todd and Rodney couldn't red line the heresey meter any further here comes

John Crowder, Keith Miller, Bidal Torrez & son Jeremiah Torrez, Joshua Mills, Patricia King/Extreme Prophetic, Lucy Rael(produces Feathers & oil from her palms??) & husband Sito, Georgian & Winnie Banov, Todd Bently, Matt Sorger, Randy Clark, Ryan Wyatt, Lance Wallnau, Michael Maiden, Rick Joyner-Talks to the Dead, John Paul Jackson, Che Ahn, Bill Johnson, John Arnott(Toronto Vineyard), Todd Bentley, Kim Clement, Chuck Pierce, Cindy Jacobs, C Peter Wagner, Rick Warren(A NWO Sympathizer), John Dawson, Jonas Clark, Kansas City Prophets - Paul Cain, Bob Jones, Mike Bickle.

Teachings about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Classic Christianity as practiced by the apostles, taught by these NEW apostles/prophet sare turned into Doctrine of demons, devils and nicolaitans they are nothing more than Charismatic Popes.

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Today's Devotional

Right and Wrong Words
Is your tongue quick to criticize but slow to apologize?

read more

Let's Make ItFacebook official!

Home For The Holiday's Flash Mob!

T-Mobile is at it again with a surprise for the shoppers at the Chicagoland area's Woodfield Mall with fantastic performance and updated spin on the holiday classic, (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays.

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World honors D-Day's fallen, 70 years on

An American flag is placed in the sand of Omaha Beach, western France, Friday, June 6, 2014. Veterans and Normandy residents are paying tribute to the thousands who gave their lives in the D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied France 70 years ago. World leaders and dignitaries including President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II will gather to honor the more than 150,000 American, British, Canadian and other Allied D-Day troops who risked and gave their lives to defeat Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)AP

COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France -- It was a day of pride, remembrance and honors for those who waded through blood-tinged waves, climbed razor-sharp cliffs or fell from the skies, staring down death or dying in an invasion that portended the fall of the Third Reich and the end of World War II.

It was also a day of high diplomacy for a Europe not completely at peace.

After 70 years, a dwindling number of veterans, civilian survivors of the brutal battle for Normandy, and 19 world leaders and monarchs celebrated on Friday the sacrifices of D-Day.

The events spread across the beaches and lush farmlands of Normandy, in western France, had an added sense of urgency this year: It would be the last grand commemoration for many of the veterans, whether they relived the anniversary at home in silence or were among about 1,000 who crossed continents to be present despite their age.

For President Barack Obama, transmitting the memory of their "longest day" means keeping intact the values that veterans fought and died for.

"When the war was won, we claimed no spoils of victory -- we helped Europe rebuild," Obama said in a speech at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. It is the site where 9,387 fallen soldiers rest under white marble tombstones on a bluff above Omaha Beach, the bloodiest among five beach landings by U.S. and British troops.

"This was democracy's beachhead," he said, assuring veterans that "your legacy is in good hands."

F-15 jets flew over the cemetery in missing-man formation, a 21 gun salute boomed and taps sounded.

The day drew royals including Queen Elizabeth II of England and the king of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, as well as political leaders from across Europe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also joined in, along with a small group of German soldiers, as a sign of European unity.

Both symbolism and pragmatism were on French President Francois Hollande's agenda. With an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had been elbowed out of G-7 talks a day earlier, the ceremonies also became a moment to try to deflate the tense situation in Ukraine.

Dancers re-enacted the drama of the Nazi takeover and battles across Europe against Adolf Hitler's forces on a stage at Sword Beach, one of the landing points near Ouistreham, a small port where British troops landed and fought their way to Pegasus Bridge, a key route. Ouistreham was the site of the main international ceremony.

It was 6:30 a.m. on June 6, 1944, when soldiers started wading ashore. Operation Overlord, as the invasion was code-named, was the first step in breaching Hitler's hold on Europe.

Besides Sword and Omaha, Allied forces landed on Utah, Juno and Gold beaches -- all code names.


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From her funky hair to her numerous tattoos to her multi-colored toe nails, Lyndsey’s personal style is so intense that it bursts from every part of her. The full-time mom and part-time Bath & Body Works employee showcases her favorite colors — hot pink and purple — proudly in her hair and eye makeup. She also flaunted two matching week-old tattoos of pink bows with blue hearts on the backs of her calves.

“I love tattoos,” says Lyndsey, who said her style and personality are “definitely colorful, fun, creative. I try to be somewhat edgy, but girly. I’m big-time girly. I love my hair. It makes me happy. I like to match my makeup to my hair.”

Necklace, earrings: Claire’s
Shirt: Pink Zone
Sandals: Target

$5 off


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Courtesy: NCAA

Canisius, MAAC Named Frozen Four Host Finalist

Courtesy: Canisius College Athletics
Release: 10/30/2013
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Canisius College, Niagara University and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference were selected as a finalist for hosting the Frozen Four, the NCAA announced on Wednesday.

Canisius, the MAAC and Niagara are one of 10 finalists bidding to serve as a host for the one of the Frozen Four events held in 2015 through 2018. The arena along with the Buffalo Sabres, Canisius and Niagara previously hosted the event in 2003.

The finalists for 81 of the 89 championships were selected by the respective sport committees, which are made up of coaches and administrators from NCAA member schools and conferences, from an original pool of 1,948 bids.

The committees will select the winning sites, which must then be approved by the appropriate divisional championships cabinets/committees before being announced via webcast at on Dec. 11. The announcement will also include all pre-determined regional host sites.

The MAAC has also submitted bids to be a regional host for the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse quarterfinal rounds at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Those bids cover from 2014-15 through 2017-18. The MAAC was also selected as a finalist to host NCAA Championships for women's rowing and wrestling.

In March 2014, the MAAC will serve as co-host of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship second and third rounds at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, along with league members Canisius and Niagara. This year’s championship marks the fifth time since 2000 that Buffalo has served as a host city, and all four previous events were sellouts.

08/17/2016 - Athletic Department
Canisius Announces Young Alumni Ticket Plans
08/09/2016 - Athletic Department
Supporters Enjoy 19th Annual Blue and Gold Classic
08/02/2016 - Athletic Department
Canisius Athletics Signs Deal with Niagara Scenic
06/30/2016 - Athletic Department
Travis Wright Named Male Athlete of the Year
06/28/2016 - Athletic Department
Athlete of the Year Nominee - Shane Conacher
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Stetson is at 4-4 in Atlantic Sun Conference play after win over Kennesaw State.
by: Stetson University
Men's Hoops Goes For Fourth Straight at Mercer Saturday
Courtesy: Stetson University
Release:  01/24/2014
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MACON, Ga. – The Stetson men’s basketball will aim to win its fourth straight game on Saturday when the Hatters take on first place Mercer at Hawkins Arena. The Hatters and the Bears are scheduled to tip-off at 3:00 p.m. in the Atlantic Sun Conference contest in Macon.

After a successful weekend at home, garnering wins over ETSU and USC Upstate, Stetson (6-14, 4-4) earned its first road victory of the year with a 68-65 triumph at Kennesaw State on Thursday. The Hatters’ three-game win streak is their longest of the season, and it is currently the second longest in the A-Sun after Mercer’s six-game streak.

Senior Willie Green has led the Hatters in scoring in all three of their games during the current streak, scoring 15 against ETSU, and then totaling 24 in each of Stetson’s last two wins over Upstate and Kennesaw. Green has improved his scoring average to 14.3 on the season (10th in A-Sun), and 16.0 during league play (6th).

