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Article source: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120330&content_id=27759848&vkey=news_la&c_id=la&partnerId=rss_la

Having cycled through four-year starter Terence Frederick, and also having lost the services of Coryell Judie, Texas AM faces the daunting challenge of reloading both corner spots, and right before their first season of SEC. Unfortunately, they also find themselves in a precarious position at safety. Compounding matters is there is a possibility that the defensive backs won’t get as much help from the pass rush as they’ve had the past few seasons.

While that remains to be seen, and may not even be the case all they can do is focus on themselves and what they can control. Cornerback, though inexperienced, at least has a decent and talented field of options vying for the starting jobs and to secure quality depth. However, safety is once again a razor thin. There are some good upstarts but nowhere near as sound, in the feeling one gets in reloading the corner spots. Lets take a look at what former Boise St. defensive backs coach, Marcel Yates, has to work with.

Cornerbacks

Dustin Harris leads this group, but the hot and cold senior, simply must find his consistency on the island this season. When Harris is on his game, he puts his height, agility, hips, and athletic ability to good use as a ball-hawking speedster. However, one has to bring up the coverage gaffs, which were littered throughout his junior year. It’s not just lip service to say that Harris is a hard-worker, but he will be delayed in approaching his stride, as he licks his wounds during most, if not all, of spring camp. Still, expect a much more rounded player when Dustin steps onto the field in 2012, as he always takes the next step each off-season.

There is a strong chance Floyd Raven locks down the other spot. While Harris may lack in physical stature, this Louisiana native, was built for playing corner in the SEC. With sound size and excellent speed, Raven also possesses a good football IQ, flat out next level ability, and superb athleticism. In addition like Terrence Frederick he is very capable against the run, something that will clearly aid the young man in his SEC wars the next three years. In fact, he looked so good from day one that it may have hurt him, as the previous staff prematurely burned his shirt. While a wasted year is obviously frustrating to Floyd, and the current coaches, securing a starting a role would go a long way in making up for lost time in 2011. He will be doing all he can the next month, and over the summer, to do just that.

An excellent and versatile, relative newcomer, Deshavor Everett (also a Louisiana product) has earned his way into the fight for starter at corner. As mentioned he could do well at CB or safety and though the corner depth chart isn’t much stronger, I wouldn’t mind seeing Everett lending his talents over there if worst case scenarios play out. His physical play is just amazing. Everett is tremendous in run support, with brilliant speed, he follows his nose for the ball, takes efficient angles, and finishing the job with clean tackling. He is solid in coverage, and has quality ball skills, but will obviously have to improve in that regard, to lock down this job amongst some solid contenders.

If you were to have a son destined to be an SEC corner, you couldn’t give him a more perfect name than Otis Jacobs, and for the Mississippi native, it doesn’t stop at the name. The highly sought after junior college prospect, seeks to instantly solve half of the corner equation. He has all of the requisite skills to be a high level corner, with his fluid hips, ball-hawking athleticism, and speed, but the former Tennessee commit, is an SEC corner through and through, with good size and a nasty physical style. This month will test the superlatives he’s earned on his junior college tape, and the young man will certainly have a prime opportunity to immediately prove himself, and elbow his way to the front of the pack.

Tony Hurd Jr. is versatile, and will be a high quality depth option and or nickel corner. In fact, he could even serve well in the thin safety rotation if needed (a position, necessity has solely familiarized him with). He also brings a palpable air of on-field intensity, competition, and a healthy nastiness in his attitude and play. He relishes the chance to line up on the island, and he’ll get his wish this spring. Hurd is the antithesis of a small corner that plays big. Some may question his stature and ability to hang in the SEC, but this young man is good in run-support, and gave a healthy Jeff Fuller all he could handle in practice (he’s good at pressing big targets, that can’t dart around him, and he is capable of knocking them off routes), and his physical play would fit in real well. Tenacious and competitive as they come, we’ll see how far he junior surges in the battle this spring, but one certainty is, he’ll be a solid option in any capacity.

Desmond Gardiner has good speed, technique, and is solid in man and zone coverage. He is physical at the line, and also has a good vertical when attacking the ball in the air. Cracking this current lineup is a tall task, for an upperclassman yet to make a dent, but late switches can go off and he bears mentioning.

Summer Arrival

Like Tony Hurd Jr., De’vante Harris is a small corner that plays really big, and he does it extremely well. Yes that size can work against him, but he is really good in press, has good hips, and receivers don’t often separate from him. His arrival is a ways off, but the highly-heralded recruit, and former Oklahoma commit was a big get for this staff, and will no doubt bolster an inexperienced, small but growing foundation of young talented corners.

Safety

If Steven Campbell had been healthy, even half of his AM career, he would have been one of the most respected standouts in the Big XII and one of the most anticipated in the SEC. His presence in coverage and run-support is undeniable, as he breaks well on passes, is highly effective in contesting jump balls, has a great nose for the ball, and uses his tremendous acceleration to come downhill in run support, as a headhunter and a sound tackler However, he’s been forced to spend more time in the training room than the practice or playing field, and enters his third spring in a row, on the shelf. That said, his presence in greatly needed, and all concerned are hoping upon hope, he can heal enough this off-season, to be relatively healthy for the future wars in the SEC.

Steven Terrell provides the safety unit, one of the few, certain pieces of the puzzle. While not a game-breaker, he does has sub 4.4 speed, great athleticism, big play potential, and it would be a definite bonus if he could put a bigger stamp on this defense in 2012. His run support has improved but could stand to get much better, especially given the style of play AM is about to face. If not, he is at least a steady performer, and one of the few solid pieces this unit can count on at the moment.

In 2011, Howard Mathews was a green defensive back and it showed, but the thin safety depth that has plagued the Aggies, dictated his presence. The instinctual, ultra-athletic freshman, excelled in blitzing, but the pass-happy Big XII exposed his cover skills. In addition, it’s the SEC and he simply must improve against the run. Still, nothing accelerates a young defensive back like a baptism by fire, a few months of reflection, and an off-season of opportunity to take a big step forwards. Saturday, the progression and fight to elevate himself, and help solidify a shaky two-deep at safety begins again.

Johntel Franklin was a premium juco transfer from California, joined the team in January of 2011 and was expected to provide immediate depth at strong safety. He arrived with great size (around 210 pounds), as a safety that plays physical, excels in run support, but also possesses good hips and is sound in coverage as well. However, even with all of that, and an eight-month head start, he did not see the field in 2011. Needless to say, Franklin and the Aggies would be well served by him showing a turned developmental corner this April. If he struggles it is not the end, but obviously not a good sign at this point. The clock is ticking for the junior, and a player physically capable of getting it done, would be a huge shot in the arm to this unit if he can simply start getting it done.

Devonta Burns got his feet wet last August, and throughout the fall on the practice fields. He brings the requisite attributes to the table, and the hard hitter takes great angles in run support and blitzing. Where he currently is at the moment with his coverage is unknown, but if he proves capable, the former four-star has a good opportunity to make a dent this spring.

Clearly it’s never ideal to count on a freshman but one as talented as Kenneth Marshall could change the equation. Especially when that player has a high football IQ, and an eight-month head start as an early enrollee. Marshall has to prove it at this level, but to date, he looks sound in coverage, shows a great nose for the ball, plays with fire, and when he gets there is a head hunter and textbook tackler. He’ll likely struggle early, but if he can show a spark towards the end of April, and carry it into fall camp, that obviously bodes well for the unit. He won’t bloom overnight but keep close tabs on this talented upstart.

As mentioned, Deshavor Everett and Toney Hurd Jr. could play corner or safety, and though they are corners, can serve very well at safety, if depth goes from thin to dire.

Defensive Backs Overall

While cornerback faces a serious reload and is up in the air, a pretty strong host of upstarts will look to reload and the position should shake out well, with relatively high quality depth. Safety is a little more dicey. Once again, depth is an issue and counting on Steven Campbell to remain healthy for an entire season in the SEC is asking too much. Given that, no less than two to three young men, really need to step up. It can be done as there are talented options but there is little room for error. Of course compounding these anxieties is a defensive line that is likewise up in the air, and their ability to pass rush and take pressure off this inexperienced group. While that sounds dismal, it’s not a lost cause and there are a talented upstarts in both camps (defensive line and defensive backs) but quite honestly, there is little room for error. Quarterback will shake out fine, but focus on these two units as the results now through August will spell a big part of the Aggie’s 2012 campaign.

Article source: http://tamu.scout.com/2/1173059.html

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) said it is nearly complete with the reloading of the Pantawid Pasada cards as it has finished reloading cards associated with jeepney plates ending in “6” and “7.”

“Beneficiaries may now use their cards in participating gas stations nationwide,” the DOE said in a statement.

Pantawid Pasada cardholders whose jeepneys’ plate numbers end with “0” to “5” have earlier been given new credits.

The DOE said it will need to reload only cardholders whose jeepneys plate number end with “8” and “9” in the coming weeks.

“Only jeepneys with Pantawid Pasada cards claimed before Dec. 31, 2011 and have been loaded with the initial amount of P1,050 within the same timeframe (May 2011 to December 2011), can now enjoy the P1,200 reload using their Pantawid Pasada cards,” DOE said.

The Pantawid Pasada Program is a P120-million government project to cushion the impact of high fuel prices.

“The temporary program is envisioned to alleviate the drivers who continue to face continued oil price hikes,” the DOE said.

Since the start of the year, there were already 10 oil price increases as against three price reductions.

As of March 20, the net price increase stood at P6.55 per liter for gasoline and P3.80 per liter for diesel, data from the DOE showed. There were no price adjustments last week.

Article source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=793091&publicationSubCategoryId=66

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Four Mueller Brass employees were injured Friday night after a furnace failed and sparked a fire at the foundry’s casting shop off of Runnels Street in Port Huron, Battalion Chief Dan Mainguy said.

Of the four employees, two sustained burns and two others had smoke inhalation issues, Mainguy said. All were minor injuries. Three of the four employees were taken to an area hospital by Tri-Hospital EMS.

Port Huron firefighters responded about 10:45 p.m. Friday to the incident, Mainguy said. Firefighters extinguished the small molten metal fires that were contained to the floor area beneath the furnace. The fire began after the furnace had a small explosion or mechanical failure of some sort.

The cause of the mechanical failure and the amount of dollars lost in the incident is being investigated by Mueller Brass, Mainguy said.

Port Huron Firefighters cleared the scene at 12:45 a.m. today. Marysville firefighters also assisted at Port Huron’s fire station.

Article source: http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20120331/NEWS05/303310018/Mueller-Brass-employees-injured-after-furnace-failure?odyssey=nav%7Chead

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Article source: http://www.antimusic.com/news/12/March/ts28Dirty_Dozen_Brass_Band_To_Deliver_New_Album_in_May.shtml

It took till the final day, but deals securing $35 million in tax cuts, reloading the state’s rainy-day fund and restoring teachers’ salaries highlighted accomplishments that earned the 2012 legislative session top marks from Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.

At an end-of-Legislature address in his office on the Capitol’s second floor Friday, Otter lauded the trio of bills passed on the session’s 81st day that Otter targeted as top priorities during his State of the State address back in January.

“I think it was a great session. In fact, I would give a good solid ‘A’ to the Legislature,” Otter said.

The Republican lawmakers who flanked him during the address spent most of the past week — and much of the session — wrangling over how best to apportion a surplus topping $100 million that has signaled Idaho’s economic recovery.

It was refreshing quandary for some senators and representatives who have spent recent years debating how to slash costs and plug budget holes.

They settled on splitting it three ways: a tax break for the Idaho’s corporations and top earners that is expected to net a family of four earning $100,000 annually about $71 in relief; restoring about $35 million over five years to teachers’ salaries that would have been cut under public schools chief Tom Luna’s “Students Come First” education reforms; and a $34 million infusion to the state’s rainy-day savings accounts depleted during the recession.

The tax cut may not be a game changer to most Idahoans, but Otter maintained it’s key to boosting the state’s economy and luring in new businesses.

“It sends a good psychological signal,” Otter said.

Democrats, who found among the session’s passed bills only a thin silver lining, slammed the going-home package Friday.

“The top consideration for the governor and the majority leaders was a $35 million redistribution of wealth to the wealthiest Idahoans while the Luna laws mandate ongoing reductions for classroom instruction to continue for many years,” said House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston.

Here’s a rundown of the rest of the approved bills that generated buzz this session:

OIL AND GAS DRILLING: Generating a gusher of debate, this measure prohibits local governments from enacting ordinances that ban gas drilling. The legislation sparked further controversy when Democrats accused Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, of not adequately disclosing a conflict of interest on the measure. An ethics investigation was ultimately dismissed.

HEAD INJURIES: Idaho is following the National Football League’s lead in getting tough on concussions. With athletes bigger and stronger than ever, the state is requiring schools to develop rules to protect youth athletes from punishing hits to the head that pose devastating long-term impacts.

END OF LIFE CARE: This bill aims to ensure doctors and nurses abide by requests of dying patients and their families for life-prolonging treatment. Proponents say this measure closes a loophole allowing doctors to deny end-of-life care if they’ve tried and failed to find another physician willing to treat the patient.

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING: Idaho joins the at least 35 other states that will ticket drivers who put their thumbs on their handheld devices instead of the steering wheel. The legislation has stalled in recent years, but lawmakers pushed the measure through, which slaps violators with an infraction costing $85, including court fees. “After three years of debates, our roads will finally be safer because we’ve banned texting while drive,” Rusche said.

ANIMAL CRUELTY: Idaho removes itself from the short list of states that don’t have felony penalties for animal cruelty. Three convictions in 15 years will trigger the harsher violation, leaving North and South Dakota as the only states without a felony animal abuse law.

MASSAGE LICENSING: Lawmakers want to make sure people aren’t getting rubdowns from amateurs. They approved a bill requiring massage therapists to certify their training by paying up to $200 for a state-issued license. The plan was pushed by massage therapists around the state whose industry is becoming a common part of medical recovery treatments. Opponents labeled it a government intrusion that would kill jobs.

CHARTER CAPS: A state cap limiting Idaho to six new charter schools each year was eliminated. Proponents say the restriction has generated a backlog of interest among parents and others in creating more. Foes fear expanding charter schools too quickly could suck money away from traditional public schools.

BOISE COUNTY BAILOUT: It took a tumultuous route, but the life raft to help Boise County pay a $5.4 million federal judgment eventually cleared the Capitol. The measure allows the county to exceed state limits on pursuing low-interest bonds to pay off the debt, helping the county meet its court-ordered obligations through a tax increase.

CHEERS FOR BEERS: Lager lovers rejoiced at the passage of a bill lifting restrictions on investing in more than one company that brews beer. Throwing out the antiquated measure could generate 25 new jobs initially by letting brewers who make less than 30,000 barrels of beer per year expand. The brouhaha over beer was waged by professional brewer Fred Colby, who owns Laughing Dog Brewery in Ponderay.

JUDGES’ PENSIONS: Lawmakers cleared a plan to plug a $14 million hole in judges’ retirement accounts by increasing retirement contributions from the state and judges by 50 percent and raising civil filing fees by $8.

UP TO THE CHALLENGE: Lawmakers gave the go-ahead for a military-based program in north-central Idaho targeted at high school dropouts. The plan would allow state alternative school funding to go toward the Youth Challenge Program in Pierce. The program is expected to produce 50 new jobs in the economically depressed region that’s been hurt by its moribund timber industry and serve more than 200 at-risk kids.

OTTER’S IGEM: Another of the governor’s top priorities, this legislation dedicates $5 million to bolster university research and businesses that can help grow Idaho’s economy. The program directs $1 million toward grants for startup businesses or technologies, as well as $2 million each for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies and Idaho’s three research universities. Otter called it “a downpayment” on Idaho’s future.

SUICIDE HOTLINE: Lawmakers approved funding for a hotline for those in danger of ending their lives. Idaho — the only state without its own suicide prevention hotline — will dedicate $110,000 to get the program off the ground. It will then rely in part on securing private grants to ensure long-term stability.

E-SMOKES: A ban on selling electronic cigarettes to children won overwhelming support from lawmakers.

Article source: http://www.ktvu.com/news/ap/alcohol/tax-cuts-teacher-salaries-highlight-2012-session/nLhy4/

It took till the final day, but deals securing $35 million in tax cuts, reloading the state’s rainy-day fund and restoring teachers’ salaries highlighted accomplishments that earned the 2012 legislative session top marks from Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.

At an end-of-Legislature address in his office on the Capitol’s second floor Friday, Otter lauded the trio of bills passed on the session’s 81st day that Otter targeted as top priorities during his State of the State address back in January.

“I think it was a great session. In fact, I would give a good solid ‘A’ to the Legislature,” Otter said.

The Republican lawmakers who flanked him during the address spent most of the past week — and much of the session — wrangling over how best to apportion a surplus topping $100 million that has signaled Idaho’s economic recovery.

It was refreshing quandary for some senators and representatives who have spent recent years debating how to slash costs and plug budget holes.

