text:
Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4145

This report is available online in pdf format (5 MB): USGS WRIR87-4145 (Opens the PDF file in a new window. )

D.W. Hicks, H.E. Gill, and S.A. Longsworth

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4145, 40 pages (Published 1987)

Large withdrawals of ground water in the 1,500- square-mile Albany area of southwestern Georgia have lowered water levels in deep aquifers as much as 140 feet and raised concern about the aquifers' ability to meet increasing demands. This study was conducted to evaluate the development potential of the shallow Upper Floridan aquifer as an alternate source of ground water, especially for public supply.

The study area lies mainly within the Dougherty Plain district of the Coastal Plain physiographic province. The Upper Floridan aquifer is the shallowest major ground-water reservoir, generally covered by only 20 to 80 feet (ft) of overburden. The aquifer includes units of sand, clay, limestone, and dolomite of middle Eocene age and younger, that form, in ascending order, the Lisbon Formation, the Clinchfield Sand, the Ocala Limestone, and the Suwannee Limestone. The aquifer is overlain by undifferentiated sediments of Miocene age and undifferentiated overburden of Quaternary age. The Upper Floridan ranges in thickness from about 50 ft in the northwestern part of the area to more than 370 feet in the southeastern part. The Upper Floridan stores and transmits large quantities of water, mainly in a zone of high permeability in the lower part of the aquifer. The transmissivity of the aquifer ranges from less than 10,000 feet squared per day northwest of Albany, to as much as 150,000 feet squared per day south and southeast of Albany. Twenty-eight years of agricultural and industrial pumping has not produced a long-term decline of the water level in the Upper Floridan; the aquifer system remains at equilibrium. The Upper Floridan yields hard, calcium bicarbonate-type water that contains no constituents in concentrations that exceed State drinking water standards.

The Upper Floridan aquifer is the primary source of irrigation, industrial, and rural domestic water supplies in the study area. The aquifer has not been developed as a public-supply source, however, largely because of concern over possible ground-water contamination by agricultural and industrial chemicals and landfill leachate. The development potential of the aquifer as a public-supply source depends on the quantity and the chemical quality of water available to wells. Near Albany, active and abandoned landfills, industrial and commercial sites, railroad yards, and gasoline and chemical storage tanks are potential sources of contaminants and, thus, make the area unsuitable for well sites. The areas of high transmissivity southeast of Albany, east of the Flint River, and southwest of Albany, west of the river, have the greatest development potential for public water supply. East of the river, yields of 12- to 16-inch-diameter wells reportedly exceed 2,000 gallons per minute (gal/min). West of the river, yields of 800 to 1,200 gal/min can be sustained by wells that tap the lower part of the aquifer, and some wells are reported to produce more than 2,500 gallons per minute. In these areas, it may be possible to develop several fields of properly spaced wells capable of supplying tens of millions of gallons of potable water per day without overstressing the aquifer.

In most of the study area, contaminants applied to or spilled on the land surface eventually can be expected to percolate through the overburden and reach the aquifer. Thus, it is important that wells be sited away from areas that have been used for the storage and disposal of potential contaminants and, probably to a lesser extent, the application of agricultural chemicals. In the northern part of the study area, the upper part of the Upper Floridan aquifer acts as a leaky confining unit, and wells that derive water exclusively from the lower part of the aquifer probably would have added protection against contaminants that penetrate the overburden. To the south, the confining unit is missing and the entire aquifer is permeable; contaminants on the land surface that percolate through the overburden and reach the aquifer in this area are more likely to be drawn into a pumped well.

In the area of greatest development potential east of the Flint River, wells may penetrate major groundwater conduits. Where this occurs, contamination from distant sources that recharge the aquifer, such as losing streams, is possible, because conduit flow in the aquifer is comparatively rapid and contaminants can be transported long distances without natural filtration or purification. Water in some conduits could become turbid, especially during wet periods, and cause quality problems. Also, wells located near the river could draw river water into the aquifer.

In karst terrane, such as the Dougherty Plain, drawing the water level in the aquifer down below the top of limestone by pumping could initiate sinkhole development. By limiting drawdown during well development and during production, the likelihood of causing sinkholes to form can be minimized.

Closed depressions, or sinks, throughout the Dougherty Plain probably are unsuitable as well sites, because (1) they are subject to flooding, (2) they collect water from upgradient areas and could concentrate potential contaminants, (3) water may percolate through their bottoms and could transport contaminants into the aquifer, and (4) the depressions may overlie limestone cavities filled with sand or clay that could interfere with well yield, development, and production.

Purpose and scope

Methods of investigation

Previous investigations

Well and surface-water station numbering systems

Description of the study area

Lisbon Formation

Clinchfield Sand

Ocala Limestone

Suwannee Limestone

Undifferentiated sediments of Miocene age

Undifferentiated overburden of Quaternary age

Hydraulic characteristics

Undifferentiated overburden

Upper Floridan aquifer

Recharge, discharge, and flow characteristics of the Upper Floridan aquifer

Ground-water levels

Seasonal water-level fluctuations

Long-term water-level changes and the effects of drought

Ground-water and surface-water relation

Ground-water quality

Development potential of the Upper Floridan aquifer

Quantity of available ground water

Potential for ground-water contamination

Geologic hazards

Selected references

Plate 1: Map showing locations of wells, letter and number designations of 7 1/2-minute topographic maps streamflow-measurement sites, and potentiometric surface of the Upper Floridan aquifer for November 1985, Albany area, Georgia 3.5 MB PDF)

Plate 2: Map showing lithology and thickness of the undifferentiated overburden, Albany area, Georgia (5 MB PDF)

Plate 3: Map showing locations of sinkholes and potential sources of contaminants, Albany area, Georgia (3.5 MB PDF)

This report is available online in pdf format (5 MB): USGS WRIR87-4145 (Opens the PDF file in a new window. )
To view the PDF document, you need the Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer. (A free copy of the Acrobat® Reader may be downloaded from Adobe Systems Incorporated.)

Recent USGS publications on Georgia or Georgia Water-Resources Information

For more information, please contact webmaster-ga@usgs.gov .

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URL: http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri87-4145/index.html
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Page Last Modified: Monday, 27-Aug-2007 12:21:54 EDT


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text:
Gail Buckland - Bob Gruen - Jason Borucki
Brooklyn Museum of Art NYC
Nov 7 2009

sponsored by
WWWhatsup Online Pinstand
with thanks to Brooklyn Museum of Art and Eleanor W.

"Who Shot Rock & Roll"

This was the second panel discussion complementing the 'Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present' exhibit of rock music photography at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. In this one curator Gail Buckland was joined by veteran photographer Bob Gruen, famous for his iconic pictures of John Lennon, the Sex Pistols, and The Clash, and a younger up-and-comer Jason Borucki. Gail first talked about her criteria and the effort involved in putting together the massive exhibit - the first of its kind at a major museum - and the accompanying book. Then Bob gave us an engaging illustrated tour through his storied career. Jason gave us insight on how it is for an aspiring pro snapper in this day and age. Lastly there was some lively Q&A. The whole piece runs just under an hour.

ipod | stills | youtube

DVD1679. Gail's book "Who Shot Rock and Roll: A Photographic History 1955 to the Present" is available at the Brooklyn Museum, bookstores, and Amazon. The exhibit will continue at the Brooklyn Museum of Art thru Jan 2010, and will then travel across the USA thru 2011.

Valid W3C HTML 4.01!
capture captain: joly
date posted: 11/19/09

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codes to add punkcast#1679 to your page

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March 16, 2011

Strip Quilt

Have you ever heard of the blog Film in the Fridge? Well, it's a little piece of fabulousness. Ashley does some great quilts in really beautiful colors and fabrics. Lately she's been on a kick of strip quilts. I can't get enough of these, especially her latest ones out of Flea Market Fabrics. Man, I've got to get my hands on some of that!

Well, this is my adaptation of a strip quilt, but I did it like a giant string block. Started in the middle and worked my way out. Quilts as you go, serged the edges so putting on the binding would go smoother too. Now I'm adding some simple hand quilting to jazz it up a bit. Will post pics when I'm done with that and the binding. Better get hopping as the baby shower that I'm making this for is this Saturday - out of town! Wish me luck!

  1. What a wonderful strip quilt!

  2. Don't you just love how quick and easy that kind of quilting is? Your monkeys and bright colors will fascinate a little one! I'm sure the mom will love it too! ---"Love"

  3. Nice strip quilt. Love the fabrics. Looks like something I might be able to do.

Thanks for leaving me a comment. If you have a question, feel free to ask and I'll email you back!


text:
Montana, USA: Gov. Signs Bill To Repeal Sodomy Law

Written by scott on April 19th, 2013

Montana Gov. Steve BullockIt’s official! Montana has repealed its sodomy law, officially legalizing gay sex in the state. LGBTQ Nation reports:

An obsolete law deeming gay sex as deviant — akin to bestiality — was stricken from Montana code Thursday, prompting gay rights activists to say they hope that full legal equality may be close at hand. When Montana Gov. Steve Bullock signed Senate Bill 107 decriminalizing gay sex, cheers erupted in the Capitol’s Rotunda. It had been 16 years after the state Supreme Court ruled the law unconstitutional and 24 years after gay rights activists began their fight to take government out of the bedroom.

