One of the stranger traditions of bringing in the New Year in the borderlands is shooting guns into the air.

We already have our annual warnings about how stupid this is because the bullets fired up into the air fall back downsometimes killing people.

For example, the following story from Phoenix TV station KPHO Police: Random Gunfire Illegal, Dangerous

But if the amount of gunfire at the stroke of midnight seems excessive in the USit is much worse across the border in Mexico.

When 1999 was turning into 2000 and everyone thought the world was going to end due to the Y2K thing, an emergency command center was set up at the Nogales, Arizona city hall. Agents from local, state and federal agencies were stationed there to do whatever one does when the world ends.

At the stroke of midnight a huge roar of gunfire erupted from Nogales, Sonora. One of the folks watching this said it reminded him of the worst fire fights in Nam.

Tracer rounds were lighting up the sky. Thousands and thousands of rounds were fired into the sky. The staccato sound of automatic weapon fire was obvious.

One of the feds opened up his cell phone and broadcast the roar of the gunfire back to Washington.

Comments were being made about the drug cartel celebrating New Years in a county (Mexico) that has strict gun control laws.

Then the gunfire started to abate and the fed started to fold up his cell phoneand the local police chief said waittheyre reloading.and sure enough another roar of gunfire erupted.

Tonight as 2010 slides into 2011 there will probably be a repeat of the border skies being filled with bullets as has been the case every New Years. Stay under roof because the sky will be raining lead.

Happy New Year from the borderlands.

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Article source: http://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2010/12/31/celebrating-the-new-year-in-the-borderlands-with-automatic-weapon-gunfire/?replytocom=7319

2. Lamar Odom questions the team’s cockiness:Unfortunately for the Lakers, the problems have ailed this team all season because of attitude. Bryant said he’s sensed the team believing like it’s had “two rings,” and the team’s success has only come in spurts, as indicated by its 8-0 start. Jackson said he and the coaching staff predicted the team would play poorly against Miami, despite the well-reported practices this week that entailed the entire team playing together, a rarity for the team. And Odom argued the team’s confidence has become too much of an issue. “Our confidence is always there. Right now, if we play them again we feel like we can win,” Odom said. Sometimes that’s our problem – our cockiness.”

That’s also sometimes the team’s strength because it ensures their ability not to overreact both to wins and losses. But it’s all about how it’s channeled. For the past month, the Lakers have appeared fixated on almost thinking too big picture, feeling like they can’t exert full effort because they need to keep themselves fresh for the postseason. The pacing itself needs to be more tactical than an excuse for mailing in performances.

3. Pau Gasol lays an egg. Gasol was the most egregious example of that, posting 17 points on eight of 17 shooting with a zero of seven first-quarter clip. One of the biggest attributes regarding Gasol entails his consistency and efficiency. But what boggles my mind involves the fact that his off nights take a 180-degree turn when the stakes are high. Jackson suggested the reason goes beyond “not shooting with a base,” his indecisiveness and his “soft release,” an obvious dig on the long-held notion that Gasol lacks toughness.

“I have some thoughts on it,” Jackson said when asked why Gasol struggled so much. “I’m not going to share it with you right now. But I do have some thoughts on it. There’s just speculations.”

Gasol’s take on the Lakers’ poor shooting numbers, including his three of 11 first-half clip, pointed more to the team’s collective problems, but dutifully summed up his own issues.

“At first we started rushing a little bit and everybody was a little bit too excited about what was going on,” he said. “We needed to settle down and find a better shot out there and get a teammate that’s open instead of forcing into it.”

4. Ron Artest becam too fixated with LeBron James matchup.Whether it was picking up two early fouls, headlocking and removing LeBron James‘ headband or holding James to what Artest considered an “average night” despite a triple-double performance, Artest’s strong defense may have frustrated James, but it didn’t help the team defense one bit.

“We had some things where personalities overplayed what our team defense required,” Jackson said. “People got distracted and didn’t play the way we wanted to play the game.”

Jackson didn’t reference Artest by name since it also entailed Bryant’s constant jawing at James and poor defense on Wade. But Artest was the main contributor to that, as indicated by his failure to contribute on help defense most of the time. Matt Barnes couldn’t guard James either, finishing with 27 points on eight of 14 shooting. But for someone like Artest who always preaches about helping the team, his postgame comments revealed a disconnect between he and the coaching staff, an issue they should resolve quickly.

“I’m not caught up in personalities and trying to prove [something],” Artest said. “I don’t mind just winning and a guy getting 50 [points]. I don’t mind that.”

5. Jackson suggests Andrew Bynum could slim down.Aside from Odom’s 14 points on six of 12 shooting with nine rebounds, Bynum’s performance served as a small bright spot. He scored six points on three of five shooting in 17 minutes, but that only raised questions on his conditioning level. For how remarkably efficient he appeared, he didn’t really shed many minutes to Gasol (36) and the Killer B’s in Steve Blake, Shannon Brown and Matt Barnes didn’t set him up properly and instead finished with a four of 18 clip.

“Andrew is heavy,” Jackson said, who otherwise described Bynum’s performance as “Ok.” “He’s a muscular kid, but I don’t think he’s overweight. He can stand to lose 10 pounds and be lighter and have less of a load to carry.”

–Mark Medina

Twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant complains about a foul call to the officials Saturday during the game against Miami. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Article source: http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2010/12/lakers-.html

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MUNCIE — Viewing the exhibit “Parades Events: The Work of Ned Griner 1968-1983,” it’s hard to believe you can trace it back to a Case pocketknife the artist’s parents gave him when he was 7 years old.

You can, though.

“When I was a kid I was always whittling something,” the professor emeritus from Ball State University’s Department of Art recalled Wednesday. “We made things from scratch. Making things has been very much a part of my life.”

The end result is now exhibited under protective cases in the Brown Study Room of the university’s art museum — hundreds and hundreds of finely crafted figures, all created from brass.

“What you see in there is the accumulation of 15 years’ work,” said Griner.

There are, to be sure, ranks of figures representing everything from cavalrymen to crusaders to ancient legionnaires. It all began with animals, though, and Noah’s ark, and then the fabled Trojan horse.

“Hey, this is an idea,” the 82-year-old artist said, describing his creative process. “And pretty soon, ideas begin to accumulate.”

Cast from a “lost-wax” process he learned years ago from his dentist, he first employed it to make silver jewelry.

“‘Then, somehow, I got on these things,” he continued, momentarily standing near ranks of neatly arranged marching band figures. “I don’t know why.”

A little explanation

A 41-year teaching veteran, 33 of them at BSU, Griner emphasized the figures are not miniatures, per se, or historically accurate.

“I like history,” he said. “I read a lot of history. I do not try to replicate anything.”

True, but Patricia Nelson said the exhibit is no less a marvel for that.

“It’s an untapped treasure of the time it was made,” said the BSU art professor. “It’s a feat of technical virtuosity.”

Griner has been pleased with its reception, but don’t look for him to create any more such figures.

“I’ve done it,” he said, dismissing that notion.

Then again, who knows what’s next? He still owns that old Case pocketknife he was given 75 years ago.

“I keep it in my tool box at home,” Griner said.

Article source: http://thestarpress.com/article/20101231/LIFESTYLE/12310303/1024/RSS04

Brass sanctions unprecedented

The bad marks are piling up for generals. Thirteen Air Force general officers from four-star commanders to brigadiers in staff assignments have been handed letters of admonishment since Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley took over in the summer of 2008. One lieutenant general received a letter of reprimand.

This is unprecedented, said Charles Dunlap, who retired in June as a major general and deputy judge advocate of the Air Force. It certainly seems that the Air Force is applying a tougher standard than anyone else in the Department of Defense.

Another retired general who worked on Air Staff and asked not be identified had the same assessment.

These are extraordinary actions, the general said.

In the past, generals who were held responsible for violating Air Force rules, without criminal intent or fraud, would have likely been told in private not to repeat the mistake, the retired officers said.

That changed when Donley and Schwartz took over. They came to their posts after Defense Secretary Robert Gates fired their predecessors over the Air Forces lax handling of nuclear weapons.

If Donley and Schwartz were to change the services course, letters of admonishment, potential career killers for general officers, were a sure way to get peoples attention.

Measuring up

For airmen of all ranks, a letter of admonishment is supposed be used as a corrective measure a strong way to tell an airman to shape up. An admonishment is not as serious as a letter of reprimand, but is a step above a letter of counseling, according to Air Force policies. For an airman who stays out of trouble, the letter will be removed from his file a year later.

An Air Force Times review found no evidence of generals receiving letters of reprimand or admonishment prior to Donley and Schwartz taking charge. The Air Force does not have a way to track letters issued prior to 2008, spokesman Todd Vician said.

Information is not sufficiently reliable regarding their predecessors to provide a meaningful comparison to their predecessors, Vician said.

As for the other services, the only general in recent years to receive a letter of admonishment that was widely reported was Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, who ran the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq during 2003. She was sanctioned for not stopping soldiers from abusing Iraqi prisoners.

In the past, administrative action against generals went largely unnoticed among the ranks; it was treated as a private matter between the officer and his commander. That is not always the case anymore.

In todays environment, you just dont let these fade away, the former Air Staff general said.

One officer not on the list of generals who have received public admonishment or reprimand is Maj. Gen. David Eidsaune, director of strategic plans for Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Eidsaune pleaded no contest on May 13 to a charge of driving under the influence in Henderson, Nev., while attending an Air Force conference. He received his current assignment six weeks after his Feb. 9 arrest a point that did not go unnoticed by airmen who complained in letters and e-mails to Air Force Times that an enlisted airman would have been forced out of the service.

A Materiel Command spokeswoman said appropriate action was taken by the command and gave no other details.

The fallout

Of the 13 generals admonished since 2008, only three have not announced retirement dates or left the service.

All the exiting generals were allowed to retire with no impact to their rank and benefits except for Arthur Morrill, who was forced to retire one grade lower as a brigadier general, a move that cost him $21,000 annually in retirement pay.

His offense: dating a woman while legally separated from his wife.

Lt. Gen. Kevin Sullivan, who received the more severe letter of reprimand for improper oversight of nuclear weapons components, lost one star and retired as a major general in November 2008, about a month after his letter was issued.

The admonishments and reprimand send a message that no matter your rank or how close you are to retirement, you will be held responsible for mistakes and even the mistakes of subordinates or for actions you didnt know were wrong, said Dunlap, who now teaches law at Duke University.

Dunlap wondered, though, how the admonishments would influence commanders making critical decisions.

I would hate to see senior officials unwilling to take prudent risks out of fear of something down the road, Dunlap said.

A former wing commander who later served on the Air Staff agreed that commanders shouldnt have to second-guess themselves.

If youre going to worry about a letter of admonishment … how are you going to make life-and-death decisions? he said.

Five new letters

The latest sanctions, disclosed Dec. 2, went to five generals who overspent by $87 million the budget that pays for airmen and their families to move to new assignments back in 2005. The highest-ranking officers cited were Gen. Roger Brady, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, who left office Dec. 13, and Gen. Stephen Lorenz, who left as head of Air Education and Training Command on Nov. 17. While the changes of command were not a result of the admonishments, the two were kept from leaving their posts until the investigations were concluded, said an Air Force official familiar with the investigation.

Also singled out were Gregory W. Den Herder, then the executive director of Air Force Personnel Center and retired since 2006, and three individuals whose names the Air Force declined to release citing Privacy Act limits that restrict the disclosure of nonjudicial punishments involving less senior officials.

In a written statement, Donley explained his decision to sanction the officers.

The Defense Department comptrollers investigation determined that the individuals involved did not violate [rules] willfully or knowingly, however, the individuals failed to meet our standards, and all have been the subject of administrative actions, Donley told Air Force Times.

Donley and Schwartz declined interview requests to discuss the admonishments.

The public sanctions parallel other Air Force attempts to hold airmen and units responsible for adhering to Air Force rules and practices from storing nuclear bombs to keeping deployment paperwork in order. As the services top uniformed officer, Schwartz has approved dismissal of five wing commanders and the reinstitution of no-notice readiness inspections by major commands.

Career limbo

The tough love being meted out by Schwartz and Donley has its drawbacks, said the former officers interviewed by Air Force Times.

In the most recent case, the investigations dragged on for four years, leaving the officers under investigation in career limbo and preventing others from moving up the chain of command, they said.

The investigation started in spring 2006 when Defense Department officials discovered the Air Force had overspent its previous years budget for PCS moves, according to Air Force statements. A draft of the final report by the Defense Department comptrollers office was delivered to Donley in August.

The comptrollers investigation put the change of command at USAFE on hold for 13 months, raising questions about when Brady would retire.

The Senate confirmed Bradys replacement, Lt. Gen. Mark Welsh, for command of USAFE and promotion to general Oct. 28, 2009. He finally took the post and new rank when Brady stepped down.

The change of command has been held up for a year because someone cant get an answer [from DoD], the former Air Staff member said. Why are we accepting the marginalization of Air Force leaders?

The questions surrounding Bradys delayed retirement caused diversions that eroded command authority, the former Air Staff member said.

Accepting blame

In the most recent case, Lorenz and Brady took responsibility for the lapses. In 2005, Lorenz was a lieutenant general and in charge of managing the Air Force budget, while Brady was a lieutenant general and oversaw personnel issues such as permanent change of station moves.

I accept accountability for my actions and those of my organization, Brady said in a written statement.

I accept full responsibility for everything [budget] personnel did or failed to do during the time I served there, Lorenz wrote.

The major command bosses declined to speak with Air Force Times about what their leadership lessons learned were.

The former wing commander and senior Air Staff member said it is reasonable to hold commanders accountable for actions they werent aware of.

At the Air Staff level, a commander has direct influence on levels of supervision two to three positions down the chain or command, the former officer said. Below that, the commander depends on the people he has selected to accomplish his goals.

But when a major mistake is made even when the commander is unaware of it disciplining the commander is an effective way to make sure lessons are learned, the former Air Staff member said.

If it fails, youre held responsible, he said. Military discipline isnt always justice.

Article source: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/12/air-force-general-sanctions-called-unprecedented-123110w/

Photos

Shell Point Retirement Community’s 2010/2011 Season of Praise Concert Series continues at The Village Church with Tim Zimmerman and The King’s Brass. Tickets are only $10 and are currently on sale for this event, which will take place on Sunday, Jan. 9, at 6:15 p.m.

“This concert has always been a very popular one, which is why we continue to incorporate them into every season,” says Pastor Randy Woods, minister of worship and music for The Village Church. “This performance is usually a packed house!”

Tim Zimmerman and The King’s Brass will begin the New Year with musical inspiration and entertainment. By teaming together, these Christian professionals from around the United States perform their original arrangements as heard on their many recordings. Well known for their presentations of hymn classics with a contemporary flair, the King’s Brass features three trumpets, three trombones, a tuba, percussion and keyboards. Playing a wide variety of music from Gabrieli to hymn classics, from Handel to jazz spirituals, from gospel songs to patriotic marches, The King’s Brass uses all corners of the concert hall to lift hearts and spirits in praise.

To purchase tickets, or receive additional information about the concert series, please call 454-2147 or go to www.shellpoint.org/villagechurch/events.htm.

Article source: http://www.fortmyersbeachtalk.com/page/content.detail/id/510481/Shell-Point-hosts-The-King-s-Brass-in-concert.html?nav=5051

Photos

Shell Point Retirement Community’s 2010/2011 Season of Praise Concert Series continues at The Village Church with Tim Zimmerman and The King’s Brass. Tickets are only $10 and are currently on sale for this event, which will take place on Sunday, Jan. 9, at 6:15 p.m.

“This concert has always been a very popular one, which is why we continue to incorporate them into every season,” says Pastor Randy Woods, minister of worship and music for The Village Church. “This performance is usually a packed house!”

Tim Zimmerman and The King’s Brass will begin the New Year with musical inspiration and entertainment. By teaming together, these Christian professionals from around the United States perform their original arrangements as heard on their many recordings. Well known for their presentations of hymn classics with a contemporary flair, the King’s Brass features three trumpets, three trombones, a tuba, percussion and keyboards. Playing a wide variety of music from Gabrieli to hymn classics, from Handel to jazz spirituals, from gospel songs to patriotic marches, The King’s Brass uses all corners of the concert hall to lift hearts and spirits in praise.

To purchase tickets, or receive additional information about the concert series, please call 454-2147 or go to www.shellpoint.org/villagechurch/events.htm.

Article source: http://www.fortmyersbeachtalk.com/page/content.detail/id/510481/Shell-Point-hosts-The-King-s-Brass-in-concert.html?nav=5051

Next month will be a busy one for negotiations between the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agencys management and its operators.

The SFMTA, which manage Muni, has already established two special closed door meetingson January 11 and 25to discuss contract negotiations with the Transport Workers Union Local 250-A, the operators union.

The agencys existing contract with the union, which has about 2,200 members, is set to expire on June 30. The passage of Proposition G by voters in November gives management more leverage to negotiate issues such as hourly wages, scheduling, and benefits. Previously, operators were guaranteed automatic wage increases, with the total based on a formula that guarantees them the second-highest pay rates in the country.

Along with the contract talks, the union and management are set to meet in early January to discuss disagreements on the dispersal of cash payouts to the operators trust fund. Every year, the SFMTA awards the operators with about $3.5 million in payouts, with some of that cash going toward an employee health care fund. This year, the SFMTA is refusing to make the payments to the operators.

In a letter to union officials, the SFMTAs Debra Johnson said that the agency is in a fiscal crisis, and has exhausted all of its reserves. Walter Scott, secretary-treasurer for the operators union, said the trust fund payouts are a part of The City Charter. He said the union would consider litigation if management does not allocate the payments.

Article source: http://www.sfexaminer.com/blogs/under-dome/2010/12/mta-schedules-talk-between-operators-management

Next month will be a busy one for negotiations between the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agencys management and its operators.

