KUALA LUMPUR: The Inspector-General of Police has placed “connecting with the public” high on his to-do list for this year, in a move to lift the image of the force.
Tan Sri Ismail Omar said early next month, the police top brass would gather at a public spot to meet the people.
The gathering has been tentatively set to be held at Sunway Pyramid in Petaling Jaya on Feb 2.
This move, which has never been attempted before, would see the IGP, his deputy, and eight directors seated together, engaging the public.
“They can ask us anything they want. If it’s a CID matter, then the director will have to answer. If it is a traffic problem, the traffic chief will be there.”
Ismail was speaking to the New Sunday Times in a candid interview which was held at his office on the 31st floor of the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.
He answered questions on the recent attacks against him and the perception problem “We want to show the public that we are serious about wanting to engage them,” the IGP said, adding that they could approach him with any information, grouses or complaints.
”If they have complaints against the force, tell it to me, face to face. We are open to criticisms.”
The gathering would see the police force taking “connecting with the public” one step further, as previously, only one leader of the force would be on the ground at a time.
He said although the gathering involves only the federal level, he expected his state and district police chiefs to do the same in their respective areas.
”If they (CPOs and OCPDs) implement my instructions well by meeting the public often, it will help to improve our image.”
He said the perception of the crime rate in the past few years was so bad that it has affected the way people perceive the force.
”Although many factors contribute to crime, police are always blamed and this contributes to the perception problem.”
This year, Ismail said, the approach would be different.
”There cannot be just one way of engaging the public.
”If it has to be through music, then it must be through music. If it has to be through sports, then sports it is and if it has to be through an intellectual approach, so be it.”
This way, he said, the public would understand the police better.
”We also have to take advantage of technological advancements, such as social networking sites like Facebook, and other forums to reach out to the public. We already have teams working on these forums.”
Ismail said with these efforts, he hoped to see an improvement in the public perception of the force by June.
”If my men, the OCPDs and CPOs can see this through, I’m sure we can achieve something by then.” Additional reporting by Lee Shi-Ian and Elizabeth Zachariah
York’s Brass Monkey Half Marathon cancelled due to snow
5:43pm Saturday 19th January 2013 in News
By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk
THE Brass Monkey Half Marathon due to take place in York tomorrow has been cancelled due to snow.
The York Knavesmire Harriers organised annual event cannot go ahead as the compacted snow on the route is too slippy to be safe, organisers have said.
A spokesman said: “We regret that after having taken a final course inspection at 12.30pm today, in the interest of the safety of all runners and volunteers the race has been cancelled.
“The Race memento T-shirt will be available to be collected on Sunday at the venue . A club representative will be able to collect on behalf of their club entrants.
“The decision was not taken lightly and we appreciate how hard you have trained, your eagerness to run and the inconvenience to those who made travel arrangements.”
Now in its 31st year, the half-marathon route takes in Bishopthorpe, Acaster Selby, Appleton Roebuck and the racecourse.
Lakeport native Derek Thorn, the 2012 SPEARS SLR Southwest Tour Series champion, has won the “Sunoco Driven Challenge” for 2012.
His reward? It’s a big one — a test with Joe Gibbs Racing.
This award, the result of a collaboration between Sunoco and Joe Gibbs Racing, ranks drivers from the nation’s five top short track series — PASS North, PASS South, ARCA/CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour and the SPEARS SLR Southwest Tour Series. A national points structure ranks winners in these series in order to choose a national champion.
Thorn came out on top.
It was quite a coup for Thorn to cap off what has arguably been his best year of racing to date (he also races in the NASCAR KN Pro Series West, where he came in third in 2012).
As for the testing session, Thorn said, “It went beyond my expectations.”
Thorn attended the NASCAR breakfast awards ceremony and the Night of Champions on Saturday, Dec. 8, in Charlotte, N.C.
On Sunday, Thorn went to his first NFL game in Charlotte with Charlie Price, who works for Richard Childress Racing’s Nationwide program.
The Carolina Panthers hosted Atlanta.
“The game was awesome,” Thorn said. “The Panthers were the underdogs and they put a whooping on Atlanta.”
On Monday morning, Thorn went to JGR’s KN shop in Charlotte, N.C., which is also home to JGR’s Nationwide Series shop.
Thorn met Lake Speed Jr. (he heads the Joe Gibbs Racing Driven Oil division) there. Scott Teasley gave Thorn a tour of the Nationwide and KN shops. After that he went to the JGR Sprint Cup Series shop where he met J.D. Gibbs (Joe Gibbs’ son), and also Joe Gibbs himself.
Gibbs let Thorn wear his Super Bowl ring for a photo, telling Thorn he would look prestigious with the ring on.
Thorn said, “Joe Gibbs is a very nice man, very cordial,” Thorn said. Gibbs also signed the book he wrote, “Game Plan for Life,” for Thorn.
Thorn then headed to JGR’s Sprint Cup shop where Speed gave him a tour, then on to lunch with Speed. After lunch Thorn went to the NASCAR RD Center, where the new 2013 ‘Generation 6’ Sprint Cup car was on display with all the templates.
The Center is built around building future development of NASCAR safety and innovation. After that, Thorn and the two Sunoco winners had a “fabulous” dinner with Speed.
Early Tuesday morning Thorn got to watch a test session of the ‘Generation 6’ at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“The test was eye-opening,” Thorn said. “TV never does racing justice, any form of racing for that matter, but getting to just take it all in (the testing), when there wasn’t thousands of fans crowding anything, no lines and minimal security, so you could go almost anywhere you wanted.
“The cars are allowed full telemetry so they’ve got stuff running all over the place, picking up travels, tire temps and cameras recording every move. They’ve got a lot to learn about the Generation 6 Cup car, so all the teams seemed to be doing all they could to get the upper hand,” he said.
On Wednesday, Thorn tested a Joe Gibbs Racing KN Pro Series East car for most of the day. He would run a few laps, then talk to the crew and get feedback from them. They made a lot of different changes to the car throughout the day. At the end of the day Thorn made a 10-lap run and ran a very fast lap.
J.D. Gibbs said the team was “high” on Thorn.
“They have seen all kinds of drivers, so they know when they see a good one,” Gibbs said. “Thorn was a pleasure to work with. He works hard and he has a lot of perseverance. He has finesse and he ran lap times equal to a race winner at the track.”
His ability to help tune the car also impressed Gibbs.
“He really fit well with our team. It was encouraging to hear their report,” Gibbs added. Gibbs said the test is good for JGR and it gives guys a chance to show their driving ability and what kind of a person they are.
“We can say first hand, the guy is good.”
Thorn said working with crew chief Bryant Frazier (who works on the set up plate for the No. 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team and previously was a crew chief in the NASCAR KN Pro Series East), and Teasley (who works with the KN Pro Series East team) was very enlightening.
Thorn said he learned a lot from them about how to be a better driver and said that he can take that back to his racing in the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series and the KN Series.
Thorn said he learned 90 percent of racing is building relationships with people.
“JD has been around the industry for a long time networking,” he said. “He gave me some guidance on how to be a marketable driver.”
All in all, Thorn said it was a great experience, noting you never know what might come of it.
Thorn is one of the locked-in drivers competing in the “UNOH Battle at the Beach” in Daytona, Feb. 18-19.
“NASCAR wanted to do something new and special for the NASCAR regional and touring series,” Director Brad Moran said. “The end result is a format and rules package designed to showcase the best talent throughout NASCAR’s regional and touring series. It will be the ‘crown jewel’ of the short-track calendar.”
The race will take place on a 0.4-mile oval located on the Super stretch at Daytona International Speedway. The two-day event will begin Feb. 18, the day after pole qualifying for the 55th running of the Daytona 500 and setting the stage for the “World Center of Racing” to host the entire spectrum of NASCAR racing during Speedweeks.
Fans can follow NASCAR regional and touring series (@NASCARHomeTrack) and Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (@DISUpdates) and Derek Thorn (@derekthorn6) on Twitter, and stay up to speed on the latest news by using hashtag #NASCARBattle.
In 2013, Thorn will be driving full-time in the NASCAR KN Pro Series West in the No. 9 Sunrise Ford/Lucas Oil/Eibach Ford fielded by Bob Bruncati.
He will also be racing full-time as the defending 2012 champion in the SPEARS SLR Southwest Tour Series in the No. 43 Four Star Fruit car for Byron Campbell.
The first Southwest Tour race is on March 16, at Madera Speedway.
For more information on Derek Thorn, visit derekthorn.com
Police Supt. Garry McCarthy at Police Headquarters in August. | John H. White~Sun-Times
Updated: January 19, 2013 2:09AM
In the wake of the City Council’s approval of almost $33 million to settle two police misconduct cases, city officials on Friday announced an outside review of the disciplinary process for cops.
Police Supt. Garry McCarthy and Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton said experts will look into what’s being done to prevent police misconduct, how it’s reported and how it’s investigated.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel called for the review several months ago, they said.
A.T. Kearney, a management consultant firm, will conduct the review for free, Patton said. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Safer, who is with the law firm Schiff Hardin, will focus on the legal issues surrounding police discipline.
Last week, the City Council approved a $10.25 million settlement for a wrongfully imprisoned man and $22.5 million for a mentally ill woman who was attacked and left severely disabled after police released her in a high-crime area.
And in November, a federal jury said the city should pay a female bartender $850,000 for the beating she suffered from off-duty Chicago Police Officer Anthony Abbate.
The jury found a “code of silence” in the department protects rogue officers like Abbate. Future lawsuits against the city could cite the verdict as evidence of a “pattern and practice” of police misconduct, legal experts say.
Patton said the review wasn’t launched because of a specific case. But he noted: “If we can minimize police misconduct from occurring and make sure when it does occur that it’s thoroughly investigated and disciplined, would that help us? Yes, from a financial standpoint both in terms of reducing exposure and liability.”
Patton and McCarthy said they’ve already been working together to reduce the department’s exposure to lawsuits.
One example: the department’s handling of the NATO Summit protests in May. McCarthy and Patton said they made sure officers gave ample warning to protesters before making arrests during the NATO Summit — unlike a 2003 anti-war march that resulted in a legal payout of $11 million, including attorney fees and compensation to about 900 people.
McCarthy added that he’s been working to reform the department’s internal disciplinary process since he took office in 2011. “Garry and I have been partnering for 20 months in risk management,” Patton said.
Milovan Mirosevic is still with the Columbus Crew. So is Dilly Duka. But Robbie Rogers and Matías Sánchez aren’t on the roster.
That’s the news from Crew technical director Brian Bliss and coach Robert Warzycha following phone interviews on Friday afternoon.
They addressed reports of players coming and going as Columbus opened preseason camp with a fitness test on Friday prior to the first full training session on Monday.
In regards to offseason rumors that Mirosevic would return to Chile after one season with the Crew, Warzycha told MLSsoccer.com he talked to the player on Wednesday and was assured of his desire to play for the Crew although the midfielder did not report on Friday.
WATCH: Crew take Drew Beckie
“As of now I am expecting him to show up,” Warzycha said. “He’s going to fly here, if he’s not flying already as we speak. He’s going to be here over this weekend.”
Bliss said Mirosevic’s agent also stressed that the midfielder would honor the final season of his contract.
“I anticipate when I get out [to training] Monday or Tuesday that I’ll see him,” Bliss said to MLSsoccer.com.
Warzycha doesn’t see the contract as an issue.
“I don’t know whether he’s going to honor his contract for the year,” he said. “I’m saying that he is coming so I don’t know anything else about why he would not.”
Meanwhile, Bliss acknowledged that the Chicago Fire are one of three teams Columbus have talked to about Duka. The Fire drafted a left-footed winger, Cameroonian Yazid Atouba Emane, in Thursday’s SuperDraft with the No. 30 selection.
“There’s nothing completed,” Bliss said. “Dilly is still under contract to us.”
Like Mirosevic, Duka was not with the team on Friday, but Warzycha expects him at practice on Monday.
WATCH: Ryan Finley picked at No. 9
“Nothing is done, so I’m expecting him to be here,” the coach said about Duka. “If anything happens between now and Monday it’s going to be different, but as of now he’s our player.”
As far as Rogers is concerned, the Crew still retain the MLS rights to the midfielder, who left English club Leeds United by mutual consent this week. But all indications are that the club is unlikely to re-sign him. Rogers signed with Leeds after the 2011 season and is now looking for a new club.
“We have to know if he’s coming back to the league, then we can go from there,” Warzycha said when asked if Rogers might return to Columbus. “Robbie’s a good player. He can play for any team.”
Bliss indicated there was immediate interest from “quite a few teams” upon learning of Rogers’ release, adding that “he has value.”
Finally, Friday reports that defensive midfielder Sánchez of Argentina’s Estudiantes has signed with the Crew are false.
“We put him on our Discovery list and probably early in December we kicked the tire a little bit with him,” Bliss revealed. “We didn’t really continue to pursue it because we had other things going on and put it on the backburner.”
Said Warzycha: “We haven’t offered him a contract. We are still searching for some players.”
Craig Merz covers the Columbus Crew for MLSsoccer.com
Posted on Thursday, January 17th, 2013 by Angie Han
It’s a fact of human nature that no matter how much we have, we want more. But how far we’re willing to go varies wildly from person to person. Some would rather be poor for the rest of their lives than hurt another, while others literally or figuratively kill to land a little extra dough.
In Ramaa Mosley‘s The Brass Teapot, a young couple played by Juno Temple and Michael Angarano find out where their limits lie. When they discover a magical teapot that promises to solve their financial problems, they’re ecstatic. The one catch, however, is that the teapot only spits out money when they hurt each other. Hit the jump to watch the trailer.
It’s easy to imagine a more twisted director making a much darker film out of this premise. The logical end to the teapot’s demand for pain (and no, I can’t believe I just typed those words either) would seem to be murder or torture. Based on the upbeat trailer, though, I don’t think that’s what happens. Despite an obvious satirical edge, this looks more funny than disturbing.
Both Angarano and Temple are promising young talents that have been on the verge of breaking out for a while now, and while I don’t think The Brass Teapot will launch them into the A-list, they look totally charming and fun together. The Brass Teapot arrives in theaters April 4.
Based on the comic book, THE BRASS TEAPOT is a feature film about John and Alice who live in small town America — 20s, married, very much in love, and broke. Once voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” Alice struggles to make ends meet while her friends enjoy the good life. Her husband John, neurotic and riddled with phobias, just wants to get the bills paid. But an accident leads them to a roadside antique shop where Alice is spontaneously drawn to a mysterious brass teapot. It isn’t long before they realize that this is no ordinary teapot and that perhaps they have found the answer to all of their financial woes… THE BRASS TEAPOT is a magical comedy that reminds us to be careful what we wish for.
OTTAWA — Federal Liberal brass are being accused of subverting a leadership process that was supposed to transform the party from an elitist club into the country’s most open political vehicle.
That’s the claim of two leadership hopefuls in the first real dust-up of the contest.
Party officials are under fire for allowing candidates to treat their lists of supporters as private property.
The new “supporter” category was supposed to give anyone willing to affirm support for Liberal principles — not just dues-paying, card-carrying members — an equal say in choosing the next Liberal leader.
Grassroots Liberals adopted creation of the supporter category at a convention a year ago to throw open the party’s doors and engage and empower average folks in the leadership contest.
But now two candidates — Vancouver MP Joyce Murray and Toronto lawyer Deborah Coyne — maintain the party has effectively turned thousands of new supporters into the unwitting private property of individual leadership contenders.
At issue is the party’s interpretation of the rules regarding supporters.
Officials have decided that leadership camps can keep to themselves the names and contact information of supporters who sign up through their websites — at least until the March 3 deadline for signing up new supporters and members, after which a list of all eligible voters will be made available to all candidates.
A supporter who signs up through, for instance, front-runner Justin Trudeau’s website will be known only to the Trudeau camp and will be contacted only by that camp until the final month of the contest.
The party’s stance appears to most benefit the front-running contenders — such as Trudeau — who are best equipped to sign up large numbers of supporters.
“I think that would be a logical interpretation,” agreed Jeff Jedras, Coyne’s campaign manager.
Sources say both the Trudeau camp and that of Marc Garneau, widely considered his most serious challenger, opposed any relaxation of the party’s interpretation of the rules.
While the names and even the number of candidate-recruited supporters are being kept under wraps, all candidates have access to the identities of some 55,000 supporters who signed up before the contest officially started on Nov. 14 or who have signed up thus far during the contest through the party’s neutral website.
Murray’s camp formally objected last month to the party’s interpretation of the rules, arguing that it creates different classes of supporters and is antithetical to the openness, transparency and equal treatment grassroots Liberals intended when they voted a year ago to create the supporter category.
In a written argument, obtained by The Canadian Press, Murray’s campaign chair Jamie Carroll, a former national director of the party, said most supporters expect to be “wooed” by all the candidates and are likely unaware that won’t happen if they sign up through a candidate’s website.
He argued that an individual who signs up through a candidate’s website may want simply to get involved in the leadership process, without having decided whom to support.
And since supporters and members will be casting preferential ballots in April, in which they must number their first-through-ninth choices for leader, he maintained they need to hear equally from all contenders.
The Coyne camp backed the Murray camp’s objection.
Regardless of what mechanism people use to sign up as supporters, Jedras said in an interview: “They’re signing up as a supporter of the Liberal Party of Canada, first and foremost. No campaign owns these people.”
However, the Murray camp’s arguments were rejected this week in an interpretation bulletin issued by the party’s national membership secretary, Matt Certosimo.
Certosimo pointed out that each contender had to accept the rules, including those regarding contestants’ “proprietary” rights to information about candidate-recruited supporters, members and donors, before the party would authorize their candidacy.
He indicated that party officials decided on a “staged approach” to access to such information in a bid to “avoid a last-minute ’drop’ into the system of candidate-recruited supporters.”
In an interview, Carroll said the Murray camp is exploring its options and “intends to pursue this further.”
Canadians who are disengaged from politics will be “immensely turned off by this sort of behaviour, by the folks who treat politics as a sort of personal fiefdom or exclusive club,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be. It should be a very public forum, a transparent forum and a place where anyone who wants to participate can participate.”
Jedras said the dispute reflects “a conflict between the new philosophy (behind creation of the supporter category) and the more old-school style of campaigning in politics where you build your list, you guard your list, the access to (membership) forms is controlled and you would gather all your forms and drop them at the last minute to secure your data.”
“It does run up against what the party members in large numbers voted to do a year ago now, which was to open up the party and make it much easier to get involved.”
AMARILLO, TEXAS — If you’ve been having problems getting ammunition you’re not alone.
Several local gun dealers are reporting a difficulty getting the amount of ammunition they want. Those who do get ammunition are having to charge more for it. Some attribute the supply/demand imbalance to a series of factors, including the end of the year practice of eliminating inventory only to have to react to a sharp demand following the shooting incident in Connecticut. Also, the 35 annual shot show is underway in Las Vegas.
More than 60,000 buyers and sellers are attending and much ammunition is on display. Locally, some gun stores have limited ammo.
Charlissa Stokes of Panhandle Gunslingers says “it’s been hard to get and it’s going up. Our costs are going up, which drives the customer’s cost up.”
Panhandle Gunslingers say they are limiting sales of ammunition to two boxes per sale. The difficulty of getting ammunition and related supplies is starting to cause a pinch at some small businesses.
Mike Orr owns Orr’s Gun and Reloading Supply. He says some consumers are afraid they won’t be able to get the ammunition they want and are turning to reloading bullets. Orr sells many of the supplies, but like many reloaders, he’s now having trouble getting sufficient brass. He’s also seeing difficulty obtaining other items from his distributor.
Orr said, “I’m really getting low on bullets, as well. I’m having to limit the quantity of the primers is sell to people, so I can go another couple weeks. I’m on the verge of going out of business.”
Chelsea Handler got in deep doo-doo with Comcast brass over a joke about Al Roker’s unpredictable bowels that also smeared Roker’s “Today” colleague Matt Lauer, sources tell us.
Roker recently confessed to “Dateline” that he once “pooped” his pants at the White House, and news of the accident, ahem, exploded online.
Handler responded with a zinger on her E! show, “Chelsea Lately,” saying, “This isn’t the first time a ‘Today’ show cast member was in the news about this sensitive subject. For years it was common knowledge that Matt Lauer spent every morning [s - - ting] all over Ann Curry.”
But Handler’s bosses — Comcast owns NBC and E! — were apparently not as amused as her audience.
“Chelsea’s writers were warned to lay off Matt,” says a source close to the show. “They don’t want them making more fun of Matt and the Ann Curry situation right now.” Lauer’s been a public target since Curry was canned as co-host of “Today” and replaced by Savannah Guthrie.
This isn’t the first time Handler’s slung some comedic excrement Lauer’s way. When Lauer made what seemed like a dig at Meredith Vieira during a “Today” segment on “cankles” back in 2009, Handler fired back with a shot at him.
In November, the comedienne canceled an appearance on “Today” by calling in hours before she was supposed to be on the show, due to what her rep told us was “food poisoning.”
But Handler said on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” later the same day, “That was a lie. I wasn’t sick,” and she apologized while getting in a swipe at “Today” hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, by calling them “Hoda Kota-ba and Kathie Lee Jifford.”
An E! spokesman told us about Handler and her writers being warned about Lauer: “This is absolutely false, and no such request was made.” A rep for “Today” declined to comment.
And Mr. Soiled Slacks himself meanwhile said yesterday that he’s stunned that his messy White House secret has become such a Web sensation.
The trailer and poster for Ramaa Mosley’s The Brass Teapot are now online and you can check them both out below, courtesy of iTunes Movie Trailers.
Starring Juno Temple, Michael Angarano, Alexis Bledel and Alia Shawkat, The Brass Teapot follows a small-town couple, John and Alice. They are married, very much in love, and broke. Once voted most likely to succeed, Alice struggles to make ends meet while her friends enjoy the good life. Her husband John, neurotic and riddled with phobias, just wants to get the bills paid. But an accident leads them to a roadside antique shop where Alice is spontaneously drawn to a mysterious brass teapot. It isnt long before they realize that this is no ordinary teapot and that perhaps they have found the answer to all of their financial woes.
“I like scripts with a moral and that’s a great message to send that money doesn’t make you happy,” Temple told ComingSoon.net in a recent interview. “It really doesn’t. That’s what that script is about and it was great fun to shoot. I go from being very, very poor to very, very rich and some of the costumes are very cool.”
