text:
I-Cubs Will Go Head to Head With J-Rob in Home Opener
Long time, no post.
While the I-Cubs are opening the season in Albuquerque and getting the Isotopes off and running, finishing touches are being put on their headquarters here in Des Moines. Yesterday was Open House and a parking lot full of fans came to walk the warning track and tour the remodeled clubhouses. Too bad Chicago and their Cubs don't get along as cozily as Des Moines does with ours. The city helped rebuild the ballpark back in the 1990's, replaced the playing field not long ago and kicked in on this latest project too, despite that we can't keep the libraries open a rightful amount of hours.
Besides peeks behind the scenes fans were lured by promises of a free hot dog/chips/soda lunch and a GA ticket to a 2013 game. While the facilities were easy enough to get in and out of, the line for the eats was surely the longest one there's ever been there without a ballgame at the end of it, so I fasted.
Does it surprise any of you that there is a sign posted in the clubhouses forbidding the consumption of any alcoholic beverages on those premises? It did me.
Besides the free ticket handout I cashed in a Groupon that netted me 20 tickets for 50 bucks - @ $2.50 per that'll make for a good time some just right evening this summer when I'd rather go with friends than alone as I usually do.
The home opener is set for next Friday, a date that coincides with the opening of '42' starring Harrison Ford as the grandfather, I think, of the PCL president. I'm anxious to see it and will let the weather make the decision as to whether I go to the ballpark or the movies that evening.
My streak of seasons with at least one visit to Wrigley may be in jeopardy this year. I'm not sure how long it is but it's fairly lengthy and right now I have nothing planned.
It's good to hear that a renovation detente may have been achieved in Wrigleyville and the organizational pipeline seems to be filling with fuel, most of which is pretty far downline from Des Moines. I may make a cheap trip or two to catch Kane County when the Cougars road-trip into Iowa. As for what I'm anxious to see right here, I guess I'm curious about this Loux kid and hopeful that Jackson won't be such a strikeout artist now that his swing's been Tinker-ed to make the most of Ever-y Chance (sorry).
Sorry, too, for any errors. I'm kinda rusty, like Pat Hughes, who called Rizzo's Opening Day blast to the back of the right-center bleachers in Pittsburgh "playable."
I'll be in touch.
Nice to hear from you Well
Nice to hear from you Well-Man!
I'll be looking forward to your reports on Rusin and Raley during the year. I think as the year goes on I'd rather see one of those guys pitching for the big club than Feldman.
And, of course if anyone in Iowa can hit with RISP, that's a bonus.
I hate the idea of Harrison
I hate the idea of Harrison Ford playing the grandfather of anybody. Makes me feel older, if not necessarily bluer.
Marlon Byrd with game-winning
Michael Brenly signed on with
Michael Brenly signed on with the Diamondbacks.
Marquez Smith was released by the Rangers organization.
"Michael Brenly signed on
"Michael Brenly signed on with the Diamondbacks."
dad must have some connections (again). seriously, though...supposedly he's a good defender...but that bat is nearly inexcusable and it's not like he's got a rocket arm to match the glove work.
Jr. is on the DL with rib
Jr. is on the DL with rib fracture. Not AWOL. He's out 6-8 weeks.
I know Junior is on the DL,
I know Junior is on the DL, but he isnt listed on AZ phils rehab list.
Anybody want opening day
Anybody want opening day tickets?
Any new start times announced
Any new start times announced? Is there going to be ANY rain breaks this afternoon? Last I heard (7:20am) they said there may even be sunshine this afternoon for a wee bit. But plenty of rain too...
If it gets delayed long
If it gets delayed long enough, I may be able to make it. I have to be daddy until at least 1:30. My wife set up a spreadsheet to track how much money we are losing, I think she is going to poison me.
2013 is making 2012 seem like
2013 is making 2012 seem like 2009. Every single ticket holder is going to get killed this year. I don't know anyone who wants to watch this team, either. Here's to a sunny summer, it's our only hope.
Oh man. That is terrible. I
Oh man. That is terrible. I can't even look until years' end. I refuse to give box tickets away for $10 and would rather give 'em to Miseracordia, etc., and take a full tax deduction.
Wtf is with the early stubhub
Wtf is with the early stubhub cutoff? That hurts.
I know, right? I tried to
I know, right? I tried to adjust the 7am cutoff yesterday. Maybe they have club agreements?
How do you donate them? I
How do you donate them? I know I've seen that somewhere on the shitty ticket manager site, but I can't find it. My wife loves her some deductions, she's been threatening to make me cut back to two tickets, maybe that would convince her to keep them.
I asked last week and they
I asked last week and they don't have it together yet. You still have to physically convey tix. However, I was told you can use your STH user/pw (you see it on your invoice) and electronically get tix to those you wish through the STH portal. This apparently works, although I have not tried using it.
Children's would be close? Oh wait - they moved Downtown...
I wish I itemized. =(
I wish I itemized. =(
Sending sick kids to a Cubs
Sending sick kids to a Cubs game? Are you trying to finish them off?
I had to go (way) below face
I had to go (way) below face value just to get relief from mine. Oh mercy.
It's barely raining now and
It's barely raining now and last I heard, it was supposed to be done by noon.
Thank you. Any addendum re
Thank you. Any addendum re downpours in the PM?
It's sunny in the west burbs
It's sunny in the west burbs right now.
The weather.com hourly
The weather.com hourly forecast has 0 percent chance of rain until 4:00, when it goes to 20 percent.
For whatever that's worth.
Wow. Thank you!
Wow. Thank you!
Partly sunny downtown right
Partly sunny downtown right now, too. Guessing this game will get played on schedule.
Hmmm...in checking
Hmmm...in checking wunderground.com, they have 90% probability of rain all afternoon. Which says, "Its gonna rain..." Fwiw.
the wrigley field organist is
the wrigley field organist is off his meds...
big pops from the crowd for fuji, garza, ninja (huge), castro, rizzo (huge)...boos for marmol (stay classy cubs fans).
A WHIP higher than most
Having a WHIP higher than most pitchers ERA will do that to a guy. :)
How do they like Jackson
How do they like Jackson walking in a run in the first inning?
i think the crowd is mostly
i think the crowd is mostly numb at this point...scattering of boos, but mostly a "well, that isn't surprising" reaction.
5-0 cubs now...top 2nd, 1 out. the crowd is numb...
"5-0 cubs"? That is one
"5-0 cubs"? That is one amazing comeback.....
doh. yeah...5-0 mil/chc...
doh. yeah...5-0 mil/chc...
also, derp and another doh for good measure.
hey, 5-2 now...welly HR.
this game already sucks...MIL
this game already sucks...MIL up by 4, top 1st, 2 out.
welcome to wrigley, e.jackson.
Through 6 games and one AB --
Through 6 games and one AB -- Starlin Castro has yet to walk. Just what you want in a #2 hitter ahead of Rizzo.
It would not shock me if
It would not shock me if Castro was traded.
Depending on the return, it's
Depending on the return, it's hard to imagine the organization wouldn't be in a better place. But after the season might be more likely, and certainly not before July.
Of course we need to get
Of course we need to get value in return, but I think Theo and Jed value Castro's assets less than others might.
They value him so little that
They value him so little that they (a) refer to him as a cornerstone of the rebuilding and (b) extended his contract.
He's what, 23? Come on.
Show me that he can play
Show me that he can play defense reliably (and I mean a track record) and we can talk about potential. Until then, I could give a shit what they do with Castro or what kind of batting numbers he puts up.
Doesn't a track record
Doesn't a track record require some time? The flip side is true also: Show me a track record of bad defense, which also requires some time. Castro has had his issues, but he's also a dude who has worked his butt off to get better at his defense and showed it last year.
23 and a week into the season seems a bit early to throw in the towel on a guy who has shown improvement.
Jed/Theo gave Starlin a $60M
Jed/Theo gave Starlin a $60M contract extension. Something tells me they value his assets pretty highly.
I think the Castro defenders
I think the Castro defenders are perhaps missing the point. Castro is a "young pro" who's going to be a major league starter for years to come and has a ceiling as a perennial All-Star. He's signed to a team-friendly deal. He has to be huge trade bait for an organization looking for that type of player and can certainly fetch multiple talented players in return. This organization also has a SS prospect who seriously needs to be discussed as one of baseball's best prospects at this point, and he will probably be ready to break in within two years.
His defense got called out by someone else, but I'm not talking trash about Starlin. I'm still saying he's a guy you want ... until something better comes along.
Agreed. You don't trade
Agreed. You don't trade Castro because he is bad, you trade him because he is good, others think he is better than you do, and you have strength in the organization at his position.
I don't disagree with
I don't disagree with anything you said.
My comment was in response to the idea that the Cubs management doesn't value Castro's assets. I fail to see how such an assertion could be true, considering the deal that Cubs management gave Castro.
FWIW...I'm not a Castro defender. I think he has a ton of talent, and I think he hasn't figured out how to put it all together yet. And I think that, in the right deal, I would absolutely trade him. Then again, I don't think there are many players that I would define as untouchable in a trade.
I believe my point was that I
I believe my point was that I believe that other teams may value Castro's MORE than the Cubs do. Because of this, I wouldn't be shocked if Castro was traded.
i'd rather see him as a long
i'd rather see him as a long term solution at 2nd with baez pulling time at SS.
both could be fixtures through 2019+...
btw, baez is off to a slow start in high A this season...but it's only been 4 games.
The Rangers designated lefty
The Rangers designated lefty Jeff Beliveau for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot for newly-acquired catcher Robinson Chirinos.
soto will be lucky enough to
soto will be lucky enough to get 200ab's as it is unless m.moreland/l.berkman gets injured.
I should have mentioned that
I should have mentioned that Chirinos was optioned to AAA.
Don't they also have Baker
Don't they also have Baker and Wells?
Baker has one AB. Wells is
Baker has one AB. Wells is at AAA.
JD says "word" a lot when he
JD says "word" a lot when he's impressed by something...i approve.
"Word" is pretty 90's
"Word" is pretty 90's actually.
which is why i love it...i'm
which is why i love it...i'm ready for this 80s revival to end already...
6ip 8h 5bb 6k (5er) for e
6ip 8h 5bb (2ibb) 6k 5er for e.jackson...102 pitches
For those who missed Big Z,
For those who missed Big Z, they must be joyful of this salute to Zambrano by EJax today.
cubs need to reconsider this
cubs need to reconsider this "shift on everyone" thing...
along with past games, it's been exploited 3 times in this game (twice in the 7th) for hits.
marmol comes out to a chorus
marmol comes out to a chorus of boos...after a leadoff double you'd think he was milton bradley.
btw, even though he may not enjoy it, he seems unfazed by it.
9th inning rally in progress.
9th inning rally in progress...
7-4, 0 outs...men on 1st/2nd.
bases loaded, 1 out...wind
bases loaded, 1 out...wind starts blowing in like mad for the 1st time today...wtf
K followed by a warning track out...damn you wind...damn you.
If my math is correct -- Cubs
If my math is correct -- Cubs fall to 75 games under .500 in the Ricketts era (209-284).
The Ricketts family must have a good shot at the "fastest to 100" crown.
Something to watch from the rooftops -- that, and the date of Castro's first walk in 2013. Stay tuned!
they'll make up for it 2015
they'll make up for it 2015-2020 when they're a 110+ game a year winner with a $80m a year payroll.
I can guarantee they will
I can guarantee they will have higher than an $80m a year payroll. They've shown a complete willingness to sink money into all phases of the team and so this whole "Rickets are cheap" meme gets more and more silly.
I guess instead of sinking money into the minor leagues, scouting and the park they should have appeased the fans and spent it on overpriced and average free agents so we could again be spinning our wheels in slightly above average play burdened with ridiculous contracts and never actually winning a World Series. Or in other words our entire history.
Rickets spends money. Stop pretending otherwise.
I'm curious if people who are
I'm curious if people who are complaining about the Ricketts' era will feel it was worth it if they are a well oiled machine by 2015-2016? It seems obvious the current ownership and front office have a plan and are renovating a VERY long term dysfunctional perpetual-crap machine on every level. I really don't get the complainers. Like picking on a newborn pony for walking funny. Oh well.
so...only 2-3 more years of
so...only 2-3 more years of baseball not worth watching before the 1st game of the year is even played? sweet.
well, "if" they are a well oiled machine by then.
i don't think anyone's rooting against them...but this is a hard product to watch right now...and last year...and besides that, the owners are f'n billionaires 4-5 times over.
more TV money is coming soon at least...that's visible profit in the fan's faces.
"the plan" is nice and all, but i'm ready for a few offseason signings that aren't followed by "damn, that should be good trade bait in june!"
we should have b.jackson due next year...baez knocking on the door if he has a good stint in the minors...vogelbomb making rizzo expendable in another couple of years...castro's locked down for many years...welly isn't a superstar, but he's here for good amount of years on the cheap...it should get better if they get some support.
Also I would maybe give it a
Also I would maybe give it a few weeks and let the weather warm up before panicking (that's very un-dude!). I think this team will play a little better than right now. There is some decent pitching and obviously Soriano and others will hit when their knees have a chance to work out the rust.
I think poeple will be fine
I think poeple will be fine if/when the 2015/2016 plan comes together. But, that will mean 5 years of very lousy baseball -- tough to develop kids into fans when their parents don't want to waste their time/money on a very bad product. Trades like Colvin/DJ for Ian Stewart don't give me warm & fuzzies about "the plan".
Dj and Colvin are both in AAA
Dj and Colvin are both in AAA, so Rockies don't think much either about them.
That's like blaming the
That's like blaming the recession on Obama.
Recent comments
Meh, I messed that up. Mets are in.
Cards and Giants can still tie though.
Kershaw gets hurt by his defense and gave up 2 more runs. Blach has 8 shutout innings.
Mets already won as did Cards.
tomorrow is gonna be helluva fun if Giants hold on. We're all rooting for a 3-way tie I presume.
good news is now 5 K's for Lester through 4 (in a quest for 200 for season). Bad news is he's already at 86 pitches.
be curious how long Maddon sticks with Lester to try and let offense get back into it and get him the win (4-2 as I type, was 4-0)
Fwiw, he needed 2.1 IP to cross 200 for season so he got that at least. He also needs 9 K's for 200K's on season and he has 4 through 3.
cubs score 2 runs thanks to predictable reds pitching and horrible CIN defense...cubs only down by 1 now. heyward even got a gift 2rbi double out of an easy popout. neat.
something named Ty Blach has outpitched Clayton Kershaw through 6 innings (1-0 Giants).
not that finishing 2nd place will matter much nor did this game, but have to think if Hendricks pitches well tomorrow, he could leapfrog Lester in Cy Young voting. Don't see anyway Scherzer doesn't win it regardless and it doesnt' look like Lester has any incentive clauses that matter. Also might give Cueto some votes.
Rather remarkable how many teams have really good 1-2 options this year.
Nats: Scherzer and Roark (and Strasburg was great before injuries)
Cubs: Lester and Hendricks (and Arrietta is still damn good just not as consistently lately)
pretty much what I'm gathering from this thread is that it doesn't matter who you play in 5-game series, but no one wants to have to deal with Cardinal fans if we end up losing.
I can respect that.
first game for lester giving up more than 2 runs since july 24th. hell of a run.
doh, yes...dunno what happened there. jake arrieta is all "bro wut?"
lester going for #20...cubs haven't had a LH (thanks jpep for the correction) 20 game winner since d.ellsworth in 1963.
fwiw, all the games are free on mlb.tv
Short rest for MadBum would be 2 days. WC game is Wed., Games 1 & 2 are Friday/Saturday.
A left-handed one...
J-Hey not finishing with an offensive onslaught.
If Geoff Blum could be a Playoff hero, there is hope still...
Giants scare me. I think you're wrong about Bumgarner, he would pitch on short rest for Game 2 and then full rest for Game 5. Cueto would go Game 1, then short rest in game 4. Add in some really tough outs in that lineup and I want nothing to do with them. With that rotation they can easily steal a series.
Cards are a tough matchup. The rivalry evens out their comparable lack of talent. And like someone said, they love HRs, which is how to beat the Cubs. The upside is that I would feel really good about Lester twice against STL.


