NORTH CAROLINA OPERA TO PERFORM WAGNER CONCERT ...

Photo courtesy of Cory Weaver

North Carolina Opera will open its 2012-2013 season on Jan. 27, 2013 at 3 p.m., with a concert of the music of Richard Wagner , in honor of the bicentennial of the composer?s birth, in Meymandi Concert Hall in Duke Energy Center in Raleigh. The concert will include favorite selections from several of Wagner?s most popular operas, including Act I of Die Walk?re, in what is thought to be the first performance from Wagner?s Ring Cycle in the Triangle, Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walk?re, as well as excerpts from Die Meistersinger, Tristan und Isolde and The Flying Dutchman.

Internationally acclaimed talent will perform, including tenor Jay Hunter Morris, who sings the famously difficult role of Siegfried in Wagner?s Ring Cycle with the Metropolitan Opera; Elizabeth Bishop, who has sung leading Wagner roles at the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera, as Sieglinde; and Metropolitan Opera bass Peter Volpe as Hunding. NCO Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Timothy Myers will lead 80 members of the North Carolina Opera Orchestra. The two-hour performance will be sung in German with English supertitles.

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) was one of the most important composers of the nineteenth century. Over a twenty-five year period he created the epic four-opera cycle The Ring of the Nibelung, based on Germanic and Norse mythology. The Ring tells the story of the struggle of redemptive love against lust for power, played out over no less a backdrop than the creation and destruction of the world. To tell the story Wagner created a new musical language and even designed a new theater and new instruments. NCO?s performance will include these ?Wagner tubas? in the complete first act of The Valkyrie, the second opera of the cycle.

?North Carolina Opera is excited to perform this amazing collection of Wagner opera in concert, not only because it will be an incredible musical feast of some of opera?s most important and beautiful music on the occasion of the bicentennial of the composer?s birth, but also because it will feature some of opera?s top talents.? said Eric Mitchko, General Director of North Carolina Opera.

With an expansive repertoire of symphonic, ensemble and operatic works, Timothy Myers has proven himself as a conductor of exceptional diversity. His recent engagements include the Beijing National Center for the Performing Arts, Opera Africa, Houston Grand Opera, the North Carolina and Milwaukee symphony orchestras, the Wolf Trap and Central City festivals, and numerous other projects spanning four continents. In 2009 Myers was appointed by Lorin Maazel as the first ever Associate Conductor of the Castleton Festival, where during his two year tenure he was entrusted with multiple symphonic and opera performances. As the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of North Carolina Opera, Timothy is one of the youngest artistic leaders in American opera. His artistic vision has broadened the company?s repertoire to include a wider variety ranging from Handel to Glass, as well as the creation of innovative and stimulating productions of the classic repertoire. Myers has been engaged for assistant/associate positions with the New York Philharmonic, New York City Opera, London BBC Symphony, as well as principal guest conductor and artistic advisor of the Palm Beach Symphony. He has conducted the Jerusalem Symphony, American Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, the opera companies of Palm Beach, Anchorage and Asheville, the Bard Festival, and Music Academy of the West.

Jay Hunter Morris began the 2012-13 season with his appearance in the principal role of Captain Ahab in Jake Heggie?s celebrated opera, Moby Dick, at San Francisco Opera.? He performed in Florence as Siegmund inDie Walk?re and perform with the Los Angeles Opera as Erik Die Fliegende H?llander. Mr. Morris returns to The Metropolitan Opera for revival performances of The Ring as Siegfried and continues to Glimmerglass Festival for Erik. He makes his debut at Vienna Konzerthaus under the baton of Kent Nagano for performances of Schoenberg?s Gurrelieder. Recent successes include concert performances of Tristan Tristan und Isolde at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia Valencia and his appearance in the role of Siegfried in the Metropolitan Opera?s new production of the complete Ring Cycle which was broadcast worldwide. Mr Morris embarked on his Ring career when he covered Siegfried Siegfried and G?tterd?mmerung at Seattle Opera in 2009, and the following season at Los Angeles Opera. He also covered the role of Siegmund Die Walk?re during LA Opera?s Ring Cycle in 2010.? In 2011, he made his debut as Siegfried at San Francisco Opera with great success under the baton of Donald Runnicles. One of the hallmarks of Mr. Morris? career is his participation in some of the most noted new work in contemporary opera.? He has created many roles in world premieres, among them the role of Captain James NolanDoctor Atomic at San Francisco Opera, a role he reprised with the Netherlands Opera the following season;? the role of Markyin Cronenburg?s The Fly (Howard Shore) at Th??tre du Ch?telet in Paris, (which he revived at Los Angeles Opera under the baton of Placido Domingo); the role of Unferth in Elliott Goldenthal and Julie Taymor?s Grendel, a performance he repeated in the 2006 Lincoln Center Festival.?

Elizabeth Bishop has been praised by Opera News for her ?gorgeous voice? and is in equal demand for both opera and concert performances across the country. Her 2012-13 season engagements include her first Azucena in Il trovatore with Utah Opera, her first Sieglinde in Die Walk?re with North Carolina Opera, and her return to the Metropolitan Opera for M?re Marie in Dialogues des Carm?lites. Her other Met roles have included Venus in Tannh?user, the title role in Gluck?s Iphig?nie en Tauride, Fenena in Nabucco, and Second Norn in the worldwide Live in HD cinecast of G?tterd?mmerung. Ms. Bishop sings regularly with Washington National Opera, where her roles have included Gertrude in Hamlet, Eboli in Don Carlo, and the Marquise de Merteuil in Conrad Susa?s The Dangerous Liaisons. With Washington Concert Opera she has sung Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana and the Princess Bouillon in Adriana Lecouvreur. She has enjoyed a long relationship with San Francisco Opera, appearing there most recently as Fricka in both Das Rheingold and Die Walk?re. She has sung Waltraute in G?tterd?mmerung with the Dallas Opera, M?re Marie with both Deutsche Oper Berlin and Pittsburgh Opera, Eboli with the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier with Donald Runnicles and the Atlanta Symphony, Amneris in Aida with the Atlanta Opera, and Offred in Poul Ruders?s The Handmaid?s Tale with Minnesota Opera. Elizabeth Bishop has appeared as soloist with Amsterdam?s Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Malaysian Philharmonic.

Bass Peter Volpe continually receives critical and popular acclaim on four continents. Possessing a vast and ever-expanding repertoire of over 80 roles in six languages, his captivating style and interpretive skill embraces the depth of historical and fictional characters. Of a recentportrayal as Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin, Opera News said he ?managed to create in his single aria and scene an impressive dignity. His full-bodied bass and great candor of tone, together with his intelligent interpretation, won him a well-deserved ovation.? In the current season, performances include Ramfis in Aida at Michigan Opera Theatre, Sparafucile in Rigolettoat Manitoba Opera, Ferrando inIl Trovatoreat Arizona Opera, Zuniga in Carmen at the Florentine Opera, the bass soloist in Verdi?s Requiem with the Chattanooga Symphony, and his role debut as Daland in The Flying Dutchman with Glimmerglass Opera.? In addition he will perform Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoorwith Portland Opera and Philip II in Don Carlo at Austin Lyric Opera.

