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“Who is this person?!”
If you watched Thursday’s White House coronavirus news conference, you might have wondered who the heck that reporter was who asked President Donald Trump if criticizing his COVID-19 response is equivalent to siding with foreign state propaganda, Islamic radicals and Latin gangs and cartels?
That was Chanel Rion, a reporter for the far-right One America News Network, better known as OAN. To call Rion a “reporter” might be a stretch, since she floats conspiracy theories like how the coronavirus was created in a lab in North Carolina. She and OAN also have been at the center of several other controversies that make you wonder how either has a spot in a White House briefing room.
It should be noted that as Rion began her questions — which were the last questions of the news conference — Trump interrupted her to say, “OAN. Very good. Thank you very much. You treat me very nicely.”
Actually, Rion’s first question, which she used to set up her question about criticism of Trump, was so incredibly off the rails that it seems hard to believe that it was asked in an official White House news conference about a pandemic that is killing people.
Rion asked, “Do you consider the term ‘Chinese food’ racist because it is food that originates in China or has Chinese origins?”
Obviously, it was Rion’s way of setting up Trump to defend his constant referral to COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus.”
But, ultimately, Rion’s questions weren’t so much questions as they were a set up for Trump to go off on a spiteful anti-media rant. At one point, Rion said, “On that note, major left-wing media, even in this room, have teamed up with Chinese communist party narratives, and they are claiming you are racist for making these claims about ‘Chinese virus.’”
She tossed the softball and Trump took a big swing.
“It amazes me when I read the things that I read,” Trump said. “It amazes me when I read The Wall Street Journal, which is always so negative. It amazes me when I read — The New York Times is not even — I barely read it. You know, we don’t distribute it in the White House anymore, and the same thing with The Washington Post.”
Forget that China has kicked reporters from The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post out of that country, Trump was just getting warmed up.
“Because you see, I know the truth,” he continued. “And people out there in the world, they really don’t know the truth. They don’t know what it is. They use different slogans and different concepts for me almost every week trying to catch something. Last week, it was, oh, chaos. You see me, there’s no chaos. No chaos. I’m the one telling everybody to be calm. There’s no chaos at the White House. We have unbelievable professionals. It’s really — I mean, I think I came up with the term, I hope I came up with the term, but it is fake news. It’s more than fake news, it’s corrupt news.”
That was just Trump’s parting shot. Earlier in the news conference, when asked by NBC News’ Kristen Welker why the U.S. wasn’t prepared for the pandemic with more testing, Trump said, “We were very prepared. The only thing we weren’t prepared for was — the media. The media has not treated it fairly.”
At another point, Trump scolded the media about social distancing, saying journalists in the briefing room were sitting too close together.
“We should probably get rid of another 75-80% of you,” Trump said. “I’ll just have two or three that I like in this room. I think that’s a great way of doing it. We just figured a new way of doing it.”
So, what do we make of these daily White House news conferences?
Yes, the president of the United States should be speaking to the nation regularly. This crisis is changing by the minute and we need the president and his team to give regular updates. We should all welcome and applaud a daily White House press briefing.
But, far too often, it feels as if Trump is turning these daily press conferences into Trump rallies — something he is unable to do right now because of the coronavirus. He spins grim news into bragging about how well he is handling this, even as each day brings more deaths, more problems and more dire projections. And one of his key messages, just like his rallies, is how awful and corrupt the media is.
“That was candidate Donald Trump at times,” said “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd during NBC News’ coverage of the press conference. “It feels like the grievances are back. Whatever focus was on being the wartime president over the last couple of days seemed to go out the window. He seems to be just looking for reasons to be upset about things and he certainly seems to not want to take any accountability on the testing debacle.”
What Trump fails to see is that the media’s job is to ask those who are supposed to know, starting with him, what is happening.
Where are the tests? Where are the supplies? How can we fix the economy? What is being done to find a vaccine?
These questions are not meant to undermine the president. But they aren’t meant to be easy questions either. They are meant to get answers to questions that are critical to our health and our economy. This virus is not a hoax or some sort of conspiracy invented to make the president look bad. The coronavirus is a real problem that needs a solution. The media is merely doing its job by asking those in charge about a solution.
That’s not corrupt. That’s not fake. That’s not evil.
Photo of the day
Washington Post photographer Jabin Botsford captured the photo of the day Thursday. During the White House press conference on the coronavirus, Botsford captured President Trump’s prepared notes as Trump stood at the podium. The image clearly showed that the “corona” in the word “coronavirus” had been crossed out by a black marker. Above it, the word “Chinese” was written by hand.
Trump has been criticized by those who believe “Chinese virus” is a racist term amid concerns Chinese people are being blamed for the pandemic.
A new ballgame
For coverage of the coronavirus, it’s all hands on deck. For example, many of the sportswriters at The Washington Post will now move over to covering coronavirus stories. Washingtonian’s Andrew Beaujon reports that the Post’s sports editors, in a memo to staff, wrote, “The reality, however, is that without basketball, hockey, baseball, golf, soccer, tennis and a host of other sports — along with the pages of results, standings and roundups that go with them — it is going to be impossible to fill even a 6-page daily Sports section for a while.”
Instead, starting Saturday, the Post’s sports section will be cut down to 2-3 pages and moved into the Style section. Other papers also are combining sports into other sections while no games are being played.
A palpable hue of anticipation
Looking for some positive news in the midst of all this coronavirus coverage? Here you go: ESPN is bringing back “ESPN8: The Ocho.”
“The Ocho” will actually be shown on ESPN2 starting midnight Sunday morning and will air a day’s worth of offbeat sports such as the Stupid Robot Fighting League, cherry pit spitting, sign spinning, putt-putt and stone skipping. The name comes from the fictional channel in the 2004 movie “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.” This is the fourth year that ESPN is running “The Ocho” programming.
Meanwhile, over on ESPN, New England football fans can cry in their chowder as the network runs a seven-hour marathon from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday of Tom Brady’s greatest moments. The legendary quarterback announced this week that he is leaving the Patriots after 20 years, reportedly to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- A university professor was accused of sexual harassment. The accusations were false, but how to prove it? Sarah Viren for The New York Times Magazine on a story that reads like a thriller that you can’t read fast enough.
- Big scoop from NPR — a secret recording has Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, warning well-connected constituents three weeks ago that the coronavirus was going to be a “dire” issue. Then, after that, Burr dumped up to $1.6 million in stock, ProPublica’s Robert Faturechi and Derek Willis reported.
- Will coronavirus be the end of movie theaters? The Washington Post’s Alyssa Rosenberg writes how our movie culture might permanently change.
Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at email@example.com.
More Poynter resources
- The Poynter College Media Project (program for the 2020/21 academic year). Deadline: April 12.
- Will Work For Impact: Fundamentals of Investigative Journalism (online group seminar). Deadline: April 13.
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A Florida-based mortgage banker has been issued two favorable judgements this month, according to wire reports.
America's Senior Financial Services Inc. won a $316,500 default judgment against AIM Securities, AIM Financial Advisors Inc. and Texan Ronald Ardt, company officials said. The award concerned "civil theft and conversion" in failing to perform investment banking services, according to a company statement.
The regional mortgage banker was issued another favorable judgment Friday for almost $1 million from Finantra Capital Inc. The company's wire report stated that the judgment was for recovery of a mortgage funding arrangement that Finantra failed to uphold. The statement also quoted America's senior officials as "committed to protecting shareholder value." It further quoted general counsel Gary Barcus, "There can be no assurances given that AMSE will be able to collect judgment from Finantra."
In the reverse mortgage lender's SEC filing dated May 20, America's Senior forecasted revenues of $2.4 to $2.5 million for the current quarter. For the quarter ended March 31, the company reported revenues of $2.5 million to the SEC.


Hey guys! Do you know our pal Louis Tomlinson? Once considered the foil to Harry Styles' greatness, now the standout of One Direction? Even after the success of "No Control," Louis' newfound confidence continues on Made in the A.M. Not only does the guy have writing credits on half of the LP, he also just effin' shreds with his voice (like, guitar-solo voice). His verse in the fun.-channeling "End of the Day" is especially remarkable.