text:
Wall Street Decline Takes Its Toll...
Expanding Use of NGS Has Largely...
Developers of DTC Genetic Testing Are...
LC-MS Gains Favor Due To the...
In 1964, University of Utah Chemistry Professor J. Calvin Giddings enunciated a theoretical platform that would provide liquid chromatography (LC) with resolving power equivalent to that of gas chromatography (GC). "Unified separation science" became a buzzword soon after.
What Giddings envisioned, in the words of Waters scientists Christopher Hudalla and Patrick McDonald, was the "higher mobile phase diffusion and efficiency" of GC, and the "higher selectivity via orthogonal modes of separation" from LC, which could be achieved by combining supercritical carbon dioxide as the major mobile-phase component.
Supercritical carbon dioxide is an inexpensive, low-viscosity, highly compressible, environmentally benign solvent that improves chromatographic efficiency for a given stationary-phase particle size and linear velocity.
By contrast, conventional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) solvents are toxic and expensive, in both their acquisition and disposal. Aside from water, acetonitrile is arguably the most used solvent in HPLC. It has become prohibitively expensive in recent years; users pay "both ways" for the luxury of using the overwhelming majority of solvents. A four-liter bottle of HPLC-grade acetonitrile costs between $300 and $400. Then, because acetonitrile is generally not recycled due to its high boiling point, disposing of spent mobile-phase diluted with buffers and other organic solvents easily doubles the cost of using the solvent. The carbon footprint for manufacturing acetonitrile is substantial as well, both in terms of atom economy, purification, and shipping.
Supercritical carbon dioxide is the greenest HPLC solvent, hands down. The carbon dioxide is extracted from the atmosphere, to where it is vented after use. Greenhouse gas contribution is zero.
Waters has named its new-generation supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) system UltraPerformance Convergence Chromatography, or UPC2 ®.
"It's the combination, or convergence, of GC and LC," says Ken Fountain, director of chemistry applied technology and global UPC2 applications.
Convergence chromatography exploits the advantage of carbon dioxide-based mobile phases in either supercritical or subcritical mode. UPC2 combines the unique properties of carbon dioxide mobile phases with the ability to run gradients with common organic solvents, like methanol or acetonitrile, on stationary phases that have both normal- and reverse-phase characteristics, to cover a wide selectivity range.
Like other LC systems built on Waters Acquity® platform, UPC2 employs sub-two-micron stationary phases, especially for nonchiral analysis. It is possible to use five-micron particle technology as well, as with UHPLC, but also like conventional LC, efficiency increases as particle size decreases. Efficiency improvements from smaller particles are in fact comparable to those obtained in HPLC/UHPLC. UPC2's additional benefit is much higher linear velocity and throughput.
"Mass transfer kinetics are greatly improved. Diffusivity is closer to that of GC's, between 10 and 100 times faster than that of LC," Fountain says.
Waters' original target market was chiral analysis, where SFC already enjoyed a healthy reputation. The company has demonstrated chiral SFC separations that require one-thirtieth the time compared with standard normal-phase HPLC. Solvent consumption and lower cost are additional benefits. In a typical example, the SFC method consumed 135 microliters of methanol, compared with 10 mL of hexane/ethanol for HPLC. Overall cost savings are dramatic, falling from about $6 for a conventional HPLC run to $0.05 for UPC2.
"When you consider this savings on the scale of hundreds to thousands of injections, the financial impact to an organization can be quite exceptional," says Waters' John van Antwerp.
Since its selectivity overlaps significantly with normal-phase chromatography, SFC is orthogonal to reverse-phase LC. The technique is applicable to a diverse range of compounds, including most organic-soluble compounds, most salts of organic acids and bases, strong organic acids and bases, small lipophilic peptides, and nonpolar solutes (e.g., waxes and oils). In addition to being the go-to method for chiral separations, SFC also separates positional isomers and diastereomers, and is compatible with most popular detection modes.
Waters' 2004 introduction of UPLC (the company's branded version of what later came to be generally referred to as UHPLC) was met with some pushback. Users were concerned about the extraordinarily high operating pressures, the cost of new HPLC systems, and method transfer. Eventually, customers recognized UHPLC as an extension of HPLC—a way to exploit the benefits of sub-2 micron stationary phases. The pushback with UPC2 was based on the perception that SFC lacked robustness, was not easy to use, and was less-than ideal outside of chiral separations.
Adapting supercritical chromatography to everyday analytics required more than simply pumping supercritical carbon dioxide through an existing instrument. Fountain makes the analogy to the early development of UPLC. Making minor adjustments to existing columns or instruments while employing 1.7-micron particles with large diameter columns would have been easy. "But we knew from practice and theory that the advantages of sub-two-micron particles would disappear. That was the rationale for redesigning columns, hardware, end fittings, and the instrument itself. That is how the Acquity UPC2 System came to be."
Waters has gone out of its way to differentiate UPC2 from conventional SFC. Both use carbon dioxide-based mobile phases, and not without justification. "Convergence chromatography brings the SFC practice into mainstream analytical techniques," Fountain explains. The most formidable hurdle to "instrumenting" SFC in the form of UPC2 was to make the new platform as robust and reliable as traditional analytical chromatography.
"Laboratory scientists know deep down that GC and LC are robust. They trust those technologies. We wanted to bring that same level of trust to SFC," he says. "We're not trying to replace GC or LC. But we are finding successful application areas we did not anticipate during development, for example in the areas of semiconductors and organic light-emitting diodes."
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
R,J, Keur began his golfing career as a right-hander, smacking a plastic ball around the house with a plastic set of clubs as a 4-year-old.
All-Lowcountry Teams
THURSDAY: Boys Tennis
FRIDAY: Golf
SATURDAY: Girls Lacrosse
SUNDAY: Boys Lacrosse
JUNE 16: Girls Track
JUNE 17: Boys Track
JUNE 18: Girls Soccer
JUNE 19: Boys Soccer
JUNE 20: Softball
JUNE 21: Baseball
JUNE 22: Athletes of the Year
But when R.J. was a little older and began playing with his father on the course at Charleston Air Force Base, he had trouble getting the ball over a bothersome water hazard.
"Let's try this," his dad said, turning R.J. around and handing him a left-handed club.
"He saw how much better I hit it left-handed, and got me a set of lefty clubs," R.J. recalled.
The rest, as they say, is history. Swinging left-handed, Keur has become one of the top junior golfers in South Carolina, finishing third in the Class AAAA high school state tournament this year and earning The Post and Courier's All-Lowcountry golfer of the year award. Keur, who just graduated from Fort Dorchester High School, will continue his career in the fall at Charleston Southern as one of the highest-profile recruits the Bucs have recruited.
"R.J. is the highest-ranked player that we have ever signed at Charleston Southern," Bucs director of golf Mike Wilson said when Keur signed. "He comes from one of the top high school programs in the state. R.J. will have the opportunity to be an impact player right away. He is very solid from tee to green and knows how to compete at the highest level."
Keur learned how to play at the side of his father, who retired from the Air Force and is now a police officer, and honed his game with countless hours at the Air Force Base course.
"When I was in middle school and high school, I'd be at the course from 7 a.m. until my parents picked me up after work," he said. "On Saturdays and Sundays, my dad and I would play in the morning. He's a good player and passed his test to be a PGA pro, but he wanted to focus his attention on me."
That work has paid off during Keur's career at Fort Dorchester. Currently ranked sixth in the state among junior boys, Keur finished third in the state tournament each of the last two years, and was the only Lowcountry player in the top 15 this year. As a freshman, he helped Fort Dorchester to its first state championship in golf. Last summer, he won the Al Esposito Junior championship and finished fifth in the S.C. State junior.
For college, Keur had offers from several bigger schools, but in the end chose CSU over two other state colleges.
"I know some of their players from high school golf and have played and practiced with them," he said. "I'm really excited to play with them next year."
Keur is joined on the All-Lowcountry golf team by a quartet of players from Bishop England, which won the Class AA state title under All-Lowcountry coach of the year John Greavu. Sophomore Jamie Wilson won the AA state individual title, winning a four-way playoff with a birdie on the first playoff hole. BE teammates Wilson Yearout, Todd Fanning and Ben Burton also made Class AA all-state and join Wilson on the All-Lowcountry team.
The rest of the All-Lowcountry squad includes Kyle Spencer and Victor Harper of Wando; Austin Zoller and Zak Butt of Ashley Ridge; Lucas McNellis of James Island; Chris DeMarco of Palmetto Christian; Will Friedman of Porter-Gaud; Reona Hirai of Pinewood Prep; and Evan Rodwell from First Baptist.
The All-Lowcountry team is chosen using results from state tournaments, all-state and all-region teams and in consultation with high school coaches.
- Keywords


