text:
Mind Play
By DougE on 1/24/12
Doug "DougE" Ely is quickly becoming a regular contributor on oob. DougE, you'll have to correct me if I'm wrong, but this is his third column. You can catch the first two here and here. Enjoy!
Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't the power of the mind at play on the day of my worst fiasco on a golf course---I'll get to that shortly---but there is no denying that when you think too much in this game, things can often go completely awry.
On the one hand, you're taught to "visualize your shot" as part of a good pre-shot routine to help your mind make your body do what it needs to do to make it happen. I believe in that concept, to a certain extent. I can't say every time I visualize the good shot I want to pull off, I can actually do so. Yet, it surprises me how often I can. And the more I'm able to do it during a round, the more it seems to work. Grasping that positive energy and making it work for you is an integral part of playing the game well.
On the other hand, how many times have you stood over a shot and thought: don't go left, don't go left, don't go left? Then you pull the trigger, swing away and to your dismay, you pull it LEFT, directly into the bunker, or woods, or hazard that you told yourself specifically not to do!
In golf, the mind can work for good and the mind can work for evil. I think it all depends on your level of confidence when you stand over the ball. And it seems your confidence depends on how well your mind is helping you control your shots. Sort of a catch-22.
In any case, back to my worst fiasco on a golf course….a day my mind worked clearly for evil. In fact, I mentioned this in a post here on Oobgolf a couple years ago, but as you might guess, it still must be gnawing at me or I wouldn't bring it up again.
So to set it up, I am about to go out to play 18 as a single, late one afternoon at my home course. As I approach the first tee I see two middle-aged guys getting ready to tee off. Rather than go out behind them and be on their butts all day which might pressure them and frustrate me, I figured I'd ask if they'd mind if a third middle-aged guy played along with them. They seemed friendly enough. It would be a nice time. Both were very welcoming chaps.
We teed off on the par 4, first. Neither of them hit it very well off the tee, while I drove it 40 yards past both, straight down the middle of the fairway. My confidence inches up. They each hit their 2nd, then 3rd, before finally reaching the green in 4. I stand over my 2nd shot, plan where I want to land it on the green, "visualize" it and then do it. Ends up just as I planned. Man I'm good. Confidence creeps up higher. I jar my putt for bird. Confidence oozing out my pores. They both congratulate my impressive play. My feathers are in full bloom.
We start the small talk. "So where ya from?" "What do you do for work?" "Play here much?" Yada yada. Come to find out that Rich and Charlie both live in the nice development that encompasses the course and both are regular golf club members here. Rich lives just off the 12th hole overlooking the green and Charlie's place looks down on the 4th fairway. We'll be going right by it in a few minutes.
We tee off on the par 3, 2nd. It's playing about 180 yards. All down hill and nearly surrounded by water. My tee shot finds the green, while theirs' both require some chipping. I two-putt for par, while they card 4s or 5s. I hear a "Nice par, Doug." I reply with a simple "Thanks," though there may have been a touch confidence attached to my voice as well.
We head off to the near-600 yard, par 5, third. This is a long, uphill, difficult hole with no room for error on either side. No matter how well I played the first two holes, the third is really the test of whether I am as good as I think I am at that moment. But, my confidence is flying high now. So far I have hit all quality golf shots. My mind has me believing I'm gonna par this baby before I even tee off. I hit my drive dead down the middle. Then stroke a nice 3W up the long hill to center fairway, then I'm on in regulation with a nice 7-iron approach. It's a tough green, which I again, 2-putt for par. I have now played the first three holes very solidly. Rich and Charlie each doubled or tripled the third. I really wasn't paying much attention to their games I was so into my own. I was on fire. I'm overflowing with confidence now. They were impressed. They asked "Why don't you play in more tournaments here Doug?" You should join our men's association. We have tournaments nearly every week."
As we approach the fourth tee, Charlie mentions again that his house is on the right side of the fairway and points it out up high on the top of the ridge that runs along the fairway, way out of bounds. "Even way up there" he says, "I get balls hitting my house off the tee, seems like every day." "Really?" I reply, "That's surprising. It seems so far out of range." It looked to me to be about 270 yards away.
I started trying to "visualize" how anyone could hit his house. It didn't really seem possible off the tee, except for the biggest hitters with the wildest slice. Even on my worst swing, I couldn't slice it that far, and on my best swing I couldn't hit it that long.
But, the seed was planted.
As I stepped up to the tee I could not get the image of Charlie's house being hit out of my head. I tried, but the more I tried the deeper ingrained it became. I addressed the ball with an uneasy feeling that this wasn't going to end pretty. I started my takeaway. For the first time this round I showed I was just a mere mortal golfer. I heard the crack of the ball and, you guessed it, watched in surprise as it headed directly for Charlie's house.
Now don't jump to conclusions. As I already said, even on my best swing, I could never reach it. And, I didn't. Yet the look on all our faces was one of pure disbelief. Even after playing the first three holes at 1-under and hitting virtually all quality shots, with just the simple suggestion from Charlie that hitting his house was possible, my crazy mind decided to see if it truly was! Well, thankfully, as it turned out, it wasn't. Though I came close, I ended up 30 yards short of his home, way up high on the side of the ridge in the rough. Charlie and Rich, by the way, hit their drives straight down the fairway. Of course they did. This all put a crack in the confidence. And, not just a little one.
Okay, so now is really where things start to get a little twilight-zonish for me and greatly supports my belief that your mind can SO control your game. (Oob member merlin3driver---at least I think it was he who---once posted a quote that "Golf is 90% mental. The other 10% is all in your head." It rang so true after the following.)
I get to my ball and find, as expected, that it will be well above my feet at address. I am still 180 or so out, yet have a clear shot to the green, albeit from a very awkward lie way up on the side hill. I'm trying to focus on making a good shot with my 4H. I look up diagonally to my right and now see Charlie's wife, a mere 30 yards away, standing out on the back terrace waving hello to he and Rich.
Now, the thought of that last shot, which I still could not believe that I pushed way right, combined with the image in my head of Charlie's wife standing within talking distance was starting to take over my head, be it consciously or subconsciously. I had just hit it way right when I didn't think I would. Could it happen again? That would not be good. Go away bad thoughts, go away. Confidence leaking like a sieve.
I take a last look at the green, then start my hybrid back on an inside flat path to account for the ball so far above my feet. I get to the top of my swing and everything goes into slow motion. I can see the club head coming in at the wrong angle as the toe barely clips the left side of the ball sending it speeding (in slow motion) directly at Charlie's wife! Nooooooooooo! Foooooore! Too late.
Luckily, it missed…..his wife. But, not the custom-made glass wind chimes they had found at some quaint country store many years ago in a sleepy little town in Vermont. It was priceless to her. And now it was gone. Smashed to smithereens. Why couldn't I have hit a window? That's easily replaceable. Well, at least it wasn't her head.
I am now mortified. I don't know what to say or do. I run up the hill to Charlie's wife, who is livid. I am so embarrassed. I apologize profusely. She won't even speak to me other than to say "just go away." I am just another a--hole golfer in her mind, though she may have said that out loud. I look back at Charlie and Rich who are still down on the fairway looking up in disbelief. They too are at a loss. How could this happen? Mr. Hotshot golfer from the first three holes has been exposed and proven to be a simple hack.
What's to blame? My weak mind control. I say to them, trying to keep my ego in tact, "I don't know how that happened. That's never happened to me before. Really, I'm not that bad! " They agreed. "Yes, we saw the way you played previous to this." They were feeling sorry for me. Not as much as I was. (Why do we have such egos? I nearly killed his wife and I'm making sure everyone knows I'm a better golfer than my last shot would suggest.)
I told Charlie that I had tried to apologize to his wife up there on the hill, but she would have none of it. He said, there's nothing I could do right now, so don't worry and let's just continue the round. He wanted to get out of there as badly as I did. I think he was afraid of what his wife might do. He explained to me how important those wind chimes were to her. Very sentimental. Something special she so cherished. She and Charlie had found them many years ago on a long weekend they spent driving around New England. I promised to make good to her, somehow.
We were all amazed at what I had just pulled off. Not just hitting the house, but hitting the cherished wind chimes on the house of the guy I just met, who I'm playing with for the first time, right after he told me his house gets hit all the time. What are the odds?
I was shaking when I finally got to the green after hitting a substitute ball I dropped from where Charlie and Rich were hitting their approaches. There was no way I was going to drop anywhere up there on that hill. The rules were out the window by this point. I probably 5-putted, I can't remember. Everything is kind of a blur after that. I do remember that I was not able to continue with any control of my swing. Couldn't hit the ball straight at all. I started the round playing like a pro and quit shortly after the incident playing like a lowly duffer.
I told Charlie and Rich I was not up for finishing. My mind was shot. They could tell I was not the same guy with who they had started the round. They understood. Rich was probably thankful that I gave up, before we made it to the 12th hole, where his house sat.
I promised Charlie I was going to take care of the damage somehow (though he told me not to worry about it). I then just went home, still stunned, still mortified.
Confidence? 100% kaput.
I normally play there 3 or 4 days a week, but after that, it took me a while to go back. The first time I did, I was so nervous when I got to the fourth tee, I just skipped the entire hole. I felt like all the homeowners were looking out their windows along the few fairways on the course that are lined with houses, pointing at me. "That's the hacker who almost killed Charlie's wife."
I needed some time to get over it. To this day, no matter how well I'm striking the ball, there is always a little uneasiness when I come to the fourth hole there. I could be striping the ball down the middle on all other holes, but when I come to the fourth, I rarely hit it well. I always keep my head down when I play that hole. Don't want Charlie's wife to notice me and have it bring back memories. And, whenever I hit one up on that ridge by their house leaving myself a side hill lie, I usually just swing easy, aim well away from their house and back at the fairway, rather than attempting to go for the green. What are the chances I can hit the new wind chimes they bought with the gift card I sent them. The amount of the card was enough to buy 3 or 4 new wind chimes, just in case.