Mercer (16-5, 7-1), meanwhile, welcomes the Hatters to town just after taking control of first place in the league. The Bears downed defending champion Florida Gulf Coast 68-55 for their sixth straight victory and improved Mercer to 11-0 at home this season. Senior guard Langston Hall, who leads the Bears in scoring and leads the league in assists, went for 18 points and 11 assists against the Eagles.

The Hatters’ history with Mercer goes back a long time, as Stetson holds a 74-56 advantage over the Bears in the all-time series. The first ever meeting resulted in a 43-27 Mercer victory back on Feb. 2, 1920, and the Bears have had the Hatters’ number lately as well, winning the last five matchups.

Last season Mercer swept the season series, but Stetson was right in both games against the A-Sun Regular Season Champs. The Bears won 70-64 to open league play in Macon on Dec. 31, and then topped Stetson 77-65 to cap off regular season play in DeLand on Mar. 2.

Saturday’s game can be heard live on WSBB AM 1230, WTJV AM 1490, and online at with Robbie Aaron on the call. The game can also be watched on ASun.TV. Live Stats, the @StetsonMBB Twitter feed, and Hat-Alerts are available for in-game updates.

Stetson Men's Basketball


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Devon Carter
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Dick Taylor Invitational Preview
Release: 01/17/2013

CHAPEL HILL — The University of North Carolina track and field teams host the Dick Taylor Invitational Friday and Saturday at the Eddie Smith Field House. Competition begins at 3 p.m. on Friday with the multis' portion of events and 10 a.m. on Saturday with the women's triple jump and shot put. An updated schedule for the meet can be found here.

The Tar Heels will compete against 10 teams in addition to hosting six clubs and several unattached individuals. Universities and colleges represented include Duke, NC State, Webber International, UNC Pembroke, Voorhees College, Alabama State, Jacksonville State, Methodist, Claflin, and St. Augustine's.

A recap of performances and full results will be available on at the conclusion of each day of the meet. The event is free to attend. Fan parking will be available at the Rams Head Deck at an hourly rate; more information on parking on campus before 5 p.m. can be found here.

UNC North Carolina Track & Field


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Daniel Guerrero
Daniel Guerrero
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas
High School: Moody High School
Position: Distance

2013 CROSS COUNTRY (FRESHMAN): Ran in five races during his freshman campaign … Placed 4th (39:02) in the 8-mile race at the Rio Grande Valley Classic with running partner Edgar Martinez … finished 32nd in the 8k race at the Southland Conference Championships.

HIGH SCHOOL: Ran for Robert Castaneda at Moody High School in Corpus Christi … qualified for state in cross country his senior season with the Trojans … from 2010-2013 he earned his way into the regional track meet.

PERSONAL: Born Daniel Guerrero on April 27, 1995 in Austin … parents are Simon and Gloria Guerrero … is the only son of the family, as he has three sisters.


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Style and Awards

I build all these high end bikes but I’m also the guy sweeping the floor at the end of the day and the guy answering the phone.

Its fun to meet up with friends at the bike competitions. Great Group of people - and I really enjoy building bikes to acheive a certain aesthetic and then take that same bike and see what we can do with it in Bonneville.

Roger Goldammer Custom Motorcycle Awards


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Walnut Ridge Arkansas Golf Courses

Walnut Ridge Golf & Country Club

Additional Golf Course Reviews:
Carroll County Country Club -- Great Course
Review by: D. Carriger I enjoy traveling to the Ozarks once a year. A trip to Carroll County CC is the highlight. A fun 9 hole course in great shape and a great price for all day golf!
From Kansas


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Adrian Golf Course

Hwy 91 S
Adrian, MN 56110
Phone: (507)483-2722

This rural community course has fairways which are bordered by mounding. Lateral water hazards come into play on seven holes. All but two holes have dogleg fairways, plus some of the greens are sloped. This is a unique course because of its double tee-box design. The scorecard doesn't show handicaps for individual holes.

Holes: 9Greens: Bent GrassFairways: Bent Grass

Tee Information:
TeeParYardageCourse RatingSlope

Greens Fees:$20 or Less
Course Type:semi-private
Dress Code:Shirt and shoes required
Season:May 1 to Oct 1
Guest Policy:

* Update this Course: Update/modify the details for this golf course's listing.
*All Greens Fees provided are subject to change. Please call the golf course to confirm the current fees.


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Pride Golf Tee Co. Prolength Plus 3 1/4" Golf Tees (135 Count)

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Pride Golf Tee 3-1/4" Professional Tee System Golf Tees - 135 Pack

The Pride Golf Tee 3-1/4" Professional Tee System Golf Tees are made of 100% hardwood and are 25% stronger than standard wooden tees. They are coated with lead-free paint and are designed for drivers at or over 360 cc in size.

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Most orders are shipped within 48 hours of online placement. Orders must be placed by 1pm (CST) Monday-Friday in order to be eligible for that day's “Overnight” or “2-Day Air” shipments. Orders for residential delivery placed on Sunday or Monday will not be shipped until Tuesday and orders for business delivery placed on weekends will not ship until Monday, so please take this into consideration when specifying expedited shipping requests.

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EU commissioner tells parliamentarians that delivering net neutrality will garner votes

Neelie Kroes reiterated her support for net neutrality and zero roaming commitment, but didn't present legislation on the issues

With an eye on next year's European elections, Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes on Thursday called on the European Parliament to support her longstanding plans to end roaming charges and guarantee net neutrality.

Though contrary to media reports no concrete legislation was presented, Kroes has been pushing for an end to roaming charges for some time and has managed to reduce them substantially in recent years. Her aim to see net neutrality enshrined across all 27 E.U. member states is also well documented, and her speech reiterated her position.

Kroes has been laying the groundwork for net neutrality for years. When she first appeared in a hearing before the European Parliament as a candidate for digital agenda commissioner in January 2010, she said that ISPs "shouldn't be allowed to limit the access to service or content out of commercial motivation." In April 2012 she instructed BEREC (the Body of Regulators on Electronic Communications) to carry out a study on the implications of net neutrality and in July 2012 she launched a public consultation on the subject.

Kroes' work followed moves made by the European Commission. As far back as 2009, the Commission's digital agenda departmentset its commitment to net neutrality.

However, when her home country of the Netherlands made net neutrality a legal requirement in June 2011, Kroes expressed concern that it had done so unilaterally, rather than waiting for E.U. legislation.

But that legislation was still not forthcoming on Thursday and no firm policy package was presented, although the Commissioner appeared to reiterate her commitment with one eye on the calendar.

Next year European elections for members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are scheduled, and Kroes appeared to be trading on that to gain support for her aims. She told tell MEPs that delivering net neutrality and ending roaming charges would allow them to tell voters that "the E.U. is relevant to their lives."

Kroes' term as commissioner also will end in 2014, so she will need to be re-appointed if she wants to continue serving in her current post. Thursday's speech appeared to be a strong effort to stay relevant.

"I want you to be able to go back to your constituents and say that you were able to end mobile roaming costs. I want you to be able to say that you saved their right to access the open Internet, by guaranteeing net neutrality. If we do this right, then digital connections can bring political connections, " said Kroes.

Her aim is to have a policy package approved "around Easter 2014." Given the relatively short timeframe, Kroes was realistic about making compromises: "I am not promising a single market package that gives you everything you dreamed of. This package will have to strike a sensitive balance if we are to agree to it quickly."

The current roaming regulation, which was proposed in July 2011, places caps on mobile data-roaming rates until June 30, 2017, with a new lower rate coming into force from July 2014. The cost of a text message between E.U. countries in 2014 will be no more than €0.06 (US$.08) and the cost of downloading from the Internet on a mobile outside a user's home country in the E.U. will be no more than €0.20 per megabyte.

