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Worth Bed
Price: $1,500.00Overview
Design by Modloft.
The Worth platform bed features a low profile hardwood frame with matching symmetrical nightstands. An upholstered genuine leather headboard compliments this Asian-inspired bed. Mattress (not included) sits snuggly inside a solid pine-slat mattress base for stylistic durability and added comfort. Supports U.S. standard mattresses (not included).
Available in your choice of bed sizes wood/leather finish.
Assembly required. Veneer is just like wood, a natural material, and variations in the grain are to be expected.
Standard Delivery is Curbside. White Glove service is available at a premium and must be requested at the time of order placement. Please contact our Sales Department for rates.
Material(s): Wood veneer with MDF composite wood core, leather
- Queen: 124" W X 93" D X 26" H
- King: 140" W X 93" D X 26" H
- Cal King: 136" W X 97" D X 26" H
- Platform height: 7"
No hardwood - fiber board 100% - purchased one
By: Calnegru, Homeowner (Vancouver)
Great planform bed
By: Shelley K., Homeowner (Cathedral City CA)
Very well built and solid but not the easiest to put together. Nice modern look and well priced. Highly recommend!
Read this if you want to save your money.
By: Michael W., Homeowner (San Francisco)
They have the worst quality products. The bottom of night stand was chipped where you can see the light brown wood exposure. There was a missing fastener so I had to stick things together and hope it won't fall off. What's worst is that I sent a letter of complaint and they are sending me a fastener at no cost, when I already finished assembling things, so the audacity doesn't get any sweeter than that. This is one of those companies that only cares about the money you spend, and once they get your cash, you are a piece of gum that they finished chewing and spit into the trash can. If you don't want to feel the way I felt, please stay away from this company and the company that made this furniture.
Great platform bed for modern design enthusiasts
By: Anon, Renter (Boston, MA, US)
This is a great bed for those who like a very low, Japanese-inspired platform bed and a very modern, high-end look. The installation took about 4 hours (2 people), so be prepared for an entire afternoon of work, but the end output is totally worth it. Solid, high quality production. My only gripe with it is the walnut color is different than what's pictured on ModLoft's own site (and many other sites) - it's much darker. The picture on YLiving is much more accurate than what you'll find elsewhere.
Manufacturer: Modloft
Modloft creates quality furniture for urban dwellers seeking to live "modern on a budget". The collection, inspired by New York style lofts and today's smaller living spaces, includes beds, tables and storage elements that are innovative, versatile and stylish.
Modloft's premium brand "Luxo" is synonymous with modern luxury and invites consumers to revel in a contemporary design-forward lifestyle. The brand offers an entire lifestyle in which to live both boldly and beautifully via its furniture collections and accessories. Made in Brazil using only environmentally sustainable materials, Luxo by Modloft delivers uncompromising quality with undeniable flair.
Modloft and Luxo by Modloft. Well Made. Well Priced. Well Done.
View other products from Modloft


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Real: First Time With My Mom
Fantasy, Boy, Cheating, Consensual Sex, First Time, Incest, Male / Older Female, Pregnant, School, Virginity, Young
Author's infos
Gender: Male Age: 18 Location: Canada
Posted: 2012-09-23
How I lost my virginity to my own mother !
This is a true story at how I had sex for the first time to my mom.
To start off, I was a 14 year old boy and my mom was a 39 year old woman. My mom had long curly brown hair while I had straight and short brown hair (most likely from my dad). My dad and mom divorced when I was 6 after my mom caught him sleeping with her cousin. She took me, and we started living in a 2 room small apartment. Because of that, mom and I started becoming really close such as we told each other everything that happened and secrets and friendly stuff like that.
When I turned 14, my relationship with my mom was at an all time high. She was now 5'8 while I was 5'6. We always kissed on the cheek whenever I came back from school and she came back from work. One day, when I came back early from school, I saw my mom walking from the kitchen to her room. She turned to me when she saw me. Thats when I realized she wasn't wearing a bra and was using her left hand to cover her nipples. Her long hair was wet.
I turned away, "Oh shit. Sorry mom."
Mom said, "It's okay, I have them covered, why are you home so early?"
I looked at my mom's body. She was apparantly wearing panties.
"The phone started ringing while I was taking a shower so I put something on and went to get it." She said.
I smiled, "You look very good mom."
She smiled back at me, "Thanks, I am going to go put something on."
I liked the way my mom's body looked. Even though it was wrong, I tried to think of a excuse before she went to put something on.
"Wait Mom."
She looked a little suprised as her hazel eyes glared at me. "Yes?"
I didn't know what to say. "Um, I was wondering, well, um, I have never seen a girl's body before, is it alright if maybe I can just well, you know, like see." I was embarrassed.
She seemed embaressed also but smiled again. "Well, I guess no harm can be done, just a quick look which you must promise to tell no one about."
She walked to the door and locked it. The curtains were closed already. "You promise you won't tell anyone?"
"Yes, I promise." I said.
She slowly removed her hands revealing her large breasts and big erect nipples. I got an erection right then and there. She then pulled down her panties showing me a bit of pubic hair around her vagina. I stared in awe.
She smiled, "How do you like em'?"
My erection was just to much, I had to find another excuse. "Just so you wouldn't be embarrassed alone..."
I quickly undid my pants, shirt, and underwear letting my erection fly in the air. We then just stared at one another. After a while, we both blushed and started laughing. Here we were, mother and son, showing our bodies to one another. I wasn't embaressed and I hope she wasn't either. I wanted to feel her so I told a bold chance and walked closer to mom and hugged her. "Mom, thank you for everything. I love you."
I felt her wrapping her body around me. I felt my mom's nipples touching my nipples, my erection was touching her vagina. After a while, she let go and smiled.
"If you want, for a second, to put it inside, I would be happy with that." She smiled, walked and leaned back on the sofa. She opened up her legs for me to see her vagina in full view. It was the first pussy I saw face-to-face; so pink, so small, so cute like my Mom! I slowly walked towards her until I rested in between her legs. Feeling my excitement and sensations rising in my cock, I held my penis and slowly inserted it into my mom's pussy hole. She moaned very slowly. My penis went in quite easily since she just took a shower. I felt pre-cum pouring out inside. Once I was all the way in, I started pushing in and out. The pleasure hit my so quickly I knew I was going to cum quick.
"Uh, Jake, make sure you,oh uh, pull out, uh,oh,uh..."
After 10 seconds, I groaned, the biggest groan I have ever heard from myself. Knowing I was past the point of no return, and I tried pulling out but I wasn't quick enough and I exploded inside her my mom, grinding my pelvis against her with each forward thrust, dumping a huge load into her. My mom screamed as she came at the same time I did. I fell on my mom and we both took a quick nap on the sofa, not realizing what I had just done.
When I woke up, I realized that I just lost my virginity to my own mother. I didn't know what to think. She was in the washroom taking another shower... 3 weeks went by, we didn't have sex but we did kiss and hug a lot. The sad part was when she told me that she was pregnant. I was scared but she said she was alright with giving birth to my child. After seven and a half months of waiting, my child was born. It was a little girl with my mom's hazel eyes and my straight brown hair. We named her Jenna. My mom and I never told anyone it was my baby. I pretended to be Jenna's older brother and pretended that Jenna was a adopted baby. I loved her and I still do. She still thinks I am her brother even though she is 10 years old now. Hopefully she doesn't find out the truth. My mom is also happy because she thought the baby should be aborted because she might have incest birth defects but she didn't.
And that is my story. Please comment on how I can improve, this is my first story I have done. EVER. I will read all comments. Till next time. Take care.
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25 comments
Anonymous reader
2014-01-04 07:28:09
You Shoud Write A Part 2!
anonymous reader
2013-11-19 01:10:22
Yummy👅I can just taste your moms beautiful pussy
anonymous reader
2013-11-06 17:20:33
1.kiss your left hand 2. Say the name of the person u like 3. Close your hand 4. Say the name of a weekday5. Say your name 6. Open your hand 7. Paste this in 15 comments and on the day you picked your love will tell you they like you and ask you out if you don't do it within an hour of reading this you will have 1 year bad luck
anonymous reader
2013-10-06 19:02:28
fuck yeah me and my slut like th;s
anonymous reader
2013-10-06 19:02:27
fuck yeah me and my slut like th;s
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Check your numbers! According to the Associated Press and Lottery officials, someone who purchased a lotto ticket in Minden is $700,000 richer today. At presstime, no other details were available about who purchased the winning Louisiana Lotto ticket or from which store. The winning Easy 5 ticket was purchased in Gretna.
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Baby Organic One Piece (More Styles...)