They settled on splitting it three ways: a tax break for the Idaho’s corporations and top earners that is expected to net a family of four earning $100,000 annually about $71 in relief; restoring about $35 million over five years to teachers’ salaries that would have been cut under public schools chief Tom Luna’s “Students Come First” education reforms; and a $34 million infusion to the state’s rainy-day savings accounts depleted during the recession.

The tax cut may not be a game changer to most Idahoans, but Otter maintained it’s key to boosting the state’s economy and luring in new businesses.

“It sends a good psychological signal,” Otter said.

Democrats, who found among the session’s passed bills only a thin silver lining, slammed the going-home package Friday.

“The top consideration for the governor and the majority leaders was a $35 million redistribution of wealth to the wealthiest Idahoans while the Luna laws mandate ongoing reductions for classroom instruction to continue for many years,” said House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston.

Here’s a rundown of the rest of the approved bills that generated buzz this session:

OIL AND GAS DRILLING: Generating a gusher of debate, this measure prohibits local governments from enacting ordinances that ban gas drilling. The legislation sparked further controversy when Democrats accused Sen. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, of not adequately disclosing a conflict of interest on the measure. An ethics investigation was ultimately dismissed.

HEAD INJURIES: Idaho is following the National Football League’s lead in getting tough on concussions. With athletes bigger and stronger than ever, the state is requiring schools to develop rules to protect youth athletes from punishing hits to the head that pose devastating long-term impacts.

END OF LIFE CARE: This bill aims to ensure doctors and nurses abide by requests of dying patients and their families for life-prolonging treatment. Proponents say this measure closes a loophole allowing doctors to deny end-of-life care if they’ve tried and failed to find another physician willing to treat the patient.

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING: Idaho joins the at least 35 other states that will ticket drivers who put their thumbs on their handheld devices instead of the steering wheel. The legislation has stalled in recent years, but lawmakers pushed the measure through, which slaps violators with an infraction costing $85, including court fees. “After three years of debates, our roads will finally be safer because we’ve banned texting while drive,” Rusche said.

ANIMAL CRUELTY: Idaho removes itself from the short list of states that don’t have felony penalties for animal cruelty. Three convictions in 15 years will trigger the harsher violation, leaving North and South Dakota as the only states without a felony animal abuse law.

MASSAGE LICENSING: Lawmakers want to make sure people aren’t getting rubdowns from amateurs. They approved a bill requiring massage therapists to certify their training by paying up to $200 for a state-issued license. The plan was pushed by massage therapists around the state whose industry is becoming a common part of medical recovery treatments. Opponents labeled it a government intrusion that would kill jobs.

CHARTER CAPS: A state cap limiting Idaho to six new charter schools each year was eliminated. Proponents say the restriction has generated a backlog of interest among parents and others in creating more. Foes fear expanding charter schools too quickly could suck money away from traditional public schools.

BOISE COUNTY BAILOUT: It took a tumultuous route, but the life raft to help Boise County pay a $5.4 million federal judgment eventually cleared the Capitol. The measure allows the county to exceed state limits on pursuing low-interest bonds to pay off the debt, helping the county meet its court-ordered obligations through a tax increase.

CHEERS FOR BEERS: Lager lovers rejoiced at the passage of a bill lifting restrictions on investing in more than one company that brews beer. Throwing out the antiquated measure could generate 25 new jobs initially by letting brewers who make less than 30,000 barrels of beer per year expand. The brouhaha over beer was waged by professional brewer Fred Colby, who owns Laughing Dog Brewery in Ponderay.

JUDGES’ PENSIONS: Lawmakers cleared a plan to plug a $14 million hole in judges’ retirement accounts by increasing retirement contributions from the state and judges by 50 percent and raising civil filing fees by $8.

UP TO THE CHALLENGE: Lawmakers gave the go-ahead for a military-based program in north-central Idaho targeted at high school dropouts. The plan would allow state alternative school funding to go toward the Youth Challenge Program in Pierce. The program is expected to produce 50 new jobs in the economically depressed region that’s been hurt by its moribund timber industry and serve more than 200 at-risk kids.

OTTER’S IGEM: Another of the governor’s top priorities, this legislation dedicates $5 million to bolster university research and businesses that can help grow Idaho’s economy. The program directs $1 million toward grants for startup businesses or technologies, as well as $2 million each for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies and Idaho’s three research universities. Otter called it “a downpayment” on Idaho’s future.

SUICIDE HOTLINE: Lawmakers approved funding for a hotline for those in danger of ending their lives. Idaho — the only state without its own suicide prevention hotline — will dedicate $110,000 to get the program off the ground. It will then rely in part on securing private grants to ensure long-term stability.

E-SMOKES: A ban on selling electronic cigarettes to children won overwhelming support from lawmakers.

Article source: http://www.ktvu.com/news/ap/alcohol/tax-cuts-teacher-salaries-highlight-2012-session/nLhy4/

I’ve been reading Red Fisher’s articles on the Habs for a long time and, like him, I remember well those days when the players were heroes and role models playing for pride (Gazette, March 26, “Expect big changes next year�). The Canadiens, by definition, were all that our country represented in sportsmanship, excellence, courage and determination. It is not surprising that the CH carries followers across the country, even in cities that have their own NHL teams. The Canadiens incarnated our dreams as individuals. Whatever occupation we held when we didn’t have the talent to make it to the NHL, we carried the same values into our work as Canadian citizens, whether we were French or English. Give me a Butch Bouchard with a Doug Harvey, a Dickie Moore with a Claude Provost, a Frank Mahovlich with a Henri Richard, a Doug Risebrough with a Mario Tremblay, and everyone can say, yes, these were great Canadiens in every sense of the word – and they have multiple Stanley Cups to prove it. When management loses sight of the very identity of a team, the unexplainable difference that caused the Canadians to win against the Russians in 1972 evaporates without notice. Cournoyer and Henderson, wasn’t it? When management loses sight of the very identity of a team, pretty soon you have Kaberles, Webers, Kostityns, Plekanecs, Markovs, Palushajs and others who have undeniable qualities, but the glue that holds and drives that unexplainable difference is no longer there. How about a name change: the Montreal Internationals.

Guy Lacroix

Montreal

Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier, considered one of the architects of the Habs’ decline into mediocrity, has been relieved of his duties (Gazette, March 30, “Direction of the club needed to change�). And while we may concur with owner Geoff Molson’s decision to part ways with him, taking pleasure or expressing delight over a hard-working man’s firing – regardless of his results and what we think of him personally – is also a failure on our part. Obviously, Mr. Gauthier didn’t set out to poison the well, but the majority of his decisions simply did not bear fruit, much to his and our chagrin. A simple thank you for his efforts, and then we all move on with a renewed hope for the future.

Philippe Lavigne

Kirkland

Rumour has it that after dismissing his GM, Geoff Molson handed Pierre Gauthier a CD entitled Welcome to the Real World … by Mr. Mister!

Danny Lemieux

Point St. Charles

Now that Geoff Molson has taken charge of the Canadiens, I have another favour to ask of him. The choice of a new GM should be a no brainer. The man we all want is at his fingertips. He knows more about minor and junior hockey prospects than anyone in North America. He eats, sleeps and spends nearly all his spare time watching and reading about his favourite sport. The man is totally dedicated and passionate, just as his idol Scotty Bowman was. On top of all this, he has Scotty’s endorsement for the job. If he has sounded bitter about the Canadiens’ recent demise, it is because deep down it hurts him to see the team he grew up watching make so many recent blunders and classless moves. He’s your man, Geoff. Get Scotty on the line with you and Serge Savard. No more old boys’ club, please. They were great players, but this job belongs to only one man: Pierre McGuire.

Danny Almon

Vaudreuil

Many point to the trade of Patrick Roy as the official demise of the great empire that was the Montreal Canadiens. In fact, a more thorough look at history would suggest that the passing on Scotty Bowman as GM was the true end of the dynasty. The team never regained the consistent greatness that had marked it in the decades before this decision. Bowman is at a point in his life that I doubt he would have any interest in coming back into the Canadiens fold in a meaningful way, but his word is essentially gospel in the world of hockey. He was groomed for the job of GM in Montreal by Sam Pollock and was unceremoniously passed over. Perhaps the best way to make amends for passing Bowman over is to heed his advice now: hire Pierre McGuire.

Sean Ballack

Montreal

Great idea to have a statue of Gary Carter outside the Bell Centre along with Howie Morenz, Rocket Richard, Jean Béliveau and Guy Lafleur (Sports Editor’s column, March 24, “Put Carter statue next to CH greats�). Unlike Vladimir Guerrero, who never attempted to learn French or English, Carter and Chris Speier (his daughter sang O Canada in French at the Big O) truly became part of Montreal and Quebec. All the best to Warren Cromartie and his attempts to get baseball and the Expos history back into Montreal.

George Mather

Brockville, Ont.

Why all the fuss about Gary Carter and how we should honour him? Yes, he played most of his career here, but when it came time to go to the Hall of Fame he wanted nothing to do with the Expos. He wanted to enter the Hall as a Met for “monetary opportunities.� Well, good for him! We as a city have expressed our condolences, now let’s move on.

Paul Phaneuf

St. Lazare

Letters to the Sports Editor are published every Saturday. Email letters to sports editor Stu Cowan at scowan@montrealgazette.com. Please include your full name and hometown.

Article source: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Habs+brass+lost+sight+team+identity/6387774/story.html

More MLB News

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Article source: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120330&content_id=27759848&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb

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Article source: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120329&content_id=27740482&c_id=bos&partnerId=rss_bos

For Kyle Ament and Tony Hodgson, their first year as Colfax-Mingo boys and girls golf coaches went about as well as they could have hoped.

Hodgson and the girls finished ranked sixth, won the Heart of Iowa Small Schools conference, won districts and finished fourth at regionals. Ament and the boys finished the regular season ranked eighth, took second in the conference and came up only three strokes shy of advancing to the district meet.

Entering their second years as coaches, the two hope to keep the success going.

For the boys, it’ll be tough to match last year’s marks as Ament has had to replace four senior varsity players, and largely has a roster of youngsters. Gone from last season’s varsity are 2011 graduates Connor Parker, Dylan Berkey, Mitch Tomlonovic and Chase Russell. Parker qualified individually for districts.

“It’s been an experience here in my second year,” Ament said about reloading his varsity. “Last year I inherited a good amount of talent. It’s been a challenge but it’ll be rewarding.”

Of the 11 kids on the roster, six are freshmen. Juniors Colton Russell and Austin Yoakum return to lead the team, while sophomore MaCauley Moser and freshmen Jimmy Abell and Brady DaJoode figure to be the team’s top five golfers. Ament said that sophomore Ryan Ponlmeirer and senior Henry Bowman also figure to contribute to the varsity.

Despite their youth, Abell and DaJoode bring experience into the lineup.

“Both have been playing golf for quite a few years,” Ament said. “They were chomping at the bit last year wanting to play varsity. They’ve been wanting to play for a couple years now. They’ll be the future of the team as far as the freshman class goes.”

Ament said that Yoakum has been the team’s No. 1 golfer throughout the first couple weeks of practice, and that Russell, Moser, Abell and DaJoode all aren’t far behind.

And while over half the team consists of freshmen, Ament said it has him excited about the future of the program.

“We have a lot of potential. It’s good to see for the future of the program,” he said. “It’s a good feeling knowing we’ll have those same players developing over the next few years. They’ll turn into some quality players.”

Article source: http://www.newtondailynews.com/2012/03/30/potent-tigerhawk-golf-teams-reloading-for-2012/a8g890g/

WASHINGTON, March 30 (UPI) — Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., wasn’t questioning military officers’ honesty when he doubted they gave Congress “true advice” on the defense budget, a spokesman said.

The House Budget Committee chairman “believes the integrity of our generals and admirals is unimpeachable,” Ryan spokesman Conor Sweeney said. “They serve our country with distinction and unparalleled honor.”

His comments Thursday came hours after Ryan told a Washington budget-policy forum, sponsored by the National Journal magazine, that senior U.S. military commanders didn’t really want the $614 billion budget request they presented to Congress.

“We don’t think the generals are giving us their true advice,” Ryan told the forum. “We don’t think the generals believe that their budget is really the right budget.

“I think there’s a lot of budget smoke and mirrors in the Pentagon’s budget.”

The Pentagon’s new U.S. defense strategy calls for a shift in the reach of the Navy and Air Force to the Pacific, but Ryan said its budget “doesn’t do that. So I think the strategy doesn’t match the budget because I think what is going on here is this is a budget-driven strategy not a strategy-driven budget.”

Pentagon press secretary George Little said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta “expects honest, straightforward input from our military leadership and he believes that is precisely what they do on a regular basis, time and time again.”

Defense officials testifying before Congress must solemnly swear to give their best military advice.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the top Democrat and second-most-senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, called on Ryan to apologize for suggesting U.S. generals were dishonest in endorsing the Pentagon budget.

“And if he won’t, [House] Speaker [John] Boehner [R-Ohio] and Republican leadership should condemn Ryan’s remarks,” he told the National Journal.

“Calling our senior generals and admirals, like [Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin] Dempsey, ‘liars’ is totally out of bounds,” Smith said.

“You may not agree with everything they say, but accusing them of bowing to political pressure and lying to Congress about national security is an insult to them and the brave men and women they command on behalf of our grateful nation.”

President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans agreed on a budget Aug. 2, 2011, calling for defense cuts of $487 billion over a decade, as Washington ends the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and attempts to reduce the nation’s deficit.

Those defense cuts were included in Obama’s $3.8 trillion 2013 budget proposal released Feb. 13.

Ryan’s alternative $3.5 trillion 2013 budget plan, proposed March 20, passed the House 228-191 Thursday. It would let the military budget grow with inflation over 10 years.

An additional $500 billion in defense cuts could go into effect next year unless Congress stops them. The cuts are part of $1.2 trillion in across-the-board cuts that could be triggered by the Budget Control Act of 2011, which Obama signed Aug. 2, intended to end an era of trillion-dollar deficits.

The Pentagon said Thursday it anticipated hundreds of thousands of layoffs in the defense industry if lawmakers failed to reverse the $500 billion in cuts.

Article source: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/03/30/Ryan-Didnt-doubt-military-brass-honesty/UPI-67101333090800/

NEW YORK (WFAN) – Mike Pelfrey’s spring stats usually aren’t so hot — and this year has been no different.

According to the New York Daily News, certain members of the Mets’ front office were ready to give up on the 6-foot-7 hurler.

It was “suggested” during a recent meeting that the team release Pelfrey before Opening Day, the paper reported, though “none of the uniformed staff” would endorse the plan.

Well, the 28-year-old certainly made his case to stay Thursday.

Pelfrey, who entered his latest spring start with an 11.49 ERA, looked strong over 6 1/3 innings. He gave up one run on three hits, leading the Mets to a 9-1 win over the Houston Astros.

“I look at a couple things like the ball coming good again,” Pelfrey said. “Command was by far the best it’s been all spring training. I thought I did a good job of keeping the ball down. Obviously, (there were) a lot of groundballs from that.”

Command is right. The right-hander didn’t give up a single walk.

“But it is spring training,” said Pelfrey. “At the end of the day, I felt good, I felt strong and I thought it was pretty good.”

Mets manager Terry Collins was thrilled with the difference in Pelfrey, who has been working on an altered delivery with pitching coach Dan Warthen.

“I saw a power sinker that had great movement, beating it in the dirt,” Collins said. “He threw his curveball for strikes. (Catcher) Josh (Thole) said his splitter was outstanding.”

Collins added “it was really a step forward for him.”

A first-round pick in 2005, Pelfrey has gone 50-54 with a 4.40 ERA over six seasons with New York, alternating between up- and down-years.

“I think any time you have a good outing, you have to feel good about,” said Collins. “He’s a pro and he’s been here a long time and he might downplay it, but I was real happy with what I saw. I saw all the things today that I’ve heard about.”

Mets fans, do you think it’s almost time to give up on Big Pelf? Sound off in the comments below…

Article source: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/30/report-mets-brass-recently-suggested-releasing-mike-pelfrey/

Scottsbluff firefighters are hoping to recover two brass nozzles stolen from its old firetruck.

Fire Chief Dana Miller says that one nozzle was noticed missing on March 23, and the other was noticed missing on Monday.

The 1938 International firetruck has been on intermittent display at Monument Mall over the past year.

The truck is often referred to as the department’s “parade truck.”

The brass nozzles are about 2 feet tall.

Article source: http://www.1011now.com/news/headlines/Brass_Nozzles_Taken_from_Old_Scottbluffs_Firetruck_145138605.html

The larger conspiracy case against members of a Christian militia has fallen apart, but the feds still got guilty pleas on Thursday on charges the Hutaree’s leader and his 23-year-old son possessed illegal machine guns.

David Stone, Sr. and Joshua Stone “admitted that they possessed machine guns, specifically a Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle and a Double Star Corp. .223 caliber rifle, respectively, knowing that the firearms would shoot, and were designed to shoot, automatically more than one shot ,without manual reloading, by a single function of then trigger,” according to a Justice Department press release.

They both face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Based on their felony convictions, the Stones will never be allowed to possess firearms again.

