Posted January 14, 2014

The Lions (7-9) lost six of their last seven games en route to missing the playoffs for a second straight year. (Paul Sancya/AP)

When the Detroit Lions went searching for a head coach in 2009, they focused squarely on the assistant coaching ranks Leslie Frazier, Todd Bowles and Ron Rivera among the names considered then alongside Jim Schwartz, who they eventually hired.

The focus this time around though GM Martin Mayhew insisted he would not pigeon-hole himself in such a way appeared to be on those with head coaching experience, like Gary Kubiak and Mike Munchak. For a Lions organization which feels it can contend for a playoff spot and has whiffed on its last three rookie head coaches (Schwartz, Rod Marinelli and Marty Mornhinweg), that approach presented itself as a more unassailable one.

And therein may lie the issue with Detroits coaching search, the teams sixth since 1997, which ended Tuesday with the pick of Jim Caldwell: There is no such thing as a safe, slam-dunk hire in the NFL. Bill Belichick tanked in Cleveland before eventually landing in New England. Pete Carroll was a bust with the Jets and Patriots, only finding his footing with Seattle more than a decade later. The Lions certainly are hoping especially after Whisenhunt fell out of the mix that Caldwell can find similar success in his second go-round as head coach. But is there any guarantee he will? Conversely, is there any assurance that Whisenhunt has a brighter future in Tennessee than any of the options Detroit was considering after he chose San Diego?

Hardly.

Obviously, experience as a head coach is important, Mayhew said. It doesnt matter what side of the ball it is. I also think we can take into account a coachs ability to change our culture a little bit. It has to be something bigger than just scheme that somebodys bringing to our table.

So, how was a franchise thats tried just about everything supposed to avoid repeating its mistakes of the past?

Short of plucking a head coach from college, a risky venture in its own right, the Lions have banged down every door over the past decade-plus. They hired the grizzled and experienced veteran (Bobby Ross); a promising offensive mind who was being groomed to be a head coach (Marty Mornhinweg); the big-name star (Steve Mariucci); a well-traveled defensive guru (Rod Marinelli); and, finally, the up-and-coming, coveted rising talent (Schwartz).

Only two, Ross and Schwartz, were able to even make the playoffs. Neither won once there.

Link:
Detroit Lions' search for a 'safe' hire may be a fool's errand

Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp #39;s Adventure -- World Without Fences (Malay -- Malaysia)
Disney Lady dan Tramp 2: Pengembaraan Scamp (Melayu -- Malaysia) Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp #39;s Adventure (Malay -- Malaysia) 22...

By: NoveAmirSepto

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Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure -- World Without Fences (Malay -- Malaysia) - Video

There he was, on Monday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, a gorgeous sunny day, wearing a shirt and tie in the 27 C heat: Wayne Gretzky, making his first official appearance on behalf of the NHL in eons and it was good to see him back.

Officially, the occasion was the arrival of the ice truck a term used to describe the largest mobile refrigeration unit in the world which will turn the stadium infield into a hockey arena under the swaying Southern California palm trees two Saturdays from now.

Unlike the previous Winter and Heritage Classics, all played in traditional hockey markets, this game in the NHLs Stadium Series will be played between Gretzkys former team, the Los Angeles Kings, and the No. 1 team in the league, the Anaheim Ducks, against a lush and summery backdrop.

There will be a beach volleyball court set up in left field, a sound stage in right field where the rock band Kiss will play, and, in centre, a swimming pool with the Ducks logo emblazoned in the middle.

Gretzky attended the press gathering at the urging of his former teammate Luc Robitaille, now the Kings president of business operations, but also because the NHL asked him to come in and help bang the publicity drums.

This was noteworthy because Gretzky hasnt been seen in too many NHL arenas of late. And though he would never characterize himself as estranged from the league, it is no coincidence fences are finally being mended now that the NHL has finally paid him what he was owed him as an unsecured creditor of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Gretzky, who was accompanied Monday by his wife, Janet, had kept the NHL at arms length after he resigned as Coyotes head coach, preferring to watch his children play sports and essentially be a stay-at-home dad, sprinkled with the odd promotional appearance for his corporate sponsors.

Robitaille said the Kings invited Gretzky to be part of the outdoor game festivities, but it was important it came from the league, too. It was [NHL chief operating officer] John Collins and his group and [commissioner] Gary Bettman and [deputy commissioner] Bill Daly, they reached out to him and asked him to be part of it. We wanted to make sure it came from everyone. We cant have this game without having Wayne.

Wayne Gretzky is probably like our Babe Ruth and we need him around. When he came to L.A., it changed the game in the United States forever. You look at what hes done on the ice, its incredible. A lot of what hes done off the ice is his legacy and it lives on. Its very important hes a part of the league and involved in all the big events that are going on.