Texas, are you next? How about Maryland? Or any of the other 15 states who still have these laws on their books?

Find more articles and gay wedding resources in Montana.

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Update on Service Interruption for Dish Subscribers – Click here

Breakfast before the Bell: Local students start the day with important meal

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

DES MOINES – Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and now the Highline School District is making sure each child is starting off on the right foot.

It’s the first year of the program called Breakfast before the Bell and it appears to be working. Here’s how it works, kids come into the classroom every day and before they do anything else, they grab breakfast.

Every morning, there’s an entrée, fruit and milk just waiting for them. Thanks to a grant and federal money, any student at Midway Elementary School can get breakfast in the morning.

“This ensures that students are having a calm eating environment and building community,” says principal Rebekah Kim.

In the past, kids came to the cafeteria to get breakfast but school officials found that plan was not working well. Ninenty percent of the kids at the school qualify for free or reduced breakfast and lunch but only about a third took advantage of it.

Since moving breakfast into the classroom, nearly 90 percent are starting off the day with a meal.

“There was a stigma associated with it, students who arrived early for breakfast were from families who qualify for free lunch. Now, there’s no stigma, no labeling, it’s just part of the day,” says Sarah Martin, the nutrition services manager for the district.

This program is in 3 elementary schools in the district but the goal is to expand this to other schools in the future.

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text:
M-m-m-m-y Generation – M-m-m-m-ajor Disappointment

People try to put us d-down (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
– The Who, My Generation

At 65, I’m close to being a leading edge baby boomer. I hate to say that I’m ashamed of most of my fellow boomers. A recent study found that we’re in worse shape than our parents were at the same age. There’s a surprise. Pathetic losers throwing what’s left of their lives away. I wouldn’t care, but they’re destroying the health care system. What irony, we have the best medical care in history and it’s overwhelmed by the laziest generation in history.

It’s not just being the laziest and fattest generation that infuriates me. We were the generation that was going to change the world. And we definitely weren’t going to grow up to be our parents.

How’d that work out? Our parents saved the world from Adolph Hitler, so maybe they’ll turn out to be the greatest generation after all. God knows it’s not us. Look at the fat, greedy jackasses in congress for a snapshot. Age of Aquarius my ass.

I can’t speak to the open corruption and hypocrisy in how our country is run because I have no answers to moral turpitude, which listens to no one, but I do know a little about being fit in old age, and it just isn’t that difficult.

Exercise every day. Too hard? Start to exercise every day and quit as soon as you want, but do it every day. Eventually you’ll start to notice that you feel better after even a short session and it all builds from there.

The easiest way to start is a stationary bike. You’re sitting down and all you have to do is turn the pedals. That’s pretty much all I did from age 31 to 55 (weights off and on, mostly off), but I did it every day. Sometimes more than once a day if I needed an extra lift.

I can’t tell you how many times that has saved the day when I ate a heavy lunch and came home after work dreading some engagement in the evening because I was so full and so miserable. I remember one time very specifically when I lived in West Los Angeles. There was a Mexican restaurant in the business park where I worked and I had a burrito supreme or something similar and a couple of glasses of wine (it was the 80’s). Never mind that I was going to drive to Canyon Country for a big chili dinnner. Somehow I made it through the afternoon, but after work I was bloated, drowsy, irritable, and generally miserable. Certainly not looking forward to the evening.

But I climbed on the bike and did my thirty minutes, and amazingly, after I took a shower, I felt great, and had a great evening.

Another specific instance is from about ten years later when I was working at home and stayed up till about 3 am programming. When I finally went to bed I was wired from too much coffee and programming. Of course I didn’t sleep well, and when I got up I felt like crap, and still wired. What a miserable day it was going to be.

So I literally dragged myself onto the bike and started slowly turning the pedals. Horrible? Yes. But like I always do in that situation, I asked myself how I would feel if I stopped. The answer – miserable and hopeless. Hopeless because I was facing a day of feeling this way. The best I could do was just lay around. I didn’t feel like reading, or watching television, or programming, or much of anything.

So I kept pedaling, and pretty soon I started feeling a little better. I kept it up for the full half hour, and once again, after a shower I felt great. The best part was that now I felt relaxed, so I was able to go back to bed and sleep for a couple of hours, and the day was saved.

Over the years there had to be hundreds of times when, after riding and settling in for the evening, either at the computer or watching television, I would notice how much better I felt than when I got home and be amazed. How could I have felt so bad and now I feel so good? Most of the time I would just take it for granted and not notice. But when I did – the difference still amazes me, although it shouldn’t. It’s just biology. If the right chemicals are not there, you feel rotten. If they are, you feel good. The only way to get them there is to fire up the processes that flush out the old bad ones and create the good new ones.

At 55 I discovered jump rope. It probably took at least a month before it started to be fun because I was so terrible. But that was ok, because each workout only lasted about 5 minutes in the beginning. 5 minutes of missing over and over again wears you out just from frustration. So when it came time to exercise it was “30 minutes on the bike or 5 minutes of trying to jump rope?” Now I have to be truthful and admit I usually had already ridden the bike that morning. But this time I was exercising at least a couple of times a day to get that exuberant feeling I had come to crave. I used to have trouble describing it, I now realize it’s euphoria.

Anyway, I stuck with it and eventually I was able to actually jump for more than a couple of minutes and jumping to music started to be fun, which the bike never was. Tolerable, yes, fun no, although the imaginary bike races where I was always ‘the kid’ were sometimes a nice diversion.

Once jump rope started to be fun, it all became easy peasy. I’m 65 now and in the best shape of my life. I started doing weights every couple of days or so about 18 months ago and that’s really enhanced the results both physically and in how I feel. And for Christmas I got an Iron Gym, which is a pull-up bar with a number of hand positions. When I’m feeling drug out and it’s too soon to jump again or do weights, I do a few pull-ups and take a shower. Another big improvement.

I see infomercials for extreme workout programs where all you have to do is workout 40 minutes a day to get amazing results. Just bring will power. Hey, if I had that much will power, I wouldn’t need their program. I have great admiration for people who can do them, but it’s not me. I have no will power. I proved that to myself from age 14 to 31 when I started and quickly gave up on one workout program after another.

The only one I couldn’t give up on was army basic training. I was in mediocre shape when I went in, in pretty good shape when I finished basic, and in terrible shape at 247 pounds when I got out two years less eight weeks later. So that’s how that went.

And on the morning news they have the one-minute workout. Do this one, and do this one, and do this one, and do this one… Great if people actually do them, and if they do them every day they’ll probably be successful. Or the jillions of healthy recipes. Again, great if you take advantage of them, but it’s just too much for me. I need for things to be simple, and I need to feel good immediately afterwards. Otherwise, I’m not going to keep it up for very long.

And walking. Don’t get me started. Great if you have a couple of hours every day and walk at a brisk pace, but strolling around the block isn’t going to do it, either for your health or in improving how you feel. Maybe you’ll have that illusion for a couple of days, but unless you step it up that will fade, in my opinion.

Woody Allen said something like “Eighty percent of success is just showing up”. My generation can’t even do that. Easier to sit on our fat asses and be miserable than to make an effort to even feel good, let alone be fit and healthy.

But in the end it’s not about the generation you’re in or even about being a good influence on others. For something to really happen you have to make an effort to feel better than you do right now and accept that exercise can make that happen. If you do that, and follow the steps I’ve gone on about ad nauseum in other other articles on starting an exercise habit, you can save the quality of your own life and actually enjoy doing it, or at least not hate it;  because on the personal, day to day level, it’s not about how much weight did I lose or how much muscle did I gain, it’s about how I feel better both physically and mentally after exercise. And how that makes the quality of life better each and every day.

And if you can jump safely, and start with jumping to music, and stick with it past the tedious part of learning to jump, it will start being fun right away.

I'm 67 years old and never expected to be in this kind of shape or have this kind of stamina, at any age. Then I discovered JumpRock at 55 and HoopRock at 66. Both are so much fun it's actually easy to get fit and stay that way; this blog is to encourage you to follow my example and be in great shape yourself going into old age - that's all I can promise for now - we'll see how actual old age goes. I'm highly optimistic.
Richard's website
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4 Responses to M-m-m-m-y Generation – M-m-m-m-ajor Disappointment

  1. Grandma Kc says:

    I’ve said it before and I will say it again — you set a great example for the rest of us! And you make your granddaughter very proud, too! The fact that you are able to run and keep up with that ball of energy — you’re the best!