A federal judge in Michigan tossed out the majority of the case earlier this week because she said that David Stone’s heated rhetoric against law enforcement didn’t amount to a specific plot and that the evidence against other members of the militia was weak.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade called the court’s order “disappointing” but said it “does not shake our commitment to dismantling groups who would harm our citizens and law enforcement officers, and these efforts will continue.”

“While we disagree with the court’s decision, we respect its role, and we recognize that reasonable minds can disagree on where legal lines are drawn,” McQuade said.

Stone, Sr. said the case should serve as a warning to the public.

“This could happen to anybody,” he said. “It’s amazing how someone can take a comment out of context and make it into what they want it to be.” People suspicious about the government, Stone said, now know “their paranoia is true.”

Full coverage of the Hutaree case here.

Ryan J. Reilly

Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.

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Martin County Sheriff’s Office

GRAND THEFT

A deputy was sent to the 8000 block of Southeast Little Harbor Drive in Hobe Sound to a report of a grand theft. An assistant dockmaster reported that someone had stolen an 18- to 20-inch-long brass cannon on a wooden platform from the second floor sitting room of the clubhouse. The room is always left unlocked and all members have access to it.

AUTO BURGLARY

A man saw someone going through things inside his neighbor’s car in the 7700 block of Southeast Courtney Terrace in Hobe Sound. When the burglar realized he had been seen, he jumped out of the car and began running. A woman driving a Maxima pulled up beside the burglar and picked him up. Nothing was reported missing from the burglarized car.

NO DRIVER LICENSE

A man was arrested in the area of Evergreen Avenue and Ellendale Street in Stuart during a traffic stop because he had no driver license.

Port St. Lucie Police

GRAND THEFT

An officer was sent to the 3200 block of Southwest Ronlea Place where a high school student reported that his former roommate had sent him a cellphone text a few weeks ago asking if she could pawn his Xbox and flat-screen television. By the time he arrived home, she had already pawned the items without his permission.

FRAUD

A woman received a letter that she was owed an escrow refund for property she previously owned in the 500 block of Southeast Voltair Terrace. When the check was issued and mailed, it was re-routed to her ex-husband’s home that he shared with his current wife. The woman also found that a check issued by the state of Florida in her name was cashed at a bank with her name and the ex-wife’s name on the reverse side.

SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT

A man returned from work to his home in the 5800 block of Northwest Dana Circle to find the garage door opened. Nothing appeared amiss in the home and numerous valuable items appeared to be untouched. It was uncertain whether the garage door had been unintentionally left open.

COURT ORDER VIOLATION

A careless driver, on his way from a night club, was pulled over for a traffic stop in the area of Southwest Port St. Lucie Boulevard and Southwest Cameo Boulevard. He was arrested after a check showed that he was under house arrest and not allowed to leave his home.

ATTEMPTED HOME BURGLARY

While a couple was attending a community meeting, someone attempted to break into their home in the first block of West Caribbean. The horizontal panes on the door to their home were pried upward, the screen was cut, and the door unlocked but their dead bolt required a key so the burglar was unable to get inside.

Fort Pierce Police

DOMESTIC BATTERY

An argument began when a mother tried to take something from her daughter’s bedroom in their home in the 1200 block of North 32nd Street. The woman’s teenage daughter grabbed her arm, resulting in a bruise, and forcefully threw her to the ground. The teen’s sister witnessed the confrontation and confirmed that her sister threw her mother down. The aggressive teen was arrested.

WARRANT

An officer was sent to a home in the 1000 block of South 27th Street to a report of an unwelcome visitor. A woman there reported that her drunken boyfriend would not leave. The boyfriend had an outstanding warrant for violation of probation on a DUI warrant and was arrested.

NARCOTICS FRAUD

An officer responded to a hospital in the 1700 South 23rd Street where it was reported that a woman had been trying to obtain a prescription for sleeping pills. It was discovered that the woman had already obtained 364 pills this year alone, and she should have only used 65 pills since the beginning of the year. Records showed that she had obtained prescriptions from four different doctors and had filled them at four different pharmacies.

SHOPLIFTING

A woman was arrested and charged with shoplifting from a discount department store in the 5100 block of Okeechobee Boulevard after she shopped for items off of an old receipt, fraudulently returned and received money back for those items, and then walked out of the store with additional unpaid items that she pulled from a store shelf. The total value of all of the stolen merchandise was $70.71.

Stuart Police

MISCELLANEOUS

Police responded to an attempted burglary of a home on Norton Lane after residents heard a noise coming from their patio and saw a man trying to open the screen door. When officers arrived the man took off on foot and then jumped into Poppleton Creek in an attempt to get away. Officers boarded a boat and caught up to the man, throwing him ropes so he could climb aboard but he refused. Eventually, he became exhausted, gave up, and boarded the boat. He was arrested and charged with attempted burglary, loitering and prowling, and resisting arrest without violence.

Police Blotter is compiled by Annette Jones from area law-enforcement records.

Article source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/police-blotter-brass-cannon-stolen-from-second-floor-of-a-hobe-sound-clubhouse-2269385.html?cxtype=ynews_rss

The Miami Dolphins were well represented at the pro day of Texas AM quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

General Manager Jeff Ireland, new head coach Joe Philbin and Brian Gaine, the team’s director of player personnel, all attended the workout for Tannehill, who is projected by most draft experts as the third best quarterback in the 2012 NFL draft.

The Dolphins also reportedly took Tannehill out for dinner Thursday night after his workout, which featured him completing 65-of-68 passes. Two of the three incomplete passes were dropped.

Tannehill, who was the Aggies leading receiver for his first two and a half seasons, ran a 4.62 40-yard dash. That’s after sitting out the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine because of a stress fracture in his foot.

He completed 62.5 percent of his passes in his two seasons as a college quarterback, throwing for 5,450 yards and 42 touchdowns. Despite throwing 21 interceptions he produced an impressive 134.2 quarterback rating.

Tannehill worked out in front of 22 of the NFL’s 32 teams on Thursday, with the Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs all well represented. Those are the four NFL teams that could select a quarterback early in the 2012 draft.

The Dolphins are in the market for a young quarterback because incumbent starter Matt Moore, and David Garrard , who was signed last week, are both seasoned veterans entering the final year of their contract.

Miami intends to install a west coast offense this offseason, and plan to hold an open competition for the starting spot with all the quarterbacks on the roster.

The Dolphins, which possess the eighth pick in next month’s NFL draft, have a competitive advantage over other NFL teams when it comes to scouting Tannehill because the team’s new offensive coordinator, Mike Sherman, coached him at Texas AM.

“He was a receiver for us for two and a half years. He had over 1,000 yards receiving,” Sherman said of Tannehill, who caught 112 passes for 1,596 yards and 10 touchdowns before becoming a quarterback midway through his junior season as a result of Jerrod Johnson season-ending injury.

“Like all good quarterbacks he had great poise. Very confident in any system, west coast or not,” Sherman said. “Any quarterback has to be confident in his own skin and believe in himself. They always say a great quarterback makes those around him better. I thought [Brett] Favre did that. I think Aaron Rodgers does that. I think Tannehill does that as well.”

While Tannehill is projected as a first-round pick, most draft experts and talent evaluators don’t feel he’s a quarterback ready to contribute right away because of his limited experience.

Article source: http://sunsentinel.feedsportal.com/c/34258/f/623294/s/1dec588a/l/0L0Ssun0Esentinel0N0Csfl0Eryan0Etannehill0Emiami0Edolphins0E0A30A120H0A0H24779650Bstory0Dtrack0Frss/story01.htm

Standing in the visitor’s dugout in San Diego on the final day of a 91-loss season, Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts voiced optimism about the team’s chances in 2012.

“I don’t think it’s meaningful to describe a year as rebuilding or reloading or any of that,” Ricketts said. “If you get the right players on the team and they all stay healthy and they play hard, a team can go from 70 wins to 90. It happens pretty frequently.”

Ricketts got the man he wanted to ignite that turnaround, but the outlook for the first year of the Theo Epstein regime isn’t rosy.

The preseason prediction in Sports Illustrated’s baseball issue has the Cubs losing 96 games and finishing 23 games behind the division-winning Reds in the National League Central.

Most prognosticators have the Cubs finishing fifth for the third straight season, ahead of the lowly Astros, while the more optimistic observers peg them for fourth, passing the perennial doormat Pirates. Before Tuesday’s game against the Reds at Goodyear Park, Cubs manager Dale Sveum insisted he isn’t aware of predictions, and isn’t really concerned.

“I don’t really know what they are,” he said. “Predictions and odds and all that stuff are what they are. Hot starts, teams that get people doing things in the right spots, change a whole lot of things during the course of a season.

“The bottom line is when you have starting pitching like we (have), we can do a lot of things if the other (players) live up to half of their expectations.”

The Cubs had the worst rotation in baseball last year, with Matt Garza the only consistent starter from April through September. Sveum hasn’t announced the final two vacancies behind Ryan Dempster, Garza and Paul Maholm, but Chris Volstad and Jeff Samardzija are expected to be named to those spots Thursday, with Randy Wells likely to pitch out of the bullpen.

“We have a nice starting staff,” Sveum said, declining to name the last two starters. “(If they pitch) a lot of innings and stay healthy, in our division, if we get timely hitting and our two corner guys (Ian Stewart and Bryan LaHair) just live up to their capabilities … we have a chance of scoring runs.”

Sveum, like every manager, pointed to the importance of getting off to a good start. But it may be even more critical for the Cubs, who need bounce-back years from several players. Sveum named Stewart and Geovany Soto as two prime examples.

“It’s vital for that momentum to keep going throughout the season,” he said. “It’s really important to start out (well), obviously.”

While most expect this to be a transitional year, Sveum and Ricketts put the onus on the Cubs early, saying the first week of camp they expect to be contenders. Few outside the clubhouse believe that can happen.

“We’re just going about our business,” LaHair said. “We’re here to win a World Series, and we’re here to get to the playoffs.

“These are the things we want to achieve. What everybody else says doesn’t matter. We’re going to stick together and we’re going to win together.”

Article source: http://www.bnd.com/2012/03/28/v-print/2118376/cubs-out-to-prove-doomsayers-wrong.html

David Stone, Sr., 47, and his son Joshua Stone, 23, members of the Hutaree Militia, pleaded guilty this morning in federal court to weapons charges, United States Attorney Barbara McQuade announced. Ms. McQuade was joined in the announcement by Andrew G. Arena, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

During a hearing this morning before United States District Judge Victoria Roberts, both David Stone, Sr. and Joshua Stone admitted that they possessed machine guns, specifically a Bushmaster .223 caliber rifle and a Double Star Corp. .223 caliber rifle, respectively, knowing that the firearms would shoot, and were designed to shoot, automatically more than one shot ,without manual reloading, by a single function of then trigger. Possession of such a firearm is in violation of federal gun laws.

Based on their guilty pleas, each defendant faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

United States Attorney McQuade said, “We are gratified that these felony convictions mean that these defendants will never be permitted to possess firearms again. The court’s order dismissing the more serious charges in this case was disappointing, but it does not shake our commitment to dismantling groups who would harm our citizens and law enforcement officers, and these efforts will continue. While we disagree with the court’s decision, we respect its role, and we recognize that reasonable minds can disagree on where legal lines are drawn. We thank the members of the jury for their time and service to this case.”

Ms. McQuade commended the efforts of Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Graveline and Sheldon Light, along with the investigative cooperation of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and other federal agencies who worked diligently throughout this investigation and lengthy trial.

Article source: http://www.fbi.gov/detroit/press-releases/2012/members-of-the-hutaree-militia-plead-guilty-to-weapons-charges

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Pakistani army chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani met with Gen. James Mattis, head of the U.S. military’s Central Command, and NATO Afghanistan commander Gen. John Allen, Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

“We are hopeful that the ground supply routes will open in the near future. They are important to our effort in Afghanistan,” Little was quoted as saying, though he declined to give details.

The United States is desperately trying to prevent Pakistan from imposing a ban on U.S. drones used to strike militants near the Afghan border.

Although U.S. officials offered a series of key concessions — including giving Pakistan’s intelligence agencies advance notice of any strike — the South Asian country flatly rejected all of them, the Associated Press reported Tuesday, citing officials on both sides who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A ban on drone operations would be a major blow to Washington, ending one of the U.S. military’s most effective campaigns against al Qaeda.

U.S. officials also want Pakistan to reopen its border crossings with Afghanistan, whose closure has forced NATO to use costlier northern routes to supply troops.

The Pakistani military said Wednesday’s meeting would focus on an investigation into the deadly Nov. 26 cross-border incident. ”The meeting will also look at border security and coordination measures and how to improve them,” a senior Pakistani military official told Reuters, requesting anonymity.

On Thursday, a foreign-ministry spokesman said Pakistan is looking forward to normalizing relations with the United States once the parliament completes its assessment of the NATO-supply issue, the English-language daily Dawn reported.

Abdul Basit, speaking to reporters in the capital, Islamabad, expressed confidence that the parliamentary process will be completed soon and lay the foundation for a strong and stable bilateral relationship. He also said Pakistan’s government will follow whatever guidelines lawmakers set with regard to drone strikes.

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Article source: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/321359/20120329/pakistan-relations-afghanistan-drone-nato.htm

Dwyer Instruments, Inc., the preferred source for your complete range of practical and affordable instrumentation, is announcing the release of its NEW SERIES SSV SOLENOID VALVES.

The SSV Series Solenoid Valves are compact, general-service, 110 VAC two-way guide type solenoid valves for air, gas, water, and other liquid applications. They are available in brass or stainless steel with a normally open design and can be oriented in any position. The NEMA 13(IP54) rated solenoid enclosure provides protection against ingress of foreign objects.

The brass bodied valves, the SSV-B Series, come assembled with an NBR seal having a maximum process temperature of 80°C (176°F). The stainless steel bodied valves, the SSV-S Series, come assembled with a fluoroelastomer seal having a maximum process temperature of 120°C (248°F). The SSV Series offers a wide range of valve sizes and flow rates with, sizes ranging from 1/8 to 2″ NPT and orifices from 3 to 50 mm.

Complete details are available on our website @ http://www.dwyer-inst.com/Product/Val…
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Article source: http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/Solenoid-Valves-come-with-stainless-steel-or-brass-body-612253

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JUST two months after being freed from an eight-year jail term for armed robbery a man was involved in an attempt to rob a cash delivery guard in Stratford.

Aaron Collins pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to the attempted robbery outside the Santander bank in Wood Street, in November 2010.

The 32-year-old, of Kingfisher Drive, Chelmsley Wood, also admitted possessing a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to rob guard Darren Widd.

A second man, 24-year-old Richard Challenor, of Grantley Drive, Chelmsley Wood, had already pleaded guilty to the attempted robbery and firearm offences.

Challenor and an accomplice approached Mr Widd after he got out of his cash delivery van outside the bank at shortly after 7pm. He was threatened with a gun, but resisted and there was a scuffle during which he and one of the robbers fell to the ground.

The robbers made off empty-handed in a stolen high-powered Mazda driven by Collins, and the police had to abandon a chase for safety reasons after it reached up to 100mph.

But the Mazda was later involved in a collision in Honiley, and the occupants ran off to a nearby industrial estate where the two were arrested.

Mr Howatt said Collins was entering his plea on the basis that he was not in ‘joint possession’ of the gun, which was brandished by Challenor.

During proceedings it emerged Collins was jailed for eight years for the armed robbery of an Asda store in Coventry and he had only been out of prison on licence for two months when he took part in the attack in Stratford.

Judge Marten Coates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Collins, which he said was necessary to consider the issue of whether he posed a danger to the public.

Collins, who was remanded in custody, will be sentenced with Challenor who is also in custody.

The robbery for which Collins was given the eight-year term had taken place at the Asda store in Walsgrave, Coventry, at 11am on New Year’s Eve 2004.

He was one of three masked, gun-wielding men who targeted a cash delivery at the store, pistol-whipping a security guard and firing shots into the air, terrifying staff and customers, before reloading their weapons.

Article source: http://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/2012/03/29/news-Robber-tried-to-hit-cash-guard-months-after-release-32159.html

The way Montclair High School boys tennis coach Mark Janifer sees things, this week will see the beginning of a two-year process.

It’s an intriguing, necessary way to view the Mounties’ varsity roster, which will have just one senior challenging for seven starting spots.

Five players are back from a lineup that finished 12-8, a respectable fourth place in a league featuring arguably three of the five best teams in New Jersey. And while a sophomore-laden Montclair was no match for powerhouses Millburn, Livingston and Newark Academy last year, Janifer (entering his ninth year in charge of the MHS boys) is hopeful that the experience will benefit his squad when the “two-year process” begins Monday at the Nishuane Park courts.

“We have to start gearing ourselves up to compete with the top teams,” Janifer said. “Those teams keep reloading, and they aren’t going anywhere. Most of our guys are going to be back next year, and if they want to excel, to really be among the best, they’ve got to get past those top teams. That’s the challenge in front of this team.”

A year older and stronger, junior Jackson Claudio will be the Mounties’ top player. Entering his third season at No. 1 singles, the gregarious Claudio (17-6 last season) made a name for himself at last year’s State singles tournament, winning two matches before bowing out in the Round of 16.