The SFMTA, which manage Muni, has already established two special closed door meetingson January 11 and 25to discuss contract negotiations with the Transport Workers Union Local 250-A, the operators union.

The agencys existing contract with the union, which has about 2,200 members, is set to expire on June 30. The passage of Proposition G by voters in November gives management more leverage to negotiate issues such as hourly wages, scheduling, and benefits. Previously, operators were guaranteed automatic wage increases, with the total based on a formula that guarantees them the second-highest pay rates in the country.

Along with the contract talks, the union and management are set to meet in early January to discuss disagreements on the dispersal of cash payouts to the operators trust fund. Every year, the SFMTA awards the operators with about $3.5 million in payouts, with some of that cash going toward an employee health care fund. This year, the SFMTA is refusing to make the payments to the operators.

In a letter to union officials, the SFMTAs Debra Johnson said that the agency is in a fiscal crisis, and has exhausted all of its reserves. Walter Scott, secretary-treasurer for the operators union, said the trust fund payouts are a part of The City Charter. He said the union would consider litigation if management does not allocate the payments.

Article source: http://www.sfexaminer.com/blogs/under-dome/2010/12/mta-schedules-talk-between-operators-management

Officials discovered that the suitcase exploded because of the ammunition primers. The primer is the component of a bullet that sparks the explosive charge, the affidavit said.

Brahams other checked suitcase also had hundreds of ammunition primers concealed in the lining. It also contained components of an ammunition reloading presswhich is used to create ammunition, the affidavit said.

Braham initially denied having anything explosive in his luggage, but then admitted to having 700 ammunition primers that he bought at a gun show in Holbrook, according to the affidavit.

He said he used to reload ammunition as a hobby and had hidden primers and reloading press components in a suitcase in the basement to keep them away from his children. He said he didn’t remember the items were in the suitcase when he packed for his trip, which was to ultimately end in Jamaica.

The affidavit said Braham was interviewed before the discovery of his second suitcase. An FBI spokesman said today the agency had no comment beyond the affidavit.

The incident had no connection to terrorism, FBI spokesman Mike Leverock told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Although transporting ammunition or guns is not illegal, passengers must declare that they are transporting them when they check their luggage. Ammunition must also be stored in a case or box specially designed to carry it, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

No one returned a message left this afternoon at a number listed for Braham in the town of Stoughton.

Article source: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/12/man_charged_wit_31.html?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed5

The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area is located at
2360 Highway D, two miles west of Highway 94 in St. Charles County.
To register for a class or to report a cancellation, call
636-441-4554.

Hey Mr. Whitetail, I Think You Lost
Something!

1-2:30 p.m. Jan. 6 (Reservations begin Dec. 20)

For ages 6 and up. Learn what deer antlers are made of and why
deer shed their antlers every year just to grow new ones. Children
will make a craft out of an old deer rack and learn how to get a
deer rack of their own without going hunting. Participants should
wear clothes that can get dirty for the craft portion.

Dresser Island Conservation Area Hike

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 8 (Reservations begin Dec. 27)

For adults. Hike along the river and see pelicans, ducks, geese,
eagles, hawks, gulls, herons, turkey, dder, muskrat houses, beaver
lodges, small birds and maybe even trumpeter swans. Hike 6.5 miles
looking for wildlife along the Mississippi River near West
Alton.

Track Tales

1:30-3 p.m. Jan. 12 (Reservations begin Dec. 29)

For ages 5-8. Animal track tell stories about where an animal
was going, what it was doing and more. Learn what types of animals
that leaver tracks, the different ways animals move, and create an
animal track story. Weather permitting, the class will also take a
short hike outside to look for wildlife tracks. Dress for the
weather.

Discover Hunting: Predator Hunting Clinic

6-8 p.m. Jan. 13 (Reservations begin Dec. 13)

For all ages. Learn the different techniques for hunting
predators. Discuss calls, setups, firearms and clothing.

Discover Hunting: Rabbit Hunting Clinic

6-8 p.m. Jan. 20 (Reservations begin Dec. 20)

For all ages. Learn tips and techniques of rabbit hunting.
Covers habitat, firearms, safety and hunting with or without
dogs.

Discover Hunting: Youth Pheasant
Clinic/Hunt

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Jan. 22 (Reservations begin Dec. 20)

For ages 11-16 accompanied by an adult. Young hunters will learn
proper techniques and safety of pheasant hunting and improve their
hunting skills. The first part of the program will be in the
classroom to discuss habitat, firearms, clothing and hunting
techniques with an emphasis on safety. The program will continue in
the field for real hunting experience to test those new skills.
Youths must be hunter education certified and participate in the
clinic to take part in the hunt. Will meet at Wright City Gun and
Quail Club.

Plot a Hiking Course and Go Off Trail

1:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 22 (Reservations begin Jan. 7)

For families with children ages 10 and up, and those who like to
go off the beaten path. Learn where to find topographic maps and
area maps, then plot a hiking course from these maps. The focus
after that will be on compass use. Be ready for an hour of
instruction for planning a family trek followed by a short-distance
outdoor activity to reinforce compass skills.

Basic Handgun

6-9 p.m. Jan. 26, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 27 and 7:30-9:30 a.m. Jan. 29
(Reservations begin Dec. 27)

For ages 14 and up. Learn how to safely handle and shoot a
handgun. Learn about various actions and calibers along with grip,
stance, sight, picture and safety. The live fire portion of the
class will be split so that half of the class attends Jan. 27 and
the other half attends Jan. 29. You may bring your own gun to the
live fore portion or one will be supplied to you. Participants ages
14-17 need to be accompanied by an adult.

Owl Prowl

6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 (Reservations begin Jan. 14)

For all ages. Families can learn about owls in Missouri, and go
on a hike to try to call some owls close enough for viewing.

Basic Shotgun

6-8 p.m. Feb. 9 and 10 (Reservations begin Jan. 9)

For ages 11 and up. Designed for new shotgun shooters. Students
will learn the fundamentals of safe and accurate shotgun shooting.
Primary emphasis will be on safety while covering shotgun types,
ammunition, shooting stance, lead and proper technique. The first
night will be in the classroom and the second part will be at the
shooting range for hands-on experience. Bring your own shotgun or
one will be supplied for you.

Why Count the Birds?

9-11:30 a.m. Feb. 12 (Reservations begin Jan. 28)

For adults and families with children 10 and up. Learn to be a
citizen scientist and help tally birds you see, just in time for
the Great Backyard Bird Count. This program will cover the basics
of the count, online data entry and a walk of Fallen oak Trail to
perform a practice bird count. Dress for the weather and bring
binoculars and field guides.

Pictures in Tissue Native Wildflower Art

9:30 a.m.-noon Feb. 17 (Reservations begin Feb. 3)

For ages 8 and up. Learn about native wildflowers and create
works of art using tissue paper.

Dresser Island Conservation Area Hike

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 19 (Reservations begin Feb. 4)

For adults. Dresser Island is a winter hiking destination along
the Missouri River to spot pelicans, ducks, geese, eagles, hawks,
gulls, herons, turkeys, deer and more. Hike 6 miles looking for
these wildlife. Hikers will also participate in the Great Backyard
Bird Count, keeping records of sightings. Dress for the
weather.

Discover Nature Families: Orienteering with Map and
Compass

12:30-4:30 p.m. Feb. 20 and 6-9 p.m. Feb. 26 (Reservations begin
Feb. 4)

For families with children ages 10 and up. On the first day,
families will learn to use a map and compass, read topographic map
contour lines and learn how to adjust for declination. Then test
your new skills hiking a 2- to 3-mile trek off-trail with the group
and a naturalist. On day two, get a quick refresher on orienteering
skills before navigating off-trail in the dark with the group and a
naturalist using flashlights and laser pointers.

Discover Hunting: Reloading Metallic
Cartridges

6-8 p.m. Feb. 23 (Reservations begin Jan. 24)

For ages 8 and up. This program will cover all aspects of
reloading rifle and handgun cartiridges, equipment, components and
safety.

Discover Hunting: Shotshell Reloading

6-8 p.m. Feb. 24 (Reservations begin Jan. 24)

For ages 8 and up. Learn how to reload shotgun shells. This
program will cover equipment, components, (powder, shot, wads and
primers) and what hulls work better.

Owl Prowl

6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 (Reservations begin Feb. 11)

For all ages. Families can learn about owls in Missouri, and go
on a hike to try to call some owls close enough for viewing.

Bowhunter Education

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 26 (Reservations begin Jan. 26)

For ages 11 and up accompanied by an adult. Provides a
foundation in hunting safety and ethics that helps hunters focus
more than just being successful in the pursuit of game. Basic goals
of the course are to develop students who exhibit the following:
safe handling of archery equipment in the field and at home,
respect for other people and property, respect for laws, and
awareness of hunting as a resource management tool. Bowhunter
education strives to instill responsibility, improve skills and
knowledge, and encourage the involvement of beginner and veteran
hunters. Responsible, ethical behavior and personal involvement are
both essential to the survival of hunting.

Grow Native at Home

9:30-11 a.m. Feb. 26 (Reservations begin Feb. 10)

For adults. It’s time to start thinking about spring gardening
projects. Naturally resilient native grasses, sedges, forbs,
shrubs, vines and trees are good for home landscaping. They solve
common gardening problems and attract butterflies, songbirds and
other wildlife. Learn how to put native plants to work in your home
landscape.

Article source: http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/life/article_1bb32c12-bde0-5672-a9fc-8da53a588f99.html

12/30/2010 – West Side Leader

By Sean Patrick

NORTON Last season, the Norton High School boys basketball team finished with a 20-2 record, setting a school record for wins. During the season, the team also won its first school basketball title in 33 years, earning the title of Portage Trail Metro Conference champions.

This year, head coach Rod Swartz said, Norton is a totally different team.

We lost nine seniors to graduation, he said. This year, we have one senior, forward Justin Pratt, and three juniors guards Rob Cundiff, Mat Harvey and Cody Murphy.

So far this season, the team is 2-3, including a 2-1 mark in league play.

Were going through some growing pains, Swartz said. But I think we are making strides in the right direction.

Swartz said he has seen improvement, but the team is looking to avoid peaks and valleys in terms of the quality of play.

We have very good stretches not just in games, but in practices, too, he said. We havent seen consistency, but thats due to inexperience. Our goal is to make good decisions and not turn the ball over. Right now, were looking for more consistency.

According to the coach, the teams strength this season is the size of the players.

We have as much size as any point in the past 20 years, he said. The key to success will be the development of our guard play. We will get better as the season goes on as long as we play with more consistency.

The coach said his team relies on guards Harvey and Murphy for quality play.

Mat is one of the guys who can really stretch zones out with his perimeter shooting. He helps us get the ball more into our outside guys, he said. Cody does a little bit of everything for us. He plays very well under control; he can make things happen defensively for us.

Swartz said Pratt has made tremendous strides this year.

He has stepped up and asked to be a leader. Hes a great role model for our program, the coach said. [On the court], Justins coming along. When hes not in foul trouble, hes very productive. You cant always see what he does on a stat sheet, but he is a key for our team.

Pratt is one of the teams two captains, along with Cundiff.

Rob got some experience last year, Swartz said. We knew hed be a key for us. Hes a great defender, and he handles the ball for us. Hes one of the quickest players in our league.

Two sophomores are starting for the team: forwards Tyler Sherman and Matt McGlone.

Theyre getting better, Swartz said. They understand whats expected from them.

The coach called sophomore Cameron Sheppard a tremendous athlete.

Were just looking for consistency from him, he said. Hes one of our key players.

And freshman guard Jeff Schulte is logging some valuable minutes for the varsity team.

Jeff is very scrappy and aggressive, Swartz said. Hes not afraid to take shots or defend. Hes earned varsity minutes and is progressing nicely right now.

Swartz is in his third season as head coach and his 19th season at Norton.

Our goals remain the same every year compete for league titles and play hard game after game, he said. Although we are inexperienced, our expectations from our players have not changed.

Article source: http://akron.com/akron-ohio-sports-news.asp?aID=11246

MARC GREENHILL

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The Press

A Christchurch musician more used to blowing a trombone than his own trumpet says his New Year honour is a tribute to the people he has performed with.

Tony Lewis, a Woolston Brass stalwart, has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music.

He said his 44-year career as player and administrator for orchestral, jazz and brass bands had been an “absolutely fantastic” experience.

“I’ve enjoyed every moment of it since 1966,” he said.”It’s a tribute to all the people who have helped me along the way, both in brass band and jazz.

“I consider it to be a great honour.”

Lewis played the violin and trombone in his youth, but chose the latter because it offered a “wider spectrum of musical experience”.

He has served as treasurer and president of Woolston Brass and vice-president of the Brass Band Association of New Zealand, of which he is a life member.

He has been tour organiser, treasurer and manager of the national brass band.

Lewis has combined a career in music with his job as a senior partner at a Christchurch accountancy firm.

“I remember back in the 1970s we were asked to play at the Law Society Ball, and all these prominent lawyers were saying, `It must be hard to make a bob as an accountant if you’ve got to come out and play on a Saturday night’,” he said.

Newest First

Oldest First

Article source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/4504275/Honour-seen-as-tribute

Dana Larsen says B.C. NDP provincial secretary Moe Sihota is trying to hold back Larsen’s candidacy on a ‘clerical error.’ (CBC)

The B.C. NDP isn’t throwing out the welcome mat for the first person to declare his intention to seek the party leadership and the would-be candidate is firing back.

Marijuana activist Dana Larsen announced Wednesday he wants to run on a platform of making pot legal, raising the minimum wage and reversing the privatization of B.C. Rail and BC Ferries.

“I plan on bringing a lot of new members into the party,” Larsen said. “And I’ll let the New Democrats decide who they want for their leader.”

‘Sihota chose to resolve this clerical error through the media.’NDP leadership hopeful Dana Larsen

But NDP provincial secretary Moe Sihota said Larsen was declared ineligible to run for the party after the 2008 federal election campaign when he had to step down as a candidate in a Vancouver-area riding after videos appeared of him smoking pot and taking LSD.

Sihota also counted Larsen out on a technicality, which he said ultimately could prevent Larsen from running provincially at all.

Membership disputed

“He’s not a member of the party,” said Sihota. “He was already deemed ineligible to run for the party federally and the rules committee, which meets on Jan. 6, would have to decide whether he would be able to run provincially.”

Larsen disputed Sihota’s contention.

“I donate regularly to the NDP and have been a member in good standing for seven years,” he said in a release late Wednesday.

“In November, I spoke with the B.C. NDP office to renew my membership, change my address and make a donation. The donation was processed, however, my address change, and now it seems my membership, were not,” said Larsen.

He also accused Sihota of foul play.

“Moe Sihota chose to resolve this clerical error through the media rather than contacting me directly,” Larsen said. “That is highly irregular not at all in keeping with the NDP’s commitment to democracy.”

Leader Carole James’s sudden resignation announcement Dec. 6 has prompted the unplanned leadership race.

Candidacy dismissed

The confusion about candidacy rules shows the party is in disarray, said political scientist Kennedy Stewart of Simon Fraser University.

“But it will, I think, prompt the NDP to get their act together and get this show on the road,” said Stewart.

He said Larsen’s bid was likely a publicity stunt to further his pot advocacy work.

Former NDP MLA David Schreck also dismissed Larsen, calling his candidacy a joke that would quickly be forgotten when some serious candidates appear in the New Year.

The party plans to hold a leadership vote to replace James on April 17 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Several potential contenders have expressed interest in the job, including Fraser-Nicola MLA Harry Lali and Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Mike Farnworth, but no one else has officially entered the race.

Article source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/12/29/bc-larsen-sihota-ndp-leadership.html?ref=rss

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Article source: http://www.timesleaderonline.com/page/content.detail/id/527905.html

BOSTON — There are security concerns at Logan Airport after a Brockton man got onboard a flight to Miami, with pieces of bullets in his luggage.

Luggage exploded on the tarmac at Miami International Airport on Tuesday. A piece of shrapnel got logged in a baggage handlers shoe. Now the suspect, 34-year-old Orville Andrew Braham, who was on his way to Jamaica, is facing a federal judge. He has been charged with illegally transporting ammunition components on a jetliner.

Brahams neighbors in Brockton are shocked.

Shocked. Im totally shocked. Nicest man, said John Farrell, a neighbor.

For having explosives ordinates in his bag or any of that stuff is not good at all. For me, I would arrest him too, said Cory Lincourt, Farrells son-in-law. He seemed to be a very nice gentleman.

There was no answer at the suspects door. 7NEWS briefly spoke to a man who identified him as Brahams son, but he declined to comment.

An affidavit written by an FBI agent based in Miami says that Braham initially denied having explosives in his luggage, but later changed his story. The agent stated: He claimed he placed the 700 ammunition primers and the reloading press in a bag and hid them in a suitcase in his basement to keep them away from his kids. He claimed that he did not remember that these items were in his suitcase when he used it to travel to Jamaica.

So how did two bags loaded with explosive ammunition components make it through Logan Airport?

The Transportation Security Administration tells 7NEWS that its perfectly legal to put unloaded guns and ammunition in checked baggage, but it must be declared by the passenger, and the items must be stored properly. The FBI says Braham simply hid the primers in the lining of his suitcases and didnt tell anyone about them.

Court documents revealed that Braham is facing two felony counts in Stoughton for receiving stolen property in use of a firearm while committing a crime. Police arrested him at a BJs Wholesale Club on Halloween Day. Police claim he was wheeling four flat-screen televisions out of the store on a large, flat cart. Those televisions had been purchased by two female accomplices with a large number of gift cards, and perhaps a stolen credit card.

Braham is being held without bail in Miami. He now has court dated in Miami and Stoughton next month.

(Copyright (c) 2010 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Article source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40845174

By MIKE CAMUNAS/Tribune correspondent

Published: December 30, 2010

NEW PORT RICHEY Sickles had to rely on youth.