American Apparel 100% USDA Certified Organic Cotton medium weight baby one-piece makes a great natural gift to welcome little ones into the world. Sizes: 3-6 Months - 18-24 Months
Mens & Unisex Jump to: Tees Long Sleeve Tanks Sweatshirts Juniors / Women's Fitted Kids & Babies Accessories Description: Take the old Baby on Board slogan from the 1980s and push it forward down the pipeline until the metaphor is flipped over and gets all wet. When the board's a surfboard, you're not only telling the world that you've got a junior surfer in training, but that the emphasis on safety over getting out there and actually enjoying life and the world around us is overrated.
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TEAMS: Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers
From Larry Brown Sports:
Kobe Bryant confirmed Friday that he hisses like a snake when he calls for the basketball on the court.
Washington Wizards guard Jordan Crawford said during an interview on "Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable" that aired during the week that he was surprised to hear Bryant hiss on the court when he played him for the first time.
"When I first played with Kobe — they call him the Black Mamba — but then he was doing like a little snake sound when he wanted the ball," Crawford told Le Batard. "It was crazy. It was crazy. It's like tsssss, tsssss. Like [he was calling former teammate Derek Fisher] Fish, Fish, Fisher. Tsssss, tssss. He do that. Everybody tells you he's gonna do it before you play him — like, 'Wait till you hear him do this.' And then he [does] it, and it's like, what? He's really a mamba. It sounds like some kind of snake."
After Crawford's story received exposure Friday, a person asked Kobe over Twitter whether Crawford's tale was true. Bryant confirmed it is.
"@dontcallmerhino:@kobebryant yo @jcrossover said you hiss when you ball him up.How true is that?"that's how I call for the ball #mambahiss
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) February 9, 2013
You can see Crawford share his story in the video below:
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
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Coach K: ACC more deserving of bids than smaller conferences
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Exotics People keep many different kinds of animals as pets such as birds, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, and reptiles. Learn about the special needs and health issues of these animals.
Dear Veterinarian: I recently purchased two gerbils and named them Jack and Jill. They have been great pets and enjoy being held and running on the wheel in their cage. My only complaint is that they keep having babies. Can gerbils be spayed and neutered? I have been successful at finding homes for the majority of their offspring but I don't want to separate the happy couple. What can I do?
Dear Pet Owner: As you have discovered, gerbils are only pregnant for three weeks and they are capable of producing litters year round. Babies can become mommies at four months of age and even though they may not deliver 4-7 newborns every time, they have them often. Your best solution is to find a breeder or veterinarian who can distinguish the males from females when they're less than three months old and then separate them by sex to stop your overpopulation problem. Gerbils like to live in groups and as many as 15 family members will get along quite nicely in a large enough enclosure. However, introducing strangers can lead to nasty fights. As for the original happy couple, you may want to have Jill spayed or Jack neutered by a veterinarian comfortable with gerbil care. Gerbils will naturally stop breeding by the time they are a year and a half old so you may also try a temporary separation. When re-introducing them, be sure to do so in a neutral cage.
Dear Veterinarian: I decided to retired my barrel horse last year and breed her to a Quarter Horse stallion in Oklahoma. She is due to foal in March. My friend told me to schedule her shots before she foals, but she routinely gets her annual vaccinations in May. I am afraid of over-vaccinating. What should I do?
Dear Pet Owner: Because farm animals, horses included, absorb all of their maternal antibodies (or passive immunity) through their gut from their mother's "first milk" (called colustrum), it is critical that we make every effort to insure that the first milk be as strong as it can and that our foal consumes an adequate amount, in a timely fashion. Vaccinating your mare 30 to 60 days prior to foaling is one way to help protect both mother and baby from the diseases that concern us. I hear a lot of talk about the risks associated with over-vaccination, but in this situation I believe the evidence is clear. Discuss with your veterinarian the vaccines that he or she believes are most important for your mare and your circumstances, but my own list makes a priority of Tetanus, Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis, Botulism, Rabies, Influenza and Rhinopneumonitis. Rhinopneumonitis, also known as "viral abortion" should actually be administered during the fifth, seventh, and ninth months of gestation. Rotavirus causes diarrhea in foals and a relatively new vaccine is now available to help reduce its occurrence. Lastly, your mare is the first source of parasites to your newborn foal. Most recommendations are to deworm one month prior to foaling and again the day after foaling.
Dear Veterinarian: I keep my horse in my own backyard. Do I still need to deworm him?
Dear Pet Owner: In the constant struggle for life, Nature takes advantage of all opportunities. So, unfortunately, the answer to your question is yes! While those in more crowded conditions certainly have a more pressing need, even an isolated horse needs to be dewormed (and for that matter vaccinated, too). While our parasite controlling drugs of today are far more effective than those of the past, it is unrealistic to hope to eradicate every parasite in your horse's body. As a result, your horse has already contaminated your property, which is now the source of reinfection. Even if it was not, every time you take your horse where other horses have been; every bale of hay you buy that came from a farm that has or ever had horses; indeed, every foot that walks on your property be it human or horse, dog or cat, bird or bunny has the potential to introduce pestilence. Diseases are always looking for victims – we can never lower our guard!
Dear Veterinarian: My daughter was tacking up her horse when "Shadow" suddenly started coughing and pawing the ground. Moments later, green foam was coming out of her mouth. We called our veterinarian, who said that it sounded like "Shadow" was choking and not to panic, and that we should take away her food and water and that she'd get there as soon as she could. I thought she meant minutes, but is was more than an hour before she got to the sable and even then she moved in no particular hurry. Once she got there, it seemed no time at all before "Shadow" was relaxing from a sedative and the veterinarian was able to correct the problem with something she called a 'stomach tube.' While I was glad everything was better, shouldn't she have been more concerned? We were so worried.
Dear Pet Owner: Your question raises a number of issues and while you have every right to be confused and concerned, panic isn't necessary. Choking is the term everyone uses to describe the situation when something in your pharynx or trachea (air pipe) obstructs your breathing. It occurs commonly enough in people that we all recognize the term and the condition. In horses and other farm animals, however, it is very uncommon for the airway to become obstructed. For them, it's the food tube or esophagus that becomes obstructed. While the situation can be a life-threatening emergency for a person, with horses, concern is warranted but not sirens and whistles. As with people, improper chewing is the most common cause of the event. Once primary dental problems have been ruled out, management tactics to make your horse eat more slowly need to be employed. Many people have had success simply by placing a large rock in their horses feed tub, which the horse must eat a round. Your veterinarian is the best person to discuss the situation with and to make recommendations for your specific circumstances.
Dear Veterinarian: Bugs, my two-year-old white New Zealand rabbit, hasn't been acting well. The hair around his mouth is consistently wet as if he is drooling. He hasn't been as playful and his appetite has also decreased. Also, his teeth appear to be protruding from his mouth like small tusks. They never used to be like this.
Dear Pet Owner: Bunnies are not prone to cavities and you don't have to brush their teeth but this does not mean they are without dental problems. Your rabbit has a malocclusion, which means his front teeth, the incisors, are not growing straight. Rabbits, like most animals that mainly eat plants, grasses, and vegetables, have teeth that are always growing and are kept short by grinding against the opposite tooth. If the teeth start growing crooked, they will not wear down properly. Instead, the front teeth continue to grow and will begin to protrude from the mouth. This makes eating difficult. The long crooked teeth must be periodically cut short to control the problem, sometimes as often as once a month. A more difficult to detect condition occurs when the crooked teeth are the molars, the back teeth inside the cheeks. Painful mouth sores may develop as the overlong sharp edges of these teeth cut into the gums and tongue. A veterinarian must often use anesthesia to examine, diagnose, and treat this condition. These problems are usually inherited so it is important not to breed your bunny as his offspring may also develop malocclusion. The common name for this condition is slobbers, which describes the wetness around the mouth. With proper care, Bugs will have a long and happy life.
Dear Veterinarian: Four years ago I bought my ferret from a local pet store. He is neutered and descented and he primarily eats ferret food, though he does occasionally enjoy a piece of chicken or a jelly sandwich. Recently, he has been losing a lot of hair and his back is going bald. He's still eating and drinking normally and he remains playful but he's begun to scratch a lot and I'm getting concerned.
Dear Pet Owner: You are right to be concerned about your ferret's hair loss. There are several possible causes. He may have a mite burrowing under his skin that makes him scratch. He would have picked up this itchy parasite from playing with another ferret that was infested. The mite is too small to see and medicine must be given to rid him of this nuisance. Another possibility is that he may have a skin sensitivity to his bedding material. This can be helped by changing to a different material such as pine shavings instead of cedar. Also, it's important that his cage is cleaned often to prevent irritations from old discarded food and body wastes. Finally, and most likely, he may have a disease of his adrenal gland causing his body to produce too much estrogen hormone. This is a common and serious problem in ferrets over three years of age. Sometimes medicine can be used to control the disease and sometimes surgery is necessary. A veterinarian familiar with ferrets can help sort out these problems.
Dear Veterinarian: My family recently gave me a guinea pig for my birthday. While she will eat her own special food, she doesn't seem to especially like it so I supplement her meals with crunchy snacks such as pretzels. She seems to prefer these snacks more than her own food but I know that she cannot exist on human snacks alone. How can I encourage her to eat her food?