“Jackson can be very frustrating to play against,” Janifer said. “He’s so quick around the court, moving side-to-side. He uses a lot of topspin, he’ll get everything back over the net. He never stops going.”

As of press time, the other two singles spots figure to be decided between a pair of sophomores, Leo Hentschker (second singles) and Will Wallace.

Hentschker showed great improvement in the offseason, Janifer said, and moved up to the No. 2 position from first doubles; Wallace played occasional singles matches as well in 2011.

Montclair’s top doubles team figures to be junior captain Ryan Kautz and either Julien Naegeli, a sophomore, or Liam Allen, a junior. The odd man out will be part of the second doubles team, while the seventh and final starting spot has yet to be determined between juniors Aidan Apprendi and Harrison Bleiweiss and senior Will Goodman.

Among the goals Janifer set for his team, the coach is looking for his first doubles team to qualify for the State tournament after a narrow miss last year. No. 1 singles and doubles players must have a winning percentage of .600 or better by the cutoff date to qualify for the State championships.

Article source: http://www.northjersey.com/sports/144783665_Behind_Claudio__a_bright_future_ahead.html

David Lassman/The Post-StandardTom LenweaverGood to be back from vacation. Lots of good stories will be appearing in coming weeks.

This week’s offerings stretch over three days.

FRIDAY:
Main piece: Profile on Tom Lenweaver, a well-known local wildlife artist.

Column: Bits and pieces about upcoming trout season.

SUNDAY:
Main piece: Manlius resident Steve Weiter got ready for this year’s trout fishing season by warming up in Argentina with some friends at the end of February. He talks about his adventures.

Column: Looking to write about a CNY woman who recently joined the ranks of the Winter 46ers…and/or a well-known environmental conservation officer who’s retiring.

MONDAY:
Main piece: Highlights from opening day of the trout fishing season.
ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT?
The effectiveness of this report is two-fold. First it lets readers know what’s coming up story-wise. It also allows readers a chance to affect coverage and provide sources for upcoming stories. Bottom line: Keep in touch and give input. You could make a difference as to what appears week to week on the outdoors page! Email me at dfigura@syracuse.com or call 470-6066.

-Folks I’d like to get in contact with for future stories/columns:
- Individuals who fish offshore at the power plant in Lansing on Cayuga Lake
- Anyone who’s getting out in boats and fishing for perch, either on Oneida or any of the Finger Lakes.
- Individuals with outdoor passions who would make an interesting feature story.
- Someone who’s saving big bucks by reloading their own ammunition.
- Anyone who’s tapping into the local bullhead scene.
- Anyone who still gets out to dip net for smelt on Owasco or Cayuga Lakes.

If you want to join The Post-Standard’s Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here..

FIGURA ON FACEBOOK:
For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page, which I check several times daily for feedback and story ideas. I also post personal fishing and hunting and other outdoors-related photos from time to time and I ask members to do the same. When you join, please be sure and hit the “like” button.

Article source: http://blog.syracuse.com/outdoors/2012/03/figura_writing_this_week_about_1.html

28 March 2012
Last updated at 13:03 ET

Both sides are believed to be eager to improve relations

Pakistan’s army chief has met two top US generals in the first such talks since US air raids killed 24 Pakistani troops on the Afghan border last year.

Gen Pervez Kayani held talks near Islamabad with Gen James Mattis, head of Central Command, and Gen John Allen, Nato force commander in Afghanistan.

The attack led to Pakistan closing its border to Nato supplies to Afghanistan.

On Tuesday Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani met US President Barack Obama at a nuclear summit in Seoul.

A Pakistan army statement said that the generals discussed the Pakistani investigation of the American air strikes in November and more effective ways to improve co-ordination on the Afghan-Pakistan border.

The talks were held at army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The United States has expressed regret for the November attack, but has so far not given a formal apology.

Pakistan’s parliament is now debating a revised framework for its relationship with Washington.

Correspondents say that the US is eager to get the supplies moving again because it is much more expensive to ship goods by an alternative route that runs through Central Asia.

The supply line through Pakistan is also vital for the US when it trucks out equipment from Afghanistan as its combat troops are due to withdraw from the country by the end of 2014.

A better relationship with the US is also in Pakistan’s interest, correspondents say, because it needs Washington’s assistance to keep its struggling economy afloat.

Relations between the two countries were already strained because of the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden – which happened without Islamabad’s knowledge – by US special forces in Pakistan last May.

But correspondents say that after a cooling down period, there are growing signs that both sides are keen to reset their relationship, albeit on more pragmatic terms.

Tuesday’s meeting between Mr Gilani and President Obama was the first held by the two men since Bin Laden’s death.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17533823

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Dirty Dozen Brass Band Announces New Album _Twenty Dozen_

2012-03-28
/news/
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Published: 2012/03/28

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has announced the release of a new album, titled Twenty Dozen, coming out May 1 on their new label home Savoy Jazz. The album, which celebrates the group’s 35th anniversary, features 11 new originals produced by Scott Billington at The Music Shed in New Orleans, LA. With several incarnations throughout the years, the band now consists of Gregory Davis (trumpet, vocals), Roger Lewis (baritone, soprano sax), Kevin Harris (tenor saxophone), Efrem Towns (trumpet, flugelhorn), Kirk Joseph (sousaphone), Terence Higgins (drums) and Kyle Roussel (keyboard). Former member Jake Eckert (guitar) is also featured on the new album. See below for the full tracklisting.

“It’s a big old musical gumbo, and that probably made the difference, separating us from other brass bands out of New Orleans,” says Lewis. “It put a different twist on the music. We were not trying to change anything, we were just playing the music we wanted to play and not stay in one particular bag.”

In addition to the new album, the band will embark on a series of tour dates including a three night BAM residency in Brooklyn, NY with Dr. John and a series of shows in their native New Orleans celebrating the album release/35th Anniversary. The full list of dates can be found after the jump.

Twenty Dozen track listing:
1) Tomorrow
2) Jook
3) Best Of All
4) Git Up
5) Don’t Stop The Music
6) We Gon’ Roll
7) Trippin’ Inside A Bubble Paul Barbarin’s Second Line
9) E-Flat Blues
10) When The Saints Go Marching In
11) Dirty Old Man

Dirty Dozen Brass Band Tour Dates
3/31 Ft. Lauderdale—New Times Beerfest
4/4 New Orleans, LA—Wednesdays at LaFayette Square
4/6 Shreveport, LA—Fatty Arbuckle’s
4/12 Brooklyn, NY—BAM Residency w/ Dr. John
4/13 Brooklyn, NY—BAM Residency w/ Dr. John
4/14 Brooklyn, NY—BAM Residency w/ Dr. John
4/20 Little Rock, AR—Sticky Fingerz
4/21 Vicksburg, MS—Vicksburg Riverfest
4/26 New Orleans, LA—Tipitina’s
4/28 New Orleans, LA—The Temple – 35th Anniversary Reunion Concert
4/29 New Orleans, LA—House of Blues
4/30 New Orleans, LA—Tipitina’s Instruments A Comin’ Benefit
5/3 New Orleans, LA—New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival – Main Stage
5/4 New Orleans, LA—d.b.a.
5/17 Gulf Shores, AL—Hangout Music Festival
5/24 Kansas City, MO—Crossroads
5/26 Cedar Rapdis, IA—Legion Arts CSPS Hall
5/27 Chillicothe, IL—Summer Camp 2012
6/1 Fall River, MA—The Narrows Center for the Arts
6/2 Augusta, NJ—Crawfish Festival
6/10 Vienna, VA—Louisiana Swamp Romp – Wolf Trap
7/29 Niigata, Japan—Fuji Rock Festival
8/11 Goshen, CT—Litchfield Jazz Fest
8/17 Bethlehem, PA—Levitt Pavilion
8/19 Salem, MA—Salem Jazz Soul Fest

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Article source: http://www.jambands.com/news/2012/03/28/dirty-dozen-brass-band-announces-new-album-twenty-dozen

Brass Elephant to become cafe called The Museum 

Posted: 1:24 pm Wed, March 28, 2012

By Melody Simmons

The new manager of the former Brass Elephant restaurant said Wednesday the doors will soon reopen as a seafood and brunch specialty café called The Museum — and not as a night club as originally planned.

Taking a break from renovations, Charlie Curry said the restaurant will feature menu items such as shrimp and lobster along …

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Article source: http://thedailyrecord.com/2012/03/28/brass-elephant-to-become-cafe-called-the-museum/

Technology on XTS, ATS Can Help Avoid Crashes
Control and alert strategy assists drivers and can take action if needed

DETROIT – Cadillac will introduce a network of cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors on the all-new 2013 XTS and ATS luxury sedans designed to help drivers avoid crashes by improving their vision and awareness of road hazards, even braking automatically if sensors predict the vehicle is at risk of crashing.

“New technology in the XTS and ATS is intended to extend the vision around the car to help drivers identify obstacles. When necessary, the vehicle may take action to help them avoid a collision,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. “Cadillac expands its lineup dramatically in 2013, and these technologies are an important component.”

The Driver Awareness Package, available for the launch of the XTS this spring and ATS this summer, and Driver Assist Package, available on XTS and ATS this fall, includes:

Safety Seat Alert – Uses auto industry-first directional seat vibrations on either the left and/or right side of the driver’s seat cushion, depending on the location and nature of the impending concern, alerts the driver to a potential collision. Threats from the front and rear trigger pulses on both sides of the seats. It works with other visual alerts, and research shows it can quickly and accurately focus driver attention to the direction of potential crashes. It also may help drivers who may be annoyed by or not hear beeping alerts. The driver may also program the system to replace seat vibrations with beeps.

Forward Collision Alert – Radar and camera technology detect a possible front-end collision threat and alert the driver, giving him or her additional time to react. The driver can set the alerting time to far, medium or near settings.

Lane Departure Warning – A camera-based lane detection system alerts the driver of unsignalled lane changes. If a turn signal is used, it will not send a warning. The camera, mounted near the inside rearview mirror, identifies traffic lane markings. Lane Departure Warning activates at speeds above 35 miles per hour.

Side Blind Zone Alert – Using radar sensors on both sides of the vehicle, the system “looks” for other vehicles in the blind zone areas and indicates their presence with symbols lit in the outside mirrors. This technology alerts drivers to vehicles that otherwise might escape their vision. If the driver activates the turn signal in the direction of the detected vehicle, the symbol will flash to provide extra warning not to change lanes.

Rear Cross Traffic Alert – Using radar sensors, it warns the driver of approaching cross traffic when backing out of a parking spot. Left or right-side alerts are triggered if moving vehicles are detected. The system helps give drivers more time to react to obstacles that may be difficult to see in the side mirror.

Adaptive Forward Lighting – With adaptive forward lighting, the projector headlamps swivel in the direction of the front wheels to maintain forward lighting in concert with vehicle steering. Heading into a curve or turning around a corner, the headlamps swivel up to 15 degrees at varying speeds, depending on the severity of the curve and the vehicle speed. The system works with both low- and high-beam headlamp settings. The system improves visibility at night and in inclement weather compared to traditional headlamps, making driving easier.
Rear Vision Camera With Dynamic Guidelines – With a display in the center stack, the camera provides a natural view of objects directly behind the XTS or ATS. Dynamic guide lines laid over the video image assist in parking maneuvers by showing the vehicle’s path and available space.

Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control – This system uses radar and vision sensing to detect a vehicle ahead and calculate its distance and relative speed, and then sends a message to the onboard computer to maintain a driver-selected following time/distance. When the traffic has cleared or the object has moved, the system will accelerate the vehicle back to the previously set speed. Like conventional cruise control, the driver can always control the system by applying the brakes or accelerator.

Front and Rear Automatic Braking – Using radar and ultrasonic sensors, this feature can help prevent or mitigate front and rear collisions at low speeds via a progression of alerts that extends to complete braking if necessary. In effect, the system works like a “virtual bumper.” For example, if the vehicle is in stop-and-go traffic, the system will alert if the lead vehicle slows unexpectedly and, if needed, brake the vehicle to help prevent an impact or reduce impact speed.

Automatic Collision Preparation – When the XTS and ATS sense a collision is imminent, braking is applied to lessen the impact severity with the vehicle detected ahead, or even enable the driver to avoid the crash.

Intelligent Brake Assist – Detects a panic-braking situation and assists a braking driver by automatically applying added brake force to help slow the vehicle more quickly. This system uses radar and vision sensors to help the driver avoid or mitigate damage caused by a front-end crash.

The Driver Assist Package uses sensor fusion, which integrates a broad range of sensing and positioning technologies. Sensor fusion is a key to Cadillac’s ongoing work in developing sophisticated, self-driving systems able to do things such as automatically maintain lane position and adapt to surrounding traffic. Semi-autonomous or even fully autonomous driving systems could be available by the end of the decade.

Beyond the new technologies, XTS and ATS have a strong body structure and 10 standard air bags. Other standard safety features include:

• Dual-stage frontal driver air bag
• Dual-stage frontal passenger air bag with passenger sensing system
• Driver and front passenger side-impact air bars
• Driver and front passenger knee air bags
• Outboard head curtain air bags, front and rear, with rollover sensing
• Outboard rear thorax air bags
• Safety belt pretensioners and load limiters
• Child seat LATCH system
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control
• Four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel antilock brakes.

Standard OnStar

OnStar is standard on XTS and ATS. It uses GPS and cellular phone technology to automatically call for help in the event of collision. OnStar service also includes myCadillac and OnStar myLink mobile apps, which offer vehicle information and OnStar services via the customer’s smartphone.

Article source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/28/cadillac-adding-vibrating-safety-seat-alert-to-full-suite-of-saf/

28 March 2012
Last updated at 07:48 ET

Both sides are believed to be eager to improve relations

Pakistan’s army chief is to meet two top US generals in the first such talks since US air raids killed 24 Pakistani troops on the Afghan border last year.

Gen Pervez Kayani will hold talks in Islamabad with Gen James Mattis, head of Central Command, and Gen John Allen, Nato force commander in Afghanistan.

The attack led to Pakistan closing its border to Nato supplies to Afghanistan.

On Tuesday Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani met US President Barack Obama at a nuclear summit in Seoul.

The United States has expressed regret for the attack, but has so far not given a formal apology.

Pakistan’s army said that the meeting between the generals would focus on “improvements in border co-ordination procedures” and the Pakistani parliamentary inquiry into the November air strikes.

Correspondents say that the US is eager to get the supplies moving again because it is much more expensive to ship goods by an alternative route that runs through Central Asia.

The supply line through Pakistan is also vital for the US when it trucks out equipment from Afghanistan as its combat troops are due to withdraw from the country by the end of 2014.

A better relationship with the US is also in Pakistan’s interest, correspondents say, because it needs Washington’s assistance to keep its struggling economy afloat.

Relations between the two countries were already strained because of the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden – which happened without Islamabad’s knowledge – by US special forces in Pakistan last May.

But correspondents say that after a cooling down period, there are growing signs that both sides are keen to reset their relationship, albeit on more pragmatic terms.

Tuesday’s meeting between Mr Gilani and President Obama was the first held by the two men since Bin Laden’s death.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-17533823

Dirty Dozen Brass Band To Deliver New Album in May

03/28/2012

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Dirty Dozen Brass Band have set a May 1st release date for their new album “Twenty Dozen”. Savoy Jazz sent out these details:

Exactly thirty five years ago born in the New Orleans neighborhood of Treme, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band revolutionized the New Orleans brass band by incorporating funk and bebop into the traditional style.

Anchored by original members Roger Lewis, Kevin Harris, Gregory Davis, Efrem Towns and Kirk Joseph, the band has signed with Savoy Jazz who will help celebrate their auspicious anniversary with the release of “Twenty Dozen”—an all new eleven track album which will be released on May 1st.

Produced by Scott Billington at The Music Shed in New Orleans, the album showcases the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s quintessential sound mixed with a heady Caribbean flavor. The band will embark on a series of tour dates including a three night BAM residency in Brooklyn with Dr. John and a triumphant series of shows in their native New Orleans culminating in a very special album release/35th anniversary reunion concert at the Temple on April 28th and a featured slot at the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival on May 3rd.

Born under the auspices of the Dirty Dozen Social and Pleasure Club in 1977, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band were a seven member ensemble who started out as the house band and eventually broke through the boundaries of the traditional brass band to evolve into a highly lauded world-renowned musical force. With several incarnations throughout the years, the band now consists of Gregory Davis (trumpet, vocals), Roger Lewis (baritone, soprano sax), Kevin Harris (tenor saxophone), Efrem Towns (trumpet, flugelhorn), Kirk Joseph (sousaphone), Terence Higgins (drums), and Kyle Roussel (keyboard). Former member Jake Eckert (guitar) is featured throughout “Twenty Dozen.”

Says Roger Lewis: “It’s a big old musical gumbo, and that probably made the difference, separating us from other brass bands out of New Orleans. It put a different twist on the music. We were not trying to change anything, we were just playing the music we wanted to play and not stay in one particular bag.”