Former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell congratulated Pete Buttigieg for being an openly gay man who has been confirmed as President Joe Biden’s Transportation secretary while at the same time acknowledging the former South Bend mayor wasn’t the first.
That honor belongs to Grenell, who was the first openly gay man to become a Cabinet-level official during the Trump administration.
“Congratulations to @PeteButtigieg on becoming the second openly gay member of a President’s Cabinet. Welcome to the club!” Grenell wrote.
Congratulations to @PeteButtigieg on becoming the second openly gay member of a President’s Cabinet.
Welcome to the club! pic.twitter.com/BbKK6iTBW1
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 2, 2021
Grenell’s tweet matters because it served as a reminder to many left-leaning political figures and media members who were hailing Buttigieg as being the first.
In December, when Biden first nominated Buttigieg, who ran against him in the Democratic primaries last year, many in the media were quick to claim that he would become the first member of the LGBTQ community to serve in a presidential Cabinet.
“Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg will be the first out gay person to be a member of the presidential Cabinet,” LGBTQ Nation reported.
Meanwhile, LGBTQ outlet “Queerty” reported him as being the “first openly gay Cabinet secretary in history,” as did other related outlets.
“It is the most senior intelligence position in the Trump administration and entails overseeing 17 different military and civilian intelligence agencies, including the CIA. In doing so, Grenell, 53, becomes the first openly gay man to hold a cabinet position,” Queerty noted.
In a subsequent article, the outlet would explain that technically, its claim is accurate because Buttigieg would become the first openly gay person to be confirmed by the Senate; Grenell never got to a Senate confirmation process.
“Within minutes of the announcement, Trump supporters were calling Buttigieg’s historic nomination #fakenews. They argued that Richard Grennell was actually the first openly gay person to serve as a member of the presidential Cabinet when he was appointed Acting Director of National Intelligence by Donald Trump earlier this year,” Queerty noted.
“While Trump & Co. love making this claim, there’s always been a caveat that they’ve ignored. Because while Grenell was, indeed, appointed to Trump’s cabinet, he only served in an interim capacity for three months, and he never had a formal Senate hearing because Trump had him jettisoned out the minute it became clear he’d never get confirmed.”
Critics argue that is a distinction without a difference since the position of DNI is a Cabinet-level post.
Media and Democratic political figures nevertheless made the distinction after Buttigieg was confirmed.
“Senate votes to confirm Pete Buttigieg as transportation secretary on Tuesday, making him the first Senate-confirmed LGBTQ Cabinet secretary in American history,” CNN’s Jake Tapper wrote.
“Breaking: The Senate has just confirmed Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation. Buttigieg is the first openly gay cabinet secretary to be confirmed by the Senate,” MSNBC’s Kyle Griffin posted.
Breaking: The Senate has just confirmed Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation.
Buttigieg is the first openly gay cabinet secretary to be confirmed by the Senate.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 2, 2021
“Today Mayor Pete became Secretary Pete, as the senate just confirmed @PeteButtigieg to lead the @USDOT-the first openly gay person to serve in a Cabinet. It follows his remarkable race for @POTUS. Just 4 years ago, he lost a bid to be @DNC chair. What a lucky break THAT was!” Axelrod wrote.
Today Mayor Pete became Secretary Pete, as the senate just confirmed @PeteButtigieg to lead the @USDOT-the first openly gay person to serve in a Cabinet.
It follows his remarkable race for @POTUS.
Just 4 years ago, he lost a bid to be @DNC chair. What a lucky break THAT was!
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) February 2, 2021
Former Fox News and NBC host Megyn Kelly took others to task for moving the goalposts and making the same false claim about Buttigieg’s posting.
You see @RichardGrenell doesn’t count for some b/c he worked for Trump. Oh wait, er, I mean…it’s bc he was only an “acting” cab. memb. Got it?
Except someone should tell the NYT: “Mr. Grenell, is also thought to be the first openly gay cabinet member.”https://t.co/Q4CKyNJwKU https://t.co/edHPGZgenV
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) February 2, 2021
“You see @RichardGrenell doesn’t count for some b/c he worked for Trump. Oh wait, er, I mean…it’s bc he was only an ‘acting’ cab. memb. Got it? Except someone should tell the NYT: ‘Mr. Grenell, is also thought to be the first openly gay cabinet member,’” she wrote in response to Lawfare executive editor Susan Hennessey, who tried to argue that Grenell was never confirmed.
Kelly also called out NBC for posting a similarly incorrect statement about Buttigieg, though she then credited her old network for issuing a correction.
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) February 3, 2021
Still other online users credited Grenell’s deftness.
“Well played!” one user wrote.
— Shaking my Head on a Daily Basis (@ShakingDaily) February 2, 2021
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A friend reminded me Thursday of a backyard ball game in 1967 among some high school chums.
It came up in conversation because it was the last time there was a triple crown winner in Major League Baseball — Carl Yastrzemzki. One time every game, at least one of us would try to emulate the batting stroke of “Yaz.”
But the triple crown achievement of Miguel Cabrera, who coincidentally hit the same number of home runs (44) as Yaz, may not have been the greatest event in baseball this week.
We refer you to Adam Greenberg.
A footnote in baseball history.
Cue the Fantasyland music. Yeh. “When You Wish Upon a Star.”
Greenberg was a promising minor league player in the Chicago Cubs organization in 2005. He got his chance in the big leagues as a pinch-hitter. On the first pitch in his first at-bat, he was hit on the back of the head, collapsing with a concussion.
He became a painful asterisk in baseball history — one of two players who was hit by a pitch in his first plate appearance before taking the field.
He tried to revive his career but he had extended effects from what was described as a mild concussion. For months, he would have prolonged headaches when he bent over to tie his shoes.
His dream vanished.
For seven years.
Then, filmmaker Matt Austin, a Cubs fan, started a “One-At-Bat” petition drive to give Greenberg the Major League League chance he never had.
Inspired, the Miami Marlins signed Greenberg to a one-day contract. Tuesday, he was an official member of the Marlins, and went through the regular routine as a pro baseball player and was sent by manager Ozzie Guillen to pinch-hit against R.A. Dickey, a knuckleballer. With “Dream On” playing as he walked to the plate, Greenberg received a standing ovation.
Then, struck out.
On the stat line only.
“I never thought it was about getting me an at-bat,” he said later. “It was about doing it for everyone who had a dream that was taken away from them and has ever worked hard to accomplish a goal and gotten knocked down and the ability to keep pushing and keep working and try to make the impossible possible.”
Greenberg signed for $2,623 for his one-game appearance. The money will be donated to research for brain trauma injuries to athletes.
The contest was an otherwise meaningless game against two disappointing teams who were playing out the string.
“I think I’ve never seen this ballclub more excited than today,” Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. “We’ve been losing so many games we hate each other.”
The game went extra innings.
Maybe one more magical touch to extend a dream.
Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or firstname.lastname@example.org


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New Chair of the Student Loans Company appointed
The Department for Education has today confirmed that Peter Lauener has been appointed as Chair of the Student Loans Company (SLC), taking over the role from Professor Andrew Wathey, who has held the position on an interim basis since 1 February 2020. Professor Wathey replaced Christian Brodie, who served as Chair for six years from January 2014.
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Belgrade (AFP) – “Give birth, don’t delay!” “Love and babies are what we need first!”
Serbia has announced the winning slogans in a competition to help boost the birth rate in the Balkan country, where the population is decreasing by tens of thousands each year.
A campaign to tackle the declining numbers is due to start “soon”, a spokeswoman at the ministry dealing with demographics told AFP on Wednesday.
But government officials have already chosen their favourite slogans from more than 1,000 entries in a nationwide cash-prize competition.
“Mum, I don’t want to be alone. Dad, I want a brother,” came in joint second place, along with the more direct command: “Enough of words! Let babies’ cries be heard!”
Serbia’s ageing population of seven million people is dropping off by around 36,000 people a year, according to the national statistics office.
In 2016, 100,834 people died while just 64,734 were born. On top of that, a “brain drain” has seen Serbian youngsters flocking abroad to study and work in richer countries.
But the planned campaign to boost births has angered Serbia’s influential deputy prime minister Zorana Mihajlovic, who warned that it could “only be counter-productive”.
“Most of the slogans chosen in this initiative require women to give birth as an imperative,” she was quoted as saying by the local Beta news agency.
Mihajlovic recently came up against the powerful Serbian Orthodox Church on the matters of childbirth and abortion, which is strongly opposed by religious officials.
The leader of the Church, Patriarch Irinej, met President Aleksandar Vucic in October to discuss their concerns over the country’s “very low birth rate”.


It looks like the Occupy Wall Street group is finally living up to its reputation of being free riders.
In a stunt targeting the New York City transit system, Occupiers chained open service gates in numerous subway stations on Wednesday, using padlocks and posting fake signs announcing free rides. And now, there's even allegations that local unions were involved.
The New York Daily News has pictures of the chains and signs:
According to the Daily News, eight stations were hit in the stunt.
But other details are emerging from a pro-Occupy blog that suggests this wasn't just an Occupy incident. According to a communique forwarded to the site Strike Is a Verb, "workers from the Transport Workers Union Local 100 and the Amalgamated Transit Union" also participated. That communique also claims the number of subway stations hit numbered over 20:
This morning before rush hour, teams of activists, many from Occupy Wall Street, in conjunction with rank and file workers from the Transport Workers Union Local 100 and the Amalgamated Transit Union, opened up more than 20 stations across the city for free entry. As of 10:30 AM, the majority remain open. No property was damaged. Teams have chained open service gates and taped up turnstiles in a coordinated response to escalating service cuts, fare hikes, racist policing, assaults on transit workers’ working conditions and livelihoods — and the profiteering of the super-rich by way of a system they’ve rigged in their favor.
For the last several years, riders of public transit have been under attack. The cost of our Metrocards has been increasing, while train and bus service has been steadily reduced. Budget cuts have precipitated station closings and staff/safety reductions. Police routinely single out young black and Latino men for searches at the turnstile. Layoffs and attrition means cutting staff levels to the bare minimum, reducing services for seniors and disabled riders. At the same time, MTA workers have been laid off and have had their benefits drastically reduced. Contract negotiations are completely stalled.
Working people of all occupations, colors and backgrounds are expected to sacrifice to cover the budget cut by paying more for less service. But here’s the real cause of the problem: the rich are massively profiting from our transit system. [Emphasis added]
But despite that claim, TWU Local 100 -- which supports Occupy -- has denied any involvement.
"We knew nothing about it," local President John Samuelsen told the Daily News.
Police are still investigation and no arrests have been made. The chains and locks, which popped up around 5 am, were removed by about 8:30 am yesterday morning.


The General Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the pardoning of convicts by President Salome Zourabichvili, ONA reports citing Georgian media.
The investigation was launched into alleged abuse of power in the pardoning procedure.
“The Prosecutor General’s Office of Georgia has launched an investigation into the alleged abuse of power in the process of pardoning of convicts”, it is said.
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili pardoned 34 prisoners in connection with Virgin Mary Day on August 28 including three convicts charged for the murder and one person wanted by law enforcers.
The above caused outrage in society and among the opposition parties.


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Politics & Government
Thu February 13, 2014
Bill Would Allow School Prayers
An Alabama lawmaker is seeking to let public school teachers begin each day by reading opening prayers that were given in Congress.
The House Education Policy held a public hearing Wednesday on the legislation.
The bill would set aside 15 minutes at the start of each school day to study the procedures of Congress, and give a verbatim reading of a congressional opening prayer.
Bill sponsor, Rep. Steve Hurst, says teachers could choose a prayer that related to the day's lesson. He says teachers might choose a prayer that was said on a particular day in history.
Opponents say the proposal is unconstitutional.
Susan Watson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, says the proposal is teacher-led prayer being dressed up as a civics lesson.