text:
Choose Your Own Misadventure: Tripping at a Costume Party
You promised yourself that this time would be different. You promised that you'd rein it in: just have a few drinks, make some small talk and then call it a night. This here is a modest Halloween party, homey, not some twisted Revelations themed boxing-orgy. That was last night. And quite frankly, you could use some down time after it (the girl cosplaying Fetish Pestilence really liked to work the kidneys). You were going to be nice. You were going to be chill. You were going to take it easy, but then the swarthy fellow in the Robin Hood costume had to go and ask if you got high. What were you supposed to do?
Not follow him into the bathroom?
Decline the mysterious concoction in the Sonic the Hedgehog thermos that he insisted was "some serious shit"?
Not rip said thermos from his hands and take a defensive position on top of the toilet tank, fending him off with your feet while gripping the cylinder with both hands and desperately pouring the mystery contents down your throat, because socializing is hard?
Well thanks for the advice, asshole, but it's a little late. You've already done absolutely every one of those things, and now you've got a dark-skinned man-beast who appears to be in the midst of transforming into some kind of tree monster clawing at your Keds. You've got bigger shit to deal with.
If you try to reason with the Warrior-Ent, turn to page 2.
If you attack the beast, hoping to exploit the little known weakness of the Ent race, turn to page 3.


text:
Every sport has players that are classified as 'bigger than the game' or 'larger than life', whether that is measured in physical stature or personality, the classification generally rings true. Listed at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds Seattle Mariners versatile prospect Jack Marder will not win on physical stature, but never overlook his personality. If he gives you the chance.
"I think everybody in baseball would want a Jack Marder on their team and he definitely rubs off on everybody, coaches included," said former High Desert Mavericks manager Pedro Grifol. "If you watch him play every night, everything he does is for the team and when you have that and you have ability, you get a winning player."
Of course, calling an individual a winner is far from putting your neck on the line in this case. Making the jump from college to Advanced-A, the 22-year-old didn't miss a beat, hitting .352 in his first 83 professional games. He took the field at second base, left field and catcher for the High Desert Mavericks during his most recent season, the majority of that time coming at second base. Marder would joke of his ability to contribute on a different level if asked, "I'd be a left-handed pitcher if that's what they needed."
What the team has asked the versatile second year player to do is step away from the plate and concentrate on contributing from the field of play. Following the conclusion of the 2012 season Seattle Mariners Minor League Field Coordinator Jack Howell said of Marder, "At this point he's going to leave catching behind. Jack loves catching, but he understands the decision." This decision was in part weighed by two instances of post-concussion like symptoms after taking foul balls off his mask, serving two separate stints on the disabled list. Howell would continue, "The organization's plan is to have him work in at second base, third base and the outfield exclusively now."
Second base is a position the Seattle Mariners always saw Marder's hustle playing well into the Major Leagues. Upon being drafted he was asked by Scouting Director Tom McNamara of his experience playing second base, Marder said: "I lied and told him that I'd played it all my life. I played it like once in college and a little in high school. So I put the work in and learned to be a second baseman."
This is the manor of learning curve Marder has employed throughout his career, stating in a previous interview with SeattleClubhouse that he learned to play catcher, "based off of watching how Yadier Molina did it on TV." His methods may be non-traditional, but as Howell notes, "He's a real gamer." And you can't argue with the results.
Marder was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 16th round of the 2011 First Year Player Draft after posting two seasons of .232 baseball at the University of Oregon over 336 at-bats. That amount nearly equals the 349 at-bats Marder has accrued with the High Desert Mavericks of the California League, hitting .120 points higher through his professional appearances. The California League may be hitter friendly but Marder's success is as due in part to his hard working mentality as the park factors that accompany High Desert.
Amid the injuries spoken of above and being assigned new defensive priorities for the second consecutive season, Marder took his impressive inaugural campaign of 2011 to new heights in 2012. Taking the field in 47 additional games above 2011, his bat produced on a scale five times higher in many offensive categories.
|Home Runs
|Stolen Bases
Being 5-foot-11 and playing the game with the level of intensity that he does, Marder likens his approach to other equal framed Major League players such as Craig Biggio and Brett Butler, saying, "I'll be one of those guys that will just find any possible way to beat you like those guys."
Thus far he has lived up to his word. The fiery second baseman was 4th in the California League with 13 HBP (hit-by-pitch) recorded and at season's end would trail fellow California Leaguer and Cincinnati Reds on-base leader, Billy Hamilton, in BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play) by a mere .010 points; finishing the season at .396.
Playing alongside the 22-year-old in High Desert was eventual Seattle Mariners Minor League Player of the Year, Stefen Romero. Although his season would take him to Double-A Jackson, his statistics within the California League shaped his award winning campaign. If only by reputation, you might be surprised by the statistical similarities the 6-foot-3, 215 pound infielder and the aforementioned Marder shared in High Desert this past season.
|Home Runs
|Stefen Romero
|Jack Marder
While the amount of hits can be deceiving, it should be noted that Marder (.360/.425/.583/1.008) bested Romero (.357/.391/.581/.973) in all California League slash-line categories. While Romero undoubtedly earned his Player of the Year honor, Marder has placed himself one healthy season away from being an all-around contributor with the bat, breaking away from previous classifications as a top of the order scrapper.
Let's take a look at how the versatile rising star achieved the numbers he posted.
Despite limited playing time in 2011, Marder impressed in his transition to professional baseball, hitting .324 and reaching base 30 times in a short period of time (18 games). While just as an impressive in 2012, Marder's sizable step forward in offensive production would have less to do with getting on-base and more to relate to the base he was standing on. Spanning 71 plate appearances in 2011, Jack averaged an extra-base-hit every 8.9 trips to the plate, hitting six doubles and two home runs. Over 278 plate appearances in 2012 that ratio would fall to 7.3 as his XBH total increased to 38. Of note in this statistic were his 24 doubles, an equal amount seen by fellow Mavericks Steven Proscia, Mario Martinez, and Mike McGee during the season, each spanning 400+ plate appearances.
Accompanying his sharp rise in XBH was an increase in OFB% (Outfield Fly Balls) of 8.7% from the previous season. In maintaining a similar HR/OFB (Home Runs/Outfield Fly Balls) over both seasons (11.8% in 2011, 11.5% in 2012) Marder finished the season sending 4.2% of baseballs hit over the wall, as opposed to 3.4% in 2011. Such a miniscule number, 0.8%, may not seem like a sizable factor but over 650 plate appearances it is the difference between 22 home runs and 27.
You can be skeptical of his season moving forward, I might be if I wasn't so familiar with his past, but let me give you a few reasons why 2012 showcased the true offensive upside of Marder. Baseball is hesitant to slap home run labels on a player of his hustle and versatility. An article from Baseball Prospect Report prior to the 2011 draft profiles Marder as, "A potential gold glove catcher with 20 home-run right handed power." This follows a nearly power-less stint with the University of Oregon, hitting just seven home runs over two seasons.
His ability to hit for power was no hidden talent; his frame just misleads those who didn't look close enough. You know who had a very similar height and weight to Marder? Hank Aaron. Now, no one is comparing Marder to Aaron as a player, just an observation that not all players who have extra base power are built like steroid-era sluggers. This is described no better than during his 2010 NCAA season. Gerrit Cole, future 1st round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates, was on his way to what most analysts expected would be the 1st pick overall as he blew away college hitters with his fastball at UCLA. I have heard this on three separate occasions and I will quote it from Baseball Prospect Report, "Marder was the only hitter I saw who had the hand speed to be able to pull his hands in and whip the barrel through against Cole's mid-90s heavy heat."
Not bad for a top of the order scrapper.
To compliment his spike in production, an additional area where his game excelled in 2012 was in LHP/RHP splits. While his success in 2011 was relatable to his statistics against right-handed pitchers as he struggled against left-handers (.250/.308/.458). His line against lefties (.329/.395/.521) in 2012 saw the second baseman significantly more productive.
If Marder continues to hit with such a level of success, we should expect his versatility to allow the Seattle Mariners to follow an aggressive plan in pushing him towards the Major Leagues. If he can also stay healthy, the evolution that has started to show as he morphs into a more complete offensive player and his fiery approach to the game could net the Seattle Mariners the type of bat they have spent much of this off-season looking for.
Prospect Evolution Series
Prospect Evolution - Nick Franklin.
Prospect Evolution - Rich Poythress
Prospect Evolution - Yoervis Medina
Prospect Evolution - James Jones
Looking for more Mariners player interviews, news and articles? Want to keep up with which prospects are hot and cold for the M's? "Like" SeattleClubhouse on Facebook and follow SeattleClubhouse Contributing Writer Josh Dobner on Twitter at @JPDobner and site Editor Rick Randall at @randallball.


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Spring 2002, Vol. 34, No. 1
A Time to Act: The Beginning of the Fritz Kolbe Story, 1900 - 1943
Greg Bradsher
Spoils of War Returned: U.S. Restitution of Nazi-Looted Cultural Treasures
to the USSR, 1945 - 1959
Patricia Kennedy Grimsted
The Idea of "Conspiracy" in McCarthy Era Politics
Richard M. Fried
Prologue in Perspective: 1930 Census Records Give Us a Picture of the Past
John W. Carlin
Prologue Portfolio: American Originals: Treasures from the National Archives National Tour
Stacey Bredhoff
Our Heritage in Documents: When FDR Said "Play Ball": President Called Baseball a Wartime Morale Booster
Gerald Bazer and Steven Culbertson
Spotlight on NARA: Updating Harry Truman's Library: Interactive Features Enliven New Exhibits after Extensive Renovation
1930 Census: Preparing for the 1930 Federal Population
Constance Potter
Genealogy Notes: The WPA Census Soundexing Projects
Claire Prechtel-Kluskens
News and Notices
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3 Easy Steps to a Greener Kitchen
Home sweet home – I've always love that saying. There is something wonderful about coming to place where you can feel safe, peaceful and rejuvenated. With all of the known dangers out in the big world, home can be a wonderful respite. Sadly, we are bombarded on a daily basis with the news of things that can harm us. Unfortunately some of those things can be found in our safe haven…our home.
Instead of throwing up our hands in frustration, I believe in the power of getting educated and making small changes with big impact on or health and environment. Here are three small changes that can improve the quality of life in your home sweet home.
(Click to continue reading…)