The Wagner program will include the following, in the order in which they will be presented: Prelude to Die Meistersinger, ?M?gst du, mein Kind? from The Flying Dutchman, ?Fanget an!? from Die Meistersinger, Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walk?re, ?Mild und leise? from Tristan Und Isolde, Intermission and Act I of Die Walk?re.

Ms. Crocetto holds degrees from Siena Heights University in acting performance and Moody Bible Institute in vocal studies. She is a former member of the Sarasota Opera Apprentice Artists Program She was a member of San Francisco Opera?s Merola Opera Program. San Francisco Chronicle said Crocetto has a ?powerful Verdi voice and formidable precision technique, and intensity that amplifies an already huge voice, and an innate, irresistible musicality.? San Francisco Classical voice said, ?In thirty years of exciting discoveries, listening to each group of Merolini for the first time, I have never experienced a singer as complete and awesome as Crocetto.?Tickets are $27 to $85, and are on sale now by calling the North Carolina Opera Box Office at 919-792-3850, filling out the form available at www.ncopera.orgor going to www.ticketmaster.com.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA OPERA

North Carolina Opera was formed in 2010 from the merger of Capital Opera Raleigh and The Opera Company of North Carolina. It is dedicated to presenting operatic performances at the highest level throughout the Triangle. We also have a robust education program that brings opera to schools across Wake County and surrounding counties. North Carolina Opera brings international level artists to Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and also engages the best in local Triangle talent.

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Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

NORTH CAROLINA OPERA TO PERFORM WAGNER CONCERT FEATURING METROPOLITAN OPERA TALENT, 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating

Source: http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/event/north-carolina-opera-to-perform-wagner-concert-featuring-metropolitan-opera-talent/

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iPad Dominates Tablet Market, Google Nexus Increases Share

Apple's tablet accounts for 87 percent of North American web traffic.

Apple's iPad remained the dominant tablet during December, but Google's Nexus slate and Amazon's Kindle Fire increased their market share.

Online advertising firm Chitika examined North American tablet impressions on its advertising network, with the latest report collecting "tens of millions of tablet impressions" gathered from December 8 to December 14.

Apple's lineup of the iPad generates 87 percent of North American web traffic, while the Kindle Fire slate enjoyed the largest increase. Amazon's tablets accounted for 4.88 impressions per 100 iPad impressions, equivalent to a 4.25 percent share of "all tablet web traffic as a whole."

Impressions generated by the Kindle Fire increased by 20 percent from the 3.57 percent share it settled for a month earlier. Elsewhere, Samsung's Galaxy tablets and Google's own devices including the Nexus 7 also "experienced a usage share increase, albeit less impressive than the Kindle Fire."

During the aforementioned period, Samsung's devices saw their impressions increase from 2.36 percent to a 2.65 percent of North American tablet traffic. The Nexus slate increased its share from a 0.91 percent hold in November to 1.06 percent in December, which represents a 15 percent month-to-month growth.

The full list of tablets ranked by average tablet impressions per 100 iPad impressions is as follows:

• Amazon Kindle Fire: 4.88
• Samsung Galaxy Tablets: 3.04
• Google Nexus Tablets: 1.22
• Asus Transformer: 0.93
• Barnes & Noble Nook: 0.91
• BlackBerry PlayBook: 0.80
• Acer Iconia: 0.76
• Toshiba Thrive: 0.60
• Motorola Xoom: 0.59
• Other Android Tablets: 0.45
• Microsoft Surface: 0.22
• HP TouchPad: 0.18
• Unidentifiable Android Tablets: 0.17

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Maine man, 74, held in deaths of teenage tenants

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) ? A 74-year-old Maine man was charged in the shooting deaths of two tenants inside an apartment he rented out at his home, and detectives are investigating whether the violence is connected to a landlord-tenant dispute, state police said Sunday.

James Pak was arrested at about 10 p.m. Saturday following a standoff at his suburban neighborhood home in Biddeford, about 15 miles south of Portland, police said. He is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Derrick Thompson, 19, and Thompson's girlfriend, 18-year-old Alivia Welch.

Thompson's mother, Susan Johnson, 44, had called police to Pak's home about three hours earlier. She and her 6-year-old son also live in the apartment, which is attached to the main house where Pak lived.

Biddeford police rescued Johnson and her young son, and Pak retreated to his part of the house. He surrendered hours later after talking to police negotiators, said state police spokesman Steve McCausland. A gun was found in the house.

Johnson was being treated for a gunshot wound at a Portland hospital, officials said. Her younger son, Brayden, was not hurt.

Detectives are investigating whether the violence stemmed from a landlord-tenant dispute, McCausland said. Johnson and her family moved into the apartment in October.

Pak is being held at the York County Jail in Alfred and is expected to make his initial court appearance either Monday or Wednesday, depending on the availability of a judge.

The victim's bodies were transported Sunday to the medical examiner's office in Augusta, where autopsies will be performed.

Thompson was an auto detailer at a local car dealership and had attended Biddeford High School, and Welch worked at a local coffee shop and graduated from Thornton Academy in Saco, according to their Facebook profiles and a list of Thornton Academy graduates. Two people who answered a phone call at the coffee shop would not comment.

Welch and Thompson married in July, according to both their Facebook profiles, but McCausland said police weren't aware whether they were married.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/maine-man-74-held-deaths-teenage-tenants-172604651.html

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Government Dependents Outnumber Those With Private Sector Jobs In 11 U.S. States

America is rapidly becoming a nation of takers.? An increasing number of Americans expect the government to take care of them from the cradle to the grave, and they expect the government to dig into the pockets of others in order to pay for it all.? This philosophy can be very seductive, but what happens when the number of takers eventually outnumbers the number of producers?? In?11 different U.S. states, the number of government dependents exceeds the number of private sector workers.? This list of states includes some of the biggest states in the country: California, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Maine, Kentucky, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, New Mexico and Hawaii.? It is interesting to note that seven of those states were won by Barack Obama on election night.? InCalifornia, there are 139 ?takers? for every 100 private sector workers.? That is crazy!? The American people have become absolutely addicted to government money, and it gets worse with each passing year.? If you can believe it, entitlements accounted for?62 percent?of all federal spending in fiscal year 2012.? It would be one thing if we could afford all of this spending, but unfortunately we simply cannot.? We are?drowning in debt, and we are stealing more than a hundred million more dollars from future generations with each passing hour.? No bank robber in history can match that kind of theft.

More?

This entry was posted in Civil Unrest, Editorial. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://ncrenegade.com/editorial/government-dependents-outnumber-those-with-private-sector-jobs-in-11-u-s-states/

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Will Free Music Save This PC Giant? - Seeking Alpha

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More...)

The music industry has changed completely over the past several years. The music industry is driven more by listeners and fans than ever before.

Spending on physical music (CD's, DVD's, BluRay) is decreasing, while spending on digital music (Spotify, Pandora, downloads, streaming) is increasing.

Hewlett-Packard's (HPQ) latest innovation, dubbed Connected Music, is a form of digital music. It is attracting music fans and listeners, which is in turn pushing them to purchase HP products like desktop computers, laptops and even the brand new Envy X2 mini notebook. HP Connected Music makes listening to and purchasing new music much easier. Fans can listen to live streaming of various musicians who are signed under Universal Music. By launching Connected Music, HP is engaging in a campaign to lure consumers into buying its products. Hardware specifications are no longer enough to lure purchasers into buying computers, tablets and notebooks. Consumers are now looking for other attractive offers, such as exclusive access to streaming content, free downloads, games and features.

