Rochester Daily Photo

It is good to be king! You can be king of a country, king of rock and roll, king of checkers, king of a castle, king of swing, king of basketball, and king of duct tape artistry. Once you are king, you are the best of the best, the Big Kahuna, the Grand Poobah, and so on. While the Sacramento Kings have inherited a name of royalty, they hope to one day be crowned king of all the NBA: NBA Champions!

The Sacramento Kings have only played in the NBA since the 1985-1986 season. However, since 1945, they have also played as the rochester Royals, the Cincinnati Royals, the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, and the Kansas City Kings. In 1985, the Kings earned a 37-45 record during their premiere as an NBA team. While the record was good enough to qualify for the playoffs, the Houston Rockets swept them (3-0).

How did the Kings become royalty? When the team relocated to Kansas City, it changed its name to prevent confusion. Although they were the Royals in Rochester and Cincinnati, Kansas City already had a Major League Baseball team with the name “Royals.”

Though Sacramento is the capital of California, most of us are more familiar with the California cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, etc. Here are some fascinating facts about Sacramento:

• Average January temperature: 53° F
• Average annual rainfall: 17 inches per year or .32 inches per week
• Major industries: computers/electronics, printing, glass, wood products, agriculture
• Main agricultural products: corn, rice, safflower, sugar beets, and tomatoes
• Involved history’s largest human migration after the 1848 discovery of gold

How close have the Sacramento Kings come to being crowned kings of the NBA? Since the 1985-1986 season, the Kings have won two Division titles, and have made 10 playoff appearances. Though they have never played in an NBA Finals series, the Kings advanced deep into the playoffs, during the 2001-2002 season.

Before the 2001-2002 season started, the Kings had acquired Mike Bibby (point guard). The Kings’ 61-21 record made them kings of the NBA regular season, and was their all-time best franchise record. In the playoffs, the Kings would silence the Utah Jazz (3-1), and then subdue the Dallas Mavericks (4-1). In the Western Conference Finals, the Kings would then face the mighty Los Angeles Lakers.

Many fans of the NBA consider the 2002 war between the Kings and the Lakers, to be one of the greatest playoff series in the league’s history. Ahead in the series 3-2, the Lakers won Game 6, during which they shot a whopping 40 free throws! Game 7 was yet another battle, which included an amazing 19 lead changes and 16 ties. In overtime, the Lakers outlasted the Kings, winning the game 112-106 and the series 4-3.

Each season, the Sacramento Kings strive to advance to their first NBA Finals series. Use Sacramento Kings merchandise to cheer on the team as they battle to become NBA royalty and earn their first NBA Championship crown!

Rick Grantham
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/the-sacramento-kings-play-to-be-crowned-as-nba-royalty-707325.html

To be successful in the workplace, employees have to possess transferable skills. Knowing about these skills will help teens and adults prepare to be successful in the workplace. Transferable skills are a product of our talents, traits and knowledge. These skills determine how you respond to new activities, work situations or jobs.

Transferable skills are non-job specific skills that you have acquired during any activity or life experiences. Student activities and experiences include campus and community activities, class projects, and assignments, hobbies, athletic activities, internships and summer part-time jobs.

Transferable skills fall into three (3) groups: Working with people, working with things, and working with data/information. These terms are defined below:

Working with people skills happen when people sell, train, advise, and negotiate.
Working with things skills occur when people repair, operate machinery, sketch, survey, or troubleshoot.
Working with data/information skills involve budgeting, researching, and analyzing.

The Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) is a model for transferable skills resources and web sites. In 1990, a commission of schools, government, unions, and corporations developed five SCAN competencies and three SCAN foundation skills. The Five Competencies are: Resources, information, interpersonal, systems, and technology.

The meanings of the competencies are:

Resources competencies describe the allocation of time, money, material resources, facility resources, and human resources.
Information competencies involve acquiring, evaluating, organizing, maintaining, interpreting, communicating and processing information.
Interpersonal competencies include team participation, teaching, customer services, leadership, negotiation, and cultural diversity.
Systems competencies work with understanding systems, performance monitoring, and systems designs.
Technology competencies involve the selection, application, maintenance, and troubleshooting of technology.

Besides competencies, there are three (3) Foundation Skills: Basic, thinking, and personal qualities. The terms are explained below.