And it made them the winners of the 10th Annual Winter Classic Tournament hosted by Ridgewood. The Gryphons (11-3-3) eked out a 1-0 win over Pompano Beach Blanche Ely in the championship match Wednesday evening, capped by a second straight shutout by freshman goalkeeper Matt Bajza.

“(He’s) 14 years old half the guys out there look like they’re 23,” fifth-year Sickles coach Antonio Calvo said. “Back-to-back shutouts, and he’s been getting plenty of playing time, but when I asked him to step in (for the regular starting keeper who was away on vacation), he showed up big time.”

Bajza, who was named tournament MVP, kept Clearwater out of the net Tuesday and the Tigers (5-7-2) off the board Wednesday. All it took was midfielder Woody Brink’s lone goal early into the game in the sixth minute.

“It was a big mistake on that side of the defense,” Blanche Ely coach Concepcion Ledezma said. “It wasn’t like we were doing anything to really generate attacks, but they controlled midfield, and once they got the ball back, they did a good job keeping it.”

The Tigers certainly brought the most diverse team to the tournament. Of the 22 players rostered, 20 are Haitian and can he heard calling out plays in Creole. Blanche Ely plays tough opponents, including state-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas.

“We’ve played four undefeated teams, so we play against giants,” Ledezma said. “It was nice to come here and let everyone see what Broward County is all about. A mediocre record, however, is a good record back there.”

Tournament director Ed McComiskey, Ridgewood’s longtime coach, was just as impressed as Calvo, as they watched the physical and fast Tigers take the tournament by storm.

“For a team to come to their very first big tournament like this and then play phenomenal,” Calvo said. “It shows since they made it to the championship.

As for the Gryhpons, they lost 17 seniors from a season ago, so they’ve been relying on a youth movement, but it’s been a successful one.

“Our biggest thing was that, after losing so many seniors, we’d have to regroup,” Calvo said. “That’s not a word we like to use, so we’ve been reloading that’s what we call it. So to lose all those players and have a winning record, that just shows our program has been dedicated and deep, despite losing players.”

In earlier action, Pinellas Park (10-1) beat Clearwater, 4-0, to take third place. East Bay and Central faced off first in a consulation match, only to end at 3-3 and head to penalty kicks. The Indians, who managed just two goals in their first two games, defeated the Bears 4-3 in the shootout.

Host Ridgewood (6-11) dropped the fifth-place match to Alonso, 5-3. Leading scorer Travis Lord pulled the score to 3-2 with his 13th goal of the season, but the defense had a hard time shutting down the Ravens’ high-scoring offense, which put up a tournament-high 12 goals.

Correspondent Mike Camunas can be reached at mike.camunas@gmail.com.

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Article source: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/dec/30/boys-soccer-gryphons-claim-tourney-title/sports-prepsports/

The FBI is slapping a Brockton man with federal charges for allegedly transporting ammunition without proper licensing after one of his suitcases exploded at Miami International Airport Tuesday, according to an affidavit filed yesterday.

On Tuesday morning, Orville A. Braham, 37, boarded American Airlines [AMR] Flight 2585 at Logan International Airport bound for Miami with a final destination of Kingston, Jamaica, according to an FBI affidavit. Braham checked two bags and carried two bags on the plane.

A baggage handler at Miami International Airport picked up one of Brahams suitcases and put it on the ground whereupon it exploded, according to the affidavit. The explosion caused shrapnel to embed in the handlers shoe.

An examination of Brahams suitcase revealed hundreds of .45 caliber ammunition primers detonated upon impact, the affidavit stated. FBI agents then searched Brahams other suitcase and found hundreds of ammunition primers in a plastic bag concealed in the lining of the suitcase, along with components of a disassembled ammunition reloading press.

After being arrested, Braham denied having anything in his suitcase that would have exploded, claiming he only packed clothing. Upon further questioning, he eventually admitted he had 700 ammunition primers in the suitcase that he bought at a gun show in Holbrook in November 2009, according to the affidavit.

He explained that he used to reload ammunition as a hobby, the affidavit states. He claimed that he placed the 700 ammunition primers and the reloading press in a bag and hid them in a suitcase in his basement to keep them away from his kids. He claimed that he did not remember that these items were in his suitcase when he used it to travel to Jamaica.

FBI officials said Tuesday the incident was not tied to a terrorism threat.

The incident was not Brahams first brush with the law: On Oct. 31, he was busted for trying to steal four flat-screen televisions from a Stoughton BJs, according to Stoughton cops. He was found with a .22 Beretta handgun in his waistband when he was arrested, but police and the Norfolk District Attorneys office said he had a valid license.

Braham was charged with receiving stolen property and using a firearm in the commission of a felony, said Stoughton Police Chief Paul Shastany. Braham is due in Stoughton District Court Jan. 11 for a probable cause hearing.

Article source: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20101230local_man_nabbed_in_luggage_blast_ammunition_was_in_bag_checked_at_logan_airport/srvc=news&position=recent_bullet

Staff Photo by Laura-Chase McGehee/Chattanooga Times Free Press
Ralph Waldrop, of WW Sprinkler, threads pipe for a new sprinkler system in what was once the Brass Register but is now under new management and is being renovated to become a Jefferson’s. The brass register in the foreground was left in the building by the previous tenants.

Enlarge photo

Denise Crowell and Cyndi Roberts stood in the middle of the darkened main dining room of the former Brass Register, the walls lit by utility lights as workers applied a new coat of varnish to the old wooden tables.

Under their oversight, the former Chattanooga landmark across from the Hamilton County Courthouse on Fountain Square is set to transform into a Jefferson’s sports bar in mid-January, an upscale sports grill with a full menu including wings, oysters, burgers and salads, as well as alcoholic beverages.

The restaurant should employ about 45 employees initially, but that number could expand if the business takes off.

“We were looking for a good location in Chattanooga for our restaurant, and we came up with this,” Crowell said.

Crowell came to Chattanooga from St. Louis where she has worked for Anheuser-Busch for a decade.

Roberts, from Cartersville, Ga., worked for Anheuser-Busch for 17 years.

“We were very impressed with this city,” she said. “We thought it would be a good fit.”

But before she could open Jefferson’s, she and Roberts had to redo the place.

It could cost $150,000 to open the doors, including tens of thousands to tie in a new sprinkler system underneath Georgia Avenue, but Crowell and Roberts were willing to roll up their sleeves and get the old building whipped into shape, they say.

The new sprinklers, an unexpected expense, “almost shut us down,” Crowell said, but they decided to swallow the additional cost and move forward.

The Brass Register originally opened in 1973, the first establishment to do so after the city allowed liquor by the drink, according to Fred Robinson, co-owner of the building.

“It was a popular place back then, and the drinking age was 18,” Robinson said. “It was very popular for college kids and lawyers getting off work.”

After it closed in the late 1980s, a succession of other eateries vied to take its place, none of them lasting very long,

The first order of business for the new owners was to remove tacky touches from previous occupants, Roberts said, to be replaced with more modern, eyeball-friendly themes.

“When we got here, it looked like a saloon, with a stage in the back that had a barn top and a lot of Tiffany lighting,” Crowell said, adding, “We’re taking the saloon image out of it.”

Burnt oranges and greens were replaced by neutral colors, and dining areas were revamped to seat about 130 inside and another 20 outside.

They are also adding a banquet room for meetings, with a big screen TV for presentations.

Owners plan to offer a light breakfast for office workers in a hurry, including take-out meals for those late for meetings, as long as there is demand for it.

The actual brass register that was used in the second incarnation of the old eatery, which replaced the original brass register that was sold off decades ago, will be kept for the time being, Crowell said.

Contact staff writer Ellis Smith at esmith@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6315.

Article source: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/dec/29/jeffersons-to-open-in-former-brass-register/

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The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who play Saint Rocke on Valentines Day.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band play Saint Rocke

by Mark McDermott

It all started at Congo Square.

Every Sunday in New Orleans during the mid-1800s, the slaves would be allowed to congregate at the square. They sang, they danced, they shared sorrow and they tried to create joy. At 9 p.m., a cannon shot would go off, and everyone would return to bondage.

At some point horns entered the equation. Military groups returned from afield and gave instruments to the slaves. Though untrained, the slaves created their own sound, something that was called jass early on and jazz later on, when it graduated to bordellos and bars (and a long while later, concert halls). After the emancipation proclamation technically freed slaves, these communal gatherings persisted. Later, social clubs formed as a means of sharing some of the burdens of a meagerly provisioned life.

At the very least, for example, everyone deserved a good burial. Thus was born the jazz funeral, and thus began the long tradition of the New Orleans brass band.

This is the long way around of explaining some of the history that flows through perhaps the finest brass band on Earth, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who play Saint Rocke this Sunday night. One would be hard pressed to identify theirs as a music borne from sorrow the utter exuberance of five horns in a careening groove, with funky tuba bouncing along the bottom, a baritone sax giving it real bristle, and that muted trumpet sexing it up but the Dirty Dozen are deep down a funeral band.

Obviously, they do funerals a little differently in New Orleans. They begin with slow hymns in a church, but after the body is cut loose at the graveyard and the gathering heads back to the repast the party the entire band cuts loose.

And nobody ever cut loose quite like the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. As baritone sax player and band co-founder Roger Lewis noted in an interview, We uptempo-ed it.

The band began nearly three decades ago after playing together on the second line parades held by social clubs and at funerals and other musical gatherings a little too loose to be called rehearsals. Lewis recalled that he was on break from playing with Fats Domino when he met a trombone player named Charles Joseph, and they started talking about forming a different kind of brass band.

We started doing a lot of parades and whatnot, but it was a different group of guys and it wasnt like a rehearsal, it was just a bunch of guys getting together, Lewis said. Charles and I got to talking one day, Man, you know what, itd be nice if we could get some guys involved so we could really make a band out of this band. He knew a couple guysand before we knew it we came up with a winning combination.

Early iterations of what was first called the Original Sixth Precinct Dirty Dozen included such New Orleans legends as bass drummer Benny Jones and Anthony Tuba Fats Lacen. But eventually, Charles brother, Kirk Charles, was brought to play tuba. And when tenor sax player Kevin Harris arrived and Lewis switched to baritone, the dirty quotient was upped exponentially and the band was off and running.

Radio personality Jerry Brock later recalled seeing the band at its first regular gigging joint, a place called Daryls in the Seventh Ward.

Ill never forget the first time I walked in there, Brock said. The people were so exuberant the floor was covered with people, rolling on the floorthe Dirty Dozen had renewed this music to the New Orleans community. The people were going wild.

What the band did was infuse the brass band sound with a new vibrancy they brought in bebop, and funk, and soul music while remaining true to the deep old tradition from which the band had emerged. Lewis is quick to point out that there were other brass bands at the time that were carrying that tradition bands like the Eureka Brass Band and the Pinstripes.

I didnt see the brass band dying out, Lewis said. What I seen is a style of music that we brought to the table that was different from just playing traditional music. We were playing all these contemporary sounds, you know, bebop, Thelonious Monk compositions, Horace SilverWe were playing music they usually do in clubs, like Night Train, and bringing that kind of stuff to the street. And we were doing original material, and we slightly picked up the beat a little bit, which made for a different feel of the music. People loved it.

Jazz producer George Wein considered by some the most important non-player in the history of jazz caught wind of the band. He booked them for a tour of Europe, where the band became immediately popular, and then brought them into the recording studio. Their first record, My Feet Cant Fail Me Now, was released in 1984, and it was a masterpiece of a sort it announced the arrival of a new kind of jazz, one that took the tradition back to its very roots and brought it right back to the present. It was a very new old sound.

Lewis compared the bands sound to New Orleans cooking.

Good gumbo is a dish that you put everything in, season it up real good, and it tastes so good, he said. We just came up with a different kind of musical gumbo, so to speak, and gave a whole new twist on it, a different taste.

The band has since toured the world and played with an astonishingly wide variety of musicians ranging from Elvis Costello to Dizzy Gillespie to Widespread Panic and even Modest Mouse and is just released a 25th anniversary reissue of that first record. My Feet Cant Fail Me Now, like any classic, sounds even better with time.

What I think is so astounding about this CD is the music is so fast and accurate, Lewis said. A lot of people thought they had speeded it up. They didnt we are actually playing at those tempos that are on that CD. That will give you an idea how fast people were dancing in the second line parades! You had to bring your tennis shoes and your sweats back then, because you was getting a real good workout. Because New Orleans music is kind of in between its kind of laid back, where can move as slow as you want and maybe as fast as you want, but we increased the tempo so you had to really be able to step and move. It was so unreal that they were dancing to the tempo we were playing. Really uplifting. High energy, man, high octane.

The record is indicative of the bands breadth. An old folk tune, St. James Infirmary, is right alongside Monks Blue Monk and somehow they fit right together St. James quotes Summertime and that baritone and tuba combination take it to unexpected depths. The albums title track is damned near rock n roll, albeit a rock music that makes its own rules the song quotes Charlie Parkers Dexterity as well as Horace Silvers Tippin.
Kirk Joseph reinvents the sousaphone (aka the tuba) throughout. Joseph, who left the band in 1991 but occasionally rejoins the Dirty Dozen (including this week), has since dubbed his sound Sousafunk.

Sousafunk, its just a person playing sousaphone who is making it really funky, said Joseph in an interview with the Easy Reader in 2007. Thats all it is. Its like they have funk and usually they have bass guitar. But this is with a sousaphone, playing as funky as I possibly can, with all of my gifts from God, all my blessings from God.

The Dirty Dozen invariably pull off a trick that one suspects goes all the way back to Congo Square: their music is a riotous party that emerges from a depth of emotion that includes sorrow and an indomitable spirituality and will to transcend. They sound like the city of New Orleans embodied in a band.

You know, the energy of the band is so spiritual because the spirit of the city, and because the religious background of the music, Lewis said. The feeling has a lot to do with suppression and a lot of things black folks went through, and it comes out in the music.The music is imbedded in the people, in the culture, because of the trials and tribulations they went through. That feeling carried on, imbedded in the culture and the music.

The music is, in a word, hot.

Yeah, man, Lewis said. Its hot because its high energyIts getting you moving, your heart pumping, your blood moving inside your body. Its hot!

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band play Saint Rocke Feb. 14. See www.dirtydozenbrass.com or www.saintrocke.com for more info. ER

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Article source: http://www.easyreadernews.com/2010/02/music/their-feet-can%E2%80%99t-fail-them-now

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and top brass of the armed forces on Thursday morning visited president of the Privy Council Gen Prem Tinsulanonda at his Si Sao Theves residence in Bangkok to offer him a New Year blessing.

Gen Prawit was accompanied by army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, air force chief ACM Itthiporn Suphawong, navy chief ADM Kamthorn Phumhiran, assistant army chief Gen Pichet Visaijorn and army chief of staff Gen Daopong Rattanasuwan.

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Thomas returns to lead another explosive Duck attack.

Athlon Sports is in the predictions business. We are currently Americas oldest preseason College Football publication (1967) and have been the most accurate NCAA football predictor over the last five years. With this in mind, and the finale of the 2010 football season quickly approaching, Athlon felt the urge to look ahead to the 2011 season.

Here are The Way Too Early Predictions for 2011 in the Pac-12.

Much like the Big Ten, the Pac-10 will go through monumental offseason changes starting with its name. The Pac-12 will be the new name of college footballs premier West Coast conference. It may take some time to get used to calling it the Pac-12, but unlike the Big Ten, it shouldnt take anytime to learn the divisions.

The conference will be broken along geographic lines into North and South divisions with rivalries completely sustained. That is the good news for the league. The bad? National title contender Oregon should once again be the favorite to top the league. Quarterback Darron Thomas and Heisman finalist LaMichael James return to what should once again be an explosive offense. Fixing some holes in the receiving corps and along the offensive line will be key, but Oregon is in reloading, not rebuilding mode.

The front seven of the Ducks defense will take the biggest hit. Replacing Casey Matthews, Kenny Rowe and Brandon Bair will be tough. Depth in the secondary should help as a lot of talented names return with plenty of experience.

Much of Stanfords 2011 season will be decided at some point in the next few months. Quarterback Andrew Luck and head coach Jim Harbaugh could both be back in Palo Alto next fall, resulting in a serious threat to Oregons conference supremacy. However, its also possible that both will be gone next year, and with a revamped offensive line, the Cardinal could struggle to keep up with the Ducks.

Oregon State will get a second year with strong-armed quarterback Ryan Katz. A solid offensive line and great running game should help produce one of the leagues top offenses. Replacing stud noseguard Stephen Paea will be incredibly difficult. Washington has been recruiting extremely well and should have plenty of young talent, but whether they can develop quickly enough to contend in 2011 is a large mystery.

In short, the North Division could look a lot like 2010 again. Chip Kelly and his Oregon Ducks have the inside track on a third straight conference championship.

Erickson has ASU fans looking up for 2011.

In the South Division, the traditional powers could be taking a back seat to a team that has won a total of six conference games over the last two years (remember, Pac-10 teams played nine games per year). Arizona State should return largely intact as in 20 of 22 starters potentially. Special teams might be the only issue Dennis Erickson will need to address in the offseason. He will have a stout front seven, a solid rushing attack, two quarterbacks with starting experience and positive momentum after two high-scoring wins to close the season over UCLA and Arizona. It might be crazy, but ASU could be the favorite in the South next fall.

That leaves the USC Trojans. They still have the most talented starting 22 in the league, but depth was a serious issue in 2010. Until the scholarship limitations are lifted, depth will continue to be a major hindrance. However, third-year quarterback Matt Barkley will have an embarrassment of riches to work with on offense next season, and one has to think that the elder Kiffin should be able to improve the Trojan defense. The Men of Troy have the potential to win this league but have failed to live up to their recruiting hype for a few years. Fans and media will give the new staff a pass in 2010, but probably not in 2011.