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These blog posts were originally published on LaxSpot in 2008
Hey All Laxers, Happy Thanksgiving. This is the time of year when families come together from all parts of the world to be with loved ones and celebrate the holidays. Thanksgiving to me is the celebration of all good things in your life past and present. The ability to recognize and be greatful for the people, experiences, family and friends that make your life what it is, is important. So with that said I would like to say "Thank you" to my family, friends, and fans for being apart of my life and contributing to my happiness.
I am currently celebrating Thanksgiving in Key West, Florida, with my daughter Riley and my wife Jessica. We are enjoying the beautiful weather while we are staying with her parents and her brother Michael's family. It is great because Michael and Sarah have two young daughters Riley's age. The day should be great spending time with loved ones. I hope you all enjoy a happy and safe holiday.
OH, I almost forgot…..I am Thankful for being apart of a great close nit community of LACROSSE fans, coaches, teammates, and players who help make our sport what it is. THANKS
Laxers, for those of you interested in paying your respects to Will Barrow the family has posted a website with information about the services.
Hey All Laxers, It is with a heavy heart I am writing to you on this Monday morning. Over the weekend the news circulated the lacrosse community like wild fire that Will Barrow had passed away. The news was of course a shock to us all and our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, teammates and loved ones he leaves behind. For those of you who didn't know Will, he was fun loving, energetic and played lacrosse with a great passion. I only briefly had the privilege of getting to know Will and he is already deeply missed. I ask all of you to say a prayer for Will and his family as the coming time will be very difficult. Rest in Peace Will Barrow, you will be missed……Shanny
Hey All Laxers, The holidays are quickly approaching and many fall sports are coming to an end, this past Friday was the final game of the year for Pine Crest. Less than 12 hours later I was in a car packet full of other laxrats headed for St. Petersburg, which is just south of Tampa. I was fortunate enough to find a solid club when I moved to Florida. The Fort Lauderdale Flamingos run Coach Rich Barba are a solid bunch of guys. The ride was long but was full of laughs. Once we reached the west side, we had only a few minutes since everyone knows when you take a group trip someone is always late to the rallying point. Thankfully it was me, when we arrived it was beautiful out a great day for lax. With two games on Saturday and one on Sunday it was fun filled weekend of lax. It was great to get out and move around and play with a new bunch of guys which is always interesting. The weekend finished with the Flamingos going 3-0 and finishing with a barn burner 23-22 victory over Hogstown.
Rules Changes
Hey All Laxers, I hope the fall season is treating you all well. With the latest release in rule changes by the MLL it will introduce the LSM back into the game. The LSM has long been missed by many goalies and coaches who routinely see middies run by short sticks. The rule change will bring about little change in my mind, there are so many talented middies in the game. On any given week a middie can light it up and each team has several middies who are worthy of drawing the pole. I do however believe it will increase the coaches role in the MLL by bringing so more defensive strategy into each weeks preparation, regarding slide packages and personelle decisions. It should be interesting to see how coaches and players adapt to the added LSM and an extra spot on the game day roster.
School Back in Session
Hey All Laxers, Congrats to Rochester on winning the Championship!
School has officially started down here in Florida, and our first football game is right around the corner. In fact we have our first contact scrimmage versus another opponent tomorrow. Should be exciting to see how we do. I have been in Florida for over a month and experienced so new things already. I have even made it through my first tropical storm (FAY), which came right in the middle of our two a day football camp. I am looking forward to re-establishing my relationship with Kevin Finnernan who originally drafted me to Chicago, and by some strike of dumb luck we both moved to Fort Lauderdale in the same week, weird…
Post Season
Hey All Laxers, Congratulations to Philly, Rochester, LA, and Denver and good luck to those teams in the post season. The Machine finished 3-9 on the season, with many new faces throughout the year and improved rookies we were much more competitive this year than last year. We again will have the 1st overall pick in next years draft, with that we should become even more competitve.
With the MLL season over, I have already started my next season. I am living in Fort Lauderdale now and working at Pine Crest. In florida football is known as king, so two a days have already begun. I can't tell you how much I have missed football, which I truely didn't realize until I started coaching. It has beens 6 years since I was with the Jets. Time truely does fly.
Last Game Preview
Hey All Laxers, entering the final week of the MLL season the Machine find ourselves out of the playoffs and with a 3-8 record. This week we face the best in the east, the Rochester Rattlers. Last year the Rattlers hammered us at their place, this game will be played on our home turf were we seem to play better. The Rattlers roster is full of All Stars and will pose many matchup problems for us. Personally this will be the first time I go against Smith at the "X' for a full game. Everyone seems to believe that he is the best, so I looking forward to the challenge of competing against him. He currently has the best face off % in the league that is over 60% which is pretty sick for the MLL. I had a chance to watch him go against Valhakis this past weekend, who is second in the league in %. Both a very good so it was hard really to pick anything up, plus the coverage on tv often misses the face off. Wish the Machine Luck this week as we have a chance to effect the seedings for the playoff and get the most wins in our franchise history.
Bye Week
Hey All Laxers, In week 11 the Machine have a bye week, which is probably good since our next opponent in Rochester. Rochester is the best team in the East and it looks like there is a great chance of Denver and them meeting in Championship game in late August. The Machine have a chance to get to 4 wins by winning which would be the most in any one season but it is going to take a serious effort to accomplish that.
In the past two weeks I have finally relocated to Fort Lauderdale where I am pretty much all moved in. The crazy thing is I have already starting doing the summer workout with the high school football team where I am teaching at. Everything starts a bit earlier down here than up North but I am looking forward to starting a new chapter. Thanks
Hey All Laxers, We WOOOOOOOONNNNNN! and beat LA for the first time in our franchise history. We were getting killed in the first half by like 8 but managed to cut the lead to 4 by half. Then in the second half our D and Gabel shut it down. Offensive began to feed of the defense. There were some crazy hits in this game, Bigas, Rob Smtih, and Whittenberg were laying the lumber all day. As for me I did my part and played my role 17-30 against A train and 1 goal.
San Fran
Whats up Laxers, Well we now are 2-7 with 3 games left. At this point in the season we are playing for pride. The Machine are still without a road victory in our franchise history, I know not good. That was our motivational tool going into the San Fran game but it still wasn't enough. Looking ahead to LA this week, this team seems to be playing the best lax of late. They have the most athletic midfielders in the game and provide many difficult match ups for any team. With that said we have been competitive both times so maybe 3 times will be the one we break through.
LA to San Fran
Hey all Laxers, for those of you who didn't follow the scoreboard the Machine managed to squander another game after being up late in the game. We are now 2-6 with 4 to play, playoff picture is looking real bleak. This year really seemed like it was going to be the year where we were going to make a push and change the moto of our franchise but it seems to be going totally opposite of what I had hoped.
Looking ahead to San Fran, this seems to be another great opportunity for us to get a "W"….the flight to San Jose where the Dragons now play is going to be brutal. I leave Islip NY, where I am for mly camp, thn make stops in Chicago and Las Vegas all before landing in San Jose. Wish us luck!
2nd Win
Laxers, Hope this July 4th holiday weekend finds everyone doing well. My brother is currently spending his first fourth of July in Afghanistan, so this is a special fourth for my family and I. He has been there since mid March of this year.
Getting back to the season we put another "W" in the win column. It is only our second win but it was a big one against league leading Denver. If we hope to get back in the mix of things we need to get another "W" this week against LA. Should be a good challenge for us and me personallly to go up against the West Respresentative in the All Star Game at the Face off X, Anthony Kelly.
Congrats to Levielle, Gabel, and Brooks who all were announced to the All Star Team this week.
Hey ALL, It been awhile since my last update with you all….I have since moved from Illinois and I am on my way to Fort Lauderdale Florida in July. I have made a pit stop back in Long Island for some family and Camp time until we complete the move.
The Machine, we find ourselves in familiar territory as a franchise….1-4 not good…we have had a few heart wrenching losses in OT this year and lost another 1 goal game earlier to LA. I have been pretty much relagated to face offs duty this year…some time you gotta due whats best for the team and since Danny Kallaugher broke his hand last week, this were I am need most….should be a good battle this week against Denver if we hope to turn our season around we will need this one…..Wish us luck
Stupid Pipes
Hey, Hope everyone enjoyed the final four and championship game… I know I watched a total of 5 minutes of all the games. Between getting to the airport and flying back and forth to Los Angeles most of the Machine guys didn't get to see much. Unless your name is Leveille who managed to fly in and out of LA all in one day from Boston and play in his own game after watching his brother beat Virginia in double OT. Not a bad weekend for that family…
The Machine game was another great battle this weekend we just fell a bit short, I know I hit 3 pipes on the day…..so annoying. Our defense and Gabel in the net have been awesome this year we just need to find our swagger on "O".
