Kenneth Faried had 14 points and 21 rebounds to help Morehead State rout Alabama State, 58-43, in the NCAA tournament play-in game last night in Dayton, Ohio.
The Eagles (20-15), making their first tourney appearance since 1984, never trailed and earned a first-round rematch Friday against top-seeded Louisville. The Cardinals pounded Morehead by 38 in November.
Alabama State finished the season 22-10.
In NIT action:
Rhode Island 68, Niagara 62 - Kahiem Seawright scored 20 points in the second half - including 10 in a critical run - and the Rams (23-10) beat the Purple Eagles (26-9) in a first-round game in Lewiston, N.Y.
Jimmy Baron scored 20, including six late free throws, for sixth-seeded URI, which will face Penn State next.
In the College Basketball Invitational:
Northeastern 64, Wyoming 62 - Matt Janning scored 20 points and the Huskies (19-12) surprised the Cowboys (19-14) in a first-round game in Laramie, Wyo.
NU will face either Nevada or UTEP in Monday’s quarterfinals.
In Division 2:
C.W. Post 82, Bentley 76 - Kenny Burkes scored 23 points and the No. 1 Pioneers (30-0) rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to beat the Falcons (26-7) in Brookville, N.Y., and advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament in Springfield.
Jason Westrol was 7-of-8 on 3-pointers and had 28 points for Bentley.
By Herald Wire Services
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Job Fair To Fill 200 Positions
KENTVILLE — A job fair here today will introduce people seeking employment to about 200 positions available in the Kings County area, which has been hard hit by job losses over the past couple of months.
The Kings Community Economic Development Agency is hosting the fair at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Kingstec campus.
The full-day event starts with information sessions for job seekers between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Colby Clarke, a development officer with the agency, said the sessions will include information on employment insurance programs, health plan coverage and other issues facing people dealing with unemployment.
From noon to 7 p.m., more than a dozen employers with job openings will be on hand to let job seekers know about these positions.
"Some have a pretty significant number of jobs," Mr. Clarke said. "There are 200 positions available; that’s a pretty good number for these days."
The jobs include full- and part-time employment and seasonal work. Mr. Clarke said even a six-month job could be enough to give some people the "buffer zone" they need for better EI benefits.
Employers with jobs on offer include Larsens, Frito Lay, call centre Online Support, seniors facilities, and some trades.
He said a group of seniors facilities is also receiving funds to train continuing care assistants.
"We’re doing what we can so people are aware of the options that are out there," Mr. Clarke said.
He said the last time the agency held a job fair like this was two years ago, when Maple Leaf Foods closed its chicken-processing plant in Canard.
More than 700 people turned out for those sessions.
This one was organized in the wake of more job losses in the Valley.
About 300 people lost their jobs last month when ACA Cooperative closed its Eastern Protein chicken plant in Kentville and cut more jobs at its main plant in New Minas. KLJ Field Services, a Windsor call centre, closed at the cost of 90 jobs and Michelin laid off 95 flex workers at its Waterville plant
Reported By: Ian Fairclough
The Kings Community Economic Development Agency is hosting the fair at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Kingstec campus.
The full-day event starts with information sessions for job seekers between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Colby Clarke, a development officer with the agency, said the sessions will include information on employment insurance programs, health plan coverage and other issues facing people dealing with unemployment.
From noon to 7 p.m., more than a dozen employers with job openings will be on hand to let job seekers know about these positions.
"Some have a pretty significant number of jobs," Mr. Clarke said. "There are 200 positions available; that’s a pretty good number for these days."
The jobs include full- and part-time employment and seasonal work. Mr. Clarke said even a six-month job could be enough to give some people the "buffer zone" they need for better EI benefits.
Employers with jobs on offer include Larsens, Frito Lay, call centre Online Support, seniors facilities, and some trades.
He said a group of seniors facilities is also receiving funds to train continuing care assistants.
"We’re doing what we can so people are aware of the options that are out there," Mr. Clarke said.
He said the last time the agency held a job fair like this was two years ago, when Maple Leaf Foods closed its chicken-processing plant in Canard.
More than 700 people turned out for those sessions.
This one was organized in the wake of more job losses in the Valley.
About 300 people lost their jobs last month when ACA Cooperative closed its Eastern Protein chicken plant in Kentville and cut more jobs at its main plant in New Minas. KLJ Field Services, a Windsor call centre, closed at the cost of 90 jobs and Michelin laid off 95 flex workers at its Waterville plant
Reported By: Ian Fairclough
Monday, March 16, 2009
Free Napkin Is Online Trading Without the Trade
I recently wrote about the online bartering trend. Now there's a site getting tons of hits, Free Napkin, that is a similar idea to online bartering sites in terms of creating a profile, leaving feedback, etc, just without the actual trade--you just give some stuff away for free. Here's an example from the site's FAQ:
Registered freenapkin user Bob has a father who owns a farm. His dads farm has a lot of old equipment. Much of the equipment is old and non-functional and takes up a lot of space. Bobs dad is old and he himself does not have enough money to hire movers to come haul away some of the big equipment. He decides its better and more lucrative if he registers a free account on freenapkin so that his father can get rid of his equipment that he needs at will. His 80 yr old father was able to take a photo of his farming equipment and then with no help at all upload the photos onto his freenapkin account. The items were claimed within a few days. See how simple and easy a freenapkin account is. Senior citizens might not be able to help lift heavy objects but they can take a picture.
I haven't been able to find many testimonials from people about how they have liked using this site. But assuming it's legit, the idea is a bit strange. People who want to donate items for humanitarian purposes would probably prefer to do so at a place like Goodwill or Salvation Army where they know their donation is going to support the needy--not just someone who wants free stuff. For people looking to unload unwanted items, Craigslist (or any of the online bartering sites) seem just as easy to use, but with the added bonus of getting something in return.
Courtesy: Mark Bandyk, US News
Registered freenapkin user Bob has a father who owns a farm. His dads farm has a lot of old equipment. Much of the equipment is old and non-functional and takes up a lot of space. Bobs dad is old and he himself does not have enough money to hire movers to come haul away some of the big equipment. He decides its better and more lucrative if he registers a free account on freenapkin so that his father can get rid of his equipment that he needs at will. His 80 yr old father was able to take a photo of his farming equipment and then with no help at all upload the photos onto his freenapkin account. The items were claimed within a few days. See how simple and easy a freenapkin account is. Senior citizens might not be able to help lift heavy objects but they can take a picture.
