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Week of July 28
Musical Tour of Vienna
We're off on a musical tour of Vienna, one of the western world's foremost musical centers. We'll follow in the footsteps of Haydn and Beethoven, enjoying performances of their works on period instruments. We'll also explore instrumental sonatas by Johann Heinrich Schmelzer and a groundbreaking opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck. (Repeat of December 30, 2013) LISTEN HERE
Week of August 4
2014 Birthday Boys
The year 2014 is the 600th anniversary of the Council of Constance. It also marks 300 years since the birth of Bach's son, Carl Philipp Emanuel. But did you know that the famous opera reformer Christoph Willibald Gluck and the lesser-known Niccolò Jommelli were also born that year? This week on Harmonia, we'll hear music from the Council and from each of these birthday boys.
Week of August 11
Cranky Organists
One popular image of an organist is a humble old man or woman hammering through hymns at church. But in Restoration England, the image was much different. This week on Harmonia, we'll hear music from some "cranky" organists! We'll also continue our look at the 17th-century theorist Athanasius Kircher and feature music on a recent recording by Chatham Baroque. (Repeat of April 7, 2014) LISTEN HERE
Week of August 18
Mille Regretz
Regret is a powerful emotion, just as it was in 1400s when the Franco-Flemish composer Josquin des Prez set a text about a thousand regrets to music. Josquin's anguished tune Mille Regretz swept through Europe like a fever, and we'll hear a multitude of settings, from plain to wild. Plus, we'll hear music from a featured release by lutenist Hopkinson Smith. (Repeat of September 30, 2013) LISTEN HERE
Week of August 25
Quit Your Day Job!
A lot of parents aren't thrilled with the idea of their child pursuing a career in music. Apparently this isn't a new sentiment. This week, we'll hear music by astrologers, cabinet makers, poets, and others who ducked, or bucked, their non-musical lives to compose music of lasting power. (Repeat of November 25, 2013) LISTEN HERE


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Justin Bieber Arrested
Justin Bieber is in serious trouble with the law.
The singer was arrested Friday in Canada after getting into an accident with another vehicle while riding his ATV, with the police investigation revealing "that after colliding, the driver of the ATV and an occupant of the minivan engaged in a physical altercation."
The driver of the ATV, of course, was Justin Bieber.
We can also confirm that the minivan driver was a photographer and that Bieber is due in Canadian court later this month.
Chances are strong that he won't receive a major punishment for this incident on its own, but remember:
Bieber is on probation after reaching a plea bargain in his egging case. Authorities in Los Angeles have contacted those Ontario and are collecting information that will help determine Justin's fate.
Probation officers have 30 days to notify the court of an alleged violation and, if it is determined that Bieber DID, in fact, violate his previous court terms via this arrest, he could go to jail.
He sort of belongs there for a bit, don't you think?
Emma Watson's Thoughts On Nude Photo Scandal
Emma Watson is condemning not only this week's stunning celebrity nude picture scandal but the lack of empathy shown by commenters in its aftermath.
Watson lamented the "lack of empathy" shown by social media users over the breech of privacy that saw hundreds of intimate celebrity photos leaked.
The Jennifer Lawrence nude photos hit particularly close to home for Emma, as the two stars are friends. Watson personally has yet to be victimized.
Nevertheless, she decried the scandal on Twitter, writing:
"Even worse than seeing women's privacy violated on social media is reading the accompanying comments that show such a lack of empathy."
At least one prominent female actress would agree.
Girls star Lena Dunham called the hacker a sex offender and lambasted fans who said the celebs brought it on themselves for taking nude pics to begin with.
Among others cyber-violated by this 4Chan user include Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Kate Upton, Kirsten Dunst and Kaley Cucoo.
Victoria Justice and Ariana Grande have both said that the alleged nude pictures of them are fake, while Lawrence's spokesperson verified their authenticity.
In response to a revealing Kate Upton topless photo, her reps said they are "looking into" the authenticity of the images and ready to take legal action.
Meanwhile, the FBI is investigating the apparent iCloud breach that allowed the provocative images to be stolen in one of the leak's biggest scandals.
Demi Lovato Thinks Kim Is Revolutionizing Our Standards of Beauty
Demi Lovato is a big fan of Kim Kardashian's body of work. Or just her body.
Demi praises Kim's influence on girls for embracing her voluptuous, booty-licious curves, showing us that a gorgeous body isn't always stick-thin.
That is one positive way to spin Kardashian's career, that's for sure.
Asked about the photo collage she posted while reflecting on her body image issues, Demi told Access Hollywood it was more about the feeling than the clothes.
She was having a blast in her mid-teenage years, yes, however, "The very first time I went to the VMAs, I just looked so bony and fragile and unhappy."
"I look back at that and I think, 'You know what? I may have been thinner, but I am so happy I am healthy today and I have curves, which are a lot sexier than what I was aiming for.'"
"I think curves are beautiful and I feel great," Lovato adds, and for changing her perception, "I really credit women like Beyonce and Kim Kardashian."
"[They] completely revolutionized our generation's view... of what beautiful is. When I was growing up, the people that I had to look up to [for] body image [were] extremely underweight."
She didn't name names there, but you can use your imagination. Demi went on to lavish more praise upon the first family of reality TV in this regard, saying:
"You can think whatever you want about the Kardashians, but they really did help tons of women feel comfortable in their own skin, and I like to carry that message on."
"I wasted so years ashamed of my body when I could've been living the happy and healthy life I live today. I'm so excited to live my life the way I deserve to and to the complete fullest!"
Britney Spears Dumps David Lucado
After a quiet but blissful 18 months of dating, it's over between Britney Spears and David Lucado, and the reason why is nothing short of shocking.
TMZ reported today that the 32-year-old pop superstar flipped out after learning that video of David cheating is being shopped around Hollywood.
The video was reportedly filmed in early August and shows David Lucado dancing and making out with an unidentified woman.
When news of the video first broke, reps for Lucado issued a statement saying, "David is very, very in love with Britney. This is unfortunate and he hopes that it all works out."
Clearly it didn't. Britney posted a tweet earlier today reading, "Ahhhh the single life!"
The relationship had recently gotten so serious for that Spears and Lucado were rumored to be engaged.
She frequently posted photos of Lucado and her children, and he was reportedly something of a father figure to 8-year-old Sean and 7-year-old Jayden.
Rumors of trouble between Spears and David had been circulating for months, but the couple always cleared the air with social media posts in which they declared their love for one another.
Britney Spears' father Jamie is reportedly preparing an official statement on the breakup.
Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie Are Married
Just call them Mr. and Mrs. Pitt!
After nine years and six children together, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have married in France, PEOPLE has confirmed with multiple sources. The news was first reported by the Associated Press.
The wedding was held Saturday at Château Miraval in the village of Correns, where the couple first settled in 2008 and have since performed extensive renovations. The wine-growing estate has a 35-room main house, an ancient chapel and a working vineyard spread over 1,100 acres.
The ceremony came two years after the couple's 2012 engagement, when Jolie, 39, first showed off the custom sparkler that Pitt, 50, designed for her.
Naturally, the pair's children were on hand to celebrate: Maddox, 13, Pax, 11, Zahara, 9, Shiloh, 8, and 6-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.
In May, Jolie spoke to PEOPLE about the couple's low-key, kid-centric marriage plans.
"We're just waiting for it to be the right time with the kids, with work, when it feels right," she said. "We talk about it occasionally, and the kids talk about it with us.
"Which is verging on hysterical, how kids envision a wedding. They will in a way be the wedding planners. It's going to be Disney or paintball – one or the other! We've got a lot of different personalities in the house. They've got some strong opinions. It will be fun. That's the important thing. When we do it, it will feel like a great day for our family."
Kim and Kanye Fighting
Ealier this month, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West bought a $20 million mansion in Hidden Hills, California.
Now, sources say Kim is understandably eager to move in, while Kanye - of course - wants to make some major renovations first.
While this is already Kim's second longest marriage, insiders say the squabbling over the house has gotten so bad that for the first time the Kimye union is being put to the test.
Why would the couple be so divided over some renovations that they can obviously afford? Because it's not the first time this has happened, and Kim is beginning to worry that she'll wind up living with her mom for the rest of her life.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians viewers may have been confused when Kim and 'Ye purchased their new digs, as they had been building their own home for much of the current season:
Those plans were reportedly scrapped after Kanye decided that he just didn't like the direction in which the project was headed. Kim is now said to be terrified that his perfectionist tendencies will lead him to gut their new home only to jump ship again.
"Kim loves the house just as it is," an insider tells Radar Online. "She is ready to move out of her mom Kris' house as soon as possible. Kim has even suggested they move into the house and live there as construction is being done, which Kanye isn't willing to do."
"Kanye is so set in his ways and there is no such thing as a compromise to him," says the source. "On this issue, though, Kim isn't going to budge."
Miley's VMAs Date Wanted By Police
It all started when Miley Cyrus had a "homeless" man give her acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night.
Many viewers pointed out that the man - 22-year-old Jesse Helt - looked more like he'd stepped out of the pages of GQ than the alleyways of Skid Row, but even so, Miley was widely praised for her efforts to call attention to the plight of the impoverished in America.
Then the truth came out. Jesse Helt was never homeless. As many might have guessed from his appearance, he moved to LA to pursue a career in male modeling.
He fell on some hard times, but he had a home and loving family waiting for him back in Oregon all the while.
Helt's mom revealed that he was never a homeless teen (as he'd implied in his speech) just this morning, but that wasn't the final bombshell revelation of the day:
E! News has reported that there are currently several warrants out for Helt's arrest for charges ranging from burglary to criminal mischief.
Helt violated his probation several times while still living in Salem by failing to complete his community service hours, refusing to take a drug test, and failing to report to his probation officer, amongst other violations.
Cyrus had already faced criticism for what many perceived as a stunt that had more to do with her than with any sincere desire to help the impoverished.
