text:
Write Review
Compare Furniture Stores
The Dump
out of
, based on
ratings and
reviews & complaints.
Most Popular
More Options >
More filter options:
Horrible Customer Service / Damaged Furniture
Posted by
IRVING, TEXAS -- We purchased a dining room table and chairs from The Dump. On the FIRST DELIVERY, the table was badly damaged. They left chairs and rescheduled another day to bring a new table. On the SECOND DELIVERY, the table was again badly damaged. (again, we're not talking scratched, it looked like it had been dropped from 20ft onto the corner of the table.) A THIRD TABLE was then brought out several days later, AGAIN badly damaged. We'd been speaking to their customer service department begging them to inspect the table before they came out and of course we were assured they would, but they obviously did not. On the FORTH DELIVERY, finally the table itself was not damaged, BUT it was missing 2 pieces needed to attach the legs. The delivery guys thought it was a manufacturing defect at the time, so that one also went back. At last, on the FIFTH DELIVERY it was put together and all looked good. After me taking out 5 days for delivery, and complaining to their customer service dept for an hour, they were kind enough to offer me a $100 gift card to The Dump. Thanks for nothing. If I had been able to locate the table to match the chairs we already had, I would have taken my business elsewhere. I certainly will go elsewhere in the future.
Was this review helpful?
Poor Customer Relations
Posted by
ATLANTA, GEORGIA -- I'm a business man who decided to kill some time before my next duty so I decided to stop by The Dump in Atlanta. When I got there I looked around a bit and found myself in the clearance area were I noticed a pile of blankets all the same price but different colors. There was one blanket I noticed that matched my colors in my bedroom but this blanket was missing the price. A worker told me the price should be the same as the others but he went and spoke to a lady over the department who was on break in the break area eating and just off the top of her head without seeing it she tells him to tell me $40 more than the other blanks. I asked to speak to her cause this made no since to me and she comes out with an attitude and says "its because its bigger" I say "no" its the same, so I walk back to clearance and measure it next to the others and guess what it was the same size. Moments later she comes racing up behind me and I showed her that that was not accurate and she says its because its a better color. I said I'm going to find the store manager this makes no since. So I find the store manager and right away he acts defensive and I tell him about the situation and he acts real rude, short, and condescending and then tells me that its because of the date so I look at the dates and the one I wanted said 2009 and the other at a lower price said 2011 so I point that out. He says, well we don't go by that date, I say, there is no other date so again where is this mystery price coming from. He storms off and says I'll just look it up in the computer and I said that would have made more since to do that before you'll made up a price. As he was looking up the real price, another associate comes up to me an ask if I had got my previous needs met, and as I'm talking to her, the store manager jumps in and threatens to kick me out if I didn't shut up and I told him she asked and its our private conversation and he wasn't in it. The store manager then gets on his cell phone and calls security and upon his arrival they converse in the corner and the security waits to the side. Then the store manager walks up to me with some papers and I'm thinking at that time he's going to tell me the price so I can buy it and leave, instead he walks up to me and starts off with 'first of all blaw blaw blaw and this and that',trying to pick and argument to escalate the situation. I then tell him I don't need the back lash all I need is the price cause I know what you are trying to do, he says , "well you can just get the hell out of my store" and then told the security to escort me out. I've since called customer service twice and after almost 3 weeks I still haven't got the call back I was promised.
Was this review helpful?
Damaged furniture, unreliable customer service, delayed replacement, damaged replacement...NO PERSONAL SATISFACTION
Posted by
dump the junk
HOUSTON, TEXAS -- We purchased a 5 piece bedroom set from this company on May 30, 2009...until today, we haven't received the dresser in proper condition and we are VERY VERY unhappy. We received a damage piece and now we have a replacement that is also damaged. The drawers and frames are broken and chipped and the wood/veneer is flaking off. The dovetails on the drawer are separated by 1/2 of an inch and pieces of wood are cutting into your hand. There is also mould at the bottom inner part of the dresser. If you are a future buyer and care to read our complaint, my one advise - don't shop here! ...Please be wary of this store and their furniture quality, this should be your last resort if you ever need to shop for a special piece for your home. I would recommend Star Furniture and many others over this company.
For many reasons, a few of which I may take time to list:
What you see and order, is not what you receive, the pieces on the floor are better and more sturdier, what you get is nothing in comparison. Made in China - poor excuse.
Customer Service are rude and impolite and doesn't care to help you even when THE DUMP has just dumped a damaged piece of furniture in your bedroom; I can list names...but lets be nice and don't.
Furniture was delivered on June 5 with damages and not replaced until August 28, only to find more damages than before. PS: They promise to replace damage furniture within 30 days, but 90 days approach and no follow ups.
We call 5-6 times for help, we explain over and over, we get no apologies, no kind answers, it's just one excuse after another. We ask for a manager, even by name to no avail, the manager was standing right there but our calls go right back to the original rude customer service representative who once said we have none left in stock.
Our last resort was to go back into the store and find our sales representative and of course the manager was there to help us, very cordial and very nice. But in the end, he does nothing more than promise another immediate replacement. This is sad, given the status of our economy right now - the standards of customer service is at its lowest point. How can we the consumer be confident to make purchases? They take our money and they don't care what happens after.
At one time I called to follow up, only to find that our file was covered under rubble on someone's desk who was sick or out of the office for a week and I was told that no one would interfere with her desk or her job...Well obviously they did when I called to ask for my replacement of a damaged piece of garbage furniture they delivered to me.
Delivery people don't care about you or your product...the wrapping is just a piece of blanket which probably lead to more damages in the truck.
Also, we were told our furniture was damaged by termites...hard to believe but termites may be crawling out of our bedroom pieces. the driver nicely said that the truck is sprayed.
I am so frustrated at this point, I felt like standing at the door of this company and tell every single customer that the furniture is no good...beware. I hate to know that many may have gone through more than I went through with the DUMP. I can go on and on with more specifications...but I am tired and why should I, in the end, it's my money, no one cares but me.
Was this review helpful?
Bed Broke and Fell Apart
Posted by
TEMPE, ARIZONA -- Bought a bed that was a final sale close out and could not be returned at The Dump. The bed was delivered and the drawers would not close once they were opened. So we reached under the bed, positioned the drawers in a closed position, and vowed never to open again. That was the end of extra storage. A week later the bed broke and we fell to the floor. My husband made a part and fixed the part that was broken.
Several weeks later, again, we fell to the floor as another section of the bed broke. My husband again made a replacement part and we were able to return to our bed for the remainder of the night. Two days ago, the real challenge came when the main support frame cracked and broke. It was late, we were tired, and the bed was not useable so my husband used a piece of wood and a hydraulic jack to hold the bed up for the remainder of the night.
The next day, it was necessary to replace the main support beam for the bed. The bed is not even three months old and a call to The Dump brought no results.
Was this review helpful?
Fraudulent Advertising - Bate and Switch
Posted by
TEMPE, ARIZONA -- I heard an advertisement for The Dump on TV and the internet stating that The Dump is going out of the mattress business and mattresses are on sale at 15 cents on the dollar or 85% off. So I drove to the Dump all the way from North Phoenix to find out this was a lie and they had two mattress sets not much else on sale. I looked at the one for a Queen sized bed and thought this looks nothing like what they were advertising. Most mattresses were not even on sale. When I spoke to the sales person - she said I needed to listen to the add more carefully, that this inventory is going so new could come in that they are not going out of the mattress business - What the heck!! Then I was going to purchase a mattress set but did not want the box springs as my is very new and would have matched. The sign with the pricing was on the bed and it said mattress only $309.00, box springs and mattress $398.00 (something like that), then she said I can only give you $50.00 off for not taking the box springs - what. She told me never mind the sign stating $309.00 that was wrong.
I bought my daughter's mattress at The Dump a year ago and got a really great deal, quality and a real sale. If you look at the furniture and the pricing you can pretty much pay that at any good furniture store or a little less. They are not going out of the rug business like they advertise either.
How come no one has sued this place for false advertising?? How can you get away with what they are doing??
Not to mention how can they charge you 100.00 for box springs and only credit you 50.00 - how ridiculous. The quality sucks and you can see that these are not designer anything.
I came home and listened to the ad again and it is exactly what I told her that it specifically states that they are going out of the mattress business - do they think we are stupid.
They are liars so they can get you in the store - if I did business like that I would be out of business.
I will never step foot in the Dump again.
Thanks DUMP - YOU RIGHT I ALMOST GOT DUMPED!!!
Was this review helpful?
Financing and delivery scam! stay away
Posted by
TEMPE, ARIZONA -- I have had such a bad time with this miserable company as a customer. I spent 5 hours picking out furniture to redo my whole living room and kitchen. In this time I had to fax paperwork to the store to be approved for their 24 months no payments no interest offer and they approved me for exactly that. that offer is called an x24 offer to the employees of that store. I signed all the paperwork stating I had 0 payments and 0 interest for 24 months, and took the area rugs I had selected to my car. I later received a call saying I wasn't approved for the x24 offer but the w24 which is 24 equal payments over 24 months with no interest. still a good deal but not what I wanted so I canceled the order completely and told them to write up the rugs on a new contract and I would pay cash for them. I didn't want to drive 50 minutes back to the store just to hand them their stuff back because they can't honor their contracts. Not only did they not honor their contract, they didn't cancel it either and went on to try to deliver the furniture to me when I wasn't home (according to "The Dump" and my neighbors). Now "The Dump" is sticking me with the bill for almost 6k worth of furniture that was supposed to be canceled, and trying to make me make payments on it when I was supposed to have no payments no interest in the first place... I never signed a delivery slip nor did I sign any agreement other than the one that I signed in the store for 0 payments 0 interest for 24 months. How did they get a new contract with me agreeing to buy these products from them on a totally different finance structure? Your guess is as good as mine but I can tell you it wasn't legally.. Avoid this store at all costs. They may have deals on furniture but you could end up like me getting bounced back and forth between the store the main office in Virginia, the finance company, the delivery company and the police trying to sort out a simple furniture sale... btw its been since 5/28/10 that this took place and it still isn't resolved. I have since reported them to the Arizona attorney general and the federal trade commission. the store in turn has filled charges against me for "stealing" said furniture "that I never took delivery of" because I haven't made a payment on their bogus contract. I will be suing the sh*t out of them after I am cleared of this obviously ridiculous claim
Was this review helpful?
We don't have your item but we do have your money.
Posted by
Dump hater
IRVING, TEXAS -- On November 14, 2009 I purchased a mattress, box springs and a king-sized based from âThe Dumpâ in Irving Texas. The total for these items was 1740.66. This includes $59.00 for a delivery fee. They set the delivery date for today November 21, 2009 between 3 and 9 PM. Around 4 Pm I called them to find out when the delivery will happen. At that time I was informed that the mattress was not going to be delivered. The salesman had assured me that the item was in stock.
I drove immediately to The Dump. I asked for the manager. I did not want to talk to the salesman again. I asked for my money back. Again I was directed to salesman for a different mattress. I informed the manager that I had a house fire and had been sleeping on a rented mattress and bed. I did not want to do business with this company anymore and I need my money to go to a different place. I was asked to leave the business. I walked around and asked some salespeople if this was normal business practice for âThe Dump.â
Then they called the police on me. You got it. They have my money, no mattress, and they call the police on me. I am the one being held hostage. I am the one being robbed. So I leave. I go back in about an hour later and quietly walk to the customer service desk. I ask for a refund. After about twenty minutes I hear one of the salesmen say the police are coming. Can you believe it? I am standing there quietly waiting on my refund and they call the police again.
So I leave again and call in. It will take 7-10 days to get my money back (remember I returned my rented bed). They wanted to charge me for coming to pick up the box springs and base. It only took 2 hours on the phone to get rid that extra charge. Now they donât want to refund my original delivery fee. Anything they can do to hold on to my money. I paid them cash. I didn't hold payment for 7-10 days and then short then my gas and stress.
Was this review helpful?
Customer Service Phone Number
Posted by
LEVITTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA -- My girlfriend and I went to The Dump in Levittown, PA on a Sunday and purchased a sectional. When we got back to Delaware, we went to another furniture store and saw a sectional that we originally really wanted on sale for literally half the price we paid in Levittown. We called to cancel our order at the Dump and were told that we would receive a call back.
Since they only have weekend hours, and we canceled our order at around 4PM, it's safe to assume that they were not able to get back to us since they closed at 6PM. I got a call today saying that the furniture was scheduled to be delivered tomorrow sometime in the afternoon.
After going to the website, I noticed there isn't a number for their customer service department, which is open 7 days a week. Google did not pull up the number, so I had to call the delivery people and they gave me their customer service number.
The Dump's customer service number is: 1(866)-662-8947.
I was also told that the business office of each location is open from about 8AM to 3PM or so every day, so one could call the store and reach the business office. I cannot confirm this as of now.
I found it strange that they wouldn't have their customer service number, but only their hours on the website. I made a complaint about this to the customer service representative. I hope she follows through.
I hope this helps someone else.
Was this review helpful?
Shotty Delivery
Posted by
HAMPTON, VIRGINIA -- I just received delivery of my new bed and I am very dissatisfied with the way the delivery men set up the bed. They were very rough with the handling of the metal parts of the bed on my hardwood floor. I could hear them slamming stuff around on the floor because they were in such a hurry to get out. I understand them having to deliver within time constraints but extra care needs to be taken with hardwood floors. We signed for the delivery but when we went in to apply sliders to the metal legs of the frame I noticed three scratches on the floor and a huge gash. I expect better care to be taken when paying to have store delivery having to redo a hardwood floor is very costly. I was satisfied with my purchase and store experience but completely unsatisfied with the delivery and would not recommend it to anyone.
Was this review helpful?
Worst Furniture Experience EVER
Posted by
IRVING, TEXAS -- We bought a new home and new furniture for our bedroom from The Dump. Parts were missing for the dresser/mirror to put it together. I am going on two months now and still no parts, no help from the sales person, no help from the store where I purchased it and no help from customer service. I know why they call it The Dump....its because you get DUMPED on when trying to do anything with this company. The sales guy said, "its not my problem." Customer service said, "let us look into it and call you back." We can't get a call back to save our lives. THIS IS THE WORST FURNITURE STORE EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THE DUMP TO ANYONE. I DON'T RECOMMEND THEIR PRICES, THEIR SALES PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Was this review helpful?
Next Page >
Top of Page
Next Page >


