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IT'S A CHILLY SPRING NIGHT IN LOS ANGELES WHEN I ARRIVE AT DON ANTONIO'S Mexican restaurant to join the End of Western Civilization for nachos and chicken enchiladas. The EOWC, of course, is Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, a.k.a. Speidi, the fabulously toxic power couple of The Hills — the real-ish MTV reality drama about L.A. twenty somethings praised as "the most influential show we've ever had" by MTV president of entertainment Brian Graden — and watching the fair-haired lovers stroll through their beloved Don Antonio's feels like seeing Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe walk into the Stork Club back in the day. That is, if Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were, instead of a sports hero and a legendary sex symbol, the irresistible villains of a maddeningly addictive TV show in which nothing ever really happens. We take seats at a dimly lit corner booth, and you can almost hear the text messages being tapped underneath nearby tables — omfg spencer n heidi r here!!! Spencer, 24, who's wearing a black Don Antonio's polo and a wispy blond goatee, rattles off a grande order without consulting the menu. Heidi, a 21-year-old mane of blond highlights dressed in a blue sweater and white sweatpants, tucks her tiny head into his shoulder.
"I wish I got to see what you saw today," Spencer says. He's referring to this afternoon's cover photo shoot attended by Heidi and her three Hills castmates: Audrina Patridge, 22, Whitney Port, 23, and the show's protagonist, Lauren Conrad, 22, with whom Heidi has been engaged in an ugly feud. Once best friends and roommates, the two women have spent the past year and a half bickering back and forth in celebrity weeklies — a rift that, depending on whom you talk to, stems from either a Lauren sex-tape story that Spencer and Heidi leaked to the press (Lauren's version; they deny it), or Lauren's jealousy of Spencer and Heidi (their version; Lauren denies it), or Spencer's overall control-freakiness, or a cabal of genius MTV executives secretly pulling ratings/goosing strings behind a curtain. Whatever the case, the shoot was the first time Heidi and Lauren had been photographed, and not Photoshopped (as MTV has been forced to do), together in more than a year.
Heidi says that on her way to the shoot she thought it might be a scam. "I thought I was walking into Punk'd or getting killed or something," she says. "Heidi really wanted me there for backup," Spencer says. "She was like, 'This is a setup.'"
But the shoot happened — even though Perez Hilton, the celeblogger and Hills Boswell, loudly tipped his readers off to the Lauren-Heidi summit and paparazzi staked out the parking lot of the Culver City, California, photo studio. (A pap shot of the four Hills girls together, Spencer claims, could command up to $200,000.) Inside, as MTV publicists and show creator Adam DiVello nervously looked on, the atmosphere was cordial but chilly. Hills Kremlinologists studied cast interactions, but over the course of" a nine-hour day, Lauren and Heidi never spoke to each other. "You can feel it," Whitney, The Hills' doe-eyed Switzerland ("I'm neutral"), told me at a quiet moment. "There's a separation."
Heidi is sanguine about the split. Lauren, after all, is why she's on The Hills — Heidi was just a spitfire from the small ski town of Crested Butte, Colorado ("A seven-block town with one main street," says Heidi's mom, Darlene Egelhoff), when she met Lauren at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. "We were the only blondes in the class," Heidi recalls.
"We were such. Good. Friends," she says emphatically. "A part of me just wants to go up and be like, 'Hey, how are you?' But the other part of me is so mad... It's like I'm the odd man out."
However awkward the Heidi-Lauren squabbling may be, it has been juicy business for The Hills. This spring's season premiere earned the show a record 3.9 million viewers — the highest-rated cable telecast of the year so far — with an estimated 5 million more views online. Graden believes The Hills is now a bigger franchise than other generation-definers like The Osbornes, TRL or Jackass.
"People love feuds," says Spencer, taking a chomp of quesadilla. "Who were Paris and Nicole before they weren't friends? That's when they became superstars. If Lauren and Heidi were friends, people wouldn't tune in."
Every rivalry needs its black hat, however, and Heidi, through Spencer, has eagerly, and perhaps too ingeniously, complied. The pair now operate, sometimes to the dismay of MTV handlers, like a MySpace edition of Bonnie and Clyde — courting reporters, vacuuming paparazzi attention, and deflecting Hills hype to outside projects like Heidi's Heidiwood clothing line and her would-be music career, not to mention her new nose and breasts ("It was the right thing for my life," she says unabashedly). This winter, a homemade video Spencer shot of Heidi prancing on a beach to her dance single "Higher," groundbreaking only in its lack of self-awareness, quickly got more than 1 million Web hits. The pair engender eye-scorching animosity on the Internet, but in their minds, at least we're paying attention. "Good girls are so vanilla," Heidi says. Spencer is routinely referred to as "the most hated man on television" — but he wears the title like a badge ("Who is that person they always compare me to, on Dallas?" he asks).
"It's jealousy, man," Spencer says. "It's human. I'm jealous of Jay-Z, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch. I feel for these people who wish they could be on reality television and not in their cubicles. You got to thank your haters."
"You have to understand, we have so many fans," Heidi says. "The haters are the ones who ask us for photos. The haters are the ones who are downloading songs." She looks out at the restaurant, which is packed. Don Antonio's has always been a popular joint, but since she and Spencer started eating here on The Hills, it's getting crazy, she says. "The world works on haters now."
TO WITNESS SPEIDI, LAUREN and the rest of the Hills phenomenon is to conclude that the tectonic plates of pop culture have shifted. In a ravenous celebrity economy, it's no longer important to be loved, or colorful, or even employed, to be famous. Consider the current trinity of young car wrecks: Lindsay Lohan hardly makes movies, Britney Spears doesn't make records (unless you count "Gimme More"), and we long ago gave up trying to figure out what Paris Hilton does. Whether you're a wanna-be on Robertson Boulevard or a Big Ten sophomore scarfing Jell-O shots on YouTube, what matters is not the life you lead but the life you lead in public — fully exposed, hips turned toward the cameras. "If you're not living your life in some pub-lie fashion — MySpace, or Facebook, or something else — it doesn't count," says Graden, whose job it is to pursue the fickle tastes of the 12-10-24 demographic. "It's almost as if it's not heard."
That exhibitionism streak goes a long way toward explaining the fascination with The Hills. A spinoff of the sun-kissed Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, The Hills premiered in the fall of 2006 with the most archetypal of TV premises: Young out-of-town girl tries to make it in the city. Lauren, a Laguna favorite, was the protagonist and narrator, driving her black Beemer up the 405 to a stylish apartment in West Hollywood and a prized internship at Teen Vogue. Heidi (sigh) was the roommate friend. Whitney was Lauren's industrious co-worker in the Teen Vogue fashion closet. Audrina was the token brunette who would become hooked on a Zoolander-esque hairdresser gloriously named Justin Bobby.
The Hills sometimes is described as a reality soap opera, but soap operas thrive on extremes — histrionics, cuckoldings, hospital-bed suffocations, etc. The Hills, by contrast, can seem deliberately sonorous — so much so that The New York Times and bloggers have compared it to (not kidding) the meandering classics of Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni (Blow-Up, Zabriskje Point). The dialogue can sound like Harold Pinter after five shots of NyQuil:
LAUREN: Morning.
AUDRINA: Good morning.
LAUREN: How are you?
AUDRINA: |Sighs] Laundry. It's a laundry day for me.
LAUREN: Mm.
But damn it if The Hills doesn't suck you in. For starters, it's gorgeous. Most reality TV looks like cheap slop, but The Hills resembles a movie — it's filmed with digital cameras on tripods, with elegant evening scenes shot in low light. When its aerial cameras swoop down for a dreamy view of Sunset Boulevard twinkling at dusk, L.A. has never appeared more desirable. Much of The Hills' look is credited to Hisham Abed, a young director of production who worked on the show's first season and was also responsible for the golden tint of Laguna Beach. Abed says he based The Hills' cool-evening look on the film? of Michael Mann. "I like Heat," Abed says. "We were trying to emulate the look of film on television."
Of course, the vast majority of The Hills' audience isn't geeking out over camerawork. They watch it to escape. The Hills is a celebutante dream pecked out on a pink Sidekick: pretty young women swanning through a privileged life of plum jobs, VIP access and boyfriends with nice cars and excellent teeth. (Think a Bret Easton Ellis novel, without the blow or nihilism.) Its effect is not unpleasing. When the cheery theme song, Natasha Bedingfield's girly-power anthem "Unwritten," kicks in — "Feel the rain on your skin/No one else can feel it for you" — you can sense the serotonin releasing inside your brain. The Hills is Wellbutrin on TV.
"It's a fantasy," says the fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone, currently making a palate-cleansing turn as Lauren and Whitney's post-Teen Vogue boss. "You're watching it and thinking, 'These are really your biggest problems?' Most people in this economy are having to deal with things that are a little bit heavier than 'Oh, my God, should we go to Goa?'"
Indeed, The Hills is a reality show in which reality seldom intrudes. It studiously avoids contact with the outside world — there's no war, no cable bill, no one panhandling outside S Bar. Recently, there was zero mention of the sudden death of Heidi's stepbrother — an 82nd Airborne veteran of 80 Iraq missions who died in a freak accident not long after returning home. ("It wasn't a creative decision," says DiVello. "It was out of respect for Heidi and her family.") And of course there's the glaring meta-omission of The Hills: The fact that the show, which is supposed to closely follow the lives of four girls, completely ignores the biggest development in their lives — that they've become the stars of a television show called The Hills.
The master of this biosphere is DiVello, a tall, tan, 38-year-old former MTV development hotshot who helped launch Laguna. "The idea with Laguna was to do a reality Beverly Hills 90210," he says over lunch at the Buffalo Club, a Santa Monica restaurant. "When we went off to do The Hills, I was thinking more Melrose Place — a little more dark, with more fighting and drama."
The Hills was a sensation almost immediately. Soon Lauren wasn't just working at Teen Vogue; she was posing on the cover. The Web now overflows with spoofs, including one called "Over the Hills," in which septuagenarians play the roles of Lauren's crew. Record labels clamor to get their bands' songs played on The Hills' weekly soundtrack. Sales of Marie Digby's cover of "Umbrella" (which DiVello heard in his car one night) spiked 1,000 percent on iTunes after it was played on The Hills. The show even gets its own post-mortem called The Hills After Show, in which giddy, hyperventilating fans dissect the show as if it's the NFC championship.
Of course, if you've spent 10 seconds on an Internet message board lately, you know there are plenty of people who love to hate on The Hills. The show hits an emotional third rail in away 90210 never did. Still, you get the feeling that The Hills is one of those things that everyone bashes in public and watches in private. "It's totally polarizing," says Tracie Egan, an editor at Jezebel.com, a blog that has dedicated much consideration to The Hills rage. "People who say they hate it still know who the characters are. They're like, 'Why is Lauren famous?' It's because you fucking click on this shit — I should be asking you.'"
WHEN I WENT ON 'LETTERMAN,'" Lauren Conrad recalls, "one of the writers there said that they believe The Hills is the most important show made in the last 10 years.
"When I hear things like that, it's funny — that people think that me, sitting hung over in my living room, talking to my roommate about hooking up with a guy, is considered important television."
It's the morning after the cover shoot, and Lauren and I are sitting in the West Hollywood breakfast nook Toast, surrounded by a late-rising army of future Jessicas and Nicoles eating egg whites and fondling iPhones. Lauren is taller and prettier in person, with striking blue-green eyes, and she radiates a self-assuredness not seen much on The Hills. Around her neck is an "evil-eye" pendant that she says helps "protect from people who talk bad about you, and jealousy, and negative energy."
So, um . . . unrelated question: How did it go with Heidi yesterday?
"We were on good behavior," she says coolly. "I mean, there's definitely bad energy between us, but I'm not angry. . . . We're civil with each other."
But you're not civil with each other. You don't talk.
"That's civil for us," Lauren says. "If we did talk, it wouldn't be nice words. So that's the only relationship we'll be able to have: silence."
Any temptation to just squash it?
"There's no point to it," she says. "We just have this weird rivalry. There's something really high school about it, but instead of writing rude things about each other on the bathroom wall, we do it through tabloids. I don't always reciprocate — I'm not going to be childish."
Drama, of course, is part of the Lauren Conrad mystique. Like with Mary Tyler Moore or Carrie Bradshaw, viewers relate to Lauren because she's a searcher — for true love, the perfect job and friends that never let her down. People wander in and out of her orbit, sometimes with curious motives (like Stephanie Pratt, Spencer's sister, who — looky here — just happened to be in one of Lauren's fashion classes), and she always seems unsure, tentative, ready for disappointment.
"She is the girl who has it all — but doesn't have it exactly," says DiVello.