Basic skills involve reading, writing, arithmetic, mathematics, listening, and speaking.
Thinking skills include creative thinking, decision making, problem solving, seeing things in the mind’s eye, knowing how to learn, and reasoning.
Personal qualities are responsibility, self esteem, sociability, self-management, and integrity/honesty

Universities and professional organizations, such as California State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Quintessential Careers, and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) agree these transferable skills are important. These organizations have created transferable skills surveys, exercises, and web sites.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is a professional association connects more than 5,200 college career services professionals at nearly 2,000 college and universities nationwide, and more than 3,000 HR/staffing professionals focused on college relations and recruiting. NACE has compiled the twenty (20) top personal qualities/skills that employers requested the most:

1. Analytical skills
2. Communication Skills
3. Computer skills
4. Creativity
5. Detail-oriented
6. Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker
7. Flexibility/adaptability
8. Friendly/outgoing personality
9. Honesty/integrity
10. Interpersonal skills (relates well to others)
11. Leadership and management skills
12. Motivation/initiative
13. Organizational and time management skills
14. Real Life Experiences
15. Self-confidence
16. Strong work ethic
17. Tactfulness
18. Teamwork skills (works well with others)
19. Technical Skills
20. Well-mannered/polite

Communication skills are the most popular skills listed on the web sites. Communication deals with speaking effectively, writing concisely, listening attentively, and other abilities that result in the expression, transmission and interpretation of knowledge and ideas. Communication skills help you communicate what you know. Examples of communication skills include:

Collaborating
Forecasting
Negotiating
Projecting
Publicized
Selling ideas, products or services
Speaking
Translating
Writing

Communication skills are involved in the other skills, such as organizational management, human relations, program administration, research & planning. Organization, management, leadership, and human relations skills are the ability to supervise, direct and guide individuals and groups in the completion of tasks and fulfillment of goals. Organization, management and leadership skills consist of:

Making decisions
Assuming and delegating responsibility
Organizing people and tasks
Negotiating agreements

Management and administrative skills organize and coordinate people, projects and events. As a manager, you handle multiple tasks, set priorities, and adapt to changing conditions and work assignments. As leaders, you use skills to motivate individuals and groups to assess, perform, set goals, evaluate, and follow through situations effectively.

Managers and leaders use human relations skills. Human relations, interpersonal, or people skills, develop rapport, negotiate, and help people overcome their differences.

In addition to human relations skills, managers and leaders need planning and reasoning skills. Program administration, research and planning are essential when you gather information, analyze data, present ideas, and generate solutions.

Analyzing, planning, and reasoning skills are used in the field of research. Research skills help you search for specific knowledge, determine future needs, investigate and record findings, find answers, and evaluate strategies.

Besides planning and reasoning skills, problem solving and creativity activities involve the ability to find solutions to problems using experiences, information, and available resources. Problem solving and goal setting involve assessing a situation, gathering information, identifying key issues, anticipating problems, and generating multiple solutions.

Transferable skills are also called Soft Skills. Simon Fraser University, a leader in management education, lists the ten (10) Soft Skills:

1. Adaptability
2. Communication
3. Dedication
4. Dependability
5. Energy
6. Flexibility
7. Hard-working
8. Honesty
9. Integrity
10. Leadership

There are free surveys, activities, and exercises that help identify your transferable skills. Examples of resources include:

Identify Transferable Skills Exercise
Identifying Transferable Skills in Career Planning
Identify Your Transferable Skills Survey
Transferable Skills Checklist
Transferable Skills Exercise
Transferable Skills Guidebook
Transferable Skills Survey

Resources:

Binghamton University, State University of New York, Career Development Center, LSG 500, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, New York, 13902-6000, 607-777-2400

Career Center California State University, Chico Chico, CA 95929-0700, (530) 898-5253

Career Center, Student Affairs, Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Identify Transferable Skills Exercise. Career Development Services, A Division of Undergraduate Studies, Auburn University, 303 Mary Martin Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849, (334) 844:4744

Identifying Transferable Skills in Career Planning. William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Rochester, rochester, NY 14627:0107

Identify Your Transferable Skills. Career Center University of South Carolina H. WILLIAM CLOSE (BA) BLDG., 6th FL.