The fact that we now know that she chose a 22-year-old aspiring model with a mile-long rap sheet to represent America's "homeless youth" is unlikely to help help her position.
Katy Perry And Diplo Back Together
While most of the results of the 2014 Emmy Awards were fairly predictable, there was a twist at the after parties that we definitely didn't see coming:
Katy Perry and Diplo stepped out as a couple - informally announcing to the celebrity world that they've reconciled.
This isn't the first time that we've heard rumors that Katy and Diplo are back together (the couple separated back in May), but the news is particularly astonishing this time around, because it comes directly on the heels of Katy's supposed reconciliation with a different ex.
Yes, Katy and Riff Raff announced that they're "in love" at the VMAs, and while they may have been joking (we hope), they also sported matching denim outfits and left in a limo together.
So Katy seems to be having trouble deciding which ridiculously-named ex she should reconcile with.
Bieber Under Investigation for Attempted Robbery
Justin Bieber is under investigation for allegedly trying to rob and beat up a man who captured the singer on his cellphone.
According to TMZ, Bieber and Selena Gomez were hanging at Dave & Buster's when a fan starting snapping photos of the couple. He also may have filmed a video of their interactions.
Law enforcement insiders tell the site that Justin lunged at the individual in an effort to take his phone and, we assume, delete the images and the video.
Bieber's entourage, however, held the artist back and no contact was made.
Police were called to the scene, but Bieber and Gomez had left by the time they arrived.
The fan reportedly wants to press charges against Bieber, with possible crimes on the horizon being attempted battery, attempted theft and attempted robbery.
Bieber and his bodyguards, of course, have a very long history of reacting poorly when folks try to take pictures or videos of the superstar.
But this situation could be especially dicey for Bieber because he's on probation for his egging case and any law-breaking could result in jail time.
Miley Cyrus' Homeless VMA Date Was Never Actually Homeless
At Sunday night's 2014 Video Music Awards, Miley Cyrus pulled a stunt that was far more unexpected than her Robin Thicke twerk-fest of the previous year.
After winning the Video of the Year award, Miley gave the stage to Jesse Helt - a 22-year-old homeless man who proceeded to give a stirring speech about the plight of impoverished Americans.
There's just one problem: Jesse's family claims he was never homeless and is welcome to return to Oregon to live with them, should he ever decide to give up on his male modeling career in LA.
"He wanted to be in Los Angeles," said Jesse's mother, Linda Helt, in an interview with The Daily Mail, "He had opportunities and he took them, but he had his ups and downs like anyone else."
"It was his choice. He was always welcome. He could always come back at any time. If he needed help, I'd help him."
From the moment Jesse's speech was through, Miley was criticized for what many considered to be an empty gesture that had more to do with her own vanity than with any sincere attempt to help the homeless.
The facts of Helt's situation that have emerged since are unlikely to help her argument to the contrary.
Helt's mother has stated that Jesse plans to fly home to visit her in Oregon today and will decide from there if he wishes to return to LA.
Nicki Minaj Lied About Wardrobe Malfunction
The Nicki Minaj wardrobe malfunction was certainly one of the highlights of last night's MTV Video Music Awards.
Sure, it wasn't as astonishingly unexpected as the now-famous Miley Cyrus twerk-fest of 2013, but millions of viewers were on the edge of their seats, with their fingers on the pause button, eagerly awaiting the moment when Nicki would lose her grip and show her ample assets to the world.
And sources say that's exactly how Nicki planned it.
The official story is that Nicki's dress simply wouldn't zip up in the moments before the performance (because she's so curvy).
But Nicki decided to take the stage anyway (because she's so daring).
Today the truth came out, and witnesses say Nicki wore the exact same dress in the exact same fashion during rehearsals (because she's a master media manipulator and she knows how to get attention).
Of course, no one really cares if the near-boob-spill was fake or not (although we can't help we've been strung along), the only question is why Nicki would fake such an awkward wardrobe malfunction.
Anyone who's seen Nicki's "Anaconda" video knows that the girl knows how to be sexy. Someone in her camp should've told Nicki that the audience is unlikely to be turned off if they're all just embarrassed for her.
Miley Cyrus Criticized For VMA Stunt
For the second year in a row, Miley Cyrus shocked viewers of the MTV Video Music Awards last night.
Of course, this year's jaw-dropping moment couldn't have been more different from the infamous Miley and Robin Thicke performance that drew the ire of the Parents Television Council in 2013.
Rather than gracing the stage with another twerking teddy bears routine, Miley showed her more thoughtful side last night when she turned the mic over to a 22-year-old homeless man named Jesse after winning the award for video of the year.
Cyrus claims she was simply trying to call attention to the issue of homelessness and use her time in the spotlight to do some good. Critics of the gesture, however, believe the pop star exploited a struggling young man for the sake of her own vanity.
Many have pointed out that as a 22-year-old who could land a male modeling gig tomorrow, Jesse hardly represents the average American homeless person.
Certainly, Jesse shouldn't be denied the assistance that Miley can offer simply because he's good-looking, but many are crying foul over the fact that given the opportunity to present the true face of homelessness to the world - Miley chose instead to show up with a dude who'd make for good red carpet arm candy.
It seems to us that Miley's heart was in the right place, but the stunt may have had a greater effect if she'd chosen an impoverished person with a longer history of homelessness who would better represent the men and women in need that the average city dweller passes by on their way to work.
Of course, Miley has hinted that this is the start of a one-woman awareness campaign, and that could have tremendous impact if she truly commits herself.
Basically, Miley bringing Jesse on stage at the VMAs is a lot like celebs dumping water on their heads for the ALS Ice Bucket challenge:
On its own, it means little, but if Miley puts her money where her mouth is and the right people take notice - it could be huge.
Nick Cannon Confirms Separation From Mariah Carey
For months now, we've been hearing reports that Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey are headed for divorce.
Cannon denied the rumors at first, but as the couple stopped speaking publicly about their relationship it became more and more apparent that something was amiss.
Yesterday, Cannon and Carey dropped the act, and Nick confessed in an interview that they are currently living apart.
"There's trouble in paradise," said Cannon in an interview with The Insider. "We've been living in separate houses for a few months."
Though he admits his marriage has hit a rough patch, and makes no predictions about the future, Cannon says there's no truth to the rumors about his infidelity or claims that Carey hired a security team to keep him from flirting.
For now though, Cannon wants to make clear that his children are his top priority:
"My focus is on my kids," he said to conclude the interview.
Mariah on the other hand: "[She] was devastated about the comments Nick made to The Insider," a source tells E! News. "They had agreed to work on a statement together. A joint statement was being prepared when he went and gave those quotes to The Insider."
A publicist for Carey simply says the artist "is focusing on her children and her upcoming tour," but E! writes that she's in shock over Cannon going public with their marital strife.
"She thinks it was extremely childish, impulsive and opportunistic," the source continues. "For her, it was the last straw. She's done with him now."
Uh Oh.
Gwyneth Paltrow Comments On Chris Dating Jennifer
You'd think she might be jealous, at least a little. But Chris Martin and Jennifer Lawrence can rest assured that Gwyneth Paltrow approves of his rebound relationship.
A source reveals that the Oscar-winning Goop founder, 41, wishes only the best for Martin, the father to her two children, Apple, 10, and Moses, 8.
"Her take is, 'Hey, he could do worse,'" the pal says of Paltrow's feelings about Chris Martin and Jennifer Lawrence dating. "She just wants him to be happy."
He could definitely do worse than the Hottest Woman Alive. A tad worse.
Since her "conscious uncoupling" with Martin in March, Paltrow and he have remained close. She even gave him shout-out in her Ice Bucket Challenge video.
The amicable feeling is mutual, it appears, from Martin's standpoint.
Speaking about their post-breakup life during a radio interview in July, Martin said, "We're friends and proud parents. There's lots of love, and that's it."
The mom of two, for her part, has moved on with Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk, so perhaps she's happier than ever and has no reason to be upset about J-Law.
Still, you have to wonder if she feels upstaged, even a tiny bit.
After all, this is a talented, charming, much younger woman he supposedly became smitten with because she's the complete opposite of Gwyneth Paltrow.
Iggy Becomes First Rapper With Three Top Ten Hits At The Same Time
It wasn't all that long ago that Iggy Azalea was trying to kick off a career as a pop princess.
Who would have thought that just six years later, that sheepish Britney-in-training would become the undisputed Queen of Rap?
Iggy's been breaking sales records for months now, but her latest achievement is a big one, and it puts her alone at the top of the current hip hop heap.
With the release of her new single, "Black Widow," Iggy is now the only rapper to ever have three top ten hits on the Billboard charts at the same time.
You read that right: not the first woman, not the first of this decade...the first rapper ever to achieve this feat.
Not bad for a 24-year-old girl from Mullumbimby, Australia.
Haters will be quick to point out that one of the hits is Ariana Grande's "Problem" which actually just features a guest verse from Iggy.
But the fact remains that Jay Z, Kanye, and Eminem have been collaborating with pop stars for years, and still never had a trio of tracks perform this well simultaneously.
Beyonce Receives Divorce Advice From Gwyneth
This Sunday, Beyonce and Jay Z's concert special will air on HBO. It's the culmination of their months-long, international On the Run tour, and, sources say - the last time we'll see the couple work together.
Rumors that Gwyneth Paltrow is giving Beyonce divorce advice have been circulating for weeks, but now insiders say Gwyneth has become much more than a "conscious uncoupling" counselor.
Paltrow is said to be Bey's number one confidant, and is guiding the R&B superstar through the final stages of preparing for her split.
Paltrow is reportedly also helping Bey prepare an official separation announcement for this fall.
"Beyonce has sought Gwyneth's advice as she plans her split," a source tells Us Weekly. The insider adds that Bey and Jay will emulate Martin and Paltrow's split, by keeping up friendly appearances:
"The day after their announcement, Bey and Jay will be spotted together. They will be all lovey dovey."
