The excitement for Super Bowl XLVII is building. Thousands of fans have flown in to south Louisiana for the week-long party - many of them on private jets. That it means business is taking off for smaller airports.
The party in the Big Easy is already in full swing, but those coming to town on private planes will be flying in non-stop all weekend long.
"When New Orleans fills up, and Lake Front fills up then it will be Hammond that they start sending aircraft to. And we've already been notified that they're looking to send 40 aircraft our way, which puts us up to about 117 aircraft," said Jason Ball, director or Hammond Regional Airport.
Ball says this is a big deal for smaller regional airport; but he says he and his crew have everything under control.
"We have an air traffic control tower that was brought in just for this event," said Ball. "Ours won't be done until 2014, so the state and the guard brought one in from Alexandria."
Pilot and aircraft owner Erin Pierce says the last time the Super Bowl was in New Orleans, airports around the state did get some overflow travelers but nothing like what they are about see in the next few days.
"There's just a lot of options for people to get into aircraft...private aircraft to go flying instead of using the airlines. And the airline's less pleasant if you don't want to take your shoes off and go through a full body scanner," said Pierce.
With all of the excitement behind the big game, its festivities and all New Orleans has to offer tourists, Ball also hopes this is an opportunity to promote the Hammond area to folks from all over the world.
"We'll get the FBO's to put in the air craft, some information about our area...about the entire Northshore area...That way when they are sitting on the runway, waiting to take off, they have a little something to read and possibly can look at a long-term commitment or a long-term relationship," said Ball.
There are rumors that a few celebrity guests could be on some of those flights. If this is true, Ball says their names will not be released, but he will not be passing up the chance to take a picture of a star.Co-Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said ad nauseum that the social network is becoming a mobile company. It appears that the statement has finally come true. As announced during Wednesday’s fourth quarter earnings report, Facebook now has more people accessing the site via phones and tablets than on desktop. Zuckerberg said (but did not elaborate) during the earnings call that the company is developing mobile-first projects that will make the experience better for both users and advertisers.
Of Facebook’s 1-billion plus users, 618 million check Facebook from their phone or tablet. Even more interestingly, Facebook announced that 157 million people (monthly active users) only access Facebook from their mobile device, and that number has grown quite a bit over the past year. In the fourth quarter of 2011, only 58 million users were mobile-only:
People aren’t just checking their Facebook updates on their mobile devices. They’re engaging rapidly.
According to comScore statistics in December, Facebook is the top driver of awareness of new mobile app installs. Among those who learn about new apps on Facebook, 48 percent click directly from the Facebook app to download new mobile apps. Zuckerberg said that between the Facebook mobile app and Instagram, Facebook now accounts for more than a quarter of all mobile activity.
I think more people are starting to understand that mobile is a great opportunity for us. Mobile is the perfect device for Facebook for three reasons — it allows us to reach more people, get more engagement from the people who we reach, and I think we’ll also be able to make more money for each minute that people spend with us on their mobile devices. … The next thing we’re going to do is get really good at building mobile-first experiences. That’s going to be a big thing for us this year. If we do this well, we should be able to bring even more relevant content and connections to more people and continue to deepen their engagement.
Of course, while mobile is a great platform for bringing Facebook users together from all over the world, it also has to be a viable way to advertise. Facebook proved that late in the fiscal year. The company’s mobile advertising revenue rose from 14 percent in the third quarter to 23 percent, nearly a quarter of the overall ad revenue intake, in the fourth quarter.
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg pointed to a successful Facebook mobile campaign that Walmart ran over the holidays, which delivered 50 million ads to potential customers. Sandberg also noted that more brands are using Facebook to launch new products, generating buzz that leads to sales. Michael Kors utilized the social network to launch a new line of sneakers. The company said that many of the shoes sold out online and in stores, and Michael Kors achieved a 16-point increase in awareness in the new sneaker among the 36 million people that saw the campaign on Facebook. That’s basically 5.8 million new people in the brand’s target audience who are now aware of those kicks.
We’re continuing to take advantage of the significant opportunity we have on mobile. As we said before, approximately 23 percent of our advertising revenue now comes from mobile. In addition, 65 percent of our advertisers are now using ads in news feed, which run on both desktop and mobile, up from 50 percent at the end of the third quarter. Marketers are recognizing that our news feed is the most efficient and effective place to reach their customers. … Clients also recognize that because our users share their real identities on Facebook, and because they are logged in when they use Facebook on mobile, we have a unique ability to serve advertising that people find relevant. This is an important competitive advantage for us, relative to other mobile platforms.
2013年1月30日星期三
2013年1月28日星期一
when a piece of the boat fell off
Police and firefighters are hailing Marco Island teenager Logan Gross as a hero after saving the life of his best friend, who had in turn jumped into the lake at Mackle Park to try to save a middle-aged man from drowning.
It was all the more courageous because Gross is wearing a medical support boot after injuring a leg in a soccer game.
Gross, 14, attributes SCUBA and free diving training to the successful rescue of his young friend.
The older man, according to Gross, had entered the chilly water of the lake to retrieve a section of a radio controlled boat he was operating that had come loose. He was later found by rescue personnel and airlifted out of the area after apparently not surfacing for about an hour.
Gross and his friend Tyler Melton, both 7th Grade students at Marco Island Charter Middle School, were hanging out at the lake Monday afternoon after school.
“We were playing on a Kindle Fire and my iPhone,” Gross said after the incident. “We then went down to the lake and were watching a (family) friend of Tyler testing out a remote controlled boat.”
Gross said when a piece of the boat fell off, the man said he wanted to find the piece, so he emptied his pockets, took off his shirt and shoes, and entered the water.
“I asked Tyler if he (the man) was a good swimmer,” Gross said, and Melton said yes, he was, and that he swims all the time.”
After a while, Gross noticed the man’s head “flopping a bit” in the water, and became worried he was drowning. He told Melton what he thought.