“Twenty Dozen” track listing:
Tomorrow
Jook
Best Of All
Git Up
Don’t Stop The Music
We Gon’ Roll
Trippin’ Inside A Bubble
Paul Barbarin’s Second Line
E-Flat Blues
When The Saints Go Marching In
Dirty Old Man

Confirmed tour dates:
3/31 – Ft. Lauderdale – New Times Beerfest
4/4 – New Orleans, LA – Wednesdays at LaFayette Square
4/6 – Shreveport, LA – Fatty Arbuckle’s
4/12 – Brooklyn, NY – BAM Residency w/ Dr. John
4/13 – Brooklyn, NY – BAM Residency w/ Dr. John
4/14 – Brooklyn, NY – BAM Residency w/ Dr. John
4/20 – Little Rock, AR – Sticky Fingerz
4/21 – Vicksburg, MS – Vicksburg Riverfest
4/26 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
4/28 – New Orleans, LA – The Temple – 35th Anniversary Reunion Concert
4/29 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
4/30 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s Instruments A Comin’ Benefit
5/3 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival – Main Stage
5/4 – New Orleans, LA – d.b.a.
5/17 – Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Music Festival
5/24 – Kansas City, MO – Crossroads
5/26 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Legion Arts CSPS Hall
5/27 – Chillicothe, IL – Summer Camp 2012
6/1 – Fall River, MA – The Narrows Center for the Arts
6/2 – Augusta, NJ – Crawfish Festival
6/10 – Vienna, VA – Louisiana Swamp Romp – Wolf Trap
7/29 – Niigata, Japan – FujiRock Festival
8/11 – Goshen, CT – Litchfield Jazz Fest
8/17 – Bethlehem, PA – Levitt Pavilion
8/19 – Salem, MA – Salem Jazz Soul Fest

antiMUSIC News featured on RockNews.info and Yahoo News

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…end

Article source: http://www.antimusic.com/news/12/March/28Dirty_Dozen_Brass_Band_To_Deliver_New_Album_in_May.shtml

New tasers safer – Police Association

Updated at 6:13 pm today

The Police Association says new double-shot tasers that the police plan to introduce will make the weapons safer to use.

The association’s president Greg O’Connor says in some cases where tasers have failed, one of the prongs has missed the target, leaving police with limited options.

He says having the extra charge available means there is another chance to use the taser without having to resort to firearms.

The replacement tasers are a double-shot model that fire two charges without the need for reloading.

The single-shot model has been in use since 2007.

The new X-2 model works almost the same as the current X-26, firing two small prongs that attach to a target – but it has a second cartridge.

Superintendent John Rivers says, however, that the double-shot capability is not the primary reason for the upgrade.

He says the overall rationale is that the taser – like any other police asset – requires programme replacement.

The Green Party is concerned about the likelihood of the tasers being used more routinely, rather than as a weapon of last resort.

Police spokesperson David Clendon says the party will be challenging police to explain why they need the upgrade.

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand

Article source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/101969/police-to-replace-tasers-with-double-shot-model

• Duke guard Austin Rivers is just the fourth player to leave for the NBA after one season in Mike Krzyzewski’s 32 seasons at the Durham, N.C., school. Rivers’ father, Doc Rivers, coaches the Boston Celtics. (Associated Press)

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ANALYSIS/OPINION:

Is coach Mike Krzyzewski running a basketball factory at Duke? Has he turned his back on education? Are his Blue Devils better role models than John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats?

The correct answers are yes, no and no, respectively.

But (don’t look now), Duke has produced a one-and-done player for the second consecutive season. Freshman Austin Rivers is leaving for the NBA draft.

“Duke has prepared me for the challenges that are ahead both on and off the court,” Rivers said in a statement issued by the school. “I have learned so much from the coaching staff and my teammates that will help me succeed at the next level.”

A certain stereotype often is attached to one-and-dones, much like the cliched image of preps-to-pros who preceded them until 2006. They all hail from poor families and they’re poor students, possessing poor character and judgment. Basketball is their only “ticket” out, as they neither appreciate college degrees nor have the intellect to obtain one.

We’re comfortable with that perception draped on Kentucky, where Calipari’s revolving-door program is built on NBA-ready freshmen. A half-dozen one-and-done Wildcats were selected in the first round of the past two drafts. Calipari’s freshmen have been top-four picks in four consecutive drafts, including No. 1 picks John Wall (2010) and Derrick Rose (Memphis, 2008).

The streak will continue if, as expected, Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist leave school early. Davis is the consensus No. 1 pick, and Kidd-Gilchrist is projected in the top five.

His success at recruiting and reloading has made Calipari the bane of his sport, as if one-and-done players are somehow dirty. Never mind that he said Brandon Knight, the No. 8 pick last year, transferred 23 honors courses upon enrollment at Kentucky and left as a freshman with 60 credits and a 4.0 GPA.

Paint them all with the same broad brush, the bad guys using college as a pit stop at best and a doormat at worst.

But when it happens at Duke, one of the nation’s most-pristine powerhouses, you have to reconsider everything. Rivers, the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, isn’t coming out because his family is broke, or Coach K gets on his nerves, or education is meaningless to him.

He’s coming out because he wants to play with the world’s greatest ballers. The multimillion dollar contract he’ll sign in a few months is gravy.

“Austin had a terrific year as a freshman and has put himself in a position to pursue his dream of being a great player in the NBA,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “He is an outstanding young man with an even more-impressive family. We are in total support of Austin, his family and his decision. We look forward to watching him continue to develop and excel at the next level.”

Coach K issued a near-identical statement when Kyrie Irving left as a freshman and became the No. 1 overall pick last year. Like Rivers, Irving comes from a sound background. His father, a former Boston University standout, graduated with an economics degree and works as a senior bond analyst at Thomson Reuters. Irving promised to earn his degree within five years and took a full course load while the labor dispute was being hammered out last summer.

Irving, the favorite to win Rookie of the Year, and Rivers, a projected lottery pick, give Coach K four one-and-done players in his 32 seasons at Duke.

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© Copyright 2012 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Article source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/27/snyder-one-and-done-freshmen-come-from-all-walks/

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Standing in the visitor’s dugout in San Diego on the final day of a 91-loss season, Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts voiced optimism about the team’s chances in 2012.

“I don’t think it’s meaningful to describe a year as rebuilding or reloading or any of that,” Ricketts said. “If you get the right players on the team and they all stay healthy and they play hard, a team can go from 70 wins to 90. It happens pretty frequently.”

Ricketts got the man he wanted to ignite that turnaround, but the outlook for the first year of the Theo Epstein regime isn’t rosy.

The preseason prediction in Sports Illustrated’s baseball issue has the Cubs losing 96 games in 2012 and finishing 23 games behind the division-winning Reds in the National League Central.

Most prognosticators have the Cubs finishing fifth for the third straight season, ahead of the lowly Astros, while the more optimistic observers peg them for fourth, passing the perennial doormat Pirates. Before Tuesday’s game against the Reds at Goodyear Park, Cubs manager Dale Sveum insisted he isn’t aware of any predictions, and isn’t really concerned.

“I don’t really know what they are,” he said. “Predictions and odds and all that stuff are what they are. Hot starts, teams that get people doing things in the right spots, change a whole lot of things during the course of a season.

“The bottom line is when you have starting pitching like we (have), we can do a lot of things if the other (players) live up to half of their expectations.”

The Cubs had the worst rotation in baseball last year, with Matt Garza the only consistent starter from April through September. Sveum hasn’t announced the final two vacancies behind Ryan Dempster, Garza and Paul Maholm, but Chris Volstad and Jeff Samardzija are expected to be named to those spots Thursday, with Randy Wells likely to pitch out of the bullpen.

“We have a nice starting staff,” Sveum said, declining to name the last two starters. “(If they pitch) a lot of innings and stay healthy, in our division, if we get timely hitting and our two corner guys (Ian Stewart and Bryan LaHair) just live up to their capabilities … we have a chance of scoring runs.”

Sveum, like every manager, pointed to the importance of getting off to a good start. But it may be even more critical for the Cubs, who need bounce-back years from several players. Sveum named Stewart and Geovany Soto as two prime examples.

“It’s vital for that momentum to keep going throughout the season,” he said. “It’s really important to start out (well), obviously.”

While most expect this to be a transitional year, Sveum and Ricketts put the onus on the Cubs early, stating the first week of camp they expect to be contenders. Few outside the clubhouse believe that can happen.

“We’re just going about our business,” LaHair said. “We’re here to win a World Series, and we’re here to get to the playoffs.

“These are the things we want to achieve. What everybody else says doesn’t matter to us. We’re going to stick together and we’re going to win together.”

psullivan@tribune.com

Twitter @PWSullivan

Article source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0328-cubs-chicago--20120328,0,7561843.story

Jericho Brass, Chattanooga’s traditional brass band will perform at Southside Casual Classics on Monday, April 9, 7:30 p.m. at the Camp House.

Review for Jericho Brass: 
The Jericho Brass, a traditional British-style brass band, has been providing brass music in Chattanooga and surrounding communities since 1998.  An all volunteer ensemble, Jericho Brass is made up of professional and college trained musicians from the tri-state area.  The group performs regularly at civic functions, church school and other public venues.  Smaller outreach groups, Brassworks and The Horns of Jericho help spread the joy of brass music when the full band is not available.  Jericho Brass and its ensembles have performed over 400 concerts to date, over the past 12 years.

Southside Casual Classics is an informal and informative monthly recital series performed each month at the Camp House, 1427 Williams St.  Concerts are free.  A goodwill donation is accepted at each performance, and the audience is invited to enjoy coffee and other refreshments at the coffee house.   

For more information call Cindy Solfest-Wallis at 505-6688.

Article source: http://www.chattanoogan.com/2012/3/27/222413/Jericho-Brass-Performs-At-Southside.aspx

Novice brass solo, up to and including school Year Six, The SCMF Rimmer Award: Sebastian Wilson, Barrow.
Novice brass solo, school Year Seven up to and including Year Nine, The SCMF Arban Award: Rachael Morrell, Barrow.
Brass duet, up to and including school Year Nine, SCMF Award: Simone Clarke and Holly Knowles, Millom.
Brass solo, up to and including Year Six, SCMF Award: Simone Clarke, Millom.
Brass solo, school Year Seven up to and including Year Nine, The SCMF Ball Award: Ella Clarke, Millom.
Brass solo, school Year Seven up to and including Year Nine, SCMF Award: Molly Barker, Askam.
Brass solo, school Year Seven up to and including Year Nine, Dunlop Cup: Ella Clarke, Millom.
Brass solo, school Year Seven up to and including Year Nine, The Clarry Dunlop Shield: Anna Merrell, Dalton.
Junior brass ensemble, three or more players, The Vickers Shield: Anna and the Lads, Dalton.
Novice brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, the SCMF Round Award: Andrew Richardson, Grange.
Brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, The Jack Manning Pewter Cup: Sam Holburt, Whitehaven.
Brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, SCMF Award: Anna Merrell, Dalton.
Brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, The Flookburgh Band Pewter Cup: Henry Moss, Ulverston.
Brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, The Brian Judge Shield: Jodie Bland, Dalton.
Brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, The Walter Pennington Shield: Jodie Bland, Dalton.
Brass solo, open, The Howard Olds Shield: Catherine Clarke, Millom.
Brass solo, open, The Robert Latimer Cup: Simon McCullough, Barrow.
Brass solo, open, SCMF Award: Catherine Clarke, Millom.
Brass solo, open, The Ulverston Town Junior Band Shield: Simon McCullough, Barrow.
Brass solo, open, The Harold McEneney Shield, Simon McCullough, Barrow.
Brass ensemble, Lonsdale Brass Band Shield: Cumbria Horn Ensemble, Millom.
Junior brass bands, Rotary Club of Ulverston Bursary and Shield: Dalton Town Junior Band.
Brass band entertainment class, The J W Latimer Cup, Burneside Brass, Kendal.
Brass bands, Ulverston Town Band Shield: Burneside Brass and Dalton Town Band.
Brass bands, Kimberley Clark Champion Shield, Flookburgh Band.
The Robert J Lacey Memorial Plate: Nathan Woodburn, Barrow.
The Dr Fred Yeadon Bursary and Trophy: Simon McCullough, Barrow.
Kimberly-Clark Bursary for Young Brass Instrumentalist: Simone Clarke, Millom.
The James M Fryer Memorial Shield: David French, Burneside Band.

Article source: http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/ulverston/south-cumbria-musical-festival-in-ulverston-is-music-to-the-ears-of-brass-lovers-1.938291?referrerPath=/evening_mail_news_round-up_1_118665

Novice brass solo, up to and including school Year Six, The SCMF Rimmer Award: Sebastian Wilson, Barrow.
Novice brass solo, school Year Seven up to and including Year Nine, The SCMF Arban Award: Rachael Morrell, Barrow.
Brass duet, up to and including school Year Nine, SCMF Award: Simone Clarke and Holly Knowles, Millom.
Brass solo, up to and including Year Six, SCMF Award: Simone Clarke, Millom.
Brass solo, school Year Seven up to and including Year Nine, The SCMF Ball Award: Ella Clarke, Millom.
Brass solo, school Year Seven up to and including Year Nine, SCMF Award: Molly Barker, Askam.
Brass solo, school Year Seven up to and including Year Nine, Dunlop Cup: Ella Clarke, Millom.
Brass solo, school Year Seven up to and including Year Nine, The Clarry Dunlop Shield: Anna Merrell, Dalton.
Junior brass ensemble, three or more players, The Vickers Shield: Anna and the Lads, Dalton.
Novice brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, the SCMF Round Award: Andrew Richardson, Grange.
Brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, The Jack Manning Pewter Cup: Sam Holburt, Whitehaven.
Brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, SCMF Award: Anna Merrell, Dalton.
Brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, The Flookburgh Band Pewter Cup: Henry Moss, Ulverston.
Brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, The Brian Judge Shield: Jodie Bland, Dalton.
Brass solo, school Year 10 up to and including Year 13, The Walter Pennington Shield: Jodie Bland, Dalton.
Brass solo, open, The Howard Olds Shield: Catherine Clarke, Millom.
Brass solo, open, The Robert Latimer Cup: Simon McCullough, Barrow.
Brass solo, open, SCMF Award: Catherine Clarke, Millom.
Brass solo, open, The Ulverston Town Junior Band Shield: Simon McCullough, Barrow.
Brass solo, open, The Harold McEneney Shield, Simon McCullough, Barrow.
Brass ensemble, Lonsdale Brass Band Shield: Cumbria Horn Ensemble, Millom.
Junior brass bands, Rotary Club of Ulverston Bursary and Shield: Dalton Town Junior Band.
Brass band entertainment class, The J W Latimer Cup, Burneside Brass, Kendal.
Brass bands, Ulverston Town Band Shield: Burneside Brass and Dalton Town Band.
Brass bands, Kimberley Clark Champion Shield, Flookburgh Band.
The Robert J Lacey Memorial Plate: Nathan Woodburn, Barrow.
The Dr Fred Yeadon Bursary and Trophy: Simon McCullough, Barrow.
Kimberly-Clark Bursary for Young Brass Instrumentalist: Simone Clarke, Millom.
The James M Fryer Memorial Shield: David French, Burneside Band.

Article source: http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/ulverston/town-festival-is-music-to-the-ears-of-brass-lovers-1.938291?referrerPath=/1.118665

GRAPEVINE, Texas — BCS leaders finally are starting to get into some specifics in their discussions about possible — maybe even likely — changes in college football’s postseason and how to determine a champion.

They are finding out just how tricky the process will be. And it’s still far from being finished.

“The complexity is phenomenal, the level of details requires a great deal of time,” BCS executive director Bill Hancock said Monday, after the 11 conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director met for about 7½ hours.

This was the third meeting this year, coming just more than a month after the group met over two days at the same hotel connected to a terminal at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

“There’s no consensus yet on anything,” SEC commissioner Mike Slive said. “The first couple of meetings, we talked a lot about just college football in general, the regular season. This time, less of that and more about how we need to start getting closer to where the rubber meets the road. And there’s lots of different options, and start to analyze each one of those and the pros and cons that go with them.”

MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said while progress is being made, things are also getting more complicated.

“The deeper you get, the deeper you’re going to have to dig,” Steinbrecher said.

While the commissioners have acknowledged a four-team playoff is among the options being considered, and there seems to be considerable talk about that, Hancock cautioned that isn’t a done deal.

“There’s a long way to go and a lot of people still to hear from,” he said.

The next meeting is scheduled April 24-26 in Hollywood, Fla., when the Football Bowl Association holds its annual meetings.

The group released a statement after the meeting that concluded with: “We’re making good progress toward our self-imposed goal of making a final recommendation this summer to our governing bodies.”

Among the things that have to be taken into account with a four-team playoff system would be where games would be played (Neutral sites or on campuses?) and how teams would be selected (Current ranking system, new ranking system or a selection committee?). Some have suggested a format that requires teams in a conference to win their league to be eligible for a playoff.

The statement also said Monday’s meeting was “constructive and highly detailed.” But it acknowledged that no decisions were made about the overall structure, and listed a series of the questions they are trying to answer.

“For every concept that enjoys broad support, there are a host of intricate details that we’re talking through,” the statement read.