  2. n. robinson says:

    Great peptalk, Rich. Thank you and keep it up! You are an inspiration!

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text:
Thursday, May 14, 2009

Tweeding being kicked into high gear

From the Daily News:

...state lawmakers keep dreaming up ways to exempt welfare recipients from having to contribute to their own keep.

One proposal would end work requirements for able-bodied adults on food stamps.

Another would let welfare recipients get second opinions from their own doctors after a city physician deemed them fit for work.

A third would empower people on the dole to turn down job placements that don't pay a "living wage" - defined as $17 an hour for a single mother with two children.

A fourth would let college students on welfare off the hook by counting time spent in class and on homework as employment.

Each of these measures undermines the core message of workfare - that healthy adults have to take responsibility for themselves and their families, and that almost any job is preferable to a life of dependency.

In years past, the Democratic-led Assembly would approve bad bills like these only to have them die in the Republican-led Senate. But now that Dems rule in both houses, chances for passage have risen dramatically.

Anonymous said...

While I agree with you that requiring unskilled labor get $17.00 an hour while skilled secretaries often have to work for $10.00, I can see the point of the second opinion from one's own doctor.

I have a friend, near legally-blind from birth, crippled in two work-related injuries, had excellent medical records of same from several respectable doctors, MRI's, CAT scans, X-rays, all showing the serious injuries, certified as fit as a fiddle by worker's comp.

I myself had a fall at work that damaged by two knees and my two ankles permanently. Worker's Comp dragged out approval of my physical therapy until the prescription essentially expired and then stopped it after 3 visits.

I am still crippled. Fortunately I am an office worker so I can hide a leg brace under my pants and pretend to be okay. The government uses some of the biggest liars on earth to deny sick people any help, even though they pay payroll and social security taxes for this protection.

Anonymous said...

No wonder why we are broke!

Suzannah B. Troy artist said...

Tony Avella actually show up to speak up because he cares
posted by SUZANNAH B. TROY

Tony Avella shows up to eminent domain abuse rallies and there are many under the Bloomberg administration because he favors pushing out the people from their communities for his friends and in NYU's case NYU doesn't even need to use and abuse eminent domain to get the job done. I have demanded NYU give us community outreach resource centers in every mega dorm where they busted through zoning using the term community facility and they exclude the community. These centers should be in the front of the buildings so students see and get involved in helping community members and small businesses remain in their community.

The term media whore is offensive for many reasons and Tony Avella shows up and that takes so much patience and time, he speaks up which takes guts and if you do not get media coverage how do you get your message out and sadly people like Mort Zuckerman that owns the NY Daily news writes letters on behalf of Mike Bloomberg to stay in office a third term and The New York eminent domain Times acts like Mike and his socialite mega millionaire city planner are on their board.

Mike Bloomberg's ads are Orwellian and he thinks if he repeats he helps the poor and middle classes rather than crush them we will believe it. He thinks giving loans to small businesses that are being crushed by his tsunami of community crushing development will help them rather than send them further in to debt.

The bottom line is Mike Bloomberg's "NEW" hideous NY is like he NEW hideous Yankee Stadium, New Yorker's can't afford it.

Tony Avella for mayor

I have done a series of youtubes starting with Mayor Bloomberg King of New York. I have an old school political poster I hand painted lampooning King Mike as well as youtubes talking about his Orwellian ad campaign and my newest show 'Bloombergs Streets of New York" which are in horrifying condition.
My newest shows 311 and the 911 call they transfer me to for a hole in the street that goes down 3 and half to 4 feet deep have done nothing for the safety of people so I ask a Con Ed worker for a cone to warn people of the danger. Mike Blooomberg's New York -- no thank you.
Suzannah B. Troy

Suzannah B. Troy artist said...

oops I meant to post under a different section, as always so tired and this mayor destroyed my neighborhood what was left it, just a wreck

Anonymous said...

Don't worry Suzannah. We know that Avella is above tweeding anyhow. By the way, I would like to thank Crappy for the photo of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb!

Wade Nichols said...

Fifth: Public assistance recipients will no longer be required to wipe their own asses. Government will provide professional ass wipers to perform that task for them, thrice daily.

Anonymous said...

This is an outrage! How dare working folks, middle class get nothing but taxes, less services etc.

Sit on your duff in a city provided rent free apartment, food stamps to feed you, do the dirty all day, care for your young ones and wait till the $17 an hour job presents itself to work. Expect your many suitors to provide you with small gifts until your good looks disappear by age 21. Thank God for Sheldon Silver!

Anonymous said...

I gotsta git me a caddy lac!


text:
Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Woman pistol-whipped and robbed in her home

From the Queens Chronicle:

Yellow caution tape separated a modest-sized home with a finely manicured lawn from the others on a quiet street in Cambria Heights on Monday, while officers from the NYPD’s Crime Scene Unit walked around the property gathering evidence.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Mathilda Theodore, 58, had been brutally beaten and robbed at gunpoint, inside her home at 115-75 231 St., where she has lived for the last 19 years.

At what her daughter speculated was 7:30 p.m. on Sunday evening, Theodore was taking her garbage out to the curb, when two armed men wearing black ski masks approached her and told her to “show them where the cash was,” according to her daughter.

Theodore took them to her bedroom where they searched through her jewelry and snatched up several boxes.

Theodore hoped the commotion would alert her tenant and prompt her to call for help, but she wasn’t home. The assailants broke down the door and as they were trying to disconnect a flat screen television that was affixed to a wall, Theodore tried to get away, but didn’t make it very far.

“She tried to run up the stairs and they grabbed her by the hair and hit her in the head several times with a gun,” Sainah said. “She had blood in her eyes so she couldn’t see too well, but she heard them say, ‘Let’s go, let’s go,’ and they ran out the door.”

Theodore was taken to North Shore-Long Island Jewish Hospital in Manhasset, where eight staples were required to close the laceration on her forehead. She was released and is recovering at home, but her daughter says she is in a lot of pain.

Anonymous said...

A friend married to an airlines employee once kept a chemical that is used for repairing leaks in hydraulic lines.

When a thief invaded her home she used the extremely painful chemical to temporarily blind him.

Time to defend our homes.

georgetheatheist said...

At 58, young enough to wield a pistol. www.nra.org.

Anonymous said...

Cambria Heights (Queens, New York) ZIP Code 11411

Population (2000)
Density 21,282

White 2.9%
Black 91.7%
Hispanic 4.1%
Asian 0.4%
Other 1.1%

Anonymous said...

Its only going to get worse as deep winter nears and people go desperate
You now need to have a gun or 2 hidden about the house.
Look at the home invasion stats in Florida and Texas where 95% of the population have them.
Crook think in them states.

Cambria Heights is a real sh*thole like Harlem or the S Bronx in the 70's

Anonymous said...

Agreed George. All law abiding people and children old enough should have firearm training.
Its getting to crazy out there and the cops spread so thin. They get assigned to protect special interest or can only show 1-2 after the fact hours like in Ridgewood.
Better to be judged by 12 then carried by 6 to a hole.

Its best to kill these creeps in your house "castle Dostrin"
If you pepper spray or hurt them in hand to hand combat they come back with a hungry pro-bono lawyer and sue you.
There is no more justace system in this country, its become a legal system of BS liberal rights and laws.
Rob & beat a 58 year old woman In China and the judges call the TV people have you shot outside.

Anonymous said...

Wow, this blog is beloved by gun nuts...
A lot of people own guns in Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alaska... they have higher homicide rate than New York State.
Just a coincidence I suppose.

Queens Crapper said...

Actually, outside of NYC, most people in NYS own guns.

Anonymous said...

As a matter of fact the gun ownership rate in NYS is much lower than other states such as Arizona, Alaska, Florida, Louisiana.
They have higher homicide rate than NYS.
Just a coincidence I suppose.

Anonymous said...

Gun ownership by state

Number of homicides by state

1/2 of people in North Dakota own guns, yet they have the lowest homicide stats.

Queens Crapper said...

There really is no point in what we do to criminalize guns in this city and discourage people from owning them for self defense. The criminals are going to get them whether you have one or not. So you'd best make the odds even.

Anonymous said...

Arizona, Alaska, Florida, Louisiana have more of a criminal element, that's why their stats are higher.

Anonymous said...

You're right!
We don't need to close the gun show loophole!
Even criminals and psychopatics have a second amendment right!
We should allow criminals and psychopatics to get all the guns they need!
The bigger they need!
The most powerful they need!
Let's unleashed the wild west!

P.S. just a coincidence that western europe (with stricter gun laws) have a lower homicide rate.
Just a coincidence I suppose!

Anonymous said...

No one said that "loopholes" for screening shouldn't be closed. You're stretching now.

And Western European countries don't have "inner city" populations where crime is glorified.

Anonymous said...