Lauren's father, architect Jim Conrad, says his daughter is "portrayed pretty accurately" on the show, but he takes mild exception to the notion she grew up as a bougie beach queen. "There's this perception that Lauren had everything given to her — that's not true," he says. "She wasn't starving. But we were very careful not to spoil her... She had a car, but it wasn't a fancy car. She had a Toyota 4Runner with dents and scratches."
"Honestly, Lauren was kind of a dork," jokes Lo Bosworth, a Laguna vet and Lauren's Hills consigliere, who's known her since third-grade soccer. Counting Laguna, Lauren's been onscreen for nearly five years — a Michael Caine-worthy run in reality television, where yesterday's stars are tomorrow's bar mitzvah entertainment. These days she is dedicated to mapping out her post-Hills career; she talks energetically about her fashion label, Lauren Conrad, which is partly sponsored by MTV. Recently, she was the subject of a report in The Wall Street Journal, which heralded her as a new arbiter of female taste, SELLING LAUREN CONRAD, the headline read.
"The only way you can be successful in reality television is if you're OK with it ending," Lauren says. "A lot of kids [on Laguna] had a really difficult time when the cameras went away. One second you have people screaming your name, and then a few months later, they don't recognize you."
I mention Kristin Cavallari, her Laguna nemesis, who has struggled to make the transition to acting. "Ah ... I think that she's a really pretty girl and she was interested in becoming involved with entertainment, and she's done a good job with it," she says diplomatically. She may as well be talking about the salt shaker on our table.
Lauren, meanwhile, has no problems getting attention, even when she doesn't want it. In the past year, the paparazzi have grown exponentially more interested in her life, as well as the lives of all the Hills cast. She now shares a house in Holly wood with Audrina and Lo, and she can tell when they've arrived home by the flashbulbs popping outside her window.
The intensity on The Hills has also impacted Lauren's personal life. After the TV bust-ups with Laguna heartache Jason Wahler and Malibutante Brody Jenner, she's currently single, though she loves to torment DiVello by sneaking out for an under-the-radar date. A while back, she says, she briefly managed to hide a boyfriend from DiVello and the show. "It's hard," Lauren says. "There are so many obstacles. The [guys] have to be willing to be on the show. A lot of times they'll last two weeks, and the second they get written about, it's like, 'OK, we've had a good run.'"
If anything, Lauren was more irritated by the rejection of Justin Timberlake, who snubbed her, Whitney and Audrina at the 2007 MTV VMAs when they tried to present him an award. "Play more damn videos!" Timberlake howled. "We don't want to see the Simpsons on reality television." It was unclear if JT thought the Hills girls were related to Jessica and Ashlee, but the point was made.
"How harsh was that?" Lauren says. "He didn't even take the award from us. Kind of put a damper on our night.
"The worst part is, I agree with him," she continues. "I think that MTV needs to take oft" some of" the had dating shows and play some more music videos."
Speaking of videos ... I ask Lauren if she saw Heidi's beach-bikini video for "Higher."
"No," she says.
"Come on."
"I really haven't."
"I don't believe you."
"You don't?" she says, sounding hurt. "I've had it word for word described to me, but as long as I haven't sat down and watched it, I won't have an opinion, and I don't have to speak negatively, and it won't start another catfight."
I ask Lauren if she thinks the attention on her battle with Heidi is sexist. After all, it's a media rite of passage that when-ever a show with a principally female cast gets big — Desperate Housewives, Sex and the City, The View — it's forced to endure speculation about backstage clawing.
"I don't think it's just women," she says. "People love to watch people fight on TV. They want to see guys fight too. The whole pro-wrestling thing.
"I just got front-row seats at a [pro-wrestling] match," Lauren continues. "It was soooo fake! I knew it was fake, but they're, like, actors up there."
OF ALL THE VARIOUS QUESTIONS about The Hills, by far the most common one is whether or not the show is phony. It's always the first thing anyone asks me: Is it real, or BS? I speak to friends who tell me, with zero insider info but total confidence, that each episode is scripted, that every person in the show is an actor, that their jobs are bogus, that Heidi and Lauren aren't even enemies and probably play mah-jonggon the weekends.
Part of the skepticism, of course, stems from the fact that The Hills violates a cardinal convention of reality TV: It doesn't utilize the first-person confessionals ("Jimmy really got trashed at Hooters last night," etc.) that are a staple of the genre. You only have to watch five minutes of The Hills to grow suspicious. You see Heidi and Spencer arguing, and you see a camera shooting Heidi's face over Spencer's shoulder, and a camera shooting Spencer's face over Heidi's shoulder, and you wonder how that's possible for an unscripted reality show.
The answer, at least partly, is that life on The Hills is a carefully structured affair. The producers don't show up and rustle the girls out of bed — they speak to them in advance to find out where they're going, when they're working, who they're seeing. The filming schedule is diligently mapped (on average the girls film four days a week). Locations are selected and cleared (they just can't shoot strangers guerrilla-style), and when the girls show up at their producer-arranged jobs — basically freelance gigs at companies that have approved MTV's presence — they always have a project to do (and sometimes a plush office for the day, like the one Heidi gets at her SBE Entertainment Group job). "We pick and choose what we are going to focus on," says DiVello. Says Audrina, "It has to be interesting. They don't want us looking at magazines."
Talking with the girls, it's clear that each lives a kind of double life — a televised Hills life, and a non-Hills one, with separate friends and confidantes. "My friends who aren't on The Hills, most of them I've known since elementary school — they really know me, and I can totally trust them," says Whitney. "That's not to say I can't trust Lauren, Heidi and Audrina — they're great — but they're new friends for me. I definitely don't see them as much as my other friends." Audrina wasn't even friends with anyone on The Hills: She was discovered lying by the pool of her apartment complex by DiVello, who was scouting the place Lauren and Heidi had moved into (fun fact: Tracy Morgan also lived there). "I was just laying out, and Adam said to me, 'Have you ever thought of acting?' He says he's from MTV, and I was like, 'No, no, no — I'm not doing one of those dating shows.'"
Once assured DiVello wasn't from a dating show, Audrina agreed to meet with other Hills producers: "You just go in and tell them who you are, where you're from, where you work, who your friends are." She was quickly hired. "I met Heidi first," she says. But even that encounter had to be steered a bit, she explains. "They were so afraid we were going to meet without the cameras there. So they were like, 'OK, you guys, we're going to be there at the pool all day on this day, so please try not to go down there before.'"
The Hills' approach to cinema verite is squishy at best. On-camera, the girls know to cut to the chase. "Because it's for TV, you push yourself to do things that you normally wouldn't," says Audrina. "Like me and [Justin Bobby] being girlfriend and boyfriend right away. I would have waited." They get asked to reprise dialogue if there are technical problems. Lauren says that they're occasionally brought into a studio to "loop" their words if the audio is bad. Scenes are sometimes cut out of sequence. The arc of the final product, which the girls usually see only a couple of days before it airs, can be a surprise to them.
"The editing room is a magical place for The Hills," says Lo. "They really take little nothings and turn them into story lines."
But DiVello hastens to point out he can't simply exert his will over his cast. During Season One, for example, he begged Lauren to take a coveted Teen Vogue internship in Paris ("I got a phone call from him every single day for about a month and a half straight," Lauren says). But Lauren followed her heart and stayed in L.A. to be with her then-beau, Jason. "I was like, 'You got to be kidding me,' " DiVello says, now laughing.
Last fall, a young model and budding actor named Gavin Beasley created a mild stir when he gave an interview to the Website for VH1's Best Week Ever, in which he told of being coached by a producer to ask Lauren out at a Teen Vogue shoot and of going to a party where Brody taunted him but later apologized off-camera, saying, "Sorry about that, we're just trying to make good television." Said Beasley at the time, "It was some of the best acting I've ever done."
When I reach Beasley in April, he's more careful with his words. "I realize now [The Hills] is as real or fake as the characters want to make it," he tells me in an e-mail message. "One person, let's say Lauren, could totally be living in her reality, while another character could be making good television.'"
Whether or not this matters to you is your decision. MTV appears happy to let real-or-not controversy play out. But you probably have to ask yourself this: If you're going to live in a world that indulges in fake reasons to go to war, fake Bosnia sniper-fire stories, James Frey, JT LeRoy, silicone implants, steroidal sluggers, backing tracks, Ryan Seacrest and Keeping Up With the Kardashians, then why get crazy about a little dramatic choreography on The Hills?
"As far as people calling the show fake, I've kind of given up on defending it," Lauren says. "No matter what I say, people are going to think what they want to think.
"The story they are telling is a real story," she continues. "That's my real life — those are my real heartbreaks, my real friendships. Just because it's a reality show and they add a soundtrack doesn't mean it hurts my feelings any less."
A WEEK LATER, HEIDI AND Spencer have arrived at New York's refurbished Plaza hotel for a week's worth of publicity — The Tyra Banks Show, Live With Regis and Kelly and Access Hollywood. At LAX this morning, they were mobbed by photographers; tonight in the Plaza's ornate lobby, I ask Spencer if, as rumor holds, he calls the paparazzi on himself. "How am I calling that many people at LAX?" he asks, laughing. "I wish I could do that."
"I'm so thrilled to be sitting here right now," Heidi says, sipping a glass of rose. "I'm so thrilled to have Heidi," Spencer says. "We're like peanut butter and jelly times a billion, you know?" It's pretty bizarre to watch the Spencer and Heidi snugglefest, since the two of them are currently at Defcon 2 on The Hills. On the show, Heidi has booted him out of their apartment, and Spencer's crashing on his sister's couch. On TV, his callousness doesn't just extend to Heidi. Consider this gem with his sister Stephanie, after he confronted her about becoming friends with Lauren:
STEPHANIE: You're making me cry right now.
SPENCER: Stephanie, you're making yourself cry, thinking about what you did.
Is it for real? Spencer admits he "would much rather be entertaining than boring." Darlene Egelhoff, Heidi's mother, says she was worried about Spencer at first when she saw him on The Hills, but she's fine now that she's met him off-camera. "I try to separate what I see on TV from what I see face-to-face," she says. "I just know she can't be manipulated."
Whatever the case, Heidi and Spencer are running with it. The New York Times referred to Heidi as a "kind of feminist hero," and barely two weeks ago, Heidi announced that she was endorsing John McCain for president, and McCain actually publicly responded, calling her "a very talented actress."
Heidi, who hadn't yet registered to vote, was ecstatic: "If he becomes president, I'm in that Lincoln suite!"
"Heidi's goal is to become the richest woman in the world so that she can save the planet," Spencer says. "She's gonna be the Mother Teresa, Princess Diana, the first lady that's going to go and drop money on another country."
And what about Spencer? President of the United States?
"One hundred percent," he says.
"Yeah!" Heidi exclaims. "It's really for real!"
"The game plan isn't on paper," Spencer says. "But I definitely want to be mayor of L.A. and governor of California."
I've abandoned trying to figure out which aspects of the Heidi and Spencer Show are a complete put-on and what is real. Spencer reminds me of Don King-if he says something enough, it actually might come true. It's pretty entertaining, I admit. It's as if he's spinning a giant public Facebook page — boasting, railing, and collecting friends and enemies. It's all good, just spell his name right.
"Heidi and Spencer do a lot of things to get press," says Lo. "They're actually not that ridiculous in real life. They do it to keep the 15 minutes going."
How long can it all last? So far The Hills has managed to avoid the flytraps that swallow other hot shows. The Heidi-Lauren schism may be helping the music network here, since it prevents the cast from collectively lobbying for better salaries, as the Osbournes did. Spencer and Heidi say they've turned down offers for their own show. "We've already passed on three networks," Spencer says. "But The Hills is such a monster. Why would you jump off that?"
Could it go on five more years? What about a Hills movie? Could The Hills survive marriages and children? Divorces?
"Filming The Hills with five kids?" Whitney says. "I hope not." She mocks a voice-over: "This week on The Hills: Whitney has a hot flash."
"I like shows that leave you wanting more, like Seinfeld or Friends" says Lauren. "Obviously we're not compared to those, but I would be OK with going out when The Hills was still doing really well. It's better than waiting until no one really cares."
Someday this all may look very 2008, in the way that 90210 reruns seem frozen in early-Nineties hair mousse. Or maybe it's a launchpad: for high-fashion lines, for platinum records, for Oscars, for — dear Lord — the Speidi administration.
Lauren, not surprisingly, has another vision. "I feel like it's something where I'll meet them for cocktails years from now and laugh about it," she says. "And we'll say, 'Remember when?'"


