Defending champs Altavista hands Fighting Blues their first loss of the season

ALTAVISTA A group of local business people put together a considerable financial contribution in order to entertain the masses at Altavista Highs football playoff games with some pregame pyrotechnics.

The best fireworks Friday night were on the field.

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Source: http://www.roanoke.com/sports/high_schools/defending-champs-altavista-hands-fighting-blues-their-first-loss-of/article_b42945cb-37cd-5000-baf3-a6e0069d16e1.html

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New Star Wars trailer definitely looks like Star Wars

The first trailer forStar Wars: The Force Awakens.

Stormtroopers. Landspeeders. R2-unit bleep-boops. X-wing, Millennium Falcon, TIE fighter. Lightsaber. A deep voice, ominously rasping something about the Dark Side. If we were coming up with a checklist for a minute-and-a-half long teaser trailer for the nextStar Wars movie, it would be pretty much the same as what you get if you watch the one that was released today.

Not that we can fault director JJ Abrams for sticking to the familiar. One of the challenges he faces in reviving theStar Wars movie franchise is winning over hardcore fans and washing away the bad taste of the critically reviled prequel films, and there's no better way to start doing that than by appealing to nostalgia. Everything in the trailer is changed just ever-so-subtly from the way it was in the original films. Remember R2-D2? Here's some kind of R2 robot that has a bouncy ball for a body. Remember those spaceships you like? Here they are again, with just a little more detail and a fresh coat of paint. Remember red lightsabers, the universal symbol for "a bad guy is holding this?" Here's one, but with a subtle fire-esque effect and little baby stumpy extensions sticking out of a hilt.

Enlarge / This guy seems like bad news.

Lucasfilm

One alternate explanation for the excess of familiarity is that, unlike 2009'sStar Trek,The Force Awakens is a true sequel and not a reboot. Abrams' firstTrek film hit a big reset button for a franchise that was in much worse shape thanStar Warsis noweven though reviews of Episodes I, II, and III were mostly negative and remain popular punching bags to this day, they were still big financial successes. The same cannot be said forStar Trek Nemesis andEnterprise, the final fizzling embers of theStar Trek revival that began with Wrath of Khan andThe Next Generation. Abrams had a lot of latitude in reimaginingTrek's most iconic elements, butThe Force Awakens is sticking closer to the aesthetic established in the original 1970s and '80s films.

My favorite sign of this in the trailer might be the scuffed-up Rebel Alliance uniform, worn by a tired-looking guy who certainlylooks like he spends his time fighting against a Galactic Empire with vastlysuperior equipment and greater resources. The original movies were full of this stuffthe Millennium Falcon was held together mostly by bubble gum, paper clips, and hopeand it's nice to see Abrams' film break away from the shiny and sterile designs found in most of the prequels.

Enlarge / This guy easily could've been pals with Porkins.

Lucasfilm

Of course, this trailer gives us just a glimpse of what we'll actually see in theaters in December 2015, and it tells us nothing about the stuff that really ruined the prequel moviesboring stories, wooden acting, and stilted, ridiculous scripts. We're inclined to be hopeful, given Abrams' track record, but we're still in for a long wait.

Listing image by Lucasfilm

Source: http://arstechnica.com/the-multiverse/2014/11/new-star-wars-trailer-definitely-looks-like-star-wars/

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This Victoria's Secret Sports Bra Can Hook Up With A Heart Rate Monitor

It was only a matter of time fancy lingeriebrand Victorias Secret is now selling a sports brafor around $75 with built in electrodes that hook up to aheart rate monitor. Sign of ourwearable tech times.

Smartgarments were recently identified by analyst Gartner as thefitness wearable with the greatestpotential for growth vs other device types such as smart wristbands, sports watches and chest straps with the rational being thatthe smart garment category isemerging from the testing phase and starting to find its way into products.

Built in tech is also hidden from view which makes it more aesthetically pleasing than the parade of ugly plasticwristbands that have characterized the early years of this space. So smart garments may well be anatural counterbalance reaction to asurfeit ofugly fitness wearables.