The source claims the Carters will take a tropical vacation with daughter Blue Ivy in the days after the separation, in order to make the split appear amicable and suppress rumors that Jay cheated on Beyonce.
Justin Bieber Sued
Stop us if you've heard this before: Justin Bieber is in trouble with the law.
Or he should be, at least, according to Aja Oxman.
The photographer has filed a lawsuit against Bieber, alleging the singer was behind a brutal attack against him last November in Kauai.
Obtained by TMZ, the legal documents claim Justin "enjoyed the beating" and that it started when Bieber was cliff jumping and Oxman was snapping pictures of him from a public beach.
Bieber is accused of ordering his bodyguard to "go get" Oxman's memory card and to "do whatever you have to do to get that card."
Oxman the says the employee complied, in violent fashion, and took his camera and memory card. The lawsuit claims Bieber and his hired muscle destroyed the camera together.
Bieber's bodyguard was arrested for the incident, though this is the first time Justin himself has been directly tied to it.
It's FAR from the first time, however, that Bieber's bodyguard(s) has been accused by a paparazzi member of a physical confrontation.
In February of this year, another strong man was arrested for doing basically the same thing as Oxman writes about here.
Mariah Carey Hired A Security Team For Nick
But not for what you think...
For months now, we've been hearing reports that Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are headed for divorce.
Cannon has denied the rumors, but evidence continues to mount, and sources say the couple will make their split official in the very near future. In fact, we've told to expect a separation announcement as early as this week.
Insiders say Nick and Mariah have been living apart for weeks now, after her bizarre last-ditch effort to save their marriage failed miserably.
For a recent appearance in Vegas, Carey reportedly hired a security team for Cannon. The bodyguards weren't there for Cannon's protection, however.
No, they arrived with strict instructions from Mariah to keep the comedian away from booze and women:
"Security wasn't there to keep the girls away from him," says one source. "It was to keep him away from the girls."
He added that the guards were also instructed to keep Cannon away from the bar, as "he gets in trouble when he drinks."
Apparently, the 24-hour babysitters weren't enough to save Mariah's marriage, as the couple put its Bel Air mansion up for sale in July - around the same time that Cannon reportedly moved into a hotel.
Lindsay Lohan And Dina Lohan "Absolutely Hammered"
Lindsay Lohan is back in the US after a five-month European bender that somehow didn't result in jail time or an emergency liver transplant.
So after nearly half a year of hitting every club in London and falling down drunk all over Italy, surely Linds is ready to settle down and take it easy for a bit now that she's home, right?
No, she's getting hammered in the Hamptons with her waste case mom, of course.
Yes, if you were concerned that Dina Lohan's DUI conviction would slow down her boozing, worry no longer.
The world's crackiest mother-daughter duo hit the Hamptons over the weekend and according to witnesses they seemed to be competing to see who could make the most embarrassing mess of themselves:
One club patron described Dina as "absolutely hammered," and stated that the mother of three "was throwing back drink after drink, dancing and flailing about all over the place. She kept going up to people and striking up random conversations."
Lindsay was described as looking "equally wobbly" while entering the club later that same night.
Yes, Lindsay was stumbling while walking into the club, but she still wasn't as wasted as her mom.
Sofia Vergara Ignites Engagement Rumors
As if this relationship didn't already have peoples undivided attention...
Now Sofia Vergara has our eyes popping after she stepped out for lunch in LA while wearing a super sparkler of a diamond on her engagement ring finger.
While she wasn't taking that diamond for a walk alongside lover boy Joe Manganiello, she was getting together with a friend for lunch. Perhaps to show them her new engagement ring...?
Then again, this is Hollywood and diamonds aren't exactly all that rare.
But having it on that finger is obviously going to get people talking.
Chris Martin Likes Jennifer Because She's "The Polar Opposite" Of Gwyneth
Chris Martin and Jennifer Lawrence make up one of the most unexpected celebrity couples in recent memory, but insiders close to Martin say it's not all that shocking that he would go for someone who's so unlike his wife of eleven years.
"Jennifer is loads of fun and they can't stop laughing when they're together," a source tells The Daily Mail. "Chris feels he's dating someone who has everything he'd been missing out in the past 11 years."
The insider adds that J-Law has given Chris "a new lease on life," and the Coldplay singer is drawn to the 24-year-old actress mainly because she's "the polar opposite" of Gwyneth Paltrow.
Martin and Paltrow, of course, "consciously uncoupled" earlier this year in one of the most bizarre, drawn-out celebrity breakups in recent memory.
Little is known about Lawrence's recent split from actor Nicholas Hoult, but it's beginning to look like Martin may have been the cause.
Much has been made of the thirteen year age difference between Martin and Lawrence, but Chris' anonymous friend says Jen's youthful spirit is a big part of what makes their relationship work.
"Jennifer doesn't take herself too seriously," says the source. "When she's not filming, she just wants to hang out and have a good time."
Christina Aguilera Gives Birth
It's a girl!
Christina Aguilera is a mother for the second time.
The singer delivered a daughter via C-section at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, sources confirm to Us Weekly, although details on weight and height are unavailable at this time.Ho
However, Christina revealed the name which is Summer Rain Rutler.
This is Aguilera's first child with fiancé Matt Rutler, to whom she got engaged in March.
She also has a six-year old son, Max, with ex-husband Jordan Bratman.
Never one to be shy about her body, Aguilera made headlines earlier this summer when she posed naked for V Magazine.
"As a woman, I'm proud to embrace my body through all stages of life, staying fearless and confident in surrendering to the unknowns the future has in store," she told the publication.
Aguilera also showed her appreciation for those involved with the pictorial via Instagram.
"[Thank you for] giving me the freedom to bare my soul & body at this incredible, magical, transition time in my life. #Grateful," she wrote on August 1.
We send our very best wishes to this new family.
Justin Bieber Reaches Plea Deal In DUI Case
Justin Bieber has reached a plea bargain with prosecutors in relation to his January drunk driving arrest.
And it doesn't even include the charge of drunk driving.
According to The Miami Herald, the singer will plead guilty to careless driving and resisting an officer without violence. He will be forced to attend a 12-hour anger management source and pay $50,000 to charity.
The artist's main concern was that this plea deal did NOT include any kind of probation because that could mean jail time for Justin if he violated the law in any way going forward.
And we all know he will, don't we?
The underage star was just spotted holding a liquor bottle while celebrating the 17th birthday of Kylie Jenner, for instance.
This plea deal comes as no real surprise.
The arresting officer in Florida seemingly lied when he said Bieber was drag racing and that police could smell alcohol on his breath; a subsequent test revealed relatively no alcohol in the singer's system at the time.
This is Bieber's second plea deal in just a few months, as he recently pled no contest to misdemeanor vandalism in an egging case.
As a result, he was placed on two years probation and ordered to pay his neighbor $80,900 in restitution. He also had to undergo more anger management.
Zelda Williams Quits Social Media After Trolls Ridicule Dad
Robin Williams, who passed away earlier this week, touched millions of people in a legendary career that often reminded us how wonderful a person can be.
Now, in a reminder of how terrible people can be, his grieving daughter Zelda Williams says she's quitting social media after being besieged by Internet trolls.
While countless fans have taken to the Internet to express their love and respect for Williams, many others sent horrific comments and pictures to Zelda.
The second-oldest of Robin Williams' children, Zelda initially took the fight to the trolls, asking supporters to report them to social media administrators.
Soon enough, realizing how fruitless this is, she decided it was better for her to delete her accounts, after posting a farewell apology and message:
"I'm sorry. I should've risen above," Williams Tweeted. "Deleting this from my devices for a good long time, maybe forever. Time will tell. Goodbye."
The mourning 25-year-old also suspended her Instagram, writing:
"I will be leaving this account for a bit while I heal and decide if I'll be deleting it or not. In this difficult time, please try to be respectful of the accounts of myself, my family and my friends."
Zelda defended herself for not sharing more photos of her dad - a ridiculous thing people harassed her about - as well as their relationship in general:
"Mining our accounts for photos of dad, or judging me on the number of them is cruel and unnecessary," she added, in response to online criticism.
"There are a couple throughout, but the real private moments I shared with him were precious, quiet, and believe it or not, not full of photos or 'selfies.'"
"I shared him with a world where everyone was taking their photo with him, but I was lucky enough to spend time with him without cameras too."
"That was more than enough, and I'm grateful for what little time I had. My favorite family photos are framed in my house, not posted on social media."
"They'll remain there. They would've wound up on the news or blogs then, and certainly would now. That's not what I want for our memories together."
"Thank you for your respect and understanding in this difficult time. Goodbye. Xo"
Zelda and her half-brothers Zak, 31, and Cody, 22, Robin's children from his previous marriages, continue to grieve along with his widow, Susan Schneider.
Kim Kardashian Blames Parents For Lack Of Credit Card Control
Kim Kardashian sat across from Matt Lauer this morning on Today, confirming that North West has grown, that she's in a "mama's girl" phase and that, yes, she'll have a second child at some point.
Kim also talked in detail about her video game, following complaints that kids are spending too much money trying to emulate her expensive lifestyle online.
Author Ayelet Waldman especially took Kim and her family to task, referring to the Kardashians as "evil" and "vile" after her son spent hundreds of dollars playing Kim Kardashian Hollywood.
"You just have to make sure that your parental controls are all set," Kim told Lauer. "I think you just have to be responsible, and don't have your credit card linked to where your kid can just spend if they want to, or ask permission."
Okay. That's actually perfectly reasonable.
Kardashian also said that half-sister Kylie Jenner spent $300 on the game, though she can afford it and a lot of that money goes back into her family's bank account. So… yeah.
"It's just a fun little game, kind of like when people get into Candy Crush so much," Kim added in defense of the game. "It's just something fun to do."
Taylor Swift So Happy Selena Gomez Dumped Justin
Taylor Swift is beyond thrilled to have her best friend back, so-called insiders claim, after Selena Gomez dumped Justin Bieber, which allegedly happened.