Dear Pet Owner: It is very important for guinea pigs to eat their own special food. They are one of the few creatures on earth, along with humans, new world monkeys, and fruit bats, that need a diet containing Vitamin C. This is already supplemented in commercial pelleted guinea pig food. Make sure when purchasing the food that it is fresh by checking the package for an expiration date. Vitamins will lose potency and you may need to add liquid vitamins to the food or water. Without enough vitamin C, guinea pigs develop nose and eye discharge, skin conditions and life-threatening weakness. You can give certain nutritious treats to your pet such as alfalfa hay and small amounts of green leafy vegetables like kale, cabbage, peppers, and spinach but no more than an ounce per day. These foods supply Vitamin C and are also a good source of fiber that aids in healthy digestion. Snacks and treats high in carbohydrates like crackers and pretzels can cause an overgrowth of harmful intestinal bacteria, leading to constipation, diarrhea, and illness. Also, don't forget to supply plenty of fresh water. Your guinea pig will drink up to a pint of water a day. So while an occasional people treat will not cause harm, be careful to stick to a nutritionally balanced meal plan for your guinea pig.
Dear Veterinarian: Two years ago a friend gave me a common green iguana, as she had purchased two. After research, with the proper diet, calcium, heat, and lighting, my iguana has thrived beautifully. He is 28 inches long, very green and healthy. My friend lost interest in hers and I said I would take it. I couldn't believe hers was the same age as mine. It had never received the proper diet, heat, lighting or calcium. In the three months I have had him, he is much greener and fatter but he hasn't grown any. He is only 17 inches long and I would like to know if this iguana is stunted. I was told that because of his early improper care, his life span could be cut in half. Will he get any bigger?
Dear Pet Owner: Unfortunately, the situation you describe is all too common with pet iguanas. There are some basic requirements that green iguanas need, and if these are not met, medical problems are very likely to occur. The diet for green iguanas usually consists of mostly vegetables (greens such as leafy lettuces, kale or spinach, tomatoes, etc.), fruits and melon and a protein source. Vitamin-mineral supplementation is essential. You mention calcium supplementation, but it is important to know that the calcium supplement should also have phosphorus and vitamin D3. Proper bone growth requires all three of these in the correct proportion. I normally recommend a multi vitamin-mineral supplement for iguanas instead of a "calcium only" supplement. Ultraviolet light is also necessary for proper calcium absorption. An artificial UV light source should be provided for approximately 12 hours per day.
Green iguanas are cold-blooded animas and therefore require a warm environment to raise their body temperature and increase their metabolic rate. The optimal temperature range for their enclosure should be between 85 and 100 degrees F. It is preferable to have a focal heat source at one end of the enclosure that allows the iguana to bask and then move to other areas to cool off.
It appears that you rescued this iguana in the nick of time. However, there is a good chance that this reptile will not grow to a normal length. And if growth does resume, it will be much slower than its counterpart. There are many factors that affect life span and malnutrition is certainly a contributor. A routine physical exam and blood tests would be helpful in determining if life threatening changes have occurred.
Dear Veterinarian: I own two white doves. Shortly after my female layed two eggs, which never resulted in live births, she began feather picking. Is she upset over the loss of her babies?
Dear Pet Owner: Feather picking in birds can be caused by a myriad of different reasons. Some medical reasons include infections of the skin or feathers with bacteria or viruses, sexual hormonal changes associated with egg laying, and organ diseases. Some environmental issues include extreme temperature changes, too high or too low humidity levels, allergen exposure, noise levels, cage location, etc. Some behavioral issues include boredom, loneliness, flock stress, attention seeking behavior, etc.. Birds can normally lay eggs that do not hatch into "baby" birds. Thus it is very unlikely that your dove is "upset" about her "babies". Most likely there are various hormonal changes associated with egg laying that are prompting her to do this behavior. It should resolve itself in a short time. See your local veterinarian to rule out other causes if this behavior persists.
Dear Veterinarian: My rabbit, Hopper, was just diagnosed with mites. I was told he got them from being around other rabbits but he is an only child. What do you think caused it?
Dear Pet Owner: There are a few different mites that typically can infect rabbits. The most common mite is the ear mite, Psoroptes cuniculi. This mite causes inflammation and crusting of the ears. It can be very painful and can spread elsewhere in the body. A fur mite, Cheyletiella parasitovorax, lives mostly on the fur of rabbits and can cause hair loss and a lot of dandruff. Hence the nickname "walking dandruff". Two types of mange, sarcoptes and demodex can also be present in the skin, but they are very rare. All mite infections are contagious from one rabbit to another. They can also be contracted through environmental exposure, and ear mites can also be carried by fleas. The mites do not always have to be present. Contact and infestation with eggs are possible too.
Although your rabbit is an "only child", he may have been exposed to mites from where you obtained him and the infection is just starting to show. Or, he was exposed from his litter in the cage or other environmental sources. Mites do not appear from "out of the blue", there always is a source of contamination.
There are very safe, effective treatments for mites. Sometimes the environment has to be treated also. Follow your veterinarian's treatment directions carefully, and your rabbit should do well.
Dear Veterinarian: I have two female guinea pigs that my children and I love very much. About a year ago, a veterinarian diagnosed one of them with a large mammary tumor. For financial reasons, we couldn't afford the surgery. Sine that time, we've noticed that the tumor has moved lower and closer to her genitals. She is eating and drinking just fine and seems to be in good health. Is this a common thing for guinea pigs and could it be life threatening? They are three-years old.
Dear Pet Owner: Mammary gland tumors do occur in guinea pigs, both males and females. These tumors generally occur in the groin area. As they enlarge they can gravitate toward the genital area. About 30% of the mammary gland tumors in guinea pigs are cancerous which are locally invasive but rarely spread to other areas. The majority of mammary gland tumors in guinea pigs are benign, usually fibroadenomas. Other possible causes of masses under the skin in the inguinal area can include hernias, inflammatory masses, abscesses and other tumors. My recommendation with any mass in a guinea pig is a surgical removal. Any mass removed should be sent to a veterinary pathologist to determine what type of mass it is. The reasons for surgical removal include prevention of ulceration, infection, and possible spread to other parts of the body.
Guinea pigs, as all pets, should have physical exams with their veterinarian at least yearly. Many people don't realize that veterinarians can treat even the smallest of pets. During these visits, many conditions and diseases can be detected and treated before severe complications arise. At the same time, your veterinarian can discuss husbandry, diet and any other special needs that your little friend has.
Dear Veterinarian: My older rabbit's urine appears chalky and she occasionally strains to relieve herself. She was spayed when she was 6 months old and she eats rabbit chow. What could be her problem?
Dear Pet Owner: Your rabbit may have developed hypercalciuria – excessive calcium deposits in the urine. This is a frequent condition affecting pet rabbits. Unlike other mammals, rabbits absorb all the calcium in their diet, regardless of whether the body needs it. It is then passed through the kidneys and urinary system. The urine can become thick and pasty, and calcium bladder stones may also form. These problems can make it very difficult for the bladder to fully empty, and the rabbit will strain to urinate.
Factors leading to excessive calcium carbonate accumulation in the urinary system include genetic disposition, insufficient water intake, lack of proper exercise, lack of adequate elimination area, kidney disease, bladder disease, urinary tract infection, and diets high in digestible calcium carbonate. Commercially available rabbit pellets are high in calcium carbonate. Decreasing pelleted feed and including fresh, fibrous, leafy greens (kale, Swiss chard, collards, chicory, carrot tops, etc. – not iceburg lettuce) may help. Rabbits only need 1/4 cup of pellets daily per 5 pounds of body weight. They also need hay (preferably fresh timothy hay because alfalfa hay has lots of calcium.)
Your veterinarian can help you and your rabbit by obtaining a full history of your rabbit's diet, environment, and daily activity. After your veterinarian performs a physical examination of your pet, she may recommend laboratory blood work, a urinalysis, x-rays, and perhaps an ultrasound to assess your rabbit's present health condition. Medications, surgery, and modification of the diet and environment may help alleviate your rabbit's condition and make her more comfortable.
Dear Veterinarian: Why is special lighting so important for my reptile?
Dear Pet Owner: Special light bulbs – known as UVA/UVB bulbs – provide a wavelength or spectrum of light, which is vital to a reptiles health. This differs entirely from the regular incandescent lighting that is used to heat many enclosures. There are multiple vendors of these special lights and most can be found at pet stores that deal with reptiles. When these bulbs are switched "on", the phosphors inside the bulb itself generate a wavelength of light, which upon reaching the reptile allow it to manufacture a special form of Vitamin D. This in turn allows calcium to be taken from the foods the reptile eats to be used throughout the body (as an example, for storage in strong bones). All too often veterinarians are faced with reptiles that suffer from a nutritional illness known as Metabolic Bone Disease or MBD. While there are many different factors that play a part of this complex, one of the chief issues has to deal with the type of lighting in the reptile's environment. All reptiles should have an annual physical examination at the veterinary office. Feel free to discuss lighting requirements with your veterinarian, who is trained to deal with exotic animals.