In 2010, Kroes said that she wanted roaming charges to "approach zero" by 2015. Thursday's speech does not bring that reality any closer, but many MEPs are broadly supportive of her ambition.

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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.

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The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.

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The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.

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My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.

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Sony Super MU.TE.KI (HTDDW8500) home theatre system

Need more power than the regular Sony MU.TE.KI? Just add more speakers

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Sony Super MU.TE.KI (HTDDW8500)
  • Sony Super MU.TE.KI (HTDDW8500)
  • Sony Super MU.TE.KI (HTDDW8500)
  • Sony Super MU.TE.KI (HTDDW8500)
  • Expert Rating

    3.75 / 5

  • Quad subwoofers deliver good bass, 7-channel audio suits Blu-ray movies

  • Needs serious space, cabinets aren’t solidly constructed

Bottom Line

If you want big, booming, mate-impressing sound, then the Sony Super MU.TE.KI (HTDDW8500) has exactly what you need. It’s large and brash and delivers a huge amount of bass when needed.

Would you buy this?

The Sony Super MU.TE.KI (HTDDW8500) is a 7.4-channel surround sound system that doesn’t pull any punches. Everything you need to set up a large cinema room is included, so all you need to add is a big TV and a Blu-ray disc player.

Let’s be honest — the Super MU.TE.KI isn’t a hi-fi system that you would want to unpack every day. It comprises two floor-standing speakers, five surround speakers including a centre, three separate amplifiers and four subwoofers. With a total shipping weight of 105 kilograms it’s not very small-car or small-apartment friendly, and that’s before you find the room to store it all and set the system up. We tried setting up the system in a variety of fashions, ranging from a proper 7.1-style surround sound configuration with all the subwoofers bunched together to stacking the speakers, amplifiers and subwoofers in towers on top of each other. Either way, you’ll need a lot of spare floor-space.

After you’ve placed everything carefully, take it all back down again, because each individual speaker has to have speaker wire connecting it to the amplifiers. Forgot that, didn’t you? With a total of 11 speakers you’ll spend an hour threading and connecting cables; after it’s all set up, you won’t want to move it so be very sure you’ve got everything in the right place.

The three amplifiers — a central A/V receiver (which also powers the speakers) and two discrete subwoofer amplifiers — make an impressive stack. Each subwoofer amplifier has its own volume control, allowing you to easily set bass levels, but no power switch. The amplifiers are controlled remotely through the central receiver so if you want to cut off bass you’ll need to turn the volume down on both subwoofer amps. The A/V receiver also doesn’t pack in too many buttons, with a dial for selecting input and a volume control the most prominent features. The only other button you’ll need day-to-day is the Multi Stereo button, which matrixes a stereo signal to every speaker. For everything else, you can use the remote.

The A/V receiver’s video switching capabilities make it a good choice for a person with plenty of digital video devices. Three HDMI, three component and four composite inputs as well as a whole swag of analog and digital audio connectors mean you can plug in a range of devices simultaneously. Similarly, you can output video via HDMI, component or composite if needed. The receiver also up-scales lower resolution content to 1080p when using the HDMI output, doing so reasonably well. Plenty of detail was revealed in our test DVD of The Matrix without significant introduction of interpolated noise or artefacts.

Like the slightly less impressive non-super MU.TE.KI (HTDDW7500) hi-fi system, the Super MU.TE.KI (HTDDW7500) is not meek when it comes to sound. With the subwoofers set to half-power (12 o’clock on the amplifiers’ large rotary dials), we played a few rock and hip-hop tracks to put it through its paces. The system has a very lively, cinematic sound with strong, forward treble and booming bass.

Surprisingly, bass is not very versatile. With a fixed bass crossover of 150Hz we often found bass notes loud and slow without much of the floor-shaking thump we found when testing the comparatively svelte Bowers & Wilkins PV1. This might be a downside of the thin wood used for the construction of the speaker enclosures; the cabinets don’t feel as weighty or solid as we expected.

If you’re looking for a sound system that’s great for Blu-ray surround sound and big-explosion blockbuster movies, this is a simple choice for you. It might take you a day off work to set up, though.

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Diana's Reviews > Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant

Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet
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's review
Dec 01, 2011

really liked it
Read from November 01 to December 01, 2011

A very readable and engaging book by Daniel Tammet...I especially enjoyed the story of his childhood, and the warm, loving embrace that his family and teachers gave to his life.

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Sharyl Sicoli Let me know what you think this book.....

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Jessica's Reviews > A Circle of Quiet

A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle
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Oct 05, 2008

it was amazing
bookshelves: nonfiction
Read in October, 2008

L'Engle speculates on life and love and the nature of the universe, not to mention writing. Oh, the writing! It's fascinating to hear from a Newbery-winning author, someone whose work I've loved and whom I've looked up to since I was a child, and realize how similar we are in our quirks and fears and insecurities.

But what a hilarious, beautiful, intelligent woman she was! I'm anxious to get the rest of the Crosswicks journals, and I'm severely put out that her non-Time Quartet children's books seem to be mostly out of print! Grr.

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Jodi Meeting her was incredible. I had worshiped her work as a child and A Wrinkle in Time is the one book I'd take on a desert island. Every time I read it, I understand something new. She was fascinating.

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Kaitlyn's Reviews > Hello Goodbye Hello: A Circle of 101 Remarkable Meetings

Hello Goodbye Hello by Craig  Brown
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Dec 25, 2012

really liked it

I just received my copy of this book after winning a Goodreads giveaway. I cannot wait to read this one!

Phew! Finally finished. Like a lot of people here said, I did expect more. I felt like some of the meetings were obvious and boring, but others really stood out. I liked how the author used 1001 words for each of his 101 stories. I felt that forced him to pick his words bey carefully, but at the same time it did limit how in-depth he fouls go. Overall, I am glad I won this book! It was an interesting, lighter read. This book would bbe perfect to read while waiting for your turkey to cook!

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View Full Version : Positive PR spin

01-09-2007, 05:37 PM
Does Wal-Mart need this positive Public Relations spin? Do most of us care about their battles with politicians and unions or will we just continue shopping at their stores?

Wal-Mart to air ads countering attacks (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16514307/) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will run national television ads starting Monday praising its record as an employer and corporate citizen, taking its arguments straight to the public in an ongoing battle over its reputation with unions and other critics.

The world's largest retailer, increasingly a lightning rod for politicians as well as labor unions and other activists, cites the legacy of late founder Sam Walton in a folksy 60-second ad. A 30-second ad focuses on Wal-Mart's health insurance plans for its more than 1.3 million U.S. employees.

"It all began with a big dream in a small town, Sam Walton's dream," a narrator says as one ad starts with a black-and-white photo of Sam Walton and a grainy shot of Walton's first five-and-dime store in what is now the chain's headquarters town of Bentonville, Ark.


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Smith Reaches the Century Mark

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With tonight's win over LaSalle, Tubby Smith recorded his 100th victory as head coach of the Golden Gophers. He is the eighth coach in Minnesota history to reach that milestone. Smith's win-loss record now stands at 100-67 with the Gophers, and 487-212 over his 21 seasons as a head coach. Tonight's win also secured his fourth 20-win season in five years at Minnesota.
Go Gophers! Tubby
Go Gophers!
Smith's 100th win was also his first postseason win at Minnesota.
Go Gophers!

Smith was stuck at 97 wins for a while as the Gophers went through a rough patch late in the season, but picked up No. 98 against Nebraska in the regular season finale, then No. 99 over Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament.

Victory No. 100 holds more importance than simply a third digit--this was also Smith's first postseason win in his time at Minnesota. The Gophers lost in the first round of the NIT in 2008 (Smith's first year), and the first round of the NCAA Tournament in both 2009 and 2010.