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Interview-Bron Heussenstamm
Professional surfing is a business-that's why it's "professional." Sure surfers have been given the ability to do what they love, but the underlying motive of sponsorship is sales through exposure. Bron Heussenstamm understands this. His innate comprehension of the surf editorial process has deemed him, according to many, as the ultimate "photo slut." A surfer who shoots all the time and gets the job done-proven by his ability to get shots.
My mother once told me to never use the word "hate"-it's too strong. But when jealousy among surfers arises from the heavy demand for editorial pages, it's not uncommon for his name to be brought up first-he's hated that much. Talentwise, he'll be the first to tell you he's no Kelly Slater, he's never won any major contest, and he's cocky-the three main reasons, according to the pro surfing world, why guys like him "don't deserve it." So while many make decisions according to what's cool in the surf world, Bron makes business decisions. If surfing were judged on brains, he'd be winning the WCT.-AC
In another interview in this issue, your name came up as being in every single photo-you have a reputation of being a photo slut. Why is that?
Okay, I'm glad you asked me that, because this is a good chance to clear that stuff up. I think the word "photo slut" is thrown around a lot and is kind of misrepresented, because when I think of someone that's a photo slut, I think of someone that doesn't surf unless it's a photo opportunity-there're some guys like that. And that's cool, and that's their thing, but I surf everyday regardless. It just so happens that if I'm going surfing, and I see that the sun's out and the waves are good, I'll take photos, because that's my job-to get in the magazine. For people to take notice and call me a photo slut, that just means I'm good at my job and unfortunately they like to sleep in or they just don't know the business of getting your picture in the magazine. It's just like anything-our job is to get exposure. Companies sponsor us to get their logo in the magazine-that's my job. I'm supposed to win contests, and I'm supposed to get my picture in the magazine. For someone to call me a photo slut, and say that I get my picture in the magazine too much, well that's just crediting what I do. It's a complement that means I'm doing a good job.
Why do so many people want to hate on you getting so many photos?
I think it's totally impartial. If you get a magazine photos, they're gonna run them. Even I look at the mags, everybody who's looked at a surf mag wondered who got the photo and why. That's just a mystery, because the photo editors are the photo editors, and they run what they want to run at that time, the way they feel. I hope they understand the influence they have, because a lot of money is thrown around on who gets those photos. I don't think that sometimes they quite realize how important that is to the surfers. It's kind of unfortunate there's so much pressure on getting your photos, but for some people to be like, "Why does he get photos and I don't?
"-you can't hate the player, you gotta hate the game. Some people do their job. Other people maybe shoot once, and they think, "Why didn't I get a photo from that day." Maybe they already had five other photos just like that of other people from the same day. You just never know. I'm even flabbergasted as to why sometimes I get a photo from one and not from another, and why you fly halfway around the world and don't get a photo and you get a photo, right in front of your house.
All your photos are frontside turns. When will we see a backside turn photo?
Dude, I try to do backside turns, I have good ones. Some guys get backside turns, some guys only get pictures doing airs-it's the judgement of the photo editor. One photo editor loves one photo and another guy doesn't like it. That's why you have magazines where the photo editor is like, "This thing's sick," and people are like, "This sucks"-it's a judgement call. It's really unfortunate so much weight has to be put on who gets the photo, because there's just not enough of the pie to go around for everybody. Unfortunately, you only have so many pages, and there're 300 professional surfers all shooting for eight pages of editorial. You gotta do what you gotta do to get your photo in there-whatever it takes.
Why is that so hard to understand?
I don't know. It's almost like you should be taught-it's a job to get in there. Fortunately for me, I had really good people when I was growing up, like Brandy Faber and Mike Parsons, that really told me what to do and gave their fifteen years of professional surfing knowledge. I don't hold out. If anybody asks me, I'll tell them. I'm honored when I get a shot, because I know the work that went into it. I know how good I surf, and I know where I stand. I'm not the best surfer, I'm not the next Kelly Slater, but I am good at the job I do. Everyone has their time-go on some trips, do your thing, and don't dislike people because they're doing good.
In your opinion, what are contests good for?
Contests are good for the same reason competitive sports are good, it gets people down there, and they can watch their favorite surfers surf-they can know he's actually trying. They can see how good he is compared to the next guy. It just gives that bar, that level for all the surfers to try for. It's a progressive sport, because everyone's constantly getting better to try to win contests. If the money's there, then guys are gonna do it. If they were putting up a 100,000 dollars for first place instead of a thousand, like some of the contests now, you'd see people training like crazy. It's just like other sports.
What bugs you about modern surfing?
What bugs me is the fact we have to get paid to do endorsements, and there's no medium for us to go out there and make money. The tour's great, but unfortunately I keep trying to make the 'CT and can't even seem to come close. It's just the fact a lot of guys-say Ryan Simmons, Jeff Deffenbaugh, or Chris Drummy, that surf incredible and can win contests-can put a jersey on and go, "Hey, you have to rip this wave right here. You have one chance at this wave. There's no editing, no photographers, no falls." They have one chance for this wave, and they do it every time-consistently. And they can't get sponsored because they're "unmarketable," which is a joke, because for any marketing manager to say a guy is unmarketable means he just sucks at his job. You see toys on the shelf, and they're all about marketing. I mean G.I. Joe with a new backpack is no different from G.I. Joe with a new helmet-it's still a G.I. Joe. Guys that win contests that people claim are unmarketable-those terms get thrown around too much. It makes me mad some people can be "marketable," and other guys are unmarketable-if you do your job right, you should be able to sell a couch as a pro surfer, because you know what you're doing.

