Senior members of Elite, BCS's leading membership group for IT professionals, have resigned after voicing frustration that the group has not received support from BCS headquarters.
The disclosure comes as members of BCS, now known as BCS, the chartered institute of IT, are demanding an emergency general meeting to debate their concerns that the society is becoming more business-focused at the expense of its members.
Members of the group have complained that BCS staff failed to provide the group with the support it needed to run high-profile events, after leading figures from the IT industry offered to attend. Two resigning members are volunteers and say that running the group is no longer fun.
BCS told Computer Weekly that Elite is now back on track following a series of new elections, and expects to appoint new officers in the next few weeks.
David Tidey, head of IT at Wandsworth borough council and vice-chair of Elite, said, "As a member group of BCS, the chartered institute for IT, Elite has recently held elections for positions on the committee and will be electing a new chair and secretary in line with our constitution shortly.
"In addition, we have been working closely with BCS staff to review several of our day-to-day operating processes. As a result, the Elite committee is looking forward to continuing the important work we do supporting senior IT professionals who join BCS Elite."
The group, which is run by volunteers, has built a reputation for organising high-profile events for BCS, including a dinner attended by Scott McNealy, chairman and founder of Sun Microsystems, in 2007, and a teatime briefing from Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computers, in April last year.
Elite re-launched in September 2009 when it elected a new chairman with strong contacts in business and government to raise the profile of the group. It planned a series of events with "very high-profile" figures from IT, government and e-commerce.
But senior members of Elite have complained to BCS executives that they had to abandon plans for five events at top London venues, and to reschedule another event five times after failing to receive adequate administrative support from BCS headquarters.
They claim BCS staff were late paying deposits for venues secured by Elite, and that rule changes meant BCS staff were unwilling to sanction events unless they could inspect the public liability insurance and carry out fire checks on the venues.
The events were intended for VIPs in the IT industry, who often gave short notice of their plans to be in the UK.
The difficulties prompted the committee to vote to underwrite the cost of two events and set up its own online booking system and website to publicise them rather than go through BCS.
Elite secretary Roger Ellis, a member of Elite for 12 years and a former chairman, sent an e-mail to Elite committee members and BCS executives in December announcing his resignation and raising concerns about lack of support.
"Running events, which used to be so straightforward, now seems immersed in a mountain of bureaucracy, obstacles and paperwork," he wrote.
"We are all volunteers, not employees, and I fear BCS seems to have somewhat lost sight of this fact. We do it because we enjoy it; we want to help our members - and have fun."
Elite's chairman raised similar issues in a resignation e-mail circulated to Elite committee members after accepting a job overseas.
"I believe I have done my utmost to always act in the best interests of both the committee and members, and most importantly 'serve the members' through instigating a groundbreaking monthly calendar of high-profile events over a nine-month period.
"I feel that Elite has ceased to be fun and it is quite apparent that the members' interests are supposedly of no consequence too.
"Whereas I could feasibly continue this role, I would rather expend what precious time and energy I have on those societies and charities where I am needed and my work is appreciated."
Minutes of an Elite committee meeting in September claimed that relations between BCS and specialist groups, such as Elite, had deteriorated in recent years.
"This means that our membership have so far this year lost three VIP speakers and at one point our first group dinner in six years.
"As this situation has persisted for quite some time now, it means that the Elite membership have not been well served by their committee or BCS headquarters this year and this position cannot be allowed to continue."
Other longstanding members of Elite's committee have also stepped down, but have not made their reasons public. They include Charles Chang, chair of BCS management forum and BCS councillor, and Bob Harvey, a member of Elite for ten years and a BCS trustee and councillor.
However, members of Elite say the group is now looking to the future after a round of elections of new committee members, and after forging a closer working relationship with BCS.
A senior Elite committee member, who asked to not be named, said that he was optimistic that any problems had been resolved.
"The positive story is that Elite has got a new committee and it is going to continue doing things for its members, which includes high-quality events. It has got some very enthusiastic people who put a lot of time and effort into it," he said.
He said that he believed the problems had been partly caused by personalities and could have been resolved much earlier if people had picked up the phone and spoken to each other.
Teatime briefing from Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computers.
Elite loses booking for annual dinner at Lansdowne Club when the venue did not receive its deposit from BCS.
The event is later rescheduled following a cancellation.
A senior member of Elite e-mails BCS chief executive seeking to resolve friction between Elite and BCS events team.
The Elite chairman and vice-chairman decide to underwrite the annual dinner event using their own finances, after the deposit does not arrive from BCS.
Elite committee members meet with BCS executives in an attempt to resolve problems faced by both groups.
Dinner at the Landsdown Club London.
Charles Chang, 70, chair BCS management forum and BCS councillor resigned from Elite.
Elite secretary, Roger Ellis, 61, Elite committee member for 12 years resigns.
BCS trustee and councillor, and Elite committee member for 10 years, Bob Harvey, 68, resigned from Elite.
Political event scheduled for February 2010 cancelled.
Speakers pull out of next four month events.
BCS Elite members elect new committee.


TMF: Re: rebuttal to short attack / Ebix Inc.
I enjoyed your article. Your article actually prompted me to think about how companies can combat such an onslaught of inuendo and unproven attacks. Certainly, I believe shorts have a much needed place in our markets. I most certainly enjoy reading a different take on a company than the herd. After all, wasn't Chanos correct about HP. Weren't others correct about housing. Certainly those who ran up the red flag on Kodak, Best Buy etc... did investors a service by trying. However baseless and for profit over attacks are nefarious and evil. So how does a company fight these types? I am very interested on your take of EBIX and a solution. I posted one that I think would be luncay but is certainly good for banter. I hope to hear your thoughts or other bloggers/article writers at the Fool.


(EMAILWIRE.COM, March 20, 2019 ) A timeshare is a type of vacation ownership in which multiple individuals share rights to use the property, each with his or her own allotted time frame (in its most common form, this is a fixed week each year).
The vacation ownership industry (also known as the timeshare industry) enables customers to share ownership and use of fully-furnished vacation accommodations. Typically, a purchaser acquires an interest (known as a “vacation ownership interest”) that is either a real estate ownership interest (known as a “timeshare estate”) or contractual right-to-use interest (known as a “timeshare license”) in a single resort or a collection of resort properties.
As for the global Vacation Ownership industry, the industry structure is relatively concentrated in USA. The top three manufacturers have 44.57% revenue market share in 2017. Wyndham, which has 17.40% market share in 2017, is the leader in the Vacation Ownership industry. The manufacturers following Wyndham are Marriott Vacations Worldwide and Hilton Grand Vacations, which respectively has 14.48% and 12.69% market share globally.
The competition among hotel and resort timeshare operators for sales of VOIs based principally on location, quality of accommodations, price, service levels and amenities, financing terms, quality of service, terms of property use, reservation systems and flexibility for VOI owners to exchange into time at other timeshare properties or other travel rewards. So, the main players compete based on brand name recognition and reputation international. Plus, consumer demand for products and services provided by the timeshare industry is closely linked to the performance of the general economy and is sensitive to business and personal discretionary spending levels.
Over the next five years, it is projected that Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) will register a 8.3% CAGR in terms of revenue, reach US$ 21700 million by 2023, from US$ 13500 million in 2017.
This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares and growth opportunities of Vacation Ownership (Timeshare) market by product type, application, key companies and key regions.


Why pay more for medical equipment and supplies? Shop Best Value Medical Equipment! With lower overhead and the power of a volume buyer, Best Value Medical Equipment can offer the lowest price on home medical equipment and back it with friendly, local service.Best Value Medical Equipment saves you money on medical equipment in three important ways:1. Best Value is not an insurance or Medicare provider - that translates into lower overhead, with the savings passed on to you2. Best Value shops around to get the best price3. Best Value buys in volume to save you moneyOn average, customers can save 30 to 50 percent on select items at Best Value Medical Equipment. Anyone in need of medical equipment or supplies is encouraged to shop Best Value Medical Equipment to compare prices.But lower prices don't mean a sacrifice in customer service! At Best Value Medical Equipment, a Respiratory Therapist is available to answer your questions, and the highly professional staff can help you choose the right equipment and mobility aids for your needs. Plus, working face-to-face with the staff you have the advantage of being able to "test drive" equipment before you purchase. That's a significant advantage over shopping from a catalog or over the Internet. Better yet, there are never any shipping or restocking fees, and if Best Value Medical Equipment doesn't have what you need in stock, they can get it."A portion of our customers have no insurance coverage, but many do," explains Karen Miller, Manager. "Even when you have insurance, your deductible might be very high or some items may not be covered, such as lift chairs or ostomy and catheter supplies. We have affordable pricing which makes it possible for people to buy these items out-of-pocket at a significant savings."With a range of medical equipment and supplies in stock, Best Value Medical Equipment can answer your needs for:• Scooters - a fleet of scooters in different sizes! Try it before you buy to make sure the scooter matches your needs• Lift chairs - "We have every design, color and shape, including a wall-hugger style that's great for assisted living homes or apartments" says Karen. If your physician has recommended resting with your feet above your head, try one of the lift chairs which recline into the Trendelenburg position. Lift chairs start as low as $594.• Power Chairs & Wheelchairs• CPAP Machines• Nebulizers - those with asthma or seasonal respiratory problems will appreciate the chance to save• Ostomy Supplies - both brand name and generic products are available at reduced cost• Incontinence Supplies• Wound Care Supplies• Walkers, Rollators & Canes• TENS UnitsIf you're unsure what medical equipment or supplies you need, the staff at Best Value can help by suggesting questions you can ask your physician. They are always happy to help by delivering friendly service.Compare for yourself - you'll love the savings, the selection and the service Best Value Medical Equipment can offer. Those without insurance or anyone with a high deductible who is paying out-of-pocket, will appreciate getting a great low price on home medical needs.Best Value Medical Equipment is open at 3414 82nd St., just west of Indiana Avenue. Call (806) 771-1821 for more information, or visit their showroom Monday though Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. or on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.