Utah and Colorado begin their Pac-12 tenures facing an uphill battle. The Buffs are in major rebuilding mode with a new staff stepping into place while Utah will play the toughest schedule of its existence. A full BCS conference slate will test the depth of the former “mid-major” program in year one. Arizona is the wildcard. Replacing much of that defensive line will hurt, but quarterbacks Nick Foles and Matt Scott offer plenty of leadership on offense. Mike Stoops always seem to win some games he shouldn’t and lose some he shouldn’t, too.

North Division Predictions (key losses):

1. Oregon: WR Jeff Maehl, RB LaMichael James*, OL Bo Thran, OL Jordan Holmes, OL C.E. Kaiser, DT Brandon Bair, LB Casey Matthews, DE/LB Kenny Rowe, LB Spencer Paysinger, CB Talmadge Jackson

2. Stanford: QB Andrew Luck*, FB/LB Owen Marecic, WR Ryan Whalen, TE Konrad Reuland, OL Andy Phillips, OL Chase Beeler, OL James McGillicuddy, DT Sione Fua

3. Oregon State: OL Alex Linnenkohl, DT Stephen Paea, CB James Dockery

4. Washington: QB Jake Locker, OL Cody Habben, OL Ryan Tolar, LB Mason Foster

5. Cal: DT Derrick Hill, DE Cameron Jordan, LB Mike Mohamed

6. Washington State

South Division Predictions:

1. Arizona State: DT Saia Falahola, K Thomas Weber, P Trevor Hankins,

2. USC: RB Allen Bradford, FB Stanley Havili, WR Ronald Johnson, OL Kris ODowd, OL Tyron Smith*, OL Butch Lewis, LB Malcolm Smith, LB Michael Morgan, CB Shareece Wright, DT Jurrell Casey

3. Arizona: RB Nic Grigsby, OL Colin Baxter, OL Adam Grant, DE Brooks Reed, DE Rick Elmore, S Joe Perkins

4. Utah: RB Matt Asiata, RB Eddie Wide, OL Zane Taylor, CB Brandon Burton*, RS Shaky Smithson

5. UCLA: LB Akeem Ayers*, S Rahim Moore*, K Kai Forbath, LS Christian Yount

6. Colorado: OL Nate Solder, CB Jimmy Smith, CB Jalil Brown

* Underclassmen who could decide to enter the NFL Draft.

Article source: http://www.athlonsports.com/columns/national-notebook/11-predictions-pac-12

POSTED: 11:35 am EST December 29, 2010
UPDATED: 12:24 pm EST December 29, 2010

Article source: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/26310660/detail.html

The Stoughton man who was arrested Tuesday at Miami International Airport after ammunition primer caps exploded in his roll-on luggage also tried to steal four flat-screen televisions from BJs Wholesale Club in October, police said.
Orville Andrew Braham, 37, whose last known address was 99 Porter St. in Stoughton, is charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with traveling in interstate commerce without a license to carry ammunition.
Braham, described as a naturalized United States citizen traveling to Jamaica from Logan International Airport in Boston, had checked two pieces of luggage with American Airlines, according to authorities.
One bag, a roll-on, exploded around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday when a baggage handler removed it from the airplane and placed it on the ground. The explosion caused shrapnel to be imbedded in the baggage handlers shoe and delayed four flights during an ensuing investigation, authorities said.
Stoughton Police Lt. Robert C. Devine said Braham was arrested on Oct. 31 when police found him attempting to steal four flat-screen television sets from a flat truck at BJs Wholesale Club in Stoughton. Police who searched Braham in October found a .22-caliber gun in his waistband, Devine said.
Braham did not have a license to carry the weapon, Devine said. He was charged by Stoughton police with illegal possession of a firearm and larceny of more than $250.
Devine said Braham also listed addresses of Franklin Street in Stoughton and Frankton Avenue in Brockton.
According to a complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Florida, Braham initially told investigators that he only packed clothing in his suitcases for the Jamaica flight.
But investigators discovered that hundreds of .45-caliber ammunition primers, used with bullets, had detonated within the suitcase on impact, triggering the explosion. A primer is the back end of a bullet, the spark plug that provides the spark that ignites the gunpowder.
In the second checked suitcase, investigators said they discovered hundreds of .45-caliber ammunition primers in a plastic bag concealed in the suitcase lining. Parts of a disassembled ammunition reloading press were found in the lining, in a zippered compartment and wrapped in items of clothing.
An ammunition press is used to assemble component parts, including ammunition primers, according to the court complaint.
Eventually, Braham admitted to investigators that he was transporting 700 ammunition primers that he bought at a gun show in Holbrook in November 2009, authorities said.
According to the court complaint, Braham explained that he used to reload ammunition as a hobby. He discussed the type of ammunition reloading process he used, and he was able to describe the process of reloading ammunition.
He claimed that he placed 700 ammunition primers and the reloading press in a bag and hid them in a suitcase in his basement to keep them away from his kids, the complaint said. He claimed that he did not remember that these items were in his suitcase when he used it to travel to Jamaica.
Braham traveled to Florida on American Airlines Flight 2585, which left Logan around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Officials said they are not viewing the incident as an act of terrorism.

Federal criminal complaint

Article source: http://www.enterprisenews.com/news/cops_and_courts/x1882987787/Officials-investigating-exploding-luggage-incident-from-Boston-flight

The Army’s official history of the battle of Wanat one of the most intensely scrutinized engagements of the Afghan war largely absolves top commanders of the deaths of nine U.S. soldiers and instead blames the confusing, unpredictable nature of war.

The history of the July 2008 battle was almost two years in the making and triggered a roiling debate at all levels of the Army about whether midlevel and senior battlefield commanders should be held accountable for mistakes made under extreme duress of combat.

An initial draft of the Wanat history, obtained by The Seattle Times and other media outlets in the summer of 2009, placed the preponderance of blame for the losses on higher-level battalion and brigade commanders who oversaw the mission, saying they failed to provide proper resources to the unit in Wanat.

The final history, released in recent weeks, drops many of the earlier conclusions and instead focuses on failures of lower-level commanders.

The battle of Wanat, which took place in a remote mountain village near the Pakistan border, produced four investigations and sidetracked the careers of several Army officers, whose promotions were either put on hold or canceled.

The 230-page Army history is likely to be the military’s last word on the episode and reflects a growing consensus within the ranks that the Army should be cautious in blaming battlefield commanders for failures in demanding wars such as the conflict in Afghanistan.

Family members of the deceased at Wanat reacted with anger and disappointment to the final version of the Army history.

“They blame the platoon-level leadership for all the mistakes at Wanat,” said retired Col. David Brostrom, whose son was killed in the fighting. “It blames my dead son. They really missed the point.”

The findings in the early draft history of the battle and pressure from lawmakers, including Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., prompted Gen. David Petraeus, then the commander of U.S. Central Command, to order an investigation into Wanat.

The initial investigation, conducted by a three-star Marine general and completed in the spring, found company and battalion commanders were “derelict in their duty” to provide proper oversight and resources to the soldiers at Wanat.

Petraeus reviewed the findings and concluded that, based on Army doctrine, the brigade commander, who was the senior U.S. officer in the area, also failed in his job. He recommended all three officers be issued letters of reprimand, which essentially would end their careers. After the officers appealed their reprimands, a senior Army general reversed the decision to punish the officers, formerly members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

Gen. Charles Campbell told family members of the deceased that the letters of reprimand would have a chilling effect on other battlefield commanders, who often must make difficult decisions with limited information, according to a tape of his remarks. He also concluded the deaths were not the direct result of the officers’ mistakes.

The initial decision to discipline the three officers was controversial within the Army even before Campbell’s decision to tear up the letters of reprimand. On the day the letters were supposed to be finalized, senior Army officials had planned to have top commanders discuss the decision with their officers. When the letters were revoked, those plans were canceled. The Army’s final history of the Wanat battle largely echoes Campbell’s conclusions, citing the role of “uncertainty [as] a factor inseparable from any military operation.”

In its conclusions, the study maintains U.S. commanders had a weak grasp of the area’s complicated politics, causing them to underestimate the hostility to a U.S. presence in Wanat.

But the history focuses mostly on the failures of lower-level commanders to patrol aggressively in the Wanat area as they were building their defenses. It also criticizes 1st Lt. Jonathan Brostrom, a 24-year-old platoon leader, for placing a key observation point in an area that did not provide the half-dozen U.S. soldiers placed there a broad enough view to spot the enemy.

The initial investigation, by contrast, found that the placement of the post was not a major factor in the outcome of the battle.

That investigation also found that midlevel Army officers failed to plan the operation beyond the first four days and as a result failed to provide sufficient manpower, water and other resources to defend the base from a Taliban attack. The official history makes little mention of such conclusions.

A senior official involved in the initial investigation said none of the officers who were recommended for disciplinary action was incompetent.

“They were all truly professional officers,” the senior official said.

But even good officers must be held accountable for inattention and mistakes, he said: “We are talking about people’s lives here. Officers have to be held accountable for their actions. They can’t be given a free ride when lives are involved.”

Brostrom, father of the dead platoon leader at Wanat, said he will meet next month with senior Army officials and Army historians at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in an effort to get persuade them to further revise the Wanat history.

He doesn’t expect the Army to change the record, which is considered final.

“For me,” Bostrom said, “this has never been about trying to get officers fired. It is about trying to get the Army to admit and learn from its mistakes.”

Article source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013789094_wanat29.html?syndication=rss

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Brass players can sign up now for a daylong Brass Bash at The Salvation Army Kroc Community Church. The $5 cost includes lunch.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 8 at the church, 1865 Bill Frey Drive NE. A free brass concert will follow, featuring The Salvation Army Western Territorial Band.

The day’s events will include clinics for orchestral brass, brass bands, brass ensembles, breathing and soloists. All brass players are welcome.

Call (503) 798-4815 to register.

Barbara Curtin

Article source: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20101229/NEWS/12290398/1001

EXCLUSIVE

SOME of the world’s biggest weapons manufacturers and arms dealers are among companies to have wined and dined Defence executives and military officers, internal government records show.

The records shine a light on the relationship between the Defence industry’s big hitters and the military, with more than 110 free dinners, lunches, theatre and football tickets given to the Defence Department’s three-star personnel from a range of companies in the past three years.

The recently retired head of the Chief Capability Development Group, Vice-Admiral Matt Tripovich, enjoyed more hospitality than any other senior official – accepting almost one-quarter of all such events taken up by senior levels of the Australian defence establishment.

Admiral Tripovich, responsible for securing cabinet approval to buy new multimillion-dollar weapon systems, benefited from 28 invitations to dinners, concerts, the theatre and rugby Tests.

And the federal government’s second-most senior arms buyer, Warren King, is another prolific luncher, accepting 25 invitations from companies seeking defence contracts.

These ranged from a private dinner in July with Jim McDowell, the chief executive of BAE Systems, the world’s wealthiest arms dealer, to a cocktail function hosted by the electronics group Thales at the Australian War Memorial in December 2007.

Mr King is the deputy chief executive of the Defence Materiel Organisation, and a former senior executive at Raytheon, another major arms supplier that has provided hospitality to senior Australian Defence officials.

The Vice-Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant-General David Hurley, accepted 24 hospitality invitations, including a ticket to a US football game given to him by the defence firm General Dynamics, two tickets to King Lear from Australian Aerospace and two tickets to My Fair Lady from Optus, which is mostly owned by the Singapore government.

This year, the Herald revealed Defence had spent more than $48 billion in the four years between 2006 and 2009, in 83,000 contracts.

In that period, Australian Aerospace, the local subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, BAE, Thales, Boeing and Raytheon collected a combined $7.2 billion from Australian taxpayers.

Between 2006 and 2009, Defence published more than 2000 contracts with BAE Systems, 789 with Boeing, 329 with Australian Aerospace and 106 contracts with Optus worth a combined $121 million.

Qantas provided more hospitality and gifts to senior Defence officials than any other company, including free membership to its Chairman’s Lounges at major airports.

Other companies gave officials tickets to art exhibitions, meals at exclusive restaurants such as Quay in the Overseas Passenger Terminal, and a variety of cocktail parties.

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, was restrained by contrast to his colleagues, accepting only a handful of invitations from the industry.

These included an invitation to the Masterpieces from Paris exhibition put on by Qantas, a BAE Systems dinner and a Boeing cocktail function at the Canberra restaurant the Boathouse by the Lake.

The hospitality declarations, released under freedom of information laws, show Admiral Tripovich is an avid sports fan. He attended 11 sporting fixtures at others’ expense, including nine Brumbies rugby matches, between October 2007 and May this year, where dinner and drinks were provided by his hosts, Defence has confirmed.

He accepted six invitations from BAE Systems for dinners and concerts, 10 from Optus for dinners and theatre tickets and four lots of Brumbies tickets from LOPAC, a defence consultancy.

Raytheon, Thales, Ericsson, and Noetic are other companies to have entertained him.

The Herald does not suggest these gifts were in any way solicited. A spokeswoman said Defence maintained a strict regime to prevent conflicts of interest. When an official accepted a gift or hospitality which may be perceived as improper, this ”would be investigated and appropriate action undertaken”. Officials were not allowed to accept gifts during a tendering process or contract negotiation.

Do you know more? investigations@smh.com.au

Article source: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/top-brass-bombarded-with-treats-20101229-19a9m.html

While I disagree with the Penn State Administration, I feel you are exactly right when it comes to the STEP Program. Penn State has 2 options when looking in to the upcoming coaching change (I say upcoming but I do not agree that the Outback Bowl will be Joe’s last game, unless he has a catastrophic problem that comes about):

1st: Hire someone on the current staff or someone who has previously served on a Joe Paterno staff or team (ie: Schianno, Golden, Caldwell, Bradley, Norwood, Johnson Sr, etc).

2nd: Hire someone who will make a splash with their previous success that is not related to Penn State’s previous success.

Now, Curley and Spanier have become rather snotty; they believe that Penn State is better than others and that they feel that Penn State is a school that has a football program and facilities to make any coach want to coach there. I agree that Penn State is a location that could make any coach want to coach there, I feel that what Penn State is founded on isn’t a location where we should want to bring in those type of people.

Recently, Penn State forced out a former PSU wrestler who was then became the head coach. They then made the well known splash hiring of Cael Sanderson from his alma mater Iowa State. I’m not sure if anyone knows the amount they hired him for, but I’d be willing to bet that he is the highest paid wrestling coach in the NCAA.

Also, Penn State force Rene Portland out at Penn State (a good friend to Joe Paterno; I believe he was the one who hired her when he was the AD?) and went in to a “National Search”. While they didn’t hire a coaching “splash” with Coach Washington, they still hired someone that is an outsider to the Penn State Way (Coach Washington came from Notre Dame as an assistant to Coach Muffit McGraw).

Also recently, Penn State hired Bob Warming to replace their longtime great men’s soccer coach. Warming left Creighton to take on the PSU job with no previous ties to Penn State. Penn State hired Erica Walsh a few years back for their women’s soccer coach… Coach Walsh is a USA Women’s Soccer coach and D1 women’s soccer coach with no previous ties to Penn State with the exception to coaching some of the PSU players on the National Team level.

The lone major exception I can think of is the hire 8 years ago of Ed DeChellis, who had previously served as an assistant to Bruce Parkhill and Jerry Dunn (for Dunn’s first year).

With that said, you can easily see that Curley and Spanier have no problems with bringing in a non-PSU related person to coach their programs. You can also see that Walsh, Warming, Sanderson are all “Big Splash” coaching hires (meaning all 3 of these coaches probably make Top 10 money within their sport). Also, that means that I’d be willing to say that Penn State will hire outside the program and try to make a big coaching splash.

That means that ANYONE related to Penn State will be excluded from the job. As we can see with the Sanderson and Warming hires, you can also see that Penn State is not at all above trying to hire a coach who has success at one school and essentially “stealing” them from their school. Therefore, you can expect Penn State to target anyone and everyone who has current success at their schools: Bob Stoops, Mike Stoops, Chris Petersen, Gary Patterson, Jimbo Fisher, Bo Pelini, Mike Gundy, Kirk Ferentz, Kyle Whittingham, Chip Kelly, and Nick Saban will most definitely be asked if to gauge their interests. I can’t say that any one of them will accept the job, but I can almost guarantee that these will be close to the top of their lists.

With that said, these coaches are already some of the highest paid coaches in the country; for Penn State to hire one of these coaches, they would need to pay $4-6 million to lure these coaches from where they currently are. With that said, that is exactly why the STEP Progam is in place; Penn State is proud that their Athletics Program is self supporting (ie: the fact that they don’t use University money or State of PA money to pay for their program), therefore they will need to come up with that $4-6 million per year somehow… The STEP Program is how they are banking on making bank.

Article source: http://blog.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2010/12/step_program_was_one_of_the_fi.html

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5pm Update

Good afternoon gang. Sometimes the blog likes to take a little road trip for some cool weather video from other parts of the country. The Blizzard of 2010 has paralyzed much of the northeastern part of the country with 2 feet of snow in many places. Parts of New Jersey are digging out from more than 30″ of the white stuff. Wow!

If you have ever wondered what it’s like to be in a blizzard in New York City… this video is for you…

Here is an awesome time lapse video of the snowfall…

Your friendly weather dude STRONGLY considered hopping a plane to NYC late Christmas Day to experience this storm firsthand. Maybe we could organize a blizzard chase here on the blog. Would anyone be interested in something like that?

Some words on the future…

- Cold temps will hang tough into Tuesday before some moderatation takes place Wednesday as milder air moves in for the end of the week.

- This milder air is likely to have a touch of light snow and light freezing rain on the front side Wednesday night. That would change to rain for Thursday.

- Showers will be scattered for New Year’s Eve with temps near 50. New Year’s Day looks wet with falling late day temps from west to east.

- Sunday will see MUCH colder air working in with some light snow or flurries possible.

- I am watching a potential winter weather maker for the middle and end of next week.