"I really didn't realize it," Smith said of reaching 100. "You really don't think about that--you're just so involved in the game. I'm really happy to get this win. Whether it's the first one or the 100th, it's always good to get a win."

L.J. Cooke is the school's all-time wins leader at 250-135 over a 28-season Minnesota career that ended in 1924. Most recently before Smith, Dan Monson (1999-2006) joined the 100-win club. His Gopher record was 118-106.

Smith and the Gophers still have an opportunity to add more wins this season. They will have a second round game later this week. Congratulations to Coach Smith!
Strong First Half Finish
After trailing for much of the up-and-down first half, the Gophers went into the locker room with a 40-37 lead. Minnesota ended the half on an 8-0 run. Rodney Williams led the way with 17 points in the first.

Back-to-Back Big Games
For the first time in his career, Rodney Williams posted consecutive 20-point games. He scored an even 20 in the Gophers' loss to Michigan in the Big Ten quarterfinals, and upped that total to 21 tonight, tying a career high. He now has three 20-point games in his career, all this season.

Williams scored some of his points with his patented highlight reel dunks, but also mixed in some mid-range jumpers. The jumpshot has been a focus for him during this season as it was during the offseason, and he showed some improvement in his shooting stroke today. Williams will become even more of a scoring threat next season if he continues to work on his shot, forcing opponents to guard him on the perimeter as well as around the basket.
Go Gophers! Dre
Go Gophers!
Andre Hollins has scored in double figures in five straight games.
Go Gophers!

Gophers in the NIT

This is Minnesota's 14th appearance in the NIT. The Gophers are 19-11--including a championship in 1993--in the tournament during non-vacated seasons. With the vacated games, they are 25-12, including another title in 1998. Their last NIT appearance came in 2008, Tubby Smith's first season at Minnesota, when they lost to Maryland in the first round. Minnesota's last NIT victory came in 2006 against Wake Forest in the first round.

Hollins Hot Streak
With Trevor Mbakwe out for the season, Ralph Sampson III (the only other senior) injured, and just three juniors on the team, the Gophers have needed big contributions from their younger players. Recently, sophomore Austin Hollins and freshman Andre Hollins have been the ones to step up. Andre (13 tonight) scored in double figures the past five games, Austin (16 tonight) in the past four. This five game stretch includes the Big Ten Tournament, where Andre earned all-tournament honors by scoring 46 points in two games.

Smith Reaches the Century Mark

Tonight's win was Tubby Smith's 100th as Minnesota's head coach. He is the eighth Gopher coach to reach triple digits. This was also the 20th win of the season for the Gophers, making this the fourth season in which Smith has guided them to at least 20 wins. More information here.

Freshman Point Guards
Andre Hollins out-dueled Northwestern's Big Ten All-Freshman point guard Dave Sobolewski in yesterday's first round victory. Today he had to face the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in Trey Burke. The two youngsters played virtually the whole game and led their respective teams in scoring. The two guarded each other went back and forth with key points at the end of the game.
Go Gophers! Dre
Go Gophers!
Andre Hollins led the Gophers in scoring in both Big Ten Tournament games.
Go Gophers!

In the end, Burke and his Wolverines came out on top. Burke has been sensational all year, which is why the media selected him as conference rookie of the year. In just the second Big Ten game of the year, Burke scored 27 points against the Gophers. Today, he scored 30.

Hollins played just 14 scoreless minutes in the teams' first meeting, but has come a long way since then. He showed flashes of his talent at times during the early season, and has recently emerged as a more consistent scorer and team leader. Hollins reached double figures in his last four games, including team highs of 25 and 21 points in the last two games. His recent play gives the Gophers good reason to be excited for the future.

Sound Familiar?
For the second time in two days, and the fifth time this season, the Gophers played overtime basketball. This was their first time playing back-to-back overtime contests since the 2003-04 season, and their first time since 1980-81 to play five overtime games in one season. Minnesota is the first team ever to play multiple overtime games in one Big Ten Tournament.

First Half Ups and Downs

The Gophers drew first blood with an Andre Hollins three-pointer, and they continued to build a lead from there. Michigan did not make a field goal until the 13:27 mark. The Gophers led by up to nine points in the first, but the Wolverines' switch to zone defense helped them slow down the Gopher offense. They tied the game for the first time with under two minutes left in the half. Minnesota still went into the locker room with a 23-20 lead after Austin Hollins hit a three.
Hot Start for the Hollins
Minnesota's first 15 points came from a player named Hollins. Andre Hollins scored the first eight before Austin Hollins added a jumper. Andre scored the next five before Chip Armelin broke the all-Hollins scoring streak. During that stretch, Andre was 3-for-3 from three-point range. Andre Hollins finished the first half with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting, sitting on the bench for the last several minutes with two fouls. For the game, the duo combined for 37 points, including a career-high 25 from Andre.
Go Gophers! EE
Go Gophers!
Eliason set a new career with 10 rebounds.
Go Gophers!

Cleaning Up the Boards
The Gophers out-rebounded the Wildcats, 44-29. Making his fifth career start in place of the injured Ralph Sampson III, redshirt freshman Elliott Eliason set a new career high with 10, bettering the nine-rebound mark he set against USC in December. Joe Coleman and Austin Hollins each added seven.

Rubber Match

A victory today gave Minnesota the 2-1 edge in this year's meetings after the teams split their regular season series. The Gophers won decisively at Williams Arena on Jan. 22, and the Wildcats won at Welsh-Ryan on Feb. 18. Today's match-up was the closest of the three.

Five More Minutes
Missed last shots by both squads sent the game into overtime tied at 61. The Gophers have gone 2-2 in overtime games this season. The last time Minnesota played four overtime games in one season was 1982-83, and the Gophers were 2-2 that year as well.

Three Is the Key

Against Northwestern, a team that relies heavily on three-pointers, the Gophers needed to hit some threes of their own to keep pace. In the end, both teams ended up with identical three-point shooting numbers, going 11-for-26. The Gophers have made 10 or more triples in three games this year, most recently against Nebraska on Saturday.

Gophers in the Big Ten Tournament
The Gophers are now 8-6 all-time in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, and 13-14 in the tournament overall. They own a 4-2 record against Northwestern in conference tournament play. The Wildcats are Minnesota's most common Big Ten Tournament opponent. Northwestern won last year's first round match-up, and the Gophers won in 2008 and 2009.

Final Vote: Rodney's Best Dunk of the Year

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Go Gophers! Rodney
Go Gophers!
Vote for your favorite Rodney Williams dunk of the year!
Go Gophers!
It's time to vote for your favorite Rodney Williams dunk of the season! Fan voting (click above to watch all ten entries in our countdown) has revealed two clear-cut favorites -- Rodney's epic 360-degree slam against USC last December and his gravity-defying leap against Illinois in the Gophers' late January win.

To spice up the competition, however, we're adding a last-second curveball to the mix -- Rodney's unbelievable one-handed slam against Nebraska this past Saturday at the Barn! Once you watch it (it was ESPN's number one play on their nightly "Top Plays" countdown) you'll understand why we had to make an exception and add this to the competition -- it was a great play!

We'll leave the voting open until Thursday, when the Gophers will take on Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament. Cast your vote and encourage your friends to do the same -- which one will emerge victorious?

What was Rodney Williams' best dunk of 2011-12?

Observations from Saturday's 81-69 Win Against Nebraska

| No TrackBacks's Rodney Williams/Blake Griffin Comparison

Senior Day
Seniors Ralph Sampson III and Trevor Mbakwe were honored before today's game. The video embedded above was played on the video board. Sampson will leave the University of Minnesota as one of only five players to compile 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 150 blocks. His numbers stand at 1,016 points, 630 rebounds, and 203 blocks after today's game. He passed up Larry Mikan, Dick Garmaker, and Jim Brewer to move into 34th place on the scoring list.

