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ACORN New Orleans HQ Raided

PatGillickProtege — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:50:24 GMT

Great News:

Computers, Hard Drives Seized at ACORN's New Orleans Office

Friday, November 06, 2009
By Joshua Rhett Miller

Investigators for the Louisiana Attorney General executed a search warrant Friday at ACORN's New Orleans office in connections to allegations of embezzlement and tax fraud.

Spokeswoman Tammi Arender Herring said the search warrant was executed shortly after 9 a.m. and resulted in the seizure of computers, hard drives and documents.

"It is quite a bit of stuff," Herring said, adding that ACORN officials were "extremely cooperative."

The search warrant follows the removal of computers and other items by two unidentified former ACORN employees when they left the organization, according to ACORN attorneys.

Assistant Attorney General David Caldwell said the original allegations of embezzlement were made last year by ACORN board members who were terminated after asking for an examination of the activist group's books.

ACORN fired its longtime director of its Louisiana chapter last month, citing a lack of accountability.

Pamela Marple, an attorney for ACORN, acknowledged that the community activist group has been cooperating with a variety of governmental agencies in the past two months.

"The AG's inquiry came in the form of a subpoena, which was issued in October and which requested virtually every document in the possession of ACORN and any related entity," Marple said in a statement issued to FoxNews.com. "ACORN was working diligently with the AGs office to understand the request and respond in a realistic manner, particularly because the subpoena requested well over a million documents."

ACORN has been assured the computers will be returned shortly, Marple said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Forum: Miscellaneous Items

Unbelievable Bond Between Teammates...

sballfan013 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:21:03 GMT
Below I am putting a link to an article regarding the story of a softball player at a mid-major Division I school in North Carolina. The young lady has fought for three years now and this is not the first time her teammates have come to her support.

http://www.gocamels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=65398&SPID=7306&DB_OEM_ID=15300&ATCLID=204815714

I also thought this was an interesting tribute to her during a championship ring ceremony at halftime of the school's most recent home football game.

http://www.gocamels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=65398&SPID=7306&DB_OEM_ID=15300&ATCLID=204825202

Best wishes to the young lady and hats off to her teammates.

Forum: College Softball

UCF loses its $3 Million Adidas Deal

UMassFan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:53:11 GMT
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/adidas_hits_err_jordan_lHqSBJR9EimFoBRaQw9nFO

It will interesting to see the ripple effects of this. Remember all of UCF's teams have gear supplied by Adidas.

Forum: College Softball

More sad news

NYCStickball — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:40:36 GMT

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/wildcats/316414

Forum: College Softball

Chicken Soup for Softball Fans

uclart47 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:26:51 GMT
This has nothing to do with softball but I thought it might raise a few people's spirits.
Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, To Meredith in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, When a Pet Dies. Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isnt sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays In your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we dont need our bodies in heaven, I dont have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.
Love, God
According to her mother, Meredith was comforted by the book and letter and was unastounded that God saw fit to write back. She wasnt surprised because she had such faith that her letter was going to get to God. (The oldest of the Scrivener children, 6-year-old Andy, was impressed, though: He thought it was pretty special his sister got a book from the angel, says his mum.)
While Mrs. Scrivener considered asking at the post office about the package, she decided against it. I kind of like not knowing, she said. I dont know who took the time to do it, but it was an angel. We all think about doing these things, but no one takes the time to do it.

Forum: College Softball

Soccer for the MMA fan

Graybeard — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:10:06 GMT
Caught up with this one this AM (thanks Mr Tony).

http://tinyurl.com/y889cnn

And we thought it was just watching the grass grow...

Forum: Miscellaneous Items

Unemployment at 10.2% Stimulus still working?

fasterhorse — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:42:34 GMT
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Jobless-rate-tops-10-pct-for-apf-563122944.html?x=0&.v=8
I think the American people are starting to figure out that they have been bamboozled. You do not stimulate economic growth by constantly demonizing and taxing the living pee out of those that create jobs. The democRATS and our Community Organizer in Chief have this warped idea that business (large and small) are an endless supply of government income. They believe they can inflict any burden on them to fund their socialist agenda and the business will still produce and still hire.
Here is a news flash for our Community Organizer: Without PROFIT, business will fail and therefore NOT hire. We all remember Barry O making this statement "There will be a time for them to make profits, now is not that time."
This man is clueless!!! Business CAN'T hire unless they are making a profit!
The Porkulus Bill did NOTHING for business, it was nothing more than a giant payback to all of his socialist loving backers. ACORN was going to receive over 8 freakin BILLION!!
Wake up America!!