It's not clear if Selena actually did any curb-kicking when it comes to her douchey ex, but the two are not together romantically, that's for darn sure.
At least for this week.
We also know that Taylor was never a fan of Jelena, so it's no surprise to read reports that she is excited by her bestie's newfound single status.
Not only that, she's started playing matchmaker (not sure you should let Taylor Swift help with that, but we digress), and is so "proud" of how Selena is doing.
Selena jabbed at Justin during last night's Teen Choice Awards (or so it appeared), leaving little doubt that the two are not bumping uglies at the moment.
No one is more stoked about that than Taylor.
"Taylor and Selena have been talking a lot more now that Justin is out of the picture," an unnamed source dished to one celebrity gossip website.
"She's so relieved that Selena finally came to her senses and dumped Justin. She is so proud of Selena and how's she's been handling the break-up."
The friends hit a rough patch while Selena was still with Justin, but now that Gomez "came to her senses" and told Justin to get lost, Taylor is back on board.
Lindsay Abandons Sober Friends To Continue European Bender
Lindsay Lohan has been in Europe for several months now, and while the troubled actress claims she's overseas to escape bad influences, some friends believe she fled LA so that she could party as much as she wants with less media scrutiny.
Sources say Lindsay cut ties with her sober friends back in July, and since then, her former support group has been forced to watch helplessly as reports of Lindsay's bad behavior overseas continue to make international news.
Lohan's "sober circle" reached out to her following reports that she was falling down drunk at an Italian film festival, and several other times since, only to be roundly ignored each time.
"Some of these people have been friends with her for more than a decade," an insider says. "There's nothing anyone can do until she answers."
In the meantime, friends are left to worry and analyze Lindsay's behavior from afar:
"The sad part is, there is nothing anyone back home can do and we are all worried for her," says the source. "She's pulled a geographic thinking that it would help her and all it's done is put her sobriety in jeopardy."
"Pulling a geographic" is a 12-step program term for physically relocating in an effort to escape addiction. Experts say it's rarely effective, and in cases such as Lindsay's, it can have disastrous consequences.
Selena Gomez Nude Photos Real or Fake
A series of alleged Selena Gomez nude photos have hit the Internet, posted by a Tumblr user claiming they are indeed of the 22-year-old singer and actress.
Allegedly leaked via a hacked cell phone, the pictures do bear an uncanny resemblance to Gomez in some respects, although the evidence isn't conclusive.
For that, we'd need to have a photo that wasn't cropped right above her luscious lips, which all of these conveniently are. Really? No face in any of them?!
This very well could all be the work of a talented (bored, unemployed and sort of vindictive) Photostop artiste, and would not be the first faux scandal of its kind.
That said, this topless girl - Selena or not - does look a lot like her, with moles in similar locations and the same facial structure as the young celebrity.
The shape of the girl's lips really resembles Selena's signature feature, and that would be a lot harder to falsify than a couple of moles on her chest.
Speaking of her chest, that's even less conclusive. Unless you believe the Selena Gomez boob job rumors, they look bigger in some pics than in others.
Some of that could he how she poses, of course, but we're skeptical that some of these voluptuous pictures are even the same girl, let alone Selena Gomez.
As for whether she would take such photos and that they would leak? That actually would not surprise us, given the history of who we're talking about.
Despite her carefully-cultivated good girl reputation, Selena's penchant for partying is well documented, and she's dated Justin Bieber like nine times now.
You gotta figure some of his sexy shenanigans are going to wear off on her ... or she's the real freak and just increasingly desperate for his attention.
Selena Gomez's rep has spoken out about the pictures saying:
"Not her."
Beyonce Meeting With Financial Advisers
As you may have heard, Beyonce and Jay Z could be headed for divorce.
The signs are everywhere - from the fact that Bey and Jay aren't wearing wedding rings on their current tour, to the rumors that Mrs. Carter has been spotted apartment hunting in Manhattan.
Throughout the divorce drama, however, there's been speculation that even if they live in separate homes and split custody of their daughter, the Carters will never actually divorce, as they'd both have too much to lose financially.
Well, the rumor may have been put to bed yesterday, as Beyonce met with a group of financial advisers, reportedly to discuss the future of her assets as a single lady.
E! News reports that the R&B icon has been taking frequent meetings during breaks from the On the Run tour.
Sources were careful to note that stars of Queen Bey's financial stature often have to sit down with money managers to make sure everything is as it should be, but it seems as though Bey's recently been meeting with her team more than ever before.
It's possible she's just preparing for some sort of major investment, but given all of the other clues that the first couple of hip hop is headed for a split (including Beyonce crying on stage recently), we'd take this as yet another sign that the end of their tour will also mean the end of Bey and Jay's marriage.
Ariana Grande And Big Sean Dating?!
Ariana Grande broke up with Jai Brooks yesterday in a surprise move that many have blamed on the Aussie comedian's immaturity and inability to provide emotional support following the death of Grande's grandfather.
Big Sean and Naya Rivera ended their engagement back in April, and many attributed the split to the fact that...well, Naya's a little crazy. (She ended up marrying a different dude on the same day she was supposed to marry Sean.)
But what if Ariana and Sean had different motivations for dumping their exes? Motivations like...each other?
The 20-year-old pop star and 26-year-old rapper met while recording Ariana's hit "Problem" (Sean is the one whispering the chorus).
Ariana and Sean were spotted on a movie date in Florida last night and witnesses say the pair made out for the entirety of the flick. It's all led to speculation that they're just now going public because they're finally both single.
Ariana tweeted about hanging out with Sean just days before her breakup with Brooks. Were they already hooking up at that time?
It's said that Ariana's main problems with Brooks were his lack of maturity and the difficulties that came with dating a guy who lives on the other side of the world.
She's certainly less likely to have those issues with the older, American Sean.
Highest Paid Actresses of 2014
Forbes released its annual list of the highest paid actors in Hollywood last month, and we're still stunned by just how much cash the film industry's top earners pulled in.
Today, the esteemed finance magazine unveiled a list of the movie world's most well-off women.
As usual, the highest-paid ladies didn't earn quite as much as their male counterparts, but they pulled in some pretty impressive pay days, nonetheless.
Sandra Bullock tops the list this year with an astonishing $51 million in earnings. Not only did Bullock take the top spot by a wide margin, she trounced last year's highest paid actress, Angelina Jolie, who took home a paltry $33 million in 2013.
Industry analysts say Bullock's big time bucks came primarily from the critically-acclaimed Gravity. Veteran stars like Sandra are usually able to negotiate deals in which they a small chunk of a blockbuster's profits.
Coming in at a distant second is Jennifer Lawrence who made $34 million by combining big budget fare like The Hunger Games, with lower-key, more personal films like American Hustle.
Rounding out the top three with $31 million in earnings is Jennifer Aniston. Jen may not have starred in any major box office in the last 12 months (or ever, really), but her product endorsement deals coupled with still-lucrative Friends residuals made 2014 one of her biggest years yet.
Beyonce Breaks Down Crying On Stage
For the first time in months, there was positive news about the future of Beyonce and Jay Z's relationship over the weekend.
Bey and Jay attended a party thrown by the rapper's mother, and witnesses say they laughed, shared a bottle of champagne, and seemed to be enjoying each other's company.
It seems today that the Carter's happiness was short-lived, however, as audience members at their Sunday night concert in L.A. claim that Beyonce broke down in tears while performing "Resentment" - a song about a cheating spouse.
Those in attendance say prior to the revenge ballad, Bey appeared to be depressed and distracted:
"She looked like she had been crying from the time the concert began," says one concertgoer. "Her eyes were really glassy and red and it looked like she was just going through the motions on stage."
"When she finally sat down to sing 'Resentment,' she looked like she was ready to let it out. She was just wailing it out and really seemed lost in her own world. Not long after that she stopped singing and seemed overcome with emotion. The camera was cut in tight so you could see her eyes welling up."
Of course, this isn't the first time that Bey has vented her emotions through song.
Many believe she hints at divorcing Jay Z in Nicki Minaj's "Flawless" remix.
Prior to that, she altered the lyrics of "Resentment" during a concert in a way that seemed to suggest Jay Z had cheated on her.
On the Run tour insiders say that the couple has taken to staying in separate hotel rooms during the last leg of the tour.
Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult Are Over
It is all over for Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult.
A few days after sources claimed Hoult dumped Lawrence due to her inflated ego, E! News confirms that the actor and actress have broken up, writing that the split "was very amicable."
As is so often the case when celebrities date, an insider blames work schedules for the demise of this relationship.
"They spent a lot of time apart because of work and it was difficult on their relationship," the source says of Lawrence and Hoult.
The X-Men co-star dated throughout most of 2012, broke up and then got back together in the summer of 2013.
J. Law recently explained to Marie Claire that she and Hoult had a very laid back relationship.
"When we're busy, we agree to mutually ignore each other," Lawrence said a few weeks ago. "Not completely, but neither of us gets mad when the other doesn't text back or call. Life's super busy. Obviously you know what they're doing, and you trust them."
Katy Perry Talks Pregnancy Plans
Katy Perry covers the new issue of Rolling Stone and inside the magazine, the "Roar" singer is her usual, charmingly candid self, opening up on topics as wide-ranging as her friendship with Madonna, and her plans to get knocked up.
On starting a family: "Maybe it's in a five year plan...I don't need a dude! It's 2014! We are living in the future; we don't need anything. I don't think I'll have to, but we'll see. I'm not anti-men. I love men. But there is an option if someone doesn't present himself."
On Madonna: "You really have to prove that you're an authentic person, and you can be trusted, to be in a circle of friends with her. Which I totally understand. You have to really guard your heart when you're on this kind of level. You can't have weirdos around...because everyone wants to be on your dick."
On her divorce: "It was emotionally traumatic for me. It was the death of a dream. But I don't really like to talk about it, because it feels like a thousand lifetimes ago, and also, it makes me look desperate, like I need it for attention."