text:
Search Arizona by City:
- Ahwatukee
- Anthem
- Apache Junction
- Avondale
- Buckeye
- Carefree
- Casa Grande
- Cave Creek
- Chandler
- Coolidge
- El Mirage
- Florence
- Fountain Hills
- Gilbert
- Glendale
- Gold Canyon
- Goodyear
- Laveen
- Litchfield Park
- Maricopa
- Mesa
- New River
- Paradise Valley
- Peoria
- Phoenix
- Queen Creek
- Rio Verde
- San Tan Valley
- Scottsdale
- Sun City West
- Sun City
- Sun Lakes
- Surprise
- Tempe
- Tolleson
- Tonopah
- Waddell
- Wickenburg
About Arizona:
Phoenix AZ Real Estate Features Top Neighborhoods
Explore the most current listings for MLS Real Estate in Phoenix Arizona! This real estate portal contains websites featuring homes in the top neighborhoods in the Valley of the Sun. Whether you are looking for a starter home or your dream home, there are many listings in sunny urban and suburban neighborhoods. We feature all of the best listings in the Phoenix Metro cities right here, in one place. Search for a house. Find your HOME!
Additional Arizona Information:
No place else gives homebuyers more choice of fun activities than Phoenix. Buying a home in a vibrant Phoenix neighborhood gives you access to a wide range of sports and lifestyle pursuits Go to an Arizona Cardinals game, visit the Grand Canyon, hike Piestewa Peak, go tubing down the Salt River, discover Native American cultures, or search for the Lost Dutchman's Goldmine in the Superstition Mountains. Buying a home in Phoenix gives you access to a lifetime of exciting adventures. Browse for homes in top neighborhoods in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Goodyear, Apache Junction, Laveen, Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley, Glendale and more. There is a perfect home for you and there are many great values available in each city!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Bike Officer, Ron Howeth, speaking with assessors during our accreditation static display.
The Skate Park
Sgt. Farrand and Det. Embry talk to young skaters.
Skaters under the age of 17 MUST have a Skate Park consent form signed by a parent/guardian and notarized to be able to use the skate park.
All skaters MUST wear a helmet within the Gulfport Skate Park.
All skaters under 17 MUST wear a helmet with this sticker visible on the helmet.
Skaters under 17 without visable registration stickers WILL be asked to leave the park and may be ticketed. Please do your part and make sure your children are not skating at the park without helmets and registration stickers.
The cost is $5.00 for Gulfport Residents and $10.00 for Non-Residents.
Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
If you have any questions,
please call 893-1068.
City of Gulfport Skate Park
Bicycle Patrol
Pinellas County, Florida has among the highest bicycle injury and fatality rates in the United States. For this reason, the Gulfport Police Department works hard to ensure the safety of those using bicycles on public roadways, especially children.
Bicycle Patrols are conducted throughout the city to provide more direct contact with citizens as well as for officers to be able to patrol areas more discretely.
These patrols are often done during special events, including "Art Walk", the first Friday and third Saturday of each month on Beach Blvd, as well as various other festivals. Patrols are also common during holidays, and other periods of high pedestrian traffic at the waterfront.
Bicycle patrols are effective at bringing the police officers in more direct contact with citizens, giving them the ability to see and hear things an officer in a car may not be able to.
Detective, Hahn Pham at the Beachfront, downtown.
Stolen Bicycles / Bicycle Registration
Bicycles can be registered at city hall, in person (with the bicycle present) for $.25
Registering your bicycle makes it possible for the police to identify a bicycle as yours if it is lost or stolen, and recovered. Because so many people do not register their bicycles, when stolen bicycles are recovered, or a bicycle is found, it is often impossible to determine who the owner is, and many of these bikes end up in lock-up at the police department and never find it's way back to it's owner.
Please register your bicycle, so that this doesn't happen to you. If your bicycle is recovered or found, we would like to be able to return it to you.
Gulfport Police Department
A Full- Service, Accredited Law Enforcement Agency
Pinellas County, Florida


text:
Top Gear drives the Jaguar C-X75
Before Jaguar put its 220mph, hybrid C-X75 hypercar on ice, TG got a drive…
Posted: 29 Apr 2014
Thinking about it afterwards, another 2mph would have been nice. Because 2mph would have taken me to 186, which keen students of unit conversion will recognise as a nice round 300kph. The car certainly isn't the limiting factor, its big digital speedo's digits scrolling hungrily and dizzily away towards the maximum of about 220. But right now, 184mph looks like a big enough number to me. My mind is on matters other than arithmetic: it's streaming with rain, a corner is approaching - fast - and I'm driving a car that's precious and irreplaceable... albeit, I'm thinking, not as precious as my passenger and me. Time to get on the brakes.
Words: Paul Horrell
Photography: Lee Brimble
This feature was originally published in the July 2013 issue of Top Gear magazine


text:
About | Projects | Docs | Forums | Lists | Bugs | Get Gentoo! | Support | Planet | Wiki
My PowerMac 7500 has a built-in 10baseT port and an AUII port. Which one gets activated with the default kernel on the 1.4_rc6 boot CD? I have a cable plugged into the built-in 10baseT port and I can't get any network connectivity, but the light does come on on the hub. I tried modprobe'ing all the modules in /lib/modules/whatever/kernel/drivers/net and none of them helped. -- Andrew Gaffney -- email@example.com mailing list
Updated Jun 17, 2009
Summary: Archive of the gentoo-ppc-user mailing list.
Donate to support our development efforts.
Your browser does not support iframes.