The investigation concluded that the Deputy Secretary created an atmosphere of favoritism, and perceived special access with his interventions.
The 97-page report from the OIG says that certain "career employees" of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) came forward with the allegations that Mayorkas was intervening in a particular visa program "which gives residency preference to aliens who agree to invest in the US economy to create jobs for US citizens."
The investigation said that in three different cases Mayorkas intervened directly with interested parties and USCIS staff to achieve a favorable outcome that would not have occurred without his influence.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) are also implicated in the report. One of the three cases outlined was for a group of Asian investors in a Las Vegas hotel and casino that Reid had lobbied heavily for. And another concerned investors in an electric car company for which McAuliffe was chairman.
The report also states that the OIG couldn't determine any particular motive for the favoritism Mayorkas demonstrated.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson called Mayorkas “an exceptionally conscientious, honest and patriotic public official,” in a public statement.
"He is often impatient with our sluggish government bureaucracy, can at times be very hands-on in resolving issues and problems that are brought to his personal attention, and is always mindful that we are public servants," Johnson continued. "Ali works hard to do the right thing, and never acts, in my observation, for reasons of personal advancement or aggrandizement."
Mayorkas was the head of the visa agency from 2009 to 2013 when he was made deputy secretary over strenuous Republican objection that the promotion was inappropriate until the investigation begun in 2012 was finished. He disagreed with the report in a public statement but conceded he would “certainly learn from it.”
Inspector General John Roth called the agency employees who came forward "courageous" and the report indicates that their anonymity will be maintained under the Whistleblower Protection Act.


Towards a Cashless Society
Tan Nyat Chuan, Director of Payment Systems Policy, Bank Negara Malaysia
You can share this podcast by copying this HTML to your clipboard and pasting into your blog or web page.
Bank Negara is in the middle of a 10-year financial blueprint to ‘modernise the payment landscape’ by 2020. They want see greater use of debit cards, displacement of cheques and more ubiquitous use of e-payments. The end result of this is disinflation: lower costs of credit/debit cards, a more fluid transaction process and generally lower costs of doing business.
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Tags: breakfast grille, bank negara, cashless society, cashless


Mark Simon’s head is shaped like a
fishbowl. But then, I’m looking at the Portland pianist, between bites
of my creamy Pacific Coast Seafood Pasta ($16.50), through the
distorting lens of an oversized and underfunded tip jar...
Sadly, there wil be no live blog for tonight’s epic Blazers/Magic game. But seeing as how this may be the biggest challenge the Blazers have faced all season, we didn’t want to leave you hanging. So we’ve built this 10-point Blazer/Magic drinking game for your enjoyment. Face it, with Dwight Howard taking charge of the competition, this could be the kind of game you want to be drunk for.-...More
The camera flashes to the hall just outside the locker room, as it always does before games, and most of the players glance sideways at the camera for a minute or ignore it all together. Nolan Smith, though, flashes a smile and a big peace sign, like he's a giddy fan who has falsely assumed he's on national television. I like that. Looseness. I know Nolan probably won't see the court much—if at ...
There are some unavoidable differences between Luck-One's latest video—for "Farewell," his kinda-sorta retirement anthem—and Macklemore's breakthrough Northwest vid, "The Town." The lingering shots of piles of photos, the rooftop rapping segment, the warm shots of friends and family—all of these were in Zia Mohajerjasbi's 2009 Mack shoot, and no doubt influenced the visuals for the very pret...
Andrew Bynum is good. He's real good. He's big, he's quick (considering the bigness) and he plays aggressive basketball. He's especially good at flattening out Puerto Rican point guards who play with a little too much gusto. So that's my word of the day: Bynum. I'm not sure how the Blazers intend to defend the young man, but neither of the team's aging centers are going to be able to keep u...
Portland has its fair share of anthems. I'm thinking of "Portland Water" by Michael Hurley, "Rose Parade" by Elliott Smith, "Rose City" by Viva Voce, the Decemberists' "On the Bus Mall," that little Loretta Lynn and Jack White number. See, plenty of them. Enough to make a navel-gazing compilation, even (hmmm, file that one away for later, Casey). But I can always use another one.
In his first full season with the Blazers, Gerald Wallace has emerged as the team’s heart.
Gerald Wallace is a quiet guy. So it was something to note
when, in the closing seconds of the first half of the Trail Blazers’
game against Sacramento on Dec. 27, he dumped his exhausted, sweat
Liv Warfield has sung in front of 80,000 fans. She’s glad to be home.
In 2006, there was no brighter shining light in Portland’s
music scene than Liv Warfield. The R&B singer could bait audiences
by laying smoky nu-soul vocal melodies over her band’s underst


But it will not be easy given the packed leaderboard at PGA National on a day where his great friend and fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy briefly threatened the lead but collapsed in the “Bear Trap” closing stretch of holes.
Lowry made a blistering start to his round on Saturday with birdies at his first, third and fourth holes. The Offaly man kept his momentum going with a superb par at the eighth after a wayward drive led to a penalty shot, but a 140-yard approach over a bunker to four feet set up a par.
Lowry birdied the 10th to take the lead on his own and had a chance to extend his lead on the 11th but his birdie putt agonisingly stayed on the edge of the hole. He fell out of the lead after a short par miss from inside three feet at 13th hole, as Austin Eckroat birdied, before two more good birdies chances on 14 and 15 just missed.
Lowry made no mistake on the 16th, however, after a brilliant approach again to six feet and a birdie to get to 12 under. On the final hole, the 36-year-old hit it into the bunker in two on the par 5, but hit a superb bunker shot to close to finish in 66 strokes. His score of 13-under-par was matched by 42-year-old English journeyman David Skinns, and American Eckroat. Five players are on 10 under.
McIlroy suffered an up-and-down day on the greens after a frustrating 18 putts on the front nine led to him hitting the turn in one-over 36 after a three-putt from 24 feet on the ninth. On the back nine, however, he made birdie putts from 10 feet and 23 feet, before a great wedge to three feet on the 13th made it three birdies in four holes to get within two of the lead.
McIlroy then had a nightmare finish at the “Bear Trap”. He bogeyed at the 15th after he failed to get up and down from the bunker at the back. On the 16th, a bad push with an iron ended up with his ball submerged in the water. The Northern Irishman took off his shoe and tried to play it, but failed to advance it out. After he failed to get up and down after a penalty drop, it meant a nightmare triple bogey. Another birdie miss from nine feet at the 17th followed, before a birdie at the 18th for a one-over-par round of 72 and seven under for the tournament, six shots behind Lowry.
Meanwhile on the DP World Tour, Tom McKibbin recovered well from two bogeys in his first two holes to stay within five shots of the lead at the SDC Championship in South Africa. A one-under-par round of 71 left him at six under, the leaders Daniel Brown and Connor Syme on 11 under.
On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire is tied 56th after another over-par round left her six over for the tournament at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore. Japanese player Ayaka Furue leads by two shots on 10 under.
On the LIV Golf Tour, Graeme McDowell is tied 47th in Jeddah as in-form Joaquin Niemann leads by two shots from Charl Schwartzel.


This is the first post in a four-part series about a day I spent photographing the activities at Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights. The church’s director of communication needed updated photos for the website and various print materials. Luckily for me as a photographer, children grow up, members come and go, and the church continually adds new and innovative programs. There is an ongoing need for fresh photos. The director of communication worked beside me all day, and determined that we needed photos of DiscoveryLand Sunday school, the annual barbecue, the new thrift store, and a few others.
Before Sunday school started, we tried to photograph two scenes. The two photos directly above and below are the best our failed attempts. The annual barbecue followed the regular Sunday service, so we expected a large congregation. My client wanted a wide-angle shot of crowds of people entering the church to show the wonderful sense of community at Plymouth. So I staked out on a tall ladder across the street and waited. And waited. And waited. Normally, everyone enters the church through the main doors to the sanctuary. As luck would have it, that day they entered from the other side. Before we realized this, I passed the time photographing two teenage ushers and their mother in the doorway (above).
Next we went to the arcade between the sanctuary and the church house to shoot the barrage of children and adults exiting after the service. If I had more time to prepare, I may have done better, but as I was almost done setting up, the children rushed passed me, and it was over in an instant (below).
I did much better in DiscoveryLand Sunday school, where in one room older children read and discussed Bible stories, and in another room younger children made necklaces from Cheerios and listened to stories read by adults.


Weather Condition Advisory for January 26, 2015
Wilmington – State officials are continuing to monitor weather conditions as a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through 3 p.m. tomorrow. While all of Delaware is expected to get some snow this evening and into tomorrow, the National Weather Service is advising there is a sharp cutoff in total expected snowfall between areas getting only a few inches or those getting around a foot. Currently, state offices plan to open tomorrow, but that may change based on conditions in the early morning. Notice of the status of state offices will be posted by 5:30 a.m. Citizens and employees should check to see which offices are open in the morning. DelDOT continues to plow and salt roads as necessary, but drivers should exercise caution on the icy roads and allow plenty of room between vehicles. Visibility may be diminished by falling and blowing snow.