“For example, if we change the current format, would we play some games on campus or all games on neutral sites? If some games are on campus, is that too much of a competitive advantage? If all games are at neutral sites, would fans be able to travel to two games in a row? How would teams be selected? By a committee, by the current ranking formula, or by a different formula? When exactly would games be scheduled, considering finals, holidays and our desire to avoid mid-January games?”

Also taking part Monday were television consultants hired to help provide advice about the potential value of different postseason models being considered.

The BCS is in the middle of a four-year deal with ESPN that runs through the 2014 season. A new BCS format must be in place before the fall when television negotiations with ESPN open, though Hancock indicated last month that the contract did allow for a delay if needed.

Hancock wouldn’t get into specifics about the potential value of a new TV deal, but expects “good numbers.”

Chuck Neinas, the interim commissioner of the Big 12 through June, said the figures he heard Monday are encouraging.

“A buck or two,” Neinas said, with a smile. “We’re still in the embryonic stage.”

Neinas said there is still a sensitivity to dates and not extending the season. He described the full meeting as “thought provoking” with good discussion.

“It’s a bit of a matrix. You’ve got 11 conferences, 100-something institutions, people coming at it with different bowl arrangements,” Slive said. “Take all of that, and lay it out. You have to start to focus in on what we can do with all of that that protects the regular season and makes the postseason better.”

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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Article source: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7741721/no-decision-yet-format-change-host-intricate-details-being-discussed

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Exactly thirty five years ago born in the New Orleans neighborhood of Treme, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band revolutionized the New Orleans brass band by incorporating funk and bebop into the traditional style.  Anchored by original members Roger Lewis, Kevin Harris, Gregory Davis, Efrem Towns and Kirk Joseph,  the band has signed with Savoy Jazz who will help celebrate their auspicious anniversary with the release of “TWENTY DOZEN”—an all new eleven track album which will be released on May 1st.  Produced by Scott Billington at The Music Shed in New Orleans, the album showcases the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s quintessential sound mixed with a heady Caribbean flavor.  The band will embark on a series of tour dates including a three night BAM residency in Brooklyn with Dr. John and a triumphant series of shows in their native New Orleans culminating in a very special album release/35th anniversary reunion concert at the Temple on April 28th and a featured slot at the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival on May 3rd.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081217/LAW027LOGO)

Born under the auspices of the Dirty Dozen Social and Pleasure Club in 1977, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band were a seven member ensemble who started out as the house band and eventually broke through the boundaries of the traditional brass band to evolve into a highly lauded world-renowned musical force.  With several incarnations throughout the years, the band now consists of Gregory Davis (trumpet, vocals), Roger Lewis (baritone, soprano sax), Kevin Harris (tenor saxophone), Efrem Towns (trumpet, flugelhorn), Kirk Joseph (sousaphone), Terence Higgins (drums), and Kyle Roussel (keyboard). Former member Jake Eckert (guitar) is featured throughout “TWENTY DOZEN.” 

Says Roger Lewis:  ”It’s a big old musical gumbo, and that probably made the difference, separating us from other brass bands out of New Orleans.  It put a different twist on the music. We were not trying to change anything, we were just playing the music we wanted to play and not stay in one particular bag.”

“Twenty Dozen” track listing:

1. Tomorrow
2. Jook
3. Best Of All
4. Git Up
5. Don’t Stop The Music
6. We Gon’ Roll
7. Trippin’ Inside A Bubble
8. Paul Barbarin’s Second Line
9. E-Flat Blues
10. When The Saints Go Marching In
11. Dirty Old Man

Confirmed tour dates:

3/31 – Ft. Lauderdale – New Times Beerfest
4/4 – New Orleans, LA – Wednesdays at LaFayette Square
4/6 – Shreveport, LA – Fatty Arbuckle’s
4/12 – Brooklyn, NY – BAM Residency w/ Dr. John
4/13 – Brooklyn, NY – BAM Residency w/ Dr. John
4/14 – Brooklyn, NY – BAM Residency w/ Dr. John
4/20 – Little Rock, AR – Sticky Fingerz
4/21 – Vicksburg, MS – Vicksburg Riverfest
4/26 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
4/28 – New Orleans, LA – The Temple – 35th Anniversary Reunion Concert
4/29 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
4/30 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s Instruments A Comin’ Benefit
5/3 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival – Main Stage
5/4 – New Orleans, LA – d.b.a.
5/17 – Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Music Festival
5/24 – Kansas City, MO – Crossroads
5/26 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Legion Arts CSPS Hall
5/27 – Chillicothe, IL – Summer Camp 2012
6/1 – Fall River, MA – The Narrows Center for the Arts
6/2 – Augusta, NJ – Crawfish Festival
6/10 – Vienna, VA – Louisiana Swamp Romp – Wolf Trap
7/29 – Niigata, Japan – FujiRock Festival
8/11 – Goshen, CT – Litchfield Jazz Fest
8/17 – Bethlehem, PA – Levitt Pavilion
8/19 – Salem, MA – Salem Jazz Soul Fest

For more information, visit:
http://www.savoyjazz.com/sites/savoy/sjDetails/d_dirtydozenbrassband.asp

Savoy Jazz is a unit of the Savoy Label Group (SLG).  SLG is the North American based division of Nippon Columbia, the oldest music company in Japan.  The Savoy Label Group has evolved into a Grammy Award winning and chart topping independent music company consistently outperforming competitors in key music categories as monitored by Billboard Magazine. SLG is led by Steve Vining and is based in Los Angeles, CA.

Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dirty-dozen-brass-band-sign-130100668.html

Riverdale reached the mountain top last season winning the program’s first-ever NYSAISAA title and have been the unquestioned queens of New York City lacrosse in recent years.

The Falcons start the season at No. 1, but the team right behind them is trying to change that in many ways. Poly Prep has its eyes on the Ivy League and state title. No. 3 Fieldston has played spoiler in the past and will look to do so again. Fourth-seeded Staten Island Academy wants to regain its AAIS crown while rival and No. 5 Tottenville looks to repeat as PSAL champ.

Check out the inaugural girls lacrosse rankings below:

1. Riverdale

Fresh off the program’s first-ever NYSAISAA title, the Falcons are hungry for more after a one-loss season. With key seniors graduating, Riverdale is reloading for another championship run. It still returns one of its leading scorers in Lindsey Pichard and key midfielder Isabella Bertagna.

2. Poly Prep

Poly Prep handed Riverdale its lone loss of the season, but fell to its rivals in the NYSAISAA finals. The Blue Devils returns their top three scorers in Kayla Metelenis, Sam Domurat and Northwestern-bound Jessica Dahldorf. It’s championship or bust in Brooklyn.

3. Fieldston

The Eagles struggled a year ago, but have traditionally been one of the Ivy League’s top squads. With Sydney Bryant back in goal and Annie Smith again on defense, coach Sara Gorman has high hopes with the season. Chloe Chasanoff will be looked to for offense.

4. Staten Island Academy

SIA has its sights on regaining the AAIS crown. It will try to do so with four four-year starters returning. Bridget O’Hara and Bethany Claps are back on defense and Gabby Tricorico and Erin Gibbons will lead the offensive attack for coach Mike Bowler.

5. Tottenville

The defending PSAL Class A champion lost most of the players who were a big part of its success the last few years. Second-year coach Leonard Hession will try to mesh a young and inexperienced squad. Victoria Orlick and Nicole Tantillo will be look to for goals.

6. Horace Man

The Lions have traditionally been one of the Ivy League’s most competitive programs, earning wins over Poly Prep and Fieldston early last season. There will be plenty of offense for coach Kerri Hall. Replacing leading scorer Sam Schiff will not be easy.

7. Curtis

Curtis fell a win shy of a PSAL ‘A’ title a year ago, falling to rival Tottenville. The Warriors return one the city’s best pure goal scorers in Taylor O’Gara, who found the back of the next 53 times last season. Some offense will be needed as a young, inexperienced defense jells.

8. Mary Louis

The Hilltoppers will try to build off a historic season after making their first-ever CHSAA Nassau/Suffolk Class A title game. Nicole Bongiovi and Sara Ekhlas will lead a strong defense that will feature star soccer player Deirdre Ray in goal for the first time.

9. Midwood

Coach Paul (Chick) Chakrian sees this as one of his Midwood team’s best chances to finally break through to the finals and claim an elusive PSAL ‘A’ crown. With 30 of 33 players returning, including stars Linhen Beltran and Moriam Soetan, there is plenty of optimism in Brooklyn.

10. Cardozo

The Judges have been an improving program and this could be the year they compete with the elite in the PSAL. Angelina Borukhova can downright score and La Shawn Pearce continues to improve in goal.

On the bubble: Beach Channel, St. Francis Prep, St. John Villa and Styvesant.

jstaszewski@nypost.com

Article source: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/high_school/more_sports/nyc_girls_lacrosse_preseason_rankings_Sb97OHOuHGdFSq6S4V4LnJ

Top leaders at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, already under fire from lawmakers in the wake of the “Fast and Furious” debacle, also get harsh marks from the men and women who serve under them, according to an internal survey.

An ATF memo obtained by FoxNews.com reveals that rank-and-file workers at the beleaguered federal agency, where whistleblowers who first alerted lawmakers to the “gun-walking” scandal say they were threatened or even punished, don’t trust the agency’s leaders.

“A key area in which ATF fell short was leadership,” the e-mail from ATF Headquarters, describing the results of the internal survey, reads.

“Most troubling were responses to the question – ‘My senior leaders maintain high standards of honesty and integrity.’”

Just 44 percent of ATF employees said that their leaders maintained such standards last year, according to the Partnership for Public Service, the non-profit that administers the annual survey to government employees.

On “leadership effectiveness” in general, ATF scored a 40.5, placing the agency nearly last among government agencies, at 215th out of 228 agencies surveyed. That rating was the first since the “Fast and Furious” scandal broke, and it is down 10 percentage points from the year before.

Asked by FoxNews.com about the survey, ATF spokesman Drew Wade acknowledged the Fast and Furious scandal has taken a toll on morale.

“The controversies plaguing ATF over the last year have weighed heavily on the morale of employees and their faith in senior leadership,” Wade said. “Mistakes were made.”

But he said ATF leadership is working hard to change.

“Acting Director [B. Todd] Jones has put new leaders in place in new positions to enhance the quality of leadership and take ATF in the right direction. The new leadership team is working hard to earn [the] trust again of employees,” Wade said.

Vince Cefalu, an agent who helped expose the “Fast and Furious” scandal, said it is “too soon to tell” whether ATF will turn things around. For now, he says, the survey results don’t surprise him.

“Guess I and [the other whistleblowers] weren’t the only disgruntled malcontents, were we?” he said, sarcastically referring to what he believes were attempts to marginalize him and others who came forward.

Cefalu says his own situation is a case study in ATF dishonesty. The ATF attempted to fire Cefalu last year, after the “Fast and Furious” scandal broke, but so far has been unable to do so because Cefalu has accused them in court of retaliating against a whistleblower. Now, he said, he is given no assignments.

“I am sitting in Lake Tahoe drawing $150,000 [a year from ATF] to do absolutely nothing,” he said.

Others at ATF who took the survey told FoxNews.com that ATF’s treatment of whistleblowers affected the ratings they gave.

“I gave them a low rating,” said an ATF manager who spoke to FoxNews.com on condition of anonymity.

“In the midst of the Fast and Furious investigation… [ATF leadership] sent a letter to Senator [Charles] Grassley [R-Iowa], saying ‘these whistleblowers are lying,’” he explained. “There’s no integrity.”

He added that while ATF says it has now replaced old leadership with new players, the old leaders never get fired.

“Where are we, 15, 16 months outside of Brian Terry’s murder? Nobody’s been held accountable for anything,” he said, referring to a border patrol agent who was killed with an illegal weapon that was allowed to enter Mexico as part of operation Fast and Furious.

The problem goes deeper than Fast and Furious, he added.

“When a manager gets caught in an unethical or unlawful act, the only ‘punishment’ that comes with it is a taxpayer-funded move. You’ll retain full pay, full benefits, and we’ll pay to move you, usually to headquarters in DC.”

ATF scores well in some other aspects of the employee survey. In “pay,” it rates eighth out of all 228 agencies. The average salary for an ATF employee is $96,370 per year. 

“Our pay and our benefits are good,” a special agent, who spoke to FoxNews.com on condition of anonymity, said. “Some people work for it and earn it, and others not so much.”

He added that in his experience, more than half of the agency’s leadership was “more problem than solution.”

“They’re abusive, self-serving characters,” he said.

Despite their grievances, the agents interviewed by Fox expressed hope that the bureau will get its act together.

“I think there is an air of, ‘we want to get better,’” Cefalu said. “They haven’t implemented anything yet, but the initial steps are  transparent and up-front.”

Cefalu and the special agent interviewed said that Tom Brandon, the new deputy director at ATF, is held in high regard by field agents.

“I think he will try to change things,” the special agent said. “Whether he will have the ability, due to the culture here, is anybody’s guess.”

Article source: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/26/internal-memo-shows-atf-rank-and-file-dont-trust-brass/

A brass band, tea party advocates, and a band of determined line-sitters set the stage as the Supreme Court began its first day of oral arguments on the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Groups supporting the law, such as Families USA, joined forces to present a lineup of doctors, nurses, and patients who highlighted provisions of the law that have proven popular, from a three-time cancer survivor who is struggling to buy her prescription medications to a man whose stepson died of lung failure after failing to get health insurance.

“This is not about politics. It’s about people,” said Dr. Alice Chen, an internal-medicine physician in Los Angeles and the executive director of the advocacy group Doctors for America. 

“You should join me in celebrating the progress we’ve made.”

But politics was clearly on the minds of many at the demonstrations. Few ventured a guess as to what the nine justices would ultimately decide but said they wanted their voices heard.

“I’m here to defend our liberty and our Constitution,” said Amy Brighton, a 37-year-old tea party volunteer who had driven to Washington from Medina, Ohio, for this week’s rallies. “I don’t want the government to tell me what to buy. I want those decisions to be made between my doctor and I.”

Dueling protesters faced off, with heated debates occasionally erupting between the two sides. A brass band played “When the Saints Go Marching In” for the pro-health care side, while demonstrators chanted “We love Obamacare.” Protesters against the law answered back, “We love the Constitution.”

Medical groups issued a series of statements praising health reform. “Having access to quality, affordable health insurance is a fundamental human right and not a privilege. The individual mandate is integral to the law. It will ensure millions of currently uninsured Americans have access to health coverage at a time when they need it the most. It will also save lives,” the American Public Health Association, which filed friend-of-the-court briefs, said in a statement.

The mostly Republican opponents of the law did not waver. “No matter what the Supreme Court ultimately decides, I believe the president’s health care takeover represents an unmitigated intrusion into Americans’ fundamental rights and freedom,” Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said in his own retort. “That’s why we must work together to repeal this flawed law and enact common-sense bipartisan solutions that will put patients and doctors in control of their health care–not Washington bureaucrats.”

And one group that hasn’t made itself heard much lately also spoke up. The Physicians for a National Health Program pointed out that the law falls far short of providing single-payer, universal health care. “The unfortunate reality is that federal health law of 2010 will not work: 1) It will not achieve universal coverage, as it leaves at least 26 million uninsured; 2) it will not make health care affordable to Americans with insurance, because gaps in their policies will leave them vulnerable to bankruptcy in the event of major illness; and 3) it will not control costs,” the group said in a statement.

Spectators begun lining up as early as Friday to get a chance to hear part of the arguments, and they were given an orderly welcome to the Court. A Supreme Court spokeswoman said that the general public was assigned 120 seats in the courtroom, with 34 more seats reserved for people who were given a quick three-to-five minute glimpse in rotation.  Members of the Supreme Court bar got 76 assigned seats, with 117 places reserved for media members. The crowd was packed but quiet and well behaved, National Journal’s Margot Sanger-Katz reports. 

Those emerging from Monday morning’s proceedings said they were confident that the Supreme Court would move past the technical tax issues being discussed to the larger question of whether or not the individual mandate in the health care law is constitutional.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters that she believed the court would move forward and that all nine justices had “expressed concern” about the mandate. Similarly, Karen Harned, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center, a plaintiff in the case, said all parties were eager to get to the meat of the issue. 

“Bottom line is that there was healthy skepticism on the part of most, if not all, of the justices on whether or not the Anti Injunction Act warrants challenge at this time,” Harned said in a statement. “We feel good about our chances of the court going to the merits of whether or not the individual mandate is constitutional. We’re looking forward to arguments tomorrow.”

“This is an hors d’oeuvre,” agreed Ron Pollack, the executive director of Families USA, characterizing Monday’s arguments as “low-key.” 

Demonstrators said the court was not necessarily their target. “There are many who feel just as strongly as I do who are not here, but they are going to vote their conscience in November,” said Lisa Miller, a Washington, D.C. Tea Party activist. “I’m here as an act of moral support.”

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/brass-band-tea-party-sound-track-supreme-court-143140393.html

Article source: http://www.metronews.ca/london/canada/article/1134975--fuel-reloading-underway-at-nuclear-plant

New Delhi, March 25: BJP president Nitin Gadkari this evening finally defended his party colleagues against NRI businessman’s Anshuman Mishra‘s charges of senior leaders hobnobbing with certain tainted celebrities, claiming that the allegations were “baseless”.