“Tyler went in, and was maybe 20 feet from him, but then he started turning pale, and asked me for help.
"I pulled my boot off, and and just ran and dived in,” Gross said. “I told Tyler ‘go on your back, go on your back.’ This was from my SCUBA experience. I turned him on his back and crossed his arms across his chest, and then began to swim back with him.”
Gross said all the time, he was thinking about is training.
“I didn’t even feel my leg,” he said.
After the ordeal, Gross spoke with police officers and firefighters. Later, Officer Matt Gordon of the Marco Police Department pulled him aside, told him what a great job he had done, and suggested that he go home to his family and try to relax.
Gross’ buddy Tyler Melton said simply of his friend: “I owe him, big time.”
In the meantime, the condition of the airlifted man remains unknown.
It was all the more courageous because Gross is wearing a medical support boot after injuring a leg in a soccer game.
Gross, 14, attributes SCUBA and free diving training to the successful rescue of his young friend.
The older man, according to Gross, had entered the chilly water of the lake to retrieve a section of a radio controlled boat he was operating that had come loose. He was later found by rescue personnel and airlifted out of the area after apparently not surfacing for about an hour.
Gross and his friend Tyler Melton, both 7th Grade students at Marco Island Charter Middle School, were hanging out at the lake Monday afternoon after school.
“We were playing on a Kindle Fire and my iPhone,” Gross said after the incident. “We then went down to the lake and were watching a (family) friend of Tyler testing out a remote controlled boat.”
Gross said when a piece of the boat fell off, the man said he wanted to find the piece, so he emptied his pockets, took off his shirt and shoes, and entered the water.
“I asked Tyler if he (the man) was a good swimmer,” Gross said, and Melton said yes, he was, and that he swims all the time.”
After a while, Gross noticed the man’s head “flopping a bit” in the water, and became worried he was drowning. He told Melton what he thought.
“Tyler went in, and was maybe 20 feet from him, but then he started turning pale, and asked me for help.
"I pulled my boot off, and and just ran and dived in,” Gross said. “I told Tyler ‘go on your back, go on your back.’ This was from my SCUBA experience. I turned him on his back and crossed his arms across his chest, and then began to swim back with him.”
Gross said all the time, he was thinking about is training.
“I didn’t even feel my leg,” he said.
After the ordeal, Gross spoke with police officers and firefighters. Later, Officer Matt Gordon of the Marco Police Department pulled him aside, told him what a great job he had done, and suggested that he go home to his family and try to relax.
Gross’ buddy Tyler Melton said simply of his friend: “I owe him, big time.”
In the meantime, the condition of the airlifted man remains unknown.
2013年1月22日星期二
The third Sunday in January coincided with the Capricorn Cup
As he waited for Fr Leo Lavelle to emerge from the sacristy of St Gabriel’s Church in Dollymount, Vinny Fitzpatrick was subconsciously tip-tapping his left foot, a clear sign he was agitated.
The burly bus driver had allowed a 30-minute turnaround for the christening of his grandson, Little Vinny, in between two live Premier League games on Sky Sports and was anxious to return to his favoured armchair for Spurs against Manchester United.
(That he had invested 20 at 16 to 1 on Robin Van Persie to score first in a drawn game was something he wouldn’t admit to his daughter Niamh, a sports reporter with the Manchester Evening News and ardent Manchester City fan.)
Niamh, the product of a one-night stand in Rathmines in January 1982 and who Vinny hadn’t known of until two years ago, had flown in that morning with Little Vinny and her partner, Roberto Rossi, an ex-pro with Bury, Accrington and Morecambe, now with the PFA.
On Vinny’s instructions, Roberto had brought a pair of all-weather sports shoes with him. The third Sunday in January coincided with the Capricorn Cup, a seven-a-side football event between the Bar Flies of Foley’s and the Lounge Lizards.
It was played on the all-weather pitches beside Clontarf Road railway station and traditionally marked the end of purgatory for those who’d given up the jar for the New Year as it preceded a right knees-up in Foley’s.
As player-manager of the Bar Flies, who’d lost the previous three years, Vinny hadn’t thought twice about smuggling in a banger.
As the tall ex-pro from Calabria flanked Niamh in the church, Vinny felt were there shades of Andrea Pirlo about him, with his long flowing locks and designer stubble.
At last, Leo Lavelle appeared. He had two altar boys following him, one of whom was Brennie’s son, Benny, who was as daft about Manchester United as his old man.
The service should have been over in a jiffy but Leo droned on about the importance of renewal and the purifying waters of life.
Little Vinny played a blinder. He was as quiet as a church mouse, even when Vinny, as godfather, accidentally whacked his noggin off the marble baptismal font.
Vinny, a huge softie, allowed himself a tear or two as he posed for a family snap afterwards, holding little Vinny, flanked by Angie, her daughter Emma, their smartly-dressed twins, Oisín and Aoife, and his stunning grown-up daughter, Niamh.
As they left St Gabriel’s, Vinny took care to give the altar boys, standing sentry at the doors, a fiver each.
His mood, already sunny, was helped when Benny whispered to him. “United, one-nil. Van Persie.”
Vinny nodded in approval; the day was getting better.
Indeed it was. Some two hours later, Vinny was 320 to the good and the Bar Flies were cruising towards Capricorn Cup glory with Roberto Rossi in a starring role.
In his mid-30s and in fair nick, Roberto was like a thoroughbred among a field of drays. He covered every inch of the park, didn’t put a pass astray and chipped in with two goals and two assists.
So superior were the Bar Flies that Vinny even allowed himself a late cameo as fly-keeper.
Near the end, he played a one-two with Rossi, surged into the territory of the Lounge Lizards and let rip with a right-foot thunderbolt that narrowly missed the target.
The burly bus driver had allowed a 30-minute turnaround for the christening of his grandson, Little Vinny, in between two live Premier League games on Sky Sports and was anxious to return to his favoured armchair for Spurs against Manchester United.