text:
Today's post is about well-known Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. This is quite popular cuticle cream and now I can see why. I was lucky enough to win this cute little tin of nicely smelling balm in giveaway hosted by two lovely ladies, Jayme and Mendi, at Her Late Night Cravings.
Here is the official description of Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream:
"Give your needy nails a helping hand. Nourish and moisturise nails and cuticles with this intensive, natural treatment. A touch of lemon oil makes your nails smell incredibly clean, healthy and beautiful, naturally."
"Lemon Oil (Citrus medica limonum): A Lemon Lift
Famous for its cleansing and astringent qualities, Lemon Oil has a natural, refreshingly clean scent. On skin, it cuts through oils and dirt. Leaving smoother skin and softer cuticles. It's true liquid love for your skin."
Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream comes in a cute little yellow tin, that is easily opened and closed as well.
It's more like a balm, not actually a cream in my opinion, because of its solid, waxy consistency. That's why it takes a bit longer to massage/rub in the balm in the cuticle, but it's worth it - the cuticle is moisturized and nourished for several hours. And to my surprise this balm is not greasy at all and it absorbs very quickly too.
It also has quite noticeable lemony smell, but I really like it - I think it smells just delicious.
Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is a 100% natural product and it's not tested on animals.
I would definitely recommend giving the Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream a try, if you haven't yet!
I have had some health issues lately, so I wasn't exactly around here much, I know. I'll go back to regular posting as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading!
Song of the day: Eddie Money - Take me home tonight


text:
Defeated By Poulan S25 Pro's Automatic Oiler, Oil Leak, Suggestions Appreciated.
1.The saw is a mess due to what appears as excess bar oil attracting sawdust all over inside the housing.
5. I'm lost as to what to check or try next, except running the saw with a vented oil cap to release pressure.
7. One observation that could be the killer, the diaphragm w/n rivet to the pintel/plunger vs a return spring washer which is not making the diaphragm a good positive force IMO. 8. The split oil tank c/b the killer as one from new vs this 80's and I feel the manuel oiler is not adding psi.
What Did I miss? Any personal experiences with this Poulan S25 Pro matter, Suggestions/Etc.. loger |
Follow-Up Postings:
Solved! The saw is too worn and I'll move to S25 #2 with very little use on it (Maybe a week or 2-3 cords as S25 #3 as back-ups all these years). BUT! #2 has that terrible after use bar oil mess in the case. One theory was to open the oil cap to let the pressure off. I doubt it will be that simple since present S25 had a vent hole and this one will get if needed. I'll low psi test and check the case bolts torque which solved a leak on the retired now part saw. Most of all, I'll return the un-used oil to the jug and add news-paper under the saw. I cut/split/stacked 2 face cord of green Live Oak last week (my avg use) but drug in some Pecan yesterday. loger loger |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Tool Shed Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here


text:
The proximity to Hollywood has made Los Angeles a perfect place for Film schools. The Institutes boast of facilities incorporating the latest production technologies, with some of them providing the opportunity of working with Hollywood personalities as well. This proves to be ample motivation for the students and encourages them.FilmSchoolsOnline.com provides detailed information on the best Film Schools, New York Film Schools, Top Film Schools, American Film Schools and more. Film Schools is affiliated with Italian Cooking Schools.
These institutes employ professional filmmakers and highly qualified instructors to guide their students in the film industry. The courses covered by most of these institutes include cinematography, film producing, production design, editing, directing, story analysis and screenplay and sound designing. Digital video editing and workshops are arranged to provide hands- on experience in the projects. The entire process of creating motion pictures, starting with the conception, through the different production stages is taught in the workshops. The workshops provide practical experiences in filming and sound stage exercises. Documentaries are made by the students and hosted on the Internet for public viewing. The best film is chosen from the list of entries and mentioned under the name of the film. This encourages the students to strive harder.
Application forms can be downloaded from the Internet for some of the best film schools. A non-refundable application fee is required along with high school reports. Detailed information regarding the application procedure for international students is also available in the websites of the various Institutes and can be easily downloaded for reference. Any queries regarding the course contents, duration and other details can be sent by filling up the information form online. The tuition fees may vary from one Institute to another, including the course curriculum and duration. Additional charges are applied for the equipment used during the course tenure. Educational loans and scholarships are also offered to assist domestic and international students. Some of the institutes provide online campus tours, to give an overview of the infrastructure and the facilities.


text:
Tag Archives: best gifts for her
The 5 Best Mother's Day Gifts
Posted for Anti AgingBeautyGift IdeasMoisturizersnatural skin careparaben free skin careSkin CareSkin Care DeviceSunscreenUncategorized On May 1, 2013
Wondering what to buy for Mother's Day? With so many choices out there, one great gift pick is giving mom the gift of beauty. Skin Care Heaven, an e-commerce skin care store and research center based in San Diego voted on the best gifts for mom this year. Their top 5 picks include: Clarisonic Mia The leading sonic cleansing device out on the market is Clarisonic Mia. And mom deserves the very best. Along with a thorough cleaning, other skin care perks include: • Improved skin tone Clarisonic Mia also offers different brush heads so mom's skin can be more youthful from head to toe. DermaEarth Peptidal Cell Activating Serum DermaEarth Peptidal Cell Activating Serum, by DermaEarth, is being hailed as the future of anti-aging skin care. A paraben-free product, it offers a unique concentration of multiple peptides for optimum therapeutic restults. And it's great for all skin types. Backed by clinical results, this serum has been reported to do the following: • Lessens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles Crystal Peel Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Soap Body Bar Another paraben-free product, the Crystal Peel Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Soap Body Bar is a wonderful skin care gift. Every woman wants soft skin and this body bar will leave mom's skin toned and rejuvenated. It gently buffs away dry skin leaving it gorgeous. Intellishade SPF 45 Tinted Moisturizer Made by Revision, Intellishade SPF 45 Tinted Moisturizer is what mothers will want for the spring and summer months. This gives her skin a natural, sun-kissed look. This great product conceals, corrects premature signs of aging, and protects with its SPF 45 capabilities. Pure Fiji Body Lotions and Body Butters Lotions and body butters by Pure Fiji are fantastic. Pure Fiji is one of the top manufacturers of wonderful body lotions, butters, sugar scrubs, and shower gels. Only locally grown ingredients are used in Pure Fiji products which is the reason why they nourish and hydrate the skin naturally. Whatever gift mom opens, anything related to skin care, will make her look and feel her very best. |


text:
Article brought to you by: Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)Pope Francis gives earth-shaking interview to atheist, criticizes narcissism in Church
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
October 2nd, 2013 Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) Pope Francis gave an interview to La Repubblica criticizing the Vatican culture as one of narcissism. He also spoke about the importance of agape and the saints that are closest to his soul. LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The entire interview, which we will link at the bottom, is powerful and worth reading. Eugenio Scalfari, 89, the editor of La Repubblica and a self-proclaimed atheist conducted a very genial interview with Pope Francis. In its course, both men joked briefly about converting the other, then began discussing more serious matters impacting the Church.The interview has many highlights, but comes to a single point, one that is the hallmark of Pope Francis' tenure. The ultimate question and answer was asked in the first half of the interview, but its early response does not diminish its importance. Scalfari asked, "Jesus in his preaching said that agape, love for others, is the only way to love God. Correct me if I'm wrong." Pope Francis replied, "You're not wrong. The Son of God became incarnate in the souls of men to instill the feeling of brotherhood. All are brothers and all children of God. Abba, as he called the Father. I will show you the way, he said. Follow me and you will find the Father and you will all be his children and he will take delight in you. Agape, the love of each one of us for the other, from the closest to the furthest, is in fact the only way that Jesus has given us to find the way of salvation and of the Beatitudes." If the interview could be distilled into one point, this is it. Follow Christ and love one another. While this has always been the Christian message, it is also something from which the Church and all people have become distracted, making the message just as relevant as the time when Christ delivered it himself. When Scalfari asked Pope Francis about narcissism in the Church, Francis explained that he did not like the word, but agreed there was an issue with it in the Church. More importantly, that narcissism is causing neglect in the Church. He vowed to address it. "Heads of the Church have often been narcissists, flattered and thrilled by their courtiers. The court is the leprosy of the papacy," Francis said. He also explained that he was opposed to clericalism. Pope Francis also commented on the saints. When he was asked which saint felt closest to his soul, Francis mentioned both Saint Paul and Saint Francis. Pope Francis answered, "St. Paul is the one who laid down the cornerstones of our religion and our creed. You cannot be a conscious Christian without St. Paul. He translated the teachings of Christ into a doctrinal structure that, even with the additions of a vast number of thinkers, theologians and pastors, has resisted and still exists after two thousand years. Then there are Augustine, Benedict and Thomas and Ignatius. Naturally Francis. Do I need to explain why?" The interview contains a number of other highlights and insights which are worthy of reading, including Pope Francis describing the moment he experienced a "great light" before accepting the responsibility to become pope. Read the full interview here. Click here to learn about our Saint Michael the Archangel conference this Nov 1-3! Article brought to you by: Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) |


text:
[1308] Pediatric Follicular Lymphoma: A Comparison with Follicular Lymphoma in Young Adults.
Qingyan Liu, Armin Jegalian, Mark Raffeld, Stefania Pittaluga, Elaine S Jaffe. NCI/NIH, Bethesda, MD
Background: Pediatric follicular lymphoma (PFL) is a recently recognized neoplasm of B-cell derivation, and differs from usual follicular lymphoma (UFL) which is associated with the t(14;18). Our study was intended to delineate the features of PFL and compare these lesions with UFL in a pediatric and young adult population to permit guidance in the definition and management of PFL.
Design: 63 FL cases (<29 year old) were collected from our institute's consult service and were graded according to the 2008 WHO classification. The demographic information, histologic features, and immunohistochemical (IHC) profile (CD20, CD3, CD10, Bcl-6, Bcl-2, IgD, CD21, and MUM1) of the cases were reviewed. PCR analysis of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement was performed.
Results: 23 of the 63 cases were grade 1-2 FL with a median age of 24 years (18-29 years) and a female predominance (M:F 1:2). These cases had histologic features and IHC profile similar to that of UFL. The remaining 40 cases were grade 3 FL (age range of 3-28 years), 28 of which were diagnosed as PFL. The PFL cases (24/28) were seen predominantly in male patients (M:F 7:1) with an age range of 3-18 years (median age 14), and located in Waldeyer's ring (7/24), testis (4/24), or lymph nodes (13/24). Interestingly, the remaining PFL (4/28) were seen in a young adult age group (19-28), all males, and were only seen in the lymph node. PFL displayed two main histologic features 1) effaced architecture by large expansile follicles (mainly in Waldeyer's ring) or 2) irregular or serpiginous follicles (mainly in lymph nodes). Both patterns showed a prominent starry sky in the follicles. The cases involving the testis showed interstitial atypical follicles similar to that described in the literature. The remaining grade 3 FL cases were in the young adult age group (19-28 years, median age 21) and exhibited histologic features similar to that of grade 3 UFL or had overlapping features with nodal marginal zone lymphoma. By IHC, all of the PFL cases were Bcl-6 positive and were usually Bcl-2 negative; the Waldeyer's ring cases were often diffusely MUM1+. 31/36 of the grade 3 FL cases (86%) were clonal for an immunoglobulin gene rearrangement by PCR.
Conclusions: PFL shows histologic features and an IHC profile that are distinct from its adult counterpart. PFL predominantly involves male pediatric patients but it may occasionally be seen in young adults. Diffuse MUM1 positivity may be a unique feature of PFL that involves the Waldeyer's ring.
Category: Hematopathology
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 1:00 PM
Poster Session VI # 202, Wednesday Afternoon


