My IPod Nano Won’t Turn Off!!

Now my IPod Nano will turn off and here’s the “trip” I took to make it happen. 

The solution I fell into may help others with a similar IPod problem.

Mine would not shut down so I did the usual button pushing that seemed to work in the past – I’ve owned this Ipod for a number of years.  No luck.

Next, I decided that I should check out the instructions that came with the product.  Some of you would have gone there earlier, I suspect.  The directions said that I should, “press and hold play/pause.”  Tried that.  No luck.

Next, it was time for a Google search.  I put in, “IPod Nano Won’t Turn Off,” and found numerous entries.  The tone of most of the entries was frustration.  There were also a few suggestions offered – which I tried – with no success. 

However, I lucked into a successful solution (for my Ipod) after trying one of the “Google search” suggestions.  Here’s how I got my IPod Nano to turn off:

Diagram from the IPod Nano manual

(1)I used my thumb to press both the Menu (B in the diagram) and Center button (H in the diagram).  This led to the Apple symbol appearing.  When it appeared, I took my thumb off the Ipod. 

(2)After the Apple symbol was visible for a few seconds the screen faded into darkness briefly before the screen lit up as if the Ipod was back on again. 

(3)Then I pressed the Play/Pause button (D in the diagram) and the IPod shut off. 

It worked for me and, THIS IS IMPORTANT; it did not mess up any of the songs I had on my IPod. 

Will my solution work on your IPod Nano?  You could let me know if it did – 85peterjulie17 at gmail dot com  Good luck!

Georgetown Out in D3 State Semifinals to Millis in Girls Soccer

Molly Breen (#2) returns to torment Georgetown a second time

(Quincy) I cringed when I saw that after winning the D3 North, the Georgetown girls soccer team’s next opponent was Millis. 

Why?  Because like many of the readers of this blog, I was on hand at the Boston TD Banknorth Garden on March 9th of this year and saw Millis take out the Royals girls basketball team (60-43) in the D4 state finals. 

That game introduced a whole bunch of us to Molly Breen (5’11”) of Millis.  In that one the junior had a career game (28 points) and was clearly the key to the Mohawk win.

Learning that Millis was next for the G’Town soccer team in the state tourney, I couldn’t help myself and had to see if Miss Breen was involved.  A Google search eventually turns her up and I learn that she is a captain and major player. 

No longer is G’town facing an unknown opponent and I anticipate them having their hands full – which they did in a 1-0 defeat on Tuesday night (November 17th) at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy.

Molly Breen was a serious threat on corner kicks and direct kicks but otherwise she had a “small problem” – Kelly Chickering of Georgetown.  The Royal sophomore shadowed the much taller Miss Breen and limited her touches throughout. 

Sorting out a soccer game is always difficult.  There are goals but other than that, you work in generalities.  Even shot totals are elusive because some are much more threatening than others are. 

Taylor Nelson (Georgetown) hit the crossbar in the first half but it was more of the lazy flyball variety.  Molly Breen, on the other hand, had a direct kick from the middle of the field in the first half that was blistered.  Jamie Block (Georgetown goalie) had a good look at it, however, and caught it. 

An even more dangerous shot was the one that Mohawk Ashley Page got off in the first half after a Molly Breen corner kick. Ashley’s shot went just wide right but I saw (from the other end) plenty of room inside the net for a more accurate shot. 

I had a very good look at the Royals closest thing to a goal.  It was in the last five minutes of the game.  A direct kick from Emma Cannon put Casey Decareau in a position to send a head shot at the goalie.  Although the header was well struck, it went right where Millis goalie Amanda White was parked.  Those things will happen. 

The actual goal by Maddie Brosler in the second half was scored a full soccer field away from me.  However, from my vantage point, it was one of those situations where you have the ball and a whole bunch of players from both teams in a relatively small area.  It isn’t often that someone gets a clean kick/head on the ball but in this case, the Millis player did. 

The facility was terrific with a great surface.  The weather was equally nice with little wind and temps in the 40s. 

A five o’clock start on a weekday, south of Boston, should have kept some of the Georgetown faithful away but didn’t seem to. 

The Millis student section was very active with all sorts of chants.  I recall hearing the “Breen Machine” one back in March at the Garden. 

It surprised me that the MIAA doesn’t give out trophies to the participants in the state semifinals when they do in the divisional finals.  Aren’t reaching the semifinals a bigger accomplishment? 