The draft tomorrow should be exciting for the Machine, with the #1 pick overall we have so many options that we could go with and plenty of talent to choose from, also heard about some possible trades for our # 1 pick so it should be interesting.
1st Game Review
Hey, Sorry for the late post report on the 1st game of the year but I was in Fort Lauderdale all week. I have taken a job down there and was looking for a place to live. I have already told the team at U of I that I would not be returning next season.
So by now everyone probably has checked the stats and win/loss column for the MLL. It was a great game that we pulled out in the fourth quarter. The scoreboard see sawed back and forth, I was 6-14 at the X with one assist. I look to improve those numbers this week at LA. This is a huge game for us to see where we are really at as a team. LA is loaded with talent but that doesn't always translate to a great team. Chemistry is a huge factor in the MLL and everyone's ego has to mesh. So far this year the Machine have seemed to have found a good balance but it is early and anything can happen. Plus the college draft is next week so there is a great chance that the roster will look tremendously different. My money is on us grabbing Danowski…but wouldn' t be shocked if that changed to Rabil or Levielle.
Here we Go…
Well, its time to officially put down the coaching whistle and strap on the helmet and #26 jersey for another adventurous season in the MLL. The Machine open up this Sunday at home in Toyota Park against the San Francisco Dragons, it should be an action packed game and hopefully an opening day win which the Machine have yet to accomplish in there short tenure in the MLL. Feels like a good weekend to get it done…..Wish us luck!
MLL Opening Weekend
Hey All Laxers, This past weekend the machine opened up our training camp for the season. It was a great first weekend, however the numbers were a little low because some players are still playing in the NLL. It was great to be back on the field with the team and getting after each other.
What a Weekend
First I must apologize for one of my earlier blogs in which I wrote we were playing two games down in Disney but in fact we only played one against DUKE. Before I get to the weekend itself let me tell you about the horror show that went on while traveling to Disney.
This past Thursday morning my wife jess, my 18 month old daughter Riley and I all woke up at 3:30 am for a 6 am flight out of Bloomington Illinois. We arrived in plenty of time for check in but for some reason the line wasn't moving at all, and we had only 3 people in front of us, a half an hour goes buy and we still haven't moved. Now it is getting pretty close to the cut of time to check in luggage which is usually about 45 minutes before take off. Finally the people in front of us moved, we get to the desk and they tell us that the cargo hold on the plane is sealing right so they can't take any of our bags. The light bulb should have went off right there, but in our haste to get down to Disney especially traveling with a infant we decided to push on. The airline said our bags would be on the next flight. We get to the gate after all the trouble of getting checked in and another bomb shell the airline wants to take our stroller and send it down later, anyone who travels with kids knows a stroller is a necessity since we also had a lay over in Atlanta which is Delta's hub, and is a huge airport. No way was this going to happen, after a few bloods cells popped in my wife's brain they let us take the stroller directly on the plane since it wasn't full.
Just when we thought it could not possible get any worse, I mean how could it. We almost missed the plane at check in, we don't have our bags, almost lost the stroller and we are traveling with an infant who is not happy about waking up at 3:30 in the morning. So we take off with out a hitch, and get in the air but something doesn't seem just right. We have been flying for like 15 minutes but not really gaining altitude. Finally the Captain gets on the PA and announces that our flaps are not working and that we needed to make a emergency landing…you have got to be kidding me! That is rated G version. Here is the kicker we can't land at the same airport we took off from because the runway is not long enough, that right there should tell you everything you needed to know about how serious this was. I went on to later find out that the flaps control the airspeed after we had safely landed in Peoria.
We finally make it to Orlando after basically wasting a whole day in the airport, and the nightmare was over. We had two solid practices on Friday and Saturday, for our game on Sunday which US Lacrosse held a huge clinic for about 100 kids which turned out to be alot of fun. Before the game I had a few minutes to catch up with Coach Danowski, and also talk to Matt about his injury. He is well on his road to recovery but felt it best not to play in the game.
The game itself was a blast and Duke has a great team, Matt Striebel played outstanding and had a great day shooting the ball. We had a three goal lead going into the finally three minutes of the game but let is slip away. We managed to hold off their last push of the game and won 13-12. Duke should be well on their way to competing for a National Championship.
Hey All, This upcoming weekend all of the U of I coaches will be attending the Chicago Machine high school recruiting combine. This will give us a great opportunity to evaluate the Chicago land talent. The combine will be held at the McCook Center which is an exceptional facility, equipped with plenty of playing space.
The hard aspect of recruiting in the MCLA is the absence of scholarships, then thrown on top of that U of I is an extremely challenging school with high academic standards. So recruiting is not all peaches and creme. I expect it is tough at any program trying to evaluate talent and then deal with admissions. The biggest thing we can sell as coaches, which is a great thing, is the education you receive at U of I, which many parents and athletes know and understand.
Hey All, Thanks to those of you who have been reading my blogs, much appreciated. Also thanks to those of you who have been living feedback and asking questions.
I will do my best to be interactive as long as continue writing blogs, instead of writing several different responses back individually I have decided to do a general responses in the blogs since other people may have the same questions. So here it goes, this question is from Glen:
Q: Doug - I'm curious who's on the US roster for these games. Was an invitation extended to the entire 2006 US World team? Who's filling in for guys that are playing in the NLL and not able to make it?
A: When a player makes the USA TEAM is commitment is not just for the year of the World Games, it actually last until the next team is picked. Each player is expected to be present at a certain amount of events whether it be clinics,games,etc, things of that nature. When tournaments are put together obviously the invitation is extended to the current team first, after players have decided if they are going to play or if they can play; then US Lacrosse sends out secondary invitations to players who were not on the USA TEAM in 2006 but are still held in the highest regard, such as MLL players or perhaps club players. Here is the roster for Florida:
U.S. Men's Team Roster
Nicholas Bonacci (Long Island Lizards/Dartmouth '07)
John Christmas (Boston Cannons/Virginia '05)
Tim Goettelman (Long Island Lizards/Loyola '01)
Sean Morris (Chicago Machine/Massachusetts '06)
*Joe Walters (Rochester Rattlers/Maryland '06)
Stephen Berger (Long Island Lizards/Washington College '04)
Ben DeFelice (Boston Cannons/Towson '04)
*Kyle Harrison (New Jersey Pride/Johns Hopkins '05)
Sean Lindsay (Los Angeles Riptide/Syracuse '04)
*Blake Miller (Long Island Lizards/Hofstra '96)
*Doug Shanahan (Chicago Machine/Hofstra '01)
*Matt Striebel (Philadelphia Barrage/Princeton '01)
*Christian Cook (Washington Bayhawks/Princeton '98)
*Ryan Curtis (Washington Bayhawks/Virginia '00)
*John Gagliardi (Long Island Lizards/Johns Hopkins '97)
Zac Jungers (Denver Outlaws/Princeton '07)
Brett Moyer (Philadelphia Barrage/Hofstra '07)
*Todd Rassas (Notre Dame '98)
*Chris Garrity (Washington Bayhawks/Penn State '03)
Michael Levin (Rochester Rattlers/Brown '04)
* Member of 2006 U.S. men's team
Mark asked….
Q: How do you guys look this year in the MCLA? Any predictions? Who will be your biggest opponents in the league?
A: Being that this is my first year of college coaching in the MCLA I was pleasantly surprised with the talent of our team. I believe that we have a very positive outlook this season. We have plenty of tough games on the schedule such as Michigan, Lindenwood, Simon Fraser, Arizona, and Arizona St. just to name a few. We will be battle tested come the end of the year, hopefully we will be on the upside our tough games. Our toughest league opponent is Lindenwood, there is no lose of love between these two programs as I quickly found out this fall during a tourney in St. Louis. Lindenwood beat Illinois last year in the league championship game in OT. Look for a rematch this year again come May. As for predictions, look for us to be competitive in everygame and to compete for a league championship. That is the most I can say without giving teams posterboard material.
Hey All, With the USA TEAM ALL STAR CHALLENGE a little more than a week away anticipation is beginning to build. After being out of the college for 7 years now I wonder how, if any the game has changed. Obviously I have been playing in the MLL and with TEAM USA since college, but the rules have changed some and I wonder if the athletes have continued to improve. I assume since we are playing Duke and Hopkins we will be playing by the NCAA rules, which right off the bat gives the college teams an advantage. Plus they have had all of fall ball to become a close knit group, and obviously the most important they all will be in shape. We as a team (USA ALLSTARS) arrive in Disney World next Friday were we will have two days to prepare as a team, then play that Sunday.
The challenge is clear, adapt to new rules, new teammates, new coaches, oh and use brand new equipment/sticks against the two top rated teams in Div. 1. I always like a good challenge, plus the chance to get to play alongside some of the games best is always a great experience in and of itself.
Entering the last week I have been preparing for the task ahead as I hope all of the team has been, with 2 games against the best they have to offer at the college level we all will need our legs. Most of you know it is much easier to train when you are in the team atmosphere, the challenge is being self motivating especially those of us who work on a daily basis, or have kids.
Only time will tell if we have all prepared enough for these tests ahead. Remember we are going out there as a representative of the best in America. It would be a shame if we went out looking flat and out of shape.