Forum: Miscellaneous Items

Oklahoma City no longer hosting 2010 Women's Worlds

Hopeful — Thur, 05 Nov 2009 23:39:43 GMT
Just put up on the usasoftball site.
Dont book your flights yet.

Posted: 11/3/2009
PLANT CITY, Fla. -- International Softball Federation President Don Porter and Amateur Softball Association/USA Softball Executive Director Ron Radigonda announced today that the 2010 ISF Womens World Championship originally scheduled for July 16-26 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (USA) will have to be pushed back to a later date and new location due to a conflict with the XXI Central American & Caribbean Games July 17August 1 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
The softball competition at the multi-sport event includes three teams (Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela) that have also qualified for the 2010 Womens World Championship. In order to ensure complete participation for the sport at this marquee event which will mark the 45-year anniversary of the first ISF Womens World Championship the event needed to be moved to a later date and different site.
We are disappointed to not have the World Championship in Oklahoma City, but know that it is imperative for our sport to have worldwide participation and a complete field of 16 teams. We dont want to leave any countries out, said Porter. The ISF is already working hard to find another host country and we will make a date and site announcement as soon as possible.
The Amateur Softball Association and USA Softball were really looking forward to hosting the world championship in Oklahoma City, but understand the importance of a complete field of participating countries from every region of the world, said Radigonda. Our 2010 stadium schedule is booked and unfortunately the July dates were the only feasible dates to host the event. We are pursuing other opportunities for a smaller event (July 22-26) with some participating teams to compete in Oklahoma City prior to departure to the world championship. This event will be announced at a later date.

Forum: Beyond College Softball

A Call for help (I NEED A HUG)

Attitudeiseverything — Thur, 05 Nov 2009 18:20:56 GMT

Dear Softball Community,

In 2003 Valparaiso University took on a community service challenge. Partnering with with United Way of Porter County, in northwest Indiana, we put together a local drive to get stuffed animals to provide to guidance counselors at local elementary schools. The counselors could use the stuffed animals to give to children in need of a hug, because of the "not touch rule!"

Our student athletes were very proactive and immediately put together a business plan outlining the program. The community program gets all of our student-athletes involved and the results of this program allow us to total over 500 hrs yearly in community service. Something we feel will be valuable to our student-athletes getting jobs or in their pursuit of Graduate School opportunities.

In the big picture this is why they attend college and this program has a unique way of preparing them for the challenges of the real world.

Let's move forward to 2009/2010. Our program has grown so fast that it has become somewhat of a business. We are now assisting other programs in our community and this past year we did over 5000 stuffed animals. Due to the success, we are being challenged to assist other programs as well. One of which is "the Reading Buddies" program. This is a new program that ran in NW Indiana last year. The idea was to provide 2nd graders with a stuffed animal that they could read to 1 HR a day. Each stuffed animal has it's own identity, name, birthday etc. The results of this pilot program were unbelievable - and the program is now being looked at by the state of Indiana.

Valpo Softball invited counselors/teachers/principals from all over NW Indiana to the university for a presentation about I NEED A HUG and READING BUDDIES. Following our presentation, we now know we have a responsibility to education and our community. Although, it is much more than a local drive to make this work, which is where you come in.

I cannot promise our student-athletes a National Championship, but I can promise them we will provide them with the best opportunity to be well-rounded. We estimated a gift of about $1500 to our community in 2003 and today we are looking to raise over $75,000.00/year. We currently have the BEVERLY HILLS TEDDY BEAR COMPANY on board and they are designing us a teddy bear unique to our program (longer arms for hugging). Also, we are blessed to have found a wonderful opportunity to take place on NOVEMBER 15th, 2009. (I have posted a link) Working with our local highschool, for one day, anything bought at ANY Barnes and Noble in the US (Book, coffee, greeting card, magazine etc.) and you show them the voucher we have attached (just print it off and feel free to make copies) We will receive 10% of your bill.

We have developed a Global marketing plan to get our voucher out to every community where there is a Barnes and Noble. With hopes we can generate enough funds to purchase over 10,000 stuffed animals.

Thank you so much for your time. Please mark down the 15th of November, print off the vouchers, hand them out to your schools, friends etc. Currently you may be assisting a program in NW Indiana, but in due time I NEED A HUG will be in your community as well - This program WILL go national in due time.
Help us get this rolling!