The Brass Teapot will arrive on iTunes February 28 and will hit select theaters on April 5.
Chelsea Handler got in deep doo-doo with Comcast brass over a joke about Al Roker’s unpredictable bowels that also smeared Roker’s “Today” colleague Matt Lauer, sources tell us.
Roker recently confessed to “Dateline” that he once “pooped” his pants at the White House, and news of the accident, ahem, exploded online.
Handler responded with a zinger on her E! show, “Chelsea Lately,” saying, “This isn’t the first time a ‘Today’ show cast member was in the news about this sensitive subject. For years it was common knowledge that Matt Lauer spent every morning [s - - ting] all over Ann Curry.”
But Handler’s bosses — Comcast owns NBC and E! — were apparently not as amused as her audience.
“Chelsea’s writers were warned to lay off Matt,” says a source close to the show. “They don’t want them making more fun of Matt and the Ann Curry situation right now.” Lauer’s been a public target since Curry was canned as co-host of “Today” and replaced by Savannah Guthrie.
This isn’t the first time Handler’s slung some comedic excrement Lauer’s way. When Lauer made what seemed like a dig at Meredith Vieira during a “Today” segment on “cankles” back in 2009, Handler fired back with a shot at him.
In November, the comedienne canceled an appearance on “Today” by calling in hours before she was supposed to be on the show, due to what her rep told us was “food poisoning.”
But Handler said on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” later the same day, “That was a lie. I wasn’t sick,” and she apologized while getting in a swipe at “Today” hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, by calling them “Hoda Kota-ba and Kathie Lee Jifford.”
An E! spokesman told us about Handler and her writers being warned about Lauer: “This is absolutely false, and no such request was made.” A rep for “Today” declined to comment.
And Mr. Soiled Slacks himself meanwhile said yesterday that he’s stunned that his messy White House secret has become such a Web sensation.
Chelsea Handler got in deep doo-doo with Comcast brass over a joke about Al Roker’s unpredictable bowels that also smeared Roker’s “Today” colleague Matt Lauer, sources tell us.
Roker recently confessed to “Dateline” that he once “pooped” his pants at the White House, and news of the accident, ahem, exploded online.
Handler responded with a zinger on her E! show, “Chelsea Lately,” saying, “This isn’t the first time a ‘Today’ show cast member was in the news about this sensitive subject. For years it was common knowledge that Matt Lauer spent every morning [s - - ting] all over Ann Curry.”
But Handler’s bosses — Comcast owns NBC and E! — were apparently not as amused as her audience.
“Chelsea’s writers were warned to lay off Matt,” says a source close to the show. “They don’t want them making more fun of Matt and the Ann Curry situation right now.” Lauer’s been a public target since Curry was canned as co-host of “Today” and replaced by Savannah Guthrie.
This isn’t the first time Handler’s slung some comedic excrement Lauer’s way. When Lauer made what seemed like a dig at Meredith Vieira during a “Today” segment on “cankles” back in 2009, Handler fired back with a shot at him.
In November, the comedienne canceled an appearance on “Today” by calling in hours before she was supposed to be on the show, due to what her rep told us was “food poisoning.”
But Handler said on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” later the same day, “That was a lie. I wasn’t sick,” and she apologized while getting in a swipe at “Today” hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, by calling them “Hoda Kota-ba and Kathie Lee Jifford.”
An E! spokesman told us about Handler and her writers being warned about Lauer: “This is absolutely false, and no such request was made.” A rep for “Today” declined to comment.
And Mr. Soiled Slacks himself meanwhile said yesterday that he’s stunned that his messy White House secret has become such a Web sensation.
The Brass Monkey half marathon attracts great effort as shown in this action shot from last year
TWO thousand runners will brave the wintry conditions when one of Britain’s most celebrated road races is held on Sunday.
Knavesmire Harriers are staging the 31st annual Brass Monkey half marathon with 2,000 participants – headed by some top-quality athletes – taking to the streets of York to tackle the 13.1-mile course.
Won 12 months ago by Yared Hagus, of Wallsend Athletics Club, the men’s race this year looks to be a fierce contest between Matthew Pierson, last year’s runner-up and the victor in 2010, and regular Brass Monkey runner Paul Lockwood.
Pierson is coming into the race in form following a strong display in the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships at Lightwater Valley this month, where he was 26th.
The race was started in 1983 by club president Brian Hughes who, it is said, founded the club with Ray Wilstrop after meeting under a tree on Knavesmire.
The race starts on Bishopthorpe Road and travels through the village on to Acaster Lane and back through Bishopthorpe, via Appleton Roebuck, to a conclusion at York Racecourse.
Club members do not compete in the event, instead acting as marshalls manning the route.
The Brass Monkey was initially intended as a contest for club runners but has expanded enormously over its three decades and has attracted some of the country’s best to take part. These include Olympic 10,000 metres runner Angela Tooby-Smith and former world 100 kilometres champion Caroline Hunter-Rowe.
Pierson won the race three years ago in one hour and five minutes, slightly slower than the record held by New Zealander Paul Martelletti.
In the ladies’ race, returning runners expected to be in the frame include Melissa Neale, who was third last year, and Amy Green, the runner-up in 2011.
Former Scottish and Commonwealth Games athlete Hayley Haining still holds the women’s record, set in 2008, with one hour, 11 minutes and 46 seconds.
For the first time, prize money for both categories is the same. The winners of the men’s and women’s contest each collect £150.
BBC Look North’s Claire Frisby starts the race at 10am.
The Brass Monkey half marathon attracts great effort as shown in this action shot from last year
TWO thousand runners will brave the wintry conditions when one of Britain’s most celebrated road races is held on Sunday.
Knavesmire Harriers are staging the 31st annual Brass Monkey half marathon with 2,000 participants – headed by some top-quality athletes – taking to the streets of York to tackle the 13.1-mile course.
Won 12 months ago by Yared Hagus, of Wallsend Athletics Club, the men’s race this year looks to be a fierce contest between Matthew Pierson, last year’s runner-up and the victor in 2010, and regular Brass Monkey runner Paul Lockwood.
Pierson is coming into the race in form following a strong display in the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships at Lightwater Valley this month, where he was 26th.
The race was started in 1983 by club president Brian Hughes who, it is said, founded the club with Ray Wilstrop after meeting under a tree on Knavesmire.
The race starts on Bishopthorpe Road and travels through the village on to Acaster Lane and back through Bishopthorpe, via Appleton Roebuck, to a conclusion at York Racecourse.
Club members do not compete in the event, instead acting as marshalls manning the route.
The Brass Monkey was initially intended as a contest for club runners but has expanded enormously over its three decades and has attracted some of the country’s best to take part. These include Olympic 10,000 metres runner Angela Tooby-Smith and former world 100 kilometres champion Caroline Hunter-Rowe.
Pierson won the race three years ago in one hour and five minutes, slightly slower than the record held by New Zealander Paul Martelletti.
In the ladies’ race, returning runners expected to be in the frame include Melissa Neale, who was third last year, and Amy Green, the runner-up in 2011.
Former Scottish and Commonwealth Games athlete Hayley Haining still holds the women’s record, set in 2008, with one hour, 11 minutes and 46 seconds.
For the first time, prize money for both categories is the same. The winners of the men’s and women’s contest each collect £150.
BBC Look North’s Claire Frisby starts the race at 10am.
America’s top military leaders have warned Congress in unusually stark terms that its failure to pass a 2013 defence budget, coupled with the threat of automatic budget cuts, has pushed the Pentagon to the brink of a crisis.
In a joint letter to congressional leaders provided to The Associated Press, they said the readiness of US armed forces was at a “tipping point”.
The military leaders said troops in combat and those being treated for wounds would get the funds needed, but the rest of the force would be severely compromised if the Pentagon had to continue operating on last year’s budget.
“We are on the brink of creating a hollow force,” said the letter signed by the chiefs of the army, navy, air force, Marine Corps and National Guard, as well as the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Pentagon is facing two major money problems – the threat of drastic additional budget cuts if Congress and the Obama administration are unable to agree on debt-reduction measures by March and Congress’ failure so far to pass a 2013 budget, which has left the Pentagon on a spending path based on its previous budget.
In their letter, the military leaders said the main risk was that budget conditions would create such a wide disconnect between their spending needs and the available funds that the armed forces would be ill prepared for future combat.
“Should this looming readiness crisis be left unaddressed, we will have to ground aircraft, return ships to port, and stop driving combat vehicles in training,” they wrote, adding that training would have to be reducing by almost half of what was planning just three months ago. “To avert this crisis we urge you to take immediate action to provide adequate and stable funding for readiness. Under current budgetary uncertainty, we are at grave risk of an imposed mismatch between the size of our nation’s military force and the funding required to maintain its readiness, which will inevitably lead to a hollow force.”
Defence secretary Leon Panetta has been making similar arguments. Last week he told a Pentagon news conference that the threat of drastic spending cuts triggered by failure to reach a debt-reduction deal by March, coupled with Congress’ failure to pass a 2013 defence budget, is creating “a perfect storm of budget uncertainty.”
“We have no idea what the hell’s going to happen,” he said. “All told, this uncertainty, if left unresolved by the Congress, will seriously harm our military readiness.”
In a statement responding to the letter, Howard “Buck” McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said it should serve as a “wake-up call” to Congress and the White House. “The condition of our armed forces is swiftly declining. And this is the first red flag on what could be a hazardous road for our national security,” he said.
America’s top military leaders have warned Congress in unusually stark terms that its failure to pass a 2013 defence budget, coupled with the threat of automatic budget cuts, has pushed the Pentagon to the brink of a crisis.
In a joint letter to congressional leaders provided to The Associated Press, they said the readiness of US armed forces was at a “tipping point”.
The military leaders said troops in combat and those being treated for wounds would get the funds needed, but the rest of the force would be severely compromised if the Pentagon had to continue operating on last year’s budget.
“We are on the brink of creating a hollow force,” said the letter signed by the chiefs of the army, navy, air force, Marine Corps and National Guard, as well as the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Pentagon is facing two major money problems – the threat of drastic additional budget cuts if Congress and the Obama administration are unable to agree on debt-reduction measures by March and Congress’ failure so far to pass a 2013 budget, which has left the Pentagon on a spending path based on its previous budget.
In their letter, the military leaders said the main risk was that budget conditions would create such a wide disconnect between their spending needs and the available funds that the armed forces would be ill prepared for future combat.
“Should this looming readiness crisis be left unaddressed, we will have to ground aircraft, return ships to port, and stop driving combat vehicles in training,” they wrote, adding that training would have to be reducing by almost half of what was planning just three months ago. “To avert this crisis we urge you to take immediate action to provide adequate and stable funding for readiness. Under current budgetary uncertainty, we are at grave risk of an imposed mismatch between the size of our nation’s military force and the funding required to maintain its readiness, which will inevitably lead to a hollow force.”
Defence secretary Leon Panetta has been making similar arguments. Last week he told a Pentagon news conference that the threat of drastic spending cuts triggered by failure to reach a debt-reduction deal by March, coupled with Congress’ failure to pass a 2013 defence budget, is creating “a perfect storm of budget uncertainty.”
“We have no idea what the hell’s going to happen,” he said. “All told, this uncertainty, if left unresolved by the Congress, will seriously harm our military readiness.”
In a statement responding to the letter, Howard “Buck” McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said it should serve as a “wake-up call” to Congress and the White House. “The condition of our armed forces is swiftly declining. And this is the first red flag on what could be a hazardous road for our national security,” he said.
“Slides Rule,” a celebration of the trombone, will be the theme for the 24th annual Great American Brass Band Festival June 7-9 in Danville.
Considered by some “The King of Instruments,” the trombone plays a major role in brass bands, and will be especially featured throughout the weekend.
Top-flight exponents of the “slush pump” like Wycliffe Gordon and Scott Hartmann — along with the Millennium Brass, Brett Baker (England), and bass trombonist Martin McCain — will head up a line-up of trombone soloists.
Trombone choirs will include both the award-winning Black Dyke Youth Trombone Quartet from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Trombones, a gathering of trombone professors and selected top students from nearly every Kentucky university music department.
The GABBF always has a strong patriotic component, one that will be filled this year by the U.S. Army Field Band and Chorus from Washington, D.C., which is making its first appearance at the GABBF.
Traditional favorites in the wind band category include the host Advocate Brass Band and the 202nd Army Band.
The array of brass bands for 2013 runs the gamut from the professional River City Brass Band of Pittsburgh, Pa., to several New Orleans jazz brass bands, including the return of Stooges Brass Band. The groups will include the Georgia Brass Band, Lexington (Ky.) Brass Band, and the Fountain City Youth Brass Band from Kansas City.
Every year, a Salvation Army brass band comes to town, and this year the Oshawa Temple Band from Ontario, Canada, will carry on the tradition. The band will fill its major role in the Sunday morning worship service.
The festival will host a brass symposium on Friday — this year, focused on the trombone and its music. Bayou and Brass follows that evening with a concert downtown.
All of the concerts throughout Saturday and Sunday are free and open to the public.
The festival closes with a grand finale Sunday afternoon in Newlin Hall at the Norton Center for the Arts, featuring guest trombonists and the U.S. Army Field Band and Chorus.
Complete schedules and details will be listed on gabbf.org.
Major commands have been told to stop nonessential travel, curtail flying hours and take other measures as soon as possible to save money amid the chaos on Capitol Hill over defense spending, Air Force officials said.
The Air Force is facing massive cuts to defense spending known as “sequestration,” which are set to go into effect in March if lawmakers fail to agree on how to reduce the deficit. Additionally, Congress may pass a temporary spending measure in March instead of an appropriations bill for this fiscal year.
“Given these sources of budgetary uncertainty and a projected FY 13 $1.8 billion shortfall in Air Force funding for overseas contingency operations, it is prudent to implement immediate actions to reduce our expenditure rate and mitigate budget execution risks,” according to a Jan. 14 memo to the MAJCOMS from Acting Air Force Undersecretary Jamie Morin and Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer.
The cost-savings measures should be implemented in a way “to minimize harmful effects on our people and unit readiness,” according to the memo, which was obtained by Air Force Times.
Morin and Spencer have told the MAJCOMS to take the following steps:
Implement civilian hiring restrictions including a hiring freeze, “immediate elimination” of temporary employees and not renewing term hire employees who are not mission-critical.
Look for reductions in wartime funding requirements that will not harm wartime operations.
Cancel all TDY that is not mission-critical, such as attending or hosting conferences, staff assistance visits and training seminars.
Cancel flying “not directly related to readiness,” such as air shows, flyovers and familiarization rides.
Reduce ongoing and scheduled studies not ordered by Congress or mission critical.
Limit supply purchases to “essential FY13 consumption (e.g. flying hour bench stock)” and stop minor purchases that are not mission-critical, such as furniture, information technology refresh and unit equipment.
Defer nonemergency facility sustainment, renovation and modernization projects such as carpeting, painting and remodeling but continue with compliance/life/safety projects.
Try to limit contracted work to fiscal 2013 projects such as base maintenance and custodial contracts.
Further guidance will be issued for investment accounts, the memo sys.
The Air Force has also been authorized to furlough civilian employees for up to 30 calendar days — or 22 non-consecutive days — but the service hopes Congress takes action to make furloughs unnecessary, according to the memo.
“For now please do not take any actions regarding furloughs,” the memo says,
If sequestration actually happens, the Air Force would have to make much more draconian cuts to flying hours and maintenance, Morin said at a Jan. 15 Air Force Association event. Because the Air Force is limited in what cuts it can make to spending, such as civilian pay, other accounts would take a disproportionate hit.
“We are, I think, on the doorstep of a substantial and looming national security challenge,” Morin said.
The threat of sequestration combined with the lack of an appropriations bill for the year, “Greatly complicates resource planning at a time when we absolutely need to squeeze the maximum amount of combat capability out of each taxpayer dollar,” he said.
The 2013 National Defense Authorization Act authorizes $122 million in stateside Air Force military construction projects including building an F-35 simulator, hangar and modular storage magazines at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. None of those projects can go forward until Congress appropriates the money.
If lawmakers opt instead to pass another temporary spending measure for the rest of this fiscal year, all of the new projects authorized by the 2013 NDAA would be on hold unless Congress included money for military construction, Air Force officials said.
“In a large, complex enterprise like the Air Force, losing six months’ time on military construction projects can mean the difference between being able to execute a bed down for a new weapons system and not,” Morin said.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Italian oil firm Eni lifted its last force majeure on Nigerian oil exports, a trade source said on Tuesday, easing supply problems caused by flooding and theft in the West African country.
Eni first declared force majeure – a clause that means a company will not be able to meet its contractual obligations due to events beyond its control – in early November.
Traders had reported delays of more than a month for Brass River crude, which typically accounts for around 5 percent of total Nigerian exports.
“The force majeure has been lifted effective 0800 Nigerian time (0700 GMT) on Tuesday 15th January,” the source said.
Eni could not immediately be reached for official comment.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, Shell declared three force majeures on its Nigerian oil and gas output and crude production fell sharply.
Production levels have since recovered and Nigeria is due to export around 2.18 million barrels per day in February or around 10 percent more than in January.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer and typically exports more than 2 million bpd.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Italian oil firm Eni lifted its last force majeure on Nigerian oil exports, a trade source said on Tuesday, easing supply problems caused by flooding and theft in the West African country.
Eni first declared force majeure – a clause that means a company will not be able to meet its contractual obligations due to events beyond its control – in early November.
Traders had reported delays of more than a month for Brass River crude, which typically accounts for around 5 percent of total Nigerian exports.
“The force majeure has been lifted effective 0800 Nigerian time (0700 GMT) on Tuesday 15th January,” the source said.
Eni could not immediately be reached for official comment.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, Shell declared three force majeures on its Nigerian oil and gas output and crude production fell sharply.
Production levels have since recovered and Nigeria is due to export around 2.18 million barrels per day in February or around 10 percent more than in January.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer and typically exports more than 2 million bpd.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Italian oil firm Eni lifted its last force majeure on Nigerian oil exports, a trade source said on Tuesday, easing supply problems caused by flooding and theft in the West African country.
Eni first declared force majeure – a clause that means a company will not be able to meet its contractual obligations due to events beyond its control – in early November.
Traders had reported delays of more than a month for Brass River crude, which typically accounts for around 5 percent of total Nigerian exports.
“The force majeure has been lifted effective 0800 Nigerian time (0700 GMT) on Tuesday 15th January,” the source said.
Eni could not immediately be reached for official comment.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, Shell declared three force majeures on its Nigerian oil and gas output and crude production fell sharply.
Production levels have since recovered and Nigeria is due to export around 2.18 million barrels per day in February or around 10 percent more than in January.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer and typically exports more than 2 million bpd.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Italian oil firm Eni lifted its last force majeure on Nigerian oil exports, a trade source said on Tuesday, easing supply problems caused by flooding and theft in the West African country.
Eni first declared force majeure – a clause that means a company will not be able to meet its contractual obligations due to events beyond its control – in early November.
Traders had reported delays of more than a month for Brass River crude, which typically accounts for around 5 percent of total Nigerian exports.
“The force majeure has been lifted effective 0800 Nigerian time (0700 GMT) on Tuesday 15th January,” the source said.
Eni could not immediately be reached for official comment.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, Shell declared three force majeures on its Nigerian oil and gas output and crude production fell sharply.
Production levels have since recovered and Nigeria is due to export around 2.18 million barrels per day in February or around 10 percent more than in January.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer and typically exports more than 2 million bpd.
GENEVA (Reuters) – Italian oil firm Eni lifted its last force majeure on Nigerian oil exports, a trade source said on Tuesday, easing supply problems caused by flooding and theft in the West African country.
Eni first declared force majeure – a clause that means a company will not be able to meet its contractual obligations due to events beyond its control – in early November.
Traders had reported delays of more than a month for Brass River crude, which typically accounts for around 5 percent of total Nigerian exports.
“The force majeure has been lifted effective 0800 Nigerian time (0700 GMT) on Tuesday 15th January,” the source said.
Eni could not immediately be reached for official comment.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, Shell declared three force majeures on its Nigerian oil and gas output and crude production fell sharply.
Production levels have since recovered and Nigeria is due to export around 2.18 million barrels per day in February or around 10 percent more than in January.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer and typically exports more than 2 million bpd.
First such exercise after unrest over Delhi gang rape
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna on Monday ordered a ‘major reshuffle’ of the top brass of Delhi Police, first since the brutal gang-rape of a 23-year-old para-medical student in a moving bus on December 16 last year which sparked protests in the Capital and a nationwide outrage.
Khanna shifted Indian Police Service officer of 1984-batch Dharmendra Kumar from special commissioner of police (law and order) to special commissioner of police (crime and railways).
“Deepak Kumar Mishra, IPS 1984, will now function as special commissioner of police (law and order) and T N Mohan, IPS 1986, will be the new special commissioner of police (operations),” Khanna ordered.
Mishra was earlier posted as special commissioner of police (operations), while Mohan was special commissioner of police (general administration).
The reshuffle comes in place as special commissioner of police (crime and railways) Ranjit Narayan, a 1978 batch officer of the AGMUT cadre, retires on Tuesday. Dharmendra Kumar was posted as special commissioner of police (law and order) for almost two years.
Mishra served as special commissioner of police (operations) for around one and a half years, while Mohan served as special commissioner of police (general administration) for around six months.
The reshuffle also comes less than a week after Delhi High Court issued a notice to police over imposing restrictions on gathering of people at and around India Gate during protests held after the gang rape. The court has sought a response from police within two weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on February 6.
Dharmender Kumar had, on December 23, defended the police crackdown at India Gate saying authorities were left with no choice due to certain section of the protesters turning violent. He had also said action was initiated when hooligans among the protesters broke through barricades and clashed with security personnel.
There are six special commissioners in Delhi Police, whereas there are 10 posts for the rank. After Narayan’s retirement, the special commissioners working with Delhi Police will be Kumar (crime and railways), Mishra (law and order), Mohan (operations), S N Shrivastava (special cell), Nithyanandanam (intelligence) and P N Aggarwal (security).
The youth league is scheduled to meet with the ANC’s top six officials in a bid to bring tensions between the league and its mother body to an end.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told the media on Tuesday that following its first meeting in Durban, last week, the party’s newly elected national executive committee has directed the top six to meet with the leadership of the ANC Youth League.
The Monday meeting will deal with the combustible relationship between the ANC and its league.