So, this is just one very extreme example of how negative thoughts on the course usually equal negative results. And positive thoughts can often equal positive results, as evidenced by my first three holes, filled with confidence that day. Unfortunately, training your mind to be able to hold back the negative thoughts and to only allow in the positive ones, for me anyway, is the hardest part of playing the game of golf. I know I have the physical skills to play the game relatively well. Mentally, not so much.
Before that fateful day and many times since, my mind has ruined dozens of shots for me and subsequently eroded my confidence over too many rounds to count. It usually starts with a simple questioning or bad swing-thought in the middle of my backswing. A lack of commitment in any form to the shot at hand is usually all it takes. One thing leads to another and before I know it, I am questioning my ability over every shot. "What am I doing wrong?" Hitting the ball crisply, on the sweet spot, becomes nearly impossible. I know I have the ability, so what happened? My evil golf mind has won out.
Conversely, I have gotten better over the years, so there must be some good thoughts working and winning out as well. I've hit some really great shots when I believed I could. I'm still waiting for the day that I step up to a par three, visualize my shot going into the hole and then with the power of my mind, aided by a high level of confidence, make it happen.
I wish I could find a way to stop any thought from popping into my head during my swing. Ideally, I just want to see the target, visualize my shot, check my tempo with a practice swing, and take dead aim. Then a final waggle, focus on the ball, start the club back and not think again until I feel my right shoulder touch against my chin as I finish my follow-through and watch my ball fly perfectly, just like I pictured. It seems so simple.
Playing against other, even better, golfers is not always the toughest competition. Whether it be a friendly foursome made up of hackers and duffers vying for happy hour bragging rights or the top-tier guys in the club with mucho bucks on the line, the toughest competition could just well be in your own head. I know in my case, it always is.
If I can ever conquer the mental part of golf, the game would be easy. But, what fun would that be?
This was written by DougE, a reader/follower/fellow oober and the opinions are 100% his and do not reflect those of oobgolf in anyway. Enjoy! I'm sure he's ready for your feedback. But save the negative thoughts please. He's already got too many of those going on in his game.
photo by Pommie
[ comments ]
bkuehn1952 says:
Well written Doug. It really hits home to this mentally challenged golfer. Let's hope telling the story finally exorcizes the demons dwelling on the 4th hole.
legitimatebeef says:
Bravo Dougie. One of the best golf shame stories I've ever heard. Just painful but at the same time gripping. "Just go away"--ouch. Ultimately though this tale is a testament to the game, why we love it so much--the demand on the psyche, how it forces you to wrestle your own negative compulsions.
falcon50driver says:
Well written my friend.
Banker85 says:
I feel like i have been in the same position as you describe but not really. There are some holes that no matter what i cannot get the negative thoughts out of my head.
BAKE_DAWG40 says:
Awesome story! I have one hole on my home course that usually eats my lunch. Dogleg right, uphill, and a large tree guards the green on the right. I push my tee shot to the adjacent fairway of the previous hole. My 125 yd approach just turned into 165. I took an extra club and swung easy thinking short is better than long any day on this hole. I thought it landed short. I get to the green and my ball mark is 4" short of the hole and my ball backed up to 2 1/2'. Nobody around to see it. RATS! I'll remember that shot everytime I play that hole.
Trip says:
As an attempt to battle the "mind game", I read "Zen Golf", by Joe Parent. There are some mind exercises that I actually found helpful. Instead of trying to fight those bad thoughts entering your mind (which is impossible), you train your mind to let the thoughts come in, pass through, then leave, without giving them too much attention. Along with some breathing exercises, it seems to help.
Not sure it would help in this situation, that's a crazy, funny story!
jpjeffery says:
I rarely laugh at funny stories, but this one was an exception.
Funny, yet horrifically sad, all at the same time. :(
mattshaver says:
i did something similar to charlie a few weeks ago. on the 13th, short par 5 at a local muni. you have to lay up with a long iron or hybrid off the tee and for the second shot you have about 100 yds of water in front of you. after i hit my second cleanly over the water (this time), i told my playing partner that this is probably the most intimidating shot on the course. as soon as i said it i realized i shouldn't have as he dunked his 2nd into the water. oops! :-)
CeeBee says:
Doug, great read. Wouldn't it be something to birdie that hole and hear the tinkling of those chimes as you walk off? Golf gods are out there.
dtak84 says:
This story was hilarious. Well written!
I'm sure I've been through just as many situations in my short golfing career, I just can't remember. I think that's a good thing.
DougE says:
I'm thankful to you all for taking the time to read through the whole thing. I know it was a bit long. I tried to keep it an easy read. Even so, I'm sure you invested more time in reading it than you may have planned. Glad so many of you seemed to enjoy it. Hopefully the underlying message came through, that playing the game of golf well isn't necessarily only about fundamentals and swing mechanics.
jfurr says:
Very well written, sir. And a familiar feeling I'm afraid...
Duke of Hazards says:
Great story. Love the inner dialogue.
Mandelbaum! says:
I'm with Trip on this one – do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Zen Golf. I used to crumble at the thought of a good round, always getting in my own way mentally. Just days after reading about 1/2 the book, I shot an 81 when average round for me was more like 88-92. After that, 2011 proved to be a breakthrough year for me, having shot in the low 80s a bunch, even breaking 80 twice. (Finally!)
In full disclosure, I had some lessons as well, but Zen Golf definitely helps keep my head in check during the more exciting rounds. Give the book a read – it's WELL worth it!
dartboss04 says:
great story doug...i've definitely had complete meltdowns and have gone on a topping shanking fest...
what i don't understand is why she would hang up her precious irreplaceable glass wind chimes outside of a house that gets bombed by golf balls...what a shocking turn of events when it is struck by a golf ball and broken...give me a break...
DougE says:
I agree. It's part of the price you pay to live on a golf course. However, in this instance, where the chimes were located was pretty much protected from errant drives off the tee. You had to pretty much bring it in from almost a perpendicular approach, of which is pretty much what happened when I barely clipped it on that severe sidehill lie. Another 1/4 inch inside the ball and I would have whiffed. Not sure which would have been worse for my ego, but whiffing certainly would have been the better outcome overall.
patrickemerson says:
Great story. I wonder how Charlie dealt with it when he got home that night. Every Shot Must Have A Purpose has some good tips for the mental game.
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text:
safety tips while dealing with your broker
What's the most common story you have heard from relatively unaware innocent stock market investor. I hope it's none other than him being tricked by his broker advise and investment decisions, and sitting at loss which is nearly impossible to cover. Is it so difficult to avoid falling prey to this trap? The basic reason for this sad ending in most of the cases is lack of knowledge, a little bit of carelessness from investor's side and over trust shown on the broker. As an investor you will have to come out of your comfort zone and put some effort from your side so that nobody gets to play with your money mindlessly.
In this article we will discuss some basic tips which one must follow while dealing with brokers so that the financial crisis is avoided in future.
Search – Utilize the power of internet
Before choosing and getting into relationship with your broker try to search about its historical performance, its popularity with existing customers, legal disputes if there are any, its membership details and quality of management. These details are very easy to find out once you Google them on internet. A great understanding comes from reading the review comments of existing customers.
Be careful – Filling the Documents
Once you have chosen a renowned and reliable name it's time to fill up the contractual documents. Just don't behave like you are buying a mobile sim card where you give your photo and id proof and leave the rest to the vendor. He is free to fill all your details in the form without your knowledge. This is one of the biggest mistakes which create the financial mess for the investor. Read the contractual document carefully and fill the details as per you want it. Don't leave any blanks (strike them off if you don't wish to fill anything) as in case of dispute one might fill data in it without your knowledge and produce it as proof in future. This rule applies for each and every document be it KYC, Brokerage plan, trading options (stocks, currency, MF, derivatives etc). Never ever submit an incomplete form.
Read the Numbers – Audit your account at regular intervals
Your broker is not GOD and you are not a devotee who has donated all his money to serve him. It's a business relationship and it should be treated as one to avoid losses. You should be watchful about the flow of funds from your account. Keep an eye on unusual transactions or transaction fees. Get full knowledge of the types of fee he charges for various kinds of services. The best frequency to do so is daily as it will alert you instantly and major losses can be avoided. Don't keep more money than is required for a particular transaction in your account. Unused sum is one of the major sources of unwanted transactions.
Be possessive – Don't share your Login/Password Details
This is the situation where being unrealistically possessive is not a taboo. There is nothing new in this suggestion. You have heard it n number of times and any discussion regarding investor's safety cannot be complete without this statement. It's just a strict reminder "Please don't share it with even the most trusted ones if you don't think you are going to die the next day". Uncalled for trades might take place and you will be left poker faced and sobbing if you don't stick to this rule. Changing passwords every week is also recommended as it provides additional shield.
Don't lose your Power – Be careful with the POA (Power of Attorney) you sign
Power of attorney is the legal document which authorizes your broker to operate your dmat account as per the documented rules. POA is the document which gives immense power to the holder if not drafted properly. Please read the draft carefully and take care of the following points before signing it:
1. It should not be for infinite period. Termination date should be documented clearly.
2. It should not give unlimited power to the holder. Try to restrict the rights till transactions only and not give the rights for closure and opening of accounts. Broker should only be allowed to take positions with available amount in the account and not use leveraging without taking your consent.
3. It should contain the cancellation clause at any time with prior notice.
The list above does not contain all the safety measures but the most basic and effective ones. These are good tips to start with and with time and experience one can definitely master this art. Remember "The foundation needs to be tough to build a strong house". Happy investing.