I haven't been able to find many testimonials from people about how they have liked using this site. But assuming it's legit, the idea is a bit strange. People who want to donate items for humanitarian purposes would probably prefer to do so at a place like Goodwill or Salvation Army where they know their donation is going to support the needy--not just someone who wants free stuff. For people looking to unload unwanted items, Craigslist (or any of the online bartering sites) seem just as easy to use, but with the added bonus of getting something in return.
Courtesy: Mark Bandyk, US News
Saturday, March 14, 2009
DESIREE ROGERS, WHITEHOUSE SOCIAL SECRETARY SETS A NEW STANDARD
WASHINGTON — Desiree Rogers once made millionaires of a lucky few everyday people. Now she plans to give Americans dinner invitations to the White House.
Rogers, a svelte, stylish Chicago business executive and socialite—and a former Illinois lottery director—is turning again to Lady Luck in her new role as social secretary for a White House that hopes to balance glamor, history and an urban sensibility with plenty of populism.
"Something that we've talked about from early on is making it the people's house," said Rogers, sitting at a table in her East Wing office, a view of the Truman Balcony behind her. "How can we salute—encourage the American spirit? That means many different things to many different people."
Her vision includes inviting ordinary citizens chosen by lottery to join in a social life that reflects the eclectic interests of a sophisticated, young First Couple, Barack and Michelle Obama. Along with glittering state events and intimate dinners hosting artists and intellectuals, the calendar she plans includes edgy poetry slams and an egalitarian ball celebrating everyday American heroes.
Obama's FDA leader, food safety plans You can already see changes. The R&B band Earth, Wind and Fire was the entertainment at the Obamas' first formal dinner, hosting the nation's governors, and soul legend Stevie Wonder was honored with a White House concert. The black-tie governors' dinner had a more casual, modern feel with mixed-china place settings.
Among the first events have been a Super Bowl party and a dinner for congressional committee chairmen and their Republican counterparts. It was the first time even many of the GOP members of Congress had been invited to dinner at the White House despite their party's control of the presidency for the past eight years. The Super Bowl party included a children's play area featuring Nintendo Wii.
The traditional White House Easter Egg Roll this year is planned to be the largest ever, with tens of thousands of visitors and tickets distributed to the public online for the first time. The idea is that an assured spot will make it easier for families to come from across the country to join the egg hunt on the South Lawn; in the past, tickets were distributed in Washington the previous Saturday, making it less likely people would travel a long distance.
For many, the Obamas evoke John and Jacqueline Kennedy and Camelot, a presidency surrounded by an enduring mystique and sense of possibility. That image was created in part by an elegant White House social life that included a storied dinner with Nobel Prize winners and a performance by classical cellist Pablo Casals marking his celebrated return to America. Even before the election, Vogue editor at large Andre Leon Talley dubbed the Obama era "Black Camelot."
Whatever epithet ultimately sticks to the Obama White House, Rogers will be its impresario. And she, for one, rejects comparisons with Camelot: "This is not necessarily a presidency that duplicates, or copies. The Obamas have their own style," she said in an interview.
That style is livelier than the Bushes, more hip than the Reagans, more multicultural than the Clintons and more accessible than the Kennedys.
In an office that derives its greatest power from the opportunity to forge a direct relationship with the American people, and amid a celebrity culture that elevates the details of personal life, style can be critical.
"To have a successful presidency, the social life of the White House has to match the times. That's when it becomes such an added benefit to the presidency. It happened in its greatest form with the Kennedys," said Kennedy biographer Laurence Leamer. "There's no book that tells you how to do this. You have to feel your way through what you want to do."
The woman who will be helping the Obamas feel their way is a poised 5-foot, 10-inch Wellesley graduate with fashionable, close-shorn hair and a flair for designer clothing. Long before Rogers was associated with the White House, she was profiled in the September 2004 issue of Vogue, which praised her as "proving that chic and executive can co-exist."
A native of New Orleans and two-time queen of the Zulu Mardi Gras krewe, the 49-year-old Rogers has been a prominent presence on the Chicago social scene since her marriage to (now ex-husband) John Rogers, an Obama confidant and founder of Ariel Investments.
"She's a wonderful person to have in a room. She's fun and witty and lovely to look at," said Linda Johnson Rice, chairwoman and CEO of Johnson Publishing, a longtime friend and frequent guest at Rogers' Art Deco duplex in Chicago's Gold Coast. "When you walk into her home, everything is perfect: the candles are the right scent, the flowers are perfect and she's very welcoming."
Michigan Rep. Dave Camp, the top-ranking Republican on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, who sat next to Rogers at a recent White House dinner, gushes, "She's someone who puts you at ease instantly. You feel like you've known her a long time."
Though Rogers now has an apartment in Washington, she still shuttles back and forth to Chicago, returning three weeks ago for a surprise party for interior designer and Table Fifty-Two co-owner Julie Latsko.
Not only is Rogers the first African-American to be White House social secretary but she is the first with a Harvard MBA. She's spent much of her career at the intersection of politics, business and marketing.
After working as state lottery director, Rogers was a communications executive at People's Energy Corp. and then president of its two regulated utilities, steering them through a political backlash against rapidly rising gas prices. Before coming to the White House, she worked in another highly regulated industry: insurance. At Allstate, she was in charge of creating a social network to connect with customers.
Rogers is bringing some corporate marketing techniques to her new job. As she looks for ways to incorporate more modern touches in the Easter Egg Roll, she plans to test ideas with a focus group of children, said Cynthia Torres, a business school roommate who remains a close friend.
"She's investigating and trying to think through each event," Torres said.
Though Rogers approaches planning events with an eye toward imagery that will reinforce Obama's vision of the presidency and help him build relationships with the capital's other political players, she said her job ultimately is about "creating environments where people can kind of relax a little bit and experience a tiny slice of what America has to offer."
Like the conga line at the governor's ball.
"In the course of the evening, I looked up and they were doing a conga line," said White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. "That's the perfect example of how comfortable people were able to get very quickly. And, you know, when you've done the conga line with somebody, it's very hard to have a heated dispute with them the next day."
Reported By: Mike Dorning, Chicago Tribune
Rogers, a svelte, stylish Chicago business executive and socialite—and a former Illinois lottery director—is turning again to Lady Luck in her new role as social secretary for a White House that hopes to balance glamor, history and an urban sensibility with plenty of populism.
"Something that we've talked about from early on is making it the people's house," said Rogers, sitting at a table in her East Wing office, a view of the Truman Balcony behind her. "How can we salute—encourage the American spirit? That means many different things to many different people."