Crappy has it nailed
The criminals will have guns no matter what. They don't obey the law
Interesting thing is most criminals, MS-13 are not trained to use them, wont go near a firing range

Its a fact the cops are never around when you need them.
An even playing field plus training WILL make a huge difference in saving your life.

Anonymous said...

Dear anonymous,
have you ever lived in Europe?
I used to live in Europe.
There are several bad areas everywhere where local people glorify violence.
The outskirts of italian cities are scaring.
Paris has several horrible housing projects.
Despite these problems, violence is lower than in the USA.
I am still surprised that ANY gun nuts has NEVER told me why the western europe homicide rate is lower.
I am still waiting.

Anonymous said...

The outskirts of italian cities are scaring.
Paris has several horrible housing projects.

"Several" does not equal the vast number of projects we have here in NYC, not tio mention the ghettos they are located in. And "the outskirts" of our borough is Far Rockaway. I'd take my chances in Italy before Far Rockaway any day of the week.

Anonymous said...

As a matter of fact, the outskirts of Rome is an endless urban sprawl of commieblocks and housing projects.
Have you ever been there?
I don't think so.
I am pretty sure that you visited just the historical district.
In Rome and Naples I saw several blighted places.
BY FAR more horrible and blighted than Far Rockaway.

Anonymous said...

And you're going to postulate that criminals there don't use guns because guns are illegal? That's funny. It's the country where the mafia comes from, for Christ sakes!

-Joe said...

Ill tell you why !
I been there as a former musician, the UK as well London as well

In the outskirts of Italian, French, Danish, the UK the government gives the asswipes food, healthcare and free dope to stay high and not cause trouble.

“A Ticket to Ride" projects like the Beatles song.
F_ swine socialists!!
The same Socialist shit O'bama and his Dems are working on behind closed doors to stick up our ass !
Massive civil unrest is coming you can bet on it.

Some of you people need to move back to Europe and quit pushing this shit here

Anonymous said...

Violence happens in Western Europe.
But it has a low homicide rate.
Lower than USA's one.
That is a fact.
Even Italy has a low homicide rate (1,5 homicides per 100.000 people).
The vast majority of Western European people doesn't live in the culture of fear that NRA is promoting in the USA.
Fortunately NYC people are smarter than the americans of redneck states: there are less guns here.
That's why the homicide rate is reasonable and is still going down.
As in New Orleans. LOL!

Anonymous said...

Actually, not that I am a wild gun nut, but in Ireland nearly every farmer owns a shotgun but murders are almost non-existent.


text:
The department's Energy Information Administration, in a report issued Monday, also raised earlier government estimates of emissions for 2003, pushing that year past 2000 into second place.

No estimates were available for United States emissions in 2005, although energy experts say increased economic growth this year is likely to make it another record-setter.

The increases in 2003 and 2004 followed a brief dip in emissions in 2001 and 2002. Government officials said that decline reflected a slowdown in the economy, the departure of some manufacturing industries overseas, and emissions cuts in other industries.

Less than two weeks ago, Bush administration officials at climate-treaty talks in Montreal repeatedly cited the short-lived drop in emissions after 2000 as evidence that President Bush's climate policy, using voluntary measures to slow growth in the gas releases, was working.

In its report, the energy agency said that while overall emissions were growing, the rate of growth continued to slow relative to economic growth, and so remained on the track set by Mr. Bush.

Yesterday, Lord Rees, the president of the Royal Society, an independent British scientific academy similar to the National Academies in the United States, said the new American data showed that all industrialized countries needed to intensify efforts to cut emissions. He noted that Britain's emissions had also risen in the last two years.

Lord Rees said that the two countries and the other members of the Group of 8 biggest industrialized nations clearly had to do more to live up to a statement they issued at a summit meeting in Scotland in July, in which they resolved to act with ''urgency'' to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

''We should not underestimate the challenge of achieving economic growth whilst reducing emissions, and the United States is not the only country that is struggling to do this,'' Lord Rees said in a statement. ''But it seems unlikely that the present U.S. strategy of only setting emissions targets relative to economic growth, reducing so-called greenhouse gas intensity, will be enough.''

Carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas generated by humans, remains an unavoidable byproduct of burning the fossil fuels that underpin modern life. Other powerful greenhouse gases include methane, which leaks from landfills and gas pipelines, and nitrous oxide, released mainly from fertilizer use in large-scale farms.

The gases are measured collectively in tons of carbon dioxide by converting the heat-trapping capacity of each gas into the amount of carbon dioxide that would have the same warming effect.

By this measure, total American emissions of the six major greenhouse gases in 2004 added up to the equivalent of 7.1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, up 2 percent from 6.98 billion metric tons in 2003. Emissions in 2000 were 6.97 billion tons, the agency said.

The energy agency's greenhouse gas report is online at


text:
Monday, July 28, 2008

Just starting to chill

Having been off work since last Wednesday teatime I'm finally starting to unwind.
Not that life is quiet here - with three teenagers (well almost as Nick won't be 13 until November and Lou is still 11 but is currently acting like a total Kevin!) there's always lots to do.
When they were little they needed supervision - for example Nick and Lou at the ages of 30 months and 16 months respectively managed to get hold of a bottle of typists correction fluid and within minutes, when I was in the kitchen making tea, had painted each other, several toys and, worst of all, my beautiful leather sofa! Thankfully Nigel was a real hero - he rushed home from work and somehow managed to get it all off with thinners I think
Nowadays they need much less supervision but lots of ferrying around - Nick has just done three days of a five day cricket school at the Somerset County ground in town and needs taking there and back each day - the girls have haircuts booked for this afternoon - it's general catch up time for things like dental appointments etc and we go away on Sunday for almost two weeks so I really should get rid of that ironing pile too.
I guess it won't be that long until they're all driving themselves and I'll spend my time worrying and waiting for them to get home safe instead - nobody tells you about all this at ante-natal classes.
This Saturday we had a gathering of Nick's football team and all the boys' families. The parents of one of the boys had arranged a pig roast in their field - they live in a wonderful house on the Somerset levels with lots of garden.
I offered to take a pasta salad and a pudding
I'll spare you the picture of the pasta salad - no matter how delicious it might have been there's little visual stimulation from a bowl of pasta and accompaniments liberally lathered in a mayo and yoghurt combination - always looks ever so slightly regurgitated to me as much as I love it
However I thought I'd share this incredibly easy dessert
All you need is some whipped cream, some sherry and some Ginger Nuts - for those not familiar with these they are very hard and crunchy ginger biscuits
The method is simplicity itself
Crush one biscuit and put aside for later
Spread a layer of cream in the bottom of the dish
Dip one of the biscuits in the sherry on both sides and stand it up in the cream at one end of the dish
Follow with as many other dipped biscuits as you need sandwiching each of them with the whipped cream as you go along
Once you've filled your dish spread more cream liberally all over the top and down the sides
Finally sprinkle the top with that crushed biscuit you saved at the start - as one who has often come to the end and used all the biscuits up I now make sure I crush my initial biscuit before I start :o)
Try to make this a few hours in advance as the biscuits soften and the flavours combine well over a little time
A very simple and delicious pudding which met with lots of oohs and aahs on consumption and great incredulity on subsequently being informed just how easy it was to make!
Yesterday I did manage to get some sewing in.
I spent a good part of the afternoon making a oval shaped cover for the central locker on Nigel's double canoe - the fabric is waterproof and slightly stretchy which initially seemed like it would be a total pig to sew but once I changed to the walking foot it made short work of the job - I didn't get a photo but I still have another to make as he has two of these canoes so once I've done that I'll share it with you
And then onto nicer stitching...
I cut the binding for the summer quilt
Machined it all round the edge
And finally hand stitched it down to give the finished result
A quick label this morning and it'll be in the post later today!

Friday, July 25, 2008

I'm powfagged.............