(That he had invested 20 at 16 to 1 on Robin Van Persie to score first in a drawn game was something he wouldn’t admit to his daughter Niamh, a sports reporter with the Manchester Evening News and ardent Manchester City fan.)
Niamh, the product of a one-night stand in Rathmines in January 1982 and who Vinny hadn’t known of until two years ago, had flown in that morning with Little Vinny and her partner, Roberto Rossi, an ex-pro with Bury, Accrington and Morecambe, now with the PFA.
On Vinny’s instructions, Roberto had brought a pair of all-weather sports shoes with him. The third Sunday in January coincided with the Capricorn Cup, a seven-a-side football event between the Bar Flies of Foley’s and the Lounge Lizards.
It was played on the all-weather pitches beside Clontarf Road railway station and traditionally marked the end of purgatory for those who’d given up the jar for the New Year as it preceded a right knees-up in Foley’s.
As player-manager of the Bar Flies, who’d lost the previous three years, Vinny hadn’t thought twice about smuggling in a banger.
As the tall ex-pro from Calabria flanked Niamh in the church, Vinny felt were there shades of Andrea Pirlo about him, with his long flowing locks and designer stubble.
At last, Leo Lavelle appeared. He had two altar boys following him, one of whom was Brennie’s son, Benny, who was as daft about Manchester United as his old man.
The service should have been over in a jiffy but Leo droned on about the importance of renewal and the purifying waters of life.
Little Vinny played a blinder. He was as quiet as a church mouse, even when Vinny, as godfather, accidentally whacked his noggin off the marble baptismal font.
Vinny, a huge softie, allowed himself a tear or two as he posed for a family snap afterwards, holding little Vinny, flanked by Angie, her daughter Emma, their smartly-dressed twins, Oisín and Aoife, and his stunning grown-up daughter, Niamh.
As they left St Gabriel’s, Vinny took care to give the altar boys, standing sentry at the doors, a fiver each.
His mood, already sunny, was helped when Benny whispered to him. “United, one-nil. Van Persie.”
Vinny nodded in approval; the day was getting better.
Indeed it was. Some two hours later, Vinny was 320 to the good and the Bar Flies were cruising towards Capricorn Cup glory with Roberto Rossi in a starring role.
In his mid-30s and in fair nick, Roberto was like a thoroughbred among a field of drays. He covered every inch of the park, didn’t put a pass astray and chipped in with two goals and two assists.
So superior were the Bar Flies that Vinny even allowed himself a late cameo as fly-keeper.
Near the end, he played a one-two with Rossi, surged into the territory of the Lounge Lizards and let rip with a right-foot thunderbolt that narrowly missed the target.
2013年1月20日星期日
who is director of a design and communication firm
A mentally challenged 28-year-old man, who lost his way, was forced to spend two nights under sky after Gurgaon cops spotted him but instead of helping him asked an auto rickshaw driver to drop him near Sikanderpur Metro station.
Gaurav Swami went missing on Thursday after he lost his way while cycling near his house in Rosewood City in Sector 49. He was found in miserable condition by his family members near IFFCO Chowk on Saturday.
Gaurav's family members, who are shocked by police apathy towards a differently-abled, are wondering why cops in PCR van did not alert control room after spotting him with a security guard of Sun City on Friday night. Meanwhile, Gaurav is in state of shock and unable to narrate clearly where he spent the two nights and how did he manage to go from one place from another.
His cousin Sudhir John Horo, who is director of a design and communication firm, told TOI, "Gaurav lost his father last month and he has been living with me since then. We have hired an attendant who takes care of him all the time."
On Thursday, Gaurav managed to go out on main road while his attendant got busy with some other thing. When he did not see him around, he started searching for him. "One of our neighbours saw Gaurav near the colony gate and immediately informed us but we could not locate him. After which we lodged a missing reportat Sadar police station," he said.
With the non-cooperative attitude of Sadar cops, who were initially not willing to register a report, I was not sure whether they would take any serious effort to find Gaurav, Horo said. I therefore, uploaded Garuav's photo on Facebook and Twitter and got pamphlets distributed to shopskeepers and many auto drivers, he added.
For two nights, Thursday and Friday, Gaurav's family did everything to find their missing kin, but could not get any information. On Saturday morning, they got a call from a guard who claimed to have seen Gaurav near the main entrance gate. "Gaurav was here on Friday night but we could not understand what he was saying due to unclear speech. Later, a PCR van sent him to Sikanderpur Metro station in an auto rickshaw," the guard informed Horo.
Finally on Saturday, an auto driver called the number given in the pamphlet and informed Gaurav's family that he saw Gaurav near IFFCO Chowk petrol pump. Following this, his familyreached the spot and took Gaurav home. Gaurav's family has also alleged that police tried to pressurize the guard later so that he doesn't take the cop's name.
DCP (crime) Maheshwar Dayal said, "I am not aware about the case as of now but I will get the details and take action accordingly," he said. Despite our repeated attempts, commissioner of police KK Sindhu could not be contacted.
Hamilton claims Armstrong is still not admitting to testing positive at a cycling race 12 years ago and that the Union Cycliste Internationale helped cover up the result.
Last week, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong said the UCI never made incriminating evidence disappear at the Tour of Switzerland in 2001. His denial was backed by UCI president Pat McQuaid last week.
However, evidence Armstrong did test positive in 2001 exists in an affidavit put together by the US Anti-Doping Agency.
The evidence, as told by Hamilton, explains how Armstrong said he'd tested positive at the Tour of Switzerland and his understanding that "his (Armstrong's) people had been in touch with the UCI, they were going to have a meeting and everything would be OK."
And a former director of a Swiss drug testing laboratory, Martial Saugy, told USADA boss Travis Tygart the UCI told him to meet with Armstrong's team boss s Johan Bruyneel to explain to different ways to blood dope without raising alarms.