Georgetown returns sixteen girls from a fourteen-win season in 2010-11.  This may not be the last time we see them in post-season, girls soccer play.

The Georgetown lineup before the game.

The Georgetown halftime gathering.

The after-the-game crossing.

Georgetown Girls Are D3 North Soccer Champs

Georgetown girls pose with D3 North soccer championship trophy at Manning Field

(Lynn) I didn’t see any hats fly out of the stands but Georgetown’s Nicoline Holland registered three goals – now 20 for the season – in the first half and the Royals soccer girls won the Division 3 North Finals on Sunday afternoon at Manning Field.

Last time I was on Manning Field was November 16, 2008 and it was raw and windy.  Today, it was close to 60 degrees with no wind – beautiful weather.  In that year-ago visit, I saw the Georgetown boys soccer team get eliminated in the D3 North finals by Hamilton-Wenham, 2-1.

It didn’t take long to see that the Georgetown girls would not suffer the same fate versus the Greater Lowell Tech Gryphons.  Way too many quality players on the Georgetown team.  The Royals put numerous passes together throughout this game and controlled the time of possession decisively.

Georgetown displayed plenty of good dribbling, passing, and being available to support teammates in trouble.  Greater Lowell had little or any of that.  This was my first look at Georgetown and I came away most impressed with defender Kelly Chickering – excellent speed and covered a lot of ground.

All three of Nicoline Holland’s goals came from in close.  She headed one in and got a good foot on two others for scores from near the goal.  At least one of them came from a corner kick. 

Georgetown pulled Jamie Block out of the goal for the second half and the freshman assisted on goal #4 that Casey Decareau tallied midway through the second half.

Emma Cannon closed out the scoring with under four minutes left.

Convincing win?  No question.  I have no idea how good the three Division 3 teams still standing are, though. 

This was Royal 4th year coach Colleen Gibbs first trip to the Division 3 Finals and now she gets to the state semifinals against the South winner. 

Does this team have another victory crossing in them??

 

Newburyport Boys Second in MIAA Eastern Division 4 at Franklin Park

Newburyport runners gather before Eastern D4 race at rainy Franklin Park

A whole bunch of us didn’t know enough to come in out of the rain!

The MIAA opted to ignore the forecasted rainy, windy conditions and go ahead with the Eastern State Division Finals at Franklin Park on Saturday.  I’m glad they did because cross country is an “all weather” sport in my opinion.

This event is well worth attending because you get a good look at the runners most of the time.  In many races, the runners disappear into the woods and out of sight for much of the race – not at Franklin Park.

But you talk about “off” conditions.  The mud was in evidence everywhere.  Several places on the course had puddles with unknown depth.  Then there was the occasional gust of serious wind. 

But, surprising to me, I never saw a runner slip.  I heard after several races, runners chattering about the fun they’d had on the course.  Those puddles came in handy afterwards for cleaning purposes.

I doubt that most of the spectators were as thrilled.  Keeping dry, even with a good umbrella, was impossible.  If you got close enough to the runners, you risked getting splattered with mud. 

I went to see how Ipswich’s Greg Krathwohl would do against better competion, after I had seen him dominate the CALs.  He did quite well getting 3rd.  He was very much in the mix for the lead for a good part of the race.  In the end, the two runners who had finished ahead of him at Franklin Park last year did the same once again.

Here is Greg (first time by), (second time by), and (nearing the finish).

I also hoped to be on hand for the Newburyport boys winning the East in Division 4.  That didn’t happen as they finished second to Seekonk. 

Greg Englehard led the Clippers and finished #12, I think.  Here he is (2nd time by with Chris Suprin), (near the finish), and (getting medal).

Chris Suprin was 17th.

Sean Hickman – 28th - (at the finish). 

Chris Jayne – 25th – (with Brian Morse 2nd time by), (near the finish).

Brian Morse – 27th –  (2nd time by), (near finish).

Ryan Clark – 39th –  (near finish).

Keith Conway – 33rd –  (near finish).

The first race I saw was Division 2 girls and Jenna Davidner of Oliver Ames won easily.

Alanna Poretta of Pentucket took 5th in Division 3 and seemed out of sorts with the weather.  She dominated the CAls but in this one she lost touch with the front runners early and never regained it. 

Alanna will get another chance as will Greg Krathwohl and the Newburyport team on Saturday (November 21st) at Northfield.