text:
i started playing starcraft about 3 month ago, and i really like it but discovered some problems, and now like to ask you if you use houserules changing these things.
after about 30 1on1 sctbg games we discovered that most of the times we ended up building mostly air units (especially with the new broodwar planets). imo the problem is that "anti-air" units like dragoon (goliath since broodwar is more potent) are too expensive and weak (compare dragoon and wraith, same costs both air and ground attack but wraith is flying, has slightkly better values and imo the better tech...). so its almost impossible to tech the non-air buildings only while your opponent builds air couse you dont have a lot of chances to counter. did you make the same observation regarding this aspect?
different thing: do you use the defend-order? we decided to make a houserule: if you use the defend order you may not move the units, you put in the defend-token area again during this round. problem was, when we played the original rules, defend order wasnt used to defend an area but to get out of an planet your opponent wanted to attack, with the possibility to reattack if he moves in anyway or to collect units for an attack from another planet. so you dont have to take care not to leave precious units in a planet your oponent may attack if you caN get them out easily before normal orders are executed... also alot of times we used defend orders instead of mobilize orders just to get the token..


text:
A Philadelphia man accused of holding up the Roma Bank in Florence last year pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery Monday at the Burlington County Courthouse in Mount Holly.
Under the state's plea agreement, James Bridges, 21, will serve three years in state prison and will have to testify against his co-defendants in the April 26 heist. In exchange for the guilty plea, charges of agreement to engage in unlawful conduct, receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking and threatening to kill will be dismissed at sentencing.


text: Drawing is one of my favourite hobbies. I draw for as long as I can remember, but only recently took it more seriously. I love my little crazy creations even if I'm the only one with such feelings towards them. Looking back in my gallery reminds me of not being lazy when drawing and to put my 'whole' into it. That's why you can find some really old and poorly made works there. I usualy draw with pencil and then take the pic to Photoshop to cast some fabulous magic on it. I realise I'm not a very good artist at the moment, even so, one of my biggest dreams is to become one day a successful concept artist, and to finish as well as publish my own table top game. My ar t has bursts of wildness and madness from time to time. Any constructive comments concerning my works are always very welcomed. I JUST LOVE READING COMMENTS. Faves: Strawberries, Bananas, Lemon cakes, Mango, Red sweet Wines, Beautiful girls (especialy asians), Beautiful landscapes, fantasy creatures and monsters, creativity, Unfaves: Screaming people, Liars, Cheaters, Charlatans, Favourite characters: Monkey D. Luffy, Batman, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Iron-man, Roronoa Zoro , Nico Robin, Goku & Vegeta, Broly, C 18, Riful of the West, South. Characters I don't like: Inoue Orihime, Momo Hinamori, Haruno Sakura, Griffith, |


text:
I was disgusted and offended by Tom Purcell's article in Friday's Tribune (Aug. 3).
Imagine what would happen if women regularly went topless in public! How would our society's view of women change?
I believe in women's rights — and that if women regularly went topless in public, society's view of us would slide backwards: from intelligent, valuable beings equal to men, to sexual objects to be gawked at — almost prostitutes. I would not feel safe in a world where this standard was normal.
Pornography is degrading and offensive to women, is addictive, and leads to things such as premarital sex, STDs, unwanted pregnancies — even rape. Purcell is describing pornography! How would children feel about this behavior from women they respect? Wouldn't the self-esteem of our young girls be damaged or destroyed? How would our young boys grow up viewing women?
Freedom is intended to benefit everyone. This standard would benefit only perverts, not women. This evil standard promotes an immoral lifestyle and a society where women are not respected as men's equals, which Moira would understand if she truly supported women's rights, rather than call her acting out for attention "advocating women's rights."
In their book "Do Hard Things," Alex and Brett Harris comment, "Isn't something wrong when girls are constantly judged on their physical appearance and pressed to become more and more sexually provocative, yet are so rarely expected to develop qualities of character and intellect beneath the surface?"
Something is wrong. I only hope the world hasn't degenerated to this when I've grown up, married, and had children — in that order. I am disappointed that someone would write this, that the newspaper would publish it, that yet another man is trying to tell women what the phrase "women's rights" should mean, and that I should have to defend my right to be modest!
Rachel Evans


text:
DDVE launched in November 2008 four publication series: DDVE Studies, DDVE Working Papers, DDVE Notes and DDVE Briefs. All publications are freely available through the web and in the case of the working papers most publications are made available through the RePEc websites to facilitate access by the public at large. DDVE Working Papers are research papers on specific issues, typically of 25-40 pages in length. Many of the DDVE working papers are written by DDVE staff, but some are written by other World Bank staff on topics of direct interest to DDVE. While most DDVE working papers are sponsored by DDVE, some were sponsored by other World Bank units and are made available on this website simply to promote wider dissemination because they deal with issues of focus at DDVE. Most of the papers have been published through the World Bank's Policy Research Working Paper Series, and we are making them available through the DDVE working papers links below for convenience. While DDVE working papers are in most cases for dissemination of World Bank-sponsored work, the DDVE team welcomes contributions from individuals not related to the World Bank. Authors interested in submitting a working paper should contact the DDVE team (see Contact Us). DDVE working papers are peer reviewed so that publication is not guaranteed.
List of DDVE Working Papers
2010-12 Income Generation and Intra-Household Decision Making: A Gender Analysis for Nigeria
2010-11 Gender Labor Income Shares and Human Capital Investment in the Republic of Congo
2010-10 Domestic Work Time in Sierra Leone
2010-9 How Does Growth Affect Labor Income by Gender? A Structural Path Analysis for Tanzania
2010-8 Gender, Time Use, and Labor Income in Guinea: Micro and Macro Analyses
2010-7 Economic Freedom, Human Rights, and the Returns to Human Capital: An Evaluation of the Schultz Hypothesis
2010-6 Performance of Fe y Alegría High School Students in Colombia: Is it a Matter of Fe (Faith) or Alegría (Joy)?
2010-4 Lessons Learned from Uganda's First Results-Based Financing Pilot
2010-2 Paying Primary Health Care Centers for Performance in Rwanda
2010-1 Intellectual Property Rights and the TRIPS Agreement
2009-16 Private Education Provision and Public Finance - The Netherlands
2009-15 Missing Women and India's Religious Demography
2009-14 Secondary School Madrasas in Bangladesh: Incidence, Quality, and Implications for Reform
2009-12 Business Ethics and Corporate Governance as Anti-Corruption Tools
2009-10 Stigma and the Take-up of Social Programs
2009-9 Governance Matters VIII: Aggregate and Individual Governance Indicators 1996-2008
2009-8 Working Long Hours and Having No Choice: Time Poverty in Guinea
2009-5 Can Risk Averse Competitive Input Providers Serve Farmers Efficiently in Developing Countries?
2009-4 May Growth Lead to Higher Deprivation Despite Higher Satisfaction?
2009-3 Is Low Coverage of Modern Infrastructure Services in African Cities due to Lack of Demand or Lack of Supply?
2009-2 Trends in Household Coverage of Modern Infrastructure Services in Africa
2009-1 The Performance of Decentralized School Systems: Evidence from Fe y Alegría in Venezuela
2008-13 Working for God?
2008-12 Individual and Country-Level Factors Affecting Support for Foreign Aid
2008-11 Indigenous and Colonial Origins of Comparative Economic Development: The Case of Colonial India and Africa
2008-10 Minority Status and Labor Market Outcomes: Does India Have Minority Enclaves?
2008-9 Madrasas and NGOs: Complements or Substitutes? Non-State Providers and Growth in Female Education in Bangladesh
2008-8 Assessing the Geographic Impact of Higher Food Prices in Guinea2008-7 Rice Prices and Poverty in Liberia2008-6 Assessing the Potential Impact on Poverty of Rising Cereals Prices: The Case of Ghana
2008-5 Impact of Rising Rice Prices and Policy Responses in Mali: Simulations with a Dynamic CGE Model 2008-4 Comparing the Impact of Food and Energy Price Shocks on Consumers: A Social Accounting Matrix Analysis for Ghana 2008-3 Assessing the Potential Impact on Poverty of Rising Cereals Prices: The Case of Mali
2008-2 Potential Impact of Higher Food Prices on Poverty: Summary Estimates for a Dozen West and Central African Countries 2008-1 Rising Food Prices in Sub-Saharan Africa: Poverty Impact and Policy Responses