- The blocking continues and may go into the tank once again by the second week or so of January. This could lead to some very wild wintry weather with some true arctic shots for the middle and end of the month.

Have a good evening and take care.

Previous Update

Good Monday everyone. We are counting down the remaining days of 2010 and beginning to look ahead to early 2011 to see what old man winter may have in store for us. Before the new year gets here… our pattern will relax a bit before reloading for January.

In the short term… we are coming off a white Christmas weekend across the tri state. Parts of southeastern Kentucky into much of West Virginia have been pounded by better than 6″ of snow. Some areas have picked up as much as 10″ or moreof the white stuff and more snow showers and flurries will be possible in these areas today. Many roads into are snow packed and will continue to be hazardous today with another light accumulation likely. Track what is left of the flakes here…

Highs today will range from the mid to upper 20s.

Cold temps will continue for Tuesday and Wednesday under partly sunny skies. Milder air will begin to surge northward late Wednesday into Thursday and will produce a batch of precipitation. This is very likely to begin as a period of light snow and light freezing rain Wednesday night before changing to rain by early Thursday.

Showers should continue during the day Thursday with temps warming into the low and mid 40s. The final day of the year will end up being a fairly mild one with highs in the 50s with a scattered shower or two.

Our New Year’s Weekend will feature a strong cold front working eastward across the region. This front means our mild spell will last a total of about 2 days before cold air moves back in. This will be quite the clash of air masses that will lead to rain and even some thunderstorms New Year’s Day into early Sunday. Here is what the GFS Ensembles are showing for this weekend…

That would suggest the cold air can catch the back of the departing rains and switch it over to a period of light snow. The pattern suggests we should watch to see if this front can produce a wave of low pressure along it coming in from the south. If that happens… we would have a better chance for some white stuff by later Sunday.

Beyond that… the trough digs back in across the eastern half of the country and the look of the pattern says to watch for systems sneaking through the base of the trough. These can become snow makers for this region as the blocking that has been with us this December looks to continue into much of January.

Speaking of this current pattern… does it tell us anything about the rest of the winter? Just about every single official reporting station in the tri state is experiencing a top 10 coldest and snowiest December on record.

Huntington is on pace for the 3rd coldest December to go along with the 5th snowiest while Charleston is also experiencing its 3rd coldest and 6th snowiest.

For both cities… there is a VERY STRONG correlation with December and how the rest of the winter turns out. For both Huntington and Charleston… 5 of the top 10 coldest Decembers went on to become top 10 coldest winters on record. 4 of the top10 snowiest Decembers turned into top 10 snowiest winters on record.

For the top ten coldest Decembers… the temps for the following January averaged out around 4 degrees below normal.

Moral of the story… when we get a top 10 cold and snowy December… the winterwill usually remember. If you like playing the odds…the data says to take the over for snowfall and the under for temps.

Have a great Monday and take care.

Article source: http://www.wsaz.com/blogs/chrisbaileysblog/Our_Cold_and_Snowy_Pattern_Relaxing_Before_Reloading_112491904.html

Christmas is over, the New Year will shortly begin and we are looking at three months or more of snow and cold temperatures. While those who play in the snow with their snowmobiles or go in for skiing may welcome the snow, as do those who hunt rabbits or coyotes, many are looking for something constructive to do with their spare time while housebound by the cold and snow.

Every year a number of hunters and shooters consider loading their own ammunition, but only a few become involved in this activity. There are pros and cons to doing this. For example, if firing less than a box of ammo out of a deer or varmint rifle each year, reloading centrefire ammunition is simply not worthwhile. Or if firing less than two to three boxes of shotgun shells at grouse or rabbits each year again the advice is to not even consider reloading shotgun shells.

As for the waterfowl hunter that must shoot steel, fact is, there are so many concerns regarding the reloading of steel shot that I don’t advise it.

Yet, on the other hand if you go to the range fairly frequently to shoot centrefire rifle or pistol, or often shoot clay birds at a local club, then reloading may be your cup of tea. And no, in reloading you will not save money, but rather, for the same price will be able to shoot far more often.

As for getting started, first step is to obtain a reloading manual for rifle and pistol, or for shotgun, with these available from several companies such as Lyman. Next obtain a good quality scale, one that measures gunpowder down to tenths of a grain.

No, we are not talking about the separate granules of gunpowder; instead grains are a unit of weight, with 7,000 grains in a pound. At this point it’s suggested finding someone that already reloads and can offer advice and will monitor your first efforts. As to which tools to buy, those as sold by Lee are relatively inexpensive yet will do the job.

As the new reloader gains experience they can then decide if more expensive equipment is warranted. As for buying components such as powder, bullets, lead shot, wads, primers, etc. the War Surplus store in Memramcook is the nearest that stocks such items and will order what they may not have in stock. A second source is The Gun Dealer in MacAdam yet that is a two-hour drive for many. There may be other local places where one can buy components, but if so I’m not aware of who they are, or where they are, but if they are out there, by all means let me know.

When travelling in the U.S. those who reload will often find components at bargain prices, but it’s advisable to consult with Customs beforehand to determine what can be brought back, and if so, how much. As for benefits in reloading one’s own ammunition, consider for a moment the clay bird shooter that in a day may fire 100 rounds of 12 gauge shotgun shells containing one and one-eight ounces of lead shot. The accumulated recoil of this takes its toll, with many a shooter’s score suffering as a result. Thus many that reload have settled on a lighter one ounce reload that has significantly less recoil yet seems to break clay birds just as reliably.

When shooting at our local skeet club my favorite 12 gauge shotgun reload contains but seven-eighth’s ounce of lead shot yet this is all that’s needed, and that includes what can only be described as powder-puff recoil. Or how about obtaining .270 performance from your .308? Current .308 deer load consists of a Barnes 130 grain-tipped TSX bullet pushed along at over 3,000 fps that matches both the flat trajectory and foot pounds of energy of the .270 with 130 grain bullets all the way out to 500 yards. And it does this from a smaller case in a short action rifle. This Barnes all copper bullet opens up reliably yet normally retains 95 per cent of its weight, and will punch thru both sides of a deer even though bones are encounters on the way. One reason for selecting this bullet is due to a rather long time ago having a standard 165 grain .308 jacketed bullet of popular make completely disintegrate on the shoulder bone of a rather small deer. Yes, the deer died, due to the resulting small particles of lead and copper shotgunning the lungs and heart even though almost none of those minuscule fragments penetrated as far as the far wall of the chest cavity.

Also highly recommended is the Nosler Partition bullets which have proven reliable on a large variety of big game. Another aspect of reloading is the casting of lead bullets which is an art in itself. This is best done in a well-ventilated area while practicing a whole host of precautions, such as not letting even a speck of water get into the melting pot.

By doing so the reloader can turn wheel weights or other sources of lead into bullets which are suitable for shooting in handguns, or as reduced loads in rifles while saving a major amount of money over the buying of factory ammo.

Yet often, upon hearing that a person reloads ammunition, someone will then ask to load up a few rounds of ammunition for them. The response is that reloading is strictly a hobby done solely for oneself and that perhaps those that ask should take up reloading themselves but, almost always, they never do. If they persist, my response is that OK, I will, but please be advised that for the first box of ammo my fee is $1,000, with most of that going to pay for an ironclad insurance policy. That way I can then sleep nights knowing that if that individual were so foolish as to stick the barrel of their gun into mud, snow or water and then blow up that firearm and then blame the reloads, that I have full coverage for that sort of thing.

* Everett Mosher is a Sackville-based writer and avid outdoorsman. His column appears every Tuesday.

Article source: http://www.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1365455

The Brass Bell

Posted by: Tamara // Today

Bridgewater, Nova Scotia // Shot: December 27, 2010

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Article source: http://www.theweathernetwork.com/your_weather/details/763/3615255/1?ref=homeugc_image

Published: Monday, December 27, 2010, 10:00 AM

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Greg Chrapek | Advance Newspapers

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Greg ChrapekRockford’s Steven Jendritz has excelled early in his freshman season at 103 pounds. ROCKFORD – Ranked in the top 10 in Division 1 and one of the favorites to win the O-K Red this season, this season is anything but a rebuilding year for the Rockford wrestling team.

While it may not be a rebuilding year, there is some reloading going on, as the Rams have several newcomers in the starting lineup.

With the first month of the wrestling season coming to an end, the new starters in the Rockford lineup are beginning to make their presence felt more and more in each match.
Weve got a lot to build on, said Rockford coach Brian Richardson.

We have a lot of young kids in the lineup. This is like last December, we didnt have our full lineup then either.

Rockfords young wrestlers have not only been part of the starting lineup, but have also been ready as the next man in when injury or illness takes a regular out of the starting lineup.

The list of young Ram wrestlers making contributions is deep and growing.

Stephen Jendritz at 103 has been doing an outstanding job, Richardson said. We got Nate Rojas as a sophomore at 112 doing a great job. At 135 we have another freshman, Brayden Zych, whos been filling in for an injured wrestler and hes made tremendous strides. Hes not winning a lot of matches, but hes made a lot of strides.

Weve got numerous first-year guys. Danny Apkarian wasnt in the varsity lineup much last year, but hes been doing a great job at 160 for us. At 189 we have another freshman, Brent Showers, whos been stepping in and doing admirably. He is going to be a heck of a wrestler.

Those young wrestlers have helped the Rams start out the season with a 1-1 record in the O-K Red (with the loss being a forfeited win) and a final four finish at the Tim Horn Invitational at Holland.

With the bulk of the conference season ahead of them and post-season action two months away, the young Rams have been stepping up and have plenty of time to get even better.

Weve got all those young guys, and you know, its a maturing process. We are in the middle of it and they are doing a nice job, said Richardson. Were getting everything we can ask for out of them.

Greg Chrapek can be reached at gregc@advancegr.com

Article source: http://www.mlive.com/northeastadvance/index.ssf/2010/12/newcomers_keep_ram_program_tou.html

WILLIAMSBURG– The Eastern Virginia Brasswill perform thisSunday, Dec. 26at1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the DeWitt Wallace Museum of Decorative Arts in Colonial Williamsburg.

The concert includes new arrangements of traditional Christmas carols to holiday pops tunes to Chanukkah music to a festive sing-along of kids favorites. The quintet is known for its lively performances and warm-hearted rapport with audiences. Members are Lawrence Clemens and Robert Spaeth, trumpets; Marlene Ford,horn; Robert Ford, trombone and Peter DuBeau, tuba

For ticket information, call 1-800-HISTORY.

Article source: http://vagazette.com/articles/2010/12/27/news//doc4d12ab43f2f1d641053629.txt

PITTSBURG – A few weeks of steady, light snow north of the village was enough for a few snowmobile trails to open in northern New Hampshire, and with more than a foot of snow predicted in some areas of the state by the end of today, it will be enough to rev up the season. “We’ve had a steady, light snow falling all week,” said Curt Shaw, president of the Pittsburg Ridge Runners snowmobile club, the largest in the state with about 3.400 members.

Article source: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=1st+winter+storm+hits+New+England+as+blizzard&articleId=20129853-561c-4070-98e3-691d08930dc9

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Good Monday everyone. We are counting down the remaining days of 2010 and beginning to look ahead to early 2011 to see what old man winter may have in store for us. Before the new year gets here… our pattern will relax a bit before reloading for January.

In the short term… we are coming off a white Christmas weekend across the tri state. Parts of southeastern Kentucky into much of West Virginia have been pounded by better than 6″ of snow. Some areas have picked up as much as 10″ or moreof the white stuff and more snow showers and flurries will be possible in these areas today. Many roads into are snow packed and will continue to be hazardous today with another light accumulation likely. Track what is left of the flakes here…

Highs today will range from the mid to upper 20s.

Cold temps will continue for Tuesday and Wednesday under partly sunny skies. Milder air will begin to surge northward late Wednesday into Thursday and will produce a batch of precipitation. This is very likely to begin as a period of light snow and light freezing rain Wednesday night before changing to rain by early Thursday.

Showers should continue during the day Thursday with temps warming into the low and mid 40s. The final day of the year will end up being a fairly mild one with highs in the 50s with a scattered shower or two.

Our New Year’s Weekend will feature a strong cold front working eastward across the region. This front means our mild spell will last a total of about 2 days before cold air moves back in. This will be quite the clash of air masses that will lead to rain and even some thunderstorms New Year’s Day into early Sunday. Here is what the GFS Ensembles are showing for this weekend…

That would suggest the cold air can catch the back of the departing rains and switch it over to a period of light snow. The pattern suggests we should watch to see if this front can produce a wave of low pressure along it coming in from the south. If that happens… we would have a better chance for some white stuff by later Sunday.

Beyond that… the trough digs back in across the eastern half of the country and the look of the pattern says to watch for systems sneaking through the base of the trough. These can become snow makers for this region as the blocking that has been with us this December looks to continue into much of January.

Speaking of this current pattern… does it tell us anything about the rest of the winter? Just about every single official reporting station in the tri state is experiencing a top 10 coldest and snowiest December on record.

Huntington is on pace for the 3rd coldest December to go along with the 5th snowiest while Charleston is also experiencing its 3rd coldest and 6th snowiest.

For both cities… there is a VERY STRONG correlation with December and how the rest of the winter turns out. For both Huntington and Charleston… 5 of the top 10 coldest Decembers went on to become top 10 coldest winters on record. 4 of the top10 snowiest Decembers turned into top 10 snowiest winters on record.

For the top ten coldest Decembers… the temps for the following January averaged out around 4 degrees below normal.

Moral of the story… when we get a top 10 cold and snowy December… the winterwill usually remember. If you like playing the odds…the data says to take the over for snowfall and the under for temps.

Have a great Monday and take care.

Article source: http://www.wsaz.com/blogs/chrisbaileysblog/Our_Cold_and_Snowy_Pattern_Relaxing_Before_Reloading_112491904.html

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Last year Phillips shared guard with Grant Hedrick, now a football player at Boise State, but this year he takes the role over for himself.

Along with the position comes the pressure being one of only two returners from the championship team.

“This is the first leadership role in my whole life so it’s new to me, something I’ve never done,” Phillips said. “The past two years I’ve had seniors to lead the way and they’ve been great leaders but now I’m a senior and I have to lead.”

McBeth has been impressed by Phillips so far, as the senior has taken a lead-by-example approach.

“He’s kind of a rock because of his stability,” McBeth said. “There are no highs and lows with him, whether he’s doing great things or he just turned the ball over. You just get maturity out of him. “

So far Phillips has been leading from the bench. After playing Central’s first game against North Marion, McBeth decided Phillips should rest a groin injury holding over from football season.

“I’ve been wanting to play so bad,” Phillips said. “They’re doing fine right now, but I can’t wait to be back.”

McBeth isn’t taking any chances, though. He needs his point guard and the past few games have only reinforced how important Phillips will be this season.

“It’s a situation where I hope he can look and see how valuable he is to us,” McBeth said.

Chris Hagan

Pierre Zook

For the better part of a decade, Western Mennonite has sat on the doorstep. This season, led by senior Pierre Zook, the Pioneers may very well walk through the door to win their first basketball state championship.

“I think there have been times in the past when we’ve underachieved,” said Zook. “My outlook is to get back to a state championship and win one.”

Zook’s ability to work hard on the court and mantra of excellence through discipline has been a mainstay at Western Mennonite since he first put on a Pioneer uniform.

“He will do everything to be as good as he can be at basketball. Pierre really puts a fine tuning to everything he does to his game,” said Coach Gary Hull.

In his freshman season, Zook made an immediate impact, sinking two crucial three-pointers in the Tri-River championship game to propel the Pioneers to state tournament and hasn’t looked back.

“He’s been our leader,” said Hull. “In my opinion, in all 24 years I’ve been (at Western Mennonite), there’s no other player that’s put as much time into basketball and loves the game as much as Pierre.”

A 2009 First Team All-State selection, Zook leads a Pioneer squad that he believes has the tools to win it all.

“I think we share the ball really well,” said Zook. “As a team, coming into this year, I don’t want anything less than a state championship.”

Mark Flores

Article source: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20101226/PREPSSPORTS/12260363/1018/silverton

Rangers captain David Weir has slammed Scotland’s top brass for not helping SPL clubs in Europe.

Weir insists the Hampden hierarchy don’t do enough to help SPL clubs in Europe.

He said: “I don’t think logic has ever played a part in things up here.

“If logic played a part you would help a team in a European final. To play four games in eight days to try and win a title when you play 38 in a season doesn’t seem logical either. Looking back to 2008, you couldn’t write the script.
“It becomes a battle of wills rather than what is the right or best thing to do. We seem to think we have to watch what we do in case we upset this team or that team.

“That’s the criteria for making decisions and until we get over that we will go round in circles.

“There’s no getting away from the fact that the fixture list didn’t help us in 2008. Zenit St Petersburg had a couple of weeks off before they played us in the UEFA Cup Final.

“Their season revolved around it and their federation helped them.

“Even this year Bursaspor played many of their games on a Friday night before Champions League games.

“It seems these people go out of their way to help their teams in Europe.”

Article source: http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/rangers-skipper-weir-slams-scottish-top-brass-lack-euro-support-1343681

After suffering a huge setback in both domestic and international markets owing to the downturn, hiring in the retail sector has started looking up again. With expansion plans lined up by many retail majors, firms are on a hiring spree. According to a recent Ma Foi Randstad Survey, between July and December 2010, the consumer and retail services sector is generating an additional employment to the tune of 13,200.

Despite the greenshoots witnessed in the the sector, salaries at the absolute top levels of CEO and MD are seeing a dip. The packages of Rs 3-3.5 crore per annum at the top level have completely stopped in the retail sector. They are now down to Rs 1-1.5 crore per annum. says Shiv Agrawal, CEO of ABC Consultants. Also, considering the inflation, there is a fall in the middle level salaries by about 5-10% from the peak. The salaries at the mid…

Article source: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Retail-hiring-up-brass-salaries-take-hit-Survey/729560/

Vikings Frazier is
real character guy

SEAN JENSEN
ON THE NFL

Dec 26, 2010 02:38AM

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Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier says he felt a little unsure about taking over the team after former boss Brad Childress was fired Nov. 22. | Andy King~AP

Article Extras

One of the hallmarks of a great NFL coach is his coaching-tree legacy.