Dear Veterinarian: Our family's two Zebra Finches recently fell off their perches and dropped to their cage floor. They began to shiver as they walked around the bottom of the cage, then they collapsed to their sides and died. Earlier in the day, they appeared fine. I believe we were caring for them properly. What happened?
Dear Pet Owner: The most common cause of sudden death of multiple pet birds is 'Teflon Toxicity'. When various non-stick surfaces such as Teflon overheat, they release a gas that is colorless and odorless. This gas, although harmless to mammals, is extremely toxic to birds. Polytetrafluoroethylene gas is released when these coated surfaces are heated to above 530 degrees Fahrenheit. The lungs are the target organ for this gas. Sudden death is usually the only clinical sign. Death usually occurs too quickly for treatment to be initiated. Teflon and similar coatings can be found in many places in the home. Common sources include non-stick cookware, irons, ironing board covers and heat lamps. The source of the toxic gas does not have to be near the birds to be fatal. The typical history usually involves a member of the family using a non-stick fry pan in the kitchen, and shortly thereafter finding their pet birds in another part of the house dead. Due to the facts that the gas is so toxic to birds and there is really no easy way to know when the Teflon surface is overheated, we recommend not using Teflon type cookware when birds are in the same household.
Dear Veterinarian: I am worried that my bird may have a problem, as he seems to be losing feathers. Could you explain some of the common causes of feather loss in birds?
Dear Pet Owner: There are multiple causes of feather loss in birds and some are actually normal. For example, normal molting may be mistaken for excessive feather picking. A bird's molting season varies with the breed. Some molt once, while others molt continuously. If the molting is normal, then you will see pin feathers on the head; these are in an area that the bird cannot reach if it is having a feather picking problem. Also, you will notice many feathers on the bottom of the cage. Birds may spend long periods of time preening themselves during this period. In fact, there may be so many feathers on the bottom of the cage that it may be mistaken for dandruff.
Some areas are normally devoid of feathers, which appear between the feather tracts. Feather picking is a problem, and can also be associated with self mutilation. Psittacine birds, which are very social, are the most affected by this. It can be the result of jealousy, boredom, fear, frustration and other emotions. Bacterial and external parasites as causes are uncommon. Potential medical causes include: malnutrition, intestinal parasites, liver disease, and food allergy. A thorough history and medical examination is necessary to help overcome this problem. Blood work, fecal exam, radiographs, and skin biopsies may be necessary. The effective therapy will be based on the veterinarian's exam and findings. There is not one single therapy that is right for every bird, and the problem may be lifelong. Some examples of treatment include: parasite treatment, improving the social life of the bird, adding more activity to it's daily routine, getting a cagemate, vitamin supplements, antihistamines, and elizabethan collars. Beak grinding or notching is NOT recommended.
There can also be feather loss that is not associated with actual feather plucking. Causes can include mite infestation, damage to the feather follicle, genetic causes, malnutrition, viral infection, and hormonal disturbances.
Due to the variety of causes for feather loss, be sure to speak to your veterinarian to make sure your bird is healthy.
Dear Veterinarian: My three-year-old rabbit sneezes a lot. I don't have any other animals. Could she have allergies or does she have a cold?
Dear Pet Owner: There are a number of different reasons why rabbits sneeze. The mouth should be examined for any teeth or gum infections. The environment must be checked to see if there is excessive dust or dirt in the cage. The nose must be examined to see if any nasal discharge is present. Is the sneezing a dry sneeze or a wet sneeze? Are the eyes affected? Are there any other lumps or abscesses elsewhere on the body? Rabbits do not typically get a "cold". It is a human virus that infects the respiratory tract. Also, rabbits do not typically show allergies by having a stuffy nose. Skin irritations usually show itself as an allergy or inflamed eyes. Rabbits can, however, get a chronic Pasteurella infection (sniffles) that can show itself in the upper respiratory tract (the nasal passages). This bacteria can be dormant in rabbits and suddenly appear after a stress, or the rabbit can be infected by having contact with another rabbit. This bacteria can chronically infect the nasal passages and cause abscesses throughout the body. It is very difficult to fully rid a rabbit of this bacteria. Antibiotics can help and sometimes surgery is needed to cut out any abscesses that may develop elsewhere in the body. Your rabbit should get a complete health examination by a veterinarian familiar with rabbits and their health.
Dear Veterinarian: My parrot drinks a lot of water and I'm worried. Do parrots get diabetes?
Dear Pet Owner: Parrots can drink excessive amounts of water for many reasons. Diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lack of humidity, salty foods, behavioral abnormality, etc. Diabetes in birds usually occurs in females and can be related to reproductive activity or disorders of the reproductive tract. The best thing to do is to take your parrot to your avian veterinarian for a physical exam and work-up. The work-up may include blood tests, X-rays, cultures of the chloaca and choana, etc. Also bring the paper on the bottom of the cage so your veterinarian can observe the droppings. The color, consistency, and size of the droppings can aid in a diagnosis. Have a description of your bird's diet (everything he eats) and a description of his environment (how big is the cage?, what type of cage?, are there other birds or animals around?, where does he sit in the room?, etc..). Birds can hide their illnesses very well. If a bird is showing that he is sick, the condition can be already quite severe. Veterinarians therefore rely heavily on testing to formulate a diagnosis. Experience of the doctor is also very important.
Remember most of the pet birds we have now were at some point in their genealogy captured from the wild rainforests. A bird is the healthiest when he is flying free around the jungle or forest and not sitting in one little cage all of their lives. Make sure that any bird you have has been domestically hand raised to alleviate any potential captivity stress. His environment may not be the jungle, but we can try as best we can to offer as similar diet as possible.


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The beginnings of the world's greatest job fair, the NFL Scouting Combine, began back in 1977, when each team decided that, instead of conducting individual workouts for prospective pro gridders, they should share information, which they did by gathering into three different scouting services, National, Blesto and Quadra (how they came up with these names is a story for a different post). This still somewhat clunky system was streamlined in 1984, when the workouts were moved to one site. As the draft has grown in popularity, so has the Combine. Now, it's put under a 24-hour media microscope, and the slightest differences in players are debated endlessly.
What are we debating, exactly? On Monday, Dave offered a great intro to the Combine's various dates and drills. As the NFL Network's non-stop Combine coverage is due to start later this week, I thought I'd piggyback on our fearless leader's fine work and examine each of these drills in greater detail so that our fine BTB readers might better understand what these drills ask players to do and what specific abilities they test. Today, I'll take a look at the tests that (almost) every player will be asked to take; in subsequent editions, I'll delve further into the various position-specific drills.
Here are the basic tests. Bonus points for naming the recording artists and songs from each title...
Such Great Heights: physical measurements
Each player in attendance will be measured for height, weight, arm length and hand size. Many college sports information departments tend to fudge player sizes and weights, and players' bodies change over the course of a season, so it's important to get accurate measurements of all players using the same measuring equipment. For linemen, arm length is crucial, as a shorter-armed guy is going to have a hard time getting his hands securely on a longer-armed opponent; a short-armed OT will probably have to kick in to play offensive guard. For positions like wide receiver and offensive line, hand size is important. Dez Bryant, for example, has huge hands, which allow him to handle passes that might give small-handed receiver fits. Also running backs and linemen's body fat percentages are measured using a machine known as the "bod pod." I'd assume Georgia defensive tackle Jonathan Jenkins requires an extra large pod...
Run Like Hell: the 40 yard dash
This is the simplest of drills: from a three-point stance, a player runs 40 yards as fast as he can. The 40-yard dash is one of the most popular drills at the combine--so much so that NFL Network analyst Rich Eisen runs one every year, in his suit and sneaks (needless to say, he's slower that the fattest d-linemen). In a league that places such a high premium on speed, it's the "40" where perimeter/ space players make their money; every tenth of a second can greatly impact a player's draft position and, by extension, his status in the league, how he's perceived by the media, and his financial future.
The 40 time measures more than mere speed, however. It also gauges power and acceleration. Typically, split times are recorded at the 10 and 20 yard marks. Scouts time the first 10 to see how quickly a player can get off the blocks. In fact, the first 10 is more important for offensive and defensive linemen than the 40, as the 10-yard time reflects explosion off the ball (also important for wide receivers). For defensive backs, the 10 offers a barometer of closing speed. The 20-yard time, on the other hand, measures what scouts term "long speed." If a player accelerates over the course of 20 yards, rather than maintaining his 10-yard speed, then he has long speed. This is important for perimeter players - receivers, running backs, DBs - as it measures their ability to create or to prevent "explosive" breakaway-type plays.