Gartner is projecting shipments of smart garmentswillgrow from practically nothing (0.1 million units) in 2014, to 26 million in 2016.

However how smart these garments are remains to be seen, given that clothes need washing regularly and electronics generally dont like taking that kind of punishment.

Whether thisVictorias Secretsports bra would be defined by Garner as a smart garment is another matter. It does not contain a heart rate monitor itself just a pair ofelectrodes that connect your skin and allow a heart rate monitor to be hooked up to the other side.

The product description is light on compatibility details, saying the electrodes will fit most clip-on heart rate monitors from leading brands presumably those that already come with a belt, such as this Garmin model.

A Victorias Secret customer rep was unable to elaborate any further oncompatibility, saying she did not know which models the bra is compatible with, and addingthat the product only does away with the need to wear a separate belt.

So it sounds like the early years of smart garments could squander anyaesthetic advantage by combining it with somenot-so-smart customer service.

Source: Wearable Tech Insider

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/25/victorias-secret-heart-rate-sports-bra/

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iPad Air 2: Overkill and underwhelming

They've reduced the form factor and it's faster!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago,I sold my original iPad Air back to Amazon, and ordered the new iPad Air 2.

I knew at the time that it was going to be thinner and the processor would be more powerful and have more memory.

It has the Touch ID and the anti-reflective coating. It has new cameras.

All of this is great, right? Well, mostly, I guess.

It's not like the original iPad Air was a slow tablet or not thin enough. Frankly, the Air was already too thin for my tastes, if they had stuck with the thickness of the iPad 4, the tablet could have accommodated a much larger battery.

My only major complaint about the iPad and the iPhone is that the designs are overall too fragile and require highly protective cases to prevent them from being damaged with regular use. But this is true of most tablet and smartphone designs, including Android ones, although Apple products are particularly susceptible to damage.

When friends and family have asked me about which iPad they should buy -- the Air 2 or the original Air, I ask them about what they actually do with the things. Many, if not all of them answer "Use email, Facebook, browse websites, play casual games and watch Netflix."

My answer is almost always "You don't even need an iPad for that." But if they press, I tell them they could probably get a nice deal on a previous generation device at Apple Outlet.If you are in the market for an iPad (or even a Mac) but don't need the latest and greatest, you can buy certified and refurbished stuff there that is good as new.

So what has my practical experience with the Air 2 been like? Well, first of all, before I even opened the packaging I did a Dremel job on a hard shell Trident Aegis iPad Air case, along with some cardboard for padding, to protect the new device until I could get one of the current generation hard shell cases in.

The volume controls don't work because their position has been moved and the mute button is now gone (I have it pre-set to an acceptable volume) and the camera is out of alignment and partially blocked. But the power button works ok and I have access to the charger port and with the Dremel job, the Touch ID.

That's not a major complaint though. I understand why Apple changes designs. And there's a whole accessories industry to keep alive.

The endless pursuit of thinness though is becoming a bit ridiculous. And it has had a detrimental effect on battery life, never mind the need to produce thicker and tougher case accessories.

I used to be able to get a solid 10 hours of use on an iPad Air. Now, I'm maybe getting eight, best case scenario. Other reviewers have reported they used to get around 12, but now get get 10.

The variation has to do likely with how bright you set the display (I like mine brighter than most) and how CPU and graphics-intensive the apps you use are. But the general consensus is that the iPad Air 2 has a worse battery life than its predecessor.

It's true that the CPU is faster. There is some improvement in how the Safari web browser responds and how fast pages load, and in the performance of a number of apps. However, it isn't like the performance of the previous generation was bad. It was excellent.

So while the Air 2 is faster, it doesn't feel so much faster that most people will notice a difference with the mix of apps they normally use.

What is worth mentioning, however, is that there are only a scant few apps for iPad that can actually fully exploit the power of the Air 2. There are some games I play that are probably the most graphically and CPU intensive you can find on the iOS platform, such as Real Racing 3, Asphalt 8, X-Plane 9, Infinity Blade 2, and Godus.