text:
Most Recent Articles In Film and TV
Latest Film and TV Articles
- SAG Awards Red Carpet Photos: Winners & More Highlights of Awards Show
- Golden Globes Red Carpet Photos: Arrivals at The 2015 Golden Globe Awards
- Vicki Vasilopoulos Talks 'Men of the Cloth'
More Articles By
Suze Orman is in a television studio chewing out America. In three hours of satellite appearances, she has scolded the residents of nearly every major city in the United States about what they're doing wrong — in her estimation, more or less everything. She has castigated the people of Hartford for eating out too much: "You have got to cut back like you have never cut back before." She has told folks in San Antonio that unemployment is going up, up, up, and that credit card debt is going to bring them down, down, down: "You can't say the word hope and 2009 in the same sentence." And as for the population of Phoenix, they might as well start stockpiling the food, because, "The economy is beyond help."
Each time she does an interview, her sentences become increasingly staccato, her warnings more ominous. "If. You. Don't. Face. Your. Debt. In. The. Mirror. You. Are. Going. To. Be. In. So. Much. Trouble."
Mommy still loves us, but we have been bad little kiddies and She. Has. Got. To. Tell. Us.
You'd think all this doom and gloom might not go down so well at a time when there is more than enough doom and gloom to go around. But make no mistake about it — the global economic meltdown has been fantastic for television's ubiquitous money lady and her brand of perpetual disapproval. Her most recent book, "Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan," was given away for free on Oprah Winfrey's Web site for nearly two weeks and still shot to the top of the bestseller list. Ratings for her Saturday night CNBC show are skyrocketing. She has appeared on Oprah, Anderson Cooper and Larry King more than a dozen times over the last three months. Time magazine two weeks ago proclaimed her the "Queen of the Recession." And then there is the ultimate signal of Orman's arrival as a full-fledged media superstar: Kristen Wiig's uncanny impersonation of her on "Saturday Night Live."
The finance guru calls the impersonation the "greatest honor of my career."
"I love it," Orman says. "I was in the audience for it recently. The real problem is that now, I do my own show every Saturday night and I start doing all these things that make me go, 'Ugh. I'm playing Kristen Wiig.' I mean, it's just very good. She has got me down."
There's almost no one out there as ripe for parody as Orman, 57. There's the highlight-heavy blonde wedge haircut, the chunky gold earrings and the way she cocks her head to the left and furrows her brow when asked a question about whether to declare bankruptcy, take a loan out on a 401(k) or switch credit card companies. Then there are her trademark gesticulations and phrases: the wagging of an index finger, the shaking of her head in dismay and her habit of responding to a question with a sentence like, "Are you kidding?" — drawing out the "r" with such flourish that this three-word expression of opprobrium seems to last half an hour. Arrre you kidding? Righteous indignation is almost an orgasmic experience for Orman.
She is shocked, shocked, that we all spent money we didn't have. "The United States of America is in the situation it's in because people were spending, spending, spending," Orman says during her satellite burst. "It was all smoke and mirrors and now the smoke has cleared and the view in the mirror is a horrific one."
Her populist rage is just as pronounced off-camera. Sitting in a green room after her TV interviews, she lambasts everyone from Alan Greenspan to Larry Summers to the former president of the United States, who holds an especially dark place in her heart. "Commander in Chief?" she says of George W. Bush, with a mix of disbelief and scorn. "You blew up every single financial vessel we had and if you think you aren't personally responsible, well, the blame starts at the top. There is no higher top than you, SIR! If I were you, I would feel so absolutely horrific that I would take every penny I had and distribute it to anybody and everybody to help them in whatever way I could. You owe the American people every penny of your fortune and your family's fortune."
Even the victims of Bernie Madoff don't get off scot-free when Orman gets going. "You walked right into that financial concentration camp, my loves," she says later in a regrettable metaphor, given that the world's most famous concentration camp survivor, Elie Wiesel, was among Madoff's bilked investors. "I mean, you didn't have to give 100 percent of everything to him."
If people love a personality this shrill, it's partly because Orman appears to be totally — even disturbingly — authentic. She is a paradox — a paradigm of self-branding wrapped around a heart that actually seems to beat.
Orman grew up in Chicago with a father who ran a poultry shop and a mother who was a secretary. "Daddy was a failed man," she says. "He had a curse on his head. He succeeded as a businessman, then his [shop] burned down."
What effect did being poor have on her? "I learned that money was the key to happiness. That's what I learned."
One New Year's Eve, at the age of 12 or 13 ("I can't remember which"), Orman went to a party and hung out with a girl named Susie Kaplan, whom Orman had a crush on. "It was late and Susie had fallen asleep with her head on my lap and my best friend Laurie Brown looked at us, got it, and started a rumor that I was a lesbian. Of course, I denied it. During my freshman year of college, I came back and said, 'Laurie, remember that rumor you started about me years ago? Well, that was true.'"


text:
(0 Total Votes) | Rate It |
Product Information
- Type: Combo Pack
- Designer: D'sign Your Life by D
- Download Size: 62.9 MB (approximate)
Design Elements
- Digital Papers: 14
- Page Elements: 9
Designer Notes
Combine this kit with ROSES GALORE kits in the D'SIGN YOUR LIFE BY D store, and have a lovely Valentine's Day, a Happy Anniversary, or just a wonderful day for no special reason at all. It's ALL ABOUT LOVE!
Image Quality
High-resolution (print quality) JPG and PNG files (with transparency).
Download Options
Easy install directly into My Memories Suite software. Purchase My Memories Suite
General use installer for other software applications (i.e., Adobe Photoshop & Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro, etc.).
Album and Photobook templates are intended for installation in the MyMemories Suite software only.
The General download will still contain all of the digital paper and page element files and template pages in a flat jpeg format so that you can recreate the template.
The layered pre-built pages are not available in the general download.
Download Access
All download options are available after checkout by clicking the "Access Your Downloads" provided on the order confirmation page. You may also access your downloads after logging into the My Account section located at the top right of the website.


text:
Global Fuel Trading - Supplying your energy commodities
The global energy system is facing many challenges. It will have to continue to supply secure and affordable energy in the face of growing demand. At the same time society expects cleaner energy and less pollution, with an increasing emphasis on environmental sustainability.
In today's highly competitive markets, the capability to identify opportunities, threads and challenges is a crucial factor to grab and secure competitive advantages in the long run.
Established in 2009, Global Fuel Trading acknowleges these challenges and is building a solid market position due to extensive knowledge, experience, a strong international network and a variety of promising new projects.
Global Fuel Trading is an international operating company specialized in procurement and logistics of thermal (steam) coal, coking coal, nickel ore, iron ore and palm kernel shells with a strong link to Indonesia. Its enthusiastic and experienced team – well versed to cope with the challenges of the trade – ensures a smooth and efficient performance.
The basis of our international trading activities is the strong and personal relationship with our clients. Partnering with our customers and suppliers to create custom solutions with an aim to increase fuel flexibility and reliability is how Global Fuel Trading stands out of the crowd.
With our head offices based in Indonesia, Global Fuel Trading is well positioned to become your partner in the supply of your fuel and energy commodities.


text:
346 Tasting Notes
Round Two with TeaVivre offerings today. What? I had the day off, I can do what I want. Still haven't left my pajamas, yet, either.
This was unlike any Dian Hong I'd ever come across. The earthen, sweet-like lean wasn't there at all. If anything, this was more in line with a Ruby 18 or a Korean semi-oxidized tea than a Chinese one. Yunnan black characteristics didn't show up until the aftertaste.
In a word: Gaaaaaaaaaaa….!
Okay, that wasn't quite a word.
but what a word :) I perfectly got the idea of the taste of the tea behind it!
Is the colour of the liquor the same lovely gold the picture shows ?
Well, hello Steepster, ol' buddy ol' pal,
How ya been?
In my effort to be more active with the various social media outlets at my disposal, I completely forgot about the one that is directly tea-related. Leave it to a day off to allow me to make steep-related reparations.
I actually received this sample a few months back, but with my major tea backlog, I didn't get to it until – well – now. I hate that about myself.
This is…whoah.
As far as Keemuns go, it is perhaps the cleanest sipping experience. Floral, wood-sweet, but with a Keemun kick toward the end. It's more medium-bodied than robust – unlike Mao Feng or Gong Fu…or even Hao Ya grades of Keemun that I've had. That said, still a mighty fine experience.
Major backlogging here
The first thing I noticed about this roasted bancha was…well…how roastly and – uh – bancha-like it smelled. All leaves and burnt nuts – a very autumn smell. The leaves basically looked like cut leaves – brown and oxidized-looking. All pleasantries and no pomp, regardless of circumstance. It reminded me of a San Nen (three-year-aged) bancha I had some three years back. Whoah, how fitting!
The Tealet profile on this bancha recommended bringing water to a boil, letting it cool for up to three minutes, then steeping for about the same time. I cut the "wait" part out and just waited until the water came to almost-a-boil before stopping the kettle. However, I did adhere to the three-minute steep.
The liquor brewed dark amber instead of radioactive green (like other senchas). The aroma was just as autumnal as the dry presentation, all nuts, leaf, and…tartness? Okay, now I had to sip this to make sure that was what I smelled. Oh my, yes it was. This was both roasty and tart, not unlike another bancha I tried – an awabancha (pickled green tea). However, this didn't taste like pickles – just like a green with a dash of hibiscus on the palate. I first noticed the tartness in the middle, but it continued with the trail-off to the finish. The aftertaste lingered on the roasty notes but still had a bit of zest to it. Very unusual…-ly wonderful.
TeaCuplets: http://lazyliteratus.tumblr.com/post/81024471310/teacuplets-tealet-kyoto-obubu-kyobancha
OK, and triple Golden Slasher Bonus Points for Teacuplets. (I'm not sure where that phrase came from…something my husband made me listen to when we were dating and I pretended to like it, I think :)
The cat woke me at the crack of 8
Begging for water, attention or some other ill-fate.
Since sleeping in was no longer the ideal,
I figured I'd start the day with a liquid meal.
TeaCuplets: http://lazyliteratus.tumblr.com/post/80892039954/teacuplets-o5-tea-yunnan-golden-curls
Flavors: Honey
Let's get the "dirty" outta the way.
I'm kinda drunk as I write this..today?
I needed a tea capper for an evening well spent.
Joseph Wesley was where I paid my black rent.
TeaCuplets: http://lazyliteratus.tumblr.com/post/80849224791/teacuplets-joseph-wesley-tea-no-3-chinese-classic
I was having a conversation with A Gift of Tea earlier this eve – via Twitter – about pomelo-scented black teas. Then I remembered, Oh yeah! I have one!
So…I brewed it up.
Unlike jasmine, honeysuckle, rose congou-ish, or other flower-scented teas, this one had a distinct taste of fruit to go along with the honey-ish lean of the Bai Lin Gong Fu black tea base. It lasted a good four steeps at three minutes each, and the sweetness was thirst-quenching.
In the running for my favorite floral-scented tea.
Flavors: Fruit Tree Flowers, Honey
I needed some caffeine as the sis, niece and I plopped down to watch American Hustle. No idea why I felt a white tea was necessary for this viewing, but I'm glad I went with it. First off, it's a resilient white tea. There was even a steep that I forgot about for an hour, and the brew still turned out good.
Second, the taste: Holy whoah.
I've had wild and semi-wild white teas before, but this was the best of the lot. It was fruity, herbal, and just altogether robustly awesome. I can't think of anything more fitting or flowery to say other than that. The perfect nightcap tea.
Now, if only I could find a way to go to sleep.
My morning started off on a down-note. I called up a tea company, following up on a resume I submitted. Unfortunately, it wasn't news I wanted to hear. And…that put me in a foul mood. The type of mood that only alcohol would cure.
Well, it was only 10AM, so that would've looked a little – um – sad. So, I went with something moderately fermented, but far less damaging. A young sheng pu-erh. This was a loose sample I received back in January, but was just now getting to a write-up on.
As a lot of young sheng pus go, it's very youthful in its flavor presentation – a lot like a green tea but without the bitterness that comes with it. That and it holds up to boiling water well. No vegetal kick. It was all fruit, earth and flowers. Oh, and youth.
A good way to start the day and kick away job-related doldrums.
Blog featuring this tea: "Do Tea Drinkers Dream of Electric Kettles?" – http://steepstories.com/2014/03/24/tea-drinkers-dream-electric-kettles/
Instagram pic: http://instagram.com/p/l719Laknc_/#
Flavors: Earth, Fruit Tree Flowers, Grapes
begining the day with bad news is rough. So if one day you would still need "alcohol" in your tea I recommend Jamaïque from Mariage Frères :)
This is the first Quanzhou milk oolong I've had in awhile. I've always been fascinated by all the care that goes into making an oolong that reminds me of buttered popcorn. Seriously, that's what it tastes like – well, minus that feeling of artery-hardening failure afterwards…and greasy hands. Great way to start the mornin'.
TeaCuplets: Forthcoming
Flavors: Butter