The last serious manifestation of renewed tensions between the ANC and its league took place after the expulsion of its president, Julius Malema.
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 15, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — America’s fast-growing network of upscale bars best known for its more than 300 craft beers, premium wines and live music, is looking to expand internationally as a key component to the franchise’s growth strategy.
With 12 additional domestic units under development, The Brass Tap’s concept has global appeal as a leader in the popular craft beer trend. Highly receptive to American brands and holding the top two spots for alcohol consumption per capita make Russia and South Korea ideal markets for the first overseas Brass Tap locations.
Part of a much larger mission to more than quadruple the number of existing units over the next several years, The Brass Tap executives are looking for Master Franchisees and have meetings with investors in Moscow (March 11) and in Seoul (March 15) to further explore the expansion plans.
“The Brass Tap business model and unit level economics make the franchise opportunity attractive and practical for investors looking for a multi-store development within one market,” said James Walker, Chief Development Officer of The Brass Tap. “The Brass Tap is all about combining the best selection of beer and wine with great music and an undeniable culture, and I expect this pairing to be well-received in both Moscow and Seoul. The growth potential for The Brass Tap is truly limitless in Russia and South Korea, and we look forward to becoming an exciting hotspot.”
In addition to the brand’s distinctive selection of beer and wine offerings, The Brass Tap should be well-received in the area because of the boost it will bring to the local economy. Each location requires around 185 to 278 square meters and will create 10 to 20 new jobs.
In June 2012, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s the 213-unit franchise of family sports pubs and restaurants, acquired the rights to franchise The Brass Tap. Prospective franchise owners will be able to leverage the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s franchisee support team and deep resources within the restaurant and franchise industry.
Founded by Jeff Martin in 2007, Tampa, Florida based The Brass Tap is an upscale craft beer and wine bar celebrated for its more than 300 varieties of imports, local craft beers and a large selection of premium wines and cigars. With three open units and 19 signed agreements, The Brass Tap is positioned to quadruple in size in the Southeast and beyond. In June 2012, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s acquired the rights to franchise The Brass Tap.
The most senior commanders are due to make their apprehension clear at a meeting of the National Security Council with the Prime Minister today. They have the backing of the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond.
Following three days of French air strikes in Mali, the Islamists launched a counter-offensive yesterday showing they are not a spent force. They attacked government positions in the central town of Diabaly after crossing a river in small groups under cover of darkness. British resources are already stretched, with two RAF transport aircraft having to be diverted from Afghanistan to carry French equipment equipment to Mali. There is a shortage of such aircraft and they are being used to their full capacity. One of the Boeing C-17 Globemasters, hailed by David Cameron yesterday as “our most advanced and capable transport plane”, broke down a few minutes later in Paris, en route to Africa.
Some of the military top brass took part in operations in another West African country, Sierra Leone, where prompt action by the then-Brigadier David Richards, now the Chief of the Defence Staff, stopped rebel fighters from taking over the capital, Freetown. But a more protracted campaign was needed, including the rescue of British soldiers kidnapped by one guerrilla group, the West Side Boys.
Defence sources pointed out that the French had already had to revise their original plans for intervention after meeting more resistance than expected. François Hollande’s government has sent extra troops and asked for help from the US and Denmark as well as the UK. About 1,800 other soldiers will be sent by Mali’s neighbours. Defence sources dismissed reports that British military instructors were being sent immediately to Mali’s capital, Bamako, and that unmanned drones were on stand-by.
Mark Simmonds, the Africa minister, last night ruled out a deployment of British troops alongside French forces in Mali. In a statement to the Commons he said Britain’s role would be “limited” to logistical support.
“The Prime Minister has made categorically clear that the initial supporting deployment will be for a period of one week,” Mr Simmonds said.
“He has also made clear that there will be no combat troops from the UK involved and we have no plans to provide more military assistance.”
Mr Cameron said: “There is a very dangerous Islamist regime allied to al-Qa’ida in control of the north of [Mali]. It was threatening the south… and we should support the action the French have taken. So we were first out of the blocks, as it were, to say to the French, ‘We’ll help you, we’ll work with you.’”
Laurent Fabius, the French Foreign Minister, said France had “no desire to act alone” and that an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers would be held this week.
10 January 2013: Islamist groups capture Konna. Mali’s interim President calls on France to help. Witnesses report arrival of foreign troops and weapons at military base in Sevare, 37 miles to the south.
11 January Government troops launch counter-offensive against Islamists backed by France, Nigeria and Senegal. President Hollande confirms French troops are ‘actively supporting’ operation.
12 January Dozens of Islamists killed as Konna is retaken by Malian army. French pilot is killed after helicopter is shot down in the fighting.
13 January France targets Islamist bases around the northern city of Gao. Niger, Togo and Benin say they will send troops, while Britain pledges logistical support. French warplanes target rebel positions near Daibaly, 250 miles from Bamako.
14 January Second British support plane leaves RAF Brize Norton but is delayed by technical fault in Paris. Islamists retake Diabaly. France admits things are ‘progressing well’ in the east but not in the west. Witnesses report rebels advancing from Mauritanian border where they had retreated under French air attack.
A Bethlehem man was charged today with stealing $3,840 in brass from his employer, according to court records.
A manager at Unicast in Palmer Township called police today after catching Justin Theodore Slack, 24, of the 1400 block of Iron Street, stealing brass gummers from the company, records say.
Plant Manager Lester Rush told township police that Unicast, which is on McFadden Road, has an ongoing issue with brass theft, records say.
Slack was caught on Unicast’s surveillance cameras taking a bucket of 32 brass gummers and putting them in his backpack, records say. They have a value of $3,840.
Slack admitted the theft today to township police, records say. He was lodged in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail.
EDMONTON – He has just one NHL practice under his belt, but defenceman Justin Schultz has already impressed the Edmonton Oilers’ coaching staff.
“I see a hockey player who has moxie, who has the ability to step up into the play when needed, he has the ability to play strong defensively, he skates strong, he loves the game,” said Oiler assistant coach Steve Smith, who has seen virtually every one of the 34 games Schultz played this season with the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League.
“From all accounts from the coaches I’ve talked to he wants the puck, he wants to be on the ice, he wants to be a game-changer. There’s just so many positives I’ve seen to this point.”
Schultz was one of the most sought-after free agents last summer, and he showed while playing on a talented Barons team including Oiler forwards Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
He left the AHL with 18 goals — two shy of the AHL record for defencemen — and 48 points, second in league scoring only to Eberle.
The 23-year-old native of Kelowna, B.C., who spent the previous three seasons with the University of Wisconsin, said having the three Oilers in the AHL was definitely an advantage for him.
“We played a lot together … hopefully we can bring that chemistry up here,” he said Monday.
He was put to task right way as the Oilers’ training camp got into full swing with a two-hour, up-tempo practice full of drills.
“It seemed like it went by pretty quick,” Schultz said. “It was awesome, from drill to drill real quick, a well planned practice. I really enjoyed myself out there. It was a fast-paced practice, guys were flying around there so it was good to get that first one out of the way.”
With only one week before the season opens on the weekend, head coach Ralph Kruger elected to pair Schultz with his namesake: NHL veteran Nick Schultz who has played 763 NHL games, all but 20 of those with the Minnesota Wild.
“He just makes it easier,” Justin Shultz said of his defence partner. “He’s been in the league a long time so it’s nice to have someone back there to talk to me a lot, kind of ease me into the NHL.”
There’s no doubt the rookie defenceman will have to adjust to life in the NHL. After electing not to sign with Anaheim after the Ducks drafted him in 2008, he joined Wisconsin where he played a high of 43 games in a season. The Oilers will be playing 48 games in 98 days and he’s already played almost a full varsity season in the AHL.
“I know he did come out of about a 40-game schedule last year playing college hockey and he’s probably played close to that already this year,” Smith said. “He seems fresh, his fitness test results are very high, he hasn’t complained about bodily injuries and everything seems to be functioning well. I think it’s going to be no different for him than anyone else.”
Schultz said he feels just fine after the AHL games and Monday’s quick-paced practice, but agrees he has to remember to do “all the little things … to make sure you don’t wear out.”
“I just have to be smart and I think I’ll be just fine,” he added.
At six-foot-one and listed on the Oilers’ website at 163 pounds, Schultz will now be playing regularly against NHL players bigger and stronger, a factor he plans to offset with smarts.
“You have to be stronger, guys up here are bigger. For me I have to be smarter, have good sticks and make sure I’m in good position all the time,” he said.
“I have to think the strength of the game here is going to be different, guys are not going to be so easy to push off the puck,” said Smith who played 803 NHL games, mostly with the Oilers. “It’s going to be the battles in the trenches that are always so difficult on young defencemen, and angles because of the speed of the game changes for him as well.
“Certainly the level of play, the quickness is going to change from the American League to here so we won’t know until that happens. But from what I’ve seen he skates well enough, he’s agile enough, laterally has plenty of ability to move.”
The Oilers open their schedule Sunday in Vancouver and have their home opener next Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks.
Military officers assigned to the Pentagon do not vote on who becomes secretary of defense, but if they did, former Sen. Chuck Hagel might finish in second place.
As Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta’s expected exit drew closer over the past year, several senior Pentagon officers expressed admiration for Michele Flournoy, the Defense Department’s undersecretary for policy from 2009 to last February.
They especially liked how Mrs. Flournoy, an active Democrat, kept politics out of decision-making and argued to support the commanders’ requests for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now the Pentagon is bracing for a new boss who spent 12 years in the Senate and currently oversees a Washington foreign policy think tank but whose agenda for the armed services is murky at best.
“Many were excited at the prospect of Michele Flournoy because she had previously garnered a great deal of trust and respect, and was not thought to be a political animal seeking change for change’s sake,” an Army officer who is assigned to the Pentagon and who fought in Afghanistan told The Washington Times. “Hagel, on the other hand, is a source of concern to many who perceive him to come to the position with a blind ambition.”
Enlarge Photo
**FILE** Michele Flournoy was under secretary of defense for policy. (AP Photo) more
President Obama has nominated Mr. Hagel to succeed Mr. Panetta amid growing protests from Senate Republicans who view the chairman of the Atlantic Council as being too soft on Iran and too hard on Israel.
Mrs. Flournoy would have been the nation’s first female defense secretary. “She would have received a much more favorable reception from Republicans,” a Senate staffer told The Times.
Mr. Hagel arrived in the Senate as a conservative Nebraska Republican who voted for the Iraq war. He left in 2009 as an Obama ally and one of the fiercest critics of President George W. Bush on nearly every aspect of foreign policy, especially on dealing with the Islamist state of Iran, for which he advocates unconditional talks and U.S. business investment.
Since 2009, Mr. Hagel has served on the Defense Policy Board, a government group of former officers, officials and specialists who meet periodically to advise the defense secretary.
“He had turned left of left by then,” said a source familiar with policy board meetings. “I guess it is the influence of the Obama administration. He spoke against military interventions, especially Iran.”
As a senator in 2007, Mr. Hagel predicted that Mr. Bush’s just-announced Iraq troop surge would turn into an historic blunder — which it did not.
Mr. Hagel’s detailed views on the use of power, the $633 billion defense budget and the size of the military will come more into focus during upcoming Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearings.
He would inherit a department that is grappling with $480 billion in spending cuts over the next 10 years and the prospect of a further $485 billion reduction through a process called sequestration. Mr. Panetta’s first round of cuts kept most major weapon systems, including the increasingly costly F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Even if Congress and the White House reach a deal to scuttle sequestration, a new agreement likely would require some additional cuts and present Mr. Hagel with immediate budget decisions.
The last three defense secretaries — Donald H. Rumsfeld, Robert M. Gates and Mr. Panetta — had war as their top priority. With all combat troops out of Iraq and most scheduled to leave Afghanistan by next year, Mr. Hagel would have a chance to put his imprint on the force and an unwieldy procurement culture that produces expensive weapon systems.
THE best young brass band in the state needs musicians to continue a legacy dating back to 1959.
Willoughby City Band president Jeffrey Ma said professional young musicians were needed to fill spots on the reigning state champion Willoughby Youth Band (WYB) in 2013.
“The benefit for them is the level of playing is beyond anything they can get in schools,” he said.
HAVE YOUR SAY: What do you think of Willoughby Band? COMMENT BELOW.
WYB was crowned Junior A Grade state champions for an astounding 24th time in August but, like every year, the band’s elder members turn 20 and are no longer eligible.
Mr Ma said the band was looking for brass musicians under 19 years old for whom “enjoying playing is a pre-requisite”.
He said that young musicians thinking about getting involved should visit willoughbyband.com.au.
Willoughby City Band finished second in the state championships this year.
TORONTO – The former top brass at Nortel Networks said they finally got “vindication” Monday after being found not guilty of fraud, nearly a decade after being accused of manipulating financial records at the fallen Canadian technology giant.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Frank Marrocco acquitted ex-CEO Frank Dunn, ex-CFO Douglas Beatty and ex-controller Michael Gollogly because he was “not satisfied” the evidence showed the men had “deliberately misrepresented” the finances at the now-defunct telecom company in 2002 and 2003.
“The criminal trial is based on evidence,” he told a packed Toronto courtroom. “The decision I make is based on that evidence and nothing else.”
Following the not guilty verdicts, the former executives jumped to their feet to hug family members and their lawyers.
Marrocco’s 145-page ruling concludes one of the largest and most complex trials in Canadian corporate history.
Since beginning last January, court has heard from numerous witnesses, and saw more than 600 exhibits entered as evidence, including financial statements, internal emails and memos.
Dunn, Beatty and Gollogly each had faced two counts of fraud — one count of defrauding the public and one count of defrauding Nortel Networks Corp.
The Crown had alleged that the men participated in a book-cooking scheme designed to trigger $12.8 million in bonuses and stocks for themselves while they were at the helm of Nortel.
They were fired from the beleaguered firm in 2004.
All three had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In a statement, Dunn, the former head of Nortel, said he was “grateful to have received vindication.”
“For a very long time, integrity has been the foundation of Nortel Networks’ corporate governance and business practices,” he said in the statement after declining to speak to the media outside the courthouse.
“The documentary evidence and testimony re-affirmed this core value that I witnessed over my 28 years with the company.”
The former head of finances at the company, Beatty, smiled and replied, “Yes, I am,” when asked if he was happy to be moving on with his life.
His lawyer, Greg Lafontaine said the ruling reinforces that there was no wrongdoing at the troubled telecom company when his client and the co-defendants were in charge.
“It’s a great judgment. It’s a complete vindication of Mr. Beatty,” he said.
“There was no fraud at Nortel. No fraud at Nortel at all.”
Sharon Lavine, who represented Gollogly, said the Marrocco made a “clear decision,” but added the turmoil of the trial has taken an “immeasurable emotional toll” on her client.
The Crown says it will not comment on the case, as it now has 30 days to decide whether it will appeal.
Greg Draper, who heads investigative and forensic services at chartered accountancy and business consulting firm MNP, says that the burden of proof was difficult to meet in this case.
“To prove that there was not just intention to do the conduct, moving the money and making the financial statements that were made, but to do it with a criminal purpose to defraud shareholders and the corporation is difficult to prove,” he said.
“It certainly sounds like in this case, there wasn’t evidence to support that.”
Draper said Marrocco, who was the lead prosecutor in the Bre-X Securties case, was correct in ruling that accounting practices at major corporations can be interpretive and not based on steadfast rules.
“Accounting principles are just that, they’re principles. They’re not rules. There is room for management judgment and that is expected and necessary for the orderly overall operation for a corporation the size of what Nortel was at the time,” he said.
“You can apply those judgments. Sometimes there is specific documentation in support of it, sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes it is a discussion across the desk.”
At its height, Nortel employed more than 90,000 workers worldwide and was worth nearly $300 billion. During the technology boom in 1999-2000, it was one of Canada’s most valuable companies, with its shares peaking at $124.50.
In the years that followed the accounting scandal, the company’s shares nose dived to penny-stock status amid falling sales, large debts, and a gamut of legal issues.
In 2009, Nortel filed for bankruptcy in North America and Europe, shedding thousands of jobs. Since then, it has sold its remaining businesses piecemeal to various buyers for more than US$7.8 billion, one of largest asset sales in Canadian history.
At trial, Crown prosecutors tried to prove that Dunn, Beatty and Gollogly were complicit in releasing accruals — money set aside to cover future liabilities — onto Nortel’s balance sheets during quarters that needed to show the company was turning a profit when it wasn’t.
The Crown argued that this practice, which was kept from the board of directors and the firm’s investors, generated return-to-profitability bonuses for themselves even though the company was in the red.
In his judgment, Marrocco said the decision to only release $80 million in excess accruals when it had $189 million to boost numbers during the company’s first quarter of 2003 were not out of the ordinary.
This policy did not lead to misrepresenting Nortel’s “financial results to the investing public or Nortel’s audit committee or Nortel’s board of directors,” he wrote.
Marrocco concluded the company’s statements were restated twice in one quarter to reflect differences of opinion in accounting practices, not as an effort to cover up fraud.
Although the judge found that genuine accrued liabilities were not released when they should have been nor adjusted when they should have been, he was “not satisfied that any or all of the accused understood the extent of the excess accrued liabilities on Nortel’s balance sheet.”
Furthermore, the amount was immaterial to the finances of such a large company, and even if they were not released, the executives would’ve received their profit bonuses anyway, Marrocco told the court.
At trial, Dunn’s lawyer said his client approved the accounting at the telecom equipment maker but should not be held responsible if the figures given to him were inaccurate. At the time, Dunn was preoccupied with trying to save the company and trusted that the balance sheets were correct when he approved them, argued the defence.
“I am satisfied that non-cash impacting excess accrued liabilities on the balance sheet were not a priority,” the judge wrote in his decision.
The Crown also alleged that Nortel’s own accountants were aware of $303 million in cash reserves that were held without a legitimate reason as part of a “cookie-jar accounting scheme.”
Ramy Elitzur, a professor with the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, says the Nortel verdict has the potential to make prosecutors and law enforcement think twice about pursuing white-collar crime cases.
The verdict came on the same day that mediation talks on the distribution of nearly $9 billion in assets from the now-bankrupt Nortel began in Toronto.
The week-long proceedings, headed by Ontario Chief Justice Warren Winkler, are part of an effort to settle the company’s creditor claims in Canada, the U.S. and around the world.
LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) – Gateway Brass, the brass ensemble of the Air Force Band of the West, will present a free concert Jan. 24 at McNeese State University.
The performance is planned for 7:30 p.m. at the university’s Shearman Fine Arts Performing Arts Theatre.
Gateway Brass, stationed in Texas, has performed around the country and plays a variety of musical styles.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A criminal investigation has been launched into sexual allegations made against one current and two former members of the top brass at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a sheriff’s spokesman said on Saturday.
Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore confirmed on Saturday that Joseph H. Stephen, Anthony Ward and Ronnie M. Williams were being investigated by the Department’s Special Victims Bureau.
“The sheriff takes these allegations very seriously,” Whitmore said. “He’s going to find out what did or did not happen.”
The allegations came to light in November by a female LA County Sheriff’s deputy, Whitmore said.
The Los Angeles Times, citing unnamed sources, said that deputy faced her own allegations of misconduct. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of felony vandalism and misdemeanor battery and has been been placed on unpaid leave, The Times said.
The deputy, who Whitmore did not identify, is the daughter of a top aide to Sheriff Lee Baca, he said.
Despite reports that said Stephen was retiring, Whitmore said no decision has been made.
In an interview with The Times, Stephen denied any wrongdoing.
Stephen is a 28-year veteran who works as a captain at the Malibu/Lost Hills Station. Stephen’s bio on the sheriff’s website said he is married to his wife of 19 years.
Ward was a captain heading up the department’s auto-theft unit until he recently retired.
Williams was a 34-year veteran of the department before he retired.
I started hand loading ammunition over 20 years ago. My reasoning was simple; $17 was wayyyy too much to pay for a box of 45-70 ammunition. To me, prices like that were just short of highway robbery!
I purchased the cheapest RCBS reloading kit and cut my expenses dramatically. Brass was free because I had plenty, primers were about $2.50 per hundred, powder was well under $20 a pound and Hornady bullets were cheap. I could shoot all I wanted and not worry about price.
Yesterday, I went into Van’s for a few final items to get my son set up to reload for his varmint rifle. Prices have changed.
Powder was about $28 a pound, primers around the $6 mark and .224 bullets (that he purchased elsewhere) were about $42 for 250.
We returned home and got to work sizing, cleaning and loading. Within no time, we had a box of premium ammunition loaded and ready for him to test for accuracy in his particular rifle.
The only bad time to start reloading ammunition is tomorrow, because every day you wait means a day you’re not saving money.
We discussed price, as this is a huge factor for any teen. Adding up the powder, primers and bullets; we came up with each round costing about 30 cents, or $6 per box. (We did not include brass because it was largely free and can be used multiple times nor did we include the price of reloading equipment because it is a one-time investment that will last forever.)
Looking online, boxes of premium ammunition ranged from $20 to $28 per box, which comes to a minimum of $1 a shot. Yep, a 70 percent savings at minimum.
How much does it cost to get into? That varies. If you want to load just one caliber in small amounts, a Lee Loader with a few extras will get you going for around $50. If you want to go the single-stage press route, a good basic set-up can be had for around the $300 mark. If you want to go to a progressive loader, well, you can spend as much as you want.
Me? I am still using that bargain press I bought over 20 years ago and have loaded thousands of rounds with it and suspect it will load thousands more.
Mounties are still investigating the theft this week of about $1,200 in cash from the Penticton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, but there is a silver lining: free cable.
The branch’s office clerk arrived at work last Tuesday morning to find the main door open and an empty safe in the office attached to the Legion’s bar, said president Murray Grandy.
He said it appears to have been an inside job as there were no signs of forced entry on any doors or the safe, for which about a half-dozen people knew the combination.
“The problem there with the bar situation was it was being run by volunteers and they had to have all the information to be able to go in and open the bar and get in and do all the things they needed to do,” Grandy said.
It’s been a tough stretch for the Legion, which saw it’s entire executive removed from office last spring due to concerns about violations of its liquor and gaming licences. A new executive was elected late last year and only took office Jan. 1.
Grandy said he’s disappointed that someone close to the Legion would steal from it, and, since the theft, locks have been changed and access to the safe limited to fewer people.