On what she looks for in a man: "I'm interested in colorful personalities. Look, I can't be perfect. I don't know. I think you love who you love. You learn over time. I mean, each one has been different. I tweeted the other day that I'm just looking for the prince that fits my glass Jordans slipper."
Rihanna Goes Off On Fans At JFK
Love her or hate her, Rihanna is definitely more candid than most pop stars. The "Pour It Up" singer generally says what's on her mind and doesn't apologize for it.
And that's why the fans who ran afoul of Rih at JFK last night shouldn't expect an admission of fault any time soon.
Rihanna was making her way through the airport, clearly not in the best of moods.
First, she screams, "Give me a minute! F-ck!" at a young fan hoping to take a photo with her.
Witnesses say RiRi went off on her bodyguard next, angrily dressing him down for not telling her that her car wasn't ready.
This reportedly set off a vicious rage cycle and the bodyguard was spotted aggressively shoving fans who tried to get close to request pics or autographs.
Rih simply stonewalled fans who did manage to get close, refusing to even look at young autograph-seekers.
Beyonce Responds to Breakup Rumors With Sweet Jay Z, Blue Ivy
A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say.
For Beyonce, this old adage is one to swear by.
In recent months, the singer has battled rumor after rumor that her marriage to Jay Z is on the rocks, most recently that she is apartment shopping by herself.
Instead of releasing a statement denying the Beyonce-Jay Z divorce rumors, she has taken again to social media to subtly but clearly shoot down the reports:
On Tuesday, hours after the apartment-hunting story made the rounds on the Internet, she posted a sweet photo of Jay Z and their daughter Blue Ivy on the beach.
"My favorite hue is Jay Z Blue," read the caption.
A week ago, Bey dodged split rumors in similar fashion, posting a photo of baby blue holding each of her parents' hands in a show of family unity.
Seems to be her go-to move.
For all the gossip that continuously surrounds the superstar duo, who are currently in the midst of their On the Run tour, there's no hard proof of marital strife.
On the plus side, the more ridiculous reports that tabloids come up with, the more sweet Instagram pictures she'll probably post. So it's win-win in a sense.
Orlando Bloom Throws a Punch at Justin Bieber
Orlando Bloom nearly accomplished what millions have dreamt about earlier tonight when he threw a punch at Justin Bieber at a restaurant in Ibiza.
Sadly, Orlando's punch didn't connect, but sources say the pop singer fled from the altercation, causing the star-studded crowd to applaud.
The video above picks up just after Bloom failed to connect, and Justin can be heard screaming, "What up, bitch?" at his assailant.
There is no word yet on what sparked the fight, but rumors of a feud between Bieber and Bloom date back at least to early April.
That was when Bieber reportedly became furious with his on-off girlfriend Selena Gomez for flirting with Bloom in public.
Since then, there's been widespread speculation that Bloom and Gomez are dating, and the rumors may have been a factor in Justin's bid to win Selena back earlier this month.
Some tabloids even have even suggested that Bieber caused the Orlando Bloom-Miranda Kerr split by relentlessly flirting with the Victoria's Secret model.
It was even rumored that Kerr taught their son to say "Bieber Fever."
Regardless of who came out on top in the various romantic rivalries that Bloom and Bieber may or may not be involved in, there's little doubt as to who was the victor tonight.
Witnesses say there were dozens of celebs on hand to witness the scuffle, including Paris Hilton and Puff Daddy, and that most if not all were on Team Orlando.
Several stars were reportedly spotted cheering as Justin retreated.
UPDATE: In a typical d--k move, Bieber actually taunted Orlando by posting a photo of Kerr to Instagram after the incident, before quickly taking it down.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Clashing
According to Radar Online sources, plans for Kimye to have a second child have been tabled for the foreseable future because the famous couple can't get on the same page.
Of procreating again with his wife, an insider says Kanye is "resisting because he is going to be going on a world wide tour after the release of his upcoming album."
Moreover: "The couple doesn't even have their own house to live in! It's just too much chaos for Kanye to handle."
It doesn't help that Kim and Kanye are reportedly have "constant fights" over their different lifestyles.
"Kanye can't understand Kim's love of just lounging around for days at a time," says the source, pointing to a recent vacation at Joe Francis' Punta Mita mansion.
While West worked on a new album, Kim just lay around, updating her collection of Kim Kardashian bikini photos on a daily basis.
Earlier this month, we reported that Kim is "miserable" and that the newlyweds are living separate lives. This latest account doesn't shoot down that chatter, either.
"By all appearances, Kim looks like she has it all – a perfect husband, and a beautiful daughter – but the light and joy in her eyes is gone," a friend tells Radar.
HOWEVER, despite these alleged marriage woes, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star "is absolutely determined to get pregnant." And it may still happen.
"Kanye can never say no to her in the bedroom," an insider claims. "Their sex life is over the top, and Kim is boasting it's only a matter of time until she is pregnant again, so stay tuned!"
Beyonce Searching For Separate Apartment In NYC
It seemed like a wild rumor at first, but now, every day there's more evidence that Beyonce and Jay Z are headed for Splitsville.
Last week, Bey and Jay stopped wearing wedding rings in public.
Yesterday, a source claimed that they both cheated on each other, and will announce their separation at the end of the On the Run tour.
Today, we may have the most solid evidence yet that the hip hop power couple is - at the very least - planning to take a break soon.
Sources say Beyonce has been shopping for an apartment that's just for her and Blue Ivy.
You may wonder how anyone could know what Bey's plans are for her new Manhattan rental. Well, in this case, the facts sorta speak for themselves:
1. The properties that Bey's been checking out are about half the size of her and Jay's current Tribeca crib. "I can say with certainty that Jay Z is not downsizing," one source tells Page Six. Yeah, he's not exactly the frugal type.
2. Her first choice is expensive. Really expensive. "There's no way a $20 million apartment is for her mother or her sister," says the insider. "That would be wildly unlikely."
3. She's keeping things on the down-low. Witnesses say all of Bey's house hunting has been done solo and "she was keeping very quiet, as if she was looking on the slyl"
Scott Disick to Quit Drinking Until Birth of Third Child
Scott Disick, of Keeping Up With the Kardashians fame, says he is done drinking until after Kourtney Kardashian gives birth.
The 31-year-old party animal has reportedly sobered up after landing in the hospital for alcohol poisoning on June 22, a family insider dishes this week.
"Scott stopped drinking cold turkey and promised he won't drink again until after Kourtney gives birth," the source says. "He knew he had hit rock bottom."
The incident will not even be televised, so you know it was a serious deal for Scott and Kourtney, who also kicked him out of the house on Father's Day.
Scott's partying had already been a point of contention for the couple, who are expecting baby No. 3 in December on top of Mason, 4, and Penelope, 2.
"[Kourtney] told him that was the last straw," according to the insider, and that he needed to step up for the sake of his kids or he could step on out for good.
Disick, an only child with a close relationship to his parents, has had a difficult time since losing both his mother and father within the past year.
Fortunately, Lord D is reportedly getting his act together slowly but surely.
"[He] went through a dark place," a source says, but "is doing great now."
Hopefully that's true, although there were rumors that Scott was caught boozing just two nights ago in the Hamptons and posted the incriminating pics himself.
If that's the case, it's gonna get ugly in the Kardashian household. Fast.
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Who wants to win a Silhouette CAMEO?! Yep! I'm giving away another CAMEO today! I love doing that! But first, I get to tell you about Silhouette's awesome Valentine's Day promotion! {Its a good one!}
Silhouette is promoting their Silhouette Studio Designer Software this month. Wahoo! This is a popular promo and one that I know many of you have been waiting for the Designer Edition to go on sale. If you've been considering upgrading to the Designer Edition, now is the time to do it! Let me tell you, the upgrade is worth it.
Silhouette February Promotions
1. CAMEO Bundle: Silhouette CAMEO®, The Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software, the glitter collection sketch pens, and the metallic collection sketch pens for $269.99 ($94 in savings)
2. Portrait Bundle: Silhouette Portrait™, The Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software, the glitter collection sketch pens, and the metallic collection sketch pens for $129.99 ($114 in savings)
3. Software Only: Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software is 40% off!
Use code: CRAFT to get this pricing! Prices valid thru Feb. 14, 2014.
What is the difference between Silhouette Studio and Silhouette Studio Designer Edition Software?
I LOVE the extra tools and capabilities of the Designer Software. I use the extra design tools almost every time I use my Silhouette. One of my favorite tools is the ruler and the advanced eraser. Its so handy! And the ability to cut any svg file is awesome! Think about all those free svg cut files you get online. With this software, you can cut those files.
Here's an example of a project that I had to use the extra features of the Designer Software to create.
I designed a loop da loop {that's what my boys call it} or an airplane trail on the wall in my boys' room. {for a full tutorial on how I designed the vinyl on the wall, click here.} As you can tell, they adore helicopters and airplanes! I love being able to personalize their room and having the Designer Software makes it even easier to customize shapes and designs to fit my needs.
Silhouette CAMEO Giveaway!
Want to win a Silhouette CAMEO? Use the giveaway widget below to enter! {if you're reading this in your email, click over to enter.}
Open to USA residents only. Must be 18 years old to enter. Silhouette giveaway winner will be notified via email and posted on the Giveaway Winner page. Good luck!


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By Playbill Staff
Josh Gad
Stark Sands
01 Feb 2013
My first week in Spelling Bee, I not only forgot how to spell the last word in the show, but I forgot the word I was supposed to spell. I just started shouting out consonants. It was awful.
I caught the Holy Spirit while doing a gospel number on stage, and my wig flew into the audience.
In a preview of Bonnie & Clyde at the La Jolla Playhouse last year. The first act ended with me (Clyde) committing my first murder by shooting a police officer in a grocery store. Or was supposed to. Props gave me a new stage gun that night, and the trigger refused to budge. It took about 8 or 10 seconds for me to get it to fire, and it took me grimacing and pulling with both first fingers like a six-year-old. I honestly thought about shouting "Bang!!" before I finally got it to fire.