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Two of South Carolina's biggest banks — including First Federal, the oldest and largest based in the Charleston region — are merging in stock swap valued at $304 million.
SCBT Financial Corp. and First Financial Holdings Inc. hope to complete the deal later this year. It has been approved by the boards of both companies.
Columbia-based SCBT is the buyer.
Shareholders of North Charleston-based First Financial will receive 0.4237 shares of SCBT common stock for each share of FFCH common stock, which equates to a deal value of $18.30 per share based on SCBT's closing stock price of $43.18 on Feb. 19.
"We are pleased to announce that two of the Southeast's oldest, strongest and largest banks are merging to form a dynamic banking company. Our two banks complement each other significantly and, because of our size, earnings power and strength, we will be uniquely positioned to build a premier regional bank in the Southeast," said Robert R. Hill, Jr., president and CEO of SCBT. "This partnership benefits our customers, shareholders and employees and is a unique opportunity to join two local community banks with a similar history and culture. We have admired and respected First Financial for a long time, and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to build an even stronger company together."
Founded in 1934, First Financial operates First Federal Bank, which has 66 locations in the Carolinas and is the third-largest financial institution headquartered in South Carolina.
"For nearly 80 years, both SCBT and First Federal have consistently served the financial needs of our customers and we look forward to continuing this legacy," said R. Wayne Hall, president and CEO of First Financial. "We will collectively continue to deliver the highest level of service, while maintaining our community banking values. Together, we will collaborate to evaluate our strengths and work to leverage the best of each of our institutions."
The merger agreement requires approvals by both SCBT and First Financial shareholders. At closing and upon shareholder approval, the proposed holding company name will be First Financial Holdings Inc.
Under the terms of the agreement, SCBT Financial Corporation will add five First Financial board members to the combined company's board.
First Financial CEO Hall will be named president of SCBT and Paula Harper Bethea, the current chair of First Financial, will become vice chair of the board. Hill will continue as CEO, and Robert R. Horger will be chairman of the board.
The banks will discuss the deal at 10:30 a.m.


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Top Definition
A smart, hilarious, awesome guy. He will be the kindest person you've ever met, and can do anything once he sets his mind to it. Extremely athletic and super smart. Anyone would die for him.
Wow! Naasir's so awesome and smart!
dodane przez Hazel Grace Lancaster Waters luty 22, 2014
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?