Most iPad games I play, though, are not super CPU or graphics intensive. Boom Beach, which is one of the highest grossing games on the platform, plays just as well on an Air, or an iPad 4th Generation. You could say the same for This is War! which is similar "attack the base" sort of isometric game.

Of all of those, only Asphalt 8 isiOS 8 "Metal" enhanced, and there are only 7 Metal-enhanced games for iPad in the App Store today. So if you have an iPad Air 2, chances are, there are only few apps that can actually take advantage of the thing. I expect this to change over time, but right now, most of the horsepower of the Air 2 (and even the iPad Air, for that matter) is wasted.

By far the most popular apps on the iOS platform do not require an iPad Air 2, or even an iPad Air to run well, and that's because of the very modest memory capabilities of the earlier devices the developers have to shoot for.

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have the additional RAM, the 2GB on the Air 2 versus the 1GB on the original Air. There's less chance of stuff crashing, particularly with more resource-intensive games like Godus or Real Racing 3, should you have other processes running in the background.

What about the faster networking, the 802.11ac MIMO? Well, I have a 3000 square-foot, 5 bedroom home. I never had serious reception issues using 5Ghz bands on the previous model.

Although 802.11ac MIMO is a nice to have, and I have an 802.11ac router here, it's not like I can exceed the throughput of my broadband connection anyway, which is 50Mbps.

Even the previous Air was able to push it to near-wireline speeds on a good day. So unless Google Fiber comes to town, I'm probably not taking full advantage of that either. However, if an Apple TV 4th-Generation makes an appearance that permits the Air 2 and iPhone 6 to do AirPlay and screen mirroring at those speeds, that's another story.

Am I disappointed that I upgraded? For the time being, yes.

I'm sure that at some point, we'll see some apps that can actually put this device through its paces. But for now, until those apps materialize, I'm underwhelmed by the iPad Air 2, and I'm convinced the product is overkill for most folks who would be better served by previous generation devices, especially if they haven't done an upgrade in several years.

What do you think of your iPad Air 2? Talk Back and Let Me Know.

Source: http://www.zdnet.com/ipad-air-2-overkill-and-underwhelming-7000035200/

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Thanksgiving Day dining guide: No reservations needed

Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in a beautiful setting with an array of menu options at El Chorro in Paradise Valley.(Photo: Al Payne)

Sure, there are fancy places to dine on Thanksgiving Day if the wallet allows, and with some advance planning. But there also are plenty of restaurants where you can still get a table on Thursday, Nov. 27, without reservations. Our list of 13 provides options for every area of the Valley.

West Valley

Arrowhead Grill

Come for Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and get such specials as lamb-chop fondue, butternut-squash soup, traditional turkey with ham and fennel-cornbread stuffing, turducken (turkey breast stuffed with duck and chicken), prime rib, salmon, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach or corn, sweet-potato pie, pumpkin cheesecake, flourless chocolate cake ($49.99; $25.99 for child-size portions). Kids menu also available. Walk-ins available in the bar area.

Details: 8280 W. Union Hills Drive, Glendale. 623-566-2224, arrowheadgrill.com.

Brothers Family Restaurant

Share some brotherly love with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner of soup or salad, turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, vegetable and pumpkin pie ($11.99) or prime rib with three sides and dessert ($14.99). Some walk-ins accepted.

Details: 8466 W. Peoria Ave., Peoria. 623-979-1077, brothersfamilyrestaurant.com.

Phoenix

Luci's Healthy Marketplace

Get a complete meal to go that includes a precooked roast turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, cornbread stuffing, green-bean casserole, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, with substitutions available ($139.99, serves six to eight people). Sides are available a la carte ($7.99- $8.99). Desserts are also available ($12.99- $30). Order by Saturday, Nov. 22. Open Thanksgiving Day with Luci's regular menu.