The “motivated and selective” tirade against Murli Manohar Joshi, Yashwant Sinha, L.K. Advani and other senior leaders were “nothing but an expression of frustration” over his failure to make it to the Rajya Sabha, Gadkari claimed.

Mishra’s candidature as an Independent for the Rajya Sabha election from Jharkhand had been supported by several BJP MLAs, who signed his nomination papers. Off the record, they maintained that they had acted under “instructions from the top”. Though no name was bandied about, party grapevine hinted that Gadkari was the man.

But in the wake of objections raised by the senior leaders such as Advani, Sinha and Shanta Kumar at a BJP parliamentary party meeting last week, the party made a U-turn and officially ordered Jharkhand MLAs to abstain from voting.

Bereft of BJP backing, Mishra withdrew from the race, but not quietly. Knowing he had nothing to lose, he made accusations that caused consternation in the highest circles.

All the leaders individually countered the charges. A party spokesperson, Tarun Vijay, also rejected them.

But Gadkari remained mum, fuelling speculation that he was initially behind Mishra’s candidature, a move allegedly spurred by a senior Uttar Pradesh BJP leader.

But in his statement this evening, Gadkari broke his silence, urging BJP workers to “ignore Mishra’s deliberate attempt to create confusion by spreading falsehoods”. Gadkari also implored the media to not take notice of Mishra’s “wild” allegations against my colleagues”.

“There was confusion among the BJP members on whether Mishra’s earlier nomination was endorsed by the president. The damage was done. It was felt that Gadkari must step forward to clarify the misgivings. Also, he couldn’t allow a rank outsider, who was never associated with the BJP, to spread canards against the top brass,” a source said.

Article source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/gadkari-backs-top-brass-000000000.html

Like club-owning musicians Kermit Ruffins and Irvin Mayfield, members of the Stooges Brass Band want a hangout of their own. This week, the Stooges, one of New Orleans’ most popular brass bands, will begin managing the Hi-Ho Lounge with the hope to eventually buy the bar.

Matthew Hinton/The Times-Picayune archiveThe Stooges Brass Band, pictured parading through the Fair Grounds during Jazz Fest 2010, hope to buy the Hi Ho Lounge.

The Stooges regularly play on Thursday nights at the club, located on St. Claude Avenue.

“What we don’t have in the clubs around the city (is a place) where we can just get together and jam,” said Stooges bandleader Walter Ramsey. “You go to those clubs and work and then go home. We want a place (for ourselves). That is our idea for the Hi-Ho.”

The Stooges, which will take on the project as a group, hope to create a comfortable space for various performers.

“It is like a clubhouse for musicians,” Ramsey said. “We want to have a spot where musicians can also drink and have fun.”

C.T.C. Steppers and Downtown Forever Second Line 2012
Members of the Stooges and TBC (To Be Continued) Brass Bands trade trombone licks outside the Hi-Ho Lounge during the C.T.C. (Cross The Canal) Steppers and Downtown Forever Social Pleasure Club second line parade from the Upper Ninth to the Lower Ninth Ward on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Watch video

For the video-game-loving Stooges, this includes a location for Madden NFL tournaments.

“We are opening up a VIP green room lounge, with Madden,” Ramsey said. “We go to each other’s house and play that. We share that game.”

For fans, owners hope to post brass band trivia questions on flat-screen televisions. Service at the Wandering Buddha, the vegan Korean restaurant inside the Hi Ho lounge, will not be affected by the change of management.

“We know what to look for in a club. We know how to treat each other,” Ramsey said.

Which, for the Stooges, means a place to jam on music, and Madden, with friends.

Article source: http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2012/03/stooges_brass_band_to_manage_h.html

A taser gun during a NSW Police Association demonstration in Sydney.
Source: The Daily Telegraph

NSW Police will evaluate an advanced double-shot Taser – capable of shooting two electric charges without reloading – to assess whether it should replace the current single-charge model.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that senior officers have requested a prototype of the double-cartridge X2 Taser after receiving a demonstration of the device late last year.

The revelation follows the death of Brazilian man Roberto Laudisio Curti, 21, who died last Sunday after being tasered in Sydney’s CBD. The death has sparked an investigation by the homicide squad, the NSW Ombudsman, and calls for a moratorium on Taser use.

The enhanced device has been specially developed with a “back-up shot” that can be fired if the first charge misses or catches on the target’s clothing.

NSW Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke confirmed the X2 Taser had been ordered and was due to arrive in mid-April for evaluation.

Mr Clarke said the device would be evaluated against the current X26 device.

“We may eventually trial the weapon, but we won’t make any determination until we’ve evaluated it,” Mr Clarke told The Sunday Telegraph.

“The advice we have is they (the manufacturer) have not been able to develop a camera for it – they assure us they will. We would not be interested in a device that did not have a video and audio recording capability. The accountability around this device is as every bit important as the safety features.”

The X2 is marketed by its manufacturer as a more sophisticated Taser because it is waterproof, comes with dual laser sighting, and carries a “power magazine” capable of up to 500 firings.

The current model used by police comes with a similar back-up cartridge, but it must be manually loaded on to the Taser once the initial shot is fired, which can be difficult in high-risk situations.

Since 2008 there have been 130 complaints about police Taser use, but only 11 complaints were upheld.

Mr Clarke said further tests would be needed on the X2 before any consideration of a trial went ahead. “It would be very ignorant of us not to consider a device which may have some benefits to protect the community,” he said.

“We’ve had a demonstration of the device by the distributor, we’ve asked for one so we can assess it ourselves.”Victorian police announced this month they intended to roll-out the X2 Taser to all officers pending state government funding approval.

Article source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/cops-order-double-taser-trial/story-e6freuy9-1226309202943

Track tradition.

That’s what the Marlington High School’s boys’ track program has under veteran and highly-respected head coach Bob Dagenhardt.

The Dukes, which have won four consecutive Northeastern Buckeye Conference titles, lost many standouts to graduation from a last year’s team which won 28 consecutive dual meets during their high school careers.

At most schools that would mean a rebuilding year. But with tradition-rich Marlington, new faces always step up and the Dukes just continue to roll along.

The Dukes’ returning letterwinners from last year’s 7-0 NBC team include senior Nathan Lowry (sprints), junior Anthony Wilks (throws), senior Sam Heavner (relays, hurdles, middle distance), junior Colin Eggleston (distances, four-by-800 relay), junior Matt Wallace (distances), senior Anthony Milano (distances), sophomore Adam Blake (sprints, relays), junior Seth Coon (jumps, sprints), senior Clayton Cowgill (hurdles, sprints), junior Ethan Elias (throws), sophomore Jake Henderson (distances), junior Steven Kachilla (middle distance), sophomore Thomas Mason (distances, jumps), sophomore Zach Masterson (distances), sophomore Aric Morian (distances), junior Clay Poynter (throws), junior Jake Ryan (middle distances), sophomore Caleb Simmons (hurdles, sprints, relays, jumps), junior Tyler Weisent (distances) and sophomore Ryan Williams (sprints, relays, hurdles).

Lost to cap and gown from last year’s talented team were such stars as Brian Baum, Kyle Masterson, Andrew Whaley, Zach Kerr, Ryan Kaplan, Logan Pester, Tyler Siefke, Jeffrey Chamberlain and Nick Kinnard and Alden Hill, who graduated early this winter and is enrolled at the University of Tennessee for football.

“Although the team lost some very productive runners and field event performers to graduation, many remaining athletes have excelled indoors and are poised to lead this team,” said Dagenhardt who is in his 25th season as head coach of the Dukes and sports a record of 111-72.

The Dukes’ mentor looked at the strengths of his team.

“Anthony Wilks placed seventh at the indoor state meet weight throw recently, in addition to making the finals of the shot put,” said the Dukes’ mentor. “The distance team, led Colin Eggleston (a 2011 All-Ohioan in the 4-by-800 relay) and cross country state qualifier, also put up good indoor numbers. That group also includes juniors Matt Wallace, Tyler Weisent, A.J. Milano, Thomas Mason, Zach Masterson, Aric Morian and Ty Raybuck,” he added.

The Marlington coach also likes his sprinters and jumpers.

“Sam Heavner and Nate Lowry will run the long sprints while sophomore Adam Blake will lead a bevy of sprinters,” said Dagenhardt. “Clayton Cowgill gained hurdle experience indoors and Seth Coon brings experience to the jump team.”

Dagenhardt sees a very competitive race for the NBC title this season.

“Louisville and Minerva were in hot pursuit (of the champion Dukes) for the NBC title last year,” he said. “They should be considered the favorites with improved Alliance, West Branch, unknown Salem and a rebuilding Marlington also with hopes of a league title.”

Serving as assistant coaches for the Dukes are Molly Middleton, Joel Dagenhardt, Sue Neal and Roger Herstine.

The Dukes open the season Tuesday in an NBC meet at Carrollton.

Article source: http://www.the-review.com/local%20sports/2012/03/26/marlington-boys-reloading-for-fifth-straight-nbc-title

Thirteen Ontario hospitals have seen portions of their workforces unionize over the past two years.

Hospital brass say they will be watching Tuesday’s budget closely to see whether the province plans to lift or extend a wage freeze, which they say has created inequities among employees and is behind the certification drives.

The Ontario Hospital Association says workers are increasingly unionizing to get around a two-year wage-freeze that applies only to non-union counterparts.

That wage freeze expires at the end of the month and, with hospitals anticipating a budget hike of only 0 to 1 per cent, the smallest in recent memory, the sector is nervous about how the province plans to deal with the compensation issue. They hope it’s addressed in the budget.

The increasing unionization is adding to fiscal pressures facing hospitals, said Mark Rochon, interim president of the Ontario Hospital Association.

“If there are additional labour costs, hospitals have to find ways to find that money and with a $16 billion provincial deficit I think the pressure on both unions and hospital to find a new way of moving forward will become more acute,” he said.

There are about 210,000 employees at 151 hospital corporations in Ontario and about three-quarters belong to such unions as the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Ontario Nurses’ Association, Service Employees International Union and the Canadian Union of Public Employees. They include everyone from nurses, to physical and occupational therapists, social workers, administrative staff and maintenance workers.

In 2010, the province introduced a wage freeze for public sector workers, but that has proven unworkable as arbitration awards continue to allow increases. For example, new agreements for OPSEU and ONA, which run from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2014, give workers lump sum payments in the first two years and a wage increase of 2.75 per cent in the third year.

“The non-unionized staff on the front lines look over at their unionized neighbours and say to themselves, I should be able to get a raise too. So they vote to certify,” said one hospital sector executive.

But Don Ford, a spokesman for OPSEU, said that while the compensation issue could be part of the reason more staff are unionizing it “might be over-simplistic” to say it’s the only reason.

“People I think are beginning to understand that if you are unionized, you have certain rights and entitlements that non-unionized workers don’t,” he said. “Usually the biggest one is that whenever there are changes that are going to take place in the workplace, if you are a unionized employee, the employer is actually obligated to discuss those changes with the union.”

Linda Haslam-Stroud, president of ONA concurred, noting there has been a steady increase in union membership over the last decade. And she said the fact that the lump sump payments — which range from $565 to $1,306 — are not cumulative, shows that nurses are being responsible citizens and doing their part to help the province battle the deficit.

Meantime, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions and CUPE have been staging protests around the province, charging that the Liberal government is gutting hospitals and privatizing services. It is unionized workers who are getting the short end of the stick, they say.

“Hospitals are largely unionized, which is one of the reasons why there is such an emphasis on moving work out of hospitals,” said Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions.

Included in the 13 hospitals that have had successful certification drives since the province legislated a wage freeze in 2010 are Oakville Trafalgar, Trillium Health, the Hospital for Sick Children and the University Health Network.

Former OHA president Tom Closson said the province inadvertently created an unlevel playing field when it implemented the wage freeze.

“The two years are up at the end of March so the concern is what is the budget going to do? Is it going to extend the freeze for non-union and leave the union separate? That is the big concern,” he said.

Closson said the solution lies in having a wage freeze that applies to both union and non-union workers alike, or having none at all. If the province opts to legislate an extension of the existing wage freeze to non-union workers only, there will surely be more certification drives, he said.

“They figure, hey, if the government can arbitrarily freeze me when I am not in a union and I have the union to back me up when I am in a union, then I am going to get into a union. There is nothing wrong with people being unionized in my opinion but that was a pretty lousy reason to get unionized.”

Successful certification drives since province introduced 2010 wage freeze

•Trillium Health Centre (ONA) — RNs

•Halton Healthcare Services — Oakville (ONA) — RNs

•Toronto Grace Hospital (ONA) — RNs

•The Hospital for Sick Children (CUPE) — part-time service workers i.e. maintenance

•Sault Area Hospital (OPSEU) — allied health professionals*

•UHN (OPSEU) — pharmacy technicians

•Kirkland District Hospital (OPSEU) — lab technologists, diagnostic imaging technologists and allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers, dieticians

•St. Francis Memorial Hospital (OPSEU) — allied health professionals*

•Arnprior District Hospital (OPSEU) — allied health professionals*

•Hamilton Health Services — (OPSEU) — therapists

•Hamilton Health Services — (OPSEU) — security

•West Haldimand General Hospital — (SEIU) clerical staff

•Sunnybrook Health Sciences — (SEIU) data analysts

•Allied health professional classification can include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers and dieticians.

Source: OHA

Article source: http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1151776--hospital-brass-say-wage-freeze-prompting-union-drives

NEW MILFORD — Mayor Pat Murphy sees the day when the Century Brass mill building may be dismantled and removed.

The town was awarded a $60,000 Brownfields cleanup grant Friday for the 72-acre site by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.

According to the web page, www.epa.gov/brownfields/, the Brownfields home page put up by the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties protects the environment, reduces blight and takes development pressures off greenspaces and working lands.

The state Department of Economic and Community Development grant is for Brownfields cleanup assessment. Release of the money still requires approval from the State Bond Commission. But Murphy is pleased.

“This is for an assessment to figure out the cost of taking the building down,” she said. “We had the DEEP’s (state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) new deputy commissioner, Macky McCleary, out at the site in the fall and he recommended applying for this grant to get up-to-date figures.”

Murphy said with an “accurate assessment” of cost for dismantling and toxic materials disposal, grants can then be applied for to cover the cost of removing the 300,000-square-foot building.

“The site will be a whole lot more marketable with that building gone,” Murphy said.

The site is zoned industrial use with all the required setbacks.

The town-owned former Century Brass mill on Scovill Street was called the town’s “industrial albatross,” in September by departing Economic Development Supervisor Vin Nolan.

The former mill building has undergone a multimillion-dollar environmental cleanup, but still needs replacement of its buckling metal roof and other interior work. The facility is home only to trespassers and vermin.

Murphy said taking the building down is the best option, but it would require several million dollars to do the job. Hazardous materials are still on site and require a special disposal site.

“Cleaning up Connecticut Brownfields is an important component of our economic development agenda,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said.

“These contaminated sites are a blight to their comminutes,” Malloy said. “Investing in these redevelopmental efforts is a smart policy.”

stuz@newstimes.com; 860-355-7322

Article source: http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Century-Brass-mill-cleanup-a-possibility-3433823.php

Photo by Aubrey Edwards

In late 2010, veteran local rap duo Partners N Crime traveled to New York City to play the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s “Red Hot + New Orleans” show – a version of the organization’s blowout annual HIV/AIDS benefit that featured PNC, Mannie Fresh, Trombone Shorty, Dr. John, Irma Thomas and others. The rappers liked the concept so much – pairing hip-hop and bounce onstage with more traditional Crescent City sounds – that they decided to do it themselves. This gig is their second such local event. Onstage, James Andrews and the Hot 8 Brass Band will funk it up with brass, PNC will rock the mic and at some point – guaranteed – it’ll all come together into one big New Orleans party. 10 p.m. tonight, Sunday March 25, at One Eyed Jacks. Tickets $15.

Article source: http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2012/03/bounce_and_brass_merge_at_part.html

Read More: Justin Faulk (D – CAR), Mike Connolly (LW – COL), Justin Fontaine (RW – MIN)

Minnesota Duluth may have lost three of its better offensive weapons from last season’s National Championship team in Mike Connolly (Colorado Avalanche), Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes) and Justin Fontaine (Minnesota Wild), but the Bulldogs have done a fine job of reloading.

Averaging a nation-leading 3.64 goals/game, Jack Connolly, Travis Oleksuk and J.T. Brown have each scored more than 45 points. UMD boasts two scoring lines that could easily substitute the top line on any team in the nation.

The Bulldogs head East for the second consecutive year, and although Minnesota Duluth hasn’t played lately with the same consistency that they had during a 17-game unbeaten streak from October to January, the defending national champions know how to get hot at the right time. Even in defeat during the WCHA Final Five, the Bulldogs came back a 3-0 deficit and put 71 shots on goal in a 4-3 double-overtime loss.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

Article source: http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/3/23/2897347/2012-ncaa-hockey-tournament-minnesota-duluth

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)

If anyone ever found a positive from getting hurt, it’s
Tennessee‘s Vicki Baugh.