The period around the new year has become one of the busiest times for chess players.
Holiday chess tournaments have a long tradition. One of the oldest, the Hastings International Chess Congress in England, has been held every year since 1920-21, with a break during World War II.
This year’s tournament began on Dec. 28 and ends Jan. 5. After six rounds, Andrei Istratescu of Romania, Yuri Drozdovskij of Ukraine and Zbynek Hracek of Czech Republic were leading the top section with 5 points, and being chased by a group of eight players, including three grandmasters, three international masters and two masters who each had 4.5 points.
Hastings is no longer as prestigious as it once was, and the reason may be that it has a lot more competition than when it was first held. Another long-running tournament is Reggio Emilio, which is named for the Italian town in which it is held. Like Hastings, it is not quite as prestigious as it once was, but it is a small invitational, so its fields tend to be of a higher quality. This year’s event ends Jan. 6, and includes Zoltan Almasi of Hungary, No. 26 in the world, Baadur Jobava of Georgia, No. 32, and Gata Kamsky of the United States, No. 40. After five rounds, Kamsky and Almasi are tied for the lead with 3.5 points.
In Sweden, the 39th edition of the Rilton Cup is underway. Like Hastings, it also ends Jan. 5. After six rounds, Eduardas Rozentalis of Lithuania and Aleksandr Shimanov of Russia are leading with five points each, trailed by six grandmasters and two international masters who each have 4.5 points.
Last week, two other elite events wrapped up in Europe. Wednesday, Alexander Grischuk, No. 15, won the Russian championship with 6.5 points, a half point ahead of Peter Svidler, No. 10. As usual, the championship — a 10-player round-robin (every player faces each of the other competitors once) — was incredibly strong, with five of the world’s top 35 players. Though Artyom Timofeev, No. 85, had a bad performance, ending up in ninth place, his Round 5 victory over Denis Khismatullin was one of the best games of the year.
The Russian women’s championship, which was held concurrently, was won by Alisa Galliamova, who scored 7.5 points out of 9. Trailing her by half a point was Nadezhda Kosintseva, one half of the remarkable sister act that includes Tatiana, who finished in fourth with 5 points. Galliamova’s victory was remarkable in that she seems to have not played a tournament in some time.
The Groningen Chess Festival in the Netherlands also finished on Wednesday. The winner of the top section was Illya Nyzhnyk, a 13-year-old! international master from Ukraine. Nyzhnyk ran away from the field, which included 13 grandmasters (among them, Dutch champion, Anish Giri, who is 15!). Nyzhnyk finished with 7.5 points out of 9, a point ahead of Jan Werle and Dimitri Reinderman, two Dutch grandmasters; Giri was in an eight-way tie for fourth.
Holiday chess has also taken hold in the United States.
Fresh off his victory in the 93rd Marshall Chess Club championship in New York City, Alex Lenderman traveled to Washington, D.C., and won the 36th Eastern Open, finishing a point ahead of grandmaster Alexander Ivanov and three international masters, Bryan G. Smith, Dean Ippolito and Raymond Kaufman.
In Las Vegas, five grandmasters tied for first in the 19th North American Open, which ended Dec. 29. Varuzhan Akobian took first on tie-breaker over Josh Friedel, Alexander Shabalov, Alexander Yermolinsky and Victor Mikhalevski, an Israeli grandmaster.
The University of Maryland Baltimore County swept to victory at the Pan-American Championships, which were held at the University of Texas at Brownsville from Dec. 27 to 30. The U.M.B.C. squad, consisting of grandmasters Leonid Kritz and Sergey Erenburg, international masters Giorgi Magevelashvili and Sasha Kaplan and woman’s grandmaster Sabina-Francesca Foisor, went 6 and 0, finishing 1.5 points ahead of the University of Texas at Dallas A and B teams and Texas Tech University’s A team, all of which tied for second.


Well, perhaps I am slightly biased, but I’d argue an emphatic ‘YES’!
However, I don’t think I am alone in this view… Recently, I ran a competition, across social media, asking my ‘reddies’ why redheads rock.
I was amazed by the responses and I thought I’d share some of the things that came over – some thought provoking, some inspirational and some downright hilarious.
From @redheadplanet – “We think Redheads Rock because we are rare colourful gems in a sea of regular stones!”
Wow! A deep, insightful and really beautiful viewpoint.
From @Gsnaps – “Redheads Rock because we are so rare, yet so many others pay good money to match our beautiful hair!”
Great answer – and, when you think about it, downright spot on!
From @I_LL_BE_GLAMMED “Redheads Rock because we are original and stand out from the crowd!”
Can’t argue with that!
From @littlehomebirdy “It gives us great sense of humour & ready made style because our hair will always make a statement!”
I love this one – “we have ready made style and always make a statement”! We rock!
From @GingerGathering “Redheads Rock because we’ve survived the bullies and shown the world we’re awesome!”
Good call – it’s a shame that the narrow minded out there find hair colour a source of amusement, but hey,we rock… end of!
I could keep going forever with the great responses, but I wanted to pick just a few of them, to show the diversity, truthfulness and genuine nature of the people that entered the competition – thanks to all and well done to the winner!
I know it’s easy for me to sit here and write about the virtues of redheads but, when I reach out to my ‘social army’, I’m always touched as to the connection we all share… as I said at the beginning of the blog – way more than just a hair colour – we’re redheads and we rock!
Bye for now!


Greg Olsen announced his retirement after 14 seasons in the NFL.
Olsen announced his decision on FOX's NFC Championship Game pre-game show. He'll begin working for the network this year. A first-round pick of the Bears back in 2007, Olsen was a meaningful fantasy contributor following his move to the Carolina Panthers. His best season came in 2015 when Cam Newton led the team to a Super Bowl appearance. Olsen totaled over 1,100 receiving yards and seven TDs that regular season.
Greg Olsen (foot) will not play in Week 17's game against the 49ers.
Greg Olsen’s injury was considered season-ending when he suffered a plantar fascia tear in November. He has been trying to get back on the field since Week 15, but it appears as if he just can’t shake the injury. He’ll hope to make it back for the playoffs but there are no guarantees, especially with the lingering nature of this foot injury.
According to ESPN, Seahawks TE Greg Olsen (foot) is considered a long shot to play against the Washington Football Team in Week 15.
Olsen is off IR, but it doesn't look like he is ready to return to the field. In his absence, Will Dissly and Jacob Hollister will get a majority of the snaps at TE. Dissly scored in Week 14, but he has a tough matchup against a strong Washington defense this week.
Greg Olsen was placed on IR with a foot injury, and although he was initially expected to miss the remainder of the season, he has returned to practice and will hope to play again before the season ends.
At 35-years-old it's incredible to see the tight end push to return from a ruptured fascia that he suffered in Week 11. Plantar fascia injuries typically require a lot of pain tolerance during recovery so his status in practices should give us a clearer idea of his ability to play. Either way, he would make for a risky TE2 and shouldn't be on your fantasy radar.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says TE Greg Olsen (foot) has a chance to return before the end of the season.
Carroll notes that Olsen is "moving around terrifically." The 34-year-old landed on IR back on November 23rd, which seemingly gives him a chance to return in Week 16. Of course, he won't be a fantasy option after such a long layoff, especially since he has cleared 35 receiving yards just once in 2020.


WASHINGTON — The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), a coalition of mostly Mainline Protestant denominations, will be hosting the infamous Pastor Jeremiah Wright at a Washington, D.C. conference in July.
Obama’s former pastor will address RCRC’s annual National Religious Summit on Black Sexuality. RCRC was founded in 1973 to foster religious support for the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. Members of the RCRC coalition include agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ (UCC), the denomination in which Wright is ordained, and in which Obama was a member until recently. This year’s RCRC summit is called “The Dawn of a New Day.”
Of course, most members of the denominations that belong to RCRC are unaware that their church supports a coalition that opposes all restrictions on abortion, including bans on partial-birth abortion, parental consent laws, or prohibitions against transporting minors across state lines for abortions. Surely, most church goers would also be surprised about their denominations facilitating an event for the incendiary Rev. Wright. But in many ways, the recently retired pastor of Trinity Church in Chicago is an appropriate icon for the truly unique RCRC.
RCRC was the natural product of liberal Mainline Protestantism, whose elites eagerly subscribed to the overpopulation scares of the 1960s and 1970s. Having long since abandoned much of Christian theological orthodoxy, church elites easily abandoned aside traditional Christian taboos against abortion. Of course, most of the overpopulation scaremongering focused on the supposed threat of primarily poor and non-white populations around the world breeding beyond their capacity to support themselves. American Mainline Protestant elites, themselves overwhelmingly white and upper middle class, no doubt were distressed.
No predominantly black denomination or church group has ever belonged to RCRC, which besides Mainline Protestants also includes some Jewish groups, along with Unitarians and Catholics for a Free Choice. Unlike the overwhelmingly white Mainline Protestant denominations, which obsessively debate sexual issues, the historic black churches have remained resolutely conservative on such matters.
Understandably, RCRC has made the social conservatism of black churches its special target. For 12 years, its annual black sexuality summit has attempted to recruit and energize activists who want to “break the silence” about sex in the black church. By “silence,” RCRC presumably means the lack of debate over abortion and homosexuality, which has also become an important emphasis for RCRC.
HERE IS WHY Rev. Wright is an appropriate voice for RCRC. Primarily trained in Mainline white seminaries, and ordained in the overwhelmingly white United Church of Christ, his brand of radical Social Gospel has always been more shaped by the white Religious Left than the more culturally conservative black church. Rev. Wright is an icon for what the white Religious Left fervently wishes the black church in America would become.
This year’s RCRC black sexuality summit, like its past gatherings, will assail the “harsh toll” that government-funded abstinence programs take on vulnerable young people, who need more “comprehensive” and “accurate” sex education that offers a wide range of “reproductive” options. It also will spotlight the ostensible persecution of homosexuals within Christianity. “Society at large, and particularly the Black church, historically has discriminated against homosexuals and continues to perpetuate pain and isolation,” the sex summit brochure complains. An RCRC workshop will provocatively explore whether “lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons” should have “leadership roles” in the church. Another workshop will advise clergy on how to inform pregnant women with “all available information,” including “pregnancy termination.”
“At long last the church is being challenged to speak to the world with clarity on issues relating to sexuality,” enthused the Rev. Carlton Veazey, RCRC’s president. “The church has been answering many questions that no one has been asking. We must address people’s real problems and concerns or our religion runs the risk of becoming irrelevant.” A big emphasis for this RCRC summit, as with past summits, has been “Keeping it Real!” This eagerness to be “real” seems to entail setting aside ostensibly archaic religious teachings about sexual chastity in place of more plausible alternatives centered on contraceptives and abortion. There will be special workshops for teenagers, which will include training for “advocacy” on justice issues. Veazey promises that the sex summit will “make the church more meaningful and relevant in people’s lives.”
Rev. Wright, himself an abortions right supporter and advocate for gay causes, no doubt will affirm RCRC’s themes about getting “real” in the black church. Thanks to its controversial themes, RCRC gets very little funding from its Mainline Protestant denominational membership. Instead, it relies on secular, left-wing philanthropies like the Ford Foundation. Like the Mainline Protestant elites, the liberal foundations probably also see the historic black churches as reactionary obstacles to getting “real” about abortion and homosexuality. They all must see Rev. Wright as a potentially helpful instrument in attempting to persuade black Christians to abandon their own beliefs in favor of what white liberals prefer.