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Waggo makes fun and functional pet supplies for your fashionable pooch: think dog bowls, dog collars, toys, leashes and beds. Waggo was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 2011 by Regina Raab, who took her experience at leading fashion houses like Marc Jacobs and Adam Lippes and translated it into a range of super-stylish dog products. Why? Because her beloved Schnoodle, Benny, was underserved by the products on the market – everything, even luxury dog beds and pet clothes, was so generic, slathered in boring dog-bone-and-paw-print patterns. Fortunately for Benny, Raab decided to use her design background to create modern, stylish pet accessories and chic, vibrant pet toys out of the highest quality materials – and Waggo was born.
Tail-waggingly chic styles for your four-legged family member
Five-star styles for your four-legged family member
Inspired styles for your four-legged family member
Stylish get-ups for your four-legged family member(s)


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quote: We pay taxes in this country for more than one reason; one of which is compassion.
Depriving grand yet underprivelaged minds from the vast resources of the Internet is reprehensible.
Greater access to the poor is a joke. Introducing the internet to 'the poor' is a publicity ploy. Should the poor want internet access, it's great that they should be able to get it... but it's going to exploit more than educate them.
Joe Developer won't have any problems watching streaming videos or playing videogames on from public sources served on public servers... in fact, they'll have less problems watching streaming videos and playing videogames.
They'll have incredible problems transferring large projects between team members, utilizing peer-to-peer services to distribute their services, and to upgrade their software.
Typical freeware (Linux) operating-system distributions range from 1 to 4 DVDs, and upgrades are in the hundreds of megabytes.
Free SQL servers, heavily interactive web servers, and forums take up a ton of bandwidth.
quote: Supply won't increase any more with than without net neutrality, and neither will demand - it will increase at the same rate, segregating services will not physicly change capacity nor capability.


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Wednesday, April 3, 2013
One of the things I enjoy about South Carolina is that I can move as fast as I want to or as slow as I want to. When I lived in New York everything seemed so rushed. To keep my life balanced was a big challenge.
Not so here.
I plan what I want to accomplish for the warm weather months. I suggest you pick two or three projects you want to accomplish before fall rolls around. Projects that are meaningful to you. They might better your life. They might better someone else's life. They could be joint ventures or solo projects.
A group of men pooled their talents and repaired the roof of a senior's house. Their labor was donated free of cost. One gentleman I know worked with a group of junior high students over a two-week period of time to complete a community service project. Some of the most meaningful things we can do are things we do for others or for our community.
Look around and ask yourself what can I contribute not just to my personal life, or my family life; but the community of which I am a part.
A self-improvement program for you would not be a bad idea, either. The usual suspects at this time of the year are the weight loss projects and the exercise programs as people begin to get in shape for summer. So many people fail miserably at these projects.
There are reasons why. To succeed you must have endurance. You cannot be someone who gives up easily.
Whatever project you are working on, but especially self improvement projects you have to learn to stay with it. At the sign of the least discomfort some people quit. If losing weight or exercising and staying fit was easy don't you think everyone would be fit, trim and healthy.
If abstaining from unhealthy fatty foods was easy there would be a lot less unhealthy people walking around. But it takes discipline and self control and some people lack those things.
When working on a project it is one day at a time, one pound at a time. Don't expect miracles, expect continuous incremental improvements.
When you achieve victory in one area of your life you are encouraged to try other things. Don't be afraid or be fearful of trying. A lot of people never get up and do anything because they doubt themselves and they fear failure.
Actually, not trying because you fear failure means that you have already failed.
© 2016 The Berkeley Independent an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


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Top Definition
Lowering one's pantaloons, to taunt another.
It's time to drop trou and kiss ass.
Beküldő: El Toro Grande 2004. augusztus 4.
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
To lower one's pants down to one's ankles, often in a sudden, impulsive manner, thus exposing one's nether regions.
We all dropped trou and mooned the old lady.
Beküldő: Stan B. 2003. február 4.
When a sales representative drastically lowers terms of a sale in order to "get the business".
Customer says, "Okay, Joe, it's time to drop trou, bend over and grab your ankles, 'cause here comes the business!
Beküldő: dherchen 2007. október 3.
To drink excessively whilst baring both legs with your trousers round your ankles
We set a new drop trou record last night. we had our trousers down for 27 minutes whilst drinking
Beküldő: Thomas James Martin Esquire 2008. október 29.
To lower ones trousers and take a MASSIVE DUMP!!!
Hanes we'll be back in few minutes...he had to go drop trou.
Beküldő: Chux 2003. december 9.
to release your bowles
After the repeated insults from my boss,I made a desperate attempt to salvage my self esteem, I dropped trou on his desk.
Beküldő: chrisdibilla 2003. október 10.
To drop anchor.
Having found a good fishing spot, we decided to drop trou
Beküldő: Ho 2003. április 1.


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Kings minority owner won't make offer to buy team
Move doesn't impact bid from Ranadive-Jacobs-Mastrov-Burkle
Kings minority owner John Kehriotis will not be making an offer to buy the team, KCRA 3 learned Friday.
Kehriotis said he couldn't pull together the investors to make the offer.
He told KCRA 3 earlier this month that he tried to make a deal, along with Mark Mastrov. When that didn't work, he decided to find his own group of investors.
Kehriotis said he still wants to keep the Kings in Sacramento.
His failure to make an offer doesn't impact the bid made by four California investors to keep the team in the capital city.
Stay with KCRA and KCRA.com for the latest information.
Inside KCRA.com:
Despite threats, mayor remains optimistic ahead of NBA presentation
Kings court fans in Oakland
Copyright 2013 by KCRA.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Click on the section desired, when the contents or index page appears, click on the page number you would like to go to.
View or download the PDF version
Note: If you are have browser connectivity issues with PDF catalogs, use Internet Explorer or Safari.
Mold Bases & Plates
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DME Europe Digital Catalog


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|Welcome to the MANGA Forum.
|You will have to register before you can post: log in or sign up at the top of the page to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Ghost in the shell that was in ok show but then it was prety cool at the same time:}
i think they still show it on adult swim but only on the weekend on saturday. When they show all the anime (most of the time)<~~Im the mysterious girl of your dreams~~>
I also think so.
it airs regularly on [as] but all anime has been regulated to Saturday night. Gits is on the instant queue in netflix.
~Nan Kuru Nai-Sah~


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Due to the proximity of the event dates, please contact your desired hotel directly regarding availability. Contact information, if available, is below.
If you do not have your acknowledgement number, please
click here.
Carnegie Mellon Saturn Workshop
Minneapolis Marriott City Center
30 South 7th Street
Minneapolis, MN
Thank you for your interest in attending our event! We have worked hard in preparation to ensure that your experience is as fulfilling and also as enjoyable as possible. We are very pleased that you will be joining us and look forward to seeing you soon.


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(EDITOR'S NOTE: Each Monday, the Sun-Gazette asks somebody in the area, "What's on your mind?" If you have a topic you would like to share, contact us at email@example.com.)
Kane McLean, 19, of Williamsport, has caught the eye of many a local as the "air guitar tax guy" along Hepburn Street this month.
During tax season, McLean dresses up in a Statue of Liberty costume and walks the city's streets, playing air guitar with his tax sign and drumming up new customers for his employer.
Article Photos
Kane McLean
But McLean is much more than a guy in a goofy suit. For him, the passing motorists are his audience; the street provides his stage.
"It's amazing," McLean said. "People I've never seen before drive by and wave. They see me out here acting goofy, jamming out with my sign, and they smile for a moment."
McLean, who has a musical bent, focuses much of his creativity on writing song lyrics. He hopes to meet like-minded individuals and form a band.
"Air guitaring is something I'm always doing anyway. I'm full of energy," McLean said.
He started using his sign as an air guitar more often, and saw a positive response from the public.
"I think I'm learning a lot about getting people's attention and how to make people smile," he said.
McLean has spent many hours watching street performers along San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. He's drawn inspiration from the showmanship of those practicing their art on the street.
"It's amazing the level of talent you find out on the wharf. You could sit and watch them for hours and there are such a wide variety of artists," McLean said.
In addition to the entertainment value of performing on air guitar, McLean said the activity does something else for him - the constant movement keeps him warm on cold January days.
"Once my fingers get going, my hands stay pretty warm," McLean said.