Her vision includes inviting ordinary citizens chosen by lottery to join in a social life that reflects the eclectic interests of a sophisticated, young First Couple, Barack and Michelle Obama. Along with glittering state events and intimate dinners hosting artists and intellectuals, the calendar she plans includes edgy poetry slams and an egalitarian ball celebrating everyday American heroes.
Obama's FDA leader, food safety plans You can already see changes. The R&B band Earth, Wind and Fire was the entertainment at the Obamas' first formal dinner, hosting the nation's governors, and soul legend Stevie Wonder was honored with a White House concert. The black-tie governors' dinner had a more casual, modern feel with mixed-china place settings.
Among the first events have been a Super Bowl party and a dinner for congressional committee chairmen and their Republican counterparts. It was the first time even many of the GOP members of Congress had been invited to dinner at the White House despite their party's control of the presidency for the past eight years. The Super Bowl party included a children's play area featuring Nintendo Wii.
The traditional White House Easter Egg Roll this year is planned to be the largest ever, with tens of thousands of visitors and tickets distributed to the public online for the first time. The idea is that an assured spot will make it easier for families to come from across the country to join the egg hunt on the South Lawn; in the past, tickets were distributed in Washington the previous Saturday, making it less likely people would travel a long distance.
For many, the Obamas evoke John and Jacqueline Kennedy and Camelot, a presidency surrounded by an enduring mystique and sense of possibility. That image was created in part by an elegant White House social life that included a storied dinner with Nobel Prize winners and a performance by classical cellist Pablo Casals marking his celebrated return to America. Even before the election, Vogue editor at large Andre Leon Talley dubbed the Obama era "Black Camelot."
Whatever epithet ultimately sticks to the Obama White House, Rogers will be its impresario. And she, for one, rejects comparisons with Camelot: "This is not necessarily a presidency that duplicates, or copies. The Obamas have their own style," she said in an interview.
That style is livelier than the Bushes, more hip than the Reagans, more multicultural than the Clintons and more accessible than the Kennedys.
In an office that derives its greatest power from the opportunity to forge a direct relationship with the American people, and amid a celebrity culture that elevates the details of personal life, style can be critical.
"To have a successful presidency, the social life of the White House has to match the times. That's when it becomes such an added benefit to the presidency. It happened in its greatest form with the Kennedys," said Kennedy biographer Laurence Leamer. "There's no book that tells you how to do this. You have to feel your way through what you want to do."
The woman who will be helping the Obamas feel their way is a poised 5-foot, 10-inch Wellesley graduate with fashionable, close-shorn hair and a flair for designer clothing. Long before Rogers was associated with the White House, she was profiled in the September 2004 issue of Vogue, which praised her as "proving that chic and executive can co-exist."
A native of New Orleans and two-time queen of the Zulu Mardi Gras krewe, the 49-year-old Rogers has been a prominent presence on the Chicago social scene since her marriage to (now ex-husband) John Rogers, an Obama confidant and founder of Ariel Investments.
"She's a wonderful person to have in a room. She's fun and witty and lovely to look at," said Linda Johnson Rice, chairwoman and CEO of Johnson Publishing, a longtime friend and frequent guest at Rogers' Art Deco duplex in Chicago's Gold Coast. "When you walk into her home, everything is perfect: the candles are the right scent, the flowers are perfect and she's very welcoming."
Michigan Rep. Dave Camp, the top-ranking Republican on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, who sat next to Rogers at a recent White House dinner, gushes, "She's someone who puts you at ease instantly. You feel like you've known her a long time."
Though Rogers now has an apartment in Washington, she still shuttles back and forth to Chicago, returning three weeks ago for a surprise party for interior designer and Table Fifty-Two co-owner Julie Latsko.
Not only is Rogers the first African-American to be White House social secretary but she is the first with a Harvard MBA. She's spent much of her career at the intersection of politics, business and marketing.
After working as state lottery director, Rogers was a communications executive at People's Energy Corp. and then president of its two regulated utilities, steering them through a political backlash against rapidly rising gas prices. Before coming to the White House, she worked in another highly regulated industry: insurance. At Allstate, she was in charge of creating a social network to connect with customers.
Rogers is bringing some corporate marketing techniques to her new job. As she looks for ways to incorporate more modern touches in the Easter Egg Roll, she plans to test ideas with a focus group of children, said Cynthia Torres, a business school roommate who remains a close friend.
"She's investigating and trying to think through each event," Torres said.
Though Rogers approaches planning events with an eye toward imagery that will reinforce Obama's vision of the presidency and help him build relationships with the capital's other political players, she said her job ultimately is about "creating environments where people can kind of relax a little bit and experience a tiny slice of what America has to offer."
Like the conga line at the governor's ball.
"In the course of the evening, I looked up and they were doing a conga line," said White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. "That's the perfect example of how comfortable people were able to get very quickly. And, you know, when you've done the conga line with somebody, it's very hard to have a heated dispute with them the next day."
Reported By: Mike Dorning, Chicago Tribune
Sunday, March 8, 2009
THERE IS NO SLOWING CHEIFTIANS.....
Paddy Moloney, founder of The Chieftains, long has been credited as an ambassador of Irish music.
He could just as easily be described as an ambassador of Galician, Scottish, American country or rock 'n' roll music, to name just a few of the varieties he has explored with The Chieftains.
Moloney digs up Celtic roots in unexpected places. Currently, he is delving into the musical influence of the Irish diaspora in Mexico, focusing on the presence of the "Batallon de San Patricio" during the Mexican-American War of the mid-1840s.
The St. Patrick's Battalion consisted primarily of recent Irish immigrants who deserted the U.S. Army to fight alongside the Mexicans. Many were caught and executed as traitors. Some historians view these soldiers as mercenaries or opportunists, while others think their status as a religious minority, as well as class issues, played a role in their desertion.
"It seems they didn't like the Protestant generals telling them to shoot their fellow Catholics," is how Moloney sees it.
The as-yet-untitled Chieftains album, which features Linda Ronstadt, still is a work in progress.
"We hope to have it finished by the end of April and to have it out by September," Moloney said.
Audiences who see The Chieftains during their jam-packed St. Patrick's season won't have to wait that long, as the band will preview new material. The Chieftains' tour includes concerts Thursday at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, March 15 at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and March 16 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
"The first tune in the set is from the new album, about a Galician musician who went to Mexico," Moloney said. "And in the second half, we go berserk altogether with a full pipe band doing the march I wrote, and a lament for the Irish battalion."
Moloney, who plays uilleann pipes and tin whistle, is joined on this tour by longtime members Kevin Conneff (bodhran and vocals) and Matt Molloy (flute).