Here are the Vouchers: http://nwivolunteer.org/images/bookfair.jpg
(Note: we went through our local HS Key Club to make this possible)

Monetary donations are accepted by calling the United Way at (219) 464-3583.

Thank you for your support,

Randy Schneider
Head Softball Coach
Valparaiso University
219-464-5047

ps. feel free to contact me if you have any ideas or other creative ways we could get I NEED A HUG in your community. We currently have a manual with instructions on how to run the program in your community.

Forum: College Softball

Putting the swine flu in perspective

Seabiscuit — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:01:32 GMT
Deaths in the last 300 days
Number     Cause             Type
14,750,612     Cardiovascular    Noncommunicable Diseases
6,408,451     Cancer    Noncommunicable Diseases
3,548,054     Respiratory Infections    Other Causes
3,264,792     Respiratory Disease    Noncommunicable Diseases
2,734,371     STD/HIV/AIDS    Communicable Diseases
2,170,945     Perinatal Conditions    Other Causes
1,734,589     Digestive    Noncommunicable Diseases
1,649,779     Diarrhoeal    Communicable Diseases
1,381,755     TB    Communicable Diseases
1,050,358     Traffic Accident    Death by Injury
    989,231 Childhood Cluster    Communicable Diseases
    979,133     Neuropsychiatric    Noncommunicable Diseases
    868,077     Diabetes    Noncommunicable Diseases
    813,313     Other Accidents    Death by Injury
    804,184     Malaria    Communicable Diseases
770,590     Suicides    Death by Injury
746,473     Genitourinary    Noncommunicable Diseases
592,656     Other    Noncommunicable Diseases
492,658     Violence    Death by Injury
450,177     Maternal Conditions    Other Causes
427,515     Nutritional Deficiency    Other Causes
345,539     Falls    Death by Injury
336,999     Drowinings    Death by Injury
308,982     Poisonings    Death by Injury
274,950     Fires    Death by Injury
213,048     Endocrine    Noncommunicable Diseases
152,580     Meningitis    Communicable Diseases
151,017     War    Death by Injury
139,381     Tropical Cluster    Communicable Diseases
138,099     Hepatitis    Communicable Diseases
   16,385     Dengue    Communicable Diseases
   12,319     Jp. Encephalitis    Communicable Diseases
5,850     Swine Flu    Communicable Diseases
      5,440     Leprosy    Communicable Diseases

Forum: Miscellaneous Items

Sad News

TonyFoti — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:37:46 GMT
My prayers are with the families.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/manitoba/2009/11/03/11617496.html

Forum: College Softball

3 college softball players still missing

Idluv2 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:45:49 GMT

Code:
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/11/03/3-college-softball-players-still-missing/UPI-62551257272956/

DICKINSON, N.D., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The search went on in North Dakota
Tuesday for three members of Dickinson State University's softball team who have been missing for nearly two days.
Afton Williamson, 20, of Grossmont, Calif.; Kyrstin Gemar, 22, of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba
, in Canada, were last heard from Sunday night. A friend said she got a cell-phone call, and described them as hysterical and talking about water, KXMB-TV in Bismarck reported.
Lenny Gemar told ABC's "Good Morning America" his daughter and her friends liked to go out in the evening to look at the stars and talk at a place near a lake.
"It's a pretty small town, doesn't have a real active nightlife," he said of Dickinson in southwest North Dakota, where the university is located.
Gemar said there has been no suggestion his daughter and her friends met with foul play.
Stark County Sheriff Clarence Tuhy told KXMB that since the calls Sunday night, the women's cell phones go to voice mail. He said they were in a white Jeep Cherokee with California tags bearing the number 3UBN521

Forum: College Softball

Looking for a rosin bag that had a metal clip on it

softballcoach — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:41:09 GMT

I used to have a off white rosin bag with a metal clip (to place on the fence). As I recall it had a black tag with red writing. It was about the size of a stack of dollar bills. Does anyone know the name of this product?

Forum: Miscellaneous Items

Three softball players missing

sportsaz — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:57:21 GMT
Our thoughts and prayers to the missing players and family.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571222,00.html

Forum: College Softball

Sacramento FastPitch

Themefakedet — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:22:22 GMT
http://www.sacbee.com/364/story/2246975.html

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=1097309487626&oid=123192174228

Forum: Beyond College Softball