Gaurav Swami went missing on Thursday after he lost his way while cycling near his house in Rosewood City in Sector 49. He was found in miserable condition by his family members near IFFCO Chowk on Saturday.
Gaurav's family members, who are shocked by police apathy towards a differently-abled, are wondering why cops in PCR van did not alert control room after spotting him with a security guard of Sun City on Friday night. Meanwhile, Gaurav is in state of shock and unable to narrate clearly where he spent the two nights and how did he manage to go from one place from another.
His cousin Sudhir John Horo, who is director of a design and communication firm, told TOI, "Gaurav lost his father last month and he has been living with me since then. We have hired an attendant who takes care of him all the time."
On Thursday, Gaurav managed to go out on main road while his attendant got busy with some other thing. When he did not see him around, he started searching for him. "One of our neighbours saw Gaurav near the colony gate and immediately informed us but we could not locate him. After which we lodged a missing reportat Sadar police station," he said.
With the non-cooperative attitude of Sadar cops, who were initially not willing to register a report, I was not sure whether they would take any serious effort to find Gaurav, Horo said. I therefore, uploaded Garuav's photo on Facebook and Twitter and got pamphlets distributed to shopskeepers and many auto drivers, he added.
For two nights, Thursday and Friday, Gaurav's family did everything to find their missing kin, but could not get any information. On Saturday morning, they got a call from a guard who claimed to have seen Gaurav near the main entrance gate. "Gaurav was here on Friday night but we could not understand what he was saying due to unclear speech. Later, a PCR van sent him to Sikanderpur Metro station in an auto rickshaw," the guard informed Horo.
Finally on Saturday, an auto driver called the number given in the pamphlet and informed Gaurav's family that he saw Gaurav near IFFCO Chowk petrol pump. Following this, his familyreached the spot and took Gaurav home. Gaurav's family has also alleged that police tried to pressurize the guard later so that he doesn't take the cop's name.
DCP (crime) Maheshwar Dayal said, "I am not aware about the case as of now but I will get the details and take action accordingly," he said. Despite our repeated attempts, commissioner of police KK Sindhu could not be contacted.
Hamilton claims Armstrong is still not admitting to testing positive at a cycling race 12 years ago and that the Union Cycliste Internationale helped cover up the result.
Last week, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong said the UCI never made incriminating evidence disappear at the Tour of Switzerland in 2001. His denial was backed by UCI president Pat McQuaid last week.
However, evidence Armstrong did test positive in 2001 exists in an affidavit put together by the US Anti-Doping Agency.
The evidence, as told by Hamilton, explains how Armstrong said he'd tested positive at the Tour of Switzerland and his understanding that "his (Armstrong's) people had been in touch with the UCI, they were going to have a meeting and everything would be OK."
And a former director of a Swiss drug testing laboratory, Martial Saugy, told USADA boss Travis Tygart the UCI told him to meet with Armstrong's team boss s Johan Bruyneel to explain to different ways to blood dope without raising alarms.
2013年1月16日星期三
mater pulled off The Play in the Big Game
What most people now call a Hail Mary, the Falcons in those days called a Big Ben. Bartkowski, the NFL's No. 1 draft pick in 1975, launched a pass down the left side to about the 5-yard line. It was deflected and fell into the arms of Billy "White Shoes" Johnson.
Johnson cut to the middle of the field, then tried to snake his way into the end zone. Though it appeared the 49ers had tackled him at least a foot shy of the goal line, the officials ruled it a touchdown.
Nearly 30 years later, what does Bartkowski recall about one of the most disputed plays in league history?
"I just remember about how the people in the Bay Area bellyached about the call," Bartkowski said in a phone interview Tuesday.
Of course, he quickly added: "You know, they had a point: There's no way Billy scored, but we got credit for the touchdown."
Bartkowski played 11 seasons (1975-85) for the Falcons. In the first six (before the 49ers won their first Super Bowl title), Atlanta went 9-3 against San Francisco. In the final five seasons, the 49ers won six of the nine meetings.
That made the Big Ben finish even sweeter for Bartkowski and his teammates.
"We're glad to be sort of a thorn in the side of that franchise that had basically turned the tables on us. When I first came into the league, we used to take care of them pretty well. I looked forward to coming home to play the 49ers, but then when the Bill Walsh era kicked in, they were the kings of the NFC West.
"Having to play them twice a year was pretty tough, so it was good to have a little bit of payback on that given evening."
By early evening in Atlanta on Sunday, either the 49ers or the Falcons will have become NFC champions. Bartkowski, now 60, still lives in the Atlanta area. He works for DPR Construction (which is based in Redwood City) and is a member of the Falcons' board of directors.
Bartkowski said he and quarterback Matt Ryan are "pretty close."
Said Bartkowski of Ryan: "Our guy has been special from Day 1. He came into the league mature beyond his years. He's incredibly competitive, can make all the throws.
"Let me just say it like this: There's nobody in the league that I'd rather have quarterbacking our franchise than Matt Ryan."
Bartkowski quarterbacked Cal for three seasons (1972-74). He returned to Memorial Stadium for the Bears' game against Washington on Nov. 2 as the school honored him for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
As for his days as a student in Berkeley, Bartkowski said, "I was surrounded by too many smart people - other than that, it was a great experience, one that I treasure to this day.
"I loved my time there at Cal and if I had to do it all over again, I'd pick the same school."
You might wonder if Bartkowski would pick the same sport, though. People forget he was a good enough baseball player as a corner infielder and catcher to be drafted by the Royals after his senior year at Santa Clara's Buchser High in 1971 and by the Orioles after his junior year at Cal in '74.
His dad pitched in the Cubs' organization in the late 1940s and early '50s. "Even to this day, it's still my favorite sport," Bartkowski said of baseball, "no question about it."
Bob Milano spent 22 seasons (1978-99) as Cal's head baseball coach. He was an assistant coach when Bartkowski played.