Missing this year will be the fiddler Sean Keane, who still is with The Chieftains and recorded with the band for its upcoming album, but who cannot tour right now for "personal family reasons," according to Moloney.
Courtesy: Kelly-Jane Cotter, Music Writer
He could just as easily be described as an ambassador of Galician, Scottish, American country or rock 'n' roll music, to name just a few of the varieties he has explored with The Chieftains.
Moloney digs up Celtic roots in unexpected places. Currently, he is delving into the musical influence of the Irish diaspora in Mexico, focusing on the presence of the "Batallon de San Patricio" during the Mexican-American War of the mid-1840s.
The St. Patrick's Battalion consisted primarily of recent Irish immigrants who deserted the U.S. Army to fight alongside the Mexicans. Many were caught and executed as traitors. Some historians view these soldiers as mercenaries or opportunists, while others think their status as a religious minority, as well as class issues, played a role in their desertion.
"It seems they didn't like the Protestant generals telling them to shoot their fellow Catholics," is how Moloney sees it.
The as-yet-untitled Chieftains album, which features Linda Ronstadt, still is a work in progress.
"We hope to have it finished by the end of April and to have it out by September," Moloney said.
Audiences who see The Chieftains during their jam-packed St. Patrick's season won't have to wait that long, as the band will preview new material. The Chieftains' tour includes concerts Thursday at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, March 15 at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and March 16 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
"The first tune in the set is from the new album, about a Galician musician who went to Mexico," Moloney said. "And in the second half, we go berserk altogether with a full pipe band doing the march I wrote, and a lament for the Irish battalion."
Moloney, who plays uilleann pipes and tin whistle, is joined on this tour by longtime members Kevin Conneff (bodhran and vocals) and Matt Molloy (flute).
Missing this year will be the fiddler Sean Keane, who still is with The Chieftains and recorded with the band for its upcoming album, but who cannot tour right now for "personal family reasons," according to Moloney.
Courtesy: Kelly-Jane Cotter, Music Writer
IT'S LATER THAN YOU THINK; DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME RETURNED THIS MORNING
It's Later Than You Think; Daylight Saving Time Returned This Morning
Christine Bellini
You get an extra hour of daylight starting today so use your time wisely as Spring and its wiles are just around the corner.
Southampton - If you are just waking up this Sunday morning and thinking you have nabbed yourself a little extra time before the bustle begins, chances are my friend you are already an hour behind schedule. Daylight Saving Time arrived at 2 a.m. and snatched a hour of your precious time while you were sleeping.
The good news is, days will seem longer and daylight will advance the late afternoon and evening hours, allowing for more post-work activities.
First proposed by Englishman William Willett in 1907, he continued to unsuccessfully lobby for the time alteration until his death in 1915. Germany was the first to implement the system on April 30, 1916 as it served as a means to conserve fuel during the campaigns of WWI. Britian, the Allies and most of neutral European countries soon followed suit. Russia got on board in 1917 and the United States made it official on March 19, 1918.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) was subsequently repealed in 1919 and it wasn't until Feb. 9, 1942 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt reinstituted the time change for the duration of WWII, running to Sept. 30, 1945.
And for nearly 30 years Americans didn't alter their time clocks until President Richard M. Nixon signed the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act in 1973 during the height of the fuel crisis, officially making DST law. The act has been amended several times in the years that followed.
Father Time was readdressed yet once more by an act of congress in 2005 when the Energy Policy Act, which standardized the DST period from 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March to 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November, went into effect.
Courtesy: Christine Bellini
Christine Bellini
You get an extra hour of daylight starting today so use your time wisely as Spring and its wiles are just around the corner.
Southampton - If you are just waking up this Sunday morning and thinking you have nabbed yourself a little extra time before the bustle begins, chances are my friend you are already an hour behind schedule. Daylight Saving Time arrived at 2 a.m. and snatched a hour of your precious time while you were sleeping.
The good news is, days will seem longer and daylight will advance the late afternoon and evening hours, allowing for more post-work activities.
First proposed by Englishman William Willett in 1907, he continued to unsuccessfully lobby for the time alteration until his death in 1915. Germany was the first to implement the system on April 30, 1916 as it served as a means to conserve fuel during the campaigns of WWI. Britian, the Allies and most of neutral European countries soon followed suit. Russia got on board in 1917 and the United States made it official on March 19, 1918.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) was subsequently repealed in 1919 and it wasn't until Feb. 9, 1942 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt reinstituted the time change for the duration of WWII, running to Sept. 30, 1945.
And for nearly 30 years Americans didn't alter their time clocks until President Richard M. Nixon signed the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act in 1973 during the height of the fuel crisis, officially making DST law. The act has been amended several times in the years that followed.
Father Time was readdressed yet once more by an act of congress in 2005 when the Energy Policy Act, which standardized the DST period from 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March to 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November, went into effect.
Courtesy: Christine Bellini
Thursday, March 5, 2009
GAS EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROY BUSINESSES
BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — A natural gas explosion and fire rocked downtown Bozeman Thursday morning, collapsing three buildings and prompting evacuation of a two-block area, officials said.
Crews were allowing the fire to burn because officials hadn't been able to completely shut off a natural gas line.
Assistant City Manager Chuck Winn said there were no reports of casualties, but said the rubble of the collapsed buildings was not yet safe to search.
"There's so much damage there and so much fire still that we cannot get our crews in," to search the rubble, Winn said.
City officials said four businesses were destroyed — a restaurant and bar, two other bars and a gallery.
The blast shook ceiling tiles at Schnee's Boots and Shoes three blocks from the explosion and knocked down shoes that were on display, said Dawn McClelland, who had just reported for work.
"The whole building shook," she said. "I thought somebody had rammed (a car) into the back of the building. The people up front thought the ceiling was falling in."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Crews were allowing the fire to burn because officials hadn't been able to completely shut off a natural gas line.
Assistant City Manager Chuck Winn said there were no reports of casualties, but said the rubble of the collapsed buildings was not yet safe to search.
"There's so much damage there and so much fire still that we cannot get our crews in," to search the rubble, Winn said.
City officials said four businesses were destroyed — a restaurant and bar, two other bars and a gallery.
The blast shook ceiling tiles at Schnee's Boots and Shoes three blocks from the explosion and knocked down shoes that were on display, said Dawn McClelland, who had just reported for work.
"The whole building shook," she said. "I thought somebody had rammed (a car) into the back of the building. The people up front thought the ceiling was falling in."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
D.C.'S CTO, VIVEK KUNDRA APPOINTED CIO
President Barack Obama today appointed D.C.’s Chief Technology Officer Vivek Kundra to the new administrative position of federal chief information officer.