subset: commoncrawl


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GraphicRiver Simply Rose Logo 9382265
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GraphicRiver Simply Rose Logo 9382265
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Mongolia - Laboratory Director
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*This item is on display in our showroom, however fabrics or color in the picture may vary from
actual product in the store. Please stop in or click Request More Info for additional details.
With heavy distressing and a beautiful build, this dining side chair will bring rustic beauty into your home. The finish is accentuated by a dark upholstered seat that will keep you comfortable. A slightly curved back adds extra support and a touch of dynamic design, while four block legs make for a sturdy base.
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Cherries ace out for a month
By Mark Buckingham
Last Updated: 01/01/70 1:00am
Broadhurst suffered a hairline fracture of the ankle during training on Christmas Eve and an X-ray confirmed the extent of the damage.
The 22-year-old had established himself as a fixture in The Cherries' first team this season but cursed his misfortune after learning he will be sidelined for an estimated four weeks.
"It's very disappointing to get the injury because I was enjoying a good run in the side," Broadhurst told the club's official website.
"It's just sheer bad luck on my part as I tried to block a shot from Warren Feeney and the ball hit the end of my toe. My foot snapped back quite violently and I felt a sharp pain in my ankle.
"I was hoping it was just a strain but the MRI scan showed there was an abnormality there and then the X-ray revealed the fracture.
"I won't know a definite lay-off period until I've seen the specialist but Jim Marshall has estimated four weeks.Ç¥


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City Coed Boarding
The Barker experience attracts boarders from the suburbs of Sydney through to country regions of NSW and beyond. The coeducational and small boarder numbers support the development of peer relationships and social skills, whilst also allowing strong academic and personal mentoring opportunities.
"Boarding at Barker College is a unique experience for senior students only and with a maximum student population of 60, it falls into the boutique category," Director of Boarding, Jonathan Rheinberger said. "This allows us to have a very high teacher to boarder ratio ensuring personalised attention that meets the needs of our boarders."
Students commence boarding at Barker in Year 10. With 40% of day students and 100% of boarders being new to the school at the same time, the transition process into a new school is less daunting and friendships are easily made both within and outside of the boarding environment.
Families can now consider keeping their children closer to home until the end of Year 9 and then elect to enter boarding from the start of Year 10. Boarders participate in programs that focus on the development of life skills, personal resilience and mental fitness.
- Boarding Years Offered
- 10 - 12 Co-ed
- School Years Offered
- Pre-K - 12
- Number of Boarders
- 60
- Number of Day Students
- 1960
- Number of Girls
- 360
- Number of Boys
- 1600
- Religious Affiliation
- Anglican
School Fees
- Tuition Only
- From $30,000
- Boarding Only
- From $29,000
- Sibling Discount
- Yes
Additional Information
- Indigenous Scholarship Programme
- International Baccalaureate
- CRICOS provider
(Full Fee Paying Overseas Students)
Scholarship Dates
Closing Testing
- Boarding Scholarships
- 30/10/2017
- 10/11/2017
Open Day Dates
- Tours offered each week of the school term
For more information on Barker College
- Telephone
- +61 2 9847 8399
- Website
- barker.nsw.edu.au
- Address
- 91 Pacific Hwy, Hornsby, Sydney, NSW 2077