Job Outlook 2007, What employers want (and you need to have), National Association of Colleges and Employers, 62 Highland Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18017-9085, 800/544-5272

Quintessential Careers, DeLand, FL 32720

Rochester Institute of Technology, Office of Cooperative Education and Career Services, 57 Lomb Memorial Drive, Rochester, NY 14623, 585.475.2301

Transferable Skills Checklist. Missouri State University, Career Center, Carrington 309, Glass 103, 901 S. National, Springfield, Missouri 65897, 877:836:JOBS

Transferable Skills Exercise. Wisconsin Job Center, 201 E. Washington Avenue, Madison WI 53702

Transferable Skills Guidebook. Simon Fraser University (SFU) BUSINESS, Career Management Centre, 2361, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, V5A 1S6

Transferable Skills Survey. Career Services, University of Minnesota Duluth, 22 Solon Campus Center, 1117 University Drive, Duluth, MN 55812:3000

University of Alabama Career Center, 330 Ferguson, 205:348:5848

USC Career Planning & Placement Center, 3601 Trousdale Parkway, Student Union 110, Los Angeles, CA 90089:4897, (213) 740:9111

Mary Askew
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/top-transferable-skills-web-sites-209509.html

Shopping is defined as the examining of goods or services with the intent to buy. It is the activity of selection and purchase from a retailer, and can be traced back to many civilizations throughout history. There is record of shopping lists used by the Romans in ancient Rome. Shopping can be considered as an economic activity, but is most commonly seen as an activity of leisure or recreation. A person will travel from store to store in search of a suitable product to purchase at a suitable price.

To some people, instead of actually searching for and buying a product, just the idea of buying it is good enough. “Window shopping” is an activity that involves simply browsing store fronts or shops with no intent to buy anything. This may be done as a way to see what options are out there, or to just fantasize about what items one could own someday.

Shopping is not always a leisure activity for everyone, however. A number of people see it as a task of inconvenience and stress. Long lines, high prices, and bad encounters with employees or other customers are a few reasons why some may look negatively upon the activity. Although changing one’s attitude would most likely solve this negative viewpoint, many people turn instead to online shopping, preferring to buy things from the comfort of their own home using a computer and the internet.

When it comes to shopping in Rochester, MN, many people still enjoy the experience of traveling to the store to buy what they need. There are a number of stores and shopping centers in the city that are able to cater to practically anyone’s needs. One will find everything from shopping malls to antiques to the unique and unusual. Being one of the larger cities in the region, having such a rich history, and being home to a medical facility that is known throughout the world, it is no surprise that such diversity of shopping centers exists. A large number of people come through the Mayo Clinic, each with their own needs and tastes, resulting in shops and stores throughout the city that try and meet those needs and tastes.

Although many residents of rochester stick to the large shopping areas such as Apache Mall or large department stores, there is a section of town that may go undiscovered by many a resident. Right downtown, among the buildings of the Mayo Clinic and hotels, lays a treasure trove of small unique and specialized stores. The stores are close and convenient to those visiting and working at the Mayo Clinic, and are accessible through skyways and the subway. With items from every corner of the globe, the specialty stores offer a much needed window shopping break, or can provide that unique home decoration one has been looking for.

Shopping is an activity that has been around for centuries, and is one that shows no signs of disappearing. It will remain a part of our culture in some form or another: as a physical store, a webpage online, or some form no one has even dreamed of yet. Even if some people have negative attitudes towards shopping, there is no avoiding it. Whether making a purchase or simply dreaming about it, shopping centers play a large part in society, offering items from the most basic needs to the finest of luxuries.

George Wellington

Rochester, Minnesota offers events and activities to its residents and visitors throughout the year. From parks and hiking to shopping, to catching a concert at the Mayo Civic Center, there is always a possibility to stay active. During the cold winter months, or hot, humid summer days when it can be hard to stay active, Rochester can also offer relaxing alternatives, such as going to a movie at one of its three movie theaters. The current locations are spread out around the city, offering residents and visitors a close option no matter where they are staying.

Although three state-of-the art theaters operate in Rochester today, the current set up is fairly recent. At one time, a national theater chain, Carmike Cinemas, owned and operated four movie theaters in Rochester, including Apache, Galleria, Barclay Square, and Cinema theaters. Cinema became known as the “cheap seats,” as towards the end of its career, it offered older movies at a very reduced price. It was the first of the four to close. Gradually, the other three disappeared until in 2004 Carmike Cinemas’ era in Rochester came to a close with the screens going dark at Barclay Square 6. During this decline other new theaters started making their mark. Chateau Theater and CineMagic Stadium entered the scene.

The Chateau was Rochester first “modern” theater, opening in December of 2001 and offering 14 wall-to-wall screens, stadium style rocker seating, a large themed lobby, and digital sound. The lobby of Chateau is a replica of the medieval village décor of the original Chateau Theater that was opened in downtown Rochester in 1927. It provided operas, plays, concerts, vaudeville, and silent and talking movies until 1983 when it was closed. The building has since been renovated and converted into a bookstore.