Details: 1590 E. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix. 602-773-1339, lucishealthymarketplace.com.

Windy City Sports Grill

Windy City caters to football fans on Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. with specials, including pumpkin-pie French toast ($7.99); turkey and mashed-potato skillet ($9.49); turkey, cranberry and stuffing hoagie ($9.89); and drink specials such as pumpkin-pie martinis ($5) and bottomless mimosas ($12). Walk-ins accepted.

Details: 2121 E. Highland Ave., Phoenix. 602-977-2700, halfmoonsportsgrill.com.

Rustler's Rooste

Dine in from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a meal that serves six to eight people: whole oven-roasted turkey, mushroom-sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, corn, cranberry-pear relish, Indian fry bread and biscuits, whole apple or pumpkin pie ($139.95). Also available: traditional turkey dinner ($19.95; $6.95 for age 10 or younger); baked ham dinner ($19.95; $6.95 for age 10 or younger); New York steak with candied yams and corn-on-the-cob ($21.95); prime-rib dinner with yams and corn ($18.95- $29.95); mesquite-grilled salmon dinner with corn and rice ($19.95); sauteed-shrimp dinner with corn and rice ($18.95). Kids menu: chicken fingers ($6.50), hamburger meal ($5.95), grilled-cheese sandwich meal ($5.95). Some walk-ins available. Live music 4- 8 p.m.

Details: 8383 S. 48th St., Phoenix. 602-431-6474, rustlersrooste.com.

Northeast Valley

Sapporo

This Pacific Rim restaurant is getting into the spirit of the day 2-8 p.m. with several specials in addition to its menu of sushi and teppanyaki: slow-braised Korean short ribs with sweet-and-spicy barbecue sauce ($12), East-meets-West sushi roll with tempura asparagus, prosciutto and pineapple ($11), sweet-potato and maple cheesecake with layers of cinnamon cheesecake and sweet-potato spice cake topped with maple icing and toasted hazelnuts ($10), and a pumpkin pie martini ($8).

Details: 14344 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-607-1114, sapporoscottsdale.com.

Fogo de Chao

During Thanksgiving weekend Thursday-Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., this Brazilian steakhouse will serve its regular churrasco menu with some specials: carved roast-turkey breast, sweet-potato cinnamon-scented casserole topped with toasted marshmallows, cranberry relish with apples and oranges, and roasted vegetables with pineapple, yellow beets, zucchini and red and yellow peppers ($49.50; half-price for ages 7-12; free for 6 or younger). Walk-ins subject to availability.

Details: 6300 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-609-8866, fogodechao.com.

El Chorro

Dinner is served noon-7 p.m.: butternut-squash and apple soup or Waldorf salad, with sticky buns; organic roast turkey with cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry chutney; or herb-roasted beef tenderloin with sweet-potato gratin, brussels sprouts, baby carrots; pan-roasted salmon with corn succotash, endive salad and saffron-butter sauce; apple cobbler with vanilla-bean ice cream, pumpkin pie with cinnamon whipped cream or bourbon-pecan tarts with chocolate sauce ($58, $24 for age 11 or younger). Each dinner guest can also take home a "leftovers" package of one pound of turkey, one pound of mashed potatoes, one pound of cornbread stuffing, a quart of sage gravy and a half-quart of cranberry chutney ($18). Some walk-ins accepted.

Details: 5550 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley. 480-948-5170, elchorro.com.

Southeast Valley

Chompie's

All locations will serve Thanksgiving dinner 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: sliced roast turkey breast, homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied yams, green beans amandine, dinner roll, cranberry relish and a slice of apple or pumpkin pie ($15.99). Individual meals are available to go. Reservations required for parties of six or more.

Details: 1160 E. University Drive, Tempe. 480-557-0700, other locations at chompies.com.