.............I'm powfagged, I'm jiggered, I'm tired!
When I was a teenager my parents had a tape of a folk music group called the Fivepenny Piece. This was the first line of one of their songs. I've hunted on YouTube for a recording of it but can only find some of their other songs so short of inviting you all round for a rendition and a coffee I can't actually share the musical version with you.
However this is exactly how I feel now that we've broken up for the summer break - totally drained and exhausted.
Never mind - at least I don't have to go back to work until the 9th of September, a few days after the kids - hopefully this will give me the chance to recharge my batteries
I've been doing a little stitching but not my usual output - I feel very much like I'm not firing on all cylinders at the moment, hopefully a few more days chilling might rectify that

This is the completed top for my secret partner in the Miniature Booty Swap - I shall quilt it and then bind it in a blue plaid - it will be just a tad oversize, I had it planned to be spot on and then realised that all those greens together looked very drab and some skinny sashing was just what the quilt needed - hopefully my partner won't mind too much it is only a teeny bit over the top size guideline

And here is my Summer offering for the Four Seasons Quilt Swap - quilted and ready for the binding - I found my piece of the green I used for the stalks this morning, in and amongst the melee that is my sewing area, and I will endeavour to get the binding cut and on, possibly tonight, as it needs posting before the end of the month

Finally today the quilt I received for the Another Little Quilt Swap from Lisa-Jo in Colorado - the postcard she sent with it was of such awesome mountain scenery that I've put Colorado on my 'Must visit' list - sometime whenever :o)
I love this lilac triangle quilt - so unlike anything I'd do myself - you all know my aversion to triangles!
I should have also taken a picture of the pincushion I received from Lynda's swap - I'll save that one for next time, I've signed up for her bag and bucket swap too - a definite glutton for punishment!
I started last night to do a little bit of the applique for my centre of the next Spring Fling round robin - I'd like it to turn out a little like Dutch Delft Ware - I'll share a sneak peak of that with you next time :o)

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Just grabbing a few minutes........ let you know that, although I've been chasing my tail at an alarming rate of knots, I have managed a teeny weeny little bit of creativity amongst the mayhem that is chez bebbs at this particular portion of my life.
I've been making little churn dash blocks for the miniature booty swap quilt - they will all be set on the slant like the completed one in the middle pinned very unceremoniously to the lovely mini-quilt that Suzie sent me (sorry Suzie, I'm sure when you put in all those hours of dedicated hard work you didn't anticipate it being used as a design board) - but I really needed to pin them up out of the way so I didn't lose them as they're only 4.5" square and the pile underneath them in the photo is at least 18" tall, which is what happens to my sewing area when I don't sew regularly but people still keep dumping things there!
I've also got my summer Four Seasons effort quilted - photo to follow - and hope in and among today's family commitments to get the bindng made and machined on ready to take it to my quilting group tomorrow morning.
I'm afraid I still have so much to do at work before we break up on Wednesday (of course some lucky people finished last Friday, but it wasn't to be for me) that I shall have to go straight into work after quilting on my day off. However no matter what stuff still needs to be done I refuse to miss the final quilting session for the summer - how else will I hope to maintain my sanity this week?
Nick has had 'Activities week' at school this past week - a pretty standard thing across the board at most English senior schools - a week of doing lots of different and often fun things
He had plumped for 'Craft activities' on the Wednesday and Friday - best of a bad list of choices in his opinion I feel, but we don't need to go into that. The offshoot of it was he came home on Wednesday with a decorated t-shirt - usual stuff, lots of writing in fabric pens about his favourite football team etc. However he did let slip that he could have tie-dyed this particular t-shirt. So always with an eye for the main chance I sent him into school on the Friday with a largish strip of white sheeting and told him if he got the chance to have a go at dyeing it for me.
Here are his results - not bad eh? I'm loathe to cut them down too much, especially the 'snail trail' effect ones, so I'm thinking up some sort of quilt to use them in without cutting them up too far.
Maybe my boy has hidden talents in the craft department after all :o) - but don't hold your breath, this afternoon it's back to lively outdoor things again with the Scouts raft race - thank goodness it's warm and sunny here today!

Friday, July 11, 2008

I am still here........ honest.......

Sorry guys - so busy with work and trying to get everything finished before the end of term that I haven't even had time to download the photos from the camera from the weekend's trip - my parents' golden wedding and our visit on the way home to Karol-Ann's house

Can't do a post without a photo so here are a couple I took from our trip up north this time last year
The river Wharfe flowing through the woods at Bolton Abbey
And a sheep wandering over to us on the top of Embsay moor to see if we had anything interesting to eat
Normal service will be resumed soon - just as soon as I can extricate myself from under this pressing pile of paperwork!

Thursday, July 03, 2008

All done and dusted

Strange expression that........

'all done and dusted'

It's one I use all the time, I suppose my mum must say it too - I'll have to ask her this weekend.

I presume it comes from someone completing the housework - all done and dusted.

Not much time for dusting here over the past few days. When I've not been playing taxi driver for Nick's cricket and collecting Sarah from the station after visiting a friend near Bristol I've been stitching.
Et voila - a finish:
The triangles were a pig to do - don't you just hate quilting in the ditch - don't look too closely my lines are a tad wobbly. But it was fun doing the feathers and the petals on the flowers
And finally a green checked shirting for the binding completes the job.
It seems a while since I finished something which didn't have hearts on it! :o)

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

You have to eat the yuck to get the yum!

Thinking of childhood memories, especially mealtimes, a friend of mine always quoted her own mother from her childhood mealtimes.......

"You have to eat the yuck to get the yum!'

Of course roughly translated this means you have to clear your plate of the savoury course - including those brussel sprouts you've surreptitiously hidden under some leftover mashed potato - before you can have your pudding.

That's what my own little corner of the world feels like at the moment.

Not from a home point of view - but work is 'pants' at present so patchwork and quilting is balancing the equation somewhat.

However this morning as the kids left the house at 8.05am and I don't have to be at work until 9.30 I thought I'd grab a bit of yum before I tackled today's particular brand of yuck

I got the four plaid blocks together with sawtooth sashings over the weekend - lots of sitting in front of the tv watching Glastonbury gave me a home run on the hand applique

Then yesterday I put the borders on and appliqued the corner blocks in front of the tv last night

After nearly crucifying myself scrabbling about on the lounge floor this morning to get it sandwiched I thought tha,t after I'd put in some 'in the ditch' stabilising lines, I'd indulge myself with a free form feather down at least one border before I head off to the mad house! One border down, three to go - then to decide what to do in the middle - watch this space.........................


text:
Ben Franklin was one of the greatest grand strategists in American history. He “had the vision of the Great Power of the New World” as refugees from the Old World poured in, writes Conrad Black in his page-turning, tour-de-force Flight of the Eagle: The Grand Strategies That Brought America from Colonial Dependence to World Leadership. Franklin then followed up that vision with brilliant diplomacy and sponsoring, along with George Washington, the constitutional efforts of Madison, Hamilton and Jay.

The flow of immigrants to America was crucial not only in the initial rise of America as a credible power in the world, but also in dealing with the stain of slavery: the North would have been unable to defeat the South in the Civil War if the North had not had a three to one advantage in population because of its greater ability to attract immigrants.

Ratio of Per Capita GDP: China/US

In the rest of the 21st century, America faces another grand-strategic challenge: the challenge of China. Since Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms were introduced in December of 1978, China’s economy has been growing at a ferocious pace. As former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers put it, at Chinese growth rates, “In a decade, an individual goes from walking to having a bicycle; in another decade to a motorcycle; in another decade or two to having an automobile.” Yichuan Wang explains in “How China’s poorest regions are going to save its growth rate,” the reason the Chinese economy can grow so fast is that it is in the midst of “catch-up growth”: that is, it can copy technologies that have already been researched and developed better than other countries. As shown in the graph above, China went from a per capita GDP (income per person) less than 1/50 of the US level to per capita GDP of roughly 1/6 the US level in the 30 years from 1980 to 2010. It will not be easy for China to get all the way to the US level of income per person, but with half-decent economic policies, it should have no problem getting to half the US level of income per person.

The reason China’s economic rise matters for US grand strategy is that China has a much larger population than the United States. Indeed, as the graph below shows, the US now has less than a quarter the population China has (the extreme measures China has taken to hold down its population growth since 1979 through its one-child policy have stabilized the ratio of US to Chinese population in recent years). Multiplying per capita GDP by population yields total GDP, so if China has 1/4 the per capita GDP, but four times as many people, its total GDP will be the same size. More generally, if China gets to a larger fraction of US per capita GDP (see graph above) than the US population as a fraction of China’s population (see graph below), then China’s total GDP will be bigger. Although per capita GDP is what matters for people’s standard of living, total GDP is crucial for the ability of a country to wage war—or more importantly, to deter other countries from waging war against it. Power corrupts. So even though idealism has had some effect on US foreign policy (as Black details), it should surprise no one that the US has done some bad things as a superpower. Yet I am convinced that the combination of Chinese nationalism and “Communist” oligarchy—or the combination of Chinese nationalism with some tumultuous future political transition in China—would lead a dominant China to behave much worse than the US has.

Untitled drawingData source: Populstat and Census

What can be done to maintain US power relative to China? The worst answer would be to try to inhibit China’s economic growth. Berkeley economics professor and influential blogger Brad DeLong’s rhetorical question says it best:

Does it really improve the national security of the United States for schoolchildren in China to be taught that the United States sought to keep them as poor as possible for as long as possible?

An excellent answer is to do everything possible to foster long-run growth of per capita GDP in the US. At a minimum, this includes radical reform of our system of K-12 education, removing the barriers state governments put in the way of people getting jobs, and dramatically stepped-up support for scientific research. And both the US tax system and the balance in its government spending between (a) mailing people checks in direct government transfers and (b) investments in raising the productive capacity of the economy by, say, keeping roads and bridges in good repair. But when all is said and done, economic growth at the frontier of high living standards is simply harder than catch-up economic growth. So, short of some disaster for China that we should not wish on them, the ratio of China’s per capita GDP to US per capita GDP is bound to go up.