As the nation’s CIO, Kundra will direct the policy and strategic planning of federal information technology investments.
Lowering the cost of government operations through the use of technology, interoperability of technology across government agencies, and security are other major objectives.
“Vivek Kundra will bring a depth of experience in the technology arena and a commitment to lowering the cost of government operations to this position,” Obama said in a statement.
“As chief information officer, he will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible.”
Kundra will work with Obama’s yet-to-be-named chief technology officer to promote the president’s technology agenda.
Kundra was rumored to be in the running for several tech-related positions that Obama promised to create, including the chief technology officer position for which newly tapped Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski also was said to be considered.
In D.C., Kundra was responsible for the city’s telecommunications and IT infrastructure. He was appointed the city’s CTO on March 27, 2007, by Mayor Adrian Fenty and has implemented technology-based programs to streamline government procurement and make citywide data more transparent and accessible to citizens.
Before serving in the District, Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine named him assistant secretary of commerce and technology, the first dual cabinet role in the state’s history.
In the private sector, Kundra was vice president of marketing for Evincible Software, a company focused on electronic signatures and identity management for the financial services and defense sectors, and as chief executive officer of Creostar he advised government and industry clients on IT governance and strategy.
Courtesy: Darlene Darcy
Washington Business Journal
As the nation’s CIO, Kundra will direct the policy and strategic planning of federal information technology investments.
Lowering the cost of government operations through the use of technology, interoperability of technology across government agencies, and security are other major objectives.
“Vivek Kundra will bring a depth of experience in the technology arena and a commitment to lowering the cost of government operations to this position,” Obama said in a statement.
“As chief information officer, he will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible.”
Kundra will work with Obama’s yet-to-be-named chief technology officer to promote the president’s technology agenda.
Kundra was rumored to be in the running for several tech-related positions that Obama promised to create, including the chief technology officer position for which newly tapped Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski also was said to be considered.
In D.C., Kundra was responsible for the city’s telecommunications and IT infrastructure. He was appointed the city’s CTO on March 27, 2007, by Mayor Adrian Fenty and has implemented technology-based programs to streamline government procurement and make citywide data more transparent and accessible to citizens.
Before serving in the District, Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine named him assistant secretary of commerce and technology, the first dual cabinet role in the state’s history.
In the private sector, Kundra was vice president of marketing for Evincible Software, a company focused on electronic signatures and identity management for the financial services and defense sectors, and as chief executive officer of Creostar he advised government and industry clients on IT governance and strategy.
Courtesy: Darlene Darcy
Washington Business Journal
STARS TRYING TO HELP DIEING GIRL FIND DONOR
Top News
Alfred Giancarli, NY Daily News (March 4) – Celebrities have stepped up to help a 6-year-old New York City girl who is suffering from a rare and particularly deadly form of leukemia.
Doctors fear Little Jasmina Anema could die unless she receives a bone-marrow transplant soon, according to the New York Daily News..
Singers Kelly Rowland and Rihanna and NBA star Paul Pierce are spreading the word about a bone marrow drive to be held Saturday in hopes of finding a match for Jasmina.
The best bets for donors are usually family members and, in the case of Jasmina, a donor who is African-American like her. But Jasmina was adopted, and her mother is white.
"I need thousands of people to come," Theodora Anema, Jasmina's mother, told the newspaper.
The "One for Jasmina" Web site has information about the donor drive, as well as how to become a donor by requesting a simple kit.
Courtesy: Black Voices
Alfred Giancarli, NY Daily News (March 4) – Celebrities have stepped up to help a 6-year-old New York City girl who is suffering from a rare and particularly deadly form of leukemia.
Doctors fear Little Jasmina Anema could die unless she receives a bone-marrow transplant soon, according to the New York Daily News..
Singers Kelly Rowland and Rihanna and NBA star Paul Pierce are spreading the word about a bone marrow drive to be held Saturday in hopes of finding a match for Jasmina.
The best bets for donors are usually family members and, in the case of Jasmina, a donor who is African-American like her. But Jasmina was adopted, and her mother is white.
"I need thousands of people to come," Theodora Anema, Jasmina's mother, told the newspaper.
The "One for Jasmina" Web site has information about the donor drive, as well as how to become a donor by requesting a simple kit.
Courtesy: Black Voices
RADIAT TUMMY TUCK CREAM REVIEW
I was lucky enough to get picked for a panel of mums to try out some tummy toning products for one of the famous Parenting magazines earlier this year.
The options were a diet, exercise or this cream, and luckily for me, I got to use the cream! I didn’t actually know what cream it was, so I went into with an open mind…until my curiosity got the better of me! I found the cream was made by Rodial and that it was rather expensive….100 a bottle! So I began to use it and carried on doing so for 4 weeks. So here goes my review.
Rodial is a company which uses the best of nature’s ingredients in order to make wonder creams and treatments which claim to make drastic changes to your body when you use them regularly.
Apparently Rodial uses Pomegranate Ellagic Tannin in all of their products, as this is an anti-ageing firming product with collagen boosters in it. Their slogan is “Nature-Science”Skincare”.
After having a browse through their website, I could see that they offered many different products for different areas of your bodies, and each of them did a different thing as well.
The main categories of products available are skincare, which is mainly products for the face, Bodycare for all areas of the body and Suncare. The products are not cheap, in fact some of the most expensive I have seen in a while!
Courtesy: Night-Surfer,Latest News
The options were a diet, exercise or this cream, and luckily for me, I got to use the cream! I didn’t actually know what cream it was, so I went into with an open mind…until my curiosity got the better of me! I found the cream was made by Rodial and that it was rather expensive….100 a bottle! So I began to use it and carried on doing so for 4 weeks. So here goes my review.
Rodial is a company which uses the best of nature’s ingredients in order to make wonder creams and treatments which claim to make drastic changes to your body when you use them regularly.
Apparently Rodial uses Pomegranate Ellagic Tannin in all of their products, as this is an anti-ageing firming product with collagen boosters in it. Their slogan is “Nature-Science”Skincare”.
After having a browse through their website, I could see that they offered many different products for different areas of your bodies, and each of them did a different thing as well.
The main categories of products available are skincare, which is mainly products for the face, Bodycare for all areas of the body and Suncare. The products are not cheap, in fact some of the most expensive I have seen in a while!
Courtesy: Night-Surfer,Latest News
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
TERM ASSET BACKED SECURITIES LOAN FACILITY
The Term Asset Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) will start disbursing funds March 25. The Term Asset Backed Securities Loan Facility was created back in November 2008.