text:
These skydivers capture your first moments in freefall on HD video!
Kim Hummel | |
Adam Andrews | Position: Tandem Instructor, STP Instructor, Video |
Kazu Oyama ("Big Jap") | Position: Manager / Head Instructor | Jumps: 3500 | First Jump: 1993 | License, Ratings, Accomplishments: AFF- I, Tandem- I, Coach, Videographer and S&TA | Fun Fact: I have a passion for teaching and learning new things every day. | Skydiving: Favorite Part: The community |
Zak Pate | Position: Video editor (I make the DVD products you see after your jumps) | First Jump: 2012 | Fun Fact: If it come to boards or skydiving, I'm down to try anything. | Skydiving: Favorite Part: Absolutely everything. |
Miki Baranowski | Jumps: 5000 | First Jump: 2002 | License, Ratings, Accomplishments: AFF- I, Tandem- I, Coach, Videographer, and Senior Rigger | Fun Fact: Born and raised in W. Orange, NJ – Blah, Blah, Blah… I am now living with the wifey in Fort Myers, FL, jumping out of airplanes for a living | Skydiving: Favorite Part: Fast swoops and good times with awesome people. Teaching people about our sport and always learning. |
Gavin Griffin | Jumps: 3500 | First Jump: 2006 | License, Ratings, Accomplishments: AFF – I, Tandem I, Coach, Videographer, B.A.S.E., and Senior Rigger | Skydiving: Favorite Part: Meeting new people and making the world smaller. |


text:
Cheap Awnings manufactures aluminum framed awnings with metal and fabric coverings. www.cheapawnings.com
Table tennis is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all generations.
A very useful and decorative additoin to foyers are storage benches, which come in a variety of syles, sizes and colors.
Trade show and event displays are a great way to put your name and your products in front of prospective customers. Aisle Advertising
Vented gas logs are to be used with an open chimney flue or damper unlike ventless gas logs which do not require a vent, like a chimney, to operate.
A properly installed chimney pipe and liner http://www.efireplacestore.com/chimney-pipes---liners.html is essential for the safe operation of your fireplace.
Caravan Canopy is one of major brands of light weight aluminum pop up canopies on the market today. eCanopy offers this brand of canopy and many others.
Today's log homes are constructed using many conventional building products that are found in stick frame consturction.


text:
Click here to read the featured article in the April 2012 issue of Parent Life magazine from Lifeway.
My daughter is about to have her first birthday. And I can't believe it. Before I was a parent, I inwardly mocked those parents who wanted their kids to slow down and not grow up so fast. But I get it now. There is a growing list of things that she can do on her own. She no longer needs me to hold her arms as she takes steps. She no longer needs me to hold her bottle. She can play by herself, she can feed herself, and yet I know that in the scheme of things she is still relatively dependent on me. Her independence is only going to increase. And I'm not sure I'm ok with that.
But when I'm honest with myself, when I'm clear-headed, I realize it's not about me. It is about my daughter, and what's best for her. And it is good for her to grow. It is good for her to learn how to do things. If I truly lover her, not as my possession, but as a child of God who was put into my care, I will root for her growth because it's for her good. And as she grows, I know that she is going to become more and more independent and less dependent on me. There will come a day when my wife and I will not be the center of her universe. I wonder if this is how John the Baptist felt. In the book of John, we're told that John the Baptist was called to prepare the way for the coming Christ. And he does it very well. He has a dynamic ministry; he is baptizing people left and right, he is doing so well that the pharisees ask him if he is the Christ, Elijah or The Prophet. But as Christ's ministry begins, John starts losing followers to Him. What's his response? "He must increase and I must decrease". He might have responded by trying to regain control. "No! Follow me!" But he knew that it was better for him to be cast aside and for Christ to become the central figure in his followers lives.
I am a good thing for my daughter. Out of all the men in the world, God chose to make me her father. But I'm not the best thing for her. Jesus is. I pray everyday that as she grows up she would place her faith in Jesus Christ and then desire to follow Him all the days of her life. I know though, that means I will not be the central figure in her life. He will. "He must increase and I must decrease". And that is the best thing for her.
"Justification? Forgiveness? Redemption? How can these great doctrines of the Christian faith – as well as others – be presented to children? Whitestone Media has found a way with their new animated series Theo. He's an endearing (albeit animated) theologian who climbs down from the dusty ladder of his theological library to lead boys and girls on an adventure of discovery about Christian doctrine. And I recommend the series to the young ones in your care!"
– Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center
Christians have been trying to teach the Bible and theology to their children for two thousand years—with varying degrees of success. Whitestone Media's series Theo Presents makes it look easy. They combine first rate production quality, brilliant animation, and solid biblical content. Rather than dumbing down the faith and the Bible, they make both accessible, compelling, and entertaining to kids. Theo Presents has blessed our family.
Jay W. Richards, Ph.D.
Executive Producer, The Call of the Entrepreneur, and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Indivisible.
I am not a Saint Patrick scholar, nor do I agree with every thing his sect of Christianity claims. But as one raised in an Irish-American family that had corned-beef and cabbage every Saint Patrick's Day, the holiday has a special place in my heart. There is plenty of myth surrounding Saint Patrick, but here are a few things we do know about him. He was kidnapped by a group of Irish Marauders at the age of sixteen, and taken to Ireland where he became a slave. After several years he escaped and returned to Britain. In Britain he studied to be a priest and became a bishop. Eventually, he felt God's call to return to Ireland and spread the gospel among the Irish. He says of his return to Ireland:
In his autobiography (Confession), Saint Patrick writes:
I testify in truthfulness and gladness of heart before God and His holy angels that I never had any reason, except the Gospel and His promises, ever to have returned to that nation from which I had previously escaped with difficulty.
He spent almost thirty years sharing Christ on the island until he died.
. . . Without any doubt, in that day we shall arise in the brightness of the Son, that is, in the glory of Jesus Christ, and, all redeemed, we shall be, as it were, the sons of God and co-heirs of Christ, and made like to His image in the future. For from Him, and by Him, and in Him, are all things: to Him be glory for ever. Amen.
It is difficult to read a passage like this without thinking of the many Irish who are "sons of God and co-heirs of Christ" because of the works God accomplished through Saint Patrick. Any choir director will tell you every good choir needs a diversity of voices. Thanks be to God for the many Irish voices which will be singing "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come."
No one knows what happens to a man's soul in his last days here on earth. I am reminded of the thief on the cross to whom Christ promised paradise and I believe it is entirely possible that Steve Jobs could have come to a saving faith in his last days. As Steve Jobs' biography is coming out, we learn more of his religious beliefs and they do not seem to be consistent with the core beliefs of Christianity. However, as a result of the fruits of his labor, God's Word is able to go out into the world in new and exciting ways. In our case, Apple technology has allowed Theo to share Biblical truths to homes all around the world. For this reason, we are grateful for the work that Steve Jobs accomplished and grateful to a God who uses the labors, of even those who may not be His followers, to further His Kingdom.