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Re: [taxidermy] does anyone know where I can get information on taxidermy
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go to http://www.taxidermy.net/forums and you will fine everything you need to know.
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Our apps and parts are often experiments, mostly pieces of art, but always carefully handcrafted. We're still learning and getting better at coding every day. You benefit from this because our code gets better all the time and we share what we learn on our blog.


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I'll add you to my list. Good luck!
This is a discussion on Test results are in.... within the Bob & Terry's Place forums, part of the The Back Porch category; I went in for an MRI last week. Went and saw my orthrapedic doctor today and we reviewed the film and analysis thereof. He explained ...
I went in for an MRI last week. Went and saw my orthrapedic doctor today and we reviewed the film and analysis thereof. He explained the following if I follow the technical jargon correctly: Bone contusions, nearly dislocated the patella, slight bone fracture(s), possible slight tear of the ACL, and a partial tear of the meniscus. Surgery is on the agenda after there is enough range of motion restored to ensure proper healing. He will get a clearer picture on the ACL during the surgery. Going to PT for the next few weeks. Your prayers have been appreciated and please keep praying for continued healing. Thank you all.
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Gotham Public Works
Gotham Public Works first formed in 1999 after its two founding members met at a costume contest and discovered how they each felt a unique bond to the characters they portray, and also shared a strong desire to make something more of it.
Since then GPW has become and experienced far more than they dared expect in the early years, with a focus on exceptional character portrayals and ever-improving costumes being at the heart of their success. Now plans and ambitions for their extravagant hobby have grown accordingly as they work to make the most of their potential and to meet the hopes of their fans.
Batman, Joker, cosplay, fanfilm, Catwoman, Robin, Riddler, Double-Face, M. Freeze, Poison Ivy