Crowne Plaza Resort San Marcos Golf Resort

The resort starts with champagne breakfast 6-11 a.m.: omelet and carving stations, fresh meats and cheeses, egg dishes, eggs Benedict, bacon, sausage, waffles and pancakes ($23.95). Dinner is served noon- 5:30 p.m. Family-style meal includes such choices as mixed green salad; platters of pork loin, prime rib, salmon, orange-glazed ham or herb-garlic roast turkey (choose two); bowls of sides including whipped potatoes with creme fraiche, cornbread stuffing with apples and pecans, lemon-and-herb green beans, orange-ginger cranberry sauce, candied butternut squash; dessert of pumpkin pie-cranberry layer cake and pecan bar with caramel sauce ($44.95, $17.95 for ages 12 or younger). Some walk-ins accepted.

Details: One San Marcos Place, Chandler. 480-812-0900, crowneplaza.com.

Green New American Vegetarian

Once again, the Tempe cafe pardons all turkeys by offering its ThanksLiving celebration noon- 4 p.m. with a menu that includes Seitan wheat meat turkey, vegan gravy, sun-dried cranberries, toasted-walnut stuffing, roast-garlic mashed potatoes, sweet corn, brown "butter" asparagus, brussels sprouts, salad, cranberry sauce, artisan breads, vegan pecan and pumpkin pies with whipped cream, winterberry and oat-granola cobbler ($28.95 Thanksgiving Day; $8.95 for age 12 or younger. Activities include music and kids crafts.

Details: 2240 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe. 480-941-9003, greenvegetarian.com.

Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse

The Steakhouse hosts a buffet 11 a.m.-6 p.m.: rosemary-crusted prime rib, maple-roasted turkey, honey-baked ham, grilled top sirloin, garlic-mashed potatoes, bacon mac and cheese, roasted green beans, baked-potato bar, salads, fruit and cheeses, dessert station with fudge brownies, cookies, pumpkin pie, apple crisp and an ice-cream sundae bar ($18.95, $9.95 for ages 3-12, free for 2 or younger). Some walk-ins accepted.

Details: 5700 W. North Loop Road, Gila River Reservation. 480-502-5600, rawhide.com.

Read or Share this story: http://azc.cc/1rkeiwr

Source: http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/dining/2014/11/26/thanksgiving-day-dining-guide-reservations-needed/19300637/

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TrailerWatch: "Jurassic World"

The raptors are backand badder than ever.

Universal has hatched the first trailer for Jurassic World, the long-gestating sequel to Steven Spielberg's rampaging-dinosaurs trilogy.

While archeology buffs are already complaining about the details--none of the dinosaurs in the trailer have feathers!--movie buffs are salivating.

In this installment, scheduled for release next June, the genetic research lab on Isla Nublar had been transformed into a full-scale theme park (not unlike Universal Studios). Which means we see a lot of smiling tourists who will like awfully juicy to the genetically engineered super-dinosaur that it is lurking in the forest.

We don't know how the humans fare, but there might be a clue in the title of director Colin Treverrow's previous movie: Safety Not Guaranteed.

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/movies/joe-williams/trailerwatch-jurassic-world/article_4d93ec3a-09dd-5131-b648-fbfbc77e0381.html

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14-year-old Emily battling lymphoma

By ROBERT PIERCE

Leader & Times

Recently, Emily Bremenkamp was taken to Liberals Southwest Medical Center with what was first thought to be a simple case of pneumonia.

Physicians at the local hospital, however, seemed a bit confused though as to what the 14-year-old girl actually had.

Her lung function just wasnt getting better, said Emilys mother, Michele Bremenkamp. Her kidneys and blood levels were just out of control. They really couldnt figure out what was wrong with her.

This is when young Emily was sent to a hospital in Wichita, where doctors discovered she was suffering from Burkitts lymphoma.

According to the medical site Web MD, Burkitts lymphoma is a form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in which cancer starts in immune cells called B-cells.

As one could imagine, Michele was more than a little scared when she heard the news about Emilys condition.

Absolutely horrified, she said. You never think your baby will have anything like this. You cant fathom it. You do everything youre supposed to do as a parent, and all of a sudden, your child has something horrible. Its something no parent should have to go through.