Duck Down Records co-founder, Drew “Dru Ha” Friedman, is set to attempt to run the ING: New York City Marathon this November … all in memory of his late father.
Friedman’s father, Harvey L. Friedman, passed away this past January, following a nine-year battle with Alzheimer. In preparation, Dru Ha has been training all summer, getting ready for the 26.2-mile race.
It will definitely be a run to remember.
“I wanted to do something extremely challenging in memory of my father and to raise awareness about this compassionless disease,” said Dru Ha. “Fans of Duck Down may not realize how instrumental my father was in assisting with incorporating and founding Duck Down. While he was a respected real estate attorney, he had little legal entertainment background, yet found the time to learn enough about the business to help negotiate our early contracts and offered unconditional guidance for Buckshot and myself.
Dru will be running and raising donations with the NYC Alzheimer’s Chapter Team: “Run 2 Remember.” People can visit Dru’s donation page by clicking here.
In support of Dru’s run, Duck Down Music plans to release two exclusive songs, created by select artists from the label’s roster.
All proceeds will be donated to the foundation.


UT-Austin and Columbia University researchers have invented a millimeter-wave circulator that could enable tetherless virtual reality and self-driving cars.
Circulators transmit microwave and radio signals from port to port in various devices such as radars.
“Circulators are essential components in radars and in wireless communications, yet, to date, they are realized exclusively with magnets, which make them heavy, costly and bulky,” said Andrea Alu, electrical and computer engineering professor.
Working with Columbia University researchers led by electrical engineering associate professor Harish Krishnaswamy, Alu developed a magnet-free circulator integrated on a chip — like the ones in cell phones — that operates at 25 gigahertz, or 25 billion wave cycles per second. The frequencies used today for cellular service and WiFi are all below 6GHz.
Millimeter-wave frequencies are frequencies higher than 30 GHz, which has more bandwidth available, according to Krishnaswamy. This increased bandwidth is useful for applications that require large data rates, such as tetherless, or wireless, virtual reality and self-driving cars.
According to a press release from UT’s Electrical and Computer Engineering department, this circulator may double the useful bandwidth in wireless communications, allowing devices to simultaneously transmit and receive signals on the same frequency band.
This circulator also uses non-reciprocal wave transmission, which means that the waves travel in a different manner in forward and reverse directions, according to Krishnaswamy.
Recently, circulators and other non-reciprocal components have been implemented using magnetic materials, called ferrites, Krishnaswamy added. But these ferrites can’t be integrated into a silicon chip, making them bulky and expensive.
Circulators enable two-way communication, distinguishing outgoing and incoming streams of signals to our cells phones, Alu said. This isn’t possible today, he added, because circulators cannot be integrated in a cell phone when they are reliant on magnets and made with magnetic materials.
Last year, Krishnaswamy’s group at Columbia built the first circulator on a silicon chip without using ferrites. This year, in collaboration with UT, they showed the first millimeter-wave circulator on a silicon chip.
“With our technology, cell phones can transmit and receive at the same time on the same frequency spectrum, saving precious spectrum for other users,” Alu said.
This new approach works “from DC to daylight,” meaning that it can work over a wide range of frequencies. This includes radio frequencies below 6GHz to millimeter-wave frequencies above 30GHz, Krishnaswamy said.
This invention would allow for wireless virtual reality headsets and open up bandwidth for wireless communications, in addition to improving the automotive radar signaling used in self-driving cars, Krishnaswamy added.
Circulators currently used in aircraft and ship radar systems are heavy and large, and using these smaller silicon chips would provide significant savings, according to the engineering department press release.


Dave Dobbyn's 'Slice of Heaven' as you've never seen it before.
Ad agency DDB has emerged with a new look.
Kiwi tech company Ossis is using 3D tech to change lives.
The WFA is standing in solidarity with New Zealand advertisers.
What will it take to change Facebook? Two experts weigh in.
New Zealand's advertisers are escalating their pull back on Facebook advertising.
Comment: Bad actors, mainstream media and users provide nice scapegoats.
The appointment of an ad agency has coincided with job cuts at the retailer.
Major telcos band together to suggest big fines.
Corporate New Zealand is flexing its financial muscle.
Comment: Big-money firms need big-money fines.
This from a company that reported a tax bill of only $392,000 last year.
Change of direction in store with the appointment of a new ad agency.
What you see isn't always what you get in digital advertising.
The Warehouse Stationery wants Kiwis' thoughts writ large.
COMMENT: Slashing prices - whether for pizza, beer or air fares - not always a good idea.
Comment: The naysayers have buried the supporters.
Spark is concerned about predatory comments on YouTube.
Hallensteins is giving a nod to the women who also wear its clothing.
One year on: What's it been like having a four-day week?
Shorter meetings and more time to upskill. These are some of the perks of a four-day week.
This is Kiwibank's first campaign to go viral.
Sky subscribers are set to see a slight increase in their bills.
Sky TV has announced its latest round of results.
But an international marketing professional believes NZ can fix its shaky relationship.
Comment: National doesn't have a great track record with advertising.
Invest in cannabis at your own risk.
Advertising chief says 'invisibility' biggest danger for Kiwi firms.
A year after its controversial Bob Jones Column, NBR faces another racial storm.
Oil and gas is aiming for the heart of middle New Zealand.
The work of a Kiwi animation company has appeared on advertising's biggest stage.
A green rush is taking over New Zealand – there are likely to be more losers than winners.
Bugger. It appears businesses are becoming a bit potty-mouthed.
A Kiwi med-tech firm has slashed its staff numbers.
In an industry notorious for booze, sexism and long hours, Louise Bond was different.
Hell Pizza has latched onto the "unruly tourist" bandwagon.
Could 2019 be the year when Netflix starts turning into a normal company?
The boss of a failed cannabis company has spoken out.
A number of companies have reportedly expressed interest in the business.
A Kiwi man has not had an easy start to his stay in Brazil.
The new boss steps in after what has been a tough year for the agency.
COMMENT: The Ikea hype shows that we aren't as rational as we imagine ourselves.
An Auckland couple were left fuming by a letter from their insurance company.
Ever get the feeling your job is pointless? You're not alone.
The valuable Farmers advertising account looks to settle at a familiar home.
McDonald's gives Kiwis a 60-second summary of New Year's morning.
Viewers did not like seeing their names on the TV screen.
Telco 2degrees has quickly bounced back after losing DDB.
There will be some late nights around adland these days.
The telco's advertising account is worth $45 million.
Billboards in Auckland will for the first time feature the word 'cannabis' writ large.
Comment: Should vape products be advertised on TV?
A survey reveals Kiwis want broader access to cannabis products.
Board shaper Paul Barron knew he was on to something when he spilt resin on his sweater.
Amnesty means growers can finally come out of the shadows and get royalties.
Will the MediaWorks plus billboards tie-up work?
Comment: The Commerce Commission shouldn't have a problem with this one.
Kiwi businesses are voluntarily testing their grit in simulated crisis situations.
Kiwi cannabis firm Helius Therapeutic now has the right to use the NZ Made label.
The one man who was integral to RadioLive simply wouldn't stay put.


AstraZeneca is working with a Cambridge college to try and encourage more women into science and business leadership.
The pharmaceutical firm, which is in the process of moving its global headquarters to Cambridge, has agreed a strategic collaboration with Lucy Cavendish College. It is the latest partnership in AstraZeneca’s programme of inspiring and supporting careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) through volunteering out-reach initiatives and mentoring across the Cambridge community.
As part of the agreement, AZ employees will mentor students from Lucy Cavendish, supporting their scientific projects as well as career and personal development. The mentors will provide advice and insights on career and work placement opportunities in the life sciences sector generally and in the biopharmaceutical industry specifically, including at AstraZeneca’s global hub in Cambridge.
Shaun Grady, vice president of global business development at AstraZeneca, said: “Mentoring is not only a fantastic way to support talented individuals who benefit from the shared expertise and experience, but it is also a great way for mentors to ‘give back’ while developing their leadership skills. We’re pleased to have mentored numerous entrepreneurs emerging from the Judge Business School Accelerate and Pitch@Palace programmes, and we recently announced a partnership supporting start-up companies at the Babraham Research Campus incubator.
"Our new collaboration with Lucy Cavendish College is a natural extension of our partnership network and offers a great model for how we might work with other colleges in Cambridge. It’s very exciting to be working with such a high calibre group of inspirational women studying in what is a uniquely supportive environment”.
A successful ‘speed mentoring’ pilot event has already taken place and a series of group as well as individual mentoring programmes are being planned. A lecture programme promoting Women in Science and Leadership will also be held during the year.
AstraZeneca and MedImmune currently have a pool of around 70 employees from a wide variety of specialisms and disciplines who are volunteering as mentors to share their expertise and experience with partner organisations across the vibrant Cambridge life sciences eco-system.
Jackie Ashley, president of Lucy Cavendish College, said: “Relatively few women embark on careers in science, and we want to ensure that there are as few barriers as possible for women who have the potential to be successful in this field.