text:
*From the Department of Emergency Medicine (Drs. Jones and Kline), Clinical Care Management (Ms. Focht), and Department of Internal Medicine (Dr. Horton), Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC.
Correspondence to: Alan E. Jones, MD, Assistant Director of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, 1000 Blythe Blvd, MEB 304e, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28203; e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Objective: To determine the clinical effectiveness of implementing early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) as a routine protocol in the emergency department (ED).
Methods: Prospective interventional study conducted over 2 years at an urban ED. Inclusion criteria included suspected infection, criteria for systemic inflammation, and either systolic BP < 90 mm Hg after a fluid bolus or lactate concentration ≥ 4 mol/L. Exclusion criteria were age < 18 years, contraindication to a chest central venous catheter, and need for immediate surgery. We prospectively recorded preintervention clinical and mortality data on consecutive, eligible patients for 1 year when treatment was at the discretion of board-certified emergency physicians. We then implemented an EGDT protocol (the intervention) and recorded clinical data and mortality rates for 1 year. Prior to the first year, we defined a 33% relative reduction in mortality (relative mortality reduction that was found in the original EGDT trial) to indicate clinical effectiveness of the intervention.
Results: We enrolled 79 patients in the preintervention year and 77 patients in the postintervention year. Compared with the preintervention year, patients in the postintervention year received significantly greater crystalloid volume (2.54 L vs 4.66 L, p < 0.001) and frequency of vasopressor infusion (34% vs 69%, p < 0.001) during the initial resuscitation. In-hospital mortality was 21 of 79 patients (27%) before intervention, compared with 14 of 77 patients (18%) after intervention (absolute difference, − 9%; 95% confidence interval, + 5 to − 21%).
Conclusions: Implementation of EGDT in our ED was associated with a 9% absolute (33% relative) mortality reduction. Our data provide external validation of the clinical effectiveness of EGDT to treat sepsis and septic shock in the ED.
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Losi Pre-Mounted Desert Tire Set (Chrome) (4)
Discontinued Online
This item is discontinued and no longer available for purchase. You may want to search our site for a similar item.
This is a set of four pre-mounted Losi desert tires on chrome rims.
This product was added to our catalog on November 23, 2007.
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Friday, Sep 13 2013 (about 3 years ago)
Losi Pre-Mounted Desert Tire Set (Chrome) (4)
These tires are a great upgrade for the micro-t. This tire is much larger then stock micro-t tires and will improve top speed and will improve wheelies. When I put these on my micro-t it was popping wheelies left and right. I recommend these tires for anyone looking for a bashing tire for there micro-t.)


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The NFL is considering making its RedZone Channel available to fans on mobile phones next season.
The channel, which was available on a subscription basis via TV providers last season, whips viewers around to the most exciting action every Sunday, primarily focused on teams with red-zone scoring opportunities.
And CBS Sports president Sean McManus expressed caution to the Wall Street Journal at the potential expansion of the service to viewers. "RedZone hasn't hurt us yet, but we watch it very closely," McManus told the paper. "Anything that would adversely affect our ratings on a Sunday afternoon would be a major concern to us."
No details or pricing structure have been announced for how customers could access the Red Zone Channel. NFL VP for media strategy Brian Rolapp told the Journal that the league is excited about the possibilities.
"This is tailor-made to be able to watch during your kids' soccer games," Rolapp told the paper. "We want to put it on the Internet and wireless phones for next season, so we're thinking about how we do that." -- Sean Leahy
Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate


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Yale Biomedical Engineer Receives Early Career Award
Yale Biomedical Engineer Receives Early Career Award
Erin Lavik; © Yale University
The Wallace H. Coulter Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to improving human healthcare by supporting translational research in Biomedical Engineering. The awards require collaboration with a clinical investigator affiliated with a practicing clinical environment and are intended to encourage and assist investigators as they establish themselves in academic research careers that involve translational research. Principal investigators receiving an award must have a primary appointment in a Biomedical Engineering department and have received a doctoral degree within the previous six years.
Erin Lavik was granted the award for her project "Sustained delivery of timolol maleate for management of elevated IOP for glaucoma," in collaboration with Young Kwon and Markus Kheun at the University of Iowa.
"There are medications that lower intraocular pressure (IOP) very successfully, but need to be administered several times a day. Unfortunately, many patients with glaucoma are not able to administer eye drops several times a day effectively, and they suffer increased IOP, nerve damage, and ultimately may lose their sight," said Lavik of the rationale for her project. "By developing a long term delivery system, we seek to ease this problem and lay the foundation for the delivery of other drugs in the eye."
"These Early Career Awards acknowledge excellent science, and are specifically targeted to innovative Biomedical Engineering research that will impact clinical care," said W. Mark Saltzman, Professor and Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. "Excellence in translational medicine is the focus of our new department." The awards are for two years of research funding, and winners will be honoured at an event in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society in October.
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The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary embolectomy is highly effective on hemodynamically unstable patients with massive pulmonary embolism.. We present a case of massive pulmonary embolism associated with cardiac arrest who was successfully treated with pulmonary embolectomy.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 21-year-old college student presented to the emergency department after a syncopal episode. He complained of chest pain and shortness of breath. A chest computed tomography scan showed massive bilateral pulmonary artery emboli(figure 1). Thrombolytics were administered and shortly thereafter he suffered cardiopulmonary arrest. The patient was taken emergently to the operating room while undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The patient was placed on cardiopulmonary bypass while receiving chest compressions. Pulmonary embolectomy was performed through incisions on the right and left pulmonary arteries. There were 2 large fully occlusive clots in the right and left main pulmonary arteries (figure 2). Valsalva maneuvers and direct compression of the lungs were performed to aid in extracting distal pulmonary clots. After the embolectomy, the heart resumed sinus rhythm. There was moderate right ventricle dysfunction that required milrinone and nitric oxide support. An inferior vena caval filter was placed prior to his return to the ICU. The patient woke up and had no neurological deficit. He was extubated the following day. He had bilateral lower extremity duplex with a small thrombus noted in his left saphenous vein. No hypercoagulable state was identified. The patient was fully anticoagulated and discharged home on post operative day #8. Figure 1: CT PULMONARY ANGIOGRAM shows large central pulmonary embolism with occlusion of both right and left pulmonary arteries. Figure 2: Emboli removed from this patient.
DISCUSSIONS: Massive pulmonary embolism is associated with cardiopulmonary collapse . The mortality for patients who present on cardiac arrest is at least 67%. Cardiac arrest is not only a marker of hemodynamic severity and poor prognosis of the embolism but it also is associated with high risk of neurological injury.
CONCLUSION: This case shows that an aggressive approach on selected patients with massive pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrest may be justified. Pulmonary embolectomy in patient with cardiac arrest should be consider in young patients, with limited comorbidities, and with short periods of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Adherence to those criteria will improve outcomes and allow for complete chance of neurologic recovery. If the likelihood of neurological recovery is high, mechanical circulatory support for a failing right ventricle should be considered.
DISCLOSURE: Paul Vesco, No Financial Disclosure Information; No Product/Research Disclosure Information
Monday, October 27, 2008
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« Links Du Jour 08-16-06 | Main | Brand Naming: Alternative Spellings Aren't New »
August 16, 2006
Brand Naming: Niche Markets + Internet = Backwards Naming
Brand name research will confirm what product names appeal to the vast majority of the target market while confusing as few consumers as possible.…like Nike, for instance, or Apple.
Niche product names seem to follow different rules. They appeal to a small, loyal group of fairly radical consumers who like names that set them apart. This means the names can be startling or meaningless to the rest of us.
Examples? "Dirt Bag Clothing" and the stuffily named Kingswood Skis. There is a movie out (based on a true story) about how an old fashioned English shoe company decides to exploit a niche and make boots for transvestite gay men, going from staid W.J.Brookes & Co to "Divine" or, as it is now known, "Kinky Boots" and "Divine."
It may well be that the average person does not want to buy "Dirtbag" clothes of "Kinky" anything but that's just it: niche markets are not for average people and thus do not have your average brand names. The names that endure are "insider" names. The hard to pronounce brand name Loxion Kulca in Johannesburg, is actually South African street slang for "Location Culture", or, culture of the townships. It is instantly recognizable to that very large target market, but unintelligible to the rest of us.
Nonetheless, these names give the products behind them an instant authenticity that customers are willing to pay a premium for. The Internet has fed this by being a playground for the person looking for hard to find objects and thus becoming a breeding ground for cool, niche names. I suggest that you look for more of them as companies use the Internet to fill in the niches.
Technorati Tags: Niche Product Names, Niche Markets, Loxion Kulca, Kinky Boots
Posted by William Lozito at August 16, 2006 10:02 AM
Posted to Brand Name Research | Brand Naming | Marketing | Naming | Product Naming | Retail
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text: To get from Abano Terme to Quattromiglia by train you can catch one of the 1 trains that everyday travel between these two cities. The first train to Quattromiglia leaves from Abano Terme at 16:23 and the last train departs at 16:23. The trip by train from Abano Terme to Quattromiglia last on average 05:31 travelling with high-speed trains (Frecciarossa or Italotreno) If you choose a local train the trip lasts on average 20:60 hours. For your trip from Abano Terme to Quattromiglia by train you can choose to leave from one of Abano Terme main stations: Padova On Wanderio you can compare all schedules, fares and railway companies to Quattromiglia and book the best itinerary starting from Abano Terme.