The Weight: the bench press
The bench press is also quite simple: each player lifts 225 lbs. as many times as he can. The bench press is most important for offensive and defensive linemen, as it measures raw upper body strength and the ability to "punch" or get opposing players off balance. Further, it shows a player's anaerobic conditioning and, by extension, his ability to engage at full strength in the fourth quarter. It's also performed by running backs and linebackers to determine overall strength, power and fitness
(Might as Well) Jump: the vertical and broad jumps
In both of these tests, players jump straight up (vertical) or straight forward (broad) from a neutral start, without using a first step for momentum. For the vertical jump, each player stands flat-footed in front of a pole that has stacked plastic tabs attached to it. Each tab rotates around the pole when hit; players jump and try to swat the highest tab possible; naturally, all the lower tabs are swatted along with it, so it makes for good TV: the jumper creates a wide swath of swatted tabs.
The vertical jump records a prospect's leg explosiveness; the broad jump measures the strength, explosion, and power of a player's entire lower body. From a standing position, the player jumps forward off two feet as far as he can. By showing explosiveness, players demonstrate their ability to get up for jump balls, to gain leverage on opposing linemen, or to burst through blocks or tackles.
With the Quickness: the shuttles and three-cone drill
Although the 40 is the media darling of Combine drills, scouts and coaches place as much, if not more, import on good drill times that feature fluid lateral movement and the ability to quickly change direction over raw speed - especially if they represent teams, like the Cowboys, who value quickness as much if not more than speed. The two shuttles and the 3-cone drill each challenge a player's athleticism, balance, and change of direction. In other words, when the cones come out, the Raiders' scouts go grab a beer.
20 and 60-yard shuttles:
Both the short and long shuttles are based on the same concept: change of direction. For the short shuttle, when the whistle blows, prospective players run five yards to one side, touching the yard line. They then sprint 10 yards in the other direction and again touch the yard line, at which point they sprint back to the yard line from which they started. In the 60-yard shuttle, the prospect runs five yards, then back to the starting point, then turns and runs ten yards, then back, and finally 15 yards and back, for a total of 60 yards.
The short shuttle tests a player's change of direction and overall coordination. By asking a prospect to stop at a specific point and to turn and accelerate in the opposite direction, scouts can see how he cuts in open field and get a sense whether or not he is a "quick twitch" athlete. The long shuttle not only tests this but, as a special bonus, adds endurance and focus under duress; successful prospects demonstrate that they are not only able to go sideline to sideline, but that they can continue to do so when fatigued. Thus coaches have some sense of a player's ability to maintain technique late in games, when he is tired. Can they, as Jimmy Johnson famously said, "allow the mind to control the body, not the body control the mind"?
Three-cone drill:
The three-cone drill is the daddy of all agility drills, as it combines aspects of all the other tests in one devastating package. The three-cone is an agility test where players run around three cones placed in the shape of an "L," with five yards between each cone. Each prospect starts in a three-point stance, then sprints from the base point of the L to the "elbow," touches a line, and goes back to the starting point. He then runs to the elbow, cuts around the outside, weaves through the top of the L, goes back around the elbow and finishes at his starting point. This peculiar circuit tests a prospect's ability to bend, pivot and shift body weight.
By asking prospects to move quickly while having to cut at certain points and bend over - at a full sprint -scouts can learn a lot. For example, they use the three-cone to tell how well a running back changes direction, to measure his burst between cuts and to evaluate his body control as he bends and leans. Receivers can show how well they maintain their center and keep their hips dropped when they make cuts and run routes. Back seven players can prove to scouts that they can be flexible as the play develops and still maintain quickness and speed as they cut to find the ball carrier.
The following table represents the target scores for each position group for all the tests in which each group will be expected to participate. Note that DT, QB, and OL are not required to run the 60-yd shuttle, nor are QBs and WRs (or kickers, except David Buehler!) expected to lift, though they are free to do so.
Test | QB | WR | RB | TE | FB | OL | What is Evaluated? |
40 yd dash | 4.90 | 4.55 | 4.60 | 4.85 | 4.85 | 5.3 | Speed over distance |
10yd split-40 | 1.70 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.8 | Initial Burst |
20 yd split-40 | 2.85 | 2.70 | 2.65 | 2.80 | 2.80 | 3.05 | Long Speed |
225lb bench press | N/A | N/A | 22 | 22 | 22 | 25 | Upper body strength; endurance |
Vertical Jump | 30 | 36 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 28 | Leg strength; explosiveness |
Broad Jump | 9'0" | 10'0" | 9'6" | 9'6" | 9'3" | 8'4" | Power and explosiveness |
20yd shuttle | 4.30 | 4.20 | 4.25 | 4.30 | 4.30 | 4.70 | Burst, change of direction |
60yd shuttle | N/A | 11.5 | 11.6 | 11.8 | 11.8 | N/A | Endurance, flexibility, balance |
3-cone drill | 7.25 | 7.10 | 7.20 | 7.30 | 7.35 | 7.85 | Agility, hips, change of direction |
Test | DT | DE | ILB | OLB | CB | S | What is Evaluated? |
40 yd dash | 5.15 | 4.85 | 4.80 | 4.75 | 4.50 | 4.60 | Speed over distance |
10yd split-40 | 1.80 | 1.70 | 1.70 | 1.65 | 1.60 | 1.65 | Initial Burst |
20 yd split-40 | 2.95 | 2.80 | 2.80 | 2.75 | 2.65 | 2.70 | Long Speed |
225lb bench press | 27 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 14 | 17 | Upper body strength; endurance |
Vertical Jump | 30 | 33 | 33 | 36 | 36 | 36 | Leg strength; explosiveness |
Broad Jump | 8'6" | 9'6" | 9'6" | 9'9" | 10'0" | 10'0" | Power and explosiveness |
20yd shuttle | 4.60 | 4.35 | 4.30 | 4.20 | 4.10 | 4.15 | Burst, change of direction |
60yd shuttle | N/A | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.6 | 11.3 | 11.4 | Endurance, flexibility, balance |
3-cone drill | 7.75 | 7.40 | 7.30 | 7.20 | 7.00 | 7.10 | Agility, hips, change of direction |
In addition to these skills tests, potential draftees are put through a battery of interviews, medical exams, and mental and/ or psychological assessments. Here's what those look like:
The Test: Additional Assessments
Team Interviews: Each NFL team can chose up to 60 prospects at the combine to interview. The interviews are held at the hotel where the prospects stay and believe me questions can really, really vary.
Injury Evaluation: Each prospect will go through X-rays and physicals to determine their current injuries and their injury histories. Injured prospects coming into the combine will get serious looks. Few prospects really come out of the combine with injuries they did not know they already had. Also each prospect will take a urine test to check for substances that are not allowed in the NFL.
The Cybex Test: The Cybex Test will test the flexibility and joint movement of each prospect. Each prospect will be hooked to a machine which will determine their results. The test doesn't look like the most important test prospects must go through, but rest assured that previously-injured prospect's Cybex results will get serious looks from coaches and front office personnel when they are considering where (or whether) to put these players on their boards.
The Wonderlic Test: The wonderlic test is similar to the I.Q. test everyone in the world knows of. Although the Wonderlic is definitely is not the same. The Wonderlic taken at the Combine takes 12 minutes and contains 50 questions. The test is also designed so most prospects do not finish in time. If you want to try your hand at one, go here.
New Assessment for 2013: This year, the NFL will implement a new, expanded player-assessment test designed, according to an NFL memo, to provide a comprehensive look at a player's "non-physical capabilities, aptitudes and strengths." Apparently, the new assessment tool is not being introduced as a replacement for any other tests (read: Wonderlic) but rather as a way to provide new measurements over a range of non-physical capabilities.
Ultimately, good scouting still relies on game tape. However, there are players every year with mediocre tape who wow scouts in these drills--and end up proving to be good players at the next level. So, as you sit down next week to watch a bunch of behemoths run around some little orange cones, think about what abilities are being tested - and what kind of skill sets you want donning the star in the coming season.
Next: a look at the offensive players' position-specific Combine drills.


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5 fan boy's come on !!!!!Posted: 03/09/2011i have a ps3 and an xbox360.......sorry ps3 but this is one reason to own xbox360 ... the game is wicked and yeah if it was on ps3 i'd buy it ............xbox v ps3 ..get over it kid's there both top console's
Motorstorm: Pacific Rift (Platinum) PlayStation3 2 New from €15.98 Free delivery Available used from €7.49
5 why 1 and 2 star ??????Posted: 15/02/2011great game . i think its alot better than the first motorstorm in looks and gameplay . online is fun too... not so many on there now tho. if you can get this on here for around 6 pound pre-owened you got a bargain .......happy gaming
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5 the best fps ever madePosted: 12/02/2011still to this day just has somrthink about it ..gameplay...guns...maps..ranking up....had this game for years now and still play it ......its the best online fsp of all time so far ....XxthejjxX
5 well............Posted: 03/12/2010well i traded gt5 in and got this and ........ wow puts gt5 to shame with speed . love this game and im so glad i got this game . see you on the track .......