Milano said Bartkowski "had the talent" to make it to the majors, probably as a catcher, if he had focused solely on baseball, but "he loved playing both sports."
Said Bartkowski: "I might have my own natural knees instead of artificial ones now had I gone the baseball route. (It's) too late to turn back."
On Nov. 20, 1983, Bartkowski and the Falcons turned back the 49ers on the final play of the game. If Atlanta holds off San Francisco on Sunday, few people will savor the Falcons' victory more than Bartkowski - Big Ben or no Big Ben.
Johnson cut to the middle of the field, then tried to snake his way into the end zone. Though it appeared the 49ers had tackled him at least a foot shy of the goal line, the officials ruled it a touchdown.
Nearly 30 years later, what does Bartkowski recall about one of the most disputed plays in league history?
"I just remember about how the people in the Bay Area bellyached about the call," Bartkowski said in a phone interview Tuesday.
Of course, he quickly added: "You know, they had a point: There's no way Billy scored, but we got credit for the touchdown."
Bartkowski played 11 seasons (1975-85) for the Falcons. In the first six (before the 49ers won their first Super Bowl title), Atlanta went 9-3 against San Francisco. In the final five seasons, the 49ers won six of the nine meetings.
That made the Big Ben finish even sweeter for Bartkowski and his teammates.
"We're glad to be sort of a thorn in the side of that franchise that had basically turned the tables on us. When I first came into the league, we used to take care of them pretty well. I looked forward to coming home to play the 49ers, but then when the Bill Walsh era kicked in, they were the kings of the NFC West.
"Having to play them twice a year was pretty tough, so it was good to have a little bit of payback on that given evening."
By early evening in Atlanta on Sunday, either the 49ers or the Falcons will have become NFC champions. Bartkowski, now 60, still lives in the Atlanta area. He works for DPR Construction (which is based in Redwood City) and is a member of the Falcons' board of directors.
Bartkowski said he and quarterback Matt Ryan are "pretty close."
Said Bartkowski of Ryan: "Our guy has been special from Day 1. He came into the league mature beyond his years. He's incredibly competitive, can make all the throws.
"Let me just say it like this: There's nobody in the league that I'd rather have quarterbacking our franchise than Matt Ryan."
Bartkowski quarterbacked Cal for three seasons (1972-74). He returned to Memorial Stadium for the Bears' game against Washington on Nov. 2 as the school honored him for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
As for his days as a student in Berkeley, Bartkowski said, "I was surrounded by too many smart people - other than that, it was a great experience, one that I treasure to this day.
"I loved my time there at Cal and if I had to do it all over again, I'd pick the same school."
You might wonder if Bartkowski would pick the same sport, though. People forget he was a good enough baseball player as a corner infielder and catcher to be drafted by the Royals after his senior year at Santa Clara's Buchser High in 1971 and by the Orioles after his junior year at Cal in '74.
His dad pitched in the Cubs' organization in the late 1940s and early '50s. "Even to this day, it's still my favorite sport," Bartkowski said of baseball, "no question about it."
Bob Milano spent 22 seasons (1978-99) as Cal's head baseball coach. He was an assistant coach when Bartkowski played.
Milano said Bartkowski "had the talent" to make it to the majors, probably as a catcher, if he had focused solely on baseball, but "he loved playing both sports."
Said Bartkowski: "I might have my own natural knees instead of artificial ones now had I gone the baseball route. (It's) too late to turn back."
On Nov. 20, 1983, Bartkowski and the Falcons turned back the 49ers on the final play of the game. If Atlanta holds off San Francisco on Sunday, few people will savor the Falcons' victory more than Bartkowski - Big Ben or no Big Ben.
2013年1月14日星期一
while his new teammates trained on Tuesday
Roar coach Mike Mulvey on Tuesday told 2011 grand final hero Paartalu he must train with the club's National Youth League ranks until his future is decided.
Paartalu appears to have played his last game for the Roar.
The towering defensive midfielder - who has started 85 straight games for the Roar since his 2010 arrival - is expected to announce a lucrative two-year Chinese Super League deal this week.
Mulvey's call came days after maintaining his faith in Nick Fitzgerald despite the exciting winger signing a two-year deal with the Central Coast starting next season.
Paartalu's absence almost overshadowed the presence of North who underwent a fitness test while his new teammates trained on Tuesday.
North has been injected into a Roar side that sits one point clear of dead-last Wellington on the A-League ladder due to nine losses in 16 games.
A question mark over Paartalu's future only adds to the pressure ahead of the Roar's tough home game against in-form Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.
North - whose most recent club stint was in December for Japanese outfit Consadole Sapporo - hoped to be the catalyst Brisbane needed to turn their season around.
"Hopefully I bring something different to the team. If it is a bit stale hopefully I can freshen things up a bit by just having a different personality around the training room or on the pitch," North said.
"(And) players come and go, it's part of football - we are all professional.
"Everything they need is here. They have won back to back (titles). They just need to grab it by the scruff of the neck and show who the true champions are."
North - who started his career at NSL club Brisbane Strikers aged 16 - believed the Roar's slump under new coach Mulvey came down to confidence.
"I don't think they are struggling," he said.
"I have kept close tabs on the A-League in Japan and Brisbane have been dominating games but they have been unlucky in front of goal.
"The right make-up is there. They just need to get the confidence back in the group."
North hoped to be available for the Roar on Sunday.
"I've come out of the J-League season, I've been on holidays, so I need to do whatever I can as fast as I can to get myself fit," he said.
"I'm always ready to get back on the park. But you can't be silly and try to come back when you're not 100 per cent condition-wise.
Paartalu appears to have played his last game for the Roar.
The towering defensive midfielder - who has started 85 straight games for the Roar since his 2010 arrival - is expected to announce a lucrative two-year Chinese Super League deal this week.
Mulvey's call came days after maintaining his faith in Nick Fitzgerald despite the exciting winger signing a two-year deal with the Central Coast starting next season.