Ipswich Girls Soccer Drops Penalty Kicks Toughie to Shawsheen Tech

Evin Guvendiron tallies the Tigers only goal in D3 North quarter-finals loss

Two overtimes didn’t settle it, nor did the first five penalty kicks.  The 6th penalty kick gave the Shawsheen Tech Rams the Division 3 North tournament victory in girls soccer after their keeper made a save and the Ipswich keeper wasn’t as fortunate.

It goes down as a 2-1 quarter finals loss for the Tigers and a tough exit.  Shawsheen goes on to play Greater Lowell, a team according to the Lowell Sun, that they have already defeated three times.  The winner gets Georgetown in the North final.  The Royals absolutely crushed #1 seed Matignon 9-1 today (November 11th) at Lynn.

WHINER ALERT: I know what the MIAA letters stand for but at Shawsheen I’m thinking it could have meant – Missing In Action Again!

What actually does a school get for being part of that organization?  This was a tournament game, wasn’t it?  Missing as far as I could tell were; (1) player programs, (2) player introductions, (3) the national anthem, and (4) some sort of score clock. 

Oh, and the Shawsheen field doesn’t have any lights.  You start a game at 2PM around here, when the sun sets before 4:30 PM, you weren’t planning for much extended play.  Why not 1PM??

And where was the news coverage?  Why do Ipswich folks subscribe to the Salem Evening News?  Wow, next day they had a boxscore!  Ipswich Chronicle – Where’s your game story?  Waiting until Friday? 

Anyhow, I stood at the Shawsheen end through two halves and the first overtime and took pictures.  Devoid of a program, all I have are pictures of the part I stayed for.  Thanks to Ipswich AD Tom Gallagher for helping me sort out the names and numbers.

Here is my list of pictures;
Stephanie Sutherby dribbling toward the net,
Corner kick action in the first half shows Mary Krathwohl above the crowd,
Ipswich #5 - Lydia Earley
Ipswich #’s 3 and 21 – Grace Gardner and Bryn Golesworthy
Ipswich #24 - Courtney Long
Ipswich #21 - Bryn Golesworthy
Shot sailing over Hannah O’Flynn and the crossbar,
Bridget Fay near the goal.

Triton Defeats Shawsheen Tech In State Division 2 Boys Soccer

Triton's Ed Hargreaves heads the ball toward the Shawsheen Tech goal

(Byfield) I was on hand for the Triton (14th seed) boys easy soccer win over visiting Shawsheen Tech (19th seed) on Saturday afternoon in the Division 2 state tournament preliminary round.

The Vikings now advance to the D2 North First Round on Monday against North Andover at NA at 4PM.  The Scarlet Knights haven’t lost since September 16th but Triton competed well against them in a 4-3 loss at NA on October 14th.

Triton scored three times in the first half and spent most of the rest of the time threatening to score. 

Perched near the Shasheen goal I was in a position to see most of the action.  I saw Collin Smith tally the first goal after a corner kick gave him a direct shot from in close.

This first half shot shows the kind of pressure the Vikings put on the the Shasheen goalkeeper.

A near-miss by Justin Paquette. He did connect on the second Triton goal.

This was a Pat Martin shot on goal.

This was Eric Peterson  preparing for a corner kick in the second half.

Here is Gabe Marcolini and Matt McWeeney in action.  Matt is heading the ball toward the Shasheen net.

This is a look downfield at Pat Martin, Dan Ford, and goalie Dan Norton.

Here is Max Nichou kicking toward the Shawsheen goal.

Corey Burgess assisted on the 3rd Triton score by Andrew Fitzgerald.

This is Triton Coach Brad Smith at halftime.

Neal Lojek  heads toward the Shawsheen Ram net.  Neal set up the 4th Triton goal headed in by Andrew Fitzgerald.

 

Mike Capuano Brings US Senate Seat Campaign to Newburyport

Mike Capuano talks to Democrat supporters in Newburyport

Mike Capuano was in Newburyport this Sunday AM (at the Caffe Di Siena) to seek and solidify support for his bid for the Massachusetts US Senate.  He’s trying to win the Senate seat that belonged to Ted Kennedy.

First, he needs to win the Democrat primary on December 8th and opponent Attorney General Martha Coakley may have a lot to say about that.  She is well ahead in the polls so far.  The actual election will be on January 19th and the Democrat primary winner will almost certainly be our next US Senator.