Mbakwe posted 19 double-doubles and piled up 327 rebounds (third-best all-time at Minnesota) as a junior last year. In the seven games before his injury this year, he posted four more double-doubles. He may be able to return for a sixth year, but was honored today just in case.

Go Gophers! Ralph Sampson III
Go Gophers!
Sampson scored 12 points on his senior day.
Go Gophers!

Long Distance
On this day during the 25th year of the three-point shot in college basketball, the Golden Gophers and Cornhuskers put on quite a display. The teams shot a combined 23-for-53 from three-point range. In total, four players in today's game made at least four three-pointers. Nebraska's Bo Spencer led the way with a 7-for-12 performance.

At one point in the first half, the Golden Gophers were 7-of-10 from three-point range. Austin Hollins and Chip Armelin each hit a trio of triples before halftime. Armelin made a fourth in the second half for a career high, and Hollins also added one more. For the game, Austin Hollins, Andre Hollins, and Armelin went a combined 10-for-18 from behind the arc. The 10 threes tied a season high. In addition to Spencer for Nebraska, Dylan Talley made four threes.

"It's Called Williams Arena for a Reason"
Those are the words of Big Ten Network play-by-play man Eric Collins after one of Rodney Williams's baskets today. In the first half, Williams dunked right over the Huskers' Brandon Ubel, and posted the highlight, comparing it to a Blake Griffin dunk (linked above). Williams also added an alley-oop from Sampson in the first. Later in the game, he soared in from the second-farthest block for a spectacular, uncontested dunk.

Balanced Scoring Attack
For the second time this season, Minnesota saw five of its players reach double figures in the scoring column. Armelin's career high tally of 20 points led the way, with Williams (16), Austin Holins (13), Andre Hollins (12), and Sampson (12) joining in. The last time five Gophers scored in double digits was the win over Northwestern on Jan. 22.

May I Be of Assistance?
The Gophers assisted their teammates on 23 of 26 field goals today. Minnesota dished out a season-high 24 assists against Central Michigan on Dec. 13, but today's total is a new Big Ten season high. Andre Hollins led the team with six.

Barnstorming with Grimm: The Locker Room

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Even if you have been to dozens of Gopher games and explored the various nooks and crannies of venerable Williams Arena, there is a good chance you have not ventured into this week's "Barnstorming" destination. The locker room is usually reserved for the team, and sometimes special guests like former players. Radio play-by-play man Mike Grimm got special access to show us this special place in the Barn. Watch the video to see what he saw!

Part Two: Rodney Williams Best Dunks of 2011-12

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Go Gophers! Rodney
Go Gophers!
Go Gophers!
Time for Part Two of our "Rodney Williams Best Dunks of 2011-12" poll! We revealed the first five dunks in our countdown yesterday (be sure to click here and vote in Part One if you haven't already), and it's time to look at the next five.

Watch the videos below and pick your favorite! The top two vote-getters will square off this weekend right here on the official Gopher Basketball Blog beginning tomorrow night and running through Sunday.

Don't forget -- Rodney's Gophers host Nebraska this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the final regular season home game of the year! Click here to get your tickets!

Part Two: Which of these five Rodney Williams dunks is your favorite?

Feature: "Gopher Bloodlines"

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Joe and Dan Coleman used to play pick-up games with their cousin and their uncle Ben. Joe was the youngest and smallest, and his team usually lost. He has come a long way since then. Joe used to have a hard time holding his own on the driveway with Ben and Dan, but now he is competing in the same Williams Arena where his uncle and brother played before him.
Go Gophers! Joe Coleman
Go Gophers!
Joe is the third Coleman to play for the Gophers.
Go Gophers!

The Golden Gophers' freshman guard enrolled at the University of Minnesota in 2011, but his family's history with the team stretches back much farther than that. Before Joe Coleman was born, his uncle Ben earned two varsity letters (1980 and '81) for the Gophers before transferring to Maryland and later playing in the NBA. More recently, Dan ended his college career with 1,317 total points and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors as a fifth-year senior in 2008.

Joe, Dan's junior by about eight and a half years, spent a lot of time around Gopher basketball during his teen and pre-teen years. Dan sat out his true freshman year after transferring from Boston College following summer classes. He could not travel with the team that season, so Joe sometimes came over to watch the games and spend the night at his brother's place. Joe often tagged along with Dan to practices. He was a little brother not just to Dan, but to all the Gophers.

"Everybody on the team knew me," he said. "I was just that little rascal who was always in the gym."

Because of their age and size differences--at 6-9, Dan has about five inches on Joe--Dan served as more of a role model than a serious one-on-one opponent for Joe in his younger years. It was not until Joe's junior year at Hopkins High School that he was able to compete with his older brother. That season, Joe earned All-State and All-Tournament honors after averaging 24.7 points per game and helping the Royals to a state title.

It was now clear that he had the potential to follow in Ben and Dan's footsteps and play Division I basketball. Despite all the family's Gopher connections, Dan did not pressure Joe to accept head coach Tubby Smith's scholarship offer.

"He didn't try to convince me to go anywhere, actually," Joe said. "He just told me, 'Make the decision on what you want in life, not necessarily what others want. Try to stay focused on what your goals are, but also what you want to do after basketball. Just pick a school off of that.'"
Go Gophers! Dan Coleman
Go Gophers!
Dan Coleman graduated three years before his brother came to the U of M.
Go Gophers!

Coleman, of course, did end up picking the Gophers. He signed his National Letter of Intent during fall of his senior year. He capped off his high school career with another state championship and Minnesota's Mr. Basketball award, an award for which Ben and Dan were once finalists.

When Joe finally donned the maroon and gold, he and his brother swapped roles. This time it was Dan playing the part of spectator. The older Coleman plays professionally in Europe, but he was home in Minnesota during the Gophers' early season.

"It was nice to see him in the stands watching my games," Joe said. "It's unfortunate that I didn't really play that much, so he wasn't able to really see a 'real' game for me."

Unlike Dan, Joe saw limited minutes to begin his freshman season. Dan started 27 games and made the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2005. But Ben could relate more to Joe's transition from high school to college. Ben barely played as a Gopher freshman under Jim Dutcher before getting more opportunities as a sophomore. Joe said that while Ben does offer some pointers, he and his uncle had not spoken much about his playing time situation. But Joe did recall the advice Ben gave him in high school.

"He just told me, 'Just keep fighting through. Just be as efficient as you can. Eventually, they're just going to have to put you on the court,'" Joe said.

Joe has earned more playing time over the season. He scored 14 points against Purdue in his first career start, drained some crucial free throws in the win at Indiana, and piled up a career-high 23 points at Penn State. His ability to find seams in the defense was paying off. By that time, Dan was back overseas. He still made sure to check in with his little brother.

"He just said, 'Good game. That's what you're supposed to do,'" Joe said. "He's just happy for me that I was able to get the opportunity to show that I am able to do those things."

Joe recently went through a four-game scoreless streak. Still, he led the team in rebounds in two of those games, and he snapped out of the scoring slump with a 12-point performance at Northwestern. It is all part of the ups and downs of being a freshman in the Big Ten.
Go Gophers! Ben Coleman
Go Gophers!
Ben Coleman played for the Gophers in 1980 and '81.
Go Gophers!

Joe may not catch up to Dan's freshman year numbers, but Dan played under different circumstances--he had the advantage of a redshirt season, and the team needed him to have an immediate impact after the graduation/departure of several starting forwards. Joe is also a different style of player than Dan.