Josh Gad
Stark Sands


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Now that the storm winds have passed, Pelham residents are spending the day cleaning their lawns of debris, checking on neighbors and surveying the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
Here's a few pictures of Pelham residents getting back on their feet after a long, bumpy night of rain and high winds. But we know you have even more.
Add your photos of your neighborhood before, during and after the storm so that we have a growing album of images documenting Hurricane Sandy.
Let us see through your eyes and images just what impact the storm has made on your neighborhood.


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Last year, the Legislature took steps to ensure drivers wouldn't text behind the wheel. Now, lawmakers are pushing a bill that would make the failure to wear a seat belt a primary offense.
House Bill 2108 passed the House of Delegates March 28 but not without debate. Although some delegates shared heart-wrenching stories of loved ones whose lives could have been saved had they worn a seat belt, others claimed the choice to buckle up is just that — a choice.
"I'm not saying we should eradicate all laws … but I do believe this one should be left up to individual liberty," said Delegate Josh Nelson, R-Boone.
Minors currently are required to wear seat belts, and if drivers are pulled over for another offense such as speeding, adults can be cited for not wearing a safety belt. Under the legislation, failure to buckle up would result in a $25 fine and no points on the driver's license.
Delegate Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha, said on the House floor she wouldn't encourage delegates to vote one way or another, but to follow their own conscious.
"I think we're all on our own on this one," she said. "You're going to have to vote your conscious. You're going to have to vote your heart."
Guthrie noted that failure to wear a seat belt and texting while driving are hazards, and she asked delegates if their personal freedoms were more important than safety.
"My constituents have the right to make this decision for themselves," said Delegate Jim Butler, R-Mason. "Examine your own life, your own behavior. Does someone else have the right to decide that for you? Mountaineers are always free, until a politician decides that you're not."
The bill passed the House 55-44 and will now go to the Senate.


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No doubt: Melnyk sole owner of Senators
Ferguslea Properties president Dan Greenberg proudly declares himself to be one of the Ottawa Senators biggest fans, as well as a prominent corporate sponsor for the team.
New three-year deal in hand, Craig Anderson ready to competeWhile the three-year, $12.6 million contract extension Anderson signed Monday gives the Senators flexibility – Anderson can't veto a trade – the 33-year-old is "ecstatic" about being under contract through the 2017-18 season and in helping backstop the club's "energetic young players".
Senators add new VP of ticketingPeter O'Leary is the Ottawa Senators new chief marketing officer and vice-president of ticketing. O'Leary, former vice-president of advertising at the Ottawa Citizen, spent the past nine years at Metroland Media Group.
Senator Clarke MacArthur wants to convince Bobby Ryan to stay a whileMacArthur had an outstanding offensive season in 2013-14 season, with 24 goals and 31 assists, playing on a line with Kyle Turris and Bobby Ryan – until Ryan had season ending hernia surgery – but he says the focus has to be on making sure the team makes the necessary defensive sacrifices.
By the numbers: Ottawa Senators Foundation news conferenceThe Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk attracted several hundred curious people to the Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday for a "special community announcement." The media came, some team members were
Melnyk: Sens Foundation surpasses $100 millionThe Ottawa Senators Foundation has surpassed $100 million in community contributions, team owner Eugene Melnyk announced at a news conference on Tuesday. Melnyk, flanked by team president Cyril Leeder
Senators sign Clarke MacArthur to five-year extensionHere's one reason for Ottawa Senators fans to feel better about the team's future: The dynamic tandem of centre Kyle Turris and left winger Clarke MacArthur are going to be together for the foreseeable future.
Melnyk optimistic about Senators' potentialWhile Melnyk maintains hope about the Senators returning to the playoffs after taking a major step backwards last season, he isn't getting too far ahead of himself, either.
Senators' Karlsson sings a happy songPerhaps Erik Karlsson's boundless optimism Monday had something to do with the sun finally coming out to play. Or maybe it's just that time of year – with NHL players putting their skates back
Borowiecki signs three-year, $3.3M deal with SenatorsBorowiecki, the hard-hitting Ottawa native, signed a three-year, $3.3 million contract extension with the Ottawa Senators Monday, keeping him under contract through the end of the 2017-18 season.
Senators touring Ottawa-area communitiesThe Senators are reaching out to communities in Eastern Ontario with caravan-style visits. The sessions will include autograph sessions with current players, Senators alumni and Spartacat and pick-up road hockey games. Fans will also receive an opportunity to win tickets.
Sens sign Gatineau native, Vincent Dunn to entry dealThe Ottawa Senators have signed Gatineau native Vincent Dunn to a three-year entry-level contract. Dunn completed his third season of major junior hockey and his first with Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) in 2013-14.
Photos: Kyle Turris signs autographs at Bell Sensplex on June 30, 2014Ottawa Senator Kyle Turris visits the Ottawa Senators summer hockey camp


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Jim Dale Talks Recording Half-Blood Prince AudioBookHarry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
June 23, 2005, 09:50 AM
Jim Dale, who narrates the US edition of the Harry Potter books, has given a new interview where he talks about the process of recording for Half-Blood Prince. He recorded the book in April, only he says he is not certain as to the exact number of voices he did for Book 6, as he has not had time yet to go back and count the characters (he voiced 134 characters in Phoenix.)
"So how did Dake tackle the big job of recording the audiobook? He did it 100 pages at a time. Because the audiobook has to hit stores when the book is released, Dale had to record the book in a hurry back in April. Dale says he got the book to start reading over a weekend, and on Monday he recorded the first 100 pages. On Monday night, after leaving the studio, he read the next 100 pages and practiced the voices or invented new ones if the section he was working on had new characters. On Tuesday, he was back in the studio, working on the next big section of the book. Dale said he didn't have time to read the book through before he started recording it, so it was fun each day to see how the story was unfolding."
PLEASE NOTE: There is a POSSIBLE SPOILER at this link.


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Viewers sent us these pictures of a fire that raged in Haddon
Heights on Saturday. They show huge flames towering over fire crews.
The blast, which happened in the afternoon at a three-story
home on the 100 block of the Whitehorse Pike, injured two people with second-degree
Cell phone video showed the raging apartment fire filling
the Haddon Heights sky with plumes of smoke moments after a powerful explosion
jolted the earth below, with residents saying they felt it several blocks away,
and some saw debris fly into the air.
Two residents were rushed to area hospitals as the intense
heat and flames took over the three-story Victorian house with five units.
Steve Berryhill says he jumped in to help: "There was a
woman on the 3rd floor. I don't know if
she wasn't fully dressed or it blew her clothing off but we helped get her out.
… And there were two people on the first floor that we helped get out."
The scene demanded the attention of at least nine area fire
squads and first responders as witnesses lined the streets to capture every
Ken Whalen shot smartphone pictures after feeling the blast
from afar.
"Just the most intense fire I've ever seen," he
said. "I heard an explosion about a half mile away. I saw the smoke so I started driving towards
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Now those that know the displaced residents are praying they
can get back on their feet, FOX 29's Dave Kinchen reported from the scene.
25 FOX DriveDedham, MA 02026
Phone (781) 467-2525


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ISPOR Student Chapter
2013 ISPOR Members
The University of Mississippi chapter of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Student Network was created in May 2009, within the Department of Pharmacy Administration. The chapter is actively represented by nineteen graduate students and led by Dr. Yi Yang as the academic advisor. The chapter has been productive in its first year and has achieved much recognition. Chapter members have been actively
engaged in educational activities such as organizing journal club sessions, participating in ISPOR educational teleconferences, and inviting professional speakers. Linda Forbes, Director of Administration Services at Baptist Memorial Health Care System discussed with the chapter issues surrounding Contracting,
Accreditation and Quality in Managed Care.
Pharmacy Administration Assistant Professor, Dr. Rahul Khanna, speaks at the ISPOR 2013 Annual Conference in New Orleans.
Congratulations to Krutika Jariwala and Sujith Ramachandran for receiving the Ole Miss ISPOR Student Chapter Annual International Meeting Grants, April, 2013. Pharmacy Administration Associate Professor, Dr. Yi Yang, presents these awards.


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North Texas Food Bank Distribution Center
DALLAS –– During the summer months, demand for donations at The North Texas Food Bank jumps as students trade school for home. As such, when classes begin in late August, stock is unusually low and the food bank must issue an urgent plea to help fill pantry shelves.
"What we have right now in the warehouse, it usually takes two weeks to turn over one completely," said Jeffrey Clapper, a spokesman for the food bank. "With our shortage now, it's taking less than a week."
The food bank supplies donations to 262 agencies in 13 North Texas counties. When it incurs a shortage, needy families across the region suffer –– Clapper says the food bank has a demand of 300,000 meals a day. It's currently able to distribute an estimated 175,000.
Anyone who wishes to donate can do so Mondays through Saturdays at the North Texas Food Bank's Cockrell Hill distribution center, at 4500 S. Cockrell Hill Rd. During business hours, leave canned donations in the lobby. After-hours donations should be left by the front door.
Most needed items: "Nutritious, family-size, non-perishable canned foods such as vegetables, fruits and meats." Examples are canned chicken and tuna; peanut butter; canned or dry beans; chili or stew; 'shelf-stable milk'; rice; and low sodium canned soup and vegetables.
Clapper says the food bank's main warehouse is dotted with empty spaces. With children at home for the summer, they weren't participating in subsidized lunch or breakfast programs, putting the onus back on the parent. Also an issue: Clapper says the period between the first day of school and the holiday season is marked by a "lull."
"A lot of people think, 'well, I'll just wait until Thanksgiving or Christmas to make a donation of food or money' when, in actuality, we've depleted our stores," or inventory, Clapper said.
Those who wish to help can also volunteer their time –– the food bank needs 300 volunteers each day to help sort and pack food at the distribution centers. Anyone older than 10 can help Tuesday through Saturdays. Volunteer at this link or call 214.270.2055. If volunteers aren't there to sort the food, it doesn't go out.