5 this game is ..........wickedPosted: 03/11/2010everythink about this game is wicked ....... camra problems?? its not that bad . yes it would have been better with a full 360 but it is what it is ...........buy it now and get ready for the ride ... on .... spiders...egales....and much more ..... lol ......enjoy .
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5 one for the collection !!!!!!Posted: 22/05/2010great game . great online . you just gotta find a gun you love tho.. as some you will hate lol . add on maps are 5 star too . all in all.................... 5 star . a must have
5 at last a game made with love ...............Posted: 22/03/2010not going to go on and on and on about how good this game is ..................but it 1 of the best iv played and iv played a lotbuy and enjoy its stunning
5 its hard but .................wickedPosted: 13/03/2010this game is stunning . hard at first but once your used to it ..........it rocksmarveldude16 need to upgrade his 1mb internet and try the full game. we all need easy target practice . buy and enjoy
4 buy it for the micsPosted: 14/02/2010mics are wicked game is ..................................pants..... unless you love high school musical 1.2.3 .....i dont!4 star for mics. 1star for game


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Beau Howell, a high school student with autism from Trinity Classical scored the final basket in their section championship game.
More...Peter Lanza, the father of Sandy Hook Killer Adam Lanza, breaks his silence in interviews with The New Yorker
More...More than 50 people rappelled down the Hyatt Regency Phoenix to raise money and awareness as part of Over the Edge with Autism Speaks
More...Guests celebrate the Grand Prix and bring awareness to autism at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida
More...Pulitzer-Prize winner's memoir describes his journey to connect with his son Owen, who has autism; read an excerpt in NY Times Magazine
More...Christina Sankey, a non-verbal 29-year-old woman with autism who went missing on Thursday, has been found dead.
More...22-year-old Rachel Canning from Tampa Bay has turned negative attention into a positive effort to help Autism Speaks
More...Researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, executives, healthcare professionals and autism-service providers gather in San Francisco


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U.S. Soccer Wire: Jan. 18, 2011
Catch up on all the news and notes from your favorite Men's, Women's & Youth National Teams
Jan. 18, 2011
U.S. MNT TO FACE ARGENTINA AND PARAGUAY IN MARCH: The U.S. will take on two-time FIFA World Cup Champion Argentina on March 26 in East Rutherford, N.J. Kickoff at the New Meadowlands Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Univision. Three days later, the U.S. hosts Paraguay at LP Field in Nashville. The match will be televised live on an ESPN network and TeleFutura beginning at 7 p.m. CT. Fans can follow both matches live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer. Tickets for both games go on sale to the public Friday, Jan. 21, at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT through ussoccer.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Tickets for the Argentina game are also available at Ticketmaster outlets throughout the New York/New Jersey area, at the New Meadowland Stadium ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and at the IZOD Center ticket office (open Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.). For the Paraguay game, Ticketmaster outlets throughout Central Tennessee (including Kroger stores) and the LP Field ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) will carry tickets.
U.S. MNT AND CHILE FACE OFF ON SATURDAY, JAN. 22, AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER: TeleFutura and ESPN3.com will broadcast the U.S. Men's National Team's first match of 2011 when they face Chile on Saturday, Jan. 22, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The kickoff time has been moved to 7 p.m. PT. Fans can also follow the match live via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer. Tickets starting at $18, plus special edition U.S. Soccer on-field seats for $150, are on sale now through ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers throughout Southern California (including many Walmart and La Curacao locations). Fans can also buy tickets at The Home Depot Center weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Follow the MNT Blog from Carson, Calif.
U.S. MNT Roster by Position Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (4): Dominic Cervi (Celtic), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Matt Pickens (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): A.J. DeLaGarza (Los Angeles Galaxy), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Ryan Miller (Halmstads BK), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Anthony Wallace (Colorado Rapids), Marvell Wynne (Colorado Rapids)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Eric Alexander (FC Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Sam Cronin (San Jose Earthquakes), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabaek), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Dax McCarty (D.C. United), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Eugene Starikov (Zenit St. Petersburg), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
U.S. Men's National Team 2011 Schedule
ussoccer.com's MNT Coverage
- Videos: Inside the Lines – Jan. 11 | Inside the Lines – Jan. 18
- Features: Wallace – Through the Ranks | Braun and Ihemelu Depart
- Tickets: MNT vs. Chile | MNT vs. Argentina | MNT vs. Paraguay
- Studio 90: Jan. 13 | Jan. 14 | Jan. 18
- MNT Blog | U.S. Soccer on Twitter | Studio 90 on Twitter
U.S. WNT SET TO FACE SWEDEN AS 23 PLAYERS TRAVEL TO CHINA: U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage has named 23 players to the roster for the 2011 Four Nations Tournament taking place in Chongqing, China, where the USA will face Sweden, Canada and the host. With the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup commencing in late June, the tournament will be a key part of Sundhage's crafting of the eventual Women's World Cup roster as the USA takes on three strong nations, including Sweden, which is the USA's third Group C opponent at the Women's World Cup in Germany. Follow the WNT Blog from China
U.S. WNT Roster by Position
Detailed Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart (out of contract), Ashlyn Harris (Western New York Flash)
DEFENDERS (7): Rachel Buehler (Boston Breakers), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (out of contract), Christie Rampone (out of contract) Becky Sauerbrunn (Washington Freedom), Brittany Taylor (Sky Blue FC)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Yael Averbuch (Western New York Flash), Shannon Boxx (out of contract), Tobin Heath (Sky Blue FC), Meghan Klingenberg (Washington Freedom), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Kelley O'Hara (Boston Breakers), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Philadelphia Independence), Lindsay Tarpley (out of contract)
FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Sydney Leroux (UCLA), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence)
ussoccer.com's WNT Coverage
- Features: Letter from Yael | Four Nations Tournament History
- Video: WNT Arrives in China
- Four Nations Tournament Home
- 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup: Home | Groups
- U-23 WNT Feature: Pressing Matters with Christen Press
- WNT Blog | WNT on Twitter
U.S. TO HOST 2012 CONCACAF MEN'S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT: On Monday, the CONCACAF EXCO awarded the 2012 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament to the United States. The venues and dates of the tournament are still to be determined. The U.S. also hosted the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Qualifying Tournament, playing in three venues: The Home Depot Center (Carson, Calif.), Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Fla.) and LP Field (Nashville, Tenn.). The U.S. and Honduras qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
U-20 MNT ROUND OUT 12-DAY TRAINING CAMP IN FLORIDA: U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team head coach Thomas Rongen finished a 12-day training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on Jan. 13. The U-20 Men have participated in an intrasquad scrimmage and played against local teams as they prepare for the U-20 CONCACAF Championship in April, where the team will look to qualify for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup. A majority of the qualifying roster will likely come from the training camp, which was the final get together ahead of the trip to Guatemala.
ussoccer.com's U-20 MNT Coverage
U.S. U-20 WNT OPENS NEW CYCLE IN FLORIDA: The first U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team training camp of the new cycle is currently underway in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. from Jan. 15-22. This will be the beginning of the new cycle working towards qualifying for the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Players born on or after Jan. 1, 1992 are eligible for that tournament, which has yet to be awarded to a nation by FIFA. Twenty-four players have convened under the direction of Dave Chesler, almost all of whom have experience with the younger age groups of the USA's youth national teams at the U-18, U-17, U-15 and U-14 levels.
U-20 WNT Roster By Position
GOALKEEPERS (2): Emily Oliver (Stanford; Flossmoor, Ill.), Anna Sieloff (North Carolina; Troy, Mich.)
DEFENDERS (8): Torri Allen (Georgia; Stafford, Va.), Abby Dahlkemper (MVLA Avalanche; Menlo Park, Calif.), Crystal Dunn (North Carolina; Rockville Centre, N.Y.), Jaelene Hinkle (Real Colorado; Denver, Colo.), Briana Hovington (Penn State; Lothian, Md.), Julie Johnston (Santa Clara; Mesa, Ariz.), Mollie Pathman (Duke; Durham, N.C.), Carrie Whigham (Oklahoma; Phoenix, Ariz.)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Ponte Vedra Storm; St. Simons Islands, Ga.), Rikki Clarke (Solar Red; Keller, Texas), Alex Doll (Bethesda SC; Bethesda, Md.), Lindsay Elston (Washington; Sammamish, Wash.), Mandy Laddish (Notre Dame; Lee's Summit, Mo.), Ariana Martinez (UCLA; Moore Park, Calif.), Samantha Mewis (Scorpions SC; Hanson, Mass.), Chioma Ubogagu (D'Feeters; Coppel, Texas)
FORWARDS (6): Michelle Cruz (Portland; Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Arin Gilliland (Ohio Elite; Wilmore, Ky.), Maya Hayes (Penn State; West Orange, N.J.), Kealia Ohai (North Carolina; Draper, Utah), Taylor Smith (Solar Red; Ft. Worth, Texas), Katie Stengel (Wake Forest; Melbourne, Fla.)