Penticton RCMP spokesman Sgt. Rick Dellebuur said identifying who had access to the cash and ruling out suspects will by a key part of the investigation, which is still underway.
Dellebuur said internal theft is a problem in many organizations, but police are particularly anxious to close this case.
“We recognize the public interest is greater in this because the Royal Canadian Legion is an institution in Canada,” he said.
The silver lining, Grandy said, is that Shaw Media has agreed to provide phone, TV and Internet service to the Legion free of charge for six months, which should make up for the $1,200 loss.
“I think it’s very good of them,” he said.
Shaw did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
SUNBURY — More than 50 firefighters battled an inferno at a popular city bar and restaurant after fire broke out less than a half hour after the bartender and owner left early Thursday morning.
The Brass Key, at North Second Street and Edison Avenue, sustained severe damage after a light fixture in the basement shorted out, according to Sunbury Fire Chief Mike Rhoads.
The Brass Key has been in business for a number of years and is owned and operated by Anthony Sanutti, of Selinsgrove.
He said everything appeared fine when he left the building at about 3:40 a.m.
Sanutti was not sure what he planned to do, but said he was going to try and salvage some of the belongings inside.
Rhoads estimated damage at more than $200,000.
“They told me the jukebox was still playing as they were fighting the fire,” Sanutti said. “I have no idea what I am going to do next.”
He said he was in the process of remodeling the second floor, and he has insurance on the structure and its contents.
“I don’t even know what I lost yet,” he said. “I would imagine all the inventory we had is gone.”
Rhoads said the fire started in the basement and continued to the bar and kitchen area before spreading to the second floor.
The Sunbury Fire Department was dispatched at 4:04 a.m., and Rhoads said when he reached the scene, the flames were out of control and he needed more manpower.
“Our guys from Station 56 did a great job and stepped up with really no manpower,” the chief said. “I started calling in stations from everywhere.”
Members of several Valley departments began racing to Sunbury to help their fellow firefighters, Rhoads said.
By 7 a.m., Milton state police fire marshal Kirk Renn was inside the building searching for clues, and Rhoads announced that the cause was a short circuit.
“It was determined the fire started in the basement by a light fixture that had a wire with tremendous amount of stretching and melting,” Rhoads said. “It was an accidental fire.”
Even though the fire was handled quickly, Rhoads said he is asking for more volunteers.
“All departments are suffering from this,” he said. “We need more people.”
Assisting at the scene were Sunbury, Middleburg, Shamokin, Upper Augusta, Point Township, Northumberland, Selinsgrove and Danville fire departments.
PEPPERELL — The Quintessential Brass will perform at the Lawrence Library on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m.
Founded in 1990, Quintessential Brass has performed across New England. Individual members of the group have performed with well-known orchestras and musicians around the world, on National Public Radio and television, and at such venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center. Though originally formed to play brass classics, their common love for jazz and popular music has led Quintessential Brass to push the role of the brass quintet to the limit — and beyond.
The performance is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served; sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Coffee provided by Starbucks Coffee, Nashua, N.H. Join us on the third Saturday each month for more live music performances. For information call 978-433-0330 or visit www.lawrencelibrary.org.
Scott loves the Flyers, Phillies, music, sports, photography and all things native to the Delaware Valley and the Jersey Shore. So far in life, in the words of Jimmy Buffett, he has enjoyed growing older but not up!
Using a brass body, the MX-1 features a new CMOS sensor that enhances performance. Plus, the Q10 goes color crazy and we discuss trends with Pentax.
Pentax’s new camera announcements at CES were light this year, but its introduction of the new MX-1 makes up for it. The solidly constructed metallic-and-synthetic-leather camera is made with brass covers at the top and bottom. The color of the brass will age over time, and owners of old-school Japanese rangefinder film cameras will find this aging patina familiar. Like Fujifilm’s new X-Series models, the MX-1 falls into a category of its own: far more advanced than your ordinary point-and-shoot in image and build quality, but not as flexible as an interchangeable lens camera. The ideal buyer would be someone who wants the advantages of a DSLR but needs the compact form factor, like a street photographer or a pro’s backup cam, for example. The camera was named after Pentax’s MX film SLR, which had the same design cues as the MX-1.
Inside the MX-1 is a newly designed 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch back-illuminated CMOS sensor that Pentax says offers a balance of fast performance and cost. It also notes that the sensor’s low-light handling is impressive. The 4x optical lens is fast at F1.8-2.5 (allowing for fine exposure and depth of field control), with a range of 28-112mm. The MX-1 has a hybrid shake-reduction system that utilizes a mechanical sensor-shift with digital compensation to prevent camera blur. The DSLR-like qualities include RAW image capture, a high ISO of 12,800, and focus down to 1 cm. The camera can shoot high-definition video at 1080p/30 fps or 720p/60 fps. The tilting 3-inch LCD is rated at 920K dots.
In our brief hands-on time with the MX-1, the camera looks great. Construction wise, we think Fujifilm’s new X-Series models offer a higher quality build, but the Fujifilm models feel far heavier than the MX-1. Specs wise, the Fujifilm models are also stronger, of course, it’s too early to compare performance. We especially love the mode and exposure compensation dials at the top. We find that these physical dials allow for faster setting changes than having to go through the menus, which makes shooting that much easier. The MX-1 will go on sale in early February for $500.
In another announcement, the Pentax Q10, the smallest interchangeable lens camera that was announced last September, is now available as a custom-order model available through Adorama and the Pentax website. Customers will be able to choose from 100 color combinations; the order is sent to Japan and then to the factory, where the camera will take four-to-six weeks to build. For people who love the ability to customize their stuff, it’d be worth the wait. Pentax says there won’t be an extra fee for this service, and the camera remains at $600 with a kit lens.
Customized Q10 cameras line the wall inside the Pentax briefing room.
A close-up look at four of customized Q10 cameras.
During our meeting with Pentax, we asked about industry trends and where the company is heading. Pentax acknowledges that the low-end digicam sector is in transition as smartphone usage continues to rise, and that they are pursuing markets that don’t overlap with smartphones. Essentially, they will focus on features that smartphones can’t offer, like weather sealants and fast optical zooms. When asked about wireless connectivity, Pentax says smartphones have the advantage there. They are exploring that feature, but currently have no plans to introduce wireless models.
SUNBURY – A building home to a popular bar sustained $200,000 in damage in a fire early Thursday morning.
Firefighters responded to the Brass Key, 200 Reagan St., Sunbury, shortly after 4 a.m. when several people spotted smoke coming from the two-story building.
The bar and two vacant apartments above sustained heavy smoke and fire damage, according to Sunbury Fire Chief Mike Rhoads, who had command of the scene. Rhoads said the fire was electrical in nature and originated in the basement. The bar’s owner, Anthony Sanutti, of Sunbury, is insured.
“There was a tremendous amount of smoke to the point you couldn’t see the structure,” Rhoads said of the initial conditions. “There was fire in the bar area, on the north side of the structure, and fire on the second floor, on the east side.”
Firefighters attacked the blaze from all floors and cut two holes in the roof to ventilate the building. Efforts to control the blaze were aimed at the kitchen area of the bar and the apartments above at the rear of the building, which sustained the most damage. Once the fire was knocked down, firefighters positioned fans at the front of the building that blew smoke through the roof, allowing firefighters to work more safely inside.
The Sunbury Fire Department and mutual-aid companies, including those from Shamokin and Coal Township, responded to the three-alarm blaze.
Jenney Denney, who lives nearby at 465 N. Second St., became aware of the fire when she saw the flashing lights of a fire truck. According to Denney, employees of the Brass Key usually lockup around 3:45 a.m.
“The Brass Key is known in Sunbury,” Denney said while she watched firefighters extinguish remaining flames. “Everybody knows where the Brass Key is.”
Former Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt interviewed Wednesday with the Cleveland Browns about their head coaching vacancy, league sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.
The meeting with Whisenhunt took place in Arizona, where Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner are conducting a handful of interviews. Next up is Syracuse coach Doug Marrone, and the Browns have a meeting scheduled Friday with Oregon coach Chip Kelly, whose team plays Kansas State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.
More on ESPN.com
Even though Ken Whisenhunt wouldn’t be a dramatic hire, he still makes for an interesting candidate in Cleveland, writes Jamison Hensley. Blog
Whisenhunt, who was fired Monday by the Cardinals, also has interviewed with the Buffalo Bills.
Haslam and Banner also interviewed Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton on Tuesday in Arizona.
Kelly has been courted by NFL teams in the past and came close to taking Tampa Bay’s job last year. He has been deflecting questions about his future all week and did so again on Wednesday when he was asked if he expected to be contacted by NFL teams in the days ahead.
“I don’t expect anything,” he said. “I said this a million times. I’m never surprised by anything. I do not know what the future holds. I do know we have a football game tomorrow night and I’m going to be there.”
Kelly’s fast-paced offensive system is intriguing to the Browns, who fired Pat Shurmur earlier this week. New England coach Bill Belichick consulted Kelly this summer and has incorporated aspects of Oregon’s up-tempo game into the Patriots’ offense.
Kelly was asked Wednesday if he believed his offensive system would work in the NFL.
SportsNation: Chip Kelly’s Future
Chip Kelly’s name has come up in a number of situations related to open NFL head coaching jobs. Will he leave Oregon once the season is over? Cast your votes!
“I don’t think anybody knows any answers until somebody does it,” he said.
Haslam, who has made it clear that finding “the right coach” is his top priority, said the team will not confirm any interviews.
As far as Browns safety T.J. Ward is concerned, Kelly, his former coach with the Ducks, is ready to make the leap from college to the pros.
“I think the players in the NFL would respect him and they will respect how he approaches you,” Ward said. “He lets you do your job. In college, he treated us like pros. I think that’s what players respect and appreciate about him.”
Cleveland also must replace general manager Tom Heckert, who was fired after three seasons.
Information from ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen and The Associated Press were used in this report.
KALISPELL – A Flathead gun and ammo dealer says he’s hearing from customers who are afraid of stricter gun control laws.
Junior Szklarz owns Brass and Bullets, which focuses mainly on reloading and sells relatively fewer firearms compared to other gun stores in the Flathead.
But Szklarz says people are constantly calling the shop looking especially for semi-automatic AR-15s.
“They got my phone number because the other distributors they normally deal with are out,” he said. “The walls are bare at the other distributors.”
Szklarz says he thinks it’s fair to believe there will be some sort of change in gun ownership laws, especially after President Barack Obama’s speech Wednesday morning.
“The standard fear is that they will just regulate the law abiding,” Szklarz said.
Special permits aren’t required for handguns, shotguns and semi-automatic weapons, but if you want to carry a concealed handgun, a permit is required through the Sheriff’s Office.
While people may be buying up AR-15s across the Flathead, there hasn’t been a huge increase in people seeking to get their concealed weapons permit, but Sheriff Chuck Curry says time will tell.
“I think certainly there’s been concern among a certain segment of our community about future availability and what may wind up happening in the future, but so far it’s business as usual for us,” Curry said.
Szklarz says no responsible, law-abiding gun owner would condone the type of behavior shown last week.
“This is a tragedy of unthinkable scale. It really is, but the controls and bans they have in thought at this moment are definitely not going to help.”
Current gun laws in Montana allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase handguns. Anyone over 18 can buy shotguns and rifles. That includes AR-15 rifles.
MANCHESTER – The Pelham Memorial Brass Ensemble visited the veterans of the Community Living Center at the VA Medical Center in Manchester last month.
Music was performed by five eighth graders Robert Colter, Will Campbell, Alex Deacon, Rachel Marion and Nick Kathios, conducted by Paul Santerre.
The musicians wanted to say thank you to the veterans for their service and show their appreciation the best way they know how, through music.
They performed a medley of patriotic songs from the National Anthem to “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “Your’re A Grand Old Flag,” as well as some classic Christmas songs that included “Angels we Have Heard on High” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
The audience included veterans’ family members, VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members from the John H. Hargreaves Memorial Post 10722, and John Skidmore, hospital chairperson for the Department of New Hampshire VFW.
The selections of songs, the performance and the enthusiasm exhibited by the students was recognized and applauded by Madeline Dreusicke, hospital chairperson for the Department of New Hampshire Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW, who arranged for the students to perform.
“You can clearly see that these students learn both in the classroom and out”, she said.
Santerre was instrumental in creating the Brass Ensemble back in 2010 as a branch of the 7th and 8th Grade Concert Band.
During the past few years the brass ensemble has performed at the New Hampshire Solo Ensemble Festival sponsored by the New Hampshire Music Educators Association, Rivier University in Nashua, the Pelham Memorial School Chamber night and in May, 2012, the musicians performed the National Anthem at a New Hampshire Fisher Cats game in Manchester.
Houston, Tx --(Ammoland.com)- The Officers, Staff and Directors of the Texas State Rifle Association grieve with the country and with the families who lost loved-ones in Connecticut.
The loss of anyone’s child at any age due to a criminal act is a heartfelt tragedy for us all.
This is a sad time and Americans are understandably seeking answers, as to why. However, to second-guess an ongoing criminal investigation by suggesting that additional gun laws or restrictions might have made a difference is not only a rush to judgment, but is irresponsible.
This association continues to stand behind efforts that serve to:
Recognize our inalienable right to self-protection,
Recognize the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and similar language in our state constitution which protects the rights of law abiding citizens,
Enforce existing gun laws and regulations,
Lock up those individuals who use guns as part of their criminal acts,
Ease firearm restrictions for the law abiding in many of the so-called “gun-free zones,”
Identify those judged through the courts to be mentally ineligible for firearm ownership.
Go to www.tsra.com for membership information and more.
Sincerely,
Steve Hall, executive director
Texas State Rifle Association
About:
The Mission of the Texas State Rifle Association is to protect and defend the inalienable rights of the individual Texan to acquire, possess, transport, carry, transfer ownership and enjoy the right to lawful use of firearms for self preservation, for the defense of family and property and the common defense of the Republic and the individual liberties of the people. Visit: www.TSRA.com
The wedding season in India lasts for four months. During wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during the wedding season to perform and earn $10-12 per wedding.
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Members of a brass band walk past a residential building to perform at a wedding procession in New Delhi November 23, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken November 23, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 08 OF 21 FOR PACKAGE ‘INDIA’S WEDDING BANDS’. TO FIND ALL IMAGES SEARCH ‘BRASS BAND’ #
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Members of a brass band are reflected in a glass while standing outside their office in New Delhi November 24, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken November 24, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 03 OF 21 FOR PACKAGE ‘INDIA’S WEDDING BANDS’. TO FIND ALL IMAGES SEARCH ‘BRASS BAND’ #
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Rafiq Mohammed, 25, a member of a brass band, rests in a basement of a residential building before leaving to perform at a wedding procession in New Delhi November 24, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken November 24, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Musical instruments hang on the wall of a basement as a member of a brass band gets ready to perform at the wedding procession in New Delhi December 1, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken December 1, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 05 OF 21 FOR PACKAGE ‘INDIA’S WEDDING BANDS’. TO FIND ALL IMAGES SEARCH ‘BRASS BAND’
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Members of a brass band sit on a bus on their way to perform at a wedding procession in New Delhi December 1, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken December 1, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Members of a brass band play cards as they wait to perform at a wedding procession in New Delhi November 24, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken November 24, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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A member of a brass band adjusts his colleague’s headdress before performing at a wedding procession in New Delhi November 23, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dance all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken November 23, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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A member of a brass band takes a picture of his colleague before performing at a wedding procession in New Delhi November 23, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken November 23, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Members of a brass band walk through the bushes after their practice session outside a residential area in New Delhi December 3, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken December 3, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Members of the brass band play as fireworks are set off during a wedding procession in Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi December 11, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken December 11, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Atar Singh, 45, a member of a brass band, pauses as his other members perform during a wedding procession in New Delhi December 7, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken December 7, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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A man dances during a wedding procession in New Delhi November 24, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dance all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken November 24, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Relatives and friends of a groom dance during a wedding procession in New Delhi December 9, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken December 9, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Relatives and friends of a groom dance during a wedding procession in New Delhi November 18, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken November 18, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Members of a brass band stand next to a portable chandelier used to illuminate a wedding procession in New Delhi November 24, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken November 24, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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A member of a brass band holds a board displaying the names of a bride and her groom during a wedding procession in New Delhi December 9, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken December 9, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Members of a brass band distribute money they got as tip from the relatives and friends of a groom after performing at a wedding procession in New Delhi November 24, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken November 24, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Members of a brass band stroll on an empty street while they wait to perform at a wedding procession in New Delhi December 7, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dances all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken December 7, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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Members of a brass band rest against a wall as they wait to perform at a wedding procession in New Delhi December 1, 2012. The wedding season in India lasts for about four months and during wedding celebrations the bridegroom’s family normally hires a brass band service to play at the wedding procession, in which the groom’s family dance all the way to the wedding venue where the bride’s family waits to receive them. The members of the band come together during wedding season to perform and earn around $10-12 per wedding. Picture taken December 1, 2012. REUTERS/Mansi Thapliyal (INDIA – Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT ENTERTAINMENT)
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The NHL board of governors, meeting in New York today, unanimously ratified the collective bargaining agreement that was struck in the early hours Sunday.
The move was expected.
Next is a vote by the players, which is expected to be done electronically Friday and Saturday.
If they approve the CBA, which also is expected, training camps could open Sunday.
The shortened season, probably 48 games, would then open Jan. 19. It’s believed the Penguins will open the season that afternoon at Philadelphia.
The NHL season was put on hold by a lockout, which began in mid-September.
At a news conference to announce the owners’ ratification, league commissioner Gary Bettman offered an apology for the work stoppage after what he called a “long and extremely difficult negotiation.”
Gun Owners Win This Round! Let’s Keep the Phone Lines Hot!
IllinoisCarry.com
Illinois --(Ammoland.com)- Your phone calls, emails and faxes paid off!
Senate sponsors could not find the votes for HB815 and HB1263 yesterday.
The bills included a semi-auto/magazine/and public range restrictions that would have served as a ban. After passing the bills out of Senate Public Health Committee on Wednesday night, the bills floundered on Thursday when the sponsors could not gather enough support to call the bills for a vote.
The lame duck session continues until Wed. Jan. 9 when the new 98th General Assembly members will be sworn into office.
Please call your State Senators at their home district offices over the weekend and urge their continued support in opposing these outrageous attempts to infringe on our Second Amendment rights.
To find out who your State Senator is call 217-782-2000
Follow the discussion on IllinoisCarry.com
Forward to your friends, family, and contacts!
Disarming innocent victims does NOT make them safer! The only thing that will stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun…
About:
The IllinoisCarry forum was started in April 2004. The idea was that Illinois needed a central location to communicate ideas and information regarding 2nd Amendment issues in Illinois. There are many organizations in Illinois working to protect our 2nd Amendment Rights. Working with these groups IllinoisCarry has become the central location for information and Action Alerts. IllinoisCarry will not endorse political candidates. We simply provide information so voters can make informed decisions. Our goal is to join the other 48 states that allow their citizens to carry concealed firearms. We encourage you to register on our forum and join the fight for your 2nd Amendment Rights in Illinois. Visit www.IllinoisCarry.com
To Herb Schmidt, Gettysburg voting to move from the Mid-Penn Conference to the YAIAA makes too much sense for the school. But, the former executive director of the YAIAA was quick to say that the logic runs both ways.
On Monday, the Gettysburg school board voted 7-0 to petition to join the league and at this coming Monday’s meeting, the YAIAA will vote on whether to accept the Warriors.
Schmidt expects a positive vote.
“It’s a no brainer. I feel very confident. I am excited about the prospect,” he said. “It makes sense because they are a AAA school and we are basically a AAA league. They will get the competition they need to qualify for districts.”
West York athletic director Roger Czerwinski sees the positive reasons to accept Gettysburg into the league, but West York, like all schools, has one main worry — finances.
“That would be the concern. The distance it is going to add to the transportation cost,” Czerwinski said. “I am happy to add another AAA team. But we have to look at the costs involved, not only the travel, but how is it going to effect our home gate?
“For a school like us, it’s beneficial because (Gettysburg is) another school our size. Knowing the YAIAA is aligned by size, it is going to add another AAA, which is good for us.”
It’s not just the high school level that is affected. A major part of the Gettysburg decision is the cost of travel for junior high athletic programs. The YAIAA offers more flexible scheduling at the junior high levels, as opposed to the Mid-Penn.
One athletic director with experience in both leagues is Spring Grove’s Scott Govern, who moved over to the Rockets this fall after 13 years at Boiling Springs.
“Junior high the size of (the opposing) school really doesn’t matter much. It’s good to play the people in your backyard,” Govern said. “This will help Gettysburg if this goes through. Every one in their area is already in the York-Adams League. Right now every ride for them is at least 30 minutes.”
Govern does like what the Warriors will bring athletically, particularly in fall sports such as boys soccer (16-3) and girls volleyball (17-3), which are coming off great seasons.”
“They are a very competitive program,” Govern said. “I think they would do very well in our conference. I just don’t know where they would be aligned. That is one concern.”
At least the league would have nearly two years to figure that out. The next schedule/realignment cycle will be for the 2014-15 season, which is when, if approved, Gettysburg would become a YAIAA member.
Schmidt added that he hopes the addition of a 23rd school may prompt another school to consider jumping to the YAIAA.
“Hopefully it will draw someone else,” he said. “Basically, we were looking at trying to become 24 members. That is our goal. It (would) give us three divisions of eight teams each. It makes sense for schedules, it’s even. It’s a nice number.”
Principals, administrators and athletic directors will likely discuss the addition this week before Monday’s vote.
“When West York votes, it is what is going to be in the best interest of us and the league,” Czerwinski said. “We have to look at the big picture. I am pretty supportive of it. (But) I am sure I am not the only one dealing with budget crunches.”
Wendell Young emerged from his office at the Triphahn Ice Arena in Hoffman Estates Tuesday to catch a few minutes of practice.
Mostly, though, it seemed the general manager of the Chicago Wolves came out to catch his breath.
“Busy,” was the answer Young gave when asked how his days have been going since the National Hockey League and its players reached a tentative deal on a new collective-bargaining agreement on Sunday.
The Wolves are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. Now that the lockout is all but officially over, five key players have left the Wolves for training camp with the Canucks: forward Andrew Ebbett, right wing Zack Kassian, center Jordan Schroeder and defensemen Chris Tanev and Kevin Connauton.