A vivid aqua hue makes perennial-favorite leopard spots feel fresh on this zipped-up minidress. Style Name: Michael Kors Leopard Print Zip Front Fit & Flare Dress. Style Number: 5738901. Available in stores.
Michael Michael Kors' pullover dress flatters in an always-stylish fit & flare dress with a flirty mini skirt.


Move follows criticism from industry analysts on Oracle's interpretation of licensing and pricing policies.
Oracle Corp. on Tuesday will release a promised pricing and licensing guide that company officials hope will help clear up customer confusion of its policies.
The guide, called the Oracle Software Investment Guide, offers about 40 pages of details on licensing and pricing policies and scenarios for Oracles database, application server, development tools and enterprise application software. The scope of the guide, originally intended to fit in about 15 pages, increased since Oracle officials first discussed it in June, said Jacqueline Woods, vice president of global licensing and pricing strategy, in Redwood Shores, Calif.
"We wanted to make sure we put out a comprehensive posting of what our pricing guidelines are and what the rules are for formulating pricing models to let customers make better software purchasing decisions," Woods said.
Oracle has faced criticism in the past from industry analysts for its interpretation of licensing and pricing policies. Earlier this summer the company was embroiled in a controversy over a state of California enterprise license for database software that ended in the termination of the $95 million deal.
The guide was originally supposed to come out in August but was delayed by vacation schedules of customers and partners from whom the company wanted to gain feedback, Woods said. Oracle has sought feedback on the guide from about 20 customers, users groups and industry and financial analysts, Woods said.
The online guide includes seven sections that cover everything from basic licensing concepts and migrations from older licensing models to new ones to detailed pricing scenarios for various products and the ability to download a price list.
Woods said she hopes it helps customers in this tough economy make better buying decisions, such as weighing the pros and cons of other licensing options like term licenses. With two-year term licenses, for instance, customers can pay 35 percent of the cost of a perpetual license, though they are wedded to a set time frame, while still receiving standard volume discounts.
Another common area of confusion is around how to license software when only using a portion of the nodes on symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) systems. Customers often will license all the processors on a 64-way machine, even though they only are running the software on a segment of it and could license it for those specific nodes, Woods said.
The Software Investment Guide will be an evolving document with changes as pricing and licensing changes or new issues arise, Woods said.
It will be available at www.oracle.com/corporate/pricing.


And they all beat out James Bond! How do the rankings line up with your film favorites?
Empire, a British magazine that covers the world of film, has recently come out with its list of the top 100 movie characters of all time, and CNET readers will be happy to know that some of their favorites made it into the top 10.
Even though Tyler Durden from the film "Fight Club" punched his way to the No. 1. spot, Darth Vader was hot on his heels in the No. 2 position (and I'd totally put my money on the Dark Lord in a pugilistic showdown, wouldn't you?).
"Darth Vader is, to every child of 'Star Wars,' the supreme badass in the galaxy," says the Empire review of Mr. Number Two (no doubt trying to protect themselves from Vader's wrath when he gets the news about losing the top spot). "He is everything that scares you as a child, cutting a huge, imposing figure, wearing doom-laden black, and breathing through some kind of ominous respirator -- surely enough to give any person in their formative years the willies."
Harrison Ford did quite well too, with his Han Solo blasting to the fourth spot and his Indiana Jones whipping into slot No. 6.
Other notable geektastic winners of the poll conducted by Empire readers include Heath Ledger's Joker in the third position, and Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley from "Alien," who made her appearance at No. 9 -- the highest spot claimed by a woman in the survey.
They all come in just ahead of James Bond at position 11 -- which seems like it would be some kind of treason seeing as Empire is a British magazine. (Sorry Mr. Bond, at least you were two positions above Golem).
At the very bottom of the list in the 100th position is Mel Gibson's Martin Riggs from the "Lethal Weapon" movies. And don't feel bad that you were beaten by a machine in the No. 99 spot Mel -- Hal-9000 from "2001: A Space Odyssey" really was just a little bit cooler.
Have a look at the whole list here and tell us if you agree or disagree with the rankings in the comments below.


The 2015 season begins on February 28 in Adelaide when 2012 champions Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic play the 2013 champions the Thunderbirds.
The Wellington based Pulse are also away in their opening match playing the reigning champions the Vixens in Melbourne on March 1st.
The Southern Steel host the New South Wales Swifts on the same day while the Canterbury Tactix host the Northern Mystics.
The Canterbury Tactix will play two of their home games in Blenheim, against the Perth based Fever on April 12th and the Queensland Firebirds on May 25th.
The Northern Mystics are scheduled to play the defending champion Melbourne Vixens team in the last match of the regular season on June 1st in Auckland.
The final series format is still up in the air, but ANZ Championship general manager Andy Crook expects a decision by the end of September on the introduction of a proposed new model.
The World Cup begins in Sydney on August 7th.