Now today the Fed said $1 trillion in TALF will be given as it accepts securities backed by vehicles and equipment. The hope of TALF is to improve the credit crisis.
The Fed issued a statement today:
“The expanded program will remain focused on securities that will have the greatest macroeconomic impact and can most efficiently be added to the TALF at a low and manageable risk to the government.”
Back in November, the FED announced the creation of TALF with the following statement:
The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced the creation of the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), a facility that will help market participants meet the credit needs of households and small businesses by supporting the issuance of asset-backed securities (ABS) collateralized by student loans, auto loans, credit card loans, and loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Under the TALF, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) will lend up to $200 billion on a non-recourse basis to holders of certain AAA-rated ABS backed by newly and recently originated consumer and small business loans. The FRBNY will lend an amount equal to the market value of the ABS less a haircut and will be secured at all times by the ABS. The U.S. Treasury Department–under the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008–will provide $20 billion of credit protection to the FRBNY in connection with the TALF. The attached terms and conditions document describes the basic terms and operational details of the facility. The terms and conditions are subject to change based on discussions with market participants in the coming weeks.
New issuance of ABS declined precipitously in September and came to a halt in October. At the same time, interest rate spreads on AAA-rated tranches of ABS soared to levels well outside the range of historical experience, reflecting unusually high risk premiums. The ABS markets historically have funded a substantial share of consumer credit and SBA-guaranteed small business loans. Continued disruption of these markets could significantly limit the availability of credit to households and small businesses and thereby contribute to further weakening of U.S. economic activity. The TALF is designed to increase credit availability and support economic activity by facilitating renewed issuance of consumer and small business ABS at more normal interest rate spreads.
COURTESY: LALATE(USA) NEWS
Now today the Fed said $1 trillion in TALF will be given as it accepts securities backed by vehicles and equipment. The hope of TALF is to improve the credit crisis.
The Fed issued a statement today:
“The expanded program will remain focused on securities that will have the greatest macroeconomic impact and can most efficiently be added to the TALF at a low and manageable risk to the government.”
Back in November, the FED announced the creation of TALF with the following statement:
The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced the creation of the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), a facility that will help market participants meet the credit needs of households and small businesses by supporting the issuance of asset-backed securities (ABS) collateralized by student loans, auto loans, credit card loans, and loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Under the TALF, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) will lend up to $200 billion on a non-recourse basis to holders of certain AAA-rated ABS backed by newly and recently originated consumer and small business loans. The FRBNY will lend an amount equal to the market value of the ABS less a haircut and will be secured at all times by the ABS. The U.S. Treasury Department–under the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008–will provide $20 billion of credit protection to the FRBNY in connection with the TALF. The attached terms and conditions document describes the basic terms and operational details of the facility. The terms and conditions are subject to change based on discussions with market participants in the coming weeks.
New issuance of ABS declined precipitously in September and came to a halt in October. At the same time, interest rate spreads on AAA-rated tranches of ABS soared to levels well outside the range of historical experience, reflecting unusually high risk premiums. The ABS markets historically have funded a substantial share of consumer credit and SBA-guaranteed small business loans. Continued disruption of these markets could significantly limit the availability of credit to households and small businesses and thereby contribute to further weakening of U.S. economic activity. The TALF is designed to increase credit availability and support economic activity by facilitating renewed issuance of consumer and small business ABS at more normal interest rate spreads.
COURTESY: LALATE(USA) NEWS
TODAY IS SQUARE ROOT DAY
Redwood City (AP) - Today is a big day for math fanatics. It's Square Root Day today, a special day that comes only nine times during every century.
The odd calendar event makes today Square Root Day because it falls on 3/3/09. In Redwood City, teacher Ron Gordon has started a contest meant to get people excited about the event. The winner gets -- of course -- $339 for having the biggest Square Root Day event.
The last such day was five years ago, Feb. 2, 2004, which coincided with Groundhog Day. The next is seven years away, on April 4, 2016.
COURTESY:SILICON VALLEY NEWS
The odd calendar event makes today Square Root Day because it falls on 3/3/09. In Redwood City, teacher Ron Gordon has started a contest meant to get people excited about the event. The winner gets -- of course -- $339 for having the biggest Square Root Day event.
The last such day was five years ago, Feb. 2, 2004, which coincided with Groundhog Day. The next is seven years away, on April 4, 2016.
COURTESY:SILICON VALLEY NEWS
KOOBFACE WARM RESURFACES ON FACEBOOK,MYSPACE
Having just finished battling some nasty viruses on my home computer, I looked at the news today and realized something: There is no rest for the weary.
The "Koobface" worm or infamous "Facebook Worm" that was first discovered last July has made a comeback, attacking users on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace. Needless to say, the worm has been improved."Koobface" Worm Attacks Facebook, MySpace and Other Social Networking Sites
This new and improved version of Koobface is seen as an invitation from a friend of the account owner. It invites you to click on a link and view a video on a counterfeit YouTube site. Everything may look alright to the average user. The video even has fake comments and video responses. However, when you try to watch the video, a pop-up states that you need to install Adobe Flash plug-in to view it. When users attempt to download the fake plug-in, they really download a Trojan horse program that gives the Koobface creator(s) control over the computer. The worm then takes over your social networking account, sending the same message to your own friends.
According to The Washington Post, other networks currently seeing evidence of the Koobface worm are hi5.com, friendster.com, myyearbook.com, bebo.com and livejournal.com. Engineers at Trendmicro.com have seen the worm at tagged.com, netlog.com and fubar.com.
The new worm is clever and knows how to pull in the tiny details necessary to fool someone into thinking it is the real deal. The YouTube video, besides having comments and responses, even lists the author as the friend who sent you the message. The worm even pulls the friend's picture from the social networking site.
The original Koobface worm had two variants and was first discovered last July by secure content developer, Kaspersky Lab. These worms, Win32.Koobface.a. and Win32.Koobface.b, attacked MySpace and Facebook respectively and operated in the same way as this newer strain.
How do you keep the worms out of your computer? Don't invite them in in the first place. Basic Internet awareness and keeping your computer's antivirus updated and running every day is enough to keep you safe.