Many of the best contemporary coaches served under Bill Walsh, Bill Parcells and Marty Schottenheimer.

But what about the scouting tree?

Its far less heralded but nearly as important, especially with the salary cap and free agency.

The Bears and Patriots are rooted in highly successful scouting systems.

After helping Bill Belichick win three Super Bowls with the Patriots, Scott Pioli headed to Kansas City, where the Chiefs are atop the AFC West with an 8-4 record. Nick Caserio, a longtime Patriots coach and scout, is now the teams director of player personnel.

Meanwhile, Bears general manager Jerry Angelos roots are in Tampa, where he helped turn the leagues worst team into an eventual Super Bowl champion. Former Buccaneers scouting and front-office executives are spread throughout the league: Tim Ruskell was the former president of football operations for the Seattle Seahawks and is now the Bears director of player personnel, Ruston Webster is the Tennessee Titans vice president of player personnel, Kevin Demoff is the St. Louis Rams executive vice president of football operations, Rich McKay is the Atlanta Falcons president and Mark Dominik is the Buccaneers general manager.

Many of former Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolfs charges also have prominent roles in the NFL.

We had a lot of talented people, Angelo said. Its very flattering when you see people go off and do some really good things and theyre very, very good.

There is, of course, a bottom line: Scouts keep their jobs by consistently finding good players.

Few teams have done better than the Patriots.

They keep reloading, as they have showcased this season.

Theyve already put six players on injured reserve, including several key players (most notably defensive tackle Ty Warren), and traded away Randy Moss, who caught 83 passes for 1,264 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

The Patriots are tied with the Falcons for the leagues best record at 10-2.

Gerard Warren was the third overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2001, and the Patriots are his fourth NFL team. He said the key to the Patriots success is a long-standing system.

I think, over the years, the philosophy has been the same, he said.

The Patriots want players who have a passion for the game and are highly competitive. Ideal measurables arent as important.

Theres an aura of discipline that [Belichick] demands out of those guys, Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz said. And when they bring somebody in, they have to buy into that.

Theres no question the Bears have plenty of blue-chip players. But its fair to question the quality of the teams depth.

Would the Bears still be 9-3 if they had not avoided major injuries? They have three players on injured reserve, but only one (linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer) likely would have factored into this season.

What would the Bears record be if they had suffered the rash of injuries the Packers have?

The Packers already have 13 players on IR, including key starters Nick Barnett, Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley.

Turning the corner

Rookie Major Wright, the Bears top draft pick, has played in five consecutive games, rotating in with veterans Chris Harris and Danieal Manning.

Wright has been solid, but he hasnt made any notable plays.

With four games left, the Bears could use a boost from Wright.

During training camp, Wright flashed athleticism and seemed to be around the ball quite a bit.

Hes a good athlete, and hes a physical guy who can make plays. Unfortunately, he got hurt earlier in the year and has battled some injuries, secondary coach Jon Hoke said. But we were able to get him in and rotate him in practice, just like we do in the game, so everyone is real comfortable.

And it keeps our guys fresher, too.

To help Wright, the Bears have had him focus on free safety.

The safeties, though, are making more of an impact than last year, when they only had one interception. This year, Harris has three, and Manning has one.

Its important for our defense, not just that unit, Hoke said. We count on taking the ball away.

Beating up Brady

Whether Tom Bradycontinues his MVP play will largely depend on Bears defensive end Julius Peppers. Through Week 13, Peppers leads the NFL with hits on quarterbacks, including plays cancelled by penalties, according to Football Outsiders. Peppers has a modest seven sacks, but he leads the NFL with 14 quarterback hits. Hes followed by Minnesotas Jared Allen (13).

Bears defensive end Israel Idonije has seven quarterback hits.

Brady, though, has proved tough to hit. He only has taken 22 hits, which is tied for 26th in the NFL.

Bears quarterbacks, meanwhile, have taken 38 hits, the eighth-most in the NFL.

Must-read

I dont get much free time to read during the season, but I couldnt resist a book by Ron Jaworski. In getting to know him over the years, Jaworski has impressed me with his work ethic, his knowledge of the game and his ability to convey that to a layman (like myself).

So I dove into The Games That Changed the Game and marveled at the history I learned about. I thought I knew the cover-2 pretty well, having covered the Vikings and now the Bears, but I picked up even more insight from the book.

As if he didnt bring enough to the table, Jaworski co-wrote the book with Greg Cosell, the creator of the NFL Matchup show.

Article source: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/3017048-419/bears-nfl-patriots-game-players.html

A TOP-BRASS proposal to award the Victoria Cross to an Australian soldier who has been investigated for bullying in Afghanistan is mired in politics and recriminations.

Some senior officers and non-commissioned officers have declined to write citations supporting the as-yet-unnamed candidate for the nation’s highest military award. They say other members of his elite unit shared equally in the extreme dangers.

”If he gets the VC then the rest of the team should too,” one of the soldiers told friends while on leave in Australia.

Adding fuel to the controversy, the soldier under consideration for the award is unpopular with some members of his unit and has faced complaints of bullying.

Nevertheless, there has been pressure ”from above” to fast-track a recommendation for a VC, according to sources.

One reason suggested for the haste is to boost the morale of Australian troops in Afghanistan, following a parliamentary and public debate about the effectiveness of the NATO-led mission.

Secret cables sent from the US embassy in Canberra – and released by WikiLeaks – showed senior diplomats, politicians and defence experts held grave concerns about the nine-year war that has claimed the lives of 21 Australian soldiers.

When he was prime minister, Kevin Rudd, who is now Foreign Minister, reportedly said the outlook in Afghanistan ”scares the hell out of me”.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce awards the Victoria Cross of Australia, created in 1991 to supersede the British VC, with the approval of the Queen and on the recommendation of Defence Minister Stephen Smith.

The soldier in contention is from Mr Smith’s home state, Western Australia, but there is no suggestion the minister has played any active part in the campaign to award the medal.

The award is given for ”most conspicuous gallantry, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy or belligerents”.

The first VC of Australia was awarded on January 16, 2009, to Trooper Mark Donaldson for the heroic rescue of a coalition forces interpreter from heavy fire in Oruzgan province during Operation Slipper. All recipients are entitled to an annuity from the government.

Robert Macklin, author of Bravest: How some of Australia’s greatest war heroes won their medals and SAS Sniper, said: ”It is not unusual for VC winners to be unpopular with the chain of command; they are often strong personalities who chafe against authority.

”But in a battlefield like Afghanistan it is sometimes almost impossible to pick out the most deserving soldier for a gallantry award.

”In the action where Mark Donaldson won his VC, at least two other SAS troopers deserved decorations for bravery which have yet to be awarded. It is probably time to review the system.”

Article source: http://www.theage.com.au/national/soldiers-in-row-over-topbrass-vc-proposal-20101225-197jp.html

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This is one show where the bass is boss.

Salem Concert Band delivered a Christmas gift to the community Saturday, performing its 20th annual “TubaChristmas” before more than 2,000 appreciative listeners at the Salem Armory.

The free midday concert, one of hundreds performed worldwide, featured 133 bass-instrument musicians, mostly from the Pacific Northwest but a handful hailing from farther flung locales such as San Francisco, San Diego and Anchorage, Alaska.

Professional musician Victor Morris of San Francisco contributed a tuneful combination with his mellophone (the smallest instrument in the band) and soaring tenor vocals.

Co-conductors were organizer Glenn Tabina and the venerable Dr. John K. Richards, 92, who for 52 years was the Oregon Symphony’s principal tubist.

Event MC Hale Thornburgh pitched to the audience early, promising “the most miraculous, mellifluously-performed Christmas carols you will hear all year long.”

A local timpanist, Thornburgh threaded the hour-and-a-half show with a chipper narrative that included historical tidbits about each number.

“I had about 10 minutes I could have (said) on every song,” Thornburgh said with a chuckle. “But there’s a limit to people’s patience.”

Participants ranged from 5th grade to retirees, including Richards who turns 93 in March.

In addition to the tuba/baritone arrangements and Morris’ vocals, the concert included a number of audience participation pieces, including a peppy closing with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Richards also gave a short, masterful tuba demonstration, evincing at once the resounding bass boom and the whisper softness within the instrument’s range.

The first TubaChristmas took place Dec. 22, 1974 on the ice rink at New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza. Since then there have been thousands worldwide, including 248 this year.

Tabina said the local version turns 20 this year and was traditionally held at the Elsinore Theatre.

“This is different from doing it at the Elsinore, which holds about 1,100,” Tabina said of the Armory venue. “Here we have a possibility of 3,000. We had 1,700 last year, and I think it would be safe to say we had a little over 2,000 in here today.”

Many joined in.

The event’s penultimate number, “Jingle Bells,” included audience vocals and extra “sleigh bellists,” teaming with the final tune to lift listeners into the holiday season with a lilting, melodic cheer.

jmuch@statesmanjournal.com or (503) 399-6736

Article source: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20101225/NEWS/12250326/1001

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By definition, Knight is not a native Mississippian, having been born in Ruston, La. But by every other metric, he is a Mississippian. His family moved to Hattiesburg when he was 2 years old and he hasn’t gone very far away since.

Knight was a talented baseball player who went to William Carey College in 1983 after graduating from Hattiesburg High. He played professionally for two years in the Atlanta Braves organization before an injury forced him into coaching.

His first job was as an assistant at Petal from 1991-93; his first Petal team won a state title. He took over as the head coach at Hattiesburg prior to the 1994 season – and delivered a state title in his first season.

At Hattiesburg, he coached the likes of future professionals Craig Tatum, John Lindsey and Jermaine Van Buren. Second sons, sure. But when Knight’s first-born approached playing age, his successful career took a backseat.

“It would have been very tough coaching somewhere not seeing him play,” Knight said. “And I seriously thought about getting out of coaching just so I could see him. Either stay in teaching or do something else. That worked out. God put me in this situation, opened up this door for me and it’s been just a tremendous, tremendous time here.”

Sumrall was a playoff team in the year prior to Knight’s arrival, but their play did not foreshadow what was to come.

Knight credits a strong staff, booster support and an uncanny amount of baseball talent in the community for fueling Sumrall’s run. But it’s also indicative of the blue-collar area, which only recently has started to grow as a bit of a bedroom community to Hattiesburg, 20 miles to the southeast.

“They’ve either been part of a construction, contracting family, and have gotten out and they understand the importance of hard work,” Knight said.

Knight said his program does things differently, one example being the unorthodox strength and conditioning program that assistant coach Steve Cooley coordinates.

That he has autonomy to do what he wants there is a testament to Knight, Cooley said.

Article source: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20101225/SPORTS06/12250317/Knight-moves-Sumrall-to-top

Published: Thursday, December 23, 2010, 12:38 PM Updated: Thursday, December 23, 2010, 6:38 PM

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Jackie Friedman/The Star-Ledger

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Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerGreg Schiano, above, has picked a new assistant coach, Jeff Hafley, with deep recruiting ties in New Jersey.

Jeff Hafley is coming home and hoping to keep some of New Jerseys best talent here with him.

The 31-year-old Montvale native who has served as a coach at Pittsburgh for the last five seasons is joining Greg Schianos staff at Rutgers.

While at Pitt, Hafley was in charge of recruiting northern and central New Jersey. He is credited with bringing running backs Dion Lewis and Ray Graham and defensive ends T. J. Clemmings and Bryan Murphy to the Panthers.

Hafleys role at Rutgers is yet to be determined, but Hafley said he was at work first thing this past Monday morning, and theyve been talking a lot of recruiting.

Hafley thinks hell have an even easier time recruiting now that hes convincing football players to stay home rather than travel six hours away. He also admitted that he already has well-established relationships with coaches at north Jersey powerhouses such as Don Bosco Prep, St. Peters and Bergen Catholic.

People see that I chose to come home to New Jersey, Hafley said in a teleconference with reporters this afternoon. I think that says a lot. Its such a great place and hopefully I can show them that.

It should be easier to convince them to stay home and stay around family and this great university.

Rutgers has five scholarships remaining for the coming season.

If its guys that they want then Ill do the best I can to show them that Rutgers is a good fit for them, Hafley said.

A number of promising recruits in New Jersey remain unsigned, including Don Bosco quarterback Gary Nova, who de-committed from Pittsburgh in the wake of head coach Dave Wannstedt’s dismissal.

It has not yet been determined who will be leaving Schianos staff, which was at capacity before Hafley’s signing, to make room for Hafley.

Its awesome, and I cant tell you how fired up I am to work for Coach Schiano, Hafley said. We will work all of (the details) out soon enough.

Article source: http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2010/12/new_rutgers_assistant_coach_je.html

At least 13 NYPD chiefs, inspectors and deputy inspectors currently serving in the No. 2 two spots of some of the department’s biggest commands will be transferred next week, The Post has learned.

The high-ranking police officials, the executive officers in borough and bureau commands, are being moved because Commissioner Ray Kelly wants them to have diverse experience, especially those being considered for further promotion, sources said.

A few of the moves involve promotions, while the rest are lateral moves.

Article source: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/transfers_for_nypd_brass_djW7ennmsRxUJsAy53zUQL?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=

Olin Brass and Kentucky officials have confirmed rumors of the
imminent move of the company headquarters from East Alton to
Louisville.

In a joint release issued Wednesday, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear
and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson said the relocation is expected
to be completed by the end of 2011.

About 20 executives will move to Louisville in the deal.

Between 1,100 and 1,200 blue collar workers will continue to
punch the clock at the two Olin Brass manufacturing facilities that
remain in East Alton, said company spokesman Dave Kern.

“We’re trying to change the culture of our company and get out
of the way of the people left in the area and let them do their
jobs,” Kern said.

The move will create 39 new positions in Louisville.

Kentucky romanced Olin Brass with incentives that included $1.8
million in tax credits and other perks, according to the
release.

“Kentucky put together a nice package,” Kern said.

Mayor Fred Bright said East Alton did not counter the
enticements offered by Kentucky.

“I can assure you this has nothing to do with East Alton,”
Bright said. “It’s about how much money (Olin Brass) can make.”

Olin Brass President John J. Wasz didn’t dispute that
contention.

“Relocating the most direct customer-facing and supply chain
roles, along with select strategic roles, to a more independent
environment will continue to drive the transformational change we
embarked on earlier this year and will better position our company
for future growth,” Wasz said in a statement included in the
release from Beshear’s office.

Olin Corp., a fixture in East Alton since the late 19th century,
split in 2007 to create two separate companies.

As a result, Olin Brass and Olin Corp. both with plants across
the nation are no longer connected.

Olin Brass produces copper, copper-alloy sheets and other metal
products.

One Olin Corp. subsidiary manufactures chemical products such as
chlorine, hydrochloric acid and hydrogen. Its second branch
produces Winchester Centerfire ammunition.

Workers at the ammunition plant in East Alton made headlines
last month by rejecting a contract that in effect sent their jobs
to an expanded Olin Corp. manufacturing complex in Oxford,
Miss.

The transition of ammunitions operations to Mississippi is
expected to take five years.

Article source: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/bc560d36-0662-5b1a-8edc-8db9749c91cb.html

Dana Gundrum was just being Dana Gundrum.

During a match in the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions in October, Gundrum, Peoria Centennial’s senior setter, was doing what she’s always done.

Then Centennial coach Carly Bourland overheard players from another team, who were standing behind Centennial’s bench, talking about Gundrum. They said what everyone else was thinking.

“Whoa. That setter is really good.”

Gundrum, The Republic’s 2010 West Valley Player of the Year, was one of the biggest reasons Centennial’s supposed “rebuilding season” became a reloading one.

“Oh, yeah,” Bourland said. “She was somebody we couldn’t take off the court. She ran our offense. She kept the team going. She was definitely a person in charge on the court.”

I knew coming into the season we had a pretty strong senior class with Emylee (Schlink) and Chelsea (Traina). But I knew she (Gundrum) would be the one to lead. As a setter, she’s involved in every single play on the court. It was nice to have that leadership role with such an inexperienced group.”

With Gundrum as the fulcrum, Centennial was the surprise team in Class 5A Division II. In what was supposed to be a down year, Centennial finished 28-7 and near the top of every regular-season tournament it participated in (all three – Mesa Westwood, Nike, and Phoenix Goldwater are considered the state’s top tournaments). Centennial also went into the 5A-II tournament as the favorite but lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Phoenix Horizon in five close games.

“I was definitely surprised how well we did,” Gundrum said. “Coming from last year’s team where we had been together for three years and did so well, I was definitely surprised how well the underclassmen did this year. Just to see how much we improved and the hard work we did.”

Bourland said Gundrum’s leadership was a big factor.

“She’s born to lead,” Bourland said. “That kid was all about leadership. She’s one of those people who take charge. She’s not the kind of person to sit and have people do things for her. She’s a natural.”

Said Gundrum, “I feel like I’ve always been a leader naturally. I’ve been involved with student council, and I take leadership as a goal of mine.”

Much of Gundrum’s leadership was by example.

“If we needed something to happen, she made it happen,” Bourland said. “She was all over it. Sometimes, I’d think ‘Whoa, that was a great set.’ When the ball comes in tight, she’ll jump-set and turn it into a perfect set to the outside. Nobody else can do that.”

Article source: http://www.azcentral.com/community/peoria/articles/2010/12/23/20101223peoria-centennial-dana-gundrum-west-valley-player-year.html

PICO RIVERA – Detectives arrested a Bell man for allegedly sawing off and stealing brass pipe fittings all over the city.

The District Attorney’s Office on Thursday filed five counts of grand theft of personal property and one count of attempted grand theft of personal property against 38-year-old Santiago Gonzalez.