The league has wanted to get its most iconic face more visible for some time now, and Monday was the perfect opportunity on two separate fronts.

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Duhatschek: In the City of Angels, NHL mends fences with The Great One

Sunday Symposium - August Wilson #39;s Fences
Join us for our Sunday Symposium Series with a discussion surrounding the themes of August Wilson #39;s Fences. With special guest Dr. Elizabeth Alexander Moderated by Eric Ting Made possible in...

By: Long Wharf Theatre

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Sunday Symposium - August Wilson's Fences - Video

Verdict

MAD BRIAN looks set to gain his second success over fences despite having to concede weight all round due to his novice success at Killarney in May. His subsequent runs have been in much better class than this including in the Grade 1 Topaz Novice Chase at Leopardstown where he was by no means disgraced. Irish Thistle, a winning bumper and hurdler, made a very promising start over fences behind Ned Buntline here last month and will have come on enough to pose a threat. Seskinane is a smart performer on his day who hasn't had much luck but neither Our Ollie nor Finisterre look to have the form for this.

Irish Thistle (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 6th 4 out, mistake next, ridden and headway from 2 out, went 2nd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Ned Buntline (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f beg chs sft in Dec.

Seskinane (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leaders early, mid-division in 6th halfway, ridden and no impression entering straight, held in 6th when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Leish Oscar (11-2) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs sft in Dec, 10 ran.

Our Ollie (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, no impression from 4 out, soon trailing, last of 6, 46l behind Mallowney (11-2) at Naas 2m nov chs sft.

Finisterre 100-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, never a factor, detached 4 out, completely tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Djakadam (11-1) at Leopardstown 2m 3f beg chs in Dec.

Mad Brian (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up, 4th halfway, progress into 3rd 3 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, no extra in 5th entering straight, kept on one pace, 6th of 7, 19l behind Carlingford Lough (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) in Dec.

Link:
Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Novice Chase 2m 4f

NEW DELHI, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- India's foreign minister said Saturday the dispute over the arrest a diplomat in New York did not mean relations with the United States were in trouble.

Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters that the two nations would sort out their differences of opinion over the arrest of Devyani Khobragade on charges of visa fraud, Voice of America said.

Khobragade, 39, arrived in New Delhi late Friday after being kicked out of the United States. She was expelled after India increased her level of diplomatic immunity so she would not be prosecuted by New York authorities.

"Devyani Khobragade given G1 visa with full diplomatic immunity on 8 Jan 2014. Airborne on way back to India," Syed Akbarrudin, a spokesman for the foreign ministry said in a statement on social media, Britain's The Independent said

Khobragade was arrested last month for allegedly failing to pay her housekeeper minimum wage and lying about it when she applied for her visa to work as the deputy counsel-general for the Indian delegation to the United Nations.

India responded to Khobragade's arrest and her alleged treatment in jail with a protest and the expulsion of a U.S. diplomat stationed in India. Press Trust India said the ousted American, identified as Wayne May, had helped authorities develop their case against Khobragade

Despite Khobragade's increased level of immunity, the U.S. State Department said the charges would remain in effect and she faced arrest if she ever tried to return to the United States.

"We deeply regret that the Indian government felt it was necessary to expel one of our diplomatic personnel," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Friday.

"This has clearly been a challenging time in the U.S.-India relationship," Psaki added. "We expect and hope that this will now come to closure and the Indians will take significant steps with us to improve our relationship and return it to a more constructive place."

Originally posted here:
India, U.S. seek to mend fences after diplomat's ouster

Police took the car keys from a drunk driver only hours before the same car crashed through three fences and overturned in Thames early this morning, killing an 18-year-old man.

The rear-set passenger died and four other occupants suffered minor injuries when the allegedly unroadworthy car came off Pariwai Rd about 4.25am today.

Waikato police district commander Superintendent Win van der Velde said the police serious crash unit was still investigating.

"However, initial indications are the 37-year-old female driver of the Holden Commodore lost control of the vehicle and left the road, crashing through three fences."

The crash was particularly concerning because it came less than three hours after police had stopped the same car and caught its driver at the time, a 31-year-old man, over the legal breath alcohol limit.

Mr van der Velde said the car was also found to be unroadworthy when police stopped it about 1.30am.

"It was issued a non-operational order and the keys were taken by police so it should not have been on the road at all, let alone being driven at the time of the crash."

Waikato police and emergency services diverted traffic away from the crash scene this morning and had warned of delays. The residential road has since reopened.

The crash brings the number of deaths on Waikato roads this month to two - double the same period last year. It was the sixth fatal or serious injury crash in the region within a week.