Joe believes he can write his own unique chapter in the Coleman history book if he eventually helps his team to be more successful than Ben and Dan's Gopher teams were. Even while he distinguishes his own game from his relatives' games, Joe Coleman knows that he can count on Ben and Dan for support, and he knows that the three will always be linked in Minnesota basketball history.

"It's a good experience," he said. "Not too many families can say they've had three different generations play at the same school. It's nice to know that. Hopefully it's looked on for years to come."

Rodney Williams' Best Dunks of 2011-12, Part One

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Gopher power forward Rodney Williams has enjoyed a stellar junior season in 2011-12, leading the Gophers in numerous categories, including points (10.7/game), rebounds (5.3), blocks (1.4) and steals (1.4).
Go Gophers! Rodney
Go Gophers!
Go Gophers!

But even in the midst of a good all-around year, anyone who has ever watched Williams play knows he "rises above" his peers in one area in particular: Raw dunking ability. Slam, jam, throw-down, high percentage bucket -- however you want to say it, Rodney does it better than almost anyone else in college basketball.

According to Gopher basketball communications director Matt Slieter's "Dunk-O-Meter," Rodney has amassed 91 dunks during his Gopher career, including a whopping 41 in 2011-12 alone (through Tuesday).

As we near the end of the basketball season, we're asking Gopher fans -- what was your favorite Rodney dunk of 2011-12? We've collected highlights from 10 of Rodney's best, and want YOU to decided the ultimate champion. We'll reveal five dunks today (Wednesday, Feb. 29), five more tomorrow (Thursday, March 1) and then pit the top two vote-getters against each other Friday and Saturday (March 2-3), and announce our winner on Sunday (March 4).

So watch the videos and vote for your favorite, and be sure to check back tomorrow for the next round of voting!

Which of these five Rodney Williams dunks is your favorite?

Proud Sponsors Of Gopher Athletics


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Deng's Personal Record Paces Gophers in Friday Action

Feb. 8, 2013

Friday Results

AMES, Iowa  - Redshirt freshman Goaner Deng set a new personal record in route to an individual title in the 400-meter dash on Friday, crossing the finish line at 47.89 seconds to win the event at the Iowa State Classic.

Deng's time was the fastest in the event by a Gopher this season and the eighth fastest time in school history.

Meanwhile, Sean King finished with the meet's top preliminary time in the 60-meter dash at 6.70 seconds. The senior's performance just missed his personal record of 6.68 seconds (set earlier this year at the Bill Bergan Invitational) although the finish does rank third all-time in the event in the school record book.

The No. 8 Gophers also picked up a fourth-place finish in the 800-meter run finals from Michael Bolland, who came across the line at 1:53.12 for a new personal record.

Minnesota returns to action on Saturday at the Iowa State Classic, the Husky Open and the 2013 SPIRE NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Team Invitational.

‘U’ Alum Siegmeier Joins Gophers Staff

A two-time All-American and three-time Big Ten champion, Zach Siegmeier will serve as director of operations for men's track & field and cross country.

Blankenship, Mead Shine in Olympic Finals

Mead and Blankenship recorded the best Olympic finishes by Gophers since Staffan Strand finished sixth in the high jump for Sweden during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Blankenship Punches Ticket to Olympic Final

Ben Blankenship (1,500) and Hassan Mead (5,000) will run in Olympic finals on Saturday night.

Proud Sponsors Of Gopher Athletics


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Best free online YouTube to MP3 converters

Dec 28th, 2012
  • You may have come across a YouTube video with melodious background music, but do not know the name of the song, so you cannot search and download it. Fortunately, you can download YouTube video and extract its audio to MP3. There are two ways, either convert YouTube to MP3 online, or use free YouTube to MP3 converters. This post will list several free online YouTube to MP3 converters.
  • 1. is the easiest and fastest online service to convert YouTube videos to MP3 online. No charge and no registration. All conversions will be perfomed in high quality mode with a bitrate of at least 128 KB/s. After conversion, you will get a download link. But for some videos, you may have to sign up a petition.
  • 2. helps you extract audio from YouTube video, as well as download the video at different video quality. It also features audio editing tools, such as trimming, tagging, preview, etc. After audio recording finishes, a window will pop up for you to save the MP3 file. No download link is provided.
  • 3. is a free online service to convert audios and videos among various formats, and download streaming videos from YouTube, BlipTV, Metacafe, Myspace, etc. It certainly allows you to convert YouTube to MP3 online. Paste video URL, select MP3, fill your email address, click Convert, soon the download link of MP3 file is sent to your email. The limitations are that, you may download only one file at one time, and the source video should be less than 100 MB.
  • 4. is another good online YouTube to mp3 converter. You only need to paste a video URL, and then download MP3 from link it generates. The quality of the converted audio file wasn’t really as amazing as the previous two tools, but still, the tool is good to go with!
  • 5. Make it mp3, is one of the highest quality and most convenient YouTube to Mp3 converter. This service is absolutely free, and requires no registration or any software downloads. Besides YouTube videos, Google video, Yahoo Video and Photobucket videos to MP3 conversions are also supported.
  • 6. YouTube to mp3 converts your YouTube videos to mp3 online for free, without signup and limitation. It’s simple and fast. Paste in YouTube video URL and click on Convert. Wait for the free YouTube to MP3 conversion, once it is completed, will provide you a download link.
  • It is not difficult to find a free tool to convert video to other format, though some has limitations. If you have higher requirements of video and audio conversion, or even DVD ripping, freeware will not fit your needs, it is better to take the professional video converter- Video Converter Ultimate. This powerful video converter can easily convert video file, rip DVD, burn video to DVD, even download online videos and edit your videos to be a perfect one.

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Name: Naomi Watts
Birth Name:
Naomi Ellen Watts
Birth Date:
September 28, 1968
Birth Place:
Shoreham, England
Relationship Status:
Partner to Liev Schreiber
Celebrity Ranking # 260

Naomi Watts Celebrates New Position as Face of L’Oreal

Posted Thursday October 23, 2014 5:03 PM GMT

Treating herself to a fun-filled evening, Naomi Watts attended the L’Oreal presentation dinner in Paris, France on Wednesday night (October 22).

Joined by photographer Peter Lindbergh and L’Oreal Paris International President Cyril Chapuy, the “King Kong” actress smiled for the cameras as the newly-announced brand ambassador for the cosmetics company.

Naomi Watts is Fall Fabulous in NYC

Posted Monday October 20, 2014 8:55 PM GMT

Suiting up for a day on the town, Naomi Watts stepped out in New York City earlier this afternoon (October 20).

Looking ultra-chic in a tan peacoat with leather leggings and strappy heels, the 46-year-old flashed a smile towards the awaiting photographers before stepping into a work meeting.

Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber Scoot Around the Big Apple

Posted Thursday October 16, 2014 3:53 PM GMT

Taking advantage of their surroundings, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber biked around the Big Apple on Wednesday afternoon (October 15).

The talented duo looked filled with bliss as they shared a two-seater bicycle and ran a few errands before picking their darling brood up from school.

Naomi Watts Tours Big Apple on Citi Bike

Posted Sunday October 12, 2014 9:03 AM GMT

Enjoying the sights and sounds of the city, Naomi Watts hopped on a Citi Bike and pedaled around New York earlier this week (October 9).

The “King Kong” beauty kept it casual in rolled up jeans and an on-trend trench as she rode the bike around the Big Apple with a grin on her face.

Naomi, Jena & Bill: “St. Vincent” Premiere Pals

Posted Tuesday October 7, 2014 11:08 PM GMT

Making the most of their Monday night (October 6), the cast of “St. Vincent” turned up at the big New York City premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre.