Fortunately, to add to the pro-growth policies listed above, there is another way to increase the size of the US economy that would be remarkably easy: expanding the United States economy—with all of its power to make people richer than they are in most other countries—to encompass a larger share of the world’s people. In the 19th century, many Americans felt a “manifest destiny” to expand the land that the US encompassed—westward, all the way to the Pacific. But in a modern economy, it is human beings and their skills (and the factories and machines their saving makes possible) that are the key to national wealth, not land.

So in the 21st century, we should view claiming more of the world’s people—not more of the world’s land—as the key to national wealth, and therefore, national power. And all we have to do to claim more of the world’s people for the US, is to open our doors to immigration, as the US did in the 18th and most of the 19th century. Ben Franklin knew that America would become a great nation because people from all over the world would eagerly move to America. The key to maintaining America’s preeminence in the world is to return to Ben Franklin’s visionary grand strategy of making many more of the world’s people into Americans.

Before the American Revolution, Franklin said that America “will in another century be more than the people of England, and the greatest number of Englishmen will be on this side of the water.” With a quarter-millennium of additional experience beyond what Franklin had seen, we know that America’s melting pot can make people from anywhere in the world (not just England) into Americans at heart within two generations. And we know that, together with all the other elements of this unbelievable American system, Franklin’s grand strategy for the rise of America worked once. It can work again to keep America on top.

You can follow Miles on Twitter at @MilesKimball. We welcome your comments at

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text:
Become a Zoo Volunteer Today!

Of all the ways that a person can support Racine's number-one cultural asset, becoming a Zoo volunteer has to be one of the most rewarding. Where else can you surround yourself with some of the world's most spectacular creatures, meet, work, and learn alongside other dedicated individuals just like you? Being a Zoo volunteer, Volunteen or intern is also a great way to gain valuable work experience in a very competitive field.

We rely on the assistance, dedication and enthusiasm of those who share our vision of continuing to make the Racine Zoo a sanctuary for positive interaction between people and the natural world. All positions require that the volunteer communicate effectively and pleasantly with the public as well as represent the Zoo in a positive manner.

Conservation and Animal Welfare

Guest Services

Special Events

If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact the Racine Zoo at 262-636-9189, or e-mail us at volunteers@racinezoo.orgClick here for a volunteer application form

Calling All Teens!  Volunteen Program

This volunteer program is designed for young adults who are at least thirteen years old through age seventeen. Candidates for the Volunteen program are selected after an interview process that is conducted each spring. The number of positions available varies each year depending on the number of vacancies.

Interested? Complete an application and return it to us by May 1 along with one letter of recommendation from a teacher on school letterhead and a paragraph written by you that explains why you want to be a Zoo Volunteen.  Be sure to use your own words.  Your recommendation and paragraph must be attached to your application.

We do not have enough opportunities to accommodate all who want to volunteer.  However, we do keep a waiting list and many are brought into the program at a later date.  We do not accept applications after May 1.  Please be sure your application with all required materials reaches us on time.  You can expect to hear back from us via email by May 8 if you have been selected for an interview. Group interviews will be held Saturday, May 16.

Send your application to 2131 N. Main Street, Racine, WI 53402 or email ahill@racinezoo.org. Applications are due by May 1, 2015 for the 2015/2016 school year. See the following link below for requirements and application.

Click here for the volunteen program requirements and description

Click here for volunteen application form


text:
Updated RR Flyer (English and Spanish)

Here is the updated (as of 2010) Radical Reference flyer, in English and Spanish. It's designed to be printed 4 sheets per page (change the settings via your print dialog box). If you can, print English on one side and Spanish on the other.

flyer 2010.doc218 KB
flyer 2010 - Span.doc118.5 KB


text:
August 23, 2012 – Deacon John Green

Ken talks with Deacon John Green, author of Streetwalking with Jesus – Reaching Out in Justice and Mercy (published by Our Sunday Visitor). For over two decades John has been ministering to inter-city men on the margins of society. John shares the lessons he learned through the stories of men who struggle to escape poverty, addiction and sexual sin – while encounter Christ in the process. Learn more about Deacon Green’s ministry at and John’s wife has a vital role in his ministry and is a singer/songwriter. To learn more, and listen to some of her music, visit John’s book is available at

One thought on “August 23, 2012 – Deacon John Green


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Category: Train Collector's Meet
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text:
Notices tagged with s02e20

  1. @eaglehooves Future Twilight causes Twilight unfounded panic. # # (missed that tag first time around, deleted now)

    Saturday, 14-Apr-12 07:06:02 UTC from IdentiCurse in context
  2. That was a great episode! # done, onto # :)

    Tuesday, 10-Apr-12 19:47:59 UTC from IdentiCurse
  3. How did they even get into those stealth suits? (For that matter, how did Dashie get into hers 4 episodes back?) #

    Tuesday, 10-Apr-12 19:39:08 UTC from IdentiCurse
  4. Pinkie, bolts do not tighten to the left. You are making that bridge _less_ safe. #

    Tuesday, 10-Apr-12 19:27:52 UTC from IdentiCurse
  5. ...why is there another Twi? # has already got intriguing.

    Tuesday, 10-Apr-12 19:23:58 UTC from IdentiCurse
  6. # go! (Only 5 more, this one included, until I'm caught up! *squee*)

    Tuesday, 10-Apr-12 19:20:50 UTC from IdentiCurse

Affiliates Brony Aerospace Bronies UK PonySquare


text:
Rangers back on the ice today

Their legs didn’t move Saturday and they had Sunday off.

Today the Rangers go back to work on this next three-day hiatus. Then they play three games in less than four days starting Wednesday in Sunrise.

I’m working on a story for next week, so I’m going to try to get over there this morning.

Will update from there. Hopefully with some audio, etc.

About Author

  1. Buff – you’re right, the updates are over only because it’s now turned to non-stop coverage on NHL Network.

  2. Nauseating…..I understand he is their marquee player, but it’s a bit too much. Does anyone recall whether TGO used to get similar amount of attention? I hope the Fishsticks spoil his comeback and win this one with ease…Never mind, scratch that.

    Back to Rangers. This one is on Torts. It’s been too long, too many different players, but at the end- it looks the same. If he isn’t capable of fixing it, he should ask for help:

  3. Doodie Machetto on

    Has anyone ever heard of Crosby guy? I’m assuming he is a descendant of Bing Crosby and he will be singing Christmas songs or something on Long Island? I didn’t read the story, just the headline “Crosby to play on Long Island.” I just hope he can croon like Bing.

  4. Anybody psyched for the big Black Friday showdown between Detroit and Boston…..is that racist? Lol….why the byuf woud they call it the Thanksgiving showdown when its bein played the day after??

  5. Ilb I clicked the link and got an error message….100% agreed the power play is on the coach because its sucked (most of the time) for 3+ years now…..

  6. Doodie Machetto on

    I don’t know what anyone is talking about. We signed Brad Richards to a lifetime contract. PP is fixed for life!

  7. I believe they are calling it the “Thanksgiving Showdown” to compete with the NFL games that are played on Thanksgiving. This again makes no sense because the games are on different days. Once again, however, the NHL has decided to compete with the NFL while the NBA is defunct. Rather than make their own push for NBA fans they are happy to ride the coattails of the NFL.

  8. Doodie Machetto on

    Manny, I think they are specifically avoiding competing with the NFL. I think it’s pretty smart. NFL has games all day on Thanksgiving. Why compete with them for viewers? The NHL will lose that fight every time. But a lot of people are off on Friday, and with nothing else on TV during the day, the NHL can maybe earn a few new viewers.

    It’s the same idea behind the Winter Classic this year. They could have it on New Year’s Day like they have every other year. But they chose not to because they would be competing with the NFL’s slate of Sunday games. And since most people have off the day after New Year’s Day, they still have a large audience to play to.

  9. Thanks for being so welcoming guys. I am really excited to have found this forum in which to express myself. Other people can be so judgmental and limiting.

  10. Remember, Mannu, we keep it strictly to hockey around here. Line combos and such. Never any j(g)ibberish. And we never complain after a loss, because we see the glass half full all the time. And we never disagree with the blog author.

  11. Thanks for laying out the Rules there, Mr. Carp. I actually did have a question about Line Combos.

    Why isn’t Sean Avery playing LW on the top line? This guy is a hockey legend. He’s like the long lost Howe brother. A born scorer. Get him on that top line so he can get Gaborik going. That guy has to produce.

    Another hockey question: If the Capitals fire Bruce Boudreau would it be in the interest of the NY Rangers to fire this Tortarella guy and hire Bruce? Seems like Bruce is a way better coach and much more respected by his players!