Connected Music is helping HP carve a new niche in the entertainment industry. Connected Music will help HP to increase its sales and revenue, and gain newer customers who were earlier using devices sold by other manufacturers. In this article, I will explain how Connected Music will help HP boost consumer sentiment and confidence in its products.

HP's Deal With Universal Strengthens Music Offerings

Hewlett-Packard, announced a partnership with Universal Music, in which music recorded under the Universal Music label will be available for HP customers at varying accessibility. The partnership will entail live streaming, radio stations and 30 second previews of songs recorded by musicians who are signed under Universal Music. HP has decided to use Connected Music as a way to reach a new target audience consisting of music fans and increase margins in the long run. As this is a diverse demographic, HP will be able to sell more of its new devices to music lovers and thereby will increase its revenues. HP Connected Music will be available to buyers of new HP Windows 8 desktop and notebook computers and will provide them with streaming access to content from Universal's catalogue of more than 3,500 artists, including superstars like Justin Bieber.

Connected Music Will Boost Consumer Sentiment, Confidence

Music has a visceral effect on fans and most listeners are very devoted to musicians they are fond of. When HP provides them with an opportunity to meet their favorite musicians if they have purchased an HP product, it becomes reason enough for people to purchase those products in the first place. Connected Music allows users to listen to whatever they like for 90 days and for those with new Windows 8 HP Spectre and HP Envy PCs, you get 10 free mp3 downloads per month for 90 days too.

Connected Music covers Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The U.K., Germany and France are huge music markets after the United States and Japan. HP has wisely chosen to attract new customers with the help of music branding. If someone has purchased HP's Windows 8 laptops, Windows 8 tablets, PCs and Ultrabooks recently, they will be able to access HP Connected Music's special shows, luncheons, dinners and access free streaming and downloads. Music fans constitute a huge and varied demographic. HP will now be able to attract many customers from this demographic to sell their devices, ultimately increasing revenue.

Hewlett-Packard's fundamentals are weak, but analysts believe they will improve in the coming weeks and months. With an operating cash flow of $11 billion and return on assets (ROA) of almost 5%, Hewlett-Packard needs to do much better than its competitors. Apple (AAPL) has an operating cash flow of $51 billion and ROA of 24%. Microsoft (MSFT) has an operating cash flow of $32 billion and ROA of 14%. This clearly shows that HP needs to catch up with Apple and Microsoft in management effectiveness. I believe, using the music industry is a great way to improve its fundamentals as this has worked for both Apple and Microsoft, as I explain later. Investor sentiment will be positive, thanks to increased margin and revenue in the coming months. As the holiday season is in full swing, people will purchase more Hewlett-Packard products in hopes of connecting with their favorite musician in the beginning of New Year. Increased sales will boost investor confidence, and will thereby push Hewlett-Packard's share value.

Apple iTunes and HP Connected Music: What Is the Difference?

Apple's iTunes is synonymous with purchasing music and the company has steadfastly used music as a soft power (just like HP has begun to do now) to increase its sales. Apple revolutionized the music industry by kick starting online retail and distribution models and had sold 10 billion songs by 2010, for $0.99 each. Apple is also the first online distributor that has deals with major corporate labels including EMI, Warner Music Group, Universal and Sony sell music on iTunes. Apple released its latest version of the software, iTunes 11, recently.

iTunes has been around for a very long time, but Hewlett-Packard is using its Connected Music as a service to get more people to buy its devices in hopes of meeting an artist or for the free streaming. Apple, on the other hand, uses iTunes as a way to sell music, which is one of its businesses as well. However, we can see that HP is following Apple's proven method of using music to increase revenue.

Lenovo (LNVGY.PK), the largest PC maker in the world, still does not understand that music can be a great way to get users to talk about a company. As HP has monetized this space by encouraging people to buy its computers to listen to free music and gain access to artists themselves, HP has an edge over Lenovo, which at the moment is only concentrating on its devices without caring to acknowledge the importance of media and art. Dell (DELL) has no role in the music industry, thereby giving HP an edge over the others. Dell Music Store, its defunct online music service has a non functioning website to add to its embarrassment. While the PC market is declining, it will not vanish and HP has taken the right step to diversify a bit and use music as a soft power to attract new customers, which Dell has failed to do.

IBM (IBM) is another computer manufacturer that has not recognized the potential of music industry in increasing computer sales. One could argue that IBM is a business machine provider and it doesn't need to wade into the music industry territory, but all this just gives HP an edge over IBM.

Back in October, Microsoft launched Xbox Music, which allows music fans to easily purchase, manage and listen to their favorite tracks across a number of devices. Xbox Music replaced Zune, Microsoft's defunct service. Those who purchase a Windows 8 PC or a tablet will have free access to streaming music service. On the other hand, Xbox owners can purchase Xbox Music Pass to listen to music ad free, for just $9.99 per month. Microsoft and Apple are two companies that have taken the music industry seriously enough to incorporate them right within their hardware and software. HP certainly has taken the right decision by following in their footsteps.

At the moment, HP trades at $14 and has a market cap of $28 billion. Its profit margin is -10.51%, but has a huge revenue of $120 billion. HP's price to book ratio is 1.27 and its price to sales ratio is 0.23. HP is not doing very well when compared to its peers or its own sales a few years ago. However, by following the footsteps of its competitors like Apple and Microsoft by entering the music industry, HP is taking bold steps that will help it sell more products. In the next few months, HP will be able to sell many computers because of its HP Connected Music service alone. HP will be able to reach out to a new demographic (music fans) and significantly increase sales and revenue in the coming months. For investors, this is very good news.

Source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/1085241-will-free-music-save-this-pc-giant

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How to Fight After-Christmas Blues - Reluctant Entertainer

A few nights ago as I was in the kitchen by myself?the last of our guests had just left our home?I was hand-washing the dishes that didn?t fit into the dishwasher and a wave of sadness came over me.

Christmas was over.

When you think about all the anticipation and preparation that takes place in the weeks leading up to Christmas?probably more for women than men?when it?s all over, I?ve found that two things happen. A sigh of relief and a ?let-down? feeling.

The after-Christmas blues.

This year feels different. I?m embracing the fact that my kids are getting older, and I?m fighting the blues with a healthier approach. Thankful for the gift of each day, for the gift of my family and friends, I?ve found there are things I can do to keep from falling into a rut of after-party blues.

Don?t forget to hug and kiss the ones you love!

Looking ahead, with JOY in my heart:

1. Start the morning off by reading something inspirational. Something that gets your mind off of yourself and on to others. We really are created not just to get joy, but to give or italics it.

2. Plan another party or dinner in your home. It may be a NYE dinner, or a get-together in January. If you love to have people in your home, it?s a good thing to look ahead and keep the excitement and anticipation and outreach going.

3. Keep exercising, even if it?s just a walk every day. Exercise during the holidays is essential, as it creates physical energy, clears the mind, and flushes out toxic emotions. Try it consistently for 5 days and see if you feel a difference.

4. Clean or tidy up your house. It may be too soon to take your Christmas decorations down ? or maybe not. I particularly like to get things back in order right after Christmas. As I put away, I freshen up the wood, vacuum under the furniture, fluff the pillows, bring out a new candle.

