| World's Top Spots For Snow Sports
The national daily average snow depth over a four-week period between January and February in 2007 was 3.8 inches; so far this year it's been 6.3 inches, according to data from the National Weather Service. To prepare for all that powder, travelers are stocking up on gear, says Alicia Allen, a spokeswoman for SnowSports Industries America, a trade association, including snowshoes and twin-tip skis, which allow a greater range of movement. Since 2006, specialty store sales of each increased by 21% and 32%, respectively, and may reflect a growing trend toward diversifying snow sports largely dominated by alpine skiing and snowboarding. "People feel trapped [indoors], especially if they're not a skier or snowboarder," says Bobbi Sankey, marketing and outreach coordinator for the American Hiking Society.
Missouri anti-affirmative action measure draws opposition
ST. LOUIS | Opponents of a proposal banning most affirmative action programs in Missouri are trying to discourage people from signing an initiative petition to get it on the 2008 ballot.</p><p>The Missouri Civil Rights Initiative is collecting signatures to get a measure on the ballot that would "ban state and local government affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment in public contracting, employment or education based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin."</p><p>Those opposed to the measure have organized in a group called Working to Empower Community Action Now, or We Can. The group is concerned that people, hearing they're signing a petition related to civil rights, will not know the ramifications of what they're supporting, said Director Brandon Davis.
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I believe it was Tim McCarver who said it best: "Some ground balls are hit into places where you have no play." And some mailbag columns are meant to be tainted by the unforeseen distraction of the longest game in World Series history. Oh well. As always, these are actual e-mails from actual readers. Q: What would be the sports equivalent of Jeffrey Ross' famous (and unprintable) line about Bea Arthur and Sandra Bernhard at Jerry Stiller's roast? Since it came out of nowhere and defined roasts as we know it, the best I could come up with was either the Stansbury Statue of Liberty dunk or Dr. J's dunk from the free throw line, as they both came out of nowhere and vaulted the contests to the next level, just as Ross' line did for celebrity roasts. A case could also be made, I suppose, for Bob Beamon's long jump in '68, because I can't see anyone topping the joke for quite some time.
Xstrata profit up 13%, still in Vale talks
He said a merger with Anglo American Plc would be positive for both parties, but did not hold out hope the two would end up together if the Vale deal fell through. "There's no doubt that a combination of Anglo and Xstrata would give rise to a lot of synergies ... but things have to be in the universe of the possible," Mr. Davis said. Vale said on Friday it had reached its limits in takeover talks, and that any deal would depend on the resolution of a dispute over marketing rights held by Swiss commodities trader Glencore, which holds a 35 per cent stake in Xstrata. Since the financial results were largely in line with forecasts, many analysts focused on the takeover situation. "I am optimistic. I think that there will be a deal done because both parties will in the end be sensible ...
New York Mets
Board sets $378 million school-bond vote June 3
Palo Alto schools will be getting bigger and better, school board members said Tuesday as they unanimously approved putting a $378 million bond measure on the June 3 ballot. The bond measure would extend to 2042 the current property tax of $44.50 per $100,000 assessed valuation established under a 1995 bond measure. That means a continuation of about $445 in yearly taxes for a home assessed at $1 million. The bond measure requires 55 percent voter approval under state Proposition 39, which also requires the formation of a citizens' oversight committee. The bond measure would expand and improve crowded, run-down schools, school officials said, echoing concerns presented at meetings in the months leading up to the final Tuesday vote.
When you can give, give only the best
Case in point: the Black History Month celebration on Feb. 22 featured a nine-piece ladies jazz band concert, a generous dinner, talent from local schools, and East Aurora School District's own Clayton Muhammad as emcee. The event was free, partly because the park district is in the business of making free and low-cost activities available to our residents and partly because of sponsors that contributed monetary and in-kind donations. Again, it was an event in which the park district reached out to our community to show that when we give something, we give the best we have to offer. .
Universal: We're staying with HD DVD
Microsoft is now offering high-def downloads via its XBox 360 gaming console while Apple just added them to its Apple TV device. Additionally, Netflix and several other companies are planning to offer HD download services. But ZDNet's technical director says the companies are just using "marketing" techniques to make it sound like the downloads are really HD. "Marketing will push the nicer sounding “720p" aspect of the video but they don't tell you it's way too compressed to offer good video fidelity. Blu-ray has a maximum bit-rate of 40 mbps while HD DVD offers 28 mbps. Over the air broadcasts can be up to 24 mbps though they're typically between 16 to 20 mbps," he says. Ou adds: "Under most normal circumstances, the low bit-rate 720p so-called 'HD' video will be inferior though many companies are betting that consumers won't know any better.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Fun Flicks From The Grammys!
There is a positive rumor that The Game and Big Fase 100 have ended their feud. Hope so.
Shout out to Genarlow Wilson! I'm glad to see that he's finally out. He was 17 and had sex with a consenting 15 year old. It took them two years in jail for them to decide he should be freed.
Check out this interview with Jim Jones on his clothing line, Nostic.
Oh yeah, the AHH Staff did their weekly music picks again...they dissed me (again) and left me out. My song is coming up later today.
NEVER FEAR – MORE RUMORS LATER!
Don't sleep! I shall return with more mindless drivel for you later in the day. Thanks a lot for reading and you can thank me for writing on a Sunday evening. ☺
EAZY-E "EAZIER SAID THAN DUNN" & "WE WANT EAZY!"
I was in the mood for some old school Eazy-E so here you go!
TOMORROW, WE LOVE YOU!
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!
-illseed
WHO: illseed
WHAT: Rumors
WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed
HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at ahhrumors@gmail.com.
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