All but Connauton sat out Sunday’s game once it became apparent the lockout was ending.
That meant Young had to work the phones to bring up players from lower leagues.
The Wolves signed forward Eric Kattelus from Kalamazoo of the East Coast Hockey League, and defenseman Adam Polasek was reassigned from Kalamazoo to the Wolves.
“It’s been a lot of work,” Young said. “I feel like I’m back in the summertime trying to put a team together. We’ve had a ton of injuries this year, compounded with the lockout being over and Vancouver recalling five players. It’s a trying time, trying to make sure we have, first, enough players, and then enough quality players.”
AHL teams usually are in flux anyway, with their parent clubs calling up players and sending some back during the course of the season. The lockout complicated matters in the minors from the get-go, and now that the work stoppage is over, there are new challenges.
“By design, we had a lockout team and a non-lockout team; we carried extra players all year,” Young said. “We lost two players early this year to season-ending injuries. And we’ve got some other players who’ve been injured, so we’re waiting on those players, too. By design, we had two depth charts, one for an NHL season and one for a non-NHL season.”
Although the Wolves didn’t have to worry about call-ups during the lockout, the injury situation and carrying extra players made for some sticky issues.
“Having extra players around, it’s tough to practice that way,” Young said. “I think there’s an uncertainty to the game, too, because everybody’s looking. The guys who are thinking they’re going to go up to the NHL are reading the paper and the Internet and Twitter constantly. They don’t know if they’re here for the year or not.
“Also, the players not getting as much ice time because the NHL players were here are watching that and saying, ‘I’m going to dress more. I’m going to get into more games and get more ice time.’ It was stable in one way, but there was a lot of uncertainty, too.”
The mood seemed good on the ice as the team went through a spirited 90-minute practice Tuesday morning.
“It’s funny,” said head coach Scott Arniel. “Since September, you’ve been waiting for this day. You knew it was going to come. You were hoping it was going to come. You prepare. The what-if scenarios are always in place. It came to this past Sunday, and all of a sudden four guys are taken out of your lineup. Reality kind of hits home, and you’re scrambling to put a lineup together.
“You know what? It means opportunity for new players, which is the big thing. We had guys who got sent down to Kalamazoo. We had guys who were sitting out because we had too many bodies because of the same situation. Now they’ve been thrust into new roles, and very important roles, whether it be playing the power play or playing more minutes or playing on some of the top lines.
“That’s what we talked about this morning at practice: Take advantage of this opportunity.”
BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) – Sabres President Ted Black and General Manager Darcy Regier met the media on Tuesday. The two offered an apology to Sabres fans after waiting through another NHL work stoppage.
Now the focus shifts to getting back on the ice. Some players are worried about how the game will be perceived once the season gets underway.
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Rifles hang on a near empty display wall at Centennial Gun Store in Centennial, Colo., Dec. 20, 2012.
With about a week to go before the Obama White House proposes new nationwide gun restrictions, U.S. retailers are noticing a dramatic run on ammunition. At Bass Pro Shops in Independence, Kan., customers would typically find at least 1,000 boxes of handgun ammunition in stock: today, says one sales associate, the sporting goods superstore has about 10. In the wake of the Newtown, Conn., shooting, an ammo scramble is taking place across the country: lawmakers in Washington are preparing for an extended debate over new gun-related legislation, and gun owners are stocking up on goods they fear could be banned.
The cycle is well-established: a deadly shooting leads to calls for more gun control, which in turn leads to hoarding. “We can’t even keep the ammunition on our shelf,” says Doug Leeper, the Bass Pro Shops employee. “It seems like it’s going just as fast as we get it.” He says that while they’d usually expect a post-Christmas bump of about 20%, in recent days sales have surged up to 90% over the previous year’s. At a Wal-Mart in Billings, Mont., sales associate David VonRohr says the store can’t even get certain calibers from their normal suppliers. “It’s been nuts,” VonRohr says. “The phone’s been ringing off the hook.” At a Cabela’s in Gonzales, La., nearly all the ammunition is backordered, one employee says.
Online ammo shops are struggling to meet demand, too. Visit the website for Brownell’s, which claims to be “the world’s largest supplier of firearm accessories,” and shoppers will find row after row of products labeled “Out of Stock.” Especially barren is their supply of rifle magazines, the 20 or 30-round holders used for semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15—a weapon used by alleged Newtown shooter Adam Lanza. In a Dec. 20 statement attributed to Brownell’s President in an online forum, Pete Brownell apologizes for the delay on orders and says the company had sold the equivalent of 3 1/2 years of magazines in 72 hours.
Legislators such as California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who authored a ban assault weapons like the AR-15 in 1994, have made calls to outlaw the weapons again. Vice President Joe Biden is meanwhile heading a task force to present the White House proposals for curbing gun violence. The December shooting that left 20 children and six adults dead may provide gun-control advocates with enough political capital to get new legislation passed, a feat that’s been thwarted by lobbying outfits such as the National Rifle Association for years.
Meanwhile, those people working the counters at sporting good stores are going to have busy days. “We’ve being trying to keep up, and it’s been a challenge,” Leeper says. “Let’s just say I’ve got a lot less hair.”
Rifles hang on a near empty display wall at Centennial Gun Store in Centennial, Colo., Dec. 20, 2012.
With about a week to go before the Obama White House proposes new nationwide gun restrictions, U.S. retailers are noticing a dramatic run on ammunition. At Bass Pro Shops in Independence, Kan., customers would typically find at least 1,000 boxes of handgun ammunition in stock: today, says one sales associate, the sporting goods superstore has about 10. In the wake of the Newtown, Conn., shooting, an ammo scramble is taking place across the country: lawmakers in Washington are preparing for an extended debate over new gun-related legislation, and gun owners are stocking up on goods they fear could be banned.
The cycle is well-established: a deadly shooting leads to calls for more gun control, which in turn leads to hoarding. “We can’t even keep the ammunition on our shelf,” says Doug Leeper, the Bass Pro Shops employee. “It seems like it’s going just as fast as we get it.” He says that while they’d usually expect a post-Christmas bump of about 20%, in recent days sales have surged up to 90% over the previous year’s. At a Wal-Mart in Billings, Mont., sales associate David VonRohr says the store can’t even get certain calibers from their normal suppliers. “It’s been nuts,” VonRohr says. “The phone’s been ringing off the hook.” At a Cabela’s in Gonzales, La., nearly all the ammunition is backordered, one employee says.
Online ammo shops are struggling to meet demand, too. Visit the website for Brownell’s, which claims to be “the world’s largest supplier of firearm accessories,” and shoppers will find row after row of products labeled “Out of Stock.” Especially barren is their supply of rifle magazines, the 20 or 30-round holders used for semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15—a weapon used by alleged Newtown shooter Adam Lanza. In a Dec. 20 statement attributed to Brownell’s President in an online forum, Pete Brownell apologizes for the delay on orders and says the company had sold the equivalent of 3 1/2 years of magazines in 72 hours.
Legislators such as California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who authored a ban assault weapons like the AR-15 in 1994, have made calls to outlaw the weapons again. Vice President Joe Biden is meanwhile heading a task force to present the White House proposals for curbing gun violence. The December shooting that left 20 children and six adults dead may provide gun-control advocates with enough political capital to get new legislation passed, a feat that’s been thwarted by lobbying outfits such as the National Rifle Association for years.
Meanwhile, those people working the counters at sporting good stores are going to have busy days. “We’ve being trying to keep up, and it’s been a challenge,” Leeper says. “Let’s just say I’ve got a lot less hair.”
Liam Gallagher has said the upcoming Beady Eye album will “blow people’s minds”.
The former Oasis frontman has been recording a second album with his band and told the Sun: “We’ve gone for the full Pink Floyd trip, man.”
Speaking at the launch of his new fashion range for Pretty Green, Liam added: “There’s the psychedelic stuff and then the rock ‘n’ roll bangers.
“Our producer Dave (Sitek, Foals producer) called up our manager and told him to get a brass band round sharpish one day.
“If it makes it a better record, I’m having it man. I’m buzzing for it. It’s going to blow people’s minds.”
Stars spotted at the Pretty Green event in London included Inbetweeners actor James Buckley and new face of the brand Jesse Wood with pregnant girlfriend Fearne Cotton.
ST. PETERSBURG — Purveyors of fine ale can cheer. A speciality beer joint will open some time this year in part of the former YWCA.
The Brass Tap will bring 70 taps, 300 craft beers and live music to the historic building at 655 Second Ave. S. An opening date is unclear.
The Brass Tap has locations in Brandon, Trinity and Wesley Chapel. A restaurant will occupy another part of the building, according to the Brass Tap’s Facebook page.
Real estate investor Trish Moore, who has renovated several properties in Tampa, purchased the YWCA building for $552,600 last summer. She expected to invest about $400,000 to renovate what was originally built as a funeral home. To meet building codes, Moore had to raise the ceiling, add a ramp from the parking lot and install a new elevator.
Moore is not seeking historic designation for tax credits on the 88-year-old structure because that would limit what she could do to the outside of the building.
COLUMBUS, Georgia --(Ammoland.com)- Omniio introduces its newest line of outdoors-themed greeting cards – the Great Outdoors Colle-(a title=”AmmoLand Reports” href=”http://www.ammoland.com/” target=”_self”Ammoland.com/a)- includes thank you cards, birthday cards, anniversary cards and invitations to camping and hunting cards.
The outdoors-themed greeting card collection is currently sold at www.omniio.com.
Omniio is an innovative gift company specializing in inspirational and empowering greeting cards and gifts for the everyday moments of life. Other exclusive collections include the “Gnarley” (surfing/ocean lovers), “Heroes” (military), “Best Friends Forever” (BFF), “Home Warming (real estate community) “Soul Mates,” “Miscarriage” and “Comfort Healing” (for overcoming cancer). Omniio also produces traditional collections such as love, anniversary, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and many more. Custom corporate cards are also available.
They’ve finished first in the East Division four times since 2008 and appeared in three Grey Cup games, winning twice.
Success, it seems, comes at a price for the Montreal Alouettes.
Head coach Marc Trestman is being looked at for two NFL head-coaching vacancies while assistant general manager Marcel Desjardins spoke for the second time with officials of Ottawa’s CFL expansion franchise about its GM position. Jim Popp — the only GM the Montreal franchise has had since relocating from Baltimore in ’96 — is said to be a candidate for the vacant general manager’s job with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
This isn’t the first off-season the Alouettes have had to deal with the potential loss of key front-office personnel. Last year, the Indianapolis Colts interviewed Popp and Trestman for their general manager and coaching positions, respectively.
Montreal has been a model of consistency in the CFL, with Trestman and Calgary’s John Hufnagel being the league’s longest-tenured head coaches. No other GM has been with one club longer than Popp, whose teams have appeared in 10 Grey Cups (winning four) and at nine years together he and Desjardins form a very solid 1-2 punch.
The departure of Trestman or Popp would create a huge void for Montreal. But the prospect of losing Trestman, Popp and Desjardins all at the same time would be devastating blow to the Alouettes’ football operations department.
Mark Weightman, the Alouettes’ chief operating officer, wasn’t immediately available for comment Monday.
Trestman was scheduled to meet with both the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns in the Windy City on Monday. However, a source with knowledge of the situation said Trestman would not be interviewed by the Browns.
Trestman, a 56-year-old native of Minneapolis, has spent the last five seasons with Montreal, leading the club to Grey Cup titles in 2009 and 2010. Trestman has compiled a 59-31 regular-season record and was the CFL’s coach of the year in 2009.
Under Trestman, the Alouettes have advanced to the East Division final four times and are 5-3 in the post-season.
He recently signed a contract extension through 2016 with Montreal, but the deal is believed to include an escape clause that would allow him to take a job south of the border.
Trestman’s name has been linked to numerous NFL coaching positions pretty much since his arrival in Montreal, and with good reason. He has previous NCAA coaching experience with both Miami and North Carolina State and has also served as a quarterback coach, running back coach or offensive co-ordinator in the NFL with Minnesota (twice), Tampa Bay, Cleveland, San Francisco, Detroit, Arizona, Oakland and Miami.
Trestman helped tutor Browns starter Bernie Kosar during the 1988-89 campaigns.
Oregon coach Chip Kelly was regarded as the frontrunner for the Cleveland job before ultimately deciding to remain with the Ducks. The Browns have reportedly also spoken with former Arizona Cardinals defensive co-ordinator Ray Horton, fired Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt, Syracuse coach Doug Marrone (now Buffalo’s head coach) and Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien.
They’ve finished first in the East pision four times since 2008 and appeared in three Grey Cup games, winning twice.
Success, it seems, comes at a price for the Montreal Alouettes.
Head coach Marc Trestman is being looked at for two NFL head-coaching vacancies while assistant general manager Marcel Desjardins spoke for the second time with officials of Ottawa’s CFL expansion franchise about its GM position. Jim Popp — the only GM the Montreal franchise has had since relocating from Baltimore in ’96 — is said to be a candidate for the vacant general manager’s job with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
This isn’t the first off-season the Alouettes have had to deal with the potential loss of key front-office personnel. Last year, the Indianapolis Colts interviewed Popp and Trestman for their general manager and coaching positions, respectively.
Montreal has been a model of consistency in the CFL, with Trestman and Calgary’s John Hufnagel being the league’s longest-tenured head coaches. No other GM has been with one club longer than Popp, whose teams have appeared in 10 Grey Cups (winning four) and at nine years together he and Desjardins form a very solid 1-2 punch.
The departure of Trestman or Popp would create a huge void for Montreal. But the prospect of losing Trestman, Popp and Desjardins all at the same time would be devastating blow to the Alouettes’ football-operations department.
Mark Weightman, the Alouettes’ chief operating officer, wasn’t immediately available for comment Monday.
Trestman was scheduled to meet with both the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns in the Windy City on Monday. However, a source with knowledge of the situation said Trestman would not be interviewed by the Browns.
Trestman a 56-year-old native of Minneapolis, has spent the last five seasons with Montreal, leading the club to Grey Cup titles in 2009 and 2010. Trestman has compiled a 59-31 regular-season record and was the CFL’s coach of the year in ’09.
Under Trestman, the Alouettes have advanced to the East pision final four times and are 5-3 in the post-season.
Trestman recently signed a contract extension through 2016 with Montreal but the deal is believed to include an escape clause that would allow him to take a job south of the border.
Trestman’s name has been linked to numerous NFL coaching positions pretty much since his arrival in Montreal, and with good reason. Trestman has previous NCAA coaching experience with both Miami and North Carolina State and has also served as a quarterback coach, running back coach or offensive co-ordinator in the NFL with Minnesota (twice), Tampa Bay, Cleveland, San Francisco, Detroit, Arizona, Oakland and Miami.
Trestman helped tutor Browns starter Bernie Kosar during the 1988-’89 campaigns.
Oregon coach Chip Kelly was regarded as the frontrunner for the Cleveland job before ultimately deciding to remain with the Ducks. The Browns have reportedly also spoken with former Arizona Cardinals defensive co-ordinator Ray Horton, fired Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt, Syracuse coach Doug Marrone (now Buffalo’s head coach) and Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien.
During his NFL tenure, Trestman helped tutor such quarterbacks as Steve Young (San Francisco, 1995-96) and Rich Gannon (Oakland, 2001-’03, with Gannon winning ’01 league MVP). Trestman also served as a consultant in ’07 for New Orleans head coach Sean Payton.
Trestman also has a history with Bears starter Jay Cutler and backup Jason Campbell. He worked with both prior to their respective draft years — Campbell went to Washington in 2005 out of Auburn, Cutler to Denver in 2006 out of Vanderbilt.
Each year, many of the NFL’s top quarterback prospects look to Trestman to prepare them for their pro day as well as the league’s annual combine. One of Trestman’s most famous pupils was former Florida star Tim Tebow, who had been much criticized for his poor passing mechanics and long, clumsy passing motion.
In 2010, the Denver Broncos selected Tebow in the first round, 25th overall, in the NFL draft. Tebow spent the 2011 season with the New York Jets.
In addition to Cutler and Campbell, Trestman has also worked with Brandon Weeden (Cleveland’s 2012 first-round pick) and Jimmy Clausen (2010 second-round pick, Carolina).
Popp, 48, became Montreal’s general manager when the Baltimore franchise relocated to Quebec and has built the Alouettes into a dominant club while becoming one of the CFL’s top executives. Popp was also named executive of the year in 2011 by Sports Media Canada.
Popp is also a native of Elkin, N.C., and has earned a reputation in Canada of being a shrewd evaluator of football talent. Popp signed a four-year contract extension with Montreal in 2010 but like Trestman reportedly has an out clause in the deal.
Desjardins, a bilingual native of Burlington, Ont., has spent nine seasons learning from Popp as Montreal’s assistant general manger. Desjardins first joined the Alouettes in ’99 as their assistant director of football operations.
He became the Hamilton Tiger-Cats general manager in 2007 and spent one season in that post before returning to Montreal.
IN OASIS’S heyday a call going out to a brass band to join a studio session would have been a sign the drug threshold had been reached.
But LIAM GALLAGHER insists his new band BEADY EYE are willing to do things a bit differently on their second album in a quest for more rock ’n’ roll success.
Last week he had a pop at MUMFORD SONS for looking like they might have nits — but the brass section isn’t a sign he’s joining a colliery band.
Speaking at the launch of his new fashion range for Pretty Green, he said: “We’ve gone for the full PINK FLOYD trip, man.
“There’s the psychedelic stuff and then the rock ’n’ roll bangers.
“Our producer Dave called up our manager and told him to get a brass band round sharpish one day.
“If it makes it a better record, I’m having it man. I’m buzzing for it. It’s going to blow people’s minds.”
It was a brave move getting DAVE SITEK on board. He’s in a band called TV ON THE RADIO and produced FOALS and YEAH YEAH YEAHS records.
They are the kind of characters you might expect to be mingling with the Derek Zoolander fashion crowd with ironic facial hair.
But Liam and his team have done the business slipping into the fashion world over the last four or five years — and they are cashing in.
Pretty Green unveiled the new face of their brand, JESSE WOOD, the guitarist son of ROLLING STONERONNIE.
He’s a top bloke and a great shout for the brand.
He brought his heavily preggers missus FEARNE COTTON along, but they did the back door shuffle when her feet couldn’t take any more.
Inbetweeners hero JAMES BUCKLEY was in his element, too.
The actor, who owns so much he must keep Liam’s label ticking over, joked that he was trying to steal some threads.
He tweeted: “Tried to walk out with those suit jackets.”
Speaking about being newly married to Scottish girlfriend CLAIR MEEK, he said: “My father-in-law came over to me at the wedding and said, ‘Don’t you ever be doing a Scottish accent in any films now, you hear me?’ I got the message loud and clear.”
KASABIAN’s TOM MEIGHAN was out for the night too.
And being out for the night, he’s probably still going as you read this.
Columbus, OH --(Ammoland.com)- While the warm days of spring turkey hunting season, or next fall’s big game hunting adventures seem far away, now is the time to start thinking about your future hunts.
You should plan ahead now by learning the fine details on numerous pending hunt application deadlines. Next year’s hunting opportunities could depend upon your attention to the calendar.
Tennessee’s spring turkey application is already open and remains open into February. More details are at: http://www.tn.gov/twra/
We point these out because some of the deadlines for coveted hunting opportunities have crept forward in recent years, so hunters need to be aware. To find these deadline details, visit the state game department website where you plan to hunt or possibly contact any outfitter that you plan to hunt with in the future. It pays to stay abreast of the deadlines.
About:The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. Visit www.ussportsmen.org.
Illinois --(Ammoland.com)- Call these committee members NOW!!
The IL State Senate is called to order this afternoon at 3:00 p.m.. They’ll go directly to committee meetings.
We’re told that the proposed bill for Cullerton’s firearm ban will be heard by the Senate Public Health Committee in their meeting scheduled for 5:30 this afternoon.
Please call the members of this committee and ask them to oppose any gun ban bills that may come up for their consideration.
Those members are:
Senator William Delgado – D – Chairperson, 217-782-5652
Sen. Mattie Hunter – D – 217-782-5966
Sen. Susan Garrett – D – 217-782-3650
Sen. Michael Noland – D – 217-782-7746
Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg – D – 217-782-2119
Sen. Heather Steans – D – 217-782-8492
Sen. Dave Syverson – R – 217-782-5413
Sen. Shane Cultra – R -217- 782-6597
Sen. Christine Johnson – R – 217-782-1977
Sen. Carole Pankau – R – 217-782-9463
Be polite, courteous, concise. State your position and ask that they oppose any gun ban bills.
Follow the discusion on IllinoisCarry.com
Forward to your friends, family, and contacts!
When One Mentally Disturbed Mam Commits a Horrible Act - Does It Makes Sense For Chicago Legislators to Ban Lawfully Owned Guns and Magazines For Everyone Who DIDN’T Do It? Disarming innocent victims does NOT make them safer!
The only thing that will stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun…
About:
The ISRA is the state’s leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. Since 1903, the ISRA has represented the interests of over 1.5 million law-abiding Illinois firearm owners Visit: www.isra.org
Charlotte, NC --(Ammoland.com)- Q: Just returning to guns for a moment.
You’ve said, in response to a bunch of questions, that he [the President] supports enforcing — better enforcing existing laws. His position in the past has been in favor of renewing the assault weapons ban, which would, at this point, be a new law. He also said in New Orleans that AK-47s belong on the battlefield, not on the streets.
Does he still support that legislation?
MR. CARNEY: He does. And I’ve said that before from the podium in the last week, that he does support renewing the assault weapons ban. I think what I’ve noted in the past, and what I noted here, is that there has been reluctance by Congress to pass that renewal.
About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
PENTAX Debuts Retro Design Camera Featuring Fast F1.8-2.5 Lens, 4X Zoom and Classically Crafted Brass Body
The MX-1 strikes the perfect balance between performance and classic design
Denver, CO (January 7, 2013) – PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION (PENTAX) has introduced the MX-1, an advanced digital compact camera whose craft design and vintage lines appeal to a wide variety of photo enthusiasts. It’s fast F1.8-2.5 lens produces sharp and crisp imagery in a variety of settings and the camera’s 1/1.7 inch,12.0 effective megapixel backlit CMOS sensor renders impressive low-light performance.