Sandra Bullock expressed grief over the death of legendry actor Betty White who passed away on 31st December at the age of 99.
During her conversation with People, the Ocean’s 8 actor expressed that she is going to step in the New Year with loevely memories of the late actor.
She said, “I don’t drink vodka… but I will tonight, on ice, with a slice of lemon and a hot dog on the other side, and just be okay being sad. I’ll have to buy some rose-colored glasses because Betty was that for all of us.”
Recalling her 2009 The Proposal co-star, the Bird Box actor gushed over White’s remarkable talent.
She opened up, “Timing isn’t easy in comedy, because you have to navigate other people’s timing. Betty pivots like I have never seen, making it look seamless,”
“The rest of us just remain silent and pray we’re not cut out of the scene,” she added.


THE British Government has finally
distanced itself from the activities of the pro-Biafra secessionist
group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), The Nation reports.
This was contained in a statement
released by the British High Commission denying links with the
Indigenous People of Biafra, a pro-Biafra separatist group fighting to
carve out a separate state of Biafra from Nigeria.
A diplomatic source who corroborated the
High Commission’s statement said: “There is no way the UK Government
will harbour any terrorist organisation.
''The UK is not immune from terrorism and it is in our interest to join hands with the Nigerian government to fight the scourge.
“We can only crack down on any group if
proven intelligence is made available. And even in doing that, we will
act only within the ambit of the law and fundamental human rights.
“If you will recall, the British Prime
Minister in June called for a global action against the use of internet
space by terrorists.
”She demanded international agreements to ‘regulate cyberspace’ against terrorists.”
The source quoted the British Prime
Minister as saying: “We need to do everything we can at home to reduce
the risks of extremism online. We need to deprive the extremists of safe


Check out this video of Atle Dahl base jumping off Kjerag for the filming of a commercial.
The Second of our Expedition reports came direct from my pen. The drive was long, so very very long, and after 4 days we were all eager to know what we had come so far for... our first taste. After finishing our rather long drive, and getting our first glimpse of rock, we pulled into an amazingly shady spot on the back side of a giant brown rocky castle. Piero obviously knew of this spot from previous journeys as he came directly here, no detours or backtracks, simply straight to the point.
Update #2 from Ethan on our trip to Yangshuo, China. Hello fivetenies! Today marks the two-week countdown to the end of our trip to Yangshuo, China. The trip so far has had some ups and downs, some peaks and troughs, some highs and lows, as all trips do. The one thing that has stuck in the forefront of our collective consciousness is that the climbing here is really, really good.
December in Britain can be dreary! With flights at a mere £100 and a forecast of a sunny 20 degrees Gran Canaria looked appealing. A family holiday with a beach priority but enough rock to keep insanity at bay. However, we were met by some of the worst weather on Gran Canaria in years, torrential rain and gale force winds. Schools were closed and buildings were blown down. In true British style I opted to climb on this day!
Within the indoor competitive climbing world, last Saturday night was one to remember. After a long week as Chief Setter, the rewarding crowd and electrifying atmosphere were very much welcomed. Check out this video from Dark Horse Series: Round 2.
I was awarded the North Face Young Gun Award this year at the 2010 SCS National Championships. I would just like to thank everyone who had a part in this, and a very big special thanks to my mom as well.


Posted on March 19th, 2011
Archived in Environmental Issues
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Panoramic Patio Doors
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The 8.9M earthquake and tsunami has had devastating effects on Japan, these videos are just a few of those that recorded the disaster.
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It’s been awhile since we have mentioned the wedding here, and though we have decided to put off our original August date, we have been reminiscing about our time at home and how glorious long summer days truly can be. One of the best days of last summer was our first set of engagement pictures on my childhood farm. That place is my heart and soul, and I knew I wanted to capture our love where I felt most at home.
Thanks to social media and Instagram, Scott and I won an engagement shoot with the lovely and talented Michal-Kathryn, of Michal-Kathryn Photography. You might scoff, but Scott and I are not comfortable being candid in front of a camera, and so the idea of having someone trail us to catch all the weirdo smiles and unflattering moments was terrifying. M-K is a PRO, and what started off as the awkward-fake-smile-how-much-longer-can-we-pretend-to-be-alone turned into a fabulous experience and some of my favorite photos ever.
So without further ado, here is a small sample of our engagement photo shoot in Medina New York- all photos credited to Michal-Kathryn Photography:


Featuring the final leg of the journey as we headed from Tierra Del Fuego up Ruta 3, all the way to Buenos Aires. This adventure motorcyling video features clips from the stunning Peninsula Valdes with all its wildlife all the way up to packaging the bike with the freight forwarding company at the Buenos Aires airport.
A big thank you to everyone we have met along the way – it has been the most incredible journey and one we will keep with us forever.
For those of you in the UK and in Croatia, we look forward to seeing you all very soon!
Nick, Ivanka, Kevin, Andre & Mark are in Bolivia and they set off from La Paz to Cuzco encountering road blocks, snow and great mountain scenery.
To be honest we have done harder roads than the road of death but we are glad that the road was open only one way when we did it. If there would have been traffic coming the other way then it would have been a different story.
Colombia has been relaxing, an adventure, we only probably road 10 days in the month we stayed there and we are now ready for the big ride down to Ushuaia in Tierra Del Fuego/ Argentina. We are currently in the Ecuadorian part of the Amazon jungle, having crossed the Equator.
Leaving Bogota we headed south over a magnificent pass between Ibague and Armenia. Climbing to an altitude of 4000m through sweeping bends, lush mountains and small villages along the way. Then after this mountain crossing we straight-lined it south towards Popayan and then the border town of Ipiales where we crossed into Ecuador.
The last few days have been exciting, breathtaking, anxious and now we are safely tucked away in Boutique Hostel Violeta in the Candelaria part of Bogota.
Here is a short video which shows Ivanka describing our recent challenges and what happens if you push your tyre changes to the limit! Lesson learnt from our point of view and we won’t do it again.
The whole experience with BMW was exemplary, so if you need assistance while on the road in Colombia then do pop by and say hello to Edgar Gomez.
We are now ready for the rest of the adventure and the strength and durability of the Metzeler Tourances has to be noted here; amazing that they lasted so long (10,500 miles) and incredible that they did not decide to blow on us.
A major part of the trip so far as we cross from Central America to South America
Leaving from a small fishing village called Carti in the Panama jungle and then heading on a four day crossing to the big city lights of Cartagena in Colombia via the San Blas Islands.
In short one of the most exciting things we have done for a very long time. From the buzz of hoisting the motorbike in the air and placing it on a 100 year old fishing boat, to snorkelling along the reefs of the San Blas Islands.
It feels superb to be now settled in Colombia, with the second half of the Americas to look forward to.
We’ve been in Guatemala for a couple of weeks now and its been a complete experience. Plently of lush green landscapes, a diversity of villages, towns and settlements and we have been really exposed to the vulnerability of the landscape to the tropical climate.
We are currently beside the beautiful Lago de Atitlan in a town called San Pedro La Laguna.
The rains have trapped us a little but we are having a great time and have met lots of interesting people. It is the tail end of the rainy season but in addition to this there are three tropical storms that we are on the cusp of and it is causing chaos throughout Guatemala. Dozens of roads are closed due to landslides, over a dozen people have lost their lives and the rain doesn’t want to stop.
Where we are the streets have been like small rivers, the lake is well above its usual water lines and families have lost their homes to the wet weather beacuse they are now semi-submerged. Yesterday, an Australian couple arrived in town somehow, they arrived by using a local ‘chicken bus’, then they walked across a landslide and through a coffee plantation and then eventually arrived after using a boat across the lake.
On Monday we have arranged to try and get out of San Pedro. This town is basically a lake formed in a crater, situated within a high mountain range which goes up to 3000m. On the way into the lake, it was quite challenging, we encountered some of the steepest roads we have been down so far. The roads and switch-back were narrow and windy, plus there are massive sections of the road with holes and loose gravel. Thinking about getting back up it has been on our minds constantly because we know that the road was closed for a couple of days due to earth slips. On the way in the rear brakes failed on our BMW GS Adventure because they became too hot. We basically had to sit it out and wait for them to cool down, then they returned back to normal.
However, on the way out however we won’t be using the same road because we have been recommended to use another one. The road we will be using is the road to Santiago and it sounds as though it has less tarmac and more off road therefore we have arranged for a truck to transport out luggage with panniers and Ivanka along the road and to follow me as I ride the route on a lighter bike without all the extra weight.
On this route it will be necessary to take a police escort. The reason being because this route is less travelled and it has been the scene of robberies (of foreigners) in the past and so the police will be accompanying us for our own safety. We will let you know how it goes!
San Pedro has been a place to relax. We have been introduced to villages, customs and markets through an American called Robert. Robert has made our stay more interesting because he has introduced us to places and people that we never would have seen as a regular tourist. Robert has decided to bring a better way of life to the local people. In time he hopes to set up a fully functional and affordable clinic so villages have access to medicine and dental care. Robert took us to a local market, we visited a village where Robert had provided a wheelchair, we then took a mountain walk between local villages and the experience was a lot more than we expected. In return for Roberts kindness we helped create promotional and informative videos for his charitable cause. We wish him, and his colleagues, all the success in the future.
Next week we hope to be in El Salvador, however we will see how the weather treats us.
Here is a video from a trip into the mountains early in the week.
Here is footage from earlier on in the trip as we got up at 4am in the morning and travelled across the Moave desert in Eastern California so we could get in and out of Death Valley. It was the hottest time of the year and the US were experiencing a heat wave so we were apprehensive to say the least. The hottest temperature we encountered in this area was 47 degrees Celcius at a place called Needles. After this point we put white tape on the handle grips so I could touch the handlebars.