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Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will undergo a robot-assisted keyhole surgery today after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The procedure will be carried out by Christopher Cheng, the lead urologist at the Singapore General Hospital, and Mr Lee will be on medical leave for a week, according to a statement on the Prime Minister's website.
"Mr Lee decided on the surgical treatment option on the advice of a panel of doctors led by Prof. Cheng, and is expected to recover fully," said the statement, which cited data from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre that showed a 99 per cent survival rate at 15 years for patients with similar medical profile and treatment.
Mr Lee, the 63-year-old son of independent Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew, took over from then premier Goh Chok Tong a decade ago to become the city-state's third prime minister. Goh also underwent surgery for prostate cancer in November.
Magnetic resonance imaging of Mr Lee's prostate in January showed "suspicious lesions" while a subsequent biopsy found cancer cells, according to the statement. In a Twitter post, Lee said he is "all prepared" for his surgery on Monday in Singapore.
Teo Chee Hean, one of Singapore's two deputy prime ministers, will be acting premier while Mr Lee recovers, according to the statement.
"Wishing PM Lee a smooth operation and speedy recovery," Mr Teo said in a Twitter post, retweeted by US Ambassador Kirk Wagar.
"Rest well and recover fully before getting back to your hectic schedule."
Other ministers also sent well wishes online, as well as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who called Mr Lee a "good friend" in a Twitter post.
The latest cancer diagnosis isn't the first for Mr Lee. In 1992, he had lymphoma and was cleared of the illness after treatment.
Lee will be out on what's one of the shortest work week of the year in Singapore, where Thursday and Friday are closed for the Chinese New Year holiday.


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Economy of Curaçao
|Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
|Calendar Year
Trade organisations
|Trade Union Centre of Curaçao
|$3 billion (2008 est.)[1]
GDP growth
|3.5% (2008 est.)
GDP per capita
|$22,619 (2012 est.)
GDP by sector
|agriculture: 1%; industry: 15%; services: 84% (2009 est.)
|1.7% (2009 est.)[1]
Labour force
|63,000 (2008 est.)
Labour force by occupation
|agriculture: 1.2%; industry: 16.9%; services: 81.8% (2006)
|10.3% (2008 est.)
Main industries
|Tourism, Petroleum Refining, Petroleum Transshipment Facilities, Light Manufacturing, Financial Services
|$876 million (2008 est.)
Export goods
|Petroleum products
Main export partners
|United States 13.1% Guatemala 10.8% Singapore 10.7% Dominican Republic 9.6% Haiti 7.6% The Bahamas 6.1% Honduras 4.5% Mexico 4.2% (2009 est.)
|$1.34 billion (2008 est.)
Import goods
|Food and Crude Petroleum
Main import partners
|Venezuela 57.3% United States 19.2% Brazil 8.1% (2009 est.)[1]
|Public finances
|$1.0 billion[2]
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.
Curaçao has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean, ranking 46th in the world in terms of GDP (PPP) per capita and 28th in the world in terms of nominal GDP per capita. It possesses a high income economy, as defined by the World Bank. The island has a well-developed infrastructure with strong tourism and financial services sectors. Shipping, international trade, oil refining, and other activities related to the port of Willemstad (like the Free Trade Zone) also make a significant contribution to the economy. To achieve the government's aim to make its economy more diverse, efforts are being made to attract more foreign investment. This policy, called the 'Open Arms' policy, features a heavy focus on information technology companies.[3][4][5]
Early in its history, Curaçao's economy was centered on salt mining from saline-rich ponds located in the eastern part of the island. Up until that time, dating back to the 16th century, settlers (first Spanish and later Dutch) made numerous, failed attempts at creating an agricultural industry. Curaçao's arid climate, which features few freshwater sources, made it difficult and unprofitable.
Although the island's geography was at first considered an obstacle economically, it later proved to be invaluable due to its ideal location for trade and commerce. Shipping and trading operations centered on the port of Willemstad played an important role in the development of the economy.
In the early 20th century, discovery of oil in Venezuela caused major oil companies to invest in the region. Beginning in 1920, oil refining has become a key part of the island's economy, representing nearly 90% of its exports.[6]
During WWII, Curaçao was a safe-haven for Dutch multi-national companies, beginning the island's history as a financial services center.
Tourism is also becoming an increasingly important sector of the economy. The construction of the Mega Pier has recently allowed larger cruise ships to dock at Curaçao, increasing its position as a tourism destination.
Curaçao is a popular tourism location for the Eastern United States, South America and Holland. It leads to the Caribbean in cruise tourism growth with 610,186 cruise passengers in 2013, a 41.4% increase over the prior year.[7] Hato International Airport received 1,772,501 passengers in 2013 and recently announced $48 million in capital investments aimed at transforming the airport into a regional hub by 2018. Beginning in early 2014, the Lynx rocketplane is expected to be flying suborbital space tourism flights and scientific research missions from a new spaceport on Curaçao.[8][9] The island lies outside of the Hurricane belt and has a well-developed tourism infrastructure.
Curaçao's coast has a sharp drop-off known as the "Blue Edge" which makes it a popular scuba diving destination. Coral reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving can be reached without a boat. The southern coast has calm waters as well as many small beaches, such as Jan Thiel and Cas Abou. The coastline of Curaçao features numerous bays and inlets which serve as popular mooring locations for boats.
Some of the coral reefs are affected by tourism. Porto Marie Beach is experimenting with artificial coral reefs in order to improve the reef's condition. Hundreds of artificial coral blocks that have been placed are now home to a large array of tropical fish.
Oil Refining[edit]
The discovery of oil in the Maracaibo Basin of Venezuela in the early 20th century forced the Venezuelan government to search for ideal locations for large scale refining. Curaçao's proximity to the country, naturally deep harbors, and stable government led Royal Dutch Shell to construct the Isla Refinery, the largest refinery in the world at the time. The refinery is located in Willemstad harbour and began operating in 1918.[10]
Presently Venezuela's state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) operates the Isla refinery, which has a 320,000 barrel per day capacity .[2][11]
Financial Services[edit]
Curaçao's history in financial services dates from World War I with the conversion of the financial arms of local merchant houses into commercial banks. As the economy grew, these banks began assuming additional functions eventually becoming full-fledged financial institutions. The Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange is located in the capital of Willemstad, as is the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten; the latter of which dates to 1828 making it the oldest central bank in the Western Hemisphere. The island's legal system supports a wide variety of corporate structures and is a popular corporate haven. Curaçao is considered a tax haven yet it adheres to the EU Code of Conduct against harmful tax practices. It holds a qualified intermediary status from the United States I.R.S. and is an accepted jurisdiction of the OECD and Caribbean Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering. The country strongly enforces Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism funding compliance.
See also[edit]
- ^ a b c "CIA Factbook Curacao Data". Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ a b "Curacao's Deal BBC Caribbean". 2010-10-08.
- ^ "1609_1_DEZ_Manual_binnenw.qxd" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-10-10.
- ^ Mindmagnet.com (2001-03-01). "Ecommerce at Curaçao Corporate". Ecommerceatcuracao.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
- ^ "Economic Data Overview". Investcuracao.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
- ^ "Unlike many islands in the Caribbean, Curaçao's economy is heavily based on oil refining.". Retrieved 2010-11-21.
- ^ Caribbean Journal staff (2014-02-14). "Curacao Leading Caribbean in Cruise Tourism Growth". Caribjournal.com. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
- ^ Staff writers (October 6, 2010). "Space Experience Curaçao Announces Wet Lease of XCOR Lynx Suborbital". Space Media Network Promotions. Space-Travel.com. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
- ^ "Space Experience Curaçao". Home. Space Experience Curaçao. 2009–2010. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
- ^ "ISLA Refinery of Curacao: Highs and Lows Part 1". 2010-02-16.
- ^ "Curacao oil refinery down on power outage". Reuters. 2008-04-09.