BY SARAH SULLIVAN
The "Koobface" worm or infamous "Facebook Worm" that was first discovered last July has made a comeback, attacking users on social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace. Needless to say, the worm has been improved."Koobface" Worm Attacks Facebook, MySpace and Other Social Networking Sites
This new and improved version of Koobface is seen as an invitation from a friend of the account owner. It invites you to click on a link and view a video on a counterfeit YouTube site. Everything may look alright to the average user. The video even has fake comments and video responses. However, when you try to watch the video, a pop-up states that you need to install Adobe Flash plug-in to view it. When users attempt to download the fake plug-in, they really download a Trojan horse program that gives the Koobface creator(s) control over the computer. The worm then takes over your social networking account, sending the same message to your own friends.
According to The Washington Post, other networks currently seeing evidence of the Koobface worm are hi5.com, friendster.com, myyearbook.com, bebo.com and livejournal.com. Engineers at Trendmicro.com have seen the worm at tagged.com, netlog.com and fubar.com.
The new worm is clever and knows how to pull in the tiny details necessary to fool someone into thinking it is the real deal. The YouTube video, besides having comments and responses, even lists the author as the friend who sent you the message. The worm even pulls the friend's picture from the social networking site.
The original Koobface worm had two variants and was first discovered last July by secure content developer, Kaspersky Lab. These worms, Win32.Koobface.a. and Win32.Koobface.b, attacked MySpace and Facebook respectively and operated in the same way as this newer strain.
How do you keep the worms out of your computer? Don't invite them in in the first place. Basic Internet awareness and keeping your computer's antivirus updated and running every day is enough to keep you safe.
BY SARAH SULLIVAN
VIOLENCE IN STATE PRISONS
Violence Continues in Arizona Prisons; Inmate Possibly Stabbed
By Ray Stern in NewsThursday, Feb. 26 2009 @ 1:09PM
Less than a week after our report on the high number of 2008 inmate homicides in Arizona prisons, the state Department of Corrections is reporting another possible stabbing.
Maybe this latest incident will help draw attention to the inmate-on-inmate violence in state prisons -- which has apparently grown out of control. As we reported, at least four inmates (pictured) were killed by other inmates in state prisons last year. The number may even be higher after the department completes all of its death investigations.
Two of the four had been in prison for non-violent offenses, which makes their deaths seem like even more of a shame.
While at the downtown Phoenix office of the Department of Corrections last week, a couple of former prisoners came in to speak to the staff about various paperwork issues. One struck up a conversation as he waited his turn, and we asked him to name the single biggest problem these days in state prisons.
The man, a burly, pimply-faced Hispanic guy who looked like was about 30, shook his head at the question and complained there were too many problems to choose from. Finally, at our urging, he picks one:
"The violence," he says.
BY RAY STERN IN NEWS
By Ray Stern in NewsThursday, Feb. 26 2009 @ 1:09PM
Less than a week after our report on the high number of 2008 inmate homicides in Arizona prisons, the state Department of Corrections is reporting another possible stabbing.
Maybe this latest incident will help draw attention to the inmate-on-inmate violence in state prisons -- which has apparently grown out of control. As we reported, at least four inmates (pictured) were killed by other inmates in state prisons last year. The number may even be higher after the department completes all of its death investigations.
Two of the four had been in prison for non-violent offenses, which makes their deaths seem like even more of a shame.
While at the downtown Phoenix office of the Department of Corrections last week, a couple of former prisoners came in to speak to the staff about various paperwork issues. One struck up a conversation as he waited his turn, and we asked him to name the single biggest problem these days in state prisons.
The man, a burly, pimply-faced Hispanic guy who looked like was about 30, shook his head at the question and complained there were too many problems to choose from. Finally, at our urging, he picks one:
"The violence," he says.
BY RAY STERN IN NEWS
Sunday, March 1, 2009
BARRACK OBAMA'S BIRTH RECORD
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Obama's birth record was mentioned at CPAC(video)
When Accuracy in Media's Cliff Kincaid questioned whether Obama was born in the US, the crowd broke into applause. Obama supporters and a few conservatives have tried to degrade Americans who believe it is important to see Barack Obama's original birth record. They have labeled this group as "birthers" and called them a fringe group. Based on the applause to Cliff Kincaid's statement, this group is a lot more mainstream than they would like to admit.
Posted by The Intellectual Redneck at 8:26 AM
Obama's birth record was mentioned at CPAC(video)
When Accuracy in Media's Cliff Kincaid questioned whether Obama was born in the US, the crowd broke into applause. Obama supporters and a few conservatives have tried to degrade Americans who believe it is important to see Barack Obama's original birth record. They have labeled this group as "birthers" and called them a fringe group. Based on the applause to Cliff Kincaid's statement, this group is a lot more mainstream than they would like to admit.
Posted by The Intellectual Redneck at 8:26 AM
Ty PENNINGTON AND HIS TEAM HELPS A FAMILY WITH PREMATURE BABY
« Dancing With The Stars: Toni Braxton Admits To Religious Differences With Pro Partner Last Season | Home | Reality TV Casting Calls For The Week Of March 1, 2009 »
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Helps Family Involved With Premature Babies
March 1, 2009 08:00:29 by Joe Reality
On this week’s episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Ty Pennington and his team once again aid a family actively involved in helping others. The Augustin family from Keller, Texas were victims of a flood that destroyed their home and not-for-profit photography studio.
Amber Augustin’s third child Lane was born prematurely. The challenges surrounding Lane’s birth caused emotional and financial struggles for the family. Knowing firsthand the difficulties faced by families with premature babies, Amber was inspired to create “Tiny Works of Heart,” which is a volunteer photography business.
“Tiny Works of Heart” takes pictures of babies born in the neonatal intensive care unit. Because sometimes N.I.C.U. babies don’t survive, it is important to families to have pictures of their babies. “Tiny Works of Heart” takes photos of families with their child. Amber also works with an organization that helps to provide hope and comfort to families during this difficult time.
In 2007 on Father’s Day, the Augustin family home was ravaged by flood waters. The home was so badly damaged that it along with Amber’s photography studio had to be destroyed. Ty Pennington, his design team, local builder Wall Homes and hundreds of volunteers will help to rebuild the Augustin family home and photography studio.
While the home is being rebuilt, the Augustin family will enjoy a Hilton vacation in Hawaii. The design team for this episode consists of designers Paul DiMeo, Eduardo Xol, Tracy Hutson and John Littlefield. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition airs on Sunday, March 1 from 8 PM to 9 PM ET on ABC.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Helps Family Involved With Premature Babies
March 1, 2009 08:00:29 by Joe Reality
On this week’s episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Ty Pennington and his team once again aid a family actively involved in helping others. The Augustin family from Keller, Texas were victims of a flood that destroyed their home and not-for-profit photography studio.