Naomi Watts enjoyed the support of her doting beau Liev Schreiber as she hobnobbed with her legendary costar Bill Murray and greeted fans and press.

Naomi Watts & Ben Stiller Premiere “While We’re Young” in New York City

Posted Monday September 29, 2014 1:03 PM GMT

Making the most of their time at the 52nd New York Film Festival, Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts showed up at the premiere of their new movie “While We’re Young” last night (September 28).

Hollywood’s Hottest Stars Converge for HFPA & InStyle TIFF Celebration

Posted Monday September 8, 2014 2:03 PM GMT

Taking an evening to just cut loose and relax, a crowd of celebrities showed up at the HFPA & InStyle 2014 Toronto International Film Festival shindig on Saturday night (September 6).

Naomi Watts Exudes Elegance on Town & Country September 2014 Cover

Posted Wednesday August 6, 2014 11:40 AM GMT

Nowadays she is a marquee movie star, but Naomi Watts had to be especially patient in the earlier years of her career in Tinseltown.


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Latest Gossip

Jeremy Piven Involved In Collision With Cyclist

Posted Wednesday July 20, 2016 10:52 AM GMT

Actor Jeremy Piven was involved in a collision which resulted in the hospitalization of a cyclist.

The Entourage star, 50, reportedly parked his Cadillac car near Los Angeles' The Grove restaurant on Tuesday (July 19) and attempted to open the vehicle's door.

Adriana Lima And Alessandra Ambrosio Recruited As News Contributors For Olympics

Posted Wednesday July 20, 2016 10:00 AM GMT

Brazilian beauties Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrosio will be representing their homeland at the upcoming Summer Olympics, as special correspondents for America's NBC network.

The Victoria's Secret angels have been hired as food and culture contributors for special segments airing during NBC's late night programming, and will also appear in culture features across various platforms.

Karlie Kloss is the Face of Adidas by Stella McCartney

Posted Wednesday July 20, 2016 9:30 AM GMT

Gearing up for autumn, Karlie Kloss fronts the Fall/Winter 2016 Adidas by Stella McCartney campaign and her just-released images are incredible.

The Chicago native shows off her posing prowess in a series of sporty ensembles including jackets, sneakers and leggings, all designed for running, yoga and all things active.

Garry Marshall Passes Away at 81

Posted Wednesday July 20, 2016 8:49 AM GMT

His impact on Hollywood cannot be overstated and sadly Garry Marshall died of complications from pneumonia on Tuesday (July 19).

The 81-year-old actor/director/writer/producer was best known for creating “Happy Days” and developing “The Odd Couple” for television as well as directing “Young Doctors in Love,” “Pretty Woman,” “Exit to Eden,” “Runaway Bride,” “The Princess Diaries” and most recently “Mother’s Day.”

Mila Kunis: "Ashton Kutcher Romance Started As Friends With Benefits"

Posted Tuesday July 19, 2016 3:24 PM GMT

Mila Kunis was convinced she would never marry Ashton Kutcher because their relationship began as a casual fling.

The 32-year-old actress first met Ashton in the late 1990s when they starred together in hit TV series That '70s Show, in which they played lovers.

“Making a Murderer” Gets Season Two

Posted Tuesday July 19, 2016 2:55 PM GMT

Following a surprisingly successful initial run earlier this year, Netflix has announced a second season for the true crime series “Making a Murderer.”

Per a statement from executive producers Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, “We are extremely grateful for the tremendous response to, and support of, the series. The viewers’ interest and attention has ensured that the story is not over, and we are fully committed to continuing to document events as they unfold."

Chris Pine’s “Hell or High Water” Trailer Has Arrived: Watch Here!

Posted Tuesday July 19, 2016 2:06 PM GMT

He’s always up for a challenge, and Chris Pine is taking on the western genre alongside Jeff Bridges in the new preview for “Hell or High Water.”

Also starring Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham and Katy Mixon, the David Mackenzie-directed flick opens in limited theaters on August 12th before going wide on August 19th.

Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney Call Off Engagement!

Posted Tuesday July 19, 2016 12:35 PM GMT

They’ve been together since 2011, but it looks like the romance is over for Lady Gaga and her fiancé Taylor Kinney.

The “Just Dance” songstress and the “Chicago Fire” stud broke up earlier this month, though neither of them has released a statement to comment on the split.


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Selena Gomez Parents Staging “Intervention,” Claims Tabloid

Truth rating: 0
(Getty Images)

By Michael Lewittes

(Getty Images)

Selena Gomezs family is staging an “intervention,” reports Life & Style.

The tabloid claims the singer, who spent two weeks in rehab in January, is “back at square one” since reuniting with Justin Bieber.

A supposed “source” tells the mag that Gomez’s mom and stepfather are “planning to have an intervention as soon as possible.”

The purported insider further alleges that the star’s parents want to “get her into rehab immediately,” and keep her there “until she’s secure enough to make good decisions.”

OK, that’s enough.

Gomez has been doing well since she left rehab two months ago, and a source close to the performer tells Gossip Cop there is “no intervention” being planned.

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Gossip Rocks.com

Welcome to Gossip Rocks!

Erik Johnson

Real name:
Birthdate: N/A
Status: Single

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Erik Johnson (born March 21, 1988 in Bloomington, Minnesota) is an American ice hockey player. He most recently played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's hockey team as a freshman. He decided to leave after just one year to join the St. Louis Blues of the NHL who made him the first overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

He was a member of the 2007 U20 American team that won a Bronze Medal in the U20 World Championships. Johnson was named to the tournaments All-Star Team and was named the Tournaments Best Defenseman. Johnson finished the tournament with 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points, becoming the first defenseman to lead the tournament in scoring. He attended the University of Minnesota and was signed by the St. Louis Blues on April 20th, 2007.

Played for the United States in:
- 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey U18 Championships
- 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey U18 Championships
- 2007 IIHF World Championship

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Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Citizens Union

Estimating New York City's Population

Earlier this month, the United States Census Bureau declared New York City to have the highest population ever, based on a new estimate. According to the bureau's newly-released annual county population estimates, New York City's population now stands at 8,085,742. The estimate of population growth since the 2000 Census is as follows:

38,000 from 2000 to 2001
17,000 from 2001 to 2002
14,000 from 2002 to 2003

In other words, according to the bureau, the city's population is still growing, though its rate of growth has substantially slowed since September 11th.

All of this was duly reported in the press. However, some demographers disagree with the bureau's method of estimating population.

Warren Brown of Cornell University says that the count is much too low. Currently he is helping New York City launch an informal challenge to the estimate. For example, the census bureau is saying that Brooklyn lost population from 2002 to 2003. But city officials point outthat the borough has gained some 4,000 housing units since the 2000 census 2000. Surely, they say, this is concrete evidence that the borough's population is on the rise.

But other demographers, myself included, believe that the new estimate for the city's population may instead be too high. I think it likely that New York City has actually been losing population since September 11th.

Federal law requires the census bureau to make estimates of the nation's population in-between the official census, which, as required by the U.S. Constitution, is conducted every ten years. These estimates are used for many purposes, including: allocating over $200 billion in federal funds; calculating such statistics as birth, death and crime rates determining the location of public and private services; computing controls for federal surveys;

To estimate the population the census bureau uses the "components of population change" method, which takes the number of births, subtracts the number of deaths and adds or subtracts the net number of people who migrated into or out of New York City. This number is then added to last year's population estimate.

If any of these figures are wrong the estimate will be wrong. Births and deaths, of course, are relatively simple numbers to acquire, since they are recorded throughout the United States. But gauging migration is much trickier. The bureau uses two estimates -- one for net domestic migration and another for net international migration. The Internal Revenue Service produces a file that reports the number of people who change the county in which they file tax returns from one year to the next. This file is considered quite reliable except for its ability to track college students, military personnel and others who may move unpredictably.