5. Take old stuff to Good Will. There?s a tradition for New Year?s in many cultures, symbolic of getting rid of the old (and making room for new). I have 2 large boxes ready to go to Good Will this week. It feels good to purge and make yourself get rid of things you really don?t need anymore.

6. Clean the yard, patios, or work on a winter project. Getting in the outdoors, even if only an hour a day, will give a new mind set. Not only are you getting an outdoor chore done, you?re feeling a sense of accomplishment (and it?s good for the physical well being).

7. Hunker down, read good books, watch movies, curl up by the fire, take naps, don?t fight the long winter days and nights. It?s a hibernating time ? time to catch up on sleep and rest.

8. Start a new project. Our neighbor tore out their back patio area and gave us the concrete, so we?re slowly building new beds in the back side yard. It?s free, it?s improving our yard, and again, manual labor is good for the soul.

9. Change your diet. After so much good food, today is the day to do a juice fast. Time to get the sugar and rich foods out of your system and replace them with vitamins and minerals.

10. Keep busy. The best thing you can do for yourself is to do something for others. Don?t dwell on disappointments from the holidays but start anew with a fresh outlook. Look around yourself and see what condition those around you are in. It could be your neighbor that needs help, or an elderly friend.

Did I mention, hug and kiss the ones you love? (wink-wink)

Because I?m all about hospitality, invite your friends over for hot chocolate and conversation. Don?t keep to yourself or you?ll find the dark shadows of depression creeping up on you.

How about making a meal for another family, or better yet, extending an invitation for others to join you for a post-holiday meal.

It feels good to give. It?s what we?re made for.

Do you struggle with after-Christmas blues?

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Source: http://reluctantentertainer.com/2012/12/how-to-fight-after-christmas-blues/

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Toronto Real Estate and Neighbourhoods Blog | Move Smartly: Who ...

Bob Aaron in Legal

Perhaps the most fundamental principle of property ownership in Ontario is that users of the land registration system can rely on it for an accurate reflection of title. If an error occurs in the registry, the courts, or the Director of Titles should have the authority and even the obligation to correct it.

Those principles were turned upside down by a court decision in January, and stakeholders are anxiously waiting to see if the Court of Appeal will reverse the decision.

Some years ago, the owner of a large tract of land in Northern Ontario legally divided it into three parcels. At the time of the severance, a gravel road ran from the main highway across the first parcel, then the second parcel, and into the third.

In order to convert this gravel road into a registered right-of-way, the owner instructed his surveyor to prepare a reference plan of survey showing that the registered access was in the same location as the existing gravel path.

On the ground, the path takes a detour around a large rock outcrop. Unfortunately, the surveyor prepared and registered a plan describing the gravel drive with two straight lines going directly through the outcrop rather than around it.

Access to two of the three lots using the registered right-of-way would be impossible without blasting through the rock at considerable cost and inconvenience.

For many years, the owners of the three lots peacefully used the actual roadway on the assumption that it was located as described on the reference plan. Eventually, Kimberly MacIsaac, one of the owners, became aware that the registered road went through the rock rather than around it.

A dispute among the neighbours arose when construction equipment began to use the roadway. For several months in 2007 and 2008, Peggy and Gordon Salo barricaded the road with the result that there were numerous altercations, one of which involved a chain saw. The OPP was called.

With the road blocked, MacIsaac and her neighbours, the Johansens, had no means of access to their properties except over (or through) the rock outcrop.

Eventually, MacIsaac and the Johansens sued the Salos claiming rectification of the land registry by reason of the surveyor?s error. The surveyor, also named a defendant, agreed with the plaintiffs that the plan should be amended to show the road going around the rock.

The issue for the court to decide was whether it had the power to amend the registration records over the objections of the Salos. Last January, on an application by the plaintiffs, the Superior Court decided that it did not have the power to rectify the reference plan and title abstract.

The only alternative for the plaintiffs in light of this decision would be to dynamite a new road through the rock outcrop.

Speaking to hundreds of lawyers at a Law Society program last month, Toronto real estate lawyer Craig Carter said that members of the real property section of the Ontario Bar Association were ?virtually unanimous in their condemnation of the decision.?

?The MacIsaac case,? he wrote in his case commentary, ?threatens in a fundamental way the integrity of the (land registration) system and prevents the Director (of Titles) and even courts from fixing mistakes that occurred. Once registration occurs, according to (the) MacIsaac (decision), it is uncorrectable even if it is fair to do so, or unfair not to do so.?

Carter noted that the court?s decision is seen as ?a fundamental attack on the system of title recording in Ontario that we rely upon to do our jobs and protect our clients.?

In light of the court?s ruling that the Director of Titles ? and even the courts ? have no power to rectify mistakes, the Ontario Bar Association asked for and received status to intervene and present its position when the case was argued at the Ontario Court of Appeal in September.

At press time, the court?s ruling had not been released. It could be a dynamite decision.

Bob Aaron is a sole practitioner at the law firm of Aaron & Aaron in Toronto and a past board member of the Tarion Warranty Corp. Bob specializes in the areas of real estate, corporate and commercial law, estates and wills and landlord/tenant law. His?Title Page?column appears alternate Saturdays in?The Toronto Star?and alternate weeks on?Move Smartly.? E-mail?bob@aaron.ca

Source: http://www.movesmartly.com/2012/12/who-has-authority-to-correct-land-registry-errors.html

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Support Decision to Shut Down Online Gaming Accounts Used by ...

By Eileen OLoughlin

Target: New York?s Attorney General, Eric?Schneiderman

Goal: To show support of the efforts made to protect the online gaming community from sexual predators.

As technology evolves at such a pronounced rate, it sometimes?supersedes the laws and leaves dangerous loopholes and gaps in the legal system. This has been the case many times with the internet and most recently with online gaming being used as a platform for sexual predators to target children.?New York Attorney General, Eric?Schneiderman, has launched a new campaign called Game Over in which he is attempting to shut down gaming accounts used by registered sex offenders to make the gaming community a safer place for children. Sign this petition and show your support of his efforts to protect the online gaming community from sexual predators.

The BBC reports that over?2,000 accounts on?Xbox Live, World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, and?PlayStation?have been shut down as part of this new campaign. Gaming firms such as Microsoft, Blizzard, Sony, and NCSoft have all backed?Schneiderman?s efforts. The Game Over campaign is the next stage in New York?s Electronic?Securing and Targeting of Online Predators Act (e-STOP), which became law in 2008 and is one of the most successful internet safety laws in the nation. The law requires that convicted sex offenders release their email addresses, screen names, and all online aliases and identities to the state. In 2011, just three years after the law went into effect, it was reported that the e-STOP law was responsible for over 24,000 social networking accounts and profiles used by sex offenders being shut down.

As children begin to use the internet at a young age, parents quickly become out-of-touch with how online games work and the features these games offer to users.?Schneiderman stated that many parents were not even aware of the fact that many online games feature a communication channel that allows players to chat?anonymously while they play the game. This tool has been abused by sex offenders in the past who use it to contact and target children. These games should remain a safe place for children to gather and play, void of all threat of sexual depredation.?Schneiderman?s Game Over campaign is an important next step in attempting to make the internet a safer place for children. Sign this petition and support the decision to shut down online gaming accounts used by sex offenders.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear?NY Attorney General, Eric?Schneiderman,

We support your recent campaign, Game Over, that with the backing of gaming firms shuts down gaming accounts used by registered sex offenders. Online gaming communities should remain a safe escape for children to gather and play, without the threat of being contacted by a sexual predator who seeks to do them harm. Convicted sex offenders cannot gather at school playgrounds or children?s sporting events and therefore they should not be allowed to participate in online gaming forums that are often used by children.