Here's to a fantastic 26 year run CGW/GFW.
Former Computer Gaming World, now Games For Windows, announced that the printed magazine will no longer be available. This news hit home today when my CGW/GFW mag arrived as a PC Gamer mag. Those with ongoing subscriptions for CGW/GFW will now receive PC Gamer till their subscription runs out. CGW/GFW will still be available online at 1UP but without an actual magazine it won't be the same.
Another gaming icon bites the dust.


Unleash the power and energy with the right mics
In the fast-paced world of sports broadcasting, every moment counts. Advanced condenser microphones are engineered to focus on specific, often distant sound sources while minimizing unwanted background noise. With precision and accuracy, these microphones capture the action of the game and the raw emotions of the players, ensuring the audience doesn't miss a single detail.
While many types of microphones are used for any given sports event, to give the audience an immersive sound experience, shotgun microphones are widely used. Many sporting events will have multiple shotgun mics placed around the playing area. Nonetheless, there are many other types of mics used for a successful broadcast.
Highly directional shotgun microphones are and can be aimed precisely at the source of the sound. These are often used by broadcasters to capture specific sounds, such as commentary from the commentators' booth, sounds hitting a ball or the set off for a jump
A sports interview with players, coaches, and officials is often done using lavalier (lapel) microphones. A lavalier microphone can also be used to capture ambient crowd noise from specific locations
Commentators and analysts often use headset microphones as they provide live commentary during the broadcast. These microphones are hands-free and supply consistent audio quality
Boundary microphones are placed on the ground or on a surface near the playing area. They are ideal for capturing the sounds of the playing surface and the immediate surroundings. They can be placed along the sidelines or on the field/court itself
Parabolic microphones use a dish-like reflector to capture sound from a specific direction, even at a distance. These mics are often used for capturing sounds from specific players or areas of the field while minimizing background noise
It is crucial to select the right combination of microphones and audio equipment to simplify the tasks of sound engineers. Sports audio equipment must work together effortlessly and be able to adapt to unexpected circumstances.
Tackling the roar: Conquering noisy sports venues
Miking a noisy sports venue is a challenge that requires expert solutions. The thunderous cheers of the crowd, the echoing of footsteps, and the echoes from hard surfaces can all threaten the clarity of your broadcast.
Equipped with advanced interference tube technology, DPA’s shotgun microphones isolate the sounds that matter most, while damping the sound behind the microphone. Say goodbye to audio distortion and hello to broadcast-quality sound!
Live sports production presents an immense dynamic range of sounds – from the hushed conversations of coaches to the deafening roars of the crowd. Our shotgun microphones excel at capturing this wide spectrum of audio, ensuring that the gentlest whispers and the most thunderous roars are faithfully reproduced, providing an immersive experience for your audience.
The ultimate challenge: Adapting to different OB vans
As the heart of sports broadcasting, production trucks and OB vans demand the best audio equipment. Our shotgun microphones seamlessly integrate into these setups, enhancing the audio quality of your broadcasts. With innovative designs and rugged construction, our microphones are built to withstand the challenges of on-the-go production, ensuring your audience receives top-tier sound no matter where the action takes you.
A1 audio engineers are no strangers to the need for adaptability. Working across various OB vans/OB trucks can be a daunting task, since no two are quite alike. Some shotgun microphones can simplify the process though. Choose microphones that are versatile and flexible – ones that can be used in various positions, and that are quick and easy to place and that won’t take extra time to adjust every time they are placed in a new position.
Microphone set up and placement: A challenge and an art
Microphone set up and microphone placement are critical elements in sports broadcasting. From lavs strategically positioned near basketball nets to shotguns capturing action sounds, and ambient mics painting the auditory landscape – choosing the right microphones can make this part of the job much easier.
A shotgun microphone, like all mics, should be placed as close to the sound source as possible. Usually, though this depends on the specific application, this can be complicated because most broadcasters want to keep the microphone out of the camera frame. In addition, extremely directional mics like these are susceptible to vibrations and handling noise, so shock mounts or suspension systems to reduce these types of noise are necessary. Angle the microphone to capture the desired audio while minimizing unwanted noise.
In addition, wind noise can be a significant issue in outdoor sports broadcasting. Foam windshields (blimps) or fur covers (also known as "dead cats") must often be used on microphones to minimize wind interference and maintain high audio quality and intelligibility.


"Free Willy" star falls ill, needs exercise
Author: Inger Sethov
Veterinarians, worried about the fading spirit of Keiko, 24, were considering luring the people-loving orca back into deep waters to readjust him to a life in the wild - the life from which he was removed when he was only two years old.
Keiko's monitoring team, which has tracked him since he was released from his pen in Iceland in July, has started to feed him herring to shape him up, authorities said.
Locals in western Norway have seen Keiko change from a joyful player when he made a surprise visit to the Skaalvik fjord a week ago to a loner shying away from the curious crowds who have rushed to watch the world-famous whale.
Just one week ago, Keiko even allowed children to ride on his back.
"There has been a lot of fuss," said Lars Olav Lilleboe, the local Halsa municipality's Keiko coordinator, who liaises between Keiko's monitors and Norwegian authorities. He said a ban to keep people away had helped calm Keiko.
Millions of dollars have been spent on preparing the 10-metre (30-foot) animal for life in the wild after the 1993 movie "Free Willy" prompted a campaign for his release, but Keiko still seems to prefer human company.
Lilleboe said Keiko's monitors had started feeding Keiko by boat early this week with his favourite dish - herring - to make sure he moved around in the narrow fjord.
"They are feeding him to make him exercise," Lilleboe told Reuters. "This morning, he seemed happy and satisfied."
Lilleboe said a blood test of Keiko had showed a high level of white blood cells, indicating that the killer whale was either stressed or had caught a respiratory infection.
Keiko showed up in western Norway after swimming some 1,400 km (870 miles) from Iceland. He was spotted in the fjord on Sunday by two 12-year-olds fishing in a small rowing boat.
Among world support for Keiko, French celebrity animal right activist Brigitte Bardot wrote an open letter to Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit last week, begging her to help save Keiko.
Norway, with long whaling traditions, is the only nation in the world that hunts whales commercially, ignoring a global moratorium. However, it only hunts the minke whale.
And a Norwegian pro-whaling Norwegian parliamentarian, Steinar Bastesen of the Coastal Party, told daily Aftenposten this week that there was no hope for Keiko in the wild, urging the United States to bring him back to captivity.
Norwegian authorities in cooperation with Keiko's monitoring team are expected to decide this week whether to lure him back to deep waters or retire him in a peaceful fjord in western Norway.


January auto sales released on Monday showed a precipitous decline in auto sales in January compared to January 2013. Of course the first words out of every analysts’ mouth was “bad weather.”
The distortion and perversion of the truth has reached new levels. What’s going on right now is right out of Animal Farm.
By PM Fund Manager Dave Kranzler, Truth in Gold:
The distortion and perversion of the truth has reached new levels. What’s going on right now is right out of Animal Farm. – The Golden Truth
Winston worked in the RECORDS DEPARTMENT (a single branch of the Ministry of Truth) editing and writing for The Times. He dictated into a machine called a speakwrite. Winston would receive articles or news-items which for one reason or another it was thought necessary to alter, or, in Newspeak, rectify. If, for example, the Ministry of Plenty forecast a surplus, and in reality the result was grossly less, Winston’s job was to change previous versions so the old version would agree with the new one. “1984,” George Orwell
Blame it on the weather! January auto sales released on Monday showed a precipitous decline in auto sales in January compared to January 2013. Of course the first words out of every analysts’ mouth was “bad weather.”
As it turns out; in order to seek the facts, I did some research on weather patterns across the country in January. Looking at just the facts, the average daily temperature in January for the top 10 cities by population was about same as the historical average. In fact, on the west coast (i.e. San Diego and L.A.) the weather was warmer than average.
Furthermore, just because there’s a couple days of snow and cold weather in the northeast, that would not prevent someone who wants to buy a new car from waiting until a warmer day to shop (“aw gee, it’s cold today and the roads are snowy so I’ll wait til next month to buy a new car…”).
If you look at the year over drop in car sales for December 2013/2012 and compare it to the year over drop for January 2014/2013, the decline was roughly 7x more for January than December. December had bad its fair share of bad weather days as well. Even if the weather affected sales a little, the huge relative decline for January reinforces my theme that the economy hit a wall in November and 2014 will see economic contraction.
You can read my brief article on car sales here: January Auto Sales: Another Big Drop Please note that January is one of the lowest seasonal months for car sales, but that’s why the January 2014/2013 comparison is so significant – it washes away seasonality.
Just for the record, expect an insanely absurd jobs report on Friday. It seems that the Government’s attempt to cover up the truth varies inversely with the degree to which the U.S. economy is collapsing.