Encased in brass covers with an ergonomically-pleasing, texturized grip, the MX-1′s body is a tactile experience. The brass panels are cool to the touch and its high-end composition feels substantial in the hand, enabling simple and intuitive handling. Thanks to its beautiful styling and premium materials, the MX-1 develops a stunning patina impressing a history on the camera with each use.
The camera captures images in a wide variety of settings and its fast lens makes creating beautiful focusing effects and bokeh achievable, enabling heightened creative expression and artistic personalization. The MX-1′s 4X zoom offers a versatile and highly-useable range, from a wide 28mm to telephoto 112mm (in 35mm format), its dual shake-reduction system enables sharp, blur-free images in even the most demanding circumstances.
“The feature set of the MX-1, including its large articulated LCD, makes it a phenomenal choice for photo enthusiasts who require superior image-capturing capabilities but also appreciate the styling and construction of a classic camera.” said John Carlson, Sr. Manager of Marketing, PENTAX.
Whether it is the seasoned and well-practiced veteran who is brought back to the heart of his passion with the touch and feel of the cool brass panels, or the design-conscious novice who’s inspired by retro character and design, the MX-1 delivers on their hunger to produce beautiful photos through defining optics, electronics and design.
Major features of the MX-1 include:
Expanding photographic horizons with fast lens and versatile zoom The PENTAX MX-1 features a 4X optical zoom lens offering a large maximum aperture of F1.8 to F2.5 and 28mm wide-angle coverage (in the 35mm format). When set at maximum aperture and widest angle of view the photographer can use fast shutter speeds in dimly lit locations and take advantage of a beautiful bokeh (out-of-focus) effect in the background. The MX-1 also provides a Macro mode to capture dramatic close-up images of subjects from as little as one centimeter away. Additionally, the Intelligent Zoom (digital zoom) function extends the zoom coverage up to approximately 7.8 times (for a focal length of approximately 218mm (in the 35mm format) without compromising image quality by optimizing the resolution to match the zoom length.
Newly engineered backlit CMOS image sensor ensures super-high-resolution images in high-sensitivity shooting The MX-1 incorporates a newly designed back-illuminated CMOS image sensor. With a top sensitivity of ISO 12800 and approximately 12.0 effective megapixels, it boasts remarkable high-sensitivity, low-noise capabilities and assures high-speed image data readout to deliver high-resolution images. The MX-1 also features a state-of-the-art imaging engine. Supported by the latest Super Resolution technology, this engine offers outstanding image-processing performance to produce clear, high-quality images with well-defined details. In addition, the MX-1′s unique Handheld Night snap mode helps the photographer capture blur-free night-time images by taking multiple images at one time, then synthesizing them into a single composite picture.
Classic and refined design With its textured-rubber grip, and brass top and bottom covers that develop a distinctive appearance after years of use, the MX-1 offers a classic design reminiscent of traditional film cameras. It also features a number of metallic accents, including the lens ring, to further complete the tasteful, high-class finish down to the fine details.
DSLR operability including in-body RAW data development and dedicated exposure compensation dial enhance the shooting experience Thanks to a dedicated exposure compensation dial, the MX-1 assures user-friendly, direct-access shift of the exposure compensation setting without the need to recall the menu screen. It also features a mode dial for swift, effortless setting of 10 different shooting modes – ranging from the hands-off Auto Picture and the all-purpose Programmed AE, to the more creative Aperture-priority AE, Shutter-priority AE and Metered Manual. As the result, the photographer is assured of outstanding creative freedom to choose the most appropriate shooting mode for a particular scene or subject without delay. Additionally, the MX-1 comes equipped with a host of SLR-like features to optimize its operability, including advanced UI (user interface) functions, easy-to-access controls and in-body RAW data development.
Dual shake-reduction system produces sharp, blur-free images The MX-1′s dual shake-reduction system couples the PENTAX-developed sensor-shift-type SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism with a digital SR mode to more effectively compensate for camera shake. This hybrid system guarantees the photographer sharp, blur-free images even under demanding shooting conditions prone to camera shake, such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting with incident light in poorly lit locations, or photographing sunset scenes.
Large, articulated LCD display simplifies capturing images at challenging angles The MX-1 comes equipped with a large 3.0-inch, high-definition LCD display with approximately 921,000 dots. Its articulated design allows the photographer to adjust the display vertically and set it to the angle easiest for capturing and viewing. It also provides a clear view of images and menus displayed on the screen to assure quick, effortless review of recorded images and swift, error-free setting changes.
Full HD video captures high-quality movies with the push of a button The MX-1 features Full HD movie recording functionality employing the H.264 recording format, to capture high-quality, extended movie clips (with 1920 x 1080 pixels, at a 16:9 aspect ratio, and at a frame rate of 30 frames per second). Switching to video mode is simple and intuitive; with the push of a dedicated button, the MX-1 instantly begins recording video from any shooting mode. It also offers creative movie capture modes – including a High-speed Movie mode* for slow-motion playback and a Time-lapse Movie mode* for fast-forward playback – to make movie capturing and viewing more fun and exciting. A micro-HDMI♦ terminal (Type D) is also included on the camera body for quick and efficient output of recorded movies and sound to external devices.
* In these modes, the recorded size is fixed at VGA dimensions (640 x 480 pixels).
Other features • Dual-axial digital level for accurate horizontal and vertical alignment • Pop-up auto flash for perfectly exposed images and fill light • Remote control sensors on front and back panels • 15 digital filters, including Miniature and Toy Camera, to add creative touches to captured images • A choice of four aspect ratios (4:3, 16:9. 3:2, 1:1) to accommodate specific applications • SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 LE for PENTAX RICOH IMAGING RAW data development software (designed by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory) included, in addition to in-body RAW data development • Compatibility with Eye-Fi wireless LAN SD memory cards
Pricing and Availability
The new MX-1 advanced digital compact will be available at retail outlets nationwide and online in February 2013 with a suggested retail price of $499.95.
AWR Hawkins writes for all the BIG sites, for Pajamas Media, for RedCounty.com, for Townhall.com and now AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.
His southern drawl is frequently heard discussing his take on current events on radio shows like America’s Morning News, the G. Gordon Liddy Show, the Ken Pittman Show, and the NRA’s Cam Company, among others. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal (summer 2010), and he holds a PhD in military history from Texas Tech University.
If you have questions or comments, email him at awr@awrhawkins.com. You can find him on facebook at www.facebook.com/awr.hawkins.
AWR Hawkins writes for all the BIG sites, for Pajamas Media, for RedCounty.com, for Townhall.com and now AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.
His southern drawl is frequently heard discussing his take on current events on radio shows like America’s Morning News, the G. Gordon Liddy Show, the Ken Pittman Show, and the NRA’s Cam Company, among others. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal (summer 2010), and he holds a PhD in military history from Texas Tech University.
If you have questions or comments, email him at awr@awrhawkins.com. You can find him on facebook at www.facebook.com/awr.hawkins.
This week on Gun Talk Television, Ryan Gresham prepares for and competes in his first competitive shooting event ever
Gun Talk Television
Mandeville, LA --(Ammoland.com)- This week on Gun Talk Television, Ryan Gresham prepares for and competes in his first competitive shooting event ever – the Colt Speed Event at the Bianchi Cup, held this past May in Columbia, Missouri. Along the way, he practices with some of the best speed shooters in the world.
If you are faced with a competitive speed shooting event, two great people to offer advice are Springfield Armory’sRob Leatham, and Sig Sauer’sMax Michel. Gresham practices with both shooters before heading to the Bianchi Cup. Once there, he gathers tips from shooters like Smith Wesson’sJulie Golob and Crimson Trace’s Iain Harrison, some of the youth shooters competing, and even the Director of the Bianchi Cup, Tom Hughes. To find out if all the tips and practice helped Gresham out, tune in!
Gun Talk Television can be seen on NBC Sports Network, Pursuit Chanel, and Wild TV, on the video website GunTalk.TV (http://www.guntalk.tv) and the GunTalkTV YouTube Channel. Click on the links below to watch this episode on YouTube:
Gun Talk Television airs on NBC Sports Network on Wednesdays at 12:30pm Eastern, Pursuit Channel on Mondays at 1:00 p.m. ET, Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m. ET and Fridays at 8:30 a.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET; and internationally on WILD TV on Mondays at 6:30 a.m. ET, Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET, and Fridays at 4:00 p.m. ET. Check your local listings for channel info. Watch full shows and get the latest news at http://www.guntalktelevision.com.
About:
Gun Talk Television airs on the Pursuit Channel on Mondays at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m. ET and Fridays at 8:30 a.m. ET and 9:30 p.m. ET; the Sportsman Channel on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. ET, Tuesdays at 1:30 a.m. ET and Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET; and internationally on WILD TV on Mondays at 6:30 a.m. ET, Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET, and Fridays at 4:00 p.m. ET. Check your local listings for channel info. Watch full shows and get the latest news at http://www.guntalktelevision.com.
Apache Junction, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- As we shooters are finding out the cost of ammo is spiraling out of control.
Every time you go into a gun store, sticker shock happens when you buy some ammo.
There are a couple of reasons for this occurrence. First of all, with the re-election of Obama and the recent horrific Sandy School Shooting there is a fear that he is going to go after us gun owners in one way or another.
Unfortunately, that fear is justified. Another reason that ammo is going up is the demand from both military and civilian usage. People are buying and stockpiling ammo for a rainy day. The law enforcement community is also buying large amounts of this product. I have toured various ammo and bullet factories plus I have talked to various contacts in the industry and they all say that they can’t keep up with the demand even withsome companies running production 24-7-365.
So if you like, to do a lot of shooting what are your options? Some people opt for reloading their own but the supply problems also plague that industry. It is however a good option but we are going to look at the other route. Many of the guns that are currently popular are chambered for military rounds from various countries. One fact about military calibers is that they are commercially successful regardless of their characteristics. For the shopper of these calibers there are some good sources for these loads. One definite upside to buying bulk ammunition is the price. Ammo bought in bulk is about 50% the cost of regular store bought fodder depending on caliber and location and opportunity, (deals go quick when you can find them).
7.35 Carcano ammunition can be found in bulk occasionally but may not be 100% reliable.
Ok so you are sold where do you get this stuff? One good place to start is at the Gun Shows. Especially the larger ones there is usually at least one distributor of bulk ammo. For the purposes of this article bulk will be at least 500 rounds. There isn’t much sense in buying smaller quantities especially if you want to save money. I see folks buying bulk is such quantities that they bring in a cart to carry it out. Perhaps they get together with some friends and go into large lots which would be a good idea. Another advantage to buying at a gun show is the elimination of shipping charges, which can be steep with all ammo but especialy with the large quantities and heavy packages.
In the area I live in there is a company that sells bulk reloads in such calibers as 38 special and 45 Colt.
The old adage that buying reloads at a gun show is risky business in no longer valid. If you deal with a reputable company you will get good ammo at a reasonable price. I have tried a few of their calibers with satisfaction. Naturally, the brass is reloadable so you should pick it up after your shoot.
You may live in an area that doesn’t have a gunshow near by so the next best option is buying from various distributors online or get their catalog.
Since shipping cost may be an issue you want to buy the largest quantity as you can. Going in with shooting buddies is a good idea. One good source is Cheaper Then Dirt (www.cheaperthandirt.com ) ,but they can be expensive. You can go to their online catalog and check on prices and availability. If it is out of stock that info will show up on that page. They have a good selection at reasonable prices.
Another good source of bulk ammo is Ventura Ammo. ( www.venturamunitions.com ) They have both Wolf and reloaded ammo including 38 special and 40 S W besides the regular military stuff. I have dealt with these folks and the experience was good.
Another possible source for surplus ammo is J G sales. (www.jgsales.com ) A company I ran across that advertises 7.62 X 39 is www.swisslink.com may help out with your ammo purchases.
Another excellent source for bulk ammo is SOG ( www.southernohiogun.com ) They have such calibers as the 7.5 French and 7.62 X 38 for the Russian Nagant. The 40 S W is also available in bulk quantities.
Bulk ammo can be found in 7 X 57, 308, 303 British and 30-06 but may be too old to be reliable.
So when you buy this ammo what should you expect in regards to quality and reliability? That is a legitimate concern, as poor ammo isn’t a bargain at any price. The ammo should feed and eject reliability and go off every time. You also want decent accuracy and safe loads. Keep in mind that this ammo is lower priced so they use less expensive materials, which isn’t a bad thing if done properly.
A lot of the ammo is made overseas again that is ok. A lot of the cases are steel as opposed to brass which cuts the cost. The down side is they are not reloadable which may or may not be important to the consumer. They also have Berdan Primers, which also makes them not suitable for reloading but further cuts the cost of the ammo. They generally have FMJ bullets, which for shooting purposes is fine.
One of the largest manufactures of bulk ammo is Wolf Performance Ammunition. ( www.wolfammo.com ) They do offer brass cases with soft point bullets for those who prefer this type of ammo. Ventura ammo also offers this option in some calibers. That ammo may cost a bit more but is worth it to some consumers. The soft point ammo is good for some types of hunting. I had a batch of Wolf in 7.62 X 54 with a 205 grain softpoint and it shot quite well. I even pulled some of the bullets to use in the 303 British and 7.65 Mauser rounds with good results.
Since there are a lot of military rifles and handguns from WW I and II the question on buying bulk ammunition frequently comes up for these relics. Buying bulk rounds is possible for some but can be tricky.
Keep in mind that WW II ended 67 years ago and the manufacture of ammo for some was discontinued.
If you buy bulk ammo for these arms there are a couple of things to be aware of. Depending on original quality and storage you might have a lot of misfires. Another problem and potentially more dangerous is the hangfire. What happens is when you shoot the round doesn’t go off right away but may go off a few seconds later. If you have a misfire with any ammo keep muzzle pointed in a safe direction for at least 60 seconds before opening action. If you start to open the gun and the round goes off a serious injury may occur.
Some years ago I had some 303 British that did exactly that. About the only thing you can do is pull the bullets, if able and dispose of it. This ammo had the Cordite powder, which made for a good photo so all wasn’t lost.
Another time I bought 500 rounds of 7.5 X 54 French and the ammo looked great. Unfortunately none of it went off so I pulled the bullets and used them for another project. Like the newer bulk ammo World War era can sometimes be found at a gunshows.
They are essentially a militarily orientated publication and they have advertisers of bulk and surplus ammo. I have seen such items as 30-06, 8 X 57 Mauser and 7.65 Mauser ammo advertised. Some of it was made in the 1980’s and 90’s and should be reliable. Occasionally you can find other calibers such as the 7.35 Carcano but it may not go off. Pistol calibers such as the 7.62 X 25 Tokerav can be found with a little research. I have a CZ 52 and found that the bulk works well in it. When looking for some of the less popular calibers some patience is required which will pay off in the end. If the ammo is old and looks bad you might want to give it a pass unless it is really dirt cheap. That way if it doesn’t go off you still have the components. Another thing to keep in mind is most of it has corrosive primers which will require you to thoroughly clean your weapon to avoid rust or other damage.
When buying surplus or bulk ammunition assume that it has a corrosive primer to avoid any problems.
Like any other shopping if you put some time and effort in it you will find what you are looking for at a decent price.
Understanding The Risks
When buying surplus ammo there are some other risks involved. Some years ago I bought some copper washed steel case ammo in 308 made in China. The ammo stuck is every rifle I tried it in. I don’t think that the pressures were excessive but the brass itself was of such poor quality that it just stuck in the chambers. I ended up pulling most of the bullets. By the way, if you pull bullets try seating them a little deeper because many have a hard seal that makes them very difficult to pull. You can hear the seal break when pushing the bullet deeper. There is also a possibility that that seal will increase pressures and make the ammo more inconsistent. You can try and break it prior to shooting but to be honest that is a crap shoot. It may or may not work.
Old ammo that may have been improperly stored, especially in a hot climate may have powder deterioration. In most cases the powder will be stronger which causes a pressure spike in the ammo. That will cause inconsistent and possibly dangerous ammo. If you have sticky extraction or blown primers stop shooting and check out the ammo. One sign of bad powder is a red mist when pouring powder which indicates for sure that that ammo is not safe to shoot. A weird or bad smell is also a good sign of dangerous ammo. No ammo is worth risking your body for, so if in doubt discard it. You can chronograph it, which will give you an average velocity but also will give you the standard deviation, which will let you know how consistent it is.
WW ll 7.7 Jap Ammo with steel cases. It is poor quality ammo and shouldn’t be shot.
Another possible hazard is ammo being mislabeled which is especially true if it has been removed from its original packaging. A lot of those calibers look alike but firing the wrong ammo can be extremely dangerous.
A good example is shooting an 8 X 57 round in a 30-06. It will camber but you are pushing a 32 caliber bullet down a 30 caliber barrel plus since the case is shorter it won’t be properly supported. I can guarantee that firing an 8 X 57 in a 30-06 will result in a bad day for you. Don’t trust the seller as they may be ignorant of the proper caliber. If in doubt have it checked out by someone who is knowledgeable in these matters. Ammo can be replaced, fingers can’t.
A situation that I have encountered is with the 30 Tokerav ammo. The problem is that the loadings are very hot, especially the machine gun round. It will fit in a Broomhandle Mauser but would probably damage that gun so it should be avoided for the older gun.
Military calibers can be confusing. For example, there are 3 different 8 X 50 rounds all military. There is the 8 X 50 straight pull, 8 X 50 Siamese Mauser and the 8 X 50 Lebel. They do not interchange so it is important to make sure you have the correct ammo. A real scary thing is I found that a 9 mm Luger round will fully chamber is a 30 caliber Broomhandle. Shooting it would result in total disaster. There are 9 mm Broomhandles that the Germans used in WWI.
Whenever shooting any gun safety glasses and hearing protection should always be used. This is especially important when shooting old guns and ammo. Occasionally you might run into some ammo that is under loaded so I won’t function some semi autos. Usually that is more of an annoyance then a risk but there are exceptions. I would probably pull it rather then putting up with the feeding problem or other possible risks. Under loaded ammo can leave a bullet lodged in the barrel so if you are not sure if the bullet exited stop and check barrel for an obstruction. If you fire a round with one in the barrel, you just ruined a gun not to mention possible injuries. The ammo should produce the same sound and amount of recoil to be consistent.
7.62 X 25 Tokerav ammo is available in bulk for the CZ 52 and other military handguns.
I don’t want to scare you off in regards to bulk ammo but common sense and some caution is in order in order to be safe and save money. I have shot a lot of bulk ammo in various weapons in my line of work. I study ammo performance in various weapons and situations. I have shot a lot of ammo in anything from 9 mm to 308 and 30-06 and larger calibers.
With such brands as Wolf quality is generally good. Some loads leave some residue though I never had a malfunction because of it. I have chronographed some and consistency and velocity is usually pretty decent though not top notch. Then again you are not paying premium prices either. If I have a large standard deviation or the velocity is way off I will pull the bullets rather then shoot it. Accuracy is more then adequate for most purposes. I have been to our public range quite a few times and have observed that most shooters of the AK and AR platforms seldom shoot over 50 yards. The same is true with older bolt action rifles. A few do go out to 100 but that isn’t that common.
For what it is designed for performance is good and I would recommend using bulk ammunition whenever available.
Bob Shell
About Bob Shell
A Custom Reloader of Obsolete and Antique Ammo, Bob Shell, writes about the subject of Guns, Ammo, Shooting and Related Subjects. Visit: www.bobshellsblog.blogspot.com
DEAR ABBY: I spent the afternoon running errands. As I left the shopping center, I saw a young couple with a baby and a toddler holding a sign requesting help with food, as the husband had just been laid off. I drove past, then considered the children and circled back. I had no cash with me, so I stopped and offered them our family’s dinner — a jar of premium spaghetti sauce, a pound of fresh ground beef, a box of dried spaghetti, fruit cups that my children usually take to school for treats, and some canned soups I occasionally have for lunch. …
THE Police Commissioner is remaining tight-lipped on how proposed plans to strip 150 high ranking jobs from the service could affect the Ipswich region.
Amid speculation of job cuts from Queensland police, Ian Stewart released a statement promising no overall reduction in police numbers.
Instead, the service was considering making “some” commissioned officers redundant.
“I can confirm the issue of redundancies for some commissioned officers has been considered, however should the redundancies be approved an equivalent number of lower rank positions will be created to ensure no net loss of police officers in Queensland,” said Commissioner Stewart.
“The QPS is also on track to deliver on the commitment to 1,100 extra officers over the next four years.
I expect to announce full details of the review internally and externally in the near future once the consultation process is complete.
“I expect to announce full details of the review internally and externally in the near future once the consultation process is complete.”
There are fears within police ranks that up to 150 chief superintendent, superintendent and inspector positions will be cut across the state.
A review, led by Assistant Commissioner Steve Golleschewski and Chief Superintendent Bob Gee, is looking at ways to cut costs by rearranging the service’s organisational structure.
There are about 400 senior commissioned officers in Queensland – of which Ipswich police district has Superintendent Garth Pitman, Inspectors David Preston, Keith McDonald, Merv Adamson and Kev Keillor, plus Detective Inspector Lew Strohfeldt.
The Queensland Times understands that none has been told whether or not the proposed changes will affect them.
Ipswich officers are expecting an announcement on Monday, and a meeting with Mr Stewart in a few weeks.
From shaking up the very foundations of the Indian government to stirring up unseemly controversies, from showing incredible courage in the face of extreme adversities to losing a reputation built over years of hard work in just a blink of an eye, from setting the electoral hustings afire with golden speeches to getting into trouble for not speaking at all, there were many ‘newsmakers’ in 2012 who caught the common man’s imagination. Some made it for stellar reasons, others for all there is wrong with the society. Here are 12 ‘newsmakers’ that deserve a mention.
Scott loves the Flyers, Phillies, music, sports, photography and all things native to the Delaware Valley and the Jersey Shore. So far in life, in the words of Jimmy Buffett, he has enjoyed growing older but not up!
The Dirty Dozen and Soul Rebels brass bands blow out Tipitina’s, the 101 Runners kick off Carnival at the Maple Leaf, and chefs honor the 90th birthday of Leah Chase. Also Saturday (Jan. 5) in New Orleans, a giveaway of 1,000 trees, free dog vaccinations and microchips, screenings resume at the Kenner Planetarium, the Indie Photobook Library is open at the CAC, and last-chance theater. See more entertainment offerings in our online events calendar.
The 101 Runners play at the Maple Leaf Bar as a carnival kick-off party. The show starts at 11 p.m.