We appreciate your efforts in keeping the laws as current as possible with new technology. The e-STOP law has been extremely effective in removing sexual predators from social networking sites and this new campaign is an important next step in protecting the online gaming community from sexual predators. It is our hope that other states will follow suit and pass their own legislation barring registered sex offenders from the freedom of the internet that should be reserved for those not convicted of sexual depredation.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit:?Robert Couse-Baker via Flickr

Source: http://forcechange.com/48245/support-decision-to-shut-down-online-gaming-accounts-used-by-sex-offenders/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=support-decision-to-shut-down-online-gaming-accounts-used-by-sex-offenders

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Police: Former Braves star accused of dragging wife, saying he wanted to kill her

ATLANTA - Police say the wife of former Atlanta Braves star Andruw Jones accused him of dragging her down a staircase, grabbing her neck and saying he wanted to kill her.

A police report obtained by The Associated Press says the fight happened around 1:30 a.m. on Christmas Day, after Nicole Jones asked her husband to help her prepare their home for Christmas morning.

Andruw Jones was free on bond after being arrested in Duluth on a battery charge, according to Gwinnett County Jail records. It wasn't known Wednesday whether he has an attorney.

Nicole Jones told officers she tried to escape upstairs, but her husband grabbed her by the ankle and dragged her downstairs, got on top of her and said, "I want to kill you," according to the report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/police-former-braves-star-andruw-jones-accused-dragging-162200363--spt.html

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Iraq: New protests break out in Sunni heartland

RAMADI, Iraq (AP) ? Witnesses say thousands of demonstrators have gathered again in a Sunni Muslim-dominated Iraqi province west of the capital to voice their opposition to the Shiite-led government.

The protesters massed Wednesday along a highway linking Baghdad with neighboring Jordan and Syria. They held banners demanding that Sunnis' rights be respected and calling for the release of Sunni prisoners in Iraqi jails.

It is the third major protest in Anbar province in less than a week.

On Friday, Iraq's government said it had arrested 10 of Finance Minister Rafia al-Issawi's bodyguards on terrorism-related charges. Al-Issawi comes from Anbar and is one of the government's most senior Sunni officials. The case is exacerbating tensions with Iraq's Sunnis, who accuse Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of targeting and marginalizing them.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-26-ML-Iraq/id-4fdcd25ac455471da4bfb94df29ffb8e

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Kazakhstan military plane crashes, killing 27

MOSCOW (AP) ? Kazakhstan's acting border service chief was among 27 people killed in a military plane crash Tuesday near a southern city, another blow to the agency after he was appointed in June to deal with the aftermath of a mass killing involving a conscript.

The Russian-made An-72 crashed at 1255 GMT (7:55 a.m. EST) about 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from the city of Shymkent near the border with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan's Committee for National Security said in a statement.

The fatalities included a crew of seven and 20 border guards, including the acting head of the ex-Soviet nation's border protection service, Col. Turganbek Stambekov, the statement said.

Without specifying further details, authorities said an investigation was opened into the crash. No cause was given, but southern Kazakhstan over recent weeks has been buffeted by winds, heavy snows and low temperatures, causing widespread flight delays.

Stambekov was appointed acting head of the border service in June, after a mass killing of 14 frontier troops in a remote Kazakh outpost near China the month before. Vladislav Chelakh, a 20-year-old conscript, was sentenced earlier this month to life in prison after being found solely responsible for the killings.

The border service has come under close scrutiny in Kazakhstan since the killings, which many argued showed the lack of readiness and professionalism among serving troops. Legislation approved Thursday by the upper house of parliament and supported by Stambekov was designed to improve the process for selecting conscripts for the service.

The Kazakh-Uzbek border stretches 2,200 kilometers (1,350 miles) of Central Asian steppes and deserts.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-25-AS-Kazakhstan-Plane-Crash/id-c260ca56c87b4a71b6e8ed7e2d74a13f

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Polar bear row splits campaigners

24 December 2012 Last updated at 19:24 ET By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent, BBC News

Wildlife campaigners are at odds over a new attempt to ban the global trade in polar bear parts.

Some activists say the market for rugs and ornaments made from the bears is driving them to extinction.

But others argue that the most pressing problem for the species is climate change and the disappearance of polar ice.

The issue will be decided at a UN wildlife conservation meeting in Thailand in March 2013.

The Humane Society International/UK says that polar bears have been brought to a tipping point by climate change but that increased hunting in recent years is pushing the species "beyond the brink".

Continue reading the main story

?Start Quote

We can't be arguing for the science when it suits us and then ignore it when it doesn't suit our case?

End Quote Dr Colman O'Criodain WWF

"The drivers for the increase in recent years in the trade in polar bear parts are the extremely worrying and rapidly increasing prices being paid on international markets for polar bear parts," said Mark Jones, executive director of the Humane Society International/UK.

He points to the fact that in the five years up to 2012 there has been a 375% increase in the number of polar bear skins offered at auction, some selling for as much as $12,000 (?7,400).

Opinions divided

Every year around 600 bears are legally killed by hunters in Canada and in the decade to 2010 more than 30,000 bear parts were traded as trophies, rugs and ornaments.

Opponents of the trade have now proposed a ban on the international sales of polar bear parts. It will be tabled at the next meeting of the Convention on the trade in endangered species (CITES) taking place in Thailand next March.

The move is being supported by the US and Russian governments. The last time an attempt was made to change the ruling in 2010, it was defeated after the UK and the EU voted against. Mark Jones believes the UK government's position is very influential and wants them to support the ban.

"We urgently need the British government to step forward and be a champion for polar bears by supporting their maximum protection," he added.

But some prominent campaigners are against changing the protected status of the bears. WWF has had a long association with the iconic species but believes that the threat from international trade is not significant compared to the threat from climate change.

"If we were tempted to support it on the basis of trade being a major threat, it is not," says Dr Colman O'Criodain, WWF's wildlife trade policy analyst.

"We have to focus on what is the major threat and not distract ourselves with a relatively minor one. We can't be arguing for the science when it suits us and then ignore it when it doesn't suit our case," he added.

Little impact

WWF are supported by other groups including Traffic International and IUCN. But Mark Jones says the Humane Society International have broad support for their position as well.

"We're members of a very big campaigning group called the species survival network and we do believe we have a very wide consensus among groups on this particular issue," he said.

Dr Colman O'Criodain says that WWF won't actively campaign against the ban and will accept it if it is voted through. But he argues that would be a bad outcome for polar bears.

"You could say that this is just a distraction factor and that it could have the effect of making people think something has been done to address the threat when the net effect will be almost negligible," he said.

Indigenous groups in Canada are actively working against the proposed ban. And they particularly resent the fact that the US is leading the charge for change.

"The American government is using the threat of climate change to justify banning the international trade in polar bear parts while utterly failing to do anything to reduce their own activities," said James Eetoolook of the Nunavut Tunngavik, a group that represents Inuit interests.

They argue that their own research in the western Hudson Bay region carried out earlier this year indicated that bear numbers were increasing rather than declining.