By Will Pearson, europeantour.com
at Le Golf National
There has been no shortage of praise from players and officials alike as European Tour Destination and 2018 Ryder Cup venue Le Golf National prepares to host the Alstom Open de France for a 22nd time.
Situated on the outskirts of Versailles near Paris, the well-established home of the Open de France will become only the second Continental venue – following Club de Golf Valderrama, in Spain, in 1997 – to stage The Ryder Cup when the 42nd edition is contested between Europe and the United States in four years’ time.
Le Golf National bested four other bids from rival nations Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain in an exhaustive bid process and will follow Gleneagles this year and Hazeltine in 2016 in hosting the revered, biennial showpiece.
With its stadium views, risk and reward holes and location close to one of the world’s foremost cities, the 2018 event promises to be quite the spectacle.
“I think Le Golf National is going to be a fantastic Ryder Cup venue for many reasons,” said three-time European Ryder Cup player and defending Open de France champion Graeme McDowell.
“Firstly, I can think of worse places in the world to stay in than Versailles, the Trianon Palace and the great hospitality and great food that we enjoy here.
“But on the golf course, the last four or five holes, in the natural amphitheatre that this golf course creates, I can only imagine how good the buzz will be coming down 15 and 16. They are about as good and dramatic a risk-reward par three and four you'll get.
“Then the 17th is a great par four and for matches that do come down the last, there's not going to be a better par four on The European Tour than the last at Le Golf National.
“I can really picture 40, 50, 60,000 people up on those slopes around that little cauldron of the last four holes, and I think the atmosphere will be amazing.”
Having captained his European team to an astonishing comeback at Medinah in The 2012 Ryder Cup, Spaniard José María Olazábal is also well-placed to comment on what makes a great venue for the transatlantic clash.
“It’s going to be very dramatic and therefore a great course for The Ryder Cup,” reflected Olazábal. “Especially the last few holes where everything will be decided. The 13th, with the water, then a par five which you can reach in two, then the last few holes are really breathtaking.
“On 15 and 16 you have water, 17 being a long par four and 18 water again so a lot of things can happen on the closing holes. It’s going to be quite thrilling.”
The undulating, water-strewn layout, designed by Hubert Chesneau and Robert Von Hagge, was built between 1987 and 1990 and first staged the National Open Championship of France in 1991 when Eduardo Romero triumphed.
But for Le Golf National, the portents of a great future were evident from the outset, as David MacLaren, Director of Property and Venue Development for The European Tour, attests.
He said: “We all know Le Golf National has a great history and heritage, having staged multiple Open de France, but I first saw it during the early stages of the bidding process for The 2018 Ryder Cup when it became immediately apparent the quality of the venue and what a remarkably-designed layout the Albatros is.
“This was not a God-given piece of land for a golf course. It was flat, needing huge amounts of work doing to it, so for someone to create a course which has 18 outstanding holes is something certainly worthy of note.”
Of course, there are a number of factors needing careful consideration when planning the staging of one of golf’s most prized assets but L’Albatros was seen to perform across the board.
MacLaren continued: “When deciding on a venue to host The Ryder Cup, you have to look at the logistics and the mechanics of the golf course at a slightly different angle and from that respective Le Golf National ticks every single box. For someone to design, 20 years ago, a course which is almost future-proofed to a certain extent is a remarkable achievement.
“But on being chosen, Le Golf National of course took its rightful place amongst our network of world-class golf venues – European Tour Properties. All of our 13, hugely-respected properties are delighted to have a venue not just of the quality but of the stature of Le Golf National within the group.”
With less than three months to go until Gleneagles and this year’s Ryder Cup, French eyes are already turning towards 2018 and their moment in the sun.
And for Le Golf National, the future is bright.


Eurogroup President Offers Telling Words
In Berlin, Eurogroup's President Jeroen Dijsselbloem declared at a Hertie School of Governance's conference today, that trying to tell everyday citizens about state budget financial strides is problematic.
As reported by ANA-MPA, the President commented, "Try to tell a Greek who is struggling to survive that Greece now has a primary surplus, something that for us at the Eurogroup constitutes a significant indicator. What does this say, however, to a citizen in Greece?".
Dijsselbloem described that after the last Euro elections, "Europe is no longer something that is beyond doubt". The Eurogroup leader further described, "Try to tell a Spaniard who has lost his job that there is a small drop in unemployment in his country, or to an Irish whose house lost a quarter of its value that real estate prices have registered a slight increase".
Dijsselbloem began his Presidential post in January of last year and also serves as the Netherlands Finance Minister. The Eurogroup President confirmed that while microeconomic evidence is gaining strides, many more advancements need to occur: "...in order for us to create job openings and strong growth, this time on a sustainable basis".
- Greek inflation rate fell to 6.5% in February
- Anthony Blinken: The background to his visits to Greece and Turkey
- Economist: Greece rises 9 places in the "democracy index"
- IT: Record recruitment in the Greek market in 2023
- Weather: How the warm holidays in Greece relate to the "storm of the century" in the US


18 The Parish Magazine - June 2023 feature — 2 Please mention The Parish Magazine when responding to advertisements Homecare you can rely on Our local team of care professionals can help with: • Meal Preparation • Medication • Personal Care • Companionship • Help around the home • And much more… To find out more call or visit: 01182 371 573 goodoakshomecare.co.uk/ reading Planning Your Traditional Wedding? Then you might like to discuss the possibility of marriage in our ancient and beautiful parish church. If so, call the vicar, Jamie 0118 969 3298 He will be pleased to help! ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN Our talented team of Architects and Designers offer the following services to make your vision a reality: Free Initial Consultation Concept Design 3D Modelling Loft Conversions - Extensions - New Builds Planning Applications Permitted Development Applications Building Regulation Applications In addition to the stunning and historic location in Sonning, we will work hard to provide you with a memorable and moving occasion. We can provide a choir, organ, peal of eight bells, beautiful flowers, over 100 lit candles set in ornate Victorian chandeliers and the use of our beautiful churchyard as a backdrop for your photographs. the church of st andrew SERVING CHARVIL, SONNING & sonning eye since the 7 th century Tender / Construction Production Information Project Management E: firstname.lastname@example.org T: 07980394261 www.cblsconsultants.co.uk Church of St Andrew Serving Sonning, Charvil & Sonning Eye
feature — 1 An independent report — published on 26 April and described as 'a landmark review into faith engagement' — has found the UK Government 'needs to recognise faith groups as a force for good'. It states that a better understanding of faith will help the Government tackle systemic issues such as forced marriages, child safeguarding and extremism. Colin Bloom, an independent faith engagement advisor, considered how government can best celebrate the contribution of faith groups, while tackling harmful practices. More than 21,000 people responded to the public consultation and 22 recommendations for government have been set. Colin Bloom has held a number of roles in politics which have focussed on working towards greater representation of faith in politics. Previously he was executive director of the Conservative Christian Fellowship and director of Christians in Politics. As the government's faith engagement adviser, his role is to make recommendations to the communities secretary about how the government can best celebrate and support the contribution of faith groups, break down barriers and promote acceptance between faiths, and promote shared values while tackling cultures and practices that are harmful. In his review, Colin Bloom examined engagement with faith in a wide range of public institutions from the Civil Service and Armed Forces, to schools and prisons, and called on government to bring in a new programme of faith literacy training for all public sector staff, ensuring public servants understand those they are helping, and to increase partnership opportunities with faith groups who are already playing a valuable role in the social fabric of our society. Bloom noted that a better understanding of faith would also equip government to tackle issues such as forced marriage, of which there are estimated to be thousands a year in the UK; radicalisation in prison; and faith-based extremism, including the ongoing challenge of Islamist extremism, and the small but growing The Parish Magazine - June 2023 19 Government needs to better understand faith, independent review claims BREAK BARRIERS trends of Sikh extremism and Hindu nationalism. The report also calls for appropriate regulation of out-of-school settings, including the faith-based sector, to safeguard the physical safety and wellbeing of children. CHALLENGES Colin Bloom, said: 'For millions of people, faith and belief informs who they are, what they do and how they interact with their community, creating strong ties that bind our country together. 'As we as a nation continue to become more diverse, so too does the landscape of faith and belief. Our government’s understanding of the role of faith in society must remain both current and alive to its evolutionary changes. 'It must also not shy away from some of the challenges that exist in small pockets within faith communities, from forced and coercive marriages to faith-based extremism, financial exploitation, and child safeguarding. These must not be consigned to the ‘too difficult’ box. 'Greater understanding of faith in all its diversity will ensure that we remain a country that respects, celebrates and understands people of all faiths, beliefs and none.' SHINE A LIGHT Faith minister, Baroness Scott of Bybrook said: 'As faith minister I will continue to shine a light on the important work of faith groups across the country, who play such an important role in public life. I welcome this review and thank Colin for his work – we will carefully consider the recommendations and I’ll make it my mission to continue to work closely with those of all faiths.' Bloom notes that there are many areas where government is already doing good work with faith groups, Wenling01, dreamstime.com including the Faith New Deal grant programme, the co-design of Covid-19 guidance with places of worship, and tackling freedom of religion or belief internationally. He argues that this good practice should be built on and applied consistently across services to enable stronger and more integrated communities. RESPONSE The Government has stated that it will consider the findings and will respond in due course, but in the meantime, The Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, the Church of England’s director of faith and public life, has issued this response: 'Faith is at the centre of people’s lives and churches and other faith groups are at the very centre of communities, providing both inspiration and practical support. The Church of England is involved in more than 35,000 initiatives in communities and works to tackle deprivation and promote social cohesion through church schools, chaplaincies in prisons and higher education and in thousands of practical programmes in its parishes. We welcome the recognition in the report of the need for religious literacy and a greater public understanding of the major world faiths. It is a fact that the majority of people in England and Wales identify with a religion, so faith is not a minority pursuit. We look forward to hearing how any training and education in the field of religious literacy can be done in partnership with religious communities and from a perspective that sees faiths in the round.'