I attended, not to solidify Mike’s support, but rather to see what he looked like and what he had to say.  There was also talk of an open mike and questions being fielded.  It was amusing for me to try to anticipate what questions I might have for someone as unashamedly liberal as Mr. Capuano. 

Mike has been in the US House since 1998 representing the “Harvard” district.  Talk about a haven for liberal elites!

Amesbury’s mayor (Ted Kezer) and the area state rep (Mike Costello) introduced him. 

The candidate explained that he had experience at numerous levels of government and that this separated him from the other US Senate aspirants.  He talked of the benefits of being a Washington insider. 

He said that he fully supported the public option in the Healthcare bill.  He said that not only was he reading the bill but also making sure, he understood it as he went along.  That second part would separate him from other reps, he claimed.

He bragged about being opposed to the Iraq War and added that we should pull our troops out of Afghanistan.  He claimed that there were only about 100 Al Qaeda terrorists around and that they were moving into various countries.  I wondered if he cared what the Taliban would do in Afghanistan after we left.

I concluded that he was keen on interventionist policies at home but not abroad.  He seemed very convinced that government had the answers to this country’s domestic issues.  A person, like Mike, who has never had a non-government job, could easily think this. 

I wanted to tell him that according to actual polls, a higher percentage of people believe in UFOs than approve of the job Congress is doing.  Folks want less government not more. 

He talked about his early years in politics as mayor of Somerville and how he had wanted to be available to make sure that he could help his constituents in any way.  He mentioned getting an unplowed street plowed after he had received a late phone call.  I wanted to ask him, “Since you have swallowed Al Gore’s global warming fantasies, wouldn’t hot air likely be a bigger threat than snow?”

I came away thinking that the nanny staters in his seventh Congressional district could easily elect someone with Mike Capuano’s views forever.  Taking those views statewide might not work so well.  His views do not differ one degree from Teddy’s but he clearly lacks the notoriety that carried Senator Kennedy into power and kept him there. 

I believe that the wave that rolled Obama and numerous liberals into office has now hit the shore.  The country has seen what those pleasantly presented sound bites look like in real life and many don’t like what they’ve seen.  A stimulus plan that takes money from one group and gives it to another is on thin ice.  A group that punishes folks who choose not to carry health insurance is out of control. 

I guess I should be thrilled that Mike Capuano shook my hand.  I guess I should also be thrilled to have been in a room with so many of the Democrat big shots of this area.  Alas, I did not get the “Chris Matthews thrill” up or down the leg over either of those. 

The Democrats are in trouble nationally.  President Obama has figured this out and now is shifting from having all the sound-bite answers, to searching for real-life answers. By shifting away from his original message, the President alienates the likes of Mike Capuano and his supporters. 

Can Mike run successfully by running against Obama’s most recent waverings?  I’m guessing he tries and loses the primary to Martha Coakley on December 8th as a result.

Cape Ann League Cross Country Winners are Hamilton-Wenham (Girls) and Newburyport (Boys)

Newburyport runners listen for the starter's gun as Coach Hennigar watches from behind

A perfect afternoon at Bradley Palmer State Park on Saturday afternoon for the Cape Ann League cross country championships.  Perfect, that is, for the spectators.  I doubt that the runners were thrilled with the mid-60s, sun, and gusty winds they encountered.

The regular season champions both delivered as the Hamilton-Wenham girls swept both JV and varsity events while the Newburyport boys also had a pair of team championships.

Neither team had the winner in the varsity events but that fact didn’t keep the winners from posting convincing victory margins.

The Clipper depth carried them to the CAL championship.  Sean Hickman finished seventh and was followed in short order by Chris Suprin (9th), Greg Englehart (10th), Keith Conway (11th) and Brian Morse (12th). 

The next cross country event is the state championships on November 14th at Franklin Park.  Class enrollment becomes a factor in this one, and Newburyport will move away from some of it’s CAL competitors and drop to Division 4.  Two NHS teams won state championships last school year – girls’ soccer and boys’ hockey.  Maybe it’s the cross country boys’ turn?  Their depth might be the ticket to the title.

Rachel Rikeman got 10th in the JV meet to pace Newburyport girls while  John Stancel and Matt Getz finishing one-two in the JV race.  The other top-five members for the winning Clipper’s JV team were Owen Williams, Ian Wood, and Ryan Kell from right to left.