Campaign groups in favour of the new ban are taking comfort from the fact that some governments are still undecided.

A spokesperson for the UK's department of the environment, farming and rural affairs added:

"We are currently considering the proposals ahead of the Conference of the Parties meeting next year."

Follow Matt on Twitter.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20798136#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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Existence of next-gen consoles revealed by survey

Everyone is waiting for the next generation of consoles to kick off, be it gamers, or developers. According to Gaming Bolt, Capcom has revealed the existence of a PlayStation 4 and an Xbox 720 in a survey, by asking if gamers would be interested in buying Sony's and Microsoft's next-gen systems.

Capcom is holding a survey as it is "gathering feedback from consumers on projects they would like to see from Capcom in the DIGITAL game space (not retail).? This strongly hints towards a focus on digital distribution in the next consoles.

One can only hope that it would look as cool as this

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the PlayStation 4 could see a release in 2014 in spring or autumn. The rumours are getting fiercer thanks to reports that developers already have their hands on the developer kits for the system. Sony has been using the term Orbis when referring to the machine. There has been no official record of the company calling it a PlayStation 4.

There are set to be four versions of the Orbis kit being shipped to developers. A previous version was essentially a graphics card. The newest version is a ?modified PC?, and the third version will be the closest to the final specifications and will be sent to developers in January.

The Orbis, according to VG247, is based on the AMD A10 APU series. An APU ? which stands for Accelerated Processing Unit ? is a combination of a GPU and a CPU. The PS4?s hardware is ?based on A10 system and base platform?.

One of the biggest changes coming to the system is in the form of the interface. According to the source, the new interface will allow you to go anywhere while playing a game. This is not possible in the PlayStation 3 as some options require you to exit the game before using them. An example given was buying DLC from the PlayStation Store in the middle of playing a game and then seamlessly returning to play.

We had earlier reported that the next-gen console from Microsoft, rumoured to be named either the Xbox 720 or the Durango, will be seeing a release in late 2013. The rumours are also gaining momentum because of the fact that developers have already gotten their hands on devkits for the 'Durango'. This could also force Sony to unveil the next PlayStation, as again, developers have already gotten their hands on devkits. Looking at the game release schedule, and how there aren't many big titles to be released after May, this could point towards the next-gen consoles from both Sony and Microsoft being closer than we think.

Earlier this year, the developer kit for the next Xbox ? rumoured to be named the Xbox 720 ? was leaked. A supposed Xbox 720 'Durango' developer kit was posted on a developer forum and was offered to the public for $10,000. The developer kit resembles the traditional PC tower running a debug launcher, which caused many people to be cautious and sceptical about whether the prototype is authentic. EuroGamer?s Digital Foundry reached out to the source of the leak. After following up on the story with multiple developers who are working on next-gen projects, they came to the conclusion that the hardware was real.

The man who had leaked the shots, and uses the alias ?DaE?, revealed to EuroGamer that Microsoft?s next-gen gaming console will feature an eight-core processor. The next generation console is also rumoured to include support for Blu-Ray, true 1080p and native 3D output; it is expected to be around six times more powerful than the current Xbox 360.

Source: http://www.unp.me/f140/existence-of-next-gen-consoles-revealed-by-survey-203574/

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Deal of the Day ? 14? Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch Core i5 900p Ultrabook with 128GB SSD

Sunday’s LogicBUY Deal is the 14″ Lenovo?ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch Ultrabook, with prices starting at?$1,499. ?Features: Core i5-3427U up to 2.8GHz Dual-core CPU 4GB RAM 128GB SSD Carbon fiber construction 14″ 1600 X 900 display with 10-point multitouch capacitive screen HD webcam USB 3.0 and Mini DisplayPort Dolby Home Theater v4 audio 4-in-1 card reader [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/12/23/deal-of-the-day-14-lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-touch-core-i5-900p-ultrabook-with-128gb-ssd/

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South Sudan must punish those who downed U.N. helicopter: Russia

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia called on South Sudan on Saturday to punish those responsible for shooting down a U.N. helicopter, killing its four Russian crew, and take steps to ensure such incidents do not happen again.

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement named the victims and said the "tragic occurrence" in the African nation on Friday underscored the need to provide security for U.N. peacekeeping missions.

"We call on the government of South Sudan to conduct a proper investigation of the incident, to punish those responsible and undertake all measures to guarantee nothing like this happens in the future," it said.

The Mi-8 helicopter owned by Russian air charter company Nizhnevartovskavia was working under a U.N. contract on a reconnaissance mission in an area where the SPLA, South Sudan's army, has been fighting rebels led by David Yau Yau, according to a U.N. source.

The SPLA first denied it had shot down the helicopter but later said it had mistaken it for a Sudanese plane supplying rebels, and expressed regret.

The Russian statement said that the downing "raises the issue of the provision of security of U.N. peacekeeping missions with new acuteness", and that host nations must take the issue extremely seriously.

(Writing by Steve Gutterman; Editing by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya and Richard Meares)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/south-sudan-must-punish-those-downed-u-n-113420743.html

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Obama on Inouye: Another Interesting Speech (Atlantic Politics Channel)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/272483953?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Notre Dame's Kelly wins AP coach of the year

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2012, file photo, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly smiles on the sideline during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. For leading the Fighting Irish to the BCS championship game for the first time, Kelly was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2012, file photo, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly smiles on the sideline during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. For leading the Fighting Irish to the BCS championship game for the first time, Kelly was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)

FILE - In this April 21, 2012, file photo, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly leads his team onto the field for their spring NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. For leading the Fighting Irish to the BCS championship game for the first time, Kelly was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond, File)

FILE - This Oct. 20, 2012 file photo shows Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly checking the replay screen during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Brigham Young in South Bend, Ind. For leading the Fighting Irish to the BCS championship game for the first time, Kelly was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2012, file photo, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly shouts during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. For leading the Fighting Irish to the BCS championship game for the first time, Kelly was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2012, file photo, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly watches as quarterback Charlie Fiessinger (17) and wide receiver Luke Massa (14) signal in a play during an NCAA college football game against Purdue in South Bend, Ind. For leading the Fighting Irish to the BCS championship game for the first time, Kelly was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) ? After two seasons as Notre Dame coach, Brian Kelly decided he wasn't spending enough time doing the best part of his job: coaching players.

Kelly changed that in 2012, and he shuffled his staff. Then, with Kelly more in tune to his team and the assistants in sync with the head coach, Notre Dame went from unranked to top-ranked.

For leading the Fighting Irish to the BCS championship for the first time, Kelly was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year.

"When you're talking about the coach of the year, there's so many things that go into it," Kelly said. "I know it's an individual award and it goes to one guy, but the feelings that I get from it is you're building the right staff, that you've got the right players and to me that is a validation of the program. That you put together the right business plan."

Kelly received 25 votes from the AP college football poll panel. Penn State's Bill O'Brien was second with 14 votes. Stanford's David Shaw (four), Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin (three), Kansas State's Bill Snyder (two) and Alabama's Nick Saban (one) also received votes.

Kelly is the first Notre Dame coach to win the AP award, which started in 1998.

Of course, the Irish haven't played for a national championship since 1988 and spent much of the past two decades trying to find a coach who could restore a program that was becoming a relic of its proud past.