text:
Wow, some great names in this last batch of offers:
Shai McKenzie, "JuJu" Smith, Otaro Alaka, Juwann Winfree, Saeed Blacknail
Support MGoBlog: buy stuff at Amazon
Today's recruiting roundup covers a spate of new offers, Wilton Speight, and several things that don't sound like "spate" at all.
Signing Day 2013 is over, as for the most part so is our discussion of it here—probably for the best, given that the dominant post-NSD story centered around what Reon Dawson may or may not have said about his childhood favorite school. Brian and I did an extensive breakdown of the class on this week's podcast (coming soon) if you haven't had your fill, and I'll update the recruiting class rankings today.
Meanwhile, Michigan got a jump on the 2014 class with the Signing Day commitment of VA QB Wilton Speight, who was profiled on his school's website—he described the injury that caused him to reclassify:
"It was an option-read," Speight said of that fateful play late in Cougars' opener, a 34-19 victory over Trinity Episcopal. "I got past the defensive end and linebackers. There was one man between me and the goal line. I tried to jump over him. As I was in the air, he caught my feet, which flipped me over. I tried to break the fall with my elbow, but (the impact) shot my shoulder up.
"I walked to the sideline hoping it was a stinger. (Athletic trainer) Shannon (Winston) moved it around. She felt crunches. I heard it crunch. My collarbone was broken in two places.
"Looking back, I probably didn't have to make that play, but when you're competitive, it's hard to just step out of bounds."
While Speight had complete confidence in his surgeon, Dr. "Moose" Herring, he knew that fulfilling his dreams was now dependent upon his own perseverance, strength of will, and self-discipline.
Speight's injury woes didn't end there, despite the best efforts of Dr. "Moose" Herring, who by virtue of name alone I would entrust with my life, let alone my collarbone. After dealing with a partial MCL tear in basketball season, Speight's collarbone took another hit during lacrosse season, and as a result he's now part cyborg:
"I had the ball and came around the cage," he recalled. "When I shot, a defensive player brought his stick down on my (right) shoulder.
"He hit it hard enough that the part of the bone not covered by the plate broke off the metal.
"It was a clean break, thankfully. Dr. Herring was able to open it back up and put in a six-inch plate with eight screws that covers my whole collarbone.
"It will definitely prevent anything from breaking up there again."
I, for one, welcome any and all cyborg athletes willing to aid Michigan's quest for world domination a Big Ten championship.
Also of note: cyborg QBs apparently recruit a little, too.
[Hit THE JUMP for the 2014 Rivals100, a bevy of new offers, and my take on Lawrence Marshall committing to Ohio State.]
Ohio State continued their torrid start to the 2014 class by picking up Southfield (MI) DE Lawrence Marshall, a four-star who held a Michigan offer. This means that, a year before NSD 2014, the Buckeyes have snatched up two of the state of Michigan's top four prospects (Damon Webb being the other); Michigan thus far has none. Even Michigan State can claim a tenuous hold on Drake Harris, though now that his focus has turned to football it seems unlikely he'll stick there.
Anyway, losing Webb and Marshall to Ohio State has caused a bit of a panic, and for not unjust reasons; Michigan doesn't have the in-state talent of Ohio to be able to afford losing too many of the top-flight recruits from their backyard. At the same time, it's far too early for a full-blown freakout. While Webb seems firm in his commitment, Sam Webb is already floating rumors that Marshall may still check out Michigan and Michigan State as soon as this week($). Michigan is still one of the two favorites (along with Notre Dame) for the state's best prospect, Detroit Loyola DL Malik McDowell, and they'll also be a major player for Harris.
Keep in mind that Michigan raided Ohio for several of their best class of 2013 recruits, only to see Urban Meyer's class overtake the Wolverines in the rankings with recruits from around the country. The Wolverines are in the mix for several national names, including #1 overall player Da'Shawn Hand. Buckeye partisans declaring this battle won should take heed from Michigan fans who did the same last February—this one is far from over.
Now that the 2013 class is officially wrapped up, the coaches have sent out a huge wave of 2014 (and also some 2015) offers.
At the top of that list is five-star CA CB Adoree' Jackson, who despite playing across the country had a strong familiarity with the Michigan program, per Steve Lorenz ($):
"Michigan has been putting defensive backs into the pros for a while now," Jackson said. "I know that's where Charles Woodson went to school too and if you're producing players like Charles Woodson, you're doing something right. I definitely knew of Michigan growing up and playing in the Midwest isn't a problem for me at all and location isn't really a factor in my recruitment. I have a lot of family in the area and I wouldn't mind being back by them."
Jackson should be a visitor at some point down the road and appears to have genuine interest in Michigan; he'd certainly soften the blow of losing Webb.
Other offers to go out include: PA RB Shai McKenzie (LINK - $), CA DB John "JuJu" Smith (LINK - $), TX LB Otaro Alaka (LINK - $), NJ WR Juwann Winfree (LINK - free), NJ WR Saeed Blacknail (LINK - $), and CO RB/SLOT Christian McCaffrey (LINK - $), the son of former Denver Broncos WR Ed McCaffrey. Among those, Michigan got named among the top group for several—including Smith, Winfree, Alaka, and Blacknail—but the true test of interest comes when it's time to schedule visits.
Michigan also offered elite 2015 FL RB Jacques Patrick, who already has offers from several of the country's top programs, per 247's Clint Brewster ($). Patrick says he'll take a visit to Michigan with his older cousin, Detroit MLK assistant coach Terel Patrick.
Rivals came out with their initial 2014 Rivals100, and Michigan commit Michael Ferns lands at #84 on the list. Other names of note:
That is by no means a complete list of the guys holding Michigan offers or interest. Wilton Speight did not make the cut—we'll see if he's in the Rivals250 when that is released.
Also worth a look is Touch The Banner's breakdown of the top in-state prospects for the 2014 class.
Wow, some great names in this last batch of offers:
Shai McKenzie, "JuJu" Smith, Otaro Alaka, Juwann Winfree, Saeed Blacknail
Not to mention Dr. Moose. Idk if the staff needs a doc, but if so, look no further
First names are cool but it's all about what's on the back of the jersey. Which is why I'm all for Dymonte legally reversing his name. Tom Dymonte.
Man, I loved them in the 90s...
JuJu is my favorite so far.
Obviously the coaches saw enough to offer him and this may seem like sour apples now that he's committed elsewhere, but I was actually hoping that Marshall might not end up at Michigan. He looks like a poor man's Taco Charlton to me. Look at his highlight tape, he never beats blocks. He's not as athletic or quick as Charlton and I don't know if he'll provide much more than some second string depth with the players they've been bringing in.
And its been a while since I lived in the area, but in my day Southfield was a good team, but their level of competition in that league wasn't the strongest. I mean, heck I went to Andover and we were not very good at all. Seaholm was meh, Troy was a little better....but honestly, he's a big-ish fish in a small pond...again, unless things have changed.
But let's not poo-poo Marshall yet, I think he'll still be in play by next signing day.
I think Marshall's film looks like an exact replica of Mario Ojemudia's. Ojemudia was unblocked frequently, for whatever reason, and so is Marshall. It's hard to get a great feel for how they handle a lot of things with film like that. Charlton plays a different position and is a different body type, so I don't see the similarity there.
my cousin who plays at aliquippa high school in pa said hoke was at his school and offered their rb/db travon Henry the same day hoke visited an offered shai
Yeah, Dravon Henry was offered, too. I think Michigan wants him as a safety.
yes dravon auto correct but my cousin who mind you is only 15 also claims shai isn't very good at all, he said they played them twice and held him to -3 an 48 yards.
on MI/OH kids? Hoke has professed the area as priority #1 but its hard to foresee 8+ kids from the area.
We've offered 13 according to TTB and lead with only a few - Ferns, Doles and maybe McDowell. Harris and Berger are maybe 50/50.
Is the top tier talent thin this year in the area or did the staff shift their strategy to more national?
Michigan is thin. Most of the early offers seem to be outside the Midwest. That means this could be a very tough recruiting year.
"Michigan raided Ohio for several of their best class of 2013 recruits, only to see Urban Meyer's class overtake the Wolverines in the rankings with recruits from around the country"
OSU's in-state class was better than Michigan's. Yes, Michigan did snag Thomas early and Gedeon was a legit battle in Michigan's favor, but otherwise Smith and McCray are replaceable kids that OSU isn't fretting over. Meanwhile, they got 4 of the 5 elite kids (Marsall, Lisle, Burrows, Price) and flipped Conley who was a bit of a sleeper when Michigan recruited him but ended up looking elite too.
Michigan had a very good (top 10) class, which we don't need to spin to be better than it is. This is far from a raid - it's Michigan getting a couple kids that OSU wanted badly. OSU is giving it to Michigan at least as much as Michigan is taking it to OSU.
OSU bested Michigan not just nationally but locally in 2013. Lets hope that's not the case in 2014. And more importantly - let's hope its not the case on the actual field of play.
What Ace said was basically what happened, though. Michigan had a better class for most of the recruiting cycle - partly by going into Ohio and taking some good players - and then Meyer came back to "take the lead" by getting guys like Trey Johnson, Mike Mitchell, and Dontre Wilson down the stretch.
Michigan never had a better class, they had an earlier class. It was only better if you take the rankings at face value and ignore opportunity cost entirely. Even Ace agrees his rankings are of limited relvance as they are only meaningful as a "snapshot in time". You can play the "if signing day was today game in September but it's meaningless." There are no pop quizzes, just the final exam.
It was obvious that OSU was going to get more recruits by signing day so Michigan was never in an advantageous position. That's one of my big problems with the recruiting rankings, as published. Even with qualifiers attached, they imply that one school leads another when that's often not the case. They measure timing, and in this case - timing isn't important.
Not sure who it was "obvious" too. Even most Ohio boards early on were conceding that Ohio's 2013 class might never catch up to Michigan's because of their limited scholarship numbers... which turned out to not be so limited.
Simply from the view of the rankings, they added higher stars over the last few months of the process.
OSU's last 7 were 2 5 stars, 4 4 stars and 1 3 star. Ours were 1 5 star, 3 4 stars and 3 3 stars. [I cut at 7 but it would get worse for us with #8 a low 3 star and #9 our 2 star snapper.]
Heck, their class needed a good NSD to get a 5* and two 4* while our day was uneventful. I prefer our steady approach to Urban's frenetic rush at the end.
Well, yeah, it was obvious they were going to more recruits, but the quality of those recruits was the question. It wasn't "obvious" the entire time that the class was going to finish out with guys like Dontre Wilson, Trey Johnson, etc. It also wasn't obvious early on that Mike Mitchell - who was a bit of a sleeper prior to last summer - would blow up like he did. Johnson was choosing between OSU and other schools (Auburn, IIRC), Dontre Wilson was committed to Oregon at one time, etc. The class didn't end perfectly for Ohio State (they missed on a couple guys like James Quick, etc.), but it was a darn good finish.
but the average OSU recruit was (almost) always higher than the average M recruit so if things kept pace they would land ahead. In other words, OSU had more uncertainty, but if you projected their class out, it looked superior all along. That uncertainty shouldn't be ignored but putting it ahead of all other factors seems dubious.
OSU finished well, but they also started well. Signing kids late or early doesn't really matter in the end.
Their class is a classic example of why a mid-way recruiting evaluation should be focused on something other than class size. The end methodology for class rankings should be very different than the progress reports.
And he was only on the job for a month. Meyer has 2 NC's, an instate advantage, and a decade of Ohio dominance over Michigan.
I don't really see how it was a surprise that Ohio jumped us.
Who said it was a surprise? You're jumping to conclusions with things I never said.
OSU did better regionally and nationally than UM in 2013. It's ok b/c UM still got their's and more importantly did very well in the trenches; but we shouldn't spin it like UM's haul was more than it was. UM's 2013 haul has to be the norm going forward to just keep up with OSU and elite SEC.
To Magnus' point UM did have the recuriting "lead" early but that was largely due to having a larger class virtually the entire recruiting season. The avg avg I believe had UM consistently behind the OSU, elite SEC, and ND.
But it's a long way off till signing day. If he isn't healthy in '13 it will be worth looking around, because he's a pretty big target at 6'6...but no sense worrying, yet.
I don't know if I'm as concerned about a guy who has already had a spate of not-insignificant injuries for a QB...or how much of a pain that metal plate in his shoulder will be at the security checkpoint for the airplane to the Rose Bowl...LOL
You guys have never seen RoboCop.
will ever touch our QB with the #1 OL recruiting class at UM!
Seriously, no worries especially as our coaches presumably knew rhe whole medical history before offering. If he breaks a different bone (especially a foot or hand bone) then I'll worry about his skeletal fragility.
Personally, I think they should grab a second QB regardless. Myimpression is that Cornwell would totally be down.
i think this kid needs to drink more milk.
Recruiting is only half the battle. In the grand scheme of things is there really that much difference between classes ranked 3-5 positions apart (ie. #2 vs #5, #3 vs #8)? Unless you're pulling in a haul of 30+ kids who are mainly 3 stars and racking up points due to the quantity of kids you signed, probably not a ton of difference.
The other battle is developing players. At least so far, I'd say Hoke and company are doing a pretty good job on both of these battles when it comes to defense. They seem to be bringing in highly rated recruits and getting them to play at high levels early in their careers. Offensively, they seem to be doing a good job recruiting (with the possible exception of wr). However, I think it's a bit to early to pass judgement on their ability to develope players on the offensive side of the ball. If the offensive coaches can develope the players as well as the defensive coaches can, I think UM will be just fine.
>>is there really that much difference between classes ranked 3-5 positions apart???
I'm suprised someone here hasn't done an analysis of class rank vs. final poll rankings. Or perhaps they have and I am unaware.
We make too much out of minor differences, especially when the rankings don't properly take into account needs and class size. Two classes with 20 four-stars equivalently ranked should be equal, even if one of the teams added 7 other 3-stars into the mix.
When you're parsing the difference between the #3 class and the #6 class, the margin of error overrides the difference.
That said -- head-to-head battles for recruits have clearly gone in OSU's favor. They're getting more of the guys that both schools want. That tells me that Michigan is failing to close the talent gap against OSU.
Recruiting is certainly just a piece of the puzzle, but it's quantifiable. If we start talking about coaching ability and strategy we get into subjective gray area where we all think whatever we want.
As for "They seem to be bringing in highly rated recruits and getting them to play at high levels early in their careers" this is very much in question. The '11 class hasn't produced much in the way of players yet and it's way too early to say that about the '12 class. There's a bunch of guys who have shown promise as backups on defense, but the ability to translate recruits into high-caliber production is still an open question. Offense especially - we've seen next to nothing from these coach's recruits. Yes it's early, but so far, Hoke has won mostly with Rodriguez recruits.
A top 10 class is nothing to complain about, and the future looks promising overall -- but if you're focused on the OSU matchup, Michigan isn't doing anything that indicates they're closing the gap....yet.
OSU always has and probably always will beat us more often than not on head to head guys simply because a strong majority of those will be guys from Ohio. That is not new nor is it a problem (I also think its less lopsided than you purport it to be). This is made up for by us getting guys who weren't considering OSU, like Kyle Bosch or Chris Fox.
I don't care how many of our recruits picked us over them, I care a out how many good recruits we get. It makes no difference to me whether we beat out OSU or VT or someone else for him.
If Michigan wins on the elite in-state players, grabs a few from Ohio, and gets a handful of guys around the country (I may be mistaken but I think Michigan historically has had more 'pull' nationally than OSU, due to academics) there is no reason Michigan can't beat Ohio head-to-head. If Hoke is as good at recruiting as most on here want him to be, that's a battle that can and should be won against OSU and ND. It's happened before and it can happen again.
I think 'how many good recruits we get' doesn't matter at all. The scholarship limits are there and are (more or less) the same for every team. It's about quality, not quantity.
I'm next expecing Michigan to win in Ohio, but they need to make up for it SOMEWHERE else. Frankly, the where doesn't matter to me - if Michigan doesn't match OSU in recruiting they're unlikely to win most games on the field.
No, Bosch and Fox don't "make up" for Ohio getting an edge in in-state recruiting, because (as Tim implied) OSU did very well 'nationally'. i.e., they got elite guys who didn't consider Michigan too. They did better locally and they did better nationally.
OSU had the better class. Not by miles, but it's pretty much unanimous that they got more talent than Michigan. Its not a death sentance or a gap that can't be closed but Michigan has to fight an uphill battle to defeat Ohio State now.
That's pretty pessimistic for a guy who was just saying there's not a tangible difference between recruiting classes a few ranking spots apart.
Although I do appreciate that you're not just another Michigan homer here to spin through your maize colored glasses (like myself).
and that is finding kids who have character, who will stick with the program even if they are frustrated by a lack of playing time the first couple of years, who won't flunk out, get kicked out, arrested, embarrass you etc., and will be contributors in some fashion by the time they are juniors even if they aren't stars. No one knows how the character issue will turn out for any of these schools right now. When TP opted to play for ohio, they seemed to win that recruiting battle; when they won football games with him at QB, ditto; by the time he left school, I think most of us were glad he went to ohio because his overall legacy was (in my opinion at least) a negative. It seems to me that Hoke recruits for character, and over the long haul I am happy with getting good players with good character so long as the class has a reasonable talent level.
but OSU fans are gonna say the same thing about their kids. That's a very subjective thing.
Hankins was viewed as a risk for OSU but he turned into an impact player. Jake Ryan was considered a risk and has been amazing for UofM. There's lots of anectodatay examples out there for any argument,
which is why the quantifiable stuff provides a nice objective view.
I hate this "we recruit character" argument. You have no idea what type of kids these players will be and most of the recruits had offers from both OSU and Michigan. It just sounds like the MSU "we don't need higher ranked recruits because we develop them better" argument.
Michigan fans think their recruits have higher character, while OSU fans think a lot of Michigan recruits are dicks. Either way, it's silly.
i would be fine with michigan's first ever 3 person recruiting class so long as the last recruit is Saeed Blacknail. get Blacknail and i don't need anything else.
So many people freak out around here it's incredible. OSU out recruited us by a negligible amount last year, not enough to worry about. They've now picked up Webb and Marshall, but we'll pick up comparable guys to replace them. Ohio is filled with good prospects like always and we'll snag a couple of them like always.
Neither team has room for a ton of guys and I expect both classes to be filled with high quality recruits.
Being so logical. Freak out is so..freakish.
Not sure if you've noticed, but UM has been getting its butt-kicked by OSU since the early 00s. As someone who came of age during the 90s, that doesn't sit well with me. I'd like to have a reason to think that's going to change, and I think most Michigan fans feel the same way.
Now, for all the talk about Hoke's recruiting ability, it would be nice to see Michingan chipping away at that recent gap, but there's just not any evidence for it happening. I don't think the statement above reflects a freak-out -- a top 10 class is good new, no matter what -- But, OSU's class was still better and I do think it's cause for concern when 2 of the top 4 in-state recruits in 2014 go to the bad guys. 2014 is off to a rough start, with Ferns being offset by Webb and Marshall, Ward decommiting. Long way till signing day, obviously, but OSU is ahead just out of the gates.
No one recruit makes or breaks things but Michigan needs to get more of their Plan A blue chip prospects (like Conley) and fewer Plan B backups (like Dawson.) I don't think Michigan is necessarily going to be able to pick up a kid like Webb and even if they do, the talent in the secondary that OSU has brought in recently is clearly superior to M's.
Michigan's not chipping away at the gap? By beating OSU in 2011? By flipping Kalis from OSU? By getting several guys with OSU offers when Rodriguez really struggled in that area?
If that's not "chipping away" at the gap, I don't know what it is. You're not advocating for "chipping away" at it. You're expressing disappointment that Michigan hasn't CLOSED the gap entirely.
Don't get me wrong - I want that to happen, too. But let's be honest about what you're saying.
Michigan won in 2011 but lost in '12. They got Kalis but lost Webb.
If the point of reference is the Rodriguez era, then yeah. But that's not what I conisder to be the baseline for Michigan. To me, the baseline is being even with Ohio State. 58-45-6.
For Michigan to have closed the gap entirely we'll need a decade of dominance like they had.
To close the gap with OSU Michigan has to do better than them in something. That's not happening yet - on the field or in recruiting.
By beating UM in recruiting, OSU is maintained the gap they've established. One win and one recruit don't change that.