As of Monday, Emily was still at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where her family is waiting for her condition to stabilize so she can come home.

Kathy Bloom and Kylee Harrison of Seward Countys K-State Research and Extension office, the administrators of the local 4-H program of which Emily is a part, are asking for help with money and prayers for the youth.

Prayer, prayer and more prayers, the agents said in an e-mail to the Leader & Times. Donations of money to be used for things not covered by insurance. Emilys room is literally filled with flowers and plants.

The e-mail also stated the Extension is working to set up an account at a bank, but until all the paperwork is complete, donations may be dropped off at the K-State office at 1081 Stadium Road in Liberal.

Make checks to the Emily Bremenkamp fund, the e-mail said.

Michele said many other people in the community are helping the family out, including Liberals Parks and Rec Department, which is hosting the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5K for Emily. That event is scheduled to begin at 9:30 this morning at the Rec Center in Blue Bonnet Park.

Liberal High School, where Emily is currently a student, has likewise helped out with fundraisers, and Michele said this is just the beginning of the community support the Bremenkamps have received.

Weve had tons of letters and cards and prayers, she said. The Southwest Miracles has helped us with our motel expenses while were here. Weve been here almost three weeks now.

All of this support has come willingly from all involved, as Michele said the family has not asked for anything.

The things that are being done on behalf of us is because people want to, she said. Weve never asked for anyone to do anything. Weve not asked the community or any organizations for a dime. Anything thats been done has been done because somebody else started the ball rolling. We havent asked for anything and would not. You try to do what you can do to take care of your child, and the outpouring of support has been fabulous.

Today is Thanksgiving, and at this point in time, Michele said the Bremenkamps are thankful for the doctors in Liberal who sent Emily to Wichita to find what was wrong with her and start immediate treatment.

Had we waited, the prognosis probably wouldnt have been as good, so were thankful that they sent us here, she said. Were thankful for all the things the doctors and nurses have done here. Were thankful for the communitys prayers and love and support. We feel with everything people are doing, praying for Emily to get better is going to help us and help her spirit as we move through the next few months.

Michele said the doctors in Wichita are not sure how long it will take to get the cancer out of Emilys system, but they, along with the Bremenkamp family, are confident the young lady will be cured and survive the condition.

Itll be months of chemo, Michele said. When this type of cancer is caught, as they have here, the chemo is very, very successful. Different cultures show different numbers, but were talking 80, 90 percent success rate for this type of cancer. It is the fastest growing cancer from what weve been told, but the chemo can almost melt the tumor and the cancer cells.

Emily has been at Wesley for about three weeks now, and Michele said the family is thrilled with the progress she has made thus far.

She has made great strides in getting better, and the chemo has already started to show good results, the mother said. Were very optimistic that shes going to beat this and be the active kid that shes always been with school and 4-H and bowling and all the things that she does.

Doctors likewise were not sure how long the lymphoma had been in Emilys system before she was diagnosed, but original estimates put that time frame at about two to three weeks.

It just progresses that rapidly, Michele said.

Emily is heavily involved with 4-H, serving as the president of the local Wide Awake chapter.

She does arts and crafts, foods, quilting, photography and the shooting sports, Michele said.

Outside of 4-H, Emily also has a few other activities shes involved with, according to her mother.

She is active in bowling and marching with the high school in That Liberal Band, she said.

Michele emphasized that the support the Bremenkamps have received has been wonderful.

Theyve sent lots of notes and cards of encouragement and balloons and texted her and communicated back and forth with her, she said. That helps a lot knowing so many people care.

Michele said she would once again like to thank the community for all the support the family has received.

We go about living our lives, she said. We dont ask for anything. You dont seek out anybody to help you, but its been overwhelming the amount of support weve received from the community as a whole in getting us through this.

Source: http://www.leaderandtimes.com/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D19078:14-year-old-emily-battling-lymphoma%26catid%3D12:local-news%26Itemid%3D40

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