June 10, 2014 — Completed precinct committee write-in affidavit forms must be received by the Maricopa County Recorder's Office by no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11 (postmarked does not count).
After the county elections' May 28 deadline for individuals to submit their precinct committee affidavit and signature petition forms passed, county elections departments removed the precinct committee affidavit and signature petition forms from their websites, replacing them with the precinct committee affidavit for write-ins.
The form must be notarized and no signatures are required. The precinct committee write-in candidate must receive one vote during the primary election and that can be their own vote. This works in precincts that are not filled, otherwise, the write-in candidate would require more votes than the other candidates in the precinct in order to be elected.
The write-in candidate nomination form can be downloaded at http://recorder.maricopa.gov/pdf/2014%20PC%20WRITE%20IN%20Nomination%20Paper.pdf.
The Maricopa County precinct committee website is http://recorder.maricopa.gov/web/precinctcommitteemen.aspx.
June 8 at noon to June 29 at 5 p.m. is the Third Annual #BeatTheHeat Water Bottle Drive for Homeless Youth. Times and locations for nine different hip-hop and arts events are listed at https://www.facebook.com/events/648541641888164/.
The Chandler Art Walk in June is at TechShop, 249 E. Chicago Street, Chandler, 6 to 10 p.m. For more information visit http://www.techshop.ws/ts_chandler.html and http://www.chandlerartwalk.com.
The Western Maricopa Coalition Education and Workforce Development Committee Meeting is at 14100 N. 83rd Ave., suite 150, Peoria, 7:30 to 9 a.m. For more information visit http://business.westmarc.org/events/details/education-workforce-development-committee-meeting-31.
A GMO Initiative Fundraiser Showing of the Documentary Film Bethany's Story is at Creative Living Fellowship, 6530 N. Seventh Street, Phoenix, 7 p.m. For more information e-mail righttoknowaz@gmail.com.
The Mesa Public Library offers Disaster Preparedness Workshops at the Red Mountain Library branch, 635 N. Power Road, Mesa, 11 a.m., and at the Main Library, 64 E. First Street, Mesa, 1 p.m. For more information visit http://www.meetup.com/ArizonaLibertyR3VOLUTION/events/185551452/ or http://www.meetup.com/ArizonaLibertyR3VOLUTION/events/185550952/.
An author meet and greet and book signing for Erica Braun's The Water Comes on Wednesday, which is about a woman growing up in apartheid South America, is at Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, 2 to 4 p.m. For more information visit http://www.changinghands.com/event/braun-jun14.
Verano Sano Free Water Safety Event for the entire family is at El Prado Pool, 6428 S. 19th Ave., Phoenix, 5 to 7 p.m., featuring music, information booths, and swim lesson and CPR demonstrations. For more information telephone 602-262-6541.
America Society of News Editor's Reynolds High School Journalism Institute is at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 555 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, June 15 to June 27. For more information visit http://cronkite.asu.edu/beyond/reynolds.php.
Week of Action: Waiting is Not an Option demonstration is at the Phoenix Immigration and Customs Enforcement Field Office, 2035 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/645921912148972/.
The Tempe City Council and Downtown Tempe Community (DTC) Joint Meeting is at Caffé Boa, 398 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, 5:30 p.m. Download the agenda from http://www.tempe.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/18107/20.
Freedom Caucus AZ libertarian meetup is at Filiberto's Mexican Food, 1601 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, 6 to 7:45 p.m. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/FreedomCaucusAZ.
A talk by Joy Kathryn Lanzerotte about her book Valley Fever: A Story of Lyfe and Breath is at Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, 7 p.m. For more information visit http://www.changinghands.com/event/lanzerotte-jun14.
Scottsdale's Tourism Development Commission Regular Meeting is at Scottsdale City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, 8 a.m. For more information visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Events/Tourism_Development_Commission_Regular_Meeting_06-17-14_s_p17089.
The Maricopa Association of Governments Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee Meeting is in the second floor Ironwood Room, 302 N. First Ave., Phoenix, 1:30 p.m. For more information visit http://www.azmag.gov/Events/Event.asp?CMSID=5614.
The Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs' Meet and Greet with Scottsdale City Council Candidate, Cindy Hill is at Flicka's Baja Cantina, 2003 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information visit http://azcops.org/.
The Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board meets at 2646 E. University Drive, Phoenix, 10 a.m. For more information visit https://post.az.gov/about-us/current-year.
Civic Space presents “Wednesday Wind Ups” at the AE England Building, 424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The weekly free event features food trucks, cafe salads and sandwiches, libations, Djs, background movie clips, lifestyle community information, guest Yoga and Zumba instructors, and games like corn hole toss and rolle bolle. For more information call 602-262-7442.
Scottsdale's Environmental Quality Advisory Board-Regular Meeting is at Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale, 5:30 p.m. For more information visit http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Events/Environmental_Quality_Advisory_Board-Regular_Meeting-06-18-14_s_p17118.
The Gilbert Redevelopment Commission Meeting is at Municipal Building One, Council Chambers, 50 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert, 6:30 p.m. For more information visit http://www.gilbertaz.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/875/19.
A Free Film Screening of Manufactured Landscapes is presented by Nick Brown, director of University Sustainability Practices at ASU, at Harkins Valley Art Theater, 509 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, 6:30 to 7 p.m. For more information visit http://sustainability.asu.edu/docs/gios/events/generic-1col/2014/film-manufactured-landscapes/film-manufactured-landscapes.pdf.
The Sierra Club's “How You Can Help Keep the Tonto Wild” Tonto National Forest Assessment and Forest Plan Revision Overview is at the Quality Inn Garden Room, 202 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information visit http://www.meetup.com/Sierra-Club-Grand-Canyon-Chapter/events/187383292/.
The Phoenix Animal Liberation Squad is having its monthly potluck and movie night at a location to be announced in Tempe, 7 to 9:30 p.m. This month's feature film is The Cove. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/686459644741513/.
A 2014 election Ballot Measures Review is at Cholla Middle School Library, 3120 W. Cholla Street, Phoenix, 7 p.m. For more information visit http://www.azadvocacy.org/forums-a-events-sp-862311977/upcoming-event-details/details/134-ballot-measures-review.
The Arizona Corporation Commission's Special Open Meeting Workshop #2 on Value and Cost Distributed Generation is in Hearing Room One, 1200 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, 10 a.m. For more information visit http://www.azcc.gov/Divisions/Administration/Meetings/Agendas/2014/6-20-14som..wkshp.pdf.
LUNAFEST @ Civic Space Park is at 424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 6 to 9 p.m. The event is a traveling, non-profit film festival that celebrates global films made for, by, and about women. For more information visit http://www.lunafest.org/index.php?/attend-an-event/details/phoenix.
One N Ten community service event will take on beautification tasks at its headquarters, 2700 N. Third Street, #2011, Phoenix, 8 a.m. One N Ten is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving and assisting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/events/805852799440028/and register to volunteer at http://ocaz.co/1Jy.
Silent Sundays (each fourth Sunday of the month) at South Mountain is at South Mountain Park, 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Bicyclists, tots in strollers, inline skaters, and wheelchair users get to call the parks roadways their own. Non-motorized use only. For more information, call 602-495-5811.
Food Not Bombs Food Preparation is at The Hive, 4422 N. 22nd Drive, Phoenix, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information visit www.foodnotbombs.net/arizona.html.
The regular meeting of the Phoenix Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State is at Macayo's Mexican Restaurant, 4001 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 2 p.m. For more information http://au-gp.org/mike/mike_au_meeting_list.php.
A Natural Solutions for Pain Workshop is at the Pyle Adult Recreation Center, 655 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, 10 to 11 a.m. For more information and to register telephone 480-350-5211 or visit http://www.tempe.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/19666/20.
An Urban Wildlife Awareness Class is at the Town Hall Community Room, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, 6 to 7 p.m. Arizona Game and Fish Department will be present to educate residents on the dos and don'ts of living with wildlife, especially coyotes. For more information telephone 480-348-3597 and visit www.ParadiseValleyPD.com.
An Art of Architecture educational course teaches about the prehistoric structures left behind by the Hohokam people at Pueblo Grande at Pueblo Grande Museum, 4619 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, 9 a.m. to noon. Participants have an opportunity to work on drawing and sculpting skills. Register online at www.phoenix.gov/parks.
The Population Technical Advisory Committee of the Maricopa Association of Governments is at 302 N. First Ave., Phoenix, 10 a.m. The POPTAC Ad Hoc Subcommittee Meeting is at 9 a.m. Visit http://www.azmag.gov/ for more information.
The Sierra Club's Grand Canyon Chapter Energy Team Gathering is at 202 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more information call Jon Findley at 480-756-2916 or e-mail nrgarizona@gmail.com.
No More Deaths Phoenix meets every two weeks at Central United Methodist Church, 1875 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 7:30 to 9 p.m. For more information visit http://nomoredeathsphoenix.org/.
The Consciousness Calendar is published weekly and provides selected events for the proceeding two weeks. Send calendar submissions for consideration to: generalcontact@moderntimesmagazine.com.
The galaxy-class astral catwomen paint by numbers way out in the Fornax Void, and grease some filthy-dirty alien werewolves in the process.
An exceedingly intelligent homeless amnesiac finds a dear friend on the streets who is not really from the neighborhood, but beyond the hill.
> What Might Baudrillard Say About Vieuxtemps Guarneri?
> Will Phoenix Comicon Sell-Out In 2014?
> Trumbo (Or Trumbomb) Trade For Dbacks?
> Holy Wedding Proposals At PHX Comicon Batman!


WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has begun its latest review of US policy on the use of nuclear weapons, which could see the US posture returning to an emphasis on competing with countries like Russia.
The review, which typically occurs every eight years, will establish US nuclear policy, strategy and force posture regarding the use of nuclear weapons under the Trump administration.
Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced Monday that the Department of Defense has begun its Nuclear Posture Review, a process President Donald Trump directed Mattis to undertake in a presidential memorandum signed durincg his January visit to the Pentagon.
A final report will be presented to Trump “by the end of the year,” chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana White said in a statement.
There have been three reviews since the end of the Cold War, the most recent one conducted in 2010 under President Barack Obama.
“If you look back not just to the 2010 nuclear posture review, but if you look back 20 years … you see a fundamental de-emphasis of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy,” said Gen. John Hyten, commander of US Strategic Command, which oversees America’s nuclear forces.
“Our adversaries have taken the exact opposite view of our de-emphasis and have emphasized those nuclear capabilities once again,” he added, referencing Russian and Chinese efforts to modernize and upgrade their respective nuclear forces.
The US has also pursued some modernization efforts regarding its arsenal, including conducting a non-nuclear flight test last month of its B61-12 gravity bomb.
That test involved the dropping of a modernized version of the bomb, first developed in the 1960s, from an F-16 at Tonopah Test Range in Nevada.
Given mounting tensions with Moscow in the years following its 2014 invasion and annexation of Crimea, it’s likely that this year’s review will take a markedly different tone.
Asked about the review this month, Hyten told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the new effort would indeed take a look at Moscow’s ambitions.
“We will look at what Russia is doing in terms of violation of the (Intermediate Nuclear Forces) treaty, and then we will look at military options in order to respond to what we see in the threat,” he said, referring to the US allegation that Moscow deployed an operational land-based nuclear-capable cruise missile this year.
The 2010 review also placed limits on when the US would be willing to use nuclear weapons, saying, “The United States will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapons states that are party to the (Non-Proliferation Treaty),” while also suggesting the US would not retaliate against a chemical or biological weapons attack with nuclear weapons.
“It would be wonderful, a dream would be that no country would have nukes, but if countries are going to have nukes, we’re going to be at the top of the pack,” Trump told Reuters in a February interview.
The review is to be led by the deputy secretary of defense and the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Paul Selva, and include interagency partners, according to the statement.
The current acting deputy secretary is Robert Work, though Trump has nominated Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan to replace him.


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The festival that installs outdoor pianos throughout the boroughs for anyone to play is returning to the city this summer.
Sing for Hope Pianos will take 88 rehabbed pianos, ask artists and school children to customize each with crazy colors and designs and then plant them throughout New York City's streets and parks and let anyone — and everyone — plink their ivory keys.
It's making a comeback through a major donation from the New York-based Greek yogurt company Chobani.
The festival is part of an outreach program by Sing for Hope, a grassroots group of over 1,000 artists who volunteer to make art broadly accessible to everyone.
The pianos, mostly donated uprights but also some grands, will be placed in some of the most iconic New York City spots this summer such as Times Square and Central Park and in more remote places like the Far Rockaways, Staten Island and areas underserved by the arts.
"We're sort of an artists' Peace Corp," said Sing for Hope co-founder Camille Zamora. "The idea is that some people don't get a chance necessarily to have access to great art, like in hospitals and the elderly. There are children in our city who do not have regular arts education."
After the festival ends, the pianos are donated to local organizations, schools and hospitals where artists volunteer yearlong, bringing workshops and concerts in music, dance and the visual arts. Groups can request and get more than one piano, as the New York City Housing Authority's youth chorus had done.
"The piano is kind of the hardware for the software of our programming that goes on year round," said Zamora, who founded Sing for Hope in 2006 with fellow opera singer Monica Yunus, launching the first piano festival in partnership with British artist Luke Jerram in 2010 when 60 pianos were featured.
"We have a huge waiting list of organizations," she said. "There's such a desire for this kind of programming."
The festival doesn't start until June 1, but it's already humming with activity since the logistics for setting it up are quite complex: Finding "piano buddies" to look after the pianos once they're on the street; assembling a team of technicians to keep them well tuned; and, of course, getting all the pianos into a large warehouse where artists will transform them into works of art.
The application process for artists, from professionals to emerging to students, is currently under way to paint the 88 pianos (the number stands for each key on the piano). Past artists have included Isaac Mizrahi and Julian Schnabel.
The pianos call to mind another whimsical art installation that took over the city in 2000 called "Cow Parade." About 500 life-size fiberglass cows, each decorated by a different artist, were strewn throughout New York and later auctioned to raise money for local charities.
But unlike the cows, pianos are sensitive to the vagaries of weather. That's where the piano buddies come in. Their main responsibility is gauging when it will rain and covering the instruments with a tarp.
And while professional pianists volunteer to go around and jam on the instruments, Zamora said the program's success lies in the people "who literally never touched a piano before and sit down and start plinking out a song and find they have a voice."
"That's the main message. Everyone belongs. Everyone's invited. Everyone can play."