As we begin the Year of the Goat in the 2015 Chinese year (starting February 19th), we're told that this particular Zodiac sign represents compassion, gentleness and kindheartedness. As it turns out, headlines are already being made this year by San Francisco's leading philanthropists, who are amply representing these traits.
The Chinese Lunar New Year is February 19
With celebrations of the Lunar New Year throughout San Francisco this month, culminating with the visually spectacular Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown (an event which originated in the 1860's), we're reminded of our City's deep historical ties to China and the strengthening of that connection in recent years through our business relationships.
Foster + Partners Proposed Tower
There are three recent high-profile examples. Most excitingly, the $1.6-billion investment by China Oceanwide Holding's in two fabulous Sir Norman Foster-designed towers next to the Transbay Center, encompassing 2,000,000 square feet of offices, retail, hotel and condos. In Oakland's Jack London Square area, Beijing's Zarison Holdings is partnering on the new $1.5B Brooklyn Basin project, with 3,100 homes, 27 acres of public open space and 200,0000 square feet of office space at the top of the list.
Rendering of the SOMA Innovation Campus
A less monumental but still important new project is the "SOMA Innovation Campus," which will offer a campus-like setting for artists, "makers" and small manufacturers in Potrero Hill's design and manufacturing hub. Also small-scale but intriguing -- the fancy food market opening in the Twitter building.
John James Audubon swan prints are displayed in this Thomas Britt-designed residence
Visit 1242sacramento4.com for more photos
Innovation, artistry, craftsmanship, these are the things we look for in design, which is why I'm so pleased to represent the sale of a true jewel box of a residence on Nob Hill designed by the great Thomas Britt, whose work is celebrated for just those characteristics. No wonder it was featured last year in Architectural Digest for its lively, high-spirited look.
A Gracie metal-leaf wallpaper lines the kitchen ceiling. Range by Amana.
Visit 1242sacramento4.com for more photos
Other architecturally fascinating properties currently on the market include three I have my eye on in New York: international designer Juan Pablo Molyneux' mansion, the iconic Pierre penthouse on 5th Avenue, and a fabulous pied-a-terre on Madison Avenue with incredible views.
One Central Park, Sydney, Australia
Other examples of exciting architecture are in international high-rise construction. A design council recently announced "The World's Best Tall Buildings of the Year." A skyscraper in Sydney was at the top of the list. Featuring 11,000 square feet of vertical gardens that cover the surface of the building (35,200 plants and 383 different species) it is unusual for its cantilever structure that is covered in a series of reflector panels. The panels automatically redirect natural sunlight to various parts of a nearby park during shady periods of the day.
Sheraton Huhzou Hot Spring Resort, Huzhou, China
In China, a horsehoe-shaped Sheraton hotel high-rise is also on the list. Incredible! As the proliferation or ultra-tall, ultra-thin skyscrapers continues throughout the world, 2015's new buildings are more daring than ever!
Glass Sidewalk Above Canadian Glaciers
Another stunning architectural feat is the extraordinary glacier skywalk 2,800 feet above Canada's Sunwapta canyon. The interplay of the modern structure with such an ancient natural wonder is breathtaking.
Frank Gehry's Biomuseo is dedicated to Panama's biodiversity
Finally, the most recent example of groundbreaking new architecture is Frank Gehry's Biomuseo in Panama City, which Architectural Digest named "one of the eight daring new buildings around the world."
Belvedere Villa Designed by Andrew Skurman
But for those who prefer to be a bit more down to earth, there are some really fabulous waterfront homes on the market right now. In Belvedere there's a gorgeous bayside villa designed by the incomparable Andy Skurman available for $15.9 million. In Costa Rica, Mel Gibson is selling a home overlooking the beach for $29.74 million, Donna Karan's Parrot Cay sanctuary is on the market for $36 million, and an ultra-modernistic beach house near La Jolla has a fascinating retractable roof!
A $130 Million Penthouse will span the top three floors of 520 Park Ave
Nationally, the ultra-luxury market remains very strong with 9 of the 10 most expensive homes in America now listed at $100,000,000 or more (including 3 in California), and the $50-million+ penthouse market in Miami booming. More than half of the highest sales ever in Manhattan occurred within the last year, from Gilded Age Park Avenue co-ops to penthouses in the ultra-modern new supertall towers. Last month, a mystery buyer spent a staggering $100.47 million on the penthouse apartment of One57, which is still under construction. Rumor has it, though, that the penthouse at 520 Park Avenue will hit the market with a price tag of $130 million later this year!
The Morgan Estate in Los Altos Hills sold for $25 Million
In the Bay Area, the top 10 sales of the past year (of which I had the pleasure of representing #4, the historic Tobin Clark estate) show a tight race between San Francisco and Atherton for most sales in this elite segment of the market. We are starting to see the first of 2015's big sales with the closing of the historic Morgan Estate in the Los Altos Hills for $25 million.
This Joseph Esherick home in Atherton just went on the market for $21.8 million
Eight properties are currently on the market in Atherton for over $10 million, the most recent of which is a contemporary home designed by Joseph Esherick sitting on one of the largest combined parcels (5.37 acres) in the area.
Real estate prices in the Bay Area are showing much more strength in the upper end of the market than the lower end, driven by all-time record employment numbers and mortgage rates near all-time lows, encouraging even all-cash buyers to finance purchase. San Francisco rents continue to surpass those of Manhattan for the 5th straight month. With San Francisco topping the list of best-performing cities in 2014, what's ahead for the rest of 2015? It looks like another heady year in San Francisco real estate. If past boom cycles are any indication, we haven't reached the end of this one yet!
Dolce Gabbana to open a Union Square boutique
The retail frenzy continues in San Francisco with Dolce Gabbana, Maison Martin Margiela and other luxury brands continuing to flock into the red-hot Union Square area.


Rows of headstones give way to fields of corn at the small, windswept cemetery where Bobbie Jo Stinnett is laid to rest. It’s possible to feel a sense of peace here that contradicts what happened nearly 16 years ago just a mile or so north, in Skidmore, Missouri.
On Dec. 16, 2004, Stinnett was eight months pregnant when she met with a woman, who went by the name of Darlene Fischer, about a litter of rat terrier puppies. The two women played with the puppies outside of Stinnett’s house in Skidmore, but the visitor carried a kitchen knife and a white cord inside her jacket. A few hours later, the woman was gone, the baby was gone and Stinnett’s mother walked into a scene of sheer horror.
“This is one of the cases that you’ll never forget,” said Nodaway County Sheriff Randy Strong, who worked the case as a Maryville Public Safety investigator. “I’m constantly reminded of it.”
Another reminder came Oct. 16 when Lisa Montgomery — the woman who called herself Darlene Fischer on that day — was given a Dec. 8 execution date for the death of Stinnett and the kidnapping of the baby she cut from the 23-year-old mother’s abdomen. It will mark the first federal execution of a woman since Bonnie Heady in 1953, another case that featured a Northwest Missouri connection. Heady and Carl Hall were executed for the kidnapping and murder of Bobby Greenlease, a 6-year-old boy whose body was buried in St. Joseph.
Strong, who was part of a massive law enforcement response after Stinnett’s body was discovered, helped locate Montgomery and the baby in Melvern, Kansas. Years after he helped extract a confession, he plans to witness the execution at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana.
“It’s a finality for me,” he said, “Something I want to see through to the end.”
The case brings not just finality. It also stirs up painful memories for those involved, as well as the wider community of Skidmore. The small Nodaway County town became the subject of news stories and documentaries about the 2004 murder/kidnapping as well as two unsolved cases: the shooting death of town bully Ken Rex McElroy in 1981 and the disappearance of 20-year-old Branson Perry in 2001.
“Of course it weighs on the people in Skidmore,” said Sandy Wright, the town’s mayor. “I think Skidmore has gotten a bad rap for some of the things that have happened here. Sometimes bad things happen in good places.”
Last week, even U.K. newspapers contained stories on the scheduled execution and recounted details of the crime. When Montgomery’s death sentence was appealed, federal court documents described the case this way: “Defendant incapacitated a pregnant woman so that she could extract the fetus and kidnap the baby.”
That doesn’t reflect all that happened. Those same court documents reveal that Montgomery strangled Stinnett until she passed out, but the young mother may have regained consciousness as Montgomery began to cut her. A struggle ensued, forcing Montgomery to use the cord a second time to kill Stinnett and then remove the fetus.
“We all dealt with terrible cases before,” said Don Fritz, a retired Cameron police officer who worked with Strong on the investigation. “But this one was just kind of extreme.”
The day after the murder, Strong remembers driving up to the house in Melvern and noticing rat terriers running around his feet as he prepared to enter. During her initial interrogation, Montgomery denied everything to Fritz and Strong. Fritz recalls pulling his chair up, patting Montgomery’s hand and telling her, “We’ve got to have the truth.” Then he looked down.
“I saw what I believed to be blood under her fingernails,” he said. “She dropped her head and said, ‘You’ve got the correct one. You’ve got the right baby.’”
During the penalty phase of the trial, a prosecutor asked Montgomery’s oldest daughter whether she had ever apologized. Montgomery replied that she did not remember committing the crime, according to court documents.
Strong has never wavered in his belief that the murder and kidnapping were meticulously planned. Montgomery brought a hospital-grade clamp for the umbilical cord. Gas station records indicate she conducted a dry run before the day of the attack. Court documents show that she was unable to get pregnant because of a medical procedure but may have wanted to fake it because of a custody dispute.
“It was one of the most well-planned murders I’ve ever seen,” Strong said.
The only source of joy is that Victoria Jo, the baby, was saved and reunited with her father. In those frenzied hours after the grisly discovery, investigators weren’t just trying to solve a murder. Strong remembers thinking how he had to get that baby out of Montgomery’s arms as soon as possible when he first saw them.
“You’ve got to get to the bottom of it,” Fritz told Strong on the drive to the house in Melvern. “You’ve got to recover the child.”
Today, that girl is old enough for high school and still lives in Nodaway County, surrounded by a family that values its privacy. Strong said he doesn’t know if it’s possible to have closure, for the family, for law enforcement and for the community at large.
“I think people want to see it over and move on,” he said. “I think that’s a stigma that floats over Skidmore. The people there still don’t like to talk about it.”
Wright said Skidmore is trying to move forward. “I don’t like dwelling on things that have happened in the past,” she said. “We’ve got a good town here.”