CABRERA NAMES 40-PLAYER ROSTER FOR SPRING SEMESTER OF U-17 RESIDENCY: U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team head coach Wilmer Cabrera has finalized the 40 players who will train during the spring semester of U.S. Soccer's Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. Cabrera will choose from these 40 players the roster that will represent the U.S. at the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in February. The U.S. has been drawn into Group B of the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, which will serve as qualifying for the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and will play Cuba on Feb. 14 and Panama on Feb. 18, in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
View Full U-17 Residency Roster on ussoccer.com
U.S. U-14 BOYS' NATIONAL TEAM IN GUADALAJARA FOR ANNUAL FOREIGN TRAINING CAMP: The U.S. U-14 Boys' National Team is set for its lone international training of 2011, an annual trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, from Jan. 16-23 that will include eight days of training and a series of friendly matches against local youth clubs, including Atlas and Chivas de Guadalajara. Every player on the roster was born in 1997, and were identified through the yearly player identification camp (held in August 2010) and U.S. Soccer Training Centers. Of the 36 players on the roster, 23 were part of the team's trip to the Disney Thanksgiving Interregional event in Orlando, Fla., in November. That event marked the second for the 1997 group under U-14 Boys' head coach Manny Schellscheidt. Players born in 1996 have now advanced to the Under-15 level.
U.S. U-14 BNT Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (4): Cameron Keys (Lehigh Valley United FC; Whitehall, Pa.), JT Marcinkowski (Mustangs FC; Alamo, Calif.), Parker Siegfried (Newark Area SA; Granville, Ohio), Justin Vom Steeg (Santa Barbara SC; Santa Barbara ,Calif.)
DEFENDERS (10): Billy Abdallah (Cosmos Academy West; Monterey Park, Calif.), Guillermo Bermudez (Albion SC; San Diego, Calif.), Peter Brown (Grand Rapids Crew; Walker, Mich.), Chester Castellaw (Real So Cal; Hidden Hills, Calif.), Malcolm Jones (Cosmos Academy West; Chino Hills, Calif.), Benny Lorca (Real So Cal; Oxnard, Calif.), Jean Orvil Jr (West Pines United; Miramar, Fla.), Erik Pritschau (PFC; Perry, Ohio), Tommy Redding (FC America Premier; Oviedo, Fla.), Max Stiegwardt (Minnesota Thunder; Maple Grove, Minn.)
MIDFIELDERS (16): Mukwelle Akale (Minnesota Thunder; Minneapolis, Minn.), Julian Castro (Concordia Royal; Lorain, Ohio), Jeremy Colvin (Houstonians FC; Houston, Texas), Coy Craft (Fusion FC; Glade Spring Va.), Collin Fernandez (Chicago Fire Academy; Downer's Grove, Ill.), Chris Gomez (PDA; Jamison, Pa.), Cameron Lindley (Carmel United; Carmel, Ind.), Kostandin Moni (Crew Juniors; Grand Rapids, Mich.), Caleb Moore (Discoveries SC; Rock Hill, S.C.), Pablo Pelaez (Albion SC; San Diego, Calif.), Peter Schropp (Omaha FC; Omaha, Neb.), Shannon Seymour (Chicago Fire Academy; Bourbonnais, Ill.), Benjamin Swanson (Columbus Crew; Grove City, Ohio), Alejandro Vergara (Cosmos Academy West; Long Beach, Calif.), David Villegas (Elk Grove Everton; Sacramento, Calif.), Sean Wilson (PDA; Bethlehem, Pa.)
FORWARDS (6): Malcolm Dixon (NY Red Bulls Academy; Glenridge, N.J.), Stephen Elias (Beachside SC; Rye, N.Y.), Alex Knox (Carmel United; Carmel, Ind.), Christian Lucatero (Houstonian FC; Pasadena, Texas), Amirgy Pineda (Fullerton Rangers; Santa Ana, Calif.), Dylan Smith (Fullerton Rangers; Anaheim Hills, Calif.)
U.S. SOCCER COACHESNET ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR BRAZIL AND GERMANY/NETHERLANDS TRIPS IN MARCH 2011: In an effort to continue providing unique coaching opportunities to its membership, U.S. Soccer's CoachesNet announces plans to offer educational trips to Brazil and to Germany and the Netherlands. Entering its third year, the aim of U.S. Soccer's international coaching education program is to expose U.S. coaches to other federations and clubs to learn the steps they take to develop their coaches and players. Attendees interact directly with top-level coaches, administrators and players from some of the best clubs and countries in the world. Scheduled to take place March 17-25, 2011, coaches will visit five-time FIFA World Cup Champion Brazil, host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The coaching education workshop in Germany and the Netherlands will take place from April 28 – May 6, 2011 and will mark the 40th anniversary of U.S. Soccer's Coaching Education Program which began under the direction of Dettmar Cramer.
PEAK PERFORMER: U.S. Men's National Team midfielder Maurice Edu sealed a 4-0 win for his club side Rangers over the weekend win he struck a left-footed shot from the top of the area for his second league goal of the season. The win moved Rangers to within two points of their rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League table with two games in hand.
MARQUEE MATCHUPS: The U.S. Men's National Team plays its first match of 2011 against Chile on Saturday, Jan. 22, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The kickoff time has been moved to 7 p.m. PT and fans can follow the match live via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer. The U.S. Women also get their 2011 Four Nations Tournament campaign underway on Jan. 21, when they face Sweden – who also happen to be a Group C opponent in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.
QUOTABLE: "Coming back from this situation, I have a lot to prove. There's always going to be opportunities, but you have to earn them and an experience like this shows how you can take the little things for granted, like just being able to run. It sounds so silly, but when you can't do it, it's not so amusing." – U.S. WNT midfielder Tobin Heath on coming back from a lengthy time on the sidelines due to injury


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Saturday, 22 December 2012
12 comments:
- Anonymous22 December 2012 19:29
Very over the top bitchy and gay. And this is coming from a gay guy.
ReplyDelete - Jeremy Langmead24 December 2012 09:55
genius!and so full of festive joy!I think there should be a Hapsical Christmas movie
ReplyDelete - Anonymous28 December 2012 18:46
Best wishes to you. You and your blog has been very important to me in several levels.
-Antti from Finland - Anonymous29 December 2012 06:28
I want your babies, despite my lack of uterus, I think we could make it work xoxo


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School Council |
Purpose Recognizing the need to improve communication and participation of parents and the community in the management and operation of local schools, the General Assembly of Georgia and the Burke County School District believe parent and community support is critical to the success of students and schools. The intent is to bring communities and schools together in a spirit of cooperatino to solve different education problems, improve academic achievement, provide suppport for teachers and administrators, and bring parents into the schoo-based decision-making process. The School council will provide advice, recommendations, and represent the community of parents and businesses. The School Council is comprised of parents, community members, teachers, and the Principal. They meet a minimum of four times during the school year to discuss the operation and progress of our school and to make recommendations for continuous school improvement. |
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Great Ideas for Best Birthday Wishes
0303 days
Birthday Wishes
The special moments of birthday which comes only once in a year are something very special for all of us. On such a special event we simply feel out of the world when we receive a cheerful message from our loved ones. Birthday wishes are simply a way to show that we care and it adds more charm and joy to someone's day. There are several ways of sending birthday wishes to the one we love and care about.
Here are few creative ideas to make the birthday of your beloved one special; (more…)
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- Unique Birthday Cake Ideas – Just Personalize it as You Like!


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Outrage Is Suddenly Bad
During the last three months, the mainstream media and their friends in the Democratic Party have focused obsessively on a so-called "War on Women."
When the Susan G. Komen Foundation decided to stop funding abortion provider Planned Parenthood, partly because Planned Parenthood doesn't perform any mammograms and partly because it was hurting the Foundation's ability to raise money from people who don't love abortion, it erupted into a firestorm. Planned Parenthood fans such as NBC anchor Andrea Mitchell lied about Planned Parenthood performing mammograms and belittled and berated any suggestion that dropping a couple hundred thousand dollars in funds to an abortion provider was in any way justified or wise. This outrage lasted for weeks. I wrote about how the mainstream media perpetrated and advanced false narratives concerning this topic for weeks.
Immediately on the heels of this, we saw how the mainstream media, Democratic leaders and abortion rights activists reframed principled objection to Obama administration violations of religious liberty as a furthering of a so-called "War on Women." When women testified to their objections to this violation, they were ignored. The meme was relentless. For months. It may be ongoing, in fact.
When Rush Limbaugh used impolitic language to describe a woman who believed that her right to free birth control trumped religious liberty, there was little else covered by the media for weeks. Weeks. Even though it was obvious that the entire kerfuffle was advanced as part of a highly orchestrated public relations campaign connected to the White House.