Metrorail line aims to connect Washington, D.C. with Dulles Airport by 2018.
Fairfax County  When the first trains of Metro’s Silver Line start carrying passengers, around February 2014, it will mark a new era for Northern Virginia, particularly the northern part of Fairfax County. By 2018, riders from Ashburn, Sterling, Herndon, Reston and McLean will have access to Dulles Airport and Washington, D.C. via the Silver Line.
In June 1996, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation conducted a study that concluded that a rail located in the median of the Dulles International Airport Access Highway would provide the best opportunity to move people along the corridor and decrease traffic congestion.
The Dulles Transit Partners, a group of companies that would eventually serve as the design and build contractors for Phase One, was formed in October 2000. In June 2004, the Department of Rail and Public Transportation signed the first comprehensive agreement with Dulles Transit Partners and construction broke ground in March 2009.
The Silver Line is being rolled out in two phases, the first of which is expected to be completed around February of next year.
THE 11.6-MILE PHASE ONE begins as an offshoot from the East Falls Church Orange Line Station and continues to Wiehle Avenue in Reston, with four Tysons Corner stations in between.
Construction on Phase One is 96 percent complete. Originally slated for a late 2013 opening, a delay was announced last month by MWAA.
Once construction is complete, MWAA will hand the project over to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, who will perform additional testing and give a more concrete opening date. The opening for passenger service is now estimated for February 2014.
An aerial view of the Wiehle Avenue station, and the Reston Station development.
As of May 31, total expenditures on Phase One has been $2.454 billion, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority estimates a total cost of $2.905 billion at completion, a number that includes a contingency reserve.
Phase Two will take the Silver Line all the way to Ashburn, with stops at Reston Parkway, Herndon, Innovation Center in Sterling, Dulles International Airport and it will conclude with two stations in Ashburn, one at Route 606 (Old Ox Road) and one at Route 772 (Ashburn Road).
MWAA received five bids for Phase Two construction in April and awarded the contract to Capital Rail Constructors, a joint venture between Clark Construction Group and Kiewit Infrastructure South, who bid $1.177 billion.
Pat Nowakowski, executive director of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project, said he was “very encouraged” by the bid from Capital Rail Constructors.
“The winning proposal is well below our original estimates of $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion for this portion of the project, which hopefully will allow us to pass on additional savings to users of the Dulles Toll Road,” he said.
The project also includes construction of a new rail yard on Dulles Airport property, as well as improvements to the existing yard at the West Falls Church station.
According to MWAA, the notice sets a construction completion period of 60 months, meaning July 2018 is the target completion date. Both phases of the project were originally budgeted for a total cost of $5.25 billion, current estimates put the cost at around $5.6 billion.
Landscaping and other work continues along the edges of Route 7 near the Greensboro Station.
According to the funding agreement, Fairfax County will contribute 16.1 percent of costs, Loudoun County will contribute 4.8 percent and MWAA will contribute 4.1 percent. Those amounts are fixed by percent of the total costs.
The remaining costs, save for additional funding from state and federal sources, will be paid for by users of the Dulles Toll Road.
WITH SUCH AN INVESTMENT of time and money, Fairfax County is hoping to reap economic rewards from the Silver Line for years to come. Gerald Gordon, president and CEO of the Fairfax Economic Development Authority, says the Silver Line will be a major business catalyst for the region.
Gordon said that the county currently has about a 17 percent vacancy rate when it comes to office space. Plenty of new office space is under construction in Tysons Corner, with further development to come along the Dulles Toll Road as Phase Two progresses.
With such an emphasis on technology in the county, particularly in Tysons and the Dulles Corridor, Gordon says he has high hopes for the future of the region’s tech business.


Families clung to trees and rooftops in Mozambique yesterday, trapped by rapidly rising flood water in the wake of what could prove the deadliest cyclone ever to hit southern Africa.
With entire villages wholly submerged and one of the country's principal cities all but wrecked, aid workers said they were in a race against time to rescue thousands from an expanding "inland ocean" created by Cyclone Idai.
Filipe Nyusi, Mozambique's president, made an emotional appeal for emergency assistance from the international community, saying he had witnessed "bodies floating" in the flood water when he had flown over the worst affected areas. "It's a real humanitarian disaster of large proportions," he said, adding that he had seen several villages wiped out after two rivers had burst their banks.
Although the official death toll in Mozambique stands at 84, Mr Nyusi said the final figure could surpass 1,000. More than 100 people are also feared dead in Zimbabwe and Malawi.
The United Nations and western aid agencies attempted to coordinate a rescue operation from the airport in Beira, a city of 500,000, where 90pc of houses had either been destroyed or damaged, according to rescuers.
But there is even greater concern for rural communities whose fate remains largely unknown. Some 1.7 million people in Mozambique lived in the cyclone's path and aid workers said helicopters were urgently needed to rescue survivors before it was too late.
"There's a sense from people on the ground that the world still really hasn't caught on to how severe this disaster is," said Matthew Cochrane of the International Federation of the Red Cross.
"The full horror, the full impact is only going to emerge over coming days."
Although the fury of the cyclone, which made landfall last Thursday night, has largely dissipated, rivers continue to burst their banks. The flooding of the River Buzi in the past 24 hours has left a 30-mile stretch of land under water and government officials warned that the town of Buzi, where 20,000 people live in mostly single-storey dwellings, was likely to be -entirely submerged.
"In many places, no roofs or treetops are even visible above the floods," said Machiel Pouw of Save the Children.
"In other areas, people are climbing to rooftops, desperately waiting to be rescued.
"It is a race against the clock to save children's lives. This is especially true in Buzi, where we may have less than 24 hours to get people out."
The cyclone and flooding are the worst to strike Mozambique since at least 2000, when 700 people were killed and 400,000 made homeless by Cyclone Eline, dealing a devastating blow to the country as it attempted to emerge from years of civil war.
Experts say this week's disaster is likely to be the most devastating in recorded history.
Even if the waters recede, it will take affected areas years to recover, with hundreds of thousands left homeless and harvests in some of Africa's poorest regions wiped out.
There were also concerns about an epidemic of waterborne diseases, while the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said it was worried about a general health emergency because many medical facilities were under water.
"Medical activities in Beira hospital, in local health centres and throughout the community have ceased completely," the group said in a statement.


Tacos and more, 5-7 p.m., American Legion Post 21, 16701 E. 40 Highway, Independence. $6. 816-373-0221.
New and historic varieties of iris grown by local members, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Road, Kansas City.
Proceeds to benefit seed money to help launch the Brain Tumor Trials Collaborative, 8 a.m., Corporate Woods Building 40, Overland Park. $25-$35.
Music by Harvest Moon will rock the morning; registration begins at 8 a.m., walking at 9:30 a.m., Theis Park, 4800 Rockhill Road.
Riders will stop at SAGs and receive a playing card; at the end of the ride, prizes will be awarded for the best poker hand, 8 a.m., Lee’s Summit Subaru, 2101 N.E. Independence Ave. registration deadline Aug. 23. $25. 816-969-1500 or lsparks.net.


Harry Potter: Harmless Christian Novel or Doorway to the Occult?
Author Richard Abanes tackles this very important question.
Sheila Walsh on How "It's Okay Not to Be Okay"


Sunny 2nd floor Hunter's Ridge Condo! BRAND NEW PAINT & CARPET BEING INSTALLED THIS WEEK! Ideal location walkable to Old Town Louisville, Alfalfa's, trails & parks. Easy commute to Boulder or Denver & the DASH bus stop is just a block away. Open living & dining areas have access to a southern exposed deck. Kitchen has brand new stove/oven & refrigerator is included. Laundry closet in the unit with washer/dryer included. Assigned carport & extra storage closet. Enjoy the community pool & hot tub.


Colombia’s government on Wednesday rejected a proposal by rebel group FARC to hold a constituent assembly to solidify eventual agreements on political reforms.
In an interview with newspaper El Espectador, Interior Minister Fernando Carrillo called the proposal “counterrevolutionary” and said that for the government the door to a new constitution “in principle” is closed.
Colombia’s current constitution is from 1991 and came into being after the demobilization of rebel groups like the M-19 and EPL. Members of these rebel groups took part in the construction of the country’s current constitution.
The invoking of a constituent assembly is one of ten proposals for political and state reforms published by the FARC earlier Wednesday morning.