"That's food that's promised or that we could give out that we can't give out because it's not sorted or packaged up," Clapper said.
The food bank is also accepting monetary donations: $1 can provide three meals. Head here to do that.
"It's really a three-fold thing," Clapper said. "A lack of food, a lack of funds and a lack of volunteers."


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A popular shoe company makes a stop in Bismarck today.
The TOMS Vagabond tour is making stops in 48 states to say thank you.
TOMS is a shoe and Eyewear company from California that not only sells merchandise but also gives back to children in need.
"TOMS is a one for one company and for every pair of shoes sold we give one back to a child in need and same with our sunglasses, every pair of sunglasses sold we give back and give sight through whether it be prescription glasses, medical treatment or eye saving surgery," TOMS Vagabond Member, Michelle Nader said.
The tour is at the University of Mary today giving students an opportunity to buy merchandise and even enter a chance to win an internship with TOMS and a trip to L.A.
"I've gotten shoes through the TOMS program, I have three pairs of shoes, I just think it's such an awesome thing they do and that it's not only getting stuff because you want the style or something but you're actually doing something for the world, I think it's so awesome just because it's such a big corporation and so to come here in Bismarck, North Dakota is pretty awesome," University of Mary Sophomore Sierra Roshau said.
The TOMS Vagabond tour will be at the Street fair in downtown Bismarck tomorrow before heading to Minneapolis on Saturday.
Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed on a sidewalk outside the Pentagon Thursday after his invitation to a prayer service inside was withdrawn because of comments that insulted people of other religions. More>>


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The Denver Broncos pulled away in the third quarter to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-23 on Sunday afternoon at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo. With the win, the Broncos clinched their second consecutive AFC West championship.
The Broncos used three touchdowns in a five-minute span to turn a 10-7 deficit into a 28-10 lead. Peyton Manning hit Demaryius Thomas for an 8-yard scoring strike to regain the lead for the Broncos at the 9:27 mark in the quarter. Less than five minutes later, Manning connected with Thomas again, this time on a 10-yard slant pattern to make it a two-score game.
It took just 41 seconds for the Broncos to extend their lead, as Von Miller intercepted a pass from Josh Freeman and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown, putting Denver ahead, 28-10. Tampa Bay would fight back in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Broncos, 13-3. However, the Bucs' onside kick attempt after Mike Williams' late touchdown grab bounced into the hands of Denver's Eric Decker, effectively ending their shot at a comeback.
Fantasy stud
Manning overcame a third-quarter interception to complete go 27-of-38 for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Thomas deserves a nod here, too, for his 99-yard, two-score day.
Fantasy dud
Despite gaining 98 total yards, Buccaneers running back Doug Martin failed to find the end zone, and averaged just 3.1 yards per carry.
Did they cover?
The Broncos, who entered the game as 7 1/2-point favorites, held on to cover despite the Buccaneers' fourth-quarter rally attempt.
Injury info
Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury. At the time, his return was questionable, but he never made it back into the game.
Buccaneers cornerback LeQuan Lewis was carted off the sideline after suffering an injury in the fourth quarter. He also did not return.
Up next
The Broncos hit the road to face the Oakland Raiders on Thursday, Dec. 6, while the Buccaneers return home for a meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Provided by SBnation.com.
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SKYFOX is high above southern California every day. Check out Meteorologist Rick Dickert's awesome photos in the slideshow.
WJBK-TV | Fox 2
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Highlights from Round Four of the Heineken Cup as Gloucester face Edinburgh.
Action from this weekend's Top 14 matches.
Re-live the best of the pictures from Saturday's Currie Cup action as the Free State Cheetahs, Western Province and Golden Lions all won.
Highlights of Hawke's success in Pukekohe.
The latest shots from Canterbury's big ITM Cup win over Northland.
Action from this weekend's Top 14 matches.Photo galleries home


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Are you being stalked behind the wheel? Here's how to tell and what you can do about it.
By Allison Martin, Money Talks News
Big Brother is always watching. That's what we've come to believe, at least in our online lives where our personal viewing habits are tracked and used by advertisers to try to sell us stuff.
But shutting down your computer and other electronic devices allows for a little private time, right? Well, not necessarily. Not if you're driving in your car.
Let's take a look at some of the ways your car may be spying on you.
Instead of waiting until traditional retirement age, some workers are taking mini-retirements to recharge and pursue interests.
By Susan Johnston, U.S. News & World Report
Ten years ago, when Tim Justice, then in his mid-40s, suggested to his wife Doreen Orion that they leave their jobs as psychiatrists and travel the country in an RV, she wasn't thrilled. "Why can't you be like a normal husband in a midlife crisis and have an affair or buy a Corvette?" she asked.
But the idea grew on her, and Orion eventually published a memoir called "Queen of the Road: The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus with a Will of Its Own" about the experience. They've since taken several shorter mini-retirements and sold their house so they can live in their RV full time.
"What finally convinced me," she says, "was that we had both seen so many people in our practices who put off doing things they love or spending more time with their spouses until they retired. But then something terrible happened -- the spouse died or one of them became ill. I decided that I wanted to have this experience with the person I love now and not wait."
Under new Obamacare rules, parents can keep their adult children insured till age 26, but they're not responsible for the deductibles.
Some parents are now keeping their adult children on their health insurance plans thanks to the Affordable Care Act. That law requires healthcare plans that offer dependent coverage to make the coverage available until a child reaches the age of 26.
But just because parents are willing to pay for their kid's health insurance, it doesn't mean they want to pay for all their medical expenses. Yet, because the insurance policy is in their name, some parents are getting bills for their kids and are worried that if they don't take care of them, their credit is at risk.
For example, one of our readers wrote:
Lexus ranks highest on J.D. Power's dependibility study. But be forewarned: Dependability doesn't always equate to affordability.
Paying for maintenance is inevitable for car owners, but future trips to the auto repair shop aren't often top-of-mind for consumers browsing the dealership lots.
Ideally, shoppers have done research on and have some experience with manufacturers and models to help inform a vehicle-purchase decision, but it's difficult to predict how reliable a car will be.
If avoiding the repair shop is your top concern, buying a Lexus is a good bet, according to the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. For the 25th year, J.D. Power published rankings of the best vehicle brands, based on the average number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles, as well as a breakdown of most reliable vehicles in 21 body-type categories.
Sooner or later, you're going to need one. When the time comes, here's how to find the best attorney at the lowest cost.
By Stacy Johnson, Money Talks News
Q: What's the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer?
A: A good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge.
Whether it's something as simple as making a will or as complex as a murder trial, at some point in life, odds are you'll need a lawyer. If you've heard horror stories about how much they charge or how they can sometimes complicate otherwise simple transactions, take it from me: They're probably true.
Here's this week's reader question:
How do you find a lawyer? This is for legal issues regarding medical malpractice. My primary care doctors support that I need an attorney. They said once I get one they will help me with a case. -- Heidi
Here's how to go about finding a lawyer. Many of these tips will work for other professionals as well.
'We are sitting ourselves to death,' a doctor says in a new book, and obesity isn't the only risk.
Standing while you read this could do something toward saving your life, according to Dr. James Levine, whose new book reveals how he came to the scientific conclusion that our chairs are killing us.
"Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death," says Levine, a professor of medicine at the U.S.-based Mayo Clinic, in his book "Get Up!: Why Your Chair is Killing You and What You Can Do About It."
Financial institutions are reaping huge profits from fees associated with campus cards, which are used to distribute financial aid.
It's not all that hard to figure out: When your argument hits too close to home, the other side starts calling you names.
So when a vice president for government affairs of payments for the Financial Services Roundtable -- the industry's leading legislative advocate -- calls the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau a "school yard bully" and accuses it of being "engaged in a shakedown" of colleges and universities for "being in cahoots" with banks and other financial services providers, my guess is that he's less concerned about "students' access to mainstream banking products" than he is about what the industry stands to lose if the regulatory and consumer-advocacy groups have their way.
The conflict has to do with the Obama administration's plan to extend the U.S. Department of Education's authority to regulate the use of a little piece of plastic known as a campus card.
The administration is doing that with good reason.
At $6.11 per pound, the average price of bacon has hit an all-time high.
By Krystal Steinmetz, Money Talks News
Bringing home the bacon just got more expensive.
The average price of a pound of bacon in the U.S. increased by 6 cents in June, pushing it to an all-time high of $6.11 per pound, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That's a 41 percent increase since June 2012.
"For what you'd spend for a pound of bacon today, you could buy a whole 4-pound chicken, a six-pack of PBR, 10 pounds of bananas, 36 eggs, or a paperback copy of the fourth installment of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, 'A Feast for Crows,'" The Huffington Post said.
Bacon prices are getting heftier for a couple of reasons. The nasty (and deadly) porcine epidemic diarrhea virus has killed 8 million young pigs, or about 10 percent of the entire U.S. herd, The Des Moines Register reported.
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Artistic Pursuits
Sculpture Listing
information on
holding an event
at Na 'Āina Kai?
Please contact our marketing director at 808.828.0575 or send an
email to
to discuss the worlds of possibility here at Na 'Āina Kai.
Sculpture Credit:
Tea for Two
by Ann LaRose
Rest awhile on the wooden bench
next to this mesmerizing likeness of a teenage African-American
girl taking a break from her jog in the Hawaiian heat.
With a wet towel around her shoulders and well-worn
running shoes, "Nike Girl sits refreshed and
contented after her run through the garden," explained
Mrs. Doty about this piece by one of her favorite sculptors,
George Lundeen of Colorado.
Jim Demetro depicts a mother teaching her young daughter how to wash
her hair in a small tub. This charming sculpture has found the perfect setting in the zen garden
adjacent to the teahouse.


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in Part 1 of this trilogy, we established the similarities between the 2010 Mets and the 2005 Phillies, upsetting as it might have been. The short of it was that both teams featured some young stars on the infield and outfield, some reasonably exciting pieces in the rotation, and veterans filling in the pieces - not to mention new ballparks, coaches and general managers.