Paartalu's absence almost overshadowed the presence of North who underwent a fitness test while his new teammates trained on Tuesday.
North has been injected into a Roar side that sits one point clear of dead-last Wellington on the A-League ladder due to nine losses in 16 games.
A question mark over Paartalu's future only adds to the pressure ahead of the Roar's tough home game against in-form Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday.
North - whose most recent club stint was in December for Japanese outfit Consadole Sapporo - hoped to be the catalyst Brisbane needed to turn their season around.
"Hopefully I bring something different to the team. If it is a bit stale hopefully I can freshen things up a bit by just having a different personality around the training room or on the pitch," North said.
"(And) players come and go, it's part of football - we are all professional.
"Everything they need is here. They have won back to back (titles). They just need to grab it by the scruff of the neck and show who the true champions are."
North - who started his career at NSL club Brisbane Strikers aged 16 - believed the Roar's slump under new coach Mulvey came down to confidence.
"I don't think they are struggling," he said.
"I have kept close tabs on the A-League in Japan and Brisbane have been dominating games but they have been unlucky in front of goal.
"The right make-up is there. They just need to get the confidence back in the group."
North hoped to be available for the Roar on Sunday.
"I've come out of the J-League season, I've been on holidays, so I need to do whatever I can as fast as I can to get myself fit," he said.
"I'm always ready to get back on the park. But you can't be silly and try to come back when you're not 100 per cent condition-wise.
2013年1月10日星期四
These streets would benefit from the more resources
When it was revealed last month that the old Copp’s Shoes location in Downtown would soon be home to a wedding shop—albeit a relocated one—many shook their heads.
It’s a great historic building, it was an iconic shop. It would have been great to see something there that added value to the Columbia Street strip. If only the landlord had held out, seen the bigger picture in the Downtown, and waited for something better.
As Jonathan Cote (aka the city councillor) points out in his SFU Urban Studies paper, Reviving New Westminster’s Main Streets, a good mix of retail is one of the secrets of success.
And it’s no secret that most of our retail streets are flagging.
Oh, we’ve got some wonderful shops, and a few spots with retail energy, like the Sixth and Sixth area of Uptown.
But most of us wish our main streets were better, with a stronger mix of shops, more people on the sidewalks, and maybe just a little more beautiful.
Cote acknowledges that most of our spending dollars are going to the big-box retailers, as we seek convenience and value. But he says a growing group is eager for a more community-friendly atmosphere and energy that only successful main streets can provide.
His stats are interesting , comparing New West’s four main streets (12th, Columbia, East Columbia and Sixth) with Vancouver’s Robson and Denman streets.
By most measures, Sixth Street is this city’s most successful retail strip. It boasts only a slightly higher vacancy rate than Columbia (8.7% vs. 6.4%); the highest ‘Food/Drink Index,’ comparable to Robson and considered an indicator of a lively street; the lowest concentration of non-retail (12.6%); and the highest lease rates, between $12 and $60 a square foot, according to Coté.
And perhaps understandably, it’s this combination of factors that gives Sixth Street (between Fourth and Eighth avenues) the highest concentration of chain stores, at 25%. Chains, he points out, do extensive market research and know where shoppers are and what they want. The downside—too many makes a street bland.
To help our streets along, he makes a number of recommendations.
The list includes more market research, for a more detailed picture of how the demographics and projected growth in our city affects—and will affect—residents’ needs for goods and services. More marketing of the existing retail would also help, he says, and even helping merchants do a better job of decorating their windows (I’d like to see that conversation).
And he has a number of suggestions about targeting growth around the strips, keeping retail focused there (to avoid dilution), and working to beautify the streets through better sidewalks, and “more public squares, pocket parks, parallel parks and plazas…”
And the Business Improvement Association — currently serving just the Downtown — should expand to include all the city’s retail main streets.
The city’s currently got small business groups in Sapperton, 12th Street and Uptown but they are volunteer run and are limited in scope. These streets would benefit from the more resources a BIA could provide. Problem is, it’s doubtful landlords would vote to pay the levy.
The city’s economic development manager departed recently at the end of his contract. If the city hires someone new, their mandate should be to help build retail from the ground up.
Work with property owners, let them know what businesses are missing from a street when they’re seeking to lease out space.
Explain how this will help them in the long run. Appeal to their civic pride, appeal to their wallets. Whatever.
Some won’t listen. Many aren’t residents, many just care about making the mortgage payments and one day cash in.
It’s a great historic building, it was an iconic shop. It would have been great to see something there that added value to the Columbia Street strip. If only the landlord had held out, seen the bigger picture in the Downtown, and waited for something better.
As Jonathan Cote (aka the city councillor) points out in his SFU Urban Studies paper, Reviving New Westminster’s Main Streets, a good mix of retail is one of the secrets of success.
And it’s no secret that most of our retail streets are flagging.
Oh, we’ve got some wonderful shops, and a few spots with retail energy, like the Sixth and Sixth area of Uptown.
But most of us wish our main streets were better, with a stronger mix of shops, more people on the sidewalks, and maybe just a little more beautiful.
Cote acknowledges that most of our spending dollars are going to the big-box retailers, as we seek convenience and value. But he says a growing group is eager for a more community-friendly atmosphere and energy that only successful main streets can provide.
His stats are interesting , comparing New West’s four main streets (12th, Columbia, East Columbia and Sixth) with Vancouver’s Robson and Denman streets.
By most measures, Sixth Street is this city’s most successful retail strip. It boasts only a slightly higher vacancy rate than Columbia (8.7% vs. 6.4%); the highest ‘Food/Drink Index,’ comparable to Robson and considered an indicator of a lively street; the lowest concentration of non-retail (12.6%); and the highest lease rates, between $12 and $60 a square foot, according to Coté.