DINNER OF A LIFETIME
In honor of Leah Chase’s 90th birthday and the establishment of the Edgar “Dooky” Jr. and Leah Chase Family Foundation, the Hyatt Regency hosts a gala at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception followed by a four-course meal for which celebrity chefs such as Marcus Samuelsson and John Besh will be creating dishes inspired by Leah Chase. The evening includes entertainment by premier New Orleans musicians. Admission is $250. See Judy Walker’s preview of the event.
TREE GIVEAWAY
Volunteers with Hike for KaTREEna give away 1,000 free trees and host a tree planting seminar to help with restoration efforts following Hurricane Isaac.
After a seasonal hiatus due to Oktoberfest and the holidays, shows resume at Kenner Planetarium. ‘Laser Hip Hop’ plays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., ‘Hurricane on the Bayou’ at noon and 2, and ‘Hubble Vision’ at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and children.
INDIE PHOTOBOOK LIBRARY
Contemporary Arts Center and PhotoNOLA Present Indie Photobook Library at the CAC. The pop-up exhibition features a collection of photobooks curated by Larissa Leclair, Jan Gilbert and Russell Lord, and is on view from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
THEATER
Cinderella Battistella, Bayou Playhouse’s Theatre for Young Audiences production, has been extended for a final weekend (Jan. 4-6). The production is a homegrown Cajun retelling of “Cinderella,” with music and lyrics by Fred Palmisano, and a book by Bob Bruce and David Cuthbert. It plays at 7 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 5) and 2:30 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 6). Tickets cost $20 for adults, $10 children 6-12, free for children 5 and under. Children 5 and under may be asked to sit on a parent’s lap if the show is sold out.
‘All This Talk is Killing Me‘ is at Le Cafe de Bon Temps in Slidell. In this audience-interactive murder mystery, diners are asked to become sleuths when a talk show host with declining ratings is killed. Tickets cost $50 including dinner and the show. Performances through Jan. 19.
International copper manufacturing giant Olin Brass has selected Chicago digital agency MA Interactive Group to design and develop their new website, following MA’s successful design and launch of a new website for Olin subsidiary CuVerro®, the world’s leader in antimicrobial copper touch surfaces.
Northfield, IL (PRWEB) January 04, 2013
Coming on the heels of the successful launch of a new website and search engine optimization program for subsidiary company and antimicrobial copper leader CuVerro, copper giant Olin Brass has selected Chicago digital agencyMA Interactive Group to design and develop their new website.
The new manufacturing website design, which is tentatively slated to launch in early 2013, will support Olin Brass and several of its strategic business units, including Olin Brass Mill Products, Olin Brass Fabricate Products, Somers Thin Strip, Bryan Metals, and Fineweld Tube.
“The new Olin Brass website is a mammoth undertaking,” MA Interactive Group managing partner Mike Templeton points out. “Our preliminary wireframes call for well over 100 pages of content, and that figure may go higher.”
Of course, quality is more important than quantity – which is why, in Templeton’s estimation, Olin Brass came to MA Interactive. “Our approach to website design and brand presentation, along with a proven ability to manage and organize content more efficiently, were key factors in our selection for the Olin Brass site,” he says. “We relish the challenge, and look forward to launching a website they’ll be proud of.”
Olin Brass is a leading manufacturer and distributor of copper and copper-alloy sheet, strip, plate, foil, and fabricated components in North America. It has established this position through the utilization of world-class production and quality capabilities, introduction of new products, strategic acquisitions, and international expansion. Its broad range of product offerings are designed to meet exacting customer specifications across the full range of end-use segments.
About MA Interactive Group
MA Interactive Group is a small but rapidly growing new digital communications agency located in Northfield, IL. Founded by veteran Chicago marketing strategist Mike Templeton and pioneering web design and creative director Allan Yalowitz, MA offers a broad range of services – including branding and strategic development, web design and development, mobile marketing, social networking, search engine marketing, and advertising in all media – to meet the marketing communication needs of an ever-growing and widely diverse client list. For more information, please visit http://www.mainteractivegroup.com.
Van Shaver got into the farming business by planting switchgrass on 90 acres in Loudon County for a brand new biofuels market.
This year’s crop will be fed to his cows.
Four years after the state launched a $70 million initiative to build a pilot biorefinery and develop native switchgrass as a feedstock for ethanol production, farmers involved in the pilot project are still waiting for a market to develop for their crops. All contracts will expire at the end of this year’s harvest.
Contracts have lapsed for about half of the farms growing switchgrass for Genera Energy, a private company created by the University of Tennessee Research Foundation to build a test production facility in Vonore and develop a local source of feedstock as part of a public/private partnership with Dupont. The project’s backers anticipated that Dupont would eventually build a commercial-sized production facility.
In December, Dupont began construction on such a plant in Nevada, Iowa, which will use leftovers from corn production. Company officials cited research and development work in Tennessee as keys to the process, and construction of its first plant serves as proof Dupont is sticking to the original blueprint, Genera president and CEO Kelly Tiller says.
“I don’t have anything that I can discuss publicly about a commercial project,” she says. “What I can say is that everything that has been said all along is really on track. … The message is exactly the same … that this is the plan and this is the sizable opportunity that is coming down the road.”
Dupont did not respond to requests for comment.
Genera was launched as part of a $70 million, federal stimulus-funded plan to develop a plant-based biofuel industry in East Tennessee. Existing technology relied on corn as the primary feedstock, affecting the supply and demand of the crop for food and leading industry to view it as a temporary alternative until other more stable, less costly feedstocks could be developed.
Shaver was one of about 60 farmers that signed up with Genera, planting switchgrass on a neglected family farm and investing in the equipment required to maintain and harvest the crop. Since his three-year contract expired last year, he is shifting into beef production, fencing 23 acres for grazing and the balance to grow hay for the herd and for sale.
Shaver says that although the market hasn’t developed to use his crop, he doesn’t regret his participation.
“The overall project was fine for me,” he says. “Everybody knew going into it that it was an experimental type thing to see how it would work. … It did allow me several options that I may not have had otherwise. It certainly was much more beneficial to the farm … than anything done in the previous 20 years by all means.”
Four of the 61 original farmers have pulled land out of switchgrass production, although all continue to raise at least some of the crop, Tiller says.
Blount County farmer Chris Davis, who remains under contract with Genera this year, considers the switchgrass project on 43 acres of his family farm a success.
“I’m actually just as excited to find a different use for it as far as pasture and hay,” says Davis, who also raises beef and says higher nutrition content and the greater production switchgrass provides makes it an ideal crop for his livestock. “The (switchgrass) seed is very, very expensive, and initially (Genera) provided it.”
Genera has continued with research on the approximately 40,000 tons of switchgrass bought under the farm contracts, including this year’s crop, as part of a $5 million Department of Energy project focused on storage and preparation of the feedstock for production into fuel, Tiller says.
However, in recent months, the company has transferred these functions to a newly formed entity, TennEra LLC, which is taking over ownership of the biorefinery as well as the Biomass Innovation Park built under Genera’s DOE-funded program. Now that the transition is complete, TennEra will operate under new management, although the company will continue to contract with Genera to manage the biomass production work and with Dupont to operate the biorefinery.
While Genera will remain focused on energy crop development, TennEra will pursue opportunities to take new biomass-related technologies to market, utilizing the biorefinery and building on existing research at the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tiller says. For example, a number of local research projects focus on carbon fiber, which can be made from lignin, a byproduct of the cellulosic ethanol process. TennEra could be in a good position to help commercialize that research.
“(Researchers) do a fantastic job getting ideas to the point where they are ready for the next step,” Tiller says. “The objective is to take a little bit of seed money and a great opportunity and go make the best use of that.”
Initially funded by the UT Research Foundation and Genera’s management team, TennEra will seek other investors to help back such projects, she says.
In the meantime, the wait for a commercial ethanol plant continues.
There is reason for optimism, says Jim Lane, editor and publisher of the Biofuels Digest, who has been following the cellulosic biofuels market in its transition from laboratory to the first commercial production facilities.
Although behind original projections in terms of technology development — Lane quotes one high level executive of a Dupont competitor as saying, “We’re late to our own party”— Dupont and others are developing refineries to produce plant-based ethanol.
Italian Chemtex has completed a production plant in its home country and has one planned for North Carolina; Abengoa, a Spanish company is building a plant in Kansas; and POET-DSM, an American/Dutch joint venture, is building a processing plant in Iowa.
Despite troubled financial markets, uncertainty in government incentives and mandates and, until the recent election, uncertainty in the nation’s leadership, “(Dupont officials) have expressed their supreme optimism about their ability to move forward,” Lane says. “The user market is pretty darn ready. There are plenty of customers.
“Are the companies going to march along? Yeah they are, (but) they’re probably going to march along slower than they would have liked,” he says. “There’s no evidence they’re going to back off.”
Farmers Davis and Shaver say they’re hopeful a commercial market for switchgrass will ultimately materialize. Still, they’re not holding their breath.
“In the letters (Genera sends to farmers in the program) they have said they still hope in the very near future there is going to be a large commercial operation come along,” Shaver says. “In the meantime, myself and other farmers have still got to do what we’ve got to do to maintain our operations.”
Along with its film success the band also featured in the opening ceremony of
the London Olympic Games last summer.
Mr Dixon said that despite the band’s international reputation its future is
uncertain.
Although a local individual has recently put up enough money for the band to
last another year, it needs long-term sponsorship, the manager said.
Grimethorpe Colliery Band also carries out educational and social projects
in school to encourage young people to learn instruments. This programme is
also in jeopardy.
“It is not just about funding for the senior band, it is about the whole
organisation. We are looking at producing players over the next five or ten
years who will filter into other bands, not just Grimethorpe,” said Mr Dixon.
The band needs between £25,000 and £40,000 a year to keep going, although for
the educational projects to carry on it needs “a lot more than that”, said
Mr Dixon.
Overheads are high. Although each member of the main band is paid just £25 per
show, the size of the group and the high transport costs associated with
each concert eat into its fees. Last year the band traveled 6,000 miles
getting to and from shows.
Mr Dixon said that it is not just Yorkshire that will miss out if the band
folds.
“It is not just the local culture [that will lose out]. Grimethorpe is
world-renowned and is probably the best-known brass band in the world. The
brass band movement is iconic.
“It is like Manchester United going out of business,” he said.
The band was formed in 1917 by workers from the local coal mine. It survived
the closure of the pit in 1993 and relied on sponsorship money from a coal
mining company, which ended in 2011.
Posted: Thursday, January 3, 2013 3:05 pm
|
Updated: 4:39 pm, Thu Jan 3, 2013.
Brass thieves target Shenandoah area businesses
By Catherine Dominguez
Houston Community Newspapers
Law enforcement officials are investigating a handful of overnight brass thefts at businesses in the Shenandoah area along Interstate 45.
Shenandoah Patrol Lt. Nolan Diver said officers received a call around 2 a.m. Thursday about water flowing at Roberts Carpet, located at 19053 I-45 along the northbound feeder road just north of the Portofino Shopping Center. When officers arrived, they learned someone had taken the back-flow preventer from the building. A back-flow preventer is a device that is installed to prevent contamination of water do to back-flow. The device is made of different materials, including metal, PVC and brass.
Diver said the devices are installed in the back of buildings, making them a target for thieves. However, he said there is very little brass value in the back-flow preventer.
“They get very minimal money out of it,” he said.
Three other businesses in Shenandoah were targeted, including Amazing Spaces at 18250 Interstate 45 North, Mattress Firm at 100 Vision Park and the Portofino Plaza Offices at 250 Ed English Dive. A fifth location in the 3000 block College Park Drive near Chevron was also hit and the valve taken. That incident is under investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
Diver said none of the businesses sustained major damage; however, the cost to replace he valve could cost several hundred dollars. While brass thefts are not uncommon, Diver said Shenandoah has not had any in a while.
“Investigators are looking for any exterior cameras, but … if there are exterior cameras, they are on the front of the buildings,” he said. “These things are installed in the rear of the buildings, out of site, out of mind.”
Diver said the department would step up patrol at local businesses in light of the thefts.
Anyone with information can call the police department at 281-367-8952.
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The ex-top cop defends his open criticism of the police force, saying that he had reached a dead end when trying to engage with the top brass and his successor the inspector general of police.
Anisah Shukry and Teoh El Sen, FMT
Each time Musa Hassan approached his successor Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ismail Omar, the latter would “walk away” from him, making all communication between the two impossible, the ex-IGP said.
“I don’t have the chance to talk to [Ismail] because whenever we meet even in public, he just walks away from me,” said Musa in a recent interview with FMT.
“I don’t know [why]. Maybe they think I am no longer relevant,” he said.
Musa said this when asked if he had raised the issue of criminal elements and political interference in the police force with the IGP before announcing it to the public.
Musa had dropped the bombshell two months ago during a press conference with crime watchdog MyWatch, which coincided with the opening of the Umno general assembly.
His timing, as well as his new role as the patron of the NGO lead by PKR members, had led many to grill him on his motives.
While the question on most people’s lips is “why now?” (Musa’s reply: the timing was a coincidence), others have expressed disgust at what they perceive as efforts that could destroy the police force’s credibility.
Musa’s rival, former top cop Ramli Yusuff had slammed him for turning to the media instead of discussing the issues with Ismail in private.
“You don’t have to say these kind of things in the open. These are internal matters. Musa could have discussed it discreetly with Ismail, meet up with him, tell him nicely,” the former commercial crimes investigation department (CCID) chief had told FMT last month.
But Musa told FMT that not only did Ismail deliberately avoid him, but the top brass also refused to speak with him on the matter.
“I have spoken to some police officers. But of course they are lower rung, they can’t do anything about it. But the bosses, they refuse to talk to me,” claimed Musa.
When asked whether the current leadership of the police was open to discussing such issues head-on in a transparent manner, he said: “I don’t think so.”
“I see Ismail [as] only a ceremonial IGP. He would only attend ceremonies,” Musa remarked. Encouraging transparency
He also dismissed claims by his detractors that his bombshells would destroy the credibility of the men in blue.
Instead, Musa said, open criticism of the police force would encourage transparency and enhance its credibility.
“I don’t think so, [that making claims publicly would erode confidence in the institution]. You have to be open about this…
“If you keep quiet and keep things this way… there will always be the perception of the public that you are not doing anything,” Musa pointed out.
“[Then] it would erode the credibility of the police and also the confidence of the people [towards the police].”
‘People still want me to be involved’
Ramli had also criticised Musa, now technically a civilian after having retired in 2010, for “disturbing” the police with his allegations.
“When you have retired, your days are over. You don’t disturb. Your successors have their own way of doing things. You are gone, so why do you want to disturb?” Ramli had said.
But Musa told FMT that he still received text messages and even visits from people asking for his help in matters related to crime.
He said that when people contacted him for advice or help, it meant that they still wanted him to be involved in crime-fighting.
“The question mark is why people still give information to me even though I am retired, when they can give it straight to the police officer?
“That’s why I feel sometimes that something is wrong here. Why should people trust me? They should trust the police because I am already retired,” stressed Musa.
He said that despite being a civilian, he could not bring himself to deny them help as they would come to his house asking for advice.
… written by Enigma_3ree,
January 03, 2013 18:09:05
+1
… written by syd,
January 03, 2013 18:06:08
+2
… written by Y. Thiam,
January 03, 2013 16:35:01
Musa,
You should thank your lucky stars the present IGP walked away from you. After all the demeaning things you said about him when he’s your deputy and the shame you’ve brought to the PDRM with your antics then and now, I believe he’s more than magnanimous given the knowledge of your past misdeeds that he’s chosen to ignore you than to act against you. You’re nut!
+3
… written by ross,
January 03, 2013 16:18:56
+3
… written by Kaneeneh,
January 03, 2013 16:04:27
when one sees a ghost approaching, ignore it or turn away.
What do you get when you combine a group of talented musicians in turn-of-the century (that would be the 20th century) uniforms, performing music written by such outstanding but little known Arizona composers as Achille La Guardia (Fiorello’s father) and Federico Ronstadt (Linda’s grandfather), using such instruments as a 1911 double-bell euphonium? You get Territorial Brass. You get great music. And you get an historical re-enactment experience like no other.
Territorial Brass was formed in February 1987 and was quickly recognized by museums across Arizona as an entertaining living history resource. Dressed in uniforms modeled after the Prescott and Bisbee brass bands, Territorial Brass recaptures the golden age of the American town band. This twelve member ensemble specializes in 19th century American brass band music, playing authentic arrangements from 1835, through the Civil War, to Arizona’s year of statehood.
Proclaimed Arizona’s Official Historical Brass Band in 1990, Territorial Brass participated in the 52nd Presidential Inaugural Parade in 1993 and received the Arizona Historical Association’s Culture Keeper Award in 2003. The group is honored to have been recognized as a Legacy Project for the Arizona Centennial by the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission in 2009.
Turn off the television, unplug the iPods, and bring the whole family out to the AFP for an afternoon of unforgettable music from Arizona’s past.
If you go
When: Jan. 12 and 13
Doors open at 1 p.m., with performances starting at 2 p.m. For reservations, call 520-378-6165, or email reservations@arizonafolklore.com. Admission is $15 for adults and $6 for children 17 and under.
To get there
Go 6 miles south of Sierra Vista on Highway 92 to Ramsey Canyon Road. Turn right (west) on Ramsey Canyon Road, drive 3.3 miles into the canyon, and watch for the AFP entrance and sign to the left.
About the AFP
Tucked off the beaten path in beautiful Ramsey Canyon, the AFP offers an intimate, appealing theater seating just 60 guests. The rustic, comfortable performing space also boasts excellent acoustics and a state-of-the art sound system. The AFP bookstore stocks CDs by featured artists as well as Western-themed books and art, along with handmade jewelry, pottery, and soaps. Beverages and snacks are available for purchase to enjoy during the performance.
Operated in partnership with the University of Arizona South and staffed entirely by volunteers, the AFP is a 501(c)3 organization. Now in its 16th season, the AFP’s mission is “to collect, present and preserve the songs, stories, legends, myths, and western poetry of the State of Arizona.”
Coming soon
Upcoming performers at the AFP include Western music great Dave Stamey on Jan. 19 and 20 and AFP founder and artist-in-residence Dolan Ellis on Jan. 26 and 27. For more information, including performance schedules and additional information on featured artists, visit the AFP website, www.arizonafolklore.com, or call 520-378-6165.
If you find a correction for this story, please contact our editorial department
Parliament’s standing committee on home on Wednesday summoned senior Delhi [ Images ] Police officers, including Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar and Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dharmendra [ Images ] Kumar, to appear before it.
The senior police officers are likely to be questioned about the December 16 gang-rape case and will also be asked what progress they have made to make the city of Delhi safer for women.
The committee is scheduled to meet on January 4, where Kumar is expected provide a written response to questions which could not be answered at a December 27 meeting of the panel.
Last week, the parliamentary standing committee on home had grilled Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar on the growing atrocities against women.
Kumar reportedly pointed out that unfilled vacancies at the level of officers and lack of enough vehicles to patrol the streets added to the deficiencies in policing the megapolis.
The panel sought a response from the Union home ministry to which the Delhi police force reports.
Home Secretary R K Singh, who was also to appear before the panel, could not attend the meeting.
Kumar narrated the sequence of events on the night of December 16 and said the police control room responded promptly after receiving a phone call about the rape of the 23-year old paramedic aboard a bus.
Congress member Sandeep Dikshit is learnt to have pointed out that there was disconnect between police officers sitting inside rooms and those on the ground. He, along with his mother, has been demanding the removal of the police chief for failing to check crimes against women.
When the panel discussed paucity of women constables, Kumar assured it that more of them would be recruited in the force.
Committee chairman and BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu informed the members that the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha in the winter session, would be referred to the panel soon.
The Bill seeks to amend the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, by replacing the word “rape” with “sexual assault.”
This is to make the offence of sexual assault gender neutral and also expand its scope. The Bill also seeks to make acid attack a specific offence and enhance the punishment.
SCRANTON – The Scranton Brass Orchestra will make some music in the University of Scranton’s Houlihan McLean Center on Jan. 13.
At 7:30 p.m., the ensemble will perform a free concert in the center, conductor Cheryl Boga said.
In addition, the performance will feature a guest soloist, trumpeter Brian McWhorter of Oregon.
The orchestra was founded in 2011 by Ms. Boga, the director of performance music at the University of Scranton, and Mark Gould, the current chairman of the brass department at the Manhattan School of Music.
The group is made up of 27 brass players and teachers from the region, university spokesman Stan Zygmunt said.
The Reserve Bank of India has reallocated the portfolios of Subir Gokarn, following his term as Deputy Governor ending on December 31. In addition to the existing portfolios, K. C. Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor, will now also look after Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation, the Rajbhasha Department and the Right to Information Division.
Deputy Governor Anand Sinha will hold additional charge of the Department of Communication and the Risk Monitoring Department. H. R. Khan, Deputy Governor, will have additional responsibility of the Financial Markets Department.
Three departments — Economic and Policy Research, Statistics and Information Management, and Monetary Policy — will report directly to Governor D. Subbarao till further orders.
Surprise choice
Urjit R Patel may emerge as the surprise choice for new Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. A search panel led by the Governor D. Subbarao is believed to have recommended his name along with Kalpana Kochhar and Subir Gokarn (for extension). Since, Gokarn term ended on Monday and the Government did not give him further extension, it seems now the race is between Patel and Kochhar.
Patel is an expert on economics and public finance in India, international trade, financial intermediation and regulation of infrastructure utilities. He has a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University and M. Phil. inEconomics from Oxford University. He completed his B.Sc in Economics from London University. Fluent in Hindi and Gujarati beside English, he is fellow to Graduate School of Yale University and Linacre College, University of Oxford.
Patel has been a non-resident senior fellow of the Brookings Institution since 2009. At present, he is advisor (energy infrastructure) to the Boston Consulting Group. Between 2007 and 2011, he was President (Business Development) at Reliance Industries Ltd., where he, inter alia, worked on strategising commercial approaches for energy companies of climate change-mitigation policies.
Prior to that, he spent a decade working in the Indian financial sector specialising in funding private infrastructure projects. He served on the Expert Committee on Integrated Energy Policy and the Task Force on Direct Taxes, both constituted by the Government of India. He has also worked at the IMF and as an advisor to both the RBI and the Ministry of Finance, New Delhi. He serves as an independent member on the board of one of India’s major integrated energy companies, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation.