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Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said: "European waters have improved a great deal over the last two decades, as legislation has successfully reduced many types of pollution and improved wastewater treatment. But EU Member States look set to miss upcoming targets by a wide margin, so they need to urgently step up efforts to protect both human health and the ecosystems we rely on."
For surface waters, there are two separate classifications: ecological and chemical status. Groundwater bodies are classified according to their chemical status and quantitative status. For a water body to be in overall good status, both types must be at least good.
More than half of the surface water bodies in Europe were reported to be below good ecological status or potential status, according to the latest data showing status up to 2009.
Many European water bodies remain polluted by excess nutrients, mainly from fertiliser, the report notes. When fertilisers run off from croplands into a water body, it can create eutrophication, a process characterised by increased plant growth and harmful algal blooms, depletion of oxygen and subsequent loss of life in bottom water. Diffuse pollution from agriculture is a significant pressure for more than 40 % of Europe's water bodies in rivers and coastal waters, and in one third of lakes and transitional waters.
Ecological status also includes considerations of 'hydromorphology' – the extent to which the shape of water bodies and natural flow of the river has been altered. Dams, straightening and dredging alter habitats and damage ecosystems. Hydromorphological pressures resulting in altered habitats is the most common pressure on water bodies, affecting around 40 % of rivers and transitional water bodies and 30 % of the lakes. The report calls for the 're-naturation' of many water bodies to restore their natural features, such as restoring the natural continuity of rivers.
Chemical status refers to levels of heavy metals and other harmful substances. While 10 % of Europe's surface water bodies are in poor chemical status, there are no chemical status data available for 40 % of Europe's surface waters. Ground water bodies are in a worse condition – approximately 25 % of groundwater, by area, has poor chemical status across Europe. Sixteen Member States have more than 10 % of groundwater bodies in poor chemical status. This figure exceeds 50 % in Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Belgium (Flanders) and Malta.
Overall, concentrations of several water pollutants are falling in many river basins. For example, if ammonium and phosphorous levels continue to decline at their current rate, they will be at levels that meet good status by 2015 and 2027 respectively. Nitrates are also falling, although this pollutant will still be too high for several decades at the current rate of decrease, according to the report.
The challenges for river basin management are numerous and diverse, the report says. The RBMPs submitted by Member States distinguish between different types of pressures faced by river basins, however they include less detail on how these pressures will be addressed and to what extent selected measures will contribute to achieving environmental objectives in 2015.
To maintain and improve the essential functions of our water ecosystems, they need to be managed better, the report says. This can only succeed if an integrated approach is adopted, as introduced in the WFD and related water legislation. All sectors in a river basin need to fully implement the WFD to reduce pressures on water bodies, ensuring all users are committed to healthy water bodies achieving good status.
The report is launched to coincide with the launch of the European Commission's Blueprint to safeguard Europe's water resources, intended to improve implementation of existing water legislation and show opportunities for further policy improvements.]]>
Worryingly, poor water quality, water scarcity and physical modifications might prevent a substantial proportion of European water bodies from achieving 'good status' by 2015.
Pollution from agriculture remains a major cause of poor water quality in many parts of Europe. Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from fertilisers, pesticides, pathogenic micro-organisms excreted by livestock, and organic pollutants from manure are washed to waterways, primarily via diffuse pathways.
The urban environment is another key contributor to the freshwater pollution observed across Europe. A range of pollutants are generated in the wider urban environment, including industrial and household chemicals, metals, pharmaceutical products, nutrients, pesticides and pathogenic micro-organisms.
Excessive nutrient levels in water bodies cause proliferation of algal blooms and result in widespread loss of aquatic life. Moreover, chemicals with endocrine‑disrupting properties have been shown to trigger feminising effects in male fish, potentially affecting their fertility. Pesticides and metals can be toxic to aquatic life, while concern is growing about the effects of chemical mixtures found in Europe's more polluted waters. Much of the pollutant load in freshwaters is ultimately discharged to coastal waters with the potential to impact the marine environment. Poor water quality is also a potential threat to public health through various exposure routes.
Water scarcity occurs in many areas of Europe, particularly in the south where limited water resources combine with high demand. Over-abstraction and dry periods frequently result in reduced river flows, lower lake and groundwater levels and the drying-up of wetlands, with detrimental impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Excessive abstraction from any one of these types of water body can impact one or more of the others. For example, rivers, lakes and wetlands may all be strongly dependent on groundwater, especially in the summer when it typically provides critical base-flow.
Over-abstraction can also worsen water quality because there is less water to dilute pollutant discharges, while over-abstraction of aquifers in coastal areas often results in salt-water intrusion, diminishing the quality of groundwater.
Over the past 150 years, Europe's freshwaters have been affected by a variety of major modifications. Dams, weirs and sluices have reduced connectivity, rivers have been straightened and canalised, and infrastructure development has disconnected watercourses from floodplains. Such structures and activities have altered many European water bodies, sometimes leaving little space for natural habitats, obstructing species migration, disconnecting rivers from wetlands and changing the water flow.
Cost-effective measures exist to tackle agricultural pollution. Countries must implement them through the WFD, as well as complying fully with the Nitrates Directive. The forthcoming reform of the Common Agricultural Policy provides an opportunity to further strengthen water protection.
The EU Urban Wastewater Directive (UWWTD) is a vital and successful piece of legislation and Member States need to comply with it fully. It should be complemented by increased control of pollutants at source, reducing treatment needs and thereby cutting energy use. Full-cost pricing for wastewater services will help incentivise controls at source.
In many European cities there is a need to tackle storm overflows, which can discharge a range of pollutants causing rapid depletion of oxygen levels in receiving water. There are already some examples of good practice in Europe, such as the retention of overflows in storage ponds during heavy rainfall, which are subsequently pumped back to the system for treatment.
Europe's water use cannot increase endlessly. Demand must be reduced and policies are needed to achieve this. Measures could include economic instruments; water loss controls; water-reuse and recycling; increased efficiency in domestic, agricultural and industrial water use; and water-saving campaigns supported by public education programmes.
Flood management should shift from its current focus on hard-engineered defence systems to natural measures based more on slowing and storing water in floodplains and groundwater aquifers, and providing adequate space for rivers. The environmental impacts of water engineering projects such as dams and navigation infrastuctures should also be minimised.
Europe has strong water legislation in place. The challenge is now to attain full implementation across Europe. River basin plans for Europe's 110 river basin districts will be a key tool for achieving the objective of 'good status' for European waters by 2015.]]>


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At 107 years old, Damiana B. Juan - who could be Maui's oldest living person - said her secret to living a long life is believing in God.
And her youngest daughter, Teresita Martin, agrees.
Article Photos
Damiana B. Juan blows out the candles on her birthday cake marking 107 years Friday at Maui Adult Day Care Center in Kahului. Juan's actual birthday was Saturday. Looking on (from left) are daughter Teresita "Tessie" Martin, the center's program supervisor, former center program director Mercedes Neri and volunteer Kyra McMillan.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
DAMIANA B. JUAN, at 107, believed to be oldest on the Valley Isle
"She's close to him," Martin said of her mother's belief in the Catholic faith and God.
Martin, who translated a reporter's questions into Ilocano for her mother, recalls that her mother back in the Philippines would go house to house in her neighborhood to pray. Her mother was able to memorize hours of Catholic prayers.
Apparently Juan's strong faith may indeed be a key to her longevity, as the former midwife celebrated her 107th birthday on Saturday with friends and family.
On Friday, staff and friends at the Maui Adult Day Care Center in Kahului, celebrated Juan's birthday complete with cake and lei.
"I'm just happy she's alive, and she's doing OK," Martin said in an interview at the day care center.
Martin said that when her mother turned 101, she didn't believe it, so she checked her mother's passport to be sure. And her age was correct.
Several Maui officials who care for the elderly seem to think that Juan could be one of the oldest living people on the Valley Isle.
"As far as I know, she is the oldest . . . I would guess she is (the oldest)," said Sandy Freeman, executive director of the Maui Adult Day Care Centers.
But she cautioned, "we really don't know who's out there."
Elinor Takahashi, information outreach supervisor for the county's Office on Aging said: "We don't have anyone close to that age."
Takahashi said the office has a database of 10,034 seniors in Maui County. It is made up of those who have called in for information and requested services. It could include duplicate names or errors, she said.
Officials from Kula Hospital and Kaunoa Senior Services also say they do not have any patients or clients older than Juan.
Juan was born Sept. 22, 1905, in the small city of Laoag in the Philippines.
Her husband, Agustin Juan, a farmer, died in 1947, leaving her to take care of four children.
Martin said her mother used to earn money by washing people's clothing because there weren't any washing machines back then.
Martin said she recalls that her mother had a sixth sense when it came to babies.
"She knew when the baby is in distress. I think she's gifted with that," she said.
In 1975, Juan who was 70 at the time, moved to Maui to be with her children, who had moved here earlier.
"She came to baby-sit," Martin said.
Juan never quite learned English and still speaks Ilocano. She does have a hard time hearing, but can still walk, Martin said.
Juan doesn't take any medication and has no signs of Alzheimer's or dementia, Martin said, adding that her mother is coherent when she speaks to her.
When asked what she is most proud of in her life, Juan said through Martin that she didn't know.
Martin said she thinks her mother is happy to be in Hawaii with her children and that she doesn't have to work hard anymore.
Juan has three other children on Maui. They are her two other daughters, Adela Villanueva and Angelina Lapid, both of Kahului, and a son, Mamerto Juan of Kihei.
Damiana Juan has 20 grandchildren, 35-great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
Martin said that she remembers her mother telling her that when she was young, people used to say that one day "people will be traveling by air."
She added that when her mother was young no one would have watches and instead would use the sun to tell time.
Although the world has changed around her, a thing that has stayed constant for Juan is her long hair.
On Thursday, her long silver hair was up in a bun.
"She don't like to cut her hair," Martin said.
Martin said her late husband used to tease her mother and say, "Why you want to marry again?"
A unique trait Juan has, is the ability to heal and solve problems, her family said.
Juan used to heal people's skin rashes by using products from a special type of lemon, said Juan's granddaughter, Rosemarie Fitzsimmons, a lead program specialist at the adult care center where Juan spends her days.
Juan used to babysit Fitzsimmons in the Philippines.
Fitzsimmons recalled that her grandmother could help people find missing things.
She and Martin said Juan had a special ring she used to place in a glass of water.
Juan would ask yes or no questions to the ring. If the answer to the question was yes, the ring would move. If the answer was no, the ring would not move.
Martin said people used to come over to the Juan home so her mother could help them find their lost caribou and other personal items.
Martin is very happy to care for her mother, she said. Her husband died recently so her mother is her constant companion.
"I'm just happy to check (up on her) in the morning," Martin said.
* Managing Editor Lee Imada contributed to this report. Melissa Tanji can be reached at email@example.com.