It turns out Kelly was the answer.

He arrived in 2010 after two decades spent climbing the coaching ladder and winning big everywhere he worked. But in the world of college football, Notre Dame is a long way from Grand Valley State ? where Kelly won Division II national titles ? and Cincinnati, his previous stop, for that matter.

"I think the job tends to distract you," Kelly said earlier this week. "There are a lot of things that pull you away from the primary reason why you want to be head coach of Notre Dame, and that is graduate your players and play for a national championship.

"Now, to do that you have to have the pulse of your football team and you've got to have relationships with your players. If you're already going around the country doing other things other than working with your football team, it's hard to have the pulse of your team."

Kelly said he made a point of spending more time with the team this year.

"That's why I got into this. I want to develop 18 to 21 year olds. My development as the head coach at Notre Dame this year has been about getting back to why you would want to coach college players. You want to learn about them; you want to know their strengths and weaknesses; you want to help them with leadership skills; you want to help them when they're not feeling confident in their ability.

"For me, that is why it's been the most enjoyable year as the head coach at Notre Dame, is that I got a chance to spend more time with my team."

The first step, though, toward a successful 2012 season for Notre Dame can be traced to Feb. 10. On that day Kelly announced his coaching staff. The most notable change was moving Chuck Martin from defensive backs coach to offensive coordinator to fill the hole left when Charley Molnar became the coach of Massachusetts.

Martin was defensive coordinator for Kelly at Grand Valley State, then replaced his boss as head coach of the Division II power when Kelly was hired by Central Michigan after the 2003 season.

The move might have seemed odd to some, but Kelly, who built his reputation on offensive acumen, wanted a right-hand man who understood exactly what he wanted.

To replace Martin on the defensive side, Bob Elliot was hired from Iowa State to coach safeties. Harry Hiestand was hired away from Tennessee to replace offensive line coach Ed Warinner, and co-defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, who had been with Kelly at Central Michigan and Cincinnati, was promoted to assistant head coach.

"The voice of your coordinators has got to be in lock step with the head coach," Kelly said. "Now both of these guys have been with me a long time.

"Chuck Martin on offense, I wanted a voice that went back with me to Grand Valley State. And with Bob Diaco someone that goes back to Central Michigan with me. So yeah, it was important to get that voice right."

The last change Kelly needed to make involved Xs and Os. Kelly wanted to win now, but with a first-year starter and redshirt freshmen at quarterback. He had to adjust his style.

Out went the push-the-pace offense that had helped him reach two BCS games at Cincinnati. In came a more deliberate approach.

"We conduct the game differently," Martin said. "We set out how we thought this team could win with the personnel we had and with the young quarterback. Most people say 'OK, you're going to play the young guy, you're playing for the future.' We just went 12-0 with the young guy and he got yanked four times.

"The rest of the world wants 12-0 with no warts. We have plenty of warts. Somehow we're 12-0. Just goes to show the job (Kelly) did that we made it work week in and week out with what we have."

Kelly's ability and willingness to adapt have been his greatest strengths.

"He made some of his biggest changes ever in the last year. Going away from some things that really were his bread and butter, and 12-0 later, the guy did it again," Martin said.

"He saw what Notre Dame football needed in 2012 and he got to know this university."

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphdrussoap

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-19-AP%20Coach%20of%20the%20Year/id-a703343adaa54b209e7e2f253199e8a9

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Fukuoka Now's Guide to Green Tea | Fukuoka Now

When is the best time to drink tea? In Japan, it?s the beverage of choice to wake up in the morning and drink after meals, or during work. This month Fukuoka Now focuses on green tea, the national drink that is an essential part of Japan?s food culture. Access our website to learn about the drink?s history, varieties, how to enjoy it, how to store it, its benefits, and where to buy it in Fukuoka.

From China to Fukuoka, and then Japan
The primary tea varieties are green tea, oolong tea, and the red pekoe tea. They are all derived from the same tea plant, but result from different production processes. There are different ways to brew tea and enjoy the different flavors, aromas, and colors. For example, green tea in Japan is generally divided into the leafy sencha and the powdered matcha. There are also several varieties that differ with the cultivation and production processes, including sencha, the coarser bancha, and the refined gyokuro. Tea was originally grown in China?s Yunnan Province, and it was brought to Japan after the Nara Period. In 1192, Eisai brought tea seeds and sowed them on Mt. Chikuzen Sefuri on his return. This tea was transplanted to Shofuku-ji, a Zen temple in Hakata. After being cultivated in Fukuoka, its use spread nationwide to become the national beverage.

Yame tea- the top crop
Tea is cultivated throughout Japan today in such locations as Uji and Shizuoka. There are several well-known production areas in Kyushu, too, including Yame, Ureshino, and Chiran. It is grown in areas with a large temperature differential, and the most renowned plantations in Fukuoka are in Yame. The tea plantations are located in the basins of the Yabe and Hoshino Rivers. Fukuoka is the main production region for gyokuro tea in Japan, accounting for half the volume nationwide. Both the Yame sencha and the gyokuro are known for a rich flavor with little bitterness or astringency. The tea is harvested from the end of April to the beginning of May. Many Japanese associate the tea?s color and aroma with the advent of summer.

Enjoy the national beverage
Tea is emblematic of the Japanese food culture. Each variety has its own characteristics, and drinking it at the best temperature, in the proper size cup, at just the right time, enables the distinctive aroma and flavor to be savored to the fullest. You don?t have to go to all the trouble that matcha requires, but you?ll be sure to rediscover tea delights by carefully brewing ordinary tea. The rest of the world may enjoy red pekoe tea, coffee, or cocoa at tea time, but take a relaxed cup of green tea and see for yourself how enjoyable it is.

Tea varieties
The flavor, aroma, and color of tea differ with the methods of cultivation and processing. These can be divided into several different types.

? Jyokyu Sencha (High quality sencha): This is the highest quality sencha. The tea is picked early in spring and is noted for its refreshing aroma.
? Bancha: This lower quality sencha is harvested in summer after it has been drenched in sunshine. It is characterized by a fresh flavor without sweetness.
? Genmaicha: This is a combination of sencha, bancha, and roasted brown rice. Both mochi rice and nonglutinous rice are used, and different proportions of the ingredients create different flavors.
? Gyokuro: This is the highest quality tea in Japan. The new leaves are cultivated by blocking off direct sunlight. It has a rich sweetness with no astringency at all.

? Hojicha: Hojicha has a unique aroma resulting from roasting sencha and bancha at high temperatures. It has a full-bodied flavor and little caffeine, so is perfect for children.
? Konacha: The powdered tea generated from the production process for sencha and gyokuro is used to make this product. Most of the tea served in sushi shops is powdered tea.
? Kukicha: This tea is made from the stalks removed during the process of making sencha. The stalks of gyokuro, called karigane, are prized by tea lovers.
? Matcha: As with gyokuro, the new tea is cultivated by covering it from the sun. It is dried after steaming. The stalks are removed, and it is crushed to a fine powder in a pestle.