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not up to par
Sail Date: December 14, 2015
Reviewed: 1 year ago
Traveled As: Couple
Room Type: Balcony
The ship was not in great shape. We had a water leak before we left. Some people didn't have hot water and apparently some did not have functioning laboritories .for a few days. Two medical emergencies in the middle of the nite prompted full ship announcements that woke everyone. But, one in the day got no special attention. The food was just adaquate. And the thermal suite was very noisy and no signs posted for it to be a quiet tranquil spot. Lots of boat noises , and no scenery to give a tranquil omvionse. The hot tubs were very rarely hot just luke warm at best. Sevice was OK but nothing to set it above normal. It clean and disembark day was smooth.I don't think we will book with princess in the future.
Category Ratings
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|Cabin / Stateroom
|Embarkation and Disembarkation
|Ship Quality
|Destinations and Excursions
|Onboard Activities
|Service and Staff
|Food and Dining
Port Ratings
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|Grand Turk Island
|Princess Cays (Cruise Line Private Island)
|Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida
6 Comments
There are other cruise lines out there for you to try. I suggest Celebrity or HAL. I myself have only been on one Princess cruise. The embarkation process was so onerous that we were never tempted to take another cruise on Princess. Luckily for us, once onboard everything proceeded smoothly and we were very happy otherwise. Sorry to read that you encountered so many problems.
I sailed the Emerald several months ago and had a different experience -- no plumbing issues were noted. Possibly a change in the engineering crew took place and they have let it slide.
I'm sorry the Emerald didn't live up to your expectations, but perhaps another line might be to your liking.
Shakedown Cruises are #2 on our list of cruises to avoid:
Thank you for posting your review. Unfortunately, your profile is new and devoid of personal information. These things considered, it is difficult to understand some of your complaints regarding laboritories and omvionse, as previously questioned.
Suggest you try another cruise line, but Princess is one of the better mainstream cruise lines.
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Remember: Be polite and respectful. Our diverse community is home to members with different opinions and a broad range of cruise experiences.


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Corporate Profits Fell The Most Since 1953 Last Quarter As The Economy Contracted 6.3%
Release Explanation: This report measures the monetary value of all goods and services produced within a Country's borders in a specific time period. GDP is calculated on an annual basis, is the broadest measure of activity, and the primary gauge of each economy's overall health. It includes all Company and Personal consumption, government outlays, investments, and exports less imports, that occur within a defined territory.
A strong annual GDP outlook will lead to strong investment in an economy especially from overseas. A weak annual GDP outlook will usually lead to a slowdown in the economic business cycle. The yearly forecast is as important as the actual release number. As a reflection of the value of what an economy is producing, GDP will invariably have a ripple effect across all other economic releases, over a period of time:
TIC Data because of overseas investors wanting to participate in future growth, or liquidate investments in an economy moving into a period of contraction.
CPI because a reducing GDP outlook will therefore reduce the rate of future Inflation, as an increasing GDP outlook will likely lead to Inflationary pressures.
Retail Sales, Consumer Confidence, PCE, they all are affected by the strength or weakness of GDP.
A volatile release because just one airplane order not accounted for can move the number by 0.5% and therefore lead to volatile re-alignments of Currency positions.
Trade Desk Thoughts: Real gross domestic product (GDP) contracted at a 6.3% annual pace in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Commerce Department said today. It was the largest contraction since 1982. The report also showed that corporate profits fell by the most since 1953, losing more that 25% of their value.
Economists had expected to see a 6.6% rate of contraction for the period. Today's report was the final measure of fourth quarter GDP although the report is still subject to revisions.
The first quarter of 2009 is likely to be just as bad as the last quarter, said Matthew Carniol, chief currency strategist at TheLFB-forex.com. However, recent better reports on retail sales, housing starts and durable goods orders could be indicating the rate of contraction could slow in coming quarters.
Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of output, fell at a 4.3% pace, marking the first back-to-back decreases in excess of 3% since record- keeping began in 1947.
After-tax corporate earnings fell 28.4% to $931.2 billion in October through December period from the third quarter and that the decline in profits accelerated sharply. Third-quarter profits decreased 3.2% compared to the second quarter. For all of last year, profits were down 10.1%, the biggest annual drop since 1970.
Federal government spending increased 7.0% in the fourth quarter, a bigger climb than the earlier estimated 6.7%. Third-quarter spending surged 13.8%.
For all of 2008, the economy grew 1.1%, the same as previously estimated, as exports and government tax rebates in the first six months helped offset the slump in consumer spending that followed.
Forex Technical Reaction: S&P futures fell about 3 points after the report and the dollar gained on the higher-yielders as it declined against the yen.


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Arts, Design, News & Politics, Society & CultureFollow
A briefing on global affairs, business, culture and design.
September 16th, 2010
Episode 164 of 645 episodes
Monocle visits Lebanese fashion designer Rabih Kayrouz at his atelier in Paris.
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In a time where we're all threatened by a rhetoric of hate from the people in power; A Gay And A NonGay challenges many of our differences head on and promises that no matter who you are, or what you're into (Bruce Springsteen or Britney), love is love and gay and nongays can be friends.