So this week, when top Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen misfired in her attempts to mock the Romney family's wealth, instead mocking motherhood itself, there was quite a bit of pent-up outrage. I'm a stay-at-home mother and I resent the attitude advanced by feminists that raising children is unimportant work. I could argue it's the most important job out there, actually. I said my piece and moved on. The media did have a field day with the story, however.
Now, will media coverage last for the unending days, weeks and months that stories targeting those with traditional values did? We'll have to wait and see. But already we have tons of pundits condemning the "faux outrage" over the story. Not all the outrage, mind you -- the condemnations from both Obamas and the entire Obama campaign is apparently fine -- just the outrage from stay-at-home mothers and their political allies.
I find the outrage game exhausting myself, admittedly.
Matt Lewis writes a plea at The Daily Caller to his fellow Republicans to stop mentioning the Rosen attack on mothers. At GQ, Marc Ambinder suddenly discovers the "outrage industry" and has unkind things to say about it. And on Twitter and on various news programs, people developing a newfound disgust of political cliches and outrage tactics are too numerous to mention.
It's fascinating to me how the calls for censorship of Rush lasted only so long as the elite realized that such demands that women be spoken well of were going to hurt them far more than conservatives (see, for example, Obama megadonor Bill Maher worrying about fallout and comedian Louis C.K. having to cancel his appearance at the D.C. radio and television correspondents dinner).
And while it was fine to subject women such as myself to months of unrelenting media coverage ignoring our First Amendment concerns and rewriting those concerns as a "war on women," now when the shoe is on the other foot, we decide it's time to stop with such cliches.
I'm more than fine with people condemning "too much outrage" over the Hilary Rosen remarks. But if those people didn't spend weeks condemning the media water-carrying of the Sandra Fluke public relations campaign, as I did, then they will forgive me for not taking their concerns too seriously here.
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Sort of like dissent, which stopped being patriotic in January 2009.
- #1 ·
- April 13, 2012 at 7:30am ·
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One's cynicism about the outrage at "faux outrage" is only heightened by the knowledge that Hilary Rosen is a PR executive.
Among whose clients is Sandra Fluke.
Nonsense--this was a Kinsleyan gaffe, and the speed with which the Obama campaign backpedaled clearly indicates how seriously they view it.
Their overweening contempt for traditional ("real") motherhood, and traditional ("real") families, was shown for all to see. And they cannot--cannot--let that meme exist in the public consciousness.
- #2 ·
- April 13, 2012 at 7:31am ·
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Hillary Rosen is a pundit and operates a media consulting company. Her company provides the media support to Ms Fluke.
It is not unreasonable to assume that she had some part in the strategy to create the media narrative of the "war on women" a war that she rightly labels "faux".
What you witnessed was a person lobbing a hand grenade and having it 'cook-off' in their hand instead. Then we get to see the lovely fratricide as Dems work hard to get away from the shrapnel.
Ms Rosen is now having to work hard to rehabilitate her image and I am under no compunction to help her do so. Live by the faux narrative, die by the faux narrative.
Oh, and Greta V. is being remarkably disengenuous when she rises to defend her friend.
- #3 ·
- April 13, 2012 at 7:32am ·
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The left has let slip that the despise my wife, who is a wonderful stay at home mom. It will get buried and forgotten.
The problem is, the mushy middle 11% keep deciding who is president. What a way to run a country.
- #4 ·
- April 13, 2012 at 7:37am ·
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Ms. Rosen's behavior in this latest dust up should come as no surprise to anyone. She was simply playing by the Rules.
The Rules are:
1a) Conservatives will be judged and penalized by the whims and childish fantasies of the Progressive Left.
1b) Conservatives are always wrong.
2a) There are no Rules for the Progressive Left.
3) In all disagreements between Conservatives and the Progressive Left, the MSM shall act as referees.
4) The MSM plays for the Progressive Left.
Edited on April 13, 2012 at 8:02am- #5 ·
- April 13, 2012 at 8:02am ·
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So... can we call this the War on Outrage?
- #6 ·
- April 13, 2012 at 8:14am ·
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Bryan G. Stephens: The problem is, the mushy middle 11% keep deciding who is president. What a way to run a country. |
Excellent point. The reason we keep going through these fake, faux, fraudulent, and phony episodes of manufactured outrage is that enough people fall for it.
Intelligence and common sense matters.
- #7 ·
- April 13, 2012 at 8:16am ·
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I am outraged at those that are outraged at my outrage over their own outrageous behavior. It is... well... outrageous. (Now, where do I pick up my check?)
- #8 ·
- April 13, 2012 at 8:18am ·
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Nothing of the Left is actually what it appears to be. What appear to be principled stances (see Foxman, #1) last only as long as the effectiveness as a political cudgel holds out. The opposite "principled stance" can be adopted if a nanosecond if required for political reasons.
- #9 ·
- April 13, 2012 at 10:44am ·
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As Verbal Kint famously said, Ms Rosen will have to excuse me if I ask her to kiss my pucker.
- #10 ·
- April 13, 2012 at 5:03pm ·
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Homework Help
Better Students Ask More Questions.
What can I compare Slaughterhose-Five to in an essay?I would like many different...
Topic: Slaughterhouse-Five
What can I compare Slaughterhose-Five to in an essay?I would like many different choices because i have to compare it to something i have read. Ps this is due fri
6 Answers | add yours
Slaughterhouse Five can be compared to Huck Finn -- people have called Vonnegut a "modern day Mark Twain."
You could also compare it to Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, which is another darkly humorous war novel with a nonlinear plot.
If you want to compare books with non-linear plot lines, you could talk more about structure of the novels -- some other nonlinear novels are Wuthering Heights by Bronte, Ulysses by Joyce, or Trainspotting by Welsh (there are many more as well!)
Homer's Illiad or Odyssey could be compared to Billy Pilgrim's journey.
If you want to stick to the war theme, you could compare it to any other war novel, especially those set during the same time period.
I hope this gives you a few ideas.
Posted by slchanmo1885 on June 3, 2009 at 12:50 PM (Answer #2)
What if you compared the work to either an earlier work or later work by Vonnegut and then write about how he developed his diction, tone, style, etc.
Posted by epollock on June 3, 2009 at 9:39 PM (Answer #3)
"Slaughterhouse Five" can be compared to any Modern piece of literature insofar as its structure is concerned. The novel is fragmented. It skips from the past to the future. It alternates points of view. This style is mimetic of many novels written shortly after WWI. You could compare the structure of "Slaughterhouse Five" to any novel by Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, and especially James Joyce.
Posted by morrol on June 4, 2009 at 7:03 PM (Answer #4)
You can do a comparison on a couple of different topics:
Historical Angle - You could look at other literature depicting World War II or the effects of this war - Elie Wiesel's Night, The Diary of Anne Frank
Stylistic Angle - Vonnegut uses a great deal of black humor to make social comments - Some call him a modern - day Mark Twain, so any of Mark Twain's works - particularly his satire, like "The Lowest Animal" would be appropriate.
Science - Fiction Angle - Vonnegut uses science fiction as a motif, so it may be useful to look at other science - fiction works, particularly those with strong social commentary - Ray Bradbury, Ursula LeGuin.
Posted by litchick2011 on June 5, 2009 at 8:34 AM (Answer #5)
Let me suggest a psychological dimension: Since Billy Pilgrim is "unstuck in time" you could compare his experience of the world with other works in which there are altered perceptions of time, identity, and memory. Some movies like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Memento" come to mind. As for written works, perhaps something by Philip K. Dick like "Ubik" would fit the bill or, better yet, "The Man in the High Tower." For that matter, Vonnegut himself played with some of these themes in his early work "The Sirens of Titan" and in "Mother Night."
Posted by maadhav19 on January 28, 2010 at 8:55 PM (Answer #6)
Catch 22 has been suggested already, but that is the first novel that comes to mind and probably the most direct and obviously compatible connection to Slaughterhouse Five.
An accessible, albeit non-fiction piece of literature you could also use would be Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, the definitive work on the philosophy of stoicism.
Posted by e-martin on January 29, 2012 at 5:45 AM (Answer #7)
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Police shoot, kill man outside homeless shelter in Fort Belvoir
Thursday - 10/31/2013, 6:45am  ET
FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Fairfax County police say an officer shot and killed a man as officers tried to break up a fight at a homeless shelter near Fort Belvoir.
Police spokesman Officer Eddy Azcarate says as at least two officers tried to break up a fight outside the Eleanor Kennedy Shelter on Wednesday night, a man who was fighting turned and assaulted one of them.
Azcarate says an officer fired a service weapon and fatally wounded the man. He says the man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
One officer received injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.
Officials did not identify the man who was killed or the officers involved.
Azcarate says the department's Criminal Investigations Bureau and an Internal Affairs unit are investigating the incident.
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