And perhaps understandably, it’s this combination of factors that gives Sixth Street (between Fourth and Eighth avenues) the highest concentration of chain stores, at 25%. Chains, he points out, do extensive market research and know where shoppers are and what they want. The downside—too many makes a street bland.
To help our streets along, he makes a number of recommendations.
The list includes more market research, for a more detailed picture of how the demographics and projected growth in our city affects—and will affect—residents’ needs for goods and services. More marketing of the existing retail would also help, he says, and even helping merchants do a better job of decorating their windows (I’d like to see that conversation).
And he has a number of suggestions about targeting growth around the strips, keeping retail focused there (to avoid dilution), and working to beautify the streets through better sidewalks, and “more public squares, pocket parks, parallel parks and plazas…”
And the Business Improvement Association — currently serving just the Downtown — should expand to include all the city’s retail main streets.
The city’s currently got small business groups in Sapperton, 12th Street and Uptown but they are volunteer run and are limited in scope. These streets would benefit from the more resources a BIA could provide. Problem is, it’s doubtful landlords would vote to pay the levy.
The city’s economic development manager departed recently at the end of his contract. If the city hires someone new, their mandate should be to help build retail from the ground up.
Work with property owners, let them know what businesses are missing from a street when they’re seeking to lease out space.
Explain how this will help them in the long run. Appeal to their civic pride, appeal to their wallets. Whatever.
Some won’t listen. Many aren’t residents, many just care about making the mortgage payments and one day cash in.
2013年1月8日星期二
The exam will hopefully give a clearer
Robert Griffin III, also known as RG3 injured tore his ACL in college. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) runs through the center of the joint and it critical to stabilize front and back motion.
Eric Wisotzky, M.D., of MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital says the fact that RG3 tore his ACL in college makes his latest injury even more of a delicate situation.
RG3 also suffered a sprain to the lateral collateral ligament, the LCL, earlier in this season.
Dr. Wisotzky says, "Anytime there is an old injury it confuses the picture, it makes things more complicated. It's an interesting situation here because we've become more reliant on technology and this is an example where the MRI may not be exactly clear and his doctor, Dr. Andrews, wants to use our old fashioned methods which is doing a physical exam."
The exam will hopefully give a clearer picture of the condition of RG3's knee. Dr. Wisotzky says the true extent of the injury isn't 100 percent clear until the player is in the operating room.
He describes these guys as "super-human" in their ability to heal and return to peak performance a lot faster than most individuals.
Dr. Wisotzky says, "It's highly variable, we're not talking about your average weekend warriors, we are talking about your superheros of the NFL here. Some of them do seem to heal more quickly than we would imagine, such as Adrian Peterson of the Vikings came back from an ACL injury very, very quickly this year so it is hard to say."
Still, as many second-guess why the franchise player was still in the game after clearly struggling, Dr. Wisotzky says it's an agonizing decision under pressure.
Dr. Wisotzky says, "I wouldn't necessarily want to be in their shoes, i'm sure it's a challenging situation for everyone involved. But the bottom line is that it's very complicated, if you come into my office with an injury, it's not very complicated. We work through and get you back to your function."
Dr. Wisotzky adds, "For these athletes, there's millions of dollars at stake. Everyone in the world is watching, the player wants to play, the coach wants to win. The medical staff is caught somewhere in between so it can get very, very complicated and make these decisions very difficult.
Lawmakers are gearing up for the next legislative session.
Three strikes you're out is the idea behind a bill that would target workers' compensation attorneys filing bogus claims instead of the injured employee.
"My family has been in the boot making business for generations," said Senator Kyle Loveless.
The trade taught Senator Kyle Loveless to always sew up the loose ends.
Although the company Loveless Shoes established safety standards for its employees, Sen. Loveless says the company suffered from a bogus workers' comp claim.
The judge ruled against the employee, but Loveless says it cost the company $30,000 in legal fees. It's why Loveless is now working to fight frivolous lawsuits.
Eric Wisotzky, M.D., of MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital says the fact that RG3 tore his ACL in college makes his latest injury even more of a delicate situation.
RG3 also suffered a sprain to the lateral collateral ligament, the LCL, earlier in this season.
Dr. Wisotzky says, "Anytime there is an old injury it confuses the picture, it makes things more complicated. It's an interesting situation here because we've become more reliant on technology and this is an example where the MRI may not be exactly clear and his doctor, Dr. Andrews, wants to use our old fashioned methods which is doing a physical exam."
The exam will hopefully give a clearer picture of the condition of RG3's knee. Dr. Wisotzky says the true extent of the injury isn't 100 percent clear until the player is in the operating room.
He describes these guys as "super-human" in their ability to heal and return to peak performance a lot faster than most individuals.
Dr. Wisotzky says, "It's highly variable, we're not talking about your average weekend warriors, we are talking about your superheros of the NFL here. Some of them do seem to heal more quickly than we would imagine, such as Adrian Peterson of the Vikings came back from an ACL injury very, very quickly this year so it is hard to say."
Still, as many second-guess why the franchise player was still in the game after clearly struggling, Dr. Wisotzky says it's an agonizing decision under pressure.
Dr. Wisotzky says, "I wouldn't necessarily want to be in their shoes, i'm sure it's a challenging situation for everyone involved. But the bottom line is that it's very complicated, if you come into my office with an injury, it's not very complicated. We work through and get you back to your function."
Dr. Wisotzky adds, "For these athletes, there's millions of dollars at stake. Everyone in the world is watching, the player wants to play, the coach wants to win. The medical staff is caught somewhere in between so it can get very, very complicated and make these decisions very difficult.
Lawmakers are gearing up for the next legislative session.
Three strikes you're out is the idea behind a bill that would target workers' compensation attorneys filing bogus claims instead of the injured employee.
"My family has been in the boot making business for generations," said Senator Kyle Loveless.
The trade taught Senator Kyle Loveless to always sew up the loose ends.