Last night, four people were injured, one critically, in a head-on collision on State Highway 24, south of Matamata.

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Car in fatal crash was unroadworthy

Twisted Plays Stonehearth - Episode 3 - Fences 101
Stonehearth Alpha is finally here! Man, I #39;ve been waiting for this game for a long long time. And now I can actually play it! It #39;s still a very early version...

By: HoneyBunnyGames

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Twisted Plays Stonehearth - Episode 3 - Fences 101 - Video

Published: Friday, Jan. 10, 2014, 8:57p.m. Updated 12 hours ago

Vegetable gardens and groundhogs do not mix. These vegetarian mammals can turn even the most peaceable gardener into a vigilante, as the groundhogs take a single bite out of each ripe tomato and chomp lettuce and broccoli plants down to the nub.

As agile climbers and proficient diggers, groundhogs are able to scale a fence just as swiftly as they can burrow beneath one; readily foiling any attempt to keep them out of the veggie patch.

Excluding groundhogs from the garden without resorting to bullets or traps does require a bit of finesse, but it's perfectly doable. If you are looking for a late-winter project to thwart groundhogs during the coming garden season, here's a fencing solution tested by the Humane Society of America and determined to be the most effective groundhog-resistant option. I know several gardeners who have used it, and they all confirm that it works like a charm.

Start with enough 6-foot-tall PVC-coated welded wire fencing (with 1-inch-by-2-inch or 2-inch-by-4-inch openings), or galvanized PVC-coated hexagonal wire mesh, to surround your garden, plus 3 extra feet to construct the gate base.

Hammer a 4-foot-tall studded metal fence post also called a T-stake or T-post every 6 feet around the garden's perimeter, positioning a pair 3 feet apart to flank the gate opening. Be sure the wing-shaped metal bracket on each post is fully underground and the fence clips are facing the garden's exterior. Three feet of each fence post should remain aboveground.

Attach one end of the fence to one of the gate posts by pressing it into the post clips or using plastic zipties; allow 18 inches of the fencing to extend out from the bottom and another 18 inches above the top of the posts. Continue securing the wire mesh by moving from post to post.

Bend the excess lower fencing to form an L against the ground (the base of the L should be to the outside of the garden). Use landscape pins to firmly secure this on-ground portion every 1 or 2 feet. This thwarts the groundhog's excavating endeavors.

Then, bend the surplus top fencing very slightly toward the outside of the garden, essentially creating a sideways U with the opening aimed away from the garden. As the groundhog climbs, his weight folds the U and he drops to the ground outside the fence.

To craft the gate, use a wire cutter to remove the bottom 18 inches of the fence and size the gate's width so it overlaps the opposite post by a few inches. The gate can be held closed by a double-ended snap clip at the top and the bottom. Cut a separate piece of 3-foot-by-3-foot fencing and use landscape pins to secure it flush to the ground under the fence.

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Good fences, good gardens

A new UC Davis study found that Caltrans could do more to stop deer and other animals from wandering onto parts of Interstate 280 and getting hit by cars, but the transportation agency is "paralyzed in the 'don't know what to do' state," the study's author said.

Caltrans should build deer-proof fences, wildlife tunnels and overpasses accessible to animals along a stretch of I-280 that is notorious for deer crossings that cause collisions of car and beast and crashes by drivers swerving to avoid deer.

Researchers at the UC Davis Road Ecology Center made these recommendations to Caltrans after spending 30 months analyzing roadkill, accident reports and wildlife habits along I-280 from San Bruno to Menlo Park to determine how and why so many cars strike deer and other wild animals.

"There were places that there were more crashes and I think it is because at those places there was more accessibility" to the freeway, said study author Fraser Shilling, director of the ecology center. "The recommendation would be that you fence off the highway from the habitat and provide a place for the animals to cross."

There are roughly a dozen underpasses and bridges that animals can use to cross the busy freeway, Shilling said. Some were installed for wildlife but some, like those that are actually underpasses for roads or human walking trails, are not always a good fit for wild animals.

Stopping deer from wandering onto the freeway is not just about saving wildlife from becoming roadkill, Shilling said. Collisions between cars and deer can total a car and injure or even kill its occupants.

In 2011, Daniel Strickland, a professor at Santa Clara University, died after his car hit a deer on I-280 and was rear-ended by another car.

"Instead of thinking of collisions with animals as an environment problem, another frame to think of it is, because people have died and been injured, it is a driver-safety issue," Shilling said.

But Caltrans still considers the issue a low-priority environmental issue, Shilling said.

"Caltrans really hasn't figured out how to deal with this issue systematically," Shilling said. "They're sort of paralyzed in the 'don't know what to do' state."

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Deer-crash study has plan for Caltrans