The El Paso Chihuahuas will host the Fresno Grizzlies at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday in the first game of a best-of-five Pacific Coast League playoff series.
One more time, the Boys of Summer soared and sent El Paso's baseball season into September.
The El Paso Chihuahuas will host the Fresno Grizzlies at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the first two games of a best-of-five Pacific Coast League playoff series.
This September baseball has become almost commonplace for Chihuahua fans. Their Boys of Summer have won the Pacific Coast League Pacific Southern Division title four straight seasons.
The Chihuahuas, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, will host these first two games. The Fresno Grizzlies, the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, will host games three, four and five — if the final two games are necessary.
Chihuahua fans are ready and excited.
"I will be there behind home plate — as always," said Brenda Yeager, a Chihuahua season ticket holder for all five seasons now. "I plan on being there for four more playoff games — these two, and, after we win this series, the next two.
"I've been there for all the playoff games," Yeager said. "I'm not about to miss the playoffs. I love it. I just love it. I love baseball, I love keeping score, I love watching our players go up to the Major Leagues. I don't love it when they get sent back down, but I still support them all the way."
The Chihuahuas have won their fourth-straight PCL Pacific Southern Division title and they are chasing their third straight PCL Pacific Conference championship. The Pacific Coast League is a 16-team affair, divided into two eight-team conferences. If the Chihuahuas defeat Fresno, they will play the winner of the Northern Conference for the Pacific Coast League Championship.
El Paso won the Pacific Coast League championship in 2016 and came within one game last year of winning a second-straight PCL title, losing to Memphis in the final game of that series.
"Sure, I think about it," said Rod Barajas, the Chihuahua manager for the past three years. "You love to compete. I'm walking around the house sometimes and I think about it. One game. One game and we could have been back-to-back PCL champions."
This, though, is a new year and a new opportunity. It is an opportunity to win more championships and it is an opportunity for El Paso's fans to see more high level baseball.
Unfortunately for one season ticket holder, that will not be possible.
"I'm in the hospital and I'm going to miss the two playoff games," said five-year season ticket holder Barbara Foley. "They have to win this playoff series so I can get out and see them play in the next series.
"I've already told Bronswell (Patrick, Chihuahua pitching coach) why I won't be there," Foley said. "I told Dusty Coleman (Chihuahua infielder and a fan favorite) I wanted to tell him goodbye in person. So, they will have to win. I just hate missing these games so much."
This Chihuahua team has done something none of the previous four teams has managed. They have won a club record 82 games. Their previous best was 78 in 2015.
And how close is this series expected to be? El Paso and Fresno finished this marathon that is a baseball season with identical records, 82-57. The two were only a half game behind Memphis at 83-57 for the best record in the entire 16-team Pacific Coast League.
The Chihuahuas were only three games over the .500 mark in June and then turned torrid. They went 23-6 in the month of August, won eight of their final 10 series and split the other two.
The Chihuahuas started slowly and, for some odd reason, played poorly at home. They were 19-31 in the friendly and supportive confines of Southwest University Park. But they won 17 in a row at home and finished with a 37-33 home record. They were a very good 45-24 on the road.
"For ardent baseball fans, sure, this is an exciting time," said Chihuahua vice president and general manager Brad Taylor. "But any minor league team will tell you the hardest ticket to sell is a playoff game. It's not on the pocket card with 70 regular season games.
"Fortunately, we've had a couple of weeks to advertise this," Taylor said. "And fortunately, we've got great fans. We plan on our El Paso fans doing what they've always done and that is support this team.
"This Chihuahua team has played amazing baseball — no matter who has been in the lineup," Taylor said. "We've lost players who were called up to the Padres and the guys from San Antonio have come up and played great. It speaks well of the Padre farm system that we made the playoffs, San Antonio made the playoffs in Double-A and Fort Wayne lost out on the final day in the Class A Midwest League."
The Chihuahuas have had standouts like second baseman Luis Urias, outfielders Franmil Reyes and Travis Jankowski, and starting pitcher Brett Kennedy (who was 10-0) called up to the Major Leagues.
And they have continued to win.
"We have had guys who have fought, who have competed," Barajas said. "Even after we clinched last week. No one is just going through the motions. We are in a good place going into the playoffs and it's exciting.
"Our goal here is to develop Major League players," Barajas said. "But we also want to produce a winning-type player. We're happy that we've produced Major League players and we are still winning baseball games. We've had so many guys going and coming. We've had guys on Major League rehab assignments who might not be at their sharpest. But, to the guys here, it doesn't matter. They just go win baseball games."
The Chihuahuas know they are in for an intense duel with a very good Fresno club. Fresno won the season series 9-7, but many of those games were played in the first half, before the Chihuahuas turned scorching white hot.
"Fresno is a good club," Barajas said. "That's a team that's got power, that has speed, that has had solid pitching all season. I can see these games being low scoring and I can see them being high scoring.
"But if we continue to compete the way we have over the last month, it's hard to see us losing a series to any team," he said.
It all begins Wednesday night.
El Pasoans have shown their passion in their beautiful ballpark, causing some players to call playoff games at Southwest University Park almost like a Major League atmosphere.
Breaking into a smile, Barajas said, "We had a game recently when it was in the top of the eighth and our fans were on their feet the whole time. We've got knowledgeable fans. They show up, they are boisterous and they bring a lot of energy to our team and they affect the visiting team."
The fun, the playoffs, the September baseball will step center stage Wednesday and Thursday night. And maybe more.
"They say two playoff games but I'm counting on four," said Yeager.
And Foley said, "They've got to come back next week so I can see them again."
The Boys of Summer do that. They reach in, touch the soul and bring September passion to the summer game, to that wonderful old game of baseball.


The changes being long-awaited will now translate into higher benefits to the insured. Here are the five ways in which the new insurance rules will benefit people.
Recently, the Government has raised the cap on foreign direct investment in the insurance sector from 26% to 49%, alongside other amendments in the law. The changes being long-awaited will now translate into higher benefits to the insured. Here are the five ways in which the new insurance rules will benefit people.
Claim Rejection Period: Under the prior rules, an insurance company was given a period of two years to reject a claim on the ground of fraud or misstatement. After the lapse of such period, the insurance companies retained the power of rejecting claims. Now under new rules though the claim rejection period given to the insurance companies is raised to three years, but it no more allows a company to reject a claim beyond this time.
Fraud Penalty: In order to curb fraudulent activities by the insured’s, the amended Insurance Act imposes a penalty of up to Rs. 1 crore on those committing the fraud. It is believed that the clause will help bring down the number of fraud cases in the country.
Claim Processing: The amended insurance rules provide for convenient processing of claims. This means that now government will set up established agent channels in order to make the process of claim processing easy and hassle free. Also, the rules encourage a technology driven insurance sector, where online insurance processing is set to become more accessible and easier.
Agent Remuneration and Dependency: The new rules will make policy takers less dependent on agents, who mostly try to sell a wrong product to a customer. The varying remuneration policies of agents earlier pushed them to market products that are not suitable for the clients. But new rules will help an individual make a better decision based on easily available market information.
Transfer of Policy Allowed: One can now easily transfer a policy to a third-party, which comes in line with the global practices. The person to whom the policy is transferred has the right to either surrender the policy or obtain a loan from it.


When did Doctor Who's time machine get so easy to control?
After watching the latest Doctor Who Christmas special, one thought kept sticking in our brains: When did the Doctor become so good at controlling his time machine, the TARDIS? He used to be unable to steer it at all.
Throughout the 1960s, companions poke fun at the Doctor's inability to land the TARDIS where, or when, he wants to, and it's a running joke that the machine has a mind of its own. (Something that it's since been hinted is more literally true.) And whenever the TARDIS lands somewhere at the start of an adventure, it generally stays there until the end, because if the Doctor tries to use it to get from point A to point B in the story, he'll probably wind up at point Z instead.
So when did this change?
After mulling this over for a bit, I'd have to say it started changing in the 1970s. First off, the Doctor gets trapped on Earth by the Time Lords, as a very dubious punishment for interfering in the affairs of lesser species. ("We'll punish you for meddling, by forcing you to live among the species you enjoy meddling with the most." It's sort of the Time Lord equivalent of torture via comfy chair.) After a year or so, though, the Doctor starts making trips in the TARDIS again, only the Time Lords are usually the ones sending him places where they need his delicate (ha) touch. The Time Lords, of course, have no trouble steering the TARDIS where they want it to go. And when they're done with him, the Doctor always bounces back to 1970s England.
Over the course of the Tom Baker era, the Doctor's control over his machine gets better and better. Sure, he boasts that he can take Sarah Jane from Scotland to London and arrive five minutes before they left — and totally fails to fulfill this promise. (But there are distress signals and Sutekh and confusing alien duplicates of England fouling him up.) On the plus side, though, he's able to steer the TARDIS to Scotland in the first place, in response to the Brigadier's telegraph requesting assistance.
The Doctor's control over the TARDIS gets so good, in fact, that the show's writers seem to decide it's gone too far — so they introduce a random plot device. Literally.
At the end of "The Armageddon Factor," the Black Guardian — who's sort of a Space Devil with a bird on his head — swears eternal vengeance against the Doctor. The threat of the Black Guardian's vengeance is so terrible, the Doctor decides the only thing he can do is to install something called a Randomizer into the TARDIS — a device which makes the TARDIS land in random times and places. So the Doctor will never know where he's going, but neither will the vicious Black Guardian. Problem solved!
The Randomizer brings up all sorts of questions, which are never addressed. Like, wouldn't the TARDIS land in deep space almost every time? What's to stop the TARDIS materializing in the heart of a sun? Etc. etc. etc. Luckily, the writers pretty much ignore the Randomizer — until a year or so later, when the Doctor has to destroy it for some utterly random (sorry) reason.
Once the Randomizer's gone, it's pretty much the end of the Doctor's troubles with steering the TARDIS. He even remarks soon afterwards that "The TARDIS and I are getting rather better at these short hops." In this context, "short hop" means that he's piloting the TARDIS a mile or two, without traveling in time. That's a lot more precision than he'd been able to achieve even a few years earlier.
Pretty much throughout the 1980s, the Doctor seems to be able to get where he's going most of the time, even though the trope of the TARDIS having a mind of its own remains a potent one. A lot of the Doctor's steering ability seems to depend on quite how badly he wants to get somewhere, and what's at stake. (If you were cynical, you might argue that it really depends on whether the plot needs the Doctor to be able to steer the TARDIS or not.) The TARDIS is also increasingly vulnerable to collisions, time/space tunnels, and other assorted hazards that knock it off course.
And of course, the Sylvester McCoy version of the Doctor, with his constant scheming and habit of being ninety seven steps ahead of his enemies — plus his habit of taking his companion Ace to various locations and times where he wanted her to confront something traumatic — relied on the TARDIS being more or less controllable.
Of course, even though the Randomizer was a clunky plot device that pretty much never made sense, you can see why the writers wanted to introduce it — a Doctor whose destinations are totally random is more flawed and vulnerable, and thus possibly more fascinating. Plus with the Randomizer, he pretty much could never use the TARDIS to solve his problems.