Although the company Loveless Shoes established safety standards for its employees, Sen. Loveless says the company suffered from a bogus workers' comp claim.
The judge ruled against the employee, but Loveless says it cost the company $30,000 in legal fees. It's why Loveless is now working to fight frivolous lawsuits.
2013年1月6日星期日
whole barefoot theory is nothing new
This very enjoyable book tells the story of the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico, a reclusive native- Mexican tribe of super athletes who, just for fun, get up in the morning and go for a jog in the Copper Canyons, and at around the 160-kilometer (100-mile) mark or so, they stop for dinner. This is a true story of a tribe whose favorite pastime is competing in “super-marathons,” and, what’s more, they do it all wearing thin sandals made of leather.
You see, one of the major points in this book is that the reason so many of us don’t like to run, is because we’re not doing it correctly. We put on thick cotton socks, we buy expensive, cushioned sneakers with pockets of air, or zigzagging springs, and then we run exactly the way our feet never intended us to run – by slamming our heels into the ground, over and over and over again. No wonder I stop after three kilometers (two miles).
But, as some modern running theories go, we would all run a lot better, farther and with fewer injuries if we just took off our shoes and ran barefoot. The theory is simple: the more direct contact your feet have with the ground, every single nook and cranny of the earth, the more the twenty muscles in your foot grow stronger, more sensitive, more resilient, and - dare I say - more sure-footed.
This whole barefoot theory is nothing new. No, quite to the contrary. In this past week’s Torah portion we read of the first time someone was advised to remove their shoes in order to be in touch with the ground more completely; the person who took off their shoes was Moses, and the advice-giver was God.
In this past week’s parasha, Parashat Shemot, Moses encounters the Presence of God for the first, but certainly not the last, time. While he is tending to his father-in-law’s flock, he stumbles upon Mt. Horev, and there Moses sees the miraculous vision of the burning bush. It is during this moment of theophany when God asks what may seem like an unusual request:
God says: “Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)
The commentators are puzzled by this request. Why does God ask Moses to remove his shoes? Is it because there was a line in the sand? Is it because our shoes are naturally dirty and therefore unfit to be in the presence of God?
One possible answer comes from the Hasidic Rebbe, the “Ollalot Ephraim.” He writes:
“The world beneath our feet is always filled with small stones and debris. When we wear shoes, we easily walk upon all sorts of small things which stand in our way; in fact we barely notice them. But, when we walk barefoot, we feel every single stone and pebble, every kotz vedardar, every thorn and every thistle, every last rock hurts us. And this then is the hinted meaning of the text: To Moses, the preeminent leader of the people Israel, God said: “Shal na’alekha” “take off your shoes,” meaning, the leader of each and every generation needs to be aware of every barrier, every experience of suffering that is placed upon the way. A leader must feel the pain of the people, and must be sensitive to their every suffering.”
This is the meaning of true leadership; understanding the power that comes when we walk barefoot through our lives. When, instead of ignoring the pain and suffering of others that abounds, we make ourselves vulnerable to it. When, instead of choosing a life of padding and cushion, we understand that we were meant to feel every rock and every pebble, every thorn and every thistle of the ground beneath our feet.
With the recent debacle of the so-called fiscal cliff debates in the United States, and with the pending election in Israel – I wonder if perhaps our leaders would benefit from a barefoot walk among the people they purport to serve.
You see, one of the major points in this book is that the reason so many of us don’t like to run, is because we’re not doing it correctly. We put on thick cotton socks, we buy expensive, cushioned sneakers with pockets of air, or zigzagging springs, and then we run exactly the way our feet never intended us to run – by slamming our heels into the ground, over and over and over again. No wonder I stop after three kilometers (two miles).
But, as some modern running theories go, we would all run a lot better, farther and with fewer injuries if we just took off our shoes and ran barefoot. The theory is simple: the more direct contact your feet have with the ground, every single nook and cranny of the earth, the more the twenty muscles in your foot grow stronger, more sensitive, more resilient, and - dare I say - more sure-footed.
This whole barefoot theory is nothing new. No, quite to the contrary. In this past week’s Torah portion we read of the first time someone was advised to remove their shoes in order to be in touch with the ground more completely; the person who took off their shoes was Moses, and the advice-giver was God.
In this past week’s parasha, Parashat Shemot, Moses encounters the Presence of God for the first, but certainly not the last, time. While he is tending to his father-in-law’s flock, he stumbles upon Mt. Horev, and there Moses sees the miraculous vision of the burning bush. It is during this moment of theophany when God asks what may seem like an unusual request:
God says: “Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)
The commentators are puzzled by this request. Why does God ask Moses to remove his shoes? Is it because there was a line in the sand? Is it because our shoes are naturally dirty and therefore unfit to be in the presence of God?
One possible answer comes from the Hasidic Rebbe, the “Ollalot Ephraim.” He writes:
“The world beneath our feet is always filled with small stones and debris. When we wear shoes, we easily walk upon all sorts of small things which stand in our way; in fact we barely notice them. But, when we walk barefoot, we feel every single stone and pebble, every kotz vedardar, every thorn and every thistle, every last rock hurts us. And this then is the hinted meaning of the text: To Moses, the preeminent leader of the people Israel, God said: “Shal na’alekha” “take off your shoes,” meaning, the leader of each and every generation needs to be aware of every barrier, every experience of suffering that is placed upon the way. A leader must feel the pain of the people, and must be sensitive to their every suffering.”
This is the meaning of true leadership; understanding the power that comes when we walk barefoot through our lives. When, instead of ignoring the pain and suffering of others that abounds, we make ourselves vulnerable to it. When, instead of choosing a life of padding and cushion, we understand that we were meant to feel every rock and every pebble, every thorn and every thistle of the ground beneath our feet.
With the recent debacle of the so-called fiscal cliff debates in the United States, and with the pending election in Israel – I wonder if perhaps our leaders would benefit from a barefoot walk among the people they purport to serve.
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