He was scheduled for a Thursday arraignment at Whittier Superior Court.

The criminal complaint alleges that Gonzalez stole water backflow valves also known as backflow preventers from Kobe Chem Lab on Oct. 20 and 21. He allegedly escaped on his bicycle.

He’s also accused of taking the same device belonging to the city on Nov. 9, valves owned by Los Angeles County Public Works on Nov. 28,

Go behind the yellow tape in the Crime Scene blog

Nov. 29, Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 and the backflow preventer from an apartment complex owned by Gateway Management on Dec. 6.

He allegedly tried to steal another valve from the complex on Dec. 10.

A backflow preventer is a brass device that stops liquid from backing into the main water supply. Depending on the size, it sells for $300 up to $3,000.

The city has seen an increase in such thefts especially this month. Deputies said a bicyclist with a hacksaw took brass backflow valves from eight locations including businesses and an apartment.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Rich Hernandez said they found out the valves could be sold for scrap metal at $35 to $75 each.

Two deputies from the Problem Solving Policing Team

looking for the pipe pilferer saw Gonzalez about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday outside the Econo Lodge on Telegraph Road in Pico Rivera.

Hernandez said Gonzalez matched the description of the suspect and was brought in on warrants.

“He made a lot of incriminating statements,” Hernandez said. Gonzalez allegedly admitted he did have a bicycle.

Hernandez said a search warrant was served at the motel where they recovered tools including a hacksaw.

ruby.gonzales@sgvn.com

562-698-0955, ext. 3026

Article source: http://www.whittierdailynews.com/rss/ci_16932259?source=rss

Olin
Brass and Kentucky officials have
confirmed rumors of the imminent move of the company headquarters
from East Alton to
Louisville.

In
a joint release issued Wednesday, Kentucky Gov. Steve
Beshear and Louisville Mayor Jerry
Abramson said the re-location is expected to be completed by
the end of 2011.

It will cost East Alton approximately 20 executive-level
jobs.

Between 1,100 and 1,200 blue collar workers will continue to
punch the clock at the two Olin Brass manufacturing facilities that
remain in East Alton, said company spokesman Dave Kern.

“We’re trying to change the culture of our company and get out
of the way of the people left in the area and let them do their
jobs,” said Kern.

The move will create 39 new positions in Louisville.

Kentucky romanced Olin Brass with incentives that included $1.8
million in income tax credits and other perks, according to the
release.

“Kentucky put together a nice package,” said Kern.

Mayor Fred
Bright said East Alton did not counter the enticements offered
by Kentucky.

“I can assure you this has nothing to do with East Alton,”
Bright said. “It’s about how much money (Olin Brass) can make.”

Olin Brass President John J. Wasz didn’t dispute that
contention.

“Relocating the most direct customer-facing and supply chain
roles, along with select strategic roles, to a more independent
environment will continue to drive the transformational change we
embarked on earlier this year and will better position our company
for future growth,” Wasz said in a statement included in the
release from Beshear’s office.

The Olin Corp., a fixture in East Alton since the late 19th
Century, split in 2007 to create two separate companies.

As a result, Olin Brass and the Olin Corp. — both with plants
across the nation — are no longer connected.

Olin Brass produces
copper, copper-alloy sheets and other metal products.

One Olin Corp. subsidiary manufactures
chemical products such as chlorine, hydrochloric acid and
hydrogen. Its second branch produces Winchester Centerfire
ammunition.

Workers at ammunition plant in East Alton made
headlines last month by rejecting a contract that in effect sent
their jobs to an expanded Olin Corp. manufacturing complex in
Oxford, Miss.

The transition of ammunitions operations to Mississippi is expected to
take five years.

Article source: http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/job-watch/aa2aba08-0ec3-11e0-b51f-0017a4a78c22.html

(WKBW)
Williamsville, NY

It’s a retailer’s paradise, a mall packed with people with open wallets and crammed Christmas lists.

“I make a list, where I have to go, who I have to get for…get it, get it done and get out!” said Michaele Welkely, a shopper at Eastern Hills Mall.

And with time running out for many last minute shoppers, they are turning to gift cards as a quicker and easier gift option.

“I got a gift card , can’t say who it’s for, but that person will thoroughly enjoy it because they get to go shopping, after Christmas when they get the best sales,” said Welkely.

“I don’t like gift cards. I don’t think they’re really a gift, you know, why not just hand someone money and say here you go. I’d rather buy them a gift, even if it’s last minute and short on thought,” said another Eastern Hills Mall shopper, Mark Wilson.

If you do decide on a gift card, pay attention to the type of card and the extra fees says Peggy Penders of the Upstate New York Better Business Bureau,”There’s really a primary difference between a retail gift card and a bank gift card. One that has a Mastercard or a Visa logo on it, these cards will generally carry a little bit more fees connected to them for inactivity, activation, reloading, so you have to pay attention to the fine details regarding these two cards.”

If you do wind up receiving a gift card make sure you use it! The retail industry makes $8 billion a year on unused cards. And you have more time to use the cards, new laws passed in August extended the life span of gift cards from one year to up to five years.

Article source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40790346

Greg Chrapek | Advance Newspapers, December 23, 2010 1:53 a.m.

ROCKFORD — Ranked in the top 10 in Division 1 and one of the favorites to win the O-K Red this season, this season is anything but a rebuilding year for the Rockford wrestling team.

While it may not be a rebuilding year, there is some reloading going on, as the Rams have several newcomers in the starting lineup.

With the first month of the wrestling season coming to an end, the new starters in the Rockford lineup are beginning to make their presence felt more and more in each match.

Weve got a lot to build on, said Rockford coach Brian Richardson. We have a lot of young kids in the lineup. This is like last December, we didnt have our full lineup then either.

Rockfords young wrestlers have not only been part of the starting lineup, but have also been ready as the next man in when injury or illness takes a regular out of the starting lineup.

The list of young Ram wrestlers making contributions is deep and growing.

Stephen Jendritz at 103 has been doing an outstanding job, Richardson said. We got Nate Rojas as a sophomore at 112 doing a great job. At 135 we have another freshman, Brayden Zych, whos been filling in for an injured wrestler and hes made tremendous strides. Hes not winning a lot of matches, but hes made a lot of strides.

Weve got numerous first-year guys. Danny Apkarian wasnt in the varsity lineup much last year, but hes been doing a great job at 160 for us. At 189 we have another freshman, Brent Showers, whos been stepping in and doing admirably. He is going to be a heck of a wrestler.

Those young wrestlers have helped the Rams start out the season with a 1-1 record in the O-K Red (with the loss being a forfeited win) and a final four finish at the Tim Horn Invitational at Holland.

With the bulk of the conference season ahead of them and post-season action two months away, the young Rams have been stepping up and have plenty of time to get even better.

Weve got all those young guys, and you know, its a maturing process. We are in the middle of it and they are doing a nice job, said Richardson. Were getting everything we can ask for out of them.

Article source: http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/1184989502690666405/rockford-newcomers-have-wrestling-team-still-on-solid-ground/

The undeniable chops of the Canadian Brass members have made the quintet a thrilling act for serious concert enthusiasts and newbies alike. From formal classical concerts to music delivered with lively dialogue and theatrical effects, Canadian Brass connects with a wide array of refined entertainment-seekers.

8 p.m. Dec. 29, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets: $10-$40. Information: (941) 953-3368 or www.vanwezel.org.

New Years

Article source: http://www.bradenton.com/2010/12/23/2831477/canadian-brass-at-van-wezel.html

UGA gets Canadian Brass trumpeters collection

By Staff Reports – Athens Banner-Herald

Published Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The family of Canadian Brass trumpeter Fred Mills donated the late University of Georgia professors music collection to the UGA Libraries.

After traveling for nearly 25 years with the Canadian Brass, Mills joined the UGA School of Music in 1996. He was fatally injured in a car crash in September 2009.

Mills family donated scores of original compositions, recordings, videos, posters and artifacts, the university said this morning.

The collection is so big that it wont be available to the public until UGA opens its new Special Collections Libraries Building in autumn 2012.

The collection includes many of the Canadian Brass arrangements Mills wrote, as well as scrapbooks, show costumes and artifacts used in performances.

Its a wonderful resource to have for our students, Brandon Craswell, assistant professor of trumpet, said in a news release.

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, December 22, 2010

STORY

Article source: http://onlineathens.com/stories/122210/bre_760065621.shtml

Week-long Camp Offers Workshops, Performance Opportunities, Seminars with Members of Canadian Brass; Takes Place in Catskill Mountains August 15 -19, 2011

New York, NY (Vocus) December 22, 2010

Opening Day Entertainment Group today announced Brass Under the Stars, the inaugural summer camp of the Canadian Brass, one of the worlds most renowned brass ensembles. Taking place August 15 through August 19, 2011, the camp will be located in the Catskill Mountains at the Full Moon Resort, a year-round mountain resort located in the heart of the Forever Wild Catskill Forest Preserve in upstate New York.

Ideal for players of all ages and levels who play any brass instrument, Brass Under the Stars will bring participants together for five days of intensive workshops, performance and seminars, teaching them the skills needed to improve every facet of playing, surrounded by beautiful nature and exceptional facilities.

Each camper will experience the world of brass playing and performance working alongside the Canadian Brass. Each day will begin with a group warm-up followed by ensemble coaching and workshops. Other professional musicians and music industry pros will be on-hand to provide information and advice. Each evening ends with a full concert and bon fire. The Canadian Brass will help campers experience a new take on their instrument, music and performance within a non-competitive, structured, fun and educational environment.

Dedicated to the celebration of nature, music and the arts, Full Moon Resort is a hundred-acre wonderland of mountains, fields, and streams. This lodging facility offers a versatile, accommodating environment, well suited for group gatherings of all types including, workshops, conferences, retreats, music clinics and festivals.

For more information, including camp daily scheduled events, costs and directions, please visit http://www.canadianbrass.com/camp.

# # #

Vladimir Lapin
Giles Communications
914-798-7126
Email Information

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20101223/bs_prweb/prweb4921684_3

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Olin Brass, a manufacturer of copper and copper-alloy products, will move its headquarters from East Alton, Ill., to Louisville, creating up to 39 full-time jobs.

Gov. Steve Beshear and Mayor Jerry Abramson announced the decision Wednesday.

The company hasnt chosen a site, but it expects its new Louisville headquarters will be in full operation by the end of 2011.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority gave Olin Brass preliminary approval for up to $1.8 million in tax incentives over 10 years if it meets job and investment targets.

Article source: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101222/BUSINESS/312220119/1008/rss01

Now that Destination: Dallas has officially become Destination: Dumpster for the Vikings and their 2010 season, it’s time to take a revised look at our four major professional sports teams and ask the big question we like to revisit from time to time:

In order from soonest to latest, when will each of the four teams make the playoffs — and beyond — next?

PLAYOFFS! PLAYOFFS?

1. Twins. Even as recently as the 2010 All-Star break, the answer was probably “Vikings.” Then the Twins locked down the AL Central, the Vikings embarked on a historically bizarre and unsuccessful campaign, and your Local Nine were left standing as the team offering the most immediate hope of at least getting to postseason play. Sure, there are questions about the bullpen and the infield heading into next year. But there’s still plenty to like about a squad that has won six division titles in the past nine seasons.

2. Wild. Wait, what? A team wins two games against Calgary and all of a sudden … no, it’s not that. It’s just that the NHL is weird. String together enough one-goal wins, good bounces and well-goaltended games and you have the makings of a playoff team. That might not be the Wild this season. But the squad might have a year to spare while still holding down this spot. Because …

3. Vikings. They were all-in this year. It didn’t work out. That doesn’t mean it was wrong to go for it, but it does mean 2011 will either bring some rebuilding or reloading on the fly. Questions abound, starting at the all-important QB position.

4. Timberwolves. They are certainly more entertaining than in recent seasons. There are reasons for optimism, starting with Kevin Love. But there is a hump to be gotten over, and defense to be played, before this is a playoff team.

WINNING THE BIG ONE

Since you asked: If the question was the order of which team has the most potential to win a championship in the next five years — thus breaking the Twin Cities’ nearly two-decade drought — the order would go like this:

1. Twins. Still the closest to being a championship team, and getting there is a decent part of the battle.

2. Vikings. Yeah, they will be in transition next season. But they have a franchise running back and an owner who has a track record of spending money. In a league with a small margin between bad and good, that can turn you around in a hurry.

3. Timberwolves. Laugh if you want, but if Ricky Rubio is great, this team could eventually be great.

4. Wild. It’s hard to envision a deep postseason run in the near future, though playoff-hungry fans would love if the team proved that notion wrong.

MICHAEL RAND

Article source: http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/112285334.html

Posted at 7:31 AM ET, 12/21/2010

ACLU expresses concern | Dr. Gridlock: A ‘necessary evil’?

[This post has been updated.]

Metro began random inspections of passengers’ bags and packages this morning, five days after first announcing the checks. The searches, which were at Braddock Road and College Park, have stopped.

Dawn Heuschel, who works for the United States Agency for International Development, rides the Metro from Braddock Road to Foggy Bottom stations.

“It’s annoying because I missed my train that was on the platform,” she said.

TSA officers checked her purse and a Christmas present she was carrying. Heuschel, a regular Metro rider, was perplexed because the officers didn’t look inside. “Frankly I don’t know what they did over there,” she said.

The inspections are happening at two confirmed Metro stations so far, but can also occur at Metrobus stops.

“Excuse me ma’am. We are doing random bag searches. It will take about 45 seconds of your time,” an officer said to a woman with a large handbag entering Braddock Road station. At first the woman said “no” but the officer made clear it was necessary to enter the station. “I guess I will then,” the woman said.

She moved to a nearby table where two TSA agents swiped her bag and put it through a reader. “Have a wonderful day,” the officer said. “Happy holidays.”

Officers at the same station got a positive result on a man’s bag and shot it with radiation.

“It could have been from a gun, or residue from target shooting if he went to a firing range,” said Lt. Doug Durham of the Special Operations unit of Metro Transit Police.

A police sergeant interviewed the man, who was let go. The search on that man took about 8 minutes. He wouldn’t give his name. “I’m going to work” he said, clearly irritated.

In announcing the plan last week, the transit agency said the goal was to try to protect from attack by having police using explosives-screening equipment and bomb-sniffing dogs pull aside every third person at locations where checks are taking place. If people refuse the inspection, they will be barred from entering the station or boarding a bus with the item. They will occur at various spots among the system’s 86 rail stations and 12,000 bus stops.

Two rights groups have launched an online petition against the searches. (Previously: Metro to launch bag inspections; Dr. Gridlock on bag inspections; Post staff writer Ann Scott Tyson discusses the inspections with readers; Metro announces, but doesn’t conduct, similar checks in 2008.)

Riders, we want to know what you’re seeing and experiencing out there. Is this causing big delays, or are you not even noticing any hiccups? What are the searches like? How are people reacting? Tell us below, and we’ll help get the information out to your fellow commuters. And tweet what you see with the hashtag #wmatasearch.

Screeners began random searches this morning at Braddock Road Station. (Gerald Martineau/Post)

An approaching passenger is diverted to a security check at Braddock Road Station. (Gerald Martineau/Post)

Metro bomb technician Anthony Montgomery performs a digital x-ray of a passenger’s handbag at Braddock Road Station. (Gerald Martineau/Post)

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Article source: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dr-gridlock/2010/12/metro_begins_random_bag_inspec.html?hpid=talkbox1

A ‘sting’ is not ‘good’ guys pulling a fast one on ‘bad’ guys, a sting is and always has been a fraud. It is adult men and little girls and adult women and little old ladies and politicians and everyone and the Oregonian editorial board and us.

“I make no apologies for how the FBI agents handled their work” is exactly appropriate for a man and an agency that know no shame. When shame is your legacy, you get used to it. Holder makes one correct statement, per the Oregonian, “Holder strongly rejected any claim of entrapment.” He’s right. Entrapment implies culpability. Mr. Mohamud was collateral damage only in the fbi’s operation against Portland. He had no ‘active’ part in this script except that provided for him to incriminate him.

Is there yet anyone in Portland who does not know that Portland is Weird on the national level in one important area, the strength of our recent mayors who have resisted unlimited federal control of our emergency resources and stayed out of the fed task force, the only major city to do so. Thank you.

Under 18 USCode in definitions, we see in part:

“(5) the term domestic terrorism means activities that
…(B) appear to be intended
……..(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
…….(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion;”

The term “appear to be intended—” reflects the psychological nature of these acts which can require only the “appearance” of a bomb to induce the desired effect, political pressure. What’s new? Well, the fbi using it against us here in Portland is new in MY mind.

“If the government’s version of events is accurate,” is the first butt cover of many here by these editors. To believe this version of events as laid out in the no longer available online arrest warrant, and knowing ANYTHING about human beings and anything of Mr. Mohamud’s personal history and the timeline of events and personality changes he underwent after meeting his Mideastern ‘handler’, one would still have to be a bushWMD believer. Both this editorial and especially the arrest warrant are slathered with what Wikipedia calls “weasel words”. Although weasel word spotting is occasionally entertaining, it gets tiresome. Such as when the handler asks him if he wants to kill kids, “No” (p17, warrant).

Prior to July of 2010, Mr. Mohamud (“The most normal guy…”) was an engineering student at OSU who lived the American life in every way. He received a severe blow to his head when his parents separated. It is safe to say that he was ‘emotionally disturbed’. But, in June, he had found a job fishing with Sarah Palin Alaskans and was on his way to a great summer adventure and education. Not to be, of course. That had to be a bad feeling, leaving the airport after being interrogated by the fbi, going back home.

A week later, contact is made. The first dozen or so pages is all “handler facts”, all hearsay, because the handler does not want to share his trade secrets of how he takes emotionally disturbed grieving young people and molds them into suicide bombers with a few deft strokes. Mr. Mohamud made a ‘suicide bomber’ video, and knew what it was. Mujahideen hide their faces. He had been dominated, his remaining will taken, and talked into dying. His new ‘leader’ paid him 2700 dollars and asked him to buy some screws and small parts for the bomb and Mr. Mohamud complied.