Baugh, a 6-foot-4 senior, tore the ACL in her left knee in
February of 2009 and had surgery three weeks later. Less than a
year later, she had another operation on the knee and sat out the
entire 2009-10 season.

”After I injured myself the second time, I didn’t know if there
was any more basketball for Vicki Baugh,” said Baugh, whose
second-seeded team plays No. 11 seed Kansas in the Des Moines
Regional on Saturday.

Enter Jenny Moshak, Tennessee’s veteran trainer.

”Jenny Moshak is the greatest in the country,” Baugh said.
”She told me if you want to continue to play, you can. You can be
better than what you were before and I didn’t believe it. But now I
do.”

Baugh is averaging 7.7 points and 6.6 rebounds and is shooting
60 percent from the field. She was a freshman when Tennessee won
its last national championship in 2008 and its only member of the
current team with Final Four experience.

Thanks to her work with Moshak, she has a chance to return to
the sport’s biggest event.

”I give all the credit to Jenny Moshak,” Baugh said. ”I
wouldn’t change anything that happened. It built our relationship
up, it led to me being the player I am today. I’m going to grad
school off this extra year, so I appreciate how everything
worked.”

—

DON’T SAY THAT NAME: Kansas, at No. 11, is one of just two
double-digit seeds left in the women’s tournament, joining
11th-seeded Gonzaga out of the Kingston Regional.

That prompted a reporter to ask Kansas coach Bonnie Henrickson
why the women’s tournament doesn’t have as many underdogs making
long runs like those in the men’s tournament by teams such as
Butler and VCU.

”Don’t say VCU at Kansas,” Henrickson said with a laugh.

VCU knocked Kansas out of the men’s tournament last year in a
regional final.

Henrickson said early departures for the NBA are a factor in the
men’s game because the top programs are always reloading while
mid-majors usually have more experienced teams with juniors and
seniors. That doesn’t happen on the women’s side, where the top
players stay four years.

”A mid-major senior against a freshman makes him look silly at
this time of year,” Henrickson said.

And speaking of leaving early, ”I’d be all for Brittney Griner
doing that,” Henrickson said.

Not a chance.

”I know people wish she would leave, but she’s not going
anywhere,” Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said of her 6-8 star. ”She
wants to get that college degree.”

—

FRIENDLY COACHES: Kansas and Tennessee have played each other
only twice and both games took place 26 years ago, long before
Henrickson became the Jayhawks’ coach. But she has worked Tennessee
camps and has gotten to know the Lady Vols’ coaches.

”We throughout the year text each other,” said Holly Warlick,
Tennessee’s associate head coach. ”If I see her at a game, I’ll
text and say great game. She’ll do that as well. It’s a very, very
good relationship.”

Warlick said she’s impressed by Henrickson’s attention to
detail.

”I think I watch game tape, she watches 10 times more than
me,” Warlick said. ”I think I’m crazy, she’s more crazy. She will
prepare her team.”

Henrickson worked her first Tennessee camp when she was a
graduate assistant at Western Illinois in the 1980s. She still
remembers Tennessee coach Pat Summitt coming over to talk to
her.

”I was really impressed how warm she was and how welcome she
was to a graduate assistant from Western Illinois that played
Division II basketball at St. Cloud State,” Henrickson said. ”She
took a moment to visit with me and speak to me and she didn’t have
to.”

—

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL: Des Moines is becoming a bit of a hot spot
for NCAA events.

In additional to the women’s basketball regional going on now,
the NCAA track and field championships will be held in Des Moines
in June and the city will host the NCAA wrestling championships
next March. The wrestling tournament already is considered a
sellout.

The NCAA also held its track championships in Des Moines last
year and in 2008.

”This is really a chance to shine in the basketball arena, so
to speak,” said Greg Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Des
Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. ”Our goal is to get a men’s
regional here someday, too. So I think the better we can show how
we support thee things, the better we’ll look for even bigger and
better events.”

—

KID GAMES: Duke‘s coaches handed out coloring books, 3-D glasses
and other games in a gigantic ”bag of fun” for the Blue Devils’
cross-country flight to California for the Fresno Regional.

For real. Dora the Explorer and Thomas the Train.

”We’re kids at heart,” said guard Shay Selby, the lone senior
starter on Joanne P. McCallie’s second-seeded team with an average
age of 19.

While Selby opted to rest and try to get adjusted to a
three-hour time change, sophomore Tricia Liston got a real kick out
of the activities. Selby is all for fun, yet she and fellow senior
Kathleen Scheer made a point of reminding their teammates of the
task at hand. Duke (26-5) plays upstart No. 3 seed St. John’s
(24-9) on Saturday night at the Save Mart Center.

”We’re a pretty goofy team,” Selby said. ”It was hard for
Kathleen and me to get everybody focused. We said, `This is a
business trip.”’

Duke, which has dealt with injuries to several key players this
season, is in the regional semifinal for the 14th time in 15
years.

—-

AP sports writer Janie McCauley and AP freelancer Chuck
Schoffner contributed to this report.

Article source: http://msn.foxsports.com/wcbk/story/Princetons-Flores-rooting-for-Ivy-tournament-win-39903339

Natick voters will have a lot of decisions to make when they hit the polls on Tuesday, from contested races for Board of Selectmen and School Committee to three ballot questions seeking to change the town’s charter to entirely reloading the 180 Town Meeting seats.

Voters in nearly every precinct will need to write-in candidates for Town Meeting; only two of the town’s 10 precincts have more candidates than its open 18 seats and one has exactly 18 names.

Town Clerk Diane Packer has asked that any citizens who are considering a write-in or sticker campaign please contact her office.

“They don’t have to do anything else, just let us know,” Packer said. “It makes it easier for us to read, and then I also have an address that goes with the name to contact. It just makes the end of the evening more orderly and more efficient in terms of understanding who really is a candidate.”

The town does not have a candidate for a vacant seat on the Recreation and Parks commission, either.

The nine-person board had five elected and four appointed members, and advises the Recreation and Parks department on policy mattes. Recreation and Parks Director Jon Marshall said it’s a very involved committee and many members participate in other town committees.

“They’re really the voice for the community in terms of programs,” Marshall said. “We take the budget to them and have them look our budget for the year, and they advise us on setting fees. We might look at citizen concerns and how they relate to current polices that we have in place.”

Marshall said the board meets monthly, usually at the Cole Center.

Packer said when it became clear that there would be several write-ins for Town Meeting and for the Recreation and Parks commissioner, she check with the Secretary of State’s Elections Division and in Natick’s charter to see if there was a minimum number of write-ins needed to be elected.

The answer: “There is nothing there, and the state law is clear that says the person with most votes wins,”

However if there is a tie, then it becomes a failure to elect situation.

“The Board of Selectmen and the existing board will appoint someone until the next upcoming election,” Packer said. “I would be the same thing if somebody resigned half way through the year.”

There are three ballot questions, which will be found on the back of the ballot. Question One seeks to change the appointment process for Town Meeting members.

The change was brought to Town Meeting by Packer and would have the town clerk keep a provisional list of interested candidates for Town Meeting for one year. Once that list is exhausted existing members will caucus to choose members from the precinct to serve for one year.

Question Two was brought to Town Meeting by the Board of Selectmen, and will remove language in the charter forcing the town to redistrict occasionally outside the state process that happens every 10 years.

Question Three will allow the Finance Committee to publish notices in the newspaper only once for its public budget hearings. All meetings will be publicly posted, but not published in the paper.

Article source: http://www.wickedlocal.com/natick/news/x1581727451/Write-in-candidates-ballot-questions-up-for-vote-in-Natick

INTRODUCTION TO SHOTGUN RELOADING – for adults, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Lake City Shooting Range Outdoor Education Center, Landahl Park, 28505 E. Truman Road. Reduce the cost of shooting trap or skeet by reloading your own shotgun shells. Learn about the basic equipment needed in reloading, which shotgun hulls to use and safety precautions when reloading. You’ll also be able to trap range and try out your reloaded ammunition. Free, but registration is required. Call 249-3194.

Article source: http://www.examiner.net/news/x1907517490/Event-of-the-day-Introduction-to-Shotgun-Reloading

Gun Rights with the Texas Governor and U.S. Congressman on Gun Talk Radio

Gun Talk Radio

MANDEVILLE, LA --(Ammoland.com)- It’s national reciprocity legislation, reloading and custom scopes, this week on Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk (R) Radio, the original nationally-syndicated radio talk show about guns and the shooting sports.

The need for national reciprocity — for all states to honor carry permits issued by any state — has been on the front pages recently as a nursing student and a former Marine both faced felony charges in New York City after trying to check their firearms at the Empire State Building and the 911 Memorial. Both had permits allowing legal carry in their states, and tried to be responsible by checking the firearms with law enforcement officers.

Unfortunately, both were arrested for violating New York’s Draconian laws, and faced a minimum sentence of more than three years in prison. Only because of the public furor at this injustice were they both able to reach deals allowing them to avoid prison time.

Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and John Thune (R-SD) have introduced S. 2213, a bill which would allow citizens with carry permits, and those from states with Constitutional Carry (no permit needed), to carry in all states. Sen. Vitter joins Tom this Sunday to discuss the bill. Read more here: http://tiny.cc/ubnmbw

Pat Mundy, Communications Manager for Leupold Steven, Inc., drops by to discuss some new products and cool scopes from the custom shop. Leupold is a fifth-generation, family-owned company, in operation since 1907. For more info on Leupold, visit them at www.leupold.com. See Leupold’s 1.5-4x scope from the custom shop in action here:

Sinclair International’s President Bill Gravatt stops in on Sunday to discuss the benefits and how-to of reloading for long range shooting. Find all the items you need to begin reloading at www.sinclairintl.com.

Gun Talk and Magnum Research are giving away a Baby Desert Eagle! Enter to win this compact pistol and two magazines at www.guntalk.com/contest.

About:In its 18th year of national syndication, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk Radio airs live on Sundays from 2PM-5PM Eastern, and runs on more than 130 stations, plus on XM (Ch. 165) Satellite Radio. All Gun Talk shows can be downloaded as podcasts at http://www.guntalk.libsyn.com and Apple iTunes, or through one of the available Apps: the Gun Talk iPhone App, the Blackberry Podcast App, and the Gun Talk App for Android on Amazon. The Gun Talk Minute on XM also airs on XM 165, 166, 168 and Fox Sports every day throughout the week. More information is available at www.guntalk.com.

Article source: http://www.ammoland.com/2012/03/23/national-reciprocity-reloading-custom-scopes-on-gun-talk-radio/

The Tao Seeger Brass Band features Ben Jaffe, Clint Maedgen, Joe Lastie and other members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band Thursday, March 21 at Tipitina’s.

Lynne Arriale

Jazz pianist Lynne Arriale, touring in support of her 10th CD, “Solo,” is backed by saxophonist Wess Anderson, bassist James Singleton and drummer Paul Thibodeaux at Snug Harbor. Here’s a source for videos of her performing, among other things “Iko Iko.”

The Brass-a-Holics are at Le Bon Temps Roule.

It’s Zydeco Night with Lil Pookie the Heartbreakers at Rock ’n’ Bowl.

Article source: http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2012/03/brass-a-holics_tao_seeger_bras.html

The Henderson Fine Arts Center Guild will present the Bend in the River Brass Band in concert this Sunday at 3 p.m. as part of its free “On Stage” series.

The band, formed in 1991 and conducted by Faril Bunner, takes its name from the bow bend of the Ohio River that separates Evansville and Henderson.

The group follows the tradition of British brass bands in instrumentation and literature and offers post-high school players from southwestern Indiana and western Kentucky an opportunity to continue playing their instruments. Members range in age from the late teens to the 80s.

The public is invited.

Article source: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/mar/22/no-headline---gl_brass_band/?partner=yahoo_headlines

Government auditors say federal officials know nothing about thousands of miles of pipelines that carry natural gas released through the drilling method known as fracking, and need to step up oversight to make sure they are running safely.

Article source: http://news.yahoo.com/compare-prepaid-credit-cards-cheap-co-uk-045629012.html

NB Power was given permission Thursday by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to proceed with reloading fuel in the newly-refurbished Point Lepreau reactor.

The power utility will need the commission’s approval before restarting the reactor, which will remain in a guaranteed shutdown state until that point, the commission said in a release.

“The [commission] is satisfied the operator has taken adequate measures to protect the public, the workers and the environment, in order to proceed with reloading fuel in the nuclear reactor at the Point Lepreau Generating Station,” Ramzi Jammal, executive vice-president and chief regulatory operations officer, said in the release.

“Throughout refurbishment activities, NB [Power] has demonstrated a high commitment to safety.”

The refurbishment project is three years late and more than $1 billion over budget.

NB Power and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. are suing an insurance company for $524 million to help cover some of the costs related to the delay.

They allege that their insurance policy with Lloyd’s of London covers the reactor tubes that were damaged during the rebuild.

The nuclear reactor is now scheduled to start up again in September.

Article source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/03/22/nb-point-lepreau-fuel.html

The Lancers, Rams and Bruins all got big wins on the second day of league play.  Come back this weekend for the updated standings box and next weeks schedule.

Lakewood 8, Poly 1

The Lancers (8-1, 2-0) are in “reloading” mode after losing a quality core of players to graduation, but there’s a new crop of senior leaders and young talent to carry the torch, as evidence yesterday when the underclassman set the Jackrabbits up, and the upperclassman knocked them down.

Sophomore second baseman Madison Jones (2-for-3, 2R, SB) and freshman shortstop Alexis Carrillo (2-for-3, RBI, R) sparked a four-run second inning rally with back-to-back singles before senior Sarah Fobbs cleared the bases with a 3-run home run.

Meanwhile, senior hurlers Janel Hayes (3IP, 2H, 5K, BB) and Justine Robles (4IP, 4H, 1R, 3K) held the Poly lineup in check by taking advantage of a liberal strike zone and relying on good defense.  The Lancers cut down four Jackrabbits on the base paths in the final four innings with a heads up rundown play from Jones in the fifth with two on and one out and two great throws from left fielder Adriana Shultz in the fifth and sixth innings.

“There’s no doubt we reloaded well, this is one of the best starts I’ve had,” said Lakewood head coach Andy Miramontes.  “The young girls have a winning attitude and our senior class is great.”

One noticeable difference between Lakewood teams of the recent past is how loud this group is.  From the first pitch to the final out the Lancers were chanting and cheering on their teammates, and with a sense of humor too.

“Our bench is awesome,” said Miramontes.  “They are a big part of this early success… we carry a lot of girls on this team and there’s not that much playing time, but they are our 10th player.  They are our momentum.”

For Poly (1-4) freshman pitcher Anessa Cepeda was impressive with her control and composure in the circle while only giving up seven hits and three walks during six innings of work.  Her team committed five errors behind her so she gave up only one earned run, and her head coach Ken Munger said, “she did a great job, and it’s been a bit of a surprise, but she’s starting to believe she can be our number one pitcher… we just didn’t deliver defensively like we could and should… We’re young, but you have to grow up early in the Moore League.”

Cepeda also had a hit, a stolen base and a walk, but first baseman Gabby Gray was the only Jackrabbit to collect multiple hits with a single in the second and triple in the sixth inning.  The senior did that in the six spot while the bottom third of the order went a combined 1-for 9 with one walk and five strikeouts.

Wilson 33, Compton 0

The Burins got seven RBI from Brianna Peralta and five hits from Marisa Olmos.

Millikan 15, Jordan 0

The Rams took care of business in five innings at home.  Thanks to John Liter for sending in some pictures…

St. Anthony 13, Brethren Christian 7

The Saints banged out 14 hits and stole 11 bases in a non-league win.

Article source: http://gazettes.com/sports/ml-softball-roundup/article_96f39aba-74aa-11e1-80bf-0019bb2963f4.html

DEPARTMENT of Education officials and their Local Government Unit partners helping stage this year’s Palarong Pambansa in Pangasinan will grace today’s Scoop Sa Kamayan session at the Kamayan Restaurant on Padre Faura St. in Manila.

Francis Allan dela Cruz, Cesar Abalon and Boots Bautista of the DepEd Palarong Pambansa committee will discuss the preparations so far for the annual games in the forum backed by Powerade, AKTV, FILA and UNTV.

Pangasinan Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan and Information Officer Butch Velasco will discuss how the town of Lingayen and the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos will host some 10,000 athletes and officials from the country’s 17 regions participating in 17 sports in the Palaro set on May 6-12.

The Palaro, which started in 1948 as an annual conclave under the public schools interscholastic program, has been the major source of fresh athletic talents.

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Article source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/03232012/sports8.html

Amid mounting pressure from B S Yeddyurapa for his reinstatement, Karnataka [ Images ] Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda on Thursday met the Bharatiya Janata Party [ Images ] top brass, including Nitin Gadkari [ Images ] and L K Advani [ Images ], and said he had been assured that there would be no leadership change.

“I am specifically telling that the central leaders told me that at present there is no change of leadership or any other position in the party,” Gowda told reporters after meeting the BJP central leaders in New Delhi [ Images ].