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When we first got there I was a little worried about how it was going to be. but by the time we left, we thought it was the best vacation we had ever had. Le Flamboyant itself has some so- so qualities like no wireless in the rooms (which eventually we really did not mind), no DVD player in an essentially French environment, and very few utensils in the kitchen area (but the restaurants at La Flamboyant and in the towns are unbelievably good ), but it also has some terrific aspects. Besides the food, lagoon view rooms are great places to awaken in the morning, the pools are spacious and quiet, and the resort itself is nicely located if you have a car and want to explore the island. I agree with the reviewers who say it is best for couples who want a quiet vacation, but if we still had young children, I would love to be there with them as well. If you want a lot of action! , go Dutch (but no thanks ).
This was a good stay for the money. Friendly service and the breakfast was included and was very good. Nice open area seating and the beach was right outside your door. No elevator for heavy luggage though. A definite return location.
To begin, the island is absolutely incredible. So much culture, great food, awesome beaches, and SO much to do. We stayed on the French side, however we found ourselves mostly taking taxi's to the Dutch side for almost everything we did. It seemed as though the Dutch part of the island had most of the tourist things to do-bars, shopping, sight-seeing, etc. We are young travelers (19 & 22) and we were extremely impressed with our overall experience... Minus the hotel!!!!! When we first arrived to Le Flamboyant, we waited for at least thirty minutes for someone to even show up to the front desk. After feeling as though we were a HASSLE to the front desk, we were given our key to our room which was very easy to find but VERY hard to open! We had to ask someone to unlock our door for us and ended up taking twenty minutes of trial and error to learn how to do it ourselves. When we entered the room, it felt like we just moved into a run-down dirty apartment. The beds we hard as a rock and we were hesitant to sleep on the sheets. There were HOLES IN THE DOORS AND WALLS as if someone punched them in... and my worst nightmare... COCKROACHES!! With myself almost in tears, I realized that with my package deal I didn't have a choice- I had to stay here. My boyfriend and I ended up making the best of the overall trip as we didn't find ourselves in our room much except to sleep. We had to take short showers each day because the hot water ran out after about ten minutes of bathing. The worst part was the morning that we woke up for our flight. It was about 5 AM, and we were exhausted and ready to go back home. My boyfriend walks into the bathroom to brush his teeth, and sure enough, a COCKROACH the size of my thumb on the head of his toothbrush!!! He couldn't even brush his teeth!!! It is very disappointing and devastating that our trip would have been perfect if it weren't for this terrible hotel... and I haven't even gotten to the SERVICE! My boyfriend and I had a great experience with a taxi driver who we asked for frequently throughout our trip. TWICE we asked the front desk to call him (because our own phones didn't have any service on the island) and each time the rude lady at the front desk ROLLED HER EYES, AND TOLD US WE WERE WASTING HER TIME AND MINUTES ON HER CELLPHONE!!! I was amazed at the impolite, inconsiderate, and INSULTING service. There was one particular man, (Claud or Claus) who was very helpful but he only worked two days out of five that we were there. Every other time we were serviced by this discourteous woman who's assistance was obscene, unhelpful, and UNFRIENDLY. All in all, go to St. Martin! DONT STAY AT THE LE FLAMBOYANT!!!! :(
Flamboyant condominiums are clean and well kept. For the price we paid it was a good value. Be advised that it appears to be a timeshare facility with extra space to sell. Thus, there is no daily room service and guests are expected to pick up after themselves. This is not a problem but then don't expect to be pampered. As a condo, the rooms all have a full kitchen set up on the veranda- refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishes, pots & pans, etc. So if you want to do some cooking on your own to save a few bucks, that is readily available to you. It is low key and relaxing, located on the Simpson Bay Lagoon (i.e.- no ocean waves). For American travelers be advised to take an electric converter as the outlets are all 220 volt European style. That is, no place to charge your phone, laptop, iPad, etc. There is free WiFi but it is limited to the lobby or the restaurant area- not in your room. The service can be spotty (satellite maybe?) but when it works its fine. The single restaurant/bar serves good meals (we had one dinner and one breakfast there) but your best bet is to test out the many excellent restaurants on St. Martins. Use the hotel restaurant if you don't feel like going out or cooking your own meal in the room. There are water toys- skidoo, kayak, etc.and other recreational activities available. They also have a nice pool but no hot tubs. Don't expect much from TV unless you speak French. CNN, HBO (with French subtitles) and a sports channel were the only ones in English. Its weird watching the Disney Channel dubbed in full French! In all, it was a comfortable stay but we mostly used the hotel to freshen up before heading elsewhere and for sleeping. So it met our needs quite well. The primary irritation was not being able to charge our electronics but fortunately we didn't run out of juice over our 4 day stay.
When we arrived it was dark and no one to greet us but security He gave my husband the key. We walked around to where the Room was located just So my husband could carry the bags up 4 flights of steps. You only get housekeeping once a week and they don't provide Wash clothes. We had a great time but we were on our own. The place Is no longer a hotel it is a condo development that rent rooms that haven't Been sold yet.
beautiful view, best location, to anywhere on the island, wonderful weather, to do whatever activities you want, or for the best relaxation, and rest, with quiet and serene surroundings.The room was very nice, and from the third floor we had the best view.
Very pleased. Room is basic, kitchen is basic. Clean, Good deal for the money! Good location for getting around the island. Wonderful patisserie on grounds! French baguettes and croissants. Pool is A+. Surely would recommend it if you weren't looking for hi-rise luxury.
We found this hotel for hundreds less than anything else offered in St. Martin. Staying on the French side of the island was great! It kept us away from the main tourist areas and the most busy beaches. The hotel is on a decent beach on a very nice lagoon but there are also 2 other beaches on the ocean within walking distance that became our favorites. The hotel rooms were very simple but kept clean and offered everything you need. I would stay at this hotel again and St. Martin is a must go!
Look. This place is "OK". It's pretty inexpensive, it's primarily clean, it's well cooled in the rooms, the people are largely civil, some are even modestly friendly... BUT: If you are looking for SERVICE ala: Hotel style amenities... GO ELSEWHERE. This place is a condo that rents some of it's rooms. The location is in decent shape cosmetically as far as the buildings and exteriors go... But our room was well past it's prime and everything was kinda "worn out". We had dodgy and discolored water for 3 of our 8 days, NO water for 16 hours. Mediocre beds, dreadful pillows. TV from 1983 with 8 working channels and no ability to get anything better, even if it meant paying for it. The kitchen is OUTDOORS, which might have been cool if it hadn't been poorly designed and maintained and, BTW, you are required to clean it yourself. Any kind of cleaning for the non-kitchen area is bi-weekly and just a tad short of hostile upon delivery. Fridge worked. Toaster oven. No microwave. Badly designed dual hot plate which were really hard to cook on. Pretty undewhelming/useless cookwear and about 30% of the utensils you really need to stay around the ranch and make meals happen with any degree of persistency. Moving right along:
this vacation was me and my husband, we enjoyed the island very much. beautiful beaches close to hotel we actually toured the whole island great restaurants at reasonable prices. the only complaint i have about the hotel where we stayed, is that they need to have a little bit more cable channels that have english speaking for those of us who dont speak frech or dutch. and some better pillows overall our vacation and stay was great.


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Andrea Boudreault
I love to read children's stories and books. I can be quite animated! On the other hand, I have been a nurse for 35 years, so I can have a calming, reassuring effect on others.
English (North American), English
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Getting him to sleep in his bed
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June 11th, 2012, 12:41 PM
Mega Super Mommy
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Montreal
Posts: 4,265
I think they want to put the baby in the crib. I don't want to discourage you but we had big plans of our kids sleeping the same room from about two months of age...Holly ended up sleeping in a pack and play in the living room until she was 15 months old.
And for what it's worth, once Holly passes out in front of the door I just kind of push the door passed her and leave her to sleep on the floor instead of putting her back in her bed. So, if he does end up sleeping on the floor, maybe just leave him there instead of putting him back in the bed he clearly doesn't want to stay in?
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In the past eight years, California has become a less hospitable place to live for millions of its residents. Poverty has steadily increased and joblessness is high in much of the state, reflecting the growing gap between affluent coastal counties and the recession-mired interior.
Yet Gov. Jerry Brown focuses on the economic sectors where California is already thriving and pushes the idea that not only is the Golden State rebounding, it's a model for the nation. Mainly because the state government no longer seems in perpetual chaos because of a new law that makes it far easier to pass budgets, Brown's narrative has some traction. That's not good news for the millions of residents who can't find work or who have jobs but can barely pay the bills.
Thankfully, a new leader has emerged in the state's dominant Democratic Party who appears far less complacent: Toni Atkins, who recently became the first San Diegan to serve as speaker of the Assembly. In an interview with the U-T San Diego Editorial Board — excerpts of which are printed here — Atkins acknowledged that the economy was sputtering in much of the state and that excessive regulation was a genuine problem.
She called for "long-term change" in the California Environmental Quality Act, not just a la carte exemptions for big projects like football stadiums, and said the 44-year-law in some ways may be outdated. She agreed with business owners who say there are too many regulatory hurdles from too many agencies with overlapping responsibilities.
The former City Council member also acknowledged the relationship between heavy regulations and the cost of housing. "I do not think you need full-blown EIRs for infill development," which involves building on vacant properties in already-developed urban areas. "We need more housing generally. We need market-rate housing and we need low-income housing."
Atkins said she was open to the idea of state laws discouraging local roadblocks to homebuilding. This is crucial. The high-cost states that have had the most success with affordable housing — New Jersey and Massachusetts — benefit from laws preventing local governments from imposing onerous conditions that discourage home construction.
Given that the high cost of housing is the single biggest factor in California's emergence as the nation's most impoverished state, Atkins could make a difference in Sacramento.
The biggest obstacle, however, remains institutional inertia. It's not just the governor asserting California is in some sort of groove that he alone perceives. It's that so many state lawmakers are devoted to pleasing certain constituents above all others, starting with environmentalists and unions representing government workers.
What we need instead is a concerted bipartisan focus on creating private-sector jobs and bringing down the cost of housing. Strangely enough, such a basic approach hasn't been a priority of the state's most powerful leaders.
If Atkins can change this phlegmatic status quo, she'll be remembered for a lot more than being the first Assembly speaker from San Diego.


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In this episode of Conspiracy Theory Jesse Ventura steps into America's most controversial conspiracy by challenging the 9/11 Commission Report and searching for evidence that the September 11th attacks may have been an inside job. At the urging of victims' families, he finds witnesses who claim the towers were brought down by explosives, the missing black box flight recorders were actually recovered and ground control knew the hijackers were in the cockpits before the jets took off.
Discuss this episode below!


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JAMK University of Applied Sciences
JAMK University of Applied Sciences is an internationally oriented and dynamic institution with over 8000 students and 780 employees. It offers education and training for most professional fields on BA ?level and also on MA-level in some fields. JAMK is well experienced in diversified international cooperation activities all over the world. The Teacher Education College (TEC) of JAMK has long expertise in vocational teacher training. TEC offers a possibility for its students to develop the pedagogical competence requested from teachers at universities of applied sciences, vocational institutes, adult education centres, secondary school teachers as well as liberal education institutes. TEC offers also further education programmes for qualified teachers: Vocational Special Needs Teacher Education and Study Counsellor Education. TEC specialises in teacher and tutor training through reflective practice and multiform and flexible education using web-based practices and allowing e.g. competence-based learning, on-the-job training and continuous promotion of working life co-operation and contact network building to keep in line with changing vocational need in society and the employment markets.
Staff involved in the NICE Network:
Seija Koskela


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Samsung Original Laser Printer Supplies are designed along with Samsung printers to maximize image quality and printer performance. Through continuous design improvements, Samsung Original Supplies will always provide the best value, performance and reliability.
Samsung Customer Care for Non Optical Drive Products:
Samsung Online RMA requests for Hard Drives:
Samsung Western Canada Service Depot for LCD Monitors
NCIX.com | Authorized Service Centre : Samsung LCD Monitors130 - 4620 Viking WayRichmond, B.C., V6V 2L5Toll free: 1-877-624-9777 Ext 2116Warranty inquiries: [email protected]Hours of operation:Monday-Friday: 9:00am-5:00pm (Pacific)Weekends & Holidays: closed
Merchandise sold by nxsource.com carries a limited 15-day customer satisfaction policy and a limited 30-day DOA (dead-on-arrival) policy, from the original invoice date, and is subject to the following terms and conditions:
All product warranty coverage after 30-days will be handled directly by the product manufacturer. nxsource.com reserves the right to refuse any returns or refunds for merchandise.
Prices, specification and terms of offers are subject to change without notice. While we make every effort to verify the accuracy of the product information posted, nxsource.com is not responsible typographical and/or photographic errors.
nxsource.com reserves the right to change our terms and conditions at any time without notice.