Dr. Joseph Annan, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, on Tuesday donated GHc7, 500 worth of food items to some health institutions in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem constituency.
The donation that comprised rice, cooking oil and mackerel, was presented by Mr. Kofi Ebu, a Special Assistant at the Ministry, on behalf of Dr. Annan.
Mr. Ebu said the donation was Dr. Annan’s Christmas gift to inmates of Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital and Kissi, Agona Abrem and Elmina health centres.
Mr. Ebenezer AbakaSey, Director of Nursing Services, thanked Dr. Annan for the gesture, and appealed to individuals and organisation to emulate the Deputy Minister for the donation.


Across western Oakland County and beyond, new stores are opening, tents are appearing in parking lots and on corners and the fireworks business is booming.
“We get the moms that come in with their kids, teenagers who just turned 18 and adults with good jobs who buy a lot of stuff,” said Jeff Cunmulaj who opened Jeff’s Fireworks in Howell after the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act was signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2011 and this past March opened a second location in Highland Township.
While the store still sells low impact fireworks like fountains and sparklers, Cunmulaj says a full 90 percent of the products lining his shelves are those that fall under the new consumer law.
In other words, the formerly-prohibited type of fireworks capable of flying high in the air and exploding with a loud bang: bottle rockets, reloadable shell devices, missile-type rockets, roman candles, firecrackers, single tube devices with report and more.
He also carries smaller sizes of the cake-shaped fireworks that shoot effects, colors, and often loud reports, into the air.
Depending on a person’s enthusiasm and pocketbook, the repeater cakes come with anywhere from a few to several hundred shots.
For Eric Konopka, a financial adviser, a second career in fireworks sales grew out of a hobby he’s always enjoyed.
Konopka and his wife own Michigan Fireworks Company, with a brick and mortar store at 20734 Pontiac Trail in Lyon Township, with a second tent location in South Lyon as well as tents in Plymouth and Canton.
Konopka takes a lot of pride in the quality of the low impact fireworks he carries, but the business’ best sellers are the reaper shells he said are available only to dealers who meet a certain purchase criteria.
But while many people flock to stores and tents scooping up armloads of fireworks leading up to the Fourth of July holiday, the products they buy and bring home and shoot off in the yard are everything from a nuisance to a terrifying reminder of things they’d rather forget.
For many veterans – specifically those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder – fireworks can cause a panic.
Puente said he’s seen the problem in veterans of every generation.
Pets, especially dogs, also suffer during fireworks.
Dr. Cathy Weber, a veterinarian who owns and practices at the South Lyon Animal Clinic in downtown South Lyon, said her clients seek more tranquilizers for their canine companions during late June and early July than during all other months.
Weber said she hears about a wide spectrum of behaviors exhibited by dogs afraid of the loud noises.
After fielding complaints about excessive noise since Michigan’s new fireworks law went into effect in 2012, some local governments have passed ordinances to limit consumer fireworks as much as state law allows.
Milford, Highland, White Lake, Commerce and Lyon townships, as well as South Lyon and Milford Village limit the days fireworks can be shot to 30 specific days a year: 10 national holidays and the day before and the day after those holidays. The holidays include the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, among others. On those days, the use of consumer fireworks is allowed only between 8 a.m. and midnight (1 a.m. News Year’s Day).
Launching such fireworks are prohibited from public, school or church property or in a public street. A private property owner must provide permission for fireworks, as well.
Minors and those under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance are banned from using fireworks, as well, although that provision is not included in Commerce Township’s ordinance.
Salem Township and Green Oak Township do not have a local ordinance on fireworks.


GOP establishment wonders: Is it time to abandon Thad Cochran?
Realistically, Cochran’s got maybe a 10 percent chance of winning the runoff. McDaniel’s base is excited to knock off the incumbent and outside groups like the Senate Conservatives Fund are prepared to keep pumping in money to send a conservative to the Senate. Cochran’s base, which includes lots of casual voters who favor him for name-recognition reasons alone, probably can’t be bothered to trudge to the polls for the second time in three weeks. That’s why insurgent candidates almost always pull the upset once they make it to a runoff. The only way to get Cochran voters back out there on June 24th is for his allies to spend boatloads more money tearing down McDaniel and promoting Cochran. And if it doesn’t work and McDaniel wins the runoff anyway, then you’ve spent three more weeks tearing your party’s new nominee apart for no reason.
The NRSC insists it’s “all in” for Cochran, but don’t kid yourself. They’re saying that as a precaution, until Team Establishment can huddle and come to a decision. They may end up going in again for Cochran, but rest assured, it won’t be “all in.” And some outfits, like Karl Rove’s group American Crossroads, won’t go in at all.
American Crossroads, for one, announced Wednesday afternoon that it wouldn’t get involved in the contentious runoff. “We have completed our work on Senate primaries this cycle … this is not our fight,” spokesman Paul Lindsay said. Crossroads didn’t air ads in the primary, but it donated $120,000 to the pro-Cochran super PAC Mississippi Conservatives, according to Henry Barbour, the nephew of former Gov. Haley Barbour, who runs the group.
Cochran faces disadvantages in the runoff that range from his lethargic campaign effort to the likelihood of a smaller, more-conservative turnout in three weeks and the prohibition on Democratic crossover voters participating in the election.
Establishment groups are reportedly meeting today to decide how to play it. At a minimum, it sounds like they’re going to stop trying to tie McDaniel to that repellent invasion of Mrs. Cochran’s privacy in her nursing home, since obviously they don’t want to hurt the likely nominee at this point any more than they have to. The campaign from here on out will be strictly (or mostly) pro-Cochran, not anti-McD. But look: Given the long odds and the fact that Cochran palpably didn’t want to run this race in the first place, isn’t backing off and letting the guy magnanimously concede the decent thing to do at this point? C’mon.
Cochran created his own problems, too, frustrating national Republicans last year by wringing his hands over whether to retire and surprising many in the Republican establishment when he announced in late December, two months after McDaniel announced his campaign, that he would seek reelection to a seventh term.
“I don’t think Cochran was as prepared for this challenge as other incumbents who have dealt with similar challenges. He didn’t have a lot of money or a real campaign infrastructure,” says a strategist for the McDaniel campaign. Mississippi heavyweights such as former governor Haley Barbour and his sons, Austin and Henry; the state’s current governor, Phil Bryant; and former Senate majority leader Trent Lott all stepped in to boost Cochran.
Cochran supporters worked to turn out Democratic voters, placing an ad in a Jackson-based newspaper with a largely African-American readership. (That strategy is limited in the next three weeks because Mississippi election law forbids anybody who voted in Tuesday’s Democratic primary from voting in the runoff election of the opposite party.) In the end, though, even his strongest backers were expressing reservations.
Sure sounds to me like he wanted to retire, was fully prepared to, but then was begged by establishment GOPers both inside and outside of Mississippi after the shutdown in October to hang on just a bit longer in the name of crushing the tea-party challenge back home. For all his weaknesses on the stump, running a long-time incumbent like Cochran again was obviously the best play for pro-pork, pro-business-lobby Republicans to thwart a guy who’s positioning himself as another “defund”-style Cruz conservative. They propped Cochran up with an on-the-fly reelection campaign, he played along, and together they almost pulled it off. Almost. Why not pat the guy on the back for pouring 40 years’ worth of federal dollars into the trough in Mississippi and let him play golf instead of running him around for another month? Especially since, if they’re not “all in” against McDaniel, Cochran’s odds of winning are even smaller than everyone expects.
In lieu of an exit question, read Philip Klein on why the tea party’s already won in Mississippi regardless of what happens in the runoff. The goal here, always, is to pressure Republicans in Congress into voting a more conservative line. The best way to do that is to elect conservatives, but merely scaring the shinola out of an incumbent in a losing effort is enough to make the rest of the caucus sit up and take notice.