An independent podcast from James Barr (@imjamesbarr) and Dan Hudson (@DanHudson). Contact us on Twitter, IG or Facebook @gaynongay


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Scrawled on tiny pieces of notebook paper in a steady hand, the author was sure of his allegiance and sure of his fate.
''I am writing this will while in front of me, four meters away, are Sheik Osama and his first deputy, Sheik Abu Hafas al-Masri, and the second deputy, Sheik Ayman al-Zawahiri,'' the author wrote, referring to Osama bin Laden and two of his top lieutenants. ''Thanks to the kindness of God, I am passing my life with these people who are like lions against the infidels.''
The man, a member of Al Qaeda, went on, ''I request that God give me martyrhood, and I hope that I won't be far from these men in this world and in the other world.''
He then addressed his family: ''My great father, don't be upset, this is the men's task, not the women's, who are sitting in the houses. We will meet each other in paradise. You truly raised your son to be brave, not a coward.''Continue reading the main story
His death, the author promised, could aid his loved ones. ''God willing, my martyrhood will help you on Judgment Day.''
The will, written by an unknown Afghan member of Al Qaeda, and other handwritten letters found in abandoned houses here give a glimpse of the inner world of the terrorist network's members. Letters from mothers, notes from friends and their own letters from the front line were all left by members of Mr. bin Laden's network when they fled Kabul on Nov. 12.
One mother's letter to her son reads at first like any note to a son at war. ''You are always in our thoughts and I hope God will protect you,'' she wrote in Arabic, adding that his sister ''always prays for you from 1,000 to 3,000 times a day.''
But she ended on a militant note. ''Everyone has a responsibility, especially Muslim people, to act,'' she wrote. She then bid her son goodbye.
A letter to a man named Abdul Wahab from his friend back home in Sudan strikes the same themes. The author, Walid, explained that when he mentions ''those people who leave the world and start the journey to death,'' people in Sudan consider them ''very important.''
He then complained about less dedicated young people.
''Most of the youth, especially youth from Arabian countries, mostly they are traveling to Europe and they are spoiled there,'' Walid wrote. ''Their minds are confused. All of them just think about money and sex. We didn't expect this from them. Our expectation from these youths was to take part in fighting and campaign in dangerous trenches against the infidels.''
He concluded by complaining to his friend in Afghanistan that he did not have enough money to send letters to their friends in Europe. ''We are all O.K. and healthy and you are in all our thoughts,'' he wrote at the end of the letter. ''Our expectation is you should use your time there to endure the difficulties in the mountains until you become a commander of the future. Then you will serve our country and our people.''
Other letters are more mundane.
In one, Abdul Wakil, apparently a member of Al Qaeda, describes life in Afghanistan to a friend. Like many of the letters it begins with a formal religious greeting, ''I pray for you to Allah, and for your health, and I hope you will always be healthy and you will always do the task that will satisfy Allah.''
The note then sounds like any conversation between friends. ''I am waiting for your letter,'' he wrote. ''Recently I got your letter and I read it and I was very happy. I kept it and everyday I read it many times.''
The author then asks his friend if wants to meet in Kandahar or Kabul, says he is reading the friend's books and spending his free time with his wife and children. ''I pass my life in the front lines,'' he concluded. ''I hope that Allah accepts my action and that I take part in fighting.''
Many of the men's families came to Afghanistan and lived with them in the houses in Kabul. One group of more than a hundred Chechens came from the Caucasus and lived in a primary school with their families. It is not clear whether the group there were Al Qaeda members, foreign volunteers or simply refugees, as their Afghan neighbors called them. Scraps of paper found in one house include a list of names written in Chechen with phone numbers.
The houses where Al Qaeda documents were found were divided into single rooms where members lived with their families and large rooms that were used as classrooms.
In a letter found in one of the houses, the wife of an Al Qaeda member named ''Brother Osama the Bosnian'' wrote to her family in Bosnia.
''My dear sister, how and what are your news and your circumstances?'' she inquired. ''I ask God, praised be he, that you are well. I want to be reassured about you and your dear children.''
It concludes sadly.
''I've been missing you very much,'' she wrote. ''And God knows the extent of my love and affection for you, dear sister. But the Muslim always has to be patient and must accept his lot in the path of God.''
The letters, as well as letters of introduction for young recruits, show Al Qaeda's breadth. Men from Morocco, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Turkey, Kuwait, Yemen, Pakistan, Libya, Egypt, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, the Philippines, Sudan, and Canada are all mentioned. So are men from the Caucasus and Palestine, and a man named Bilal ''from American.''
Papers and notebooks show that Al Qaeda members spent their day studying religion, math, Arabic, English, military tactics, intelligence and terrorism.. One topic from the class on intelligence was ''to pretend to your enemy that you are not their enemy until you can kill them.'' An entry from the military tactics books was ''How to Create Chaos in a Building.''
''A man should use the shortest route to the goal,'' reads one student's notes. ''Light the elevators on fire, destroy the water supply, block the entrance and exits.''
Other pieces of paper are more mundane. ''Weekly Lecture Schedule,'' reads one. Someone painstakingly wrote ''Welcome to Guest House'' in English on another. A piece of paper with a picture of a stop sign on it reads ''Do Not Enter Bathroom While It Is Under Repair.'' A poster tacked on the wall of one house shows a heart surrounded by roses and says ''You Make My Heart Pound.''
The letters and papers often conveyed a combination of cold extremism and human tenderness. A line of the testament written by the unknown man sitting a few feet from Mr. bin Laden typified this: ''Be happy,'' the young man told his soon-to-be-grieving family. ''Your son devotes himself to the way of Allah.''Continue reading the main story


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Sram GXP crank arm bolt assembly
So...you made a mess of the non-drive side fixing bolt on your Omnium or S300 crankset?
Remove the whole assembly, replace it and don't be such a hack this time!
• aluminum self-extracting bolt assembly only for use on GXP cranksets
• bolt/cap size: M15/M26
• dust cap installs using a 10mm allen wrench
• available in black or silver
Some older versions of Sram GXP cranksets use a huge 16mm allen wrench to remove the outer dust cap. Have fun with that!


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Head Games (game show)
|Head Games
|Game show
|Greg Proops
|Country of origin
|United States
|No. of seasons
|Whoopi Goldberg
|Running time
|30 minutes
|Original network
|Science Channel
|Picture format
|Original release
|October 17, 2009
|External links
Head Games was a science themed game show, hosted by Greg Proops and produced by Whoopi Goldberg. It aired on the Science Channel.[1] The show relied heavily on science experiments and demonstrations to provide a basis for the trivia questions that the contestants must answer. Goldberg described the gameplay as a "mashup" of many different game shows. Describing herself a "geek" and a curious person, Goldberg created Head Games to show people that there's "all kinds of science", not just the popular stereotype of laboratory "science with beakers".[2][3]
The show aired regularly on Science Channel at 9:00 p.m. eastern on Saturday evenings from October through December 2009. Airings continued in reruns for several months past that time, before the show completely disappeared from the network's schedule in Spring 2010. As of February 2011, there have been no announcements by Science Channel, either online or on-air, whether the game show is set to return for a second season.
Three contestants compete simultaneously. During normal gameplay, all of the questions are related to science experiments or demonstrations which are shown to the contestants as prerecorded video clips. The contestants must attempt to predict the outcome of the experiment or demonstration. Each contestant chooses one of three possible outcomes and then the answer is revealed. After several multiple choice video questions, the gameplay changes to a faster paced bonus round where contestants must buzz-in and answer questions related to the previous video round. In the bonus round, wrong answers do not penalize the player, and other players may not answer a question once one player has attempted it.[4]
After two video rounds and two bonus rounds, the lowest scoring player is eliminated. The final two players progress to the "under the microscope" round, where questions are presented rapidfire for a fixed amount of time, and contestants must buzz-in and choose from one of three answers. There is a Jeopardy!-style penalty in this last round, during which wrong answers subtract from the player's score. The player with the higher score at the end of the round wins his or her money and a Head Games championship trophy.[4]
- ^ Silver, Curtis (2009-10-20). "Play Head Games, Rule Your Social Media Circle | GeekDad | Wired.com". Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ^ "Whoopi Goldberg's "Head Games": "View" Co-Host Producing Science Channel Trivia Show". Huffington Post. 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ^ "Whoopi Goldberg helps to bring 'Head Games' to TV at The Insider". Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ^ a b "Head Games". Episode 1. Science Channel. Missing or empty