Mumbai, Dec 31 (PTI) Brass and select aluminium prices
fell in an other wise a more or less mixed non-ferrous metal
market here today stockists selling on the back of subdued
demand from industrial users.
Elsewere, Tin, lead, zinc and copper utensils rose owing
good offtake from alloy and consumer industries.
The industrial metal moved up at the LME amid improved
China’s economic data, though continued concerns about the
US ‘fiscal cliff’ were looming over the gains.
SAN DIEGO — Iconic local gay bar The Brass Rail will not allow a “straight Christian singles” night onto its event calendar. For many straight Christian singles, not only is the decision disappointing, it’s also frustrating.
Straight Christian single Rod Drayton is questioning the decision by launching a petition. Here’s what he told SD on the QT about it:
Q. Why are you involved?
A. Now, as a straight Christian single, I’m really passionate about making The Brass Rail safer and a more loving place for straight Christian singles.
Q. Now, as I understand it, straight Christian singles weren’t asking even for an affirmation from the bar, just a night to hold their annual mixer, and then word came there wouldn’t be such an event. Obviously, that didn’t go over well with you, so you’ve decided not to give up the fight.
A. Right, I think that’s a real important point because even as now, a straight Christian single, I have a deep abiding passion for straight Christian equality. I also recognize that The Brass Rail is uniquely situated in terms of its affiliation with a way of life that doesn’t affirm straight Christian single people in all parts of their sexual mores. The reason the denial is so frustrating is that, you were exactly right, the Christians wasn’t asking to move the sociopolitical position of the bar, but simply wanted a space for straight Christian singles to gather.
Q. Are you the person behind the petition drive?
A. I am. The petition has actually taken off in a really surprising manner. And I think what that shows is that even among LGBTQ people, there is growing support for straight Christian single inclusion and safety.
More than 1,200 signatures appeared on the petition, which will ultimately be delivered to The Brass Rail’s owner.
From a compensation perspective, the New Year will be a good one for Netflix Inc. CEO Reed Hastings and other top company managers.
Late last week in a new filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Netflix, No. 9 in the 2012 Internet Retailer Top 500 revealed that annual base compensation for Hastings will increase 80% to $4.5 million in 2013 from $2.5 million in 2012.
The biggest increase is in base salary. In 2013, Netflix will pay Hastings an annual base salary of $2 million, up 300% from a base of $500,000 in 2012. Hasting’s annual compensation also includes $2 million in stock options, which remains the same.
Other Netflix top managers also will see a hefty increase in base pay next year, according to the SEC filing. The total compensation for chief product officer Neil Hunt will increase year over year 20% to $3 million from $2.5 million. Hunt’s compensation includes a jump in annual base salary of 75% to $1.75 million from $1 million.
Annual base compensation for chief content officer Ted Sarandos will increase 42.9% to $4 million in 2013 from $2.8 million in 2012 in a package that includes an annual bump in salary of 120% to $2.2 million from $1 million.
Other top Netflix managers getting a pay raise in 2013 include chief financial officer David Wells and general counsel David Hyman. The annual base compensation will grow year over year 10% to $1.1 million from$1 million for Wells and 7.7% to $1.4 million from $1.3 million for Hyman.
In its filing Netflix didn’t reveal any specific reasons for increasing the pay of some of its top corporate managers.
Netflix has yet to announce the specific date it will report its 2012 annual financials. For the fourth quarter Netflix projects net income could total $2 million or a loss of up to $13 million. The company didn’t give guidance on total revenue but expected domestic paid streaming revenue to range from $581 million to $588 million, international streaming from $90 million to $100 million and domestic DVD subscriber revenue to range from $248 million to $255 million.
Andy Reid’s Philly tenure featured plenty of highs but (likely) ends on an incredible low. (Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The scene was nice. For what looks like Andy Reid’s final game as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, his wife and kids rode to MetLife Stadium on the team bus, as a show of support.
Nice scene, yes. Splendid show of support, indeed. But the pleasantness of that image quickly dissipated once the game began and the starkness of why Reid’s likely firing is needed unfolded in what was an ugly, effortless performance by his team. This was a humiliating and embarrassing end to the Philadelphia career of a man who deserved better.
Though Homey the Clown would have deserved better than that uber-lazy demonstration of quit from Eagles players.
“I love him to death,” Michael Vick said of Reid. “I wish I could have done more so it didn’t come to this. He can’t play the game.”
Sunday’s 42-7 loss to the Giants perfectly illustrated why Reid is on his way out. Reid hitched his wagon to the frail walking turnover that is Michael Vick. More than anything, that decision led to Reid’s demise. Vick was supposed to be a foothold onto something big. Instead he was Reid’s formerly fleet-footed albatross who couldn’t play the position nearly as well as he once did.
After the game, Reid sounded like a coach who knew he was about to be fired. He’s scheduled to meet with Philadelphia ownership Monday. When asked about being fired, Reid said: “Either way, I understand.”
There really wasn’t much more to say.
There remains a possibility that Reid will not be fired until early next week, and not so long after that Jon Gruden or Oregon’s Chip Kelly could be the next coach of the Eagles.
Reid was a big story, and though the Giants won they also made news in an undesirable way. They needed help to make the playoffs and didn’t get it, so there will be a new Super Bowl champion.
The entire Vick era in Philly could be summed up on Sunday’s first series. Vick dropped back and just as he released the ball was smashed in the chest. As a result, Vick badly underthrew the ball and was intercepted.
Take that scene, multiply by 1,000, toss in a few Vick fumbles after being blindsided, some overthrows, underthrows and balls in the dirt — sprinkle in some concussions — and you have the Reid-Vick era in Philadelphia.
There was one more with Vick. In the second quarter, deep in Giants territory, Vick ran a fake where he dipped left, sucking in the entire Giants defense. The right side of the field was wide open. Five years ago, Vick could have run backward and scored. But his broken-down body no longer musters warp speed. When he ran right, the Giants were able to catch him, limiting the damage to a moderate gain. This is who Michael Vick is now.
Reid got hoodwinked by the allure, failing to realize that Vick was half the player he once was.
There were two distinct emotions while watching Reid’s possible final game. The first was sympathy. Reid is a historic figure who has been a towering presence in the NFL over the past decade or so. He went to five NFC title games (four straight) and coached in a Super Bowl. Reid is one of this league’s greatest winners.
Reid was also a victim of his own huge ego, and in recent months and years we saw maybe the biggest of his problems. He sometimes cannot inspire players. That the Eagles, knowing this was likely Reid’s final game, were so unceremoniously gutless and flat is a huge indictment of them and Reid.
Philadelphia’s players didn’t even try in a moment that meant so much.
Where does Reid go? Despite his protestations to the contrary, a source close to the situation said it remains possible (though remotely so) that if Reid is fired by Philadelphia he could take a year off from coaching.
One of the possibilities for Reid seemed to be San Diego, but I’m told the Chargers are lukewarm. There is concern within that organization about how the Eagles finished and, for the moment, the team wants a younger coach. As one person in that organization described it: “We’re looking for the next Mike Tomlin.” Well, who isn’t?
What team officials increasingly think will happen with Reid is that he will be considered more for openings like Jacksonville or Kansas City and will have to decide if he wants a job where the franchise is at the very bottom.
Reid couldn’t rally the players he was coaching. He called for an onside kick on the opening play and he benched the pathetic Nnamdi Asomugha late (Asomugha said after the game he wanted to forget the season; he should).
In the final minutes, Reid’s sons joined him on the sideline. Reid told his players after the game there will be better days ahead. That is true. It has to be. It doesn’t get much worse than this. There is still no overlooking how quickly the Eagles sunk, finishing 4-12, their worst record since 1998. Reid was hired after that season.
More than a decade later, he put his hopes in Vick, and will likely be gone because of it.
KALISPELL – A Flathead gun and ammo dealer says he’s hearing from customers who are afraid of stricter gun control laws.
Junior Szklarz owns Brass and Bullets, which focuses mainly on reloading and sells relatively fewer firearms compared to other gun stores in the Flathead.
But Szklarz says people are constantly calling the shop looking especially for semi-automatic AR-15s.
“They got my phone number because the other distributors they normally deal with are out,” he said. “The walls are bare at the other distributors.”
Szklarz says he thinks it’s fair to believe there will be some sort of change in gun ownership laws, especially after President Barack Obama’s speech Wednesday morning.
“The standard fear is that they will just regulate the law abiding,” Szklarz said.
Special permits aren’t required for handguns, shotguns and semi-automatic weapons, but if you want to carry a concealed handgun, a permit is required through the Sheriff’s Office.
While people may be buying up AR-15s across the Flathead, there hasn’t been a huge increase in people seeking to get their concealed weapons permit, but Sheriff Chuck Curry says time will tell.
“I think certainly there’s been concern among a certain segment of our community about future availability and what may wind up happening in the future, but so far it’s business as usual for us,” Curry said.
Szklarz says no responsible, law-abiding gun owner would condone the type of behavior shown last week.
“This is a tragedy of unthinkable scale. It really is, but the controls and bans they have in thought at this moment are definitely not going to help.”
Current gun laws in Montana allow anyone over the age of 21 to purchase handguns. Anyone over 18 can buy shotguns and rifles. That includes AR-15 rifles.
The Congress top brass, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ] and party chief Sonia Gandhi [ Images ], met on Saturday evening amid strong demands for swift action against the perpetrators of the horrific gangrape and assault on the 23-year-old paramedic student.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who cut short his visit to his native Solapur in Maharashtra [ Images ], was also present at the deliberations of the Congress core group held at the Prime Minister’s residence at 7, Race Course Road in New Delhi [ Images ].
Minister of State for Home R P N Singh was also present at the meeting.
The meeting took place in the backdrop of peaceful marches and protests in the capital to mourn the death of the gangrape victim even as parts of Central Delhi were kept out of bounds for people.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi in her televised tributes said the fight of nation’s “beloved daughter” will not go in vain, promising “swift and fitting punishment” to perpetrators as well as stringent laws for women protection.
“As a woman and mother, I understand how you feel. I appeal you to remain calm and help strengthen our collective resolve to fight the menace of violence against women,” Gandhi, who is also UPA Chairperson, said.
Breaking his silence on the tragedy, Gandhi’s son and MP Rahul Gandhi [ Images ] called for introspection over the incident and a resolve to ensure the security and dignity of women.
“My heart goes out to the family of the young girl and millions of young India [ Images ]ns, families who work, hope and pray for a better India. We as a nation must reflect on the events of the days gone by,” Rahul said, offering his deep condolences to the young girl’s family.
New Delhi: Congress top brass, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi met this evening amid strong demands for swift action against the perpetrators of the horrific gangrape and assault on the 23-year-old paramedic student.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who cut short his visit to his native Solapur in Maharashtra, was also present at the deliberations of the Congress core group held at the Prime Minister’s residence at 7, Race Course Road here.
Minister of State for Home R P N Singh was also present at the meeting. The meeting took place in the backdrop of peaceful marches and protests in the capital to mourn the death of the gangrape victim even as parts of Central Delhi were kept out of bounds for people.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi in her televised tributes said the fight of nation’s “beloved daughter” will not go in vain, promising “swift and fitting punishment” to perpetrators as well as stringent laws for women protection.
“As a woman and mother, I understand how you feel. I appeal you to remain calm and help strengthen our collective resolve to fight the menace of violence against women,” Mrs Gandhi, who is also UPA Chairperson, said.
Breaking his silence on the tragedy, Mrs Gandhi’s son and MP Rahul Gandhi called for introspection over the incident and a resolve to ensure the security and dignity of women.
“My heart goes out to the family of the young girl and millions of young Indians, families who work, hope and pray for a better India. We as a nation must reflect on the events of the days gone by,” Rahul said, offering his deep condolences to the young girl’s family.
(Reuters) – Nevada‘s top court has overturned the murder conviction of a Las Vegas man sentenced to life in prison in the shooting death of his brother-in-law, ruling that a black woman with “Democratic views” was improperly dismissed from the jury pool.
As part of its ruling, the three-judge panel of the state Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a new trial for Jermaine Brass, 28, one of two brothers convicted in the slaying of their sister’s husband, Ernest Mitchell, in 2009.
In an appeal of his 2010 conviction on murder, kidnapping and other charges, Brass, who is black, argued successfully that the trial judge improperly excused a prospective juror during jury selection.
Brass contended that the judge, Doug Smith, erred by failing to hold a hearing to determine whether prosecutors‘ objection to the juror, called a peremptory challenge, was racially motivated, as defense lawyers alleged, before he removed her.
She was the second African-American to be excluded from the jury pool by prosecutors’ peremptory challenge, which normally can be exercised by either side without explanation, unless questioned by opposing counsel.
Smith ultimately conducted a hearing after the juror was dismissed and concluded that prosecutors had objected to her for “race-neutral” reasons.
But in writing for the majority, Nevada Supreme Court Justice Michael Douglas said Smith’s dismissal of the juror before a hearing on the matter had the same effect as a racially discriminatory challenge.
“This discriminatory jury selection constitutes structural error that was intrinsically harmful to the framework of the trial,” Douglas wrote. He cited “our concern with the possibility that the dismissal of a prospective juror before (a hearing) may present the appearance of improper judicial bias.”
Concurring with the majority, Justice Mark Gibbons wrote that one reason offered by prosecutors for striking the black juror “was that she is a registered Democrat who had ‘Democratic’ views on law enforcement.”
“Political affiliation is not a proper component as a basis for asserting a challenge to a juror,” Gibbons said.
Mitchell was shot to death three years ago after a confrontation over the theft of his newly purchased automobile tires and rims.
Brass’s attorney, Christopher Oram, said the ruling meant his client was once again “innocent until proven guilty” and that he fully expected prosecutors to agree to a new trial.
But Steven Owens, chief deputy district attorney in Clark County, Nevada, said he was exploring whether to ask for a rehearing by the three-justice panel.
He said that purposeful discrimination was not proven in the dismissal of the black juror and that reversing a conviction for a relatively minor procedural error did not strike him as the proper remedy.
“It’s certainly troubling to us,” Owens said of the ruling.
Brass’s brother and co-defendant, Ronnie Brass, died in March after being stabbed in the chest while in prison.
(Editing by Steve Gorman, Tim Gaynor and Peter Cooney)
For as long I can remember music has been a focal point in my life.
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Ljubojna Brass Fantasy
IV
Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day
The Rolling Stones – 50 Years
Kiril Djaikovski: West Meets East
Published: December 29, 2012
With Ljubojna Brass Fantasy. Ljubojna exceeds the exceptionally high standards it has set for itself. For this occasion, that band leader/ bassist Oliver Josifovski has completely changed the concept of the band by using a huge brass orchestra instead of the regular band for a collection of traditional Macedonian songs, only this time coming exclusively from the region of Aegean Macedonia (today’s Northern Greece). Experimentation or taking chances with arrangements is not something new for this group or its bandleader. As a group, Ljubojna has built its musical approach mostly upon this constant creation of musical and vocal friction or the kinetic energy that comes from singer Vera Miloševska’s unmatched capabilities and the potent cocktail of the group’s excursions into different strands of Macedonian traditional music. Previously, Ljubojna took on the folk songs in its repertoire, with chalgia music arrangements infused with various subtle and not so subtle influences and sounds, but this has completely changed its sonic identity.
With the popularity of Balkan brass bands, especially with the success of composer Goran Bregovic’s soundtracks and his Balkan amalgamations, plenty of those groups sprouted up like mushrooms after a spring rain, taking on brass music but often with mixed results. While some bandsthe most popular being Boban Markovic’s orchestra, Fanfare Ciokarlia and the Cherkezi and Kochani Orchestrashave excelled in this genre, most of them are just pumping high volume funky music, played at breakneck speed with tireless energy, but with no real or significant substance. Most of them are just crowd-pleasing clowns.
Ljubojna’s Brass excursion is another high point within this genreeven though, for this occasion, the group has recycled some of the songs that were already popular in its repertoire. Some of these songs were already covered by the band on record, like “Krena Martinata” and “Tvoite Ochi Leno,” or were performed in concert and can be heard on the live Ljubojna in Life (Life Magazine, 2011). Nevertheless, these songs have never before been performed with these arrangements, and feel more at home than the group’s previous takes. What distinguishes them are the songs’ own meritsthe characteristic, soulful and playful melodicism, and the rich display of uneven rhythms upon which these melodies are based. They are little-known, or have become better known in recent times in either the world music circuit or the general public.
The songs from this region are characterized by their slight Mediterranean feel and the use of pentatonic scales that are absent or rarely present in the traditional songs of Vardar Macedonia (the region of today’s Republic of Macedonia). Another characteristic is the marching orchestras, as these songs were typically performed by orchestras roaming and playing in the streets for weddings or other celebrations, or were sang a capeplla. A unifying subject theme for this collection of songs is that all of them are love songs and “Sevda” is the word that denotes the longing in which these songs are immersed. “Saudade” is the word used to describe this sentiment in Portuguese Fado.
Since the band’s first recording, Parite se Otepuvacka (Bajro Zakon Korporeshn, 2005), Josifovski has expressed his point of view with great clarity by drawing out the best from his musical partners while keeping a firm hand on the till. But on Ljubojna Brass Fantasy he is after a greater spirit of collectivism. In that respect, much in the appreciation of the players’ unique voices on their instruments, Josifovski sets things in motion and stands back to admire the wonders that the musicians can create from the arrangements he has provided. Unlike previous recordings, he does not playing upright bass at all, but simply a snare druminstead, acting more like a conductor.
There are few things that can match a brass band in full flight, but Ljubojna provides thoughtful, dynamic and simultaneously sensitive accompaniment for singer Vera Miloševska’s unique take on these songs. Miloševska is once-in-a-generation singer whose voice mirrors and wrestles with the brass orchestra’s lushness, as well as the songs’ yearning desire. In a way, with Brass Fantasy, Ljubojna provides a sumptuous tour of the band’s 15-year history, as these are the songs that were mostly present in its normal repertoire. On the whole, it is both exciting and colorful.
Track Listing: Apsana me klade; Filka moma; Krena Martinata; Medley Ljubojna; Mome odi
za voda; Mori čupi kosturčanki; Tvojte oči Leno.
Personnel: Vera Milosevska: vocal; Trajče Velkov: trumpet; Blagojče Trajkovski:
clarinet; Stojan Trajkovski, clarinet; Jovica Stojčevski: trumpet;
Nikolče Micevski: accordion; Ibrahim Rašidov: baritone; Tašmir
Rašidov: baritone; Hamid Rašid: baritone; Vilhen Memedov: tuba; Jašar
Rašid: tapan; Oliver Josifovski: snare;
Vocals: Ljupka Stefanovska, Aleksandra Petkovska, Aneta Petkovska,
Elena Stepanovska, Maja Graoroska, Sanja Lazarovska, Maja Kostovska
The Nevada Supreme Court has granted a new trial for Jermaine Brass, one of two brothers convicted of killing their brother-in-law in 2009.
In a decision handed down Thursday, the state’s high court ruled District Court Judge Doug Smith made an error by excusing a juror, whose dismissal from the jury pool was questioned by defense lawyers because she was black.
Juror No. 173 was dismissed by prosecutors using a peremptory challenge, meaning they didn’t have to give a reason for the dismissal. The law, however, allows for a hearing if defense lawyers believe race was the cause of the dismissal. The defense lawyers asked for a hearing because juror No. 173 was the second black juror to be dismissed by prosecutors with a peremptory challenge.
Smith sent the juror home and then held the hearing, during which prosecutors said they dismissed her because she had “Democratic views on law enforcement,” court documents show. Smith found that peremptory challenge valid.
The Supreme Court held that “dismissing this prospective juror prior to holding the (hearing) had the same effect as a racially discriminatory peremptory challenge because even if the defendants were able to prove purposeful discrimination, they would be left with limited recourse.”
All Smith had to do was delay excusing the juror until the hearing was held, according to the nine-page ruling written by Justice Michael Douglas.
Jermaine Brass, 28, and his brother, Ronnie Brass, were convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping and conspiracy in the Jan. 9, 2009, fatal shooting of Ernest Mitchell.
Prosecutors said the two brothers shot Mitchell, 39, while he was standing in the doorway of his house, in the 5500 block of Reiter Avenue, near Smoke Ranch Road and Jones Boulevard.
The shooting occurred after Mitchell accused the brothers of stealing tires and rims from his home.
Authorities said the brothers arrived at Mitchell’s home to confront him over the burglary accusations. While Mitchell argued with Ronnie Brass, Jermaine Brass rounded a corner and shot Mitchell at least nine times, including three execution-style shots.
Authorities said the argument with Ronnie Brass was meant to lure Mitchell out of his home so Jermaine Brass could shoot him.
Prosecutors said Jermaine Brass masterminded the plan and had help from his brother, who had a low IQ.
The brothers were sentenced to life terms for the slaying.
In March, Ronnie Brass, 31, was found stabbed to death at Ely State Prison near a common area for prisoners.
No arrests have been made.
The Supreme Court is considering an appeal of Ronnie Brass’ conviction.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
REBIRTH BRASS BAND Only a precious few of the Crescent City’s signature brass bands have gone from French Quarter busking to playing international stages. Charlotte hosted the Dirty Dozen Brass Band in June, and now comes that group’s rougher-around-the-edges peer and friendly rival the Rebirth Brass Band, which nabbed a 2012 Grammy for Best Regional Roots Album. Like the Dirty Dozen, the Rebirth Krewe honed its booming mix of marches, rags and fatback funk on the streets of Tremé. From the get-go back in 1983, the Rebirth Brass Band shunned standard parade-band arrangements, embracing ragged jazz and even some scatological rap. Still, the band keeps touch with its roots with churning updates of Louis Jordan and Big Joe Turner classics like “Caledonia” and “Flip, Flop Fly.” With each player threatening to fly off the rails, the cohesive whole is anchored by founder Philip Frazier’s subwoofer sousaphone. Thirty years on, Rebirth still keeps to the streets. “We don’t want to be stars,” snare drummer Derrick Tabb has said. “Once you become a star, you can’t go hang in the hood.” $15-$30. Dec. 26, 8 p.m. Neighborhood Theatre, 511 E. 36th St. 704-358-9298.
Even though Ken Whisenhunt wouldn’t be a dramatic hire, he still makes for an interesting candidate in Cleveland, writes Jamison Hensley. 
Parliament’s standing committee on home on Wednesday summoned senior Delhi [ 