Like it has all season, the Jim Ned girls basketball team hung its hat on its defense Thursday against Childress.
POST — Like it has all season, the Jim Ned girls basketball team hung its hat on its defense Thursday against Childress.
After building a double-digit lead, the Lady Indians clamped down in the fourth quarter to top the Lady Bobcats 52-39 in an area playoff at Antelope Arena. The win sends sixth-ranked Jim Ned into the region quarterfinals.
"I thought our defense was really good," Jim Ned coach Hunter Cooley said. "And for the most part, our patience was good on offense. We were able to work the ball and make a few shots. We made a few, and they didn't. That was the difference. They're a really good ballclub."
The Lady Indians (30-5) led 40-28 when Grace Foster hit a shot to pull Childress within 10 with 6:08 remaining. The Lady Bobcats then went more than four minutes without scoring. Foster, who finished with a game-high 20 points, ended the drought with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 45-33, but Jim Ned controlled time of possession and made its free throws down the stretch.
The Lady Indians did a good job of protecting the paint, as well. Childress scored 46.2 percent (18) of its points from beyond the arc.
Childress (22-10) came out of the gates fast, taking an early 5-0 lead. The Lady Indians closed the opening frame on an 11-0 run to establish control. Jim Ned didn't trail after taking its first lead on a Libby Tutt drive with 3:55 in the quarter.
Foster scored with 6:34 before halftime to bring the Lady Bobcats within four, but that is as close as Childress got the rest of the way. Jim Ned freshman Claire Graham came off the bench to score five points in the final 1:34 of the half as the team led 28-18.
Ansley Steed made it a seven-point game (35-28) late in the third quarter, but the Lady Bobcats could not sustain any offense outside of Foster. The 6-foot sophomore scored more than half of Childress' points, and the next leading scorer was Addilyn Keys with seven.
"(Foster) is an outstanding player," Cooley said. "They've got a couple of really good shooters around her. We really tried to limit their opportunities, and if we could do that I liked our chances."
The Lady Indians, meanwhile, got contributions from all over. Five players scored at least seven, led by sophomore Alexis Espinosa with 14. Tutt and Brooke Galvin also hit double digits with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
"We didn't use them all tonight," Cooley said of his roster. "Matchups forced us into some situations where we couldn't sub the way we wanted to. But depth is (an advantage). We're not five-deep. There's 16 of them sitting over here. Even those JV players, they get beat up on every day in practice, giving the varsity good looks.
"It takes all of them."
The victory sets up a rematch for Jim Ned. The only question is who its opponent will be. No. 14 Cisco (31-3) takes on Jacksboro on Friday, with the winner getting a chance to avenge an earlier loss. The Lady Indians beat Cisco 45-32 on Nov. 6 and Jacksboro 55-25 on Dec. 1.
"We played them both this year, and they're both really good," Cooley said of his potential opponents. "That's going to be a heck of game (Friday) night. We're just fortunate to get to play again."
JIM NED (30-5) - Jenna Moore 7, Alexis Espinosa 14, Libby Tutt 11, Claire Graham 7, Brooke Galvin 10, Malone Graham 3.
CHILDRESS (22-10) - Jaci Helm 2, Addilyn Keys 7, Khia Zuniga 6, Ansley Steed 4, Grace Foster 20.


Facebook clearly doesn’t think it’s doing all it can to control your life already, as it seems that the social network is rolling out a new ‘Events For You’ tab, with parties you’re not even invited to appearing down the side of your news feed.
Rather than just being a calendar of your invites and a few suggestions based on what friends are doing, Facebook is now applying everything it knows about you (so that’s your entire life story then) to get you out of the house to a party where you can take photos and post them to Facebook.
According to TechCrunch, Facebook is testing the new feature out on some users globally before a mid-paced rollout to everyone in the coming weeks, and a similar design for Events will be coming to Android and iOS later this year too.
It feels like every time Facebook launches a new feature, it shows us how much the website actually knows about us, and it’s pretty scary, to be fair. However, we do quite like the fact that ‘Events For You’ will give us ideas for things to do on a Friday night, instead of staying in and watching Netflix, although we’re not entirely sold on a House of Lords Drinking Party.


(Parenting.com) -- After my wife had given birth to our second child, my editor at BabyTalk called me with an assignment: See what it's like to be pregnant by wearing an "empathy belly" -- a sort of pregnancy suit for men (expectant dads try them on briefly during childbirth class) -- for one day.
One man straps on a fake pregnancy belly and has a rough time.
Having just gone through nine months of backaches, nausea, and sore feet herself, my wife, Susan, was all too thrilled for me to have a taste of her discomfort, if only for a day.
Full of bravado, I insisted that I would also wear the belly at night, so that I'd have it on a full 24 hours.
I borrowed my 33-pound empathy belly from the College of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati. It's not just a belly though: The contraption consists of two foam breasts; a rib belt designed to constrict the lungs and make it harder to breathe; two seven-pound lead balls inside the belly; a two-pound suspended weight that simulates a baby's kicking; and a weighted pouch that represents the baby's head on the woman's -- or in my case, man's -- bladder.
I thought it would be helpful to spend some time outside my own home wearing the belly to truly understand how a pregnant woman feels. But I also knew deep down that I'd probably conveniently forget to mention to my parents that I had brought it along.
"It's not so bad," I said, glancing at my mother and Debbie, who both seemed to be euphoric about my plight. But after the novelty wore off a little, the two launched into a conversation related to work.
I remained on the sofa, taking note that yes, I had some slight pressure on my bladder, and sure, I couldn't take deep, deep breaths, but this wasn't so tough. It's not like I feel that different than before, I thought, absently fondling my fake breasts. In front of my mom.
I yanked my hands away and tried to pry myself off of the sofa. Immediately, Isabelle asked me to pick her up. "Oh, jeez," I muttered, squatting down. The empathy belly instructions are adamant that you shouldn't bend down without squatting; I didn't want to test my luck.
As I lifted her, other than a brief puzzled glance, Isabelle didn't even seem to notice my misshapen body, which was a big relief. (After I accepted this assignment, I worried that when Isabelle grew up, she would have a foggy memory of her father with a pregnant belly, keeping a therapist employed for years.) My 2-year-old was just happy I was holding her -- which meant one of us was happy. After all, she's 31 freaking pounds.
"You seem kind of cranky," my mother said.
Fortunately, everybody else was. My mother and Debbie kept making jokes at my expense. My brother, Kevin, and his girlfriend, Rachel, dropped by and each had a good laugh. And my dad took photos.
I probably logged in about 90 more minutes, and three bathroom trips, until I'd had enough. When I arrived home with the girls, my wife was beaming. "Your father sent me the photos," she said. Cursed e-mail.
I wasn't mad at my dad for sending the photos. But I was mad at him for telling Susan that I had said, "Wearing this empathy belly is much more difficult than actually being pregnant." My wife quickly replied, "Tell Geoff that if he likes, he can try being pregnant for five minutes, and he will see how comfortable the empathy belly is." And then she reeled off a list of things that the empathy belly would never do, like "give you insomnia, give you hemorrhoids, and make you push a baby out of an opening the size of a lemon." She also took issue with the fact that I could take the empathy belly off at any time and leave it in a box.
The next day, my wife, daughters, and I went back to my parents' house for lunch, where the main course was my grandmother's fried chicken. Not two minutes into the visit, my wife was volunteering to help me put on the belly. Susan yanked the rib belt around my chest much tighter than my mother and her friend had. "Comfy?" Susan asked.
"Then I guess it's working," Susan said cheerfully.
If the experience was strange the day before, now it was surreal. My Uncle Joe was annoyed that I was sitting beside him, because I seemed to take up all of the space around me. My Uncle Larry just appeared amused. As did my brother, his girlfriend, my parents and my wife. At least my grandmother seemed supportive. Until, that is, after dinner, when she looked my way and offered a challenge: "I'll bet you can't tie your shoes." Et tu, Grammy?
I retreated upstairs with Isabelle for a while. She played in my old bedroom, and at one point, I tried lying on my side, imagining what it might be like to sleep like that for an entire night. Honestly, I'm not sure how any woman does it.
Watching Isabelle play, I had some time to reflect on a lot of things, like how lonely pregnancy can feel. I mean, sure, you're a celebrity for a while -- Susan got a lot of attention from the family when she was pregnant, and I was getting a lot, in a different sort of way. But at the same time, if you're the only pregnant person in the room, and the only person who has to think about how to navigate across the room, well, there's a sense of solitude to the whole thing.
And helplessness. When Isabelle and I were going downstairs, she wanted me to carry her, but I was worried about tackling the stairs with my arms full of preschooler. I shouted for my father, who came to Isabelle's rescue while I retreated to the restroom for probably the fifth time since we had arrived.
But when I finished my business and reached down to zip my pants, my belly kept getting in the way. Grunting, I pulled and pulled, until I finally placed my fake stomach on the counter, bent my knees, and tried to pull. I wound up toppling into the bathtub. I stood, holding up my pants with one hand, gingerly descended the stairs, and snuck into my parents' den.
I tried putting my belly on my father's desk, which was a little higher than the bathroom counter. Still no luck. Sweat was dripping off of me now, and my forearms were aching -- all from trying to zip my pants.
After about five minutes of struggling, I gave in and called for Susan. This was a two-person job. "I don't know how you zipped your pants all those months," I said.
"Maternity pants don't come with zippers," she replied.
"That's right," I said. "You know, maybe I do have it harder than you did." My wife shot me a look implying I was sleeping in the garage that night.
Later, Susan softened, and shortly before the three-hour limit was up, she suggested I take the belly off. I didn't protest. I waddled a mile in her moccasins, and I have to admit, I have a new respect for all pregnant women. I especially have to admire women who repeat the pregnancy experience.
Susan's actually talking about going for a third. There are times when I think she's crazy, until I'm making Lorelei laugh, or lying in the grass with Isabelle, marveling at how she can watch an ant and be simply fascinated by it. (That is, until she tries to pet it, and accidentally sends it into oblivion.) There's something about having kids that really is magical. And so, I can honestly say that if it was possible for men to be pregnant, and if I had to trade places with my wife, I would happily go the distance for nine months.