Amber Augustin’s third child Lane was born prematurely. The challenges surrounding Lane’s birth caused emotional and financial struggles for the family. Knowing firsthand the difficulties faced by families with premature babies, Amber was inspired to create “Tiny Works of Heart,” which is a volunteer photography business.
“Tiny Works of Heart” takes pictures of babies born in the neonatal intensive care unit. Because sometimes N.I.C.U. babies don’t survive, it is important to families to have pictures of their babies. “Tiny Works of Heart” takes photos of families with their child. Amber also works with an organization that helps to provide hope and comfort to families during this difficult time.
In 2007 on Father’s Day, the Augustin family home was ravaged by flood waters. The home was so badly damaged that it along with Amber’s photography studio had to be destroyed. Ty Pennington, his design team, local builder Wall Homes and hundreds of volunteers will help to rebuild the Augustin family home and photography studio.
While the home is being rebuilt, the Augustin family will enjoy a Hilton vacation in Hawaii. The design team for this episode consists of designers Paul DiMeo, Eduardo Xol, Tracy Hutson and John Littlefield. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition airs on Sunday, March 1 from 8 PM to 9 PM ET on ABC.
GREENVILLE SCHOOLS AND OFFICES CLOSED
Nearly 30,000 customers of Duke Energy are without power, and children in at least six Upstate counties are looking forward to a holiday Monday as the winter’s first snowstorm continues to rumble across the Upstate.
Closed school districts include: Greenville County schools and offices; Pickens County; Anderson Districts 1, 4, and 5, Laurens District 55, Oconee County and Spartanburg District 5.
In less than four hours, state troopers responded to more than 130 calls about collisions, hazards in roads and motorists who needed help in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens and Oconee counties, according to the state Highway Patrol.
Lance Cpl. Kathy Hiles of the Highway Patrol advised people to stay home if they can. Those who do go out should allow their cars to warm up and their windows to clear, she said.
She also recommended that motorists carry a charged cell phone and blanket. If there is a wreck, it could take a while for emergency services to get there, she said. ¶
Snow and ice caused WSPA-TV’s tower on Hogback Mountain to collapse, injuring no one but interfering with normal service for some viewers, said the station’s marketing director Megan Hannigan. ¶
Dish Network customers can pick up CBS programming on the analog tier, while viewers with a digital converter box can tune in on channel 62.2, she said. Charter Communications customers are unaffected, Hannigan said. ¶
The National Weather Service in Greer received several reports of thunder rumbling while it snowed, which happens every four or five years in the Upstate, said meteorologist Justin Lane. ¶
"It means that you’re probably going to have some very heavy snow falling," he said. "It’s basically a thunderstorm, but instead of rain falling you have snow falling." ¶
Fourteen trucks from the state Department of Transportation were out monitoring roads and applying salt and sand where needed, said Kevin Coyle, an assistant resident maintenance engineer in Greenville. ¶
Coyle urged drivers to give the DOT trucks room to work. ¶
"You can't apply this type of mixture at 60 mph," he said. "You've got to slow down to do it." ¶
Greenville firefighters decided about 6 p.m. to put chains on the tires of all their trucks. The decision came after a battalion chief drove some of the city's steeper streets to see how slick they were, said Lt. Chris Shipman. ¶
"We're very cautious on that," he said. "If there's one bad street in the city, most of the time we go ahead and chain them up just to be safe." ¶
While Duke Energy had crews ready to go throughout South and North Carolina, it generally takes eight inches of snow to cause widespread outages, spokesman Dave Scanzoni said. ¶
"We’ve got our folks working on it in all the affected areas, and we can always bring in more if necessary," he said. ¶
The storm is expected to leave behind a slushy mess that could freeze on the roads overnight, according to the Weather Service. ¶
Greenville and areas to the north are expected to receive about 2-4 inches of snow, while areas to the south and east will get 3-5 inches, said meteorologist Bryan McAvoy of the Weather Service. ¶
McAvoy said the snow should last until about midnight.
In your voice
Read reactions to this story
Courtesy: Paul Alongi-Staff Writer
Closed school districts include: Greenville County schools and offices; Pickens County; Anderson Districts 1, 4, and 5, Laurens District 55, Oconee County and Spartanburg District 5.
In less than four hours, state troopers responded to more than 130 calls about collisions, hazards in roads and motorists who needed help in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens and Oconee counties, according to the state Highway Patrol.
Lance Cpl. Kathy Hiles of the Highway Patrol advised people to stay home if they can. Those who do go out should allow their cars to warm up and their windows to clear, she said.
She also recommended that motorists carry a charged cell phone and blanket. If there is a wreck, it could take a while for emergency services to get there, she said. ¶
Snow and ice caused WSPA-TV’s tower on Hogback Mountain to collapse, injuring no one but interfering with normal service for some viewers, said the station’s marketing director Megan Hannigan. ¶
Dish Network customers can pick up CBS programming on the analog tier, while viewers with a digital converter box can tune in on channel 62.2, she said. Charter Communications customers are unaffected, Hannigan said. ¶
The National Weather Service in Greer received several reports of thunder rumbling while it snowed, which happens every four or five years in the Upstate, said meteorologist Justin Lane. ¶
"It means that you’re probably going to have some very heavy snow falling," he said. "It’s basically a thunderstorm, but instead of rain falling you have snow falling." ¶
Fourteen trucks from the state Department of Transportation were out monitoring roads and applying salt and sand where needed, said Kevin Coyle, an assistant resident maintenance engineer in Greenville. ¶
Coyle urged drivers to give the DOT trucks room to work. ¶
"You can't apply this type of mixture at 60 mph," he said. "You've got to slow down to do it." ¶
Greenville firefighters decided about 6 p.m. to put chains on the tires of all their trucks. The decision came after a battalion chief drove some of the city's steeper streets to see how slick they were, said Lt. Chris Shipman. ¶
"We're very cautious on that," he said. "If there's one bad street in the city, most of the time we go ahead and chain them up just to be safe." ¶
While Duke Energy had crews ready to go throughout South and North Carolina, it generally takes eight inches of snow to cause widespread outages, spokesman Dave Scanzoni said. ¶
"We’ve got our folks working on it in all the affected areas, and we can always bring in more if necessary," he said. ¶
The storm is expected to leave behind a slushy mess that could freeze on the roads overnight, according to the Weather Service. ¶
Greenville and areas to the north are expected to receive about 2-4 inches of snow, while areas to the south and east will get 3-5 inches, said meteorologist Bryan McAvoy of the Weather Service. ¶
McAvoy said the snow should last until about midnight.
In your voice
Read reactions to this story
Courtesy: Paul Alongi-Staff Writer
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