Small restaurants and bars line a wide roadway. Sand collects against the curbing and you know it was not deposited by highway trucks. A long walkway separates Park Avenue from Grinnell's Beach. The surf is tame and parking is easy. In the summer, parents with children fill the beach. In the winter, dog walkers have it to themselves. Even in the dead of winter, it is easy to drive along the strip and imagine a more sandy, carefree life of beach boys and girls and top-down cars. Inside the Beach House, surfboards hang on the walls. There is a big wrap-around bar and a bump in the wall — a cave-like stage for live music. There is a big dance floor. Motorcycles line the curb on both sides of Park Avenue on warm summer nights. The neighborhood is clearly ready for fun. Small, well-tended cottages crowd narrow streets in the low land between the Sakonnet River and The Cove — a small pond more than a half-mile wide.

Hate in Their Midst

The psychology department chair, Kenneth Green, did not respond to calls.

But in terms of the university’s role, Alexander said that the conference on genocide represented the appropriate, scholarly role, as would a statement by MacDonald’s department.

With Fido, don't be afraid to be on the go

For instance, my cat yowls piteously at high volume from the moment she's put (unwillingly) in her travel carrier. If she's not in a travel carrier, she is quiet but tries to wedge herself under the driver pedals, which has made for interesting drives in the past.

If you are going on a road trip and own a pet that can adapt to that temporary change in lifestyle, you will need to do some additional pre-trip planning.

Check with hotels, motels and campgrounds along your route in advance to see if they accommodate pets. If they do, find out if there is an additional fee and, if you are planning to go sight-seeing or do activities in places a pet can't go, ask if you must house your pet in a crate when you are away from the hotel room.

If you are going to visit friends or family, make sure they know your pet is coming and are comfortable receiving the four-legged guest.

Iowa Business Briefs: Engineering firm relocates downtown

Alvine Engineering recently relocated its Des Moines branch office to 300 E. Locust St. in the East Village downtown.

Alvine Engineering, based in Omaha, provides mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and technology engineering. The firm also has offices in Lincoln, Neb., and Oklahoma City.

The company recently provided designs for Wells Fargo Financial's NorthStar building and upgrades to Des Moines public schools.

Vetter Equipment honored as dealer

Cardinals release Spiezio

IRVINE, Calif. | Utilityman Scott Spiezio was cut by the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, released after being charged in a six-count complaint involving drunken driving and assault in a December car crash.</p><p>“We had heard some things about this,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. “Ultimately nothing was ever confirmed to the level it was today. To have this warrant put out there, it completely changes the landscape of what we're dealing with.”</p><p>A warrant was issued Tuesday for Spiezio, who missed more than a month last year while getting treatment for substance abuse. The warrant was recalled Wednesday after Spiezio's attorney appeared in court, and the arraignment was continued to March 26.</p><p>The Orange County district attorney charged Spiezio with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more, hit and run, aggravated assault, assault and battery.</p><p>Spiezio, 35, did not play in Wednesday's exhibition game against St.

Viewer Comments On Snowmobiling Safety

We go appropriate speeds and very slow when getting on and off trails. With any sport it can be safe if the right safety precautions are taken. Many people die going over lakes also if you check the record. Why are the lakes not checked in the morning and closed off if not safe. Read those statistics. Really sad. Another issue with the people who are drinking and driving the sleds is that you have to remember the cold feels like it sobers you up. So although they maybe drunk as soon as the cold air hits them they think they can do anything. We only snowmobile in Michigan. I do think the law where they can attach the DUI penalty to your drivers license has helped. I do wish they would do more. It is a great sport. --DonnaFirst let me first express my condolences to all of you who worked with Randy Salerno, it always hard to loose a co-worker and friend in thier prime of life.

Concealed Carry: ABC Apparently Prefers Fish-In-a-Barrel To OK Corral

Interviewing a student advocate of concealed carry on campus, Good Morning America's Bill Weir fretted today that it could lead to an "OK Corral" situation.

BILL WEIR: The idea if there's two or three people in an economics class, and a gunfight breaks out, are you really saying, it's sort of like we're devolving to the OK Corral here.

New website helps you choose the proper DTV antenna

Washington, D.C. -- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today announced a new partnership to produce AntennaWeb.org, an online antenna mapping program designed to help consumers and electronics retailers determine the proper outdoor antenna to use in order to receive free local broadcast channels. The tool is particularly valuable to consumers as the U.S. approaches the February 17, 2009, deadline for the transition from analog to digital television.

"Cable or satellite subscriptions are not required for consumers to enjoy the benefits of digital television," said NAB President and CEO David Rehr. "With the proper antenna, consumers can receive free, over-the-air digital broadcasts with higher picture and sound quality and access to multiple channels of free programming.

Pairing wines with chocolates: Keep it sweet

I'm looking for a special wine for Valentine's Day, maybe something to go with chocolate. Can you recommend something that's not too expensive? -- Carrie, Old Bridge When I started out in the wine business 30 years ago, no one ever talked about drinking wine with chocolate. Wine went with beef; with chocolate, we drank coffee.

Today, pontificating about what kinds of wine -- red or white, still or sparkling -- go with what types of chocolate -- milk or dark, mousse or cake -- is a hot topic among foodies and wine geeks. (Don't get me wrong: Some of my best friends are wine geeks.)

The one wine-pairing rule you never want to forget is: If the food is sweet, the wine needs to be sweeter.

Hughes to Acquire Helius for IPTV Data Broadcasting Solutions

Hughes Communications, which provides broadband satellite network services, agreed to acquire privately-held Helius, Inc., which specializes in business-class data broadcasting solutions.

Hughes said the acquisition will combine the skills of Helius, a leader in providing business IPTV solutions for applications such as training, corporate communications, and digital signage, with its own extensive broadband networking experience and customer base. Hughes plans to deploy Helius' IP video technologies to enhance its existing HughesNet service offerings.

Helius is a portfolio company of Canopy Ventures. The acquisition is expected to be completed on or about February 4, 2008. Financial terms were not disclosed. Upon completion of the acquisition, Helius will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes and will operate closely with Hughes' North America and International enterprise businesses.

How the World Works

I can't help but wonder as the cost of energy and transport grows as it surely must, if we won't regret outsourcing our production capacity, and letting the skill set of our workforce atrophy. If we end up paying more for the expense of goods shipped from abroad, this won't be to our benefit in the long run. It seems short sighted to me, which on observing the American approach to economics, sounds like about what I'd expect.