Now it's time to figure out how those Phillies turned from almost-there into the team that has won the division four straight years. Let's start with the hiring of GM Pat Gillick in November of 2005, since that dovetails nicely with the future hiring of the next Mets general manager, and end with the beginning of the 2007 season, which saw them win the division thanks to the Mets. Sigh.
Instead of going into the minutia of every single move that Pat Gillick made when he took over, let's look at the major moves. Check out his big splash:
11/25/05 Acquired CF Aaron Rowand, LHP Daniel Haigwood and LHP Gio Gonzalez for 1B Jim Thome and cash.
The Phillies had long had Ryan Howard knocking on the door at first base, and when he performed well late in the 2005 season while Jim Thome was hurt - 2.3 WAR, 22 HR, .288/.356/.667 in 348 PA - it became obvious what had to be done. Gillick got a decent return despite the fact that it was obvious that Thome was both superfluous and already a DH.
Don't look at the current version of Rowand when scoffing at this notion - in his younger days, Rowand was useful. In 2004, he went .310/.361/.544 and accrued 5.4 WAR by playing an excellent center field, and in 2005, despite a bit of regression (.270/.329/.407, 3.8 WAR) he was still a nice piece. The best part was that the Phillies needed a center fielder, as Kenny Lofton was 38 and didn't seem like a long-term piece at the position. Yes, he turned in a decent season (.335/.392/.420, 3.8 WAR), but it was his second-straight season limited by injury and there was little reason to expect that to change at his age.
Gio Gonzalez was also a nice young left-handed piece to get back in that trade, and he factors in later in the Phils' future, even if it wasn't at the major league level.
Lesson Learned: Deal from surplus to fill needs. Any fantasy owner could tell you the same.
12/3/05 Signed free agent RHP Tom Gordon to a three-year contract.
1/27/06 Acquired LHP Arthur Rhodes from Cleveland for OF Jason Michaels.
This is a key part of the equation, as it pertains mostly to mid- to large-market teams working under the assumption that they have to field a strong team every year. Gordon signed for three years and $15 million to replace Billy Wagner, and was a relative value considering that Braden Looper signed a three year deal for a million-and-a-half less to set up in St. Louis. Even with his injuries, Gordon was the better value and the better bet going into the season. Of course, Looper converted to a starter and ended up being worth more, but Gordon was the better pitcher and was a closer, so paying a million more is not unwarranted. I mean, Billy Wagner signed for four years and $42 million - how did that work out? Rhodes suffered through poor luck in one of his worst seasons in the bigs, but he was also a flyball pitcher going to a poor park for his skills, and his 3.72 FIP wasn't terrible.
What you can learn from these transactions is that Gillick wanted to build a strong bullpen, but he didn't want to pay a lot of money for it. Omar Minaya, are you listening?
Lesson Learned: Don't spend a ton of resources on the bullpen, but do spend some attention on it.
3/27/06 Reassigned LHP Cole Hamels to Minor League camp.
Hamels had made it as far as Double-A in 2005 and had excelled at every stop. He was an exciting young pitcher, and the fans were clamoring for him. He was re-assigned to the minor leagues because he'd only had 19 innings at Double-A, ended up getting hurt, hitting the DL, returning, excelling, and performing decently in the major leagues once he proved Double-A wasn't a problem.
Lesson Learned: Don't muck around with your exciting young starters (like Jenrry Mejia).
7/30/06 Acquired SS C.J. Henry, LHP Matt Smith, C Jesus Sanchez and RHP Carlos Monastrios from the Yankees for OF Bobby Abreu and RHP Cory Lidle.
8/19/06 Acquired LHP Jamie Moyer from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Minor League RHPs Andrew Baldwin and Andrew Barb.
8/27/06 Acquired OF Jeff Conine and cash from the Orioles in exchange for a player to be named.
This may be the most controversial part of the discussion. On July 30th, the team was under .500 and struggling - and Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle were free agents at year's end, so they were easy targets for other teams. Credit Gillick for trading them away when he knew he wasn't going to re-sign them - even in his first season with the Phillies. Less strong-minded GMs may not have wanted to 'waive the white flag' so soon in their inaugural season. Even if the prospects he got back didn't end up doing much, there was some hope for Monastrios at the time, and at least all four played premium positions and had the chance to become backups on good teams.
But then the team rallied and got back into the wild card race. Just about three weeks later, Gillick must have felt differently about the team and acquired an old left-hander getting to the end of his contract in Seattle. He added an outfielder for the stretch run too. It's a little confusing, and would seemingly be rash, but if you look closely, he didn't give up much for Moyer, so there's something common to both of these moves. Short-term assets can be moved around fairly easily depending on the current state of the team. Out of it? Jettison the free agents as long as you can do better than the picks you'd get for them. Back in it? Throw a couple fungible arms at a weakness on the team.
A sub-plot here is Michael Bourn. Ostensibly, Gillick traded Abreu because he felt that Bourn, who had just put up a .283/.368/.428 season at Triple-A, could replace him in the outfield with better defense. With the team out of it seemingly, he gave Bourn some run. As the team climbed back in, he demoted Bourn and replaced him with Conine. In 2007, Bourn was a full-time outfielder and still part of the team's plans.
Lesson Learned: Keep the long-term plan in mind, cut bait on short-term assets relatively quickly, and don't overpay when acquiring short-term assets. AND: Give young guys a shot if they seem ready and the team is struggling (a corollary to keeping the long-term plan in mind).
10/23/06 Signed LHP Jamie Moyer to a two-year contract extension.
11/30/06 Signed RHP Adam Eaton to a three-year contract.
Well, you can't win them all - certainly the Eaton move was a bad one, as he gave the Phils 268 innings of replacement-level pitching for three years and $24.5 million. Ouch. On the other hand, Jamie Moyer gave them 4.2 WAR over two years for $12+ million, so that one worked out. A positive lesson can be taken from both of these contracts - back of the rotation starters are fungible, so just keep the dollar signs low and sign multiple guys, knowing that your best Triple-A starter can come in if things don't work out (see: Eaton, who was released after 2008). Had the Mets signed Oliver Perez to three years and $24.5 million, they'd probably be even more likely to release him this offeseason and they'd be $5.5 million richer overall.
Lesson Learned: Back-of-the-rotation starters are fungible - keep the years and dollar signs as low as possible and move on once things don't work out.
12/21/06 Traded OF Jeff Conine to Cincinnati in exchange for Minor League OF Javon Moran and Minor League 3B Brad Key; Signed C Rod Barajas to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2008 season.
12/19/06 Signed OF Jayson Werth to a one-year contract.
Conine performed decently with the Phillies at the end of 2006, but his .280/.327/.390 line showed that his power was almost all gone. With a year left on his contract, Gillick went back to his old lesson - short-term assets can be jettisoned in order to keep the long term plan going - and traded Conine away.
You might be tempted to say that the Werth signing was luck, since the outfielder had just spent a year in Los Angeles whiffing at everything (33.8% K rate) and putting up an atrocious line (.238/.334/.374), but that's not probable. Werth had shown great ISOs before (.208 in Toronto, .224 in his first year in Los Angeles) and was as strong fielder. He had a bad platoon split, but he was at least half of a pretty good fielder, and the fact that his ISO disappeared for 395 plate appearances in Los Angeles is not something that should sink a career.
(Also: backup catchers should be signed to one-year contracts for cheap... but Minaya figured that one out.)
Lesson Learned: Buy low on players that have shown promise even if they are somewhat flawed.
12/6/06 Acquired RHP Freddy Garcia from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for RHP Gavin Floyd and a player to be named later.
Well, crap happens. It seems that the Phillies gave up too soon on Floyd, who had walked over five batters per nine in about 100 innings over three years. He only had one year in the minors with really poor control (2005, 4.3 walks per nine, 3.4 BB/9 minor league career), so perhaps they should have seen past the initial struggles. Then again, he only struck out 7.1 per nine in the minor leagues, so perhaps they thought his upside was limited. Few players strike out so few in the minor leagues and then go on to successful careers, but Floyd has improved his control and his ability to get groundballs while in the majors and has become a better pitcher. Kudos to him.
Lesson Learned: Some guys will get away. It's okay. Keep dealing.
1/21/07 Signed 2B Chase Utley to a seven-year contract extension.
2/1/07 Agreed to terms with RHP Brett Myers on a three-year contract.
Well, New York knows this lesson at least. Sign your cornerstones before they hit the free market. We can thank Omar Minaya for the last three player-seasons left at below-market rates for David Wright and Jose Reyes at the very least.
Lesson Learned: Sign your cornerstones before they hit the free market.
And there you have it. The major moves the Phillies made between 2006 and 2007 that took them from second to first in the division. Doesn't seem so hard, does it? Next up: How the Mets can follow this plan.


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Select Area...
Overlook Boulders
This is area has many undeveloped boulders spread out over a large area. The rock is rough and breaks easily but many cracks prove worth climbing. There are tons of boulders that seem like they haven't been touched. Also, Chimney Peak could offer some routes if explored. Most of the rocks have lots of moss and lichen on them and should need cleaning. There is lots to explore out there if you are looking for some new untouched rock. USAFA conducts military training during the summer months so cadets and military activity should be looked out for.
Getting There
Start in Woodland Park and head up Rampart Range Road. Continue on Rampart Range Road (Forest Road 300) north until you hit Forest Road 324 or Forest Road 325. Boulders can be found all along these roads and down in the valleys off of these roads. From here, you can also go down Forest Road 323 and further on to Chimney Peak and more boulders.
Climbing Season
2 Total Routes
Featured Route For Saylor Park Boulders
Ewok-1 V1 5 CO : South Platte : ... : Overlook Boulders
Start with an undercling on the lower crack and lunge up to the upper crack. Work yourself right and top out on a crumbly jug right behind a fir tree. Take the slide down. ...[more] Browse More Classics in CO
Local Information for Saylor Park Boulders
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