  12. Man what’s with this Mannu guy? Welcome to the bog buddy but get with the program!

    Rumor mill is saying that Jeff Carter has _already_ requested a trade from the Blue Jackets. 8 Games he has played. 8.

  13. Mannu, there’s a regular here named firetorts. He will surely stop by after a few more losses and will be able to intelligently explain why the Rangers should jump at the chance to fire Tortorelli and hire Boudreau.

  14. I’d rather hire dissected medical cadaver than Bruce Boudreau. I’m no fan of Tortorella by any stretch of the imagination. But he’s a hell of a lot better than some choices out there, Boudreau being at the top of that list.

    But if you wanted to turn that around, I think Tortorella would probably be a perfect fit in Washington. Talent-laden roster of under-achieving superstars, a captain that wants to skate 28 minutes a game, and enough fire power to regularly score 5 goals a game? That’s a team tailor-made for a coach like Torts.

  15. That’s interesting Phil. I never thought of it that way. I don’t know where Mannu was going with that…..

    I just wonder if those guys (Capitals players) would react to toughness. I think Tort’s type of discipline and motivation would actually be pretty useful. I will have to wait until 24/7 is over and I have seen an inside look at both coaches though before I can really tell.

  16. Breaking News:

    New York, 21 Novembre – The NHL Office has announced that six matches on its Monday night schedule have been cancelled in order to afford all hockey fans the opportunity to watch the triumphant return of their saviour, Cindy The Skid.

    [Heads Up!]

  17. You know, this could actually be good for the Islandorks. Not that I care, but, this game is gonna be ALL OVER and that arena will probably be packed. At least it should be. It’s kind of neat to see the entire sports world clamor to get their claws into a hockey event. Even if it is Cindy Crosbee.

  18. Have to agree with Larry Brooks here

    Fedotenko-Boyle-Prust as the 4th line with Avery-Christensen-Zuccarello as the 3rd line gives the Rangers a better shot at beating the better teams like Philly, Pitt, WAS, BOS etc.

    I want to see Zuccarello on the first unit with Stepan, Callahan, Richards and Gaborik

  19. >>This one is on Torts. It’s been too long, too many different players, but at the end- it looks the
    >>same. If he isn’t capable of fixing it, he should ask for help…

    Rangers power play failure stems from:
    1. Lack of a good puck carrier to gain the offensive blue line.
    2. Need of skilled guys with soft hands who can move the puck quickly, receive a hard pass, and needle passes through the penalty killers’ box.
    3. Absence of a big shot from the point.

  20. Doodie Machetto on

    UK, actually, I think this is exempt from JR’s anti-Crosby update position. He just wanted an update when there was actual news, not an update to tell us there is nothing new. So Crosby coming back is something that Roenick would want to know about.

  21. About the PP: It’s MUCH better than last year. It just looks better, it gives the team a bit of momentum even when they don’t score. Yes the Rangers are 27th in PP percentage but they are one or two goals away from hitting the middle of the pack. I think this is just like Luigi, keep playing hard and the goals will come. Keep doing what we are doing. The goals will come.

  22. the problem with the PP in the Montreal game was they kept dumping the puck in and Price was able to play the puck every time and clear it out.

    I still think McCabe should have been signed as a PP specialist. Given how little Tortorella plays the 4th liners, it would have been an interesting idea to dress 7 d-men and have McCabe play a few shifts on D each game when the guys are tired.

    McCabe, Richards and Gaborik on the same PP would have extremely effective…

  23. Doodie Machetto on

    JBytes, I don’t buy that big shot from the point theory of PP management. Who has the big shot in Colorado, Edmonton, and San Jose? Who had it in Anaheim, Chicago, and Detroit last year?

    The big shot is unnecessary when you have guys that actually skate and can make good passes. Also, it’s very important to have a player or plan to gain the zone with possession. Those two things make a successful PP, not the big shot.

    Who has the biggest shot in the NHL? Zdeno Chara. How has Boston’s PP worked with him? going back 3 years and moving forward: 23rd, 20th, 17th. Sure, there was a good year four years ago, but 16th the year before that. Bottom line is that the big shot doesn’t equate to success.

  24. Carp,
    …Now that Crosby’s back, can Stills, Nash and Young be far behind?…
    Didn’t get it…What are you really saying is, probably, that Crosby is Still Fresh and Young behind protective NHL shield?
    In any case, I’m not envy Isles in that 1st “historical game”, I would not even turn my head in his direction, even when he is sitting on a bench. Otherwise, expect anything from major to suspension to life…

  25. Seriously, I’m very afraid, that it will be (except name changing) more like Lifetime Witness Protection program in NHL for Crosby.

  26. I just have this picture in my head of Milbury bitching about how much better the Pens are now that The Kid’s returned saving the hockey world from Eurotrash Malkin and Roenick standing behind him with a blunderbuss with his face purple and steam coming out of his ears screaming “enough about the goddamn crybaby mullet-face!!”

  27. The problem in the Montreal game is that the whole “dump and chase and forecheck” theory that this team is supposed to be so good at was not really working. At all.

  28. I dont think we need a big shot on the point, just guys who can pass and move their feet. Its all about moving the defense and goalie around so they are out of position and a shooting lane opens up.
    More often than not when our PP fails in a game its because they are too static.
    Girardi has a decent shot when we need a puck on net from the point, but our PP should be more about zipping the puck around and finding the open shooter (Gaby when possible).

  29. Brooks is right: get Zucc’s Aasen up here.

    The PP stinks. Enough b.s. about goals coming — just like if they play hard wins will come. No, they need goals now and throughout the season, just like they need wins now so it’s not another ridiculous end stretch.

  30. Doodie Machetto on

    “I dont think we need a big shot on the point, just guys who can pass and move their feet. Its all about moving the defense and goalie around so they are out of position and a shooting lane opens up.
    More often than not when our PP fails in a game its because they are too static. ”

    Bingo! Been saying this for years.

  31. Doodie Machetto on

    I think they seriously need some Gordon Bombay training so that they can successfully work a D to D pass along the blue line. Working the puck across the top while your guys down low are skating will open more lanes to work the puck down low and put it on goal.

  32. They do have enough personnel, more or less..And it’s looked better this year at times. They just do not execute consistently, they tend to fall back to the same stagnant “puck around the board” movement.

  33. Doodie – prime example #1 – Girardi’s goal against the ‘Canes:
    Move puck around, couple of passes, Richards draws a couple of defenders in, opens a lane for Girardi from the opposite circle, thread the pass, boom, goal.
    All because they moved the puck around without allowing the opposition to settle, and then drew the defenders out of position.

  34. Right – feet in mud. The main reason we fail. Reason #2 – Passiveness. SHOOT THE PUCK. a lot.

    This team does best when they move the puck, move their feet and the defender pinches down for a quick shot and then retreats. That is the plan. It doesn’t work against a team playing like Montreal that doesn’t allow you to bring the puck in. Without an Ovehckin that can just skate over people we have to dump and chase and if these guys aren’t skating hard at 110% then it will never work.

    I would have liked to see Deveaux be brought into the PP against that type of PK to use his body to help regain possession of the puck and get it set up.

    The next killer against Montreal was their anxiousness to attack the puck on PK. Our heroes weren’t moving the puck fast enough to create openings. Instead they were trying to skate around people and they just don’t skate like Apollo Ohno or Barb Underhill or Jeff Skinner.

  35. Our 4th line is weak. Deveaux isn’t all that. Zucc can only help the PP move more and be more creative. Not saying he’s the second coming, but this team is not going to survive too long like this, they’ve been winning games with pretty weak offensive play.

  36. oh looks Tortorella’s scrambling the lines after one loss. guess everything from the previous seven games was wiped out on Saturday.

    guy always makes the moves you least expect, huh. it’s not like some kid playing a video game would do the same things with his team.

  37. I doubt they’ll go with 5 forwards on the PP unless it was 5 on 3 so I don’t see Zucc getting on the first unit over Gaborik and Callahan on the wing. And I don’t see them using Zucc over Richards as the 4th forward.

  38. it’s not like some kid playing a video game would do the same things with his team.

    I don’t know Lloyd. Ask Orr.

  39. If you folks are serious about seeking another coach, you could do a lot worse than the guy from Gran Ol, opry town.

  40. Don’t worry, Fran. Aside from this Mannu character, I don’t see any names on here today that are part of the “fire Torts” crowd. Don’t fear.

  41. Doodie

    Agree the Rangers’ PP problems are far bigger than just missing a “big shot” but Anaheim (Visnovsky) and Detroit (Lidstrom) have players who are a threat to score from the point, whether or not they have the hardest shot in the league.

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Bronze-level articleTorture

From RationalWiki
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Although famously parodied and sent up as a joke by Monty Python, the Spanish Inquisition were one of the strongest advocates of torture to get their way. They were also big fans of interrogatorio mejorado del agua, known today as waterboarding.