Alanna Poretta of Pentucket owned the varsity race.  No one was near her when she came past the starting line and at the finish; she was nearly a minute better than the second place HW girl was.

In the boys varsity meet, Ipswich’s Greg Krathwohl trailed a North Andover runner on the trip past the starting line but later was the first to come out of the woods.  Greg had plenty left at the end and ended up 30 seconds ahead.

Steve Sawyer was named coach-of-the-year for both of his HW teams.  My wife and I traveled with him in Europe in 1968 and he will not deny it.

Newburyport Boys’ Cross Country Team Undefeated In Regular Season

October 27th (Tuesday) – At Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, I saw the Newburyport boys’ cross country team complete an undefeated (12-0) season in the Cape Ann League.

Host Amesbury provided little opposition, in fact the way the Clipper runners were grouped together; it looked like a training exercise especially at the front. 

Senior Matt Getz leads eight Newburyport runners across the finish line

The local paper, which I suspect viewed the race from Liberty Street, had all the runners finishing in first in some sort of blanket finish.  My photo, taken at the finish line, would suggest otherwise.  The winner was clearly Senior Matt Getz.

The local paper also listed the eight tied for first as; Matt Getz, Brian Morse, Sean Hickman, Ryan Clark, Greg Englehart, Chris Suprin, Chris Jayne, and Keith Conway.  Again referencing my photo from the finish line, I see Matt Getz (who clearly was the winner) and EIGHT runners behind him.  Someone was left off the local paper’s list.  I wonder whom?  I’ll post it here if someone sends the info to my email address – 85peterjulie17 at gmail dot com. 

Matt Tolley raced off to the early lead.

Coach Don Hennigar told me at NHS on Thursday that he thought that this was the first undefeated boys team he’s had since 2003. 

left to right - Maddie Cutrone, Merri Adsit, Kiley Knowlton, and Renee Angelo finish first together at Amesbury

The Clipper girls were just as dominating versus Amesbury.  Four Clipper runners took the lead together early and ran that way (training workout style) the entire way.  I wouldn’t attempt to pick a winner even using my photo of the finish. 

The big event for these teams is Saturday (October 31st) afternoon at Bradley Palmer Park.  This would be the Cape Ann League championships.  The varsity teams run at 2PM (girls) and 2:30PM (boys). 

I expect that the boys will be severely tested by both Masco (11-1) and Hamilton-Wenham (10-2). 

The young Clipper girls completed the regular season at 5-7 and may surprise some folks at Bradley Palmer. 

Look for pictures and a recap to show up on this blog on Saturday (October 31st) in the evening.

Tom McLaughlin Rocks

I happen to enjoy Tom McLaughlin’s weekly column in The Bridgton News.  Wow, that’s a novelty, or at least it seems so based on the regular letters-to-the-editor the BN lists.

When I read what his critics have to say I cannot help but wonder if these folks aren’t also the same ones regularly preaching “tolerance.”  Maybe their “tolerance” is only for those they agree with.

President Obama seems to have a similar problem.  He doesn’t like Fox News.  Why?  I think it’s because Fox News raises aggravating questions and presents information that puts the current administration in a bad light.

Tom doesn’t hesitate to do the same.  In the October 22^nd edition, he belittled the Harvard educations of Al Gore and Barack Obama. That’s not what folks want to read if they’re convinced that a Harvard education exempts a person from scrutiny from the rest of us.  

Some call Tom’s writings, “right wing rants,” minus any explanation or knowledge of what that might mean.  They’re a bit like the elementary school student who hears a word on the bus, drops it into the family conversation at supper, and wonders why his mom returns with a bar of soap. 

Some of Tom’s critics in the BN readership do know what they’re writing about, so reasoned opinions differing from Tom’s are found very regularly among the letters-to-the-editor.  Thus to suggest that the BN is one-sided means that the critic either doesn’t read the letters-to-the-editor or else doesn’t know what a left wing point of view sounds like.

Tom McLaughlin is entitled to his opinion and thankfully the BN provides him with a weekly forum to do just that. 

On another note, I’m not at all surprised that the BN receives awards for their photos – they are excellent. 

I am also pleased to see that the BN is developing an online website that will enable folks from afar to keep up-to-date on Bridgton and its surrounding towns.  Keep up the good work!

( Sent as a letter-to-the-editor to The Bridgton News )