text:
A new survey on local food and consumer is out, called "Ripe for Grocers: the local food movement."
Published by AT Kearney, report takes an extensive look at the appeal of local foods and the connection to retail. Relative to fresh fruits and vegetables, the survey found that "local" was second only to "freshness" as an important factor in buying decisions (33% freshness to 15% local). The survey also pointed out that fresh produce is a category where consumers are willing to pay a premium for local. For example, 65% of consumers would pay a 15% premium for local strawberries, compared with 47% of those polled who would pay 15% more for locally produced raspberry jam.
From the report:
Local food is quickly transitioning from one small way grocers can stand out to a component of the shopping experience that buyers expect. Sales of local food have increased an estimated 13 percent per year since 2008, and are now worth at least $9 billion.
Local food remains important for shoppers. More than 40 percent of respondents say they purchase local food on a weekly basis, and another 28 percent buy local food at least once a month. Most say that local food helps the local economy (66 percent) and brings a broader and better assortment (60 percent). Another 45 percent say it offers healthy alternatives to customers. It is clear that retailers offering local food can positively influence customer perception.
Local food awareness and price perception have improved. Sixty-eight percent of respondents (up 3 percent from last year) say they are aware that their supermarket of choice offers local food. Seven percent (down from 11 percent) believe their supermarkets do not offer local food; of this group 34 percent are considering grocers because of this.
Leaders are differentiating on "fresh." Our survey respondents said that when they buy groceries, freshness is far and away the most important purchasing criteria (60 percent), followed by price (30 percent). Local sourcing is a powerful way for retailers to demonstrate their products' freshness, as 30 percent of respondents do not differentiate between fresh and local.
This is particularly evident in specific categories: Many consumers want both fresh and local in categories such as fruits and vegetables, prepared foods, meat, fish and seafood, dairy and eggs, and bread.