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Sir Edward Penley Abraham, British biochemist who worked as a researcher with Ernst Chain and Howard Florey (both of whom later shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine) on the clinical development of penicillin; he was later involved in the development of the class of antibiotics known as cephalosporins. Abraham, who donated most of the fortune he earned from his patents to the Edward Abraham Fund at the University of Oxford, was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1958 and was knighted in 1980 (b. June 10, 1913, Southampton, Hampshire, Eng.—d. May 9, 1999, Oxford, Eng.).
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COLUMBIA, Md., Aug. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IMPAQ Strategy has launched the ASCEND Health Intelligence Platform™ to support the needs of IMPAQ Strategy's healthcare clients. ASCEND (Advancing Science through Clinical Evidence, Networking and Data) is a solution delivery platform that includes the ASCEND Clinical Collaboration Network™, ASCEND Health Data Capture Tools™, ASCEND Advanced Analytics Engine™, and the ASCEND Active Response System™.
ASCEND incorporates the product assets and software-based contracts that have been acquired from Digital Support B.V., a Europe-based healthcare technology firm. The Digital Support data capture platform is flexible, highly customizable, mobile or web-based, and can be used to coordinate research studies, conduct follow-up and appointment scheduling, and capture patient reported outcomes, including quality of life measures. This platform is a proven solution to determine the effectiveness of new medical products, therapies, and treatments. The Digital Support data capture platform forms the basis for the ASCEND Health Data Capture Tools. In addition, Digital Support's Chief Technology Officer, Job de Bruyne, will join IMPAQ Strategy as the Director of Product Development.
"ASCEND allows us to reach new markets, including life sciences firms and other research-oriented organizations," said Steve Coy, Executive Director of IMPAQ Strategy. "This technology platform will support collaboration, research, and advanced healthcare analytics to drive discovery of clinical evidence and network healthcare professionals to coordinate large-scale studies."
IMPAQ Strategy will use this acquisition to support its data-driven management consulting practice. The ASCEND Clinical Collaboration Network will bring together ASCEND users for knowledge sharing, networking, and best practices. Health Data Capture Tools will power clinical studies, patient reported outcomes, and post-market surveillance. The Advanced Analytics Engine will blend linked data, analytics, and data visualizations via web and mobile tools to better understand complex clinical data, predict patterns, and conduct quality audits. Finally, the Active Response System will send targeted messaging based on clinical and well-being health information to drive quality improvement, physician guidelines adherence, and patient education.
About IMPAQ Strategy
IMPAQ Strategy helps associations and foundations, hospitals and health systems, medical societies, life sciences, and research organizations increase their influence and advance their missions through innovative thinking, expanded digital reach, advanced analytical platforms, and insightful evaluation.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/impaq-international-launches-ascend-health-intelligence-platform-and-acquires-the-assets-of-europe-based-digital-support-300306967.html
SOURCE IMPAQ Strategy


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- Home
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- Gared Sports 4 1/2" Gooseneck Package w/Steel Basketball Backboard
Gared Sports 4 1/2" Gooseneck Package w/Steel Basketball Backboard
Product Description
Gared Sports Standard 4 1/2" Gooseneck Package with Steel Basketball Backboard PK4540
This is a rugged basketball system featuring Gared's best-selling 4 ½" O.D. galvanized gooseneck post with 4' extension to allow for safe play, and a V-brace for increased board stability. Package includes a white fan-shaped steel basketball backboard with target, and a heavy-duty double rim Park & Rec Super Goal.
- GNB45 Post - 25 Year Limited Warranty
- 1245T Backboard - 10 Year Limited Warranty
- 240 Rim - 2 Year Limited Warranty
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Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Formerly known as:
Minerals Management Service
Other current Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relationships:
offshore drilling - oversees
U.S. Department of the Interior - division
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management past relationships:
Robert V. Abbey - acting director
Michael R. Bromwich - director
Rejane Burton - director
Lucy Q. Denett - associate director, minerals revenue management
Milton K. Dial - assistant program director
Thomas A. Fry III - director
Randall B. Luthi - director
Jimmy W. Mayberry - special assistant
Minerals Management Service - former name
Cynthia L. Quarterman - director
Gregory W. Smith - program director
Additional Muckety map information sources:
New York Times
Muckety draws information from thousands of sources. For a list of primary government and news sites, see our Sources page.
Muckety news stories featuring Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
The federal agency that oversees offshore drilling is being outgunned.
April 17, 2011
One measure (among many) of the coziness between federal regulators and offshore drilling companies can be seen in the regulators' job paths.
June 3, 2010
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is expected to call today for breakup of the agency overseeing offshore oil drilling.
May 11, 2010


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+All sales are final we do not accept change of mind returns. All of our products are checked for faults before leaving our care we do not accept responsibility for damage in transit but if there is a manufacturing fault with your product please email us and we will try our best to get it sorted.
+PLEASE NOTE - we do not accept any responsibility for delays or loss in transit all parcels are tracked.
+Prints will be shipped within seven business days of orders being placed. Soft Furnishing items are made to order unless stated & take up to 3 weeks before dispatch.
+If you need your cushions urgently please email & check availability prior to placing your order.
+Please also take into consideration public holidays as these will effect dispatch times.
+For any delivery inquiries please email us at Onyx & Smoke all contact information can be found under the contact link.


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Nothing from November 22, 2017 to December 22, 2017.
Ginny Paulsen shared Upworthy's video to the group: We Are Adopted. ...
For some adoptees, their own adoption can be a complicated topic. Luckily, this woman discovered the supportive community that surrounded her. Testimony is an Upworthy documentary series capturing the unique stories of people everywhere. The opinions and perspectives shared are their own.
WE ARE ADOPTED presents: A series self-discovery workshops
A HERO'S JOURNEY Led by Erin Melvin RYT and Catherine Moore MA RCC
If you were adopted you grew up with a story. Something you may have been told or a story you made up. Is that story
still true for you?
This workshop is an opportunity to examine your stories from a different perspective with you as the hero.
Through movement, discussion and reflective writing you will leave with a more authentic version of your story.
Focused Empowering Transformational
Saturday, June 25
Your Investment:
Make your payments with PayPal. It is free, secure, effective.
Early Bird: $65
Location: Ocean & Crow
Ocean and Crow Studios Inc.
1707 Grant Street, Vancouver BC ...
WE ARE ADOPTED offers peer support meetings, counselling and advocacy services, guest speakers, panels, and whatever other resources the community wants or needs. Our goal is to have a permanent resource centre including a lending library. If you are an adopted person you are welcome to share your thoughts and ideas and take advantage of the resources we offer.
The WE ARE ADOPTED monthly discussion/support meetings All adopted people are welcome to join. We meet once a month (except July and August) at a central Vancouver location. Contact us email@example.com for more info. ...
© 2015 The Adoptees Support Network


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Organizing Kids' Clothesby Angela On August 22, 2012
{Personalized Days-of-the-week Hanging Organizer from Lilian Vernon.}
For many families the first day of school is right around the corner. As exciting as this might be there is also the stress of trying to get out the door on time. One thing you can do to make this process go smoother is to plan outfits in advance. If your child is young you can help him or her do this. Think about the days ahead and whether or not your kids have after school activities that involve changing clothes or putting on a uniform like swimming, football, or dance. Take a few minutes Sunday night to get all the clothes ready for the week (school clothes and after school clothes). This will also help you in case you suddenly find you have to wash a uniform, better to do it now than at midnight the night before!
If you have children or teens that are older they can do this themselves and you may find they don't want to lay all their clothes out for the entire week, but maybe just the clothes for the next day. That's fine too, it will help keep the chaos clear for the next morning.
Fortunately some very clever people have already come up some great systems to help make this process easier for us! At the top of the page you will see the over the door Days-of-the-week Hanging Organizer from Lilian Vernon. It's simple and easy and it goes over the door! Love that!
In the picture just above you will see the day of the week hanging bags from Organizables. Another super smart idea! The hanging bags keep the clothes wrinkle free and the clear side allows you or your child to see what is inside. These are more portable so they are great for kids that may be traveling between Mom's house and Dad's house or taking them to activities like dance etc.
{Closet organizing idea from IHeart Organizing.}
Above you can see a fun and fabulous DIY option from Jen at I Heart Organizing. You can use store bought closet rod dividers like the ones seen below from The Container Store or you can make your own like Jen did above (see I Heart Organizing for how to).
{Photo from The Idea Room}
The idea above comes from Amy at The Idea Room. After trying something that didn't work last year this year she decided to use a drawer to hold the weekly clothes. When the kids put away the weekly laundry they can choose what clothes they want to wear for the upcoming week! It's a two for one! Love it!
{Shoezooz stickers.}
If you have little ones who still need help figuring out their left from their right here is a really neat product I found. Shoezooz stickers are like a little puzzle so when the puzzle pieces line up it will reveal which shoe goes on the left and which goes on the right. What a great idea! This will help save Mom and Dad time in the morning and give little ones more independence.
Tomorrow I will show you the super simple one product makeover I did to help my kids get their clothes ready for school each week!
I know my kids are so sleepy in the morning and anything we can do the night before is a huge help. What are you doing to help keep things moving in the morning with your kids?