In the early part of the warrant, the agent makes much of his own discernment of a ‘code’ used in a couple of emails. It seemed to consist of pairings such as “black is white”, “truth is lies” and things of that sort leading to Mr. Mohamud actively pursuing becoming a Mujahideen. Unfortunately, further on in the script we see that Mr. Mohamud while talking to his trusted leader, confirms the face value information in the emails, unless he was talking to his handler in code. Mr. Mohamud had received a dream from Allah in which he was instructed to travel to Yemen and then to Mecca where he would learn more.

Mr. Mohamud is an engineering student and he was given an assignemt by his handler, plan a bomb attack. How could he think of those things? How can the thousands of weapons engineers in the hundreds of weapons laboratories in the United States plan far more horrific events every day that they go to work? Decent people doing a decent job of inventing ever new ways to shred people. We get to see only a few of these in the various gun camera videos but they are not the most striking or horrifying thing in those videos. No, that would be the American voices in the audio. And every one of these that I have seen has been cold blooded murder, which is permitted under our current Rules of Engagement.

Mr. Mohamud has seen these too. So has the rest of the world. It is only here that ignorance of American behavior is so popular, so cultivated, so organized. There are many white Americans much angrier than Mr. Mohamud. If the fbi started working on those in this fraudulant way, we could have a story like this everyday. White Americans would be so much easier to con than even an emotionally disturbed young American man of Somali descent. Throw in paying off the white guy’s credit cards and he’d do anything.

Mr. Mohamud is a 19 year old engineering student trying to impress his leader who’s last major project was not a bomb but a bhong which eased the images of dead children and brides, half charred bodies, alive looking on top and carbonized the rest of the way down. But he had no direction, no plan, was registerd and started school, turned into a martyr to be, dropped out, lived in his fantasies and not once did anyone say, “Stop it, Mohamed Osman.” He would have. He was just a prop, a puppet.

If you can find a true copy of the ‘original’ warrant, please read it as if you were in Mr. Mohamud’s shoes. Imagine things that you have said, if put into a warrant with other slanted and staged comments, would make you look like someone to be watched. The behavioral principle at work here is the same principle we recognize when we condemn an adult who influences and takes advantage of children, or the employer who influences and takes advantage of his worker. This ‘influence’ can be manipulated. Star salesmen are proud of it. How to defraud people into living in a false and foreign reality. The trick of kings.

Article source: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/12/terror_arrests_no_apologies_ne_1.html

George Frey/Getty Images

How will Colorado and Utah fare in their new conference? Will UCLA turn their program around? Who wins the Duel in the Desert? Will USC win its NCAA appeal and improve? Who wins the PAC-12 South and moves on to the Conferences championship game?

There are more questions that come with a new conference alignment than just the typical Can the champion repeat? Especially since the Pac-12 South did not exist last year and there is no returning champion. Here is aquickpreliminary analysis of the Pac-12 South:

Pac-12 South

Colorado (2010: 5-7; 2-6)

Colorado chalked up only five victories in 2010. Those wins came against mediocre opponents. Any time the Buffaloes faced a bigger challenge, the result was a loss. So the University fired head coach Dan Hawkins. Now Colorado has a new head coach in Jon Embree, who is busy getting to know his new staff, recruiting better players and figuring how the Buffaloes might compete in the new Pac-12 conference against new opponents.

Coach Embree inherits a less-than-average 19-39 teamcomprised of recruiting classes that usually fell somewhere between 30thand 60thin the nation. Winning enough games in the Pac-12 is going to be hard for Colorado for the next few years. WR Paul Richardson, the Big 12 offensive Freshman of the Year, is someone to build on.

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Offense: The Buffs were ranked a dismal 77thoffensively in the nation last season. They lose four offensive starters, including OT Nate Solder. They dont have much top offensive talent on their roster. Putting offensive players on the field that will compete well with the Pac-12 South will be a challenge next year. The Buffs offense will be less than average in 2011.

Defense: Colorado was defensively ranked a disappointing 82ndnationally last season. The loss of four of their best starters, including two of their linebackers, will make the 2011 season even more difficult. They have only a few 4-star players on their roster depth. Look for the Buffs to give up a lot of points next season.

Schedule: at Ohio State and the Pac-12 will make for eight losses next season.

Buffaloes 2011 Prediction: 4-8 Overall; 2-7 in Pac-12; 1-4 in Pac-12 South

UCLA (2010: 4-8; 2-7)

UCLA Bruins only won four games in 2010 and did not qualify for a bowl game. Coach Rick Neuheisel has not kept his promise of stopping USCs monopoly in his three-year tenure (0-3 vs. USC). Coach Neuheisels three-year record of 15-21 is the worst Bruin losing percentage since UCLA coach James Cline went 2-10-3 back in 1923/24.

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

To improve the team he fired defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough and receivers coach Kevin Daft. But it was also the fact that UCLAs new pistol offense resembled a squirt gun with its poor performance so more dismissals could be on the horizon.

Quarterback play could be an issue, or perhaps blocking on the offensive line, but losing senior center Ryan Taylor (All-Pac-10 Second Team), and senior offensive linemen Sean Sheller, Micah Kia, Darius Savage and Eddie Williams wont help next year. There is a very strong possibility that All-Pac-10 first-teamers LB Akeem Ayers and S Rahim Moore will be bolting early for the NFL, depleting a weak defense.One positive phase of UCLA football this year was their kicking game; however the loss of Kai Forbath, (All-Pac-10 second team), may even negatively impact special teams.

Offense: A national ranking of 99thand 116thpassing nationally is inept. Especially for a storied program like UCLA; however, losing five starters and still lacking a top starting quarterback means that UCLA will still play poorly. Their roster depth has top offensive talent, but it is the offensive line that will keep them from bowling in 2011. Reinventing their offensive, once again, is also not likely, so look for more of the pistol.

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Defense: UCLA was ranked 95thon defense nationally last season. The Bruins lose two defensive starters and also two of their best underclassmen who will leave early for the NFL. Roster depth of top defensive talent is almost adequate, so some of the losses can be absorbed. Look for UCLA to be only slightly better on defense.

Schedule: Texas will be waiting to playing the Bruins in 2011. So will the Pac-12. UCLA will win a few.

Bruins 2011 Prediction: 4-8 Overall; 2-7 in Pac-12; 1-4 in Pac-12 South

Utah (2010: 10-2; 7-1)

Coach Kyle Whittinghams Utah Utes were ranked sixthin the AP poll before their back-to-back losses to TCU and Notre Dame. Winning the “easy-ones” and losing to tougher opponents does not bode well for the Utes Maaco Las Vegas Bowl hopes versus Boise State.

Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn threw 17 touchdowns with 10 interceptions totaling 2,334 yards against mostly sub-par competition. The defenses Wynn will face in the Pac-12 will be significantly more challenging.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Wynns top targets Jereme Brooks and Shaky Smithson, were both are All-MWC second team wide receivers and will be sorely missed. Center Zane Taylor and OG Caleb Schlauderaff, both All-MWC first team players, are gone as well.Other serious impact players moving on include DL Christian Cox, DB Lamar Chapman and PK Joe Phillips. It may take Utah a few seasons of improved recruiting to compete for the Pac-12 South title.

Offense: Utahs offense was ranked a decent 42ndin the nation last season; however, their first eight wins were against teams with a total combined losing record of 30 and 68. The competition in the Pac-12 is slightly more formidable than the Mountain West. Utah loses six starters on offense including their running back Eddie Wide. Utahs offensive roster depth holds very little top talent. Utahs offense will decline sharply in 2011.

Defense: The Utes were ranked an impressive 20thon defense nationally thanks to the MWC competition. Utah loses five defensive senior starters and one early departure into the NFL. The defensive roster depth is mostly average and personnel changes will have an impact. Utahs defense will also decline sharply in 2011.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Schedule: Playing at a much-improved BYU will be Utahs second loss early in the season.

Utes 2011 Prediction: 7-5 Overall; 5-4 in Pac-12; 2-3 in Pac-12 South

Arizona (2010: 7-5; 4-5)

Coach Mike Stoops led the Arizona Wildcats to a No. 13 ranking in the nation, with a 7-1 record, before a four-straight-loss meltdown left them unranked and a seven-point underdog in their own Pac-10 Alamo Bowl versus Oklahoma State. Going into 2011 with five straight losses (including the loss to Oklahoma State), and losing most of their best offensive players will drop the Wildcats to the middle of the pack.

OT Adam Grant and C Colin Baxter (who received All-Pac-10 honors along with QB Nick Foles), RB Nic Grigsby, TE A.J. Simmons, OT Phillip Garcia and OG Conan Amituanai are departing seniors. There is a very small probability that Nick Foles will forego the NFL, but big money is hard to turn down. Arizona will play a tough schedule that includes Oregon, USC, Stanford, Oregon State and Arizona State. Next year will be a rebuilding season for Coach Stoops and they will compete with Utah for the third spot in the Pac-12 South.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Offense: Arizonas offense was ranked 23rdin the nation last season, but with the loss of seven senior starters and one early departure for the NFL, this will be a totally different offense. Quarterback Nick Foles and running back Nic Grigsby will be missed. Scarce top offensive talent on their roster will affect the Wildcats and Arizona will see a serious decline in their offense.

Defense: The Wildcats defense ranked 37thnationally, but that too will drop off next year with the loss of five seniors and the departure of cornerback Trevin Wade who will take the jump to the NFL. The defensive roster depth is not stacked with top talent and the defense will also regress somewhat in 2011.

Schedule: Arizona’s trip to Oklahoma State will likely to be a replay of the Valero Alamo Bowl.

Wildcats 2011 Prediction: 6-6 Overall; 4-5 in Pac-12; 2-3 in Pac-12 South

USC (2010: 8-5; 5-4)

Coach Lane Kiffin assembled an impressive staff, most with NFL experience, on very short notice last year. Kiffins position coaches will make him look good in 2011 when the young players finally learn the schemes. Coach Kiffins list of coaches is as notable as the eight-straight top ten recruiting classes that USC captured (most of them were the best recruiting classes in the nation). USC secured the top group of recruits again in 2010 and the 2011 class is shaping up to be another good one.

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Several of those 2010 4/5-star players were redshirted and will be unleashed on the Pac-12 in 2011. USC returns 16 of 22 offensive and defensive starters (nine received All-Pac-10 honors), but OT Tyron Smith and DT Jurrell Casey will leave early for the NFL.

Despite any personnel losses, USC has the most talent in the Pac-12 by a wide margin. Any residual bad playing habits, perhaps due to the previous coaching staff, should be eliminated by the Trojan coaches in 2011. This young team, who lost three games by a total of seven points, will most likely realize their potential next year (as will Arizona State). Considering USCs NCAA sanctions, the possibility of going to a bowl game in 2011/12 may be added motivation (if USC wins their NCAA appeal).

The team is helped by both Stanford and Oregon losing so many significant starters (with less top talent for reloading). Matt Barkley will be the Pac-12s leading QB in the conference and the Trojans contest the Pac-12 South title.

Offense: The Trojans offense was impressively ranked 28thin the country in 2010 and they only lose one starting senior with one tackle leaving early for the NFL. Matt Barkley returns at quarterback and Mark Tyler remains at starting running back. USC has tons of top offensive talent on their roster; however, the offensive line could be deeper. With Oregon losing six starters on offense and WR/KOR Robert Woods’ (the Pac-10 Offensive Freshman of the Year) improvement, USC may have the No. 1 offense in the Pac-12, sans injuries.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Defense: USCs defense was a sore spot last season being ranked 83rdnationally, and if they are to improve, this very talented group is going to have to catch on to learning coach Monte Kiffins scheme. There is not another team in the Pac-12 that can match USCs talent level, so trying to explain their five losses is challenging.

USC loses three seniors and one junior to an early NFL departure. Replacements are not hard to find with the most top defensive talent on their roster in the conference; however, the linebacker position is not as deep as USC would like. Look for USC to be average on defense unless they play to their potential.

Schedule: USC does not play any top 25 teams in their non-conference schedule.

Trojans 2011 Prediction: 9-3 Overall; 6-3 in Pac-12; 5-0 in Pac-12 South

Arizona State (2010: 6-6; 4-5)

Coach Dennis Ericksons Arizona State Sun Devils return nine players who earned All-Pac-10 honors. Their offense and defense return 19 of 22 starters total. The young Sun Devils team finished fifth in the Pac-10 in both total offense and defense. Arizona State lost by just one point to powerful Wisconsin, one point to USC, three points to the Beavers, four to Stanford and only by 11 to top-ranked Oregon.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Coach Ericksons biggest decision is which quarterback to start? Steven Threet threw 18 TDs with 16 INTs to go 4-6 until he was injured. Brock Osweiler replaced him to win the last two games impressively throwing five TDs with no INTs for 797 yards.

No decisions are needed on the Sun Devils defense. DE Junior Onyeali is the Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year. Vontaze Burfict is arguably the best MLB in the Pac-10. Arizona State may be the Pac-12 South champions in 2011, but they will have to finish the big games.

Offense: Arizona States offense was highly ranked 29thin the nation last season and the loss of only one senior starter, and no one leaving early for the NFL, should see an offensive improvement. The Sun Devils may have one of the best offenses in the Pac-12. Depth is still an issue with few top offensive players on the roster, but without injuries, they should be much improved. Arizona State will have a terrific offense.

Defense: The Sun Devils defense was only ranked 59thnationally, and that may fall off a tad bit next year with the loss of two seniors in addition to juniors DT Lawrence Guy and CB Omar Bolden, who will both leave for the NFL. There is not much defensive roster depth with top talent, so replacements and depth will be an issue. The defenses slight decline will impact games against Oregon, Missouri and possibly Cal.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Schedule: Arizona State takes on Missouri, Oregon and Cal. USC and Arizona will be a challenge too.

Sun Devils 2011 Prediction: 10-2 Overall; 8-1 in the Pac-12; 4-1 in the Pac-12 South

Predicted Results Summary

USC will travel to Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday evening on December 3rdto battle the Sun Devils for the Pac-12 South title. This will be the game of the year in the South and should be another close game like it was there on September 24th. The 2010 matchup at the Coliseum was a one-point victory for USC and these two teams will develop a back-and-forth relationship for the next two years.

The Sun Devils will go on to play Oregon in the conference title game. Colorado and UCLA will compete for the title of cellar dwellers. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel will be on the hot seat by the end of the year. Utah and Arizona will tie for middle of the pack. Both Colorado and Utah will need to step it up to better compete in the Pac-12.

Pac-12 South Predicted Results Table

Article source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/548883-2011-pac-12-south-predicting-the-finish

To chalk out a new strategy for the Indian market once the final separation from its 26-year-old partner Hero Group is worked out, top officials from Honda Motors Japan are slated to visit the Indian subsidiary Honda Motorcycle Scooter India (HMSI) early next year. The global CEO of Honda Takanobu Ito is also likely to be a part of the delegation.

Industry sources told FE that the main focus of the visiting delegation would be to penetrate every segment in the country with a special emphasis on 100-125cc category and strengthen its dealership network and vendor base. Interestingly, this is the segment in which Hero Honda has traditionally enjoyed a market share of over 60%.

Globally, Honda bikes are known for being premium and super cool. However, in India the company would also adopt the low-cost approach, a source said. Though the company spokesperson denied any such plans, sources said HMSIs…

Article source: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Honda-brass-in-India-next-yr-focus-on-lowcost-bikes/727892/

The St Kilda Brass Band has had a blast of success, with six
of its youngest players being selected for a band of New
Zealand’s top young brass players.

Kalie Eathorne-Gould (3rd cornet), Rose Evans (flugel),
Erynne Scherf (2nd horn), Greigan Panckhurst (2nd trombone),
Keenan Buchanan (Eb tuba) and Rene Spoors (Bb tuba) were
selected for the 2011 National Youth Brass Band of New
Zealand this week after a rigorous audition process last
month.

Former St Kilda euphonium player Ian O’Malley was also
selected for the band, which will tour the North Island next
month.

Rene and Ian were selected for the 2010 national youth band.

But for the remainder, it was their first time.

Rose said she was thrilled to be selected.

The standard of performance by the ensemble was very high
and, because she was still at secondary school, she did not
expect to be included.

The band is made up of New Zealand’s most talented young
brass and percussion musicians – all under 23 – and many past
members have gone on to professional careers playing and
conducting in some of the world’s top brass bands, military
bands and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

The tour will begin on January 21.

Article source: http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/141826/young-players-make-national-cut

Published: Sunday, December 19, 2010, 6:39 AM Updated: Sunday, December 19, 2010, 6:47 AM

By

Bob Rickert, community blogger

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Funny, I had a post scheduled to go up later today that said I thought Carson could commit this weekend. Well, I pre-empt my own post, with a post that says he has. Carson committed to Oregon over offers from Iowa, Arkansas, and Utah.

The 6′ 1″, 218lb. back from Liberty-Elyou High in Texarkana, Texas still has plenty of time to change his mind but at this time it seems he’s 100% set on the Ducks. He’s a bigger back most easily described as a one-cut back. He hits the hole, makes one cut and is gone. Not a dancer in the backfield. Looks a little like Jeremiah Johnson when he runs but with obviously a little more size. He’s able to move the pile but also run through tackles for tough yards up the middle.

Great great pickup for the Ducks. Carson’s just the 79th ranked back in the nation according to Scout.com but his recruiting picked up considerably during his senior year and his fast growing offer list indicates he’s more like a 4-star back now that his senior year is completed.

Article source: http://blog.oregonlive.com/ducks/2010/12/running_back_tra_carson_commit_1.html

Phil Lozen | AnnArbor.com, December 20, 2010 10:16 p.m.