Drink it at home
The proper way to brew new tea
Hotter water brings out the aroma of the tea, while slowly pouring in slightly cooler water will bring out the sweetness of higher quality tea. Aroma is the critical element for new tea, so use hotter water for a short period of time.
1. First, pour boiling water into the pot and wait for it to cool. This also will warm the pot.
2. Then pour the hot water from the pot into the cup and let it cool to 80 degrees. This also will warm the cup.
3. Put about five or six grams of tea into the warmed pot to brew about two cups. The photo shows two cups? worth of tea.
4. Pour the water from the cup back into the pot. Let it sit for about 40 to 50 seconds to bring out the flavor.
5. Finally, slosh the tea around evenly and pour out to the last drop. The second batch tastes the best.
*The astringency emerges with the second cup, so pour out the hot water right away as soon as you put it in the pot.

Use the best water
The water used for brewing will affect the flavor and aroma of even the best tea. We recommend using mineral water (soft, not hard water), or tap water boiled once to remove the chlorine. See which works best for you!

The proper way to store tea
It?s best to store tea in a cool, dark place to eliminate the effect of heat and light. Store in a tight container to prevent contamination by odors.

Tea box: Here are the implements you need for delicious Japanese tea.
Kyusu: Hot water is poured into this utensil to brew tea. Small pots are used for sencha and gyokuro, and large pots are used for bancha.
Chazutsu: This receptacle is used to store the loose tea. It is a cylindrical tube that comes in different sizes and designs. The caddy selected reflects the individual?s personal style.
Chasaji: This utensil is used to scoop the tea leaves out of the caddy. They are made from different materials, including bamboo, wood, or stainless steel.

The benefits of green tea
Tea is a perennial shrub in the Theaceae family. Red pekoe tea is produced by fully fermenting the leaves, oolong tea is produced by partially fermenting the leaves, and green tea is not fermented at all. The tea leaves are fermented as soon as they?re picked, and oxidize. Green tea is not fermented, so it preserves the nutrients, including catechin, carotene, and vitamins. Here are some of green tea?s health benefits.

1. Prevents tooth decay and bad breath
Catechin limits the growth of the bacteria causing tooth decay and freshens the mouth. This effect is best achieved by drinking it after meals.
2. A pick-me-up that sobers you up
The caffeine provides a stimulus and clears the head. This effect is best achieved by using hotter water.
3. Effectively burns body fat
The caffeine promotes the metabolism of fat. Drinking green tea and engaging in physical activity burns up body fat.
4. Beautifies the skin
Drinking tea maintains the skin?s elasticity, and the vitamin C strengthens the capillaries. It also improves the skin?s ability to retain warmth.

5. Prevents hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure
Tea reduces the cholesterol in the blood and prevents high blood pressure.
6. Protects against colds
Green tea strengthens the body?s defenses against infection, so using it as a gargle protects against viruses.
7. Prevents aging
Tea?s strong antibacterial properties limit oxidation in the body and maintains a pH balance by promoting the body?s alkalinity.
8. Prevents food poisoning
The catechin has a powerful effect on the bacteria causing food poisoning. It also regulates intestinal functions. It was a wise decision to pair sushi with green tea.

Surprising ways to use green tea
The new tea picked at the end of April is generally called ichiban tea. This is followed by niban and sanban tea, and the flavor gradually becomes that associated with bancha. Therefore, tea is cultivated and consumed throughout the year. It is not only drunk, however. There are other ways to obtain the benefits of tea by using the old leaves. Here are some other ways to enjoy it.

? Soak in a tea bath! Put tea leaves in a cotton cloth and put into the tub. Tea is rich in vitamin C, so it will smooth rough skin and restore its luster. It also will help warm the body.
? Use old leaves for smooth white skin. After washing the face, put old tea leaves in water and splash it on your face to get the benefits of the vitamin C.
? Grandma used it to help with housecleaning. Putting old tea leaves on tatami mats will clean hard-to-reach dirt in between the strands.
? Prevents rust. Wiping steel pots or vases with old tea leaves will create a tannin layer that prevents rust.
? Removes refrigerator odors. Putting old dried tea leaves in the refrigerator will eliminate unpleasant odors. Good for cutting board odors too! Pour hot water on old tea leaves and spread it on a cutting board to kill germs and remove odors.
? Use it as incense. Heating tea leaves in an incense burner will produce an enjoyable fragrance. It eliminates odors and has a relaxing effect.

A round-up of the shops with the best tea
Fukuoka City has several shops specializing in tea, including long-established tea merchants and new cafe style shops. Just follow your nose!

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1. Tagashira Chaho ????
Linked to the authentic Japanese tea house Tagashira Tea (founded 1930), this new cafe is a green tea lover?s dream come true! Using luxurious Yame matcha and roasted green tea from Kyoto, Tagashira Chaho?s menu features an array of tea flavored parfaits, shakes and soft creams, along with 16 types of regular hot tea. Take out available, but we recommend enjoying the shop?s atmosphere and cheery staff.

Category: Cafe
Address: B1F IMS Fukuoka, 1-7-11, Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
Tel.: 092-726-6533
Open: 10:00~20:00
Web: http://www.yuicha.jp/
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2. Nonaka no Yamecha
This shop in the Kamikawabata shopping area along the Hakata River promenade specializes in yamecha. It features the finest Japanese tea selected by the proprietor. It also offers the utensils needed to make and drink tea. It?s a great place to go for gifts.

Category: Tea shop
Address: 11-283 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata-ku
Phone: 092-271-0452
Open: Weekdays 9:30~18:00, Sat. 10:00~18:00
Closed: Sun., Hol., New Year?s Hol., Obon.
Web: http://www.teashop.co.jp/aboutus/index.html
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3. Tea Shop Hoji-ya
Located on the B2F floor of Hakata Riverain, you can buy top grade leaves from all over Japan at this tea shop. Hoji-ya secializes in hojicha roasted tea, and kikicha, an original blend tea for health and beauty. You can also purchase delicious Japanese sweets to complement your tea. Many varieties of dorayaki (beans paste sweets) including matcha (green tea), and other Japanese flavors available. There?s also a small cafe space to enjoy your purchased sweets with free hot tea.?

Category: Tea & sweets shop/cafe space
Address: B2F Hakata Riverain, 3-1 Shimokawabata-machi, Hakata-ku
Phone: 092-282-3734
Open: 10:30~19:30
Web: http://www.em3.jp/floorguide/b2f/houjiya/index.html
http://www.hinosabo.jp/user_data/shop.php?PHPSESSID=qe8irqanacmq5mr2tu208brf75
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4. Hakata Sakura
This tea shop sells high quality leaves selected from across Kyushu, including yamecha from Yame Prefecture. The shop?s exterior resembles a traditional Japanese style house. Inside, you?ll find tea leaves, kyusu (small teacupts) and yunomi (cups), along with many colorful patterned tea storage tins ? a great souvenir!

Category: Tea Shop
Address: 1-24-14 Hakataekimae, Hakata-ku
Phone: 092-431-3272
Open: 10:00~19:00
Web: http://www.hakatasakura.com/index.html / http://www.facebook.com/west24764
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Model info: This month?s cover was shot at Tagashira Chaho (B1F IMS), with model Paige Connell from Seattle, USA. Paige was in Japan on a trip with her father, and brother Nick (pictured below). While in Fukuoka, Paige studied Japanese at Genki Jacs language school in Akasaka (http://genkijacs.com)

If you?re interested in becoming a FN cover model, apply here: http://bit.ly/fncovermodel.

Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn169, Jan. 2013)

Source: http://fukuoka-now.com/2012/12/greenteaguide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=greenteaguide

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