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Another Peaceful Night in Ménétréol
Menetreol-sous-Sancerre Travel Blog› entry 9 of 15 › view all entries
By the time we got back to the boat, we were able to move close enough to the water source which also made more room for a large steel barge to get a better position. In the meantime also, the hotel barge "Anna Maria IV" had tied up the pier. I got talking to the guys on the first steel barge and learned they were from Australia and owned the boat as a group. They invited me aboard to see how magnificent it is inside. They come every year and are here for 6 weeks this time around. By agreement, we met Janette who'd told us about a great winery in the next street. She walked over with us because she said the place was closed so she'd get them to open for us! Unfortunately no one was at home. She said she had to work this evening and wouldn't see us in the morning so we had to say goodbye.
From there we just loafed away the afternoon. I walked for a while and then Helen and Earl did the same.
For dinner, we went to the Restaurant St. Floroine. The meal was OK but there were two people nearby who smoked incessantly so that was pretty bad.
Back at the boat, we watched a DVD on my laptop before going to bed. When I got into bed at about 12:30, I noticed that the sky was stellar (literally!!) I'd brought along a star map because I knew we'd have dark skies but I was too tired to get back out to look more carefully. Slept like a stone!


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Yes, MJM Magic has great prices and very fast service, but it is also one of the few online magic shops that accept Paypal.
For those without a...
Read More ->
Jeff Mash was fst to reply and gave me considered and helpful advice and links in response to my online query.
Thank you MJM magic.
David Williams
Read More ->


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Bridget, the psychic
Welcome back to the bark side of life here in Ottertail, where morning has broken quietly and an azure sky fills the horizon with the promise of another sunny day.
Summer zips along at the speed of light, laughter, and joy and like the vegetables in our garden the time is right for harvesting. I receive lots of tales from my readers, but this week I have a tale from a reader who looks for typos, grammatical hiccups, and just plain lousy typing. She's my editor (whenever she around to proof read my work) she's my best friend, and my lovely wife Cindy.
Last week, I asked the question, "Are cats and dogs psychic?" Let's hear from Cindy and see what she has to say on the subject.
I grew up in the country, and my Dad favored German shepherds as his outside companion. Our animals lived outside, except my Mom made an exception for my gold fish! I don't know if it was in preparation for the "empty nest" or what sparked the interest of my parents to purchase an inside dog. But that's what they did.
We brought home a 2 ½ pound Boston Terrier and named her Bridget. She was the runt of the litter, never weighed in at more than 10 pounds soaking wet! As a puppy, we had to guard over her when she went outside so that the cats would not harm her. My Mom prepared her special foods because Bridget was "delicate" and she had to prop her dish up so that she could swallow and breathe while eating! I only preface this because... she became the hub of our household. I'd never seen my Dad so enthralled and proud of "anyone" before! (She was an exceptionally smart little dog, probably smarter than we realized at the time.)
Bridget was close to 3 years old when I left home for college. I didn't get home that often, but one weekend I decided to make a surprise visit. I headed out on the 2.5-hour trip after my last Friday class. My parents were experiencing a different problem with their darling little Bridget. A little over an hour before I arrived at home, Bridget was running to the door... they'd let her out, she'd want back in.
She'd jump up on the couch, climb the stack of pillows in order to look out the window (the house did revolve around her needs) and then run back to the door. She was totally restless and could not be settled. I drove in. Her restlessness turned to uncontained excitement... her young mistress was home. All was well in Bridget's world.
That could have been written up as a fluke, but a year later my parents vacationed in Canada ... who gets to take care of the little darling? I spent a week cooking her special foods and playing with her and she'd only look at me with those big eyes...as if trying to figure out why everyone abandoned us!
Then I got sick with a really bad sinus infection and Bridget and I spent lots of time napping... until 2 days before my folks were scheduled to come home. Bridget spent the whole day restless, running to the door, the window, to me... I could not figure out what she wanted and all I wanted to do was sleep. Towards evening, my folks drove in -- two days in advance of their scheduled return! I did not know they were coming... but did Bridget? Once again, her world was calm.
Thanks, Cindy, for sharing a tale that might just prove dogs can be psychic. When I lived in California, there were countless documented examples of pets acting peculiar just before an earthquake. Do they pick up vibrations on a whole different level? The jury is still out. Do you readers have any tales that could prove or disprove that animals have psychic abilities. Email me at firstname.lastname@example.com or write in to Keith Alan Ross, Richville, MN 56576 or phone me at 218-495-2195.
In my book, Tales From The Bark Side, I tell a tale about my Persian cat Fritz that falls into that category. You'll have to buy the book to find out because the story has not been published in my column before.


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Christmas is just around the corner so it seems like a good time to remind you all about our good friends at Ashwater Press who have a number of goodies available this year that would be just perfect for your fellow Fulham supporters.
Over to Ashwater …
After last year's sell out in five weeks, and by popular demand, it's the Ashwater desk diary for 2013 with pictures from Ken Coton 's archive. Again it's 128 pages with around 70 black and white and colour pictures and Fulham images, a number never seen before. It's naturally a functional diary and a quality hardback production (9½ x 6½ inches). The pictures are from across five decades of Ken Coton 's archive. This year it has even more detailed captions and extra snippets/trivia. It contains a weekly 'anecdote' relating to Fulham's colourful history over the last fifty years and also a foreword from David Hamilton. It costs not much more than an ordinary diary, and remember that it's not just a diary – it's a Fulham book as well! Like last year, buy 2 diaries and save 10%. We have held the price at last year's value (£9.95+postage).
Please note: We are once again printing only a limited number, so please order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. (15% of the dairies have already been pre-ordered before delivery to us.)
And also for the first time:
After many requests, we're delighted to offer our first ever colour Ashwater wall calendar for 2013. It features Fulham pictures from Ken Coton 's archive (some of them never seen before), superbly printed to A4 size. When opened up for hanging, the calendar measures 16½ x 11½ inches (420 x 297mm). Each month has a captioned full-page picture above it, and the calendar runs from January 2013 to January 2014. It is priced at just (£5.95+postage).
As this is a new venture for us, we are printing only a limited number, so please order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. We like our calendar! We hope you will too …
We are also offering multi-buys this Christmas to help out your spending. The multi-buy options will be for the 2 items above plus this year's Tales from the Riverbank (Part 3) a brand new book with 224 pages and 125 photographs (many never seen before) relating to two full Fulham seasons under Bill Dodgin in the Seventies ending up in promotion! There is also David Hamilton's popular book A Fulhamish Tale. Buy the 3 or 4 products together posted to the UK and save 20%. (Saving around £10 and £13 respectively) See website for details.
Also, to 'clear the decks' for the new books arriving in 2013 and for a great Christmas deal, we will be offering a clearance of the few remaining copies of all other Fulham books; The Johnny Haynes – The Maestro book at over 60% off, and a number of books at just £3.95 (plus postage). There is also a very attractive multi-buy offer on eight other books, buy any three of the eight together posted to the UK for just £18.85 INCLUDING postage. See website for details.
We will have copies of the Ashwater desk diary and the Ashwater wall calendar at the home games with Sunderland (18th Nov) and Tottenham (1st December), but please be aware that we can only transport a limited number of 'collections' to the Cottage, and we always sell out at the home games – so apologies, but it will be first come, first served. If in doubt, and to be guaranteed whilst the stocks last – please order through the website.
To order any of our books (or calendar):
Visit www.ashwaterpress.co.uk
Where you can order using a PAYPAL account
Or using your debit / credit card as a PAYPAL guest
Ashwater can also accept a credit or debit card order by phone.
Telephone us on: 01344 – 624231 (Mon – Fri 9am – 7pm, Sat 9.00am – 1pm)
On the Ashwater website you can also download an order form and pay by cheque, using the post at:
Ashwater Press, 68 Tranmere Road , Whitton, Twickenham, Middlesex. TW2 7JB
For any other information, please e-mail us on firstname.lastname@example.com
Ashwater Press – Fulham books written by Fulham Supporters for Fulham Supporters – Thank you for continuing to support us in 2012.