CineMagic Hollywood Luxury Stadium, or Hollywood 12, opened about six months later with similar features to Chateau, but only contains 12 screens. With the closing of Carmike Cinemas’ theaters, these two enjoined dominance over the theater business in Rochester for three years until 2007 when Wehrenberg Theaters opened the Galaxy 14 Cine. When news of the new theater came to Rochester, the two existing theaters started talking and formed an agreement that placed both under the management of CineMagic. The two had enjoyed cooperating over the years and felt it unnecessary to compete when the third theater opened. With CineMagic’s experience, that company took over.

The Galaxy 14 Cine is part of the 100+-year-old company, Wehrenberg Theaters. Wehrenberg is currently the oldest family-owned and operated theater circuit in the country. The Galaxy 14 came to Rochester offering stadium style seating, digital sound with the latest technology, and wall-to-wall screens, including the new “Mega-Screen,” which is 65 feet wide and 25 feet tall. This will be the largest screen in the region. Another feature that the Galaxy offers is Fred’s Drive-In, a food court in the lobby resembling a drive-in theater with seating made from classic 50′s cars. The building also contains party rooms for birthday parties, and allows the auditoriums to be rented for group or corporate events.

These theaters now offer Rochester with three unique movie-going experiences. From the medival theme of Chateau, to the 50′s Driving-In at Wehrenberg, residents and visitors can enjoy films at anytime throughout the year. Besides the movies found in most theaters across the country, Rochester also offers a yearly Film Festival in the early summer, showcasing independent and foreign films from around the world. Escaping the winter cold, summer rains, or simply catching the latest blockbuster has turned into a one of a kind experience for Rochester Minnesota.

James Hawthorne
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/movie-theaters-of-rochester-minnesota-480139.html

There are many characteristics about Rochester, MN that make it unique. A number of different factors add to this uniqueness, including the city flag, the number and type of people that make up the city, and the city’s economy. Each piece adds to the overall whole that is Rochester.

The city flag for Rochester was designed in 1980. A competition was held with nearly 200 entries to be judged by the citizen flag selection committee. Laurie A. Muir, a student of fine arts at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, submitted the winning design. The Rochester City Council selected the design for the official city flag at a meeting on June 16, 1980. The original Minnesota flag had a blue background, and as a reference to that, Muir gave Rochester’s design a royal blue background. The main design exists in a white circle in the center of the background. The flag includes a city landscape, representing the main industry of Rochester by showing the main building of the Mayo Clinic as well as the Plummer Building. The computer-styled font on the flag represents another major employer, IBM. A blue lake is shown in the foreground to represent Silver Lake, an artificial lake in Rochester used to cool the power plant. Silver Lake does not freeze during the winter because of the power plant, which causes numerous Canada geese to stay in rochester year round. The geese have become such a part of the city that they are included on the flag as well. Three Canada geese appear flying over the city in the image. The image from the flag is used in a number of different logos in various renditions throughout the city.

In the 2000 census, the population of Rochester included 85,806 people, 34,116 households, and 21,493 families. The population today is recognized to be well over 100,000 however. The racial makeup of the city includes 88.7% white, 4.3% African American, 6.3% Asian, 3.0% Hispanic, and 4.4% from a variety of other races. The average household size in town was 2.43 and the average family was slightly higher at 3.06. The number of residents in each age category was spread out among the different groups, with no more than 30% in each of the 5 categories. The median age of the population was 34 years of age. Median income for a household was $49,090, and $60,754 for a family. The per capita income for the city was $24,811.

The economy of Rochester is formed mainly by the Mayo Clinic. The Clinic employs almost a third of the city’s population and draws over 2 million visitors each year. The Clinic’s facilities, along with hotels, restaurants, and stores, make up most of the downtown area. Other care providers are also significant employers of the population. Another major employer is IBM. Rochester is one of IBM’s most important manufacturing centers. Technology and medicine are not the only influences on the economy. The agriculture nature of the region also plays a large role, with a Seneca Foods processing plant and multiple dairy producers being active in the area.

These three characteristics of Rochester are just a small part of what makes the city unique. There are countless other items that one could discuss, but experience is worth much more than words. The only way to truly get a taste of the uniqueness and charm of Rochester, MN is to plan a visit and experience the city in person.

George Wellington
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/rochester-mn-flag-demographics-and-economics-746042.html

It’s awful that the baby is gone. Now we as sympathetic human beings have to give the baby his proper burial.His father was on the news asking for donations.I called and got the address if you want to verify, call the funeral home 2morrow.585-266-1320(Falvo Funeral Home)1395 N. Goodman Street rochester NY14609

That sounds very tragic. I’m not sure which case you’re referring to, so maybe I haven’t heard of it. Please add some info on the subject. Thank you.