Torture is the act of causing physical or mental anguish, pain and/or harm, sometimes in order to achieve a specific result, such as obtaining information ("enhanced interrogation" for the politically correct), or sometimes as revenge or to satisfy the sadistic nature of the torturer.

In spite of a long history of use by governments, religions and individuals, research has shown that information obtained by torture is notoriously unreliable.[1][2] In fact, torture is unreliable for three reasons:

  • Under torture a person may say whatever the torturer wants to hear. He may incriminate innocent people or confess to crimes he knows nothing about.
  • A person under torture has no real interest in helping the torturer - he is not a willing ally. Assuming that he has not been coerced into simply saying whatever his interrogator wants to hear then his information is likely to be ambiguous, dangerous or simply wrong.
  • Tortured people aren't exactly in the best state of mind to give correct information, even if they wanted to in the first place.

In addition to those three problems of not getting accurate information, torture hurts your overall policy effectiveness in several ways. This is more applicable for governments than for, say, bank robbers but all the same:

  • Torture makes allies and neutral parties less friendly towards you; if you torture your foes but your opponent does not, what's your moral justification for them working with you? This effect cannot be understated; in the American Civil War the Emancipation Proclamation was a huge boon for the Union not just for the liberated slaves but also because it made France and Great Britain withdraw a considerable amount of support from the Confederacy due to the clear moral contrast between the two sides.
  • Torture makes other avenues of negotiation/information gathering ineffective. Even if contacts are otherwise inclined to help the information-seekers the possibility of being tortured as well for information makes them clam up and feign ignorance; after all any organization brutal enough to torture people for information can't exactly be trusted to keep promises or play fairly. If Gestapo agents were offering 100,000 marks for primo information on the underground Communist party, what makes you think that they wouldn't just torture you for the information when you come forward to collect the reward?
  • If torture comes to light, it can be used by your adversary as proof of how brutal and inhumane you are, which will increase popular support and make whatever cause the victim fought for stronger. If someone thinks they will be tortured, they will fight harder and be less likely to surrender or co-operate.
  • Government-sanctioned torture creates a breeding ground for further atrocities. As dodgy as capital punishment is, most countries go out of their way to make the process as transparent as possible. However, to avoid the previous problem most torture is done (even in the most brutal of regimes) with a heavy dose of secrecy. This cocktail of opaqueness and necessarily dehumanized torture candidates inevitable leads to further human rights scandals.
  • Torture also creates the problem of needing to do something with the captive once they do give up the information. Even if you otherwise have no interest in whether they live or die, you can't exactly let them go because they're a witness to what happened and will probably oppose you. You could just imprison them indefinitely, give them a (probably show) trial, and/or execute them -- at the cost of hurting your international standing even further.

Current events

Although outlawed by most countries, torture is still practiced by some, particularly dictatorships and other tyrannical or authoritarian governments. The United States has a prohibition against it, but recently circumvented this by outsourcing its torture to private contractors, ensuring that no-one was actually tortured on U.S. soil, and, as a last resort, redefining the Geneva Conventions to suit. Ain't obeying the law grand?[3]

An example of the unreliability of torture can, surprisingly, be gleaned from the Larry Craig affair. Apparently just the thought of the damage to his reputation and position in society made him plead guilty to a sex-related disorderly conduct charge, even though he now claims he was not guilty. Imagine what he would wrongly plead guilty to if torture, rather than shame, were in the offing? And this man was a tough conservative, not a librul weakling.

The military (and, formerly, the CIA) claimed that torture is a worthless tactic, as the victim will admit anything to stop the torture. For gathering useful intelligence, gaining trust, bribery or undercover operations are far more useful tactics, and don't result in the physical or mental destruction of anyone.

With regard to terrorism, also, torture can also serve as a catalyst to increase terrorist activity. A terrorist organization needs to play to prejudices or other malcontent on the part of its potential recruits; beating, arresting and especially torturing or killing people gives terrorists this sort of rallying call. Treating them like human beings and entering into legitimate, fair political negotiation does not.

An example of this can be seen in the IRA. The British fought them militarily for nearly a century, with varying levels of success, but were never able to actually defeat or disband the organization until they switched tack, beginning serious negotiations not for a cease-fire, but for a somewhat legitimate autonomous Northern Ireland and an end to discrimination against the Catholic population, which would remove the motivation for many Irish Catholics to join the IRA. Although some stragglers and fanatics remained, the IRA mostly disbanded.

It has been admitted the US military engaged in torture, including waterboarding, at the US Navy base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (In fact, many of the methods later used at Abu Ghraib apparently came from Guantanamo.) The detention facility (Camp Delta, formerly Camp X-Ray) is an interesting study into the follies of America's current policies regarding detainees. Despite the inhumane treatment of detainees, clear violations of the Geneva Convention (And the Vienna Convention on Treaties, which allows the camp to exist in the first place) Camp Delta and X-Ray have gathered little workable intelligence. While some high ranking al-Qa'ida members have been captured or killed, the organization (Which is, in reality, more a philosophy than an actual organization) still remains active worldwide. The insurgency in Afghanistan is as strong as ever, and al-Qa'ida retains significant infulence throughout the Middle East and Africa. Camp Delta is still operational to this day, despite Barack Obama's promise to close it. Karl Rove, also known as "Bush's brain", said he "was proud we used techniques that broke the will of these terrorists". [4]

Extraordinary rendition

See main article Extraordinary rendition.

Extraordinary rendition is when the United States, determined to break someone without dirtying its own hands, sends a suspect to a state that engages in the worst kind of torture. For example, despite all the heated rhetoric the US promulgates about Syria, some of the people the US has captured have been sent there to be tortured.

Ashcroft-Gonzales hospital incident

When then-Attorney General John Ashcroft was in the hospital (and under sedation), his deputy found that many of the programs of the Bush administration (possibly including torture) were illegal. Alberto Gonzales, then White House counsel, went to visit Ashcroft in the hospital to try to get him to sign off on the programs. Ashcroft refused, rightfully understanding that he was in no position to sign off on anything, and told Gonzalez to talk to his deputy, who was currently the acting Attorney General. Then, after getting out of the hospital, Ashcroft signed off anyway.

World public rejects torture

A June 2008 international survey of public attitudes to torture is rather depressing for liberal Americans: only 53% think that "All torture should be prohibited". This contrasts with the UK where the figure is 82%. Oddly enough, most of the current techniques used by Americans were developed by the British.[5]

The US falls below states like Ukraine, Poland and Egypt and 13% "think "Torture should generally be allowed". [6]

An historical aside: In ancient Greece and Rome, and possibly elsewhere, the testimony of a slave could only be accepted by an official tribunal or court after the slave had been tortured. Surprisingly, Greece and Rome were considered at the time to be civilized countries. Of course, pretty much all and every society through out history has considered its self to be the most advanced civilization ever, and you didn't want to be a nubile boy in either Greece or Rome at that time, so . .........

  3. However, there is increasing evidence that the US, in many cases, directly engaged in torture. They just made sure to do it in gray areas, like Guantanamo.
  4. BBC : Rove interview
  5. UK forces taught torture methods The Guardian
  6. Source of poll data
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NM supercomputer could get parceled out

December 24, 2012 • State News

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s $11 million supercomputer could end up being parceled out to three of the state’s research universities.

State Information Technology Secretary Darryl Ackley told the Albuquerque Journal ( that the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Tech are proposing to cannibalize it and put some of the assets back into service.

“Barring someone offering to buy the whole machine, we can still get piecemeal use from it,” Ackley said.

There were a number of inquiries to buy the machine but none panned out [auth] because of the expense of running it, Ackley said.

The machine — dubbed “Encanto” — is made up of 28 racks of processors. Each rack has 500 processors, making it capable of running 172 trillion calculations per second.

UNM wants 10 of the computing racks. NMSU wants four, and New Mexico Tech wants two.

State officials are expected to make a decision on whether to part out the supercomputer by the end of the month. Ackley’s department is assessing the technical feasibility of breaking the computer into pieces and is evaluating what to do with the remaining racks not taken by the universities.

Former Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration had once billed Encanto as an economic development tool to boost research by the universities and high-tech companies.

The supercomputer was ranked third-fastest in the world when the state bought it in 2008 under the watch of Richardson, a Democrat. However, it no longer ranks even among the top 100 supercomputers worldwide and is now only worth a few hundred thousand dollars.

The state has spent about $20 million on the machine. That includes the $11 million price tag plus $9 million for maintenance operations and to set up access for colleges and universities around the state.

The New Mexico Computing Applications Center, the nonprofit that managed the supercomputer under an agreement with the state, estimated Encanto’s capacity helped leverage $60 million in federal funding for university research.

John McGraw, UNM’s interim vice president for research and development, said putting some of Encanto’s racks to use at each university is one way the state could recover at least some of its investment.

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