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No. 12 Yale upset No. 5 Baylor in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
No. 12 Yale upset No. 5 Baylor 79–75 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday.
As expected, Twitter was filled with a range of responses after the thrilling game. Here are some of the best reactions:
thank god, finally Yale catches a break— Emmy Bengtson (@EmmyA2) March 17, 2016
Oh wow, someone else bailed a Yale man out of his own obvious mistake. That never happens.— We take the stairs (@NoEscalators) March 17, 2016
Good to see kids from Yale finally catch a break in life.— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) March 17, 2016
"I don't know much about Baylor, to be honest. I just go where the pain is." - Crying Jordan— ☕netw3rk (@netw3rk) March 17, 2016
#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/j8PF9FSG4f— DAKnerys Targaryen (@AdrianNeenan) March 17, 2016
YALE BABY!— Frank Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) March 17, 2016
I'm hurting !!!!!!!!!— Quincy Acy (@QuincyAcy) March 17, 2016
Sick— Isaiah Austin (@IsaiahAustin) March 17, 2016
Man, RGIII cannot catch a break— Clay Skipper (@SkipperClay) March 17, 2016
Yale-Duke: someone has to lose.— Barry Petchesky (@barry) March 17, 2016
Duke vs Yale: So many boat shoes— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) March 17, 2016
You can make all the Duke and Yale jokes you want, but leave boat shoes out of this.— DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) March 17, 2016
.@Yale_Basketball pic.twitter.com/Ac3AoAb3PD— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) March 17, 2016
When Yale Beat Baylor. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/SFo018Ry2U— Brooks Brâzeau (@BrooksBrazeau) March 17, 2016
Yale acting like it hasn't been there since, well, 1962. #MarchMadness— Wendy Parker (@wparker) March 17, 2016
Seriously though, congrats to the kid from "Blank Check."— Jon Tayler (@JATayler) March 17, 2016
Power brokers to meet privately tomorrow to discuss possible third team challenger to Duke vs. Yale.— Pete Schroeder (@peteschroeder) March 17, 2016
Meanwhile, the Sorbonne's tournament drought continues.— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) March 17, 2016
If your bracket strategy was just picking all the teams with nice doggy mascots, you're doing very well so far— Seth Rosenthal (@seth_rosenthal) March 17, 2016
Yale will play Duke in the round of 32.


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"genetic screening"
About: Royal Hallamshire Hospital Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield S10 2JF
Posted via NHS Choices
I attended a genetic counselling appointment at the Gynaecology Clinic. The reception staff were friendly, the waiting room was clean and large enough for all patients awaiting to be seen. I was seen by a consultant and two nurses. The two nurses were friendly and approachable. First of all, the appointment letter did not mention what the appointment was for. I knew my GP wanted to refer me to the Clinic because of the history of cancer in my family but we had that conversation almost half a year ago. Two months ago I spent 3 days in hospital following turning up at the A&E with a horrible pain in my lower abdomen. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease was suspected and I was told my GP would be contacted to refer me for further testing, so I assumed that was the purpose of the appointment at the Clinic. I understand the importance of being able to provide as much information as possible about the family history of cancer when being assessed for genetic risks but I feel was not given the opportunity to prepare. I only know my mother's family history and had I known what the appointment was for, I would have contacted my father's family beforehand to find out more as I know there might have been cases of cancer. I contacted my father's family after the appointment and found out there were in fact 5 additional cases of cancer involving 2 of breast/ovarian cancer (what I am being screened for)! I was not given the opportunity to have this information at hand before the appointment. The interview itself lasted 5-10 minutes and I was allowed to speak for maybe 15% of that time, only to provide short answers. I was asked basic questions such as age, whether I was a smoker, whether my cervical screening was up to date etc. I was briefly asked about my family's history but the interview was so rushed and I was completely unprepared. I tried to revisit and provide more information later but I was cut off by the consultant informing me that most patients' stories don't check out anyway. I was told a written questionnaire would be sent to me at a later date. Overall, I feel disappointed. I will be booking an appointment with a private consultant as I know I shouldn't ignore the risks and I know I can't stay on chemoprevention forever. I was repeatedly warned about the risks of chemoprevention during the appointment but no guidance was provided with regards to minimising the risk/alternatives.
Response from Deborah Hopkinson, Patient Experience Co-ordinator, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2 years ago
I am sorry to hear about the poor communication that you have encountered and that at the appointment you felt that you did not have adequate opportunity to discuss your case. We would be pleased to hear from you further if you wish the Trust to look into this matter more and respond to you in detail. If you feel that this is appropriate please could you contact one of our Patient Services Team on telephone number 271 2400 or email them at firstname.lastname@example.com and one of the team will be happy to assist you.
I will be forewarding on your annonymous comments to the service so that they are aware of your dissatisfaction and disappointment. Kind regards.
- {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
- Was this response helpful? Yes | No
Thank you for your feedback.
See more responses from Deborah Hopkinson


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Finish 2016 off right and get ready for your best year ever with the new Rock 2017 Business and Life Weekly planner. This instant download, digital PDF copy contains worksheets to help you set your overall vision and goals, break down your dreams into priorities, projects, and tasks, and provides you with dated week-by-week schedule templates to help you get the most out of your time.
The 2016 version of this weekly planner was such a hit I updated it for another year!
Weekly planner begins at the first week of September 2016, and goes through the end of December 2017.
Feel ready and armed to kick your to-do list into high gear from the start to the end of every day. No more staring at a blank screen or work bench wondering where you should begin. Now you'll be armed with the map that will help you chart your way to your own vision of business and life success.
This instant-download PDF includes helpful tips for time management, and is designed to keep you reflective and adaptive and you move from week to week.
The only question is, are you ready to rock? Because your business and life certainly are.
Check out the video of the 2016 planner below for more details:
Some other products that may interest you.
Sell More Products with BLOGGING for Your Crafty Biz


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Absolute Auto Body Lynnwood
Review for Absolute Auto Body Lynnwood
Linda C. on 07/31/2012
Linda said she is having the same problem she brought it in for, which is a cosmetic problem. She chose not to go into detail other then she was told she might have to purchase a new fender and that's what she doesn't want to do. After this visit she will not recommend this facility. She also said there was no paint work done.
Category: Collision
Service Date: 07/17/2012
Review Created: 07/31/2012
This review was collected via phone interview by Customer Research Inc.


text: Today I spent the day exploring one of my favorite seaside villages. The weather was cold and cloudy with sporadic bits of sun. Fortunately I caught the sunshine while watching the waves. I laid on the pebbly beach and basked in the sun for nearly an hour. That was probably the highlight of my day. I was also able to visit a lovely yarn shop, have some fish n' chips and delicious cup of tea. Happy Saturday!


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Rhuckz, Sebekx and Zhergoth join Mousesports for the next EUCS split
The team that placed second in the last split of the European Challenger Series and played Gambit Gaming for a spot in the LCS has finally completed their roster for the upcoming split. Germany-based mousesports will retain 3 players from last split's roster: The German AD-Carry Tarik "Sedrion" Holz, the British jungler Daniel "Dan" Hockley and the highly touted Toplaner Mauno "beansu" Talli from Estonia. In addition to retaining what most consider their 3 best players, mousesports will be adding new blood to the roster.
Joining as starting support is Ruben "Rhuckz" Barbosa who formerly played for K1ck Black, a team which many saw as a favorite for making EUCS this split themselves before they ultimately failed against Millennium in the Semi-Finals of the recent EUCS Open Qualifier. It will be interesting to see how he performs with a different AD-Carry, since he has played exclusively with Pedro "Kepe" Ferreira for the last year.
The former Midlaner of teams like Pulse Esports, Caseking Gaming and most recently Inspire Esports, Sebastian "Sebekx" Smejkal, will be starting in the Midlane for the team. The Polish player has been in high challenger for a long time and has recently gotten some praise, he is expected to develop into a solid Midlaner.
One of the more unexpected moves is the addition of a 6th player to the roster, as the team will be using Benjamin "Zhergoth" Sanchez as an active substitute. This is the first major team the Dutch Toplaner has joined in his career. He has been in the high Master/Challenger tier for a long time and played for a rather unsuccessful LowLandLions lineup before joining Mousesports.
Mousesports jungler Dan shared his thoughts about the new additions to the roster with Esportsheaven:
I am really excited about how the offseason went for us, we got the early addition of Sebekx which was a major improvement compared to our roster last season. However, obtaining a new support was not that easy, we tested multiple options while we waited for players in the qualifier to become available and once we finally had the opportunity to try Rhuckz out we could tell immediately he was what we needed to fill the gap in the team for the coming split. He is offering a much different style of play compared to the other supports we tested since he roams far more, this allows us to do more on the map early on in the game and thus close the game out faster as well.
Based off of scrim results I think we stand a very strong chance of making it to the LCS promotion tournament once again and hopefully this time we will succeed!
The addition of Zhergoth looks to be the first time an EUCS team is starting the split with an actively involved substitute on the roster, with the player also set to assist the team in practice as an additional analyst and player. If Mousesports finds success with the system it would lead to many copying it and might change the European Challenger Scene in the long run.
Upon being contacted mousesports coach Nick "Inero" Smith explained Zhergoths role in greater detail:
I think we are all pretty confident going into this split. We had a rough time building the roster in the offseason after multiple instances of losing players last minute, but it hasn't damaged us too badly, and we're happy with this group. We decided to introduce an active sub to use as both a player and to fill the role of an "analyst" for the role he's in. Zhergoth will have a much more indepth understanding of the game than most amateur analysts, and having him as a sub will give him experience that will either be utilized by mouz or another team in the future.
With the strong core from last split complemented by the new players Mousesports is expected to be a strong bet, but their success will depend on how well the new additions perform. Neither Rhuckz, Sebekx or Zhergoth have ever played in the Challenger Series before, but if they can perform well at that level than Mousesports looks like a strong contender for the title.
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