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For availability & pricing, select your "Ship to" state.
Snoqualmie Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley, Washington
Winemaker Notes
Grapes are grown on the Wahluke Slope and in the Yakima Valley. The vineyards receive only 6-8 inches of rainfall annually and soils are deep and sandy with low water-holding capacity. These vineyard characteristics stress the vines and ultimately yield concentrated fruit with depth and varietal expression.
"Strawberry, sage, and red current aromas lead to rich sweet vanillin oak and soft, round tannins on the palate."
"Strawberry, sage, and red current aromas lead to rich sweet vanillin oak and soft, round tannins on the palate."
- Joy Andersen, Winemaker
SnoqualmieView all wine
Snoqualmie Vineyards embodies the spirit of the Northwest in personality and in its approach to winemaking. Snoqualmie's honest, yet eclectic style is largely a reflection of winemaker Joy Andersen, at the helm since 1990. Under Joy's leadership, Snoqualmie's reputation for crafting approachable, food-friendly wines has been recognized across the country by critics and consumers alike.
Snoqualmie has been producing classic varietal wines from Columbia Valley vineyards for over two decades. Snoqualmie's vineyards lie within three... View More


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Halloween 5 Pack
Halloween fans rejoice. The Halloween 5 pack is here for your to share your love of this fun holiday with friends and family near and far.
Give a pop-up to your friend who shares a birthday with the spookiest day of the year. Delight little ghouls and goblins during a classroom Halloween party with amazing paper art. Share your Halloween spirit by sending a loved one a handwritten note written on an unexpected pop-up card.
Not too scary and fun for all ages, our Halloween cards are unlike any other. Full of intricate details and little surprises these are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone's face.
The Halloween 5 Pack includes the following cards:


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Northeast of San Bernardino and west of Silverwood Lake in the San Bernardino National Forest, the Baldy Mesa / Cleghorn Ridge / Marshall Peak area has miles of ATV riding routes.
There are two trailheads: Baldy Mesa and Summit.
To reach the Baldy Mesa trailhead from US15, use the Lake Silverwood Exit (SR138). Head north on Baldy Mesa Road (currently dirt), which is directly across from the northboard off ramp. Park anywhere except near the second railroad overpass and beyond.
To reach the Summit trailhead from US 15, use the Lake Silverwood Exit (SR138). Head east on SR138. Turn south on FS3N22 for 0.25 miles and turn west right heading west to parking area.
Note: While there had been reports that this area was closed, as of February 2006, the fire road (forest road) also known as Cleghorn road or Trail 2N47 was open from the staging area off of 138 and small staging area directly off of Interstate 15 --- the road was open to to Silver Lake. Forest Road 2N40 is closed. As of May 2007, we have had reports of gates closed on FS138.
Note: As of September 2007, ATV riding is only permitted on designated Forest Service roads as long as the ATV has a valid California green ATV sticker. To obtain a map with the designated roads, contact the Forest Service HQ at (909) 382-2600.
Overall, Baldy Mesa / Cleghorn Ridge / Marshall Peak is the 16th most popular ATV riding trail of all 106 ATV trails in California.


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I have no doubt that there are some people out there who discriminate against LBGT members of our community, and I genuinely hope that this ordinance helps protect them. I know African-American members of our community and Native American members of our community who have been discriminated against and my heart goes out to them as well. There will be bigots and narrow-minded people as long as there are people on this earth, but please don't lump all conservatives and Christians into one group. Elkamino's comments are pretty insulting to those of us who have no disagreement with the LBGT community and also happen to be Christians and conservatives.
The last couple of comments don't show much "acceptance" or "tolerance" for people who think differently than you do. Alot of people don't have anything against the LBGT community, but don't agree with the idea of a special ordinance to protect just them. Are we going to have a special ordinance to protect obese people from discrimination too? I'm sure they get looked over for jobs because of the way they look or because they don't project the proper "image" for whatever job they may be applying for. How about bald men, just because they may not be as physically attractive as the next person with a full head of hair that is no more qualified for the position than he is? Where do you draw the line? I'm fat and bald and I demand reparations!
There's a difference in standing up for yourself and going out of your way to humiliate your father in such a public way. I have no problem with her lifestyle, but when she knows her father's feelings toward the subject maybe she should have discussed it with him privately instead of driving 200 miles to belittle him and his beliefs, if, as they have reported, he really had no idea she was gay. Not much of a way to treat somebody you supposedly care about.


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How Do I Copy a DVD?
How do I copy a DVD? Some DVD fans may still be looking for a professional and easy manner to copy DVDs. Here I recommend you DVDFab DVD Copy. It can copy any DVD to blank disc or on to the hard drive on your PC, with only a couple of clicks. Next let's take a look at how to copy a DVD with it.
Step 1: Start up DVDFab, choose Copy option, and load in the source
Start up DVDFab 9, and you will see 4 options on its welcome screen, just choose Copy option. On the main interface of Copy, there're 6 copy modes. Here we're going to use Main Movie mode for example. Now insert the DVD disc you want to copy into optical drive, so that DVDFab can load it. After the DVD movie is imported into the program, you can see that the main movie title is selected by default, and its audio tracks and subtitles can be changed freely. For the Output, please choose DVD5 or DVD9 accordingly. For how to save the output, if you want to burn it into a blank/rewritable DVD disc, please choose writer; if you want to backup it on your PC, please choose folder icon or image file icon which respectively means saving DVD content as DVD folder or ISO image file. OK. Now click Next button.
Step 2: Start copy process
On the next interface just check every settings and preview the title. If it's alright, just hit Start to start conversion.
During the process, you can view detailed progress info and preview the progress with real time images.
OK. Leave the rest to DVDFab. For more info about DVD Copy, please go to: http://www.dvdfab.cn/dvd-copy.htm


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We booked 5 rooms and rooms are very good and spacious. This hotel has ample space for kids to place and located only 4 km for humpy.its too good for the price we pay and totally worth it.It has a restaurant and it is also...More
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"Rooms facing the lawn is quieter and away from the restaurant noise and smell. Very peaceful and offers a..."
"Confirm what you order, for Breakfast ask what exactly is available as complementary before ordering."