Getting truly accurate estimates is challenging, especially in places such as New York City.

During the 1990s, as I have discussed in earlier columns, the census estimate of the growth in New York City was too low by about 50,000 per year. It became obvious that the way the bureau estimated the growth of the foreign born population was grossly inaccurate. Since the bureau used the number of individuals who received permanent resident status by county in a given year, they missed people who entered or stayed in the United States illegally, those on student and work visas, or those who are visiting the United States for other reasons.

So beginning with the 2002 estimates, the census bureau began to use the new American Community Survey(ACS) to estimate changes to the foreign born population. This survey will replace the census long form, which asked about 50 questions of roughly one-sixth of the population in 2000. It will be a large continuous collection of social and economic data and will offer a continuously updated picture of every locale in the United States, down to each census tract (which in New York City can be a single block). But this survey is not yet implemented in every county in the United States, because it is yet to be fully funded. For this reason, the bureau cannot determine if the number of new foreign born at the national level has changed significantly since the 2003 data are not yet available.

Furthermore, they are not yet confident in using information at the county level from this data set. To estimate change in foreign born in each county, they assumed that the pattern found in the 2000 Census continued through 2003. Therefore, this method does not take into account changes in the number and destination of new foreign born caused by a reaction to 9/11 or the worsening New York City economy. According to Signe Wetrogan, the assistant division chief of the bureau's Population Estimates and Projections of the Population Division, bureau officials are reviewing methods and data, so that they can create leading indicators of population change, such as employment figures and yearly school enrollment.

All these technical details mean that the estimated net number of new foreign born coming to New York City each year since 2000 is about 104,300. If Warren Brown is right, and the foreign born or other migration estimate is too low, then the city's rapid 1990s growth may indeed be continuing. It is certainly possible that the Census's new method has missed many new foreign born.

However, I think it is more likely that just as net out-migration to the rest of the United States increased after 9/11, the number of new foreigners coming to New York City would have decreased, as well. If the number of new foreign born actually declined by 17,000 or more after 9/11, then New York City has lost population in the last two years.

Until the census bureau refines its methods we cannot be sure if New York City's population is growing, declining or stable. However, I think it is important to be patient with the bureau and its efforts to get this right. When it has more confidence in its data and methods, it will simply re-estimate the population change in New York City, not just for one additional year, but for all of the years back to 2000.

Andrew A. Beveridge has taught sociology at Queens College since 1981, done demographic analyses for the New York Times since 1993, and provides expert testimony on a range of cases, including housing discrimination. The opinions expressed are his alone.

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Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Citizens Union

New York City's Big Planning Projects: Avoiding the Public?

Over the last year, city government and public agencies launched an unprecedented number of bold plans that could transform the face of New York City for decades to come. In the midst of the excitement and fascination with these plans in the local press, there is little recognition that most of these developments could bypass the process that was set up for public debate, discussion and decision making. Despite a more open environment at City Hall ushered in by the Bloomberg administration, some of the most important decisions about the future of the city are being made behind closed doors.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has a new plan for lower Manhattan. Also planned downtown is the winning design by architect Daniel Libeskind for the World Trade Center site. There is the ambitious plan for the 2012 Olympics, which includes a new stadium on Manhattan's west side, an expanded Jacob Javits Convention Center, a 4,400-unit apartment complex in Hunters Point, Queens, and dozens of other projects in the five boroughs. The Olympics plan overlaps with the recently-announced plan for Midtown West, which would allow up to 40 million square feet of new office and residential space over the next 30 years and extend the #7 subway line from 42nd Street. All together these projects could cost upwards of $10 billion in public money.

The city has two procedures for approving major plans that are set out in the city charter. One is the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). This process involves public hearings and votes by community boards (there are 59 in the city), borough presidents, the City Planning Commission and the City Council. The mayor plays a powerful role because he appoints the majority of the members of the City Planning Commission and has veto power over City Council actions.

The second procedure, also established in the city charter, is for approving plans. It calls for a review process similar to ULURP, and follows planning guidelines set by the Department of City Planning. Since authority for these plans is to be found in Section 197-a of the city charter, they are often called "197-a plans." All official city plans, whether initiated by city planning or community boards, are 197-a plans.

ULURP was set up in the mid-1970s to give neighborhoods a voice in decision making. Before that, the city's neighborhoods had no way of systematically taking part in decisions that would affect their futures. In the 1960s, many neighborhoods rebelled against official top-down urban renewal plans that wiped out whole blocks and displaced thousands of people. They successfully fought giant projects like the Lower Manhattan Expressway through grassroots organizing and protest. And disenfranchised African American neighborhoods rose up to demand community control of neighborhood schools. Under ULURP, neighborhoods now get to review and vote on most major land use changes, including urban renewal plans, zoning changes, and the acquisition and sale of city-owned land.

Responding to neighborhood demands for a greater role in planning, the charter was revised in 1989 to give explicit authority to community boards to introduce their own plans. Community boards were also promised professional planning assistance, a charter principle that has yet to be put into practice.

Officials have a treasure chest full of legal devices for evading ULURP and the 197-a planning process should they choose to do so. One of these devices is the independent authority set up under state law. Authorities like the Empire State Development Corporation, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for example, can override ULURP and local plans, and thereby ignore local zoning and development rules. The bi-state Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, which owns the World Trade Center site, has similar powers.

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) is a subsidiary of the state's Empire State Development Corporation, and effectively operates outside local planning procedures. In the Midtown West and Olympics 2012 proposals, many of the major projects, including the stadium and transit expansion, could be accomplished through independent authorities. State government and the authorities, quite understandably, have never made a commitment to use ULURP or 197-a as instruments to gain local approval of their plans.

But neither has City Hall protested very much or demanded that planning follow the procedures set out in the city charter. Instead, the mayor's office seems to be satisfied by issuing its own plans and negotiating with the authorities behind closed doors. While the mayor has stated his desire to gain more local input in the planning of lower Manhattan, now controlled by the state-dominated Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the new input would apparently be tightly controlled by the mayor. Thus, instead of launching a 197-a plan for lower Manhattan that would have to involve broad participation, the mayor chose to cook up his own plan.

As Jennifer Steinhauer noted recently in The New York Times, Mayor Bloomberg's background as a successful corporate chief executive officer has led to a style in City Hall favoring "private talks and public silence." Even when the proposals may have laudable qualities, and some of them certainly do, many people wonder whether they respond just to the interests of the insiders and leave out those for whom access to government has always been an issue.

The public participation process can be loud and messy, and produce unexpected results. But so can negotiating in the mayor's smoke-free rooms. And isn't an open and transparent political process what distinguishes democracy from autocracy? When the Civic Alliance, a coalition of 85 civic and community groups, organized Listening to the City, a gathering that brought over 4,000 people to the Javits Convention Center in July of last year, the participants gave a giant thumbs-down to the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation's proposals for Ground Zero. It is no wonder that the corporation, fearing another slap in the face by the public, turned down the Civic Alliance's proposal for a repeat performance to discuss the recent design competition. But why isn't the mayor proposing a 197-a planning process for lower Manhattan that would give all New Yorkers and interested parties a chance to contribute their ideas and energies to this strategic rebuilding effort?

There is another route used to evade ULURP and city planning. It is the Board of Standards and Appeals, a semi-administrative body that helps developers skirt zoning rules in a way that can transform entire neighborhoods without any recourse by the public. But that exercise in undermining democracy we will leave for a a future column.

Tom Angotti is Professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Hunter College, City University of NY, editor of Planners Network Magazine, and a member of the Task Force on Community-based Planning.

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